Politik, Legislatif, Dasar dan Tadbir Urus

Yesterday, a group of Umno youth members together with a gang of motorcyclist ( mat rempits ) who are believed to be Putera Umno members led by Umno youth exco member Lukman Adam, all wearing red t-shirts, carrying banners, waving Umno flags and chanting racist and hate slogans drove in large convoys to a petrol station in Shah Alam, believed to had purchase a few bottles of petrol in preparation of their march towards the PKR Headquarters in Petaling Jaya. Upon arrival at the PKR Headquarters, these mobs of Umno youth members and the Putera Umno mat rempits began to assemble in front of the PKR office entrance, starting to yell, shout, chanting slogans of hatred and revenge and sounded their motorcycles' engines continuously. While demonstrating outside the PKR Headquarters, these mobs of Umno youth members and the Putera Umno mat rempits began to turn unruly and chased away most of the passer by who walked at the nearby areas. The Umno mobsters later sounded their demand that t...

Whatever the Umno-led BN federal government wish to do, be it a second Ops Lalang, a massive crackdown nationwide, ISA threat, dispatching tanks into the cities, sending helicopter gunships to shoot our people, putting snipers on the roofs to kill our people, you name it, we don't give a dam on all these threats. It shows that the Umno-dominated government is in its most desperate position. They are indeed very, very afraid of losing power, they are afraid of the people knowing their bad deeds, their cover-ups, their power abuses, mismanagement, missing public funds, and on their plans to arrests and to murder political dissidents one by one. We all knew that the Umno government is now mobilizing the entire police special branch, the air force intelligence, naval intelligence and the army intelligence personnel nationwide to ensure the racist party's political survival is prolong. First, massive crackdown was being carried out and Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) activists were th...

Today it has been reported and shown in the TV3's 1.30 pm news that members of the Ampang Umno division had staged a demonstration in Selangor in protest against the upcoming Bersih 2.0 rally which is scheduled to be held on 9 July 2011 in Kuala Lumpur. From the scene shown in the news, these Umno members were seen demonstrating in a very uncivilized manner, yelling, shouting, jumping and showing their unruly and violent behaviours in the public. Yelling, shouting, jumping and showing off their unruly and violent characteristics, what for? You all do not behave like human beings at all. From the observation on the way your actions in public, it seems like you all are more like angry monkeys or chimpanzees than human beings. And yet the uncommon sense police gave them a permit to do so, whereas the Bersih 2.0 rally which is going to be a peaceful march in the name of justice, free and fair election was not given the permit. Is this fair? We urge the Bersih 2.0 organizers to ignore a...

According to the Umno deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin, the upcoming Bersih 2.0 Rally scheduled to be held on 9 July 2011 next month is a threat to the national security. The requests of the people through Bersih 2.0 Rally are as follows: 1. Clean the electoral roll, which is marred with irregularities such as deceased persons and multiple persons registered under a single address or non-existent addresses. In the longer term, Bersih 2.0 also calls for the Elections Commission to implement an automated voter registration system upon eligibility to reduce irregularities. 2. Reform postal ballot, to ensure that all citizens of Malaysia, residing in or out of the country, are able to exercise their right to vote. 3. Use of indelible ink to reduce voter fraud. 4. Minimum 21 days campaign period to allow voters more time to gather information and deliberate on their choices. The first national elections in 1955 under the British Colonial Government had a campaign period of 42 days but the ...

By Lim Mun Fah A democratic society allows the coexistence of different political views and ideas. The principle of seeking a common ground while reserving differences has always been the most precious spirit in a multi-racial society. We might not agree with the political views and ideas of others but we must respect them and let others legally and rationally express their views. Of course, the best way to get along well is through communication. Mutual understanding, the principle of seeking a common ground while reserving differences and consensuses could be achieved through communication. Also, hatred and contradictions could be eliminated only through communication. The country and society would become more peaceful and rational before winning the people's gratitude and respect. The theory is simple but the implementation is always rather difficult. There are many angry people in the society with some have gone too far and turned unreasonable. It is understandable to point out...

By Soong Phui Jee The situation on 9 July 2011 is hardly predictable. If their plans remain unchanged, three forces will march to Istana Negara on that day. It reminded me of the Bersih street demonstration three years ago. The political background and social atmosphere at that time were similar to those of today's. At the end of 2007, the civil society was facing inflationary pressures and social discontent brewed. Politically, the country had entered the countdown stage of the general election. The opposition and dissident non-governmental organisations (NGOs) took the opportunity to mobilise a massive street demonstration. The chosen reason of "calling for a clean and fair election" was not important at all as it was only meant to serve election campaign purposes. The demonstration actually served mainly political purposes, including to strengthen the opposition's momentum and set off the sentiment of opposing the ruling party. The people had witnessed the oppositi...

The Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) treasurer David Teng has blamed the policies and decisions of the Barisan Nasional (BN) for its dismal performances in the recently concluded state election. In the recent state election, SUPP had contested 19 seats, but lost 13 of them, a number of which it had held for the past 41 years. Teng, who lost his Repok seat which he won in 1983, said that the BN was the rootcause of the people’s dissatisfaction because of its many policies and decisions. “The BN has been in power for a long time and it is natural that a house becomes dusty after some non-cleaning period", according to Teng again. Like its counterparts, MCA, MIC, Gerakan and PPP blaming Umno for their failure in the last general elections, SUPP is now blaming the BN, particularly the dominant state BN component party, Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu (PBB). Since BN, PBB or Umno were the root cause of your defeat and you had known it earlier before the election, why didn't you all ac...

A Human Rights Party (HRP) event in Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan, was today disrupted when municipal council officers and the police “ambused” the venue and ordered its members to disperse. However, HRP leader P Uthayakumar said despite the harassment and distruption by the authorities, the Indian-based party would continue with the event, which is the official launch of HRP’s Teluk Kemang operations centre later this evening. At about 11am, some 20 police personnel and municipal council enforcement officers arrived and informed the HRP leaders to immediately dismantle their canopy that was being set up at Batu 2 1/2, Jalan Seremban, Port Dickson. However the HRP members managed to stop the council enforcement officers from tearing down their event tents. Uthayakumar said the local authorities have backed out for the time being but were still in the area. He expected the authorities to continue to harass the HRP event during the official launch at 5pm today. “The police are still here...

Well, the mosques election in Penang initiated by the state religious council (MAIPP) has been put off on the instruction of the King recently. This was confirmed by the MAIPP president Elias Zakaria yesterday after a meeting with the King. Thanks to Umno who managed to instigate and convince the King that DAP and the Chinese were interfering in the management of all the mosques in the Penang state. Until today, Umno still failed to provide any concrete evidence to show that DAP and the Chinese had deliberately interfered in the management of mosques in Penang and yet that man choose to be influenced and instigated by Umno to make such a decision. He failed to make the judgment based on wisdom. Okay, since Umno said that the Chinese have been interfering in the management of all the mosques in Penang, we would also like to say that Umno also interfered in the managements of the Chinese and Hindu temples in Penang. The interference of Umno in the managements of Chinese and Hindu temples...

Oleh Roketkini Daripada 200 masjid di Pulau Pinang, 4,485 calon telah menawarkan diri untuk mengisi 4,530 jawatan di 151 masjid manakala 34 masjid berkompromi tanpa bertanding. Hanya 8 masjid tidak menghantar borang pencalonan. Di mana masalah “perpecahan” umat Islam di Pulau Pinang yang digembar-gemburkan oleh UMNO dan kumpulan-kumpulan yang sealirannya dengannya? Persoalan itu dibangkitkan oleh Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Hal Ehwal Agama, Perdagangan Dalam Negeri dan Hal Ehwal Pengguna Negeri Abdul Malik Kassim terhadap fitnah Umno mengenai tata cara pemilihan jawatankuasa masjid di Pulau Pinang. “Jelas daripada statistik tersebut terbukti bahawa anak-anak kariah masjid telah bersedia untuk membawa perubahan ke arah yang lebih baik,” katanya. Beliau berkata Umno cuba mengheret Yang di-Pertuan Agong dalam isu pemilihan jawatankuasa masjid di Pulau Pinang semata-mata kerana mahu membangkitkan kemarahan orang Melayu terhadap kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat. Menurutnya Umno enggan menerima hakikat ba...

The daughter of Umno president and BN chairman Najib Razak was betrothed to her college sweetheart in a ceremony at the prime minister’s residence in Putrajaya yesterday. Nooryana Najwa and her fiancé Daniyar Nazarbayev exchanged their engagement vows in a grand ceremony attended by family, friends, diplomats and royalty. Daniyar is the son of the Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev. Gracing the ceremony today were Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Nur Zahirah, Sultan of Pahang Sultan Ahmad Shah and the Sultanah of Pahang Hajah Kalsom, Tengku Mahkota Pahang Tengku Abdullah and Raja Muda of Perak Raja Nazrin Shah. So, this is what Najib's visit to Kazakhstan recently all about. The purpose of his visit is to call on his future in-law President Nazarbayev in order to express his daughter's intention to wed the president's son. You had used the public funds for your "risik-risik" and your daughter's wedding. ...

By Soong Phui Jee It was reported that the Cabinet might consider reducing the overseas scholarships for Sijil Penilaian Malaysia (SPM) students. Students who score well in the SPM examination might have only be awarded the Public Service Department (PSD) overseas scholarships after they have completed a pre-university course and admitted by one of the world's top 50 universities, such as the eight private institutions of higher education of the US Ivy League, the Oxford University and the eight leading universities in the United Kingdom. The reports have again triggered a debate as the new rules of the game seem to be irrelevant to perfection, transparency and fairness. The only advantage is, it seems to have made things easier for the PSD. Another debatable issue is, what is the best timing to award the scholarships? We always think of neighbouring Singapore when we talk about scholarships. Since the early 1970s, Singapore has been offering the Asean Scholarships to outstanding M...

By Chan Li Lin In the 80s and 90s, a special programme featuring a “child parliament” would run on national television on our Independence Day. I can still remember that a Malay comedian took the role of the “parliament” speaker while all the “MPs” were played by a group of children. Though all of them were perfectly dressed in formal attire, the programme was more like an entertaining comedy but lacking in substance. Established by the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ), the children’s city council is the first of its kind and this is what will serve a useful purpose. 24 child councillors will hold a meeting every month to discuss about issues regarding public measures, livelihood issues and other matters raised by children in the community. Some small matters overlooked by adults may appear “big” in the eyes of children. As such, MBPJ must see through the eyes of children if it were to establish a child-friendly city! Many people wish to do something for children, just like parents ho...

On the upcoming Bersih 2.0 rally which is scheduled to be held in Kuala Lumpur on 9 July 2011, have no fear in participating. The confidence is already there for everyone to come out in full force in order to show the Umno regime how much we care for our country. We must also show and demonstrate to the Umno regime that the governance of this nation is not their birth right and it is our right as citizens and voters to determine which party we prefer to govern this country of ours in the next general election to come. It is our birth right as a voter and citizen of this country to determine the destiny of this country and not, Umno, MCA, MIC, BN, Gerakan, PPP, PBB or whatever you name them. The Umno regime has no right to stop us from exercising our rights as in accordance to the Federal Constitution of this country. Perkasa said they will do whatever they can to stop this rally from taking place. What are they going to do? To send suicide bombers or to station snipers on rooftops? ...

Congratulations Umno on your effort to convince the royal household to support your protest against the advancement of the democratic implementation over here, thus ordering the cancellation of the mosque elections in the Penang state. With the cancellation of the mosque elections in the state, Umno is now hoping to retain their influence and control over this institution after they had lost the state governance in the last general election. Earlier, Umno leaders in the state has been vocal against the proposed election in this Islamic institution fearing that their party members would be voted out in most of these mosques, thus further losing their grip in these religious bodies, which they considered as their last bastion of "power" . Aside this, Umno had also claimed that the mosques' elections in the state were as the result of DAP's alleged interference in the state's Islamic affairs and the party had also wanted to manage these mosques. According to the sta...

We have been wondering what does Umno want with the construction of this radioactive-based plant in our country. Despite all the protests from the people, the Umno-led government had decided against the safety of our people and proceeded with the construction of the Australian-based Lynas at the Gebeng Industrial Park in Pahang. Yes, it provides job opportunities and get returns of investments but in a longer term who will actually suffer from the consequences should anything were to happen? Did this Umno government really think of all those consequences in the long run or are they merely expecting big bucks from the investment? This means, the concept of "People First, Performance Now" advocated by the Umno prime minister Najib Razak is really a fake and it's a joke! This Umno government is not making money for the people but they are merely making money for their own. Recently, we had a report that the Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB) had instructed a processing pla...

By Chris Anthony The new leadership that emerged after the recent PAS elections is indeed a great relief for those beginning to give up hope for change in the political landscape in the country. This comes particularly at a time when the 13th general election is just around the corner. The peaceful way the elections were conducted puts many other rival parties to shame. There were no bickerings and personal politicking and the decision of the delegates was accepted in a true spirit of democracy. The whole process reveals a high level of maturity on the part of the delegates at the Muktamar. The speech by the president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, showed a man who in no uncertain terms rejected the various offers to entice the party to form a unity government with BN. His outright rejection brought hopes to many who were against any UMNO-Pas 'unity government' and those skeptical of the party’s intentions. Despite the lucrative offer, Hadi’s reiteration that PAS would remain in ...

When the Penang state government and its municipal council (MPPP) wanted to come up with a ban on the water scooter rides in the Batu Ferringhi beaches in Penang for a number of safety reasons, the state Umno leaders are quick to raise their voice claiming that what the state government and the MPPP are doing were damaging the livelihood of those Malay businessmen in the state. And MCA joined Umno chorus by saying that by banning the water scooter rides in the Penang beaches would hurt the tourism and drive away visitors. MCA via tourism ministry also threatened to cut its federal government allocation on tourism to the state. When the water scooter rider hit a visiting Chinese tourist, MCA made an about turn to its previous statement. MCA blamed the Penang state government for allowing these water scooter activities to operate in the state unchecked and that is why such incident happened. Besides, the MCA leaders in the state also blamed the state government for failing to prevent suc...

Setelah gagal untuk menumbangkan Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim sebagai ketua pembangkang dan peranan beliau sebagai ketua umum Pakatan Rakyat dengan pelbagai dakwaan demi dakwaan skandal "seks", termasuk yang terbaru oleh kumpulan Datuk T, golongan elit di dalam Umno kini cuba pula untuk menjatuhkan seorang pemimpin pusat PAS. Mohamad Sabu yang baru sahaja dipilih sebagai timbalan presiden PAS yang baru di dalam Muktamar parti itu yang lalu kini berdepan dengan satu lagi "skandal seks" terbitan Umno ala-Anwar. Nampaknya Umno kini semakin takut akan kemunculan beberapa orang pemimpin pembangkang yang baru dan tidak berani berdepan dengan para pemimpin pembangkang tersebut di dalam pilihanraya yang akan datang. Oleh kerana Umno telah semakin hilang agendanya di bumi ini, maka mereka tidak mempunyai pilihan lain selain daripada "penerbitan rencana seks" mereka yang diharapkan agar dapat menjatuhkan para pemimpin Pakatan Rakyat ini satu demi satu. Itulah sikap Umno...

By J. D. Lovrenciea Indeed PAS must be commended. You would never see such world-class performance within BN. Now, BN stop getting furious. If BN turns red from ear to ear or rages with anger for the rakyat's show of respect and commendation for PAS performance at its recently concluded Assembly, it is very well understood why. When BN meet - i.e. UMNO, MIC or MCA, we hear of fireworks and blatant cold blooded calls for race blood and race rights. It is like a broken record turned on the gramaphon of a bygone era. But when PAS meet they remain calm, collected, civil and above all professionally political. They vote with their heads and a spirit of clear unity. But when their opponents convene it is always crowned with war cries of crushed bones and bloodied bodies and what have you. So what can we make out of all these? Indeed PAS gets a 'pass'. Therefore PAS must pass and PAS will pass come GE-13. Gone are the blind-folded days of the Mahathir regime where all it takes is ...

Bekas Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Tenaga Nasional Berhad, Tan Sri Ani Arope menyalahkan Unit Perancang Ekonomi kerana menaikkan tarif elektrik. Laman web The Malaysian Insider memetik Ani sebagai berkata, TNB dipaksa menandatangani perjanjian berat sebelah, sejak hampir 20 tahun lalu. Ani, yang menyifatkan EPU sebagai ‘Economic Plundering Unit’, memaksa TNB membeli tenaga elektrik daripada Pengeluar Tenaga bebas (IPP), Genting Sanyen sebanyak 14 sen kilowatt sejam (Kwj) walaupun wujud tawaran 12 sen kemudiannya. IPP lain kemudian mengenakan caj 16 sen/kwj. “Kamu tidak perlu pergi sekolah perniagaan untuk memahami mengapa perlu kenaikan tarif elektrik- hanya melihat semula syarat diberikan kepada beberapa IPP,” kata Ani yang menerajui syarikat utiliti itu antara 1990 hingga 1996 dalam status di laman sosial, Facebook. “Dengan fasal ambil-dan- bayar, dan dengan 40 peratus rizab berlebihan yang kita ada hari ini, satu pihak hanya perlu menghasilkan setengah keupayaan pihak lain dan dibaya...

According to the MCA youth secretary general K.S. Chai recently, DAP should come up with remedies to stem the brain drain from this country instead of "finding fault" with his party over the Public Service Department (JPA) scholarship fiasco. So much of the educational scholarships mishaps just because MCA had definitely proven itself as a powerless and toothless figure in the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition government until it want political parties outside the BN fold to help find solutions over this issue. And what then after some non-BN political parties do find a good solution to resolve this issue? MCA would certainly take this "package" into account and claim it is the formula of their own. What will happen to that non-BN political party then? Be forgotten and always be labelled as some sort of political "trouble makers" just because they are non-BN parties. Yeah these parties are on the opposition side anyway. In the Pakatan Rakyat's "Buku...

Thousands of Malays have migrated to Australia, citing career and business opportunities as reasons for their decision, said a Malaysian academic. Universiti Utara Malaysia’s Dr Ahmad Zaharuddin Sani said in the in the state of Victoria alone there were about 5,000 Malays, three-fourths of them either permanent residents or Australian citizens, according to a Bernama Online report today. He said they were both professionals — doctors and engineers and support staff. The fellow at University of Melbourne’s Asia Institute said most of them arrived after 1981 under family, skilled workers or business provisions for migration. The increase coincided with Australian policy changes allowing overseas students to apply for stay extensions. Ahmad Zaharuddin explained this led to many students staying on indefinitely. His research resulted in the book “Malays in Victoria” , which was the idea of Victorian Malay Organisation president Zulkifli Ahmad. The Australian Multicultural Foundation relea...