Friday, October 31, 2008

Guan Eng says workers should have say over the RM5 billion EPF money

The DAP condemned the Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) today for allowing the federal government to use RM5 billion of workers' money to "rescue" certain companies listed on the Malaysian stock exchange.

Calling it a "short-sighted measure" DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng noted that EPF's agreement to the Barisan Nasional government's request without first consulting its board of trustees had caused the value of its shares to plunge by 15 per cent in the past two weeks.

"It is unacceptable that representatives from workers do not have a say on how workers' funds are invested, are forced to risk their savings to save those few companies who never remember to give back to workers when these companies reap huge profits," he said. Lim was speaking to Malaysian businessmen today while on a working trip to Seoul.

He also told them that the government had not announced any measures to help working Malaysians weather the present financial crisis, apart from "giving a miserly RM 364.2 million in tax cuts... in the 2009 Budget." He added that it worked out to only RM36 a year for each working Malaysian.

"What is RM364.2 million in tax cuts for working Malaysians compared to the RM5 billion using workers' funds to help companies?" he asked rhetorically.

"Clearly the BN government has not only got its priorities wrong helping the few instead of all, but is a short-sighted measure that confuses and equates economic policy with corporate bailouts," he said.

Lim who is also the Chief Minister of Penang reiterated his four-pronged strategy to help businesses and the poor overcome the global economic crisis. He had first brought it up during the DAP's first national Hari Raya open house celebration two weeks ago.

The DAP wants the government to progressively reduce corporate tax from the present 25 per cent to 17 per cent, to conduct a daily review of petrol prices and to reduce electricity tariffs for businesses to reflect the present change in global oil prices.

Lim also urged the government to give an annual RM6,000 "oil bonus" to households earning less than RM6,000 a month and to bachelors earning under RM3,000 a month from Petronas's profits. It works out to roughly RM500 a month.

The Bagan MP noted that it would only cause the national oil company a third of its gross profits. Last year, Petronas churned out RM107 billion in gross profit.

He estimated that the entire plan would cost RM48 billion. "A RM 48 billion economic stimulus plan that has the tidal effect of helping 27 million Malaysians has direct benefit, fairer and financially sustainable than risking RM 5 billion borrowed from EPF to fund purchases of shares of certain companies," Lim said

Samy Vellu to defend his post in MIC

MIC dictator Datuk Seri Samy Vellu had vowed to defend his party presidency and urged the party's central committee to postponed the party polls to September 2009 in order for him to have more time to prepare for his defence.

Reliable source had also confirmed that Datuk Samy had been working on a no-challenge policy to enable him to remain as party president for another few more terms or perhaps for life.

With Samy's firm grip on the party, will MIC be able to reinvent itself or to rebuild its reputation after its vast defeat in the 8 March general elections. Where is MIC's direction with Samy's continuous leadership? Will anyone in MIC brave enough to come out to speak against him and ask for reforms in the party?

Will MIC be able to regain its position with Datuk Samy still at reign with his much of conservative team of supporters still in charge.

Race and Islam

By : Farish Noor, Aliran Member

A row was sparked off by the nomination of a Chinese woman – Low Siew Moi – as the head of a state institution linked to the economic management and development of the state of Selangor, the PKNS. Despite the fact that Low was selected on merit, some quarters chose to publicly disagree with her appointment on the grounds that the Malay-Muslims of the state would object to the appointment. But objection on what grounds, asks Aliran member Farish Noor.

It is odd, to say the least, that after more than 14 centuries there remain some people who claim to be Muslims but who still have not internalised the universal values of Islam. Odder still that there remain those who on the one hand can embrace Islam’s universal claim of brotherhood (and sisterhood), but still cannot get around to understanding the simple idea that Islam and racism do not mix.

Evidence of such discrepancies can be found pretty much everywhere these days: It has, sadly, become the normative cultural norm in so many Muslim societies today that those who are fair are better off and given the privileges that they feel is the natural right of all light-skinned people. It is also interesting to note that Muslims tend to rejoice whenever a white American or European converts to Islam, but seem less enthusiastic in their recognition of the fact that thousands of Africans and Asians are converting to Islam every year.Furthermore when it comes to governance and politics, it remains painfully clear that some Muslims still place blood and race above competency and merit till today; and that despite their profession of faith they remain embedded in the stagnant mode of racialised thinking that operates on the basis that some races are better than others.

One such case has popped up recently in multi-culti Malaysia , where a row was sparked off by the nomination of a Chinese woman – Low Siew Moi – as the head of a state institution linked to the economic management and development of the state of Selangor, the PKNS. Despite the fact that Low Siew Moi was selected by the Chief Minister of the state, Tan Sri Khalid, on the basis of merit; some quarters chose to publicly disagree with her appointment on the grounds that the Malay-Muslims of the state would object to the appointment. But objection on what grounds? On the basis that she is a Chinese woman?

Here the already convoluted waters of Malaysia’s racialised politics turns a shade murkier; for among those who objected to the appointment of Low Siew Moi were some members of the Malaysian Islamic party, Pas.Malaysia’s politics has been defined by racial concerns and the communitarian demands of the various religious and ethnic groups of the country since its independence in 1957. Over the past three decades, however, the tone and tenor of the country’s conservative, right-wing ethno-nationalist politics was further coloured by the Islamisation race in the country with the Malaysian government attempting to further inculcate Islamic values into the norms of governance in Malaysia as well.

Ironically however, Malaysia’s Islamisation programme seems to be more concerned with book-banning, fatwas on social behaviour (including the recent revelation that there may be a fatwa on Yoga soon, wait for it), and moral policing instead. Where, the Islamic scholar may ask, were the universal values of Islam in the midst of all this social engineering? Did the leaders of Malaysia not realise, or forget, the simple idea that Islam is an egalitarian faith that is colour-blind; and that the concept of ‘race’ is an alien idea in Islam?

The dilemma that Malaysia is facing now is the same dilemma faced by many other Muslim societies where the defence and promotion of Islam often goes hand-in-hand with the defence and promotion of the communitarian interests of Muslims. In Malaysia ’s case, where Muslims are overwhelmingly Malay, then this also translates as the defence of Malay interests – to the extent of propagating the ethno-nationalist idea of Malay cultural dominance as well. Now what on earth is Islamic about this?

Here is where orthodox Muslim scholarship has to come in and make its timely intervention: For it has to be remembered that the success of Islam and the success of Muslims are two entirely different things, that may also clash and negate each other at times. The victory of Islam, so to speak, has to be understood as the victory of universal values such as egalitarianism and equality before God. The victory of Muslims, on the other hand, may at times be understood as political victories that may or may not conform to the standards of Islamic ethics. The defeat of the Kuwaitis at the hands of Saddam Hussein, for instance, was a case of one Muslim state defeating another: but was this a victory for Islam? Likewise, when Muslims openly and abrasively demand special rights and privileges for themselves at the cost of equality and meritocracy, is this really a victory for Islam?

Those who have criticised and opposed the appointment of Low Siew Moi as the head of PKNS on the grounds that the job should have been given to a Malay-Muslim instead should therefore look closely at themselves and ask: What is it that you are fighting for? Malay-Muslim dominance or a better form of governance that is based on merit and equality? The Islamic scholar will remind you that the latter is Islamic, while the former is not.

In any case, for Muslims to even think in racialised communitarian terms is a misnomer of sorts as such modes of communitarian, sectarian thinking has no real place in Islamic orthodoxy and ethics. To quote Tuan Guru Nik Aziz Nik Mat, spiritual leader of the Malaysian Islamic Party Pas: ‘tell me, what race was Adam?’. ‘Nuff said I think.

PAC Chairman Azmi Khalid should withdraw from the PAC inquiry into Eurocopter deal

By : Lim Kit Siang, DAP Parliamentary Leader

Datuk Azmi Khalid, the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), should personally withdraw from the PAC inquiry into the RM2.3 billion 12 Cougar EC725 Eurocopter deal because of his “close proximity” to the Executive as two-term member of the Cabinet until seven months ago.

Azmi’s background as a two-term Cabinet Minister under Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi would be important considerations to the Prime Minister why Azmi is regarded as politically suitable, stable, reliable and trustworthy candidate as PAC Chairman although from the perspective of established parliamentary conventions in mature democracies, these same factors would be regarded as precisely the reason why he is not suitable or qualified for the post.

In fact, in mature and developed parliamentary democracies, the Chairman of PAC is invariably from a senior Opposition MP, and not an MP from the administration, let alone a person who had just been a two-term Minister under the Prime Minister-of-the-day.Credibility is greatly stretched for anyone to believe that a two-term Minister would be prepared to be very zealous to conduct a no-holds-barred PAC investigation into any major government irregularity or impropriety like the RM2.3 billion 12 Cougar EC725 Eurocopter deal – especially as Azmi was a Minister in the original Cabinet decision of 18th July 2007 to phase out the Nuri fleet of helicopters after the latest Nuri helicopter crash the week before.

As the maxim goes, justice must not only be done but must be seen to be done. Any hint of conflict-of-interest whether arising from “close proximity” as a two-term Cabinet Member of the Prime Minister-of-the-day or other reasons should be avoided at all costs.Azmi Khalid should therefore withdraw from any PAC inquiry into the RM2.3 billion Cougar EC725 Eurocopter deal, and the full responsibility for conducting the helicopter investigation should devolve to the Deputy PAC Chairman Dr. Tan Seng Giaw (DAP – Kepong).

Two weeks ago, after the Parliamentary Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and I queried the propriety and integrity of the Cougar EC725 helicopter deal in Parliament, the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said that he would probe allegations that there were irregularities in the multi-billion ringgit defence procurement.

The silence of Abdullah, who is also Defence Minister, in the past fortnight on this issue has been deafening.Abdullah had also said that the Anti-Corruption Agency will also look into the helicopter deal.Has this been done?

The PAC investigation into the RM2.3 billion Cougar EC725 Eurocopter helicopter deal cannot be used as an excuse for Abdullah as the Defence Minister to avoid giving a proper reply to the issues raised by Pakatan Rakyat MPs on the deal during the budget debate.

Multi-lingual road signs in Penang do not infringe Article 152 of the Federal Constitution

By : Karpal Singh, DAP National Chairman

The criticism by Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister, Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal and the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) of the Penang DAP-led Pakatan Government is misconceived, apart from being mischievous.

The Penang State Government's approval of the application by the Penang Municipal to have road signs in Jawi, Tamil and Chinese, in addition to Bahasa Malaysia in Georgetown's heritage sites does not in any way infringe the provisions of article 152 of the Federal Constitution which provides for Bahasa Malaysia to be the national language of the country. Those who argue that the Penang State Government's move is against article 152 clearly shows their ignorance of constitutional law.

It should not be forgotten that Penang is a tourist destination of international repute. This distinction certainly requires that tourists in the country are capable of apprehending multi-lingual road signs. This step is in no way an affront to the status of Bahasa Malaysia as the country's national language. Both Shafie Apdal and the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) should not subscribe to blind nationalism which does not have a place in view of globalisation with which the country must keep abreast.

Penang Chief Minister, Lim Guan Eng, should be congratulated for setting the pace in encouraging tourism. In fact, his example should be emulated by other states. In this time and age, all barriers which divide people of different nationalities should be dismantled. Even in Russia and China there is thirst to master the English language which is the international lingua franca. In this part of the world, likewise, there is enthusiasm to master Mandarin which is fast becoming a necessity in view of the awakening and opening up of China which will, in due time, determine the rise or fall of economies in Asia.

The Fereral Government should not unnecessarily interfere with the steps taken by the Penang State Government to boost and encourage tourism to counter the negative effects of the looming recession. The Penang State Government should be allowed to steer towards its own destiny without narrow and parochial considerations which will in no way advance the cause of the necessity to promote tourism which is pratically the mainstay of the economies of states like Penang, Malacca, Kelantan, Terengganu, Sabah and Sarawak.

Why so much fuss on multi-lingual road signs?

First of all, let us all ask the Umno leaders, why are they making so much fuss over a plan by the Penang state government to implement multi-lingual road signs in the state? What is wrong with their brains or are they suffering from mentality disorder?

What make these Umno leaders think that those measures initiated by the Penang state government to promote and enhance their tourism activities to international vacationers are against the Federal Constitution?

Penang Chief Minister cum DAP Secretary-General Lim Guan Eng and State Executive Councilor for Tourism cum State DAP Secretary Danny Law had repeatedly told the public and the press that those road signs in Malay Language will remain. Names in Chinese, English, Jawi or possible Indian languages are merely additional applications that are to be added to supplement the existing ones.

So, why are the Umno leaders keep on mentioning that the DAP led state government is going to do away with the Malay language road signs? These Umno leaders had nothing good to do at all but only know how to incite racial tensions and hatred so that they could gain some political mileage out of it.

The Penang state government is doing their very best to promote tourism by enhancing certain historical spots to make it known internationally but these Umno leaders are all out to sabotage the efforts by inciting racial tensions and hatred regards on doing away with the Malay language road signs and so on.

We simply do not understand why are all these Umno leaders so fond of hate, hate and nothing else but only hatred in their mind. They are always keeping on with their old supremacist racial jargons in order to drum up anger, gain cheap publicity and support.

Come on, this is Tourism and Economy ! Why bring up racial issues and create tensions?

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Penang DAP Convention

The Penang DAP will be holding its annual convention on this coming Sunday 2 November at Tanjung Bungah Beach Hotel. The convention proceedings shall commence at 10.30am.

Penang Chief Minister and DAP Secretary-General Lim Guan Eng will be there on that day to officiate the annual convention. All state party delegates and observers are expected to attend the first ever state annual convention since after DAP took over the Penang State Government.

Racist sabotaging the nation’s unity

Recently, Penang Chief Minister and DAP Secretary-General Lim Guan Eng had called for local talents working abroad to return to support the development of our nation.

And yet, there is a disgusting call by some people to deny job opportunities to a Malaysian Chinese who is very capable and experienced in her field, tested with her track record proven just because of her racial background.

Why can’t these racist uncivilized people realize that when the country prospers so do its citizens, including those racist themselves. Let’s take a look of some hardcore poor residing in Selangor for the past decades. Why are these people remain poor and illiterate?

All these years during the Barisan Nasional’s reign in the state, did those Umno appointed PKNS general managers (all were Malays) help alleviate the conditions of these poor people?

We cannot deny that race issues and racist policies still plague the nation. Until these racist issues can be put to stop and act as One Malaysian, more and more of our talents will leave the country and even a lot are considering leaving now.

These damages was in fact caused by the Barisan Nasional and Umno governance which yet again uses its racial card and neo-Nazi style of politicking for their own political mileage. Even with our vast resources and economic opportunities, today we are lack behind Singapore. Who knows Vietnam, Cambodia or Laos may overtake us one day! It can happen, because Barisan Nasional and Umno are continuing their “ketuanan” onto others.

PKNS staff say no to new Chinese general manager !

I as a Malaysian living in Malaysia continue to be saddened by the uncivilized views of certain people in Malaysia when I learned that the staff of Perbadanan Kemajuan Negeri Selangor (PKNS) had objected to to Madam Loh Siew Moi being appointed as Acting General Manager of PKNS because she is not a Malay, despite the fact that she has been with PKNS for about 30 years and she is also well-qualified for the top job.

What on earth is happening? As far as we all knew, PKNS is a state economic development corporation charged with promoting and developing Selangor’s economy and manufacturing sector. So what has it got to do with race? Furthermore, the people of Selangor comprises all races and the needs of races must be taken into account.

I would like to remind the PKNS staff to put the interest of the state and the people of Selangor above your selfish, racist reasons that Madam Loh did not have the ability to communicate with all staff and associations or to communicate with different levels of personnel. Is there a rule in PKNS or the Selangor state constitution saying that the general manager must be a Malay or bumiputra? PKNS is a state economic development corporation, why cordoned to such politically motivated racist nature of act?

Are these PKNS staff being instigated by Umno leaders who wanted to see the failure of Selangor’s continuous development implementation?

To the Selangor Mentri Besar, please stand firm against these racist cowards! Do what is right and good for the betterment of the state economy and infrastructure. If these PKNS staff cannot accept Madam Loh despite her outstanding credentials, then resign. PKNS is better off without such uncivilized people.

Saturday, October 25, 2008

Happy Deepavali to all Hindus

We would like to wish our fellow Indian members of the DAP and the Indian community a very Happy Deepavali and may the spirits of this gracious celebration further enhance the Malaysian First concept of promoting national unity in this very unique multi-racial and multi-religious society of ours

Let us all come together to show that we are in one nation and we are called Malaysians and reject all racist extremism and dominancy. We do not need a Race Relations Act to supervise our initiatives of unity.

Happy Deepavali to all.

PRS: Umno is a bully, so is PBB too !

Malaysiakini today reports, a divisional leader of the Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) a junior component party in the Sarawak Barisan Nasional (BN) had said today Umno had been thinking of dominance over everyone all these while and so did its sister organisation in Sarawak, Parti Persaka Bumiputra Bersatu (PBB).

Well, another bully case was reported. PBB which "represents" Umno in Sarawak is taking charge of the rest of the BN component parties in that state and has been too powerful for more than twenty years.

Will the other BN component parties in Sarawak able to tolerate this forever? In Sabah, SAPP had quited BN, which might be due to the fact that Umno had dominated Sabah BN and the state's government machinery and its native BN component parties were sidelined in most of the major policy and decision making in that state.

The real problem here is, can the other BN component parties really come out and stand against Umno and PBB's dominance of "ketuanan" and fight for their equality within the cracking coalition? Are they able to overcome the almighty Umno and PBB with their guts and strength?

Hamid should do his homework by first reading and digesting the 2005 Royal Police Commission Report

Statement by DAP Advisor Lim Kit Siang

I am very disappointed by the Home Minister, Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar's response to complaints by Taiwanese investors about the serious crime situation in the country which affects investment confidence.

In fact, this is not just the concern of Taiwanese investors but all foreign and local investors as well as ordinary Malaysians and visitors, as crime in Malaysia has become one of the biggest problems in Malaysia – with the exception of the Home Minister.

In fact, the problem of rising crime index has been a staple subject of DAP MPs in Parliament in the last two Parliaments.I just cannot imagine how Hamid could be so unresponsive and irresponsible as to dismiss the Taiwanese investors' complaints about the crime situation in Malaysia, claiming that the law-and-order situation in Malaysia has not reached a "red danger alert".

Let me advise Hamid to do his homework by first reading and digesting the 2005 Royal Police Commission Report, or he would not have committed another faux pax like his earlier ridiculous statement that the Sin Chew senior reporter Tan Hoon Ching was arrested under the Internal Security Act for her own protection and safety!

When Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi became Prime Minister in October 2003, the crime situation was already out of control which was why one of his first reform promises and measures which won him all-round plaudits and support among Malaysians was the establishment of the Royal Police Commission to reduce crime to restore to Malaysians their twin fundamental rights to be free from crime and the fear of crime, whether in the streets, public places or the privacy of their homes.

The Royal Police Commission in its May 2005 Report had referred to the "alarming" and "dramatic increase" in the crime index from 121,176 cases in 1997 to 156,455 cases in 2004, an increase of 29 per cent in eight years, and recommended a reduction by 20% in the crime index in the first 12 months.

In actual fact, the reverse took place. In the past four years, the crime index had worsened from 156,315 cases in 2003 to 224,298 cases in 2007 – a sharp rise of some 45% when it should have gone down as recommended by the Royal Police Commission which proposed a 20% drop in the crime index in the first 12 months of its report.For the first time in the nation's 50-year history, the crime index last year crashed through the 200,000 psychological barrier.

Women in Malaysia are now more unsafe today than four years ago – as the incidence of rape had more than doubled from a daily average of four women in 2003 to 8.5 women last year!Has Hamid forgotten the Barisan Nasional's 2008 general election manifesto where it promised: "Bring down the country's crime index".What has Hamid as Home Minister done in the past seven months to fulfil the BN 2008 manifesto to "Improve the level of personal safety for every individual"?

Hamid has nothing to show as Malaysia today is even more unsafe to its citizens, visitors, tourists and investors because of endemic crime as compared to the start of the Abdullah premiership in 2003 or even just March this year.Has Hamid forgotten the spate of crime in the country like the robbery-cum-murder of Thor Joo Lee, wife of former Penang State Assemblyman for Bukit Tambun, Lai Chew Hock at her Tambun Indah house in Penang and the robbery of Datin Chang Lee Lee, wife of former Penang Exco and Pulau Tikus Assemblyman Datuk Dr. Teng Hock Nan in her Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman house in Penang among other outrages?

Malaysians are paying a terrible cost in terms of the personal safety of its citizens, tourists and investors and the nation's investment climate because of the unchecked rising crime index and lack of leadership and commitment to declare an all-out-war against crime whether by the Home Minister or the Inspector-General of Police.

In fact, it is no exaggeration to say that crime in Malaysia has become so endemic as to scare away tourists and investors precisely because the most important recommendation of the Police Royal Commission to establish the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) to create an efficient, professional and world-class police service to keep crime low in the country had not been implemented or heeded.

Is Hamid prepared to support the establishment of a full-fledged IPCMC and not a tooth-less and clawless Special Complaints Commission (SCC) which is a mockery of the Royal Police Commission's IPCMC proposal, as there will be police representatives on the SCC!

Friday, October 24, 2008

Utusan Malaysia & Datuk Chamil, another bunch of political animals

Utusan Malaysia should be condenmed and a boycotted for its recent publication that was cordoned to terrorism and violence.

As such, we urge all parties, readers and all peace loving people to act against Utusan Malaysia by boycotting its papers and magazines starting from today.

The short story written by Datuk Chamil Wariya titled "Politik Baru YB J" based on a woman member of parliament who has been murdered had caused public outcry due to its contents which has been seen as encouraging violence against women and promoting terrorism as well.

We must not allow such people or organisation to continue its campaign of terror and violence. Let us show them we are serious and these must be stopped. Reject these uncivilised and political animals from our peace loving community.

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Umno Delegates Throwing Chairs

What the Umno parliamentarians had learned from their "agricultural trip" in Taiwan had in fact bear fruits recently. Their supporters and grassroots are quick to learn up their tactics and arts of throwing chairs from their Taiwanese counterparts who are famous in their "shoes throwing" acts in that island's parliament.

At the Kuala Selangor Umno division annual general meeting recently delegates from opposing sites threw and flung chairs at each other due over a dissatisfaction on the divisional leadership's ruling.

Besides, the opposing factions in the division also hurled abuses and insults against each others.

The Umno leaders and members had learned so fast, but let us not follow their violent attitudes.

Friday, October 17, 2008

A BN Club only now?

A proposal made recently by the BN Chairman Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in the Gerakan's annual delegates conference that a BN Club will be formed to cater interested individuals who did not want to join any BN component parties, to join the BN as a direct member.

With this proposal made by Pak Lah, it clearly reflects that these BN component parties are not able to effectively attract these individuals into their fold and had in fact demonstrated the mere weakness of each of the BN component parties and their political ideologies.

BN component parties of today consist of both racial based and multi-racial based parties and to make these parties to come together to work out collectively in a Malaysian concept would be diffiicult as racial based parties will continue to ensure their positions and interest are untouch.

So will the multi-racial based parties like the Gerakan, PPP and so on, be able to play their role effectively to promote their multi-racialism with component parties which practices racialism? Can Gerakan or PPP convince racial based Umno, MIC, and MCA to dissolve or merge to become one entity and every race will enjoy a pure equality within the framework which we call Malaysian Malaysia?

Can Gerakan and PPP (especially) answer this please? What is their level of confidence in achieving the Malaysian First concept in future? Can BN really Malaysianise all our Malaysians by offerring direct memberships?

Saturday, October 11, 2008

IPCMC gone to the grave, here comes SCC

Well, we have heard of Pak Lah's final plans prior to his retirement next March. Looks like the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commision (IPCMC) isn't going to come into realiti as the Special Complaints Commission (SCC) is expected to be the core subject in one of Pak Lah's final plans.

Is Pak Lah bowing to the pressure from the police force? Why wasn't he and the BN government fulfilling the real promises made during after the 8 March general elections? Has the police force improve its services to the public? Has the crime rate decrease? The answer is a big "No". None of these had improve nor the policing system itself. The crime rate had increased drastically ever since.

The mechanism of the SCC would be too general as it will not fully focus on the improvement of the police force itself but a number of enforcement agencies as well.

So, when is the Barisan Nasional government going to be serious in its crime prevention efforts?

Why do we need a Race Relations Act now?

After 51 years of independence and our citizens had lived together in a most harmonious culture and Malays, Chinese, Indians, Sikhs, Kadazans, Muruts, etc has been working alongside each other to ensure our naunity is preserved strongly.

So, why do we need a Race Relations Act (RRA) now after 51 years of nationhood? What was this Act actually for? We all Malaysians has been very matured on national unity and the importance of preserving these unique multi-racial, multi-religious and multi-cultural society.

The main problem of those provocation today came from Umno itself. Umno a greater and dominant member of the Barisan Nasional coalition was indeed a bad example in our nation today with their most popular racist slogans and jargons like "ketuanan", "perkasa", "kegemilangan" and so on which focused only on one particular race where they claimed to be the champion of.

There is nothing wrong on the other communities here, but it is Umno and its leader who had all these while created and provoked the entire situation into a disunity content. So, why put the blame on the entire community in the nation just because of the racist provocation enlarged by only Umno?

Remember, when former Bukit Bendera Umno division chairman Ahmad Ismail called the Chinese as temporary citizens or squatters, and the journalist who reported Ahmad Ismail's statement. Why was the journalist being detained under the ISA instead of Ahmad who was the actual trouble maker? Why wasn't Ahmad being detained instead for his aggresive and terror response onto the Chinese community?

Can you imagine, a person who made a police report on a murder case was arrested instead of the murderer! Thus, the journalist detention has became a laughing stock when it happened. Every country around us had branded our nation as a mere joker.

So what is the purpose of the RRA now? What are the mechanism to generate an effective RRA?We do not have any problem in our ethnic relations at all but its was actually only Umno who is suffering from such problem. Its was Umno who needed the "medical attention" and not we Malaysians.

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Penang Land Scam continues

Well, the land scams by the previous Penang BN state government seems to remain unresolve and here comes few more complaints from lawyers, the Consumer Association of Penang (CAP) and the Bayan Bay Marina Yacht Club questioning the way some lands were converted from their original status or means of usage.

Apart from that, the concerned stakeholders also request the Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng to quickly establish a panel to investigate these scams and initiate corrective actions as well as to bring those involved in such corrupt practice to justice.

Stay tune and read more

Zaid: Malaysian Chinese Have Made Big Sacrifices

Former minister in the prime minister’s department Datuk Zaid Ibrahim said true Malays need not be afraid, or feel lack of a sense of security.

“Take myself as an example. I’m a pure Malay, but I have a sense of security. I feel proud of my own race and culture.”

However he said, the problem is that many people refused to understand or respect history. Indians, Chinese and Malays have been participating in the nation-building process since a few centuries ago. The Indians used to work in the estates, while the Chinese and Indonesians have all made valuable contributions and sacrifices for the nation too. But all of us had forgotten this.
Zaid Ibrahim quit his Cabinet post because he disagree with the government’s decision of detaining innocent civilians under the Internal Security Act (ISA).

He said during an exclusive interview with Sin Chew Daily that the Chinese used to work here as miners, and they made a lots of sacrifices during the confrontation with the communists, adding that we must understand history and what they have done for our country.

“We are only talking about Malaysia as the 19th largest export country in the world, and that we have the twin towers and are a developed country… Do you think we have done all this ourselves? You’re wrong. This achievement has been made after so many people from different ethnic groups have sacrificed for our nation.

“We are not talking about the positive things, but instead discussing how we should get worried because the Chinese have opened how many more new stores here.

“As a matter of fact, the first feeling we should have is not about worry. We should work even harder to keep up with them instead.

“I’ve never been worried about the Chinese. In my legal firm, my partner is a Chinese, and we fully trust each other. Do you think I have built up my success all on my own?

“I’m not scared that the Chinese are smart, for I’m also very smart. I’m not scared that the Chinese are hard working, for I’m also very hard working. We have bad guys in every ethnic group, and you’re cheated simply because you’re not smart enough. We must educate young Malaysians to look at things from a positive perspective.”

Zaid said certain (selfish) people (in Umno) have kept on mentioning May 13 to blackmail (and threatened) the people. However he felt that given our current situation, this thing would not and will never happen again.

“I am thinking, for a better future, all Malaysians should stand up and speak out bravely. The Chinese must defend the rights of their fellow Malays, and at the same time the Malays must also defend the rights of their fellow Chinese. Everyone must be properly taken care of here.”

He felt that we should not rely on a single political party to take care of a particular community. It should be that the rights of every individual must be respected and taken care of by everyone else.

Monday, October 6, 2008

DAP Bagan Dinner

DAP Bagan will be organising a dinner based on the below :-

Date: 16/10/2008
Venue: Sri Uda Market (Behind RHB Bank Raja Uda Branch)
Time: 7.30 pm

Invited Guest: Lim Guan Eng (DAP Secretary General & Chief Minister), Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (Parliamentary Opposition Leader & PKR Advisor), Karpal Singh (DAP National Chairman), Teresa Kok (DAP National Organising Secretary & Selangor State Executive Councillor), Lim Kit Siang (DAP Advisor & Parliamentary Leader).

For further information please contact Penang DAP Treasurer Phee Boon Poh (012-4711111) or Penang DAP Vice Chairman Lim Hock Seng (019-4491986).

Sunday, October 5, 2008

Religious Conflicts

Many of our social problems today are extended into religious conflicts. In fact, most of the time, religion is the cause of these conflicts. The purpose of religion is to guide mankind to develop unity and harmonious life and practice humane qualities.

Today, however, religion is often being used to discriminate against other religions and to develop jealousy, hatred and hostility. Actually today, human beings are not using religion to maintain peace and harmony but to create superiority or inferiority feelings. Such hostile and unhealthy religious competition or domination have even created bloodshed in many part of the world.

Some religious leaders or groups have been guilty of praising their own beliefs as part of their valuable religious customs and traditions, while ridiculing other religious beliefs and traditions as being inferior. Some others use religions for material gain, political power, self-glorification, reign supreme over others, and worldly powers. Religion itself has become a major problem.

Those who use religion for worldly material gain and political power also face fear, worry, insecurity, enmity and difficulty of maintaining their power and authority. This clearly shows that the accumulation of worldly power is not the solution to overcome human problems.

Some people concentrate only on wealth power. Wealth can only help to overcome certain minor problems. Worldly happiness, sensual pleasures can be gained through wealth. Money cannot eradicate natural problems. Religious teachers, scholars, thinkers and rationalist pointed out the nature of human weakness and how to overcome them. However, the ordinary people often regard them as theories and not solutions to their problems.

Join MCCBCHST for unity, JAKIM urged

The federal level Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (JAKIM) and their state counterparts are strongly urged to participate and join the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) and to transform it to Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islamic, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHIST) instead in order to promote tolerance and a more effective religious harmony.

The purpose of this suggestion is not to scrap the Islam's role in the federal constitution but to promote mutual understanding amongst religion and belief. JAKIM and its state counterparts therefore should not isolate themselves within their authorities and be forceful on other communities by not entertaining nor accepting their views and discussions other than Islam.

JAKIM and their state counterparts should also understand that they cannot reign supreme towards others as all religions stands equally side by side as stated effectively in the federal constitution. Everyone who are borned and grown up here, be it Malay, Chinese, Indians, Sikh, Kadazan, Muruts, Ibans or Penans are Malaysians First.

Therefore, whenever any issues or challenges brought up by various religious and communites should be seen as constructive discussions and consultation based and should be handled in a Malaysian manner professionally rather than reigning supreme towards others.

Whatever solutions and proposals for religious implementations should be of truly Malaysian concept and religious harmony should be preserved at all times.The present MCCBCHST or the future MCCBCHIST should also play their guardian role in preventing political radicals like the Umno Youth or any other religious elements from taking advantage on religious conflicts. Such conflicts should be settle amicibly in a harmonious level rather than being political motivated.

MCCBCHST must act effectively

The Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) must act effective and stand by their rights and equality when dealing with with various authorities related to Islamic affairs.

The MCCBCHST must also state their stand as a defender of the rights and equality of other religions and belief in this nation. Voicing their concerns in the press or media on some unjust movements and conversions activities were not enough, the MCCBCHST leadership should act without fear and worry to confront matters and issues of their communities which has been unjustly treated and avoid their moves of being politicised by especially by Umno who is well-known for its radical and threatening measures when issues related to Islam were brought up for consultation and discussion.

In fact all religions and beliefs should be open to constructive criticisms, consultations and review as no one is above the law and therefore, no one religion should reign supreme on other beliefs. Mutual understand and harmonious society with multi-religious practice in line our Malaysian concept should therefore be observed and maintained.