Wednesday, May 27, 2020

Chew Kok Woh(speaking for MCA?PN?) speaks out against criticizing China?even if it is about human rights?

Does MCA central committee member Datuk Chew Kok Woh speak for MCA, and/or the Perikatan Nasional coalition that governs Malaysia?

Well, if that is his position, then the MCA and the Perikatan National will not take a stance against Israel and the US for the injustices committed on Palestine and the Palestinian people.

Likewise, it means that MCA(or PN) will not speak out against Myanmar for what it did with regards the Rohingya people.

Does anyone remember whether MCA or Chew Kok Woh spoke up about the 1MDB issue - the internationally recognized acts of kleptocracy, etc..

Does Chew not realize that we now live in a global community - where every Nation States do highlight and speak out against injustices and human rights violations in every other country? That is what happens also during the Universal Periodic Review at the UN?

Does MCA (or just Chew) support detention without trial laws...or 'national security laws' that suppress or violate the rights of individuals - freedom of speech, expression, peaceful assembly?

Chew said it was disgraceful of Santiago to join many Western lawmakers and politicians to criticize China as Hong Kong was part of China....He said China could introduce any laws on security it wanted in Hong Kong
Has Chew(and/or MCA) forgotten that Malaysia too is a Federation - so, do you not believe that States should also have a say...and their 'autonomy' too.... This exercise of the Peninsular States individual autonomy came about when some States decided to not simply follow the Federal government's lifting of certain conditions during the MCO. Even the BN ruled state of Pahang, said 'NO' - we will decide for Pahang after we had our meeting...

Malaysia is also a Federation twice made up of 3 parties - Peninsular Malaysia States, Sabah and Sarawak? 

Is it right for the Federal government to ignore the 'autonomy' of Sabah and Sarawak? 

So, does MCA want to remove the special rights of Sabah and Sarawak? 

YES - Hong Kong is part of China, but it is also an autonomous region with its own style of governance, administration of justice and on other matters. Can China force its laws onto Hong Kong? 

Interestingly, CHINA itself is not making noise or demands of Malaysia - so, why is Chew Kok Woh (and/or MCA) getting so worked up?

Autonomy of regions in a country is something common in many countries even in ASEAN - we accept and understand. Closer home, Aceh after some struggle managed to get some autonomy for its region, likewise the southern Muslim States of Thailand, and also the Philippines. 

The rights of people in such autonomous regions, like Hong Kong with regards to China, cannot simply be violated or 'trampled upon' without the consent of the people of the said autonomous region. 

Is Chew(and MCA) now of the position that China can impose its will on Hong Kong, disregarding the existing agreement that gives Hong Kong autonomy with regards to not just governance, administration, laws, judiciary, etc? Are they saying that the same laws and manner of governance of China applies also to Hong Kong? If the people of Hong Kong agree, then it is a different situation - the protests(NOT riots) are an indication of how many feel in Hong Kong...

I wonder what Chew's(and MCA's) position was about the BERSIH mass protests - does MCA believe and accept the right of peaceful assembly and the right to protest? 

If Chew Kok Woh was approached to sign that statement, I wonder whether he would have signed? Would he have refused simply because it is calling on China not to do something that is a violation of human rights of the people of Hong Kong?

Politicians - you must stand by values and principles, including for JUSTICE and HUMAN RIGHTS - and speak out against injustice and violations of human rights everywhere not just in Malaysia, and not just speak up ONLY if it directly affects you, your ethnic group or your religious group...

Sad really that many of the Malaysian politicians just do not speak up enough...

Chew Kok Woh must be praised for speaking up and expressing his view, although I may not agree with his position ...and, by the way an MP (or a party member) too can speak his views and opinions anytime -  it is absurd to insist that they speak up only if they get their political party's approval...DID MCA allow Chew to say these things? I wonder?

Anyway, with regard that statement 

An MP, is a human person, and he can always have a personal view different from his party's view. The then Minister Nazri was for abolition of the death penalty, even when he was in the BN Cabinet, and spoke up stating clearly that it was his personal view...not the government's view.

Come next elections, people will want to know more about individual candidates - and may not simply vote just because he stands as a candidate for this or that party. 

Too many 'party-hopping' MPs has brought about this new NORM...clearly even party leadership made so many mistakes about the people they chose as candidates including PKR, BERSATU,UMNO,...

The Chinese Malaysians in Malaysia, by the way are Malaysians not Chinese nationals > so, is this criticism of Charles Santiago and/or DAP an attempt to woo the support of Chinese Malaysians come next elections? 

In defence of China - is that the MCA strategy to woo back the support of Chinese Malaysians?

And, by the way, DAP is a Malaysian party - open to any Malaysians. Time for maybe MCA to also become a 'truly' Malaysian party by opening membership to all Malaysians..

 

 

 


MCA raps DAP MP for signing anti-China memorandum


  • Nation
  • Monday, 25 May 2020

KUALA LUMPUR: DAP MP Charles Santiago has come under fire from MCA for being a signatory to an international memorandum against China.

The Klang MP was among 200 parliamentarians and policymakers from 23 countries which attacked China for proposing national security laws in Hong Kong.

MCA central committee member Datuk Chew Kok Woh (pic) said the DAP should declare whether this was also the official stand of the party.

"We want the DAP to state categorically whether it has the same position as the MP from Klang.

"He has signed as the chairman of the Asean Parliamentarian for Human Rights but he is a DAP MP," he said.

Chew said it was disgraceful of Santiago to join many Western lawmakers and politicians to criticise China as Hong Kong was part of China.

He said China could introduce any laws on security it wanted in Hong Kong and it was not for any Western countries to meddle.

"We can see that the security has got out of hand in Hong Kong where violent riots, bomb-throwing and vandalism have got out of control.

"This is not democracy but a threat to democracy which the West has closed an eye and even praised these rioters as pro-democracy," he said in a statement.

Chew said none of these western media had condemned these acts, adding that the DAP must surely be aware of the wrongful actions of these protestors.

Another memorandum signatory is lawyer Andrew Khoo, a former Malaysian Bar Council human rights committee co-chairman.

The two joined the last Hong Kong colonial governor Chris Patten and US senator Ted Cruz, both constant critics of China, in the joint declaration which attacked China for its "unilateral introduction" of the laws and claimed "the integrity of the one country and two systems hangs by a thread."

The joint statement also urged governments to raise their voices against China.

Chew said China had every reason to introduce laws against secession, subversion and terrorism.

"The US and western countries have similar laws, so let's not be hypocritical.

"It's shameful that Santiago has joined the others to put his name there and put Malaysia in an awkward position because we have excellent ties with China.

"The DAP leadership should demand Santiago to retract his name," he said, pointing out that Cheras MP Tan Kok Wai was the previous special envoy to China.

Chew asked what was the stand of Tan on the position of Santiago and come out openly.

He said such laws were badly needed in Hong Kong to restore peace and stability for a conducive business environment.

Chew said it was simplistic of anti-China people to say democracy would be threatened in Hong Kong.

"I like to ask when Hong Kong was under the British from 1841 to 1997, (except during Japanese rule) did the British introduce direct elections?

"The British then occupied all the top civil service and the police force under the British was hugely corrupt," he said.

In response, Santiago defended his right to express his own opinion regarding China's proposed national security laws in Hong Kong.

He urged Chew to "take his fight" elsewhere, saying that Chew's comments were a case of "being desperate to stir the hornets' nest when there is no issue to begin with".

Santiago added that Chew should see that there were concerns expressed towards China's relations with Hong Kong.

"Hasn't he (Chew) heard of words such as selling state secrets, treason, sedition that have been used by China to nab dissidents?

"I am also against the thwarting of Hong Kong's judicial system as the new laws drafted by China could see trials being conducted behind closed doors," he said in a statement to Malaysiakini.- Star, 25/5/2020

MCA leader slams Klang MP for signing anti-China memorandum

Published
Modified 25 May 2020, 12:50 pm
131
An MCA leader has slammed DAP's Klang MP Charles Santiago for allegedly putting Malaysia in an "awkward position" by signing a joint international memorandum against China.

Charles was part of 191 parliamentarians and policymakers from 23 countries who issued a joint statement condemning Beijing’s “unilateral introduction of national security legislation in Hong Kong.

Charles signed the memorandum as the chair of Asean Parliamentarians for Human Rights.

MCA central committee member Chew Kok Woh said it was disgraceful of Santiago to join many Western lawmakers and politicians in criticising China when Hong Kong was part of China.

"It's shameful that Santiago has joined the others to put his name there and put Malaysia in an awkward position because we have excellent ties with China," he said.

He said China was free to formulate any laws on security in Hong Kong.

"We can see that the security has gotten out of hand in Hong Kong where violent riots, bomb-throwing and vandalism have gotten out of control.

"This is not a democracy but a threat to democracy which the West has closed an eye too and even praised these rioters as being pro-democracy," The Star quoted Chew as saying.

"The US and Western countries have similar (security) laws, so let's not be hypocritical," he said.

Hong Kong needed such laws to restore peace and stability for a conducive business environment, he said.

He then questioned if this was the official position of DP particular when DAP chairperson Tan Kok Wai was previously special envoy to China.

"We want the DAP to state categorically whether it has the same position as the MP from Klang.

"He has signed as the chairperson of the Asean Parliamentarians for Human Rights but he is a DAP MP," said Chew, who is also Batu Sapi division chief.

"The DAP leadership should demand Charles retract his name," he said.

When contacted, Charles said he will respond to Chew's statement later.

Another signatory from Malaysia was lawyer and Bar Council Human Rights Committee former co-chairperson Andrew Khoo. - Malaysiakini, 25/5/2020


In full: 191 parliamentarians and policymakers from 23 countries slam Beijing for ‘assault’ on Hong Kong freedoms and rule of law

A coalition of 191 parliamentarians and policymakers from 23 countries have issued a statement condemning Beijing’s “unilateral introduction of national security legislation in Hong Kong,’ and calling for sympathetic governments to unite against this ‘flagrant breach of the Sino-British Joint Declaration.”

hong kong occupy protest umbrellaFile photo: via Flickr.

The letter comes after Beijing announced plans to roll out national security legislation in the autonomous city.

The initiative was led by the former governor of Hong Kong Chris Patten, and the former UK Foreign Secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind. The list of signatories included ex-prime ministers, foreign secretaries, defence ministers, as well as legal and human rights experts and diplomats.

Lord Patten of Barnes said: “The statement shows growing and widespread international outrage at the decision by the Chinese government to unilaterally impose national security legislation in Hong Kong. The breadth of support, which spans all political parties and four continents, reflects both the severity of the situation and ongoing unified international support for the principle of one-country, two-systems.”

Ex-British foreign secretary and patron for NGO Hong Kong Watch, Sir Malcolm Rifkind said: “This is the most serious threat to the people of Hong Kong that there has been from the Chinese Government since 1997. The people of Hong Kong need, and deserve, our support.”

The statement in full:

We, the co-signed, write to express grave concerns about the unilateral introduction of national security legislation by Beijing in Hong Kong. 

This is a comprehensive assault on the city’s autonomy, rule of law, and fundamental freedoms. The integrity of one-country, two-systems hangs by a thread. 

It is the genuine grievances of ordinary Hong Kongers that are driving protests. Draconian laws will only escalate the situation further, jeopardising Hong Kong’s future as an open Chinese international city. 

If the international community cannot trust Beijing to keep its word when it comes to Hong Kong, people will be reluctant to take its word on other matters. Sympathetic governments must unite to say that this flagrant breach of the Sino-British Joint Declaration cannot be tolerated.

Signatories:

Rt. Hon Lord Patten of Barnes, former Governor of Hong Kong
Rt. Hon Sir Malcolm Rifkind, former Foreign Secretary and Defence Secretary:

USA

Members of the Senate
Senator Benjamin L Cardin, Ranking Member of the Senate Small Business Committee
Senator Ted Cruz, Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
Senator Edward J Markey, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific, and International Cybersecurity Policy
Senator Robert Menendez, Ranking Member, Senate Foreign Relations Committee
Senator Marco Rubio, Acting Chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee

Members of the House of Representatives
Congressman Robert B Aderholt
Congressman Ami Bera, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, and Non-proliferation, House Foreign Affairs Committee
Congressman Eliot L Engel, Chairman of US House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs
Congressman Mike Gallagher
Congressman Vicky Hartzler
Congressman Michael T McCaul, ranking member of US House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs
Congressman James McGovern, co-chair of the Congressional Executive Commission on China
Congressman Adam B Schiff, Chairman of the US House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
Congressman Adam Smith, Chairman of US House of Representatives Committee on Armed Services
Congressman Christopher Smith, former Chair of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee
Congressman Tom Suozzi
Congressman Ted Yoho, ranking member of the Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, and Non-proliferation, US House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs

Former Ambassadors
Grover Joseph Rees, former USA Ambassador to East Timor

EU
Former EU Special Envoys
Jan Figel, former Deputy Prime Minister of Slovakia and EU Special Envoy for Promotion Freedom of Religion or Belief outside of the EU (2016-19)
Members of the European Parliament
Petras Austrevicuis MEP (Renew Europe, Lithuania)
Jose Ramon Bauza Diaz MEP (Renew Europe, Spain)
Francois-Xavier Bellamy MEP (European People’s Party, France)
Vladimír Bilčík MEP (European People’s Party, Slovakia)
Reinhard Buetikofer MEP (Greens, Germany)
Katalin Cseh MEP (Renew Europe, Hungary)
Pascal Durand MEP (Renew Europe, France)
Engin Eroglu MEP (Renew Europe, Germany)
Anna Fotyga MEP, (European Conservatives & Reformists) Poland former Foreign Secretary of Poland
Michael Gahler MEP (European People’s Party, Germany)
Evelyne Gebhardt MEP (Socialists & Democrats, Germany)
Markéta Gregorová MEP (Greens, Czech Republic)
Bernard Guetta MEP (Renew Europe, France)
Rasa Jukneviciene MEP, (European People’s Party, Lithuania) former Minister of Defence of Lithuania and former President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly
Eugen Jurzyca MEP (European Conservatives & Reformists, Slovakia)
Karin Karlsbro MEP
Moritz Körner MEP
Andrius Kubilius MEP (European People’s Party, Lithuania), former Prime Minister of Lithuania
Miriam Lexmann MEP (European People’s Party, Slovakia)
Javier Nart MEP (Renew Europe, Spain)
Lucia Ďuriš Nicholsonová MEP (European Conservatives & Reformists, Slovakia)
Urmas Paet MEP (Renew Europe, Estonia), former Foreign Secretary of Estonia
Peter Pollák MEP (European People’s Party, Slovakia)
Michaela Šojdrová MEP (European People’s Party, Czech Republic)
Ivan Štefanec MEP (European People’s Party, Slovakia)
Romana Tomc MEP (European People’s Party, Slovenia)
Hilde Vautmans MEP (Renew Europe, Belgium)
Guy Verhofstadt MEP (Renew Europe, Belgium), former Prime Minister of Belgium

Germany
Peter Heidt MP, Germany
Eckhard Gnodtke MP, Germany
Gyde Jensen MP, the Chair of the Human Rights and Humanitarian Aid Committee, Germany

Sweden
Joar Forssell MP, Sweden
Hampus Hagman MP, Sweden
David Josefsson MP, Sweden
Frederik Malm MP, Sweden
Lorentz Tovatt MP, Sweden

Denmark
Viggo Fischer MP, Denmark

Ireland
Senator Ronan Mullen

Lithuania
Mantas Adomenas MP
Arvydas Anusauskas MP
Audronius Azubalis MP, former Minister of Foreign Affairs
Laurynas Kasciunas MP
Gabrielius Landsbergis MP
Radvilė Morkunaite-Mikuleniene MP
Emanuelis Zingeris MP, Chair of the Subcommittee on Transatlantic Relations and Democratic Development
Žygimantas Pavilionis MP, former Ambassador of Lithuania to the United States of America

Slovakia
Members of Parliament
Alojz Baránik MP
Ján Benčík MP
Peter Cmorej MP
Ondrej Dostál MP
Gábor Grendel MP, Deputy Speaker
Jarmila Halgašová MP
Radovan Kazda MP
Miroslav Kollár MP
Vladimíra Marcinková MP
Peter Osuský MP
Peter Pollák MP
Juraj Šeliga MP, Deputy Speaker
Andrej Stančík MP
Romana Tabák MP
Marián Viskupič MP
Anna Zemanová MP
Miroslav Žiak MP
Jana Žitňanská MP
Former Member of Parliament
František Šebej, former MP and Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee,

Malaysia
Andrew Khoo, Advocate and Solicitor, High Court of Malaya in Malaysia, former Co-Chair of the Human Rights Committee, Bar Council Malaysia
Charles Santiago MP, Chair of ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights

Myanmar
U Kyaw Min San, Member of the Bago Regional Parliament and former legal adviser to the International Commission of Jurists Office

South Korea
Jung-Hoon Lee, former Ambassador for Human Rights, South Korea

India
Dr John Dayal, former President of the All India Catholic Union and Member of the National Integration Council, India

Indonesia
Rafendi Djamin, former Representative of Indonesia to the ASEAN Inter-Governmental Commission on Human Rights, Indonesia
 Yuyun Wahyuningrum, Representative of Indonesia to the ASEAN Inter-Governmental Commission on Human Rights, Indonesia

Australia
Members of Parliament
Kevin Andrews MP, Former Australian Defence Minister, Chairman of the Human Rights sub-committee of the Australian Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence, and Trade
Vicki Dunne MP
Andrew Hastie MP, Chairman of the Parliamentary Joint Committee for Intelligence and Security, Australia
Ian Goodenough MP
Peter Khalil MP, Member of the Joint Standing Committee Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade
Janelle Saffin MP
Dave Sharma MP, Member for Wentworth
Phillip Thompson MP, Member of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade
Tim Wilson MP
Members of the Senate
Senator Eric Abetz, former Leader of the Government in the Senate
Senator Alex Antic
Senator Slade Brockman, Senator for Western Australia
Senator Matthew Canavan, former Minister for Resources and Northern Australia
Senator Claire Chandler
Senator David Fawcett, Chair of the Joint Standing Committee Foreign Affairs, Defence, and Trade, former Assistant Minister for Defence
Senator Kimberley Kitching, Shadow Assistant Minister for Government Accountability and member of the Joint Standing Committee Foreign Affairs, Defence, and Trade
Senator Matthew O’Sullivan
Senator James Paterson
Senator Tony Sheldon
Senator Amanda Stoker

New Zealand
Simeon Brown MP
Marama Davidson MP, Coleader of the Green Party of Aotearoa/New Zealand
Simon O’Connor MP, Chair of the Foreign Affairs, Defence, and Trade Committee

Canada
Members of Parliament
Kenny Chiu MP
Garnett Genius MP, Shadow Minister for Multiculturalism & Canada-China Relations
Erin O’Toole MP, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs
John Williamson MP
Members of the Senate
Senator Leo Housakos, former Speaker of the Senate
Senator Jim Munson
Senator Thanh Hai Ngo
Former Ministers
Irwin Colter, former Minister of Justice and Attorney General
David Kilgour, former Canadian Secretary of State for Asia-Pacific and former MP
Former Premiers
Bob Rae, former Premier of Ontario and Federal MP - Hong Kong Free Press, 24/5/2020

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