Malaysia needs thinking MPs, with ideas and initiative - not 'seat warmer' MPs

Many Members of Parliament are just happy being 'YBs' (Yang Berhormats). They do not take up causes or issues...and spend most of the time worrying about 're-elections' - and this would mean doing 'constituency work' - or just staying in the good books of the powerful party leaders...who will decide on who will be the candidate and who will not be?

Even in party elections, many do struggle to become Division leaders, State leaders,...maybe even members of the Supreme Council because they hope that they will become an MP...or maybe a Senator...or maybe a ADUN (Member of the State Legislative Assembly) or maybe just the Local Council. Why?...that is what many will not be able to answer. This is the problem not just at the level of government - but is also the same in student unions, Bar Councils - where there are a few (sometimes many) whose end object is just to assume a particular position. We really need to  be able to identify these characters...and push forward those who really have an agenda for change...for reformasi forward.

Let us look at the performance of current MPs? Do they even raise questions in Parliament or get involved in real debate (i.e. that have points) Name calling and 'boo-ing' does not count. Do they put forward questions?

QUESTIONS:-

MPs (and Senators) are allowed to put forward questions, and there are the Oral Questions (Soalan Lisan), and there is also the Written Questions (Soalan Bertulis). Of course, there is a skill when it comes to asking questions - and what we want are answers that force the government to give specific answers, not a general question that the good old Minister can just give a general answer....

MPs can also put forward Motions (Usuls) - which will be reflected in the Aturcara Mesyurat (Agenda of the Meetings) - which may not get discussed for lack of time or because of what the Speaker decided as important or not. But, it is there on the record - and, sadly many MPs do not table any motion.

Bill - that becomes Acts of Parliament, the law of the land. Well, a Member of Parliament could prepare and table a Private Members Bill. Pakatan Rakyat should be doing this, and even if it never gets discussed, it matters not for at least it was attempted - and is all ready when they take power after next GE. We do not want to be waiting for years for them to draft these Bills to repeal ISA, etc...

I peruses the Aturcara - and found again that Gwo-Burne Loh [ Kelana Jaya ]had an interesting motion to be discussed, but what about the rest of them Opposition MPs. Many will say that it is a waste of time - but I say, you at least have to try... His motion calls for Maaysia to consider complying with the United Nations General Assembly Resolution calling for an abolition of the death penalty, and pending that a moratorium on all executions...

Was it ever discussed? For that we have to look at the Hansard. Discussed or not is not the issue but the fact that this MP raised it for consideration is important. What do the other Pakatan Rakyat MPs want? Many embarrassingly have really nothing much to say...save to echo the views of that party leaders all the time...Is that the kind of MPs we want? I do not think so - we need thinking MPs, who have ideas on needed reforms, and who will push their ideas,...

 

77. PR-1233-U41028

Tuan Gwo-Burne Loh [ Kelana Jaya ] akan mencadangkan:

"Bahawa Dewan ini mengambil ketetapan bahawa Kerajaan Malaysia

sebagai anggota Majlis Hak Asasi Manusia Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa

Bersatu dalam menguatkuasakan Resolusi 62/149 Pertubuhan Bangsa-

Bangsa Bersatu mengenai moratorium terhadap hukuman mati yang telah

dikuatkuasakan oleh Perhimpunan Agung Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa

Bersatu pada 18 Disember 2007 di mana negara-negara yang masih

mengamalkan hukuman mati diminta untuk menghentikan penggunaan

hukuman mati dan mengurangkan jumlah hukuman-hukuman yang

membawa hukuman mati secara berperingkat dan melaksanakan

moratorium terhadap kesemua hukuman-hukuman mati dengan hasrat

menghapuskan hukuman ini sama sekali. Maka dengan ini Dewan hendaklah mengambil ketetapan untuk meminta Kerajaan melalui

Kementerian Luar Negeri untuk membantu mematuhi moratorium tersebut

dan meminda undang-undang yang bercanggah dengan moratorium

tersebut."

(Menteri Luar Negeri)

 

Aturan Urusan Mesyuarat, Naskah Sahih/Bahasa Malaysia Hari Isnin, 13 Disember 2010, Pukul 10 pagi, Bil.80

A Christmas Hamper by the Police (SB?) for Mentakab Catholic Church - A sincere gift or something else..

It was interesting that 2 police officers, who identified themselves as coming from Special Branch, visited the Catholic Church in Mentakab just before Christmas and handed over a hamper for Christmas. [Source: Information given by parish priest during Christmas Day mass at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Mentakab - 24/12/2010]

Why did they do this in 2010....but never before? Was it really just a Christmas gift....or was it something else? Was it an indication that the next General Elections is near...for after all the bad roads in Mentakab town is now speedily being repaired and tarred...? Was it a new policy of PDRM in its effort to get closer to the people? Wonder whether other churches, temples, mosques, suraus have also been getting such hampers?

But then, why identify yourselves as special branch officers - and not just police. Wonder where the money is coming from? Do the police have a special allocation for these hampers?

But...wait, this is also the parish in which the government wanted to demolish that over 80 years old church/chapel in Triang, Pahang - where the people protested against and finally the threats of demolition are no more - and there is silence. The land has not been given to the church ...nor has there been any formal letter stating that they will not demolish the church. [Remember, 3 lots in a row, i.e. A, B, C - where A & C are Church land, but B where the Church was even when the land was given to the Church was only leased out and then not renewed thereafter...It is a small lot, and in 1Malaysia so easily could that little piece of land be transfered to the church - but maybe it would not and will be used by BN forever to 'threathen' Christians to vote BN if not we will demolish....????]

So, was the giving of the hamper because of the Triang church issue? I wonder. The parish priest, a brave man, announced this gift to all who attended the Christmas mass..

Maybe, a bribe...and a threat... maybe just a sincere gift by the local police of Temerloh District.

Thank you...it is good that the police not only improve relationships with local communities, but also do what is right always respecting human rights....

See earlier posts:

Chapel of St John, Triang : The struggle for the land to be given to the church must continue - although the threat to demolish is on hold now..

Even, if not chapel but a mosque or temple..we will fight to save it...Fr Jean Claude questioned by police
- Mother's citizenship status - what has that got to do with the actions to save the church?
Priest of St John's Chapel, Triang called in for questioning by police [Updated]
Prime Minister, Najib, you can save this chapel in Pahang from destruction...
St John's Chapel, Triang - the Church that needs saving
St John's Chapel, Triang (83 year old) :- Time is running out...
St John's Chapel(over 83 years old) being threathened with 'eviction' - help save this 'little' church

 

If the PM did ask for removal of crucifixes, no prayer and songs for Christmas gathering, then....

A directive from the PM's office for crucifixes to be removed from the venue of the Christmas party if the PM is to attend...a directive that there be no christian hymns and prayers during the event... - I really hope that this was not true, for if true, it is seriously disrespectful of  Christians. Christmas is a celebration of the birthday of Jesus - and it certainly is a religious event, and there is always at the least some prayers and the singing of christian Christmas hymns. If our PM is so intolerant - I am sure he could just drop by after prayers and singing are done.... (or maybe just do not come - and send some Christian minister as his representative)

The other question that must be asked is what did the Christians do after they received the said directive. Dis they quietly comply....and remove all crucifixes, canceled the prayers and hymns? If they did so, then they deserve this PM and the kind of intolerant government that he heads. If we do not stand up and fight for our rights - then our rights will be trampled upon over and over. Christians have stood up of late, together with Sikhs, in Malaysia to challenge the restrictions on non-Muslims using the words like Allah, etc - and that is good. They have stood up when the government tried to demolish churches, chapels, etc.... and that is good. 

Seputeh MP Teresa Kok is demanding an apology from the prime minister for his office's directive to rid religious elements from a Christmas celebration, which she said was “disrespectful” to Christianity.

According to Kok, who is also Selangor senior exco, the Prime Minister's Office's had issued a directive for crucifixes to be removed from the Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) Christmas event on 25 Dec, where Prime Minister Najib Razak was a guest.

The directive, she said, also prohibited Christian prayers and hymns during the event that was held at the Catholic Church Archbishop's residence.

“Najib should apologise to the Christian Federation of Malaysia for 'de-Christianising' their Christmas celebration, that yet again denied Malaysians the right to freedom of religion,” said Kok in a statement.

“Such an order from the Prime Minister's Office shows how insincere and ungracious Najib behaved, as a guest at the celebration held at the Catholic Church Archbishop's residence.

“It is doubtful that Najib could have been unaware that his office had issued such a directive and far more likely that he is back-pedalling after having been exposed and publicly shamed,” said Kok.

'Where is 1Malaysia?'

The Seputeh MP called the directive “a betrayal of the multi-ethnic, multi-religious 1Malaysia that Najib so fervently preaches”.

“If only Najib would match his beautifully written public relations spiel with credible action,” she said.

The Seputeh MP urges Najib to issue a public apology and to direct the government to respect Christmas traditions and the Malaysians' right to freedom of religion.

“I hope Najib and his office can be aware that there is a deeper meaning to Christmas beyond Santa Claus and snow, and that that deeper meaning should be respected,” she said. - Malaysiakini, 30/1/2010,'Najib, apologise for un-1Malaysian directive'

See earlier posts:

Chapel of St John, Triang : The struggle for the land to be given to the church must continue - although the threat to demolish is on hold now..

Even, if not chapel but a mosque or temple..we will fight to save it...Fr Jean Claude questioned by police
- Mother's citizenship status - what has that got to do with the actions to save the church?
Priest of St John's Chapel, Triang called in for questioning by police [Updated]
Prime Minister, Najib, you can save this chapel in Pahang from destruction...
St John's Chapel, Triang - the Church that needs saving
St John's Chapel, Triang (83 year old) :- Time is running out...
St John's Chapel(over 83 years old) being threathened with 'eviction' - help save this 'little' church

Gwo-Burne Loh & TUNKU ABDUL AZIZ (Senator) shares answers to written questions in Parliament about police, CCTVs,

It is sad that written questions and answers in Parliament are not reported in the Hansard, and cannot even be found in the Parliamentary website. Questions asked, answers given - but the people are still in the dark.

What is worse is that some MPs (and Senators) also do not take the trouble to communicate to all the questions they asked, and the answers they received. You could very easily do that through blogs, through emails, etc - send it also to the media for them to publish. PAS, DAP, PKR...and the other political parties could also do a service to the people by compiling these questions and answers and letting people know... Maybe, Malaysiakini or some other independent internet media could do this as well - maybe SUARAM or some NGO. 

Some important answers:-

* CCTVs are being placed in police lock-ups, and also interrogation rooms (to ensure that interrogations are conducted in accordance to law)

* CCTVs have been placed in 227 Lock-ups and 36 Interrogation Rooms, and in 1 police station also all round.

* Government plans to have CCTVs in all 827 police stations all across the country

* To the question about statistics of police shot dead between 2000-2010, the answer was not given. All that was stated was that 90 police officers were killed and 343 were injured during the said period. The reasons for the death were many including road accidents, shot by 'criminals' - but it is difficult to analyze as 85 could have died by reason of road accidents...and maybe 1-2 were shot or stabbed by persons..

The above 2 were the in answers to questions by Gwo-Burne Loh

Tunku Abdul Aziz, a new Senator, asked very general questions about how the IGP was chosen and police allocations...

CCTV di 227 lokap dan 36

JAWAPAN LISAN TUAN GWO-BURNE LOH DI DEWAN RAKYAT PADA 2 NOVEMBER 2010

SOALAN:

Tuan Gwo-Burne Loh [Kelana Jaya] minta MENTERI DALAM NEGERI menyatakan purata dan status balai polis di seluruh Negara yang memasangkan CCTV dalam bilik soal siasat, lokap dan persekitaran balai polis.

JAWAPAN:
Tuan Yang Dipertua,

Saya mengucapkan terima kasih kepada Ahli Yang Berhormat Kelana Jaya yang mengemukakan pertanyaan di atas keperihatinan beliau mengenai tahap keselamatan di balai-balai polis di seluruh Negara.

Untuk makluman Ahli-ahli Yang Berhormat dan Dewan yang mulia ini, pada masa ini Kerajaan telah mengambil langkah untuk memasang kamera litar tertutup (CCTV) di balai-balai polis. Pemasangan CCTV ini adalah bertujuan untuk meningkatkan lagi tahap keselamatan terutamanya di lokap-lokap dan di persekitaran balai.

Tuan Yang Dipertua,

Selain itu, CCTV juga dipasang di bilik-bilik soal siasat yang mana ia bertujuan untuk memantau proses soal siasat yang dijalankan oleh pihak polis bagi memastikan proses soal siasat itu dijalankan mengikut prosedur yang telah ditetapkan di samping mengesan sekiranya ada salah laku anggota-anggota polis semasa menjalankan soal siasat ke atas suspek.

Untuk makluman Ahli Yang Berhormat, setakat ini kerajaan telah pun menasang CCTV di 227 lokap dan 36 bilik soal siasat di balai-balai polis di seluruh Negara. Manakala sebuah balai polis mempunyai CCTV yang dipasang di persekitarannya.

Tuan Yang Dipertua,

Pada masa ini Kerajaan sedang merancang untuk memasang CCTV di kesemua 827 balai polis di seluruh Negara bagi memastikan tahap keselamatan dib alai-balai berada pada tahap terbaik dan terkawal.

JAWAPAN LISAN TUAN GWO-BURNE LOH DI DEWAN RAKYAT PADA 3 NOVEMBER 2010

SOALAN:

TUAN GWO-BURNE LOH [KELANA JAYA] minta MENTERI DALAM NEGERI menyatakan statistic jumlah polis yang ditembak mati oleh penjenayah dari 2001 hingga 2010 dan dalam situasi bagaimana mereka ditembak mati.

JAWAPAN:

Tuan Yang di-Pertua,

Saya mengucapkan terima kasih kepada Ahli Yang Berhormat Kelana Jaya yang mengemukakan pertanyaan.

Untuk makluman Ahli-ahli Yang Berhormat dan dewan yang mulia ini, seramai 90 orang anggota polis telah terbunuh dan 343 orang cedera semasa bertugas sejak tahun 2000 hingga 2010.

Antara punca-punca kematian yang melibatkan anggota polis adalah seperti berikut:-

i)                    Ditembak oleh penjenayah;

ii)                   Dilanggar semasa mengadakan sekatan jalanraya;

iii)                 Diserang dengan menggunakan senjata/objek semasa menyuraikan perhimpunan;

iv)                 Ditikam oleh penjenayah semasa pergelutan;

v)                  Ditetak dengan senjata tajam semasa cuna menenangkan orang yang tidak siuman; dan

vi)                 Kemalangan jalanraya semasa tugas mengiringi orang kenamaan, Pendatang Asing Tanpa Izin (PATI), Orang Kena Tahan(OKT) dan mengejar penjenayah.

PERTANYAAN LISAN TUNKU ABDUL AZIZ BIN TUNKU IBRAHIM DI DEWAN NEGARA PADA 14 DISEMBER 2010

SOALAN:

Tunku Abdul Aziz bin Tunku Ibrahim minta MENTERI DALAM NEGERI menyatakan prosedur melantik Ketua Polis Negara dan syarat-syaratnya.

JAWAPAN:

Tuan Yang Dipertua

Terlebih dahulu saya mengucapkan terima kasih kepada YBM Tunku Abdul Aziz bin Tunku Ibrahim yang telah mengemukakan soalan.

Untuk makluman Ahli Yang Berhormat, prosedur pelantikan Ketua Polis Negara adalah berdasarkan kepada Perkara 140(4) Perlembagaan Persekutuan, Perkara 140(4) memperuntukkan bahawa jawatan ketua Polis Negara adalah jawatan yang ditetapkan sebagai Jawatan Khas. Pelantikan ke jawatan ini adalah tertakluk kepada perkenan Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong dengan nasihat YAB Perdana Menteri atas perakuan Suruhanjaya Pasukan Polis yang dipengerusikan oleh YB Menteri Dalam Negeri.

Tuan Yang Dipertua,

Perakuan pelantikan Ketua Polis Negara adlaah ebrasaskan merit kepada Peraturan 37, Peraturan-peraturan Pegawai Awam (Pelantikan, Kenaikan Pangkat dan Penamatan Perkhidmatan). Suruhanjaya Pasukan Polis dalam mempertimbangkan pelantikan tersebut mengambil kira faktor-faktor berikut:-

1.       Kecekapan dan prestasi kerja;

2.       Kelayakan, pengetahuan, kemahiran dan pengalaman;

3.       Sifat-sifat peribadi, termasuk kesesuaiannya dengan jawatan tersebut, keutuhan, potensi, dan kepimpinan;

4.       Kegiatan luar dan sumbangan kepada negara dan masyarakat.

JAWAPAN LISAN PARLIMEN TUNKU ABDUL AZIZ BIN TUNKU IBRAHIM DI DEWAN NEGARA PADA 15 DISEMBER 2010

SOALAN:

Tunku Abdul Aziz bin Tunku Ibrahim minta MENTERI DALAM NEGERI menyatakan perolehan kelengkapan di bawah Rancangan Malaysia Kesepuluh dan usaha-usaha membangunkan keupayaan polis.

JAWAPAN:

Tuan Yang Di Pertua,

Saya mengucapkan terima kasih kepada Ahli Yang Berhormat yang mengemukakan pertanyaan.

Untuk makluman Yang Berhormat dan Dewan yang mulia ini, di bawah Rancangn Malaysia Kesepuluh (RMK-10), bagi perolehan kelengkapan PDRM, sebanyak 12 projek bari telah diluluskan untuk pelaksanaan dengan jumlah siling sebanyak RM125,281,760.00. Sementara itu, sembilan projek sambungan RMK-9 pula diluluskan dengan kos siling sebanyak RM575,433,187.00. Ini menjadikan jumlah keseluruhan ialah RM700,714,947.00. Perolehan kelengkapan pasukan Polis ini termasuklah pembekalan Alat Perhubungan Radio, Kenderaan, Kapal Terbang, Sistem Teknologi Maklumat, Kelengkapan Perabot dan Alat Bantuan Teknik.

Tuan Yang Dipertua,

Kerajaan sentiasa berusaha untuk memajukan perkhidmatan Polis. Sehubungan itu, PDRM telah merangka strategi dalam usaha membangunkan keupayaan Polis. Ini dapat dilihat daripada strategi-strategi berikut:

(a)    Strategi jangka masa pendek:

i.                     Mengenal pasti kawasan panas (hotspot) yang seringkali berlaku jenayah dan menambahkan anggota membuat rondaan. Kehadiran polis (police omnipresence) juga dipertingkatkan dengan bantuan anggota tambahan dari RELA dan jabatan pertahanan Awam (JPAM);

ii.                   Mengadakan operasi secara terus-menerus sepanjang tahun seperti Ops Lejang yang mensasarkan pengguna motosikal di seluruh Negara, Os Rentap bagi menangani jenayah ragut atau samun tepi jalan dan Ops Utama Perdana bagi mengurangkan kadar jenayah di seluruh Negara;

iii.                  Menambah bilangan CCTV dan lampu jalan di kawasan-kawasan yang kerap berlaku jenayah;

iv.                 Meningkatkan kerjasama masyarakat dan NGO dalam membantu pihak polis membanteras jenayah melalui kempen keseddaran dan penyaluran maklumat; dan

v.                   Memperkuatkan pasukan penyiasat dengan menambah bilangan pegawai penyiasat dan juga kelengkapan seperti computer riba (laptop) dan kenderaan selain latihan dalam bidang penyiasatan dan undang-undang.

(b)   Strategi jangka masa panjang:

i.                     Menambah keanggotaan polis sebanyak 60,000 orang di bawah rancangan Penstrukturan Semula Organisasi (PSO) PDRM;

ii.                   Menambah bilangan balai polis, pondok polis di daerah yang pesat membangun dan mempunyai kepadatan penduduk yang tinggi.

iii.                  Membangunkan projek Central Intelligence Unit (CIU) bagi tujuan mempunyai pangkalan data yang bersepadu; dan

iv.                 Membuat penambahbaikan terhadap sistem komunikasi PDRM dapat memberikan resond time yang pantas kepada jenayah yang berlaku.

1Malaysia Ban? Pakatan Rakyat : Are you for freedom of expression, opinion, assembly or not?

Sometimes, I get disappointed with people who have always been championing for freedom of expression, opinion, assembly, freedom of the press, etc ....who sometimes just take the same anti-freedom actions against the BN when they do come into power. Denial of access of certain media to their functions...denying persons freedom to express their political opinions at their business premises. I say, everyone is free to put whatever posters, banners, etc - save those that are 'immoral', etc. I should be allowed to put up a poster/banner stating that I support the BN...or that I support PAS. I should be free to put up a poster stating 'Justice for Teoh Beng Hock'...I should be allowed to hang at my shop a flag of the party I support...why not? It saddens me when they use 'bad laws' to deny persons the freedom of expression...

Meanwhile, state's tourism, consumer affairs and environment exco Elizabeth Wong consider the government's ban as “simple and straightforward” as it is only limited to billboards and shopfront signages of commercial-related properties.

Wong ( left) cited section 17 of Shah Alam City Council (MBSA)'s local advertising by-laws, where she said commercial outlets are prohibited to feature advertisements that contain political messages. 

Political messages - advertising a poster calling for the repeal of the ISA, calling for Local Council Elections, asking for the resignation of the PM/MB, stating my support for the ISA, stating my support for PAS, having the.... Is there a law that states that I cannot have a large photo of the leader of my political party leader? I would have expected better from someone like Elizabeth Wong, who was a former coordinator of SUARAM, a human rights organisation. Political messages do not even have the requirement that it has to come from a political party. Can UMNO put up a banner officially asking people to vote UMNO in the next General Elections in Selangor - or will the Local Council say that such banners are banned...and not give the requisite permit? I say, if any political party wants to put up any banner...permission should be given by the relevant local councils and the banners should be put up... including a banner criticizing the current government (or even the Local Council) - that is what we call freedom of expression, opinion, etc..

Further the whole 1Malaysia concept is something that the people of Malaysia advocated for a long time - and only recently Najib adopted this.... as the BN logo, etc... Najib, UMNO, BN may have their own definition, meaning but that is their problem. Malaysians, for a long time since before Independence, desired a one Malaysia, and it has been some political parties that have done their best to keep different ethnic groups separate...all with their quotas, etc.. The people have always wanted one country one people... So, really Pakatan is barking up the wrong tree here...Do they not believe in one Malaysia?

Selangor state housing and local government exco Ronnie Liu has moved to quash the controversy over 1Malaysia logo being used in advertising materials by advising all local councils to hold back enforcing the ban until further notice.

Liu (right) said the temporary freeze is because of the confusion over which 1Malaysia logo is deemed to be conveying BN propaganda on advertising materials.

“There is still a grey area on what is regarded as political stunt by BN and what is not,” he told Malaysiakini in a phone interview.

According to Liu, many local councils are still unclear over the forms of advertising materials which are subjected to the ban.

He added that he would request a review on the ban at the next state cabinet meeting once Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim returns from vacation, which is expected to be in early January.

“Meanwhile, I advise all local councils to hold back their enforcement of the 1Malaysia logo,”

Liu has nevertheless expressed surprise when told that the Sabak Bernam district council has been enforcing the ban since June this year.

“So far as I know, only Kuala Langat District Council has started removing some billboards with 1Malaysia logo on them.

He insisted that Sabak Bernam was not enforcing the 1Malaysia logo ban.

“(For Sabak Bernam) I don't think they have enforced (the ban), I can still see many 1Malaysia logos in the place,” he said.

1Malaysia shopfront signage not allowed

Meanwhile, state's tourism, consumer affairs and environment exco Elizabeth Wong consider the government's ban as “simple and straightforward” as it is only limited to billboards and shopfront signages of commercial-related properties.

Wong (left) cited section 17 of Shah Alam City Council (MBSA)'s local advertising by-laws, where she said commercial outlets are prohibited to feature advertisements that contain political messages.

“BN has been campaigning along with 1Malaysia logo during the recent by-elections. The logo hence is part of political propaganda.”

Asked whether shopfront signage of 1Malaysia Klinik has breached the law, she said that while the wording of “1Malaysia” is allowed, the logo is not.

“I also disagree with the DAP café putting up their party logo,” said Wong, referring to a coffee shop in SS2, Petaling Jaya.

She said banners and buntings are exempted from the ban if they are used for political events such as ceramah.

Liu, on the other hand, refused to be drawn into commenting on Wong's opinion, and whether it reflects Selangor government's policy or just her own personal opinion.

“I will raise the issue at the next exco meeting,” said the DAP leader.

Liu on Wednesday said 1Malaysia was regarded as a political message and thus contravenes by-laws of the state's 12 local authorities.

"You don't see any billboard in Selangor carrying the PKR, PAS and DAP logos," Liu told the Star.

Ban under heavy fire

The move by Selangor to ban the 1Malaysia logo has come under heavy fire from BN leaders who claim that the Pakatan Rakyat administration was “scared” that the logo was gaining popularity.

Yesterday, Selangor menteri besar's political secretary Faekah Hussin (right) explained that the ban was a “political decision” to prevent the slogan from being used to cover up BN's wrongdoings.

It has been confirmed that at least seven local authorities - the municipal councils of Kuala Langat, Sabak Bernam, Ampang Jaya, Selayang, Klang, Kuala Selangor and Subang Jaya - have enforced the ban. - Malaysiakini, 25/12/2010, 1Malaysia logo ban 'frozen', says S'gor exco

The Selangor government ban on the use of the 1Malaysia logo on all billboards in the state reflects opposition fear of the concept, Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said today.

The 1Malaysia vision that Prime Minister Najib Razak expounds is increasingly popular and this scares the opposition, he added.

"They (the Selangor government) are afraid of the 1Malaysia logo which has become iconic to the people," he told reporters after attending a leaders-meet-the-people gathering in Lawas, Sarawak.

The 1Malaysia vision has noble intentions, one of which is to unite the people regardless of their political leaning, Muhyiddin (right) said.

Chairman of the Selangor Housing and Local Government Committee Ronnie Liu, announcing the ban yesterday, had said that the 1Malaysia logo had a political message and that a by-law prohibited political advertisements on billboards.

Muhyiddin was also asked to comment on documents produced by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz that refuted the allegations of Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim that 1Malaysia was the creation of Apco Worldwide which he claimed was also responsible for the One Israel concept.

One document was a letter from the public relations firm denying having anything to do with either concept while the other was a sworn statement from the consultant who claimed credit for the One Israel concept.

Muhyiddin said the opposition would continue to "twist the facts" despite the clarification.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Koh Tsu Koon said the ban contradicts the professed stance of the opposition parties on freedom of information and its communication to the people.

"1Malaysia is for all and it is to foster unity among the people. It should not be viewed politically," he told reporters after presenting prizes to winners of a competition in translating local Mandarin short stories into Bahasa Malaysia.

Legality of ban questioned

Information, Communication and Culture Minister Dr Rais Yatim questioned the legality of the ban, citing provisions in the federal constitution on the right of assembly and freedom to display logos.

He believed that the Selangor government was desperate to check the popularity of the 1Malaysia concept.

Selangor Umno information chief Shukor Idrus said the ban was a “backward action”.

He said that 1Malaysia was a concept for uniting Malaysians and the logo was not political.

MCA NGO liaison bureau chief Ti Lian Ker said that 1Malaysia was aimed at forging a united Malaysia, and the Selangor government should not try to obstruct achievement of that goal.

- Bernama - Malaysiakini, 23/12/2010, DPM: Opposition fears 1Malaysia

China Dolls ? Is it right for Bernama, NST...to call young women tourists from China...

Should Bernama refer to women from China as 'China dolls"? Is it not derogatory? Is it not disrespectful to women generally?

A better term would have been just Chinese nationals, or even women from China, or even Chinese tourists....

I am also wondering how come 19 officers from MACC on raids of this entertainment outlet. Have they no corruption cases to investigate? I wonder whether the MACC will be investigating those that have been arrested and detained?

When arrested, they had valid social visit pass, and possibly a return air-ticket home. What happens if they miss their flight by reason of being detained? What happens if their visa expires whilst in detention? Will the Malaysian government buy them a new ticket, extend their visa, ... Note that now they have been arrested and detained for purpose of investigation only - they have not been charged yet. Remember also that they are all innocent until proven guilty. Media must be fully aware of this, and respect these womens' rights when they do publish a report. In my opinion, calling them 'China Dolls' was really not something nice... [We surely would not have expected this from Bernama and the NST....]

47 China Dolls Arrested In Raid

GEORGE TOWN, Dec 25 (Bernama) -- The Immigration Department arrested 47 mainland Chinese women in a raid on an entertainment outlet in Jalan Jones here early Saturday.

Its director, Abdul Qadir Siddiq Ahmad said the manager of the outlet and a Myanmar national male were also arrested in the "Ops Sayang" raid.

"The women, who worked as guest relations officers (GROs), were entertaining their clients, who were ushering in the Christmas, when the immigration and MACC officers closed in," he told a news conference here Saturday.

Seven immigration officers and 19 Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officers took part in the raid from 12.45am to 4am.

Abdul Qadir said the GROs in their 20s were detained for abusing their social visit passes and immoral activities while the 28-year-old manager would be investigated under Section 55B of the Immigration Act 1959/63 for harbouring illegal foreign workers.

Penang MACC director Datuk Latifah Md Yatim said the entertainment outlet was raided early this year and several times the previous year.

She said the raid was the results of public information and intelligence since several weeks ago and the MACC was investigating whether corrupt practices were involved in the operation of the outlet.

-- BERNAMA

New Straits Times did the same.... referring to these women as 'china dolls' 

47 China dolls arrested in raid

2010/12/25

 

GEORGE TOWN: The Immigration Department arrested 47 mainland Chinese women in a raid on an entertainment outlet in Jalan Jones here early today. Its director, Abdul Qadir Siddiq Ahmad said the manager of the outlet and a
Myanmar national male were also arrested in the "Ops Sayang" raid.

"The women, who worked as guest relations officers (GROs), were entertaining
their clients, who were ushering in the Christmas, when the immigration and MACC
officers closed in," he told a news conference here today.

Seven immigration officers and 19 Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission
(MACC) officers took part in the raid from 12.45am to 4am.

Abdul Qadir said the GROs in their 20s were detained for abusing their
social visit passes and immoral activities while the 28-year-old manager would
be investigated under Section 55B of the Immigration Act 1959/63 for harbouring
illegal foreign workers.

Penang MACC director Datuk Latifah Md Yatim said the entertainment outlet
was raided early this year and several times the previous year.

She said the raid was the results of public information and intelligence
since several weeks ago and the MACC was investigating whether corrupt practices
were involved in the operation of the outlet. - Bernama

Read more: 47 China dolls arrested in raid http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/47Chinadollsarrestedinraid/Article/#ixzz19CqLyylM

Arresting 47 Chinese tourists for being in an entertainment outlet is just not right...

Seriously, I wonder this is all just discrimination against young women tourists from Asian countries - usually China. Would the authorities have similarly acted against European, American and/or Australian women in pubs/entertainment outlets? I doubt it...

As reported, they are here on a social visit pass... so, they are here legally. What wrong did they do? Is sitting down, talking and socializing with men at an entertainment outlet a crime in Malaysia? I do not think so... Were they caught selling sexual services....or maybe receiving money for sexual services..? I do not think so...  Is it wrong for men to buy women drinks....or for women to allow men to buy them drinks? I do not think so...

The report say that they were arrested "...for abusing their social visit passes and immoral activities...", and I wonder how they did it? Immoral activities - well, this must be something against the law, not according to the moral standards of some officers... Maybe, what they did wrong was go out drinking and chatting with men wearing 'revealing' clothes - was that the 'immoral activities' we are talking about? 

Now, the girls get arrested...and most likely their 'social visit' passes may then expire - and then they become 'undocumented migrants' - and the police will claim that they just cannot be released, and they will then be sent to the Immigration Department to be deported back to their countries of origins...

What if you were a young girl visiting Malaysia, and you get arrested and detained for something like this - would you want to stay and fight to prove your innocence in a strange country, not your own, or just want to get back home... most do just want to escape - and authorities continue to do similar wrong to many foreign women especially from Asia (and eastern Europe). What about the owners of the establishment..the so-called employers of these GROs .... do they get prosecuted... Well, this report says that " the entertainment outlet was raided early this year and several times the previous year...." but alas while these young women get victimized, the outlets stay open - something is so wrong.

The Immigration Department arrested 47 mainland Chinese women in a raid on an entertainment outlet in Jalan Jones in Georgetown, Penang early today.

Its director, Abdul Qadir Siddiq Ahmad said the manager of the outlet and a Burmese national male were also arrested in the 'Ops Sayang' raid.

"The women, who worked as guest relations officers (GROs), were entertaining their clients, who were ushering in the Christmas, when the immigration and MACC officers closed in," he told a news conference here today.

Seven immigration officers and 19 Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officers took part in the raid from 12.45am to 4am.

Abdul Qadir said the GROs in their 20s were detained for abusing their social visit passes and immoral activities while the 28-year-old manager would be investigated under Section 55B of the Immigration Act 1959/63 for harbouring illegal foreign workers.

Penang MACC director Latifah Md Yatim said the entertainment outlet was raided early this year and several times the previous year.

She said the raid was the results of public information and intelligence since several weeks ago and the MACC was investigating whether corrupt practices were involved in the operation of the outlet.

- Bernama - Malaysiakini, 25/12/2010, No X'mas cheers for 47 'China dolls'

Malaysiakini also does wrong to these women, when they in their title calls them 'china dolls' ....is this not derogatory? Even, if Bernama used this title, Malaysiakini should have been better and more respectful of women - and a better title should have been used. I do not think many Chinese women would like to be called a 'china doll'. What does it really mean? Do you like to be called an Indian doll, a Malay doll, etc...  

Malaysia should join the global trend & move towards abolition of death penalty...

What is wonderful is that there is growing global trend towards the abolition of the death penalty, and the UN General Assembly resolution over the last few years have seen more and more countries in favour of abolition, and less and less countries voting against.

Good news also is that Malaysia is reviewing the usage of the death penalty - and we all can pray and hope that they will opt in favour of abolition. The first step would be for the provision of alternative sentences that judges could resort to for offences that now only provide 1 mandatory sentence, i.e. the death penalty. The giving of life and the ending of life should not a matter dictated by people and/or their governments. In the modern world, when there is options available - i.e. life imprisonment which would extend to death, etc - there is really no more reason to resort to the death penalty. Given the possibility of errors, it is far better the save the life of a guilty person, than to put to death an innocent person.

The Government has no plans at the moment to abolish the death sentence but will listen to views from all parties who are against capital punishment, said Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk V.K. Liew.

"Suggestions will be given consideration from all aspects. In-depth study will be done, as abolishing the death peanlty would have a great impact on the judicial system of the country," he told Datuk Seri Mohd Radzi Sheikh (BN-Kangar) during question time in Parliament Wednesday.Star, 1/12/2010, No plans to abolish death sentence, but Govt willing to hear views [Wondering what PKR's and PAS's position is on the Death Penalty - they should call for its abolition.]

 

22/12/2010 :- The 2010 , the United Nations General Assembly resolution in favour of a universal moratorium on the death penalty : 108 countries voted in favour, with 41 against and 36 abstentions.

2008 resolution on a moratorium on the use of the death penalty was adopted,on December 18, 2008,  by a recorded vote of 106 in favour to46 against, with 34 abstentions

2007 resolution on a moratorium on the use of the death penalty (document A/62/439/Add.2) was adopted, on adopted, on December 18, 2007, ;by a recorded vote of 104 in favour to 54 against, with 29 abstentions

NEW RESOLUTION APPROVED BY THE UN. THE PRO MORATORIUM FRONT GROWS

December 22, 2010: The United Nations General Assembly yesterday approved a new resolution in favour of a universal moratorium on the death penalty. It is the third time after the historic resolution approved in December 2007 and then again in December 2008.

108 countries voted in favour, with 41 against and 36 abstentions (another 7 countries were absent at the time of the vote). It recorded a decisive step forward compared to 2007 when in a plenary assembly the votes in favour were 104, with 54 against and 29 abstentions (with 5 absent at the time of the vote). 

Another step forward was taken also in respect to the second vote on the pro moratorium Resolution in December 2008 when there were 105 in favour, 47 against and 34 abstentions (6 were absent at the time of the vote).

The most significant political data regarding the favourable is that of 6 countries that in 2008 voted against (Kiribati, the Maldives and Mongolia) or abstained (Bhutan, Guatemala and Togo) or the abstentions of 4 countries (Comoros, Nigeria, the Solomon Islands and Thailand) that in 2008 voted against. 

The number of cosponsors of the Resolution also increased, 90 in total, three doing so for the first time: Cambodia, Russia and Madagascar. 

The only new part of the text of the Resolution concerns the request – in part contained in the 2007 text – directing the member states to ‘make information available relevant to the use of the death penalty to allow an informed and transparent national debate.' 

“The new vote at the UN in favour of the moratorium records the positive evolution happening for more than ten around the world towards the end of the State-Cain and the ending of the fake and archaic principle of an eye for an eye,” Hands Off Cain secretary Sergio D’Elia said.