Ask Lord Bobo: Of Lawyers, Protests, and Burgers

From the Selangor Times 18 May 2012. Ask Lord Bobo is a weekly column by LoyarBurok where all your profound, abstruse, erudite, hermetic, recondite, sagacious, and other thesaurus-described queries are answered!

So Lord Bobo. Those darn Malaysian lawyers are at it again, I hear. A small minority of them went against the Will of the Majority, and their Bar Council passed a resolution condemning our hardworking boys in blue. Surely, the Bar Council must now register as a political party? (Bemused Accountant, by email)

First things first. The Malaysian Bar is a a body corporate established by an Act of Parliament, the Legal Profession Act 1976.

All lawyers in Peninsular Malaysia must be a member of the Malaysian Bar if they want to practise law i.e. hold themselves out as being able to advise on Malaysian law, to go to court on your behalf or to act on your behalf in the sale and purchase of houses, condos and other properties.

The Bar Council, on the other hand, are 36 members of the Malaysian Bar who are elected by the 14,000-strong membership to govern them. Think of the Bar Council as the board of directors, and the Malaysan Bar as the company.

So, the extraordinary general meeting was called by the Bar Council because of the unprecedented brutality shown by the police against peaceful protesters on April 28.

(Yes, yes … there were some protesters who were violent as well, and some who apparently breached the barricade. But then why did the police leave the barricades? Why did the police fire tear gas within the crowd, thus boxing people in? Why were so many journalists beaten up, had their cameras smashed, and detained? Why was BBC and Al Jazeera coverage censored?)

But as usual, we digress. So about this EGM.

The quorum for the EGM was 500. It used to be one-fifth of the membership (at that time, of about 12,000 members), but this was amended by Parliament a few years ago to 500. Think of your listed companies – how many shreholders are there, and how many people actually turn up?

So naturally, not every single member turns up for a meeting. Five hundred is considered by Parliament a reasonable number for the Bar's EGM to make decisions binding on its entire membership.

But 1,270 members of the Bar attended the EGM last Friday afternoon with just a week's notice.

Now, the debate (this was more than a thousand lawyers after all) took about two hours. The meeting started at about 3.30pm, and the resolution was eventually voted on at around 5.30 pm, with 939 voting in favour.

Now, pay attention very closely. The remainder of this is important.

Nobody abstained. Only 16 people voted against. The 331 who did not vote had already left the building by the time voting was carried out.

In other words, they did not abstain.

So all that rubbish you have heard about "331 people did not vote in favour" is just as true as saying 13,000 people did not vote against.

So ignore the people who claim that the Bar is split on this issue. A small number of vocal lawyers are agitating against the Bar Council.

Except for one or two, most have never set foot in a Bar general meeting before and most have very close affinities with certain political movements or coalitions (You know what we mean, lah).

The vast majority of lawyers are very clear. Lawyers are not fools. They can can read the Internet, they can see Youtube videos, and they can apply common sense.

They know Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan as their former leader, and a lawyer of impeccable standing and integrity.

The vast majority of lawyers are fully behind the EGM resolution, which, you must remember, was passed with more than 12,000 people who did not vote against it.

Some high ranking boy in blue said that anyone can go and protest outside Ambiga's house since we have a Peaceful Assembly Act? And I heard some dude was frying up burgers outside her house? Can ah like that wan? I want to open stall outside Prime Minister's house! (BKT, on back of a 4D results slip)

The stock response to this question would be: "This is 1Malaysia Bolehland lah. Everything can unless the government says cannot. You dunno wan ah?"

Of course, the basic principle of universal human rights law is that your human rights extend only until they interfere with another's rights.

Ambiga is unarguably a public figure now, and so her rights to privacy perhaps weigh less in the balance than the rights of people to protest.

However, lest you run off and set up your stall, be aware that both setting up a stall AND hawking food, drinks or other goods require two separate licences under the Licensing of Hawkers and Stalls (Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur) By-laws 1989.

A food stall which is not mobile or attached to a vehicle cannot simply be moved around. The licence given is for a specific site.

This may be why the burger stall f'ler who set up shop outside her house gave his burgers away in a protest at his loss of business! (One suspects he lost business because he does not know how to do business.)

The police cannot just say anyone is free to protest in a residential road. The right to peaceful assembly is not an absolute right.

Restrictions to this right must have a formal legal basis, be precise and proportionate to very specific needs such as all that jazz about reasons of national security, preserving public order, public health or public morality and the rights and freedoms of others.

Bersih 3.0 should have been allowed because it was a one-time peaceful protest meant to raise public awareness and influence change in government policy.

The mob outside Ambi's house are just jackasses, who are trying to criminally intimidate her: thus far, they have set up a shop making meat burgers and offering this vegetarian Brahmin Hindu one, and performed an "exercise" which was effectively just lewd male posturing.

The police must be there to ensure both sides are permitted their freedoms. They can't just wash their hands off it.

But hey – Malaysia Boleh, right? Except if you want to assemble at a place named for our independence, asking for free and fair elections.

That one, Malaysia Tak Boleh lah!

Have a question for Lord Bobo? Call on His Supreme Eminenceness by emailing asklordbobo@loyarburok.com, stating your full name, and a pseudonym (if you want), or tweeting your questions by mentioning @LoyarBurok and using the hashtag #asklordbobo. What the hell are you waiting for? Hear This, and Tremblingly Obey (although trembling is optional if you are somewhere very warm)! Liberavi Animam Meam! I Have Freed My Spirit!

You can read archives of all the Ask Lord Bobo columns by clicking here. These are the divinely-inspired words of His Supreme Eminenceness Lord Bobo Barnabus PhD SP GBE OMGWTFBBQ.

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Tags: Ambiga Sreenavasan, Ask Lord Bobo, Bar Council, BERSIH, Bersih 3.0, Lord Bobo, Malaysian Bar, Selangor Times

Ask Lord Bobo is a weekly column by LoyarBurok where all your profound, abstruse, erudite, hermetic, recondite, sagacious, and other thesaurus-described queries are answered! It is the ONLY place that His Supreme Eminenceness' thoughts are regularly channeled, via His Lordship's most loyal meditating purple-banana munching minions.

Posted on 18 May 2012. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0.

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Brain drain in Sarawak?

KUCHING: Why isn't the Sarawak government doing anything to stop the brain drain and emigration of its populace?

Posing the question, Opposition Leader Wong Ho Leng said statistics showed that some 157, 395 Sarawakians had left Sarawak because they no longer had confidence in the state government's promises and projects.

"But why the people are leaving Sarawak? The answer is simple. Jobs are scarce in Sarawak. There is poverty in all races, especially among the natives.

"Corruption continues. The rich becomes richer, and the poor becomes poorer," said Wong.

Bukit Assek assemblyman Wong, while debating the Governor's address, also touched on Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (Score) which he claimed was being touted by the state government  "as if the state's success depended entirely on Score'.

Recalling his speech he made in the state assembly in November 2011, Wong said that 'close to 100,000 Dayaks and anak anak Sarawak (had) lost faith in Sarawak" and had sought employment in Singapore, Johor and the Klang Valley.

'If development distribution is equitable, the children of Sarawak will not have to leave their homeland.

"Many Sarawakians who have better brains have also lose faith in the state. They have left to find greener pastures elsewhere," he said.

Wong said that he was being conservative when he said that 'close to 100,000 Dayaks and anak anak Sarawak' have left the state.

"These are our children. They should be asked to return home to provide the necessary human resources to develop our state.

"No matter how rosy the BN paints the picture in Sarawak; our state won't grow if we have to depend on foreign labour," he said.

Stats prove reducing populace

Wong also alluded to Chief Minister Taib Mahmud's winding up speech in which he had pointedly asked Wong to substantiate his claims of a brain drain, Wong said he had the statistic obtained during the March 16, 2011 parliament sitting.

Reading out the statistic Wong said: "In 1970, Sarawak had a population of 976,269. That represents 9.35% of the nation's population of 10,439,430.

"In 1980, Sarawak's population was 1.2 million. That represents 9.16% of the nation's population of 13.1 million.

"In 1991, Sarawak population was 1.6 million, representing 9.09% of the total population of 17.6 million. In 2000, Sarawak's population of 2,012,616 was 9.06% of the nation's total of 22,202,614.

"In 2010, Sarawak has a population of 2,420,009. That represents a mere 8.78% of the nation's total of 27,565,821.

"The important question we must ask is: Why has the percentage of population growth in Sarawak decreased, whereas it increases in Malaysia over the past 40 years?

"If we should maintain Sarawak's population growth at 9.35%, then Sarawak should have a population of 2,577,404 in 2010.

"There ought to be some explanation to the difference of 157,395. These Sarawakians have left the state," he added.

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Free Publicity for Malaysia

Let the French handle Najib and Rosmah, while we concentrate on getting rid of Muhyiddin and Mukhriz.

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The end of Felda

Business is about making money but in Malaysia UMNO Ministers, Elites and Cronies go into business to bankrupt the company.

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Malaysia today

We are being bullied and controlled by Mamak and Melayu extremists well supported by UMNO, MCA, MIC, PDRM, MACC and Sultans.

Where do we draw the line?

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Muhyiddin and the fishing rod — Qiu Yaofeng

MAY 18 — Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said yesterday Malays weren't competitive because they were too dependent on government handouts.

"Carelessness and dependence on the government are the two main reasons that prevent Malays from controlling the economy in their own country," he proclaimed.

Yet in the very next breath he pledged to give the Bumiputera Manufacturers and Service Providers Association RM5 million in assistance for funding. Guess they asked nicely.

In effect, the deputy prime minister told Malays: "Give a man a fish, he'll eat for a day. Teach a man to fish, he'll eat for a lifetime. Have some fish!"

Is it any wonder that, in his own words, Malays still make up 80 per cent of the bottom 40 per cent of wage earners in Malaysia despite over five decades of Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) rule?

A subsidy is defined as assistance paid to a business or economic sector. It has the tendency to dull enterprise as well as cripple competition.

Policies favouring the Bumiputeras are a form of subsidy, make no mistake. It supplements inefficiency by shielding the community from the realities that push others to do or die.

You don't need to think or work terribly hard if you have a government-erected safety net perpetually beneath you to catch you if you fall. That's how people are.

(I've always said that if Putrajaya really wants to achieve parity between all the races, even if it's at a low register, they should just give everybody assistance. Then watch as the Chinese and Indians turn into subsidy-addicted dullards.)

Unfortunately, the rest of the world has no qualms about letting failures flatten themselves on the cold concrete below if they don't cut the hot mustard.

Muhyiddin also spoke of the necessity for Malays to become competitive on a global level. Mate, you're getting way ahead of yourself here. The community has been sheltered so long they can't even succeed locally.

I'd start with that before we go on to world domination. You can't play catch-up on a never-ending race if you insist on using crutches.

It's high time BN stops giving the Malay community fish and handed over the fishing rod. Dismantle the Bumiputera affirmative action policy and you'll find your corporate captains.

Do it, because it's the only way we can reach our full potential as a country.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.

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Is the Bar Council playing politics? — Rueban Balasubramaniam

MAY 18 — The Malaysian government has recently criticized the Malaysian Bar Council for playing politics in reaction to the Bar's resolution that the police had used excessive force against demonstrators at the recent Bersih rally.

The government argues that the Bar is not being "impartial" in its assessment of governmental action. It alleges that the Bar is now operating effectively operating as a political opposition party. 

The objection that the Bar is playing politics is not new. Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has in the past recorded this critique of the Bar. Indeed, he has joined in the government's response to the Bar's recent resolution about police conduct during the Bersih rally.

This line of criticism of the Bar displays a fundamental misunderstanding of the role of the Bar as articulate defenders of the ideal of the rule of law and democracy.

To start with the rule of law, it is an ideal that is widely contrasted with arbitrary power. A commitment to the rule of law requires that before a government can claim that its actions are legally and politically legitimate, it must show that its actions accord with a sound interpretation of relevant laws.

In Malaysia, this means that the government must show that its actions accord mainly with fundamental constitutional norms. The Malaysian Constitution is the "supreme" law of the land, which means that any exercise of state power can only be legitimate if it is shown to comport with a sound interpretation of what the Constitution requires.

And because we now live in a human rights age, it is important to also keep in mind the relevance of fundamental human rights norms. Indeed, there is good reason to think that the Malaysian Constitution already presupposes such norms within the bill of rights, where we find that the bill protects rights that are widely recognized as human rights.

Of course, the Constitution is not the sole source of law. Other relevant legislation and case law might also apply. But the Constitution has special salience when it comes to the rule of law in the Malaysian context because it is the highest source of law in the land.

To the extent that the Constitution is expressive of the ideal of the rule of law and to the extent that the government derives its authority from the Constitution, all political questions are therefore legal questions.

For the government to enjoy legitimate political power, it must justify its actions by reference to appropriate legal norms. This subordination of politics to law is precisely what makes Malaysia a legitimate rule-of-law state, not a lawless state in which ruling elites manipulate the law to suit their intended political ends.

If the law is subject to constant manipulation, then the law is subordinate to politics and is therefore not a constraint against arbitrary rule. This is not our situation. Certainly, the government has never formally disavowed the rule of law.

And, to the extent that it characteristically asserts legal authority for its actions, the government recognizes that the legitimacy of political decision-making depends upon the legality of its actions. In short, its actions signal the idea that in Malaysia, law operates to tame politics.

If politics is subordinate to law in the sense that all legitimate political power must answer to a test of legal legitimacy — one that requires that the government show how its actions accord with a sound interpretation of the law — then it follows that lawyers have a special role to play within the rule-of-law state.

At one level, this role flows from the lawyer's expertise in the law. Lawyers know how to interpret the complex body of law to determine whether or not the government is properly complying with the rule of law.

At another more fundamental level, lawyers are under a duty to uphold the integrity of the law as a coherent body of norms that operates to facilitate the interests of those it serves. In the Malaysian context, it is plain that the intended beneficiaries of the law are private citizens.

It follows that Malaysian lawyers are intermediaries between the ideals of the rule of law and democracy, where the ideal of democracy speaks to the notion of a representative government that aspires to protect the fundamental interests of the citizenry.

Democracy is not purely a matter of majority rule. Rather, it is predicated upon the idea that each individual is possessed of fundamental rights and interests that should filter into political decision-making that aspires to serve these interests.

Indeed, this is the impetus behind majority rule — such rule is the best proxy for determining how best to serve these rights and interests. It follows that the ideals of the rule of law and democracy are mutually constitutive of each other because both work together to undergird the idea of official accountability.

The linkage between both ideals is evident in the Malaysian Constitution. The document contains a bill of rights, as well as provisions affirming the separation of powers, and judicial review. More broadly, the supremacy of the Constitution clarifies that politics is beholden to law, an idea that makes sense only on the basis that politics should work in the interests of the citizenry.

Democratic politics in Malaysia is, thus, constituted by a duty to uphold constitutional norms. In this connection, an important role of the Malaysian Bar is to articulate the link between the ideals of the rule of law and democracy and to signal to the government whether or not it is properly observing this link.

With this point in view, it is apparent that the objection that the Malaysian Bar is playing politics is wrongheaded because it assumes that there is a tension between the ideals of the rule of law and democracy.

This assumption is implicit in the objection that the Bar is playing politics and acting like a political opposition party because the corollary to this objection is that if the Bar wants to criticize the state for failing to uphold the rule of law, then it must make an explicitly political argument in the character of a political party in keeping with the norms of democratic politics.

The government reconstructs the Bar's assertion of the rule of law as a purely political position taken in opposition to the government's decisions. There is a complete failure to see that the Bar is exercising its proper role by reminding the government that its democratic political authority is constituted by a commitment to the rule of law as mutually constitutive ideals.

This is not to play politics. Rather, it is to remind the government that democratic politics in Malaysia is infused by a commitment to the rule of law and that there cannot be the former without a commitment to the latter.

It seems that for too long Malaysia has been ruled by politicians who fail to understand the interplay of the ideals of the rule of law and democracy. There are complex reasons for this failure but I suspect that a major one is some concern that any acknowledgement of such a link would entail giving power to unelected lawyers and judges to run the country.

However, this is a false concern that once more turns on the mistaken assumption that the ideals of the rule of law and democracy are at odds with each other. The correct perspective is that the Bar and the Bench are empowered to work in concert with the government to ensure that it fulfils it legal and political obligations. Lawyers, judges, and politicians are partners within a broader project of governance that links the rule of law to the ideal of democracy so that the government will be accountable to the people.

I worry that the government's criticism of the Bar Council not only displays ignorance about the ideals that underlie its claimed authority to rule, it also smacks dangerously of a desire for lawlessness. If the government is resistant to the Bar Council's efforts to remind the government of its obligations under the rule of law and democracy, then the government is resisting the demand to be accountable to the people.

Here, the government cannot for long engage in such resistance without risking the appearance that it is a lawless government. Indeed, history shows that such resistance is likely to lead to the dismantling of very important institutional features of the legal and political order put in place to ensure governmental accountability in keeping with its commitment to the ideals of the rule of law and democracy.

One important stick of furniture that has already been rendered rickety is an independent judiciary. As is well known, the courts have been significantly weakened after the onslaught against the judges in the late 1980s by Dr Mahathir's government in resistance to the judiciary's efforts to control the government via judicial review.

The attempt to smash the judiciary has considerably weakened the government's credibility as respectful of the rule of law and democracy because its actions were widely seen as an attempt to entrench an authoritarian executive power.

In light of this history, the current government should be troubled by the fact that it now finds itself falling in line with Dr Mahathir's position against the Bar Council, for Dr Mahathir's government was implicated in the assault on the judiciary.

In this vein, I am nervous that the government's present criticism of the Bar and its talk of setting up a Legal Academy as an alternative to the Bar will lead to similar results. This would be to make exactly the same kind of mistake that was made with respect to the judiciary. I do not think the country can afford another such mistake.

* Rueban Balasubramaniam is an Associate Professor of Law with the Department of Law and Legal Studies, Carleton University, Ottawa

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.

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Why the PM should scuttle the coming FGVH IPO — Lim Teck Ghee

MAY 18 — Prime Minister Najib Razak last week announced a "windfall" of RM15,000 to each Felda settler family.

The planned payout is to come from the initial public offering of the Felda Global Ventures Holding (FGVH). As part of the IPO of FGVH, Felda will be disposing 1.21 billion of its current FGVH shares at RM4.65 each, and from which Felda stands to make RM5.62 billion if these are fully taken up.

Among the targeted anchor investors are Employees Provident Fund (EPF), Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB), Lembaga Tabung Angkatan Tentera (LTAT) and other national and Bumiputera funds.

Ahead of the share sale to be held by June, Felda settlers have been given an assurance by Najib that the listing would yield profits. He had also lashed out at those opposed to the scheme, saying that they are merely trying "to confuse" the people.

At this stage it is not clear yet who is trying to confuse the settlers or other Malaysians since the planned IPO is a highly complicated transaction whose full details have not been thoroughly unravelled and evaluated by professional market analysts. This is because many analysts are fearful that they may antagonize the government and end up on the wrong side of the authorities.

Felda accounts for around 18 per cent of the country's total palm oil output. The idea behind FGVH is to turn this newly created corporate entity into a "global conglomerate".

The blogger Pirates of Putrajaya, who is one of the few to have studied the considerable documentation pertaining to the IPO, explains that what FGVH is offering to the public is its 49 per cent interest in Felda Holdings, of which 51 per cent is owned by Koperasi Permodalan Felda Malaysia Bhd (KPF) and its one golden share held by the Ministry of Finance.

More illuminating examination of the convoluted deal is to be found in the Pirates of Putrajaya blog.

With such a huge amount of newly-minted money in the works, it is only natural that the FGVH listing should be subject to scrutiny with regard to its political and socio-economic implications.

One is that the Felda folk are a vital constituency numbering 112,635 settlers who will be receiving payment as a "hadiah" timed coincidentally just before imminent elections.

Two, more important than the voter headcount, the so-called "windfall" for the settler electorate is to reinforce the political message that Umno has always taken care of the Malay rural constituencies.

Three, it is impossible to downplay suspicions that the purpose of the exercise is to fill the Umno war chest on the eve of an imminent election.

To read more on the financial repercussions on the Felda settlers in the long term, please go to the Pirates of Putrajaya website.

Even if readers are not convinced by the political analysis of blogger "Pirates", it is clear that settlers are not getting the best deal out of this FGVH listing.

Why list FGVH and not FHB?

Felda Holdings Bhd (FHB), which is the entity that manages the oil palm plantations, is the jewel in the crown that makes most of the profits. (FY2010, it achieved net profit of RM614.2 million on turnover of RM14.9 million).

Felda's plantations and related businesses are parked under FHB, which also manages some 355,000 hectares leased from Felda in addition to the 500,000 hectares belonging to settlers that it oversees.

FGVH is presently owned 100 per cent by Felda (i.e. the government) and its major source of profit contribution — i.e. 85 per cent of its earnings — comes from FHB.

KPF is owned by 220,000 stakeholders, of which half are pioneer settlers. KPF is therefore the vehicle where the interests of the settlers are in alignment.

FGVH also owns MSM, a listed refined sugar producer; Twin Rivers, a loss making investment in downstream oleo chemical companies in North America; and a joint venture business in the Middle East with IAATEC, in distribution of specialty fats.

Without FHB, the FGVH IPO will not fly.

In CPI's opinion, the FGVH listing is less beneficial than listing Felda Holdings itself, which makes most of the profits.

Why shift profits into a company with poor performance and with no strong track record to justify a listing, and with the company belonging to the settlers getting the short end of the deal?

It would not only be simpler and more straightforward, but also commercially more logical and less costly to list FHB instead of FGVH, where KPF has a 51 per cent interest and FGVH has a 49 per cent interest.

Why is it necessary to do a swap when the bulk of the profit comes from FHB? The profits are in the upstream oil palm plantations, not the downstream oleo/specialty fats etc or refined sugar business that FGVH owns. The integrated strategy to justify using FGVH is just a distraction.

A successful listing of FHB would probably have at least as high, if not higher market capitalisation than that of FGVH, and will be worth more to the KPF stakeholders.

The better alternative is for the listing of FHB. Of course, if FHB were listed, most of the benefits would accrue to KPF and the settlers, and there will be no scope to use a vehicle like FGVH for potential 'monkey business' to benefit a horde of other interest groups.

Readers are reminded that there are 980 million shares on offer to the public. Of this 980 million, 286.8 million will be on offer to local/foreign institutional and selected investors, 419.5 million to Bumiputera institutions and selected Bumiputera investors approved by the Ministry of Trade and Industry, 200.6 million to eligible employees and 72.9 million to the Malaysian public.

How and to whom the bulk of these 980 million shares are allocated is where manipulation can take place.

In a nutshell, the FGVH structure would appear to be a lot less efficient in value creation for shareholders of FHB than just simply listing FHB itself.

There is no need to have another layer of management in FGVH, as well as going through all the costly and unnecessary restructuring that does not only fail to add value to the market capitalization but also does not maximize the value to KPF's shareholders.

The settlers and stakeholders of KPF appear to be much worse off in agreeing to the deal, notwithstanding all the sweeteners. This is because we must ask the question of who will actually benefit from the FGVH listing. It is certainly not the settlers, especially if they could end losing a controlling stake in their jewel in the crown (Felda Holdings), in substitution for a minority interest in FGVH.

If the prime minister has been advised that the current listing is the best way to benefit Felda settlers, he has been wrongly advised. He needs to do a quick turnaround, scuttle the listing in the interests of settlers as well as in the national interest, and go back to the drawing board. — cpiasia.net

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.

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‘Poor healthcare in Sarawak Taib’s fault’

KUCHING: Poor healthcare services in Sarawak, particularly in Meradong constituency came under the spotlight at the state legislative Assembly sitting alongwith Chief Minister Taib Mahmud's trip to Switzerland for dental care.

Urging Taib to 'spare a thought' for his voters, Meradong assemblywoman Ting Tze Fui said thus far pleas for "basic medical care" for the constituency's 30,000 strong community has fallen on deaf ears.

"It is undoubtedly sickening for Meradong people to be treated like second class citizens in their basic healthcare. People's lifes in Meradong seem to be worthless in the eyes of BN government," she said.

Ting added that what was even more 'obnoxious' was the fact that Taib spent more on beautifying his teeth than caring for his tax-paying people.

"It is highly obnoxious …When you (Taib) can fly to Switzerland on first class air travel to have your teeth cared for, cleaned or beautified, can you have the stomach to see Meradong people who are also fellow Sarawakians and who also have to pay various forms of taxes to be so brazenly neglected in their basic medical care by your government and the federal government?" Ting asked during the debate of the Governor's address.

She pointed out that during the past six years she had repeatedly pleaded for the establishment of a proper general hospital in Meradong and Sri Aman, where the BN had promised 20 years ago to build a public hospital.

"People's life are at stake both in Meradong and Sri Aman. (They) are in dire straits. It is simply because this irresponsible state government has consistently failed to make concrete and effective representations to the federal government for a full-fledged hospital to be built in these towns.

"In Bintangor, we only have one qualified doctor, compared to the world standard ratio of a doctor to 600-700 people.

"We also have a patently understaffed emergency unit. There is not a staff station in the so-called emergency unit in Klinik Kesihatan Bintangor which is supposed to provide 24-hour service.

"Not even one single staff would be there to attend to the emergency calls after working hours.

'Illogical and unacceptable'

"Our local medical clinic has a poorly funded and inefficient ambulance service to cater for the numerous accident victims, particularly at night.

"Very often, when traffic accidents do occur, injured motorists have to wait for up to 45 minutes for an ambulance to arrive from the Sarikei GH from where accident victims may have to be transferred to the Sibu GH if these victims cannot be treated well or properly at the Sarikei GH.

"It is simply illogical and unacceptable to say that since the Klinik (Bintagor) is not a hospital there is therefore no need for a 24-hour emergency unit to be in service," Ting said.

She warned the state government not to "simply whitewash my deep concerns as a federal issue" because the well-being of Sarawakians was a state responsibility.

"I am here in this August House, once again on behalf of all the people in Meradong, pleading loudly, requesting, calling on and petitioning to the state government to make an immediate appeal and demand (that) the federal government build a proper public hospital in Meradong.

"If the state government can cause the Sarawak International Medical Centre to be completed in Kota Samarahan (in record time), why can't this (same) state government have the decency to perform the same operation in Meradong?" she asked.

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BN’s series of lies in Sibu

KUCHING: A series of "lies" by the Barisan Nasional since 2008 has left Sibu folks frustrated and fed up, said Sibu MP Wong Ho Leng.

Listing out BN's unkept promises, Wong said Sibu was sceptical about the latest pledge by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to set up a university college of technology in the constituency by June.

"Clearly it is an election candy. Can we trust the announcement?

"Sibu people have been cheated many times by the BN government. Until the university starts its course, Sibu people do not trust the promise," he said during his debate on the Governor's address at the State Legislative Assembly sitting.

Wong said Sibu folks were constantly reminded that on Dec 21, 2001, Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP), an ally of BN, had promised a university in Sibu.

"The present Finance Minister II together with his colleagues even claimed that they had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the University of South Australia (UNISA).

"They even said that the students of United College of Sarawak (UCS) would become the first batch of graduates from this UNISA's Sibu campus.

"Eleven years have passed. Nobody has seen the shadow of UNISA in Sibu.

"It was a fat lie by the BN leaders. That is the first reason why I had said, we can't trust the BN's promise," Wong said.

He added that in the 2008 parliamentary election, SUPP had promised Sarikei voters that TAR college would be built in Bintagor after winning the election.

'Sibu needs a university'

He said they even went so far as to say that TAR had identified building for the college to be sited.

"It was another lie. The SUPP won the election but they dishonoured their promise. They sold their integrity. That is the second reason why I had said we can't trust the BN's promise, even if buildings were already identified.

"In the Sibu by-election (in May 2010) the prime minister promised that Kolej Laila Taib would become a university. Two years had passed, it is still a college. That is the third reason why I had said we don't trust the BN's promises of a university.

"SUPP not only promised us a university in 2001 but a timber conglomerate KTS Sdn Bhd made the Finance Minister II very proud when it promised to give 2,000 acres of land in the west bank of Sibu for the university in Sibu.

"Ten years had passed, can the minister now tell us, where is the 2,000 acres of land promised by KTS?' he asked.

Wong stressed that Sibu needed a full-fledged university, not a university college.

"We need a world-standard university which meets the aspirations of parents and students alike.

"We need a university capable of churning out students who can get employment and who can chart the country's future and be genuine masters of tomorrow.

"Our pride is UNIMAS. But its ranking in the world is so far down the list that we prefer not to know.

"Recently, I saw that many graduates from UNIMAS, especially teachers, cannot get placements from the Education Ministry.

"If the government is sincere in investing in the future, please get the ball rolling in Sibu. A good university here will reduce loss of foreign exchange and will arrest the brain drain," he said.

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‘The despot’s dark side revealed’

PETALING JAYA: The tussle for Chinese votes continues to see MCA leaders drawing their swords against DAP, this time over a Malay leader's exit.

Two leaders from the Barisan Nasional component party launched a salvo on their opponent over the resignation of DAP vice-president Tunku Abdul Aziz Ibrahim.

Tunku Aziz's recent media interview, according to MCA organising secretary Tee See Kiong, had revealed DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng's dark side.

"It proves that Guan Eng misuses his power to freeze out any dissidents in the party causing the party to be in a mess. It is a futile effort by Guan Eng to try and conceal his autocratic, despotic leadership style anymore," he said in a statement.

"Tunku Aziz's decision to quit the party exposed the real facade of DAP. The true colours of Guan Eng are now revealed, showing us that he not only hides skeletons in the closet but he also cannot tolerate any conflicting opinions from members," he added.

Tee noted that Tunku Aziz told the media that he previously raised several incidents of DAP leaders knowingly breaking the law with the party's central committee but these complaints went unheeded.

"This tells us that the party leadership turns a blind eye to the ill-discipline of its members, allowing law-breakers to roam free," he said.

Continuing his attack on Guan Eng, the MCA leader said the former's statement that time would prove who was right was an attempt to escape the criticism.

Tee claimed that Guan Eng was hoping that as time passed, the public would forget his misdeeds.

The Pulai Sebatang assemblyman also pointed out that Tunku Aziz said he was glad to quit DAP and escape the depotism.

"When Tunku Aziz joined DAP, he supported the idea of a multi-racial political party fighting for the interests of all races. Now his departure has proven that DAP is not what it claims to be.

"They are using the name 'multi-racial' party as a disguise for themselves from being a Chinese-based party ruling the Chinese," he said.

Prove it, Guan Eng

Meanwhile, Penang MCA Wanita chief Tan Cheng Liang challenged Guan Eng to prove that Tunku Aziz's senatorship was not renewed because he did not toe the line.

"If that was not the reason, he should boldly address the public instead of issuing press statements to clarify the matter.

"He must win back the people's trust or his reputation will be tarnished,"she said.

Tunku Aziz irked DAP leaders when he disagreed with the decision to hold the Bersih 3.0 protest on the streets as opposed to an enclosed area.

Tan also referred to Penang DAP chairman Chow Kon Yeow's revelation that the state committee had approved the renewal of Tunku Aziz's senatorship.

"Isn't it obvious there was foul play by someone to freeze out Tunku Aziz…?" she asked.

On the vilification of Tunku Aziz by certain quarters, Tan said this was a prime example of how DAP supporters would come together to discredit their opponents.

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JOM PANTAU – 2nd ELECTION OBSERVER WORKSHOP!

JOM PANTAU

2nd ELECTION OBSERVER WORKSHOP!

JOM PANTAU is now the official election monitoring platform of BERSIH 2.0 and stands on BERSIH 2.0's eight key demands for clean, free and fair elections and the Election Offences 1954 Act 5. This initiative is carried out in cooperation with the Malaysian Election Observers Network (MEO-Net), Southeast Asian Centre for e-Media (SEACEM), the National Institute for Democracy and Electoral Integrity (NIEI).

 

NOW we are announcing the second "Election Observer" Workshop focusing on understanding election laws & regulations; and learning how to detect, document and report election irregularities. This important training workshop will be held on 26th May 2012 in Petaling Jaya (Venue to be announced).

We encourage Jom Pantau election observer to be equipped with digital cameras,hand phones (with video & photo functions), digital audio recorders, and most importantly a strong "passion" to make our Malaysian 13th General Elections free, clean and fair!

This workshop is open to members of the public who are willing to become election observers for GE13 and to our registered Jom Pantau  volunteers.
Date: MAY 26th 2012 (Saturday)
Time: 10am – 5pm
Place: Petaling Jaya/Kuala Lumpur. (Exact venue to be announced)
Please fill up online application form http://bit.ly/JvWExE before 23rd May,2012 ,selected participants will be notified via e-mail by 24th May,2012.

For further enquiries  please contact:

Vijay (Jom Pantau-Assistant coordinator)

HP: 016-9674716
Email:vijay@komas.org
Website:www.PRU13.info

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Police release CCTV images of wanted couple

PETALING JAYA: Police today released CCTV images of two individuals wanted for robbing and sexually assaulting a female property agent last week.

Urging those who recognised the faces of the man and woman to help authorities, Kuala Lumpur CID chief Ku Chin Wah also expressed his disgust over the nature of the crime.

"When the man was molesting the victim, the woman suspect did nothing and just watched… suffice to say, there are many sick people around," said Ku.

"The images are quite clear, I'm sure someone can recognise them. I urge them to please come forward," said Ku, who added this was a first-of-its-kind crime reported in the city.

Anyone with any information as to their whereabouts can contact Inspector Mohd Najeeb Mohd Esam at 012-7293533 or go to the nearest police station.

Investigations thus far revealed that the couple had drove around in a white Mitsubishi Lancer with a fake number plate. Other details on the suspects remain sketchy.

Ku said that the crime seemed to be premeditated but police have not ascertained a motive for the attack.

The property agent, 34, went missing last week after showing the couple a condominium unit in Mont Kiara. Her husband lodged a missing persons report on Thursday evening.

Police said that the 'prospective clients' had locked the doors of the unit and proceeded to assault her. The victim was slapped and stripped naked.

She was allegedly molested by the man while his accomplice watched. Her belongings, including her handbag and handphone and some cash, were also taken.

The suspects left her locked up in the unit and made their getaway in the victim's Toyota Vios.

It was several hours before police received a tip-off about a woman sobbing and pleading for her life.

A team, led by Chief Inspector Edmond Ong, broke down the unit's door and found the property agent still tied up and naked.

It is understood that her clothing was shredded by the suspects in an effort to prevent her from leaving the unit.

This latest case comes at the heels of another missing persons report of 42-year-old female real estate agent who was found murdered at the Batu Dam in Ulu Yam last Wednesday.

According to reports, Chen Choi Mooi had left her house in Jinjang early on Tuesday to meet a client over the sale of a house.

Her car was located first and an hour later her body was found floating in the dam. Initial police inspections showed she was strangled and she had several bruises on her body.

Also read:

'House buyers' rob, sexually assault property agent

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Support for Ambiga’s proposal for the calling off of the “thosai” plan outside Deputy IGP’s house to initiate a virtuous circle to restore decency and civility to politics and public life

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MARI KITA GELAKKAN UMNO/APCO

hahahahahahhahahaa...lawak2......gelakkan UMNU.....

hahahahahahhahahaa...lawak2......gelakkan UMNU.....

By: Kelab Bekas Ahli Umno II

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Guan Eng: Palanivel appears confused

PETALING JAYA: The MIC president appears confused about the facts regarding the demolition of a Hindu temple in Penang, said Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

In a letter to G Palanivel, he pointed out that the state government was not responsible for the incident at the Prai Bulk cargo terminal, where a Muniswaran temple was torn down on April 20.

He was responding to the MIC's president demand for an apology for Lim's remark that Hindu temples would be threatened if Umno returned to power in the state.

Defending Umno, Palanivel had said that Lim's allegation was untrue since the federal government provided various allocations for building and repairing temples nationwide.

In his letter, the chief minister said: "The state government views the demolition seriously and condemns the Penang Port Sdn Bhd (PPSB) and Penang Port Commission (PPC) for not respecting religious sensitivities in allowing the temple which served as a place of worship for PPSB's Indian workers to be demolished."

"You (Palanivel) are perhaps confused because it was not the state government which demolished the temple but PPSB, which falls under the purview of the federal government.

"So it should be PPSB chairman (Umno assemblyman) Hilmi Yahya and PPC chairman (MCA president) Dr Chua Soi Lek who should apologise," he added in the letter dated May 15.

Lim also said he made the controversial remark in the state assembly following Hilmi's refusal to apologise in the House to all Hindus for the demolition.

Penang opposition leader Azhar Ibrahim had also lodged a police report against Lim over the statement which the former regarded as seditious.

The Penaga assemblyman claimed that the DAP secretary-general's statement caused uneasiness among the people and could lead to racial disharmony.

Meanwhile, the chief minister also sought a meeting with Palanivel to discuss the issue and to explore ways of rebuilding the temple.

Indian support rising for MIC

In another development, Palanivel claimed that the Indian community's confidence in MIC was on the rise.

According to a Bernama report, he said the community was aware that MIC truly looked after its welfare compared to the opposition which was only good at making empty promises.

On MIC's list of candidates for the upcoming general election, Palanivel said the list was ready and was at the discussion stage with Prime Minister and Barisan Nasional chairman Najib Tun Razak.

However, whether the MIC president would contest in the upcoming general election continued to remain a mystery, with certain observers claiming that he was unbale to find a safe seat.

The former Hulu Selangor MP was one of the many high-profile casualties in the 2008 general election.

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‘Shut up… you lawyer buruk’

KUCHING: An uproar in the State Legislative Assembly sitting earlier today saw Deputy Chief Minister Alfred Jabu go into a fit of rage screaming "shut up, shut up… you are lawyer buruk" at opposition leader and Bukit Assek assemblyman Wong Ho Leng.

For 10 minutes, the August House was a virtual 'fish market' as Jabu went on a verbal rampage attacking the opposition, accusing them of suppressing and oppressing natives.

The sudden outburst, which shocked the assembly, came about when Wong stood up to object to Jabu's accusation of DAP, whilst answering a supplementary question from Joseph Mauh (Tamin), on what programmes the governemnt had to help the poor and the needy apart from the 'E-Kasih'.

Towards the end of his explaination Jabu said: "I would like to remind especially DAP who have been suppressing and oppressing the opportunities of poverty eradication. You throw away your selfish ideas …"

At this point Wong stood up to seek clarification and was told by Jabu to "shut up you, shut up, shut up, shut up, you sit down…I know better than you. You are lawyer buruk."

The heated exchange went on for at least 10 minutes with Speaker Asfiah Awang Nassar having a hard time trying to bring the house into order.

Jabu ignoring Asfiah's order went on to say: "Let it be recorded here. Every time I say, "DAP suppressed and oppressed the opportunity of NCR land owners from participating in poverty eradication program," DAP walked out because the truth hurts …"

Venting Jabu

Jabu also took swipes at another DAP assemblyman Wong Hua Seh (Repok), acussing him of "suppressing and oppressing" the native language.

His attack on Hua Seh came about because the latter had asked that pesticides and insecticides be labelled in Bahasa Malaysia, English and Chinese.

To which Jabu vented: "Tuan Speaker, poverty eradication is priority and I would like to repeat (that) I am the Minister of Rural Development, I am coming from one of the Dayak communities and I know that the Dayak communities are still at the disadvantaged, living in rural areas…."

All this while, the house only heard what Jabu said and the replies from the opposition were not heard as their microphones were switched off.

The drama only stopped when the speaker threatened to adjourn the meeting and told Jabu to wind up his answer.

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Tuberculosis makes a comeback in Sabah

KOTA KINABALU: The uncontrolled influx of illegal immigrants into Sabah has spawned a lethal infectious disease, once thought to have been almost eradicated.

Tuberculosis, more commonly known as TB, is killing people on a weekly basis in Sabah and the spread of the disease is being pinned on the immigrants who have been pouring over its borders for years.

According to the health authorities here, Sabah is the most afflicted state in the country with at least four people dying weekly from the dreaded disease.

That works out to about 200 deaths every year from the disease that was once thought to have been almost eradicated in Sabah.

The State Health Department said an average of 10 people are diagnosed with TB in Sabah every week and most of them are foreigners.

"Kota Kinabalu ranks the highest, followed by Tawau and Sandakan," Sabah Health Department assistant director (TB/Leprosy), Dr Richard Avoi told a health care seminar here over the weekend.

The spread of TB, he said, is known to be closely associated with poverty, overcrowding, alcoholism, malnutrition and drug abuse.

"It spreads easily in overcrowded, poorly ventilated places and among people who are undernourished," Dr Avoi said.

All Sabah's major towns are fertile grounds for the disease. They all have a large population of poor, illegal immigrants from the southern Philippines and Indonesia living in shanty towns that have mushroomed in the state.

Infectious strain

What makes it worse, according to Dr Avoi, is that about 17% of the immigrant TB patients and about 3% of locals suffering from the disease do not complete their six-month treatment regimen leading to them being more drug-resistant and for the disease to keep resurfacing.

The BCG vaccine injection given to babies is no guarantee that one would not contract TB.

Other than pulmonary TB which infects the lungs, the other strains of the disease infect the bones, skin, lymph nodes and even the brain.

The authorities official confirmation of the increasing threat of the disease building to epidemic proportions has raised fears that certain areas such as the crowded wet markets, shopping complexes and cinemas that are popular meeting spots for the immigrant population, will become "no-go zones" soon.

Those frequenting these places are already vulnerable if they fail to take extra care, health officials have long warned.

The risk is high considering that TB, a contagious bacterial infection that involves the lungs, but can spread to other organs, can infect people of any age and once infected, the whole family and acquaintances in contact with the carrier is at risk.

"Being about three feet away from someone with TB can increase chances of getting pulmonary TB," Dr Avoi told the seminar.

According to him, there would be a very high risk of getting TB if one is, for instance, inside a long-distance bus with someone with TB onboard.

This makes traveling by bus to the east coast towns like Tawau, Lahad Datu, Semporna and Sandakan to Kota Kinabalu, a journey of about eight hours, a risky business.

Curable disease

James Bagah, the president of Consumer Protection Association of Sabah (Caps) said the revelation is alarming.

"We advise people to avoid if possible places where they think they would be exposed to infectious diseases including the dreaded TB," he said in an immediate reaction to the prevalence of the disease when contacted by FMT.

Bagah also said the authorities should increase TB awareness talks as many were not aware of the growing threat of the disease in the state.

"I am concerned as there seem to be more and more people coughing nowadays. You can see it for yourself everywhere … I hope its is just the weather and not something serious like TB," he added.

While the "good news" about TB is that it is curable, the problem Sabah is facing is that its health care services are overwhelmed and border control is almost non-existent.

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Najib becomes ‘The Hunted’

 By Mariam Mokhtar | FMT

On May 14, Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak had a taste of his own medicine when supporters of Bersih interrupted his speech and chanted "Bersih, Bersih" while others demanded that overseas Malaysians be allowed to vote.

If Najib wanted support, what he received instead was a sobering "Padan muka!"

The irony of it is that the prime minister suffered extreme humiliation in a country in which he is desperate to redeem his image, both among Malaysians and the international community.

On one side of the English Channel, it is Bersih which haunts Najib. On the other side of the water, it is the French and the opening salvos of the Scorpene trial.

Najib should realise that in Britain, the British prime minister and his ministers occasionally get booed and heckled. Freedom of expression frightens the person who thinks he is above the law or who abuses his power.

For years, social activists, human rights defenders, the opposition and ordinary people have been harassed by people who are allegedly linked to Umno. The police, mainstream media, judiciary and other public institutions have acted as agents of the state and never in the interests of the people. The government fails to censure those who commit acts of aggression.

Najib now knows what it feels like to be hounded. Not all crowds behave like the Umno rent-a-mob who clap at his every word and kiss his hand.

The prime minister allowed things to slide under his rule, and his lack of leadership has undermined the rule of law.

Did he condemn the people who threatened Bersih's S Ambiga at her home? Was there any censure, when last August, Umno senator Ezam Mohd Nor threatened to burn down the offices of Malaysiakini and The Malaysian Insider? They were silent when in January, the organisers and participants of the Anything But Umno (ABU) and Hindraf ceramah in Shah Alam, were attacked.

There was no criticism when last February, Umno Youth and Perkasa members attacked anti-Lynas protesters at the Speakers' Corner in Penang.

In all these acts of thuggery the police merely looked on as observers instead of protecting the public and their property.

Proham, the human rights watchdog, expressed "deep regret" over the people who disrupted Najib's speech. What has Proham to say about the above acts of disturbance?

The Malaysian High Commissioner to Britain, Zakaria Sulong, hired the O2 Arena, or "The Dome", as it is commonly known, for "An Evening with the PM" session. Coaches transported students from all over Britain for the event involving cultural performances, free food and drink.

One person who went said, "If not for the promise of a fat ang pow, very few people would have turned up."

Another complained, "I came for the makan, all I got was a dry sandwich."

'Can you stop it?'

Minutes after Najib opened his speech, the chants of "Bersih, Bersih" distracted Najib and he was forced to acknowledge the Bersih supporters.

Despite his cries of "Can you stop it?" the chants increased in tempo and frequency: "Bersih. Bersih" were followed by "We want to vote."

"Can you please stop it?" the prime minister pleaded, his voice getting shriller. When faced with a public show of opposition, Najib was clearly shaken.

The whole arena was watching the spectacle, and enjoying it. Finally Najib managed a desperate: "You can talk with me later."

In any press conference, Najib does not like to be asked sensitive questions. He mumbles, "No comment" before terminating the interview abruptly and walking out. In this seemingly hostile crowd in London, the prime minister cannot deploy tear gas or water cannon.

A Malaysian at the O2 event said, "When Najib and the High Commissioner went onto the stage, the only clapping came from where the High Commission staff were seated.

"When Rosmah [Mansor] joined them on the stage, hardly anyone clapped. Not many students clapped when Najib stood on the podium."

Despite Najib's promise to a Bersih supporter that he would meet him after the event, that meeting did not take place. This is like many of Najib's other promises which have failed to materialise.

So great was Najib's fear of being embarrassed for a second time that night, a member of his entourage lied and said that the prime minister had cancelled going to the launch of a new Malaysian restaurant in Paddington.

The red herring was presumably to deter Bersih protesters from turning up at the restaurant, where 50 Malaysian businessmen and bankers, were waiting to enjoy a sumptuous dinner with him, in more relaxed surroundings.

Clearly, ordinary Malaysians waiting at the O2 were rebuffed by Najib.

Najib's plan to "get close" to Malaysians in London backfired. Instead of being warmly received, he was hounded by Bersih supporters. Instead of the promised evening, mingling with the prime minister, only a handful of Malaysians managed to be photographed with him as he scurried to the exit, prior to being whisked away.

Despite his talk of engaging with Malaysians, Najib, who does not tolerate dissent, has set the machinery of government against the student body in the United Kingdom. Students were photographed at the event by Special Branch officers and each government scholar identified and matched to his sponsor. Now, many fear that their scholarships will be revoked.

Hopefully, this culture of fear is something which many young Malaysians will take into consideration when they vote in future elections.

If Malaysians want further food for thought, they should question how much this and other frivolous events in London have cost the Malaysian taxpayer.

The government is morally bankrupt and lacks conviction when tackling corruption and cronyism. Before long, the nation will be bankrupt if it continues to be mismanaged by an Umno government.

Mariam Mokhtar is a FMT columnist.

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DPM, good deeds cannot whitewash the bad, as much as bad deeds do not negate the good

What we fail to learn and re-learn is that no amount of good treatment that employers dish out to their foreign employees can remove the instances of abuses we have recorded on our soil. While we must continue to showcase the good stories, we cannot hide or deny the bad incidents that go contrary to human rights and humanity's dignity to live and to work.

J. D. Lovrenciear

Tenaganita has highlighted the atrocities surrounding foreign labour in Malaysia. In the latest development its chief Irene Fernandez is being haunted in the media for having her story spilled on the Indonesian turf.

The Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Datuk Muyiddin has lambasted Irene Fernandez for seemingly having brought disrepute to Malaysia.

And as a backup, the main stream media is painting the town with many 'feel good' testimonies of how Malaysians having been caring for their foreign workers.

Now, the point that our leaders are grossly mistaking is that, just as much as bad incidents do not negate the good deeds, likewise no amount of good deeds can negate any atrocity we commit against humanity.

Reason and logic dictate that it would have been far more magnanimous of the DPM if he had rebutted by announcing that the authorities should investigate the claims made by Tenaganita and if necessary ensure an independent panel conducts the probe.

He could have gone to a higher plenitude of leadership if he even added that Malaysia takes a serious view of any mistreatment to foreign workers as the government is a champion of labour and human rights and that no effort will be spared in establishing the truth. 

And as a public relations gesture, he could have even issued a strong warning to employers who are guilty of such miscreants and on that same wavelength proclaim the feel good stories or testimonies. 

It would even have earned the DPM more brownies in the region too if he had gone the mile to invite independent and well respected individuals or organizations from Indonesia to sit on the panel commissioned to investigate expressed concerns affecting the dignity and honour of foreign workers in Malaysia.

Likewise, it would have slatted the main stream media as respected news millers if they ! had take n the middle path rather then being partisan to the very serious issues at hand.

But unfortunately the DPM chose to go after Irene Fernandez's throat. He chose to merely pipe-up the feel good stories.

The DPM now with his one-sided perspective only opens the floodgates of criticisms and allegations against Malaysia. Not only will Malaysians cry foul, but for sure the Indonesians who are committed to human rights and labour issues will raise the tempo against Malaysia's treatment of Indonesian workers.

What we fail to learn and re-learn is that no amount of good treatment that employers dish out to their foreign employees can remove the instances of abuses we have recorded on our soil. While we must continue to showcase the good stories, we cannot hide or deny the bad incidents that go contrary to human rights and humanity's dignity to live and to work.

Well, if the DPM feels that Irene Fernandez is not patriotic for exposing the sordid state of foreign workers in Malaysia, then what has he got to say about how Mongolian citizens feels towards us?

We had C4-ed a lone Mongolian woman, mother and daughter in our own backyard. Up to this date we have not seen to the speedy return of whatever remains of this poor Mongolian citizen's body mass. Up to this date, the father of the late Altantuya is appealing in tears for justice and compassion.

Name us one Malaysian woman who was similarly annihilated in another country involving high-powered and highly-connected individuals and was declared in the Courts of Justice that motive was not essential in the case to deliver justice.

So if Mongolians say Malaysia is a dangerous country, what have we got to say to that then? Show them pictures of all the Mongolian tourists in Bukit Bintang?

We hear of foreign nationals complaining of all kinds of haras! sment � � as reported by Tenaganita and also often traded at our local pasars.  But do we also get to hear of Malaysians being ill treated and abused in other countries?

Indonesia had threatened to withhold its people from coming here to work. Have we announced likewise for cases of Malaysians going to another land for their fortune hunting? Would the Indonesians be so dumb as to kill the goose for the golden egg?

So dear DPM, as a leader of the nation, you would do far better if you demonstrated responsible and honorable leadership traits. And the first trait is, when faced with a situation as in the likes of Irene Fernandez speaking to the Indonesian fraternity about the abuses in Malaysia against Indonesians, you must take the middle path.

You need to know that as much as the bad deeds do not negate our feel good testimonies, good deeds cannot whitewash the ugly instances of abuse against foreign labour in Malaysia. As ,much as there will be people championing the goodness of a nation, there will be equal interest in the mistakes and bad deeds that ruin and threaten a nation's rating.

Are we saying that no foreign national ever so far died while in detention? Are we saying that no foreign national while under detention was ever molested, raped, or sexually discriminated? Are we saying that we never raped any foreign national? Are we saying that we never shortchanged foreign nationals of their wages?

If we have done wrong, we have done wrong. What matters is what efforts are being taken to correct our wrongs. Not what feel good stories we have got to trumpet.

in this age of the world wide web, what you utter in your backyard gets beamed across all over the world.

A national leader's responsibility therefore is to safeguard the dignity and honour of his nation's reputation. Where there is good, he proclaims with modesty; where there is bad ! he gets to the bottom of it and in acknowledging the issues and allegations, he puts in place decisive, corrective measures.

In denying outright the bad records we have by proclaiming that even Bangladeshis are coming in droves, is not only a politically wrong stance to take but also makes you sound just too hollow. By issuing intimidating remarks at a citizen who has a following in the international human rights fraternity only paints you in an unfavorable light, does it not?

Wonder who is your Public Relations advisor who seems to be certainly misleading you?

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Is God’s Word not enough for the Malaysian Muslim Lawyers Association?

Malaysiakini reported yesterday that the Persatuan Peguam Peguam Muslim Malaysia "is protesting Canadian author Irshad Manji's programme in Kuala Lumpur on account of her "liberal" Muslim position, and wants her out of the country".

The president of the Persatuan, Zainul Rijal Abu Bakar, is quoted as categorising Irshad's programme as a "cancer to Islamic practices in Malaysia" and calling on the ulama to come up with "rebuttals to counter" Irshad's ideas.

Is this, therefore, a concession by the president of the Persatuan that he has, himself, no answer to her points of view?

And having no answer, his solution then is to have her shoo-ed out of the country, so no one gets to hear her views?

Is this how Zainul Rijal wins his difficult, "I have no answer to my opponent" cases in court?

Steal a march on his opponents by denying them the right to be heard?

He opposes Irshad on account of her liberal Muslim position?

So he accepts, then, that there is another view point of Islam, other than his own?

A liberal Muslim position, as opposed to his own, whatever it may be?

If by liberal is meant respecting the view point of the next person, on Islam or anything else for that matter, yes, I am a liberal.

I have made no secret of the fact that my views on Islam differ with that of the likes of Zainul Rijal.

The Quranic is testimony to this.

What is God's command, in respect of this differing point of view, according to the Holy Qur'an?

"God will judge between you on the Day of Resurrection concerning that over which you used to differ" – Surah 22 verse 69.

You disagree with Irshad's viewpoint, or mine? What should you do?

"Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction, and debate with them in a way that is best. Indeed, your Lord is most knowing of who has strayed from His way, and He is most knowing of who is guided" – Surah 16 verse 125

I guess this simply will not do for Zainul Rijal and his band of Islam – as I say – ists.

All this in defence of God and Islam, they will say?

Huh!

"And say, "Praise to Allah , who has not taken a son and has had no partner in [His] dominion and has no need of a protector out of weakness; and glorify Him with great glorification." – Surah 17 verse 111

For Islam in Malaysia today, dominated as it is by the likes of Zainul Rijal and his ilk, who will go to the ends of the world to prevent the minds of those who profess Islam from being opened to consider, contemplate and reason, writers like Irshad will always be a cancer to their cause.

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Peter Chin tiada kuasa, hanya ‘budak suruhan’

PETALING JAYA: Kerajaan negeri Selangor melahirkan rasa kesal dengan jawapan Menteri Tenaga, Teknoloji Hijau dan Air, Datuk Seri

Peter Chin Fah Kui yang mengatakan bahawa beliau tiada kuasa untuk menstruktur semula industri air.

"Justeru itu beliau harus meletakkan jawatan sebagai menteri," kata exco negeri Dr Xavier Jayakumar dalam satu kenyataan.

Pada 16 Mei lalu, Sinar Harian menyiarkan laporan mengenai kemelut air Selangor di bawah tajuk: "Tak Boleh Paksa Syarikat Air – Menteri Tiada Kuasa Minta Syarikat Konsesi Setuju Cadangan Struktur Semula Air"

Dr Xavier yang juga Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Kesihatan, Pekerja Ladang, Kemiskinan dan Kerajaan Prihatin Selangor berkata, apa yang jelas beliau sebenarnya bukan tidak mempunyai kuasa sebagai Menteri Pusat tetapi kuasa beliau 'tidak laku'.

"Beliau tidak boleh berbuat apa-apa bila berdepan dengan syarikat milik kroni Umno-Barisan Nasional (BN) seperti syarikat konsesi

Puncak Niaga dan Syabas, dua buah syarikat milik bekas Bendahari Umno Selangor," katanya.

Lantaran itu katanya, "kita melihat Peter Chin hanyalah bertindak sebagai 'budak suruhan' kepada Umno-BN dan adalah wajar beliau melepaskan jawatannya sebagai seorang Menteri Pusat dengan kadar segera kerana gagal melaksanakan tanggungjawabnya.

Menurut Dr Xavier, kerajaan negeri akan meminta Penasihat Undang-Undang Negeri untuk menfailkan semakan kehakiman bagi tujuan mendapatkan Mahkamah memperjelaskan 'kuasa' Menteri tersebut.

Baru-baru ini, Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim menggesa Kerajaan Pusat menstruktur semula industri air dan menyerahkan urusan pentadbiran air kepada kerajaan negeri.

Malahan beliau telah mendapatkan khidmat rundingan antarabangsa untuk mengkaji segala aspek undang-undang dalam isu air ini yang melibatkan kerajaan pusat dan kerajaan negeri.

Timbalan Pengerusi Perhubungan Umno Selangor dan juga Menteri Pertanian dan Industri Asas Tani, Datuk Seri Noh Omar pula menyalahkan kerajaan negeri kerana membatalkan rancangan pembinaan loji Langat 2.

Beliau mendakwa kegagalan membina loji Langat 2 akan menyebabkan negeri Selangor akan menghadapi krisis air menjelang tahun 2014.

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RAKYAT DIBURU, POLIS GANAS DIBIARKAN?

26 Jamadil Akhir 1433 H | 18 Mei 2012

 

Hishammuddin, ini gambar Tonto atau anggota polis?

http://manjongmari.blogspot.com

Dato Seri Hishamudin ? Ini gambar Tonto atau anggota polis..

Kenyataan Umu! m

17 Mei 2012

MENTERI DALAM NEGERI HARUS PERJELAS PERANAN ANGGOTA POLIS MENYAMAR DALAM PESERTA BERSIH.

Hampir 3 minggu telah berlalu sejak sejarah berlakunya himpunan rakyat terbesar dalam negara ini iaitu BERSIH 3.0. Himpunan menuntut pilihanraya bebas dan adil yang harus ditandakan sebagai himpunan perpaduan kerana jelas semangat persaudaraan perbagai kaum dan latar belakang rakyat yang hadir sendiri secara sukarela telah dicacatkan dengan tindakan ganas polis dibawah arahan regim penguasa.

Pada 7 Mei, SAMM telah menghantar satu memorandum memperjelaskan tindakan ganas dan jenayah yang melibatkan anggota polis ketika himpunan BERSIH 3.0. Dalam memorandum tersebut juga disenaraikan anggota polis yang jelas gambar mereka dirakam terlibat melakukan jenayah kekerasan. (klik sini untuk membaca memorandum)

Perbagai persoalan timbul dan masih tidak mampu diperjelaskan oleh pihak regim khususnya Menteri Dalam Negeri, Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Hussien. Malah bukan sahaja gagal memperjelaskan beberapa persoalan penting tetapi regim bertindak memusing dan menyelewengkan beberapa fakta penting pula. Namun sebenarnya ia semakin memerangkap regim dan mengelirukan orang ramai.

Terbaru pada 14 Mei lepas dalam satu sidang media di Putrajaya, Hishamuddin dengan jelas menyatakan 21 orang terdiri dari 141 individu yang tersenarai dan telah diiklankan dalam media kononya melakukan keganasan dalam himpunan BERSIH 3.0 telah menyerah diri. Apabila diasak oleh wartawan mengenai kenapa tindakan hanya pada orang awam tidak melibatkan polis yang bertindak ganas, Hishamuddin menyatakan antara 21 orang yang menyerah diri itu ada anggota polis juga.

Perhatian semua ditarik balik kepada gambar 141 orang yang kononya mengganas atau merusuh. Gambar ini konon diambil dari rakaman polis yang merakamkan secara rawak merakamkan individu yang merusuh. Bila ditanya pada sebelum itu ketika penyebaran gambar dibuat PDRM dengan yakin menyatakan individu yang diiklankan untuk desak serah diri itu semuanya dirakamkan melakukan keganasan. Tidak ada satupun dari 141 orang yang disiar gambarnya menggunakan seragam polis. Sebaliknya 14 Mei lepas Hishamuddin menyebut ada anggota polis serah diri kerana gambar mereka disiarkan.

Ini membawa maksud pengakuan dari Hishamuddin ada anggota polis berpakaian biasa juga bertindak ganas dan merusuh dalam Himpunan BERSIH 3.0. Menteri Dalam Negeri harus tampil menjelaskan perkara ini segera. Jika tidak beliau harus meletakkan jawatan kerana jelas Kementerian Dalam Negeri terlibat dalam merancang mempergunakan anggota keselamatan untuk menimbulkan kekacauan untuk memberikan kelebihan politik kepada parti politik penguasa regim.

Bagi pihak SAMM dan organisasi - organisasi Muda yang menghantar memorandum ke Bukit Aman pada 7 Mei lepas satu jawapan dan penjelasan rasmi dituntut. Kejadian 28 April jelas telah menimbulkan perbagai persepsi negatif rakyat kepada pihak keselamatan. Sehingga kini langsung tidak ada tindakan diambil. Sebaliknya PDRM terus angkuh dipergunakan untuk memburu orang ramai.

SAMM memberikan perhatian serius dalam isu peristiwa 28 April lalu dan perjuangan mendapatkan pilihanraya bebas dan adil. Kini SAMM sudah menyiapkan satu DVD khas dokumentari yang memperjelaskan BERSIH 1, Bersih 2.0 dan memperjelaskan kejadian BERSIH 3.0. DVD ini walaupun disiapkan oleh tenaga amatur muda tetapi ia merupakan dokumentari lengkap bagi memahamkan rakyat mengenai perjuangan BERSIH 3.0.

SAMM juga melalui sekutu organisasi masyarakat muda (ORMAS muda) di luar negara akan turut mengadakan program menonton dokumentari ini bagi memahamkan orang muda khususnya tetangga asean mengenai perjuangan raky! at Malay sia menuntut pilihanraya bebas dan adil.

DVD ini dijangka akan dilancarkan minggu hadapan (23 Mei) dan sudah mula boleh didapati di pasaran.

che'GuBard

Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia

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