Monday, February 26, 2018

People Choose Their MP/ADUN - repeal laws that disqualify? Anwar, Guan Eng, Rafizi, Uthayakumar, Wong Tack,?

Article 48 and 50 of the Federal Constitution has affected many persons, who we the people may have wanted to choose them as MPs and ADUNs - Time for reforms now. Some who have been affected, and we the people are being denied our rights to choose who we want 

A perception that the government of the day can also get rid of Opposition politicians ...and deny people of choices..True or not, time for changes...

Image result for lim guan eng
Lim Guan Eng(Released 1999 - could not contest in GE 2014)


Related image
Anwar Ibrahim (pic from Malaysian Review)

Image result for uthayakumar
Uthayakumar (released in 2014, can contest only after October 2019)

A person(MP/ADUN/Senator) can be disqualified very easily by those governing the nation at the particular time, and it can be used against the Opposition or even UMNO-BN. It has the effect that the person cannot also be nominated....WELL, time has come to review and maybe change these restrictions - so that the  PEOPLE(Rakyat) gets back their full rights to decide who they want as their Members of Parliament(MP) and/or State Legislative Assembly person(ADUN)...

We know that many good people in Malaysia, are facing charges, that could simply disqualify them from being our elected 'peoples' representative'(wakil rakyat). 

Should the LAW(which is made by our Parliamentarians), and the Courts(or Judges) be still allowed to deny the people our right to choose whoever we want to be our MPs and/or ADUNs. The people are smart, and they do look at the candidates - the crimes he/she has been convicted of, his personal financial situation, etc - and then VOTE...

Let us look at what changes the PEOPLE should want, and for this we need to our Federal Constitution, in particular Article 48 and 50 (which can be found in full below) to be repealed and/or amended.

Article 48(1)(e) - convicted crime - sentenced  'to imprisonment for a term of not less than one year or to a fine of not less than two thousand ringgit and has not received a free pardon'

Well, in my opinion, this is a provision in law that can be so easily 'abused' by the government in authority - so maybe it is time to REMOVE this - or maybe limit it just very serious crimes like murder, armed robbery, rape, etc ...but even that, can still be 'abused' by the government in authority.

LET the people decide. People are not fools when it come to choosing their MPs and/or ADUNs - They will consider whether a person is a convicted criminal, etc ...BUT if the people still want that person as their MP or ADUN, let people have the choice. 

We have had too many Opposition or other potential MPs and ADUNs being disqualified (or may later be disqualified since trials/appeals are not yet over.

Pardon too really is much influenced by the government of the day - see how the Pakatan Harapan leaders/parties are even talking about(even agreeing) to the getting of Anwar a 'pardon' to enable him to maybe come is as Prime Minister...if they come into power.

BEST, that we simply REMOVE this entire Disqualification'

Article 48(3) - even after being released from prison...or having paid the Fine, he/she still remains disqualified for a a period of a further five years, unless it is earlier 'removed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong...'

Point 1 - if a person has already served his/her sentenced, why should he/she even be disqualified for a further 5 years - Why should this even be there? It is so unjust and discriminatory - because once a person served their sentence, they should simply be able to resume life as a normal Malaysians - without any additional restriction to his/her rights. 

Point 2 - As pointed out earlier, the government of the day, could influence the decision of the King ... look at the Constitution, where clearly in most matters, the King has no choice but to act of the advice of the Prime Minister. If UMNO-BN is in government, this could be used for the benefit of the parties members or friends - maybe not for those who may be in or pro-Opposition. Same thing may happen when the Opposition comes into power, and then UMNO-BN persons may suffer. So, best get rid of it totally - once sentenced served, that is it - you continue life as usual - and should also be able to be our MP or ADUN.

Point 3 - it looks like the power is only given to the King, is not Malaysia a Federation of States - and MPs/Senators are coming from different State Constituencies - should not this power also be vested with the other rulers of the States? As it is, the power of pardon for crimes committed, is with the King for the Federal territories, and with the respective rulers of States where the crime is committed(or the person was tried and sentenced). So, maybe, if not repealed(which I believe is best), it should also be vested in the Sultans and rulers of the State - after all an MP are representatives of a particular constituent in a particular State.

It is sad, that even some Opposition parties are not wanting to remove this - WHY? Maybe to use it when they come into power? So sad, in my Opinion, this Article 48(3) must be repealed.

Article 48(b) he is an undischarged bankrupt; 

Why can't a bankrupt not be able to perform his/her duty as peoples' representative - a MP, Senator or ADUN? He may not be able to enter into some business agreement or run a business, maybe even be an office bearer of a society, trade union and/or such entities which can sue or be sued, but even then, it will not be him personally who will be required to pay.

People become bankrupt for all kinds of reasons, and most times it is not because of committing a crime. It is usually for failure in business, which may or may not even be by reason of his/her personal wrongdoing. He may have become a bankrupt because of poor personal choices made in his own personal finances. It was sad that the ADUN in Gua Musang area from UMNO to have lost his seat in the State Legislative Assembly simply because he became a bankrupt.

Remember, that it is finally the people who chooses the 'wakil rakyat' - if the people feel that a bankrupt is who they want as their representative - that is up to the people. In the same way, it is the people's choice to choose a convicted criminal as their MP or ADUN - even if he/she is still serving time in prison. 

TODAY, there are so many other possible peoples' representative (MPs and ADUNs) have been convicted(still appealing), are on trial where conviction and sentence may disqualify them, etc...Wong Tack(who almost defeated MCA President in the last GE), Rafizi...

48  Disqualification for membership of Parliament.

(1) Subject to the provisions of this Article, a person is disqualified for being a member of either House of Parliament if -
(a) he is and has been found or declared to be of unsound mind; or
(b) he is an undischarged bankrupt; or
(c) he holds an office of profit; or
(d) having been nominated for election to either House of Parliament or to the Legislative Assembly of a State, or having acted as election agent to a person so nominated, he has failed to lodge any return of election expenses required by law within the time and in the manner so required; or
(e) he has been convicted of an offence by a court of law in the Federation (or, before Malaysia Day, in the territories comprised in the State of Sabah or Sarawak or in Singapore) and sentenced to imprisonment for a term of not less than one year or to a fine of not less than two thousand ringgit and has not received a free pardon; or
(f) he has voluntarily acquired citizenship of, or exercised rights of citizenship in, any country outside the Federation or has made a declaration of allegiance to any country outside the Federation.
(2) Federal law may impose, for such periods as may be specified thereby, disqualification for membership of either House of Parliament on persons committing offences in connection with elections; and any person who has been convicted of such an offence or has in proceedings relating to an election been proved guilty of an act constituting such an offence, shall be disqualified accordingly for a period so specified.

(3) The disqualification of a person under paragraph (d) or paragraph (e) of Clause (1) may be removed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and shall, if not so removed, cease at the end of the period of five years beginning with the date on which the return mentioned in the said paragraph (d) was required to be lodged, or, as the case may be, the date on which the person convicted as mentioned in the said paragraph (e) was released from custody or the date on which the fine mentioned in the said paragraph (e) was imposed on such person and a person shall not be disqualified under paragraph (f) of Clause (1) by reason only of anything done by him before he became a citizen.
(4) Notwithstanding anything contained in the foregoing provisions of this Article, where a member of either House of Parliament becomes disqualified from continuing to be a member thereof pursuant to paragraph (e) of Clause (1) or under a federal law made in pursuance of Clause (2) -
(a) the disqualification shall take effect upon the expiry of fourteen days from the date on which he was -
(i) convicted and sentenced as specified in the aforesaid paragraph (e); or
(ii) convicted of an offence or proved guilty of an act under a federal law made in pursuance of Clause (2); or
(b) if within the period of fourteen days specified in paragraph (a) an appeal or any other court proceeding is brought in respect of such conviction or sentence, or in respect of being so convicted or proved guilty, as the case may be, the disqualification shall take effect upon the expiry of fourteen days from the date on which such appeal or other court proceeding is disposed of by the court; or
(c) if within the period specified in paragraph (a) or the period after the disposal of the appeal or other court proceeding specified in paragraph (b) there is filed a petition for a pardon, such disqualification shall take effect immediately upon the petition being disposed of.
(5) Clause (4) shall not apply for the purpose of nomination, election or appointment of any person to either House of Parliament, for which purpose the disqualification shall take effect immediately upon the occurrence of the event referred to in paragraph (e) of Clause (1) or in Clause (2), as the case may be.
(6) A person who resigns his membership of the House of Representatives shall, for a period of five years beginning with the date on which his resignation takes effect, be disqualified from being a member of the House of Representatives.

 50  Effect of disqualification, and prohibition of nomination or appointment without consent.
(1) If a member of either House of Parliament becomes disqualified for membership of that House his seat shall become vacant.
(2) If a person disqualified for being a member of the House of Representatives is elected to that House or if a person disqualified for being a member of the Senate is elected or appointed to the Senate or if an election or appointment to either House is contrary to Article 49, the election or appointment shall be void.
(3) (Repealed).
(4) A person cannot be validly nominated for election to membership of either House or appointed to the Senate without his consent.

Wong Tack may not get second shot in GE14 amid rioting trial

Published on  |  Modified on
   
Himpunan Hijau activist Wong Tack came close to defeating MCA president Liow Tiong Lai in the last general election, losing the Bentong parliamentary seat by only 379 votes.

While Wong has continued to work the ground in Bentong, the activist who contested under DAP's banner may not get a second shot if he is found guilty of rioting.

Wong, in a statement, said his more than three years trial, along with 14 others, was at its tail end as a directive had been given to "conclude the case as soon as possible".

Wong and 14 others were on June 22, 2014 charged with rioting under Section 147 of the Penal Code and illegal assembly under Section 145 of the same law for their protest outside the Lynas Advance Material Plant (Lamp) in Gebeng, Pahang.

Both offences carry a punishment of up to two years imprisonment or a fine or both.

Under the law, someone who has been jailed for a year or fined RM2,000 is barred from contesting the election for five years.

"The trial will continue on Feb 27 and 28. I will take the witness stand on the second day.

"Let's continue to march forward and fight on, hidup hijau," said Wong.

The Himpunan Hijau was a green movement which was formed in response amid concerns with the Lynas plant which processes rare earth.

Lynas had stressed the plant was safe and any radiation produced was within the permissible level.

The movement received strong support from the opposition.

In the 2013 general election, Wong contested under DAP's banner in Bentong against Liow, who was at that time the MCA deputy president.

Liow garnered 25,947 votes to Wong's 25,568 votes. - Malaysiakini, 25/2/2018



mmmm

 

 

 

 

Uthayakumar gets early release from prison

PUTRAJAYA: The Court of Appeal today upheld lawyer P. Uthayakumar's conviction for writing a letter of a seditious nature to former British prime minister Gordon Brown but reduced his 30 months' jail sentence to 24 months.

A three-member panel chaired by Justice Datuk Aziah Ali said a lesser sentence was appropriate, thus the court varied the jail term to 24 months.

Following this decision, Uthayakumar who has been detained in Kajang prison since June 5, last year, will be released on Oct 3.

Justice Aziah who sat with Justices Datuk Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof and Datuk Ahmadi Asnawi dismissed Uthayakumar's final appeal over the conviction under the Sedition Act, but allowed the lawyer a reduced sentence.

She said the court found the complaints by the appellant (Uthayakumar) on the conviction imposed by the Sessions Court judge to be without merit.

The panel made the ruling after hearing submissions from lawyer M. Manoharan, who represented Uthayakumar, and Deputy Public Prosecutor Azlina Rasdi, who appeared for the prosecution.

Since Uthayakumar's case originated at the Sessions Court, his last legal avenue ended in the Court of Appeal.

On June 5, last year the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court found Uthayakumar guilty on the charge of writing a letter of a seditious nature which was addressed to Gordon Brown, who was then Britain's prime minister, at 10 Downing Street, London, United Kingdom.

He was charged with committing the offence in Jalan Toman 7, Kemayan Square, Seremban, Negri Sembilan on Nov 15, 2007 under Section 4(1)(a) of the Sedition Act 1948.

On Feb 18, this year, the High Court upheld the conviction and 30 months' jail sentence after rejecting Uthayakumar's appeal. – Bernama - The Sun Daily, 18/9/2014

26/08/1999

Lim Guan Eng Released From Kajang Prison



LIM Guan Eng is greeted by about 5,000 political activists outside the Kajang Prison after his release today.



KAJANG Aug 25 - Former Kota Melaka Member of Parliament and DAP deputy secretary-general Lim Guan Eng was released from the Kajang Prison today after serving one year of his 18-month jail sentence for sedition and defamation.

Guan Eng was taken out of the jail in a prison van accompanied by a police patrol car at about 7.50 am to an unknown destination in Kajang town.

Reporters covering his release later learnt that Guan Eng was taken to a nearby hotel.

An hour after he left the prison about 2,000 supporters, carrying banners and accompanied by a lion dance troupe as well as kompang and tabla drummers, gathered outside the jail to greet him.

At about 9 am, he came back in his father Lim Kit Siang's black Mercedes Benz car to to greet and address his supporters outside the prison's main gate.

Guan Eng, a three-term MP, began his jail sentence on Aug 26 last year when his appeal against conviction under the Sedition Act and the Printing Presses and Publications Act was rejected by the Federal Court.

''I'm most touched by this rousing welcome for me this morning,'' said a cheerful and healthy-looking Guan Eng, speaking atop the car.

Guan Eng told the crowd that despite being behind bars for a year, his ''spirit of Malaysian Malaysia has not dissipated.''

He said this was his second time in jail, the first was 12 years ago when he was detained under the Internal Security Act over issues linked to the collapse of the MCA's Multi-Purpose Cooperative.

Borrowing from the famous phrase of slain American black leader, Martin Luther King Jr, Guan Eng told the crowd that he has ''a dream'' too that ''one day there will be justice for all Malaysians.''

''I will tell Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad that I will not let go that dream and I'm willing to go in for the third time for Malaysian Malaysia,'' he said.

Police presence outside the prison was minimal and no untoward incident was reported.

Later at a news conference at the DAP headquarters in Petaling Jaya, Guan Eng denied he was a chauvinist and spoke of his plans.

Guan Eng said he could not contest in the coming general election by virtue of his conviction.

''But I have a lot things to do for the party in this coming final century election,'' he said.

The Federal Constitution stipulates that anyone fined RM2,000 and above or imprisoned for 12 months will not be entitled to contest in the general election for five years from the date of his or her release or if the sentence is in the form of a fine, from the date the fine is imposed.

Also present at the news conference were Kit Siang, DAP chairman Dr Chen Man Hin, Selangor PAS Commissioner Haji Mosinun Tahir and Parti Keadilan Nasional and Parti Rakyat Malaysia representatives.

A 2,000-strong crowd also gathered at the DAP headquarters during the press conference.

Rafizi, ex-bank clerk jailed 30 months over NFC bank accounts leak

 | February 7, 2018
Rafizi Ramli and former bank clerk Johari Mohamad were found guilty by the Sessions Court under the Banking and Financial Institution Act for revealing bank accounts relating to the National Feedlot Corporation’s subsidiary companies and chairman.

rafizijail12
PKR’s Rafizi Ramli smiles as he makes his way to court, prior to his sentencing.

SHAH ALAM: Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli was today jailed 30 months by the Sessions Court for revealing bank accounts relating to the National Feedlot Corporation’s (NFC) subsidiary companies and executive chairman Mohamad Salleh Ismail six years ago.

Judge Zamri Bakar also jailed former Public Bank clerk Johari Mohamad for 30 months for abetting Rafizi. They were found guilty under the Banking and Financial Institution Act, or Bafia.

“The two accused failed to cast a reasonable doubt on the prosecution’s case,” Zamri said.

However, the court allowed a stay of execution of the jail sentences to allow their lawyers Ahmad Nizam Hamid and Latheefa Koya to file appeals.
Rafizi
Rafizi Ramli (right) and his lawyer Ahmad Nizam Hamid (left) speaking to reporters outside the Sessions Court, after his sentencing.

Rafizi, who was formerly PKR strategy director, claimed trial to the charge under Section 97(1) of Bafia on August 2012.

The maximum fine for exposing bank accounts under Bafia is RM3 million, or a three-year jail sentence, or both.

Johari had claimed trial to a charge under Section 112 (1)(c) for abetting Rafizi.

However, the trial only started last year, as Rafizi had filed several applications to quash his charge under the now defunct Bafia and had questioned the validity of this banking law.


The government repealed Bafia in 2013 and replaced it with the Financial Services Act.

The prosecution called 19 witnesses while Rafizi and Johari gave sworn statements.

Rafizi has another conviction under the Official Secrets Act (OSA) in 2016, for leaking page 98 of the classified 1MDB audit report at a press conference.

He was jailed 18 months for this by the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court in 2016, and the jail sentence was upheld by the High Court in August last year.

However, he was acquitted on the charge of possessing the audit report.

Rafizi will be unable to stand in the coming election if he fails to set aside the OSA conviction along with the 18-month jail sentence, and also this Bafia-related sentence.
Article 48 of the Federal Constitution disqualifies a person from being an MP for five years should the elected representative be convicted and sentenced to more than one year in jail, or fined more than RM2,000.

Meanwhile, in an immediate response, Rafizi said he was “somehow glad” he had been given a jail sentence instead of a fine.

“If the court had imposed a hefty fine, I would not be able to pay and (would) have to be taken straight into custody,” he said.

He added that if he was taken to prison, he would not be able to campaign for Pakatan Harapan in the general election.

However, Rafizi said he was confident his appeal would be allowed on technical grounds.- FMT News, 7/2/2018

Thursday, February 22, 2018

Cina ask - Malaysia hand over Uighur Muslims? Not voters - but what say PAS, PH, Warisan...?

11 Uighur Muslims - and Malaysia agreed to send them back to China? It is an issue of human rights, Malaysian values and principles...because these people may be 'REFUGEES' or asylum seekers - escaping persecution in China?

Non-refoulement is a principle of customary international law prohibiting the expulsion, deportation, return or extradition of an alien to his state of origin or another state where there is a risk that his life or freedom would be threatened for discriminatory reasons.
Malaysia, under the UMNO-BN government, eventhough we have yet to ratify/sign the UN Convention on Refugees, have generally had a good policy when it comes to such asylum seekers and/or 'refugees' - Malaysia did not send them back to the country they are fleeing from to escape persecution, torture and even death. We did this for the Vietnamese Boat people ...and also did that for the people from Burma(now Myanmar.)

 Police patrolling the old town in Kashgar, Xinjiang

But, now when it comes to Muslim Uighurs from China - Malaysia has agreed to return them. Is it because of the fact that China now can dictate terms to Malaysia? After all, of late, we have seen many big projects, even what was once government owned/controlled companies being sold/given to China? 

The Malaysian Bar has condemned this move.- 'The Malaysian Bar calls upon the Malaysian Government to adhere to principles of international law, specifically the customary international law of non-refoulement, and refrain from sending 11 Uighurs reportedly in Malaysian custody back to China.' See full statement below

DAP and AMANAH also have spoken up...PAS and other political parties have yet to speak up ...or is it that they do not care.
“Is Malaysia ‘kow tow-ing’ to China as its new boss?” he asked when commenting on an extradition request received by Putrajaya from Beijing. Santiago said the 11 men may be persecuted when they were taken back to China as it was China’s policy to act against religious groups in the country.- Charles Santiago, MP Klang, DAP - FMT News, 11/2/2018
Baru beberapa hari lepas Timbalan Perdana Menteri sanggup menghantar pulang 12 orang kaum Uighur Muslim yang tertindas pulang ke negara China atas alasan menjaga 'hubungan baik' antara negara yang termasuk isu perniagaan.Apa sudah jadi kepada nilai maruah umat Islam Malaysia hari ini ? - RAJA BAHRIN SHAH ialah Anggota Parlimen Kuala Terengganu dan Pengerusi Biro Antarabangsa Parti Amanah Negara (AMANAH) - Malaysiakini, 14/2/2018
What is happening to the Uighurs in China? Well, they are being persecuted...and below are some of the recent news reports...


At least 120,000 members of China’s Muslim Uighur minority have been confined to political “re-education camps” redolent of the Mao era that are springing up across the country’s western borderlands, a report has claimed.Radio Free Asia (RFA), a US-backed news group whose journalists have produced some of the most detailed reporting on the heavily securitised region of Xinjiang, said it obtained the figure from a security official in Kashgar, a city in China’s far west that has been the focus of a major crackdown.- The Guardian UK, 25/1/2018


The United States urged Malaysia on Friday to offer temporary protection to 11 Uighur Muslims whose extradition is being sought by China.The U.S. State Department said it had called on Malaysia to allow the U.N. refugee agency access to the Uighurs - among a group of 20 originally from China who escaped from Thailand last year - to determine their eligibility for international protection and eventual resettlement in a third country...“We urge the Malaysian authorities to conduct a transparent investigation and to provide temporary protection to any of these individuals who may be subject to torture or persecution if returned against their will,” said Michael Cavey, a spokesman for the State Department’s East Asia bureau.-

U.S. urges Malaysia to protect minority Muslims sought by China

US urges Malaysia to protect minority Muslims sought by China ..(Star)

 
Press Release | The Malaysian Government Must Uphold Provisions of International and Domestic Law

Thursday, 15 February 2018 12:59pm 
ImageThe Malaysian Bar calls upon the Malaysian Government to adhere to principles of international law, specifically the customary international law of non-refoulement, and refrain from sending 11 Uighurs reportedly in Malaysian custody back to China.

According to both foreign and local news reports, the 11 Uighurs currently in Malaysian custody are part of a group of 20 that escaped from a Thai detention camp in November 2017.  They had been detained in Thailand for immigration-related offences, having fled Xinjiang due to fears for their safety, and were heading for Turkey.

The Uighurs, who are predominantly Muslim, rebelled against Chinese Government rule in their native Xinjiang Province in July 2009.  The Chinese Government views Uighurs as terrorists, agitating against Chinese rule over their province.

The Malaysian Bar calls upon the Malaysian Government not to repeat the incident in August 2011 when it returned to China 11 Uighurs who were residing in Malaysia, including some who were registered as refugees by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Kuala Lumpur.  The fate of those 11 persons is not known.  

The Malaysian Government’s record on respecting international law leaves much to be desired.  Apart from the 11 Uighurs deported to China in August 2011, the Malaysian Government also forcibly detained three Turkish nationals in May 2017 and returned them to Turkey at the request of the Turkish Government, which alleged that these persons had some connection with the attempted coup in Turkey in 2016.  Their fate is also unknown.  In February 2012, the Malaysian Government detained Saudi Arabian journalist Hamza Kashgari and returned him to Saudi Arabia at the request of the Saudi Arabian Government over a tweet he had posted that was allegedly insulting of Prophet Muhammad.  This was despite a Malaysian court order preventing his deportation having been obtained.  Kashgari spent 20 months in jail in Saudi Arabia for blasphemy. 

The possible deportation of the 11 Uighurs back to China raises grave concerns whether the Malaysian Government will “refoule” potential refugees or asylum seekers in violation of international law.  The Malaysian Government must not abdicate or ignore its legal and moral obligation not to deport individuals to situations where their very lives may be in serious jeopardy.

Although China and Malaysia signed a treaty on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters in November 2015, under Section 8 of our Extradition Act 1992 there are prohibitions against extradition in certain circumstances, including:

(1) if the offence in respect of which [an individual’s] return is sought is of a political character or he proves to the Minister that the warrant for his return has in fact been made with a view to try or punish him for an offence of a political character;

(2) if the request for his surrender although purporting to be made for an extradition offence was in fact made for the purpose of prosecuting or punishing the person on account of his race, religion, nationality or political opinions; or

(3) if he might be prejudiced at his trial or punished or imprisoned by reason of his race, religion, nationality or political opinions.
The Malaysian Bar cautions the Malaysian Government not to dismiss due consideration of these provisions.  The Malaysian Government cannot simply hide behind the reason of international cooperation in the fight against terrorism, as an excuse to deport the Uighurs back to China.  Other potential factors — such as the massive amount of China’s foreign investment in Malaysia — should also play no role. 

The Malaysian Bar calls on the Malaysian Government, as a responsible member of the international community, to honour, respect and uphold the rules and customs of international law, and the provisions of Malaysian law, and not deport the 11 Uighurs back to China.


George Varughese  
President
Malaysian Bar

15 February 2018


File photo o: Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi
File photo o: Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi


Malaysia agrees to extradite 11 Uighurs to China

Breaking News February 12, 2018 11:37
By The Star
The Nation
Asia News Network
5,381 Viewed

Detainees being investigated for links to Islamic state after escaping from Thailand

BATU PAHAT, Malaysia - Kuala Lumpur will honour its agreement with Beijing to extradite 11 Uighur Muslims wanted by China.

However, the Uighurs would be sent back to China only after the conclusion of a police investigation, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said.

“Malaysian police are conducting an investigation to gather intelligence, especially to check whether any of them is involved in the Islamic State [IS] terrorist group.

“Other countries do not need to worry about the Malaysian government’s deciฌsion over the matter,” he told reporters after a session with students at Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia in Batu Pahat on Saturday.

The group of Uighurs had broken out of a detention centre near the Malaysia-Thai border in November after digging holes in the wall and using blankets to climb down walls.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also home minฌister, said Malaysian police had been in contact with their Chinese counterparts to discuss the extradition process.

“Our decision to extradite is based on agreements signed with China, includฌing the Mutual Legal Assistance and the extradition treaty.

He earlier said he had received an official request from China to deport 11 Uighurs who were detained in the counฌtry last year.

“Prior to this, we have extradited Malaysians from China who were involved in falsifying credit cards and other criminal activities. As such we will consider Beijing’s request,” he said.

The 11 Uighur Muslims were among reportedly 20 detainees in an immigraฌtion detention centre in Songkhla’s Sadao district who made a dramatic escape from detention in November.

The escapees were among 300 Uighurs who had been detained in Thailand since 2014 pending an invesฌtigation into their origins.

China has requested that Thailand deport Uighurs, claiming they are milฌitants, with 109 of them already having been sent back to China, sparking interฌnational condemnation.

Thai police said the group made two holes in a wall at the facility with sharp objects before climbing out and lowerฌing themselves to the ground using blanฌkets as ropes at about 3am.

They did not have food and could not communicate with villagers in Thailand and Malaysia, police said.

Six senior immigration police offiฌcers in Songkhla have been transferred to their regional headquarters and face an investigation following the escape.

The Uighurs were being detained for allegedly entering the Kingdom illegalฌly.  They had fled China, reportedly to flee from repression, and wanted to go to Turkey. - The Nation, 12/2/2018


February 17, 2018 / 3:39 AM / 3 days ago

U.S. urges Malaysia to protect minority Muslims sought by China

“We urge the Malaysian authorities to conduct a transparent investigation and to provide temporary protection to any of these individuals who may be subject to torture or persecution if returned against their will,” said Michael Cavey, a spokesman for the State Department’s East Asia bureau. 

Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said last Saturday that Malaysia had received an official request from China for the extradition of the 11. 

Zahid said Malaysia was considering the request, and that police were investigating whether any of the group had been involved in terrorist activities. 

Human Rights Watch has called on Malaysia to ensure Uighurs are not forcibly deported as they faced “credible threats of imprisonment and torture.” 

Beijing accuses separatist extremists among the Uighur minority of plotting attacks on China’s Han majority in the restive far western region of Xinjiang and other parts of China. 

China has been accused of rights abuses in Xinjiang, torture of Uighur detainees and tight control of their religion and culture. It denies wrongdoing. Over the years, hundreds, possibly thousands, of Uighurs have escaped unrest in Xinjiang by traveling clandestinely via Southeast Asia to Turkey. 

The 20 Uighurs broke out of a cell near the Thai-Malaysian border in November by digging holes in the wall and using blankets as ladders. Five were recaptured in Thailand that month. The escapees were part of a larger group of more than 200 Uighur detained in Thailand in 2014. 

Members of the group identified themselves as Turkish citizens and asked to be sent to Turkey but more than 100 were forcibly returned to China in July 2015, an action that sparked international condemnation...Reuters, 17/2/2018
 

PENDIDIKAN - Apakah perubahan yang dijanjikan Parti Pembangkang? Kefasihan Bahasa?

Kefasihan bahasa adalah penting untuk masa depan anda di Malaysia dan dunia ini. 

Bahasa Melayu sahaja - bagus tetapi ia akan memprejudiskan anda bila mahu mendapat pengetahuan lebih kerana bilangan buku/sumber pengetahuan yang telah diterjemahkan oleh kerajaan UMNO-BN dalam Bahasa Melayu amat kurang - berbanding negara Thailand di mana buku cerita, majalah antarabangsa, dll semuanya boleh diperolehi dalam Bahasa Thai.

 Image result for national geographic in ThaiImage result for Books in Thai

Kini banyak majikan adalah daripada luar negara - jika mahu komunikasi dengan majikan, pasti lebih berkesan jika boleh berbuat demikian dalam Bahasa yang boleh dia faham (tak perlu ada penterjemah). Jika mahu komunikasi dengan 'consumer' pun, kefasihan bahasa penting.

English atau Bahasa Inggeris - merupakan satu Bahasa yang dahulu hampir semua rakyat Malaysia, daripada makchik jual sayur di pasar hingga kepada anak muda, fasih dan boleh bertutur...tetapi polisi pendidikan kerajaan UMNO-BN yang mengutamakan Bahasa Melayu saja telah mengakibatkan ramai di Malaysia hilang keupayaan bertutur dalam Bahasa Inggeris - tetapi jika dilihat, anak Menteri dan orang kaya masih lagi fasih - sama juga dengan mereka di bandar Kuala Lumpur dan bandar besar...yang rugi adalah rakyat di luar bandar dan negeri Semenanjung Timur...

Oh ya, jika tidak ada kefasihan dalam Bahasa Inggeris, bagaimana nak melanjutkan pelajaran ke luar negara? Bagaimana juga membaca buku rujukan dalam Bahasa Inggeris di Universiti tempatan? Bagaimana bertanding mendapat kerja di sektor swasta yang kini ramai majikan boleh cakap faham Bahasa Inggeris(tetapi bukan Bahasa Melayu), di sektor kerajaan yang kini berurusan dengan ramai fasih Inggeris/Cina di peringkat ASEAN/UN...tetapi bukan sangat Bahasa Melayu. Justeru, jika tak fasih Bahasa Inggeris - sukar untuk kita kehadapan dalam kerjaya... baik di dalam sektor swasta atau sebagai penjawat awam...

CEO proton pun warganegara Cina ...CEO MAS pun warga negara asing dulu...nak mengadu pun sukar tanpa mempunyai kefasihan Bahasa lain..Bahasa Inggeris, dll..Bagaimana Union atau pekerja berbincang dan mendapatkan hak lebih ....atau mendapatkan keadilan - Perlukan penterjemah - tetapi melalui penterjemah, komunikasi kurang berkesan...Jika majikan cakap Bahasa Inggeris(atau Cina)...blur sahaja kita...

Bahasa Cina Mandarin - ini bahasa yang digunakan lebih daripada 2 Billion rakyat dunia. Bahasa Urdu/Hindi, ini Bahasa yang juga digunakan lebih daripada 2 billion rakyat dunia. 

Justeru, alangkah baik jika rakyat Malaysia juga mempunyai kefasihan berbagai jenis Bahasa demi masa depan mereka...juga untuk penambahan pengetahuan dengan membaca buku serta juga pengetahuan dalam internet, berurusan dengan majikan atau perniagaan asing di Malaysia dan luar negara...

Bahasa Melayu juga amat penting - digunakan juga di Indonesia dan Brunei - boleh dikatakan digunakan lebih kurang 300 juta atau lebih. Tetapi kefasihan bahasa tambahan lebih baik.

Bahasa adalah satu skil perlu di zaman moden ini - dan kefasihan Bahasa akan membantu anda di masa depan dari segi pekerjaan dan juga perniagaan. 

Polisi kerajaan UMNO-BN mengenai pendidikan telah mengugat masa depan ramai rakyat kerana kebanyakkan hanya fasih Bahasa Melayu dan kini ramai sekali tidak ada keupayaan faham dan/atau bertutur dalam Bahasa lain.

Kini kerajaan UMNO-BN menukar polisi sedikit - membenarkan beberapa sekolah sahaja (kenapa bukan semua) untuk menambahkan pengetahuan dan kefasihan dalam Bahasa Inggeris...tetapi yang akan terus diprejudiskan adalah sekolah-sekolah di luar bandar dan bandar-bandar kecil...Tak adil? 

Program Dwibahasa atau Dual Language Programme (DLP) adalah satu program di bawah Dasar Memartabatkan Bahasa Malaysia Memperkukuhkan Bahasa Inggeris (MBMMBI). Ia dilaksanakan di Sekolah Kebangsaan dan Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia (KPM) secara rintis pada tahun 2016 melibatkan 300 buah sekolah. Program DLP memberi pilihan kepada sekolah-sekolah yang layak untuk menjalankan sesi pengajaran dan pembelajaran dalam bahasa Inggeris selain daripada bahasa Malaysia bagi mata pelajaran Matematik, Sains, Teknologi Maklumat dan Komunikasi. Pelaksanaan DLP bertujuan untuk menyokong penguasaan kemahiran berbahasa Inggeris murid melalui peningkatan masa pendedahan kepada bahasa Inggeris secara tidak langsung. Dengan pengukuhan dwibahasa seseorang murid, DLP boleh memberi peluang kepada murid untuk meningkatkan akses, penerokaan pelbagai ilmu untuk bersaing di peringkat global serta meningkatkan kebolehpasaran murid di alam pekerjaan.
Sila baca berikut untuk maklumat lanjut :- Portal Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia
Oh ya, kini kerajaan UMNO-BN sedar kesilapan mereka -- mahu mulakan program DLP ...tetapi bukan semua sekolah lagi. Kemungkinan besar, yang akan ketinggalan adalah sekolah-sekolah luar bandar atau bandar kecil. Silap UMNO-BN adalah membawa polisi yang kini telah mengakibatkan kehilangan kefasihan bahasa Inggeris ramai - mula 2016, mungkin akan mengambil masa 10-15 tahun apabila anak muda kita kembali mendapat skil bertutur dalam Bahasa Inggeris..

Kenapa berhenti polisi pembelajaran Bahasa Inggeris - kerana tidak mahu hilang penguasaan Bahasa Melayu - dan UMNO parti orang Melayu. Jika pada tahun-tahu sebelum Merdeka bila kurang interaksi dengan dunia luar dalam sektor perniagaan dan juga sektor awam - mungkin ada lojik. Akhirnya polisi  

Dr Mahathir, semasa dia menjadi PM, semasa ia membawa polisi 'Pandang ke Timur' telah mulakan pengajaran bahasa Jepun di sekolah - tak lama polisi itu berlangsung.

Pendidikan 'Hak Asasi' - kini tak ada pun disekolah. Hak pekerja biasanya adalah bergantung kepada apa terkandung dalam Perjanjian Pekerjaan - tetapi jika pekerja Malaysia tidak tahu apa jenis hak/faedah yang boleh diminta untuk dimasukkan dalam perjanjian pekerjaan - rugi sahaja pekerja di tipu majikan. Hak sedia ada dalam undang-undang saperti Akta Kerja 1955 hanya membantu pekerja gaji RM2,000 atau kurang atau mereka yang lakukan kerja manual - jadi, ia tidak langsung memberikan hak untuk pekerja lain yang bergaji lebih RM2,000-00. Akta itu pun hanya menyatakan hak minima - ertinya jika pekerja arif boleh dapat hak lebih jika terkandung dalam perjanjian pekerjaan.

Hak sebagai penguna, hak tentang beranika jenis perkara saperti terkandung dalam Perlembagaan dan Akta sedia ada - mengapa tak diajar kepada pelajar disekolah. Jika rakyat arif tentang hak mereka sebagai rakyat, mereka akan menuntut hak tersebut. Kini, kerajaan UMNO-BN bila ada faedah untuk rakyat, tidak pun biasa memberitahu rakyat melalui akhbar, dan sebagainya - akhirnya ramai tak tahu, ramai tak pohon - rugi kita sahaja???

POLISI PENDIDIKAN - Apakah cadangan yang dibawa oleh Pakatan Harapan, PAS, ...serta parti pembangkang lain? Ada perubahan...atau akan ikut sahaja polisi UMNO-BN sedia ada?

Kini ramai rakyat Malaysia bukan Cina sudah mula hantar anak mereka pi belajar sekolah Cina - bagus itu kerana tambah lagi satu bahasa yang dikuasai untuk masa depan? 

MIC, berbanding dengan MCA, membuat silap besar meminta sekolah Tamil - tetapi berapakah institusi tinggi yang gunakan Bahasa Tamil - di Tamil Nadu sendiri, sebuah negeri sahaja yang gunakan Bahasa Tamil kini hanya sedikit Universiti yang gunakan Bahasa Tamil untuk mendapatkan Ijazah. 

MCA, jika dilihat tidak meminta sekolah gunakan Bahasa ibunda Cantonese, Hokkien, Hakka, dsb..., tetapi telah memilih Bahasa Mandarin(yang sememangnya bukan Bahasa ibunda kebanyakkan rakyat Malaysia Cina, tetapi merupakan Bahasa gunaan rakyat Cina sebagai Bahasa perbualan/komunikasi rakyat seluruh Cina - dan jika mahu melanjutkan pelajaran mengunakan Bahasa Mandarin - ada banyak pilihan universiti di negara Cina, Taiwan, Hong Kong...dan untuk perniagaan pun Bahasa itu digunakan dikalangan lebih 2 billion rakyat keturunan Cina (dan lain-lain)...Jika MIC, memilih bahasa Urdu, sama juga kerana itu adalah Bahasa tuturan/komunikasi yang bolkeh digunakan di India, Pakistan, Bangladesh dan juga Nepal.

Adakah kita mahu polisi pendidikan yang memberikan penumpuan kepada kefasihan Bahasa lain, saperti Bahasa Inggeris, Bahasa Mandarin dan juga Bahasa Urdu. Jika kita fasih dengan Bahasa tambahan, ia juga membuka peluang pekerjaan bukan saja di Malaysia tetapi juga di luar negara...ia juga memberikan kelebihan dalam urusan perniagaan ...ia juga akan menambahkan tarikan orang luar yang datang melawat Malaysia...

Parti-parti pembangkang masih sedang bergelut mengenai kerusi yang bakal ditanding - tetapi masih kurang memberikan kita maklumat mengenai apakah perubahan polisi termasuk polisi pendikan dan lain-lain.

Kini jika kita melihat laman web parti politik pembangkang - jelas DAP dan PAS, ada maklumat mengenai apa yang intipati perjuangan mereka - apakah perubahan yang akan dibawa mengenai banyak perkara - walaupun tak cukup lagi terperinchi. Contohnya, DAP tak nampak polisi mengenai pekerja...dan aspek pekerjaan. 

Tetapi, bila dicari laman web PKR dan parti Pribumi, tak nampak pun apakah yang mereka memperjuangkan..apakah perubahan yang akan di bawa...PKR(tidak boleh dimaafkan) kerana lama sudah parti ini wujud... Adakah perjuangan mereka hanya mahu menumpaskan UMNO-BN tetapi selepas itu apa???

Tunggu sahaja manifesto - Ya, manifesto itu hanya manifesto bersama ---mungkin juga secara kasar sahaja ...apakah pendirian sendiri parti tersebut..

***
Perkara asas saperti dibawa tak perlu diulang lagi kerana sudah ada dalam Perlembagaan..
- Islam sebagai agama Persekutuan
- Faedah/kepentingan kepada Melayu dan orang asal Sabah dan Sarawak akan diteruskan..
.

Yang penting, adalah apa lagi selain ...POLISI PENDIDIKAN...POLISI PEKERJAAN...POLISI PENGAGIHAN HARTA/TANAH ...POLISI kesihatan, dll....

Pos ini - tumpuan diberikan kepada polisi Pendidikan - khususnya polisi penanmbahan kefasihan Bahasa-Bahasa lain untuk menambahkan keupayaan rakyat bertanding di Malaysia and dunia hari ini...skil tambahan perlu...

PENDIDIKAN PERCUMA - Dari Tadika sampai ke institusi pengajian tinggi di Malaysia? Kenapa Malaysia tidak boleh ada sedangkan banyak negara sudah ada...(Yang mahu pergi sekolah atau universiti swasta - itu pilihan mereka, dan mereka boleh bayar) Isu kini adalah sekolah and institusi kerajaan Malaysia - ini juga bermaksud bahawa setengah universiti yang telah diswastakan mesti diambil kembali oleh kerajaan Malaysia..


DLP will go on, says ministry


PETALING JAYA: After several days of uncertainty over the fate of the Dual Language Programme (DLP), the Education Ministry has clarified that the programme stays – much to the relief of many parents and schools.

The ministry said in a statement that there was no change to the DLP policy; in fact, 88 “new” schools will be added to the list, bringing the total number of schools offering the DLP to 1,303.

Deputy Education Minister Datuk P. Kamala­nathan said the DLP is “a permanent feature of our education system”.

He said the disruption in the launch of this year’s batch of DLP schools came about because the ministry needed time to finalise new guidelines regarding the programme.

“Once this is done, the ministry will make a formal announcement for DLP classes to begin next week. All schools can start enrolling new students soon,” he said in an interview.

“The ministry is committed to ensuring the success of this programme.”

Kamalanathan said the baseline study of the programme had been proven successful.

The Star frontpaged the issue since a blog run by a “Cikgu Nurul” alleged on Monday that the programme, which allows students to study Mathematics and Science in either Bahasa Malaysia or English, was apparently shelved, upsetting many parents and schools.

The ministry stated that only Year One and Form One classes of the 88 “new” schools would be able to offer the dual language.

Previously, newly-approved primary schools could also have Year Four DLP classes.

The current 1,215 schools will continue to run the programme.

The ministry’s annual report for 2016 said three-quarters of DLP students were at or above the target level of the Common European Frame­­work of Reference for Languages – a guide developed by the Council of Europe to gauge foreign language proficiency.

“In the long term, (DLP) will definitely be a key instrument in reaching the nation’s Malaysia Education Blueprint 2013-2025 target of making our children competent and competitive at a global standard,” Kamalanathan said.

Schools must have written consent of parents, enough qualified teachers and classrooms, and a score above the National Grade Average in Bahasa Malaysia before they can apply for the DLP.

It is offered to Year One to Year Six pupils, and Form One, Form Two and Form Three students.

Since Monday, there has been much drama over a purported statement on the blog, which alleged that the sudden postponement of the programme had raised concerns in schools that have implemented the DLP.

Parents who had bought books and prepared their children for DLP classes were upset, with many of them worried that their children would lose out in the end.

Then, despite reports that DLP might be shelved, school heads said they would continue with it – at least until they received an official circular from the ministry.

The DLP, which was announced during Budget 2016, allows selected schools to teach the two subjects in English. There are now almost 40,000 students under the programme nationwide.- Star, 5/1/2018