Malaysian "Illegal migrants workers" detained in WA

Illegal migrants workers detained in WA

April 11, 2008 - 10:23AM

Immigration officers have picked up 16 illegal migrant horticultural workers in Western Australia and South Australia.

In a joint operation with WA police, immigration compliance officers arrested nine men and two women from Malaysia and China near the Margaret River in the state's south-west on Thursday.

They had been allegedly working illegally in the region's horticultural industry.

In South Australia, four Malaysians and one South Korean woman were picked up for also allegedly working illegally in the horticultural industry north of the city.

Immigration Minister Chris Evans said all 16 people had originally arrived in Australia legally with valid visas.

They had either overstayed their visas or entered Australia on non-work visas, a spokesman for the minister said.

They are currently being held in immigration detention while arrangements are made for their deportation from Australia.

Senator Evans on Friday warned businesses against employing illegal workers.

"It is the responsibility of employers to ensure they only hire people with the right to work in Australia," Senator Evans said in a statement.

"Severe penalties can apply to people who hire workers who do not have work rights here."

Employers face fines of up to $13,200 and two years imprisonment while companies face fines of up to $66,000 per illegal worker.

JUDICIAL REFORMS mmm..., we shall see Mr PM

What are the "judicial reforms" that the PM will reveal? (oops ... how did the Media know about it and what those reforms would be before that)? COMMISSION for the selection, elevation, transfer of Judges SEPARATION of Judicial and Legal Services Commission INCREASE in the number of judges and courts. [The Malaysian ratio is 2.4 judges to a million people - a far cry from the ratio in India (10.5), Australia (57.1), Britain (50.1) and Canada (75).] EXPEDITING the 13,880 remand cases or 34.2% of the total number of prisoners in the country. (Star, 22/11/2007) Bringing back the court stenographers, as this will expedite the speed at which cases move. Now the Judge has to record down everything said - and this takes time... And of course, amending the FEDERAL CONSTITUTION to remove the amendments introduced around the 1988 period -- including Art. 121,.. OR WILL IT JUST BE THAT THE PM WILL SAY THAT WE REGRET WHAT WAS DONE TO SALLEH ABAS AND THE JUDGES, AND THE MALAYSIAN JUDICIARY BY THE GOVERNMENT UNDER THE PREMIERSHIP OF MAHATHIR M... Everyone knows that the most vocal critic in the past months have been good old Dr Mahathir - so is this 'judicial reforms', the '1988 Judicial Crisis',...that 'Lingam Tape' matter...etc all just a way for the present PM and his people to try to distract all of us from themselves, the current BN government, etc --- ? We will not be made 'distractions', or be distracted by our present PM and this government. We are not going to forget about TODAY as our attention is again taken to YESTERDAY and the former PM. And Mr PM, we do not want some nice sounding non-binding speech about all them "Judicial Reforms" - we want it to be REAL and BINDING...now...not in 5 years time...not in 10 years... Abdullah to unveil judicial reforms today

Thursday, 17 April 2008 06:41am

©The Straits Times, Singapore by Leslie Lopez, South-east Asia Correspondent • Judicial Commission to appoint judges • Greater independence for the judiciary • Financial compensation to sacked judges • Expression of regret by PM Abdullah FIGHTING back stiff opposition from his own Cabinet and administration, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is set to unveil major reforms to the country's much-maligned judiciary. The reforms will include the setting up of a Judicial Commission that will be responsible for the selection and the promotion of judges. It will also feature changes to the Federal Constitution that will restore greater independence to the judiciary, senior government officials and lawyers said. The reform agenda, which will be announced at a special dinner hosted jointly by the government and the country's Bar Council tonight, will also see Datuk Seri Abdullah make an expression of regret over the 1988 judicial saga that led to the sacking of the country's top judge. The government's effort to make amends to the jurists disgraced by the events in 1988 will also include some form of financial compensation, one senior government official involved in the judicial reform plan told The Straits Times on condition of anonymity. 'The amounts are being worked out,' he said without elaborating. Malaysia's once-robust judiciary was dealt a severe blow when it clashed with former premier Mahathir Mohamad in the late 1980s. That face-off led to the suspension of six Supreme Court judges and the subsequent removal of three of them, including the head of the judiciary at the time, Tun Salleh Abas. The sackings damaged the integrity of the judiciary, which came under fresh attack again 10 years later during the controversial corruption trials of former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim. Shortly after taking office in November 2003, Datuk Seri Abdullah declared that he would push for reforms in the judiciary. But those efforts were often stymied by his own Cabinet colleagues, who served under Tun Dr Mahathir and were not keen on reforms that could embarrass the former premier, senior government officials and lawyers say. Even the Prime Minister's move to establish a Royal Commission late last year to investigate a damning video-recording that implicated a prominent lawyer allegedly attempting to broker the promotion of judges was privately criticised by senior members of his own ruling United Malays National Organisation Party. But last month's stunning election results, which saw the ruling Barisan Nasional lose its two-thirds majority and control of five states, changed everything, close aides of Datuk Seri Abdullah say. The Prime Minister signalled that judicial reform was his key priority when he appointed prominent lawyer Datuk Zaid Ibrahim to his new Cabinet to push his agenda. Lawyers and government officials credit Datuk Zaid for convincing the government to bring closure to the controversial events in 1988 and to establish a more transparent system of selecting and promoting judges. Under the current practice, the country's Chief Judge recommends candidates to the Prime Minister and in the case of senior judicial appointments, the Chief Judge's recommendation must by approved by the Conference of Rulers. But Datuk Zaid had to fight hard during Cabinet meetings, say senior government officials. There is also some unease among senior judges over Datuk Seri Abdullah's efforts. Still, lawyers say that tonight's event could boost his battered public standing. Sources say that the Prime Minister insisted that the six judges who were disgraced by the events in 1988 be present at the dinner where he will deliver a short address titled Delivering Justice, Renewing Trust. Government officials say that former chief judge Tun Salleh Abas, his three other colleagues in the Supreme Court at the time - Datuk George Seah, Tan Sri Azmi Kamaruddin and Tan Sri Wan Hamzah - have confirmed their attendance. The two other Supreme Court jurists - the late Tan Sri Wan Sulaiman and the late Tan Sri Eusoffe Abdoolcader - will be represented by their families, the government officials say. Bar Council sources say that opposition leader Datin Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ibrahim, who is Datuk Seri Anwar's wife, and Mr Lim Kit Siang of the Democratic Action Party, will also attend tonight's event. 'We hope this will bring closure to the 1988 judicial crisis,' said a senior government official involved in the judicial reform plan. But to some Malaysians it may not be enough. 'An apology or expression of regret would be sweeping everything that happened 20 years ago under the carpet,' said Datuk V. C. George, a former Court of Appeal jurist. 'We need an investigation into the events of 1988 and to expose the conspiracy and its conspirators.' TIME TO SHOW LEADERSHIP 'There are more important things than private peeves and settling scores. Neither the brewing crisis over soaring food prices nor other major issues are going to wait for Umno to put its own house in order. Now is the time for the grand old party to move on, do the things its leaders have promised and show that it still has what it takes to lead the nation.' MALAYSIA'S NEW STRAITS TIMES in a front-page editorial yesterday Mahathir versus the judges THE 1988 Malaysian constitutional crisis began with a divisive Umno election the year before and ended with the suspension and the eventual removal of the Lord President of the Supreme Court, Tun Salleh Abas, from his seat. The Supreme Court in the years leading up to 1988 had issued several rulings that irritated the government of then premier Mahathir Mohamad (left), who had narrowly won re-election as Umno president in the bitterly fought poll. Among other things, a judge had declared Umno 'an unlawful society' in a case brought by disgruntled losing party members. The last straw for Tun Dr Mahathir came when the Supreme Court ordered the release of prominent opposition leader Karpal Singh from detention under the Internal Security Act. The premier submitted several constitutional amendments to Parliament, divesting the courts of the 'judicial power of the Federation' and giving them only such powers as Parliament might grant them. He also lambasted the judiciary for their interference. Tun Salleh convened a meeting of all 20 judges from the Supreme and High Courts in Kuala Lumpur where they agreed not to publicly reply to Tun Dr Mahathir's criticisms. Instead, they wrote a confidential letter to the King and the Malay rulers, expressing their grievances. The Lord President was subsequently hauled before a tribunal convened by the premier on the grounds of misconduct. Five judges of the Supreme Court who granted him a temporary order against the tribunal were also suspended. The crisis ended with the sacking of Tun Salleh along with two of the five judges.

ALIRAN reiterates call for ABOLITION of RELA

Violence against refugees continues

Friday, 11 April 2008

Aliran would like to bring to public attention the continuing violence perpetrated against migrants and refugees in this country. It is amazing that the public at large is still ignorant of all this human rights violation happening right under our noses. Moreover, most of the Malaysian public remain ignorant of who refugees are or why they are here. The cause of this ignorance is probably brought about by limited information and the negative views promoted by the mainstream news dailies and broadcast media, which is still under the complete control of the ruling Barisan Nasional government. In our view, negative publicity that incites violence against any group of human beings by any party is unjust and by its nature, criminal, especially when the victims of such violence are defenceless and have not harmed anyone. What have the on-going violent crackdowns by Rela gained for Malaysian society? It has obviously done nothing for Malaysia except to give us a bad image internationally as a cruel and heartless nation. Have refugees from other countries undergoing internal political upheaval or conflict stopped coming here or has there been a reduction in numbers? No. It is in fact difficult to keep accurate count of these numbers. Even the UN refugee agency in Malaysia cannot be completely certain that statistics do not change everyday. Refugee communities have repeatedly sent out press releases to non-governmental organisations to appeal for a stop to the arrest and detention of their community members, including pregnant women, mothers with babies, small children and minors. They have often described the cruel and inhuman treatment they experience at the hands of Rela and the abuse perpetrated in immigration detention centres. This abuse ranges from being beaten up, sexually abused, raped and financially extorted, to the whipping of minors. Such acts, if committed by any other Malaysian citizen, would be seen as criminal. Yet when they are committed by those in authority - through the so-called ‘security forces’ like Rela - against helpless migrants and refugees, they very often go unnoticed and unpunished. The current Home Affairs Minister, Syed Hamid Albar, has not publicly taken a stand on this issue. Instead, the raids on these defenceless refugee communities have been stepped up, affecting even those officially recognised by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and who have UNHCR documents to prove their status. The issue of refugees is not a new one. It has in fact been an issue for over 30 years since the Vietnam War in the 1970s. Since then, other countries in the region have been gripped by turmoil and hardship, but few Malaysians are aware of the long-standing suffering in these countries. Do we think this does not affect us? The excuse by the Government that treating refugees humanely is a ‘pull-factor’ for more to arrive on our shores is a fallacy. Neither ill-treatment nor deportation has served to stop the influx of migrants, whether documented or undocumented. The fundamental problem is the lack of a proper corruption- free immigration control system and clear- cut policies for different categories of migrants. The non-recognition of refugees and the lack of empathy for their plight have tarnished our image. The use of Rela only puts migrants and refugees as well as sections of the Malaysian public in fear because of the indiscriminate raids often carried out in the middle of the night. Rela seems to be acting with impunity and getting away with acts of violence against migrants and refugees. This makes Malaysian society appear inhuman as it appears to overlook such gratuitous violence. The recent denial of a two-thirds majority for the BN and the victories of the opposition Pakatan Rakyat in five states have shown us that we can bring about changes for the betterment of the country, if we want to. Similarly, the rakyat can put pressure for the new Parliament to address the issue of migrants and refugees more seriously and to come up with more comprehensive and humane immigration policies, which would include the recognition of refugees by immigration authorities in this country. Aliran also urges the rakyat to support calls for the federal government to ratify the 1951 UN Refugee Convention and other international human rights conventions. The public is also reminded that Malaysia is an elected member of the UN Human Rights Council and should live up to this role in the international community, instead of embarrassing us by being a notorious perpetrator of human rights violations. Aliran again reiterates its support for calls by other civil society groups, including the Bar Council and Suara Rakyat Malaysia, for the abolition of Rela. Aliran Executive Committee. 11 April 2008

Mum appeals to PM for Uthayakumar's transfer (NST)

(see also http://madpet06.blogspot.com/ - the Malaysians Against Death Penalty and Torture Blog also maintained by me which is covering this matter in greater depth.) Mum appeals to PM for Uthayakumar's transfer

Wednesday, 16 April 2008 09:38am

• Uthayakumar’s mum pleads for his release ©New Straits Times PUTRAJAYA: P. Uthayakumar's mother has appealed for her son to be admitted to the National Heart Institute (IJN) or a private hospital of her choice. K. Kalaivaniy, 64, claimed that Uthayakumar's health was deteriorating at the Kamunting detention centre. She said Uthayakumar, 46, a diabetic, was admitted to the Taiping Hospital in December for high blood sugar but was prematurely discharged despite high glucose levels. She also claimed prison authorities were deliberately ignoring her son's medical needs and this had worsened his condition. Saying she feared for his life and safety, she appealed to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to transfer her son to the IJN or a private hospital of her choice. She said she was willing to bear the cost of medical treatment as she did not wish to burden the authorities with unnecessary medical bills. Kalaivaniy was accompanied by 70 Hindu Rights Action Force supporters when she went to the Prime Minister's Department to hand over her letter. She also urged the prime minister to immediately release all five Hindraf leaders.

"SERVANT CULTURE" - something we must get rid off

"SERVANT CULTURE" - an interesting word, and it is not only with regard to the relationship between MCA/MIC and UMNO but also emerges within UMNO itself. UMNO Members also fear having a different opinion from those held by the leadership. They abandon their rights, their dignity, their 'self-worth' and their 'equality' and just follow the Boss." What the BOSS says is right?" Who are we...we are NOT the Boss... (Remember even the fearless Anwar Ibrahim was a victim of that culture, and that was why he sat there in cabinet and endorsed the actions of the government with regard the 1988 Judicial Crisis, the 1987 Operation Lallang Detention Without Trial exercise, etc...) This FEAR is sustained by the leadership by taking action ('disciplinary action') against members who express a different view...but things are changing within UMNO -- and it was seen in the Perlis MB selection, and later the Trengganu MB selection. It is seen in the recent OPEN PUBLIC calls by certain members for the PM to resign... This "servant culture" also exist at local community levels and it is race and/or class related...think about it... Is the "servant culture" a justification for SILENCE and/or INACTION in the face of INJUSTICE and VIOLATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS --- the answer is NO. We have to rid this "servant culture" from our lives at all levels... and remember that all persons are equal... Facing up to an inconvenient truth

Foong Wai Fong | Apr 9, 08 11:30am

analysis March 8, 2008 heralded a new beginning in Malaysian politics. To find out whether or not it will be a good beginning, we will have to wait to see the sincerity, vision and strategy of various political leaders. Analysis of the 12th general election results have revealed that the reasons why Barisan Nasional (BN) lost so heavily and the reasons why Pakatan Rakyat ( PR) won so unexpectedly are very different. BN lost because of its arrogance, complacency, internal strife and a perception of rampant corruption. The opposition, though, was amazingly unified in its approach. The parties worked hard on the ground, kept up focus on issues that pained the people; and used communication technologies to drive home their messages. BN will need time to accept its losses. Many in the component parties have yet to recover from the shock, while leaders are looking for scapegoats. The MCA is being forced to face a most inconvenient truth - that its relevance as a party serving Chinese interest is now open to question. It won only 15 of the 40 parliamentary seats and 31 of the 90 state seats that its candidates contested. In Penang, the biggest Chinese-populated state, MCA fell flat. In Selangor, Perak and Negri Sembilan, it suffered a tremendous setback. The party has relied on the strength of Umno’s Malay-based support to win votes - but with Umno itself losing ground this time around, MCA’s backbone collapsed. There is now groundswell of blame on Umno and its leadership. Calls are being heard for MCA to examine its raison d’etre. Former vice-president Dr Chua Soi Lek has asked: “What is the meaning of MCA’s continued existence?” I feel the question would be more appropriately phrased as: ‘What is the value of MCA’s continued existence?’ We can look at the question from two perspectives - that of Umno and the Chinese community. The question for Umno is: What is the value of MCA to BN if it can’t deliver Chinese votes? In the face of PAS’ and PKR’s aggressive stance in taking away Malay votes, Chinese votes have become even more pivotal in securing Umno’s position as the supreme political master. What value can MCA bring to Umno if its base of support has shifted? Moreover to MCA, Umno is losing power as the majority partner in BN and also needs to get back on its feet. In the Chinese community, meanwhile, some quarters feel that MCA has been long on promises and short on delivery. If non-Chinese based parties such as PAS and PKR can look after Chinese interests just as well, or even better, why would the community need MCA? Sometimes when an issue is positioned as a Chinese one, it may make matters worse. So why should the Chinese voters continue to vote for MCA or any other Chinese-based party? ‘Servant culture’ in MCA MCA’s predicament today is the result of decades of a ‘servant culture’ and its own role- confusion. The collective leadership seems to communicate the impression that the real boss is Umno and that the party represents the government, not Chinese interest. Some among the top leaders have unwisely allowed Umno to influence the settling of internal power arrangements, resulting in further loss of independence and self-esteem. The influence of MCA leaders in the cabinet and in government has been compromised, as seen in many cases of disrespect shown to MCA ministers over relevant issues over the past decades. If you think like a servant, you act like one. Your responses are conditioned to cues from your master, and you surrender independence and sovereignty. MCA leaders have put themselves in this regrettable position, and hence have been perceived as ineffective in the eyes of the Chinese community. Perception is everything in politics. Let’s examine some of the most frequently raised criticism and defences of the MCA, as circulating in the community. 1. Keep us in government so that we can serve you CA likes to remind the community to ‘treasure’ its ministers and representatives so that they can effectively safeguard Chinese interests in government; without MCA, it claims, there would be no Chinese voice. However, a high-profile MCA minister has admitted that the ministers are merely “Han officials in the Qing Dynasty” - meaning “our role at best can only be cosmetic, don’t expect real results”. The myth of MCA advancing Chinese interests through the government was debunked when the PR government in Perak agreed to grant permanent land titles to those holding Temporary Occupation Licences. MCA’s Ting Chew Peh (photo), a former housing and local government minister, openly expressed shock that the PR government achieved this in less than 50 days of taking office, when MCA has been part of government for 50 years! 2. Doing ‘side jobs’ Critics accuse MCA representatives of doing ‘side jobs’ instead of focusing on their main job of governing the country. The party appears to have given the impression that it has gotten its priorities backwards and that it is avoiding doing its main and real job. The community expects MCA to be a member of an effective government, formulating policies and implementing these effectively, speedily and efficiently. The government’s role is to serve and help the people and not to compete with them. MCA leaders have complained openly to the community that “we have done so much, but the Chinese don’t appreciate it”. There is a terrible gap in understanding here. To the community, the issue of appreciation - or lack thereof - does not arise. As a YB - Yang Berkhimat - its elected representatives are voted in to serve and deliver. If they fail to do so, then they should resign and make way for others. Period. Tomorrow: Who can lead MCA now? FOONG WAI FONG, a Malaysian based both in Shanghai and Kuala Lumpur, is founding director of Megatrends Asia and author of four best-selling books, ‘Megatrends Asia’ (with John Naistbitt), ‘The New Asian Way’, ‘Mr Prime Minister, We Have to Talk’ and ‘Culture is Good Business’. This article was first published in Malaysiakini’s Chinese edition.

URGENT APPEAL: Death penalty of three Malaysians in Singapore

ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION – URGENT APPEALS PROGRAMME

Forwarded Urgent Appeal: AHRC-FUA-003-2008

29 February 2008
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SINGAPORE/MALAYSIA: Death penalty of three Malaysians in Singapore

ISSUES: Death Penalty
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Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to forward an appeal received from Amnesty International regarding the death penalty of three Malaysians in Singapore. Please intervene in this case in order to save their lives and urge the relevant authorities in Singapore to join the international community for the moratorium on executions.

If you have further queries, please contact the Regional Campaign Assistants given below.

Urgent Appeals Desk
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
---------------------------------------------------------------------

For queries, Lea Biason (Lea.Biason@amnesty.org) and Charlotte Chompff (Charlotte.Chompff@amnesty.org).

SINGAPORE

Hamir Hasim (m) aged 23, Malaysian national
Kamal Kupli (m) aged 24, Malaysian national
Abdul Malik Usman (m) aged 28, Malaysian national

Hamir Hasim, Kamal Kupli and Abdul Malik are at risk of imminent execution in Singapore. On 18 February their final appeal was rejected by the Court of Appeals. Amnesty International is calling for their death sentence to be commuted by the President.

On 1 March, 2007 all 3 men had been convicted of murder, which carries a mandatory death sentence in Singapore. Hamir Hasim, a gardener, and Kamal Kupli and Abdul Malik Usman, both cleaners, were found guilty of attacking and killing a man that they robbed in December 2005.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Singapore has one of the highest execution rates per capita in the world. There has been very little public debate about the death penalty in Singapore, partly as a result of tight government controls on the media. The UN Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions noted in a 2005 report that legal safeguards in Singapore do not meet international human rights standards. Echoing the concerns of many lawyers and activists, he argued that the mandatory penalty denies the judiciary the necessary discretion to sentence people fairly and appropriately.

Amnesty International opposes the death penalty in all cases, and supports the global trend away from the use of the death penalty, powerfully expressed in the UN General Assembly’s resolution calling for a worldwide moratorium on executions on 18 December 2007.

Amnesty International recognizes the need of governments to address serious crime, including murder, but notes that there is no clear evidence that the death penalty deters crime any more effectively than other forms of punishment. Today 135 countries have abolished the death penalty in law or practice.

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please rush personally-worded appeals

- urging the President to commute the death sentences of Hamir Hasim, Kamal Kupli and Abdul Malik Usman immediately;

- expressing concern that the death penalty is mandatory for murder in Singapore, and calling on the authorities to take steps to adopt a moratorium on executions, with a view to restricting the scope of the death penalty and ultimately abolishing the death penalty, as called for in the resolution passed by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2007.

APPEALS TO:

President Sellapan Rama Nathan
Office of the President of the Republic of Singapore
Orchard Road
Singapore 238823
Fax: 011 65 6737 5522
Email: s_r_nathan@istana.gov.sg
Salutation: Dear President Nathan

COPIES TO:

His Excellency Mr Vanu Gopala MENON
High Commissioner for Singapore
c/o Permanent Mission to the U.N.
231 East 51st Street
New York, NY 10022, USA
Fax: (212) 826-2964

Lee Hsien Loong
Office of the Prime Minister
Istana Annexe, Orchard Road
Singapore 0923
Fax: 011 65 6835 6621
Email: lee_hsien_loong@pmo.gov.sg
Salutation: Dear Prime Minister

Professor S. Jayakumar
Ministry of Law
100 High Street
The Treasury 08-02
Singapore 179434
Fax: 011 65 6332 8842
Salutation: Dear Minister

Thank you.

Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrchk.org)

Pakatan Rakyat can put an end to RELA in the States they govern...

Could the Pakatan Rakyat governed states at least put a leash on RELA, and stop them from doing this "search...arrest...detain..." of persons in the Pakatan Rakyat states at the very least....The Malaysian Bar has already called for the demise of RELA.

Law enforcement should be left to the professionals - not to the volunteers in RELA...

Tuesday April 8, 2008

Tour guide cries foul over Rela raid

By KULDEEP S. JESSY

KUALA LUMPUR: A 42-year-old tour guide has lodged a police report after a group of Rela members allegedly tried to break into her apartment in Tingkat Tong Shin here while apparently tracking a suspected illegal immigrant.

Leow Mee Leng said that the men had failed to identify themselves properly, did not have a search warrant and were not accompanied by any policeman or Immigration officer.

In the 3.15am incident on Monday, Leow said she was fast asleep at her apartment located on the second floor of a town house.

"I heard a thumping sound at my front door and heard a man shouting loudly, asking me to come out.

"I went to the door and asked him what the problem was, but he only shouted back that if I did not open the door he would break it open.

"I peeked through the peephole and saw several men standing outside. Fearing for my life, I ran back into my room and telephoned my first-floor neighbour who advised me to open the door,'' she said.

Leow said she hesitated for several minutes but decided to open the door when her neighbour and his wife came over to her apartment and shouted at her to open the door.

"There were about six to eight men in uniform, and one of them just dashed into my house with a torchlight.

"The man came out several minutes later and told his superior that he did not find anything,'' she said, adding that they refused to tell her what they were looking for.

Leow said that when urged by her neighbour, one of the Rela members told him that they were looking for "someone" who had escaped and believed to be hiding in Leow's house.

"The man also asked my neighbour's wife whether I was a Malaysian. When she told them that I was, they told me to go back into my apartment and then left hastily,'' she said.

Leow claimed that several minutes later, she saw the men taking away four women and two men from another apartment.

She said her front door had been damaged and is missing an iron bar.

She lodged a report at the Dang Wangi police station on Monday evening.

BN "DISCRIMINATES" -- and Azalina also does the same...??

The BN really DO NOT understand the meaning of DEMOCRACY... On the way that money is channeled from the Federal Government to the State Government - she said that it would not be given to the Pakatan Rakyat State governments - and as such it is discrimination if it is given to the other BN State government. This women was a LAWYER - surely she would know the meaning of DISCRIMINATE... and the notion of equality.... If this is going to be the case for this Ministry, would it also be the case with the other Ministries as well....and why does the BN forget where these "funds" are coming from and who is the "owner" of these funds --- yes, it is the RAKYAT, each and every one of us.... Money collected from the rakyat generally, like income tax...etc goes to the Federal Government and it should be used for all the rakyat equitably -- or should we, who are in the states governed by the Pakatan Rakyat JUST start paying all our taxes to the Pakatan Rakyat... Of course Azalina, money should flow through State Governments .... and also plans must be made together as well... If you do not vote for the BN ---- wrong, if the majority in a constituency do not vote in a BN person as the wakil rakyat, then the whole constituency (including them who voted for the BN) will be discriminated against.... that unfortunately is the BN way.... and I do not like it anymore....and the BN must "grow-up" and behave rationally and reasonably ....for the good of all not just those who stay in States run by BN or constituencies which have a BN wakil rakyat... After all, when there was a challenge for the leadership in UMNO --- the UMNO split-up after that.... and since then the UMNO is too scared to have free and fair elections in their own party. It is absurd that a person who wants to run for President has to get so many DIVISIONS to nominate him/her...the norm every where else, is that there be one person to propose and another to second and then the person can run for the post.... It is the UMNO way ---- the BN way ---- and no one can blame Azalina for doing what she is doing ...I am sure that it is NOT the Muslim, Christian, Buddhist and/or Hindu way.... BN doesn't discriminate, Azalina tells MBs

Chan Kok Leong | Apr 8, 08 3:38pm

Newly-appointed Tourism Minister Azalina Othman Said refuted two Pakatan Rakyat chief ministers’ claims that her ministry was punishing tourists by terminating its memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with the states. During the launch of ‘Colours and Flavours of Malaysia’ at Kuala Lumpur today, Azalina (left) said the accusations by Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim were unfair. "This ministry will continue the projects as promised earlier. We do not make changes unnecessarily." On the way the funds are channeled - instead of money going to the Pakatan state governments and it will now go to ministry-controlled committees - the minister said that it was the federal government’s perogative. "It applies to all the states which is being led by opposition government. This has happened for the past few years with Kelantan and we've never discriminated as far as tourism projects are concerned. We've been very fair.” On whether opposition-held states will be left out of tourism projects, Azalina said the ministry will accept any proposals that is “in the interest of the people”. "But if they (opposition) decide to join Barisan Nasional, it would be much better,” she said. "As far as we are concerned, the existing programmes will go on. We do not discriminate. I would like to inform Lim Guan Eng and Khalid Ibrahim that they must understand that the BN government doesn't discriminate in tourists programmes or tourists going to such programmes." She cited the Penang Music Festival and Langkawi Water Festival as examples of plans which will go on whether the state is opposition-held or not. On why her ministry is channeling the funds to a different committee and not the state Tourism Action Councils (TAC) like other BN-held states, Azalina said it was a “technical” matter. Ministry to take over TACs Tourism Ministry secretary-general Dr Victor Wee explained that there were two issues in the matter. Firstly, TACs in the opposition states will no longer be headed by the state excos for tourism and will instead be led by him or a person appointed by the minister, he said. "And second, is the way the funds will be channeled. The funds will no longer go through the states but through a federal mechanism. Because of the nature of the new political scenario, the MOUs with the states will be cancelled. "This, however, doesn't mean that the TACs or the state tourism offices will be closed. Activities will continue to be carried out at the state level and funds will continue to flow too." Wee said that the state tourism councils, with a new chairman, will continue to bring all the stakeholders together to run the tourism programmes. On whether the Pakatan state governments will have access to the funds, Azalina said: "The difference is who signs the cheque - they sign the cheques or we sign the cheques? "This is the federal government, so we sign the cheques. What's the big deal?” She added that all the programmes were already planned and promoted overseas since last year and that they can't cancel them now, even if the states are run by opposition governments. "The only changes we are making is the appointment new personalities in the tourism council. This is a federal policy which we have done in Kelantan, and we will do that for (all) the opposition-held states."

Malaysia steps up action against Burmese migrants (DVB)

Malaysia steps up action against Burmese migrants

Apr 8, 2008 (DVB)–Malaysian authorities have stepped up arrests of illegal Burmese migrants in Kuala Lumpur and other cities, forcing many to go into hiding in jungle areas.

Refugees with UNHCR documentation and migrant workers with legal permits have also been arrested in the crackdown.

One Burmese migrant said raids were not being conducted by immigration officials but by groups of volunteers who have been given powers to arrest illegal migrants by the government.

“If they take the illegal migrants to the police or immigration they get a reward of 80 ringgit [US $25],” the migrant said.

“They arrested about 500 migrants in three raids last week, and another 500 more recently.”

He said he was not sure how many had been arrested in total, but that he believed most were Chin or Burman.

Another migrant said Malaysian employers were now refusing to take on Burmese migrants due to the increasing number of arrests, leaving the migrants without a source of income and forcing them into hiding.

“We have to go and hide in the jungle, which causes a lot of problems for us – we can only sleep late at night, there are lots of mosquitoes and there is no proper food,” she said.

“Sometimes we have to stay hidden for about two or three days.” Ko Kyaw Kyaw Win of the Arakan Refugee Affairs Committee said the issue had been raised by the United Nations and other NGOs, but they were unable to reach an agreement with the Malaysian authorities.

“The UN said they did not come to any agreement with Malaysian immigration on this, so they could not provide any protection to the illegal Burmese migrants,” Kyaw Kyaw Win said.

There are currently around 150,000 illegal Burmese migrants in Malaysia, most of whom are Arakanese or Chin.

Reporting by Htet Yarzar

Did the people in the village tell the "village heads" to resign? Or was it just the decision of the "association"? or...

Perak Village Heads Association - we did not even know about the existence of such an association....

Now the question is whether these "village heads" consulted the people in the villages that they represented before tendering their resignation? But then these village heads were most likely never even the choice of the people of the village -- as there was no elections BUT an appointment made by the "Political Masters".

I have no idea as to who is my "village head" and/or my "members 'of the JKKK and the JKKT" - and there is also no communication between these reps of the people and the people --- so how do they even be the "reps of the people" at those meetings with the Local Council and/or other parties... and what exactly have they agreed to and not agreed to....


2008/04/05

Perak government reviewing en masse resignations of village heads

BERNAMA

IPOH, Sat.:

The Perak government is reviewing the en masse resignation by 726 village heads in the state on suspicion that they might have been forced or pressured by certain quarters to do so.

Menteri Besar Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin said the affected village heads would be called for a meeting, the latest by end of the week, to solve the problem.

“When things like this happen, it gives rise to suspicion which requires us to look into the matter thoroughly to ensure their resignation letters are genuine,” he told reporters after the Perak Islamic Organisation Colloquim here today.

He said this when asked on claims that the village heads had been forced to sign the resignation letters and also that some of the signatures in the resignation letters were forged.

“If they resigned voluntarily, we would accept the resignation. But when some of them came to me and say they did not sign the (resignation) letter and another said he was forced to sign it, then we will have to review the matter,” said Mohammad Nizar.
Last Monday, Perak Village Heads Association chairman Sukiman Jalil handed over to the Menteri Besar 736 resignation letters from its members. Perak has 814 village heads.

Mohammad Nizar said the state government would also review the appointment of amil (tithe collectors) to ensure a more transparent tithe collection and to avoid abuse.

He said this would be done in August prior to the fasting month, which is in September