Who fought for the independence of Malaya...and who worked with the colonial powers preserving their powers until 1957? Who were the heroes? traitors?

Who fought for independence of Malaya from the British Colonialist?

Who fought for independence from the Japanese Occupiers?

Who fought for independence from the British Colonialist?

It is important to realize that when Malaysia was ruled by foreign powers - British, Japanese and then British again, there were those who collaborated with these foreign powers - and worked with them and for them. There were also those that would never work for the colonial masters or occupying forces.

There were those who chose the path of negotiations...and diplomacy in their quest for independence.

There were those who chose armed struggle as a means towards achieving independence...

Different means ....same objective...and all should be acknowledged as people who struggled for the independence of this nation...Malaya...Malaysia

There were those who just 'sucked-up' to whoever rules the day...allowing themselves to be bred to take over the reins of power one day (of course with the guarantee that British influence and benefits will always be protected ...)

Let us look back at history...and see who were those who did always fight the colonial masters to achieve independence...

And who worked for and with the colonial masters....

The time has come for us to look critically at the history of Malaysia...

Eradication of poverty, Free Universal Healthcare, Worker Safety - seem to be not priorities of PM Najib

Malaysia's Najib's 'six National Key Result Areas' - and, I wonder what happen to the other more important areas of concern...

What about the Eradication of poverty, Free Universal Healthcare for all, Education for all, Effective Public Transport System, Safe and Healthy Working Conditions for Workers (Worker Safety is not a BN priority - Occupational Safety and Health is no more important - 90% Transportation Companies...90% Estates..), Toll-free roads,

I have perused this report in Star, which listed out the 6 National Key Result Areas, and its short-term targets(which are in blue), and have made my own comments and observations (which are in red)..

The Government’s promise of an improved delivery system takes flesh with the Prime Minister’s unveiling of the short-term targets for the six National Key Result Areas. - Star, 28/7/2009, Targets set for the six Key Result Areas

Reduction of crime rate

> Reduce street crime, including snatch thefts and unarmed robbery, by 20% by the end of 2010.

Let us not forget the reasons why people resort to such crimes. Is it not poverty and inadequate income to live in Malaysia that has driven many to commit these kind of crimes. That is why the cause - poverty or inadequate income should be addressed, not the effects, petty crimes...

Some say that you would reduce crime rates if we start seeing policemen walking the beat again in Malaysia. If there are policemen walking around on a regular basis, the perpetrators of crime will be less motivated to commit crime. It will also give the normal person a greater sense of safety. Public relations with the police will also improve. Today, to many the Malaysian police has lost credibility.

> Re-train Rela members to help improve public perception on safety.

RELA - we all know that this volunteer-corp need to be abolished. There are too many instance of wrong-doings, by this now 'too-powerful' group of volunteers. What we need is more trained police personel, and other enforcement personel. Not more trained RELA. If you have volunteers, then increase the number of volunteer police personel, civil defence, fire fighters, etc..There really is no need for RELA. I believe that RELA is just a desparate way for UMNO-led BN to try and regain the support of younger Malaysians - and that is why there is that odd desire by our Home Minister to increase the number of RELA volunteers from about 500,000 now to 2.5 million in 3 years...

The People's Volunteer Corps (Rela) is set to increase its membership five-fold to 2.5 million by 2012, with the additional members to come from not only among the Malays but also the Chinese, Indians and others.

Rela director-general Datuk Zaidon Asmuni said the government felt that Rela was a voluntary organisation made up of people of all races, backgrounds, occupations and so on.- Bernama, 5/7/2009, Rela Targets 2.5 Million Members By 2012

On the other hand, the number of police in Malaysia is 93,348 only, and Malaysia has a population of about 27,000,000, and that means about 3.45 per 1,000 people, and that is OK - but the problem in Malaysia is their organisation. There is clearly not enough police investigators...and hence the backlogs. There is too many FRU and other police used for 'illegal' assemblies and dinners... Police training and salaries need to be up-graded.

> Upgrade equipment for enforcement agencies and increase the usage of CCTV.

CCTV - this has been talked about for years, and still even the MACC has not enough CCTVs - and if it had, then we would have a better idea as to who killed Teoh. All rooms in all police, MACC, etc stations/buildings must be first equipped with CCTV with recording capacity. It must be a right for all accused persons to receive copies of all recordings made whilst in custody of police or other enforcement officers. This is already being done in Hong Kong for some time. This would definitely decrease incidences of torture, police abuses and deaths in custody.

> Set up special courts for street crime to speed up the legal process.

Special courts - what we need is more Judges...and more courts."...The Malaysian ratio is 2.4 judges to a million people — a far cry from the ratio in India (10.5 judges), Australia (57.1), Britain (50.1) and Canada (75)..." - 2.4 judges to a million people

Combating corruption

> Updating relevant policies, procedures and enforcement to improve global perception.

> Use open or restricted tender process for all government projects with the exception of those sensitive in nature.

There really is no new suggestions made here. What we need is greater transparency. We need a Freedom of Information Act - that gives citizens the right to access all information. If there is some 'secret' information/document, then we must keep in secret only for a limited period only - say 10 or 15 years, and after that it shall become declassified and available to the public.

We need every meetings and decision making process to be documented (verbatim records) - which will make a review later to curb 'corruption' more effective. We may need an Ombudsman for Malaysia.

Widening access to affordable and quality education

What we need is for an enactment of a guaranteed right to education for all, especially children who shall have the right to free education until the age of majority. This need to be added to in our Federal Constitution. The Right To Education does not exist in Malaysia - and, in fact, Malaysia has made a reservation with regard to this obligation when they ratified the Child Rights Convention(CRC).

Affordable - let us target for FREE Education for all children (until a certain age).

> Make pre-school education part of the national education system.

No big deal - quite easily done. I thought that already it was and that all pre-schools had to teach certain things, as defined by the State. The State should set only what must be covered, and give the liberty to parents/teachers to decide what additional things that they would want for their kids.

> Ensure all normal pupils are able to read, write and count when they enter Year Four before 2012.

"Normal Pupils" - what do they mean by this?

> Reward school principals and headmasters based on the achievements of each school.

Why reward only the principals/headmasters? Why not reward all teachers and even the school itself? Why not reward the Education Ministry Official/s in charge of that school as well? What achievements are you talking about?

> Turn 100 daily smart, cluster, trust and boarding schools into high performing learning centres by 2012.

Raising the living standard of the Poor

Let's talk of erradication of poverty - not the 'raising of living standard of the Poor'

> Pay out all welfare cash aid on the first of each month from January.

Why? Is this not done at the moment? Let us also talk about not just talk about welfare - regular hand-outs to the poor. We need a solution that will make them independent of these handouts. Maybe, the transfer of some shares/unit trusts that will result in regular income...

> Create 4,000 women entrepreneurs under the Sahabat Amanah Ikhtiar programme by 2012.

How many women entrepreneurs are there now? What really is this 'Sahabat Amanah Ikhtiar programme'? The Malaysian government have had many programs to help the poor, and the lower and middle income persons in Malaysia - but alas, what was lacking was information about these programs and opportunities, and Malaysians did not know about it and never reaped its benefits. Inform the people of all that is available - use the TV, the newspapers, etc and educate people of what is available now, and who can apply for it and how...The UMNO-led BN government, many a times, seem to use its own political party members in terms of education and knowledge about such benefits/opportunities - and hence most Malaysians never even knew about it, or reaped its benefits. This has to change...Do for all like what was done with regard to the fuel subsidies...

Improving Infrastructure in rural areas

> Build 1,500km of roads in Sabah and Sarawak by 2012.

Tell us how many km roads are there already - and why only Sabah and Sarawak? Is it because UMNO-led BN is desparate that they continue to win almost all the seats in these 2 States. Roads are also needed in Pahang, Kelantan, Trengganu and the other States in Peninsular Malaysia

> Ensure that no one lives more than 5km from a tarred road in the peninsula by 2012.

Again, we see discrimination. Why not the same aspiration and target for Sabah and Sarawak? Or, is it OK for Sabahans and Sarawakians to live far away from a tarred road?

> Increase clean water supply to cover 90% of Sabah and Sarawak by the end of 2012.

What? Have developed Malaysia under the UMNO-led BN still not achieved the providing of all its people clean water supply? Clean water supply should have been available to at least 98% of the people of Malaysia. Tell us what percentage of people in Malaysia have yet to receive 24 hours clean piped-water supply.

> Increase electricity coverage in Sabah and Sarawak to 95% by end of 2012.

What? Have developed Malaysia under the UMNO-led BN still not achieved the providing of all its people with electricity? Electricity supply should have been available to at least 99% of the people of Malaysia. Tell us what percentage of people in Malaysia have yet to receive 24 hours electricity supply.

> Provide 24-hour electricity supply to 7,000 orang asli families in the peninsula by the end of 2012.

Have we not yet achieved this after 50 plus years under the UMNO-led BN. For the orang asli of peninsular Malaysia, should not we not amend the Federal Constitution to insert them as one of the proffered group for special benefits?

Improving public transport in the Medium term

> Increase the number of public transport users to 25% by end of 2012 from the present 16%.

Good thing to do - but we must have a good public transport system first. We need more busses. Maybe even bring back that very dependable and frequent mini-busses. We need public buses in the smaller towns have routes that go into housing areas.

> Add 35 sets of four-car-trains to operate on the Kelana Jaya LRT track by the end of 2012.

What we need is more LRT lines in the Klang Valley. We could also do with Trams - which could easily be running beside main roads. Motorcycle lanes need to be improved. In fact, we should also have bicycle lanes - and encourage more to start using this kind of transportations, which is definitely environment friendly. Oh yes - every bridge and road, must have clearly separated bicycle and pedestrian lanes. Of late, we see too many bridges which do not have these lanes anymore - and it is so difficult for people to walk across bridges safely..

Re-defining the relationship between the MP/ADUN and the people should be TOP in Pakatan Rakyat's Agenda...

The UMNO-led BN has created a 'culture' of dependence on BN and its component parties, through its MPs and ADUNs, over the 50 plus years they have been in power...

They have also created a 'norm' as to what is and should be the relationship between the 'peoples' representative' and the people in the constitution...
- Want donation or sponsor - go see MP/ADUN
- Want support to get project/Tender of business - go see MP/ADUN
- Want scholarship or student loan, go see MP/ADUN
- Want help, go see MP/ADUN
......


We need to change this - EMPOWER the people to be independent and capable of resolving their own problems.

Do not make the people DEPENDENT on Wakil Rakyats.

More consultations with the people to get their views on various matters of concern - not just meet people to hear their 'problems'.

What is the people's opinion on healthcare - do they want it to be nationalized and made free for all, or do they want it to be privatized - an example of the things that MPs/ADUNs should be discussing with their contituents. BN told the people their decisions - and how they are going to implement these decisions. Pakatan must be different - they must 'consult, discuss, debate ...' with the people before making decisions... Remember - you are 'peoples' representatives'

In the BN days, when the people have a function/activity, then they go see their 'wakil rakyat'(the peoples' representative), who will then hand the people a 'donation' (usually cash) to help out in the activities/function. Now, when they go to Pakatan Rakyat MPs/ADUNs, they find that no such 'donation'/'help' is forthcoming - and there is a disappointment with the 'wakil rakyat'. What many did not know, was the fact that the money /help that these BN reps were dishing out was not from money in their pockets - but was with government money, that was channelled to all BN reps for their usage for their area. (This money that the BN was dishing out was not their personal money at all - now the PR reps, when they give donations many a time are using their own personal money...). I belive every BN MPs had about RM2 million per year for him to spend in his constituency - but non-BN MPs did not get anything [I wonder why the non-BN MPs did not take this matter to court, for I believe that is clearly discrimination and it goes against the constitutional guarantee of equality...]

- Hence, what Pakatan Rakyat needs to do is to educate people about this fact, and also how this practice was unjust - as mainly BN people got the benefit of these monies, and that many of these monies may actually have been 'embezzled' for the benefit of the BN wakil rakyat and/or his family/cronnies.

- The Pakatan Rakyat must 're-educate' people as to the REAL role and functions of the 'wakil rakyat'. They have to re-define the relationship - and this must be done at all levels. Anwar, Kit Siang and Hadi must also talk about this. Education here may involve 'brain-washing' to liberate minds from wrong understandings of the relationship between the people and their reps..

- The Wakil Rakyat is not the source of 'donations' and 'trophies' - He is not the 'big man' who is to be invited to officiate all functions... (The 'wakil rakyat' is the peoples' representative...he is the worker of the people...the people are the boss, and the MP/ADUN are their servants - they are public servants...As such, what is needed is that there be more and more dialogues, for people to be able to vent their OPINIONS and VIEWS about things - not just their grievances.

- "Tell us your problem, and we will take care of it" - is not the kind of relationship that PR must encourage between its people and its reps.

- In fact, when people have problems, wakil rakyats should get the people to solve it themselves. Maybe, guidance as to where they should go, etc -- in short, wakil rakyat should empower people. Only, if there is a 'hitch', i.e. the relevant department is causing problems or creating unnecessary obstacles should the wakil rakyat intervene...

- The wakil rakyat is not and should never be the 'HERO" that solves all problems - but alas some Pakatan Rakyat people's reps are also still doing that. Empower the people to solve their own problems, by going to the relevant public authority/private company and solving it.

- 'Go back, do not worry, I will solve your problem...' is not what a MP/ADUN should be telling the people - but alas, that is what many are doing... they like to make the people dependent on them, and they are doing what the BN has been doing all these years..

In fact, maybe we should be writing a 'dos and and don'ts list for wakil rakyats...'

Only 4,000 - An indication that Anwar has become boring? Pakatan losing support..

4,000 ONLY for a well-publicized gathering of Pakatan Rakyat that was targeting 100,000 is very disturbing...

4,000 ONLY when all the Pakatan Rakyat 'big guns' are there to speak - "...PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim, DAP's veteran leader Lim Kit Siang, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang and Selangor Menteri Besar Mohd Khalid Ibrahim..."

4,000 only in a Stadium in PJ in the Selangor Pakatan Rakyat governed state...

Question:-

Is this an indication that the Pakatan Rakyat is fast losing the support of the people? Maybe.

Is this an indication that the people are getting bored with "...PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim, DAP's veteran leader Lim Kit Siang, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang and Selangor Menteri Besar Mohd Khalid Ibrahim..."? Maybe. This happens when people who go to hear you are forced to hear the same old things over and over. UMNO talks do not find many going because they know exactly the issues and the positions, etc from the newspapers, tv, radio - has it also become the same with Pakatan Rakyat? [Some say people attend these gatherings for its 'entertainment value' - they like to hear government bashing...new stories, etc...]

What are the Pakatan Rakyat talking about these days? Corruption, PKFZ, Unity Talks, Manek Urai, Anwar's case, Perak cases, ...

Corruption here...corruption there - Is it not the same story over and over again? Really, wonder how many people are really interested in that 'Port Klang Free Zone' scandal, and all the minute details. A summary would suffice for the majority. What concerns people today are the real concerns about the impact of the economic crisis on their lives, and their future in Malaysia. There is concern about 'healthcare' and risk of rising costs. There is anger about having to repeatedly make monthly visits to the government clinics to get monthly supply for medication... There is concern about 'toll rates' ...and the fact that they still pay the same in the PR States today...There is concern about Khalid and the fact (or the perception) that he administers the State just like a BN MB...

By-Elections - Manek Urai...These by-elections, really, has become the focus of PR over the past months. After they win, one wonders what that 'good person' everyone was asked to vote for is really doing?

Anwar's cases - mmm

Perak -

UNITY Talks - well, this is new & the suggestion of such talks by PR personalities has really 'pissed' a lot of people off. There is a sense of having been betrayed. Are they any different - BN and PR, and many are concluding that there is no difference, or maybe even that the BN was better.

Pakatan Rakyat must re-evaluate itself - maybe the time has come for new leaders to step forward. Maybe, it is time to be 'revolutionary' in all PR states - get rid of toll & parking charges, declare that State Scholarship and Student Loans will have NO ethnic/religious quatas anymore - but there will still be a preference in favour of the poor, change the Board of all State-owned entities to reflect that it is 'Malaysian' - not just a board of one ethnic group, maybe even appoint a Mayor or 2 who is not a Malay Muslim, Local Council Elections..., Amanah Saham Selangor for all - capped maximum, Clear Pakatan position for the abolition of ISA and ALL Detention Without Trials - and a promise that all will be set free in 1 month after PR takes over Federal Government, Free Healthcare for all in Selangor - state will assist the poor as well [may re-imbursement for travel to and fro for the poor, elderly, unemployed, etc...]

About 4,000 people turned up at the Stadium MPPJ in Kelana Jaya at last night's Pakatan Rakyat 'unity' rally in the bid to project a united front.

The two-hour ceramah, which kicked off at about 9.30pm, attracted a much smaller crowd compared to previous similar rallies despite the appearance of top leaders from the opposition coalition.

All major Pakatan leaders were at the ceramah - aimed at explaining their stand on unity talks with Barisan Nasional which had apparently fractured the loose coalition. Other hot topics included the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) scandal and Pakatan's preparations for July 14 Manek Urai by-election.

Among the leaders who spoke were PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim, DAP's veteran leader Lim Kit Siang, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang and Selangor Menteri Besar Mohd Khalid Ibrahim.

Also present were many other key Pakatan leaders such as Syed Husin Ali, Zaid Ibrahim, Azmin Ali and Hatta Ramli.

The leaders took pains to squash rumours of cracks within Pakatan as a result of PAS' flirting with Umno on the unity talks issue.

They also fired potshots at Najib Abdul Razak's 1Malaysia - a motto coined by the newly-minted leader after taking over as prime minister two months ago.

Lim, who was the first speaker to take the podium, did not waste time in tearing apart the 1Malaysia concept.

"1Malaysia is already cracking as there is no unity in Perak," he said in reference to the political chaos in that state following BN's power grab in the state.

Khalid followed suit by charging that Najib's 1Malaysia would not unite but instead segregate Malaysians.

Anwar is the main draw

PAS chief Abdul Hadi, who was in the forefront in mooting the unity talks with Umno until it was shot down by many in his own party and Pakatan, appeared to have turned his back to the proposal.

"Islam encourages unity as all men are equal. PAS is a model of unity. But Umno has failed to unite even its own party," he said to thunderous clapping from the crowd.

The main draw for the night was Anwar and he did not disappoint.

The opposition leader spoke about the weaknesses of the BN government, especially in combating corruption. He also charged that the Umno-led BN was selective in helping the needy and the marginalised.

"PKR however supports affirmative action to help all. And we know that corruption burdens the rakyat," he said.

He also lashed out at Umno and MCA for the PKFZ scandal and its huge financial cost to the government.

"There is no political will among the top leadership in BN. Pakatan leaders differ from BN. We find solutions to all problems," he promised.

He also hoped the federal government would speed up the construction of a second bridge in Penang.

"Otherwise, we will see a repeat of the PKFZ-type scandal in Penang," said the Permatang Pauh MP.

Organisers had billed the event as a gathering of 100,000 people but the size of the crowd was very much lower than what they had expected.

However despite the turnout of only about 4,000, the organisers were happy that the event ended without any incidents as the police maintained a distance to monitor the crowd - Malaysiakini, 1/7/2009, Najib gets bashed at Pakatan 'unity' rally

Changing meanings of words/phrases - a new strategy of governments? NGO, Meritocracy, Levy, ...

NGOs - well, at one time this referred to the groups that were fighting for human rights and justice - Groups that were for freedom of the press, opposed to the ISA and Detention Without Trial Laws, etc..

Suddenly, smart Malaysian government started using also the term 'NGOs' - and suddenly, we see many pro-government NGOs - and anti-human rights NGOs..

In the press, NGO here...NGO there - and alas the public is confused about what is this NGO is...

Today, the word 'NGO' is no more linked to groups that fight for justice and human rights - it is just 'non-government organisations' - and these can be pro-government or not, can be pro-freedom or not,...

So, what do we call these NGOs that fight for justice, human rights.....???

MERITOCRACY - This was the word used by many fighting against the 'positive discrimination' ...'preferential treatment' in favour of persons/companies of just certain particular ethnic groups in Malaysia...

Now, just heard Najib starting to use this word - and giving it a different understanding. He talks about the good Malay, the not-so good Malay...and says that in the future when it comes to the allocation of contracts, etc....'MERITOCRACY' will be a consideration in the allocation of projects/tenders to Malay/Bumiputra company...is this that 1Malaysia concept he talked about?

Either way, the new strategy is the giving of new meanings to words that have been used by the progressives, the reformists, etc...and hence, weakening the impact of words and slogans...

What other words/phrases have been taken by the government and been given new meanings? Words, like knives have been taken and their sharpness have been dulled...

Sometime, the same word is taken and used giving it a different meaning...

One example is that word 'LEVY'...
For us, it was the 'penalty' that employers have had to pay if they wanted to hire foreign workers and not local Malaysian workers...
- but wait, now levy can also mean that Human Resource Development Fund levy - that employers have to pay for all workers..
(Using the same word confuses people - and I believe that this is the intention of the government...)

Obama's un-manned drones kills at least 45 people attending a funeral service in Pakistan...

Again, the USA has killed people indiscriminately - this time people who were attending a funeral in Pakistan - 45 or more dead, killed by a US-drone attack... [And Americans wonder why there are so many who hate US and want to kill Americans...sometime the reasons have nothing really to do with political ideological differences - but is something more basic like anger and revenge...How would you feel if your innocent father...mother...child, etc is killed in an incident?]

'Dozens dead' in US drone strike

Pakistan officially objects to the strikes by pilotless US aircraft

At least 45 people have died in a missile strike by a US drone aircraft in a Taliban stronghold area of Pakistan, officials there have said.

The people killed in South Waziristan had been attending a funeral for others killed in a US drone strike earlier.

Intelligence officials said at least 45 people had been killed and dozens more injured in the later strike, when two missiles were fired.

But a local official told BBC News the death toll was more than 50.

The region is a stronghold of Pakistani Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud.

Also on Tuesday, tribal leader Qari Zainuddin, who often criticised Mehsud, was shot dead by a gunman in north-western Pakistan.

Earlier this month, Zainuddin criticised Mehsud after an attack on a mosque, which killed 33 people.

The Pakistani army is preparing to launch an offensive against Taliban fighters under Mehsud's command, who are blamed for a number of deadly attacks.

But Zainuddin's killing is being seen as a setback for the government in its efforts to isolate Mehsud ahead of the security forces' next phase of their anti-Taliban offensive in the tribal areas bordering Afghanistan, says the BBC's Mike Wooldridge in Islamabad.

Even if the person killed were a 'mass-murderer' , we ask what has happened to 'Rule of Law'? Right to Defend oneself? Right to a fair trial?...presumption of innocence until proven guilty...

And, this indiscriminate killing of many including the innocent by the US using these drones is not the 1st of its kind, This may be the 6th such attack since Obama became President....

And since August 2008, there have been about 30 such attacks killing more than 320 human beings..

At least 22 people in Pakistan, including suspected al-Qaeda fighters, have been killed in a missile attack thought to have been carried out by an unmanned US drone.

Security officials said the raid targeted a Taliban camp in northwest Pakistan on Thursday.

Two missiles fired by a drone hit the alleged camp in the tribal area of Kurram, one of seven semi-autonomous regions near Pakistan's border with Afghanistan.

A senior security official, speaking anonymously, said "the training centre was run by local Taliban commander Fazal Saeed and training was under way at the time of the strike".

The Taliban has sealed off the area and was retrieving bodies from the rubble of the building, officials said.

Kurram is a known hub for fighters loyal to Baitullah Mehsud, Pakistan's most wanted man, and Sirajuddin Haqqani, de facto commander of Taliban-aligned groups on the border.

Security officials had earlier said that at least seven fighters had been killed in the attack, including "foreigners" - using a term adopted to mean al-Qaeda operatives.

Repeated strikes

More than 30 such missile attacks have been carried out since August 2008, one month before Asif Ali Zardari was sworn into office as president of Pakistan, killing more than 320 people.

The US military does not confirm drone attacks, but it and the Central Intelligence Agency operating in Afghanistan are the only forces to deploy drones in the region.

It was the fifth missile attack blamed on unmanned US aircraft since Barack Obama, the US president, came to power, dashing the Pakistani public's hopes that the new administration would abandon the policy.

Obama says fighters in Pakistan and Afghanistan, where US troops are battling the Taliban, pose a grave threat.

Islamabad has repeatedly protested to Washington that drones violate its territorial sovereignty and deepen resentment among the 160 million people of the nuclear-armed Islamic nation. - Al-Jazeera, 14/3/2009, Deaths in Pakistan drone strike

The innocent persons dead will just be called 'collateral damage' - and that is it.

Obama's hypocrisy must be exposed. He was so 'sad' about that young Iranian women who allegedly died by reason of a gun-shot wound..[I have my doubts here because US have used false images/stories before to support its cause] - but I have yet to see him express any apologies and condolences for US's killings of innocent. Let's see what Obama's reaction would be to this killing...

Obama 'outraged'

In his latest remarks on the unrest, Barack Obama, the US president, condemned as "unjust" the Iranian government's treatment of protesters.

Obama said the international community was "appalled and outraged" by what he said were the "threats, beatings, and imprisonments" of demonstrators.

"I have made it clear that the United States respects the sovereignty of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and is not interfering in Iran's affairs,'' he said during a news conference at the White House on Tuesday.

"But we must also bear witness to the courage and dignity of the Iranian people, and to a remarkable opening within Iranian society. And we deplore violence against innocent civilians anywhere that it takes place.''

Protesters have demanded the Iranian government re-run June 12 election that saw an overwhelming victory for Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the incumbent president.

At least 19 people have been killed in post-election clashes across Iran between protesters and riot police and paramilitaries. - Al-Jazeerah, 24/6/2009, Iran's Mousavi calls new protest

Pakatan Rakyat says NO to Unity Government with UMNO/BN - a Joint Press statement was issued

Well, at last the Pakatan Rakyat leaders met and we do not have to worry anymore about this 'UNITY Government' with the UMNO-led Barisan Nasional...

Their joint statement is as follows:-

Press Release
Pakatan Rakyat Council of Leaders
22 June 2009

The Pakatan Rakyat Council of Leaders today Monday, 22 June2009 held a meeting at the office of the Opposition leader and agreed on the following:

1. All the component parties of Pakatan Rakyat reiterate their commitment to each other and to strengthen the coalition in order to help form the future Federal Government

2. The Pakatan Rakyat Council of Leaders reaffirms our rejection of the idea of forming a Unity Government with UMNO/Barisan Nasional which is clearly a malicious and desperate attempt to compromise the integrity of the increasingly popular Pakatan Rakyat

3. Pakatan Rakyat agrees to adopt an open approach and is willing to hold discussions with the leaders of Barisan Nasional on issues of national interest such as economic recovery, improving the quality of education, restoring the integrity of the judiciary, abrogation of the Internal Security Act (ISA), the RM12.5 billion PKFZ scandal, abuse of power by the police leadership during times of increasing crime, eradication of corruption, establishment of good governance and to hold immediately a free and fair election to resolve the Perak crisis.

This statement, was signed by the 3 big-guns of DAP, PAS and PKR. For PKR, it was the 'Supreme Leader' Anwar Ibrahim who signed the statement - not the President of the Party. (Sounds a bit like Iran, does it not...?)

The PKR, DAP and PAS leaders reiterated their commitment to the opposition coalition with the aim of forming the federal government someday.

The joint statement was signed by Opposition Leader and PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim, DAP's Lim Kit Siang and PAS president Abdul Hadi - Malaysiakini, 22/6/2009, Unity gov't: A united 'no' from Pakatan

Pakatan Rakyat rejected the proposed unity government with Umno at a meeting of alliance leaders in Parliament Monday.- Star, 22/6/2009, Pakatan Rakyat rejects unity talks

Now, the Pakatan Rakyat should sit down and come out with clear common positions of Pakatan Rakyat on the many issues that is confronting Malaysia today...

HEALTHCARE - Free healthcare for all. Government shall also re-imburse cost of travel of the poorer persons immediately when they arrive in the clinics/hospitals - this to prevent the sick from being deprived healthcare by reason of monetary reasons. We shall be introducing a medical response programme - whereby doctors will go to the sick directly when there is an emergency. Doctors shall visit the sick - especially the elderly in their homes (or the government will make arrangements for them to be brought to hospital). There will be clinics set up at all Detention Centres, and Prisons - and everyday, all lock-ups around the country will be visited by a doctor (or at the very least a medical assistant). - This is the things that Pakatan Rakyat shall be implementing... (It is things like this that Malaysians want to hear from Pakatan Rakyat..)

Currently, they still behave like the Opposition in 2004 and before (and that is no more - for today they rule 4 [could have been 5] States and they may become the Federal Government come next elections if the Malaysian people is convinced that things will be different and better than it is today under the UMNO-led BN..

So, please sit down together and brainstorm and tell us Malaysians what will change. Do not tell us slogans like there will be 'independent judiciary' , etc - tell us the details..please.

SLOGANS were OK for GE2008 - but the people want more...they want real details..

More Democracy - Local Council Elections, Elections of kampung/kampung baru/tamans/orang asli villagers of the heads and main committee, Elections of Penghulus, Elections of Senators by the people...I can go on and on ...maybe later...

'Buying' Zaid Ibrahim and other ex-BN people with gifts of 'positions' into PKR must stop - it is betrayal of the Rakyat...

Why is PKR out to woo former UMNO Ministers....and make a big deal when they do join PKR - even maybe appointing them to PKR's Supreme Council? Is Parti Keadilan Rakyat so desparate?

Remember these are persons who were part of the UMNO-led Barisan Nasional - not just ordinary members - but the chosen ones ...the leaders - made MPs ...made Senators...made Ministers - and now so glad is PKR when they come over...

Who are we trying to replace? It makes little sense if we 'welcome with open hands' ....and even give them great gifts and positions....these persons from that 'evil' BN...Soon PKR will be filled will these ex-evil-BN leaders, who will be the leaders in PKR, who have 'repented the wrongs they did'...and have now transformed into good persons with the correct values, concern for justice and human rights?

Malaysians want a change - not just a name change, i.e. BN to PR but real changes that will benefit the people. They(them BN) were the 'enemy' before - but when they fall out with the current leaders of UMNO/BN parties or seem to have not much of a political future in the UMNO/BN parties ....and they jump over - Guess what Anwar Ibrahim himself and the main leadership are out there with open arms 'welcoming' them -- and not just with open arms - but hands laden with gifts as well. Come next elections, I will not be surprised that these former UMNO, MCA, GERAKAN, MIC leaders will be given the chance to run for Parliamentary seats ....what nonsense...Remember, the Rakyat is not stupid - and political parties are not like English Premier League football teams...

Let them who want to jump come over, jump - and let them be just normal members for a while, and let it be policy that they will not be given the chance to run as an Opposition ADUN/MP in the coming GE - maybe, the GE after ... we will see....we will see.

Surely Malaysian civil society, Reformasi Movement, and even the Opposition Parties have persons not just of calibre, but also a long history that shows their commitment to justice, human rights, etc - these are the ones that must be chosen and promoted now within the political parties...These are the ones who have struggled for change for decades - but now Anwar, PKR and some of the other PR parties seem to be just concentrating on 'party hoppers' from BN parties...

Who is Zaid Ibrahim? He has been around for a very long time - and suddenly he says something 'good' recently and we place him on our shoulders and proclaim him leader for Reformasi...for Makkal Sakti... for Change...Sometime, after mid-2008, he started singing a different tune...and resigned from Cabinet...was then got himself sacked from UMNO. What about all that time before that? In less than a year, Zaid Ibrahim from being an UMNO/BN person has changed and now Anwar (without even consulting the President and the Supreme Council of PKR) has already announced that he will be appointed as a member of the Supreme Council...Beware. Look at his history...Remember Perak...

Remember Rais Yatim - when he was in Semangat 46 - he clearly took a position for the repeal of the ISA (and Detention Without Trial Laws) - he was even amongst the lawyers who drafted the Memorandum of the Malaysian Bar for the repeal of these draconian laws. He also wrote a whole treatise about the evil of ISA, .... and, then, he went back to UMNO/BN...the Government, and he played us all out - he is now for the keeping of Detention Without Trial Laws...

Remember Ku Li - when there was a split in UMNO, and the formation of Semangat 46, we foolishly raised him up as the 'head' of the Opposition Front - and, he too, betrayed all when he went back to UMNO...

Then, we had Anwar Ibrahim(the DPM) who had a falling out with Mahathir (the PM) - and again we have raised yet another ex-UMNO person as 'our hero' - our leader of the Opposition Front...and will we be betrayed again?

I worried when I see that Anwar seemed to be only raising 'Azmin Ali' (a former political assistant, a former UMNO person) as his number 2 - after all, Azmin was made the Whip...now there is talk of making Zaid Ibrahim as the 2nd in Command.

Is not that good man Syed Husin Ali, the 2nd in Command in PKR - or is he now only number 3? Or, is he in reality maybe no. 4 or maybe just number 15...Is PKR a democracy? Is it the Supreme Council that decides...or is it just Anwar that decides, and the Supreme Council just agrees...

PKR needs to promote from within his ranks at least 5 -6 persons (or more) as its leaders, and these must not be the ex-BN persons...(It is sad that even on the logo at PKR's website - we see only one face, i.e. the face of Anwar. In 2004 GE, it was Anwar and Wife...surely this must change...PKR's main logo should have the faces of Syed Husin and other leaders - faces that will reflect that it is a multiracial multi-religious multi-cultural party - not just the face of Anwar...

Former law minister Zaid Ibrahim, who quit the cabinet and was subsequently sacked from Umno last year, has joined opposition party PKR today.

MCPX

The announcement was made by PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim at the PKR extraordinary congress in Bangi, Selangor this afternoon.

Anwar said that Zaid’s membership in PKR will help boost the party because “he is known for his bravery in defending human rights and the independence of judiciary".

...Anwar said Zaid will soon be appointed as a member in the party’s powerful supreme council and its political bureau, pending approval from PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail...

He was however not picked to defend his seat at the 2008 general election after falling out with party chieftains in Kelantan.

Nevertheless, he was appointed a senator by former prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in March 2008 and was brought into the cabinet- Malaysiakini, 13/6/2009, Ex-Umno minister Zaid joins PKR

Another case in a report, just one day later, in Malaysiakini...

Despite his attempt to express his loyalty to Gerakan, it is learnt that Huan would meet PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim during next week's parliamentary sitting to discuss a possible move to the Pakatan Rakyat coalition.

Sources said Huan was positioning himself for a strong deal with the PKR leadership to ensure that he would join PKR at a high level.

Since he was a Gerakan vice-president, Huan and his colleagues would definitely seek some senior positions in PKR. - Malaysiakini, 14/6/2009, Huan to stay put in Gerakan after all

Anwar Ibrahim the "Ketua Umum Parti"[General Leader of the Party] - is this an elected position or a 'for life' uncontestable position?

I have been wondering about the position being held by Anwar Ibrahim - and so I went to the PKR Website, and it showed Anwar as being the "Ketua Umum Parti"[General Leader of the Party], and he seems to be listed even above the Party President, who is Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, and the Deputy President, Dr Syed Husin Ali.

Majlis Pimpinan Tertinggi (2007 - 2010)

Ketua Umum Parti	Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (URL)
Presiden	Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail
Timb. Presiden	Dr Syed Husin Ali
Naib Presiden	Sdr Azmin Ali Dr Lee Boon Chye Sdr Mustaffa Kamil Ayub Sdr Sivarasa Rasiah Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan
Setiausaha Agung	Dato' Salehuddin Hashim
Timb. Setiausaha Agung	Sdr Abdul Halim Mohamed Yussof Sdr Jonson Chong Sdri Suzana Manja Ibrahim
Bendahari	Sdr William Leong
Timb. Bendahari	Tengku Maraziah Tengku Sulaiman
Ketua Penerangan	Sdr Chua Tian Chang @ Tian Chua
Pengarah Pilihanraya	Hajjah Zainon Jaafar
Timb. Pengarah Pilihanraya	Hajah Fuziah Salleh
Pengarah Strategi	Sdr Saifuddin Nasution Ismail
Pengerusi Tetap	Haji Hishamuddin Ismail
Timb. Pengerusi Tetap	Sdr Khazizi Ahmad
Ahli-Ahli MPT	Sdr Dominique Ng Kim Ho Dr Badrul Amin Bahron Dr Mansur Othman Sdr N. Gobalakrishnan Dr Zaleha Mustafa Sdr Mohd Yahya Sahri Sdr Johari Abdul Sdri Irene Fernandez Sdri Christina Liew Kapt (B) Usaili Alias Dato Dr. Zainal Abidin Ahmad Sdri Latheefa Koya Sdr Saiful Izham Ramli Haji Osman Abdul Rahman Sdr Badrul Hisham Shahrin Sdr Ansari Abdullah Sdri Animah Ferrar Sdr Khalid Jaafar Sdr Zakaria Abd Hamid Sdr Cheah Kah Peng Sdr Omar Jaafar Sdr S. Manikavasagam Sdr Ang Hiok Gai - PKR WEBSITE

I wonder whether this is an elected position - or is it a for life position?

How was Anwar Ibrahim made the "Ketua Umum Parti"[General Leader of the Party]. Did the membership vote for him? I think not. Maybe, it was the Supreme Council that elected him...

Who is this "Ketua Umum Parti"[General Leader of the Party]? Is he above the Party President. Is he the de fracto PKR President? After all, he behaves like the Party President, and we have really heard very little from the Party President herself. She resigned her MPship - and Anwar is the new MP for that area, and have also taken over as the Opposition Leader in Parliament.

Some say Anwar is really not a member of PKR - and that is why he is just an 'Advisor' of the party - this "Ketua Umum Parti"[General Leader of the Party]. Some say that he still his a 'wrongly expelled UMNO member' with aspirations to return to UMNO, with the ability to claim that he never once betrayed UMNO by consciously joining any other political party. In a recent interview on Thai TV, I was shocked when Anwar said that he abandoned his idea of returning to UMNO only 4 years ago (mmm that would make it 2005...), and that is very disturbing.

These are doubts best clarified by Anwar himself...we need Anwar to be clear that he is with Pakatan Rakyat (and against the UMNO led-BN), and that he would not suddenly lead his team of ex-UMNO, ex-MCA, ex-MIC and/or ex-Gerakan people from the PKR and return back to UMNO and the BN...

I belive he should just be Party President - and maybe, Wan Azizah should just resign as President - and Anwar should just stand for President of the party, and be 'elected' by all its members, so that it can be said that he leads PKR with the mandate of all its members. To date, his position cannot be said to have the mandate of the about 300.000 PKR members. [Or maybe, there is no provision for the elections if the President suddenly resigns...]

There has been major constitutional reforms made at the recent PKR General Meeting, and maybe this should also have been considered. What is the term of the office of "Ketua Umum Parti"[General Leader of the Party]? Can one person hold this position for a maximum of 3 terms of 3 years each? Is this an elected position?

Sadly, the Constitution of PKR (or its newly amended constitution) was not there in the PKR Website...Maybe, someone can help direct me to where I could get hold of this Constitution?

PKR delegates at the party’s extraordinary national congress today gave their stamp of approval to major constitutional changes after four and a half hours of “lively debate” held behind closed doors.

MCPX

According to party communications director Jonson Chong (left in photo), 1,064 representatives from all states, as well as those from the youth and women’s wing, “voted overwhelmingly in favour of change and democracy”.

“After an emotional vote-counting process, the votes in favour of the reforms numbered 941, with 103 against and 9 abstentions,” said Chong at the end of the one-day special meeting which was held at the Selangor International Islamic University in Bangi.

Among the key amendments are:

• Direct elections for divisional and central leadership positions.

• Change of terminology for divisions and branches (from ‘bahagian’ to ‘cabang’, and ‘cawangan’ to ‘ranting’).

• Implementation of a policy of 30 percent involvement of women in all levels of the party’s leadership.

• Reduction of the age limit of the Youth wing to 35.

Chong said that the delegates voted in favour of all the amendments “en bloc”.- Malaysiakini, 13/6/2009, PKR delegates back bold amendments

Suspension in UMNO will go against presumption of innocence until proven guilty..

What has happened to presumption of innocence until proven guilty.

UMNO has got it wrong again...no member should be suspended until he/she has been proven guilty.

If Najib is charged with corruption(or murder) - then it would he so very unfair to suspend him until the court finds him not guilty (or the charge is dropped) - and the months and maybe years of waiting for the the case to0 start and for one to be cleared of the false charges would have been sufficient time to completely kill one's political career, would it not. [It would be worse for the 'smaller' members who may not have the influence to expedite trials in court...].

Let us consider Pakatan Rakyat - if we are suspend all those that have been charged, this would include Anwar (facing a sodomy charge again), Tian Chua and many others (who are all facing some charge of 'illegal assembly' or something like that. See how long it takes for the trials to start...and end (and, mind you it is even so much more slower if you are a 'small' person - some have been waiting for their trial in remand prisons for periods longer than the prison sentence that they will get if they are found guilty - and this is why many innocent poor persons elect to plead guilty and carry out their sentence - rather than claim trial)

In Malaysia, so easily do they arrest, detain, charge persons...and little worry is placed on the infliction of unnecessary suffering on the lives, family...of them who in truth may be innocent. Sometimes, we are shocked at how flimsy and inadequate prosecution evidence is at the end of the day. The powerful also seems to be above the law...

Why should an innocent person be punished? Suspension of party membership...or suspension from holding political office...or suspension from university (studies)...or suspension from one's job before one is proven guilty and convicted by a court of law is unacceptable...

Umno will suspend the position of members who have been charged in court, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said.

However, the suspension would be lifted and the position restored once the member succeeded in fighting the court charges, said the Prime Minister, who is also Umno president.

“We have agreed in principle with the management committee’s suggestion to suspend a member’s position if he is charged in court,” he said after chairing a supreme council meeting yesterday. - Star, 30/5/2009, Umno to suspend those charged in court

Remember, news that one is being investigated or even have been charged is already bad for a person, and would have in the past affected one's political career, employment, business,... even without any suspension.

I sometimes think that we have to really think about compensating persons who have at the end of the day found to be not guilty. Compensate them for the expenses they incurred, for the suffering they went to,...Compensate them even more for the number of days that they had to languish in the remand prisons (this is for the many poor who just would not have been able to post bail, and for those who were charged for offences where there was no bail..)

I recall also them students, who were suspended some years back - Their studies were definitely affected, and they were not found guilty at the end...Sorry alone is really not enough.

Rafzan Ramli and the six other students should be considered as Human Rights Defenders.

Two and a half years have passed, and Rafzan Ramli and his six other student friends are still wondering when they can get back to campus to continue their studies and graduate with degrees or diploma.

The Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 (UUCA) provides that when a student is charged with a criminal offence, he shall immediately be “suspended from being a student”. Thus these students who have been charged in court for the offence of illegal assembly are unable to continue their studies.

These seven students, after having been charged and pleaded not guilty, were subsequently suspended from their universities under the provisions of the UUCA or Educational Institutions (Discipline) Act 1976.

Rafzan and his friends are still suspended and cannot continue their studies and get their degrees or diplomas - even though the alleged criminal offence occurred more than two years ago. Their peers would have all graduated by now and moved on with their lives, possibly now working and earning decent wages. But these students are still in limbo, unsure as to whether they will ever graduate.

The so-called “illegal assembly” took place on 8 June 2001, when about 500 undergraduate students from several universities and institutions of higher learning in Malaysia came together in Kuala Lumpur to protest the Internal Security Act 1960 (a draconian piece of legislation that allows for detention without trial). They called for the repeal of this Act and for the immediate and unconditional release of all those currently detained or restricted under this repressive law. Malaysians and others around the world have been calling for the repeal of these anti-liberty laws for a long time.

Out of the 500-odd students who gathered peacefully to express their protest, Rafzan and his six student friends were arrested. On 19 July 2001, they were charged in court for participating in an illegal assembly, an offence under the Police Act, 1967. All of them pleaded not guilty and claimed trial. Today, almost two and a half years later, their trial is still not over and they remain suspended from university/college.

Absolute Discretion

According to the UUCA or Educational Institutions (Discipline) Act 1976, the Education Minister has the power to at any time, in any particular case, in his ‘absolute discretion’, to grant exemption to any person from the application of the provisions of section 15D (1) and/or (2), amongst others. This exemption can come with conditions or otherwise.

Now, even though these seven students are not prominent human rights activists, politicians or public personalities, the plight of these young human rights defenders should be a cause for concern among all justice-loving persons.

But alas, the Minister has so far not yet considered the matter, let alone exercised his discretion. In this case, Rafzan is still awaiting a reply to his letters of appeal to the Minister.

The students are not being charged for murder, assault, battery, robbery, theft, drug trafficking or any other offences against persons or property. They are being charged for participating in an assembly to express their opinion about a preventive detention law, the Internal Security Act.

More Restrictions

It is disturbing that students in Malaysian universities and institutions of higher learning suffer more limitations on their freedom and liberty than most other Malaysians. Instead of nurturing creative and critical thinking, the authorities have restricted the space for students to attain wider social concern.

Over and above the various laws and legislation that suppress freedoms and human rights in Malaysia, these students are also governed by the UUCA or Educational Institutions (Discipline) Act 1976. The shackles are many, including restrictions on freedom of association with persons or groups outside the campuses.

Of concern in this case is the unjustified additional deprivation of rights imposed on students charged with a criminal offence even before any conviction by a court of law.

Under the UUCA or the Educational Institutions (Discipline) Act 1976, students in universities or other educational Institutions who are charged with criminal offences will be suspended and, if later found guilty, they will be expelled.

Section 15D (1) of the UUCA provides that:
“where a student of the University is charged with a criminal offence he shall immediately thereupon be suspended from being a student of the University and shall not during the pendency of the criminal proceedings, remain in or enter the Campus of that or any other University.”

Section 15D (2) of the UUCA provides that the said student shall immediately cease to be a student if found guilty. By implication, if the student is found not guilty, then he or she would presumably be able to continue studying.

Where Is The Equality?

The established legal principle of “presumption of innocence until proven guilty” seems to have been overlooked when it comes to university students. Normally, when people are charged in court, they can claim trial and be released on bail. They can then go back to work and resume normal life. They would only be required to serve the sentence upon conviction and sentencing.

But when it comes to university students, they are immediately suspended. If they are later found guilty, they would not only be expected to serve the sentence imposed by the court but would also be expelled.

Where then is the equality under the law guaranteed to all persons by our Federal Constitution? Where then is the promise that there shall be no discrimination as stipulated in the Federal Constitution? Those who fail to enter local universities and educational institutions enjoy so much more freedom and liberty than the students in these institutions. They can associate with whomever they want. They can join political parties, contest general elections and even have the chance to become Prime Minister.

We must realize that we are talking about students here, the hopes of their parents and the nation. To deprive them of higher education at the diploma and degree levels is a gross injustice. We are talking here about the right to education and their future. To suspend them indefinitely merely because they have been charged with an offence is very sad.

Human Rights Defenders

Rafzan Ramli and the six other students should be considered as Human Rights Defenders. It must not be forgotten that Malaysia is part of the United Nations. The UN General Assembly on 9 December 1998 through resolution 53/144 adopted the Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognised Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (now commonly referred to as the Human Rights Defenders’ Declaration).

I believe that the ‘suspensions’ of Rafzan and his six friends go against the principles and the very essence of this Declaration. Now, even though these seven students are not prominent human rights activists, politicians or public personalities, the plight of these young human rights defenders should be a cause for concern among all justice-loving persons.

I am not asking for their charges to be dropped, although that too will be good as they have suffered enough. What I am asking is for their suspension to be immediately revoked so that they can go back to their universities or educational institutions and finish their degree and diploma courses. In fact, in the worse case scenario, even if they are found guilty and sentenced to prison, their sentence should be suspended until they have completed their studies.

A note to the Education Minister:

Think of these students as your children, dear Minister, and allow them to immediately continue their studies in their respective universities and academic institutions so that they can get their degrees or diplomas. In an employment market that places high regard on paper qualifications, their continued suspension is manifestedly unfair. As the Education Minister, you should be projecting more care and compassion for Rafzan and his six friends. To ignore the students’ letters of appeal and to allow them to suffer indefinitely doesn’t reflect well on you.

I am sure that all concerned and justice-loving people would also want the Education Minister to immediately exercise his discretion, as provided by law, and lift the suspension of these seven students. Repealing the UUCA and the Educational Institutions (Discipline) Act 1976 would contribute to the growth of well-rounded citizens and, in this spirit, we hope the government will seriously consider this.- Aliran Monthly, Unheralded human rights defenders still deprived of education Suspended from campus even before the courts can find them guilty, by Charles Hector [Aliran Monthly 2003:11]

In Malaysia, public servants also get suspended when they get charged in court, and the suspension is usually with half-pay, and there will also be a freeze of entitlements and other benefits. DBKL also practices something similar. For the poorer persons, suspension with HALF pay is really torture. [Even, if there is to be suspension, it must be with full pay].

Remember that all this 'suspension' are happening to persons who have not pleaded guilty...or have not been found guilty by a court. In Malaysia, all things are possible - including maybe getting someone to be charged falsely, and keeping him in that state for as long as possible...

All of us must be bound by the principle of presumption of innocence until proven guilty

We have to repeal all laws that go against this principle of presumption of innocence until proven guilty.

No one should be suspended if he is arrested, charged or being tried of an offence. If there is going to be any suspension from your political party, jobs...

The State should also compensate those who have been found not guilty, especially those who had been detained.

WHAT...Pakatan Rakyat States also do not allow Christians/others to use the word "Allah"...PR should repeal that law now.

Can Christians use the word "Allah"?

Well, PAS seem to have been very clear that Muslims do not have the exclusive right to use that word "Allah" - of course, Christians can use this word.

PKR also took a similar position...

So, it was only UMNO-led BN that was taking that very odd position that the word 'Allah" and certain other Arabic/Malay words were only for the exclusive usage of Muslims. [To the best of my knowledge, no other Muslim majority country have any problem with the usage of the said words by anyone]

I was shocked to see that our PAKATAN RAKYAT States of Selangor, Kedah, Kelantan (and also Perak) has this Control and Restriction of the Propagation of non-Islamic Religious Enactment, which has this provision that makes it "...an offence for non-Muslims to use the word “Allah” to refer to any God other than the Muslim God..."

If Pakatan Rakyat is different, then immediately there must be a statement that a Bill is being drafted and will be tabled at the next State Legislative Assembly sitting, which will cause to repeal those provisions that prevents Christians and other from using the word Allah, and those other words.

Christians have been using the word Allah in our churches, our prayers and our religious books for a very very long time.

How many Gods are there? I believe that there is one - and many others believe that there is one, and we call him Allah. We also call that one God other names - but it is that same God that we are refering to.

Now these State Enactmnents puts forward the proposition that there is more than one God - i.e. there is that Muslim God...and, as such logically, it follows that there are other Gods - the Christian God, the Sikh God, etc... I cannot accept this. I believe that the one and only God also will not accept this. Muslims believe that God is Allah - so why do they want others not call God, Allah

All this is really politics - a desparate attempt by UMNO to regain support from Muslims and Malays. It is to show that UMNO is more 'islamic' than PAS and/or PKR..., is it not.

Remember, that all you need to enact new laws, repeal bad laws (or provisions in laws) is a simple majority - so, there really is nothing stoping the PR majority states from immediately making a statement that they will be amending the state enactments to ensure that their position is reflected - i.e. Muslims do not have the exclusive right of usage of words like Allah, etc...

I worry where the UMNO-led BN is going - soon they may start saying that Bahasa Melayu cannot be used in worship, prayer and religious books...

The Catholic Church failed in its bid to get permission to use the word “Allah” while its suit to overturn the government ban is still being heard in the High Court.

Reverend Father Lawrence Andrew

The High Court here said the Catholic Church must wait until it decides conclusively on whether it is allowed to use “Allah” to refer to the Christian God.

“This means don’t use ‘Allah’ until the court decides,” said church lawyer S. Selvarajah.

Reverend Father Lawrence Andrew who edits the Catholic newspaper, The Herald, visibly drooped when he heard the news.

The editor-priest had seemed in high spirits earlier and was confident the High Court would allow the church to use the word “Allah” for the time being. He had smiled frequently while speaking with reporters earlier.

Judge Lau Bee Lan set July 7 for the next hearing after dismissing the church’s request to stay the government ban, lawyers for both the church and the state told reporters this afternoon.

The arguments were carried out in the judge’s chambers instead of in open court.

If the High Court allowed the church to use “Allah” in a non-Muslim context, it would be helping the church commit an offence under state laws, a lawyer for the government explained to The Malaysian Insider.

According to a lawyer representing several state Islamic religious councils, it is an offence for non-Muslims to use the word “Allah” to refer to any God other than the Muslim God.

Abdul Rahim Sinwan referred to the Control and Restriction of the Propagation of non-Islamic Religious Enactment that was passed into law by 10 states in 1988.

The states are: Selangor, Malacca, Perak, Terengganu, Kelantan, Kedah, Pahang, Negri Sembilan, Johor and Perlis.

The Catholic Church is suing the Home minister to overturn the Home minister’s ban.

The lawsuit stems from the government’s assertion that “Allah” should strictly refer to the Muslim God in Malaysia. This is a view that the Catholic Church has been challenging.

The word “Allah”, the church argues, does not belong only to the Muslims.

The Herald is published in four languages, including the national language Bahasa Malaysia (BM), which caters to the indigenous Malaysians from Sabah and Sarawak, who are mostly Christians.

Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur Reverend Tan Sri Murphy Pakiam filed the suit on February 16 to get a declaration from the courts that the church has the right to use the word in print and in church services.

The Home ministry, which issues the annual printing permit for all publications, had warned the church to stop using the word.

Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar, who headed the ministry then, claimed the church’s use of the word “Allah” in any literature published in BM would confuse Muslims, who make up the biggest religious group in the country.

This is the second consecutive year in which Archbishop Murphy Pakiam is suing the Home minister to settle the dispute over the use of the word “Allah”. - The Malaysian Insider, 29/5/2009, Church not allowed to use ‘Allah’ till court’s July 7 decision

Unless these provisions in the various State Enactments are repealed - or are declared wrong by the court, I wonder what a victory at the courts will really achieve..

Would Herald and its publishers, still be committing an offence in the States of Selangor, Malacca, Perak, Terengganu, Kelantan, Kedah, Pahang, Negri Sembilan, Johor and Perlis even if they succeed in their current Court action?

Why did the Judge disallow the application of the church for permission to use the word “Allah” while its suit to overturn the government ban is still being heard in the High Court? We really do not know - until the Judge writes a judgment. The reports are not clear for us to even guess the reasons...or it it?

Beware the US version of the truth :- North Korea, Iran, ...

Many may not know why Japan suddenly attacked the US at Pearl Harbour and got involved in World War II?

The reason was simply because of US initiated actions - sanctions ...and seeking to cut Japan's fuel supply...

USA leading an international movement to isolate Japan economically and thus force them to withdraw from China. Primarily the USA plan was to cut off credit to the Japanese which would prevent them from being able to purchase petroleum. Japan received petroleum (an absolutely vital economic and military commodity, then as it is now) from three sources: The USA, Dutch east indies (Indonesia) and Burma (British controlled in the 1940's). The USA inspired movement included all three sources.

Japan could/would not accept a withdrawal from the Chinese war and instead began planning a first strike against the USA navy. Eliminating or reducing the USA naval forces in the Pacific would make the Japanese navy paramount, and thus Japan would be able to defeat the economic consequences of the USA ultimatum. After eliminating the USA navy Japan planned to occupy the Dutch East Indies and Burma, thus gaining control of enough oil to run their military and economy.

The strike on Pearl Harbor did exactly as hoped by the Japanese. The USA fleet was crippled. The Dutch lacked forces to repel the Japanese. The British navy (as ordered by Churchill) sent forces to defend their areas but these were totally inadequate for the job and were decimated quickly. Japan occupied all the oil producing areas and settled down to a war of attrition against the USA, which they hoped would wear down the USA politically and enable them to keep their conquests.

Now, I wonder about the actions of North Korea....and again, this may really be an act of a desparate party...

Does the US want the Korean 'problem' to be resolved? I think not - for whenever things are OK, the US does something to escalate the problem...

Why? Maybe, it is good to de-stabilize that region - hence North Korea's neighbours - who are economic and possibly political threats to the USA. We are, of course talking about China, Japan and South Korea...

Similarly, that whole war against Iraq, Afghanistan, etc - was a means of destabilizing the EU. Just before that 'Iraq War', there was talk among many nations about changing their international trading currency from the US Dollar to the Euro...Of course, UK jumped in with the US, because the once 'leader' of the European Community of Nations was no more.

The risk of war on the Korean peninsula remains high, and the U.S. government is raising it higher by opening an economic front. In September 2005, one day after regional negotiations produced an agreement with the potential to defuse North Korean-U.S. tensions, the U.S. government charged North Korea with counterfeiting $100 bills. Calling this alleged North Korean effort a direct attack on U.S. sovereignty and technically an act of war, Washington imposed an ever-tightening and ever-widening web of financial restrictions on the country. This economic campaign, which broadened and intensified after Pyongyang's missile launches in July and nuclear test in October 2006, is the latest attempt to isolate and weaken the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). The charges fit a pattern of actions that have repeatedly disrupted promising movements toward peace on the Korean peninsula. In the latest round of Six- Party Talks, held in December, the restrictions proved to be the biggest obstacle in the path of reaching an agreement. Tensions generated by the restrictions are exacerbating tensions in East Asia and placing heavy additional pressures on Koreans, especially in the North. Washington's economic gambit, launched in 2005 and strengthened by UN sanctions in 2006, raises questions of timing, threat escalation, morality, and efficacy. With no further multilateral talks currently planned, the hard-line economic approach toward North Korea has been a counterproductive detour from the pressing issues of denuclearization and diplomatic normalization. The restrictions and sanctions, far from bringing North Korea back to the negotiating table, have become instead the main stumbling block in the negotiations. Presented as an alternative to military approaches to regime change, the economic campaign proved counterproductive when the DPRK responded with its missile and nuclear tests. Finally, this economic approach undermines North Korean efforts at reforms and opening, the very process that many argue needs to be supported on moral, as well as strategic, grounds. - Sanctions and the Road to War in Korea,By Martin Hart-Landsberg and John Feffer, 18/1/2007

Similarly, the sudden new 'demonizing' now of Iran by the US (and also Israel)...{After all, Iraq and Afghanistan have been colonized...Palestine is in control...}

US has always wanted every nation to be their cronnies, and always wanted pro-US persons to be in government. We have seen US interference in Latin America...and the rest of the world. If a country is independent and not pro-US, then they will be isolated and persecuted, and one such country has been Cuba...and now maybe Venezuela. (In Latin America, the US cronies are losing out to new leaders who are stronger and more independent.)

Realize that media and sources of information are controlled by the US - and hence the truth that we get many a time is the truth according to the US (and its cronies), and hence Malaysians, including the media here, must be more hard-working to get to the truth. Report the viewpoints of both sides...

US is smart - they pressure...and pressure....and pressure until you 'explode' and then blame you.

North Korea - is yet another Asian country that 'defeated' US, just like Vietnam....and so, it may also 'ego' that may be operating here...

Just a few years ago, there was much hope for unification of both Koreas - and serious analysis may show that it was US that broke down this attempt.