Thai activists protested at the Malaysian Embassy in Bangkok...

Well, yesterday(13/8/2009), there was a protest by the 'Social Move Assembly' in front of the Malaysian Embassy in Bangkok..., and the protest memo was received by someone named Raui Chanderan on behalf of the embassy.

A group of Thai activists protested at the Malaysian Embassy in Bangkok, demanding the Malaysian government release demonstrators who were arrested during a protest against the Internal Security Act (ISA), and abolish the law which gives sweeping powers to the authorities.

On Aug 13, about 10 members of the Social Move Assembly, affiliated with the red shirts and the Turn Left group, urged the Malaysian Government to free over 60 individuals who had been detained since Aug 1 when they held an anti-ISA rally in Kuala Lumpur during which the police ‘shot tear gas and sprayed chemical-laced water cannons towards the strong crowd to force them to disperse’.

According to the group’s statement, ‘the demonstrators call to the government to abolish the ISA which allows the indefinite imprisonment of people without trial and is against democratic movements, the workers' movement, civil society and student movements to enable the government to cling to power’.

Furthermore, at least 17 people are being held under the law, and a 16-year-old child has been put in jail for 8 years, the group said.

They said that despite numerous smaller protests held by human rights activists over the years, Prime Minister Najib Rasak insists on keeping the law.

438 protesters, including ethnic Indian minors, were arrested by police, and all have been released except the 63 people, which include members of the same families, the group said. They could be charged with illegal assembly, which is punishable by a year in prison and a fine.

The activists condemned the Malaysian government’s ongoing crackdown on freedom of expression and use of violence against the protesters, and demanded the 63 individuals be immediately and unconditionally released and the ISA be abolished.

They submitted their letter to the Malaysian government through Ambassador Dato' Husni Zai bin Yaacob. Embassy official Raui Chanderan came out to receive the letter. - Prachathai, 23/8/2009, Thai activists demand Malaysia release protesters against Internal Security Act

And the some of the calls made were for the abolition of ISA, immediate release of those detained, etc..

-No to the Internal Security Act in Malaysia!

-No to the elite dictatorship in Thailand!

-Social Move Assembly stands with pro-democracy Malaysians

-Solidarity for Democracy: Thailand-Malaysia

-ASEAN human rights mean scrapping the ISA in Malaysia and lese majeste in Thailand

Free ! Free ! Malaysians

Abolish ! ISA

I managed only to get photos and a media report in Thai from Prachathai..(Sorry - no English reports yet.)

“สมัชชาสังคมก้าวหน้า” เรียกร้องมาเลย์ปล่อยตัวผู้ชุมนุมประท้วง กม.ความมั่นคง

Fri, 2009-08-14 01:56

กลุ่ม สมัชชาสังคมก้าวหน้าชุมนุมหน้าสถานทูตมาเลเซีย ประจำประเทศไทย เรียกร้องให้ทางการมาเลเซียปล่อยตัวผู้ชุมนุมที่ถูกจับกุมเนื่องจากการ ประท้วงกฎหมายความมั่นคงภายใน จี้ยกเลิกกฎหมายความมั่นคงภายในที่อนุญาตให้มีการจับกุมประชาชนที่คัดค้าน รัฐอย่างไร้ขอบเขตและไม่ผ่านกระบวนการยุติธรรม

วันนี้ (13 ส.ค.) เวลาประมาณ 10.30น. นักกิจกรรมจำนวน 10 คนจากกลุ่มสมัชชาสังคมก้าวหน้า ซึ่งเป็นองค์กรแนวร่วมระหว่างกลุ่มคนเสื้อแดงและองค์กรเลี้ยวซ้าย ชุมนุมหน้าสถานทูตมาเลเซีย ประจำประเทศไทย เพื่อเรียกร้องให้ปล่อยตัวผู้ชุมนุมที่ถูกจับกุมเนื่องจากการประท้วงกฎหมาย ความมั่นคงภายใน (ISA) ที่กรุงกัวลาลัมเปอร์ มาเลเซีย เมื่อวันที่ 1 สิงหาคม ที่ผ่านมา โดยกลุ่มสมัชชาสังคมก้าวหน้าได้อ่านแถลงการณ์ทั้งภาษาไทยและอังกฤษ ตะโกนเรียกร้องให้มาเลเซียยุติการใช้กฎหมายความมั่นคงภายใน รวมถึงได้ยื่นหนังสือถึงรัฐบาลมาเลเซียผ่านเอกอัครราชทูตดาโต๊ะ ฮัสนี ไซ บิน ยาค๊อบ โดยมี Raui Chanderan เจ้าหน้าที่สถานทูตมาเลเซีย ออกมารับหนังสือ

พัชณีย์ คำหนัก ผู้ประสานงานกลุ่มสมัชชาสังคมก้าวหน้า กล่าวว่า ในการชุมนุมเมื่อวันที่ 1 ส.ค. มีนักกิจกรรมฝ่ายซ้ายถูกจับกุมจากการประท้วงกฏหมายความมั่นคงภายในซึ่งเป็น เครื่องมือของรัฐบาลเผด็จการ ทางกลุ่มจึงออกมาเพื่อแสดงความสมานฉันท์ และเรียกร้องให้ปล่อยตัวผู้ถูกจับกุม ซึ่งนอกจากผู้ชุมนุมแล้ว ก็มีลูกๆ ของผู้ชุมนุมด้วย

นอกจากนี้ เธอยังเรียกร้องให้รัฐบาลมาเลเซียหยุดปราบปรามผู้ประท้วง เนื่องจากเป็นการละเมิดสิทธิในการแสดงความเห็นและสิทธิการรวมตัว ซึ่งเป็นการไม่เคารพสิทธิมนุษยชน

พัชณีย์ กล่าวว่า กฏหมายความมั่นคงภายในถูกใช้มากว่า 50 ปีเพื่อทำลายผู้ที่ไม่เห็นด้วยกับรัฐบาล โดยที่นักสิทธิมนุษยชนในมาเลเซียก็พยายามประท้วงการใช้เครื่องมือของเผด็จ การนี้มาตลอด

สำหรับข้อเรียกร้องต่อรัฐบาลไทย พัชณีย์กล่าวว่า รัฐบาลไทยไม่ควรทำเหมือนกับที่รัฐบาลมาเลย์ทำ โดยควรหยุดละเมิดสิทธิกับผู้รักประชาธิปไตยอย่างคนเสื้อแดงและนักกิจกรรม

จดหมายถึงรัฐบาลมาเลเซีย ถึง เอกอัครราชทูตดาโต๊ะ ฮัสนี ไซ บิน ยาค๊อบ สำเนาถึง นายกรัฐมนตรี สำนักนายกรัฐมนตรี ประเทศมาเลเซีย เรื่อง ขอให้ปล่อยตัวผู้ชุมนุมประท้วงกฎหมายความมั่นคงภายใน เรียน ท่านเอกอัครราชทูตมาเลเซีย ประจำประเทศไทย เราในนาม “สมัชชาสังคมก้าวหน้า” มีความห่วงใยต่อเหตุการณ์ปราบปรามผู้ชุมนุมประท้วงกฎหมายความมั่นคงภายในกลา งกรุงกัวลาลัมเปอร์เมื่อวันที่ 1 สิงหาคม 2552 ซึ่งเจ้าหน้าที่ตำรวจได้ยิงแก๊สน้ำตาและกระบองทุบตีผู้ชุมนุม เพื่อสลายการชุมนุม และจับกุมผู้ชุมนุมกว่า 60 คน การชุมนุมดังกล่าวต้องการเรียกร้องกดดันให้รัฐบาลยกเลิกกฎหมายความมั่นคง ภายในเพราะกฎหมายนี้อนุญาตให้จับกุมประชาชนผู้ที่วิพากษ์วิจารณ์รัฐบาลได้ อย่างไร้ขอบเขต โดยไม่ต้องผ่านกระบวนการทางศาล และมีการจับกุมประชาชนไปแล้ว 17 คนภายใต้กฎหมายนี้ โดยรายหนึ่งเป็นเด็กอายุ 16 ปีถูกคุมขังมาเป็นเวลาถึง 8 ปี แม้จะมีกลุ่มนักสิทธิมนุษยชนได้ออกมาคัดค้านกฎหมายดังกล่าวหลายครั้ง แต่นายกรัฐมนตรีของมาเลเซีย นาจิบ ราซัค ได้แสดงจุดยืนที่จะปกป้องกฎหมายความมั่นคงภายใน เรายืนยันสิทธิในการชุมนุมและการแสดงความคิดเห็นเพราะเป็นสิทธิพื้นฐาน ที่ระบุไว้ในหลักสิทธิมนุษยชนสากล แต่รัฐบาลของประเทศมาเลเซียและเจ้าหน้าที่รัฐกลับไม่อนุญาตให้เดินขบวน และกล่าวหาว่าเป็นการบ่อนทำลายความสงบเรียบร้อยของสาธารณะ ซ้ำยังใช้กำลังล้อมปราบ และจับกุมผู้ชุมนุม 438 คนรวมถึงชนกลุ่มน้อยชาวอินเดียด้วย ซึ่งแม้จะได้รับการปล่อยตัวแล้ว แต่ยังคงเหลือผู้ชุมนุมจำนวน 63 คนที่ถูกเจ้าหน้าที่คุมตัวและถูกตั้งข้อหา “รวมตัวกันผิดกฎหมาย” มีโทษจำคุกถึง 1 ปีและปรับ ในจำนวนนี้มีลูกๆ ของผู้ชุมนุมรวมอยู่ด้วย เราในนาม “สมัชชาสังคมก้าวหน้า” ผู้รักเสรีภาพและต่อต้านอำนาจเผด็จการขอประณามการกระทำของเจ้าหน้าที่รัฐและ รัฐบาลที่ละเมิดสิทธิเสรีภาพในการชุมนุม สลายการชุมนุมด้วยความรุนแรง จับกุมตัว และขอคัดค้านกฎหมายความมั่นคงภายในที่ทำลายผู้มีความคิดเห็นต่าง ซึ่งสะท้อนให้เห็นถึงการใช้อำนาจเผด็จการคุกคามประชาชน เราขอเรียกร้องให้เจ้าหน้าที่รัฐปล่อยตัวผู้ชุมนุมที่เหลืออย่างไม่มี เงื่อนไข และขอเรียกร้องให้รัฐบาลหยุดละเมิดสิทธิเสรีภาพในการชุมนุม หยุดทำร้ายรังแกผู้ชุมนุมเพื่อประชาธิปไตยเพื่อเสรีภาพในการแสดงความคิดเห็น และยกเลิกกฎหมายความมั่นคงภายในที่อนุญาตให้มีการจับกุมประชาชนที่คัดค้าน รัฐอย่างไร้ขอบเขตและไม่ผ่านกระบวนการยุติธรรม หวังเป็นอย่างยิ่งว่าท่านจะทำตามข้อเรียกร้องของเรา ด้วยความเคารพ สมัชชาสังคมก้าวหน้า 11 สิงหาคม 2552

Source:- http://www.prachatai.com/journal/2009/08/25441

PR should stop wasting too much time in by-elections, and focus to bring REFORMASI in the States and places they have won...

By-elections - this is something that the political parties love...and we have had quite a few now. There is a lot of the goodness of the candidate they want us to vote for .... but after elections, so little is heard about whether that person really is still doing any good... Is he /she an active person in the Legislative Assembly...or the Parliament? Is he/she active in standing up for justice and human rights? Alas, we often only hear the names of same personalities over and over...

Vote opposition for a check and balance - that was the call of the Opposition when they still did not win so many seats in Parliament...and majority in 5 (now 4) States...If this is so, then where BN is the majority, people who are for check and balance should be asked to vote for the Pakatan Rakyat ADUN...and vice versa....

But No - now the call is different and every by-election is an 'indicator' of how Malaysians...(nope the different ethnic groups.... and the different age groups) feel about WHAT? BN and the Pakatan Rakyat....at Federal level..(should it not be at State level).

This coming by-election is in Penang - should it be made an indicator of how the people of Penang feel about Guan Eng and the PR government?

I do not believe that by-election results can be seen as an indicator of how State or Federal government is faring... All it can be is an indicator of how the constituents feel about PR or BN.

It saddens me that so many 'big guns' of PR and BN 'turun padang' to assist in the campaigning ...to give speeches....to maybe just be seen...

PR. please do not waste time there - concentrate in doing better in the States you now govern... show the people why we should vote again for Pakatan Rakyat come State/Federal Elections...

Old issues that were used for GE2008 will not work again...

SUARAM & AI Malaysia :- Reverse Decision to Include RELA in Public Policing

SUARAM & Amnesty International (Malaysia)'s

Joint Press Statement: 20^th August 2009

Reverse Decision to Include RELA in Public Policing

Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM) and Amnesty International (Malaysia) hereby express our grave concerns over the announcement by Kuala Lumpur city CID chief Senior Asst Comm II Datuk Ku Chin Wah that the Civil Defence Department (JPAM) and Rela members will start their duties as volunteer policemen on 18 August 2009.

This announcement was made as part of the government’s efforts in reducing street crimes – one of the National Key Results Areas (KRAs) announced by Prime Minister Najib Razak last month.

We fear that the proposal will legitimize and strengthen the functioning powers of arrest, search and detention of RELA, whose inadequately- trained part-time volunteers have been known to act arbitrarily and in an overzealous manner. This will indeed worsen the current climate of arbitrary law enforcement in Malaysia and will increase the abuses of power and human rights violations.

Currently, under the law, RELA has very wide and discretionary powers. These include powers to stop any persons should they have reasonable belief that the person is a terrorist, undesirable person, illegal immigrant or an occupier in order to make inquiries and to arrest these persons without warrant. They have also been given powers to enter and search any premises without a warrant and to carry firearms. Recent incidents have shown that RELA officers have arrested and detained persons on their personal capacity without a competent oversight mechanism.

We strongly object to RELA’s enforcement powers as well as the Prime Minister’s proposal to use RELA in fighting crime. We believe that law enforcement work that involves powers to arrest, search and detain must only be given to competent and specially-trained full-time authorities, with clear provisions outlining its powers and limits to ensure accountability. RELA, whose members are inadequately- trained and serve only as part-time volunteers, cannot be given such powers.

On another issue, we would like to record our concern on the overall National Key Results Area (KRA) which fails to include human rights requirements as part of its Key Performance Indicators (KPI) for crucial governmental agencies.

With specific reference to the Royal Malaysian Police, the KRA sets forth key elements such as a culture of excellence in work performance and responsibilities, and exploration of new opportunities as its benchmark. While recognising the importance of the crime reduction, we are disappointed that indicators of human rights compliance have not been included in the KPIs set for the police force. We emphasise that human rights norms and obligations are fundamental for the indication of true work professionalism and responsibilities of the police.

These important requirements were included in the 2005 report of The Royal Commission to Enhance the Operation and Management of the Royal Malaysia Police. In its 576-page report, the Commission made 125 recommendations, focusing on three main areas of reform - crime reduction; eradicating corruption; and observing human rights in policing the country.

We believe that a human rights approach to policing should be a primary goal of the National KRA and KPI. Hence, human rights should be at the core of police philosophy and practice. We believe that this approach would present the best means to ensure human dignity and the rights of every person in Malaysia while providing them with effective protection from crime. Indeed, effective policing in a democracy depends on its respect for human rights and adherence to the rule of law.

The recently announced KPI also fails to take note of the objective of the recently passed Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) Bill. The EAIC was set up with the intention to make law enforcement agencies accountable to the public and to ensure strong professional behaviour. Hence, the government’s failure in making human rights compliance as a core of the performance and functioning of law enforcement agencies would defeat the purpose of the establishment of the EAIC as a regulatory mechanism to ensure that law enforcement agencies are professional, accountable, and people-friendly.

We therefore call on the Prime Minister to include human rights compliance as a priority KPI for the Royal Malaysian Police and extend the requirement and obligation to all law enforcement agencies in Malaysia.

We also call on the Prime Minister to reverse the proposal of including RELA in public policing, initiatives, revoke the 2005 Essential (Ikatan Relawan Rakyat) (Amendment) Regulation, and return RELA to its core function of rescue and relief initiatives.

K.Shan
Campaigns Co-Ordinator
Amnesty International Malaysia
Tel: 603-79552680
Email: shan@aimalaysia. org

Yap Heng Lung
Campaigns Co-Ordinator
Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM)
Tel: 603-77843525
Email: lucasheng19@ gmail.com

AI Malaysia : Malaysia: End caning as a punishment for all offences

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL - PUBLIC STATEMENT

20^th August 2009

Malaysia: End caning as a punishment for all offences

On the 20 July, the Shariah High Court in the Malaysian state of Pahang sentenced Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno, 32, to six strokes of the cane and fined her RM5,000 (approximately US$ 1,400) after she pleaded guilty to consuming alcohol last year at a hotel there. The judge in the case had also threatened to jail her for three years if she did not pay the RM 5,000 fine, which she subsequently paid.

The Malaysian authorities should immediately revoke the sentence to cane her and abolish the practice of caning altogether. Caning is a form of cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment and is prohibited under international human rights law.

The court has ordered that Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno be remanded at the Kajang women’s prison from Monday, 24 August, and caned within seven days of this date. According to reports, no one in the country, male or female, has so far been caned under the country’s Shariah laws, making her the first to be punished in this way. Reports also say that she is the first woman to be caned in Malaysia.

Amnesty International called on the Malaysian government to stop caning people immediately and repeal all laws providing for caning and all other forms of corporal punishment. Currently caning is used as a supplementary punishment for at least 40 crimes in Malaysia.

In June 2009, the Malaysian government announced that they had sentenced 47,914 migrants to be caned for immigration offences since amendments to its Immigration Act came into force in 2002. At least 34,923 migrants have so far been caned between 2002 and 2008, according to the country’s prison department records.

--
Nora Murat
Executive Director
Amnesty International Malaysia

Tel: 603 7955 2680
Fax: 603 7955 2682
www.aimalaysia. org

Kg Buah Pala:- Did Guan Eng abandoned them when they refused to take the offer...or when they went to BN? Penang Government must stand with the people

I am concerned about Penang Chief Minister's recently reported statement concerning Kg Buah Pala...

Firstly, he talks about the State "...government’s mediator role between the Kampung Buah Pala residents as well as the landowner and developer is as good as over." Surely, the State Government who is all powerful with regard to Land matters, development permits/licenses should not be playing a mere 'mediator' role, they should be resolving the problem of the people. [An NGO, an individual, some political party, some social movement could be said to be playing 'mediator roles' but certainly not the Penang State government]

Secondly, he says that the matter is over because:- "...Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said that as far as the state was concerned, the matter ended when some of the villagers sought help from Barisan Nasional...." The people...especially desperate people would do everything possible - go to whoever for help to resolve the problems they face. The fact is that Pakatan Rakyat is the current government of Penang, and they do have the power, capacity and ability to resolve this problem. They are best placed to resolve the problem - not the BN. [But, the the BN can also do something...i.e. maybe convince the currently registered 'owners' of the land to agree to transfer the home and the lands occupied by the residents of Kg Buah Pala...or maybe, even get the registered 'owners'/developers to make a better proposal for the residents to take..]

The Penang government’s mediator role between the Kampung Buah Pala residents as well as the landowner and developer is as good as over.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said that as far as the state was concerned, the matter ended when some of the villagers sought help from Barisan Nasional.

“We (the state) have done our part and as far as we are concerned, the matter is over. Since they have gone to see Barisan Nasional, the matter ends there,” he told reporters at a Ramadan aid presentation to mosques at Politeknik Seberang Prai here yesterday.

On Wednesday, Kampung Buah Pala Residents’ Association committee chairman M. Sugumaran handed over an eight-page memorandum to Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin at the Permatang Pauh Barisan Nasional operations centre.

Sugumaran told Muhyiddin that only Barisan could help resolve their problem, noting that the state government had merely made empty promises to them.

He also said he hoped Muhyiddin would shed some light on the matter since land issues were generally under the federal government’s purview.

Lim said the move to meet Muhyiddin merely validated the state’s concern that the residents could have been used by certain quarters or that they might have a political agenda.

“Why see the people who have actually robbed your land? Up till now, they have not repented or apologised to the villagers for robbing their land,” he said.

Lim said he did not understand why the residents were doing this, noting that he believed that their actions spoke for themselves. He said that while Barisan did not do anything for the residents, the Pakatan Rakyat-led state government helped them obtain an offer of double-storey terrace houses with a 99-year lease title.

“Barisan Nasional wanted to treat them as squatters and wanted to chase them out. And now they are going back to seek assistance from the robbers who robbed their land,” he said.

The residents have until Aug 31 to vacate the over 100-year-old village in Bukit Gelugor before the developer Nusmetro Ventures (P) Sdn Bhd starts pulling down their houses from Sept 1. - Star, 21/8/2009, Guan Eng: Kampung Buah Pala issue is over

But, then did not Guan Eng and the Penang Government abandon the people of Kg Buah Pala when they refused the registered 'owners'/developer's offer of a double-storey terrace house for each family...

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said today he would have no further meetings with the residents of Kampung Buah Pala after they rejected an offer of a double-storey terrace house for each family.

He said the demand by residents for compensation of RM3.5 million each instead of the double-storey house negotiated by the states was unacceptable.

“Perhaps the residents should ask around to see if Penangites would support their demand.

“We understand their predicament but there is only so much the government can do to help them,” he said today.

The Kampung Buah Pala issue has dogged Lim’s administration in recent weeks after the issue was turned into a racial dispute with Hindraf leaders accusing the state of helping to destroy what they claim was an Indian heritage area.

The controversy took a farcical turn with Hindraf recently saying it had made an appeal to Unesco to revoke Georgetown’s heritage city status for allowing Kampung Buah Pala – a settlement of cowherds – to be destroyed.

Kampong Buah Pala sits on former plantation land which the former colonial owners had given in trust to its former workers to live on when they left the state.

The British colonial government acted as trustees, but the land was signed away back to the state during independence, and the descendents of the original settlers had been allowed to stay on what had become temporary occupational license (TOL) land.

During the previous Barisan Nasional (BN) administration, the land was sold, and the current owners won a court decision recently to evict the villagers in order to develop high-rise apartments.

Lim said today that he believed the Penang public was angry at the latest development in the controversy since the villagers had rejected the offer from the developer.

“Don’t forget we’re trying to offer you a house.

“Now we even have people from Selangor speaking on behalf of the residents. Maybe they can fight for them and demand for a RM3.5mil house.

“Those outsiders, they have their own houses to go back to. Even some of the residents’ association members have other houses,” he said.

Commenting on the residents’ reasons for not accepting the offer, he explained that they appeared to be unhappy with a clause inserted in the proposed agreement which was meant to protect the rights of the developer.

The clause in question states that the agreement would be null and void if it could not obtain the state government’s approval to build the houses.

“If they want to build and the state government does not allow, they will then be sued by the residents.

“Do you think we will reject or revoke building plans for the 24 houses when we are the ones who found the formula to resolve the issue?” he said. - Malaysian Insider, 8/8/2009, Guan Eng washes his hands off Buah Pala after residents reject homes

If, so this means that around 8/8/2009, the Pakatan Rakyat State government abandoned the people of Kg Buah Pala - and, if so, can we really blame them for turning to the Opposition, i.e. the UMNO-led BN?

Media - they have been known to be biased, and I would doubt the reports and hope that Lim Guan Eng and the Pakatan Rakyat government of Penang clarify their position.

I also hope that Guan Eng and the Pakatan Rakyat government of Penang would do the needful to stop the proposed eviction and demolition of homes scheduled for 1/9/2009.

When are Pakatan Rakyat governed States going to amend Control and Restriction of the Propagation of non-Islamic Religious Enactment?

Control and Restriction of the Propagation of non-Islamic Religious Enactment - this apparently exists in 10 States - including Selangor and the other Pakatan Rakyat States.

The enactment makes provisions for a number of offences. This includes the use of any of the words listed in Part I of the schedule to the enactment. The word “Allah” is one of the listed words which currently number 25 altogether, the schedule being amendable by each state Ruler in Council. Other words include “Firman Allah”, “Ulama”, “Illahi”, “Salat”, “Wahyu” and “Qiblat” — to name a few.

On the use of the prohibited words, an offence is committed if a person uses any of the listed words —

(a) in any published writing; or

(b) in any public speech or statement; or

(c) in any speech or statement addressed to any gathering of persons; or

in any speech or statement which is published or broadcast and which at the time of its making he knew or ought reasonably to have known would be published or broadcast,

to express or describe any fact, belief, idea or matter pertaining to any non-Islamic religion. [See section 9(1) of the State of Selangor Non-Islamic Religions (Control of Propagation Amongst Muslims) Enactment 1988.

It is a State Enactment, and it was passed with a simple majority - and it can also be amended with a simple majority. But, the questions is whether the Pakatan Rakyat States will table the Bill and amend the law to be consistent with the position of PAS, PKR and DAP...or the position of Pakatan Rakyat.

From my understanding, PAS is of the opinion that the word, 'Allah' is not exclusive to the religion of Islam or Muslims, and that it can be used by others. I believe PKR and DAP are also of the mind.

So, why have they not yet tabled an amendment to the Enactment which was tabled and passed during a time when the UMNO-led BN held the majority of the seats in the State Legislative Assembly, and was government of these States..

Religion is under the State List - and it is up to the State to enact or repeal laws with regard to Islam.

Oh, is positions and principles not important for Pakatan Rakyat - because there is some worry that it may be exploited by the UMNO-led BN to woo Muslim voters. I do not believe that this would be a problem as most Malaysian Muslims are more inclined to take the position of PAS.

Take a stand Pakatan Rakyat...

Are they waiting for the court cases to be over ... hoping that the courts will resolve the problem without they having to come out and do the needful. We are not talking about repealing the law - but doing the needful amendments to that Enactment to reflect the correct position.

On the prohibition against the use of the word “Allah”, a question has been raised: why now? Up until quite recently “Allah” was used commonly and by everyone in Malaysia without objection.

Well, to start with let’s look at the law. Since 1988 in 10 states in Peninsular Malaysia, it has been passed into law an enactment to control and restrict the propagation of non-Islamic religious doctrines and beliefs among Muslims. The exceptions for Peninsular Malaysia are Penang and the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya.

The enactment makes provisions for a number of offences. This includes the use of any of the words listed in Part I of the schedule to the enactment. The word “Allah” is one of the listed words which currently number 25 altogether, the schedule being amendable by each state Ruler in Council. Other words include “Firman Allah”, “Ulama”, “Illahi”, “Salat”, “Wahyu” and “Qiblat” — to name a few.

On the use of the prohibited words, an offence is committed if a person uses any of the listed words —

(a) in any published writing; or

(b) in any public speech or statement; or

(c) in any speech or statement addressed to any gathering of persons; or

in any speech or statement which is published or broadcast and which at the time of its making he knew or ought reasonably to have known would be published or broadcast,

to express or describe any fact, belief, idea or matter pertaining to any non-Islamic religion. [See section 9(1) of the State of Selangor Non-Islamic Religions (Control of Propagation Amongst Muslims) Enactment 1988. The provision obtaining in other states is similar.]

It is noteworthy that the provision is so broadly worded that it covers the use of the prohibited words even by Muslims to describe matters pertaining to non-Islamic religions.

Now, let’s bear in mind that the enactment, which is state law, is constitutionally sanctioned. Under the authority of Article 11(4) of the Federal Constitution, state law may restrict the propagation of any religious doctrine among Muslims.

So, while Article 11(1) grants to every person the right to profess and practice his religion, the right to propagate is made subject to Article 11(4). Thus it would be constitutional for a law, state or federal, to be enacted to restrict the propagation of non-Islamic religions among Muslims.

Article 11(4) is a pre-Merdeka provision and has been commented upon by noted constitutional scholars. Professor Andrew Harding views it as having been inserted because of public order considerations. According to him, the restriction therein contained has more to do with the preservation of public order than with religious priority. [Law, Government and the Constitution of Malaysia (1996), p 201]

Another scholar, Professor Shad Faruqi, acknowledges the concern among many non-Muslims that Article 11(4) “amounts to unequal treatment under the law because Muslims are allowed to propagate their religion to non-Muslims.” He however respectfully submits that it is part of the pre-Merdeka “social contract”. He writes:

“Its aim is to insulate Muslims against a clearly unequal and disadvantageous situation. During the colonial era, many non-indigenous religions were vigorously promoted by the merchants, the military and the missionaries of the colonial countries. Even today, the proselytising activities of many Western-dominated religious movements that are internationally organised and funded have aroused resentment in many Asian and African societies. Some aspects of their activities, like seeking deathbed conversions, generous grant of funds to potential converts and vigorous proselytising activities among minors have distinct implications for social harmony …. A pre-Merdeka compromise between the Malays and the non-Malays was, therefore, sought and obtained that any preaching to Muslims will be conducted only by authorised Syariah authorities. Missionary work amongst Muslims — whether by non-Muslims or Muslims — may be regulated by state law under the authority of Article 11(4) of the Federal Constitution.”

[Document of Destiny: The Constitution of the Federation of Malaysia (2008), p 139]

Be that as it may, what needs to be emphasised is that freedom of religion — like all freedoms — cannot be absolute. It is subject to direct and indirect restraints. Article 11(4) and the state enactments mentioned above are some of such restraints.

To this may be added Article 11(5) which makes the exercise of freedom of religion subject to public order, public health and morality. So that, any legislative or administrative regulation of the freedom of religion is justiciable.

So it appears that there is a valid legal objection to the use of the word “Allah” for God. The fact that the objection is raised only now does not make an apparently unlawful act lawful. Ignorance of the law excuses nobody. - Malaysian Insider, Using ‘Allah’ is restricted under state law — Hafiz Hassan

Now, the courts will have to act in accordance to law - and if it is a bad law, that is the bad law that the court will follow. The Pakatan Rakyat states can now amend that enactment so that there will be no more inhibition for Christians and Sikhs to continue use the word Allah in their own religious communities worship, prayers, publications, etc ....

A Website Poll is not the way to get public feedback - what we need is a referendum so people can say whether the ISA be repealed or not?

Getting the views of the public - how do you do that.

1- You have to allow space in all forms of media for persons to express their full views, i.e. those who have been calling for the repeal, and also those who are calling for its preservation. Also good to listen to those who have been detained - Anwar Ibrahim, Lim Kit Siang, Karpal Singh, ..., and their family members. Allow also public forums, talks, etc

Without listening to the different views, and analyzing them, the Malaysian people cannot make an informed decision.

2 - Referendum is the way to the public's view. Look at Venezuela who have examples of referendums. A internet poll is definitely not the way because not all Malaysians are familiar with and/or have access to the internet, and the possibility of 'doctoring' the results is always there. [The Ministry poll, in the begining showed an overwhelming majority calling for the repeal of ISA, and then mysteriously and suddenly, it swung the other way around...]. To get the people's views, you need a public referendum.

The Home Ministry plans to use its website to seek public feedback on the ISA and Police Act.

Minister Datuk Seri Hisham­muddin Tun Hussein said this was prompted by the huge number of hits the website had received on the country’s crime situation.

“After meeting with all the experts, before we engage the other stakeholders, I suppose it might be probable that we are going to get their (the public) views,’’ he told reporters after a briefing with Johor police at the Johor police contingent headquarters here.

Hishammuddin also said that input from the joint ministerial meeting held on Wednesday would be drafted and distributed to all three ministries involved in the review within a week.

The ministries involved were the Prime Minister’s Department Infor­mation, Communications, Culture and Arts Ministry and Home Ministry.

He said the ministries would study the input before making presentations to stakeholders such as the Bar Council and Suhakam. - Star, 21/8/2009, Ministry may use website for ISA feedback

STAKEHOLDERS - Hishamuddin must really understand the meaning of words before using them. When it comes to laws in a country, every person is a stakeholder. All must be consulted including civil society groups, NGOs, Trade Unions, Consumer bodies, political parties, churches, etc. Look at who have been detained/restricted under the ISA and DWT laws, and certainly their groups are stakeholders as well.

Best way, is a public referendum. Put down the questions - and allow people to express their decision. It will be like an election...

The ISA and all laws that allow for Detention Without Trial must be repealed. Review is but a waste of time.

If the State believes that a person has done a wrong, then charge the person and allow the person to defend himself/herself in an open and fair trial before an independent Judge. Remember that attempts, assistance and preparation for the doing of a crime is also a crime.

Under the ISA and the laws that allow for Detention Without Trial, who decides? First, it is the police, and then it is the Minister when he signs the Detention Order (Restriction Order) - and that is why it is wrong for it should be the courts that decide whether one is guilty or not.

H1N1 - Special sick leave of 7 days for those with H1N1 flu symptoms - different from normal sick leave, would help- What about it Minister of Labour?

With regard to H1N1, the Government could possibly come up with a ruling that all workers with H1N1 symptoms would be allowed to take 'special' sick leave for a period of 7 days, and that this will be different from the normal sick leave.

Many workers simply do not want to finish all their sick leave by staying away for 7 days when they have H1N1 symptoms (or what some flu symptoms), and they will continue coming to work. Most workers keep their sick leave for some real sickness, etc...

Some workers may have also finished their sick leave for the year, and will now have to take 'no pay leave' or even their annual leave - and this is not good.

If the Federal Government is serious, then they should do the needful to provide for a special or extraordinary sick leave - so that those with H1N1 symptoms will do the needful and stay home, and hence prevent infecting their fellow workers.

Selangor government just announced such a policy - but alas it only apply to all offices under the Selangor government...SAD - what about workers in companies owned by the Selangor government? Are they covered?

The Selangor government can also try to get employers in the State to agree to this, and follow this practice. A lot of calling and meeting bosses to be done ....and maybe a public listing of all employers that have agreed to this would help speed things on. Then, we will know which employer cares for the health and safety of their workers and which do not?

Wabak Influenza A H1N1 atau selesema babi semakin mengganas di Negara ini dengan Selangor telah mencatat kematian seramai 14 orang daripada 584 kes yang disahkan positif virus itu sehingga semalam.

Exco Kesihatan, Pekerja Ladang, Kemiskinan dan Kerajaan Prihatin, Dr Xavier Jayakumar berkata, surat pekeliling akan dikeluarkan kepada pejabat-pejabat di bawah kerajaan negeri untuk memberi cuti khas kepada pekerja yang mempunyai simptom-simptom H1N1.

“Siapa-siapa datang ke pejabat dengan demam kita akan terus hantar balik, walaupun tiada cuti, dah habis, itu tidak diambil kira, mereka di paksa duduk di rumah dan ini kita akan keluarkan satu pekeliling dari setiausaha kerajaan negeri Selangor kepada semua pejabat di bawah kerajaan negeri Selangor untuk mereka ambil tindakan-tindakan demikian atas pekerja-pekerja di pejabat masing-masing,” katanya. - Selangor Kini Online, 14/8/2009, Selangor Keluar Pekeliling Beri Cuti Khas Kepada Pekerja Punya Simptom H1N1

H1N1 - Kenapa hanya tutup sekolah sahaja...tak tutup kilang, pejabat/bangunan pejabat. Warga berisiko tinggi harus diberikan perlindungan tambahan ...

H1N1 - Usaha kerajaan menutup beberapa sekolah untuk mencegah rebak demam flu H1N1 adalah bagus

Tetapi kenapa pula kita tidak mendengar mengenai perintah penutupan kilang atau pejabat untuk tujuan yang sama...

Sekurang-kurangnya, bila berlaku jangkitan H1N1 seorang pekerja di sesuatu kilang atau pejabat atau bangunan pejabat, mereka di dalam kategori risiko tinggi harus diperintahkan menjauhkan diri...Mungkin diberikan cuti berbayar khas selama 5 atau 7 hari.

Keprihatinan yang kini ditunjukkan kepada kanak-kanak sekolah juga harus diberikan kepada warga dewasa - khususnya mereka di dalam kategori risiko tinggi - yang termasuk mereka yang mengandung, menghidap kencing manis, dsb...

Angka mereka

Sejumlah 1,799 orang maut akibat wabak selesema babi atau Influenza A (H1N1) sejak virus baru itu dikesan April lalu, menurut angka terbaru dikeluarkan Pertubuhan Kesihatan Sedunia (WHO), semalam.

Angka yang dikeluarkan di laman web WHO itu menunjukkan peningkatan ketara berbanding 1,462 seminggu lalu.

Ghana, Tuvalu dan Zambia adalah tiga negara terbaru yang mengesahkan kes pertama H1N1 dan WHO berkata, pandemik H1N1 kini sudah menular kepada lebih 170 negara di dunia.

Jumlah kematian terbesar adalah di Utara dan Selatan benua Amerika iaitu 1,579 orang, diikuti Asia Tenggara (106) dan Eropah (53).

Mereka yang disahkan dijangkiti H1N1 di seluruh dunia kini berjumlah 182,166 orang. - AFP- Berita Harian, 20/8/2009, H1N1: Angka kematian seluruh dunia hampiri 1,800

Jumlah kematian ialah 106 - di mana di Malaysia adalah 67 (Bil. Penduduk 27 juta), ...

Tiada kes kematian berkaitan Influenza A (H1N1) dilaporkan sehingga jam pagi tadi dan angka korban keseluruhan kekal pada 67 mangsa.

Ketua Pengarah Kesihatan, Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ismail Merican, berkata sejumlah 1468 penghidap penyakit seperti influenza (ILI) sedang dirawat di 86 buah hospital termasuk enam hospital swasta di seluruh negara.

Katanya, dari jumlah itu, 257 telah disahkan positif H1N1 manakalal seramai 134 pesakit dibenarkan keluar hospital.

"Daripada 257 kes yang disahkan H1N1, 36 kes berada di unit rawatan rapi (ICU) di mana 7 kes adalah kemasukan baru sementara empat kes dipindah keluar dari ICU.

"Daripada 36 kes yang sedang dirawat di ICU, 21 kes (58%) mempunyai faktor risiko iaitu diabetes (5), penyakit kronik (4), asma (3), hamil dan bersalin (3), obesiti (2), kanak-kanak istimewa (2) dan kanak - kanak di bawah usia setahun (2)," katanya dalam kenyataan media hari ini.

Dr Mohd Ismail berkata, Kementerian Kesihatan mendapati masih ramai pesakit yang mengalami jangkitan H1N1 yang tidak memberi kerjasama yang baik dalam mengawal penularan influenza A.

Katanya, orang ramai perlu sentiasa mengikut nasihat Kementerian Kesihatan dan mendapatkan rawatan segera bagi mereka yang mengalami simptom dan berisiko tinggi untuk mendapat komplikasi akibat jangkitan H1N1.

"Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia mengucapkan terima kasih di atas kerjasama orang ramai. Tindakan tepat anda dapat membantu kami memberi perkhidmatan yang berkesan," katanya. - Berita Harian, 20/8/2009, H1N1: Tiada kes kematian baru dilaporkan

Manakala,di Thailand jumlah kematian kini 111 (Bil. Penduduk - 62 Juta)....

The Ministry of Public Health confirmed on Wednesday that 14 more people had died from the A(H1N1) swine flu virus last week, bringing the country’s flu death toll from April 26 to Aug 15 to 111.

Of the total new flu victims, seven were male and seven female, according to Phaichit Varachit, the ministry's permanent secretary.

Of the new victims, 12 of them had underlying health problems ranging from obesity and heart disease to diabetes, Mr Phaichit said.

"The situation is stable in Bangkok and the surround provinces but the virus is on the rise upcountry and we expect the outbreak to continue for the next two months until the cool season begins," a government statement said.

The ministry last week reported an accumulated flu death toll of 97. - Bangkok Post, 20/8/2009, Swine flu death toll now 111

Nyata negara kita, Malaysia, yang paling teruk di Asia Tenggara(South East Asia)...

We want Local Council Elections NOW - or 'BN has become PR; MIC, MCA and Umno have become DAP, PAS and PKR' ...

People want democracy but Pakatan Rakyat(PR) , just the BN, also 'tak mahu kasi' (do not want to give) when it comes to Local Council Elections...

And all kinds of excuses will be given to justify the continuation of appointment of Local Councillors...If there really

Civil society also seems to have stopped calling for Local Council Elections especially after some of their own were also appointed as Local Councilors - now civil society seems to be just talking about 'criteria of appointment'...

An old article by citizen Nades from the Sun is pasted below, for our reading pleasure...

OVER the weekend, a group of like-thinking individuals sat at the Royal Lake Club to talk about reforming local councils and the election of councillors in particular. Media reports quoted one of the speakers, journalism lecturer Wong Chin Huat, as saying that the Pakatan Rakyat-governed states must be pushed to revive local elections.

Having campaigned and pushed for election of councillors for a long, long time, such views may be wishful thinking, but it’s not going to happen. No government – PR or BN – is going to opt for elected representation in local councils.

Ask Petaling Jaya councillor Derek Fernandez who wrote about how the state could call for local government elections without amending the federal constitution. His opinion must be gathering dust in a steel cabinet in the state secretariat building in Shah Alam.

"Why not?" would be the obvious question. From what we have seen in Penang, Perak and Selangor, there’s no room for people’s representation. The composition of councils in these states shows that there’s room for only supporters and cronies. Having promised local elections in their campaigns, what was delivered was short of expectations. But do they care about public sentiments and expectations? Do they care about residents’ groups, civil society and community leaders in the decision-making process? Do they care about the mandate given by the people?

No dear readers, a big NO because they have to look after and satisfy those who helped put them there. They have to appease only a handful of hard core supporters and party workers, not the majority of the people who voted them in. For a good three weeks, leaders of the three parties in power were busy horse trading – who gets what. In the process, we the people became the victims of the inter and intra-party squabbles and people’s representation had to be compromised to make way for the interests of politicians and their parties.

And when pointed out to them that they have to include this group of people, they have the audacity to say: "We never promised to appoint them?"

"Oh Yes, we have included members of the public!" they would retort, but the next question would be: "How many – what percentage?" Having a handful for the sake of dressing up the representation is like having nothing at all. When councils are packed with politicians, the old malaise of "you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours" will come to the fore. With a council packed with politicians, the people’s voices will be drowned by the power of the majority. Will there be voices of reason or voices of interested parties and the businesses and the millions?

Never mind the fact that the Local Government Act says that those appointed must have expertise in a specific area or are well-versed in local government affairs. Look at the list and the facts stare at your face.

Wong, the other speakers and the motley crowd which attended the talk on local elections, were there with good intentions. They represented the larger interests of society but sorry to say, their voices are going to be lost in the wilderness of politicking and the art of diplomacy.

Another speaker, DAP parliamentarian Liew Chin Tong was quoted as saying: "Parties are important to make consolidated decisions." Whatever that means, it is a telling statement indeed.

Three months ago, when I criticised the composition of the councils in Penang at a forum organised by Ipoh City Watch, party supporters took umbrage and confronted me, saying: "You cannot say such things. It’s only two months. Give us time." Time to do what? Horse trading and manoeuvring so that the cronies benefit?

Would those who were members of the "Shadow MPPJ" who are now sitting in their air-conditioned offices care to give their views? Or are they waiting to be challenged to a debate?

It took the PR government four months to appoint councillors in Selangor, after several postponements. Were councils in the list of priorities? No, they were at the bottom of the ladder while those in power were busy trying to appease their supporters. As I said in a previous column, nothing has changed except for the abbreviations – BN has become PR; MIC, MCA and Umno have become DAP, PAS and PKR. Remember the demonstration by PKR members over the lack of "proper party representation in local councils" outside the MB’s office after the list was announced? That in a nutshell, says everything – We want 100% of the spoils.

R. Nadeswaran is passionate about the way local councils are managed and run and has written extensively on the need for elected representation. He can be reached at: citizen-nades@thesundaily.com . - Sun, 30/7/2008, Local elections still a dream