Politik, Legislatif, Dasar dan Tadbir Urus

The recent announcement made by the BN federal government's chief secretary Tan Sri Sidek Hassan to appoint the tainted Selangor religious department director Mohd Khusrin Munawi to take over the position of Selangor state secretary without informing the Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim has been unbecoming and Tan Sri Sidek has been seen as rude. The rudeness of Tan Sri Sidek is, he did not even have the care or courtesy to consult the Selangor Menteri Besar on the state secretary's choice, instead choose to bypass Khalid and went straight to the Sultan of Selangor to present the appointment. Yes, we know the state secretary's position is under the jurisdiction of the Public Service Department (JPA), but as that position is a state based, the chief secretary should have at least demonstrate his proper manners and professionalism in getting the Selangor Menteri Besar's acknowledging the appointment first. Again we wish to point that Tan Sri Sidek is being rude and un...

Religion is actually a very valuable asset. Religion is about spiritual values of love, compassion, humility and justice. We all should take note that it is religion that should remind our political leaders and rulers to behave rather than to let politics dominate religion and later political leaders or rulers will use it as tool to advance their political powers and interests. The Prophet of Islam Muhammad s.a.w. has been mentioned in the Quran as Rahmah Lil Alamin which means "Mercy of the World". Unfortunately, today's powerful political leaders and rulers have made life miserable for their people in the name of religion, purportedly under their control. Many political leaders and rulers today had distorted facts and made religion their political tool in order to remain in power and control their people. Therefore, when religion is used for political means, people would tend to get confuse, got cheated and follow blindly or they might have to follow it just because the...

Recently, we heard another guy who merely committed a small traffic offense was pulled over by some policemen and whacked like he is a hardcore criminal or somewhat a terrorist. Besides, he was also robbed off his cash and other belongings. So what were those policemen up to during that time? Are they manning a roadblock or traffic, or what is their actual intention for being there during that hour? Enforcing the law, traffic or the other one called brutality? Have these policemen forgotten that they are the law enforcers and their duties are to protect the people and to ensure the public security is in order? So, what are they doing in a group, or perhaps in a platoon surrounding an innocent looking man and whacked him from the scene, to the lock-up and till to the magistrate court compound? Does the inspector-general of police and the home minister sanction such moves to apprehend people without concrete reasons for doing so? Come on, that guy is unarmed, he is just driving his wife...

First of all, let us all congratulate Selangor State Executive Councillor for Local Government Ronnie Liu for his good job done. This time Ronnie had done it right for the sake of the people and our unity. Ronnie was right to instruct all Selangor municipal and district councils to ban the 1Malaysia concept in the industrialized state. This is because 1Malaysia concept itself is already misleading, full of blatant lies, confusing the people and discouraged national unity. In this case, we would like to call on all Pakatan Rakyat state governments to follow suit in enforcing the ban on the 1Malaysia concept in their respective states under their care. Why do we consider 1Malaysia as a threat? Because much of 1Malaysia concept was derived from the once popular 1Israel concept . Both of these two Malaysian and Israeli projects were undertaken by Apco Worldwide, an Israeli-owned international public consultancy firm who has close ties with the Israeli military and intelligence community. ...

By Catherine Rubbens The World Bank estimates that in some countries, fewer than 10 percent of people have access to financial services of any kind. In many countries, the most vulnerable people often cannot use a bank account to manage payments, save securely or get a loan at competitive rates. Banking for Billions, an Economist Intelligence Unit publication commissioned by Barclays, examines the current global landscape for access to financial services and assesses next steps. The report confirms that financial exclusion reinforces the poverty cycle in both developing and developed states by preventing access to basic needs such as healthcare and education. It also stresses that financial inclusion goes far beyond small loans and that there is a strong need for other services such as insurance, transactional accounts, payment services, financial education and savings. Technological solutions play a vital role in expanding financial inclusion worldwide, particularly in regions such as...

By Richard Loh I am a life member of a political party from the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) coalition and after 3/08 my thoughts and dreams are to see that PR will become a formidable force to take on the very much hated umno/bn but instead my dreams are shuttered with each passing day. Many PR MPs and Aduns are performing very well but this alone is just not good enough to take on umno/bn. We like to complain about UMNO's 'little Napoleons' but PR itself got a string of little kingdoms that are very damaging. Discipline and principle are not enshrined nor enforced to curb behaviors that are unwarranted and damaging to the coalition. Many of you share my dreams but there are as many hypocrites with self interest and own agenda. UMNO/BN are well ahead in preparation for the coming 13th GE, they did not have to go on a campaigning trail but daily using the government sponsored programmes to reach out to the rakyat and they are making progress. What do we have in PR, using the same ol...

Before we begin with this, let us recall what had Lim Guan Eng said during last week's Pakatan Rakyat National Convention in Seberang Perai, Penang. During the Pakatan Convention, the DAP Secretary-General and Penang Chief Minister had mentioned that there are two categories of Malaysians in our country right now, that is the True Malaysian while the other is False Malaysian. Guan Eng was correct to mention and differentiate in such a way as it was his sacred duty as a responsible political leader to tell the voters and general public to be aware of and to stay away from such negative political elements. Well, those who had felt the pain because of those statements had responded. They are the leaders of BN, particularly Umno and their newspaper called Utusan Malaysia. BN, Umno and Utusan Malaysia had responded because they had already felt the pain of being exposed, eventhough the DAP leader did not directly name the culprits', because they knew that they have been carrying out...

In the previous general elections, till March 2008, the Umno-led BN coalition federal government often misused the word patriotic by reminding our people to be grateful of them. Those BN leaders, especially Umno had often said "be grateful of what you have today", "be grateful of the stability of this country today", "be grateful of what you are today", "be grateful that you are staying in this country today", "do not repeat May 13" and so on. So come the general election on March 2008, which saw the Umno-led BN coalition tumbled and lost its two thirds majority in the parliament for the second time since 1969. The BN were finally being denied their two thirds majority by the "ungrateful" Malaysian voters. While suffering from its lost, Umno particularly had started to lashed out at voters saying that the generations of new voters today were so ungrateful and unpatriotic for voting the opposition parties who later came togethe...

The Pakatan Rakyat (PR) National Convention was held this morning at the Dewan Milenium, Kepala Batas, Seberang Perai Utara, Penang. About 2,500 delegates and observers from PR component parties, DAP, PKR and PAS attend today's one day event, which saw prominent PR leaders PKR's Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, Dr Wan Azizah Ismail and Tian Chua; DAP's Lim Kit Siang, Karpal Singh and Lim Guan Eng; and PAS' Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, Datuk Nasharuddin Mat Isa and Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin present at today's national convention which strengthened their commitment to uphold the Pakatan Rakyat coalition in face of the possible snap general election next year. I attended the national convention today as a delegate. In the convention, I managed to meet up and had chats with some local and outstation party leaders like Sdr Phee Boon Poh (DAP Sungai Puyu, Bagan), Sdr A.Thanasekharan (DAP Bagan Dalam, Bagan), Sdr Lim Hock Seng (DAP Bagan Jermal, Bagan), ...

Malaysia’s inter-faith umbrella group today took a hit at recent remarks made by the Umno-link International Institute of Islamic Understanding (IKIM) scholars that their religion is superior but refused to be drawn into a public debate, saying they preferred dialogue to keep the peace. Malaysian Consultative Council for Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) president Reverend Thomas Phillips reaffirmed the group was committed to promoting harmony and understanding in multi religious Malaysia, pointing to warming ties between Muslims and non-Muslims in the past two months. All religions are equal and no religion in this world is greater than the other. Why is IKIM keep on harping on its superiority and supremacy over the other religion in our nation? It has been clearly mentioned in the Federal Constitution, Islam is the official religion in our nation. It did not mention that Islam is the master or supreme religion of this country. And again, in the Federal C...

Heil Hitler Tuan Yang DiPertua Pandikar Amin Mulia! Why are we calling you this name? Because you are a dictator. You control the voice of the parliament with your iron fist. You prevent debates, you prevent forums, you prevent discussions, you prevent motions to be tabled, you prevent all kinds of democratic rights and prevent all these to flourish in the name of parliamentary democracy, and finally you suspended opposition parliamentarians in order to provide a strong majority for the ruling corrupt Barisan Nasional coalition. So this is how the speaker of Dewan Rakyat acts. If he is so arrogant, so supreme and being a dictator in ruling the parliament with his iron fist, then what is the need of the parliament? You prevent debates, you prevent whatsoever discussions or motions to be carried out or to be tabled in the parliament. Pandikar Amin had turned the parliament into his own. Where is democracy? Where is justice? Where is equality? Have you ever follow the standing orders? No,...

It is very clear now, the family of the late Teoh Beng Hock has been fooled by the Umno-led BN federal government. During the funeral, Beng Hock's family was promised that the inquest would take less than a year to complete and justice would soon prevail. But after more than a year, what had Beng Hock's family got? All they got is they had been given a run around by the BN government officials, Umno and MCA leaders. The inquest proceedings were prolonged and dragged not deeper into the case but it is made like a showcase or "sandiwara" so that these BN leaders could continue with their political games much more longer. One hearing after another, the BN appointed lawyers and defence team even made a fool of the inquest proceedings and made mockery out of Beng Hock's family members. They accused Beng Hock's family members of being politically used by DAP, PKR and PAS for their political gains, they accused Beng Hock's family for not wanting to listen to fact...

Former Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) supreme council member Zaid Ibrahim has been elected president of Angkatan Keadilan Insan Malaysia (Akim) during the party's annual general meeting today held in Petaling Jaya. After Zaid assumed the leadership of Akim, the party also decided to change its name to Parti Kesejahteraan Insan Tanah Air (Kita). Zaid took over the top post from Zakaria Salleh, who did not contest the seat. On last November, Zaid, who was contesting in the PKR's polls for the party deputy presidency for the 2010-2012 term, withdrew from the contest and quit the party citing the polls lacked transparency. Zaid, who submitted his membership application to Akim last month, said he would announce the party's new ideology and principles on January next year. The party, which was only for Muslims will also amend its constitution to be converted into a multiracial party, he added. Prior to joining PKR, Zaid was also former Umno supreme council member and had quit his ...

By Syed Jaymal Zahiid PAS fears a coup if the opposition coalition Pakatan Rakyat seizes control of Putrajaya in the next general election. Party leaders believe that Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak's comment on Saturday that “if Barisan Nasional doesn't win, no one can” was an indirect threat. Commenting on the matter, PAS vice-president Mahfuz Omar described the premier's remark as a dangerous threat to democracy. "Does this mean that a riot will happen? Will there be a coup d'etat? This statement is made as if there is already a plan," the Pokok Sena MP told a press conference at the Parliament lobby today. Shah Alam PAS MP Khalid Samad said Najib owed the public an explanation. He also called on the prime minister to assure Malaysians than BN would hand over control peacefully if defeated in the polls. "We want a direct response. If he doesn't give a direct response, it's a clear indication that they are not willing to let go," he said. Tu...

By P.Ramakrishnan We have every reason to be concerned. We wonder where this nation is heading for and what is in store for us. From the civil servant to the Umno politician, it is the same story: the non-Malays are “pendatang” and don’t have any citizenship rights. The rights conferred by Article 8 of the Federal Constitution are not respected or protected. When an extreme group like Perkasa questions the citizenship rights of the non-Malays, the national leadership does not take them to task. When extreme elements in Umno berate and denigrate the non-Malays, the top Umno leadership does not chastise them. When one Umno delegate at the recently concluded general assembly had the temerity to suggest that the non-Malays be given the right to do business but should be denied the right to vote, nobody pointed out that it was against the constitution and that he should not be talking through his nose! It is this disturbing silence when atrocious things are said which affect our unity that ...

I had attended the Penang DAP State Ordinary Convention today held at Dewan Tunku, Komtar, Penang as a delegate of my local branch situated in the Bagan Parliamentary Liaison. The state ordinary convention was officiated by DAP Secretary-General and Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng. Today's convention also saw a total of 88 candidates vying for 15 placements in the state party committee. As compared with the earlier contests in the Selangor and Perak DAP state ordinary conventions, the contest here in Penang clearly did not reflect any factionalism. Well done incumbent State Party Chairman Chow Kon Yeow who had worked hard to ensure the Penang DAP stays united as a team. Personally, I would suggest, DAP leaders of other states should also follow the good leadership example set by Kon Yeow, who was later re-elected to his position after his victory. During the debate on the State Party Secretary's Annual Report, I had brought up some issues to the attention of the state party ...

We all agreed that the recent price hikes of some essential items had been indeed a grave disappointment to all of us. Previously, the Umno-led BN federal government had pledged that there are other channels and alternatives to address the current economic uncertainties as well as to keep its treasury filled all the time. But what came otherwise? The price hikes that came in a sudden, as a surprise and it was announced only at night instead of in the daytime. Why not giving the announcement in the broad daylight? Why is it so fishy doing it only at night? What are motives then? Do aware that these price hikes had multiple affects on all levels in our communities, be it the working communities, the business communities, wealthy people or even the students. So, for those who are of narrow minded, please be informed. In grieve this price hikes do affects badly on the students especially, because they are the one in the lowest income group. What is the source of their income? Yes, first fr...

By Melissa Chi Malaysians perceived the police to be the most corrupt, topping political parties, civil servants, the private business sector and the judiciary, according to the 2010 Global Corruption Barometer (GCB) results released today. The survey, conducted by Transparency International (TI) Malaysia, involved about 1,000 people, 16 year olds and above, with 57 per cent from urban areas and the rest from rural areas. The survey, conducted in July this year, is the seventh edition, an annual report except for the year 2008. Datuk Paul Low, president of TI Malaysia, said the finding was unusual compared to surveys done in most countries, where political parties top the list, followed by the civil service and the judiciary. He said in terms of petty corruption cases, the percentage had gone down. It is the perception on grand corruption that has increased. The survey found that 9 per cent of the participants admitted to have bribed in the past year. It is the same percentage of those...

Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) had affirmed its revenge against voters who voted against them in general elections by again denying Opposition members of parliament and state assemblymen to funding and allocation to their respective constituencies. This was confirmed by Umno deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin recently who had shot down a request that the federal government should extend development funds to Opposition MPs. According to Muhyddin the funds and allocations are only allocated to Barisan MPs. He also said providing the funds to Barisan MPs had been a practice of the ruling coalition and there was no intention to extend it to Opposition MPs at all. He was respon­ding to a request from Selangor State Executive Councillor Dr Yaakob Safari that the funding and allo­cations should be given to Opposition MPs as well. The Selangor state is currently being administered by the opposition Pakatan Rakyat under the leadership of Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim of PKR. The oppositio...

By Melissa Chi First-class education system, a corruption-free government, zero tolerance on racism and the basic skill to communicate properly are all on one Malaysian’s mind when he chooses to work in Australia. Anthony Leong, 30, an application support programmer, said he is considering giving up his Malaysian citizenship and live in Australia permanently, for the sake of his future family. He said he had become frustrated at the corrupted system, the quality of local university graduates and the red tape he had to go through to apply for welfare support for his 70-year-old disabled aunt, among other things. He is now a permanent resident in Australia, working for the Queensland Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation, and is considering applying to be an Australian citizen once he has convinced his father and sister to move with him. Low purchasing power, racism, political instability, low income, race-based policies, crime rates and non-dual citizenship laws ...

Well, we all knew from yesterday that former Selangor Umno menteri besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo was arrested and charged in the sessions court over his mansion land deal fraud and corruption. The lead of the prosecution team is none other than attorney-general Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail who later told the press that "a piece of land being bought cheaper does not automatically mean an offence has been committed". Does that statement shows that Tan Sri Abdul Gani is lack of confidence in pursuing this case? Can he explain why in the first place it took so long to investigate this case. We all should remember that under former Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's administration, prominent businessman the late Tan Sri Eric Chia and former Land and Co-operative Development Minister Tan Sri Kasitah Gaddam were similarly charged in 2004 with corruption and power abuses after a long period of investigations. However both Eric Chia and Kasitah were later found not guilty, mostly...

Umno supreme council member and ousted Perlis mentri besar Dr Shahidan Kassim (picture above) today called for the blocking of the Facebook social networking website if its contents continue to pose a threat to "national security". He said a Facebook account holder was found to have taken advantage of the technology to insult Islam and leaders of Malaysia. “If the website content poses a threat to national security and insults Islam, then it is unnecessary to have Facebook,” he told reporters after accompanying Perlis Facebook Association committee members to lodge a report at the Kangar police station on the insults hurled at Prime Minister Seri Najib Razak and former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad on a Facebook page. Shahidan said a report would also be lodged at the State Islamic Religious Department as the holder of the Facebook account had also insulted Islam, and added that the insults hurled at Najib and Mahathir were discovered by a member of the association...

Recently, the prime minister and Umno president Najib Rzak said that the people were starting to trust BN and returning to its fold, so today he punished the people by increasing the prices of essential items. The price of RON95 increased this morning by five sen to RM1.90 per litre, diesel by five sen per litre to RM1.80 and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) by five sen to RM1.90 per kg. Sugar will also cost 20 sen more at RM2.10 per kg. The announcement of these price hikes came as a surprise, as it was only made known late of last night, when people are already at home after a long work week to rest and start a afresh for a nice weekend today. Unfortunately, today's weekend had turned into a worst nightmare for all of us. Because of the price hike for the above essential items, the people now fear those price hikes would also affect the other essential items and services. Example, fuel hikes would spell an increase on the transportation costs, and services. So, after the people ...

In response to the recent call by PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail that the Ketuanan Melayu agenda should be put to end, Umno had once again blown this agenda by directly pulling the Malay rulers into their political play. Actually, Ketuanan Melayu has nothing to do with the Malay rulers at all. This very strange word is actually a political agenda being drum up by Umno in order to gain or regain support from Malay community. There is actually no such thing of Ketuanan Melayu at all in Malaysia. If you read the Federal Constitution and the respective state constitutions carefully, you can never find any provision that will link Ketuanan Melayu with the Malay rulers' institution. The Malay rulers are in fact a sacred royal institution by itself. The Ketuanan Melayu is merely a political jargon created by Umno in order to fend itself from its racist agenda and policies. And you can see now, when PKR brought up this matter to the public for scrutiny, Umno quickly took to the...

By Kit Blatt, Accountability International On the heels of a global economic meltdown and the glacial pace of economic recovery, restructuring by employment downsizing has become commonplace often at the expense of social conditions and regional development. As companies rethink their operating models, having a more sustainable mindset is in order. One question that needs to be considered is whether or not businesses should take a more active role in minimizing the impact of business decisions on local economies and communities. Mitigating the risk of restructuring by downsizing even before a decision has been reached to cut jobs is an integral part of responsible business behaviour. Retraining, redeploying, and seeking alternative opportunities for those affected can minimise the social and personal impact of structural transformation. Global banking giant HSBC found that being transparent in uncertain times helped build trust with employees and reduced the risks associated with lower...