Adakah Mahathir dan Pembangkang akan terus nafikan rakyat hak memilih 'Local Council' dan pemimpin kampung, dll?

Wang dan harta milik rakyat bukan milik kerajaan atau parti politik(atau gabungan parti politik) yang dipilih rakyat setiap lebih kurang 5 tahun. Rakyat memilih 'wakil rakyat' - dan akhirnya wakil rakyat yang dipilih memilih seorang Perdana Menteri(atau Menteri Besar/Ketua Menteri), yang seterusnya memilih dikalangan wakil rakyat Kabinet atau Exco Kerajaan Negeri diperingkat Persekutuan dan/atau Negeri.

Malangnya, rakyat Malaysia masih lagi dinafikan hak memilih kerajaan tempatan(Local Council) - dan kerajaan Negeri/Persekutuan sahaja yang memilih dan melantik kerajaan tempatan. Bila agaknya rakyat Malaysia mendapat hak memilih kerajaan tempatan yang telah dinafikan oleh kerajaan UMNO-BN sejak lebih kurang tahun 1965, satu tindakan yang dilakukan berikutan Konfrontasi Indonesia(1963) melalui kuasa darurat khususnya Emergency (Suspension of Local Government Elections) Regulations 1965. Darurat berakhir tetapi kerajaan UMNO-BN terus menafikan hak rakyat memilih kerajaan tempatan - dan undang-undang baru telah digubal di peringkat Persekutuan. 

Alasan Pakatan Rakyat memberi setelah berjaya menubuhkan kerajaan Negeri di Selangor dan Pulau Pinang, adalah terdapat Akta Persekutuan menghalang pemilihan secara demokratik pilihanraya kerajaan tempatan di negeri tersebut...Jika pembangkang menang PRU akan datang, adakah kerajaan pembangkang akan membatalkan dan/atau meminda Akta ini untuk membolehkan pemilihan demokratik kerajaan tempatan(Local Council/Majlis Perbandaran/dll.)? Adakah kita akan mendapat kembali hak memilih kerajaan tempatan yang UMNO-BN telah menafikan rakyat? 

Nampaknya Mahathir tidak begitu minat mengembalikan hak ini kepada rakyat...hak rakyat untuk memilih kerajaan tempatan..Sedih sekali Mahathir menimbulkan isu etnik sebagai alasan mengapa rakyat tidak harus dikembalikan hak memilih kerajaan tempatan...

According to 2016 statistics, Malays currently make up 50% of the Malaysian population, followed by the ethnic Chinese with 22% and Indians (6%). If local council elections were held, the former prime minister said this would see urbanites governed by one race, while another race would be managing the rural areas.“We already have problems in vernacular schools and if we divide areas along racial lines it would be dangerous,” the Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) chairman said at a dialogue here last night.

Rakyat Malaysia sudah matang ..dan kita akan memilih dan mengundi seseorang yang terbaik --- isu etnik atau agama bukan sesuatu yang akan 'memprejudiskan' sangat cara kita memilih. Isu sedemikian, iaitu isu etnik atau agama, adalah isu yang biasa ditimbulkan dan diperbesarkan oleh parti politik atau orang perseorangan yang boleh dikatakan 'racist'...

Kleptocracy, rasuah dan pelupusan wang rakyat ...jika kita mahu bersikap 'racist' - kita akan menyatakan ini semua dilakukan orang Melayu atau mereka yang beragama Islam - kerana jika dilihat kebanyakkan khususnya penjawat kerajaan yang terlibat adalah daripada kumpulan etnik/agama tertentu. Ini pemikiran cetek - kerana akhir kata ada orang yang baik dalam semua kumpulan ethnik/agama... dan rakyat Malaysia bukannya 'bodoh' - kita akan melihat semua faktor dan memilih orang yang berkelayakkan yang terbaik.. Justeru, kerisauan Mahathir tidak berasas...(atau adakah beliau menyatakan sedemikian kerana beliau dahulu dalam UMNO dan kini Pribumi, di mana kedua-duanya adalah parti untuk rakyat Malaysia daripada satu kumpulan etnik sahaja...?)

Agama sama atau ethnik sama mungkin diambil kira setengah pengundi...tetapi akhirnya ia bukanlah perkara utama yang diambil kira bila pemilihan dibuat...Rakyat akan pilih yang terbaik...Jika dilihat kesatuan sekerja, Majlis Peguam dan banyak badan professional, yang dipilih mereka untuk menjadi pemimpin bukan berasaskan kepada ethnik atau agama, tetapi berasaskan kelayakkan - orang terbaik akan dipilih...

UMNO-BN menuruskan amalan melantik sahaja ahli kerajaan tempatan...ketua kampung, dll - tidak memberikan hak kepada rakyat pilih sendiri orang terbaik. Pembangkang juga tidak mahu rakyat pilih sendiri ketua kampung/taman/dll di Selangor, Penang dan juga Kelantan - Ini semua penafian hak rakyat pilih sendiri...DEMOKRASI - Mengapa? 

Jangan lupa bahawa Ketua Kampung dan juga kerajaan tempatan(Local Council) ada banyak kuasa termasuk apa pembangunan yang diluluskan...Justeru mereka yang dilantik kerajaan Persekutuan/Negeri akan diminta memberikan pendapat atau kelulusan bagi pihak penduduk/rakyat setempat ...tetapi mereka yang dilantik ini jarang sekali(jika ada pun) berkomunikasi dengan rakyat setempat untuk mendapatkan pendirian mereka sebelum memberikan persetujuan atau bantahan. Keputusan dibuat sendiri atau berdasarkan 'kehendak' pihak yang melantik mereka, iaitu kerajaan Negeri atau Persekutuan. Cara dana pembangunan setempat digunakan juga ditentukan oleh mereka yang kini dilantik. 

Ini akibat tidak ada pemilihan secara demokratik - rakyat dilayan sebagai 'kanak-kanak' yang belum matang dan tak boleh mempunyai pendapat sendiri mengenai kawasan tempat tinggal mereka. 

Inilah sebab kita harus kembalikan pemilihan secara demokratik kerajaan tempatan, serta juga kepimpinan ketua kampung/taman/kampung orang asli/kampung baru... Bila ini berlaku, 'wakil mereka' akan lebih mengambil kira pendapat penduduk setempat dan membuat keputusan berasaskan rakyat setempat...kerana rakyat kembali jadi 'Boss' dan 'wakil/ketua' peringkat ini akan membuat keputusan berasaskan kehendak rakyat ...bukan kehendak pemimpin peringkat Persekutuan/Negeri. Rakyat setempat akan ditakuti kerana jika bertindak secara salah, mereka akan digugurkan rakyat dalam pilihanraya akan datang...

Inilah sebab mengapa PILIHANRAYA kerajaan tempatan harus kembali - dan rakyat mendapat hak kembali memilih wakil mereka. Yang tak lakukan tugas atau yang korup akan pasti disingkirkan oleh rakyat dalam pilihanraya akan datang.

Sama juga dengan kampung, kampung baru dan taman - rakyat mesti diberikan kuasa memilih sendiri kepimpinan setempat dan wakil mereka. Kini, negeri pemerintahan pembangkang juga tidak ada ini ...mereka terus sahaja ikut cara UMNO-BN.

Adakah anda tahu bahawa urusan pemunguttan sampah dan juga potong rumput sebelah jalan yang dahulunya ditangan kerajaan tempatan(Local Council) kini telah diserahkan kepada Putrajaya (Kerajaan Persekutuan) - bukan pun kerajaan negeri? 

Apa lagi kuasa negeri di Persekutuan yang telah diserahkan kepada kerajaan Persekutuan. Bagus kita berjuang untuk lebih kuasa dan hak dikembalikan kepada Sabah dan Sarawak - dan kita harus juga berjuang untuk lebih kuasa dan hak juga dikembalikan kepada kerajaan Negeri-negeri di Persekutuan Malaysia?

Adakah pendapat Mahathir, pengerusi Pakatan Harapan, iaitu 'kuasa pemilihan' untuk kerajaan tempatan tidak akan dikembalikan kepada rakyat juga merupakan pendirian Pakatan Harapan(DAP-PKR-Pribumi-Amanah)? Adakah ini juga pendirian PAS, PSM, PRM dan lain-lain parti pembangkang? Adakah mereka mahu terus melantik pemimpin/wakil komuniti setempat? Jika ya, sama saja macam bila diperintah UMNO-BN? 

Dahulu pembangkang menjanjikan akan mengembalikan pemilihan secara demokratik kerajaan tempatan(Local Council) ...tetapi baru-baru ini senyap sahaja? Adakah ini bermaksud rakyat akan terus dinafikan hak memilih sendiri secara demokratik kerajaan tempatan dan ketua kampung/kampung baru/Taman/kampung orang asli? Adakah pembangkang akan terus saja polisi UMNO-BN?

TUKAR - itu seruan parti pembangkang? Tetapi adakah 'TUKAR" itu hanya bermaksud tukar mereka yang berkuasa di peringkat kerajaan Negeri dan kerajaan Persekutuan....dan bukan polisi dan cara UMNO-BN mentadbir? Saya mahu lebih...bagaimana dengan kamu?

People not ready for local elections, says Dr Mahathir

Sean Augustin

 | April 8, 2017

Former prime minister not in favour of local government elections as he claims it could be detrimental to race relations.

SHAH ALAM: Dr Mahathir Mohamad last night admitted that for now he was not keen on local council elections, fearing that it would polarise the different races in the country even further.

Unlike other countries, Malaysia, the former prime minister said, is a multiracial nation.

As it stands, he said, most of the ethnic Chinese were residing in the urban areas, while a majority of the Malays were in rural areas.

According to 2016 statistics, Malays currently make up 50% of the Malaysian population, followed by the ethnic Chinese with 22% and Indians (6%).

If local council elections were held, the former prime minister said this would see urbanites governed by one race, while another race would be managing the rural areas.

“We already have problems in vernacular schools and if we divide areas along racial lines it would be dangerous,” the Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) chairman said at a dialogue here last night.

Local council elections used to be held in Malaysia until it was abolished under the Local Government Act 1976. Appointments have since been based on the political party ruling the state, except in Kuala Lumpur, which has only parliamentary seats as a Federal Territory, hence the Federal Government appoints office bearers to the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL).

DAP’s push for local elections a few years ago put it at odds with its then Pakatan Rakyat partner PAS, with the Islamist party’s president, Abdul Hadi Awang warning that it could spark racial polarisation in Chinese-majority urban areas.

The Marang MP was also reported as claiming local elections could eventually lead to a repeat of the May 13 race riots.

But Mahathir did not outright reject local elections, stressing that balancing the racial makeup in the urban areas was a greater priority.

“There must be a greater effort to reign in more Malays to the urban areas, just as we see happening in KL to ensure there is no gulf between the races.” - FMT News, 8/4/2017

 

Employment Insurance System (EIS) - Good start but not good enough to resolve problems caused by UMNO-BN also?

Employment Insurance System (EIS) - A good move that will help 'out of employment' workers - oops...only retrenched workers. That is one of the flaws - as Malaysia today needs a scheme to help ALL workers that are unemployed until they find their next employment. Thailand has a scheme that helps all workers who are out of a job (including those who resign - who gets a lower rate) for a maximum period of 6 months.

It covers workers who have been retrenched but not those who resign voluntarily, Socso’s EIS chief Mohd Sahar Darusman told FMT in an exclusive interview...The EIS also does not apply to those who do not have their contracts renewed, employees terminated for disciplinary reasons and those who have reached the mandatory retirement age.

Thanks to the UMNO-BN government's failures, many workers in Malaysia now no longer enjoying regular employment(employment until retirement age) - and more and more only have short-term employment contracts(most are for less than a year). There is also no law that ensures workers get their contract extended, even when the employer still needs a worker to do the work, and most employers would choose not to extend these employment, chosing rather to simply employ a new worker.

Malaysia does not even have laws placing limits on the number of workers that can be employed on 'short-term' contracts. In some countries, there are quotas set - whereby the number of non-regular employees, which include short-term contract employees, are limited to reasonably 5-10% of the total workforce. In some countries, like India, the use of short-term employees are limited to work not being the core business of the employer. 

Short-term employment is a form of precarious work, and it will result in no annual income increment which happens with tenure for regular employees. It also will mean no more increment of rights like annual leave/sick leave. It also means no termination/retrenchment benefit. It will also be highly prejudicial for women, as employers will 'smartly' chose to avoid maternity leaves/benefits. Note that entitlement for retirement/retrenchment benefit is only for workers who have worked for more than a year. 

So, when a worker loses his/her employment when the short-term contract ends, it is not easy to find a new job especially in the same industry/trade, or even town. The chances of getting another job with the same or higher income also is slim. Naturally, employers will prefer younger lower-paid workers. The time lapse between end of contract and finding new employment takes time - which could be months, as now there is no provision for 'time out' to find a new job or attend interviews. 

The worker, in modern Malaysia, most likely will be burdened with monthly car/home/house appliances loan payments. They certainly need financial assistance for the period between employment. Better still, if Malaysia does the needful to restore the right of regular employment.

EIS scheme should be helping all workers during their period of unemployment - the government needs to provide for this necessary social security need.

EIS scheme will the first scheme that finally provides monies to workers in need. 

The last time, the government's scheme to prevent retrenchment/loss of employment was sadly only to provide monies to employers and/or other third parties - that was the HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT FUND(HRDF). The idea behind that was to help employers train or re-train employees to prevent (or delay?) retrenchments. It was also available to other qualified entities to provide these training...But sadly the workers themselves did not receive the monies themselves - or maybe just some allowance for attending these trainings. That was a major disappointment for many - because it did not deal with 'financial assistance' to workers. Really, the obligation of training should be with employers - it must be an employer's obligation to train/re-train/improve skills of its existing workers to address the changing needs of employers. 

Of late, there has been many retrenchment, whereby we see that many of these retrenched workers have not been paid wages/allowance for several months before retrenchment, and also still not been paid their retirement/retrenchment benefits.

Well, for that blame will lie with the current UMNO-BN government, in particular the Minister of Human Resources and his Ministry. If we were to look at Malaysian labour laws, the Ministry has the power of 'inspection' - yes, they have the power to continuously monitor and inspect anytime to ensure that labour laws are being complied with by employers - If salaries/allowances are not being paid in time in accordance to law...if employers are in the process of disposing assets/monies possibly to shut down and/or retrench/terminate workers - the Ministry can do the needful fast...even possibly the power to freeze accounts/assets so that Malaysian workers do not end up being 'cheated' of their wages/allowances and even termination/lay-ff/retrenchment benefits. 

Well, look at the regular statistics provided by the Ministry, and you will find no information about the number of these inspections and enforcement of worker rights - the only statistics are about inspection to ensure occupational health/safety requirements are complied with. This demonstrates how the 'cheating' of workers of their wages/allowances/benefits are not a priority. On the other hand, when it comes to GST, there is so much regular 'spot checks' in even small shops to ensure that all amounts payable for GST is paid and no items are in the shop where GST is yet to be paid. Since no statistics, does that mean there is no inspection and enforcement of worker rights?

Looks like the monies/rights of ordinary Malaysian workers are simply not a priority. EIS will help remedy a little the UMNO-BN failings when it comes to retrenched workers - but alas, the fault also lies in the failure of the UMNO-BN Government.

How about the Opposition? Well, is worker rights even a priority? Will they at least guarantee the return of the right of regular employment to all Malaysian workers, which will also guarantee wage/right increase with tenure/age - something so vital for financial wellbeing of the worker and their families?

Now, the moment the worker loses his/her employment - he/she also ceases to be a union member - so, all these workers loses the right to union assistance/help. Without regular employment, the days of ONLY unions based on industry/sector/occupation/workplace only is draconian...short-term employees end up moving from sector to sector, and as such time to allow for unions of workers irrespective of industry/sector/occupation/workplace.

EIS is a good start - but alas, is the amount provided even sufficient? Is the duration of payment even sufficient? Most importantly, it must be a social security available for all workers - not just for retrenched workers - but all workers that are unemployed and/or between jobs.         

A government is and must be responsible for all its citizens - and it must provide sufficient monies and other assistance to the unemployed and the 'temporarily' unemployed.

 

EIS helps retrenched workers get back on their feet

Robin Augustin

KUALA LUMPUR: The Employment Insurance System (EIS), which will come into effect next year, will not only provide a safety net for retrenched workers but also valuable support services.

Tasked with managing the EIS, the Social Security Organisation (Socso) said the insurance scheme would involve 430,000 employers and 6.6 million employees.

It covers workers who have been retrenched but not those who resign voluntarily, Socso’s EIS chief Mohd Sahar Darusman told FMT in an exclusive interview.

The EIS also does not apply to those who do not have their contracts renewed, employees terminated for disciplinary reasons and those who have reached the mandatory retirement age.

There are two phases to the EIS implementation, with the first phase starting in 2018 and the second phase starting in 2019.

First phase

Beginning Jan 1, 2018, employers and employees will each have to contribute 0.2% of an employee’s base salary which goes towards an accumulated EIS fund.

The fund will be used for retrenchment payouts and support services from 2019 onwards.

The contributions to the fund is capped at a salary level of RM4,000 a month, which means that although a person may earn more than RM4,000 a month, his contribution is fixed at 0.2% of RM4,000.

“We will take one year to build this fund and our projection of collection for 2018 is RM479.5 million,” Sahar said.

He said the amount would only be utilised for those retrenched from 2019 onwards.

“Although there are some who calculate that based on a 100% collection, we can collect some RM600 million, the reality is that usually, we will be able to collect less than 100% as there will be some employers who don’t comply or workers who resign voluntarily and stop contributing until they get a new job.”

For the first phase of the EIS, Putrajaya has allocated RM122 million for retrenchment payouts for 2018. 

These payouts are known as interim benefits.

“For those retrenched in 2018, we will give them a fixed amount of RM600 a month for a maximum of three months of unemployment,” Sahar said, adding that Putrajaya would unveil more details on the interim benefits soon.

Second phase and support services

Under the second phase of the EIS, which starts on Jan 1, 2019, Socso will provide retrenchment payouts known as a job search allowance and support services. The job search allowance is based on a scaled amount.

Depending on how long a retrenched worker has been contributing, they could get up to a certain percentage of their last drawn salary for three to six months.

For the first month, it is 80%, then 50%, 40%, 40%, 30% and 30% in the successive months until the sixth month of searching for a job, or sooner if the person is successful in landing a job.

“When a person is retrenched, they are to come to Socso and claim their first job search allowance,” Sahar said.

Socso will then interview the retrenched worker and work with various government and private recruitment agencies to help find him or her a job.

“We will monitor the interviews that they are called for and liaise with the potential employers. If they get a job any time before the sixth month, then we stop paying the job search allowance for the subsequent months due.

“If they secure a job before six months, we will give them an Early Re-employment Allowance, which is 25% of their remaining job search allowance entitlement.”

Additionally, Sahar said if Socso or potential employers found that a retrenched worker needed to take a course to learn new skills or improve on their skills, Socso would pay for the training, capped at RM4,000.

“On top of that, while they undergo training, they will receive between RM10 to RM20 per day for a maximum of six months.

“The key success to the EIS is our support services and the monitoring of the support services,” he said.

Sahar said it was the support services which would eventually ensure retrenched workers gain re-employment.

“The EIS is a safety net, not a welfare programme. We want to make sure that people make the effort to get re-employed, that’s why our monitoring of the support services is crucial.

“If the retrenched workers don’t make an effort to gain re-employment, they will not be able to collect the benefits.”

The EIS bill was passed in Parliament last week. - FMT News, 30/10/2017

MACC - Shafie Apdal Investigation - the start of investigation of BN government/Ministries?

Corruption and Kleptocracy involving Ministers and 'political big names' in the UMNO-BN government? 

Did Malaysians lose a lot of monies because of unhealthy and wrongful practices in the government, involving not just Ministers(members of the administration) and public servants? Remember, that ultimately the Prime Minister is responsible for any acts of kleptocracy, corruption and/or wrongdoings involving the government, any Ministries and/or Minister, departments and/or public servant.(PM picks his own Cabinet) 

A Minister is similarly responsible for things, including wrongdoings, that happen within his/her Ministry.

We had heard how many of these 'ruling party' leaders at all levels seems to be successful in getting government or government-linked contracts and other financially enriching opportunities. This is also included their family members and other 'cronies'...Wrong for government to discriminate in favour of certain persons/entities...Was there inflated contract sums for these projects? Was there corruption and/or kleptocracy? Were those given contracts/projects 'giving back' by making 'donations' to Ministers, persons,...or even the BN(or any component party)? 

We need an independent police, MACC, enforcement and prosecution authorities in Malaysia - do we have them now in Malaysia?

There is a saying that 'a new broom sweeps clean' - but now with the UMNO-led in coalition(now known as the "Barisan Nasional"), is it not possible that there would be more hanky panky, abuses, kleptocracy and even corruption. And recent MACC actions, has showed us the extend that this problem can go to..

The investigations are focused on 70 projects involving roads, electricity and water supply for rural areas of Sabah.

The investigations include incomplete projects as well as suspected corrupted practices in the implementation of The Project.

Well, when Ministers and certain persons can decide who gets a project, contract and benefit ...there is always a problem and 'questions' when such projects/contracts/benefits are given to entities/companies which family members(or political party members/leaders) or friends are involved in.

Was there an open tender? Was the best applicant who got the project? Was the project/contract value 'exaggerated' - well, this could be a way of 'kleptocracy' or wrongly transmitting rakyat's money to some persons/parties? 

Companies that get these contracts/projects - Do they transmit 'some' monies and 'benefits' back to the Minister(or persons involved in getting these projects) - it could come in the form of 'donations' to the party or to the 'wakil rakyat'...or simply 'personal donations' directly and/or indirectly? Do they sponsor some 'Hari Raya banner'...or even other things in some activity? Do they organize CSR[Corporate Social Responsibility] activities and invite the said Minister(or party leader) to open the event or give the 'keynote' address?

Incomplete projects - Well, this should always raise our suspicion? How could that happen? For logically, if a person/entity put forward an application to get a project/tender/contract - surely, the amount of money needed to complete the project (and reasonable profits) would be factored in. Was the quote for 'undervalued'...or was there just too much monies 'spend' for things unnecessary - maybe even high wages and allowances for Directors and/or higher management staff? 

Providing more government monies to complete ...uncompleted projects is just wrong.

When there is no investigation, prosecution or disciplinary action against those responsible for improper management of funds (maybe even kleptocracy, etc..), then it is more wrong. Bad precedence being set.  And, there will more likely be more 'abandoned' projects ...and 'incomplete' projects...for the persons responsible seem to be able to get off easily. Now, the persons who have 'enriched' themselves despite failure to complete projects get to keep their 'wealth'...An ordinary small business person usually suffers financially personally the consequence of business failures - but not these 'companies'? Banks require personal guarantees from Directors - maybe, the government should also require such guarantees from primary shareholders and Directors...then, maybe less chances of 'incomplete' projects?

Government failure - Yes, the government, should have have double checked and ensured the cost of the project first...before handing out contracts. Was there any 'guarantee' required by the Directors and major shareholders ... 

The only reasonable way that there is not enough money to complete a project is through an 'Act of God' like situation - something totally unexpected. 

Possible increases in cost of products/services, drop in the value of ringgit, etc...all should be reasonably anticipated by a project holder..so, every time there is an incomplete project, a serious investigations need to be conducted ...and action MUST be taken against who is 'guilty' - the Minister and/or public servants involved OR was it the project recipient - Too long, have we simply 'not questioned', and allowed more of the peoples' monies to be expended..

Good that MACC is finally looking into this issues. The choice of Shafie Apdal may be because he is no more in BN, and is now an Opposition leader...but it finally opens our eyes...What about Muhyiddin? Mukriz? ...and also all the other existing BN Ministers and Cabinet members... MACC should be looking at all past projects, existing projects ...

Maybe MACC should read the Auditor General's report, and commence investigation in all the alleged 'hanky panky' contained in that report...

We should not simply excuse any wrongdoers simply because they are now in the Opposition ...
       

MACC raids Shafie Apdal's house in KK

---

Saturday, 21 Oct 2017 4:36 PM Stephanie Lee

 

It is learnt that the investigators took him back to the Sabah Malaysian Anti- Corruption Commission (MACC) office for further questioning.

KOTA KINABALU: Graft investigators raided the house of Parti Warisan Sabah president Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal after he was discharged from the Queen Elizabeth Hospital on Saturday.

Shafie, who spent two of his four-day remand at the hospital for hypertension was discharged at about 2pm and was immediately taken to his residence in Taman Gold View here as part of investigations into the alleged skimming of RM1.5bil funds for rural development projects in Sabah.

It is learnt that the investigators took him back to the Sabah Malaysian Anti- Corruption Commission (MACC) office for further questioning.

Shafie was arrested on Oct 19 but was immediately taken to hospital as he suffered from high blood pressure.

He was produced before Magistrate Cindy Mc Juce Balitus, who ordered for the four day remand until Monday, but allowed him to seek treatment at the hospital.

MACC sources have said that their investigations were hindered because they were unable to carry out standard operating procedures to check on Shafie's house in Kota Kinabalu, Semporna and Kuala Lumpur without his presence.- Star, 21/10/2017

Yusof Apdal's remand extended two days

Nation

Saturday, 21 Oct 2017 3:24 PM MYT

by stephanie lee

Yusof arriving at the magistrate court in Kota Kinbalu on Saturday. (Oct 12) NORMIMIE DIUN/The Star.

KOTA KINABALU: Lahad Datu Umno Assemblyman Datuk Yusof Apdal, the younger brother of Parti Warisan Sabah president Datuk Seri Shafie, will spend two more days in MACC remand.

Yusof's remand ended Saturday but was extended for another two days to facilitate current graft investigations involving the skimming of RM1.5bil worth of rural development projects.

The extension of remand was made before magistrate Cindy Mc Juce Balitus on Saturday.

Malaysia Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) prosecuting officer Mohd Faliq Basirudin said they applied for a seven day extension but the court allowed for two days only.

Yusof arrived at the magistrate surrounded by a small crowd of supporters.

The investigations are focused on 70 projects involving roads, electricity and water supply for rural areas of Sabah.

The investigations include incomplete projects as well as suspected corrupted practices in the implementation of The Project.

So far more than 45 people have been questioned since the probe began two weeks ago.

When Shafie left Umno to form Warisan, Yusof who is Silam Umno chief remained with the party. - Star, 21/10/2017

Abolition of the Mandatory Death Penalty — No More Delay! (Malaysian Bar)

Press Release

Abolition of the Mandatory Death Penalty — No More Delay!

The World Day against the Death Penalty is commemorated on 10 October each year.

In Malaysia, the death penalty is mandatory for persons convicted of murder, trafficking in narcotics of various amounts, and discharging a firearm in the commission of various crimes (even where no one is hurt). 

The Malaysian Bar has been, and remains, in the frontline of the battle to uphold and preserve the rule of law, fundamental constitutional rights, the administration of justice, and law and order.  In this regard, we have consistently called for the abolition of the death penalty.  The Malaysian Bar at its Annual or Extraordinary General Meetings in 1985, 2006, 2012 and 2015 passed resolutions condemning the death penalty and/or calling for its abolition.

The campaign to abolish the death penalty is not meant to confer licence to commit serious crimes with impunity.  Persons convicted of serious crimes must receive proportionate punishment.  But this does not mean that they therefore ought to die.  

The Malaysian Bar has always taken the view that there is no empirical evidence or data that confirms that the death penalty serves as an effective deterrent to the commission of crimes.  There has been no significant reduction in the incidence of crimes for which the death penalty is currently mandatory.  This is particularly true of drug-related offences. 

In short, the death penalty does not work as a deterrent. 

The Malaysian Bar’s primary opposition to the death penalty is because life is sacred, and every person has an inherent right to life.  This is vouchsafed in Article 5(1) of the Federal Constitution of Malaysia, which eschews the arbitrary deprivation of life.  The right to life is a fundamental right that must be absolute, inalienable and universal, irrespective of the crime committed by the accused person.

Recently, Minister Dato’ Sri Azalina Othman Said stated on 7 August 2017 that the Cabinet had approved the abolition of the mandatory death penalty for drug-related offences.  However, there has been no announcement of any timeline, or any release of draft legislation to this effect.  The Malaysian Bar calls upon the Government of Malaysia to introduce the amending legislation without further delay.  Any delay will mean more people being sentenced to die.

The Malaysian Bar further calls upon the Government to act swiftly to abolish the death penalty for all crimes, stop executions, and commute each death sentence to one of imprisonment.

George Varughese

President

Malaysian Bar

10 October 2017

Penang's 'American Indian Reservation' like policy for Migrant Workers? Anti-Human Rights?

What Penang government is doing may be considered 'racist' and anti human rights.

The treatment of migrant workers as not being human beings, equal as other human persons, is shameful. Migrant workers should be treated like any other person in Penang, whether they are Malaysian citizens or not. They should have the freedom of movement, and the right to stay where they want...

The Penag government, allegedly was responding to some complaints from people in Penang, that they feel uncomfortable that migrant workers are renting an appartment/flat/house and staying there in the place where there are staying. [Now people where these dormitories are being built are also objecting].

Penang government says that they are going on with their plans for these 'dormitories' for migrant workers allegedly 'to address the social problem involving foreigners'. What social problems? Maybe the Penang government should explain...what social problems? The 'wrongdoings' of a few migrant workers should not influence your perception of all migrant workers - that is called PREJUDICE?

Is it a new Penang Government policy that non-citizens should not be allowed to stay in flats, appartments, housing estates, in Penang - and that it is exclusively for Malaysian citizens - no more foreigners. 

Does the same policy apply for all foreigners - or just the 'lower paid' migrant workers? Will it also mean all foreign embassy staff, and higher incomed employees(including managers, CEOs,...) who are not Malaysians are to be no longer allowed to stay where Malaysians are staying... or, is it just a policy for the lower-incomed migrant workers. [Note the home owners seem to have have no problem renting out appartments and flats to migrant workers - so, this is really a Penang Government Policy and Action]

If these were refugees or asylum seekers, who had no place to stay - this idea of providing proper housing for such refugees would have been applauded... but the idea of  a separate housing area for migrants is shocking? 

The migrant workers did not ask for this... {In any event, provision of housing would have been the responsibility of employers - so why is the Penang government expending the people's monies to build these dormitories for migrants. OR maybe, the Penang government is simply approving of some employers to build such housing for their migrant workers...Which is it?}. Either way, it would be indicative on Penang Government's policy...and, I believe, it is wrong.

Human beings certainly have a right to choose where they want to stay, and with whom. One worker from Vietnam may choose not to stay with another Vietnamese worker, etc. Myanmar workers may prefer not to stay with workers from Philippines..or from another religion - and that should be the choice of the migrant worker. Some may want to stay alone...some may stay in an apartment..some may choose to stay in a terrace house...That is a choice that every human being must have.

What Penang government is doing now looks like they are agreeing to a creation of  a "Reservation' for American Natives for the Migrant Workers in Penang, to keep them separated from the rest of the Malaysian people in Penang.  

What is the plan really? After work, will they be all forced in buses and transported to these 'dormitories'...and then what? Will guards be placed to prevent these migrant workers from moving around and leaving their 'compound'? ...go to supermarlets, churches, temples, mosques, beaches...?

Will their 'Malaysian friends' or others not be allowed to visit them? Will UNIONS be disallowed from meeting these migrants, and organising them to join Unions? 

We have criticized employers and/or their agents, who treated migrants like this...and now the Penang Government led by the DAP is doing this? 

Even the UMNO-BN government , I believe, did not embark on such a 'policy' ...to isolate the place where migrants can stay, to keep them apart from the rest of the Penangites?

Initially some Malaysian workers and even unions rejected the idea of working with migrant workers...but finally attitudes have changed, and now they accept these 'migrant workers' as fellow workers...and even now, many unions have accepted migrant members as union members.

We were all appalled by the 'Muslim only' laundry shop - but even that did not discriminate between citizen and non-citizen. 

None of the religious communities have been seen to object to the presence of migrant workers in their places of worship - some even have special programs for these migrant workers...YES, Malaysians are accepting migrant workers are a member of the Malaysian multi-ethnic multi-religious community. The UMNO-BN government also did not bar migrant worker access from public services and facilities.

This Penang Government policy and actions is certainly against the Malaysian values...and certainly would be against human rights.

If the Penang government's plan is to provide cheaper accommodation for  single workers - then it is OK - and it should be available to everyone - Malaysians or migrants, BUT it must remain a CHOICE - it should not be forced on any persons. 

We expected better from an Opposition government (DAP-PKR-PAS, or is it maybe now not a DAP-PKR -Amanah -Harapan government, with a DAP Chief Minister).

I am worried that we are soon going to see notices in shops and shopping malls ...'No Migrants Allowed'. Will there soon be 'Migrants Only Toilets'....or will Penang soon be heading towards a Malay only housing communities' or a 'Chinese only ?,...

Remember that our own Federal Constitution provides for 'EQUALITY' of all persons...not simply equality only for Malaysian citizens..

PRICIPLES and VALUES determine how people will vote in the upcoming General Elections. 

The fact that Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, did not choose to 'resign' or at the very least dissolve the State Legislative Assembly and call for a State Elections when the Chief Minister was faced with allegations of corruption and abuse of power...which now is in court, was already a negative point for the Opposition. 

That continuing to be Chief Minister without seeking a new mandate of the Penang People, immediately destroyed the moral authority of the DAP and maybe even the Opposition from even now calling on PM Najib to resign in the face of serious allegations of kleptocracy and other wrongdoing.

This policy and action concerning migrant workers in Penang makes us to even question DAP and the Opposition ...their suitability of being the next government of Malaysia - maybe even their continued governance of Penang...

We have highlighted this disturbing policy and plans before...but sadly, the recent Bernama report, indicates that Penang Government's policy and plans have not changed....

New Detention Centre - like Dorms for Migrant Workers in Penang? Discriminatory? Anti-Union?

Would this be a racist policy? Would this be a discriminatory policy? Possibly even a discrimination against the poor...? Is it a violation of human rights? Well, you readers will have to decide.

Personally, I am of the opinion that it is an unjust and anti-human rights policy...and  I do hope that the Penang government abandons this policy...Is this the Pakatan Harapan policy too? PAS?

Many of us want a change, something other than UMNO-BN, and we hope that the Opposition that is looking for our support will provide us with something better, that is also based on human rights and justice... 

Penang gov't goes ahead with building foreign worker dorms despite protests

    Bernama     Published Today 5:34 pm     Updated Today 5:57 pm

 

 

Penang DAP-led government will go ahead with its plan to build dormitories for foreign workers at five identified locations despite objection by the local residents.

State housing, town and country planning committee chairperson Jagdeep Singh Deo said the Penang government was going ahead with its plan to build dormitories for foreign workers to address the social problem involving foreigners.

He said the first foreign workers' dormitories which are currently under construction in Bukit Minyak were expected to be completed by August next year.

"The current progress of the project in Bukit Minyak has reached 40 percent and I believe it will be completed by next year to combat rising social ills involving the foreigners," he told reporters after attending prayers at Sri Ramar temple at Solok York in Georg Town today.

It was reported previously that residents in Juru have been objecting the plan to build the foreign workers dormitories in their areas citing that the areas will be flooded with foreigners and it could contribute to the increase in social problems.

However, Jagdeep said the state had approved five applications to build foreign workers’ dormitories and among the first one to be completed was the 6,000 bedded block in Bukit Minyak.

Jagdeep said the other location of the planned foreign workers' dormitories were Juru, Permatang Tinggi, Valdor Industrial areas and Permatang Damar Laut in Batu Maung.

"Apart from Juru which is currently at the planning stage, the rest of the foreign workers' dormitories are progressing well," he said.
 

He said the dormitories at these five places would be able to
accommodate more than 25,000 workers while they were required to have facilities such as a multipurpose hall, canteen, and sick bays.

“Penang has around 200,000 foreign workers. We are looking at catering up to 10% of the number,” he said.

Jagdeep said the purpose was to absorb workers currently staying at places such as flats.

He said there had been numerous complaints from the public of the big number of foreign workers staying at flats, sometimes occupying over half of such housing schemes.

- Bernama - Malaysiakini, 7/10/2017