Retract bogus safety claim, MP tells PEMANDU

September 04, 2012

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 4 — Opposition lawmaker Tony Pua today accused the government’s efficiency unit PEMANDU of laying a bogus claim to Malaysia being the safest country in the region and urged it to take back the declaration which, he said, was based on misleading crime data.

He also urged the government agency to revamp its entire crime reporting and evaluation system for an accurate depiction of the real crime situation in the country instead of focusing on battling negative public perception on domestic security.

“PEMANDU must retract its bogus claim of Malaysia being Southeast Asia’s safest country by using misleading and manipulated crime statistics,” Pua(picture), the Petaling Jaya Utara MP, said in a statement.

The agency had boasted of Malaysia being ranked the “most peaceful” and “safest nation” in Southeast Asia and fourth safest in the Asia-Pacific, ahead of Singapore and just behind New Zealand, Japan and Australia, in the fifth edition of the Global Peace Index 2011 in its Government Transformation Programme (GTP) Annual Report the same year as well as in presentations, Pua noted.

He also noted PEMANDU had claimed credit for Malaysia being “ranked the safest country among 19 upper-middle-income countries by the World Justice Project’s Rule of Law Index 2011”. 

But the DAP publicity chief insisted that such claims were negligible in the face of allegations raised last month by an anonymous letter writer, under the pseudonym Sumun Osram, who claimed to be a policeman, that the government’s crime statistics had been manipulated to paint a rosier image of domestic security.

“The recent expose accused the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) of manipulating crime statistics to present an artificial picture of the crime situation in Malaysia was confirmed with the data provided by PDRM,” Pua said.

He said based on police statistics, official crime statistics had dropped from a total 209,572 cases in 2007 to 157,891 in 2011, or 24.7 per cent within the four-year period.

“However, this was achieved at the expense of the unpublished ‘non-index crime’, which increased from 42,752 to 72,106 or a massive 68.7 per cent over the same period,” Pua said.

In Malaysia, the police divide crime into two categories, index and non-index — the former defined as crime that is reported with sufficient regularity and significance to be a meaningful indicator of the crime situation while the latter is regarded as minor in nature.

He urged the government’s efficiency agency to stop “crowing” about its “bogus” achievements in battling crime and buckle down to overhauling its entire crime reporting and evaluation mechanism.  

“PEMANDU must immediately recommend the scrapping of the ludicrous official ‘index crime’ and the hidden ‘non-index crime’ classifications which are clearly subjected to manipulation and to artificially improve ‘perception’ among Malaysians,” he said.

PEMANDU has had to repeatedly defend itself from public criticism after a spate of crime incidents that seemed to contradict the image painted by its crime statistics.

The agency, along with the police and Home Ministry, has continued to stand by its claim that the country’s crime rate has dipped considerably since initiatives under the Government Transformation Programme (GTP) were put in place two years ago.

PEMANDU’s crime reduction national key results areas (NKRA) director Eugene Teh had in July released fresh statistics to show that index crime in Malaysia dropped by 10.1 per cent from January to May this year compared with the same period last year.

The agency had earlier released figures to show that index crime had dropped by 11.1 per cent from 2010 to last year while street crime dipped 39.7 per cent in the same period.

Source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/retract-bogus-safety-claim-mp-tells-pemandu/

“土权焚烧肖像未受对付＂，冠英斥政府双重標准

2012-09-03 19:13

（吉隆坡3日讯）民主行动党秘书长兼峇眼区国会议员林冠英指出，国阵政府採取选择性检控、双重標准及彻底的种族主义，却不採取法律行动对付极端的土著权威组织成员，他们在光大焚烧並踩踏他的肖像，甚至在他家外面“举办葬礼＂。

他发表文告说，民主行动党强烈谴责数名人士於国庆前夕，在吉隆坡独立广场踩踏首相拿督斯里纳吉的肖像。但是，如果內政部长拿督斯里希山可以保证內政部將採取果断、快速的法律行动来对付这些犯罪分子的挑衅行动，他会不会採取同样的行动，对付那样对民联领袖的肖像做同样事情的国阵支持者？

“至今为止，当局还没有採取任何行动对付那些对民联领袖肖像不敬的国阵政治失意人士。

很明显的，国阵政府採取选择性检控、双重標准及彻底的种族主义，却不採取法律行动对付极端的土著权威组织成员，这些人在光大焚烧並踩踏我的肖像，甚至在我家外面｀举办葬礼’。＂还有，他说，为甚么那些在净选盟联合主席安美嘉的家门前滋事挑衅的人士，到今天都还没有被对付？更令人伤心的是，国阵成员党非马来人部长如此懦弱，要求对付踩踏首相肖像的人士，却不敢要求对付踩踏华裔首长肖像的人士。

来源：http://www.sinchew.com.my/node/259734?tid=1

配婚闻名，韩统一教创办人逝世

2012-09-03 18:45

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  2009年，统一教在首尔南部牙山的鲜文大学，举办当时全球最大规模的集体婚礼，號称有近万对新人参加。（图：法新社）

（韩国‧加平3日讯）极具爭议的韩国统一教创办人兼教主文鲜明週一凌晨在首尔病逝，享年92岁，留下数百万信徒和总部设於韩国的全球宗教和企业帝国。

全球拥数百万信徒

2周前，他因肺炎入住统一教会属下的医院，病情一度转好，但隨后又急速恶化。

统一教乃至文鲜明本人一直以来都备受爭议，信徒对自称是“救世主＂的文鲜明狂热崇拜，但抨击者却认为他是旁门左道。

统一教號称拥有数百万信徒，美国也有不少追隨者，但是，也有人批评他洗脑式的传教以及靠宗教图利的手法。1960和70年代一度声名狼籍，甚至有人把它归类为邪教，许多信徒因为信教、义无反顾的奉献，而与亲属反目。

统一教以媒合伴侣以及主办规模庞大的集团婚礼闻名，它是文鲜明1950年代，在当时还称为汉城的南韩首都创始。多达数万对新人在体育场举办大规模婚礼，由文鲜明证婚。他们通常不认识对方，是在文鲜明“配对＂下成婚，有者甚至来自不同语系的国家。

全球投资各种商业活动

文鲜明凭藉雄厚的资金实力和强大的经营能力，在全球各地开展多种商业活动，旗下商业帝国版图横跨数十家企业，包括建筑、重型机械、食品、教育、媒体等，甚至包括专业足球俱乐部。

文鲜明的助手朴普熙表示，文鲜明生前数週最后一次巡视他的“企业王国＂，当时他伸出双手触摸建筑物说：“我实现了一切，离开时绝对別为我哭。＂上週五，臥病不起的文鲜明因多重器官衰竭，仅依靠医疗器材维繫生命。

独特见解常惹爭议
300万信徒遍佈全球

1954年韩战结束后隔年，他创立统一教，並以日本为根据地在海外展开传教活动，教会规模迅速扩张，在全球194个国家和地区拥有300多万名信徒。然而，统一教的异端教义却受到韩国基督长老会（新教）的强烈反对。

全名为“世界基督教统一神灵协会＂的统一教，最大的爭议就是重新詮释基督教《圣经》。

统一教抱持救世主观，文鲜明本人就以“救世主＂自居，他曾说要完成耶穌未完成的使命，让人间成为灵魂净土。

1971年，文鲜明为扩大宣扬教义而移居美国。美国內部对统一教的爭议於1976年达到顶点，其后隨著教眾逐步融入美国社会而渐渐平息。

曾逃税在美坐牢

文鲜明也经常因为特立独行的道德见解，引发爭议，2003年，他举行一项以赦免纳粹大屠杀为主题的佈道时，指犹太人杀了耶穌，遭受大屠杀是在还债，引发公愤。

2006年回韩国定居的他办教期间，不避讳与政治领袖为伍。他曾於1991年12月会见已故前朝鲜主席金日成，就韩朝峰会、离散家属团聚、开发金刚山等韩朝经济交流等事宜达成协定。

他除了与朝鲜领袖金日成有交往，也与多位美国总统关係良好，包括尼逊及里根，不过亦曾因逃税在美国入狱13个月。

釜山长神大学教授神学歷史的卓智日（译音）表示，即使文鲜明去世，统一教仍將维持良好状態。统一教不仅是宗教组织，也是依宗教信仰建立的商业组织。

《华盛顿时报》致哀

文鲜明在1982年创办立场倾右的《华盛顿时报》，以此作为大报《华盛顿邮报》（Washington Post）的另类发声管道，对冷战局势產生关键性影响，间接导致苏联瓦解。

《华盛顿时报》过去曾培育出一世代的保守派记者，但近年销售量下滑，与其他报业同样面临財务困窘问题。

在文鲜明病逝消息传出后，他所创办的《华盛顿时报》週一特別在社论中表达对他的敬爱与追念。

立场倾右的《华盛顿时报》在社论中指出，文鲜明在反共过程中所扮演的令人尊崇的角色、以及他数十年来在媒体对家庭价值的捍卫。

社论並称，信念、家庭、自由、服务这些引导报社的保守派价值观，也是他们对这位充满智慧者最深刻的追念。

社论最后也对文鲜明的支持、指导和他所带给人们的目標感，表示深深的感谢，愿他安息。

文鲜明事业版图

‧婚礼

文鲜明1982年將始於首尔的集团婚礼带进纽约的麦迪逊花园广场，吸引2千多名穿著西装和缎面礼服的新人共襄盛举。统一教表示，2009年，高龄90岁的文鲜明多年来首次主持全球同步结婚仪式，为4万5千名新人证婚。

‧媒体

文鲜明1982年创办《华盛顿时报》（The Washington Times），成为美国首都的保守派声音。他还一度拥有纽约、日本和南美报业，包括韩国与日本的《世界日报》。统一教子公司逾10年前还收购合眾国际社（UPI）。

‧房地產

文鲜明名下的房產包含曼哈顿市中心的纽约客酒店和曼哈顿中心。统一教则在欧文顿（Irvington）、塔里敦、纽约市和纽约北区拥有地產和大楼，包含文鲜明名下的7公顷土地。

‧教育

统一教曾金援財务困窘的美国康乃狄克州布里奇波特大学。统一教旗下“世界和平教授学会＂十数年来捐赠1.1亿美元给这间学校，2003年停止捐助。当时，文鲜明和世界和平教授学会在全球创办大学网络，每间学校都召收学生和教职员。他也拥有仙和艺术中学、清新国际中学等教育机构。

‧海鲜食品业

文鲜明曾买下並经营全球数家海鲜食品公司，包含True World Foods。这家公司为美国各地逾8千家日本餐厅供应渔获，且文鲜明据称拥有阿拉巴马州和阿拉斯加州的海鲜和造船公司。另外，他也拥有药品製造公司“一和＂、龙坪度假村等公司。

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新闻背景 文鲜明生平 文鲜明1920年2月出生在现位於朝鲜的平安北道一个受儒学薰陶的家庭，10岁时全家皈依基督教长老会。他自称15岁时登上一座小山，受到耶穌启示，从此立志拯救全人类。 他在二战期间自首尔商工职业学校毕业，赴日本早稻田大学附属工业高等专门学校研读电子工程，战后返乡传教。1946年遭朝鲜逮捕，受到毒打，幸获1名教徒营救。这个时期他初次撰写日后统一教的经典“原理讲论＂。 文鲜明1948年再次被捕，送往兴南监狱集中营接受劳改，差点就丟了命。1950年因韩战爆发，联合国军队佔领这座集中营，使他能乘机逃亡韩国。 他在1943年结婚，但1953年离婚。到了1960年，他与韩鹤子再婚，自称圣婚，两人被信徒奉为“真父母＂。但外传他的私人关係混乱，曾与眾多信眾发生关係。 据他称，任何女性与“真父＂（即他本人）发生关係后血得以洁净，生下的子孙在肉体灵魂上都能够得救。统一教成立初期，许多跟从文鲜明的女性为求血得洁净，均甘心与他发生性关係。 文鲜明育有7子6女，共13名子女，其中数人在他的企业王国担任要职。2008年，他任命当时年仅28岁的幼子文亨镇为接班人，出任统一教世界会长。

来源：http://www.sinchew.com.my/node/259723?tid=2

Najib’s election dilemma

September 04, 2012
By Bridget Welsh

SEPT 4 — When will Malaysia’s 13th general election (GE) be held?

Pundits continue to speculate on the election timing, with views ranging from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak making a surprise announcement to speculation that he will go the full term.

One thing is certain: the polls have to be held before the end of June next year. The person who appears most reluctant to hold the polls is Najib himself. He is now Malaysia’s longest serving prime minister without his own electoral mandate — either from his own party, Umno, that has not held elections since 2008 — or from Malaysians.

The pressure to call the polls and deliver a comfortable majority remains intense. Najib’s predecessor, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, was forced to resign when he failed to win two-thirds of the parliamentary seats in the 2008 GE.

Based on fieldwork and polling, of the 222 seats up for grabs, 84 per cent of them are “competitive” — and with the Barisan Nasional (BN) and the opposition having about the same number of “safe seats”.

It is thus not surprising that Najib has repeatedly delayed facing the electorate. Multiple windows for the GE have been by-passed. Instead, Najib has worked diligently to earn popular support with the aim of tying his personal popularity to a victory for his ruling coalition.

DIMINISHING RETURNS

His clock is ticking, as there is less than a year left before the GE will have to be called. The longer Najib waits, the more uncertainty he faces, with the real prospect of diminishing electoral returns.

Part of this is a product of the hype surrounding the earlier windows to hold the election. By failing to call the polls on repeated occasions after the election machinery was ramped up and candidate lists forwarded, Najib fuels a possible perception of weakness, as the delays are read as a lack of confidence on his part.

Najib also opens himself up to further uncertainties. Each time the election has been put off, it has either been in the wake of a scandal revelation — such as the National Feedlot Corporation — or after a mass rally such as those involving the electoral reform movement Bersih.

A pattern has set in — where weaknesses in Najib’s political reform efforts have been showcased, only to lead to further efforts to reconsolidate support.

The question Malaysians are asking is what will come next. Most are saturated with stories of scandal and intrigue, but ultimately the longer the delay, the greater the possibility of further revelations and civil society mobilisation.

This was the pattern in 2007-2008 and it is already repeating itself, as illustrated by the recent protest against the controversial amendments to section 114A of the Evidence Act 1950. The changes presume that a person is guilty for anything written on their websites and social media mediums.

STATE OF THE ECONOMY

The most serious unknowns Najib faces with his delaying tactics involve the economy.

Malaysia has performed well in terms of growth under his watch — an average of 5.8 per cent growth in the three years. Yet the economy is closely tied to global trends.

Slowing growth in China, recession threats in Europe and a lacklustre economic recovery in the United States, cast real shadows on Najib’s political fortunes.

A slowdown is already evident, with third-quarter growth figures dropping to 5.4 per cent.

Najib’s government has also been unable to stave off the impact of global inflation. In the first six months of this year, stealthily but steadily prices for fuel have risen, with a 10-sen rise in the month before Hari Raya Puasa alone.

The attention to the economy calls into question Najib’s main strategy of using financial handouts to win support. Billions of ringgit have been doled out to constituents in a variety of forms, from vouchers to disadvantaged families to salary bonuses. More are expected in the upcoming Budget this month, the second year in a row the Budget will have been used as an apparent election primer.

While the influx of public sector cash in the economy has boosted consumption, little attention has centred on the long-term implications of short-term allocations and deficit spending.

Malaysia’s fiscal deficit has grown exponentially under Najib’s tenure from -5.6 per cent of gross domestic product in 2008 to -10.2 per cent last year.

CLOCK TICKING AWAY

In the midst of the myopic election focus, Najib’s efforts have stirred infighting within his own party, Umno.

Candidate hopefuls have been jockeying intensely, and this has intensified after the lists were forwarded this year. Positioning for candidacy has dominated attention, reinforcing the pressures on Najib to call the polls according to when different actors believe is “best”.

The longer the infighting goes on, the greater the political bruising will be within Umno.

Personally, economically and politically, Najib is caught in a political quagmire

When he goes to the polls, he will face a fierce contest. And he will face real challenges to his position within Umno.

If he delays, conditions will reinforce a process of diminishing returns. The choice to delay has only served to heighten the pressure to perform.

As the countdown to the GE continues, Najib’s clock is ticking louder than ever. The next window ahead is early November and time will tell whether he will use this window to face the electorate. — Today

* Bridget Welsh is associate professor of political science at Singapore Management University. She spoke on the Malaysian general election on August 14 as part of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA) Seminar Series.

Source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/sideviews/article/najibs-election-dilemma-bridget-welsh/

Delay polls and risk punishment

RK Anand

 | September 3, 2012

The Bersih leader takes the prime minister to task for delaying the general election with no good reason, describing this as disconcerting and irresponsible.

KUALA LUMPUR: In 2009, Najib Tun Razak took over the leadership reins after his predecessor Abdullah Ahmad Badawi relinquished the post following Barisan Nasional’s biggest electoral setback to date.

Najib and his retinue of advisers had the unenviable task of reversing the political fortunes of the ruling coalition, which seemed to suffer from an incurable perception malaise.

But during his initial period in office, the prime minister appeared to be pressing the right buttons, his popularity soared and speculations of a snap polls were rife.

However, Malaysians still remained in the dark about the 13th general election, with the latest talk being that the polls would be held in November, on the 11th, which happened to be Najib’s lucky number.

Those close to Najib argue that the premier was being cautious while the grapevine had it that intelligence reports painted a bleak picture for BN.

Describing this as both “disconcerting and irresponsible”, Bersih co-chairperson S Ambiga warned Najib that the continued delay could prove to be perilous for him and BN.

She said that it would not come as a surprise if the voters, including the fence-sitters, punished him for this feet-dragging in the next polls.

“I understand it is the Westminster system and it is the prerogative of the prime minister. But a good government should be prepared to take on the election and not be afraid to set a date,” she told FMT.

“We have been in election mode since he [Najib] took over and everyone has been pumped up. He drops hints [about the polls] and that is irresponsible. You don’t toy with people’s feelings.

“People are fed up! They can’t plan things like going on holidays and so forth. Furthermore, it affects investor confidence.

“That’s why I say it is irresponsible. If this is how a government is going to play with the election date, then it would be best to have a fixed date for polling,” she added.

Ambiga said as political leaders in other parts of the world discussed the economic crisis and recession, their Malaysian counterparts were still engrossed in politicking.

“So who is running the country? This is unacceptable,” she stressed.

Is the government afraid?

Ambiga said that Bersih had also called for the election to be postponed in the past with regard to the implementation of electoral reforms.

She added that if the government claimed that the election was being delayed in order to push through the reforms, then it would be justifiable.

“But everyone has forgotten about electoral reforms. So the election is being dragged for no reason.

“It seems the government is concerned about the results [of the election]. Otherwise, they would have called for it,” she added.

Elaborating on electoral reforms, Ambiga said that Election Commission chairman Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof cannot lead the commission as he was a former Umno member.

“He cannot claim that he would discharge his duties without bias. There are enough grounds to believe or to suspect that he would be biased and this makes him unfit for the post,” she added.

Ambiga also dismissed claims that Najib was concerned that if the polls were held before the term expired in April 2013, Pakatan Rakyat-controlled states would not dissolve their respective
assemblies.

“I don’t buy that excuse. He [Najib] kept the nation on election mode. Even the recent Merdeka celebration was an election campaign,” she said.

Commenting on the Merdeka celebrations, Ambiga expressed disappointment that both political blocs could not set aside their differences for one day.

The Bersih leader also pointed out that the government’s Merdeka campaign appeared to be centred around the prime minister.

“It’s a case of adoration for the PM… Where is his team? And I am also saying this with regard to Section 114A of the Evidence Act,” she said.

On Aug 14, Najib had twitted that he was instructing the Cabinet to review the controversial amendment of Section 114A following protests on the social media network.

However, Najib’s announcement was met by contradictory statements by the Cabinet defending the provision.

The new law imposed a presumption of guilt on Internet users and service providers for Internet abuses such as slander, hate speech and seditious comments posted through their network.

Vote out the incompetent

Meanwhile, Ambiga also called on voters to be selective about the candidates fielded by both BN and Pakatan.

She said that candidates who were known to be racist, incompetent and sexist must be rejected.

“A large percentage of parliamentarians don’t deserve to be there, they say inane things and are only there to heckle. These candidates should be voted out,” she added.

Ambiga also warned that BN and Pakatan were underestimating the power of women in terms of voters and candidates in the next polls.

“This comes from a historical patriarchal thought process and this must change. How dare you treat women as if they don’t matter,” she said.

She argued that when political parties comprised of Youth and Women’s wings, it gave the impression that these two were subservient or inferior and therefore this framework must be reviewed.

Weighing in on the attack against a bus used by Pakatan for its nationwide campaign, Ambiga said that political violence had reared its ugly head once again.

“If our leaders do not condemn it, then they are condoning these acts. It is hard to trust a government which does not contain political violence and in fact is seen as encouraging it.

“The credibility of the police force is also questionable as clearly, they are not acting to protect the public,” she added.

Source: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2012/09/03/delay-polls-and-risk-punishment-ambiga-warns/

万五人向山埃说不，绿色人潮挤满武吉公满

照片来源：马来西亚局内人

2012-09-02 18:56

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  劳勿武吉公满路青年及体育中心足球场上演“绿潮再现＂，根据主办单位与中午的宣佈，出席者近1万5千人。（图：星洲日报）

（彭亨‧劳勿2日讯）“902劳勿绿色集会＂获得全国民眾热烈响应，绿色人潮站满整个武吉公满路青年及体育中心足球场，一起向山埃採金说“不＂！。

主办单位宣佈有近1万5千人出席集会。

其中一个入口处在集会开始前，出现络绎不绝的“青＂潮，人群不断的涌入集会现场；而步入现场的通道两旁，有一群身穿青衣者夹道欢迎，不时报以热烈的掌声和欢呼声。

出席者井然有序的步入会场，有者是三五成群，有者是以团体的形式参与，他们席地而坐，聆听演说。

擬往金矿公司遭警截停

另一方面，警方在集会前保证劳勿澳洲金矿公司代表会於下午3时30分前来接收备忘录，但是绿色集会委员等到下午3时50分仍不见代表前来，便带领约5千名集会者，打算步行至约2公里外的金矿公司，期间二度遭警方截停，惟没有人被捕。

劳勿警区主任万莫哈末三苏丁在队伍游行约200公尺后，尝试截停他们但不果，较后，警方在约300公尺处再次截停及交涉。

万莫哈末强调，警方与主办单位已经达致协议，不可以有街头游行，此举已违反了和平集会法令；他表示已接获通知，金矿公司代表正赶来集会地点。

公司经理没来引不满

虽然金矿公司代表最终赶到，但有关代表只是一名保安主管，而不是早前承诺的经理，引起主办单位的不满，拒绝將备忘录交给对方。

万莫哈末基於民眾的安全，接收备忘录，並表示会將备忘录交给有关方面。他感谢主办单位的配合，让集会和平落幕。

在万莫哈末接收备忘录后，集会者也和平的解散，结束了长达约2小时45分钟的集会。

来源：http://www.sinchew.com.my/node/259625?tid=1

固定大选时间

    等候大选的到来，使到国人生活受到影响。报纸已经很多次刊登首相“暗示”几时大选，这次是“暗示”11月份。反正现在还剩下几个月国会就自动解散，“暗示”时间也没什么好期待的，总之那一天的到来顶多也是几个月时间，他没有太多选择。

        以我本人为例，基于此次大选是历史以来最关键的一次，所以两年来选择小心选择出国时间，今年不出国至大选为止。我常常乘搭亚航，不然先付费买票遇到大选而放弃就不获得退钱。相信不少关心国家前途的人士也像我一样被牵制。再者，据报道，有不少伊斯兰党党员也把今年的朝圣改为来年。所以，没有固定大选日期不仅限于影响商家，而是全国人。

        槟城首席部长林冠英说，若民联执政中央将向民联各盟友建议，订下明确的下届大选时间，同时也会通过修宪，让往后的大选都有固定日期。我并不看好它的结果，但总算他的言论让人感到有点改革的盼望。

        如果每届国会都完成五年任期，那其实也等于有固定大选时间。但历史以来，都是执政党乘优势宣布解散国会来大选，没做到满期。因为可以闪电大选，这就让代议士随时装备大选而减少贡献选区，国家资源因此浪费了！

        我想知道，一旦民联执政，基于政权得来不易，它们会轻易缩减五年满期吗？所以所谓的固定日期或许就是接近五年满期也不定。

        我要作个建议，我认为五年太长，就修宪至四年最好，而执政党不可以发动闪电大选，而是做完四年满期。这样，朝野必会尽量以政绩赢取选票。

Dataran gathering gave me new hope

September 2, 2012

I have started questioning, and what I see in my beloved land saddens me.

By Christine SK Lai
Why on earth would thousands of people come out of their homes to join thousands of other strangers on the streets, risking possible arrest in an assembly declared illegal?

Why would many still dress up in yellow, knowing full well this would immediately ‘mark’ them out as easy targets amongst the crowd, should provocation break out?

I am talking about the ordinary Malays, Chinese, Indians and others, some coming from out-of-state, who spilled over Dataran Merdeka and its surrounding areas on Aug 30, 2012, from 10pm onwards.

There was no colourful parade to cheer, no fiery VIP ‘leaders’ making ‘ra-ra-ra’ rousing speeches, no big-time performance to be entertained by, and hey, no free food!  No one paid them anything to come. Many probably had to battle after-work traffic jams to turn up.

Many, like us, would also have suffered the darn inconvenience of having to go on a merry-go-round chase, rushing to catch the last LRT home after the event (we were told as we tried to board at Pasar Seni that only Masjid Jamek was open).

Heck, I didn’t even get to hear any poetry recited. All I  heard was the cacophony of that noisy thing called vuvuzela continuously blasting the night air.

It was such a motley crowd. Beside me sitting on the kerb was a Pakcik. Behind me a whole family, with baby in pram. Parents were towing kids carrying balloons and illuminated plastic swords.

Youngsters cruised by me, sporting colorful Mohawk wigs (the teacher in me was so tempted to get a handful for my kindergarten children!) Police personnel were calmly walking around in the midst of the crowd, the officers looking smart in their uniforms, whilst the rank-n-file were conspicuous in their very bright yellow overalls (what an ironic touch!) .

The only inkling that someone ‘special’ had arrived was when people would suddenly surge towards a particular area now and then, like bees attracted to honey, cameras raised in the air. But I wasn’t there for the politicians or the politics.

Silent unease
I was there for the first time in my 52 years of life to celebrate my nation’s independence day. What took me so long to haul myself off my comfy chair at home and sweat it out for some four hours, just to mill around aimlessly in the middle of a tar road?

Surely I can find better, more productive things to do with my time. Of course I can, so can the thousands of Malaysians who chose to be at Dataran Merdeka on Aug 30, 2012.

Well, I have to confess, I have never thought much about what it means to call myself a Malaysian, until these last couple of years, when so many events happening have forced me to take a good hard look at the things I have oft taken for granted.

I have started questioning, and what I see in my beloved land saddens me.

That’s the only reason I chose to come out as a member of the Malaysian public this Merdeka day. I suspect there are many others who feel like me; and that’s why they took the trouble to be present.

Amidst what should be a time for joyous celebration, there seems to be an under-current of silent unease floating around. We smile at each other, recognising in each other’s eyes a certain ‘look’ that says, “Yea, I know too, so I am with you on this one.”

No words are necessary really. We don’t need anyone to shout about unity, justice, peace or national reconciliation (or the lack of it), we don’t need to carry bold banners or mouth nice-sounding slogans, but we do need to take a personal stand for it.

Me, I just want to be able to say before I die, I stood up for freedom for the land I was born in, raised up in and would probably be buried in, even if it’s just this once. There are times when we don’t get a second chance to be counted for, and Aug 30, 2012 is a date I want recorded in my life history.

New hope
I don’t know how long I was sitting on the kerb. But when I finally got up, what I saw gave me new hope for better Merdeka days to come.

The group of us had arrived on the grounds early, there wasn’t much of a crowd then. But by the time I stood up to stretch my legs (which was about 11 pm), I saw people packing the area around Jalan Raja Laut/Jalan TAR.

So many many it looked like a flowing, moving stream. Against the backdrop of bright neon-lit trees along the road, it was a beautiful sight. It struck me as what I would term as one of those ‘significant moments’ in life, when you realise you are looking at something seemingly ordinary but so profound in meaning, that it will remain forever etched in the mind.

I ‘saw’ the true 1Malaysian people, moving towards a tomorrow that holds hope for each one to live in, where all can enjoy the richness and abundance of this land we call our own.

More than any other rally (and I have attended all the other Bersih-organised ones), I think Himpunan Janji Bersih 2012 speaks volumes about the maturity of Malaysians.

Nothing happened – that may a disappointment for some – yet to me, that’s the greatest thing that can happen, for when thousands upon thousands can gather without ‘anything’ happening, it means people can ‘shout’ a message just by turning up.

God bless Malaysia.

Source: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/2012/09/02/dataran-gathering-gave-me-new-hope/

55th Merdeka Celebrations at Bukit Jalil a Barisan Nasional Election Campaign

Najib did not conduct himself as Prime Minister for all Malaysians when he divided the people on Merdeka Day and urged Malaysians to “defend independence” against Pakatan Rakyat

Datuk Seri Najib Razak did not conduct himself as Prime Minister for all Malaysians when he divided the people on Merdeka Day and urged Malaysians to “defend independence” against Pakatan Rakyat.

In his closing speech at the “Merdeka 55: Janji ditepati” gathering at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium last night, Najib called on the audience “to defend the nation’s independence from enemies and the opposition alike”. (Malaysiakini/The Malaysian Insider)

He said:

“Ladies and gentlemen, remember that independence only knocks once for any nation. Let us close ranks and defend our independence with a solid front, at every corner and at any time.

“Even more so when enemies and the opposition are trying to bring chaos into the situation.”

This the final and ultimate proof that the 55th Merdeka Day celebrations had been hijacked by UMNO/Barisan Nasional as part of their desperate gambit to hang on to power in the impending 13th General Election – which had been evident when the UMNO/BN election theme of “Janji Ditepati” had been imported lock, stock and barrel to be elevated as the 55th Merdeka Day/49th Malay Day theme.

However, Najib cannot be more wrong, as UMNO/BN leaders cannot claim monopoly to patriotism or nationalism just because they are in power.

As I had often said in Parliament, the real patriots and nationalists of Malaysia are not those who abuse their powers and positions while in office and who are corrupt to the core, but those who are prepared to make sacrifices and pay the price for standing up for the fundamental rights of ordinary Malaysians, regardless of race or religion, even going to jail and lose their personal liberties, so as to speak truth to power.

I find it very sad and more a reflection on Najib as Prime Minister that he should be casting such aspersions on the Opposition in his National Day speech – for on a national celebration like Merdeka Day, all Malaysians regardless of race, religion, region or political differences, should be able to put aside their political differences for at least 24 hours and come together as one Malaysian people.

If the Prime Minister cannot set such an example, can we blame the Cabinet Ministers for failing to measure to such a standard?

I also feel sad at the Malaysiakini report “Propaganda comics colour Najib’s Merdeka bash” by reporter Ahmad Fadli NC, debunking the claim that the Bukit Jalil 55th Merdeka Day celebrations was a truly national celebration, rising above partisan differences, and not a blatant UMNO/BN event.

The Malaysiankini reported:

The circulation of propaganda comics at the Bukit Jalil Merdeka celebrations yesterday puts a question mark on government’s claim that their celebrations are apolitical.

The 20-page comic titled ‘Promises Fulfilled By The PM For The Rakyat’ piles praise upon the government’s initiatives, while making subtle jibes at the opposition.

The mystery publication by anonymous artists was given out for free at the stadium before start of the event that featuring Prime Minister Najib Razak.

On one of its pages, a couple is arguing over spending their RM100 school handout on groceries. The wife berates the husband saying they have no more money as he has spent everything by “frequenting the ceramah”.

In another, a young man raves angrily that he can no longer “demonstrate and harass people” since the Internal Security Act (ISA) was abolished.

In both cases, the men are depicted wearing a white kopiah and green baju Melayu, and are always criticising the government’s schemes such as the Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia (BR1M) RM500 cash handout to poor families.

The character appears five times throughout the comic book.

On page 12, a man is shown raising his arms to heaven as if praying, but instead offering praise to the PM for the curtains he has afforded to purchase at the Kedai Kain Rakyat 1Malaysia (1Malaysia fabric store).

On page 9, a man is scolded for being ‘berotak Yahudi’ (behaving like a Jew) for wanting to slander BN by using black magic on ballot boxes.

These cartoons, which have all the fingerprints of pro-BN propaganda, are packaged in a colourful booklet whose cover is bright and cheery in the style of BN campaign artwork, and includes a loud poster that reads ‘We love the PM’.

Was the Bukit Jalil Stadium National Day celebrations planned deliberately to embarrass Pakatan Rakyat leaders who attended the occasion and to divide along BN/PR lines? An explanation from Najib will be most appropriate.

Source: http://blog.limkitsiang.com/2012/09/01/najib-did-not-conduct-himself-as-prime-minister-for-all-malaysians-when-he-divided-the-people-on-merdeka-day-and-urged-malaysians-to-defend-independence-against-pakatan-rakyat/#more-20225

Janji Democrasi in Malacca on 30th Aug 2012

A new dawn?

August 31, 2012

By May Chee

AUG 31 — Woke up around 7am today, after about five hours of sleep. By the way, “Selamat Hari Merdeka” folks! 

My husband and I went for the Janji Demokrasi Merdeka Countdown at the clock tower in Malacca last night. Again, it was another heartwarming experience. Syabas to all those who gathered there and elsewhere for the Janji Demokrasi!

This time around, no untoward incidents, I hear. That’s good, really good. See, if we have everyone’s good intentions in mind, all would be swell.

We left our house at 9pm. There was ample parking around the designated area. As we walked towards the clock tower, we could see cops and Rela personnel already in position. Since we were early, we walked towards Jonker, hoping to join some people at the stage. Along the way, we met some friends, so we headed for the stage together. Some yellow shirts were walking in the opposite direction. They were heading towards the clock tower. All youths. Good, I thought!

At the stage, there was a handful of yellow shirts and a group of around 15 members from the Unit Amal PAS. By 9.30pm the group had swelled to quite a huge number. After taking a group photograph at the foot of the stage, our Unit Amal youngsters led us to the clock tower. Before that, we were told to be at our best behaviour, not to provoke nor hamper the traffic. We walked on the pavement and at all times, the Unit Amal boys made sure traffic for the public was smooth. Though the folks along Jonker were burning incense and some other stuff (Ghost Month?), the Unit Amal boys admirably braved the ashes (some flying into their faces) to guide us. 

I just love these Unit Amal boys. I’ve seen how selfless they can be during my Bersih 2 experience. Now and then when I see some fools pitting us non-Muslims against our Malaysian brothers and sisters from PAS, I feel so irritated. I may run when I see some people but definitely not when I see these boys from the Unit Amal. I bet my last ringgit they will lay down their lives for me, a Chinese Christian, but not their detractors! So I say to these detractors, don’t waste your time spewing such venom. Our PAS brethren have my vote, any time! 

At the clock tower, by 10pm, the group was huge. The whole place was swarmed with yellow shirts and others. Again, it was heart-warming to see Malaysians from all walks of life gathered there. Young and old, even kids, armed with the Jalur Gemilang waving, chanting in unison, while waiting for the clock to strike midnight. I saw so many familiar faces, and at the same time made some new friends. A friend remarked that at events like this, you cannot escape the fact that we, Malaysians, are united in wanting the best for our country. I’m so proud of my fellow Malaysians. I really am.

Again, my Malacca cops did us proud. Some guided traffic while some lined themselves along the road to prevent the exuberant ones from rushing into the traffic. We were around the clock tower and also on the opposite side of the road as there wasn’t enough room to house all of us around the clock tower. Apart from the chanting of slogans like “Hidup ,Hidup, Hidup Rakyat”, “Janji, Janji, Janji Demokrasi”, etc, there were also some trumpeting of vuvuzelas. We also sang the “Negaraku”. Now and then, when some motorists honked their vehicles as a mark of solidarity with us, the crowd went into a frenzy, waving their flags and started chanting again.

I saw how the younger cops wore faces of great restrain amidst the din. They were unsmiling, only because, I think, they were taking their duties seriously. However, there was this tall, fair, policewoman who walked along the road smiling broadly. She made a pretty picture! I also noticed how some guy who at one moment could be chanting “Negara Bersih, Rakyat Sihat” and the next bantering away with this senior policeman. I heard that the latter was the leader of the team deployed at the clock tower. Great chap; was smiling throughout. Really, I love my Malacca cops! 

At a quarter to midnight, a group of people made their way to the balcony of the Stadhuys opposite the clock tower. They took turns to lead us in chanting those slogans. One of them read out the “10 Tuntutan Janji Demokrasi” which went like this:

Membersihkan senarai pengundi

Mereformaiskan undi pos

Menggunakan dakwat kekal

Minima 21 hari berkempen

Ases media yang bebas dan adil

Kukuhkan institusi awam

Hentikan rasuah

Hentikan politik kotor

Pihak SPR harus meletak jawatan

Menjemput pemantau dari luar negeri

When the clock struck midnight, shouts of “Merdeka” verberated throughout the whole area. After that, Shamsul Iskandar read out A. Samad Said’s poem “Janji Demokrasi”. A few more rounds of chanting, some greetings, then, we were asked to disperse peacefully. 

Away we went, smiling happily and laughing. A good and productive outing, I thought. 

While celebrating “Hari Merdeka”, I cannot help but think of our brothers and sisters in Sabah and Sarawak. About 15 years ago, I went to a neighbouring country for a holiday. I left thinking that they had a sinful government. How can I not but feel that way when I see boys as young as five or six years old jumping into the sea, performing a trick or two, just so we tourists would buy their wares for an equivalent of a ringgit or two. I remember relieving a boy of a bunch of bananas. They should be in school but here they were, risking their lives for just a ringgit or two. Everywhere I went, I saw their menfolk just hanging around their coffeeshops, smoking away with nothing better to do. (Cigarettes must be cheap there, I thought.) No school for the little ones and no jobs for what should be the breadwinners! And this was a country blessed with an abundance of natural resources. How come?

You know what was sadder? Some years later I went to Sarawak. I saw exactly the same situation there. It broke my heart to see how hard my brethren there had to slog in order to earn the same ringgit or two. Sarawak, the Land of the Hornbills, abundantly blessed, yet the majority live in poverty. How can this be? Only five per cent royalty from their oil? You got to be kidding me! Daylight robbery or what? They joined us on September 16, 1963 to be enslaved? Don’t think that was their intention at all! The best democracy in the world or aping colonial masters of old? Or worse? Come on, there’s more than enough for everyone. Why so greedy? I wonder how some people go to sleep at night? Really, this is more than sinful!

I believe our brethren in Sabah also suffer the same fate. Honestly, how could anyone in their right mind, enslave their own brethren? Even animals behave better!

“Merdeka” for whom? Definitely not for our brethren in Sabah and Sarawak. If we in the peninsula think we have it bad, they in east Malaysia have it a lot more worse! They toil their land day and night but do not get to taste the fruits of their labour. Is this justice? Is this equality? Do we ever see them as fellow Malaysians? Or do we think we are masters and they slaves? Come on, “Merdeka” for whom?

If the powers-that-be still refuse to grant Sabahans and Sarawakians their liberty and accord them the dignity they deserve, I don’t see why they should be with us and what’s there to celebrate, come the so-called “Malaysia Day”. 

My friends in Sabah and Sarawak, please educate your people and tell them, each and every one of you deserve a lot, lot better. Arise and claim back your birthright. Enough of slavery. You didn’t ask for this. It was forced onto you. Be brave and arise. Life can be a lot, lot better. You choose.

My fellow Malaysians, till the day each and every one of us enjoy the same liberty and dignity, we are not one. Till the day we are accorded the same privileges, we will always view each other with suspicion. Let’s work towards that day. We can do this if we all think, truly as one. And this must include our brethren from Sabah and Sarawak. Best we stop this charade and call them Malaysians when they cannot even begin to live the Malaysian dream. For so long, it has been only a nightmare for them. Enough, please, enough.

Hopefully, with the change that will come soon enough, we can usher in a new dawn. One, where we are truly all Malaysians. Work on it. Work hard. 

Source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/sideviews/article/a-new-dawn-may-chee/