Apr 1, 08 1:53pm
Top leaders of opposition parties - multiracial PKR, pre-dominantly Chinese DAP and Islamic-based PAS - today announced that they have agreed to form a new coalition called Pakatan Rakyat or People’s Alliance.
pas pkr dap pc barisan rakyat coalition 010408 02At a joint press conference this morning, PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim said the leaders will now take the proposal back to their respective parties for approval.
Anwar, who was flanked by DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang and PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, said that the People’s Alliance will hold its maiden conference after the proposal has been endorsed by all three parties.
Also present was the new parliamentary opposition leader, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who is PKR president and Anwar's wife.
"Pakatan Rakyat pledges to uphold the rights and interests of all Malaysians as enshrined in the Constitution," said Anwar.
He said the governments of Kelantan, Kedah, Penang, Perak and Selangor would now be known as Pakatan Rakyat state governments.
pas pkr dap pc barisan rakyat coalition 010408 03"The policies of these governments will be conducted in accordance with the policies of Pakatan Rakyat," he said.
"We have developed and strengthened the structure of Pakatan Rakyat by creating under the leadership council - consisting of the leaders of the three parties - a joint secretariat consisting of three leaders from each party.
"This joint secretariat will be tasked with building the foundation and framework of the Pakatan Rakyat for ratification by the leadership council."
Anwar said that a convention of all Pakatan Rakyat representatives to Parliament and the state assemblies will be held on April 27.
PAS and PKR are members of the existing Barisan Alternatif which was formed in 1999. DAP was originally a member, but quit the grouping two years later, due to bitter disagreement with PAS over its Islamic state policy.
'Don't harp on Islamic state'
However, Hadi sought to play down PAS’ Islamic state policy by arguing that this was not part of the party’s constitution.
Despite repeated questioning, neither Hadi, Lim nor Anwar could confirm if PAS would abandon its ambition to form an Islamic state.
“The media should be looking at the (PAS) administration of Kelantan and Terengganu which has been accepted by people of all faiths. They have accepted that we practise fairness and equality without leaving any group behind,” said Hadi.
Anwar stressed that the Islamic state issue has not been raised by PAS for several years now and that the coalition would only deliberate on issues explicitly raised by the three parties.
“Why harp on the issue and provoke them to respond? To be fair, should PAS still make (it) an issue, it is okay for us to respond. But as I see it, they have not made this an issue for years,” he said.
pas pkr dap pc barisan rakyat coalition 010408 04Lim said the emphasis is to focus on "common principles among the three parties".
“The message of the March 8 elections is very clear. The people want to see the three parties work together and bring about change... they want to see change in the area of justice, democracy and good governance,” he said.
“The message of the people is not for an Islamic state or hudud law. I think the message is very clear on that. That is the basis of (the three parties) coming together.”
Asked if the three parties are equal partners within the coalition, Anwar said any problems within the three parties would be ironed out collectively.
He dismissed any suggestion that he is the leader of the group, saying he was merely their spokesperson for today’s press conference.
He also said that it was too early to say if the three parties would contest under a common banner in the future.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Hadi Awang: New coalition to woo BN reps
Apr 1, 08 12:01pm
PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang has suggested a new opposition coalition that will encompass his Islamic party, PKR and DAP at a massive gathering of 25,000 supporters in Shah Alam’s Stadium Melawati last night.
hadi awang and pasAccording to Hadi Awang, the Barisan Rakyat coalition will open its arms to “colleagues” in the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition, in particular elected representatives from Umno, MCA, MIC and Gerakan.
He said that they can join the new BR coalition either as “individuals” or “en bloc”.
pas pkr dap stadium melawati shah alam 310308 01Talks of defection has rattled BN leaders as the opposition needs another 30 members of parliaments to claim the right to rule.
In last month’s general elections, BN won 140 seats in the new 222-seat parliament, against 199 in the outgoing 219-seat parliament. The opposition PKR-DAP-PAS alliance has 82 seats from just 20 previously, and five states.
pas pkr dap stadium melawati shah alam 310308 02PAS and PKR are current members of the Barisan Alternatif coalition, which was formed in 1999. DAP was an original member of BA but it left the pact two years after bitter disagreement with PAS over its Islamic state policy.
However, at a press conference this morning, PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim announced the formation of a 'Pakatan Rakyat', the People's Alliance.
He said this new front will strengthen ties between the three disparate opposition parties.
PAS' rally to thank voters
At the ‘thanksgiving’ rally last night organised by PAS, Hadi Awang also spelled out some of the key agenda of Barisan Rakyat, leaving out the party’s Islamic state platform.
Among them are:
1. To amend or abolish all unjust and discriminatory laws, especially the Internal Security Act which allows detention without trial, Universities and University Colleges Act which restricts academic freedom, and the Official Secrets Act which makes government opaque.
2. To implement immediate electoral reforms, in particular relating to the task and operations of the Election Commission.
3. To ensure that the Anti-Corruption Agency be truly independent so that it can be effective in fighting graft and to stop any selective prosecution.
4. To restore public faith in the judiciary and to ensure that it is truly independent.
PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang has suggested a new opposition coalition that will encompass his Islamic party, PKR and DAP at a massive gathering of 25,000 supporters in Shah Alam’s Stadium Melawati last night.
hadi awang and pasAccording to Hadi Awang, the Barisan Rakyat coalition will open its arms to “colleagues” in the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition, in particular elected representatives from Umno, MCA, MIC and Gerakan.
He said that they can join the new BR coalition either as “individuals” or “en bloc”.
pas pkr dap stadium melawati shah alam 310308 01Talks of defection has rattled BN leaders as the opposition needs another 30 members of parliaments to claim the right to rule.
In last month’s general elections, BN won 140 seats in the new 222-seat parliament, against 199 in the outgoing 219-seat parliament. The opposition PKR-DAP-PAS alliance has 82 seats from just 20 previously, and five states.
pas pkr dap stadium melawati shah alam 310308 02PAS and PKR are current members of the Barisan Alternatif coalition, which was formed in 1999. DAP was an original member of BA but it left the pact two years after bitter disagreement with PAS over its Islamic state policy.
However, at a press conference this morning, PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim announced the formation of a 'Pakatan Rakyat', the People's Alliance.
He said this new front will strengthen ties between the three disparate opposition parties.
PAS' rally to thank voters
At the ‘thanksgiving’ rally last night organised by PAS, Hadi Awang also spelled out some of the key agenda of Barisan Rakyat, leaving out the party’s Islamic state platform.
Among them are:
1. To amend or abolish all unjust and discriminatory laws, especially the Internal Security Act which allows detention without trial, Universities and University Colleges Act which restricts academic freedom, and the Official Secrets Act which makes government opaque.
2. To implement immediate electoral reforms, in particular relating to the task and operations of the Election Commission.
3. To ensure that the Anti-Corruption Agency be truly independent so that it can be effective in fighting graft and to stop any selective prosecution.
4. To restore public faith in the judiciary and to ensure that it is truly independent.
Trial records missing, Fernandez appeal postponed
Apr 1, 08 2:04pm
About 1,700 pages, including witness statements, are ‘missing’ from the trial of migrant worker activist Irene Fernandez, leading to her appeal hearing being postponed to May 12.
Her counsel M Puravalen told Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Mohamad Apandi Ali that the incomplete records have made it difficult for both sides to pursue with the hearing.
“If the notes are missing from the records of appeal, then we cannot proceed as it poses a challenge for us,” he said this morning.
He described it as “grave and frightening” that statements from five key prosecution witness and all 21 defence witnesses are missing from the trial records.
irene fernandez court 03Fernandez was charged with publishing false news in March 1996.
At the conclusion of what was dubbed ‘the longest trial in Malaysian history’, Fernandez was sentenced to a year’s imprisonment in 2003 by Kuala Lumpur magistrate Juliana Mohamed.
In 1995, the Tenaganita director had written an exposé of conditions in immigration detention centres, in a memorandum entitled ‘Abuse, Torture and Dehumanised Conditions of Migrant workers in Detention Centres’.
She was arrested and charged under Section 8A(1) of the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984. The maximum penalty is imprisonment is three years’ imprisonment or a fine not exceeding RM20,000, or both.
Fernandez, who filed an appeal against the sentence, is on bail and her passport has been surrendered to the court.
puravalenDocuments from the trial have since been made available to her lawyers, but Puravalen revealed that the handwritten documents are illegible.
“Many handwritten notes were illegible, hence the typewritten notes that are based on the handwritten notes are equally unreliable,” he told the court.
“We could check with magistrate Juliana but she resigned (from the judicial service) the day (she delivered the) judgment.”
‘One last chance’
Asked to share his views, DPP Shamsul Sulaiman agreed that the respondent cannot proceed with the appeal without all the documents. He asked the judge to make an appropriate decision.
Mohamad Apandi said he would give the magistrate’s court up to May 12 to furnish both parties all the documents.
“I will give the lower court one last chance to give all the documents to both parties. They are answerable to me if they cannot do it,” he said.
“Sometimes things are beyond my control but I will try my level best. I have to be fair to both sides because I know this is not the fault of the appellant or the respondent.”
He also noted that the magistrate’s courts are understaffed, which leads to delays in cases.
The Fernandez case, which went on for 12 years, involved an immense amount of documentation.
“There may have been glitches in transferring all the documents from the old courts (in Jalan Raja) to all 77 new lower and higher courts here at Jalan Duta. Humans, being human, can make mistakes,” he said before setting a new date for the hearing.
Over 50 people turned up in support of Fernandez, including PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Women's Aid Organisation executive director Ivy Josiah and Fernandez’s sister, Aegile.
About 1,700 pages, including witness statements, are ‘missing’ from the trial of migrant worker activist Irene Fernandez, leading to her appeal hearing being postponed to May 12.
Her counsel M Puravalen told Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Mohamad Apandi Ali that the incomplete records have made it difficult for both sides to pursue with the hearing.
“If the notes are missing from the records of appeal, then we cannot proceed as it poses a challenge for us,” he said this morning.
He described it as “grave and frightening” that statements from five key prosecution witness and all 21 defence witnesses are missing from the trial records.
irene fernandez court 03Fernandez was charged with publishing false news in March 1996.
At the conclusion of what was dubbed ‘the longest trial in Malaysian history’, Fernandez was sentenced to a year’s imprisonment in 2003 by Kuala Lumpur magistrate Juliana Mohamed.
In 1995, the Tenaganita director had written an exposé of conditions in immigration detention centres, in a memorandum entitled ‘Abuse, Torture and Dehumanised Conditions of Migrant workers in Detention Centres’.
She was arrested and charged under Section 8A(1) of the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984. The maximum penalty is imprisonment is three years’ imprisonment or a fine not exceeding RM20,000, or both.
Fernandez, who filed an appeal against the sentence, is on bail and her passport has been surrendered to the court.
puravalenDocuments from the trial have since been made available to her lawyers, but Puravalen revealed that the handwritten documents are illegible.
“Many handwritten notes were illegible, hence the typewritten notes that are based on the handwritten notes are equally unreliable,” he told the court.
“We could check with magistrate Juliana but she resigned (from the judicial service) the day (she delivered the) judgment.”
‘One last chance’
Asked to share his views, DPP Shamsul Sulaiman agreed that the respondent cannot proceed with the appeal without all the documents. He asked the judge to make an appropriate decision.
Mohamad Apandi said he would give the magistrate’s court up to May 12 to furnish both parties all the documents.
“I will give the lower court one last chance to give all the documents to both parties. They are answerable to me if they cannot do it,” he said.
“Sometimes things are beyond my control but I will try my level best. I have to be fair to both sides because I know this is not the fault of the appellant or the respondent.”
He also noted that the magistrate’s courts are understaffed, which leads to delays in cases.
The Fernandez case, which went on for 12 years, involved an immense amount of documentation.
“There may have been glitches in transferring all the documents from the old courts (in Jalan Raja) to all 77 new lower and higher courts here at Jalan Duta. Humans, being human, can make mistakes,” he said before setting a new date for the hearing.
Over 50 people turned up in support of Fernandez, including PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Women's Aid Organisation executive director Ivy Josiah and Fernandez’s sister, Aegile.
Hindraf tells MIC chief to apologise
Apr 1, 08 2:45pm
The Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) has called on MIC president S Samy Vellu to issue an apology to the families of the movement’s incarcerated leaders and the Indian community.
p waytha moorthyIn a press statement today, Hindraf chairperson P Waythamoorthy said Samy Vellu’s recent call to free the five leaders held under the Internal Security Act (ISA) was ‘appalling’.
"He was part of the system that incarcerated those "messengers of truth" and suppressed the legitimate voice of democracy.
"Whilst the prime minister (Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) was a "gentleman" in accepting his errors and pledging to rectify his mistakes, Samy Vellu is playing politics by his regular antics now, seeking the release of the five," added the lawyer who is in self exile in London.
samy vellu pc 120308 agitatedWaythamoorthy said the MIC president should tender an apology for the following reasons:
a) Failure to openly oppose the arrest of Hindraf leaders by the government openly on Dec 13.
b) Misleading the government and public that Hindraf is a threat to national security.
c) Misleading Hindraf’s struggle for his own political survival.
d) Denying the 18 demands of Hindraf as absurd and claiming that the Indians were not marginalised.
"It is plainly clear the initiative now (calling for the Hindraf five’s freedom) is to gain popularity and to repair the damage done to his reputation as an obsolete leader," he said.
Legitimate struggle
The Hindraf leaders detained under the security law are Waythamoorthy’s brother P Uthayakumar, V Ganabatirau, M Manoharan, T Vasantha Kumar and R Kengadharan.
hindraf isa detainees 141207 updatedThe five were arrested shortly after organising a mammoth rally which drew some 30,000 Indians to the streets in Kuala Lumpur on Nov 25 last year.
Meanwhile, Waythamoorthy also stressed that his brother does not want freedom brokered by Samy Vellu.
"I wish to stress Uthayakumar wouldn't want a freedom based on sympathy by Samy Vellu or anyone else.
"Freedom should come on the basis of acknowledgment that Hindraf’s struggle is legitimate and his (Uthayakumar’s) struggle is peaceful and not a threat to national security," he said.
On Sunday, Samy Vellu said he will meet with the prime minister soon to secure the release of the five detainees who are being held without trial.
The veteran politician also denied that it was a publicity stunt.
The Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) has called on MIC president S Samy Vellu to issue an apology to the families of the movement’s incarcerated leaders and the Indian community.
p waytha moorthyIn a press statement today, Hindraf chairperson P Waythamoorthy said Samy Vellu’s recent call to free the five leaders held under the Internal Security Act (ISA) was ‘appalling’.
"He was part of the system that incarcerated those "messengers of truth" and suppressed the legitimate voice of democracy.
"Whilst the prime minister (Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) was a "gentleman" in accepting his errors and pledging to rectify his mistakes, Samy Vellu is playing politics by his regular antics now, seeking the release of the five," added the lawyer who is in self exile in London.
samy vellu pc 120308 agitatedWaythamoorthy said the MIC president should tender an apology for the following reasons:
a) Failure to openly oppose the arrest of Hindraf leaders by the government openly on Dec 13.
b) Misleading the government and public that Hindraf is a threat to national security.
c) Misleading Hindraf’s struggle for his own political survival.
d) Denying the 18 demands of Hindraf as absurd and claiming that the Indians were not marginalised.
"It is plainly clear the initiative now (calling for the Hindraf five’s freedom) is to gain popularity and to repair the damage done to his reputation as an obsolete leader," he said.
Legitimate struggle
The Hindraf leaders detained under the security law are Waythamoorthy’s brother P Uthayakumar, V Ganabatirau, M Manoharan, T Vasantha Kumar and R Kengadharan.
hindraf isa detainees 141207 updatedThe five were arrested shortly after organising a mammoth rally which drew some 30,000 Indians to the streets in Kuala Lumpur on Nov 25 last year.
Meanwhile, Waythamoorthy also stressed that his brother does not want freedom brokered by Samy Vellu.
"I wish to stress Uthayakumar wouldn't want a freedom based on sympathy by Samy Vellu or anyone else.
"Freedom should come on the basis of acknowledgment that Hindraf’s struggle is legitimate and his (Uthayakumar’s) struggle is peaceful and not a threat to national security," he said.
On Sunday, Samy Vellu said he will meet with the prime minister soon to secure the release of the five detainees who are being held without trial.
The veteran politician also denied that it was a publicity stunt.
MIC leaders defend party boss
Apr 1, 08 1:00pm
MIC leaders today came out in defence of their president S Samy Vellu who was criticised for asking the government to free the five Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leaders held under the Internal Security Act (ISA).
samy vellu 010307The leaders were responding to Umno vice-president and Malacca Chief Minister Mohd Ali Rustam who was quoted in the press today as saying that Samy Vellu should not use the issue as a publicity stunt for his own political interest.
ali rustamDescribing the call as inappropriate since it involved national security, Ali Rustam said: "Don't use the issue for publicity just to get support during the coming MIC general assembly."
However, MIC deputy president G Palanivel said the Umno politician was wrong in claiming that Samy Vellu's statement was politically motivated.
He said Ali Rustam can also be accused of hitting at Samy Vellu and Hidraf as a publicity stunt for his own political interest.
"We can also say that he is using the issue for publicity to get support during the Umno general assembly in December," he added in a media statement.
Syed Hamid commended
On the same note, Palanivel commended the view of Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar said he would have done the same thing if he was in Samy Vellu's shoes.
The minister said: "That is his right as the leader of the Indian community to fight for the cause but my decision will be according to the law. I might have brought up the issue myself if I was in his position. However, I have my own job and responsibility to perform and so does he."
g palanivelPalanivel said he appreciated Syed Hamid's statement in the spirit with which he had spoken and urged the minister to review not only the detention of the five Hindraf leaders but also others detained without trial.
The MIC leader said those detained under ISA can be tried in open court under the country's existing laws if there was a case.
"Long-term detention under ISA was not the right move morally when the country is moving in the direction of a true democracy," he added.
Expressing community's views
Meanwhile, MIC information chief M Saravanan said the party president was merely expressing the feelings of the majority of Indians who want the five to be released from detention.
"All he (Samy Vellu) said was that he will take the plea to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi for consideration
"They (the five) had consistently said they were prepared to meet Abdullah which shows that they still have respect for the prime minister," he added in a statement.
m saravanan mic info chiefSaravanan, who is also deputy federal territories minister, pointed out that if Samy Vellu wanted to use the Hindraf issue to gain political mileage, he would have done so before the March 8 elections.
"The elections in MIC is only next year and there is nothing wrong with a leader of the Indian community expressing the views and feelings of the people to the prime minister," he said, adding that MIC members have given a clear mandate for Samy Vellu to remain as president and therefore there is no need for "political stunts" by outsiders.
"In fact, it seems Ali Rustam wants to use this issue for his political mileage as the Umno party elections is in December. He is known for shooting off his mouth," he said, referring to the chief minister's comments during last year's PPP convention in the state.
During the convention, Ali Rustam said PPP should leave the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition if the party was not happy with the seat allocations.
hindraf isa detainees 141207 updatedSaravanan said Ali Rustam and the leaders of other component parties must realise that they are working with Abdullah and his deputy Najib Abdul Razak to bring the Indian community back into the BN fold.
"If any one of them finds it difficult to digest MIC's request, then they should speak to us rather than going to the media as it only causes uneasiness and problems," he added.
In making the call on Sunday, Samy Vellu - who was once highly critical of Hindraf - denied that it was a publicity stunt.
The Hindraf leaders detained under the security law are P Uthayakumar, V Ganabatirau, M Manoharan, T Vasantha Kumar and R Kengadharan.
The five were arrested shortly after organising a mammoth street rally which drew some 30,000 disgruntled Indians to the streets in Kuala Lumpur on Nov 25 last year.
In the March 8 polls, Manoharan won the Kota Alam Shah state seat in Selangor which he contested under a DAP ticket.
MIC leaders today came out in defence of their president S Samy Vellu who was criticised for asking the government to free the five Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leaders held under the Internal Security Act (ISA).
samy vellu 010307The leaders were responding to Umno vice-president and Malacca Chief Minister Mohd Ali Rustam who was quoted in the press today as saying that Samy Vellu should not use the issue as a publicity stunt for his own political interest.
ali rustamDescribing the call as inappropriate since it involved national security, Ali Rustam said: "Don't use the issue for publicity just to get support during the coming MIC general assembly."
However, MIC deputy president G Palanivel said the Umno politician was wrong in claiming that Samy Vellu's statement was politically motivated.
He said Ali Rustam can also be accused of hitting at Samy Vellu and Hidraf as a publicity stunt for his own political interest.
"We can also say that he is using the issue for publicity to get support during the Umno general assembly in December," he added in a media statement.
Syed Hamid commended
On the same note, Palanivel commended the view of Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar said he would have done the same thing if he was in Samy Vellu's shoes.
The minister said: "That is his right as the leader of the Indian community to fight for the cause but my decision will be according to the law. I might have brought up the issue myself if I was in his position. However, I have my own job and responsibility to perform and so does he."
g palanivelPalanivel said he appreciated Syed Hamid's statement in the spirit with which he had spoken and urged the minister to review not only the detention of the five Hindraf leaders but also others detained without trial.
The MIC leader said those detained under ISA can be tried in open court under the country's existing laws if there was a case.
"Long-term detention under ISA was not the right move morally when the country is moving in the direction of a true democracy," he added.
Expressing community's views
Meanwhile, MIC information chief M Saravanan said the party president was merely expressing the feelings of the majority of Indians who want the five to be released from detention.
"All he (Samy Vellu) said was that he will take the plea to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi for consideration
"They (the five) had consistently said they were prepared to meet Abdullah which shows that they still have respect for the prime minister," he added in a statement.
m saravanan mic info chiefSaravanan, who is also deputy federal territories minister, pointed out that if Samy Vellu wanted to use the Hindraf issue to gain political mileage, he would have done so before the March 8 elections.
"The elections in MIC is only next year and there is nothing wrong with a leader of the Indian community expressing the views and feelings of the people to the prime minister," he said, adding that MIC members have given a clear mandate for Samy Vellu to remain as president and therefore there is no need for "political stunts" by outsiders.
"In fact, it seems Ali Rustam wants to use this issue for his political mileage as the Umno party elections is in December. He is known for shooting off his mouth," he said, referring to the chief minister's comments during last year's PPP convention in the state.
During the convention, Ali Rustam said PPP should leave the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition if the party was not happy with the seat allocations.
hindraf isa detainees 141207 updatedSaravanan said Ali Rustam and the leaders of other component parties must realise that they are working with Abdullah and his deputy Najib Abdul Razak to bring the Indian community back into the BN fold.
"If any one of them finds it difficult to digest MIC's request, then they should speak to us rather than going to the media as it only causes uneasiness and problems," he added.
In making the call on Sunday, Samy Vellu - who was once highly critical of Hindraf - denied that it was a publicity stunt.
The Hindraf leaders detained under the security law are P Uthayakumar, V Ganabatirau, M Manoharan, T Vasantha Kumar and R Kengadharan.
The five were arrested shortly after organising a mammoth street rally which drew some 30,000 disgruntled Indians to the streets in Kuala Lumpur on Nov 25 last year.
In the March 8 polls, Manoharan won the Kota Alam Shah state seat in Selangor which he contested under a DAP ticket.
Mydin supermarket: Don't go Dutch!
Apr 1, 08 11:24am
A leading Malaysian Muslim supermarket chain has called for a boycott of Dutch products in protest at an anti-Islamic film and tagged them with red labels to warn customers.
The Mydin chain also put up posters warning customers to "stay away" from Dutch products, the New Straits Times daily said.
"We call on consumers, Muslims and non-Muslims, to collectively boycott Dutch products," Ameer Ali, managing director of Mydin Mohamed Holdings, was quoted as saying by state Bernama news agency.
"Nobody has the right to condemn other religions," he said.
The chain however stopped short of pulling the products from supermarket shelves, reportedly to respect consumers' freedom of choice.
An 'offensively anti-Islamic' film
The 17-minute film 'Fitna' by far-right Dutch lawmaker Geert Wilders was released on the Internet last Thursday, triggering widespread condemnation. United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon called it "offensively anti-Islamic".
Dutch ambassador to Malaysia Lody Embrechts also rejected the film's views on Islam, Bernama said.
"The film equates Islam with violence. The Dutch government rejects this interpretation," he said.
Malaysian groups, including the Muslim Consumers Association of Malaysia and the Islamic party PAS had urged Muslims worldwide to boycott Dutch products to protest against the film.
Dutch businesses had also threatened to sue Wilders if his film led to a boycott.
Malaysia's influential former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad has said that if the world's 1.3 billion Muslims boycotted Dutch products, the country's industries would be forced to shut down.
A leading Malaysian Muslim supermarket chain has called for a boycott of Dutch products in protest at an anti-Islamic film and tagged them with red labels to warn customers.
The Mydin chain also put up posters warning customers to "stay away" from Dutch products, the New Straits Times daily said.
"We call on consumers, Muslims and non-Muslims, to collectively boycott Dutch products," Ameer Ali, managing director of Mydin Mohamed Holdings, was quoted as saying by state Bernama news agency.
"Nobody has the right to condemn other religions," he said.
The chain however stopped short of pulling the products from supermarket shelves, reportedly to respect consumers' freedom of choice.
An 'offensively anti-Islamic' film
The 17-minute film 'Fitna' by far-right Dutch lawmaker Geert Wilders was released on the Internet last Thursday, triggering widespread condemnation. United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon called it "offensively anti-Islamic".
Dutch ambassador to Malaysia Lody Embrechts also rejected the film's views on Islam, Bernama said.
"The film equates Islam with violence. The Dutch government rejects this interpretation," he said.
Malaysian groups, including the Muslim Consumers Association of Malaysia and the Islamic party PAS had urged Muslims worldwide to boycott Dutch products to protest against the film.
Dutch businesses had also threatened to sue Wilders if his film led to a boycott.
Malaysia's influential former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad has said that if the world's 1.3 billion Muslims boycotted Dutch products, the country's industries would be forced to shut down.
Headlines online: April 1
Apr 1, 08 2:20pm
Malaysiakini compares the key news and views in major newspapers. What is today’s agenda for the English, Malay, Tamil and Chinese papers?
Front page
English newspapers
All three dailies had reports on the-resignation-that-was-retracted by Buntong state assemblyman A Siva Subramaniam of DAP Perak.
Star and New Straits Times also reported the recall by Proton Holdings Bhd of 34,000 of its Savvy car due to a faulty rear wheel-bearing component.
TheSun reported the water coalition’s objections to the Selangor government’s decision to supply households with free water for the first 20 cubic metres of usage from June 1.
Malay newspapers
Berita Harian and Utusan Malaysia had a varying take on the Siva Subramaniam episode - the former said ‘DAP state assemblyman quits party for seven hours’, while the latter’s version was ‘DAP state assemblyman puts on a show’.
Both reported on vows by top Umno leaders to study the abolition of the party’s quota system for nominations to contest for the party’s top posts.
Editorial
NST said China should not ignore the concerns of the international community in regard to the plight of Tibetans.
TheSun spoke of the new mindset that all sections of Malaysian society - opinion leaders as well as the masses - have to undergo following the change of political landscape since the 12th general election.
Berita Harian urged Umno to weigh the pros and cons of abolishing the quota system and consider whether or not such a move could lead to party disunity.
Utusan Malaysia described MIC president S Samy Vellu’s call for the release of the Hindraf 5 - currently detained under the Internal Security Act - as an act of desperation to shore up his political support.
Malaysiakini compares the key news and views in major newspapers. What is today’s agenda for the English, Malay, Tamil and Chinese papers?
Front page
English newspapers
All three dailies had reports on the-resignation-that-was-retracted by Buntong state assemblyman A Siva Subramaniam of DAP Perak.
Star and New Straits Times also reported the recall by Proton Holdings Bhd of 34,000 of its Savvy car due to a faulty rear wheel-bearing component.
TheSun reported the water coalition’s objections to the Selangor government’s decision to supply households with free water for the first 20 cubic metres of usage from June 1.
Malay newspapers
Berita Harian and Utusan Malaysia had a varying take on the Siva Subramaniam episode - the former said ‘DAP state assemblyman quits party for seven hours’, while the latter’s version was ‘DAP state assemblyman puts on a show’.
Both reported on vows by top Umno leaders to study the abolition of the party’s quota system for nominations to contest for the party’s top posts.
Editorial
NST said China should not ignore the concerns of the international community in regard to the plight of Tibetans.
TheSun spoke of the new mindset that all sections of Malaysian society - opinion leaders as well as the masses - have to undergo following the change of political landscape since the 12th general election.
Berita Harian urged Umno to weigh the pros and cons of abolishing the quota system and consider whether or not such a move could lead to party disunity.
Utusan Malaysia described MIC president S Samy Vellu’s call for the release of the Hindraf 5 - currently detained under the Internal Security Act - as an act of desperation to shore up his political support.
Sexy lingerie a hit for the dead
Apr 1, 08 1:30pm
Sexy lingerie sets have reportedly become a hit among Malaysia's Chinese, who buy them to offer to their dead relatives on the Ching Ming festival this Friday.
To mark the day, Chinese traditionally tend the graves of their departed loved ones and often burn paper money, model houses, cars, mobile phones and other goods as offerings to honour them and keep them comfortable in the afterlife.
But paper lingerie has become an increasingly popular offering for dead female relatives, Tan Lay Nah, owner of a paper model shop in Penang, told the Star daily.
"Most customers find them cute and would usually add a few sets to go with other paper clothing and items such as dresses, bags and shoes for their female family members to use in the other world," she said.
Popular designs sold out
A matching set of floral underwear trimmed with gold-coloured studs costs RM4.
"They also come in more creative designs ... sweet flowery prints and sophisticated monogram designs to cater to different tastes," she said.
Malaysia's Chinese will observe the Ching Ming festival on April 4 where people will tend to the graves of their departed loved ones.
She said many of the popular designs had already been sold out ahead of Friday's festival.
Sexy lingerie sets have reportedly become a hit among Malaysia's Chinese, who buy them to offer to their dead relatives on the Ching Ming festival this Friday.
To mark the day, Chinese traditionally tend the graves of their departed loved ones and often burn paper money, model houses, cars, mobile phones and other goods as offerings to honour them and keep them comfortable in the afterlife.
But paper lingerie has become an increasingly popular offering for dead female relatives, Tan Lay Nah, owner of a paper model shop in Penang, told the Star daily.
"Most customers find them cute and would usually add a few sets to go with other paper clothing and items such as dresses, bags and shoes for their female family members to use in the other world," she said.
Popular designs sold out
A matching set of floral underwear trimmed with gold-coloured studs costs RM4.
"They also come in more creative designs ... sweet flowery prints and sophisticated monogram designs to cater to different tastes," she said.
Malaysia's Chinese will observe the Ching Ming festival on April 4 where people will tend to the graves of their departed loved ones.
She said many of the popular designs had already been sold out ahead of Friday's festival.
Gerakan: the decadence of an idealist party
Mar 28, 08 2:15pm
Gerakan acting president Dr Koh Tsu Koon finally acts tough.
After a briefing with the party’s central delegates last Sunday, Tsu Koon told the press "certain Umno leaders’ deeds, words and actions in the past two years have resulted in a feeling of resentment".
No one should be surprised at Tsu Koon's assessment. What is truly puzzling is that the former Penang chief minister only realised this after Gerakan suffered a crushing defeat on March 8.
Would it have been different had the Penang-based party chosen to speak out fearlessly when Khairy Jamaluddin and Hishammuddin Hussein indulged themselves in racist remarks and gestures at the Umno general assemblies?
Hardly.
Gerakan’s ignominious rout was already in the making before the March election. As I wrote a few months ago, my advice for some party faithful to contemplate a withdrawal from the rotten Barisan Nasional coalition to preserve their dignity went unheeded. With the benefit of hindsight, even a last minute pullout by Gerakan, as what had happened to Parti Bersatu Sabah on the eve of the 1990 election, would not have saved the party from the electoral massacre.
penang koh tsu koon komtar 290208Tsu Koon was willy-nilly over the choice of his successor as chief minister, and it irked the Penang voters. Worse, in passing the ball to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, he was being utterly insensitive to their anger, which only reinforced the impression of him serving as Umno stooge.
The Penangites could not care less if it was the wishy-washy Chia Kwang Chye, the dreary Lee Kah Choon, the seasoned Teng Hock Nam, or even the young and articulate Teng Chang Yeow, as they had decided to do an "all change" and vote all of them out.
Pretty much like what the Australian voters did to John Howard last November, the voters had to decide for Tsu Koon since he could not make up his own mind. I salute the Penangites for their boleh spirit and discernment that Malaysia as a nation of sheep had begotten a government of wolves.
For idealists, elite socialists
Still, I could not help feeling sorry. In 1968, Gerakan was founded on the firm basis of multiracialism, with stalwart intellectuals like the late Syed Hussein Alatas and Wang Gungwu among its top leaders. Dr. J B Peter and Madam Ganga Nair were there too. Dr Tan Chee Khoon, latterly Mr Opposition, even ditched the Labour Party and joined Gerakan, which was almost a natural home for idealists and elite socialists at the time.
Also in 1968, Dr Seenivasegam of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) presided over a public debate on Malaysian Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur between representatives from Gerakan and the Democratic Action Party (DAP). Those were the days when ideologues held sway.
The electoral debut of the still fledgling party could not have been more splendid, as it went on to capture Penang in the 1969 election. Who says ideology never matters in Malaysian politics?
But who could have foreseen a party that once offered so much hope for multiracial politics in the deeply racialised and divided nation of Malaysia would later become a spent force?
Today, Gerakan can only showcase second rate politicians like Mah Siew Keong, the youth leader whose waving of the Basic Foundations of our Nationhood as a clumsy protest over the keris-brandishing of his Umno counterparts was a joke.
Or what about a political dwarf in Lim Si Pin, son of the former Gerakan president Dr Lim Keng Yaik, who would not even take up the challenge for a minor debate in public? It is certainly not an unlucky coincidence that both Mah and Lim Jr. lost in the election.
keng yaik dap perak 140308 veteranTo be fair, Gerakan’s betrayal of its multiracial roots did not begin with Keng Yaik, who was party president for more than 25 years. But it was under Lim that the party’s loss of multiracial outlook became most marked.
A populist, Lim had no time for polemics and was disdainful of intellectuals. Under his leadership, Gerakan became ideologically vacuous, and behaved increasingly like Umno’s lieutenant. When Dr Mahathir Mohamad declared Malaysia an Islamic state at the Gerakan general assembly in September 2001, Lim did not even raise an eyebrow.
Because Lim was beholden first to Mahathir and then to Abdullah, his party’s response to communal and religious controversies was paltry at best. In the state constituency of Bukit Gasing that is made up of sizeable populations of Catholics and Christians, former Gerakan assemblyman Lim Thuan Seng was conspicuously silent on many religious issues.
Under the BN’s kidnap-style control that hardly tolerates even a semblance of critique, few can escape unscathed for speaking their own mind, just look at Zaid Ibrahim of Umno, Sothinathan of the MIC and Loh Seng Kok of the MCA.
Keng Yaik - a MCA reject
gerakan jamuan at sentul 030308 lim keng yik talkThat Keng Yaik is bereft of democratic beliefs can be seen from his desperate but failed attempt to save his son’s campaign in the Batu parliamentary seat recently. Knowing that Lim Si Pin could lose, Lim resorted to relentless personal attacks on Tian Chua, the PKR candidate. It backfired and his son lost big.
Even in Beruas, which Keng Yaik represented for over 20 years, his political protege Chang Ko Youn was defeated by Ngeh Koo Ham of the DAP. When campaigning for Gerakan heavyweight Teo Kok Chee in the state assembly constituency of Skudai, Johor, Lim assured the audience Teo was "Abdul Ghani’s godson" and Skudai would receive special attention from the menteri besar. Too bad, that the voters punished Lim’s tawdriness with a stunning victory for Boo Cheng Hau, another DAP state leader - a majority of 12,854 votes.
Keng Yaik might have been able to fool mainstream journalists with his tasteless jokes and entertain them with his hearty laughs, his "glories" are fading fast nonetheless.
Not only has Gerakan lost the will to harness Umno, the party has also become "sinicized" over the years. For all the fanfare and pomp at his retirement last year, Keng Yaik is in fact an MCA reject. Kicked out of the Chinese party by Tan Siew Sin in 1973, Keng Yaik brought the mavericks – including Paul Leong Khee Seong - into Gerakan and continued his battle with his enemies in the MCA.
As Gerakan leader, Keng Yaik effectively turned Gerakan into a Chinese chauvinist party. In December 2003, he openly thanked Abdullah for giving his blessing to a future merger between Gerakan and the MCA, and vowed to do his part to persuade those who had reservations about the proposal. His blatant disregard of the non-Chinese grassroots was bordering on arrogance.
Tsu Koon’s multiethnic credentials are equally questionable. Last December, Dr. Toh Kin Woon and S Paranjothy, a Gerakan Youth leader, both lent their support to Hindraf’s demands. Tsu Koon defended Toh’s remarks as a personal opinion, but referred Paranjothy to the party’s disciplinary committee for further action.
The fact was, Paranjothy had openly chastised Umno Youth leaders, putting Tsu Koon in a difficult position. Paranjothy’s fate clearly indicates that Gerakan can no longer represent the interests of the non-Chinese; it also reveals the home truth that the party exists at Umno’s mercy.
If not for the series of evil laws that curtail media freedom, coupled with the habitual manipulation of the electoral system by the government, the myth of Gerakan as the BN’s conscience would have been busted long ago. Throughout the 13-day campaign, Lim and Koh launched one personal attack after another against Anwar Ibrahim, but the biggest irony is that PKR is now much more genuinely multiracial than Gerakan, winning support from voters of all walks of life!
Even Dr Toh, for decades a conscientious voice in Gerakan, concedes the party had lost its multiracial identity when all its candidates fielded for the recent election were Chinese.
Meanwhile, DAP has been successful in garnering enough non-Chinese votes to come to power in Penang. Should Lim Guan Eng perform well, the feeble argument that only a Penangite could ensure effective governance in the state will be proven wrong.
Localness, after all, is the last refuge of an ambitious but brainless politician.
Return to what ideology?
Tsu Koon has also said his party will not be celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. Instead, there is a lot of soul-searching and self-criticism awaiting the rank and file, as well as the need to "go back to the basics of our ideology".
gerakan agm 061007 delagates raise handsVery fine and well. But what ideology does the acting president have in mind? Despite Gerakan’s claim to social democracy, I only know Keng Yaik was among the most capitalist-minded cabinet ministers, a torchbearer of the BN’s neo-liberal agenda who could not cease salivating at lucrative privatisation deals.
And guess what? A click on the word "ideology" on the party’s website returns nothing. Absolutely nothing.
I am curious to know what would Syed Hussein Alatas and Tan Chee Koon have to say on this six feet under?
Lest we forget, Gerakan and PPP were at each other’s throat over the right to contest in the Taiping parliamentary constituency. M Kayveas won the battle but lost the war; his political future now hangs in a balance.
But Gerakan is certainly not the one having the last laugh, for who knows the once great promising and idealist party, should it continue to be subservient to the racist and domineering Umno, will not suffer the fate of PPP in the not too distant future?
Gerakan acting president Dr Koh Tsu Koon finally acts tough.
After a briefing with the party’s central delegates last Sunday, Tsu Koon told the press "certain Umno leaders’ deeds, words and actions in the past two years have resulted in a feeling of resentment".
No one should be surprised at Tsu Koon's assessment. What is truly puzzling is that the former Penang chief minister only realised this after Gerakan suffered a crushing defeat on March 8.
Would it have been different had the Penang-based party chosen to speak out fearlessly when Khairy Jamaluddin and Hishammuddin Hussein indulged themselves in racist remarks and gestures at the Umno general assemblies?
Hardly.
Gerakan’s ignominious rout was already in the making before the March election. As I wrote a few months ago, my advice for some party faithful to contemplate a withdrawal from the rotten Barisan Nasional coalition to preserve their dignity went unheeded. With the benefit of hindsight, even a last minute pullout by Gerakan, as what had happened to Parti Bersatu Sabah on the eve of the 1990 election, would not have saved the party from the electoral massacre.
penang koh tsu koon komtar 290208Tsu Koon was willy-nilly over the choice of his successor as chief minister, and it irked the Penang voters. Worse, in passing the ball to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, he was being utterly insensitive to their anger, which only reinforced the impression of him serving as Umno stooge.
The Penangites could not care less if it was the wishy-washy Chia Kwang Chye, the dreary Lee Kah Choon, the seasoned Teng Hock Nam, or even the young and articulate Teng Chang Yeow, as they had decided to do an "all change" and vote all of them out.
Pretty much like what the Australian voters did to John Howard last November, the voters had to decide for Tsu Koon since he could not make up his own mind. I salute the Penangites for their boleh spirit and discernment that Malaysia as a nation of sheep had begotten a government of wolves.
For idealists, elite socialists
Still, I could not help feeling sorry. In 1968, Gerakan was founded on the firm basis of multiracialism, with stalwart intellectuals like the late Syed Hussein Alatas and Wang Gungwu among its top leaders. Dr. J B Peter and Madam Ganga Nair were there too. Dr Tan Chee Khoon, latterly Mr Opposition, even ditched the Labour Party and joined Gerakan, which was almost a natural home for idealists and elite socialists at the time.
Also in 1968, Dr Seenivasegam of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) presided over a public debate on Malaysian Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur between representatives from Gerakan and the Democratic Action Party (DAP). Those were the days when ideologues held sway.
The electoral debut of the still fledgling party could not have been more splendid, as it went on to capture Penang in the 1969 election. Who says ideology never matters in Malaysian politics?
But who could have foreseen a party that once offered so much hope for multiracial politics in the deeply racialised and divided nation of Malaysia would later become a spent force?
Today, Gerakan can only showcase second rate politicians like Mah Siew Keong, the youth leader whose waving of the Basic Foundations of our Nationhood as a clumsy protest over the keris-brandishing of his Umno counterparts was a joke.
Or what about a political dwarf in Lim Si Pin, son of the former Gerakan president Dr Lim Keng Yaik, who would not even take up the challenge for a minor debate in public? It is certainly not an unlucky coincidence that both Mah and Lim Jr. lost in the election.
keng yaik dap perak 140308 veteranTo be fair, Gerakan’s betrayal of its multiracial roots did not begin with Keng Yaik, who was party president for more than 25 years. But it was under Lim that the party’s loss of multiracial outlook became most marked.
A populist, Lim had no time for polemics and was disdainful of intellectuals. Under his leadership, Gerakan became ideologically vacuous, and behaved increasingly like Umno’s lieutenant. When Dr Mahathir Mohamad declared Malaysia an Islamic state at the Gerakan general assembly in September 2001, Lim did not even raise an eyebrow.
Because Lim was beholden first to Mahathir and then to Abdullah, his party’s response to communal and religious controversies was paltry at best. In the state constituency of Bukit Gasing that is made up of sizeable populations of Catholics and Christians, former Gerakan assemblyman Lim Thuan Seng was conspicuously silent on many religious issues.
Under the BN’s kidnap-style control that hardly tolerates even a semblance of critique, few can escape unscathed for speaking their own mind, just look at Zaid Ibrahim of Umno, Sothinathan of the MIC and Loh Seng Kok of the MCA.
Keng Yaik - a MCA reject
gerakan jamuan at sentul 030308 lim keng yik talkThat Keng Yaik is bereft of democratic beliefs can be seen from his desperate but failed attempt to save his son’s campaign in the Batu parliamentary seat recently. Knowing that Lim Si Pin could lose, Lim resorted to relentless personal attacks on Tian Chua, the PKR candidate. It backfired and his son lost big.
Even in Beruas, which Keng Yaik represented for over 20 years, his political protege Chang Ko Youn was defeated by Ngeh Koo Ham of the DAP. When campaigning for Gerakan heavyweight Teo Kok Chee in the state assembly constituency of Skudai, Johor, Lim assured the audience Teo was "Abdul Ghani’s godson" and Skudai would receive special attention from the menteri besar. Too bad, that the voters punished Lim’s tawdriness with a stunning victory for Boo Cheng Hau, another DAP state leader - a majority of 12,854 votes.
Keng Yaik might have been able to fool mainstream journalists with his tasteless jokes and entertain them with his hearty laughs, his "glories" are fading fast nonetheless.
Not only has Gerakan lost the will to harness Umno, the party has also become "sinicized" over the years. For all the fanfare and pomp at his retirement last year, Keng Yaik is in fact an MCA reject. Kicked out of the Chinese party by Tan Siew Sin in 1973, Keng Yaik brought the mavericks – including Paul Leong Khee Seong - into Gerakan and continued his battle with his enemies in the MCA.
As Gerakan leader, Keng Yaik effectively turned Gerakan into a Chinese chauvinist party. In December 2003, he openly thanked Abdullah for giving his blessing to a future merger between Gerakan and the MCA, and vowed to do his part to persuade those who had reservations about the proposal. His blatant disregard of the non-Chinese grassroots was bordering on arrogance.
Tsu Koon’s multiethnic credentials are equally questionable. Last December, Dr. Toh Kin Woon and S Paranjothy, a Gerakan Youth leader, both lent their support to Hindraf’s demands. Tsu Koon defended Toh’s remarks as a personal opinion, but referred Paranjothy to the party’s disciplinary committee for further action.
The fact was, Paranjothy had openly chastised Umno Youth leaders, putting Tsu Koon in a difficult position. Paranjothy’s fate clearly indicates that Gerakan can no longer represent the interests of the non-Chinese; it also reveals the home truth that the party exists at Umno’s mercy.
If not for the series of evil laws that curtail media freedom, coupled with the habitual manipulation of the electoral system by the government, the myth of Gerakan as the BN’s conscience would have been busted long ago. Throughout the 13-day campaign, Lim and Koh launched one personal attack after another against Anwar Ibrahim, but the biggest irony is that PKR is now much more genuinely multiracial than Gerakan, winning support from voters of all walks of life!
Even Dr Toh, for decades a conscientious voice in Gerakan, concedes the party had lost its multiracial identity when all its candidates fielded for the recent election were Chinese.
Meanwhile, DAP has been successful in garnering enough non-Chinese votes to come to power in Penang. Should Lim Guan Eng perform well, the feeble argument that only a Penangite could ensure effective governance in the state will be proven wrong.
Localness, after all, is the last refuge of an ambitious but brainless politician.
Return to what ideology?
Tsu Koon has also said his party will not be celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. Instead, there is a lot of soul-searching and self-criticism awaiting the rank and file, as well as the need to "go back to the basics of our ideology".
gerakan agm 061007 delagates raise handsVery fine and well. But what ideology does the acting president have in mind? Despite Gerakan’s claim to social democracy, I only know Keng Yaik was among the most capitalist-minded cabinet ministers, a torchbearer of the BN’s neo-liberal agenda who could not cease salivating at lucrative privatisation deals.
And guess what? A click on the word "ideology" on the party’s website returns nothing. Absolutely nothing.
I am curious to know what would Syed Hussein Alatas and Tan Chee Koon have to say on this six feet under?
Lest we forget, Gerakan and PPP were at each other’s throat over the right to contest in the Taiping parliamentary constituency. M Kayveas won the battle but lost the war; his political future now hangs in a balance.
But Gerakan is certainly not the one having the last laugh, for who knows the once great promising and idealist party, should it continue to be subservient to the racist and domineering Umno, will not suffer the fate of PPP in the not too distant future?
Blame-storming in MCA
| Stanley Koh | Mar 31, 08 3:31pm |
|
At that brainstorming meeting, the case for MCA to go multi-racial was explored, battered and positively reconstructed. The outcome was that “the party should envelope Chinese demands into national demands since every racial minority wanted the same things and their wants were not unique to the Chinese community alone”. |
| |
In 1986, a position paper was tabled at a meeting of top MCA leaders, who were holding a brainstorming session into the disappointing performance at the general election held that year.
“Nobody brought up related contributing factors like the Port Klang Free Trade Zone scandal or the backlash from voters when veteran candidates were unexpectedly dropped in favour of unknown young candidates with no proven track-record, as blatantly illustrated in the case of the Damansara Utama state seat.”PKR: Put us in power, get 20% oil royalties
| Mar 31, 08 4:50pm |
 The five percent oil and gas royalties for Sarawak and Sabah will be increased four folds should the opposition take over the federal government, according to Sarawak PKR state chief Dominique Ng.“(PKR de facto leader) Anwar Ibrahim has made this promise to PKR leaders in these two states,” Ng said yesterday when officiating the launch of PKR Mas Gading pro-tem committee at a gathering outside Bau town, about 50km southwest of Kuching. This would translate to a windfall of between RM5 to RM6 billion a year instead of the present RM1.2 billion for Sarawak. Under the petroleum sharing agreement signed in the 1970s after national oil company Petronas was set up, the federal government pays 5% royalties to the states for oil and gas. Sarawak has one of the world's largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) plants in Bintulu and a major producer in crude oil from its offshore wells in Miri. The launch of PKR’s latest party division signals its early preparations for the next state elections, expected to be held within the next two to three years. The last state elections was held in May 2006. Ng also said that under a PKR-led federal government, a second deputy prime minister post would be created for Sarawak and Sabah. The state PKR leader told a crowd of about 300 people that should the opposition win the Sarawak state government, it would carry out a comprehensive review of the controversial Sarawak Land Code, including an immediate survey of native customary rights (NCR). “We will look at cases where native customary rights have been infringed and restore such rights and return land taken away from the people,” said Ng, who is assemblyperson for Padungan, a state constituency in Kuching. The review was among the key points being highlighted in the PKR manifesto to be used for the state elections. Anwar is expected to launch the manifesto sometime in May, a party official said. Ng also said despite that Barisan Nasional in Sarawak and Sabah winning 54 parliamentary seats - about 40 percent of the ruling coalition’s total haul - the two states were not given a fair share of ministerial posts at the federal level. He called on the BN Mas Gading parliamentarian Dr Tiki Lafe - who was dropped as deputy minister and had denied rumours of quitting his Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party - and other BN MPs in the two states to switch their support to the opposition. “Don't wait. Come and join Barisan Rakyat now,” he said to loud applause from the crowd. PKR - parti kuat relevant Ng said before March 8, BN leaders described PKR as ‘Parti Kurang Relevant’ (less relevant party) but instead it turned out to be 'Parti Kuat Relevant' (strongly relevant party) after the 'political tsunami' which saw BN not only failed to recapture Kelantan but also lost four other states as well as its two-thirds majority in Parliament. The BN now wanted to introduce an anti-hopping law out of fear of losing their elected representatives, Ng quipped. PKR was confident that the political tsunami would also hit Sarawak and Sabah in the next elections, he claimed. Michael Bajan described PKR as a truly multi-racial party and with its existence, there was no longer any need for the small Bidayuh community to be dispersed in various political parties. He said the Bidayuh should no longer feel scared to join PKR, which is now the single largest opposition party in Parliament. Apart Mas Gading, he said PKR divisions would be set up in the other two Bidayuh-majority parliamentary areas - Serian and Mambong. Nicholas Bawin, the Independent candidate for Lubok Antu parliamentary constituency and did well despite losing to BN candidate William Nyalau, in his speech said after 45 years of independence the people of Sarawak were angry, especially the “trampling of their native customary rights to the land”. He said the past 27 years under the chief ministership of Abdul Taib Mahmud, Sarawak had gone through a “very bitter experience” and a change was long overdue. Bawin, a former Sarawak Dayak National Union chairperson, annouced that he has joined PKR and will likely be the man to spearhead the party’s Dayak section in the next state elections. Among those present was state PKR adviser Wan Zainal Wan Sanusi, who in his speech said the day of reckoning was coming for the state BN which had to account for its actions over the past three decades.  |
Shafie: Sabah deserves some reward
| Mar 31, 08 5:45pm |
 Sabah Umno’s No 2 Shafie Apdal reiterated the disappointment of fellow Sabahans today over the lack of ministerial positions for his state compatriots.After his first briefing at the unity, culture, arts and heritage ministry in Putrajaya today, Shafie said: “Sabah has been contributing very well since the 1999 general election. In 2004 and even this year, Sabah has done very well so there should be some reward for the state.” He was asked how many ministerial positions Sabah is eyeing, given that the cabinet members have already been selected and sworn in. “We have made our views known to the prime minister and this issue has already dragged on a bit. But we will have to wait and see. Anyway, we are just voicing the grassroots’ call to have more representation in the cabinet,” he said. On when Abdullah Ahmad Badawi would meet BN Sabah, Shafie said he was unsure as it depends on the prime minister’s schedule. “We are not setting the date, he is. We will just wait. His schedule is very tight but we can wait.” Star today quoted Parti Bersatu Sabah deputy president Dr Maximus Ongkili as saying: “There is a gap between what we asked for and what we got.” He said that initially Abdullah had given Sabah three ministerial posts and two posts of deputy minister, later picking two more deputy ministers from the state. “More leaders felt that Sabah should be given more ministerial positions,” said Ongkili, the science, information and technology minister. The third minister from Sabah, Bernard Dompok, said it is not just a case of cabinet positions as Sabahans feel shortchanged because certain promises have not been kept. Among the “promises” were bigger federal allocations for rural development, poverty eradication, water and electricity, and solutions to the state’s illegal immigrant problem. PAS watching situation Abdullah’s cabinet was hit by two resignations from Sabah within a week after it was announced. Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman’s brother, Anifah turned down his appointment as deputy minister of transport hours after this was announced on March 18. He was followed by deputy minister Abdul Ghapur Salleh (Natural Resources and Environment Ministry), eight days after he had accepted the post. PAS Youth, meanwhile, said the Sabah situation “if unresolved could lead to Barisan Nasional’s downfall”. In a statement today, Youth chief Salahuddin Ayub said it was amusing that, so soon after the prime minister had to resolve the appointment of the Terengganu menteri besar, he has now to try and “convince each of the Sabah MPs not to hop (to other) parties”. “If BN is not careful, it could lose a country,” the statement read. “PAS Youth believes that the Sabah MPs won’t jump ship now but Sabahans are eagerly waiting (for) their party to leave the BN coalition and switch to Barisan Alternatif.” |
'Two-faced' Samy slammed on HIndraf 5
| Mar 31, 08 7:25pm |
|
"The demand made by the former works minister is dishonest and is apparently politically motivated," said GMI president, Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh (right) in a statement. He said the timing of Samy’s call for the release of the five was suspect as the MIC boss had never made such calls prior to the general election on March 8. In a dramatic move, Samy, at an event at the party’s headquarters yesterday, publicly called for the release of the Hindraf ISA detainees as he said ‘there were no longer reason to detain them’. The veteran politician said he would meet Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi soon to discuss this matter. He also urged Hindraf chairperson P Waythamoorthy - who is currently in London in self-exile - to return to Malaysia, saying he latter was not a political refugee. Samy’s call came in as a shock to many as he was among the government and BN leaders who had vociferously criticised the Hindraf movement prior to the arrests of its key leaders on Dec 13. "I didn't go and see Samy Vellu," S Pushpaneela was reported by Star Online as saying. Samy Vellu had on Sunday claimed that Pushpaneela had met him to discuss the matter. Release all detainees Hindraf has been credited for being partly responsible for the worst ever performance by the MIC in a general election following the March 8 polls. Samy Vellu lost at his parliamentary constituency in Sungai Siput while the rest of the party’s top leadership fared no better, losing in all their respective constituencies they had contested. Syed Ibrahim said Samy’s call for the release of the Hindraf 5 was a move necessary for him to regain the trust of the Indian community which saw Hindraf as a voice for their struggle against increasing marginalisation by the government. "If he is really sincere about justice, why does he not call for the release of all 70 ISA detainees, all of which have been denied their basic right to a fair trial," questioned Syed Ibrahim. He said GMI would continue to insist that the government release all the 70 ISA detainees being held and not just the Hindraf 5 as the detention of all the 70 was unjust and a violation of their human rights. |
S Samy Vellu’s 
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
