This is PAS Seat...DAP seat...PKR seat - what about other candidates - No seats unless...

A pre-occupation of this being PKR seat...and that being DAP seat...etc leads one to wonder what seats remain for the other opposition political parties...and independent candidates. Nobody likes a 3-corner fight, but if the Opposition political parties are so fixated with the idea of this being their turf... then all other independent candidates & candidates from other Opposition to BN parties are expected to do what?

The Pakatan Rakyat must not be so 'rigid' - and must be open to fielding the best person as the candidate. Even though PKR stood as a candidate in Temerloh Parliamentary seat, for example, they should not be too rigid in allowing a better candidate who may be from DAP, PAS, PRM, PSM ...or even an independent to stand as the candidate....let us have the best candidate to stand against the BN candidate.

Of all the Pakatan Rakyat political parties, PKR has been found most wanting - given the fact that majority of those that 'jumped' and became BN-friendly have been from that particular political party...At one time, they had the biggest number of seats in Parliament...but no more. It was also party-hoppers, majority of whom came from PKR, that caused the opposition to lose one State...

Who makes a good 'lawmaker'? Well maybe, we need to review the participation of the various Pakatan Rakyat MPs/ADUNs in the Parliament/State Legislative Assembly... and, sadly the results will be disappointing as many have just adopted the role of being mere 'seat warmers' - playing no active role within the  Parliament/State Legislative Assembly and/or outside... The criteria of selection seems to be loyalty - and sometimes, it is not just a loyalty to the party....but loyalty to certain personality/faction within the party. 

The political parties and the people need to review their present position and manner of thinking...before the next GE. Choose the best candidate - one who have an history of advocating for justice and human rights...not just the 'least threatening' or those that 'kow-tow' the most...

What is PKR talking about? If Malay majority seat, then it will be a PAS seat, if non-Malay majority, then it will be a DAP seat, if mixed seats, then it will be PKR seats... I sincerely hope not.

PKR is gearing up for some tough negotiations with fellow Pakatan Rakyat member PAS, with both parties eyeing several of the same seats in the 13th general election, which is widely speculated to held this year.

While he did not name the constituencies, PKR deputy president Azmin Ali said the seats involved were in areas with no racial majority, or what are referred to as "mixed constituencies".

"It is no longer the old formula where PAS will contest in Malay majority areas, DAP in Chinese majority areas and PKR in mixed areas. Now, PAS also wants the mixed seats," Azmin (right) said this morning.

PAS has traditionally enjoyed support from the Malay community, but recent by-elections have proven that this too is becoming a challenge for the coalition.

For example, its Tenang by-election candidate Normala Sudirman recently lost on the back of an overwhelming 83.3 percent Malay support for BN.

A lot older and better organised than PKR, PAS is expected to come to the negotiation table citing its stronger presence in terms of numbers of members and divisions.

However, Azmin said, PKR would substantiate its claim to the seats PAS was seeking by showing that "PKR resonates better with voter sentiments", which, he claimed, had been gathered through the party's "detailed voter analysis".

Besides the negotiated seats, the Gombak parliamentarian added, PKR was sure of about 90 percent of the seats it wished to contest.

However, the party is still in the process of choosing its candidates. Division leaders nationwide have been given a March 20 deadline to come up with a shortlist of candidates to be sent to the central leadership.

PSM reps can be PKR candidates

Interestingly, Azmin said the party would consider candidates mooted by the Malaysian Civil Liberties Movement (MCLM).

The party has also held talks with Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM), which in 2008 fielded three representatives under the PKR banner.

"We have no problem with them contesting under our banner again as they have shown very strong loyalty to the cause," he said.

However, Azmin added, PSM's stand that it is not part of Pakatan Rakyat, but "only friends" of the coalition, could confuse voters.

If the socialist party wanted to contest under the PKR banner, he said, it would need to adhere to the common policies of Pakatan.

PSM wants to use its own symbol in the coming general election, after finally being registered as a political party in June 2008, ending a 10-year struggle.

At its congress last year, PSM central committee member Dr Jeyakumar Devaraj (above) said the party could not be part of the Pakatan coalition as it promoted liberal capitalist ideals that went against the PSM ideology.

However, Jeyakumar added, "we are with them in the struggle to unseat BN".- Malaysiakini, 15/2/2011, Azmin: PAS now eyeing PKR's turf

"...who deftly tells different audiences—religious or secular—what they like to hear..." Is this true of Anwar Ibrahim...of most politicians?

An interesting article in the Economist, entitled Banyan: Malaysia's Chameleon seem to describe describe Anwar Ibrahim (or maybe just most of our Malaysian politicians) of being persons '...who deftly tells different audiences—religious or secular—what they like to hear...'

Is this the characteristics of Anwar and most of our politicians? Is that the reason why we do not see clear written positions of political parties (and/or coalitions) on various issues, especially the controversial ones. When you talk to different audiences, you can say different things - and many a time, there is no record to determine what exactly was said - but, if it was written out, then it is difficult to change it.

Transparency demands clarity in positions taken by government, including local governments, political parties and coalitions. This can be achieved by written statements. In Thailand, they have clear written cabinet resolutions whenever their cabinet makes any decision on any subject matter. Maybe, the same should also be practiced in Malaysia.

Maybe, the Pakatan Rakyat governed states can start by:-

a) State Exco Resolutions/Decisions [This will be issued and placed on the State Government websites, which will be continuously updated]

b) Local Council Resolutions/Decisions [This will be issued and placed on the respective Local Government websites, which will be continuously updated. Local Councils should also have Agenda of Up-Coming Local Council Meetings {esp. since these are open to the public}, Minutes of Local Council Meetings, etc..]

c) Political Party or Political Coalition's positions/stance...

I wonder:-

* What exactly is the position of the PKR on the existence of gambling outlets like Toto, Magnum, etc...?

* What exactly is the position of PKR on the usage of the term 'Allah' by persons, not Muslims, in reference to their God?

OR, is their position not to take a position ...and go around telling different crowds just what they would want to hear...i.e. just be chameleons..

I do not want that....Malaysians, I believe, do not want that. We want clarity...transparency - take and state your position...

When it comes to the ISA and Detention Without Trial, it is easy to take a position that we are for the repeal of those laws..

When it comes to other issues, it is a bit more difficult - but, we do have to make a stand...and thereafter, go forth and explain why we made the stand...

Today, we have the issue of the sale of Beer (and alcohol) in Selangor..., and Pakatan Rakyat will have to make a decision on this... [Percentage of Muslims in Malaysia - about 57%]

What about Beef - should it be taken off the menu of all government, political party/coalition functions...[because the cow is sacred to Hindus...and Buddhists]? Should there not be a state policy, that requires clear signs to indicate when beef is sold in food shops?

This points to a trap waiting to catch the silver-tongued Mr Anwar, who deftly tells different audiences—religious or secular—what they like to hear. The same blogosphere that helped his meteoric rise may one day pay more attention to his chameleon qualities. Malaysians would then come to ask more closely: who and what exactly does Anwar stand for? - The Economists, Jul 30th 2009, Banyan: Malaysia's Chameleon

Some may angrily suggest that Anwar sues the Economist - but let us not forget freedom of expression, freedom of opinion, etc... The Economist article raises several points that deserve consideration, and I believe it is time for Malaysian politicians and political parties (and governments) to be more transparent and clear on the positions that they take on various issues.

Changes that must happen when reins of power shift hands..

When a new government takes over...especially from one that has held the reins of power for 50 years plus, there are matters that we have to consider...practices that we have to change...

1) We need to immediately change certain persons who are heads (or are of influence) in certain departments of the State, the Local Councils, etc... They will have to be terminated or 'closetted' somewhere where they will not be able to cause trouble.

NEW governments have a NEW vision and a NEW way of doing things - but alas, some of these old pro-former government persons (who may even be in their current position not by reason of merit and seniority but by reason of being a pro-BN person, who knows how to behave in accordance to the BN culture..). Persons appointed by the previous regime may still be loyal to BN, be still spoiled by the old culture and the old way of doing things...They may resist changes - and may even be hurdles for change and improvement. They seriously need to go.

- so we get rid of the State Secretary, the State Legal Adviser, and some of the heads of departments, and maybe even the Directors and CEOs of some of the wholly owned State companies,...

There is a saying that we cannot put new wine into old wineskins - and that is exactly what must be done..

2) We need to CHANGE some of the old ways of doing things that BN did. Instead of transmitting aid and benefits directly through the relevant public service departments, BN did do so unnecessarily through its wakil rakyats, its component parties, etc... creating a sense of dependency on BN, and also resulting in great injustice. [For certain things, unnecessarily the requirement of support by MP/ADUN or political parties are required...]

Eg. There may be a government budget allocation, whereby certain sums of monies were to be handed out to the warga mas (the old folks). The money should rightly be disbursed through the Welfare Departments. But, what may happen is that the BN parties and people are informed of this - and they then go down and start collecting names and details of this warga mas. The MIC go round collecting the names and details of their members (and other party friendly persons) - and they then submit the list and collect the money, and then also do hand over the money to the persons in their list.

PROBLEM: Some of them warga mas will not even know ...let alone get what has been allocated for them...

PROBLEM: There may be certain amount of corruption...The pay out may be RM1,000 - but the warga mas may only get RM500, and they will not know better ...thankful for all that they get..

PROBLEM: Money may be given to certain persons who do not deserve the same..

CORRECT APPROACH: When there is such allocation for say, them warga mas - there must be public announcements in the newspapers, televisions, radios, etc providing information of the said benefits, and also information of how the said people can claim their benefits - and from which relevant public department - eg. the Welfare Departments, etc..

Good, if we all can make suggestions of areas that need to be changed...sometimes politicians are also BLUR and have no ideas about what needs to be done...After all, it is so easy just to sit in the newly acquired seats of power...and continue doing things in the same manner as it was always done... CHANGE is always difficult..and there will be resistance..but it must be done - and its is always best that it be done speedily ...

Time for MPs to be provided with MORE paid support staff,....

We want to be a First World Parliament - but the problem is with what we provide to our individual Members of Parliament...only salary and some allowance...for attendance, etc..

There must be allocations for each and every Member of Parliament to have a Personal Assistant (to be able to do the needful when our MP is in Parliament or some meetings), a Research Assistant or 2 (who will be responsible for doing the research necessary for the MP to raise good questions, and good comments. Remember the MP has to peruse all kinds of Bills - and be able to raise relevant questions and clarifications, and this is not really possible because not all MPs have the requisite legal skill/knowledge and exposure or time to do this on his/her own research- hence the need for Research Assistant/s to assist the MP) , a Stenographer/Clerk (someone to take down notes and minutes, etc.) , a Secretary to man the MP's office in the Parliament House. Yes - each and every MP must have an office in the Parliament Building.

There must also be provision for rentals for service centres in the Constituency - plus for 1 or 2 staff per service centre.

How many service centres should an MP have - maybe he should be having 1 for every 15,000 registered voters in his constituency. So, for a constituency that has 60,000 registered voters, the MP is entitled to have and maintain 4 service centres - with 8 staff.

We need to create laws that provide for these things for each and every MP. We cannot expect MPs to use their salaries and allowances to hire basic support staff, -

Look at the US Congress - every Congressman has a pool of support staff. Salaries be paid by Congress.

Likewise, the salaries of the staff of MPs should be paid by the government. If an MP needs more staff, then he/she will have to find the money to pay for the extras.

We are talking about minimums here - and sadly today after more than 50 years of independence, we do not provisions in law that will assist the MP to be a better people's representative - a more inteligent one as well - who will have 'inteligence' flowing from his mouth rather than some stupid derrogatory remarks or unnecessary comments. WHY? Because now he has his team of research assistants/support staff who will be able to brief the MP (or educate the MP on major concerns about this Bill and that Bill) - Result:- Better MPs, Better Questions, Better Debates, Better Parliament ....

The Minisiters, Deputy Ministers,....have their support staff in their relevant Ministries - but alas, they too will need separate and different support staff when they have to discuss debate matters that concern not their relevant Ministrys.

We must not stop at MPs - but similar provisions must also be provided to ADUNs....

{Oh yes - the other things that may need is Driver, etc - }

Why release 13 from ISA? Mistake..or belief that they have been 'sufficiently punished' - Tell us, Mr PM

In the first no one should be subjected to Detention Without Trial, i.e. arrest and detention under the ISA and other laws that allow for Detention Without Trial. Today, there maybe over thousand persons detained without trial, and under the ISA there were 46 as at December 2008. In fact, as of June 2008 there were 62 - meaning that old PM released 16 during that period, so what is the big deal about Najib releasing only 13. (see Aliran's ISA Watch page)

In his first address to the nation as prime minister, Najib Abdul Razak said the government has freed 13 Internal Security Act (ISA) detainees and lifted the ban on two opposition publications.

MCPX

"I would like to announce that the government has decided with immediate effect to remove the temporary ban on two news publications, release 13 detainees from ISA detention, and conduct a comprehensive review of the Internal Security Act," he said in his first act after taking office today.

"These decisions are timely as we move to enhance the confidence of our citizens in those entrusted with maintaining peace, law and order," he said. - Malaysiakini, 3/4/2008, 13 ISA freed, ban lifted on party organs

So, ALL ISA and Detention Without Trial persons need to be immediately released.. and like Guantanamo Bay, Kamunting Detention Centre and other Detention Without Trial Centres need to be closed down immediately.

REVOKE THE SUSPENSION of Harakah and Suara Keadilan --- mmm...this looks staged. Just a few weeks before for no apparent reason, the suspension is invoked. Was it done so that Najib could revoke it like a 'good guy' new Prime Minister...

There is no need to have any 'comprehensive review of the Internal Security Act' - just repeal the Act, and all other Acts that allow for Detention Without Trial. There are sufficient laws in Malaysia already. Remember that 'planning' or 'even preparing' for the commission of any offence is already a criminal offence in Malaysian law.

Today, the ISA and other Detention Without Trial laws DO NOT allow the questioning of the validity of the reasons for the Detention Order, and that is so very wrong. It means that good Minister can give any 'cock and bull' reason - and it cannot even be reviewed by the court.

Released from ISA - will there be any compensation given to them and their families? Nothing at all, and that is the evil of these Detention Without Trial Laws of Malaysia.

Will the names of those wrongly detained under the ISA and other Detention Without Trial be cleared? Can they now sue the Minister...the Government of Malaysia for defamation...to clear their name? Maybe they should try ...and maybe even seek a Declaration that their detention was wrong...

I take it that the release of persons under Detention Without Trial laws is an ADMISSION by the Government that they were never 'guilty' and their entire Detention was wrong. If not, they would have been charged, tried and found guilty.

I believe that many of these Detention of persons allegedly being a member of JI (Jemaah Islam), KMM, or Darul Islam is all 'bullshit' - more likely these innocent persons were just incarcerated because Malaysia wanted to show the world (not the world but maybe the US under Bush..) that Malaysia was also strong against 'terrorism' - even Islamic terrorist. If it is not so, then charge all those persons in court and prove that they were guilty of some wrong.

If Najib wants to do something good - then release them all immediately and go for the repeal of the ISA and all Detention Without Trial Laws. No need to review...

Why are you releasing 2 from the HINDRAF 5? Did you make a mistake in the 1st place? Do you now feel that the 2 have been 'sufficiently punished' for their wrongs but not the other 3? Explain Mr Home Minister the reasons for your release? Mistake...or because they have been punished enough..tell us. Is this not discrimination against the remaining 3 - unless the release was an admission of a mistake.

It was also very wrong to delay the release - for it seems the decision to release was made earlier, and it was delayed so that it could be announced by new PM when he made his speech. When Mr Home Minister did you decide to release them? Were you ordered by new PM to release them? Tell us....be open and honest..

Immediately after Najib's address, Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar announced the names of the 13 ISA detainees to be freed.

They include two of the Hindraf 5 - V Ganabatirau and R Kenghadharan - both of whom have been incarcerated for 15 months.

The others released are eight members of the Darul Islam movement and three foreigners.

The Home Ministry, as of December last year, said it was holding 46 people under the ISA, the majority of whom belong to militant groups like the Jemaah Islamiah and the Darul Islam movement. - Malaysiakini, 3/4/2008, 13 ISA freed, ban lifted on party organs

Even Thailand have local council (local government) elections. Shame on you, Malaysia.

There is Local Council (Local Government) Elections in Thailand ...and it has been going on for some time now...and it works...and Malaysia must also bring back Locl Council elections

We had it in Malaysia until the UMNO-led government discontinued it in 1964...

Forms and Characteristics of Local Government (1997) in Thailand

Forms of Local Government	Size and Population	Chief Executive	Legislative
1. Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA)	urban, 1,565 km2 population 7.2 mil. divided into 38 districts.	governor, directly elected by popular votes; who appoints 4 deputies, and 38 district officers	38- member council elected by popular votes; each district has a 7-member council elected by popular votes
2. Municipality 144 municipalities (1997) in 3 categories:	urban	mayor, elected by the council,	council elected by popular votes for a 4-year term
2.1 Tambon Municipality (48 as of 1997)	population > 7,000 pop. density - 1,500/km2 revenue> 12 mil. Baht/year	mayor, elected by the council; the mayor appoints 2 executives	12-member council elected for a 4- year term
2.2 Town Municipality (87 as of 1997)	population > 10,000; pop. density> 3,000 /km2 revenue: compatible with responsibility	mayor elected by the council, the mayor appoints 2 executives	18-member council, elected for a 4-year term
2.3 City Municipality (9 as of 1997)	population > 50,000 pop. density >3,000 /km2 revenue as compatible with responsibility	mayor elected by the council, the mayor appoints 4 executives	24-member council, elected for a 4-year term

The reasons for the abolition of local council elections in 1964, and not having it again, was that "...on account of political expediency as most of the elected local councils were then controlled by the Opposition in towns throughout the country..."

People are smart and then to vote in such a way that there will be a certain amount of check and balance.

Today, Pakatan Rakyat governed states are, I believe, just as fearful as the BN , fearful that if they do proceed to have local council elections, the people may just vote in the Opposition into the local council - and this may means that the BN will end up in control the local councils.

Pakatan Rakyat must rid themselves of this fear... and restore democracy to all levels of government, and should immediately carry out local council elections - and even elections at the other micro-levels like Kampungs, Kampung Barus, Tamans, etc...

Democracy means governance by the community through its elected representatives for the benefit of the community. Malaysia has chosen democracy as the system of governance. As in other democratic countries, we too have chosen three levels of goverence - Town Councils (local authorities), State Legislative Assemblies and Parliament. The people’s representatives at all these levels should rightly be elected by the people. In fact, several years before Merdeka, while the country was still ruled by the British colonialists, Malaya had local council elections.

Elections to local councils continued even after independence from 1957 until 1964. The government headed by Tunku Abdul Rahman, however, abruptly suspended local council elections in the wake of the Indonesian Confrontation. Following that, a committee headed by Datuk Athi Nahappan was appointed to inquire into and recommend to the government whether or not to revive local council elections. Athi Nahappan was then the deputy president of the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC), one of the three political parties in the Alliance which formed the government of independent Malaya.

Athi Nahappan’s committee in its report to the government recommended the restoration of local council elections. Although the Tunku was known to be a democrat - having spent more than 10 years in England, he must have been very familiar with the virtues of democratically elected local councils - his Alliance govrnment chose to ignore the recommendations of the Nahappan Commission (See ‘Act of betrayal’ by Dr Johan Saravanamuttu, Aliran Monthly Vol 20 No 4 for a comprehensive account).

You may ask why the Tunku rejected the recommendation. Let me refer you to the article 'Bring back local council elections' by a prominent parliamentarian and extremely knowledgeable lawyer, Karpal Singh, which was published in Aliran Monthly Vol 25 No 3. Karpal Singh hit the nail on the head when he put it bluntly that the government abolished local council elections on account of political expediency as most of the elected local councils were then controlled by the Opposition in towns throughout the country.

In Karpal’s opinion, which is shared by many, "…it is the abolishing of the local council elections in 1964 which led to the sorry state of affairs” that we witness today.

Local councils have become unaccountable, indifferent to people’s woes, inefficient in their management and intolerable in the way services are provided. Councillors become arrogant, abuse their powers, serve themselves, not the public, and become the source of corruption as has been exposed.- Aliran Monthly, 22/5/2007, Restore local council elections

True acceptance of people's choice must translalte into equal treatment of peoples' representatives irrespective of party affliations

The people's choice of their Member of Parliament(M) or Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN) should be respected.

The people should never be penalized by the Federal Government (or State Government) if they choose persons not from the ruling coalition government.

BARISAN Nasional and Umno accept the decision of the voters in the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary by-election with an open heart and mind, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said here yesterday. - New Straits Times, 19/1/2009 - PM: It's people's choice

But Mr Prime Minister - your's and BN's actions in the past really do not indicate a 'true' acceptace of the people's choice.

Opposition MP's(and ADUNs) are not given the same privilege, recognition and respect by the BN Federal and State governments. BN MP get money that they can use for small development projects in their constituency - whilst opposition MPs do not get this. This kind of behaviour does not reflect 'true acceptance' of the peoples' choice.

In Trengganu, when opposition won - their oil royalty money suddenly stopped flowing. When BN wins back the State, the money starts to flow again. This was not an 'accepting of the people's choice'.

I just hope that you (and the BN) would change your ways and this time, you speak the truth - and it is not pure hypocrisy as in the past. Hope that your actions will show.

Every MP and/or ADUN should be treated equally by the Federal/State government concerned irrespective of the person's party affliations.

Of Alcohol Sale and Minority Rights...

There is trouble brewing within Pakatan Rakyat - and it is all about Alcohol. Could it not have been some more important issue?

It seems that Shah Alam City Council has already decided to ban alcohol sales from January 2009. It was decided at its meeting last month

Meanwhile Malaysiakini learnt that the Shah Alam City Council will be the first local council which will curb the sale of alcohol in Selangor, effective next January.

Sources said that the council had agreed to proceed with this at its meeting last month. - Malaysiakini, 25/11/2008, Alcohol ban: Trouble brewing in Pakatan

Now, let us not forget that these are the persons hand-picked by the Pakatan Rakyat Selangor government and appointed as Local Councilors - not persons elected through Local Council Elections.

We wonder why we did not know about this, which was decided last month - October 2008 (It is 25/11/2008 today).

Several Questions that we must consider:-

a) What are the powers of Local Council's?

b) How do Local Council make decisions generally? Do their decision have to be gazetted, etc..? [Sadly, I do not see their minutes and decisions in their websites...- WHY?]

c) Do the people have a role in the decision-making of Local Councils? Do the people have a right to be heard before a Local Council makes a decision?

d) How do people in the affected area appeal against a decision of a Local Council?

e) Who can quash a decision of the Local Council?

The State government should NOT interfere in affairs of the Local Council, save in certain FEW matters of great importance that should be clearly defined in law. The independence of the Local Council should be recognized and respected.

This is the same as the principle that the Federal Government should not interfere in matters and affairs of the State.

It is sad that the fingers are being pointed at PAS - Why is that? Are we not all Pakatan Rakyat now? It was the Pakatan Rakyat Local Council in Shah Alam that decided....LAST MONTH (according to the Malaysiakini report...)

Apparently, DAP also missed it...PKR also missed it....until now when Malaysiakini brought it up.

I am shocked about the manner in which Tony Pua, the DAP's Publicity Secretary chose to respond...

* Hello, you only got 8 seats ....out of the 36 seats, we got more - we all know that people voted PR, not the individual political parties. And this approach taken is so 'childish'

* Hey...half the population is non-Muslim ...non-Malay. Should it even matter when it is a question of rights. Even if there are 1 or 100 only, it matters not. Pua's arguement means that it is OK for sale of alcohol to be banned in other states where there are very few non-Muslims...non-Malays. Also, not all non-Muslims buy and consume alcohol...and there are some Muslims and Malays that do.

Seeing red over the matter, DAP publicity secretary Tony Pua reminded PAS that Selangor was ruled by a joint government and the Islamic party only controlled eight of the 36 state seats won by Pakatan Rakyat in the March 8 polls.

"Therefore, any attempts by Selangor PAS to flex its muscles without due regard to its fellow coalition partners would be deemed as arrogant and uncooperative," he said in a statement today.

...In view of this, he urged PAS to respect the spirit of multi-racialism since almost half of the population in Selangor comprised non-Muslims and non-Malays.... - Malaysiakini, 25/11/2008, Alcohol ban: Trouble brewing in Pakatan

The BN divided us according to race and ethnicity.....Malay, Chinese, Indian......Bumi-Non-Bumi..., and also religion.

What is Pakatan Rakyat trying to propagate now....a Muslim-Non-Muslim kind of divide...mmmm

The issue should be resolved based on numbers...or who has the majority...but based on human rights and respect...

Talking about respect...it should also be considered whether BEEF should no longer be served at official functions. We have so many other meat and fish options.... (Pork is "Haram", while the cow is an holy creature - and consumption of it at Pakatan Rakyat and other PR State Official functions must be stopped out of respect....or why bother, after all the Hindu Indians and them Buddhists are too few in number...mmm

PR's Irene acquitted - next a PR Migrant-Refugee Policy

Good news indeed that the High Court has allowed Irene Fernandez's appeal against conviction and sentence. She is now free.

Irene is also in the Supreme Council of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and has been since the party's inception about 10 years ago.

PKR, together with the DAP and the PAS are known as the Pakatan Rakyat - and they now govern 5 States in the Peninsular..

I am certain that these 5 PR States can come with with a Migrant-Refugee Policy, Guidelines and Practice that will ensure that Human Rights and Migrant Rights are recognized and respected.

For a start, maybe an area could be set aside as a 'SANTUARY' for Refugees and their families, including those potential refugees. Some basic amenities could be provided...What this sanctuary would provide is safety from RELA and other enforcement bodies...etc.

Activist Irene Fernandez, 62, was acquitted on Monday of maliciously publishing false news about the torture and abuse of migrant workers after a 13-year court battle.

There were shouts of joy from Fernandez’s family and supporters when Justice Datuk Mohd Apandi Ali announced his decision, reversed the 2003 Magistrate Court’s conviction and one-year jail sentence.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Shamsul Sulaiman told the court earlier that he would not pursue with a cross appeal.

He said that after being served with the records of the proceedings of Irene’s case and discovering systemic errors in the records, he decided that justice would not be achieved by opposing the appeal.

In the light of the prosecution not opposing the appeal “there is no necessity to deliberate on this appeal further,” said Justice Mohd Apandi.

Irene later said that she was “relieved and very happy that truth and justice had prevailed” as she had least expected the result when she got up this morning.

In In 1995, Fernandez wrote a memorandum on ‘Abuse, Torture and Dehumanised Conditions of Migrant Workers in Detention Centres.'

A year later, she was arrested and charged under Section 8A (1) of the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984. - Star. 24/11/2008, Activist Irene Fernandez acquitted after 13-year trial

MCA, not the DAP or PKR or PAS, that criticizes MB Selangor's racist behaviour

Selangor PR Menteri Besar and government seems to be worse that the BN - because the MB is out looking for a Bumiputra (does that mean Malay, Kadazan, Iban....) to lead the PKNS - not the best qualified person. It would have been OK if the MB talked about the person having to be a person from Selangor ...or a Selangor citizen.

Did DAP protest the statement of Selangor MB? Did PKR or AI protest the statement of the MB?...

Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim should have searched among the non-bumiputra candidates to find suitable candidates to fill the Selangor State Development Corporation general manager’s post.

Wanita MCA chief Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun said Khalid should have been firm on his principle of adhering to the criteria of “capability as the main guideline in any selected position regardless of race”.

She questioned why the state government had not requested its Pakatan Rakyat partners, DAP or PKR to submit a list which had talented people of various races to fill the vacancy.

Chew was referring to a recent statement by Khalid that the position of the corporation chief would be filled by a bumiputra candidate after acting general manager Low Siew Moi’s one-year extension ends.- Star, 5/11/2005

Statements like this will keep the people in Malaysia divided - and this is certainly not the kind of behaviour I expected from the Pakatan Rakyat government..

In an earlier post, 'Anwar and PR must apologize for racist conduct' -

I also looked at the PKNS, and the other Selangor State owned company - and the same phenomena is seen with regard to Board members, etc.. (There is only 1 and the same Chinese woman in the Board of PKNS and some of its subsidiaries/related companies. Maybe, she is the accountant....mmm).

And guess, who that 'only 1 and same Chinese woman' was? Yes, it was - Low Siew Moi.

Remember also when the Selangor MB appointed 4 more Bumiputras to the the already 100 percent Bumiputra Board of Directors of UNISEL (Universiti Industri Selangor) - the question was raised as to why this happened. See my earlier post, 'UNISEL Board of Directors - Is Pakatan Rakyat Any Different from BN?'

Just go check and see whether there are any non-Malays, other than Low Siew Moi, in the Selangor government owned and controlled entitys. How many? In fact, look also at the ethnicity of persons in management as well.

March 2008 ---- that is 8 months ago since Pakatan Rakyat took over the Selangor State government.

In Kelantan, where there are 99% Malays - I may not be questioning the racial/ethnic composition of the Board of Directors, etc...but this is Selangor...

It is not quotas - ethnic/racial quotas that we are calling for - but just an indication that Selangor is more than just Malay in these government owned and controlled entities...

The best qualified Selangorian - that should be the criteria.

Selangor MB have been making too many mistakes...he is an embarassment...Maybe the PR should consider removing this man, who demonstrates a lot of UMNO characteristics, from the position of MB.

Many say that we have to do this and continue the UMNO led-BN practices and appoint only Bumis as heads ...and into the Board... because, if we start acting like the true 'Reformasi Pakatan Rakyat', then we may lose the support of the people and we will not be able to get into power the next time around... I do not agree with this kind of thinking.

Slow and steady they say... I say that there is not even a 'slow and steady' approach currently...it is a 'stagnant and maintain' approach in most areas..

I believe that 'Low Siew Moi' was only appointed as the 'interim temporary' head of PKNS because the others in the Board may have been 'anti-Khalid' or 'anti-PR' or 'too close to UMNO and their old political masters'...simple as that.

Low Siew Moi, was, I believe, the 'don't rock the boat type' - I obey whoever is the current MB type.

It was certainly not because Selangor MB wanted to behave progressive and appoint a 'non-Bumi' as head of PKNS to show that PR was not at all like UMNO led-BN. Most likely, he did not have a choice. - this is just me speculating and guessing.

Why do I say so? Just look and see whether there have been an infusion of any new Directors or persons in them Management Team who are from the other than Malay ethnic groups....

When there is a new government - change has to come quickly - delay is not the answer..

Local Council Elections - when will we have it? Are there preparations being done to prepare for local council elections.

Elections of Kampung/Taman/Kampung Baru heads and committee - when will we have this? Nothing in the law that prevents Selangor and other PR states from allowing people to elect these leaders.

Elections of Penghulu..

There has been a change of government - a change of the peope sitting as the MB and the State Exco ...and is that it...go read George Orwell's Animal Farm...(which is a story of what may have happened in Selangor government...)

Anwar withdrew posting about journalist Baradan - but an apology would have been good...

It was good to note that Anwar Ibrahim has acted with regard that the 'not at all good' posting about journalist Baradan Kuppusamy that appeared in the Anwar Ibrahim Blog...

Entri Baradan Kuppusamy

Satelah membaca teliti surat pembaca mengenai wartawan Baradan Kuppusamy, saya dapati bahasa yang digunakan terlalu keras. Maka surat tersebut telah dikeluarkan dari blog.

ANWAR IBRAHIM - http://anwaribrahimblog.com/2008/10/05/entri-baradan-kuppusamy/

But, really is that enough - I believe that Anwar should also apologize, what do you think?

My rough translation of what Anwar said: 'After carefully reading that letter from a reader about journalist Baradan Kuppusamy, I found that the language used was too hard. Therefore that letter has been taken out of this blog.'

I would also like to share Rocky Bru's posting on this :-

Sunday, October 05, 2008

Who is Baradan, Din?

If a journalist writes negatively about Anwar Ibrahim, he's a paid whore? Poor K. Baradan. I understand why he sounded sad when we spoke on the phone the other day.

I've known him for more than 20 years as a journalist and as far as I'm concerned, he's not made a name as either anti-Anwar or pro-Anwar (which is how it should be). But a reader of Din Marican is so incensed by what Baradan has written. A paid whore. To me, it's fine for Din to publish the "letter" or "comment", but he should not have left that note at the end of the letter. [click on the letter to enlarge]

If DSAI becomes Prime Minister one day and decides to make Din a Senator to sit on his Cabinet, please don't make him Information Minister. Seeing how he's reacted to Baradan's small voice of dissent, I'm afraid Din would outdo Zam in no time.

p.s. "Bahasa terlalu keras". Here, Anwar takes down posting on K. Baradan. No, no apologies, though.

I also just discovered that several articles of the said Baradan Kuppusamy have also been posted on the Anwar Ibrahim blog...(Maybe only those that are pro-Anwar and/or pro- Anwar plans that are posted...I do not know for I did not read it all...)

20

Sep

Anwar throws down the gauntlet

By Anwar Ibrahim 28 Comments

Categories: Antarabangsa, Anwar and Sidenotes

From Asia Times Online
By Baradan Kuppusamy
KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysian politics is heading for a showdown with opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim demanding that the government of Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi subject itself to a confidence vote in parliament by September 23.

08

Sep

Anwar Is Back

By Anwar Ibrahim 15 Comments

Categories: Anwar, Pilihanraya, Politik and Sidenotes

From My Sinchew
Opposition icon Anwar Ibrahim’s return to parliament spells leadership change in Malaysia.
Despite a nasty campaign against him, opposition icon Anwar Ibrahim has won spectacularly in a landmark by-election in the family stronghold of Permatang Pauh, confirming his stature as possible prime minister with truly national appeal, cutting across race and religion.

27

Nov

Facing Malaysia’s Racial Issues

By Admin 3 Comments

Categories: Sidenotes

Oleh Baradan Kuppusamy, Time Magazine
It may have been one of Malaysia’s most surreal demonstrations ever. On Sunday, an estimated 20,000 ethnic Indians brought Kuala Lumpur to a standstill for nearly six hours in the name of Queen Elizabeth II. They gathered in the thousands near the Malaysian capital’s iconic Petronas Towers, waving giant posters with [...]

15

Nov

Protesters, Police Clash in Kuala Lumpur

By Admin 0 Comments

Categories: Antarabangsa, Media and Sidenotes

dari TIME Magazine, oleh BARADAN KUPPUSAMY
Her eyes reddened by tear gas and her clothes soaking wet from a heavy downpour, Hamidah Ibrahim, a 23-year-old undergraduate from

Her eyes reddened by tear gas and her clothes soaking wet from a heavy downpour, Hamidah Ibrahim, a 23-year-old undergraduate from the northern city of Ipoh, huddled against a shop wall in Tun Perak Road, a main thoroughfare in Kuala Lumpur that is usually clogged with vehicles but on Saturday was crowded with thousands of protestors. Across the street, red-helmeted officers of Malaysia’s Federal Reserve Unit fired several rounds of tear gas at the crowds before a baton charge that sent protesters running helter-skelter. Hamidah wiped her eyes and adjusted her tudung, the Malay headscarf that is obligatory for Muslim women. “This is like being in hell,” she says amid the thud of smoke grenade launchers.

Thousands of young people like Hamidah, many bused in from across the country and wearing yellow t-shirts emblazoned with the word Bersih, or “clean,” in Malay, joined Saturday’s protests in favor of free and fair elections. Bersih, a group of the same name made up of opposition parties and dozens of non-governmental organizations, is protesting what they claim have been rampant irregularities in recent elections, alleging voter fraud, gerrymandering and the use of government spending to sway voters. (The government, in response, denies the fraud allegations and accuses its critics of trying to paint development aid as an election offense.) - Time Magazine by Baradan Kuppusamy - Protestors, Police Clash in Kuala Lumpur (a posting from the Anwar Ibrahim Blog)

I remembered images I have seen in some moview when some person is being led to have his head chopped off, or hanged for some crime - and how the crowds along the way throw rotten vegetables and stuff, hurling all kind of insults, etc... They (the crowd) may not even know whether this was a person truly guilty - or just a person being falsely persecuted because he was an enemy of the ruler/s of the day...

It was the same kind of reaction by many about that journalist - when a posting appeared in ANWAR IBRAHIM's Blog making all kind of allegations including names like “shameful paid whore.”

Anwar should be able to appreciate this too - because he too was accused of being a sodomist, a corrupt person, etc...

Baradan Kuppusamy is but a small person - and will not get media coverage even if he wants to defend himself... He, like many of us, having no money to sue for defamation, etc....may just have to let it go...and the stain will stick. Anwar's apology would help the man...

Interesting also how there was silence from many quarters - possibly because it was Anwar Ibrahim that posted it. Not wise to go against Anwar Ibrahim now - for fear possibly of being seen as being anti-change, anti-reformasi, pro-BN...or maybe just being called “shameful paid whore.”

If someone does wrong - he must be reprimanded...be criticized so that he can change for the better...

Blind loyalty to any person or political party is not at all a good thing...

Of past elections & 'historical facts' in Malaysia - the 'brain-washing'..

How difficult it is to find information about our Malaysian history - our real Malaysian history.

Even information about past election results are so hard to find - and even information of some political parties that existed before, and had strong popular support is so difficult to find. Many Malaysians have no recollection of the coalition of Opposition parties known as the 'Socialist Front' which was the biggest challenge to the Alliance...

In my quest, I have managed to find some information, which I would now like to share:-

Election Results (Only of how many seats Alliance[UMNO,MCA,MIC], then BN won - no info about what other parties won)

1955 General Election Alliance won 51 out of 52 seats contested (98%)
1959 General Election Alliance won 74 out of 104 seats contested (71%)
1964 General Election Alliance won 89 out of 104 seats contested (86%)
1969 General Election Alliance won 74 out of 144 seats contested (51%)

*** The 1st time that the Alliance (now known as the BN) failed to get 2/3rd majority was in 1969.

Coincidentally, May 13 happens - Emergency - Arrests under the ISA...and a lot of jumping parties happened. The jump then was from the opposition to the BN.

...

The Alliance political formula was widened to become a larger political cooperation under the Malay--non-Malay politics to the whole nation. This concept was spread with the formation of a Coalition Government at the Federal and State levels. This cooperation of various and multiple parties was later institutionalized as BARISAN NASIONAL (BN) and was formally registered on the 1st July 1974. Besides UMNO, MCA and MIC, BARISAN NASIONAL was made up of six other parties, which before this was on the other side of the fence.

Those parties were PAS ( which was later expelled from BN ), Parti Progresif Rakyat ( PPP ), Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia ( GERAKAN ), Sarawak United People's Party ( SUPP ), Parti Pesaka Bumiputra and USNO from Sabah. Only DAP and PSRM refused to join the Coalition. BN, which used the new symbol - the 'dacing' had strengthen and stabilize the Malaysian political situation, and relationship among races had never become closer. Later, other political parties, especially in Sabah and Sarawak joined the BN. These parties are Berjaya from Sabah, SNAP and PBDS from Sarawak.

In the 1990's many new parties surfaced to join Barisan Nasional as a result of the political turmoil in Sabah when PBS walked out of Barisan Nasional. These parties are Akar Bersatu, SAPP, LDP, PBRS and PDS. Today BN consists of 14 parties.

The birth of BN signaled the beginning of a new era for Malaysia which is now ruled by a multiple race component parties, a struggle of the united community. Among the main objective of BN is the struggle to strive for cooperation among races, peace, harmony and justice to ensure Malaysia will continue to develop and prosper, in line with vision 2020.- Source:- Barisan Nasional Penang Website

1974 General Elections BN won 135 out of 154 seats contested (88%)

1978 General Elections BN won 130 out of 154 seats contested (84%)

1982 General Elections BN won 132 out of 154 seats contested (86%)

1986 General Elections BN won 148 out of 177 seats contested (84%)

1990 General Elections BN won 127 out of 180 seats contested (71%)

1995 General Elections BN won 162 0ut of 192 seats contested(84%)

1999 General Elections BN won 148 0ut of 193 seats contested(77%)

(BN only got about 56.53% of total votes cast in 1999)

2004 General Elections BN won 198 0ut of 219 seats contested(90%)

2008 General Elections BN won 140 out of 222 seats contested(63%)

Now, there were some political parties that are no more, and this I believe that the Alliance/BN government had a part to play in that.

Amongst these political parties, which once were there and today is no more, are the

Labour Party -formed in 1950's, formed the Malayan Peoples' Socialist Front(or just Socialist Front) on 26/8/1958 with the Partai Rakyat (later known as the Parti Rakyat Malaysia). The SF further consolidated its gains in municipal elections including the City Council of George town, Penang where it won 14 of the 15 seats in the Council during the 1961 Local Elections...

National Convention Party

Parti Negara

United Democratic Party..

* We really have to have proper accurate and independent historical records - so that we can all know what is "historical facts". Many do and will dispute what that Penang UMNO Division leader calls "historical facts"....

** Crackdown by the government on the Socialist Front parties came about in early 60s - and I believe that finally the Labour Party was banned, etc... Only Party Rakyat Malaysia survived this era...

Many of the personalities from these 'demised' parties joined other parties - including also the newly formed GERAKAN.

Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia was formed on 24th March 1968. The six founders of the party were Professor Syed Hussain Alatas of the University of Singapore, Dr. David Tan Chee Khoon, Member of Parliament for Batu, Selangor and former leader of the Labour Party, Dr. J.B.A. Peter, President of the Malaysian Medical Association, Dr. Lim Chong Eu, Member of Parliament for Tanjong, Penang and former President of the United Democratic Party, Professor Wang Gungwu of the University of Malaya, and Mr. V. Veerapan, legal practitioner and former leader of the Labour Party. In its initial stage, the party had drawn its main support from members of the dissolved United Democratic Party, and the English-educated moderates of the Labour Party. Source: Parti Gerakan Malaysia website

Historical facts -- is sometimes history according to the current victors, those in powernow... and today that is the Barisan Nasional led by UMNO, MCA & MIC --- or is it just led by UMNO?

Like the British colonialist, this BN government continues to belittle the freedom fighters of Malaysia that fought the Japanese when the British put their tail between their legs and ran...

Those who stayed and fought for independence from Japanese also set up government thereafter and were able to govern... until they were removed by the returning British colonial government.... 'Communist' was one of the brands used - and many still see 'communists' as very very bad - not really knowing why they were potrayed as 'bad' by the returning British after World War II. Do you know about the Malaysian Peoples Anti-Japanese Army(MPAJA)? Did you know that historical bad relationship between the Japanese and Chinese resulted in Malaysian Chinese being most badly treated compared to the other ethnic groups in Malaysia - resulting also the fact that there were very high numbers of Chinese who were in the MPAJA? Did you know that the 'communist' were the MPAJA or at least a big component of the MPAJA? Do you wonder why all this is not in the History Books that you read?

The belief that the Alliance/BN had never lost its 2/3rd majority is yet another myth. In 1969, they just managed to get 51% of the seats - far worse than in 2008 General Elections.

And what did UMNO-MCA-MIC do -- they got MPs and political parties from the Opposition to jump to their side -- the Alliance(which later had a name change to Barisan Nasional)

Hence, it is hypocritical for some in the BN now to say what they have been saying about MPs and ADUNs who may choose to leave the BN and/or its component parties and maybe join the Opposition Pakatan Rakyat...

People chose the person - the said MP or the ADUN as the Wakil Rakyat - and the Wakil Rakyat may have to do what is best for the people he represents.

There will be no question of a violation of the mandate given by the people - but of course, if you say the people actually voted party and not the candidate, then maybe it is different.

But the people is supposed to vote the candidate - the person. Of course, who he is and what his politics is and what party he runs under may have an influence of the voters choice - but at the end of the day, it is the person that is chosen as the wakil rakyat (the peoples' representative). I have always said that the 'wakil rakyat' first and foremost loyalty must always be to the people - his constituents.

Najib should also apologize about "illegitimate" temples comment by DBKL

Very good that Najib has apologized - and this must also be followed with actions that will show that the apology is sincere. The speaker of those words must also apologize now... and Malaysia is waiting for it..

Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has apologised for the statement made by one of the party's division leaders which resulted in a lot of criticism from the Chinese community.

“We will apologise. Umno apologises,” he told a press conference after launching the Chery Eastar multi-purpose vehicle at a hotel here yesterday.

“It (The comment) was totally unwarranted and doesn’t reflect the position and attitude of Umno or the leadership of Umno. We regret it very much,” he said. - Star Online, 3/9/2008,Najib: Umno apologises

The Malaysian Hindus also are awaiting an apology from the PM, DPM, DBKL and the BN government for the "missing temples", which are now existing and have existed for many many years, in the KL Draft Plan 2020. To make it worse, DBKL calls these existing temples as "illegitimate"...

This treatment of Malaysian Hindus was, in my opinion, even more worse that the name calling of Malaysian of Chinese ancestry by an UMNO Division leader.

Bukit Bendera Umno division chief Datuk Ahmad Ismail had called the Chinese pendatang (immigrants) at a ceramah prior to the Permatang Pauh by-election. - Star Online, 3/9/2008,Najib: Umno apologises

With regard the now existing temples and crematoriums in Kuala Lumpur, that is not there in the 2020 KL Draft Plan, a matter that was raised by Hindu Sangam - not even any of the MPs of KL.

HINDU temples and the crematorium in the Kuala Lumpur area had been left out in the draft of the Kuala Lumpur Structure Plan by City Hall recently, according to Malaysian Hindu Sangam president A. Vaithilingam, the Malaysia Nanban said in a front page report.

He said that it was disheartening to note that the names of some temples in the Pudu area had been left out and nothing had been stated about the crematorium in Jalan Loke Yew.

He said that it was not proper for the authorities to remove the crematorium in the name of development.

He said the non-allocation of places for the Indian community to conduct religious rites for the dead reflected City Hall's insensitivity towards the Indian community.

He said that a meeting had been scheduled to be held on Tuesday at the Auditorium Tan Sri Soma in Kuala Lumpur to discuss the flaws and the recommendations to be made to City Hall. - Star, 18/8/2008 -Temples left out in draft plan

And the response that came from the DBKL was that it was left out because it was not legitimate , i.e. illegitimate...

How could the DBKL call temples that have existed for so long in Kuala Lumpur illegitimate, and this apparently also includes the Paranjothy Vinayagar temple in Jalan Ipoh and the Courthill Vinayagar Temple in Jalan Pudu. Are you also going further and say that the prayers, devotion and worship done was also "illegitimate"

There has been concern that over 100 Hindu temples and two crematoriums were not included in the draft plan.

The concerns were raised by the Malaysian Hindu Sangam which has asked temple representatives to submit their objections on the draft plan.

According to Vaithilingam, among the Hindu temples not included in the draft plan are the Paranjothy Vinayagar temple in Jalan Ipoh and the Courthill Vinayagar Temple in Jalan Pudu. - Star, 28/8/2008, Temples included in draft KL plan

Illegitimate Mosque....illegitimate church...illegitimate surau....how could the DBKL use the word Legitimate or "illegitimate" for Temples and places of worship of Malaysian people...

LEGITIMATE places of worship are definitely included in the Draft Kuala Lumpur City Plan 2020.

According to Kuala Lumpur City Council (DBKL) master plan department director Zainab Mohd Ghazali, if the places of worship are on legitimate sites with approval, then they will automatically be included in the plan.

“A place of worship, such as a temple, has to be on specific land area and it should not be on curbs or at the side of the road because our plan is based on lots,” she said.- Star, 28/8/2008, Temples included in draft KL plan

The DBKL, and in fact authorities elsewhere in Malaysia should now immediately "legitamize" all churches, temples, kuils, suraus, mosques, chapels where ever they are today - the authorities should be proactive.

And, if there are places of worship or religious sites (including cemetries, crematorium, other resting places, etc...) that has not been recognized as such yet by the 'government', then it must be done so immediately - and if there needs to be any 're-location', then it can only be done with the approval and consent of the persons using it.

How long it has been in that location, is of course, a very relevant consideration - and I believe that if it was in existence more than 10 years, it should not be anymore considered "illegitimate" or "illegal" anymore.

When you tell me that my place of worship...my religious site is "illigitimate" - you have insulted me, and rightly you should apologize...

Respect me... respect my religion... respect my belief... respect my places of worship - that is the Malaysian way.

CCTV for Permatang Pauh by-elections to curb fraud...

CCTV without recording capabilities is useless - and, from what I now know, that is what they have in most of the police stations - and of course, persons who are supposed to be monitoring them just would not see the 'torture' or how some person died in custody, for example the death in custody case in the Ampang police station (the case of Veerasamy) - and we cannot even now have the ability review the tapes to satisfy ourselves that Veerasamy's death was not brought about by the wrong doing of some policeman.

CCTV sounds great -- to help curb crime, they say...good. But then, the question must be whether it will have any recording capacity or not(or audio)... Human being sitting in front of the CCTV screen is just not good enough. Human frailty and other 'incentives' can ensure that one will not see certain things...

The Housing and Local Government Ministry will install 480 closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in a bid to curb crime.

Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan said the cameras would monitor public areas such as pedestrian walkways and parks.

....However, he said the Government could not put up cameras on private premises.

The entire system including personnel and surveillance centres to monitor the CCTV footage would cost about RM50mil.

It would be manned by personnel from the ministry, police and local municipal councils.

“These cameras, to be installed by year’s end are intended to fight crime in dense urban areas such as Bukit Bintang, George Town, Ipoh and Seremban.

“We have just finished calling for the tenders and will start installing the CCTVs in November and complete (installation) before the end of the year,” he said yesterday after launching the Tan Sri Low Chuan Community Centre. - Star Online, 16/8/2008,Government to install RM50mil surveillance system

Well, I say let us install this CCTV (with recording capabilities and audio) in all the police stations, on all police patrol cars, on every policeman (and also maybe them immigration enforcement personnell) - because this will definitely help curb crime.

Oh yes, can we not use the CCTV (with recording capabilities and audio) during this Permatang Pauh by-elections, especially when it concerns the postal votes -- to ensure that there is no tampering.

Record also the faces of all who come to cast votes, as this will be good for later identification of them 'phantom voters'. Airports immigration counters have these little cameras which takes a photo.

Likewise, what about taking the photo of the voter, and with the name and NRIC Number - when he comes to the polling station. We are not talking about pictures when he is casting his vote. This way when the real Mr Lim Kam Late arrives later, only to find that someone else have come earlier used his name and already cast the vote - we can always check the records and go after the person who first claimed to be 'Mr Lim Kam Late'. This will surely deter them Phantom voters...

Will the indelible ink be used?...will there be a lot of 'phantom voters'?...will they use the proposed 'take photo of every voter that come to vote' so that we will be able to weed out the pretenders later on?

Expect that in this by-elections, there will be a lot of money floating around here and there, threats and promises, and hanky-panky... but we all hope for the best and hope the constituents of Pematang Pauh cast their votes wisely...

BN's 'raced based politics' and 'quota mentality' need to be erased from our minds.

After primary school, I started losing my Malay friends who were being picked and send off to special boarding school. It continued as I moved into Secondary school. When I was doing my 6th Form in Kuantan's SABS, there were no more Malay students in my class.

Suddenly, when I entered University Malaya, there were again the Malay students - and the perception amongst many non-Malay students is that these Malay students just do not deserve to be there - and is only there because of the quota system and the special preference accorded to them.

Even when the Malay/Bumiputra students do well, the perception was that because there were different marking standards employed, 'the exam questions were leaked to them ahead of time - with the answers', they had special classes, where they were given the indication of the question that will be coming out for the exams.

After graduating, it is even worse - because many Malaysians look at Bumiputra professionals and/or graduates as 2nd-class.

It is really so unfair to a lot of Bumiputras - who would really in equal competition fare so much better than their other non-Bumiputras.

This ethnic-based practices assist in the kind of 'divide and rule' system used by the BN to continue to rule until possibly 2008 (we shall see what happens after September this year...) - a system that the British colonial powers used.

When I was in campus, in University Malaya, the effect of the separation of the Bumiputra from the non-Bumiputra did creat a lot of prejudices - that kept students of different ethnic groups apart - i.e. the 'divide and rule' plan work. (It is sad that so many Bumiputras in Malaysia do not really have a best friend [or even a good friend] who is non-Bumiputra, and vice-versa)

When in university, we did have some sessions where students just came together and shared - and for many, it was very eye opening to realize that human beings are the same - thus breaking down many of these prejudices. We also did make great efforts to bring students together through social service programmes, discussion groups, etc - and it helped break down some of the prejudices.

UITM is still 100% bumiputra students - and it means that even at the University level, the total 'divide and rule' agenda of the BN is still on-going, and as such the prejudices that divide Malaysians will continue here until maybe the time they come out and start working - if they take the effort to mix and interact as true friends with them non-Bumis...

The "Divide and Rule" was something that the British colonialist used - and it was adopted by the 3 race-based political parties UMNO, MCA and MIC, which formed the Alliance and today the BN - and for these parties to survive, it was important to continue to propagate the 'divide and rule' agenda, the 'quota' systems. With the quota system, the talk has always been about Malay-Chinese-Indian quotas, Bumi - Non-bumi quotas - and hence it continued to propagate the divisions between the communities and different ethnic groups that make up the Malaysian people.

As I mentioned earlier, the time has come now for us to move away from all these divisions and move forward becoming a Malaysian people - a Malaysian race - a Malaysian Nation.

With the Pakatan Rakyat - we have moved away from race-based politics of the BN - UMNO,MCA,MIC.... (For the survival of UMNO - they had to propagate the issue of 'Malay rights' - and they being the gladiator for the Malays, same with MCA for the Chinese, and MIC for the Indians....)

With the Pakatan Rakyat - we have moved away from race-based politics ...or have we?

But alas, the 'brain-washing' - and the being under the BN rule for too long a time -- has resulted many of us still being caught up with that 'ethnic-based quota-mentality'.

Even today, HINDRAF, for example, is talking about Indian quotas... and even the Selangor MB is still talking about ethnic quotas. The UiTM students who protested the statement of the Selangor MB also is still prisoner of the 'ethnic-based quota-mentality'.

We must seriously make efforts to start propagating the Malaysian race - the Malaysian people - the Malaysian nation...

I believe, that quota systems must still be there, but it must be to benefit the poor, those from the rural areas who do not enjoy the same level of opportunities and facilities as those in some big towns or some of them 'bigger' schools... It must be a socio-economic quota - not a race, religion or ethnic-based quota system.

The government is always propagating the idea that this is "sensitive" and it should not be discussed and/or questioned.

It is something that is in our Federal Constitution - and as such it is 'sacred' --- but hello, "Keluhuran Perlembagaan" translates to "Supremacy of the Constitution" - not 'sacredness' of the constitution.

And there are so many things in our Federal Constitution that are bad - that should be repealed...removed from our Federal Constitution - and this includes those provisions that allows Detention Without Trial laws to exist in Malaysia - that allows Malaysia to still be under un-revoked declarations of Emergency.

It is foolish to say do not challenge the Federal Constitution -- it is not perfect, and remember that to date there has been numerous constitutional amendments, and there will be more in the future. So, which Federal Constitution do we say is sacred - the original Federal Constitution or the one that has been amended so many times and so easily because BN (and the Alliance before) had more than 2/3 of the seats in Parliament - and with that the Constitution was so easily amended. (There is even no provision in the Constitution of Malaysis requiring the doing of a Referendum - i.e. people get to vote and have a say whether the Constitution needs to be amended - and only if there is 2/3rd support, can Parliament amend...as an example..).

*** I do not see why the Election Commission also have statistics about what is percentage of Malays, Chinese, Indians, etc in their records... why do the media also talk about this? Why do we bother about it being "Malay majority" seat or otherwise. All that should be important is the number of Malaysians in a particular constituency...nothing else (at least for the Election Commission....)

Pakatan wants cosmetic changes only - 0% to 10%...

This is Malaysia - we are a multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-cultural nation, and after 50 over years of independence, certain positive affirmation policies need to be re-considered, and maybe even abolished. But then most likely the government and some quarters may say that these are "sensitive" issues that should not be openly discussed.

Of late, there has been much open discussions, and it comes to light that policies and practices that provide for Bumiputra quotas have really not been successful. In fact, it has been abused - and rich Bumiputras have benefited much and have become richer. The poor, which no real capacity to exploit these preferential quotas, have remained poor - or have become more poor. Which political party you belong to and your 'political connections' have also used to take advantage of these Bumiputra prefential practices.

It is not the poor Bumiputra that benefits...The rich Bumiputra have been becoming richer -- and as this policy failed to achieve more equitable distribution of wealth.

The BN government likewise have been slow to give us full statistics that look at individual households - rather than just looking at ethnic groups, as a whole.

If there is to be any quota system - or any policy of positive discrimination - it must no longer be based on ethnicity and/or religion - but on socio-economic factors - like pro-poor, pro-rural population..., pro-physically/mentally challenged, ...

We remind ourselves that Malaysia has one of the highest gap between the poor and the rich.(In 2004, it was said that the top 10% was about 22 times richer than the bottom 10%. In a country of about 27million, the bottom 10% is about 2.7million persons). This is the biggest failure on the part of the Barisan Nasional - they had failed miserably and embarassingly. They failed to achive a fair and equitable distribution of wealth and resources amongst Malaysians.

With regard to the gap between rich and poor, Malaysia is far worse than India, Indonesia and the Philippines. Can you believe that?

For the sake of unity -- for the sake of developing a one Malaysian people - it is time to re-think and do away with any government or government-linked or government-assisted educational institution, program and activity which caters only for one ethnic group. We are Malaysians.

We must start by stopping to ask this question of what our 'bangsa' or 'ras' or 'ethnicity' is in all forms, etc. We should be all just Malaysian - pure and simple. Not 'Chinese Malaysian' or 'Malaysian Chinese' - just Malaysians. Also, there must a realisation that there has been a lot of inter-racial, inter-ethnic and inter-cultural marriages - and really, it is becoming really difficult to find any more pure 100% Malay, pure 100% Chinese, etc... Our PM, himself is married to a Eurasian. The PM, himself has apparently some Chinese blood. The former PM was said to have Indian blood. And our possibly next PM, Anwar Ibrahim, has Indonesian blood - apparently Batak ethnicity.

It is sad that even Pakatan Rakyat still talks about quotas - even HINDRAF is still talking about quotas. All these have to stop.

Pakatan Rakyat MB of Selangor asked for a miserable 10% of the seats in UITM to be given to non-Bumiputra students - and I am dissapointed that this is all he asked for. Is this what the PKR and Pakatan Rakyat is all about. Do they want real changes and real REFORMASI or are they just talking about some little cosmetic improvements... like from 0% to 10%... This is not at all reformasi...

Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim has no power to propose that Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) be opened to non-bumiputras, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said.

The Prime Minister said matters relating to student intake was the prerogative of the relevant higher education institution.

....On Monday, Abdul Khalid proposed that 10% of places for new students in the university be reserved for non-bumiputra and foreign students - Star Online, 13/8/2008, 'MB can’t open UiTM intake to non-bumis’

2 points to be made here:-

Firstly, any Malaysian has the right and the 'power to propose[suggest, recommend, express an opinion, etc..] that Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) be opened to non-bumiputras' - so the Prime Minister was very wrong when he made that statement, as reported.

Secondly, MB Selangor is talking not just about this 10% being Malaysian non-bumiputras - but also foreigners. So what 5% Malaysian non-bumi malaysians and 5% foreigners. Clearly, the call of the MB is not a true REFORMASI - but just for a little cosmetic changes. (I believe that even today, there have been non-bumiputras and/or foreign students in UITM - maybe some MP may ask that question in Parliament...)

I am of the opinion that 100% for Bumiputra Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), and such institution must be phased out completely. If there is going to be preferential quotas, it must be for the children coming from the poorer families and/or rural areas/regions of the country.

Quotas should not be based anymore on race, ethnicity and religion for it has been proven that it does not even bring fairness and justice to the people from even those beneficiary ethnic group.

While Pakatan Rakyat is asking for measely 10%, MIC, MCA, PPP, GERAKAN and all them other BN parties do not seem to even to be even championing for reforms or the rights of their own non-Bumiputra members or constituents. Are they happy with things as they are now?