Sabah

Forgotten and lost in the power of money.

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Melihat secara positif isu pembantu rumah — Berita Harian

18 MAC — Jika Indonesia tidak mahu rakyat wanitanya bekerja sebagai pembantu rumah di Malaysia, mereka membuat keputusan tepat dengan mengadakan peraturan sukar diterima majikan negara ini.

Jika rakyat Malaysia pula mahu mengurangkan pergantungan kepada pembantu rumah Indonesia, inilah masanya dengan mengambil sikap tidak bersetuju cadangan Indonesia itu. Dengan mengklasifikasikan tugas khusus — sama ada memasak, mengasuh anak, mengemas rumah atau setiap tugas lain yang diperlukan majikan, setiap pembantu rumah perlu dibayar RM700 bagi setiap tugas khas.

Jika memerlukan dua tugas khusus, setiap pembantu rumah perlu dibayar RM1,400 dan seterusnya. Setiap bulan mereka mampu menyimpan wang lebih banyak daripada majikan yang berpendapatan sederhana.

Reaksi daripada kenyataan Ketua Pengarah Pembinaan dan Penempatan Tenaga Kerja, Kementerian Tenaga Kerja dan Transmigrasi Indonesia, Dr Reyna Usman bahawa pembantu rumah akan melakukan satu kerja saja dengan gaji minimum RM700, mendapat tentangan meluas 'majikan' Malaysia.

Ada yang kata tidak wajar, keterlaluan, tidak masuk akal, peraturan merepek dan sebagainya. Seandainya peraturan itu dilaksanakan, ramai pembantu rumah Indonesia terpaksa balik kampung.

Sama ada syarat ini dilapor dengan betul atau salah lapor, sedang dalam perbincangan memorandum persefahaman (MoU), belum diputuskan dan sebagainya, ia tidak penting. Ia sudah menjadi polemik yang sihat bagi menentukan senario masa depan keluarga masyarakat Malaysia.

Kalau peraturan itu tidak sesuai, kedua-dua negara perlu mengkajinya semula. Kerajaan Indonesia tidak boleh dipersalahkan kerana ia mengambil kira kepentingan rakyatnya. Jika boleh, Kerajaan Indonesia mahu dilihat mereka menjaga kepentingan rakyatnya di luar negara.

Indonesia juga mahu menjaga imejnya dengan memastikan bahawa rakyatnya adalah pekerja mahir dan bertanggungjawab. Jika pekerja baik, tidak ada sebab berlaku kes penderaan atau pembantu rumah melakukan perbuatan yang tidak digemari majikan. Jika rancangan ini praktikal, Indonesia akan mempunyai sekolah latihan untuk pembantu rumah dengan pengkhususan masak memasak, mengasuh, mengemas rumah dan sebagainya.

Rakyat Malaysia perlu melihat tindakan Indonesia itu dengan fikiran terbuka. Sekurang-kurangnya Indonesia menyedari pentingnya latihan khusus kepada tenaga kerjanya. Di Malaysia, amat sukar mencari pekerja terlatih di bidang yang dulu dianggap tidak penting tetapi hari ini keperluannya begitu mendadak. Contohnya ialah pembantu rumah.

Bagaimana pula dengan tukang kebun terlatih atau pemandu terlatih? Syarat menjadi tukang kebun ialah kelulusan Penilaian Menengah Rendah (PMR) atau Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM). Hari ini, mereka tidak ada sijil khas daripada Institusi Tukang Kebun atau institusi khas memandu. Seorang pemandu hanya layak menjadi pemandu jika ada lesen memandu walaupun tidak pernah dilatih.

Dengan cara ini, mereka layak diberi gaji lebih besar dalam sebuah negara berpendapatan tinggi. Walaupun negara ini ada sekolah memandu, ia hanyalah untuk membolehkan seseorang mendapat lesen memandu.

Sudah sampai masanya Kementerian Sumber Manusia melihat keperluan tenaga kerja secara menyeluruh supaya apa juga keputusan dibuat negara pembekal tenaga kerja, ia tidak memberi kesan kepada rakyat negara ini.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication. The Malaysian Insider does not endorse the view unless specified.

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Di sebalik pembatalan konsert Erykah Badu — Mior Kamarul Shahid

18 MAC — Bila konsert penyanyi Amerika Syarikat, Erykah Badu yang dijadualkan berlangsung di Pusat Dagangan Dunia Putra (PWTC) hujung Februari lalu diharamkan, ramai pihak mempertikaikan keputusan itu secara senyap.

Asas pertikaian mereka terhadap tindakan tegas kerajaan itu, bergantung kepada siapa mereka yang bercakap mengenainya. Ada pihak yang tidak bersetuju dengan keputusan itu kerana Malaysia adalah sebuah negara terbuka dan tidak kurang juga mempertahannya dengan pelbagai alasan munasabah.

Kebanyakan mereka yang mempertikai keputusan itu mempunyai unsur emosional manakala yang mempertahannya pula terpaksa memberi alasan rasional. Ramai yakin kerajaan mengambil tindakan mengharamkan konsert itu atas asas kukuh, yang tidak semua perlu didedahkan kepada umum.

Sebenarnya, kerajaan hanya perlu membuat dua pilihan — membenarkan konsert itu diteruskan untuk menjadi popular khasnya di kalangan remaja atau mengharamkan konsert itu atas alasan berasaskan keputusan bijaksana.

Kerajaan memilih mengharamkan konsert itu pada saat akhir kerana ia mempunyai implikasi sangat besar terhadap persepsi dan keselamatan negara. Sebagai negara yang menjadikan Islam sebagai agama rasmi, Malaysia perlu sensitif terhadap apa juga isu membabitkan Islam.

Malaysia tidak boleh menjadi negara 'Semua Boleh' walaupun negara ini menyanjung semangat 'Malaysia Boleh.' Kita percaya tindakan kerajaan itu mempunyai kaitan rapat dengan soal keselamatan rakyat yang menyaksikan konsert itu.

Adalah lebih baik mengambil tindakan mencegah sebelum kejadian buruk berlaku. Rasanya, keputusan itu dibuat dengan mengambil kira 'malang tidak berbau.' Peristiwa letupan di beberapa negara, termasuk di Bali dan Jakarta tidak boleh dianggap ia tidak boleh berlaku di tempat lain.

Hari ini, dunia didedahkan dengan kumpulan di belakang beberapa kejadian yang mencatat sejarah peristiwa dunia itu. Atas nama jihad, semua boleh dilakukan walaupun mereka terpaksa mati bersama.

Bagi pengganas, apa juga produk Amerika Syarikat dianggap sebagai 'haram.' Bagi mereka, Amerika Syarikat adalah musuh pertama mereka. Oleh itu, keberanian kumpulan ini sudah diuji dan mereka menunggu peluang dan masa sesuai untuk membuat gempar baru.

Malang bagi Erykah dan penganjur kerana pembatalan konsert itu tidak ada kena mengena dengan soal pelanggaran kontrak atau undang-undang. Ia berpunca daripada gambar Erykah yang disiarkan sebuah akhbar tempatan yang menyentuh sensitiviti umat Islam.

Walaupun dianggap kesilapan tidak disengajakan, ia tetap mempunyai implikasi besar. Tentunya, risiko meneruskan konsert itu adalah lebih besar daripada membatalkannya. Golongan muda, khasnya yang sudah membeli tiket, berasa amat kecewa dan menganggap kerajaan membuat keputusan tidak wajar. Mereka marah kerana ia dianggap merampas hak mereka sebagai orang muda. Mereka membandingkan konsert Erykah di negara lain yang berjalan lancar.

Mereka menganggap Malaysia mengamalkan dasar tertutup. Mereka lupa, tanpa isu dicetuskan akhbar itu, konsert itu sepatutnya diteruskan. Konsert Jessie J di Sunway Lagoon malam kelmarin berjalan lancar tanpa sebarang insiden. Ini menunjukkan, kerajaan tidak ada masalah membenarkan konsert seperti ini jika yakin ia tidak menimbulkan masalah keselamatan.

Bagi orang asing yang sering skeptikal terhadap Malaysia, mereka mengaitkan keputusan itu sebagai gambaran dasar kerajaan. Bagi golongan ini, ia menguatkan anggapan lama mereka bahawa kerajaan membuat keputusan 'flip-flop.'

Mereka mengaitkan dengan kebimbangan orang asing untuk mengadakan perjanjian atau berkolaborasi dengan Malaysia. Malah, ada yang mengaitkan kegagalan menarik orang asing supaya menjadikan Malaysia sebagai rumah kedua, ada kaitan dengan keputusan 'flip flop.'

Masyarakat pelabur melihat isu ini dalam konteks berbeza daripada pengusaha pelancong. Ada juga yang mengatakan sebagai sebuah negara mengamalkan pendekatan wassatiyah atau kesederhanaan, konsert itu perlu diteruskan. Bagi golongan ini pembatalan konsert itu dianggap pelanggaran dasar wassatiyah.

Apapun, ramai mengatakan keputusan kerajaan itu tepat dengan mengambil kira suasana global yang perlu berwaspada terhadap ancaman pengganas. Dengan mengambil kira beberapa peristiwa di negara lain, jika sesuatu berlaku membabitkan Islam, pihak yang berkenaan akan mendapat 'amaran' daripada pihak menentangnya.

Pembangkang nampaknya sunyi senyap berhubung isu pembatalan konsert Erykah ini. Barangkali mereka setuju keputusan kerajaan atau mereka juga mungkin kecewa keputusan itu. Mereka mungkin mengharapkan kerajaan membenarkan konsert itu diteruskan kerana memberi peluang menjadikannya isu politik. Seandainya konsert itu diteruskan dan katakan ada pihak yang ingin mengambil kesempatan melakukan huru-hara, mereka akan mengambil peluang seluas-luasnya mengecam kerajaan. Malah, mereka akan mengatakan kerajaan membuat keputusan salah dan tidak sewajarnya membenarkan konsert itu diadakan. Ini adalah sikap oportunis politik.

Mereka perlu memikirkan cara mana mengambil kesempatan dalam apa juga kenyataan dan pe-ristiwa untuk memastikan kewujudan mereka terus relevan di mata rakyat. Bagi majoriti rakyat, mereka mulai faham bahawa kerajaan mengambil kira kepentingan rakyat yang sentiasa didahulukan.

Pembatalan konsert Erykah ini adalah satu contoh kecil kerajaan tidak segala-galanya mengambil kepentingan politik sebagai keutamaan dalam membuat keputusan. — Berita Harian

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication. The Malaysian Insider does not endorse the view unless specified.

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Show BN the door — Gomen Man

MARCH 18 — We should punish Umno/Barisan Nasional for their arrogance and must pay heed every time their politicians show their arrogance and let other Malaysians know about it.

And it is even more imperative that we act decisively when those who portray their arrogance and deign to lecture us are anything but role models. Just listen to Najib Razak and Muhyiddin Yassin.

Today, the PM says that his government's reforms will fail if states under the Opposition are not back in the BN fold. What a sham.

Look, his so-called reforms are dead, and have been for some time. Fearful of losing his party warlords, there have not been any open tenders, or move to push Malaysia up the income level, or more transparency in government procurement.

And let us not talk about Pemandu and Idris Jala. This is the man who supposedly turned around Malaysia Airlines and look at where the carrier is now. Pemandu have come out with a wish list of projects and their estimates are so incredible that most senior civil servants roll their eyes whenever anyone mentions Pemandu.

Our national debt is more than 55 per cent of the GDP, the highest it has ever been. It would seem the crony capitalism of the Mahathir years is back.

But Najib still is in la la land and now says that his transformation programme will be in jeopardy if Selangor, Penang, Kedah and Kelantan do not return to BN control. We can tolerate grandstanding but we should not accept lies.

Selangor and Penang are more efficiently run and have undergone more significant transformation than any BN-run state, with better surpluses and stronger foreign investor interest. Kelantan is among the poorest states because the federal government has deprived the state of funds, including oil royalty.

If anything, it is the Opposition-run states which have shown an appetite for reform, whether through the Freedom of Information Act, etc.

But Najib is prepared to lie to former Malay civil servants and that is his prerogative. We don't have to put up with these lies anymore.

Now let me discuss his deputy. The man dismisses the threat of Bersih 3.0 and says that demos don't change anything. Serious? Why did his boss push through the lame duck Peaceful Assembly Act if not for pressure from Bersih 2.0? Why did Najib change the Internal Security Act if not for pressure from Bersih 2.0?

But we should not be surprised about Muhyiddin. The guy rarely talks sense. It is a wonder he is still a national leader given his legal troubles with a group of Singapore investors back in the days when he was the Johor MB. Just Google Stamford and Muhyiddin.

He was also the agriculture minister when Shahrizat Jalil's family hit the jackpot aka the NFC project.

* Gomen Man reads The Malaysian Insider.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication. The Malaysian Insider does not endorse the view unless specified.

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Najib gives scholarships for Indian students, praises SMC

PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak was in high praises of the Sri Murugan Centre over the key role played by the education centre in educating thousands of Indian students.

Minutes after launching the 30th  anniversary celebrations of Sri Murugan Centre (SMC) here, Najib tweeted to show his appreciation to the centre.

"They have done much for the Indian community," he tweeted.

Earlier in his speech, Najib said the government would provide full scholarships for top 100 Indian students who achieved first class degree.

They will be provided the financial aid to pursue education at local public universities, he said.

"These top students can now pursue post-graduate degrees at public universities should they decide to do so," he added.

The prime minister said that the scholarship award showed the government's commitment to education for Malaysian Indians.

He said the scholarships announcement was to fulfill the promises he made at the launching of the 1Malaysia Indian Student Movement (1MISM) last year.

"In 2011, I announced at the launch of 1MISM that more opportunities for funding will be given to first class honours Indian undergraduates at public universities whereby they can pursue their Masters and PhDs at IPTAs.

He also repeated his earlier assurance that 1,000 places for matriculation will be offered to Indian students who have excelled in the 2011 SPM examinations. This offer will kickstart from the 2012/2013 intake.

At a press conference afterwards, the prime minister also announced that a new Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Tamil (SJKT) made up of two four-storey classroom blocks would be built in Taman PJS 1 here.

Najib said the school would be named SJKT Tan Sri V Manikavasagam in appreciation of the contributions the late former president of MIC in advancing the Indian community in the country.

"Construction will begin this year itself," he added.

The prime minister's scholarships announcement for the top 100 Indian students was received well by more than 6,000 students, parents and teachers who attended the SMC celebrations today.

The Sri Murugan Centre has served a crucial role in helping more than 23,000 students from the low and middle income groups become graduates.

Dedicated to teaching

Speaking to FMT last week, SMC founder M Thambirajah said that the centre was committed to its three main principals – all are created equal, all have been bestowed with the same intelligence and faith in religion is crucial to success in education.

"All children are not born stupid. All are born equal and SMC really cares for our children. We invited the PM to recognise the achievement of our children over the years and reaffirm our commitment towards nation building," he added.

Thambirajah said the centre was founded on Sept 24, 1982 by him and a group of 42 students of the Tamil Language Society and lecturers of Universiti Malaya.

He recalled that he initiated the centre in that year after only 120 students qualified for the Arts faculty of UM despite 160 places having been allocated for Indian students.

"This resulted in under qualified students being given places to fullfil the quota requirement at that time," he said.

Thambirajah said SMC and its volunteers were dedicated to teaching and guiding its students to discover their full potential.

"For the last 30 years, we have come a long way in narrowing the gap between those who are well educated and not educated.

[main photo from SMC website]

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Dokumen rahsia Scorpene bakal didedahkan di Mahkamah Perancis...

Dokumen berkaitan pembelian kapal selam Scorpene, yang  diklasifikasi di bawah Akta Rahsia Rasmi (OSA) akan didedahkan pada inkuiri terbuka di Mahkamah Pengadilan Tinggi Perancis (Tribunal de Grande Instance) kata Pengarah Suaram, Cynthia Gabriel.

"Kedua-dua pihak (kerajaan Malaysia dan firma pertahanan Perancis DCNS) mempunyai dokumen sama. Bezanya, Malaysia klasifikasikan dokumen itu sebagai Akta Rahsia Rasmi.

"Berbanding Perancis, mahkamahnya boleh mengeluarkan perintah agar pihak berkaitan membuat pendedahan," kata Cynthia pada sidang media di Dewan Perhimpunan Cina KL-Selangor (KLSCAH), hari ini.

Syarikat DCNS, yang membekalkan dua kapal selam itu sebelum ini didakwa membayar sogokan jutaan ringgit kepada pegawai tertinggi Malaysia.

Urusniaga berharga RM7.1 bilion itu dibuat  ketika Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Razak menjadi menteri pertahanan dan dikaitkan dengan Abdul Razak Baginda, kenalan rapat Najib yang mendapat komisen bernilai RM540 juta melalui syarikat Perimekar Sdn Bhd.

Di bawah undang-undang Perancis, pembelian kelengkapan ketenteraan yang melibatkan bayaran komisen adalah menjadi satu kesalahan.

Menurut Cynthia, beliau mendapat makluman persediaan mahkamah dari peguam Suaram, William Bourdon dan Joseph Breham, 16 Mac lalu.

Tambah beliau, dua hakim penyiasat yang mengendalikan ! kes ters ebut ialah Roger L Roire dan Serge Tounaire.

"Nama-nama yang sebelum ini tak pernah didengari akan didedahkan," tambah beliau namun enggan membuat spekulasi atau mendedahkan individu terbabit sebagai mematuhi  prosedur mahkamah.

"Sebagai pengadu, Suaram kini punyai akses penuh kepada laporan siasatan pendakwaraya dan polis Perancis. Besar beza prosedur dan ketelusan siasatan antara Malaysia dan Perancis," katanya.

Pada sidang media sama, Ahli Parlimen Subang, Sivarasa Rasiah memberikan komitmen untuk membawa isu tersebut ke Dewan Rakyat pada minggu hadapan.

"Telah 10 tahun sejak 2002, kes ini tergantung. Kerajaan Malaysia wajar berikan kerjasama penuh, bukannya menghalang siasatan dibuat," tegasnya. - keadilandaily

Scorpene subs case to open in France...

Kuala Lumpur-based human rights NGO Suaram's case against giant French shipbuilder DCNS will finally go to court after a three-year hiatus. Suaram director Cynthia Gabriel confirmed that the case will be heard in the Paris courts, but will only reveal further details at a press conference tomorrow.


"The moment has arrived. The case is opening in France. We are very excited about it," she told Malaysiakini, when contacted.

It was delayed by political developments in both France and Malaysia, given the high-profile nature of the case.

The French company which had supplied two Scorpene submarines to Malaysia, has bee! n accuse d of paying millions of ringgit in kickbacks to top Malaysian officials involved in the purchase.

Under French law, such payment or commission is deemed illegal.

Involving the RM7.3 billion purchase of two Scorpene-class submarines in 2002 by the Malaysian government, the scandal took place when Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak (above) was defence minister.

Polls, pride, come in way

Cynthia (left) said the case had been held back earlier as both countries faced the likelihood of elections, and the stakes were high for politicians allegedly involved in the procurement.

Suaram's lawyers had informed the NGO that part of the reason for the delay was the French public prosecutor's own objection to remove the case from his purview and move it up to the open courts.

William Bourdon and Joseph Brehem from Sherpa, a French NGO working on legal human rights issues, are lawyers for Suaram.


Cynthia had then also hinted at possible political interference when she said that after many weeks of uncertainty, this hurdle was overcome as the public prosecutor had withdrawn his objection, allowing the court proceedings to commence.

"We had received unverified information of possible interference in the public prosecutor's findings.

"We were informed but could not verify, that efforts were being made to delay the case until after the French general election, expected to be held in the middle of this year," she said.- malaysiakini

cheers.

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French prosecutors ready to probe into Scorpene deal

KUALA LUMPUR: French prosecutors have prima facie evidence to investigate alleged improprieties against French naval shipbuilder DCNS over its sale of two Scorpene submarines to the Malaysia in 2002.

Announcing this today, Suaram director Cynthia Gabriel said: "The inquiry in France has officially opened on Friday."

Speaking to reporters here, she said two French judges – Roger Le Loire and Serge Tournaire  – would be hearing the case at the Paris Tribunal de Grande Instance.

In France, Suaram is represented by lawyers William Bourdon and Joseph Breham.

"The two judges are designated to investigate the (alleged) misuse and mismanagement of funds amounting to more than 114.9 million euros.

"They were appointed by a dean of judges," she said.

The tribunal in the French judiciary is a 'first degree court' that deals with civil litigation matters and is placed below the French appeals court.

Gabriel further revealed that the tribunal would also be looking into two additional commissions paid out by DCNS in the deal which involved Malaysian company Perimekar Bhd which had acted as a go-between for the procurement.

"The travel expenses of Abdul Razak Baginda (a close associate of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak), and other unnamed persons to Macao will be exposed," she said.

"Suaram will have access to the details which we will expose in the coming weeks," she added.

Suaram as the plaintiff will be required to be present in the case as the first witness.

Journey towards seeking the truth

She also cautioned the press that the case would be a long drawn affair by quoting Suaram's French lawyers: "While the entire case will be a long drawn affair, the journey towards unravelling the truth has most certainly began."

Suaram had first filed the complaint in the French judiciary in February 2010, enquiring about the formation of Perimekar after DCNS signed the deal with the Malaysian Defence Ministry, then headed by Najib.

When asked why Suaram had not approached the Malaysian legal system, Suaram's lawyer Fadiah Nadwa Fikri said that they "met with unanswered questions and lies" when they sought justice here.

She also hoped that the Malaysian authorities will cooperate in the investigations and not be a hindrance in the case.

She pointed out that Bourdon was hauled by the immigration department and deported from Malaysia last year when he flew in to have a  briefing session with Suaram and other interested parties on the development of the case.

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Pakatan to back ‘Bersih 3.0’ if polls reform fails

By Lisa J. Ariffin
The Malaysian Insider
Mar 18, 2012

Aunty Bersih takes to the streets in the quest for electoral reforms during the Bersih rally last year.- file picKUALA LUMPUR, March 18 — Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders have declared their support for a "Bersih 3.0" rally in the capital city if the Najib administration fail to implement meaningful electoral reforms before polls are held.

The leaders stressed that Putrajaya could avoid a tumultuous rally like last July 9 if their demands are met and recommendations by the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) for electoral reforms are implemented by the Election Commission (EC).

Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar said the EC's "snail pace movements" with implementing the PSC's recommendations gives credence to demands for a Bersih 3.0 rally, which will be country's third since 2007.

"The rakyat shouldn't be fooled by mere pledges and public relations' showpieces. The EC must be pushed to implement reforms," Nurul Izzah told The Malaysian Insider.

"Else, we're left with no choice but to take the demand for free and fair elections to the streets," she said.

Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad mirrored Nurul's sentiment, saying if the EC does not address the issues put forward by the PSC soon, "then obviously the statement by Datuk Ambiga will be considered seriously by our party".

"The acid test for any matured democracy is when change occurs through the electoral process. Malaysia has for the past 55 years never experienced change in power," he said, adding that the BN government must give way to the people who are interested in bringing about this change.

"As long as no change in the government occurs, particularly at the federal level, then the status of democracy will always be in question."

Additionally, DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang said: "If there is no progress made in the reforms, then the Bersih committee and those responsible will have to look into the possibility of another rally."

This said, Khalid pointed out that there is time for the EC to come clean and win back the confidence of the Malaysian public

"There is still time for the EC to come clean and win our confidence by showing us what they've done as far as all comments and complains were raised," he said.

"I hope it doesn't have to come to that (another rally) and that the government will be responsible enough to ensure the coming election will be as clean and transparent as possible," he added.

Bersih 2.0 chairman Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan had today warned Putrajaya of a potential "Bersih 3.0" rally, pointing to lagging polls reforms and reports of a sudden surge of voters in some parliamentary constituencies.

"Looking at the way things are going now, we may have no choice. Do not rule out Bersih 3.0," Ambiga told The Malaysian Insider.

"If the government is not serious about electoral reform the public will have to make itself heard," she added.

Thousands of Malaysians took to the streets on July 9 to join Bersih 2.0's rally for free and fair elections but the protest turned ugly at midday when riot police launched tear gas canisters and water cannons to disperse participants.

The widespread clampdown, which saw more than 1,000 people arrested even before the rally, earned the Najib administration a whiplashing in the international media.

Under pressure, the government had then promised a slew of reform measures, which included the formation of the PSC and the enactment of the highly-criticised Peaceful Assembly Act last year.

This entry was posted on Sunday, 18 March 2012, 9:06 am and is filed under Bersih, Elections. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0.  

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‘Useless’ to hold another rally, Muhyiddin tells Bersih 2.0

By Lisa J. Ariffin
The Malaysian Insider
Mar 18, 2012

KUALA LUMPUR, March 18 — Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin dismissed today warnings that Bersih 2.0 may launch another rally, telling the election watchdog that street demonstrations are "useless".

"To me, it is useless to do so (hold another rally)," Muhyiddin told a press conference today after attending the Federal Territory Umno Election Assembly here.

"Demonstrations won't solve problems, they are just to show how much support you have," he added, saying that if Barisan Nasional (BN) was to hold a similar demonstration, the pact could easily rally one million supporters.

Muhyiddin was speaking today in response to Bersih 2.0 chairman Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan, who yesterday warned Putrajaya of a potential "Bersih 3.0" rally in light of lagging polls reforms and reports of a sudden surge of voters in some parliamentary constituencies.

Muhyiddin pointed out that although Ambiga had many times said Bersih was not politically motivated, "we all know it is political".

"The main problem here is with the electoral roll and the government has taken many steps to rectify this issue," he said, citing the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) for electoral reforms.

Muhyiddin added that the BN government was an open government, and that there was nothing to hide.

"Whoever is unhappy can voice their discontent to the government, not take it out on the streets," he said.

"We know the people don't like demonstrations."

Following Ambiga's announcement, Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders have declared their support for a "Bersih 3.0" rally in the capital city if the Najib administration fail to implement meaningful electoral reforms before polls are held.

The opposition leaders stressed that Putrajaya could avoid a tumultuous rally like last July 9 if their demands are met and recommendations by the PSC for electoral reforms are implemented by the Election Commission (EC).

Thousands of Malaysians took to the streets on July 9 to join Bersih 2.0's rally for free and fair elections but the protest turned ugly at midday when riot police launched tear gas canisters and water cannons to disperse participants.

The widespread clampdown, which saw more than 1,000 people arrested even before the rally, earned the Najib administration a whiplashing in the international media.

Under pressure, the government had then promised a slew of reform measures, which included the formation of the PSC and the enactment of the highly-criticised Peaceful Assembly Act last year.

This entry was posted on Sunday, 18 March 2012, 2:09 pm and is filed under Bersih, Elections, Muhyiddin Yassin, UMNO. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0.  

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Lynas affair: Karpal calls on Sultan to intervene

GEORGE TOWN: The DAP has called on the Sultan of Pahang to intervene and look into the Lynas affair in the interests of Malaysians.

DAP national chairman Karpal Singh said although the sultan was no doubt a constitutional figure head, nonetheless His Highness could not necessarily be the sort of ruler to sit back under certain circumstances.

"He has to step in in the interest of his subjects," Karpal told newsmen here today in response to the formation of a parliamentary select committee (PSC) on Lynas.

He pointed to the last July's Bersih 2.0 rally as a precedent to be emulated by the Sultan of Pahang to step into the Lynas affair.

He recalled that His Majesty the King then had invited Bersih organisers to his Royal Palace and directed them to hold the rally elsewhere in the public interests.

He has no doubt that the PSC was an election gimmick to calm down the opposition and the people on Lynas.

"No doubt the select committee is not going to solve the Lynas issue," Karpal said.

The two-term Bukit Gelugor MP said it was difficult to believe on how in the first place Australia's Lynas Corporation Ltd was allowed to have its plant in Gebeng, near Kuantan.

He said the plant can be located in Australia, which is a continent with vast empty land.

Last month anti-Lynas movement, Himpunan Hijau 2.0 held a nationwide protest against Lynas, which has been issued a temporary licence to set up its rare earth plant in Gebeng.

Lim wants PSC clarification

Meanwhile, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan called on the government to clarify on the terms of reference on PSC on Lynas.

Lim, who is also the DAP secretary-general, said Pakatan Rakyat should reconsider its participation in the PSC if it was only to boost the people's confidence over the project.

Headed by Higher Education Minister Khaled Nordin, the PSC would have four members from Barisan Nasional, three from Pakatan and one independent member.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Aziz has said that the terms of reference were for the committee to review the feedback from the public on the project, to get explanation from various groups, including the relevant authorities and parties with interest in the issue, and to suggest steps to be taken on the matter to Parliament

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Karpal hits out at DAP panel which cleared Rama

GEORGE TOWN: DAP supremo Karpal Singh has rebuked the three-man panel that heard and declared DAP deputy secretary-general P Ramasamy not guilty on any breach of discipline as "abinitio or null and void."

Karpal slammed the panelists of having been tainted with elements of biasness and conflict of interests.

The DAP national chairman pointed out that since Ramasamy was a member of the four-man party disciplinary committee, the panel should have been constituted of different party members.

However, the three men who sat for the disciplinary hearing on Ramasamy on Feb 16 were all members of the party disciplinary committee.

They were chairman and Cheras MP Tan Kok Wai, Ipoh Barat MP M Kulasegaran and Penang executive councillor Lim Hock Seng.

Conventionally, said Karpal, the three panelists should have disqualified themselves from the proceedings instead of waiting for others to tell them to do so.

He was particularly shocked to see that Kulasegaran, a lawyer, sidestepped the conventional wisdom not to sit in the panel.

"How could the three men try their own peer (Ramasamy) for misconduct?

"It's clear conflict of interests and has high likelihood of biasness. Such panel would not stand before the court of justice.

"The disciplinary proceedings were null and void, or abinitio all along," Karpal told newsmen during his Bukit Gelugor parliamentary constituency working visit today.

Ramasamy, who is Batu Kawan MP and Prai assemblyman, faced charges of gross internal misconduct for allegedly organising a noisy protest against Karpal Singh during the Penang DAP annual convention in Prai on Dec 11 last year.

Some 33 party members lodged complaints and 15 of them testified at the hearing against Ramasamy, the DAP state deputy chairman. They also submitted photographic evidence to substantiate their claims.

But, on March 12, the panel announced that it has found Ramasamy not guilty on any charges.

Following the verdict, assemblymen RSN Rayer (Seri Delima) and A Tanasekharan (Bagan Dalam) have filed an appeal to the party central executive committee (CEC). The next CEC meeting would deliberate and decide on the appeal.

It is expected to be a stormy affair as Karpal and others are expected to sharpen their knives to raise the issue of conflict of interests and biasness which allegedly shrouded the panel's decision.

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PBRS mahu RCI disegerakan selesai pendatang di Sabah

KOTA KINABALU: Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) mahu Suruhanjaya Siasatan Diraja  (RCI)  bagi menyelesaikan isu pendatang tanpa izin di negeri itu.

"Pendirian PBRS dalam perkara ini amat jelas iaitu mengharap dan mempunyai keyakinan penuh agar kerajaan Pusat menyegerakan pewujudan RCI (Suruhanjaya Siasatan Diraja) untuk mencari penyelesaian masalah tersebut.

"Saya percaya kerajaan Pusat sedar serta memahami tentang keadaan ini dan kita mengharapkan agar penubuhan RCI akan menjadi realiti dalam masa terdekat," kata Presidennya Tan Sri Joseph Kurup ketika berucap pada majlis ulang tahun PBRS ke-18 di sini, malam tadi.

Beliau  merayu kepada para pemimpin atasan BN supaya "melepaskan" rakyat Sabah daripada kerisauan dan kebimbangan tentang masa depan mereka ekoran kehadiran PATI di negeri itu.

Kurup berkata parti itu juga akan terus mempertahankan hak asasi tanah anak tempatan, satu daripada isu yang kini hangat diperdebatkan di negeri ini

Sokong BN

Beliau  mengajak rakyat Sabah supaya memberi kemenangan yang besar kepada BN dalam pilihan raya umum yang akan datang.

Beliau berkata perjuangan rakyat negeri ini belum selesai, dan perjuangan itu hanya dicapai melalui BN di bawah pimpinan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak dan Ketua Menteri Sabah Datuk Seri Musa Aman.

"Marilah kita renung bersama…Sebenarnya hasil perjuangan BN, kita semua rasai keseronokan hasil ekonomi yang terus berkembang serta keharmonian suasana yang cukup baik di kalangan semua masyarakat Malaysia.

Sehubungan itu, Kurup menyeru semua anggota PBRS di 22 bahagian supaya bersatu dan menyokong calon yang dipilih oleh pucuk pimpinan sebagai calon BN, bertanding di kawasan berkenaan.

"Marilah kita berpegang tangan untuk memberi mandat kepada BN demi kebaikan bersama," katanya.

-Bernama

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PKR alukan Soi Lek bertanding tetapi yakin menang

BATU PAHAT: PKR mahupun Pakatan Rakyat berpeluang cerah merampas Parlimen Batu Pahat jika Presiden MCA,  Datuk  Seri Dr bertanding.

Ketua PKR Batu Pahat, Syed Hamid Syed Ali berkata,  selain peristiwa mengaibkan melibatkan  Chua yang berlaku di daerah itu sendiri, sebahagian besar pengundi muda  Cina  tidak terpengaruh dengan rekod wakil rakyat itu.

"Keputusan persaingan dalam Pilihanraya Umum Ke-13 di Batu Pahat kelak akan ditentukan oleh pengundi muda berbilang bangsa.

"Mereka juga mengambil pendirian yang konsisten mengenai perlunya ada reformasi yang menyeluruh di dalam negara.," katanya dalam kenyataan media hari ini.

Syed Hamid dipercayai merujuk laporan media baru yang menyebut ura-ura Umno memberi laluan kepada MCA yang akan menurunkan Chua  bertanding di Parlimen Batu Pahat.

Ahli Majlis Pimpinan Pusat PKR itu menambah jentera pilihan raya parti yang sebahagian besarnya terdiri dari anak-anak muda di bawah 30 tahun menguatkan lagi semangat dan keyakinan bahawa peluang Pakatan Rakyat di Batu Pahat adalah baik, tidak kiralah calon atau parti BN  mana yang bertanding.

Keresahan pemimpin Umno

Syed Hamid berkata, menyambut baik perkembangan ini kerana PKR  Batu Pahat bersedia pada bila-bila masa untuk berdepan dengan mana-mana parti BN.

"Jika ini berlaku, ia mengesahkan keresahan pimpinan Umno di Johor yang tidak yakin dapat memenangi hati pengundi pelbagai kaum di Batu Pahat.

"Walaupun ini tidaklah mengejutkan, tetapi ia melunturkan lagi kedudukan Umno sebagai parti utama yang boleh menjadi
tunjang kepada sebuah kerajaan Persekutuan kerana ia ditolak oleh sebahagian besar pengundi bukan Melayu di Batu Pahat khususnya dan Malaysia secara amnya," katanya Syed Hamid lagi.

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The pointless Lynas PSC

— Lucius Goon
The Malaysian Insider
Mar 18, 2012

MARCH 18 — Finally, the Prime Minister has come clean on something — last night he said that the parliamentary select committee on Lynas will not have the final say on the project.

Thank you, Najib Razak for this rare piece of honesty because now I will urge the Opposition and fair-minded Malaysians to boycott this committee and see it for what it really is: a public relations exercise by a government which is big on symbolism and gimmicks and nothing else.

According to Najib, the committee is supposed to engage the public and allay their fears about a project which has raised concerns about toxic waste and waste management.

Here is where the duplicity of the government shines through: they have given Lynas a temporary operating licence, have allowed the Australian company to build a plant, given them 12 years tax holiday, have rubbished fears from PKR's Fuziah Salleh, have given the anti-Lynas movement almost no coverage in the media and have allowed the Atomic Energy Licensing Board to become a partisan outfit and now they want to have a process of consultation.

This is like a parent punishing a child for allegedly playing truant and then asking later if the child actually did play truant.

Najib is not serious about Lynas. He wasn't serious about justice for Teoh Beng Hock. He wasn't serious about tackling the National Feedlot Corporation. He certainly is not serious about finding where the money went in the Port Klang Free Trade Zone.

It is all about closure, about being able to tell the voters that his government did something. Not the right thing, mind you. Just something.

This entry was posted on Sunday, 18 March 2012, 2:28 pm and is filed under Lynas, Najib Razak, Teoh Beng Hock. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0.  

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Najib sedang me'ready'kan diri untuk PRU-13...

Perdana Menteri sudah bersedia, tetapi mahkamah belum lagi. Kes-kes memalukan dijadualkan hanya bermula selepas Jun, iaitu selepas pilihan raya umum ke-13 diramal diadakan. Apa persamaan kontroversi berkenaan?

• Diumumkan pada hujung minggu lalu bahawa Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, menteri wanita, keluarga dan pembangunan masyarakat, terpaksa melepaskan jawatannya berikutan apa yang kini dikenali sebagai 'skandal lembu' dan akan berundur pada 8 April apabila tempoh beliau sebagai senator berakhir.

• Pada 13 Mac, hari suami, Shahrizat, Datuk Seri Mohamed Salleh Ismail, dihadapkan ke mahkamah atas dakwaan salah guna wang pinjaman mudah RM250 juta yang diberikan kerajaan. Ketua Wanita PKR, Zuraidah Kamaruddin cuba membawa usul di Dewan Rakyat bagi membahaskan kemelut itu tetapi dimaklumkan oleh speaker, Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia, bahawa perkara itu kini di mahkamah dan adalah sub judice - jika dibincangkan. Ini bermakna pembangkan kehilangan modal berkempenyang mantap.

• Pada hujung minggu yang sama, Suruhanjaya Sekuriti mengumumkan pengerusinya Datuk Zarinah Anwar, akan meletakkan jawatan pada akhir bulan ini berikutan konflik kepentingan peribadi memababitkan suaminya dalam urusan niaga saham.

• Hujah bagi rayuan dua anggota polis yang disabitkan membunuh warga Mongolia Altantuya Shaariib! uu, yang sepatutnya didengar pada 10 Februari tetapi kemudiannya ditangguhkan sehingga 9 Mac, kini sekali lagi ditangguhkan sehingga 27 dan 28 Ogos.

• Pada 9 Januari, Ketua Pembangkang Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim dibebaskan daripada tuduhan meliwat, tetapi pada 25 Januari pihak pendakwaan mengumumkan bahawa mereka akan membuat rayuan. Perbicaraan rayuan keputusan tidak-bersalah itu dijangka berlarutan dan mengambil masa yang lama.

• Terdapat pelbagai kontroversi lain, termasuk perbicaraan bekas presiden MCA Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik berhubung skandal pembinaan Zon Bebas Pelabuhan Klang, di mana kerajaan kerugian sebanyak RM12.45 bilion. Kes pendakwaan terhadap Ling selesai beberapa bulan lalu tetapi hanya baru-baru ini diumumkan bahawa beliau mesti membela diri. Tidak pasti bila beliau  akan dipanggil untuk berbuat demikian.

Apakah kes-kes berkenaan mempunyai persamaan seumpama ini ditunda ke hadapan, soal beberapa pemerhati di Kuala Lumpur.


"Mereka akan cuba menolak segala-gala kes selepas bulan Jun atau Julai yang menjadikan kita semakin yakin pilihan raya umum akan diadakan bulan Jun," kata seorang ahli perniagaan.- malaysiakini

Najib timbang 3 Jun tarikh PRU13?

Najib clears the deck for GE13

He's ready, but the courts aren't. Embarrassing cases are pushed past the anticipated June polls. What do these controversies have in common?

• It was announced last weekend that Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, the minister for women, family and community development, had been forced out of her position as a result ! of what has become known as the Cowgate scandal and will step down on April 8 when her current term ends.

• On March 13, the day after Shahrizat's husband, Mohamed Salleh Ismail, was charged in court in the alleged misuse of RM250 million of government money in scandal, Zuraidah Kamaruddin, an opposition member of parliament sought to bring up the matter, only to be told by the speaker, Pandikar Amin Mulia, that the matter is now in court and is therefore sub judice - Latin for under judicial consideration and therefore prohibited from public discussion elsewhere, taking away a potent campaign issue for the opposition.

• On the same weekend, Shahrizat was put out to pasture, the Securities Commission announced after months of controversy that its embattled chairwoman, Zarinah Anwar, would step down at the end of the month in the wake of a blatant conflict of interest involving her husband's trading in shares.

• Arguments in the appeal of the two convicted killers of Mongolian translator Altantuya Shaariibuu, first expected to be held on Feb 10, then delayed until March 9, have now been put off until Aug 27 and 28.

• On Jan 9, Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim was declared not guilty in his long-running and widely publicised trial on sodomy charges, only to have the case appealed on Jan 25. The government's appeal of the not-guilty verdict is expected to be held far into the future.

• There are a variety of other controversies hanging fire as well, including the trial of former MCA boss Dr Ling Liong Sik over a massive scandal in the construction of the Port Klang Free Zone, in which the government could lose as much as RM12.45 billion in the botched construction of the port. The prosecution finished up its case against Ling several months ago but only recently announced t! hat he m ust put on a defence. It is uncertain when he will be called to do so.

Appeal against Sodomy II

What these cases have in common is all of these matters are being pushed forward into the future or taken care of in other ways, say observers in Kuala Lumpur.

"They are trying to push everything after June or July which makes us more convinced polls are going to be in June," said a Kuala Lumpur businessman.

Any and all of the matters have the potential to disturb what BN hopes will be the smooth conduct of national elections that are expected to be called sometime this year.


Of the attempt to declare sub judice the National Feedlot Corporation scandal that cost Shahrizat her job, author Kim Quek said: "It is not difficult to see that the present drama is a carefully crafted stratagem involving the concerted effort of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, police and the attorney-general, to extricate the BN from a potentially crippling predicament on the eve of an impending election.

Well before the end of Anwar's trial in December last year, a source with connections to Umno sketched out a scenario for Asia Sentinel in which Anwar would be declared not guilty of having homosexual sex with his one-time aide, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan.


The theory was that a guilty verdict would generate sympathy for the opposition and for Anwar in that it would be regarded as hopelessly rigged because of ! a long l ist of discrepancies in the trial.


A not-guilty verdict would be similarly unpalatable for the prosecution because it would be a reminder that Anwar had spent more than three years under a cloud since Saiful made the charge against him on June 29, 2008.


Whether planned or not, the appeal worked out as positive for the government as Saiful's father, Azlan Mohd Lazim, held an emotional press conference demanding that the attorney-general appeal "for the sake of my son."


Outraged statements over the verdict filled the mainstream press until Jan 25, when Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail announced his office would file the appeal. Thus the government got nearly a month of publicity in addition to shunting the decision far into the future.

The Altantuya murder


Equally, the appeal of the convicted murderers in the politically charged case of the Mongolian translator Altantuya Shaariibuu was obviously a problem because of long-running suspicions in Kuala Lumpur that Prime Minister Najib Razak and his wife, Rosmah Mansor, were somehow connected to the case.


At the very least it calls up questions over a 114 million euro (RM500 million) "commission" paid to Najib's best friend, Abdul Razak Baginda, for the purchase by Malaysia of submarines from the French defence contractor DCNS. Most of the money is believed to have been kicked back to either Umno of French politicians.


Altantuya was murdered on Oct 18, 2006. The interminable delays in getting justice for the murdered woman have led to suspicions that the delays are deliberate in order to erase the crime from the public mind.

In the latest episode, the appeal of the two murderers supposedly was delayed from Feb 10 because records of the trial were sent to the prison where one of the bodyguards was incarcerated, something lawyers in Kuala Lumpur find inconceivable, since records are always delivered to the defendants' attorneys and never to the inmates themselves. Then, although the case was to go to the appellate court on March 9, it was quietly moved forward to August.


"If someone suggested to me that is why all the timing seems to be falling into place just about now (in preparation for an election), it certainly is what people are thinking ," said a Kuala Lumpur-based lawyer.



"You need to be aware of what's going on. Damage control, that is what they are doing."- malaysiakini - asia sentinal


Malaysia Said to Prepare for Potential Election in May or June

cheers.

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Guan Eng rallies DAP members, says survival at stake in GE-13

By Clara Chooi
The Malaysian Insider
Mar 18, 2012

KUALA LUMPUR, March 18 — Lim Guan Eng today called for extra vigilance from DAP members to counter Barisan Nasional's (BN) vote offensive, reminding them that the party's political survival would be at stake in the coming polls.

Predicting that the 13th general election would be the country's "dirtiest" in history, the DAP secretary-general said it was crucial for party members to stay resilient in the face of attacks from the ruling BN pact.

"DAP urges all leaders and members to redouble efforts to ensure that Pakatan Rakyat (PR) wins the next general elections so that DAP can remain a party in power in state governments and hopefully in the Federal government too.

"The danger signals are evident that the 13th general election will be the dirtiest in Malaysian history," Lim said in a statement here in conjunction with DAP's 46th anniversary today.

The Penang Chief Minister took a swipe at BN leaders for allegedly using money politics and misusing government machinery to shore up political support, saying it was a classic replay of past tactics.

Even worse, said Lim, BN leaders have now resorted to using "menacing tactics" to cow the opposition.

As examples, he noted that PR leaders like Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu and himself have experienced threats of personal harm and violence during public events.

"Even PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar was threatened harm by a BN man in Pahang.

"It is not Malay culture but also not Malaysian culture for a man to threaten a woman with physical bodily harm," he complained.

Lim also railed against the recent incident involving his 15-year-old son who was accused of sexually molesting a female classmate.

"Even though the so-called lady victim had publicly stated that this is false as she had never met my son or me, no action has been taken by the police against Umno Online and Umno bloggers who publicised these lies," he pointed out.

"For this reason DAP leaders and members must remain vigilant against such BN's shameless 4M (money, media, machinery, menacing PR leaders) and 4R (race, religion, royalty and rigging the Election Commission) tactics."

This entry was posted on Sunday, 18 March 2012, 2:34 pm and is filed under DAP, Elections, Lim Guan Eng. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0.  

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M’sians barred from S’wak should sue Taib

On Feb 23 this year the Bersih 2.0 steering committee at state level was formed here in Kuching.

There are 31 parliamentary seats at stake in Sarawak. Hence it is important that the general election should be conducted in a clean and fair manner throughout the country including Sarawak and Sabah.

At the last polls, the voter turnout was about 65% on the average. However in the rural areas the turnout was lower than the state average.

Hence Bersih 2.0 feels that it is necessary to intensify voters' registration exercise through its JOM100 campaign, with the objective to instil awareness among the people of the importance of voting in the coming 13th GE and to register as many voters as possible to ensure they can exercise their democratic rights on polling day.

The  Bersih steering committee was supposed to convene its first meeting on March 10 but an  unfortunate incident with Maria Chin Abdullah ended that plan.

Chin was barred at the Kuching International Airport from entering Sarawak by state immigration officers on orders from Chief Minister Taib Mahmud.

The legal right to bar and the reason to ban are two separate issues and Taib, the state's top bully, should know this.

The immigration department has the legal power to bar a person if he/she does not possess the entry documents.

But if the person has all the necessary documents, the immigration has no legal right to stop him/her from entering the state as a visitor.

To prevent someone who has all the necessary legal papers to enter Sarawak  is not an act of barring but banning.

In the case of the act of banning someone, the immigration officers must have and provide the reason supported by documentary evidence as to why he/she is not allowed to enter legally as a visitor on a short visit pass.

No valid reason for ban

Like any travellers, Malaysians and foreigners alike, Chin possessed all the necessary travelling documents and yet could not pass through the KIA entry point.

She was instead ordered to return to Peninsular Malaysia on the next available flight.

The immigration officers can legally bar her from entering the state provided she did not possess the necessary legal travelling papers, namely the passport or the identity card.

But she had the said papers and therefore claimed to have full legal right to enter the state and yet was prevented from doing so.

This act of imposing an entry ban on her violated her legal and democratic right to enter Sarawak as a visitor.

There are two valid reasons as to why a person of any nationality may be banned to enter the state.

The first reason is if  he/she intends to seek employment or take away business opportunities in the state in accordance with Sections 62-66 of the Immigration Act.

Secondly if the person had committed a serious offence/crime directly or indirectly and his/her entry is detrimental to the authority that rejects his/her entry.

These accusations must be supported by documentary evidence . If they could not do so, then  banning is firstly a violation of her legal right to enter the state legally, and secondly it is an act of defamation on her character, especially when the incident was reported widely in the media.

In the public view Chin must have committed a serious offence earlier on related directly or indirectly to the authority or persons that imposed  such ban.

Sue Taib, please

The immigration officers' lame excuse was that the ban was a 'directive' from the top which is none other than Taib.

Chin only came to chair the first meeting of Sarawak Bersih steering committee.

She was not even involved in any legitimate assembly or political gathering. Being a fellow Malaysian she can travel freely to any state in Malaysia.

This is guaranteed in Article 9(2) of the federal constitution.The special immigration power of the  state is mentioned in Sections 62-66  that gives the state government the right to regulate the entry of West Malaysians to protect the employment and business opportunities of the Sarawak and Sabah people from being taken away by the Semananjung Malaysians.

The state government cannot stop Malaysians from the peninsula or anyone for that matter to enter the state for any other purposes.

There are a long list of reputable personalities from Peninsular Malaysia who were banned at one time or another, among them were Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, S Ambiga, Lim Kit Siang, Karpal Singh, Lee Lam Thye, R.Sivarasa and now Chin. All of them have reputable records.

They came on social visits and had no intention to seek jobs or deprived the locals in any economic activities  in the state.

I suggest all the victims of Taib's abuses of the special immigration right to jointly sue the Chief Minister for violation of their legal right to enter Sarawak and for defamation of character, and to claim for RM500 million in damages.

If Taib thinks that his immigration power is absolute, then let him try to bar the Prime Minister or any federal minister  from entering  the state.

Sarawak Bersih adopts two issues

It is high time that the BN at national level appoints a new state BN chairman in Sarawak to ensure there are no more gross abuses of power not only on immigration matters but other issues that affect the people of the state.

Sarawak Bersih hereby wishes to put on record that we condemn and strongly protest  the action of the immigration officers and the Chief Minister of Sarawak for wrongful act of banning Maria Chin from entering Sarawak.

We also propose that these two issues be adopted by the Bersih steering committee at the national level:

Electoral reform No 9:  which is that the National Registration Department (NRD) to check the identity cards of voters at every polling station.

Due to rampant use of fake identity cards by the illegals to vote especially in Sabah and Semenanjung Malaysia, the NRD should set up counters in every polling station to check on the IC of every voter.This is to ensure only Malaysian citizens can vote with original ICs.

Those illegals with fake ICs should not only be disallowed to vote but arrested on the spot because they have committed two offences – in possession of fake ICs  and trying to use them to vote.

The  police should station their personnel at every polling station to arrest the culprits.

Electoral reform No 10: wherein the Election Commission allows those whose names are erased from the electoral rolls to be allowed to vote.

There had been many instances where the names of the voters were erased from the electoral rolls without their knowledge and permission.

We  urge all political parties to bring both copies of the 2008 and the GE 13 electoral rolls to ensure those whose names do not appear in the 13th GE electoral roll but appeared  in the 2008
electoral roll, to make a protest on the spot and demand that these voters be allowed to vote.

All political parties must ensure their representatives carry two set of copies of these electoral rolls at every polling station to ensure this polling malpractice can be stopped.

Awang Abdillah is a political analyst, writer and FMT columnist. He is also a member of the Sarawak Bersih committee.

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JANGAN MENARUH HARAPAN KEPADA NAJIB

Najib, kaki perempuan yang membawa Malaysia ke arah kehancuran

Bagaimana seorang individu yang tidak dapat memahami konsep yang ringkas dan terang boleh berada di kedudukan mengurus dan memimpin negara? Lihatlah kegagalan skim MyFirst Home dan keputusan terbaru memansuhkan skim saraan kakitangan kerajaan,selain dari kegagalan yang lain-lain.

Dilancarkan setahun yang lepas, skim pemilikan rumah untuk golongan berpendapatan rendah gagal kerana pihak bank enggan memberi pinjaman 100% kepada pemohon yang berpendapatan kurang dari RM3000 sebulan. Bagaimana Najib boleh tidak dapat memahami fakta bahawa dengan pendapatan demikian, seseorang mungkin tidak ada wang tambahan untuk membayar ansuran rumah? Seharusnya Najib ketahui yang seorang individu perlu membayar berbagai-bagai keperluan seperti makanan, pengangkutan dan perbelanjaan lain. Selepas potongan EPF dan Socso, tiada lagi wang yang tinggal.

Walaupun Najib bukan seorang yang arif tentang kewangan, beliau ada penasihat, pakar, ahli-ahli dan 1.4 juta kakitangan kerajaan untuk beliau mendapatkan idea dan formula. Yang utama, skim tersebut bertujuan memancing pengundi terutamanya golongan muda. Najib bergantung kepada skim tersebut kerana beliau perlu menang dengan apa cara sekalipun dalam PRU ke 13. tetapi bertembung dengan kegagalan.

Hal yang sama berlaku kepada skim saraan kakitangan awam yang diumumkan Febuari lepas. Jurang perbezaan antara kakitangan awam peringkat tinggi dan mereka yang berada dalam gred yang lebih rendah, iaitu golongan majoriti sangat luas. Pelan ini menjadi bahan kritikan sejak awal lagi dan akhirnya dimansuhkan oleh Najib kerana terlalu hangat untuk diteruskan. SBPA  juga bertujuan memancing undi untuk PRU 13.

'Popularity poll' that went unnoticed and incompetent advisers

Tidak mengejutkan bila kajian populariti beliau langsung tidak dihiraukan, hanya segelintir sahaja rakyat yang mempersoalkan kenapa populariti itu meningkat ke 69%. Adakah laporan itu sesuatu yang dibuat-buat? Adakah kerana bagaimana soalan-soalan poll tersebut dirangka? Bagaimanapun, selain dari kajian meragukan dalam kalangan rakyat Malaysia, kekurangan respons menunjukkan rakyat telah membuat keputusan dan tidak akan mengubah fikiran hanya dengan keputusan mana-mana kajian.

Najib gagal kerana beliau terlalu jahil. Beliau terus meletakkan orang yang salah di kedudukan yang tinggi. Mereka yang perlu membantu beliau dalam program transformasi tetapi transformasi yang dilihat oleh rakyat ialah dari Ah Jib Gor kepada Ah Chep Gor, akibat daripada dakwaan bahawa beliau menggunakan RM400,000 duit rakyat untuk majlis pertunangan anak perempuannya.

Ah Jib Gor ialah nama panggilan yang diberikan oleh penasihat-penasihatnya untuk memancing pengundi Cina. Tapi mereka tidak sedar nama panggilan tersebut membuat masyarakat Cina berasa terhina dan kurang rasa hormat terhadap tahap intelektual dan kematangan mereka ialah satu lagi tanda kesilapan besar percaturan pasukan perangka strategi Najib.

Dana 1MDB yang membeli aset Ananda Krishnan untuk jumlah kontroversi RM8.5billion mempunyai panel penasihat dan pengarah-pengarah yang mempunyai latar belakang yang meragukan. 1MDB, yang dikatakan oleh pemimpin pembangkang, Anwar Ibrahim sebagai dana lumpur berbaur politik, kini mahu melupuskan aset-aset lapuk tersebut di luar negara. Para penganalisa mengesyaki satu cubaan untuk menutup mulut rakyat tentang harga belian yang terlalu tinggi.

Tambahan pula, program transformasi ekonomi dan politik Najib juga gagal. Senarai panjang yang selalu digembar-gemburkan tidak perlu kerana rakyat sudah tahu. Tidak banyak yang berjaya menarik perhatian pelabur manakala jumlah hutang negara terus naik.

Satu lagi kes memalukan yang bakal meletup ialah penyenaraian saham Felda Global Ventures. Setiap hari, ada saja peneroka Felda yang menolak idea yang mungkin akan memberi kekayaan kepada mereka di peringkat awal, tetapi kemudian mendedahkan mereka kepada risiko kehilangan tanah kerana pengambilalihan oleh pakar pasaran saham.

Tetapi akhirnya isu kurang pemahaman PM terhadap isu dan konsep, ditambah pula dengan nasihat dari orang-orang yang salah, akan membawa kepada kejatuhan pemerintahan beliau. Pemerintahan yang dicemari malapetaka, ketidakupayaan, tidak jujur dan hiprokrit.

Rekod buruk Najib

Sejak Najib dipanggil balik dari England dan menceburi diri di bidang politik pada usia 23 tahun pada tahun 1976 setelah bapanya PM kedua Abdul Razak, meninggal dunia, beliau telah memegang beberapa jawatan dalam kabinet bermula dengan Timbalan Menteri Telekom dan Pos,Timbalan Menteri Pelajaran dan juga Timbalan Menteri Kewangan.

Kemudian beliau dipilih sebagai Menteri Besar Pahang pada usia muda,28 tahun pada tahun 1982. Walaupun perjalanan lancar dalam bidang politik dan pendedahan yang! diberik an oleh UMNO, beliau tidak menyumbang apa-apa yang berkesan kepada parti, pendapat nasionalis Melayu, Malaysia dan juga kedudukan politiknya sendiri.

Sepatutnya pengalaman sedemikian dapat membentuk beliau menjadi ahli politik sejati, yang mempunyai kematangan dalam demokrasi Malaysia yang moden dan membangun, pemimpin yang peka, prihatin dan memenuhi aspirasi rakyat. Seorang Perdana Menteri yang boleh dibanggakan oleh rakyat.

Kaki perempuan dan pertemuan dengan Rosmah Mansor

Najib bergelumang dengan skandal peribadi sebagaimana yang diberitahu oleh bapanya kepada seorang diplomat asing pada satu jamuan minum teh. Razak memberitahu anak lelakinya kaki perempuan sejak dari zaman universiti. Kemudian ada dakwaan khalwat bila dia ditangkap apa yang tidak sepatutnya dilakukan dengan seorang penyanyi di Port Dickson.

Najib juga terlibat dengan kontroversi bila meninggalkan isteri pertamanya untuk berkahwin dengan isteri orang, Rosmah Mansor. Ada yang menyalahkan Rosmah yang mata duitan sebagai faktor utama dalam keputusan politik Najib. Tapi sama seperti pasukan penasihatnya, Rosmah yang boros, terburu-buru dan agresif hanya sebahagian daripada masalah Najib.

Tanggungan terbesar Najib ialah dirinya sendiri, kekurangan fokus, intelek dan keupayaan untuk mengenal dan memilih yang terbaik. Inilah sebab beliau sentiasa dalam kesusahan dan alasan- nya sentiasa beliau tidak mendapat nasihat yang betul. Beberapa kali hal ini berlaku ,sebelum rakyat sedar hanya orang jahil dan bodoh sahaja akan sewenangnya dan kerap kali tersilap.

Altantuya dan zaman mewah Najib di Kementerian Pertahanan

Masih terbayang-bayang dalam kepalanya seper! ti kata- kata Damocles ialah pembunuhan Altantuya Shaaribu yang didakwa Rosmah terlibat. Sudah tentu 2 bekas pengawal peribadi yang didapati bersalah atas tuduhan tersebut. Najib dan kawan baiknya Razak Baginda juga dituduh mengambil secara tidak jujur RM570 juta wang imbuhan dari syarikat gergasi menjual senjata Perancis DCN kerana bersetuju membeli kapal selam Scorpene bagi pihak kerajaan Malaysia

Semasa Najib sebagai Menteri Pertahanan, beliau terlibat dalam pembelian 12 buah helikopter Eurocopter EC725 Cougar berjumlah RM2.3 billion, walaupun Brazil membayar hanya RM4.5 juta untuk 50 unit model yang sama. Najib juga memantau pembelian 18 buah jet pejuang Sukhoi dari Rusia bernilai RM3.2 billion. Komisen dibayar kepada syarikat Malaysia IMT Defence, pada kadar 12 peratus dari harga belian atau RM380 juta. Jumlah sebesar itu untuk menjadi orang tengah tetapi Najib terlepas kerana dilindungi UMNO/APCO.

Semasa zaman mewah beliau sebagai menteri pertahanan, Najib juga terlibat dalam skandal PSC-Naval Dackyard. Kontrak diberikan kepada PSC pada tahun 2004 untuk membekalkan bot patrol kepada tentera laut. Harga kontrak meningkat dari harga asal RM5.35 billion kepada RM6.75 billion menjelang Januari 2007. Lebih buruk lagi, hanya 2 bot yang rosak dari 6 buah yang sepatutnya dan 298 aduan direkodkan berkenaan 2 bot tersebut yang didapati masing-masing terdapat 100 dan 383 item tidak lengkap.

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Rasuah dan perkauman makin buruk

Ikrar Najib untuk memerangai rasuah ternyata palsu. Najib membuatkan amalan rasuah makin teruk dalam 3 tahun lepas beliau menjadi PM selepas Abdullah Badawi dalam tahun 2009.

Di bawah pemerintahanya, Proton terus dalam kerugian dengan rugi bersih RM88.2 juta untuk suku ketiga berbanding RM68.1 juta yang dicatat dalam masa yang sama satu ketika dulu. Perolehan merosot ke RM1.43 billion berbanding RM1.83bilion dahulu. MAS juga mengalami kerugian walaupun terdapat kerjasama kontroversi dengan Air Asia. Kerugian tidak dapat dibendung dan kerugian RM2.5 bilion diumumkan minggu lepas.

Sekarang Najib bergantung kepada platform 1Malaysia untuk menyatupadukan negara, beliau gagal meraih respons. Hakikatnya beliau mungkin kelihatan tenang dan tidak perkauman, tetapi beliau mempunyai karektor yang meragukan. Beliau ialah Ketua Pemuda UMNO yang mengugut akan memand! ikan ker is dengan darah kaum Cina pada satu rali di Kampung Baru, Kuala Lumpur pada tahun 1987, tidak lama sebelum bekas Perdana Menteri Mahathir Mohamad melancarkan gerakan besar-besaran menangkap pemimpim-pemimpin pembangkang dan aktivis yang digelar Operasi Lalang.

Walaupun beliau mewarwarkan perlunya kesederhanaan, Najib memberi sokongan kepada kumpulan ekstremis dan perkauman seperti Perkasa dan Jati. Rosmah sendiri hadir ke majlis anjuran Perkasa sebagai sokongan, memberikan indikasi bahawa penerimaan dan pengiktirafan dari pemimpin tertinggi. Sebagaimana kata para pengkritik, bagaimana rakyat boleh percaya beliau serius berkenaan kesaksamaan dan keharmonian kaum?

Jadi apa kejayaan yang telah Najib capai selama ini?

Dalam negara,Najib tidak mencapai sebarang kejayaan yang boleh dibanggakan dan apa yang kononnya dikatakan berjaya hanyalah rekaan semata. Beliau juga gagal membaiki imej selepas berbelanja jutaan ringgit, de! ngan pe rundinag media dari UK yang tertangkap menaja berita yang secara sengaja menggambarkan Najib dalam imej postif kepada pemerhati antarabangsa.

Najib juga gagal membaiki UMNO/APCO. Beliau gagal memberi pimpinan parti yang diperlukan untuk memberi nafas baru kepada UMNO/APCO. UMNO/APCO masih ditakuk lama dengan tabiat menipu, membeli undi, menyebar propaganda palsu dan memberi imbuhan untuk menang pilihan raya.

UMNO/APCO masih tiada isi dan integriti, gagal mencari ahli baru yang berbakat ke dalam parti. Jika dibandingkan, PKR dan PAS lebih berjaya menarik golongan professional Melayu menyertai mereka berbanding UMNO/APCO. Perlu diberi perhatian kata singkatan ABU direka ketika zaman Najib- Anything But UMNO/APCO.

Di peringkat antarabangsa, Najib terkenal dengan percutian mewah keluar negara dan perjumpaan dengan VVIP - jelas penuh kemewahan dan dibayar oleh pembayar cukai negara.The Global Movement of Moderates, yang dilancarkan oleh Najib pada 16 Januari 2012 sebagai tinggalannya ke! pada du nia, gagal. GMM gagal meraih sokongan kerana Najib bukan orang yang berkebolehan. Bila beliau bercakap berkenaan idea- idea mulia dan persamaan hak manusia di luar negara, di negara sendiri beliau melaungkan retorik perkauman, amaran yang beliau akan terus memegang kuasa walaupun bermakna "crushed bocies', "lost lives'  dan "ethnic cleancing".

Tamparan paling hebat dalam cita-cita Najib di peringkat antarabangsa datangnya bulan lepas bila Washington Post menyiarkan berita bertajuk Najib juara " champion of doubletalk" bila pemerintahannya secara tidak sah menghantar pulang penulis Hamza Kashgari untuk menghadapi hukuman pancung kerana dakwaan murtad.

Mungkin, ketidakupayaan nyata beliau ialah kegagalannya mengawal isterinya. Bagaimana seorang lelaki yang lemah boleh mengurus negara dengan hutang RM460 bilion, dan tergelumang rasuah di setiap tahap dalam kerajaannya. Memang Najib tidak berkeupayaan, beliau tidak sepatutnya dilantik sebagai Perdana Menteri. UMNO/APCO tiada pilihan - siapa lagi kalau bukan Najib? Jika demikian, apa lagi UMNO?APCO?

Sumber Asal: Malaysia Chronicle

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