林吉祥：3大课题证明，“政府转型政策失败＂

2013-01-31 09:00

（吉隆坡30日讯）民主行动党国会领袖兼怡保东区国会议员林吉祥指出，沙巴皇委会听证会闹剧、马来西亚在国防反贪被列为高风险以及新闻自由指数跌至新低的3大课题，说明我国需要在第13届全国大选进行联邦政权轮替。

他今日发表文告指出，第13届全国大选倒数第71天，国民每天都会看到首相纳吉转型口號与政策失败的新证据。

他举出三个当前事態发展的课题为例，首先调查沙巴非法移民的皇家调查委员会听证会已经迈入第二周，举国人民关注的是，皇委会或將无法彻底找出非法移民被非法合法化，遭致沙巴州人口从1970年的60万激增五倍至今天330万的根源与真相。

应揪出M计划主谋

“沙巴皇委会的真正缺陷在於它的八大项职权严重遗漏鉴定那些长期涉及在沙巴进行叛国行为，｀以公民权换取选票’相关人士的范畴；或更具体的是，鉴定並揪出M计划和身份证计划的幕后主谋。＂

“除非沙巴皇委会被赋予新增职权范畴以鉴定並揪出沙巴M计划和身份证计划的幕后主谋，否则沙巴皇委会听证会最终只是一场荒谬虚偽的闹剧。＂

他质问首相纳吉是否准备为沙巴皇委会添增第九项条款，即鉴定並揪出沙巴M计划和身份证计划的幕后主谋，並赋权沙巴皇委会提出建议行动以对付这些涉及叛国罪行的卖国贼？

他续指，根据反贪腐监督机构“英国国际透明组织＂近日公佈的一项国防反贪指数，马来西亚被该组织列为国防贪污高风险的国家之一，並在6个评估等级中，被列在D-的等级。

马新闻自由指数创新低

他强调，上述糟糕表现彻底否决纳吉以打击贪污为首要议程的政府转型计划和国家关键成效领域，因为这项由2011年至2012年、共为期两年展开对各国进行调查的新反贪指数，已经给纳吉过去四年的转型计划和国家关键成效领域狠狠刮了一记耳光。

林吉祥也抨击，大马在最新公佈的2013全球新闻自由指数中写下了歷史新低点，排在第145位，是无疆界记者组织自2002年开始每年发佈排行榜中最差劲的表现。

他说，无疆界记者组织在题为“柬埔寨与马来西亚：倒向威权主义＂的分析一文中指我国在2013全球新闻自由排行榜中的糟糕表现，是基於政府展开系列的压制举动，包括镇压去年4月的净选盟3.0和平集会，不断审查媒体，继续侵蚀人民基本权益，尤其在资讯自由方面。

来源：http://news.sinchew.com.my/node/276551

The dominoes in Johor - the 13th General Elections in Malaysia

January 31, 2013

By Liew Chin Tong

JAN 31 – Johor is the last bastion of Barisan Nasional but the coming general election may prove that the fortress may turn out to be merely a sand castle. If Pakatan Rakyat gets the support of 35 per cent Malay, 80 per cent Chinese and 50 per cent Indian voters in Johor, 20 parliamentary seats will fall like dominoes. Hence, Pakatan may gain the much-needed 112-seat threshold to form the next federal government with just seats from Peninsula Malaysia.

In the two rounds of seat re-delineation exercises in 1994 and 2003, many multi-ethnic mixed seats were created for Barisan Nasional to maximise its multi-ethnic appeal and to make the most out of the opposition’s inability to win across ethnic boundaries.

PAS was made to be seen by the Barisan-controlled media to non-Malays as an anathema to their interests while DAP as a threat to the Malays. Before 2008, PAS supporters rarely vote for DAP and vice versa.

The 2008 general election saw PAS benefiting from outpouring Chinese and Indian support for the “anything but UMNO” call while some urban Malays voted for DAP for the first time in their lives. Many multi-ethnic seats in the states north of Negeri Sembilan on the west coast of the Peninsula fell to the opposition.

How Pakatan can actually win Johor

Sabah and Johor are the two most crucial battlefields in the 2013 election. While Sabah attracts substantial attention, it could be hampered by seat negotiation and cooperation among various opposition groups. Johor is where Barisan Nasional may fall like dominoes.

Of Johor’s 26 parliamentary seats, only 8 have more than 60 per cent Malay votes which are harder to win with the current level of support for Pakatan Rakyat. No seat in Johor has more than 60 per cent Chinese voters.

On the one hand, without 25 per cent Malay support, even if non-Malay swing to Pakatan Rakyat is huge, the entire momentum may just fizzle out with a very few seats gained. Pakatan Rakyat received only about 20 per cent Malay support in Johor during the 2008 general election.

On the other hand, if 35 per cent Malay voters support Pakatan in this election, anything could happen. While it is tough to get 35 per cent Malay support, it is never impossible.

I was informed that a recent opinion poll shows that Malay support for Pakatan in Johor has exceeded 30 per cent though the support varies among parties – PAS’ support is much higher than average while DAP’s Malay support is lower than average.

The poll also shows that support from the Chinese for Pakatan is around 70 per cent though varies among parties with DAP exceeding the average while PAS lower than average. The poll shows the support from among Indians is constant at about 50 per cent.

Working together is key to victory

As the election approaches, I believe the gaps will narrow if PAS and DAP, with the help of PKR, manage to convince supporters to vote for each other in the context of coalition.

From purely mathematic simulations, here are the possible scenarios in Johor (assuming Indian support for Pakatan is constant):

Malay support at 25%, Chinese support at 65%, Pakatan will win just 1 parliamentary seat in Johor;

Malay support at 30%, Chinese support at 70%, Pakatan will win 6 seats;

Malay support at 30%, Chinese support at 75%, Pakatan will win 12 seats;

Malay support at 35%, Chinese support at 75%, Pakatan will win 16 seats;

Malay support at 35%, Chinese support at 80%, Pakatan will win 20 seats.

Of course these are just simulations on paper. But it shows that Barisan Nasional’s castle may crumble if a perfect storm comes into shape. It is also a fresh tsunami alert from the people of Johor to the government who refuses to reform. – The Rocket

Source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/sideviews/article/the-dominos-in-johor-liew-chin-tong/

Malaysia falls to record low 145th in press freedom index

UPDATED @ 01:01:25 PM 30-01-2013

By Ida Lim

January 30, 2013

Reporters Without Borders credited increasingly restricted access to information for Malaysia’s decline in the index. — Reuters pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 30 ― Malaysia has plunged 23 rungs in the 2013 World Press Freedom Index and placed 145th out of 179 countries ― the country’s worst showing in the benchmark since 2002.

Malaysia had been ranked at 122 and 141 for the years 2011/2012 and 2010, respectively, in the index compiled by Reporters Without Borders.

According to the organisation, the drop was due to access to information “becoming more and more limited”.

A report by the organisation said that Malaysia’s “sorry record” was caused by the government’s repeated efforts to censor information.

It also attributed the decline in the country’s media freedom to what it described as the government’s campaign of repression, pointing to what is seen as the authorities’ heavy-handed crackdown on the Bersih rally for electoral reform last April.

Last year, several media personnel had alleged that police assaulted them and seized their camera equipment and memory cards, in the aftermath of the April 28 rally.

“Despite an all-out battle by rights activists and online media outlets, a campaign of repression by the government, illustrated by the crackdown on the ‘Bersih 3.0’ protest in April, and repeated censorship efforts, continue to undermine basic freedoms, in particular the right to information,” Reporters Without Borders wrote in its report.

Neighbours Thailand and Indonesia both outperformed Malaysia at 135th and 139th place respectively.

Other countries in Southeast Asia that had less favourable performances are the Philippines, Singapore, Laos, and Vietnam, which were respectively ranked at 147, 149, 168 and 172.

Source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/malaysia-falls-to-record-low-145th-in-press-freedom-index/

北海市局警踪处处，土权不见人，没烧圣经

2013-01-27 18:11

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  北海市政局大草场一个人都没有，其四週围只有大批的便衣警员在驻守。（图：星洲日报）

1 of 2

（檳城‧北海27日讯）土著权威组织號召穆斯林今日到北海市政局集体焚烧马来版圣经以示抗议，结果不见人影，连土权组织也没有人到场。

檳城警方一早派人到北海市政局周围驻守，並且出动直升机从空中巡视以防万一，由檳州总警长亲自坐镇，然而现场一片平静，没有任何事发生。

檳州总警长拿督拉欣韩那菲强调，警方在全国共接获7宗有关要焚烧马来版圣经的投报，所以肯定会在本星期內传召土权会主席依布拉欣阿里录取口供协助调查此案件。

他说，警方將会援引刑事法典298A（即企图破坏和谐与团结，引起不满或宗教偏见）条文调查此案。

他说，警方是本月22日，接获投报指有人在网上及在市面上分发宣传海报，呼吁穆斯林在今日（27日）早上10时30分，在北海市政局集合，集体焚烧马来版圣经以示抗议。

他说，警方也在本月24日发出禁令阻止举行有关集会，结果今早並没有发生任何事件。

“虽然如此，檳州警方今早还是做足准备工作，调动大批警员及出动直升机在北海上空盘旋进行侦察行动。＂

拉欣韩那菲今早亲自到北海进行视察后，在新闻发佈会上发表谈话。

感谢听劝取消行动

他表示感谢穆斯林听取警方的劝告取消有关行动，因为大家都喜爱和平及和睦共处。

询及警方是从何处接获有关情报时，他表示正在进行调查中。

本报尝试致电依布拉欣但手机无人接听，另一方面，一名土权组织成员到旧关仔角出席一场宗教活动，被记者追问此事时，也避而不谈。（星洲日报）

来源：http://instant.sinchew.com.my/node/357122

马哈迪挑独立前公民权课题，安美嘉：最新选民册分析调查，移民变选民西马也有

2013-01-22 17:56

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  安美嘉（中）希望皇委会全面看待沙巴州外来移民获得公民权问题，避免在当地出生的第二及第三代人民受到任何形式的孤立或歧视。左起为李维达与阿慕鲁甘；右起为廖国华及沙末赛益。（图：星洲日报）

（吉隆坡22日讯）净选盟2.0联合主席拿督安美嘉今日出示截至去年第四季的最新大马选民册分析计划（MERAP）表示，沙巴州皇家调查委员会发现的外来移民获得公民权问题不只是在沙巴发生，在半岛同样有多宗相同个案。

她今日在隆雪华堂召开新闻发佈会说，上述去年进行的报告发现，自2001年沙巴州亚庇高庭判决里卡士州议席选民册拥有“幽灵选民＂及非公民证据后，有关问题过去10年在沙巴州就一直存在。

她说，上述报告也发现，截至最近的去年第四季度选民册分析调查，有关问题不只是在沙巴州，在砂拉越州及半岛，如雪州也有相同问题。

她指出，虽然沙巴非法移民皇委会听证会还未作出总结，但是对於相关严重的指责，政府仍然欠人民一个回应。

政府欠人民一个回应

“政府应该立即回应皇委会证人的指控，而选举委员会也应严正以待，採取行动清理选民册。＂询及会否针对上述问题发动另一次大集会，她反问：“哪究竟要发动多少次集会？目前我们没有这方面人手，我们的人手都在积极投入提高选民出席投票率的运动。＂

去年第四季选民册
沙194穆斯林只有“单名”

大马选民册分析计划研究报告研究助理李维达表示，他们在有限资源下进行的上述调查发现，截至去年第四季度选民册，在沙巴州的选民册总共发现194个选民的名字，只有一个单名，並没有一般穆斯林拥有的父名。

他指出，他们当中大部份都是新登记选民，而他们大部份的地址都没有门牌號码，当中多个1975年以前出生的选民並没有旧身份证號码记录。

而在雪州也发现同类问题的个案，並列出其中38个名字为单名的选民个案，当中大部份是新註册选民，部份1975年以前出生的选民没有旧身份证號码记录。

另外，当中也发现有部份选民是在印尼出生，即身份证號码中间编號为“61＂，也有的是其他来自不確定国家，即“71＂。

他指出，有关选民册发现的问题包括其中690个选民是旧身份证號码转移让其他选民使用、在2011年第三季选民册发现，超过200个身份证中间编號为“71＂选民，即国外出生公民编號，其名字只有一个名字，如缺乏穆斯林的父亲名字。

若因清理选民册延迟大选
大马人乐意多等两个月

安美嘉坦言，从法律角度，我国没有可能展延大选日期，目前国会即將在4月杪届满。

不过，她说，若国阵真的有意愿要將大选展延至6月，以便拥有时间清理上述选民册问题，公民社会团体將会动员支持，而相信全马人民也愿意高兴地多等两个月再大选。

询及沙巴选民册问题需多长时间解决，她则表示，这要视乎其困难程度而定，例如孟加拉就用了很长的时间处理此事。

不应波及第二第三代孩子

另外，询及如何解决许多沙巴州外来移民获得公民权后在当地生活多年问题，安美嘉表示，她同意沙巴州净选盟主席阿达马的看法，就是有关问题不应该波及在沙巴出生的第二及第三代孩子，导致他们承受任何形式的歧视及被孤立。

她说，皇委会应该全面地看待有关移民问题，考量到长远及持续性的影响，包括社会层面的同化及团结过程，最重要的就是停止为了政治目的利用他们。

她指出，净选盟也非常关注，即使截至去年第四季度，全国的外籍人士获得公民权及成为选民问题还是在不间断地发生。

安美嘉表示，由於皇委会並没有授权確认那些应该对发出公民权给外来移民指控负上责任的人士，同时也没有权力对有关肇事者或幕后黑手建议任何惩罚行动，因此，她呼吁选委会及政府针对上述指控，以及砂拉越与半岛发生，名为“坏榴槤行动＂的同类指控进行透明的调查。

阿达马促皇委会
传召马哈迪出席听证会

新闻发佈会也播放沙巴净选盟主席阿达马的访问短片，阿达马也点名皇委会应该传召多名涉嫌的人士出席听证会，包括前首相敦马哈迪、沙巴州首席部长拿督斯里慕沙阿曼、总检察长阿都干尼、前沙巴州副首席部长丹斯里赫曼鲁宾及沙巴州政府前秘书拿督慕斯达华到听证会供证，而后者两人目前也是皇委会成员。

新闻发佈会的其他人士，包括净选盟联合主席沙末赛益、委员阿姆鲁甘、督导委员廖国华及李维达。

来源：http://news.sinchew.com.my/node/275669

Umno-Perkasa alliance to boost votes?

K Pragalath

 | January 23, 2013

The public should not be blamed for thinking that Perkasa is playing up the Malay bible issue to benefit Umno, says a scholar.

PETALING JAYA: With Chinese voters having turned their backs on the ruling coalition and the Indian votes hanging in the balance, is Umno working with Perkasa to shore up Malay support ahead of the polls?

Nottingham University communication professor Zaharom Nain said the public cannot be faulted for making such an assumption.

“You can’t blame the thinking people because it appears to be so,” he told FMT.

Zaharom was commenting on Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali’s call on Muslims to burn the Malay bibles containing the term Allah.

While some viewed this as an attempt to rally Malay/Muslim sentiments, there were also those who claimed that it could be an attempt to divert attention from the Royal Commission of Inquiry in Sabah.

Zaharom said that Umno should clear the air about its links with Perkasa.

“Barisan Nasional component parties have also failed to come out strongly against Ibrahim because he is backed by former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad who is still influential,” he added.

Alliance would backfire

Monash University’s Prof James Chin warned that the Perkasa-Umno alliance would backfire on BN.

“It is not going to help Umno since Ibrahim is attempting to start another May 13,” he added.

He said that the move would not change the Chinese vote bank as “the Chinese have long deserted BN.”

UCSI’s political analyst Ong Kian Ming was also confident that Umno was backing Ibrahim and Perkasa.

“Umno has always outsourced its extremist policies, it thinks [of these things] but can’t say [them] because by doing so they would alienate the non-Muslim voters,” said the DAP election strategist.

Chin and Zaharom had mixed views on the current controversy in relation to the ongoing RCI in Sabah regarding the granting of citizenship to immigrants.

Chin felt that the issue would not affect the coverage on the RCI.

“The RCI would be ongoing until after the general election. The findings would be mind blowing,” he said.

Zaharom, however, said: “It is more than coincidental for Ibrahim to rant while the RCI is ongoing.”

Umno had always distanced itself from Perkasa but observers remain unconvinced, especially since the movement appeared to enjoy the privilege of legal immunity in churning out sensitive remarks.

Source: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2013/01/23/umno-perkasa-alliance-to-boost-votes/

Why Bible-burning poser is bridge-burning in multi-religious Malaysia

Posted by Aliran on 22 January 2013

In a joint statement, Aliran, Sisters in Islam, Islamic Renaissance Front and Projek Dialoghave condemned Perkasa’s call to burn Malay-language Bibles as an abominable provocation.

Graphic courtesy of themalaysianinsider.com

We are appalled by the vile exhortation of right-wing Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali to fellow Muslims to burn Malay-language Bibles containing the word “Allah” in the continuing saga of the contentious use of the term in Malaysia.

This dangerous and reckless provocation will only court the zealotry of the bigots and consequently tear apart the existing fragile harmony among Malaysians of various ethnic and religious backgrounds. Religious conflicts do not get resolved amicably and effectively by rabble rousing and dangerous antics such as the proposed torching of the holy books of believers.

The alleged distribution of Malay Bibles to Muslim children in a secondary school in Penang – yet to be verified – may have understandably caused deep concern among the Muslim community and requires immediate investigation, but it certainly doesn’t justify the burning of the Holy Bible. The provocation is mischievously intended to ignite hatred and extremism.

An understanding and appreciation of non-Muslim communities, which is so necessary for unity and harmony, cannot be promoted effectively by committing a sacrilegious act of burning holy books that are revered by their respective believers. In fact, this proposed act by Perkasa goes against the very teachings of most revealed religions including Islam.

The burning of holy books is an abominable act that cannot be justified. This was why the proposed burning of the Qur’an by an irresponsible pastor in Florida, USA some two years ago, for instance, received the well-deserved condemnation not only from Muslims but also from the majority of the right-thinking Christians and followers of other faiths.

This abominable call to burn the Bible becomes all the more despicable and sinister when it is intended to shore up the crumbling political fortunes of Umno-BN by manipulating the emotions of the Malay-Muslims, and also to divert the public’s attention away from the recent revelation of citizenship-for-votes in Sabah. Indeed, it is dangerous and mischievous to incite ethno-religious sentiments at the altar of political expediency. Additionally, it is feared that this proposed burning may provide an ugly precedent to the burning of other holy books in future particularly those of the Sikh community, which uses the word “Allah” in its religious texts.

In the interest of the future of Malaysia, and its ethno-religious diversity and harmony, peace-loving Malaysians, irrespective of creed and colour, must condemn this Perkasa provocation unreservedly. We must send a clear signal that the majority of Malaysians are accommodating and tolerant people who will not be taken in by this despicable act of recklessness.

Jointly released by:

Aliran, Sisters in Islam, Islamic Renaissance Front and Projek Dialog (an IRF initiative)
22 January 2013

If your organisation would like to endorse this statement, please send an email to aliran.malaysia at yahoo dot com by 29 January 2013

Source: http://aliran.com/11367.html

CFM MEDIA STATEMENT: PROPOSED BIBLE-BURNING AN ABHORRENT ACT

CHRISTIAN FEDERATION OF MALAYSIA
(PERSEKUTUAN KRISTIAN MALAYSIA)
Address: 26 Jalan Universiti, 46200 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
Mobile : + 6016 3689543
Email: cfmsia@yahoo.co.uk

22nd January 2013
   
CFM MEDIA STATEMENT

PROPOSED BIBLE-BURNING AN ABHORRENT ACT  

This morning a notice was found in the post box of a Christian priest in Butterworth which
provided information that there would be a "pesta" of burning the Bahasa Melayu version of
the Bible and inviting people to attend.

This terrible event is to be held this Sunday 27th January 2013 at 10am in front of the Dewan
Ahmad Badawi at the Bagan Luar municipality field in Butterworth.

The Christian Federation of Malaysia vehemently abhors this Bible-burning proposed action
which was first mooted by the Perkasa chief Ibrahim Ali who is also the Member of
Parliament for Pasir Mas and now it seems someone or a group (the Anti-Bahasa Melayu
Bible Action Group) has threatened to make Bible-burning a reality this Sunday on a day
most sacred to Christians as they worship the Almighty God.

All religious Scriptures are sacred books and we should not threaten to burn them or to
desecrate any such holy book in any manner.  

Christians are peace-loving people who will continue to seek peace and harmony across all
religious groups for the well-being of our great country. We pray that good sense and
moderation will prevail for all people in times such as these.

We call on those who desire to foment hatred for political gain to cease and desist from such
a vile act -  an act unbecoming of us as Malaysians who uphold the Rukunegara of  which the
first pillar is "Belief in God".  

CFM encourages all Malaysians and especially the Christians to be in prayer that such a thing
will not happen in our beloved Malaysia.  

May the Almighty God confound the plans of such devious people who threaten to burn the
Holy Scripture of the Christians in the Bahasa Melayu version.

Bishop Datuk Ng Moon Hing 
Chairman and the Executive Committee  
The Christian Federation of Malaysia

‘Ibrahim a menace to national security’

G Vinod

 | January 21, 2013

Father Lawrence Andrew of The Herald draws attention to fact that PM Najib has okayed the use of the al-Kitab among Christians.

PETALING JAYA: Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali is a menace to national security, said Father Lawrence Andrew, editor of weekly Catholic newspaper, The Herald.

“Action must be taken against Ibrahim for fanning religious discord,” said Father Lawrence.

The Herald which enjoys a circulation of about 14,000 copies nearly lost its publishing licence for using the word ‘Allah’ as a translation for ‘God’ in its Malay language Bibles.

On Saturday, at Perkasa a convention in Penang, Ibrahim caused a stir when he urged Muslims to burn the al-Kitab (Malay-language Bibles) containing the word ‘Allah’.

His statement drew condemnation from various quarters, with civil rights lawyer Syahredzan Johan calling for Ibrahim to be investigated under the Penal Code and the Sedition Act.

Father Lawrence said that Article 11 of the Federal Constitution guarantees the freedom of worship to all Malaysians and how they managed their respective religious affairs.

“And the use of the al-Kitab (Bible) is protected under the Constitution.What Ibrahim said goes against the highest law of the land,” he said.

Ibrahim is not above the Cabinet

Father Andrew added that even Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, via a letter in 2011, had okayed Christians to use the al-Kitab, after a meeting with the Cabinet.

“Najib is clear about it. Ibrahim is not higher than the Cabinet,” said Father Andrew.

Mar Thoma-Syrian Church of Malaysia’s senior priest Thomas Phillips said that it was sad and disgusting for someone to call for the burning of another’s religious scripture.

“If you’re not happy with something, hold dialogues instead of creating fear and animosity,” said Phillips.

He urged the authorities to look into the matter as his comments does not bode well for the government’s image.

“But Malaysians are fair minded people and I believe that good sense will prevail,” said Phillips.

Whether he would lodge a police report on the matter, Phillips said: “We learn to forgive people. Some say things out of ignorance. We’ll tell our members to be patient.”

Source: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2013/01/21/ibrahim-a-menace-to-national-security/

Seeing ABU, Mahathir resorts to diversionary tactics

This photograph provides a snapshot of Malaysian politics from Mahathir’s vantage point.

This banner was put up outside the USM perimeter wall in Penang to promote the Perkasa forum ‘Transformasi Ekonomi dan Pelajaran Melayu Pulau Pinang’ held at the UiTM campus in Permatang Pauh on the mainland.

Someone then stuck a few ABU (Anything but Umno) stickers at strategic points on the banner.

Mahathir sees ABU

If I was to interpret this, I would say Mahathir (and by extension Umno) has his back against the wall, stung by recent revelations such as the RCI testimonies about the granting of citizenship papers just before the Sabah elections in 1995.

As more and more scandals implicating Umno personalities are revealed, Mahathir can see the writing on the wall, especially the wave of ABU sentiment. This sentiment was especially evident in the huge turnout at #KL112, which must have given him even more cause for alarm.

He then uses racial and religious rhetoric to whip up communal support, in the process falling deeper into Perkasa’s embrace, as this banner eloquently illustrates. In this way, he hopes to keep Umno in power by continuing with the BN’s divide-and-rule rule tactics, thus securing his (and his former cronies’) rotten ‘legacy’.

In this instance, he uses the occasion of the Perkasa event to divert attention from Sabah by suggesting that people should look at how Tunku granted citizenship to those already in the country before Independence.

A classic case of comparing apples (a transparent, above board arrangement that was part of the negotiations for Independence) and oranges (a covert clandestine operation apparently aimed at undermining the democratic process). A classic Mahathir tactic.

Unfortunately for him, more and more people can see through this sort of diversionary tactic.

Source: http://anilnetto.com/religion-and-ethnicity/ethnic-and-inter-religious-relations/seeing-abu-mahathir-resorts-to-diversionary-tactics/

Britain ‘pressing’ for poll reforms in Malaysia

Clare Rewcastle Brown

 | January 20, 2013

The All Party Parliamentary Group on Malaysia headed by British MP Tom Greaterex has repeatedly raised free and fair elections with premiers Najib Tun Razak and David Cameron.

LONDON: Malaysia’s growing civil rights movement and its ability to mobilise tens of thousands onto the streets of KL has clearly not gone unnoticed in the corridors of the Whitehall Government in the United Kingdom.

Foreign Office officials who attended a briefing session provided by the Human Rights organisation Suaram at the House of Commons last week gave assurances that they were fully aware of the democracy issues raised by the Bersih movement and supportive of the calls for reform by civil rights groups in Malaysia.

At the briefing, which was chaired by the MP Tom Greatrex, a Shadow Energy Minister and member of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Malaysia, the officials said that they have repeatedly raised the matter of free and fair elections and also election observers with politicians both in Malaysia and the UK.

“In all our briefings right up to the highest level we keep pressing home about free and fair elections and election observers,” confirmed one of a number of officials who were at the briefing.

When asked what “the highest level” meant, one of the officials who declined to be named said: “With Prime Ministers Najib and Cameron”.

The briefing last week, which came hard on the heels of the massive turn out for the Himpunan Kebangkitan Rakyat rally at Merdeka Stadium on Jan 12, took place in a Committee Room at the House of Commons and was attended by politicians, NGOs (including Transparency International, Article 19, Reporters Without Borders, Global Witness) and local journalists.

Bersih leader S Ambiga gave a Skype address, which was then picked up by Suaram’s Cynthia Gabriel, who gave an overview of the main human rights issues in Malaysia.

She focused on concerns about the Security Offences Act, Peaceful Assembly Act, Amendments to the Evidence Act, the use of capital punishment and the large number of deaths in police custody.

The Suaram director also briefed the gathering on some of the major corruption issues that have caused a growing lack of confidence in Malaysia’s institutions.

The press notice for the briefing highlighted the new bilateral trading initiatives between Britain and Malaysia, which makes this a particularly delicate time for relations between the two countries.

The past year has seen numerous official visits by politicians and royalty travelling both ways and the setting up of a Working Group to strengthen trading relations.

The focus is around major arms negotiations for the possible purchase of Typhoon jets, made by the UK defence giant, BAE Systems.

Press freedom critical
According to Britain’s Prime Minister, David Cameron speaking during his own visit to KL last year: “The era of benign neglect is over. Britain is back, back to do business with Malaysia”.

Suaram while welcoming the closer ties, however warned that the UK should not ignore civil rights and human rights issues if it was coming to do business, but rather should use its engagement to influence positive changes.

Another member of the Foreign Office team, who was introduced as their Human Rights Representative also intervened to say that the UK Government’s policy was to take every opportunity to encourage other countries to support human rights.

He said his job was to ensure that no export licences would be granted that could end up infringing human rights and added that the FCO runs a Democracy Fund to help support human rights initiatives in countries including Malaysia.

He  invited NGOs, who were looking for support to run such projects to visit their website and to apply.

“I do not criticise foreign government…” he said “…but we do a lot on human rights”.

Former Foreign Office mandarin Tim Lankester, who is the author of a recent book on the Pergau Dam affair, was also at the briefing and he confirmed that there had been many questions and concerns about possible corruption during the arms for aid scandal.

“We didn’t find the evidence but that doesn’t mean there wasn’t corruption”, he said.

He went on to say that Malaysia had a lot to learn from Indonesia in terms of freedom of the press.

“Freeing the press has become absolutely critical in achieving greater accountability in that country (Indonesia)” he said, explaining that by comparison the Malaysian media is totally controlled by the ruling coalition.

Clare Rewcastle-Brown is the editor of Sarawak Report and founder of Radio Free Sarawak. She was also on the panel at this briefing and spoke in favour of greater press freedom in Malaysia.

Source: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2013/01/20/britain-pressing-for-reforms-in-msia/

Stop Perkasa or lose votes, warns MIC

FMT Staff

 | January 19, 2013

The ruling coalition must take immediate steps to curtail Ibrahim Ali and Perkasa if it wants to win over the non-Muslims voters, says Vell Paari.

PETALING JAYA: A furious MIC leader today lashed out at Malay nationalist movement Perkasa’s chief Ibrahim Ali for fanning religious and communal tension by provoking potential violence against non-Muslims.

MIC strategic director S Vell Paari said the government must take criminal action against Ibrahim immediately to stop the situation from getting out of hand.

“He should not be allowed to go on saying what he wants and wherever he wants and in the presence of whoever it may be to intimidate and threaten any Malaysian, let it be Muslims or non Muslims,” Vell Paari said today.

“To incite a criminal act against a fellow Malaysian due to religious difference is criminal in nature and action should be taken against him.”

He also urged the Barisan Nasional leadership to immediately clarify it’s stand on Perkasa.

“First and foremost he is a nobody and not a decision or policy maker in BN. He can’t be allowed to  go on pretending that he is speaking on behalf of the BN.

“And to see him making such provocative remarks in the presence of former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad is not going to look good on BN, especially with elections just around the corner,” he said.

He said people like Ibrahim should be isolated and made known that Malaysia has moved forward, and not stuck in a time warp.

He also said that he would be urging his party leadership to clearly state their stand against Perkasa to the BN leadership.

Vell Paari was responding to Ibrahim’s call earlier today for Muslims to seize and burn copies of Bibles which contain the term “Allah” or other Arabic religious words.

Stressing that he was not instigating communal tension, the Pasir Mas MP insisted that it was the only way to stop non-Muslims from stirring the sensitivities and sentiments of the majority of population in the country.

Ibrahim had said certain non-Muslim groups were out to provoke the Muslims by using the term “Allah” or any other Arabic religious words in the Bible.

He said this at the Perkasa conference in Penang today. The chief guest to the conference was Mahathir.

Vell Paari also had a word of advise for Mahathir.

“Please enjoy your retirement and please stop making life difficult for Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak who is working his heart out to fix the mistakes that was done in the past.

“Your recognition of Perkasa is acting detrimental to the effort of Najib and BN,” he said.

Source: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2013/01/19/stop-perkasa-or-lose-votes-warns-mic/

Economist stands by poll analysis, will sue those who slander him

By Jahabar Sadiq
Editor

January 19, 2013

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 19 – Economist Azrul Azwar Ahmad Tajudin stands by his analysis that predicts Pakatan Rakyat (PR) can win Election 2013, saying today he will sue anyone, be it bloggers or politicians, who tarnish his professional reputation.

The Bank Islam chief economist (picture) also said there was no cause for the government-linked bank to take disciplinary action by suspending him after his presentation at the Singapore Regional Outlook Forum was reported by the Singapore Straits Times last week.

“I stand by my analysis and the presentation I made at the forum,” he said in a statement sent to The Malaysian Insider today.

“I maintain that I have given an honest and professional opinion at the Forum. I believe that there is no proper cause to take disciplinary action against me,” he added in the seven paragraph statement.

In a report by The Straits Times, Azrul Azwar’s calculations found that one of the most likely scenarios was that the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition would likely win only between 97 and 107 of the 222 parliamentary seats, which are insufficient to form the next administration.

But the result would also mean that PR will only gain a shaky hold over Parliament, far from the supermajority once enjoyed by its rival.

The two other likely scenarios reportedly presented by Azrul Azwar at the January 10 forum was that there would be a narrow win for BN and a bigger win for PR. Azrul Azwar had taken into account factors such as race and demographics.

In his statement today, Azrul noted certain bloggers, politicians and others said his analysis of PR securing a narrow victory in the 13th general election was “unprofessional, biased and partisan” because he was a PKR member.

“I wish to state that the subject of my presentation at the forum was on the Malaysian 2013 economic outlook. It was therefore necessary to take into consideration all relevant factors that may have a bearing on the economic situation in 2013 and beyond.

“It is impossible to deny that the results of the 13th General Election will have a critical impact on the Malaysian economy. I had carried out my analysis based on publicly available information and stated my assumptions for three scenarios: (1) a narrow Barisan Nasional victory; (2) a narrow Pakatan Rakyat victory and (3) a wide Pakatan Rakyat victory.

“I made my analysis professionally, honestly and impartially in accordance with the best practices in the industry after taking into account the factors that ought to be properly included in such an exercise,” said Azrul Azwar.

The economist also said he reserved the right to sue those who have smeared his reputation.

“I am also giving notice to the bloggers, politicians and others who seek to tarnish my reputation and make defamatory remarks on my integrity and credibility on the performance of my profession that I shall not hesitate to commence legal proceedings against them to protect and vindicate my reputation.

“It is indeed a tragedy for the state of Malaysian democracy when an opinion that is unfavourable to the ruling party is sufficient cause for disciplinary action and licence for character assassination by certain quarters. I am confident that truth and justice will prevail,” the economist said.

Source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/economist-stands-by-poll-analysis-will-sue-those-who-slander-him/

Umno is rotten to the core – it seems!

Posted by ramakrishnan on 18 January 2013

The cat is out of the bag – at last! Tun Mahathir and all his cohorts from his era cannot plead ignorance or amnesia. It is out in the open how they cheated and stole elections to remain in power.

Shamelessly they plotted and subverted the democratic process in their greed to remain in power. What they did is tantamount to treason.

They stole our elections and cheated our voters. They made a mockery of our elections and the democratic process consciously and deliberately.

To think that this diabolical scheme was hatched by people from the Prime Minister’s Department, the Home Ministry, the National Registration Department, the Election Commission, etc. It clearly establishes the fact that there was massive official fraud to ensure the two thirds majority, win the election and fool the public that the Barisan Nasional came into power through legitimate means.

To think that two of the then PM’s closest confidantes – Abdul Aziz Shamsuddin, Mahathir’s political secretary, and Megat Junid Megat Ayub, the deputy home minister under Mahathir – were actively involved in cheating and stealing elections exposes the very possibility that one can remain as prime minister in Malaysia not only for 22 years but forever!

The Royal Commission of Inquiry in session in Sabah has exposed some startling revelations that are sending shock waves across the nation. What has been revealed during the session really stinks – perhaps that is the reason this scam was so aptly code-named Ops Durian Buruk!

• 40,000 blue identity cards were signed within a month for Muslim immigrants, mostly Indonesians and Filipinos, for the purpose of voting for Umno in the 1994 Sabah state election;
• Mohd Nasir Sugip, a former National Registration Department official, was handed over a list of 16,000 names to be made into ‘bumiputera Islam’ voters. The ‘operation involved providing the immigrants with new identity card numbers based on the date of birth, photographs and names provided by the EC’;
• Kee Dzulkifly, a member of the special unit dubbed G17 which operated out of the Sabah NRD headquarters, testified that the unit processed 100,000 blue identity cards for immigrants;
• This special unit “was also responsible for issuing letters of approval for birth certificates, which he estimated the unit had processed some 200,000 for the children of immigrants”.

The election scam, according to many, irrefutably proves there there is an ongoing plot – which the federal government, the NRD and the EC are actively engaged in – that exists right up to today, making the electoral process a meaningless farce.

Based on what is revealed – which proves that the various apparatus and functionaries of government have become the pliant subservient agents of the BN – it is no wonder that ruling coalition politicians can confidently declare that they can capture Selangor and take over Penang in the 13th GE. Having perfected the art of massive fraud in the past, the possibility that the BN will use similar schemes again is not unthinkable.

The BN’s victories have never been honourable ones won on a level playing field.

It is, as revealed at the RCI, within their means to easily create new voters, as has been alleged, give them MyKads or temporary receipts, round them up in a house to teach them how to vote for the BN, bribe them and then transport them into constituencies which are marginal to carry out the dastardly deed. This is apparently their perfected modus operandi to win elections.

This was how they defeated the PBS government in Sabah; this was how they denied the Gagasan Rakyat their victory; this was how they prevented Pakatan Rakyat from forming the federal government in March 2008.

Under these circumstances, it would be terribly wrong – even immoral – for the present Election Commission to conduct the 13th General Election. The present members of the EC have forfeited their right to conduct the election by implication. Their integrity is suspect; their neutrality cannot be trusted and their fairness is not beyond question.

What the so-called ‘trusted and respected leaders’ of our country have done is unforgiveable. They have sacrificed the security of our country and the sacredness of our nation for their selfish greed to hang on to power by whatever means it takes.

It is Umno, as it were, that has been behind this conspiracy to corrupt the electoral process which is unprecedented and mind-boggling. It has always been Umno that has been dictating terms and deciding policies. It must be held responsible for the electoral fraud.

We must liberate ourselves from this sordid affair that has nullified our sacred vote. It is said, “The first step toward liberation for any group is to use the power in hand…And the power in hand is the vote.” Let’s remember that!

P Ramakrishnan
Aliran executive Committee member
18 January 2013

Source: http://aliran.com/11336.html