Bersih 3 to herald Bersih Spring to bring about vital changes for an united progressive and prosperous Malaysia

by Dr. Chen Man Hin
DAP life advisor

BERSIH 3 will herald the Bersih Spring which will sweep throughout the country and bring about the changes to create a free, just and democratic multiracial, multilingual and multireligious society.

The people have long hungered for a new society where all Malaysians are equal, and have equal opportunities to be educated and to be prosperous.

The people will all be Malaysians who are equal under the Malaysian sun. There will be one people – who are all ketuanan rakyat, all equals whether Malays, Chinese, Indians, Kadazans and others, allowing for Malays and the indigenous peoples to be the first among equals.

The Bersih Spring will promote unity and solidarity among the people. We shall be one and our political, economic and social progress will advance rapidly. We shall become one the main players of the new Asian Century.

It is therefore of the utmost importance that on April 28, all Malaysians must unite and gather together by the hundreds of thousands throughout the country and demand for clean, free and fair elections.

With clean, free and fair elections, Pakatan Rakyat will have a good chance of winning the 13th General Elections, form the government and bring the changes for a better society.

Bersih 3 on 28th April is a vital occasion. If the people meet by the hundreds of thousands throughout the country and demand clean, free and fair elections, we can make Prime Minister Najib Razak listen to our demands. We can create a new, united and prosperous Malaysia.

This entry was posted on Saturday, 21 April 2012, 5:09 pm and is filed under Bersih, Elections. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0.  

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Ambiga: ‘Whirlwind’ of law reforms pointless without clean polls

By Clara Chooi
The Malaysian Insider
Apr 21, 2012

KUALA LUMPUR, April 21 — The sudden "whirlwind" of legislative reforms to the country's restrictive laws has left Malaysians both elated and disappointed in the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) government ahead of the 13th general election, Bersih co-chair Datuk Ambiga Sreenavasan has said.

Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his team may have earned plus points for daring to slacken the government's leash over civil freedom, a historical point in Malaysian politics, but the prime minister's failed attempt at electoral reform had hurtled him back to square one, she said.

The vocal civil society leader added that although crucial restrictive legal provisions were removed in recent months, they were forced down the throats of Malaysians in a rushed manner, drawing suspicion over the government's true motive for reform.

"To me, the speed at which new laws and amendments were suddenly being pushed through Parliament, without consideration at all for consultation and opposition viewpoints, I think, reeks of suspicion.

"All it shows is that the elections are close," Ambiga told The Malaysian Insider recently.

"We are in a bit of a whirlwind, really, with these legislations being passed through in such a rushed manner.

"Some people say it's a good thing… but to many, you (the government) are only doing this because of the elections.

"This how it would just enforce the insincerity of the government," she said.

In the span of two Dewan Rakyat sittings and about six months, the government had pushed through a record number of critical amendments to laws long described as draconian by civil society groups and those in the opposition camp.

Key among these was the repeal of the Internal Security Act (ISA), the 1960 anti-Communist insurgency law which critics have accused the government of misusing to threaten and quell opposition dissent.

A new legislation, the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act, was proposed in its place, removing the government's power under the ISA to throw a person behind bars for up to two years without trial.

Last November, both Houses of Parliament approved the Peaceful Assembly Act 2011, a fresh law mooted by the government to permit public gatherings after the authorities arrested over 1,600 individuals and sprayed tear gas and chemical-laced water to disperse Bersih 2.0′s peaceful rally for free and fair elections last July 9.

On the final day of the Dewan Rakyat sitting on Thursday, the government also lifted the over four-decade-old ban on student participation in politics after approving amendments to the highly-criticised University and University Colleges Act 1971.

In a rare show of unity, both Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Rakyat (PR) lawmakers even unanimously agreed to widen academic freedom by voting positively on a motion to allow university students to hold posts in both political parties and on-campus organisations.

Adding to the growing list, Dewan Rakyat also agreed to loosen government control over media freedom slightly, passing during the historic sitting at 2.15am yesterday amendments to the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984.

Despite the Bill's harried manner of approval and uproar from the opposition bench, the amendment effectively clips Putrajaya's wings over the granting of publishing permits and scraps the annual permit renewal requirement earlier imposed on publications in the PPPA.

Other significant legislative reforms include earlier amendments to the Police Act, the repeal of the Banishment Act 1959 and Restricted Residence Act 1933, the lifting of three Emergency Declarations and the tabling of the Malaysia Volunteers Corps (RELA) Bill 2012, a new law that removes the organisation's powers of arrest and firearms possession.

But these legislative reforms, said Ambiga, merely offer a "psychological boost" in the people's support and trust in Najib and BN.

She said some may celebrate them, but others would eventually realise that the key to a truly democratic nation that respects civil freedom was a clean and fair election process.

This, Ambiga charged, was Najib's biggest and greatest failure in his "whirlwind" of reforms.

"To me, there are plus points for the amendments, which are definitely liberalising. But… there are many pertinent complaints as well.

"There is a lot of unhappiness all around about the election process… will there be free and fair elections next? We are doubtful. Because this, in my view, has not been addressed," she said.

Another reformist move taken by Najib was to form the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) for electoral reform last October, tasking it to look into key demands made by Bersih and opposition lawmakers on how to clean up the election process.

But when its six-month tenure was up, the bipartisan panel tabled on April 2 what Ambiga and PR representatives have described as a report lacking in true reform to the many discrepancies they have uncovered in the electoral roll.

"The glaring absence of true reform speaks volumes. Even worse, the report was rushed through Parliament without debate.

"So many things could have otherwise been trashed out," she said.

"The most obvious shortcoming is that the report did not state a deadline for the reforms. If there is commitment to implement the PSC's 22 recommendations before the 13th general election… then everything would be resolved."

Ambiga added that BN had missed a grand opportunity to coax voter support.

"I have said in the past and I mean it still today – if they are committed to electoral reform, their popularity would grow. But they reformed many other things and the part about elections, they completely failed," she said.

"Now, they are back to square one."

Bersih 3.0, which has received the backing of PR parties of PAS, PKR and DAP, will kick off at 2pm next Saturday at Dataran Merdeka in the capital city.

The government has given the green light for the rally, in the spirit of the Peaceful Assembly Act 2011 but City Hall yesterday rejected the group's plan to use the historic square for a non-violent sit-down show of civil disobedience.

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BN could suffer for attack on students

Kee Thuan Chye
Free Malaysia Today
April 21, 2012

Perception is what counts in politics. And the perception that has already set in among the discerning public, not only discerning students, is that Umno hired the thugs.

COMMENT

Barisan Nasional has probably just lost the votes of university students who are bright, perceptive and can think for themselves.

These students would have been reviled by the recent attack on the student protesters camped out at Dataran Merdeka by a gang of 50 thugs. They would have seen this as a shameful act of violence against their fellow students, who were helpless and defenceless.

They would have seen this as an act to frighten the students into ending their protest calling for PTPTN (National Higher Education Fund Corporation) loans to be written off.

Those who are bright and up to speed about politics in this country would automatically assume that this is the work of forces bigger than the thugs. For why should thugs randomly attack the students and beat some of them up, including women? What would be their motive for doing so?

The assumption would most likely be that the forces behind the attack are members of the ruling party – for who, more than anyone else, would want to see the protest end sooner?

That being so, it's bad news for BN. Rightly or wrongly, the first suspicion would be that BN – or, more specifically, Umno – is behind this.

Even if it's not the case in reality, it doesn't matter. Perception is what counts in politics. And the perception that has already set in among the discerning public, not only discerning students, is that Umno hired the thugs.

This was the perception too when thugs also violently disrupted a Solidariti Mahasiswa talk in Klang last February.

So rampant have violent disruptions of political events been of late – particularly those that are deemed adversarial to the ruling party – that it has become common belief that Umno is responsible for them.

It has come to be seen as a modus operandi for intimidating opponents. Increasingly, with each new violent disruption, the image of Umno and BN has suffered. The perception is that the ruling party knows no other way than intimidation to deal with challenges to its authority and policies. Instead of adhering to democratic principles, it employs anti-democratic means.

This perception is supported by the fact that Umno has resorted to threats and violence a few times before in the past.

Umno Youth members threatened to burn down the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall in 2000 unless the Chinese Malaysian Election Appeals Committee (Suqiu) retracted its 17-point appeal for improvements in some national policies.

Umno Youth members stormed an Asia-Pacific Coalition for East Timor II conference in Kuala Lumpur in 1996, broke down the doors of the conference halls, threw chairs and verbally and physically abused the participants.

In 2006, a forum on Article 11 of the Federal Constitution held in Penang was made to end abruptly by the vehement protest of a group of Umno Youth members at the forum venue. The police intervened by telling the forum organisers to cut short the forum.

Nothing from police probes

In recent times, we have seen the same modus operandi at work on a few occasions.

Last August, Umno senator Ezam Mohd Nor threatened to burn down the offices of Malaysiakini and The Malaysian Insider for what he said was their false reporting against Islam. This was, to say the least, a most unbecoming utterance from a senator.

Last January, the ceramah in Shah Alam organised by Anything But Umno (ABU) and Hindraf was gate-crashed by a gang of thugs who rode their motorcycles into the hall, threw leaflets and bottles around and verbally abused the audience.

In Penang last February, a group identified as Umno Youth and Perkasa members attacked anti-Lynas protesters at Speakers' Corner, resulting in injury to two journalists. Even Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, who spoke at the event, was harassed.

The police who were present reportedly looked on and did nothing. Later, Penang Chief Police Officer Ayub Yaakob blamed the organisers for not informing the police about their event.

Must one have prepared the police beforehand before the latter can perform their duty of restoring order when a fracas breaks out? If they have not been duly informed, do they just pretend they are not there?

What KPI should the police get for this, Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak?

To be sure, the police have so far not been seen to be impartial in handling the various attacks. Their investigations after the fact have often led to nothing. No one has yet been charged in court, although in the Shah Alam incident, the attack was serious enough to cause a man to be hospitalised.

Even when there is video evidence to support the claim of violent action, the police have been known to say that nothing violent was committed.

In this current case of the attack at Dataran Merdeka, the students claim that the police stood and watched while the attack was going on. To this, the police counter-claim that they responded by sending 10 personnel to the scene within five to six minutes.

Kuala Lumpur police chief Mohmad Salleh says two plainclothes policemen were already at the scene when the attack started at 2.40am. So why didn't these two plunge straight into breaking it up?

Only one attacker was arrested out of the 50 or so. This is poor pickings by any standard.

What was Mohmad's excuse? "It was early in the morning and we could not differentiate the attackers from those already there." One might well interpret from that statement that the attackers must have just been standing around with their arms folded. Or perhaps the cops were sleeping on the job.

Are we to believe the claim made by the Government body Pemandu (Performance Management and Delivery Unit) that the crime rate has gone down when our police have shown their level of efficiency in this case?

Are we to believe Pemandu's declaration that Malaysia is now the safest and most peaceful country in Malaysia when innocent, defenceless students can be attacked by hired thugs?

Power of passive resistance

The whole incident has, as usual, been badly handled by the authorities.

Higher Education Minister Khaled Nordin showed a lack of emotional quotient when he tweeted: "No one asked (the students) to camp out at Dataran Merdeka. When something happens, don't go asking for sympathy." He had to later give the pathetic excuse that he wrote it like that to keep within the 140-character limit.

If there is something exemplary to be remarked upon here, it is the students' composure when they were being attacked.

In not physically retaliating against their attackers, they demonstrated the power of passive resistance. No wonder they have won much public sympathy since. And no doubt they have won the admiration of their peers as well.

The students may well prove to be a substantial thorn in BN's side, that will haunt the coalition at the upcoming general election, but that's what you get when students you have been oppressing for four decades are stirred and finally stand up to reclaim their rights.

A friend of mine often says that change will come when students start to take to the streets. This has now happened, and I hope he's right.

Kee Thuan Chye is the author of No More Bullshit, Please, We're All Malaysians, now available in major bookstores.

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Dataran the political wrestling ring — Tay Tian Yan

APRIL 21 — Let's put aside our differences, but it is simply abominable to see the students at Dataran Merdeka assaulted.

Behind the abomination lies probably some more heinous conspiracies.

What I'm trying to say is that no one should attack the students. The act is both unwarranted and against the laws. It would only trigger a social backlash and ignite public indignation.

Unless they are utter morons, the attackers should be well aware that their actions would only change public perception of the students occupying the Dataran.

If they had known it, why did they do it again?

Were they morons or had they some hidden agendas?

No one can offer an answer right now, and it doesn't look like an answer is about to come any time soon, unless the police can snatch the perpetrators and identify the mastermind.

Most politically motivated assaults have so far gone unresolved. If the police do not work a little harder, it wouldn't be hard to see who would be made the next scapegoats.

Malaysian politics have taken on a more and more complicated form, some trying to fish in troubled waters while certain radical outfits have gone unconstraint or advanced their motives through gangsterism, all with political gains in their minds.

University students are simple-minded. Behind the Dataran they occupy lurks a host of dangers and risks. After all, the Dataran is never half as safe as their campus.

To be fair, we may disagree with what the students are doing, we have every obligation to see that their right of assembly is respected and their personal safety not endangered.

These students do not pose any threat to any individual. So long as they take good care of their own health and safety, keep the cleanliness and hygiene of the environment and not neglect their studies, the government and society should show a little magnanimity, allowing them to have a little space they could occupy.

The "Occupy" movement is a kind of expressive freedom. Of course, we all hope that the students not only know how to occupy, but also do so convincingly.

In other words, while we can disagree with them, we must approve their freedom of expressing themselves.

Initially everyone exercised some degree of self-constraint. While City Hall stepped in and interfered, the way they intervened was mild, not confrontational; the Higher Education Ministry and university authorities were also quite tolerant and have refrained from taking disciplinary action.

The public, meanwhile, have been looking at this incident from more positive perspectives. While some lent their support to the students, others questioned their justification.

Just as I disagreed with the abolition of PTPTN loans and free tertiary education, I did not object to the way the students assembled and occupied.

On the Dataran a positive atmosphere was gradually brewing: On the one hand differing voices could be expressed peacefully, on the other a more liberal political culture was slowly taking shape, unlike the confrontations we used to see in past gatherings. Unfortunately, some people, or groups, did not like to see such a positive development, probably because such development would harm their interests.

University students not only need to be filled with fervour, but also wisdom. — mysinchew.com

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

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ISA: Najib tidak minta maaf — Subky Latif

21 APRIL — Tidak ada sebarang isyarat pada Perdana Menteri Najib dan kerajaan Barisan Nasional bahawa ISA yang zalim yang berusia 52 tahun tidak betul. Padanya dan pada mereka bahawa ISA tetap betul dan dikehendaki.

Ia dimansuhkan dan diganti dengan yang lain bukan kerana ia tidak betul dan bukan kerana zalim tetapi ialah kerana akta itu dibenci oleh umum dan ia sudah bertambah tidak popular.

Selama ini bermati-matian Umno dan Barisan Nasional mempertahankan sebagai suatu yang baik dan amat diperlukan untuk keamanan dan keselamatan negara. Kerana ada ISA itulah kononnya keamanan dan kestabilan politik terjamin sejak merdeka. Atas hikmat itulah negara maju dan pelaburan serta pelancong datang mencurah-curah.

Oleh kerana ISA itu sudah berjasa kepada negara, kerajaan dan rakyat, ia dikira terlalu penting, maka mengapa pula ia dimansuhkan?

Sebenarnya ISA tidak ada apa-apa hikmah kepada negara dan rakyat. Hikmahnya hanya ia dapat digunakan untuk mempertahankan kuasa Umno dalam kerajaan.

PRU 1959 Umno hilang dua negeri iaitu Kelantan dan Terengganu. Ia adalah amaran mungkin ada lagi negeri yang hilang dalam PRU selepasnya. Tahun 1960 ISA dicipta kononnya untuk membendung komunis. Menjelang PRU 1964 ramai pemimpin pembangkang seperti Dr Burhanuddin Al-Hilmy, Datuk Raja Hanifah, Ahmad Boestamam, Pak Sako, Aziz Ishak dan lain-lain dikenakan tindakan ISA atas alasan bersubahat dengan konfrontasi Indonesia.

Ketika Umno piminan Tun Razak dan Hussein Onn berkrisis dengan Pemuda Umno atas isu Umno dikatakan disusup komunis, ia tahanan beberapa orang pro kerajaan seperti Abdullah Ahmad, Abdullah Majid dan A. Samad Ismail, tetapi pemimpin pembangkang seperti Kassim Ahmad dan lain-lain juga ditahan.

Ketika Pemuda Umno di bawah Najib berentap dengan MCA yang menyokong Menteri Lee Kim Sai, mereka tidak ditahan tetapi Operasi Lallang diadakan menahan ramai pemimpin pembangkang termasuk Mat Sabu, Kit Siang, Karpal Singh dan lain-lain. Mereka cekup sama pemimpin Pemuda Umno iaitu Fahmi Ibrahim, Ibrahim Ali dan Tajuddin Abdul Rahman tetapi mereka ditahan untuk dibebaskan.

Gara-gara Ibrahim Libya terlepas dari cekupan, polis menyerbu Memali menyebabkan 14 orang awam termasuk Ibrahim Libya bersama 4 anggota polis terbunuh. Ramai juga cedera.

Yang bercerai, putus mata pencarian, pelajaran  anak-anak tergendala dan lain-lain adalah angkara undang-undang rimba ini.

Apa jua keburukannya Umno dan kerajaan tetap berbangga kononnya ISA adalah berhikmah. Tetapi kempen anti ISA mahu ia dimansuhkan terus mendapat sokongan. Ada menteri Umno meletak jawatan dan keluar Umno kerana tidak setuju dengan dasar ISA. Ia perkembangan baru pada Umno.

Penyatuan pembangkang sebelum dan selepas PRU Mac 2008 secara berani mengeluarkan Buku Jingga menjanjikan ISA akan dimansuhkan dalam masa 100 hari Putrajaya ditawan.

Janji itu tidak boleh dipandang remeh. Ia membulatkan sokongan bukan Melayu dan peratus Melayu yang bersetuju juga ramai. Gerakan anti ISA ini boleh menjadi malapetaka kepada Umno.

Bukan kerana Najib dan kerajaan memandang ISA itu buruk, tetapi mempertahan akta yang besar jasanya kepada Umno selama ini tidak lagi dapat membantunya.

Kemungkinan tumbang oleh hantu ISA itu lebih mudah. Betapa sayang Najib dan Umno kepada ISA, ia sudah tidak membantu. Ia terpaksa melepaskan apa yang amat disayang kerana ia sudah tidak banyak gunanya. Atas nama transformasi politik dan undang-undang Najib cuba laksanakan janji Buku Jingga sebelum sempat Pakatan Rakyat berkuasa.

Ia curi senjata pembangkang dengan harapan kuasa tidak cicir. Ia cuba beri beberapa keburukan ISA dibandingkan dengan akta gantinya. Tetapi sedikit pun kerajaan BN dan penyokong tidak menyesali kezaliman ISA selama 52 tahun itu.

Ia belum mahu minta maaf. Orang pun tidak mahu memaafkannya. — harakahdaily.net

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

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Menilai sikap berpolitik pembangkang — Zulkiflee Bakar

21 APRIL — Sememangnya tidak dapat dinafikan bahawa suhu politik negara semakin meningkat berikutan bahang Pilihan Raya Umum Ke-13 yang semakin terasa, biar pun tidak diketahui bila ia akan diadakan.

Tetapi apa yang pasti kerajaan Barisan Nasional (BN) di bawah kepimpinan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Razak semakin rancak melaksanakan program bagi meningkat taraf hidup rakyat dan sekali gus mengembalikan keyakinan rakyat kepada parti itu.

Dalam masa yang sama, pakatan pembangkang yang terdiri daripada Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), DAP dan PAS terus berada bagaikan "cacing kepanasan".

Satu demi satu pelaksanaan program oleh BN diburuk-burukkan kerana pembangkang memahami ia adalah ancaman yang boleh menghakis usaha mempengaruhi rakyat menyebelahi mereka dalam pilihan raya umum akan datang.

Bagaimanapun persoalan yang harus difikirkan oleh rakyat apakah pakatan pembangkang ini kelompok yang layak diberi peluang memerintah negara? Berikut penulis paparkan beberapa fakta mengenai telatah pembangkang yang dari semasa ke semasa berdasarkan pandangan beberapa penganalisis politik tanah air semakin jelas menunjukkan mereka hanya mahu berpolitik sahaja.

Menanam politik kebencian

Pendedahan mengenai gelagat beberapa pemimpin pembangkang ketika menghadiri istiadat pertabalan Yang di-Pertuan Agong di Istana Negara telah menjadi bukti bahawa pembangkang semakin tidak matang berpolitik.

Mempersenda dan mengejek pemimpin-pemimpin kerajaan sememangnya sudah menjadi makanan politik pembangkang.

Sebelum ini, pemimpin-pemimpin juga telah menanam politik kebencian di kalangan rakyat dengan memburuk-burukkan apa juga usaha kerajaan dan memfitnah pemimpin-pemimpin BN termasuk ahli keluarga mereka.

Pembangkang semakin tidak matang berpolitik, sebab itulah di mana-mana sahaja sama ada di atas pentas ceramah, Dewan Rakyat, Dewan Undangan Negeri mahupun dalam Istana Negara — perangai mereka tidak ubah seperti berada di kedai kopi, bercakap ikut sedap mulut dan memperlekeh pemimpin negara sesuka hati.

Soalnya, apakah pemimpin seumpama ini layak dipilih menerajui negeri atau negara?

Membuat janji kosong

Pembangkang hakikatnya semakin rimas dan tertekan apabila kepimpinan Najib terus melaksanakan satu demi satu janji yang telah dibuat kepada rakyat. Bukan sahaja daripada segi membantu taraf hidup rakyat, malahan dalam pentadbiran negara pun, kerajaan BN melakukan transformasi dengan menunaikan janji-janji yang dibuat termasuklah yang terbaharu pembentangan rang-rang undang-undang bagi menggantikan Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (ISA).

Semua itu membimbangkan pembangkang kerana dalam masa yang sama mereka menyedari terlalu banyak janji yang masih belum mereka tunaikan di negeri-negeri di bawah penguasaan mereka sama ada di Selangor, Kedah mahupun Pulau Pinang.

Sebagai contoh, di Selangor kita perlu bertanya kerajaan PKR yang mentadbir bersama DAP dan PAS, apakah mereka sudah menunaikan antara janji-janji berikut yang dibuat dalam pilihan raya umum lalu.

● Membuka tabung permulaan RM100 bagi setiap anak kelahiran Selangor.

● Memberi bantuan RM75 sebulan bagi setiap anak yang dihantar ke nurseri.

● Memberi bantuan RM50 sebulan seorang bagi pendidikan anak prasekolah.

● Memberi hadiah RM1,000 kepada setiap anak Selangor yang mendapat tawaran ke universiti.

Ini belum lagi mengambil kira janji-janji manis yang berlambak-lambak tidak ditunaikan oleh pakatan pembangkang di Kedah dan Pulau Pinang dan sekarang kita melihat menjelang pilihan raya umum, pembangkang berjanji lagi.

Pada masa ini sasaran mereka ialah golongan muda, justeru mereka berjanji akan menghapuskan Perbadanan Tabung Pendidikan Tinggi Nasional (PTPTN) kalau diberikan peluang memerintah. Mereka juga berjanji untuk menurunkan harga minyak dan sudah pasti mereka juga berjanji menghapuskan tol.

Semua ini adalah nyanyian lagu lama oleh pembangkang bagi meraih undi.

Menolak kebenaran

Satu lagi gelagat pembangkang yang turut memualkan kita ialah sikap menolak kebenaran dan tidak mahu mengakui kelemahan serta kepincangan yang mereka miliki. Apabila sesuatu isu melibatkan pemimpin-pemimpin BN mereka akan menjajanya ke seluruh negara, soal benar atau salah itu perkara kedua yang penting ialah memburuk-burukkan pemimpin BN sebanyak mungkin.

Tetapi apa yang anehnya, apabila sesuatu isu melibatkan pemimpin-pemimpin mereka mulalah pembangkang mengeluarkan pelbagai hujah untuk menunjukkan mereka berada di pihak yang benar.

Biar pun ada sesetengah isu sudah diketengahkan dengan bukti namun pemimpin pembangkang tetap tidak mahu menerimanya, mereka akan mempertahankan antara satu sama lain, sedangkan ada antara mereka adalah terdiri alim ulama yang seharusnya amat memahami bahawa kebenaran perlu ditegakkan dalam keadaan apa sekali pun.

Namun oleh kerana kepentingan politik lebih diutamakan maka kepincangan dan salah laku oleh pemimpin mereka akan cuba dilindungi dan dipertahankan. Mereka lebih gemar menuding jari menyalahkan BN dan media arus perdana serta menganggap semua itu hanyalah fitnah dan konspirasi politik.

Oleh kerana mereka berkawan dan bersekutu dengan alim ulama yang ada dalam PAS maka pemimpin-pemimpin PKR dan DAP tidak pernah khuatir kerana pasti ada di kalangan alim ulama itu akan tampil membela mereka.

Kufur nikmat

Allah SWT telah mentakdirkan pembangkang meraih kemenangan agak besar dalam pilihan raya umum 2008. Mereka berjaya menafikan majoriti dua pertiga BN di Parlimen dan menawan Kedah, Perak (selama 11 bulan), Selangor dan Pulau Pinang, manakala Kelantan pula terus berada dalam genggaman PAS.

Semua itu berlaku kerana perjalanan pilihan raya yang diuruskan oleh Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya (SPR) telah berjalan secara telus, bersih dan adil. Tetapi pembangkang seolah-olah tidak mensyukuri nikmat ini. Berikutan kebimbangan mereka terhadap sokongan rakyat yang semakin kembali kepada BN maka isu proses pengundian dalam pilihan raya kembali dibangkitkan.

Walaupun Jawatankuasa Pilihan Khas Parlimen (PSC) telah menerima kesemua cadangan pembangkang namun mereka masih belum berpuas hati. Keadaan itu berlaku bukan kerana tuntutan mereka tidak dipenuhi tetapi mereka bimbang tidak mempunyai alasan jika tewas dalam pilihan raya.

Menimbulkan keraguan terhadap kewibawaan SPR adalah taktik politik paling jijik kerana selama ini sudah terbukti suruhanjaya itu telah mengendalikan pilihan raya dengan telus dan adil.

Kalau SPR tidak bersikap sedemikian sudah pasti pakatan pembangkang tidak akan mampu meraih sebarang kerusi dalam pilihan raya, apatah lagi mencatatkan kemenangan seperti 2008.

Kesimpulannya, berdasarkan apa yang dibentangkan adalah jelas, Malaysia boleh dianggap bernasib malang kerana memiliki sekelompok pakatan pembangkang yang hanya mahu berpolitik sepanjang masa dan hanya bijak memutar belit fakta, menabur janji kosong, menolak kebenaran dan kufur nikmat. — Utusan Malaysia

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

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Exit PTPTN, enter special fund

KUALA LUMPUR: PKR said today it will set up a special fund to aid students with their daily expenses while studying by providing fixed-cost loans once Pakatan Rakyat abolishes the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) if it wrests federal power.

Its strategic director Rafizi Ramli said  this would counter attempts by political rivals to twist PKR's proposal.

This plan was included in a five-point framework to implement a free education policy and to replace the current PTPTN scheme which critics claim saddled graduates with huge debts even before they were employed.

First in its plan would be to set up a technical university aimed at increasing high learning chances for everyone, which Rafizi said was important to balance the number of offers in public institutes compared to private institutes.

This would therefore prevent future dependence on paid higher education, he reasoned.

Rafizi then said a Pakatan federal government would finance tuition fees at public institutes and provide living cost allowances for qualified students based on their academic achievements, socio-economic backgrounds and family burdens.

"And those from high-income families can opt to bear school fees but can still qualify for a loan from a special fund to be set up for living costs allowance and private education," he added.

PAS disagrees

The PKR leader said the framework would also consider applications from the same fund for those with no space in public varsities.

Its key element would be living allowances at a fixed rate taking into account subsidised fees by the government based on their courses.

Rafizi said only an estimated RM3 billion in the annual budget was required to see the success of the scheme which could easily be financed by the annual RM5 billion that could be saved by abolishing lopsided highway concessions.

"This clearly dismisses arguments that Malay/Bumiputera students will lose out if a free education policy is implemented as they cannot support themselves," he said.

PKR had been leading the calls with regard to the PTPTN issue targeted at winning support from young Malay voters who make up one-sixth of the electorate.

However, its ally PAS said yesterday that it would be wrong to abolish the PTPTN without a proper replacement scheme.

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang said in an interview with a Malay daily published today that this replacement process must be fair to all Malaysians as propounded by Islam.

"That is why PTPTN cannot simply be abolished just like that. There has to be a process. A fair process which is not burdensome to the poor and one where the more privileged must bear responsibility," he said.

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Percaturan politik di Marang — Wan Zulkifli Wan Yaacob

21 APRIL — Marang merupakan daerah pinggiran laut namun ia bukan sahaja mengingatkan banyak orang tentang pantai yang kian rebis tetapi juga mainan politik yang tak habis-habis.

Seperti jalan lebar menghala ke Rusila tanpa pokok-pokok menebarkan bayang di laluan, kadangkala berdebu, begitu juga suasana politik di sini yang sering "panas cering".

Di laluan "kawasan pusat tarbiah" PAS itu, ia seolah-olah menjadi tabu dan meresahkan jika akhbar Utusan Malaysia kelihatan dijual dan dibaca di warung atau bendera Umno dan Barisan Nasional (BN) dipacakkan di tiang pinggir jalan.

Geografi politik Parlimen Marang yang terbelah dua menjadi simbol kepada pertentangan hebat dua parti politik Melayu yang berusaha mencari pengaruh dan kuasa.

Di sini kesan perpecahan yang nyata bermula, kononnya didasari atas nama perjuangan menegakkan negara Islam dan saudara seagama dikafirkan. Di sini juga, kemenangan dan kekalahan bertukar ganti bagi kedua-dua parti.

Setiap kali musim pilihan raya, Marang merupakan salah satu kawasan yang paling menjadi sorotan kerana di sini juga mudah tercetusnya kekecohan dan perbalahan yang memualkan dan di sini juga masa depan seorang presiden parti.

Ramai yang menyangkakan ia seakan-akan lubuk PAS, namun selain Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Rhu Rendang di mana Presiden PAS, Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang duduk kukuh sebagaimana Masjid Rusila, yang lain ternyata rapuh.

Abdul Hadi mula bertanding pada pilihan raya umum 1978 di DUN Marang tetapi kalah dengan kekurangan 64 undi kepada calon BN Tengku Zahid Tengku Musa dan berjaya merebutnya semula pada 1982 dengan majoriti 320 undi.

Pada 1986, beliau menang sekali lagi di DUN Rhu Rendang (nama baru DUN Marang selepas persempadanan semula) menewaskan Abdul Latif Muda dan mengekalkannya sehingga sekarang.

Tetapi bagi kerusi Parlimen Marang pada tahun itu, beliau yang turut bertanding kalah kepada Datuk Abdul Rahman Bakar dan kembali merebutnya pada 1990, terus menang pada 1995 dan 1999 tetapi tewas sekali lagi kepada Rahman pada 2004 dan memenangi semula pada 2008.

Dalam Pilihan Raya Umum 2008 di Parlimen Marang yang mencatatkan 74,813 pemilih, Umno dan BN memenangi dua daripada empat kerusi DUN.

Di Alor Limbat ia dicapai melalui Alias Abdullah yang menewaskan Setiausaha Agung PAS, Datuk Mustafa Ali dengan majoriti 799 dan di Pengkalan Berangan melalui Yahya Khatib Mohamad (930 majoriti).

PAS pula menguasai Rhu Rendang melalui Abdul Hadi (majoriti 2,689) dan Bukit Payong melalui Mohd Nor Hamzah (majoriti 115) manakala Abdul Hadi turut memenangi kerusi Parlimen (majoriti 2,747).

Dalam pilihan raya sebelumnya (2004) hanya Abdul Hadi calon yang memenangi kerusi tunggal di Marang (Rhu Rendang) ketika gelombang BN melanda parti itu yang meruntuhkan penguasaan sepenggal kerajaan PAS di Terengganu.

Kini medan persaingan kembali terbuka ketika PAS makin bersalut dengan isu dalaman seperti pertembungan antara kelompok muda dan tua di samping perubahan pendekatan yang menggusarkan dalam diam.

Langkah-langkah tempang makin jelas kelihatan setelah berkompromi dengan DAP yang jelas menolak negara Islam sehingga mendorong perjuangan ditukarkan kepada negara berkebajikan untuk membolehkannya bersama merebut kuasa.

Malah ia membantu parti yang dianggap cauvinis itu untuk kekal berkuasa dan menambah negeri untuk diterajui. Apatah lagi pimpinan pula dilihat seakan akur untuk menghakiskan segala kepentingan Melayu atas nama keadilan dan tidak pula bersedia memimpin kerajaan yang diimpikan malah menyerah kepada individu yang tahap moralnya jelas dipersoal.

Kekaguman terhadap Abdul Hadi dan harapan yang dipertaruhkan kepada juga dikatakan semakin menipis terutama di kalangan atas pagar dan orang Umno sendiri yang ada ketikanya mengundi PAS.

Kalangan pemerhati berpendapat, ia sudah mula turut dirasakan di sini dan makin ramai yang mula memikirkan undi mereka tidak boleh dipermain-mainkan begitu sahaja apabila ia makin menyentuh untung nasib bangsa.

Namun di sini juga Umno berdepan dengan masalah lazimnya iaitu keghairahan untuk menjadi calon dan mengangkat calon pilihan sehingga lupa diri dengan sanggup membentes kawan dan mengalahkan parti sendiri jika tidak berpeluang.

Apa pun soal siapa calon menjadi begitu penting di sini bagi kedua-dua parti dan sudah ada kelibat sepanduk yang dinaikkan di sini menuntut PAS dan Umno mengetengahkan muka baru.

Justeru Abdul Hadi sendiri mungkin sukar untuk hanya bertanding satu kerusi (sama ada DUN atau Parlimen) sebagai talian hayat politiknya meskipun sebelum ini membayangkan sanggup melepaskannya.

Kalangan jentera Umno percaya kerusi yang dimenangi boleh terus dipertahankan manakala kerusi Parlimen dan Bukit Payong boleh digoyah, biarpun masih tampak sukar di DUN Rhu Rendang.

Ramai yang mengharap pemilihan calon oleh pucuk pimpinan benar-benar menepati kehendak atau pilihan terbanyak tanpa menurunkan bidan terjun.

Di sini juga dikatakan bukan masanya lagi untuk Umno meletakkan calon wanita sekadar menyediakan kuota atau terus memberi ruang kepada bekas-bekas wakil rakyat kerana masih banyak pilihan untuk memenangkan dan masih banyak ruang untuk mereka berbakti.

Namun ia juga bergantung kepada sikap kepimpinan atau mereka yang dibariskan sebagai kalangan yang mempunyai pengaruh dalam parti untuk tidak mementingkan kehendak diri sendiri semata-mata.

Ketika pilihan raya umum semakin hampir, ada yang percaya Ketua Umno bahagian, Datuk Yahya Khatib Mohamad atau Timbalannya, Alias Abdullah merupakan pilihan terbaik bagi kerusi Parlimen.

Selain dianggap mampu mengimbangi Abdul Hadi, kedua-dua tonggak bahagian itu boleh memberi laluan ke arah suasana baru yang menyegarkan kepada DUN yang mereka wakili kini.

Yahya, anggota Exco kerajaan, lulusan pengajian Islam Universiti Malaya dan Alias peguam yang berlatarkan agama boleh diharapkan jika pengundi lebih utamakan orang yang boleh turut berkhutbah atau membacakan doa selamat, selain membantu menyelesaikan masalah rakyat.

Di Alor Limbat beberapa nama disorot dan tidak banyak kalangan membantah jika Yusof Mat Ali, seorang guru, pemimpin dan aktivis belia dipilih daripada beberapa nama lain termasuk Cikgu Rodzi Mohamad yang menampakkan ketokohan.

Di Pengkalan Berangan, nama yang menyenangkan untuk didengar termasuklah Jasmira Othman, Naib Ketua Pergerakan Pemuda Umno bahagian lulusan sarjana muda syariah (kepujian) Universiti Malaya di samping Cikgu Abdul Latif Awang.

Manakala di Bukit Payong, bekas calon 2004, Zaidi Muda wajar turut dipertimbangkan bersama nama lain dengan komitmen yang ditunjukkan sebagai Pegawai Pembangunan DUN dan sokongan luas ahli Umno setempat.

Di Rhu Rendang, Pegawai Pembangunan DUN, Nik Dir Nik Wan Ku muka baru yang mungkin wajar ditengahkan dengan tekad yang ditunjukkan untuk merubah keadaan biarpun pastinya berdepan dengan Abdul Hadi yang menyukarkan. Turut disebut Timbalan Pengerusi penyelaras DUN, Anuar Yahya pemegang ijazah sarjana muda kejuruteraan awam.

Ini waktu bagi seluruh penggerak Umno untuk benar-benar bersama memenangkan siapa pun calon pilihan. Seorang pemerhati menggunakan analogi, "jangan biarkan nasi dagang basi sebelum petang". — Utusan Malaysia

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

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Watch deputy education minister, Wee Ka Siong enjoying his own

Watch deputy education minister, Wee Ka Siong enjoying his own boogers......

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Watch deputy education minister, Wee Ka Siong enjoying his own

Watch deputy education minister, Wee Ka Siong enjoying his own boogers......

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We reap what we sow. And get the government we bloody well deserve!

On 9th July, last year, thousands of Malaysians at home and abroad came out onto the streets to send a message to the Najib administration.

We want free and fair elections.

Give us our reforms.

On 15th August, last year, Najib responded by announcing the formation of a parliamentary select committee to discuss electoral reforms before the next general election.

"Recently there have been demands for free and fair elections. The government's response is that we will propose the setting up of a parliamentary select committee soon, which will be made up of members from both BN and opposition…The committee will discuss all electoral reforms that needs to be implemented in order to achieve bipartisan agreement without any suspicion that there is manipulation by the government…Don't think that we do not want a clean process of electing the government, we are committed to the tradition of parliamentary elections." , Najib is reported to have said.

6 days later, Najib was reported to have said : "I hope our initiative on the PSC shows our sincerity. It does not mean that we believe there is rigging in the system but we want to make it better. Don't doubt our sincerity".

Please note his words.

WE WANT TO MAKE IT BETTER.

Muhyiddin was not to be outdone.

A month later, he was reported to have said : "We want the PSC to be successful in its role. We want all sides to be involved, not only BN components, in the move to strengthen democracy".

Note his words too.

STRENGTHEN DEMOCRACY.

3rd October, last year, Nazri tabled the motion in parliament to establish the much talked about PSC. This is what Nazri is reported to have said at the time : "The EC is of the opinion that the current system and methods are still relevant and should be maintained. But it does not mean the EC is not prepared to for the paradigm shift and transformation for the improvement in (its) management and operation to ensure that (its) three core functions  (are) implemented transparently, with integrity and effectively".

Note this idiot's words now.

EC IS PREPARED FOR A PARADIGM SHIFT SO THAT ITS CORE FUNCTIONS ARE IMPLEMENTED TRANSPARENTLY, WITH INTEGRITY AND EFFECTIVELY.

The PSC had several public meetings over 6 months.

And met several times with the Election Commission.

On checking, I found the last reported meeting between the PSC and the EC was on 14th March, 2012. If anyone is aware of any later meetings, please feel free to correct my statement by way of comment.

On 3rd April, 2012, the PSC report, containing 22 recommendations to improve our electoral process, was tabled and, without debate, passed in parliament. The full summary of these recommendations can be view in this FMT report.

I am going to reproduce part of just one of those recommendations for the purposes of this post.

Stricter enforcement of existing laws …

On 4th April, the BERSIH 2.0 steering committee announced that another BERSIH rally would be held on 28th April, 2012.

Then, Ambiga was reported to have said that "apart from the movement's original eight demands, the upcoming rally would focus on three key issues – the resignation of the Election Commission, the electoral process must be cleaned up before the next general election and international observers should be allowed to monitor the polls".

Pak Samad added to this : "The fraud continues unabated thus leaving us with the feeling that the government has no ambitions to have free and clean elections. The upcoming election promises to be the dirtiest yet. Bersih (along with 84 other NGOs) will gather peacefully nationwide and also internationally to voice our dissatisfaction over manipulations of the electoral roll in favour of the ruling coalition".

How has the government responded to this?

With lightning speed and decisive deviousness.

On Thursday night, they bulldozed a series of amendment bills through parliament.

One of those bills amended the Election Offences Act, 1954.

This is Malaysiakini's summary of those amendments.

At a press conference yesterday, Ambiga is reported to have said :

"These amendments confirm our worst fears that the 13th general election will be the dirtiest yet".

Does anyone sincerely believe otherwise?

In any of its meetings with the PSC, did the EC ever disclose that these amendments were in the pipeline, and the rationale for the same? If not, why not?

Look at the last amendment summarised by Malaysiakini and then measure it against the words of Nazri.

Let the EC and Najib explain this amendment first.

Why, if before, it was necessary to have the name of the publisher and printer on campaign printed material, this has now been repealed?

How does this make the election system better?

How does it strengthen democracy?

How does it make the implementation of EC's core functions more transparent?

What, now, of the PSC's recommendations?

Selena Tay of the FMT, in my view, succinctly sums up that whole exercise.

"It is very obvious now that the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) for electoral reform is just a political gimmick by the BN federal government to deceive the Malaysian public.

Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak's motive in setting up the PSC is to con the rakyat into thinking that he is genuine and sincere in pursuing electoral reforms in line with his much hyped-up Government Transformation Programme (GTP)".

I had, for some time now, notwithstanding information from within UMNO to the contrary, felt that Najib might delay calling elections until next year.

These amendments leave me now sensing that he will move swiftly.

How will we deal with this, the dirtiest ever general elections, that Najib has in store for us?

This time, next Saturday, we will all be at Dataran Merdeka and several other venues at home and abroad to "voice our dissatisfaction over manipulations of the electoral roll in favour of the ruling coalition" , and then all go home.

As we did on 9th July, last year.

And 11th November, 2007.

Will there be time enough for a BERSIH 4, 5, 6 and 7?

To voice our dissatisfaction?

An 8th, a 9th and a 10th?

Who was it who said that we reap what we sow?

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We reap what we sow. And get the government we bloody well deserve!

On 9th July, last year, thousands of Malaysians at home and abroad came out onto the streets to send a message to the Najib administration.

We want free and fair elections.

Give us our reforms.

On 15th August, last year, Najib responded by announcing the formation of a parliamentary select committee to discuss electoral reforms before the next general election.

"Recently there have been demands for free and fair elections. The government's response is that we will propose the setting up of a parliamentary select committee soon, which will be made up of members from both BN and opposition…The committee will discuss all electoral reforms that needs to be implemented in order to achieve bipartisan agreement without any suspicion that there is manipulation by the government…Don't think that we do not want a clean process of electing the government, we are committed to the tradition of parliamentary elections." , Najib is reported to have said.

6 days later, Najib was reported to have said : "I hope our initiative on the PSC shows our sincerity. It does not mean that we believe there is rigging in the system but we want to make it better. Don't doubt our sincerity".

Please note his words.

WE WANT TO MAKE IT BETTER.

Muhyiddin was not to be outdone.

A month later, he was reported to have said : "We want the PSC to be successful in its role. We want all sides to be involved, not only BN components, in the move to strengthen democracy".

Note his words too.

STRENGTHEN DEMOCRACY.

3rd October, last year, Nazri tabled the motion in parliament to establish the much talked about PSC. This is what Nazri is reported to have said at the time : "The EC is of the opinion that the current system and methods are still relevant and should be maintained. But it does not mean the EC is not prepared to for the paradigm shift and transformation for the improvement in (its) management and operation to ensure that (its) three core functions  (are) implemented transparently, with integrity and effectively".

Note this idiot's words now.

EC IS PREPARED FOR A PARADIGM SHIFT SO THAT ITS CORE FUNCTIONS ARE IMPLEMENTED TRANSPARENTLY, WITH INTEGRITY AND EFFECTIVELY.

The PSC had several public meetings over 6 months.

And met several times with the Election Commission.

On checking, I found the last reported meeting between the PSC and the EC was on 14th March, 2012. If anyone is aware of any later meetings, please feel free to correct my statement by way of comment.

On 3rd April, 2012, the PSC report, containing 22 recommendations to improve our electoral process, was tabled and, without debate, passed in parliament. The full summary of these recommendations can be view in this FMT report.

I am going to reproduce part of just one of those recommendations for the purposes of this post.

Stricter enforcement of existing laws …

On 4th April, the BERSIH 2.0 steering committee announced that another BERSIH rally would be held on 28th April, 2012.

Then, Ambiga was reported to have said that "apart from the movement's original eight demands, the upcoming rally would focus on three key issues – the resignation of the Election Commission, the electoral process must be cleaned up before the next general election and international observers should be allowed to monitor the polls".

Pak Samad added to this : "The fraud continues unabated thus leaving us with the feeling that the government has no ambitions to have free and clean elections. The upcoming election promises to be the dirtiest yet. Bersih (along with 84 other NGOs) will gather peacefully nationwide and also internationally to voice our dissatisfaction over manipulations of the electoral roll in favour of the ruling coalition".

How has the government responded to this?

With lightning speed and decisive deviousness.

On Thursday night, they bulldozed a series of amendment bills through parliament.

One of those bills amended the Election Offences Act, 1954.

This is Malaysiakini's summary of those amendments.

At a press conference yesterday, Ambiga is reported to have said :

"These amendments confirm our worst fears that the 13th general election will be the dirtiest yet".

Does anyone sincerely believe otherwise?

In any of its meetings with the PSC, did the EC ever disclose that these amendments were in the pipeline, and the rationale for the same? If not, why not?

Look at the last amendment summarised by Malaysiakini and then measure it against the words of Nazri.

Let the EC and Najib explain this amendment first.

Why, if before, it was necessary to have the name of the publisher and printer on campaign printed material, this has now been repealed?

How does this make the election system better?

How does it strengthen democracy?

How does it make the implementation of EC's core functions more transparent?

What, now, of the PSC's recommendations?

Selena Tay of the FMT, in my view, succinctly sums up that whole exercise.

"It is very obvious now that the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) for electoral reform is just a political gimmick by the BN federal government to deceive the Malaysian public.

Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak's motive in setting up the PSC is to con the rakyat into thinking that he is genuine and sincere in pursuing electoral reforms in line with his much hyped-up Government Transformation Programme (GTP)".

I had, for some time now, notwithstanding information from within UMNO to the contrary, felt that Najib might delay calling elections until next year.

These amendments leave me now sensing that he will move swiftly.

How will we deal with this, the dirtiest ever general elections, that Najib has in store for us?

This time, next Saturday, we will all be at Dataran Merdeka and several other venues at home and abroad to "voice our dissatisfaction over manipulations of the electoral roll in favour of the ruling coalition" , and then all go home.

As we did on 9th July, last year.

And 11th November, 2007.

Will there be time enough for a BERSIH 4, 5, 6 and 7?

To voice our dissatisfaction?

An 8th, a 9th and a 10th?

Who was it who said that we reap what we sow?

Like this:

Be the first to like this post.

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Indian NGOs back Bersih

KUALA LUMPUR: Two NGOs, The Malaysian Indian Voice (MIV) an WargaAman, have pledged their support for the Bersih 3.0 rally slated for April 28 at Dataran Merdeka.

MIV, which would be organising the Indian Rights Action Force (Indraf) 2.0 rally next month, said that it backed Bersih because equality and justice could only exist in a clean and transparent democratic system.

Speaking at a press conference here, MIV president and former Internal Security Act detainee V Ganabitarau urged all Indians in Malaysia to lend their support for Bersih's cause.

"As a community which has been discriminated and marginalised for more than 50 years, we only have one choice… to teach Barisan Nasional a bitter lesson," he said.

Also present at the press conference were National Indian Action Team (NIAT) chairman Thasleem Mohd Ibrahim and MIV leaders V Raidu, A Prakash and David Bala.

Ganabatirao said the Election Commission was not independent and BN had been manipulating the commission in its favour.

"Hence, this rally is important to ensure a free and fair election," he added.

Meanwhile, WargaAman, a coalition of 20 Indian NGOs, was backing Bersih to keep the pressure on the government to reform the electoral process.

In a statement, the coalition's sceretary-general S Barathidasan said the EC had not addressed issues related to postal votes, election offences and measures to end dirty politics.

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Is the Security Offences Bill constitutional?

— Tommy Thomas
The Malaysian Insider
Apr 21, 2012
APRIL 21— Congratulations to Prime Minister Najib Razak who has single-handedly taken the necessary action to repeal the dreaded Internal Security Act, 1960 ("ISA") : Clause 32 (1) of the Security Offences (Special Measures) Bill 2012 expressly says so. It is fitting that 52 years after his late father, Tun Razak, moved the ISA Bill in Parliament, he goes into the history books as the leader who piloted its abolition. His achievement is all the greater because his zeal to make Malaysia a freer country does not seem to be shared by his Cabinet — which has been conspicuously silent — or by law enforcement agencies like the Attorney-General, Police and other bureaucracies.

The abolition of the ISA must be seen against the background of the revocation in October 2011 of the 4 Emergencies which have scarred the national psyche for nearly the entire duration of Malaysia's nationhood since Merdeka. The result is much greater space and freedom for our people, and is welcome.

A. "Special Offences"

The Security Offences (Special Measures) Bill 2012 ("the Security Offences Bill"), as the name suggests, is a Bill providing for special measures relating to security offences. Clause 3 defines "special offences" to mean the offences specified in the First Schedule. Two categories of security offences are listed in the First Schedule. Both categories are already found in the Penal Code. The first category is "Offences against the State" which appear in Chapter VI of the Penal Code, that is, from Sections 121 to 130A. The second category is "Offences relating to Terrorism" which can be found in Chapter VI A of the Penal Code, that is, from Sections 130B to 130T.

"Offences against the State" include waging or attempting to wage war against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Rulers or Yang di-Pertuan Negeri ("the Rulers"), hurting the Rulers, deposing the Rulers, overthrowing by criminal force the government of Malaysia or of any of the states and assaulting Members of Parliament or State Legislative Assemblymen in their exercise of their duties. All these offences share a common theme of force being used or intended to be used in order to obtain their objectives, which are to overthrow the government or to harm members of the different branches of government.

"Offences relating to terrorism" concern acts of "terrorist", who is defined as a person who commits or attempts to commit any terrorist act or participates in or facilitates the commission of any terrorist act. Section 130B (2) of the Penal Code defines a "terrorist act" to mean "an act or threat of action within or beyond Malaysia" where

• act done or threat made with the intention of advancing a political, religious or idealogical cause; and
• act or threat is intended or may reasonably be regarded as being intended to

i. intimidate the public or a section of it; or
ii. influence or compel any government, whether in Malaysia or elsewhere, or any international organization to do or refrain from doing any act.
Under Section 130 B(3) an act or threat of action includes causing death, serious bodily injury, serious damage to property, use of firearms, interference with any computer or communication systems, interference with police, or actions which prejudice national security or public safety.

The specific terrorist offences provided for in the Penal Code from Sections 130C to 130T include committing terrorist acts, providing explosives, recruiting persons to join terrorist groups, providing training or facilities to terrorists, giving of support, directing terrorist activities and criminal conspiracy.

B. Why the Bill?

The first observation to make is that the "security offences" under the Security Offences Bill already exist as offences under the laws of Malaysia, that is, by virtue of Chapters VI and VIA of the Penal Code, which came into force in 2007. Why is it therefore necessary for Parliament to legislate on a second occasion the exact same offences using the exact same language? The simple answer is that those accused of committing these offences under the Special Offences Bill will be prosecuted and tried in a very oppressive manner when compared to a prosecution and trial under the Penal Code. This seems to be the raison de' etre of the Special Offences Bill. I wonder if Prime Minister Najib has been properly briefed that this is the consequence of the Bill?

That this seems to be the only intention of enacting the Special Offences Act becomes clear by a brief review of its provisions. Part II confers special powers on the police for security offences. Clause 4(1) empowers a police officer, without warrant, to arrest and detain any person "whom he has reason to believe to be involved in security offences". The person can be detained for a maximum period of 28 days for investigation under Clause 4(5). Even after release, an electronic monitoring device may be attached to that person by an Order of Court under Clauses 4 (6) and 7(1). A detainee may be kept in communicado, and no notification of his detention is to be made to his next-of-kin or lawyer for a period of 48 hours : see Clause 7.

Part IV of the Bill contains special procedures relating to sensitive information. Clause 8(1) provides that notwithstanding Section 51A of the Criminal Procedure Code ("CPC"), if the trial of a security offence involves "matters relating to sensitive information", the Court shall conduct any hearing pertaining to the use of such sensitive information in camera, and may rule whether such sensitive information may be admissible as evidence or even disclosed to the accused : see Clause 8 (7). Clause 8 (8) states that any such decision of a Court cannot be appealed from.

Accordingly, the expression "sensitive information" is of paramount importance. It is defined in Clause 3 to mean:—

"any document, information and material

a.relating to the Cabinet, Cabinet committees and State Executive Council; or

b.that concerns sovereignty, national security, defence, public order and international relations

whether or not classified as 'Secret' or 'Confidential'."

This is an incredibly wide definition, and essentially covers every governmental document, information or material. Thus, whistle-blowers who intend to make public wrong doings of ministers or civil servants may come under this category, provided, of course, that they are charged for a security offence.

All security offences shall be tried by the High Court (as opposed to the magistrates or sessions court). The general rule is that bail shall not be granted to a person who has been charged with a security offence : see Clause 13 (1). However, minors, women or sick persons, if charged, may be released on bail, but they would be attached with an electronic monitoring device.

Perhaps the worst treatment for any person who is to be charged for security offences under the new law when compared to being charged under the Penal Code is to be found in Part VII of the Bill which takes away any protection given to the accused by the Evidence Act, 1950 (and the cases decided thereunder) during the course of his trial. Thus, statements made by any person who is dead or cannot be found or incapable of giving evidence shall be admissible as evidence under Clause 18. This would be unjust and unfair because such a person/witness cannot be cross-examined on his statement. Other unacceptable inroads into a fair trial include allowing the use of testimony of a child of tender years, even if uncorroborated and not given under oath, and of accomplices and agents provocateur.

C. Justification for the Bill

How does the draftsman of this Bill justify its enactment when it violates equality protection under Article 8 of the Federal Constitution because of its oppressive treatment viz-a-viz the Penal Code (together with the CPC and the Evidence Act)? Article 8(1) provides that all persons are equal before the law and entitled to the equal protection of the law. The answer is an attempt to classify the Bill as a special law pursuant to Article 149 of the Federal Constitution. Thus, the Recitals to the Bill reproduce the language used in Article 149 (1) in an attempt to come within it. It reads :

"WHEREAS action has been taken and further action is threatened by a substantial body of persons both inside and outside Malaysia —

1. to cause, or to cause a substantial number of citizen to fear, organized violence against persons or property;
2. to excite disaffection against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong;
3. which is prejudicial to public order in, or the security of, the Federation or any part thereof; or
4. to procure the alteration, otherwise than by lawful means, of anything by law established.

AND WHEREAS Parliament considers it necessary to stop such action."

Articles 149 to 151 make up Part XI of the Federal Constitution which is entitled —

"Special Powers against subversion, organized violence, and acts and crimes prejudicial to the public and Emergency Powers."

Article 149 confers powers on Parliament to pass laws against subversion, action prejudicial to public order, etc. Article 149(1) contains 6 conditions precedent which have to be satisfied before such laws can be passed. 4 of these conditions are recited in the Securities Offences Bill. From the government's perspective, the advantage of an Article 149 law is that it is valid "notwithstanding that it is inconsistent with any of the provisions of Articles 5, 9, 10 or 13" of the Federal Constitution. But, a breach of Article 8 is not permitted by a law enacted under Article 149.

Article 150 of the Federal Constitution is significantly relevant when interpreting a law passed by Parliament under Article 149 because it empowers the Proclamation of Emergency upon satisfaction "that a grave emergency exists whereby the security, or the economic life, or public order in the Federation or any part thereof is threatened". Such a satisfaction by the Executive warranting the Declaration of Emergency must be made on objective grounds, and is reviewable by the Courts : see the important constitutional case decided by the Privy Council : Teh Cheng Poh v. PP [1979] 1 MLJ 50.

In that case, which was an appeal from Malaysia, Lord Diplock stated that for laws to be passed by Parliament under Article 149, they "must be taken bona fide for the purpose of stopping or preventing subversion action of the kind referred to in the recitals of the Act in order to be valid". Thus, any laws enacted by Parliament "must be designed to stop or prevent that subversion action and not to achieve some different end'.

D. Constitutionality of the Bill

In consequence, in order for the Security Offences Bill to be constitutional it must be a valid exercise by Parliament of its powers under Article 149(1) of the Federal Constitution. In other words, the Bill must be a genuine legislative solution to the problems recited in the Bill which must actually exist. It is an objective yardstick. An examination of the Bill will indicate that problems recited do not exist in Malaysia in April 2012, decades after independence.

Thus, no action "has been taken" or "further action is threatened by a substantial body of persons" to achieve any of the 4 conditions. To start off, there is no evidence of violence against the State by any person or organization, let alone "organized violence". It was claimed in 1960 when the ISA was introduced that it was necessary to arm the nation with adequate legal powers to cope with violence that had been organized and carried out by Chin Peng's Malayan Communist Party since 1948. Malaysia is blessed that in 2012 no similar threat of violence exists. Likewise "substantial body of persons" are not exciting disaffection against our King, threatening our national security or public order or attempting to change by unlawful means anything in our system. The best proof that even the government accepts that normalcy has fully returned to the nation is the revocation of the 4 Emergencies last year.

In consequence, the constitutionality of the Special Offences Bill is in grave doubt for at least 2 reasons. First, whether Parliament can pass such a law in circumstances when the conditions precedent to a valid exercise of power under Article 149(1) of the Federal Constitution do not exist at the present time. Secondly, whether the much inferior treatment of an accused when prosecuted and tried under the Bill when compared to being prosecuted and tried for the very same offence under the Penal Code violates the fundamental right of equality under Article 8(1).

E. 9/11 Paranoia

Civil liberties across the globe suffered major setbacks after the 9/11 attack in New York. Hence, the past decade has not been happy for the protection of human rights worldwide. The worst examples are the United States and United Kingdom (after the 7/7 attack in London).

The laws in the 2 Anglo Saxon nations have been substantially changed to the detriment of individual rights. The State has been given massive power, unprecedented in history, all in the name of the "War on Terror" (whatever that nebulous concept may mean!). The worst law is probably the Patriots Act of the USA, and the most well-publicised human right violations have occurred in the Abu Ghraib prison and Guantanamo Bay detention centre.

Unfortunately, our law enforcement agencies have justified the Special Offence Bill and other unacceptable laws by referring to the experience in the United States and United Kingdom. But Malaysia is not the US or the UK. Malaysians are peace-loving and non-violent. The comparisons with these Islam-hating countries are wholly misplaced.

Accordingly, although I am delighted that the ISA will shortly be repealed, I am not persuaded that there is any need for the rest of the Security Offences Bill. The Prime Minister has been poorly advised. His objectives have not been fully carried out. Further, repressive laws continue to be part of our laws. Preventive detention is still valid under other written laws. Until all these oppressive laws disappear, one cannot say that the people of Malaysia enjoy a full measure of freedom, even 55 years after Merdeka.

* Tommy Thomas is a senior lawyer of the Malaysian Bar.

This entry was posted on Saturday, 21 April 2012, 3:06 pm and is filed under Constitution, ISA, Najib Razak. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0.  

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Pemansuhan PTPTN tidak boleh tergesa-gesa

KEPALA BATAS: Keputusan memansuhkan pinjaman Perbadanan Tabung Pendidikan Tinggi Nasional (PTPTN) tidak perlu membuat keputusan itu secara tergesa-gesa, kata Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Sebaliknya, kata bekas Perdana Menteri,  perlu dibincang dan diperhalusi terlebih dahulu sebelum dilaksanakan kerana melibatkan banyak pihak.

"Jika perlu diubah atau sebagainya, mereka (pembangkang) haruslah menyerahkan cadangan berkenaan kepada pihak berkaitan," katanya kepada pemberita selepas merasmikan Mini Karnival Rakyat 1Malaysia di Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Datuk Haji Ahmad Badawi di sini hari ini.

Beliau berkata demikian ketika diminta mengulas kenyataan Penasihat PKR Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim yang menyatakan hasrat untuk memansuhkan pinjaman PTPTN serta-merta jika pembangkang diberi mandat sebagai kerajaan pusat selepas pilihan raya umum ke-13.

Sementara itu, Abdullah berkata program mini karnival seperti yang dilaksanakan hari ini perlu diperluaskan ke semua kawasan parlimen terutamanya di luar bandar.

"Pelbagai maklumat berkaitan kerajaan dapat disalurkan kepada orang ramai menerusi mini karnival seperti ini dan ia perlu diperluaskan supaya usaha kerajaan mendekati golongan sasaran tercapai," katanya.

Lebih 500 orang menghadiri mini karnival itu anjuran bersama Bahagian Penguatkuasaan Kementerian Dalam Negeri dan pejabat Anggota Parlimen Kepala Batas.

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Beyond bare minimum — From a Reformasi Mum to her Boy Named Justice

The Malaysian Insider
Apr 21, 2012

APRIL 17—My dearest son:

We all know that when taking care of a healthy child, the bare minimum required is proper food and shelter. And of course, where possible, lots of love and care.

When the child is sick, the bar of bare minimum is raised to include proper medication and tender care. In most cases, it is the usual Panadol, anti-histamine and cough syrup.

But if the child's sickness is prolonged, the bar is raised again to include a doctor's attention.

Any thing further than this and the child will need to be taken for diagnostic tests and observation which may even include hospitalisation and other extensive/aggressive medical attention.

Anything less and the child may run the risk of lifelong impaired health, or even death.

In every step of the way, the attending adult caregivers are duty- bound to properly raise the bar of proper and adequate response; failing which he/she is in danger of dereliction of duty as a responsible caregiver. Such an offence is grievous to natural justice.

Similarly, as responsible citizens of this country, to register ourselves to become voters and then to do the necessary in order to cast our votes on polling day is the bare minimum anyone of us can do.

In order to cast our votes wisely, we raise the bar by informing ourselves through the media (be it mainstream or alternative), attending ceramahs, getting to know the candidates, familiarising ourselves with the respective party or coalition's manifestos, etc.

But when we know that the electoral process of which we are a part is rigged with untold corruption and massive fraud, to fulfil just the bare minimum as mentioned above is no longer adequate or enough.

For anyone of sound mind to continue thinking that the bare minimum alone is still enough at this point is faulty thinking. Because the chronic illness in the fraudulent system cannot be dealt with just the bare minimum. Lack of political will combined with wilful stranglehold on power can and must be dealt with using "unconventional" methods. Not unlawful, just unconventional, at least in our local context.

A fraudulent electoral process is unjust and immoral because it undermines the very basic tenets of democracy. It is a show of contempt towards the people's ability to make sound and wise choices for themselves.

In a case of clear electoral crisis such as ours, for us to not raise the bar from bare minimum responsibility is to be fatalistic about the power that is in our hands. It is akin to fighting cancer with medicine meant for flu, which obviously is not going to work. An unusual illness requires unusual intervention and treatment.

In the electoral disease we are faced with, BERSIH is one such intervention. However, the success of such an intervention is dependent upon the cooperation of its stakeholders. In this case, the stakeholders are all the citizens who have a right and the right to decide a government of their own choosing. If we have been keeping to only the bare minimum thus far and are still not seeing the reforms that ought to have taken place all these while, then it is time we raise the bar and step beyond. There can be no other way but to fight the systemic cancer the way it must be done. Any less and it is a grave disservice to ourselves, our children and our country.

On 28 April 2012, 2pm, Dataran Merdeka, YOU AND I, my dearest son, will STEP BEYOND THE BARE MINIMUM!

(From www.dontsaycannot.wordpress.com)

This entry was posted on Saturday, 21 April 2012, 3:36 pm and is filed under Bersih, Elections. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0.  

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122 ahli PKR Indera Mahkota sertai BN

KUANTAN: Seramai 122 ahli PKR  Indera Mahkota di sini bertindak keluar daripada parti itu hari ini dengan beralih arah menyertai parti komponen BN.

Daripada jumlah itu, 90 orang menyertai Umno manakala 32 lagi MIC.

Bekas Pengerusi Tetap PKR Indera Mahkota Abdul Hamid Ibrahim berkata beliau sendiri telah jemu dan muak dengan perjuangan yang ditunjukkan oleh parti berkenaan.

"Kebanyakan yang mengikuti saya keluar daripada PKR bukan kerana pujuk rayu parti komponen BN tetapi dengan kerelaan hati masing-masing berdasarkan apa yang telah dinilai oleh mereka sendiri," katanya kepada pemberita.

Beliau sebelum itu mewakili kumpulan berkenaan menyerahkan borang untuk menganggotai parti komponen BN yang diterima oleh Ketua Umno Bahagian Indera Mahkota Datuk Hazmi Yusof.

Sementara itu, Hazmi berkata penyertaan anggota baru daripada PKR itu merupakan kali kedua dengan yang pertama adalah pada 25 Mac 2010.

-Bernama

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Roaring tiger, rising dragon

The stage for another tsunami of change to clean up the nation.

By Selena Tay | FMT

The attack by thugs and hooligans on the students camping peacefully at Dataran Merdeka is the last straw. Not only were the students beaten up, their mobile phones, cameras and cash donations from well-wishers were also taken away.

Civil society is now getting fed up with the government which seems to be a law unto itself and acting with arrogance and impunity in oppressing the rakyat. The students have their rights and the Barisan Nasional government should engage in a peaceful discussion with them in order to come up with an amicable win-win solution.

Instead, the BN government is thumbing its nose at the students. This is unacceptable and this attack on the students just goes to show that even law and order has been breached. What is Malaysia coming to?
This columnist who was at Dataran Merdeka to give moral support to the students found that their rationale for protesting about their student loans is reasonable as the repayment interest can go higher than 20% due to late repayment.

One student told this columnist that he is unhappy with the interest rate as the debt of one BN crony amounting to RM589 million was written off just like that.

Passers-by – the young and elderly – also stopped by to give the students moral support and told this columnist that they will be coming to Dataran Merdeka for Bersih 3.0 rally. Bersih 3.0 is going to be a big event. "We will be near Dataran if there are roadblocks," said an elderly man.

Serious action must be taken against the thugs who attacked the students and those who disrupted Pakatan Rakyat's ceramahs. So far, there has been no action against the thugs who beat people up at an ABU (Anyone But Umno) function in Klang in January this year or the thugs who attacked reporters at the Anti-Lynas Rally in Penang on Feb 26. Twelve car windscreens were also smashed during a DAP fund-raising dinner in Sarawak recently.

Elegant silence

There has been an increase in lawlessness since the beginning of this year and so far Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak has kept an "elegant silence". This is unacceptable as it seems we are going back to the medieval age where we need to carry a sword and shield for protection.

Najib must not be blind to these incidents of violence. He must come out strongly to issue statements condemning these violent thugs. In a press conference on April 4 during the announcement of the date of the Bersih 3.0 sit-in, co-chairperson S Ambiga has expressed the hope that Najib and Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim can come up with a joint statement condemning the recent escalating violence during political ceramahs. This (spirally violence) is a dangerous prelude to the forthcoming 13th general election.

It is every Malaysian's ardent wish that the election campaign will be peaceful and orderly and that a high level of decorum, professionalism and sound ethics be employed. We hope that concrete steps will be taken to stop this culture of violence.

Be that as it may, these incidents are not doing the BN government any favour. The groundswell is building up. If you attend a Pakatan ceramah, you can see people from all walks of life there. To give you an example of the diversity, you will see an elderly Chinese man in short trousers and singlet standing next to a young Malay boy or a Sikh guy.

Prior to 2004, the response to the opposition ceramahs was poor and there might be 100 to 200 Malay men in skull-caps. But not so these days. Today, Pakatan ceramahs always draw more than a 1,000 people. The only way BN can win now is via the dirty voter rolls.

Even in the Umno stronghold of Johor, some of the die-hard Umno supporters are waking up. There will be a group called Gabungan Selamatkan Tanah Rakyat Johor (Tanah) which will be joining the Bersih 3.0 sit-in. These people are from Tanah Sungai Balang Muar, Felda Cahaya Baru, Setinggan Kampung Plentong Tengah and many more.

Armageddon 2012

According to Johor PAS Youth's Suhaizan Kaiat, this is the first time that this is happening. In Kelantan, 400 Umno members from Gual Ipoh and Bukit Panau have left and joined PAS. Recently this month alone, 69 Umno members from Kampung Dangar and Kampung Kedap have joined PAS and on April 7, 152 Umno members from Bukit Tuku, also in Kelantan, have joined PAS. In the parliamentary seat of Kota Raja, Selangor, whose MP is Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud from PAS, 450 members have left PPP to join PAS.

Amidst all this flurry of activities, the issue of fair and balanced media coverage and 21-day campaign period – which are also among Bersih's eight demands – seem to have been left on the back-burner as the focus is on the dirty voter rolls. Nevertheless, this columnist dares to say that these two demands will clearly be ignored by the BN government.

Najib is also busy touring the country and showing that he is campaigning hard to win the people's support so that when BN wins, he can say that he deserved it because he campaigned very hard. This is the illusory reason BN will give to dupe the rakyat when it wins the 13th general election.

BN is building up a great momentum and is like a tiger now. It is showing its might and has let out a mighty roar. The people meanwhile are waking up. The rakyat will be like the dragon rising up from the ocean bringing a tsunami of change to clean up the nation. The tiger will roar. The dragon will rise. The stage is set for Armageddon 2012.

Selena Tay is a FMT columnist.

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