Barisan Nasional would have lost without postal, advance votes, says Merdeka Center

AUGUST 12, 2013
LATEST UPDATE: AUGUST 12, 2013 09:38 AM

Numbers tell a story and the startling story that has emerged from studying the past general election results is this: Barisan Nasional could not have gone back to Putrajaya without the controversial postal and advanced votes system.

These votes alone gave BN victory in 22 parliamentary seats, which made all the difference. Without those 22 seats, BN would have tied with opposition Pakatan Rakyat at 111 seats.

Without those key postal and advanced votes, MIC would be without the two Cabinet ministers Datuk Seri S Subramaniam  (Segamat) and Datuk Seri G. Palanivel (Cameron Highlands).

Several seats in Johor and the Federal Territory would have also fallen to Pakatan Rakyat.

This new information was revealed in a voting pattern study by Merdeka Center, which was obtained by The Malaysian Insider.

Merdeka Center said that after stripping and analysing the data, it concluded that BN could have lost as many as 30 parliamentary seats if it did not win the postal/advance votes.

Data from different voting channels from the 222 parliamentary seats was analysed using a system designed to uncover natural groupings or clusters.

The study was able to show the voting patterns in GE13 and confirmed the rural and urban divide in Malaysia as well as the 20% swing of Chinese voters away from Barisan Nasional.

Merdeka Center noted that without advance and postal votes, BN would have lost 22 parliamentary seats. This finding will cause heartache for Opposition politicians who have been campaigning for the past few years for the abolishment of postal voters, arguing that it provides opportunities for fraud.

Following the general election on May 5, PKR, DAP and PAS filed petitions seeking to nullify election results in several constituencies.

Chief among their complaints was postal and advance voting fraud, pointing out that the few votes the Opposition received through these channels was far fewer than the support shown by ordinary voters across Malaysia.

The Election Commission (EC) said that there were some 372,000 advance or postal voters and they included security forces, EC workers and the media.

Their presence in any parliamentary constituency is significant considering how closely fought the election was. On average there was about 1,100 postal votes and 800 advance voters in every constituency.

The 30 parliamentary seats that BN could have lost without the postal/advance votes are: Segamat (93.3% of the postal and advance votes for BN), Bagan Serai (82.6% for BN), Muar (87.2% for BN), Pulai (88.8% for BN), Jerai (74.2% for BN), Balik Pulau (89.5% for BN), Machang (79.2% for BN), Labis (89.7% for BN), Kuala Selangor (71.7% for BN), Beaufort (71.7% for BN), Kuala Kangsar (76% for BN), Hulu Selangor (83.9% for BN), Sungai Besar (75.1% for BN), Baram (89.2% for BN), Kulim-Bandar Baharu (88.8% for BN), Pasir Gudang (89% for BN), Tangga Batu (86.4% for BN), Titiwangsa (78.9% for BN), Tasek Gelugor (68% for BN), Tenom (87.6% for BN), Bentong (89.9% for BN), CameronMIC president Palanivel won his Cameron Highlands parliament seat thanks to the postal and advance votes. TMI pic, August 12 2013.Highlands (91.3% for BN), Merbok (80.5% for BN), Ketereh (81.6% for BN), Setiawangsa (81.9% for BN), Mas Gading (72.3% for BN), and Keningau (78.4% for BN).

Among the notable politicians in Parliament today only because of advance and postal votes is MIC's president Palanivel. He won his Cameron Highlands seat by only 462 votes. And this after snaring 91.3% of the advance and postal votes.

Also fortunate was Chua Tee Yong, MCA president Chua Soi Lek' son. He won the Labis seat by only 353 votes. His share of advance and postal votes: 89.7%.

In its report, Merdeka Center concluded that "the implication of advance and postal voting on this election will certainly figure strongly as civil society and the opposition continue to pressure the EC for further reforms of the electoral process." – August 12, 2013.

Source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/bn-kept-malaysia-thanks-to-postal-and-advance-votes1

Pakatan: Lee Kuan Yew like Dr Mahathir, fears waxing opposition

By Boo Su-Lyn and Syed Jaymal Zahiid August 8, 2013

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 8 — Like Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Singapore’s founder Lee Kuan Yew is an “authoritarian figure” who fears the growth of Malaysia’s opposition force for the democratic principles may spread across the Causeway, Pakatan Rakyat (PR) MPs said.

Malaysia’s opposition parliamentarians suggested that the Singapore statesman’s recent disparaging remarks in his latest book is due to a mixture of envy and dread that the three-party pact appears to inspire among the island republic’s budding opposition seeking to challenge its ruling People’s Action Party (PAP).

“LKY is concerned with the maturity of Malaysian politics because like-minded Singaporeans are now looking to Indonesia and Malaysia as models for a more vibrant and mature democracy,” PKR’s Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli told The Malay Mail Online, referring to Lee by his initials.

“The fact that there is a two-party system now in Malaysia strikes fear in LKY’s heart,” said the strategy director of PKR, a founding partner in PR.

Rafizi was responding to the acid-tongue Lee — father to current Singapore PM Lee Hsien Loong — who branded the Malaysian opposition bloc an “opportunistic ad-hoc group” that was not even held together by a “vaguely coherent set of ideas”, but by a “common desire to unseat the government” in his book “One Man’s View of the World”, launched on Tuesday.

Rafizi labelled the elder Lee an “authoritarian figure” and remarked on the former Singapore prime minister’s similarity to the latter’s contemporary and Malaysia’s fourth prime minister Dr Mahathir.

Dr Mahathir, Rafizi noted, had previously said in a comment on development in Malaysian politics that “the choice is always for the lesser between two evils”.

Tony Pua, the up-and-coming PKR leader’s PR ally from the DAP, also pointed out that Lee has “conveniently ignored the fact that Pakatan Rakyat has successfully administered Penang and Selangor over the past five years”.

“What is more, the people themselves have returned us to power with even greater majorities in the state assemblies,” the DAP national publicity secretary told The Malay Mail Online yesterday, referring to Malaysia’s May 5 general election that saw the BN cede more seats in the federal and state law-making Houses to PR.

The opposition also won 51 per cent of the popular vote, with the support coming mostly from the cities while the rural electorate remained a bedrock for the BN.

Pua said Lee and the PAP are probably ‘highly envious’ of Pakatan’s success.“This is as opposed to the trend in Singapore where PAP is tumbling down the slippery slope with significantly reduced majorities and popular votes.

“The ringing endorsement by the voters allows the track records and achievements of the so-called ‘dysfunctional’ Pakatan Rakyat to speak for itself,” the Petaling Jaya Utara MP said.

Pua said Lee and the PAP were probably “highly envious” of PR’s success.

Singapore’s long-dominant PAP, which the elder Lee had co-founded over half a century ago, lost two by-elections recently amid rising discontent in the city-state over housing, the high cost of living and immigration.

The ruling PAP, which has been in power for more than 50 years, also suffered its worst performance ever in the 2011 general election, where six opposition members — all from the Workers’ Party — were elected into the 87-seat Parliament.

The opposition’s victory in the by-election for the Punggol East district last January increased the parliamentary representation of the Workers’ Party to seven seats.

Lee had also written in his book that when it came to the crunch, PR would not be able to get rid of Malay supremacy.

“The moment the bluff is called and it is handed the full power to push ahead it will either be torn apart from within or be paralysed by indecision,” said Lee, who turns 90 next month.

Pua said in response that Lee, “possibly for vested interest”, appeared to be heeding Dr Mahathir’s advice that “it is better the devil you know”.

“It is regretted that LKY with his more sophisticated analytical skills chose to only look at things skin-deep in Malaysia,” said Pua.

“There is no question that DSAI is a Malay and he is Pakatan’s designated PM. But the failure to look beyond DSAI’s race means he has failed to appreciate the reforms which are the core planks of our manifesto.

“DSAI’s Malaysia’s Economic Agenda stipulates clearly that Malaysians will be given assistance based on needs, and not race,” he stressed, referring to Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

PAS central working committee member Khalid Samad said it was clear that Lee had not read PR’s “Buku Jingga”, a document containing the opposition pact’s reform plans for the country.

The Shah Alam MP noted that PR has “clear and distinct” policies, as shown in Selangor, which are “democratisation” and “emphasis on good governance.”

Source: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/pakatan-lky-like-dr-m-fears-waxing-opposition

民聯領袖駁“投機”論，李光耀怕新加坡被比下去

民联此篇见解之后是李光耀著作见解
-------------------------------------------------

 2013-08-08 10:38

（吉隆坡7日訊）公正黨副主席蔡添強及伊斯蘭黨中委卡立沙末認為，新加坡建國總理李光耀發表傾向國陣維持大馬政權的言論，其實是擔心若民聯上台會對新加坡構成威脅。

卡立沙末認為，李光耀擔心若大馬出現一個比國陣更有效率及透明的政府，將導致新加坡面對更大的競爭。

卡立否認民聯缺乏清晰理念

“新加坡目前比大馬佔優，因為大馬政府非常貪污及缺乏效率。”

卡立針對李光耀在新書對民聯發表的看法，接受星洲日報訪問時說，國陣是一個衰弱及貪污的政府，並且沒有奉行良好施政的原則，相比之下，若新加坡與民聯共事，新加坡將無法像過去一樣隨心所欲，通過國陣獲得許多良好的待遇。

詢及李光耀形容民聯是投機主義及缺乏清晰理念，他否認此事，並表示民聯的橙皮書已清楚列明民聯三黨的共同政策，即會採納良好施政、杜絕朋黨及貪污。

針對李光耀不看好民聯可以消除馬來人特權及處理馬來人至上（Malay Suplemancy）衍生的情況，他說，馬來人至上並沒有任何種族超越任何種族問題，只是要確保馬來人不會在發展過程中被忽略。

“這是必要的事，因為馬來人是我國的大多數民族，我們也不想看到國家發展後，馬來人卻被排除在城市外的情況。”

他指出，民聯也會確保沒有任何民族被忽視，這是憲法的一部份，而憲法也是成立大馬的成果。

詢及李光耀認為若伊黨無法取得大多數議席或擁有否決權，民聯無法獲得實質意義進展，他說，伊黨正在努力獲得大多數馬來人的支持，以便增加民聯的議席，若民聯能夠組成政府，將會執行《橙皮書》的方針。

蔡添強：李光耀有成見

另外，蔡添強認為，李光耀已落伍，跟不上時代發展，看不到民聯提出的替代預算方案及競選宣言，以致他的看法非常片面及具有成見。

“反之51%的大馬民眾及新聞界都看清楚，民聯的（良好施政）立場比巫統還要鮮明。”

他認為，李光耀是希望巫統能夠保住政權，因為若大馬變天，新加坡也會受到波及，這與大馬政府非常害怕印尼變天的原因一樣。（星洲日報）

来源：http://news.sinchew.com.my/topic/node/399582
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李光耀：無共同理念只想拉倒國陣‧“民聯是投機分子”

• 國內
 

 2013-08-07 16:53

（雪蘭莪‧八打靈再也7日訊）新加坡建國總理李光耀將民聯形容為“一個沒有任何共同理念，只為把政府拉下馬的投機分子”，並表示民聯要在近期內入主布城，恐怕機會渺茫。

李光耀在其新著作《李光耀看世界》中說，民聯三黨面臨結構和理念上的差異，即使成功入主布城，也將因伊斯蘭黨而無法塑造新的種族關係。

會因伊黨而分裂“只要民聯還未執政並施行多元種族政策，聯盟就能維持外表上的和諧統一。然而當要作出重大決定的時候，他們就不能不面對｀馬來人至上’的理念問題。到時民聯將從內部開始分裂，或因遲遲無法作出決定而癱瘓。”

他說，假設民聯成功執政，以馬來穆斯林為主的伊斯蘭黨，將阻止他們採取進一步的改革措施。

“相信就算伊斯蘭黨沒有在聯盟中獲得多數議席，也將擁有足夠的議席以進行否決。而只要伊斯蘭黨這麼一做，該黨就將陷入和巫統一樣的情況，必須面對來自馬來社會基層的壓力。”

他進一步推論說，只要維持“馬來人至上”的理念，相信民聯能做的改變有限。

来源：http://news.sinchew.com.my/node/315763?tid=1

“牧师”与“神父”

相关新闻报道在我的文章之后
----------------------------------------------------

    媒体中（包括报纸）一些用词和翻译，若用错了就令读者一头雾水，甚至让人对受影响的人士或事物产生误解。

        一篇报道关于某作者写了一本小册子，名为《一个公道者（中央改选的诈骗）》，作者署名为“Father Augustus Chen”，但他却被翻译为“陈奥吉斯特牧师”。我对“陈奥吉斯特”没有异议，但“Father”被翻译为是“牧师”就是属于误导性的。

        正确的翻译是“神父”，所以必须翻译为“陈奥吉斯特神父”。马来西亚人对基督教和天主教的分别缺乏了解有两大原因，一、我们全国只有10%的人数；二、人民一般没兴趣研究自己以外的宗教。全世界信仰基督的只分为三大类：罗马天主教，基督教，和东正教，而第三类在大马乃是稀少的。

        打理天主教会圣职的，被称为神父；打理基督教会圣职的是牧师。我是基督教会的牧师，但我却常常被人称为神父，这种缺乏认知情况即可见一斑！当我告诉人我是有家庭的，有些人即刻感到惊讶，问“牧师怎么也可以结婚呢？”这样的反应让我啼笑皆非！事实上，天主教会的神父是不可以结婚的，上述人士发出惊讶显示他们把牧师和神父参杂来看待！

        同时，“Augustus”是天主教会信徒普遍的名字，一般上基督教会的信徒是不会采用的。我建议媒体在翻译与基督教相关的东西时，不妨询问教会的圣职人员。

        关于行动党要求作者在七天的时间现身，我很支持这点。因为如果敢用到“神父”的身分控诉别人的话，那人应该勇敢站出来证明自己不是一个幽灵。（我本身不认为是一个神父作这样事的）。一个真人敢用宗教的名，为什么不可以诚实地现身呢？不然的话，我感到遗憾大马的政治已经来到利用宗教来进行自己议程的状况。烟蒂不灭，足以燎原！宗教本应该教人诚实，无奈却有人躲在宗教后面放马后炮（即说放宗教后炮）。

--------------------------------------------

“陳奧吉斯特”有膽請現身‧林吉祥左右開弓

 2013-08-07 10:12

（吉隆坡6日訊）民主行動黨國會領袖兼振林山國會議員林吉祥今日表示，他將給予虛構的“陳奧吉斯特牧師”七天的時間現身以證明他不是個“幽靈”，到時如果沒人出現，社團註冊局總監是否準備檢討他下令行動黨進行中央執行委員會重選的決定？

林吉祥發表文告說，他之前曾說被巫統/國陣政治人物及社團註冊局總監當作權威來引用的冊子《一個公道的報導（中央改選的詐騙）》的“作者”“陳奧吉斯特牧師”完全是個由巫統/國陣“戰情室”心理戰運動在第13屆大選後所憑空捏造出來的虛構人物。

與巫統黨選有關

“今天，我們確認了我之前的懷疑，即所有污蔑行動黨中央執行委員會選舉出現舞弊的謊言都跟即將來臨的巫統黨選有著密切的關聯，今天的馬來西亞前鋒報報導，國內貿易、合作社及消費部長兼巫統瓜拉庇朥區國會議員拿督哈山馬力被證實他會在10月的巫統黨選中競選巫統最高理事會一職。”

哈山馬力在上週末摘錄了“陳奧吉斯特牧師”的“大作”來作為他支持社團註冊局總監拿督阿都拉曼奧曼下令行動黨進行中央執行委員會重選的決定。”

他說，內閣部長如哈山馬力者及社團註冊局總監是否準備擔保“陳奧吉斯特牧師”實有其人，而非巫統/國陣“戰情室”心理戰運動在第13屆大選後所憑空捏造以用來對付行動黨的虛構人物？

林吉祥表示，他不反對行動黨進行執委會重選，因為那只會有助於揭露所謂行動黨執委會選舉出現舞弊的指責為一派胡言及污蔑的國陣政治陰謀。但這事涉及重要的公法原則，即社團註冊局總監下令任何政黨進行重選的決定皆須是基於有效和合理的理由的。

他說，巫統、馬華及民政黨將在未來數月間陸續進行他們的黨選。

他說，社團註冊局總監是否敢說他也有權利根據社團註冊局所接到的任何投訴，不管有關投訴曾否被傳到有關政黨的手上，即在不提供任何有效和合理的理由的情況下，下令巫統、馬華或民政黨進行重選？（星洲日報）

来源：http://news.sinchew.com.my/topic/node/399447

Fitch’s downgrade a ‘warning salvo’, RHB Research tells Putrajaya

BY ZURAIRI AR
AUGUST 02, 2013

Ringgit notes are seen among other currency notes in this file photo illustration. The ringgit sunk to a three-year low after the Fitch report was released on August 1, 2013. — Reuters picKUALA LUMPUR, Aug 2 — RHB Research Institute (RHBRI) sounded warning bells on Malaysia’s finances today, telling the Najib administration that Fitch Ratings’ downgrade of the country’s credit outlook from “Stable” to “Negative” may just be the “straw that breaks the camel’s back”.

RHBRI’s cautionary note comes following the global ratings agency’s recent report that Malaysia’s public finances are its “key rating weakness”, and warned of future negative shocks should no reforms and measures be taken by the federal government to remedy the country’s financial standing.

“Fitch’s downgrade of Malaysia’s sovereign credit rating outlook to negative (from stable previously) serves as a warning salvo to the government and investors alike,” said a daily market update by the RHB research arm here.

“While this may yet be the straw that breaks the camel’s back, it reinforces our view that the market is looking close to being fairly valued.”

The research house had previously predicted that the FTSE Bursa Malaysia Kuala Lumpur Composite Index (FBM-KLCI) will close at 1,815 points by the end of the 2013 calendar year.

Yesterday, the market closed at 1,777.82 points, just around two per cent of RHB Research’s target index.

On Wednesday though, after the Fitch report was released, the FBM-KLCI dropped 1.3 per cent to 1,772.62, its steepest loss since June 13. The ringgit also sunk to a three-year low.

The ratings agency had cut its outlook for Malaysia on July 30, citing gloomier prospects for reforms to tackle the country’s rising debt burden following a divisive election result this year.

The opposition Pakatan Rakyat (PR) yesterday had fingered the Najib administration for Fitch’s negative reading, saying it was due to Putrajaya’s penchant for hiding debts especially in government-guaranteed debts.

RHBRI today noted that all eyes will be on Budget 2014, which has been scheduled for October 25 to accommodate this year’s internal election of Umno, the Malay nationalist party that makes part of the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition.

“The market will be looking for signposts for greater fiscal discipline by a government that has a deficit target of three per cent by 2015, although Fitch expressed reservation over its 3.5 per cent projection,” said the report.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak downplayed Fitch’s negative outlook yesterday, describing it as a temporary setback that would be addressed in the 2014 Budget.

No details, however, were given as to how Putrajaya plans to tackle some of the concerns raised in the Fitch report, but Najib said his administration was looking at the various existing policy options as a short-term solution.

Fitch’s report noted that the federal government debt rose to 53.3 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) at the end of 2012, up from 51.6 per cent at the same period the year before.

The general government budget deficit had also increased from 3.8 per cent of GDP in 2011 to 4.7 per cent in 2012, coming from a 19 per cent rise in public wages expenditure in a pre-election year.

According to Bank Negara Malaysia, federal government debt currently stands at RM508.9 billion in the first quarter of 2013 compared to RM501.6 billion in the previous quarter.

Source: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/fitchs-downgrade-a-warning-salvo-rhb-research-tells-putrajaya

9月開跑，中國簽證將分8大類

2013-07-23 09:31

（中國‧北京22日訊）中國將於9月1日起，實施《中華人民共和國外國人入境出境管理條例》，制定這一條例是為了規範簽證的簽發，以及外國人在中國境內停留居留的服務和管理。

新華社報導，根據現有入境出境管理法實施細則，外國人申請入境的事由，將普通簽證分為D字、Z字、X字、F字、L字、G字、C字、J字8類，分別對應定居、工作、學習、訪問、旅遊、過境、乘務、記者等事由。其中，F字簽證和L字簽證涵蓋多種入境事由，不利於外國人入境後的服務和管理。

精細化管理入境事由

為了使簽證類別能夠準確反映外國人入境事由，實現外國人入境後的精細化管理，條例在保留現行簽證分類基本不變的基礎上，重點對現行F字簽證、L字簽證作了拆分，並新增加了R字簽證，普通簽證類別由目前的8類調整為12類。

條例規定，外國人持簽證入境後，按照國家規定可以變更停留事由、給予入境便利的，或者因使用新護照、持團體簽證入境後由於客觀原因需要分團停留的，可以向停留地縣級以上地方人民政府公安機關出入境管理機構申請換發簽證。申請人所持護照或者其他國際旅行證件因辦理證件被收存期間，可以憑受理回執在中國境內合法停留。

條例還規定，公安機關根據實際需要可以設置遣返場所。依照出境入境管理法第六十條的規定對外國人實施拘留審查的，應當在24小時內將被拘留審查的外國人送到拘留所或者遣返場所。

條例要求，外國人被決定限期出境的，作出決定的機關應當在注銷或者收繳其原出境入境證件後，為其補辦停留手續並限定出境的期限。限定出境期限最長不得超過15日。

中國國務院總理李克強日前簽署第637號國務院令，公佈經國務院第15次常務會議通過的《中華人民共和國外國人入境出境管理條例》。

條例規定，在簽證簽發管理和外國人在中國境內停留居留管理工作中，外交部、公安部等國務院部門應當在部門門戶網站、受理出境入境證件申請的地點等場所，提供外國人入境出境管理法律法規和其他需要外國人知悉的信息。

来源：http://news.sinchew.com.my/node/312461?tid=1

Alvivi are not "children of a lesser God' - Bishop slams government's double standards

Monday, 22 July 2013 17:03

Weighing on the case of two bloggers hauled to court on a charge of insulting Islam, Bishop Paul Tan cautioned that double standards are immoral as this is an affront to justice.

While retribution was swift in this case, the head of the Johor and Malacca Catholic diocese lamented the lack of action when other faiths are derided.

Tan cited the controversies involving Perkasa leaders Ibrahim Ali and Zulkifli Noordin.

Both had earned the wrath of the bishop when Ibrahim called for the torching of the Bible carrying the word "Allah" and Zulkifli for belittling the Hindu faith.

"While we abhor the disparaging of any faith, the government must show that it works without fear or favour in acting against all those who do so.

"In the case of (bloggers) Alvin Tan and Vivian Lee, retribution was swift, but I note with regret that such action was never taken against Zulkifli and Ibrahim," Tan told Malaysiakini.

Infamous for posting photos of their sexual romps online, the bloggers landed in hot soup over a Facebook photo that was deemed offensive to Muslims.

The couple was slapped with three charges, including one under the Sedition Act, last week and denied bail.

'Children of a lesser god'

The bishop said while Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak promoted his 1Malaysia campaign nationwide, attempts to foster racial ties would come to naught if the law was applied on an unequal basis.

"To prove that all citizens are equal before the law, the authorities must charge Zulkifli and Ibrahim, failing which it would create the impression that non-Muslims (in Malaysia) are considered children of a lesser God.

"We cannot tolerate anyone belittling another's belief, for such action not only stokes religious tension, it also transgresses the fundamentals of our beliefs, which stress on the importance of according mutual respect," Tan added.

He also expressed regret that Alvin Tan and Vivian Lee, or Alvivi as they are together called, were denied bail, even after having apologised for their actions.

On the other hand, the vocal bishop said Ibrahim, who never apologised, still walked free while in the case of Zulkifli, an apology was deemed sufficient.

Police last week revealed that investigations against Zulkifli were dropped on the instructions of the attorney-general.

Najib later named Zulkifi as the BN candidate for the Shah Alam parliamentary seat in the 13th general election, while Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, in defending the candidature, stressed that the Perkasa leader had apologised for his action.

As for Ibrahim, police have said there was no instruction from the AG for them to act.

Source: http://www.malaysia-chronicle.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=132952%3Aalvivi-are-not-children-of-a-lesser-god-bishop-slams-govts-double-standards&Itemid=2#ixzz2ZmnPIXRk

Appalled by Umno leaders’ stand, Christians ask Cabinet to enforce 10-point solution to Allah issue

BY V. ANBALAGAN, ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR
JULY 20, 2013
LATEST UPDATE: JULY 20, 2013 06:26 PM

Malaysia's largest Christian group wants Putrajaya to enforce an agreed 10-point solution on the usage of the Arabic word "Allah" by the community, saying today it was appalled by statements made by two Umno leaders on the matter.

Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) chairman Rev Dr Eu Hong Seng said statements by Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir and Urban Well-being, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan "were untenable and in flagrant disregard of the 10-point
solution decided by the Cabinet in April 2011".

"The use of the word “Allah” in the Al-Kitab is NOT and has NEVER been an error of printing as claimed by the Honourable Minister. Such a suggestion is insensitive, insulting and inflammatory.

"We reiterate that it is the express right of the Christian community to use the word 'Allah'," Eu said in a statement today.

"It is offensive and unacceptable for the Honourable Minister to attempt to justify the call by Ibrahim Ali to burn our Holy Scripture by saying that our Holy Scripture contains errors in printing," he added.

Eu pointed out that the 10 points were specifically communicated to the CFM in a letter dated 11 April 2011 from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak. The letter was enclosed in the statement.

"It is offensive and unacceptable for the Minister Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan to attempt to justify Ibrahim Ali's call to burn our Holy Scripture by saying that our Holy Scripture contains errors in
printing," Eu said.

He said Mukhriz was reported to have forbidden non-Muslims from using the word “Allah” in his state as it is unconstitutional.

"The Federal Constitution gives the right to every individual to profess and practise his religion and also gives every religious group the right to manage its own religious affairs," he added.

Eu said the cabinet must honour and enforce all aspects of the 10-point solution and ensure it is followed all levels of government and authorities.

"The rights guaranteed to all religious communities under the Federal Constitution must be respected in all states in our beloved country, including Kedah," he said.

In the 10-point resolution, the cabinet, through its minister Datuk Seri Idris Jala, assured the sizeable Bumiputera Christian population in Sabah and Sarawak that they were free to bring in and use their
bibles in Malay as well as in indigenous languages.

The Court of Appeal will hear on August 22 the government's appeal to a High Court decision in 2009 that allowed the Catholic Church to use the word in its Bahasa Malaysia publications.

The controversy was reignited this past week when Vatican City's first Apostolic Nuncio or ambassador to Malaysia, Archbishop Joseph Marino, voiced his support for the CFM’s stand. He has since offered his apologies if his support to use the word had offended Malaysians.

Several right-wing Malay Muslim groups have asked Putrajaya to expel the envoy for his remarks despite the apology. – July 20, 2013.

Source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/appalled-by-umno-leaders-stand-on-allah-issue-christians-ask-cabinet-to-enf

Bersih, Pakatan want electoral roll subject to court oversight

BY BOO SU-LYN
JULY 18, 2013UPDATED: JULY 18, 2013 04:19 PM

Ambiga said if the Election Commission wanted transparency, it would not need the contentious section 9A to protect the electoral roll from judicial oversight.KUALA LUMPUR, July 18 — Pakatan Rakyat (PR) launched an online campaign today to abolish section 9A of the Elections Act 1958 that prohibits the courts from reviewing the electoral roll.

Bersih co-chair Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan lent her support to the campaign, saying that if the Election Commission (EC) wanted transparency, it would not need the contentious section 9A to protect the electoral roll from judicial oversight.

”The problem we have with 9A is that the EC is the sole custodian of the electoral roll,” said Ambiga at a joint press conference with DAP MPs Charles Santiago, Lim Kit Siang and Lim Guan Eng in Parliament here today.

Santiago pointed out that section 9A was introduced after the 2001 landmark court ruling on the Likas by-election in Sabah, where the Kota Kinabalu High Court ruled that the electoral roll for the Likas state constituency contained phantom voters and declared the 1999 polls to be null and void.



"It is clear that section 9A was introduced to enable BN (Barisan Nasional) to protect their phantom voters," said the Klang MP.



"Once an electoral roll is gazetted, it cannot be challenged in court," he added. "The Election Commission has absolute power in controlling the electoral roll, even beyond that of the judiciary."



Santiago said that the "Mansuhkan 9A" (Abolish 9A) campaign was started by him, PAS' Sepang MP Mohamed Hanipa Maidin and PKR's Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar.

Both Santiago and Nurul Izzah lost their bids in court before the May 5 polls to review the electoral rolls in their respective constituencies.



The two opposition lawmakers said there were phantom voters in the gazetted electoral rolls, but the Kuala Lumpur and Shah Alam High Courts ruled against their favour, citing section 9A of the Elections Act.



PR researchers have alleged there are tens of thousands of phantom voters registered on the electoral rolls in states such as Sabah and Selangor.

The EC has disputed the claims, saying that the high percentage of discrepancies in the electoral roll was “normal”.



"Section 9A is an ouster clause as it contravenes the Doctrine of Separation of Powers," said Santiago.

"The role of the judiciary as the arbitrator of rights and duties is completely removed."



The petition is accessible at mansuhkan9A.

Source: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/bersih-pakatan-want-electoral-roll-subject-to-court-oversight

Church right to say Allah describes God, says Vatican’s first envoy to Malaysia

BY JENNIFER GOMEZ
JULY 11, 2013

In his first interview with the Malaysian media, the first resident diplomat sent by the Vatican to live and work in this country spoke on the controversial issue of the use of the Arabic word "Allah" to describe God in any religion.

Archbishop Joseph Marino said he supports the stand of the Catholic Church in Malaysia.

He applauded the arguments made by the Christian Federation of Malaysia to use "Allah" in its texts to refer to God as very well done.

Archbishop Marino is the Apostolic Nuncio to Malaysia. This position, also often known as a papal nuncio, is the Vatican equivalent to an ambassador.

This is the first time the Vatican has opened what is the equivalent to an embassy in Malaysia.

The diplomat said the only way to stop deterioration in race relations in Malaysia is through dialogue, saying it would work out if people sat down and talked.

On his experience being the former nuncio in Bangladesh, Archbishop Marino said the people in that Muslim country have great respect for Christianity. - July 11, 2013.

Source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/church-right-to-say-allah-describes-god-says-vaticans-first-envoy-to-malaysia/

CHAIN OF COWARDICE: Taib Mahmud scared of Sarawak Report and Najib scared of Taib!

Friday, 05 July 2013 19:37Written by Malaysia Chronicle

MP for Pandan Rafizi Ramli slammed Sarawak Chief Minister Taib Mahmud for barring UK journalist Clare Rewcastle Brown from entering the state, warning the move would tarnish Malaysia's image as a moderate nation whilst confirming to the world that the corruption-taintedTaib had "a lot to hide".

Rafizi said that the ham-fisted action went against Prime Minister Najib Razak's promise of greater democracy, but does not expect the Malaysian premier - who is in London for a working visit - to be able to do anything to 'save face' for himself or the country.

"The prime minister is so weak he is powerless with Taib Mahmud. If Najib has his way, Taib Mahmud would not be the chief minister now. But obviously if Najib were to be tough on Taib, for sure, we would have a new government because Taib's party is in control of a lot of seats - directly and through all the small parties (in Sarawak). So don't expect any bravado from Najib," Rafizi told a press conference on Friday.

"It is so embarrassing because you have one person who is brave enough to travel from London to defend herself (against a legal suit filed against her in Sarawak). She entered the tiger's den so to speak, even though to the whole world, there is already a big question mark on the independence of the Malaysian courts. The fact that the Sarawak state government does not dare to allow a lone crusader who believes and is fully convinced of the righteousness in what she does will send a strong message to the whole world, not just Malaysia, that the Sarawak government has a lot to hide.

"Clare is a personal friend and she is one of the most persistent people I know. So if Taib Mahmud thinks by not allowing her to enter Sarawak, he can silence her, he is wrong. He will only embolden her to travel around the world and campaign around the world. Taib has just plunged himself and his government into further international 

Source: http://www.malaysia-chronicle.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=124311:uk-journalist-barred-taib-must-have-a-lot-to-hide-dont-expect-any-bravado-from-najib&Itemid=2#.UdfMrvk_u0o

Election officer arms PKR’s Rafizi with another dart for Election Commission

BY YISWAREE PALANSAMY
JULY 05, 2013

PKR strategy director Rafizi Ramli said the call by a senior election officer in Sabah to re-register voters was further proof that the electoral system was flawed.

"I want to hear what the Election Commission chairman and his deputy have to say to this," he said.

Rafizi was commenting on the on-going Royal Commission of Inquiry on illegal immigrants in Sabah where the state's election director Datuk Md Idrus Ismail, when giving evidence, said the 13 million voters nationwide must be registered again as the electoral roll was tainted.

Rafizi, who is also Pandan MP, said this clearly showed that the organisation and execution of the 13th general election was highly questionable.

"There are many questions being raised on the ballot paper, the ballot boxes and the indelible ink.

"All these have resulted in the public losing confidence in the electoral system and in the conduct of the polls," he told reporters at the PKR headquarters in Tropicana, Petaling Jaya.

At the same event, PKR candidate for the Tapah parliamentary seat K. Vasantha Kumar said the fact that the presiding officer at the Tapah seat was a MIC division chief is also grounds to question the contest.

"According to election laws, a presiding officer must not hold any political positions but this was not the case in Tapah." he told The Malaysian Insider.

He has also listed, among others, the murder of his former political aide, K. Murugan, 36, as another reason to petition to nullify the result.

Vasantha lost to Barisan Nasional's Datuk M. Saravanan, a MIC vice-president.

He claimed that three ballot boxes which contained early and postal votes for the constituency were removed three days before polling day from the Tapah police station.

"The boxes are for the Tapah parliament seat as well as for the Chenderiang and Ayer Kuning state seats which amounted to 2,195 votes," Vasantha said.

He said that his campaign workers who happened to be at the station questioned the removal of the boxes but were told not to interfere.

"There were six people who loaded the boxes onto a lorry." he said.

Vasantha alleged that the Tapah police station chief had also allowed for the boxes to be removed.

"We have facts and photographs to prove our case."

According to election law, the boxes can only be taken from the police station on polling day. – July 5, 2013.

Source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/election-officer-arms-pkrs-rafizi-with-another-dart-for-ec/

Controversial Bill on conversion of minors withdrawn

UPDATED @ 08:04:51 PM 05-07-2013

BY JENNIFER GOMEZ AND LEE SHI-IAN
JULY 05, 2013

The Cabinet has decided to withdraw the proposal allowing for the conversion of minors to Islam by a single parent.

In a statement today, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the cabinet made the decision to withdraw the proposed Administration of the Religion of Islam (Federal Territories) Bill 2013, to ensure that any religious decision made is fair to all, the New Straits Times reported.

“We also want to give time to the government and all parties to review the bill holistically and will only re-table the bill once we achieve a consensus,” he said.

While welcoming the withdrawal of the controversial unilateral conversion Bill, some quarters hope that the government would not attempt to introduce another Bill with the same clauses.

Malaysian Consultative Council on Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) deputy president Jagir Singh said it was only right to withdraw the Administration of Religion of Islam (Federal Territories) Bill 2013 so that it did not affect the unity of the country.

He, however, hopes that the offending clauses will not resurface in another Bill.

"The efforts of all the stakeholders have not been in vain as the Cabinet has taken all the feedback into consideration in withdrawing the proposal allowing for the conversion of minors to Islam by a single parent," said Jagir who is also the Malaysian Gurdwaras Council president.

In a statement earlier today, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the Cabinet had decided to withdraw the proposed Bill which was tabled for first reading in parliament last week, to ensure that any religious decision made was fair to all.

Muhyiddin said they wanted to give the government and all stakeholders more time to review the bill holistically. It will be retabled once a consensus has been reached.

Catholic Research Centre director Fr. Clarence Devadass said they hoped that the process of consultation could begin now with the involvement of all relevant parties.

"We are very glad that the government has heard the voice of the people," he said.

Former president of the Kuala Lumpur Catholic Lawyers Society Francis Pereira said the Bill had clearly not promoted national unity in any way.

"We are relieved that the government has decided to withdraw the bill as it had caused anxiety among non-Muslims in Malaysia."

MIC president Datuk G. Palanivel expressed his satisfaction at the Cabinet's decision.

He said the Cabinet had deliberated long and hard before deciding to withdraw it.

"It was a fair move taking into consideration the sensitivities of various stakeholders and groups. MIC still stands by its statement that the consent of both parents are needed for the conversion of children to Islam," Palanivel added. - July 5, 2013

Source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/controversial-bill-on-conversion-of-minors-withdrawn/

After Ferrari, Maserati speed into ether, DAP questions AES integrity

BY SYED JAYMAL ZAHIID
JULY 04, 2013

KUALA LUMPUR, July 4 — A Ferrari and a Maserati Gran Turismo caused a stir in November after they were reportedly caught topping 200kph by the contentious Automated Enforcement System (AES), but their mysterious disappearance now from the system’s records has raised a DAP lawmaker’s suspicion.

DAP MP Teo Nie Ching today pointed out the wide coverage of the two events by Chinese vernacular press in November last year, which reported the Ferrari as being photographed going 243kph along the North-South Expressway. The Maserati went even faster: 268kph.

She noted that one report had Road Transport Department assistant director of enforcement Ahmad Nasir Abdul Gani had confirming the capture of the speed demons by the AES.

But she added that a written reply to her question in Parliament seeking the outcome of the two cases show that both have now vanished from the records, with officials denying that either incident was ever recorded.

- See more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/after-ferrari-maserati-outruns-enforcement-dap-questions-aes-integrity#sthash.ZshzqTJk.dpuf

Source: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/after-ferrari-maserati-outruns-enforcement-dap-questions-aes-integrity

Not an act of God, but the folly of zealots - S.Ramakrishnan

JULY 04, 2013

The freedom to practice one's religion is a fundamental liberty enshrined in the Malaysian Constitution. But hardly two months after the 13th general election UMNO is tabling the highly controversial conversion bill despite opposition and reservation from within BN component members. 

The image that the country is trying hard to push, that Malaysia is truly Asia, with a plural and diverse population, is just the diametric opposite of the increased radicalization of UMNO. 

This is truly worrying and the future has a dark horizon looming. 

Umno has once again shown its true colours: that they care two hoots about non-Malays and non-Muslims and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib’s Razak's National Reconciliation effort.

Amending a legislation to legalize the conversion of a minor who has neither free will nor knowledge about the religion he/she has been converted to tantamount to bullying and forcing the issue down the throats of minorities. Under the new legislation, a parent or guardian can convert a minor. 

Allowing even guardians to convert a child is a flagrant abuse of power and is against the free choice option of children. 

Logically, all conversion should be after 18 years old where the person knows and understand what he is going into.

The tabling of the Administration of the Religion of Islam (Federal Territories) Bill 2013 in Parliament last week, which allows only one parent's consent, or that of the guardian, to convert a minor to Islam has been done with no consideration for the feelings and wishes of minorities. 

The consent of both the parents is a must and no two ways about it. 

This is what the cabinet in 2009 decided and why the change now?

Even the Grand Mufti of Egypt Ali Gomaa, one of the most respected Islamic scholars in the world today, wrote under the sub-heading "Freedom of religion in Islam", "The essential question before us is can a person who is Muslim choose a religion other than Islam? The answer is yes, they can, because the Qur'an says, 'Unto you your religion, and unto me my religion,' [Qur'an, 109:6], and, "Whosoever will, let him believe, and whosoever will, let him disbelieve,' [Qur'an, 18:29], and, 'There is no compulsion in religion. 

The right direction is distinct from error' [Qur'an, 2:256]."  But the UMNO leaders with the holier than thou attitude, may not agree with grand mufti of Egypt.

By persisting to table this sensitive and distasteful bill in parliament, UMNO is trying to whip up Malay Muslim chauvinism to instill fear and reprisal on non-Malays for voting Pakatan Rakyat in GE13. 

With large number of young Malays and urban voters supporting Pakatan Rakyat, such tactics by UMNO will only bring their own downfall sooner.

UMNO and their supporters instead of countering fundamentalism are themselves becoming more radicalized. 

The largest and dominant political party is being increasingly insensitive to minorities which does not augur well for the future of Malaysia remaining a land of plural and diverse tolerance or even being truly Asia. 

Malaysians are now turning towards Pakatan Rakyat leaders to bring about the inclusiveness and provide the constitutional guarantees to all citizens. 

Do unto others what you want others do to you.

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

Source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/sideviews/article/not-an-act-of-god-but-the-folly-of-zealots-s.ramakrishnan/

Hasty laws, nasty consequences - Child Conversion Bill

JULY 02, 2013

Elections can come and go but some things will never change: for one, the deeply flawed and arbitrary manner in which laws are cobbled together in Malaysia.

Take the controversial Section 103 of the Administration of Islamic Law (Federal Territories) Bill. Listening to Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin defend the Bill in the Parliament lobby yesterday was a cringe-worthy experience.

He said that the Cabinet was aware of the objections raised by Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties and non-government organisations and would take it into account in discussions to follow. The Deputy Prime Minister assured all that the Cabinet would be just.

This sounds like a perfect case of putting the cart before the horse. This is how the process of legislation should be done- first a period of consultation and feedback; drawing up a draft of the Bill and circulating it to relevant parties for more feedback and only when there is a consensus of sorts should it be tabled in Parliament.

Muhyiddin and his friends in Cabinet cannot claim to be blind-sided by the furore this amendment has caused.

Upko leader and former Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Bernard Dompok said that he voiced his objections early on the Bill and was surprised that it had made it to Parliament.

Muhyiddin denied that the government was going back on its word by allowing the minor based on the consent of just one parent. This assurance was offered in 2009 by the then de facto Law Minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz in the wake of a controversy of body snatching case and the conversion of children by a father who embraced Islam..

The DPM said that the amendment had to be done in line with a recent court case.

Puzzling reasoning when you consider the fact that Parliament is the highest decision-making body in the land. Not the courts.

Despite any court decision, Parliament  can choose to make law based on public or national interest. That is a parliamentary democracy.

Hurrying through ill-advised legislation is bad but taking cover behind a court decision for ill-advised legislation is shocking.

Source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/sideviews/article/hasty-laws-nasty-consequences-the-malaysian-insider/