Do We Live in The Simpsons Country?

For those who have not watched Malaysiakini's video on the 21 of us being charged by the Attorney General's office for gathering to light candles and sing the national anthem, here it is.

More interestingly, K Anand, who writes at The Malaysian Insider brings back memories of a 2006 episode of The Simpsons entitled "The Monkey Suit", where Lisa attempted to bring the Theory of Evolution into schools, and got arrested for her troubles. The parody is just frighteningly similar to what's happening to our Bolehland today...

Lisa then decides to go underground, organising a class after regular school hours to teach her classmates about Darwin and his book “The Origin of the Species”.

As she starts her first class, the door of the room is busted open by Police Chief Wiggum of the Springfield Police Department and his two deputies, guns drawn, arresting a young girl who was just trying to educate her fellow students.

Lisa says something to the effect that “there are harden criminals out there and you want to arrest me”, to which Wiggum replies “we only work based on the last law passed”, which was the one made at the town hall meeting above.

As they are talking, the scene shifts to the Kwik-E-Mart where a machine-gun toting criminal is randomly shooting at passersby from the rooftop. Looking through the window, Chief Wiggum just shrugs and says “ahhh... on another day we would have been all over that scene”.

Way to go, Malaysia.

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Syed Hamid Appoints Perception Expert

Over the past week, the police force as well as the Deputy Prime Minister have launched a concerted "public relations" attempt to fight the "perception" that crime is high in Malaysia, instead of fighting crime itself. They had loudly proclaimed that Malaysia is a safer place than countries such as Japan, Hong Kong and is even comparable to Singapore.

However, the exercised proved shortlived as DAP presented hard facts and information over the past few days via press conferences and in Parliament itself, that Malaysia is in not in anyway safer than Japan or Hong Kong, or even comparable to Singapore. I've blogged the research in detail here, or to quote Sdr Lim Kit Siang on his blog:

For instance, homicide per 100,000 population is 1.09 cases in Japan, 0.26 cases in Hong Kong but 2.12 in Malaysia; while rape per 100,000 population is 1.62 in Japan, 1.54 in Hong Kong while in Malaysia it is 11.47. For robbery per 100,000 population, it is 4.78 for Japan, 17.56 for Hong Kong while 90.49 for Malaysia.

Instead of taking the criticisms in the right spirit, and start to really act on crime in Malaysia, guess what our Home Minister decided to persist with his fight with "perception". I have just read in Financial Daily today that

...[t]he government intends to appoint an expert in criminal studies from a local university to do research on crime rate in the country in an effort to convince the people that the crime rate in Malaysia is lower than that in several other countries.

WHAT?! Faint(!) (If you want to faint a second time, read the report from The Star here)

Will someone be willing to pay and engage an "expert" in our local university to do a research to produce a report which will convince the Government that they are doing a terrible job in solving crime and that crime really is getting unbearable in this country?

I've provided all the relevant links and data sources for the information we have in our press statements as well as on my blog. These are the all sourced from the official government websites in Japan and Singapore. The police and Ministry just have to verify those information to obtain the "truth"!

With a Home Minister like Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar, is there hope that crime will actually stop increasing, much less reducing it? I can only shake my head in absolutely and total disgust.

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Syed Hamid Albar's Pride & Prejudice

Dear Tony,

I needed to bring this to someone's attention and perhaps someone can put Syed Hamid Albar in his place. Read this article in Malaysiakini: Q&A: Home ministers 'burn' themselves for society. I was troubled by the consequences if this news is reported in Utusan or Berita Harian and acceted as the truth. Patriotic Malaysians will be wrongly maligned.

When asked by Malaysiakini: "But how do you suggest making people feel their Malaysian-ness, if they feel that they are being treated unequally?"

Syed Hamid Albar has this to say: "You should see Malays when they fill in their nationality, a Malay would put Malaysian but others would put Indian Malaysian or Chinese Malaysian. Why do you do that? ... "

I'm utterly shocked by his remark and think that he should be corrected or reprimanded. I know with 100% certainty that all my friends and family members don't write in forms "Indian Malaysian" or "Chinese Malaysian" when asked of our nationality. We are all Malaysians and should be treated equally. Period.
It's only when we are queried about our race, which disappointingly is a required field in all government related forms, we'll offer our race information. To begin with, all government and public forms should NOT ask for race information!

I feel sad for Malaysians when we still have Cabinet members and BN MPs that are bigots. I hope the change that we have all been looking forward to since March 2008 will materialise soon. There are so many wrongs to be corrected in Malaysia. AP permits, another RM5 billion of public money for Valuecap (wasn't it established with RM10 billion during the last crisis?), Eurocopter ... The list is endless.

Regards,
EJ


Tony P: This is a clear case of a Minister manipulating sentiments and reality. I've never ever written "Chinese Malaysian" or "Malaysian Chinese" in my life despite having filled probably hundreds of immigration forms. Even for those, if there are those of such persuasion, it'll just be too long to practically do so. This Home Affairs Minister is a disgrace to Malaysians - the BN government are the ones who insist on putting the "race" and "religion" column onto all forms, when we have been asking what's its relevance.

In the meantime, Syed Hamid Albar continues to fumble over the arrest of Sinchew reporter, Tan Hoon Cheng. When asked about this by Malaysiakini, Syed Hamid blamed the media for highlighting the matter.

“I think I would laugh at it, but I will tell you that it was not the core and fundamental reason (for her arrest).

“That was the reason that was highlighted by the media. If you listen to what I said – there is a threat and the police perception of this threat to public order, to security. That is the reason this person was (arrested under ISA).

“Maybe they want to bring her in to ensure that nothing happens to her. I mean this is not the (only) reason – surely you are matured enough to know that this is not the reason.

“A person like me would not use an irrational thing (like this) but I was hit very badly on this thing to say that ‘Oh, it is for her protection’ when it was never the core or the fundamental issue of her arrest,” he virulently defended himself.

Frankly, his answers remained completely un-understandable and irrational, and it's a clear case whereby staying mum is probably a better prescription and talking dumb.

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Najib's New Toy

Wow, our Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak has launched a spanking new website, "1Malaysia" with videos, picture galleries and all.

He asked for "rational dialogue to discuss the things that matter deeply to us as a nation... While I may not always agree with you, be assured that your views will be heard."

He also added that "What makes Malaysia unique is the diversity of our people ... and I want to preserve this diversity and unity."

So what do you think? Well, don't just think, tell it to him yourself! His website has a comment page for you to fill in all your "rational dialogues". You have signed the petition for Teresa Kok, Raja Petra, the Hindraf 5 and all the other ISA detainees. Now, go to our honourable deputy prime minister's website comment page and give him a piece of your mind.

There are nearly 24,000 signatories on the petition to date (thank you all for the support! keep them coming!) and if 50% of these signatories post their comments on his website, he might just get the message. It is extremely important for our current Barisan Nasional leaders to really "hear" the rakyat, that we are pissed with BN, that we have become the laughing stock of the world, that Pak Lah administration is in complete shambles, that his economic policies are condemning us to mediocrity (or worse), that many of our Ministers are a joke.

I've received many emails asking what you can do. You can do this. But remember, be "rational", we do not need to go overboard to win the argument. We let the facts speak for itself. And remember, the IPs are likely tracked so please, no seditious stuff, we will not go to Datuk Ahmad Ismail or Penang UMNO's level.

And better still, get 10 other friends and family members to do the same!

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Statement by JIM on ISA

Free Teresa, Abolish ISA! Sign the petition here!

The following is a statement by Jamaah Islah Malaysia (JIM) which is one of the country's leading Islamic movement.

Pertubuhan Jamaah Islah Malaysia atau JIM, mengasaskan kewujudannya dengan menghayati pengertian al-islah yang membawa maksud pembaikan, pembaharuan serta mewujudkan perdamaian.

They have just released a statement which not only condemned the use of the Internal Security Act as unislamic, but also reaffirmed the position that Teresa Kok was never involved in the so-called "azan" issues in Kota Damansara and Kinrara mosques.

KENYATAAN MEDIA
Pertubuhan Jamaah Islah Malaysia
14 September 2008

JIM KECAM PENAHANAN AHLI POLITIK, WARTAWAN DAN PENULIS BLOG DI BAWAH AKTA KESELAMATAN DALAM NEGERI (ISA)

Pertubuhan Jamaah Islah Malaysia (JIM) mengecam undang-undang tanpa bicara seperti Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (ISA) dan penggunaannya ke atas Ahli Parlimen Seputeh yang juga Ahli Majlis Mesyuarat Kerajaan Negeri Selangor, Teresa Kok, wartawan akhbar Sin Chew Daily Tan Hoon Cheng dan pengendali laman blog Raja Petra Kamaruddin.

JIM ingin menegaskan bahawa prinsip keadilan amatlah penting dalam perundangan. ISA menyalahi prinsip keadilan kerana mereka yang ditahan dinafikan hak untuk “tidak bersalah sehingga disabitkan kesalahannya”, dinafikan hak bela diri, dinafikan khidmat guaman dan boleh ditahan selama-lamanya tanpa dihadapkan ke mahkamah.

Walaupun wartawan Tan Hoon Cheng kemudiannya telah dibebaskan selepas 16 jam ditahan, namun JIM mempersoalkan penahanan tersebut atas kononnya untuk melindungi beliau daripada ancaman ke atas keselamatan beliau. Ini menurut Menteri Dalam Negeri, Syed Hamid Albar dalam sidang akhbar di Ibupejabat Polis Bukit Aman pada 13 September 2008. Bukankah suatu yang amat pelik apabila seseorang ditahan di bawah ISA untuk menyelamatkan beliau daripada ancaman keselamatan sedangkan lazimnya seseorang ditahan kerana beliau dituduh memudaratkan keselamatan negara?

Apakah dengan ini wartawan tersebut perlu berterima kasih kepada Kerajaan atau sepatutnya menyaman Kerajaan kerana merampas hak kebebasan beliau sebagai warganegara dengan alasan yang tidak munasabah langsung?

Perbuatan menuduh tanpa sebarang bukti adalah perbuatan yang haram dari sudut Syariah, kerana ianya sendiri merupakan sebab utama kepada keadaan huru-hara di kalangan masayarakat yang hilangnya kepercayaan antara satu sama lain.

Firman Allah s.w.t. dalam surah Al-Hujurat ayat 6, penyebaran perkhabaran dan maklumat yang tidak sahih lagi meragukan menyebabkan berlakunya pertimbangan yang tidak adil, lantaran mengundang kepada musibah fitnah yang melanda masyarakat.

Riwayat hadith Ibnu Majah dan Abu Dawud menyebutkan bahawa kadi yang menetapkan hukuman kepada seseorang bedasarkan sumber-sumber bukti yang tidak benar akan dicampakkan ke dalam api neraka sewajarnya cukup menjadi pengajaran bagi kerajaan untuk mengutamakan prinsip keadilan Islam yang rasional berbanding dengan sentimen-sentimen perkauman yang rapuh dalam menjaga kemaslahatan masyarakat.

JIM mengesyorkan mana-mana pihak yang terkesan dengan sebaran awam yang dianggap menghina Islam supaya tampil proaktif dalam memberikan penjelasan yang bernas terhadap isu-isu yang dibahaskan. Islam tertegak di atas nas dan dalil Al-Quran dan Sunnah yang jelas. Tuntutan untuk mengemukakan hujah-hujah Islam secara berhikmah dan beradab sudah termaktub di dalam riwayat hadith-hadith yang sahih.

JIM memandang penahanan wartawan Tan Hoon Cheng seolah-olah beliau bertanggungjawab ke atas kontroversi kenyataan perkauman Ahmad Ismail sebagai tidak wajar kerana Ahmad Ismail dan pengikut beliau sendiri yang sengaja memberikan provokasi perkauman tanpa sebarang kawalan emosi di hadapan wartawan-wartawan.

Penahanan Ahli Parlimen Seputeh, Teresa Kok pula merupakan satu ketidakadilan kerana dakwaan bekas Menteri Besar Selangor keatasnya telah dinafikan sekeras-kerasnya. Malah, masjid di Damansara yang dikatakan disuruh perlahankan bunyi azannya telah memberi penjelasan bahawa azan tidak berbunyi dengan kuat kerana alat pembesar suara azannya mengalami kesulitan teknikal, bukannya kerana ditentang penduduk bukan Islam.

Penduduk bukan Islam di kawasan perumahan sekitar sebuah masjid di Puchong pula dilaporkan hanya memohon supaya diperlahankan penggunaan pembesar suara untuk majlis kuliah bacaan ayat al-Quran, bukannya azan itu sendiri.

JIM berpendirian jelas bahawa apa juga alasan yang dinyatakan kerajaan atas episod penahanan terbaru ini samada sebagai “pencetus polemik ketakutan” atau “pencetus kegawatan”, ianya seharusnya boleh ditangani dengan pelbagai akta lain yang sedia ada.

Tindakan menggertak dan menangkap blogger, wartawan, para pengkritik dasar kerajaan khususnya dari kalangan parti pembangkang tanpa hujah yang konkrit hanya akan mengundang kemusykilan rakyat terhadap motif dan keikhlasan kerajaan dalam melaksanakan perubahan pasca Pilihan raya Umum ke-12 terutamanya dalam konteks lanskap politik negara kini. Tindakan ini hanyalah mengesahkan lagi bahwa ISA digunakan untuk tujuan politik parti pemerintah.

JIM amat kesal dengan tindakan parti politik pemerintah yang sanggup memainkan isu sensitif seperti perkauman dan agama demi untuk menutup pelbagai kelemahan kepimpinan sedia ada. Sebaliknya, adalah lebih baik pihak kerajaan berusaha menyelesaikan pelbagai kemelut yang terjadi di dalam negara sekarang ini tanpa menggadaikan suasana keamanan yang sedia ada. Hentikan politik perkauman, fitnah dan tuduh menuduh tanpa bukti lagi tanpa bicara dan kembalilah kepada Syariat Islam.

JIM menggesa Kerajaan untuk membebaskan Teresa Kok, Raja Petra dan tahanan-tahanan ISA yang lain dengan serta merta atau dakwa mereka di mahkamah. Nasib tahanan yang ditahan dalam tempoh yang lama sehingga 7 tahun juga perlu dibela.

Sebagai anggota aktif gabungan Gerakan Mansuhkan ISA (GMI), JIM menyeru rakyat yang prihatin untuk turut tampil membantah ISA dan penahanan berhubungnya melalui program-program yang dianjurkan oleh GMI. Dalam tuntutan keadilan dan kebenaran, tidak ada batasan agama, kaum atau budaya.

Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh
Timbalan Presiden

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Tell Me The Truth!

Thanks to whatalulu for reminding me of what our dearest Prime Minister, or more affectionately known as Pak Lah said (and reported in The Star) just less than 2 weeks ago!

The media must not be afraid of honest reporting while upholding truth and justice, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

He said the media should also not feel apologetic when reporting the facts.

Yes, and your reward under his adminstration will be a stint in Kamunting. What a [fill in your own expletives here] liar and hypocrite.

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BN Lost The Plot

(Update: This post was written before Teresa Kok, DAP National Organising Secretary, MP for Seputeh, ADUN for Kinrara as well as Senior State Exco for Selangor was arrested. Bloody hell)

The DAP is completely shocked by the total abuse of power by the Barisan Nasional Government in arresting Tan Hoon Cheng, a reporter with Sin Chew Daily who reported the statement by UMNO Bukit Bendera division chief, Datuk Ahmad Ismail who called the local Chinese as “penumpang” in Malaysia.

The Barisan Nasional government has completely lost the plot for she only reported the factual truth that is what Datuk Ahmad Ismail said, nothing more and nothing less. But arresting Tan, the Government only seeks to punish those who are truthful, instead of those who has committed the crime of inciting racial hatred.

This sinister development which follows closely after the arrest of popular blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin is a clear cut attempt to silence both the mainstream and the online media from reporting what is fair and true, which is against the vested interest of Barisan Nasional.

With the latest development, we want to reach out across the political divide to our political opponents in MCA, Gerakan and MIC, parties who have expressed dissatisfaction with the UMNO leaders who have expressed statements which incites racial sentiments.

Will MCA, Gerakan and MIC demonstrate to the people that after the punishment they received in the hands of the rakyat in the last general elections, they have understood the sentiments of the people and the need for drastic reforms.

A government which will go to the extent of abusing its powers detaining a simple reporter has lost all moral authority to rule the nation.

There can be no better time now to stand up for the truth, justice and integrity, and take immediate actions to demonstrate disgust with the actions of the police and the Government.

For the general public out there, please visit, call, sms and write to the MCA, Gerakan and MIC MPs and ADUNs to speak up for the innocent and do what is right for this country of ours which we love so much! Or they shall be damned forever politically for supporting a corrupt and oppressive Barisan Nasional government.

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Release Raja Petra NOW!

The DAP strongly and unreservedly condemns the undemocratic and draconian measure by the Barisan Nasional Government of utilising the Internal Security Act (ISA) to detain popular blogger, Raja Petra Kamaruddin for his vocal criticisms against the Government.

We demand for his immediate and unconditional release from detention under ISA. This demand includes the immediate and unconditional release of other political prisoners, detained without trial for their anti-Barisan Nasional views such as the Hindraf 5 who were arrested in December last year.

If Raja Petra has committed any wrongs under Malaysian laws, the Barisan Nasional government should charge Raja Petra accordingly in open court. Under our laws, a man is innocent until proven guilty.

The reluctance of the federal government is pursuing the matter in open court reflect its ill-intent to protect dark vested interests. This move to utilise the ISA against a blogger who has not demonstrated any violent “terrorist” tendencies marks a clear cut abuse of power by the Prime Minister and his Home Affairs Minister.

This signals a growing desperation among Barisan Nasional politicians, and more sinisterly, a possible start in draconian crackdown against all BN critics in this country.

The Government's move will only strengthen the resolve of DAP and its Pakatan Rakyat partners as well as the Malaysian public that a change in Government is not only preferable, it is absolutely necessary to ensure that Malaysia will have a bright future ahead.

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Ahmad "Malay Audience Only" Ismail

Backed to the hilt by the entire Penang UMNO, Ahmad "penumpang" Ismail remains completely defiant despite being summoned to meet the Prime "flip-flop" Minister and his Deputy today. While we (cannot) wait for the (non)decision of the Barisan Nasional Supreme Council later this afternoon, which of course is subjected to UMNO Supreme Council endorsement (or rejection) tomorrow.

However, the following quote caught my eye in his post-meeting comments on Malaysiakini:

...he said: "The prime minister gave his views but he acknowledged what I did was for the party. Moreover, I want to remind (everyone) that my speech was delivered to a Malay audience."

Firstly, Pak Lah "acknowledged" that what Datuk Ahmad Ismail did was for UMNO. Seriously?

But secondly, and more importantly, his "speech was delivered to a Malay audience".

Is that an excuse? No wonder he was upset with the SinChew reporter because whatever racist statements made weren't meant to be heard by non-Malays! They were meant for Malay audience only!

Barisan Nasional divide and rule by race politics at its very best ;-)

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Gerakan & MCA: What Are You Waiting For?

I had speculated in my earlier post 3 days ago, 3 possible scenarios panning out of the Ahmad "penumpang" Ismail controversy. While option (1) i.e., Pak Lah gets woken up from his slumber was a non-starter, I had honestly thought that option (3) i.e., a partial compromise "apology" by Datuk Ahmad Ismail will be issued, especially in the light that the Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak has already issued an apology on his behalf. In fact, I think the majority of readers who commented thought option (3) was a good bet.

But no, despite picking option (3), I actually still had too much faith in Pak Lah!

Instead of Pak Lah giving this recalcitrant Datuk Ahmad Ismail a figurative "tight slap", the exact reverse happened! Datuk Ahmad Ismail, backed by the entire Penang UMNO divisions, including that of Pak Lah's constituency, Kepala Batas, gave the hapless Prime Minister 3 proverbial "tight slaps" instead!

The first tight slap was to the Prime Minister and his Deputy, for apologising and seeking Datuk Ahmad Ismail apology without the latter's consent. "A tense-looking" Pak Lah, came out of a 2-hour meeting with Penang UMNO, changed his tune to say "Ahmad Ismail is not a racist", and concurred that the latter had been "misquoted" or "misinterpreted".

The second tight slap to Pak Lah was targetted at the reporting media, Sinchew Daily for having the courage to report what he said. In effect, he was arguing that Sinchew had no business to be at a UMNO ceramah which was targetting Malay audience and what's discussed at the ceramah was of no relevance to the Chinese community. Hence the vernacular press was guilty for highlighting his comments. It is a indirect call for continuation of the divide and rule policy so favoured by Barisan Nasional which took over from our colonial masters.

In fact, Penang UMNO opposition leader, Datuk Azhar Ibrahim asked for the Sinchew reporter involved to be "shot"(!)

"What was written may lead to a racial riot. If such a thing happens, he is the first person that should be shot," he said to loud cheers from Umno supporters who packed the meeting room at Menara Umno here.

Umm... isn't that a clear cut case of shooting the messenger? Using the same term of reference (which I oppose), should the person who raised the racist remarks in the first place, Ahmad "penumpang" Ismail be the one to be shot for inciting hatred "which may lead to a racial riot"?

Is this the type of UMNO wakil rakyat we have in this country? Or is he enjoying being in opposition so much that he's trying to let Pakatan Rakyat keep Penang for good? Is our Barisan Nasional and UMNO leadership in agreement with this Datuk Azhar's remarks? Silence means none other than consent in this case.

The third tight slap, Pak Lah received on behalf of Barisan Nasional component parties, MCA and Gerakan. With all the bravado displayed by these 2 parties leading up to an apology by the Deputy Prime Minister himself, Datuk Ahmad "penumpang" Ismail not only remained defiant, but upped the ante instead.

Ahmad also slammed Gerakan acting president Dr Koh Tsu Koon as a “great liar and opportunist”, and said Gerakan can always “get out from Barisan Nasional”.

UMNO is now beyond redemption. They have remained stuck in stone age and have refused, out of vested interest, to shift out of their coconut shell. The people of Malaysia have matured politically, most of whom, including Malays as demonstrated in the Permatang Pauh by-elections, have grown out of the racial politics framework. But the entire Penang state UMNO saw no need for change but came out fight for their extremist cause instead.

The question, I have then for Gerakan and MCA is, "what else are you waiting for?" Continue to back your best friends, by shamelessly giving the excuse that the above extremist views are just that of a few black sheep, and the national UMNO leadership do not share their views? This is not ONE man in UMNO. It is the entire UMNO state machinery in Penang, so far openly supported by UMNO Kelantan. Gerakan and MCA should also note that practically all of the other UMNO leaders have remained absolutely silent, which in effect means tacit support for these Penang leaders.

So are you all, Gerakan and MCA, going to stick around til the next elections to witness your inevitable demise? Gerakan has 2 seats while MCA has 15 left in the Parliament, can it be any worse?

The concept of Barisan Nasional has completely outlived its usefulness. While Gerakan and MCA has been DAP's political adversaries for decades, it is never too late to see the light and give Malaysia a fresh start by joining the Pakatan Rakyat federal government.

Make that change, leave the Dark Side and join the Jedi Knights. May the force be with you.

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Malaysia-Today Censored?

Update: It has now been confirmed. Malaysia-Today has been censored by the Government and it spells the end of Mahathir's Multimedia Super Corridor. When a Bill of Guarantee deemed sacred is infringed, then there is nothing else credible in it. Let's hope it spells the end of this UMNO-led government as well.

I have received information that the ultra-popular Malaysia-Today website operated by Raja Petra Kamaruddin may have been blocked and censored altogether by the Malaysian authorities, and cannot be accessed via TMNet connections.

You can still access the website via the mirror site @ http://mt.harapanmalaysia.com.

Well, it may look like the end of the Multimedia Super Corridor Bill of Guarantees which has promised no censorship and there may be plenty of truth in the exposé by Malaysian Insider yesterday on the fact that bloggers are being targetted next.

Let's just hope that we are wrong about all this.

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Public Transport Commission Still In Freezer

In my supplementary question to the Minister of Transport in Parliament yesterday, I asked the Minister on the status of the Commission of Pubic Transport (Suruhanjaya Pengangkutan Awam) promised by the Prime Minister in his speech to the parliament on the 26th June 2008. I also asked if the chairmanship of the commission will rightly be given to the Minister of Transport.

In reply, the Minister of Transport announced that no decisions have yet been made on the set up of the Commission.

Needless to say, I'm extremely disappointed with the response, and total lack of urgency by the Government.

1. The absolute lack of progress, even on the simple act of appointing the chair of the Commission, clearly shows the lack of seriousness and priority placed on public transportation by the Barisan Nasional government. Despite the steep fuel price increases in the past 2 years, and despite promises that the Government will take immediate measures to provide efficient alternative public transport for the people.
   
   
2. Even to my original question of when and how much it'll cost to build the extensions to the existing LRT lines, the Minister announced that they have yet to be established.
   
   
3. Clearly, if the Minister of Transport is not appointed to lead the Commission, then once again the Minister, traditionally held by the President of MCA is marginalised within the Cabinet from responsibilities relating to public transport. It'll only prove that we have a Minister of Transprot which is not in charge of transport in Malaysia. And this brings to question the relevance of MCA in the cabinet led by Prime Minister, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
   
   
4. If the Ministry of Transport does not lead this Commission, then the consequence will be the creation of another government agency in addition to the existing quagmire of 13 agencies in-charge of public transportation in Malaysia.

It is time that the Government wakes up from its slumber and understand the difficulties and inconvenience suffered by the Malaysian public especially in the urban cities where they suffer from the double whammy of high fuel prices, but no efficient and viable public transportation sytem as an alternative.

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One for You, Two for Me

Barisan Nasional governments tend to set the best examples. On the surface, they'll tell you that the government and its leaders will share the burden of the people, "ringan sama dijinjing, berat sama dipikul" or "有难同当，有福同享", but in practice, it's often "one for you, two for me".

And that cannot be more obvious that what is happening with the Terengganu state government, the state with the second highest poverty rate in Peninsula Malaysia, when the state executive councillors purchased their brand new spanking Mercedes Benz to "cut cost", as blogged here earlier.

And in a remarkable show that the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has lost total control over its administration, his directive that these new vehicles shall be used only for VIPs in Terengganu was immediately and totally disregarded with utter contempt by the Terengganu state cabinet. The brand new cars already found their way on the road with their proud new owners.

While the official reason for the switch from Proton Perdanas to Mercedes-Benz was due to "cost cutting measures", it is interesting to note that last minute calculations were made to justify the RM3.4 million expenditure which showed inflated repair figures for their old Perdanas. It took the former Menteri Besar to threaten a legal suit for the current administration to admit that the repair bill was only half of what was proclaimed! Hence was the decision to purchase new Mercedes-Benz made on errorneous figures or was there even a study before the decision was made?

And the state government has the cheek to blame the media for sensationalising the issue!

But the cherry on the pie must be the following announcement, in their attempt to control the damage they have imposed on the reputation of the national car manufacturer, that taxi drivers in Terengganu will receive incentives for switching over to the national car(!)

Criticised for not supporting the national car, the state government has announced special packages for taxi drivers to buy new Proton cars to replace ageing Nissans and Toyotas. The package in the form of monetary aid is for legitimate taxi drivers and those refurbishing their Proton taxis... Under the package, each taxi driver would be given RM10,000 to buy a new Proton Saga or Wira to be used as taxis.

My goodness! If that is not the clearest indication that such inferior products are only suitable for taxis in the state and obviously not good enough for the state government leaders, then I don't know what is. Much good that will do to the reputation of their beloved Proton.

These newly installed state government leaders are clearly intoxicated with the policy of "one for the people, two for us" that has symbolised Barisan Nasional administration over the decades.

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Cost-Cutting Mercedes

The Government tells us to tighten our belts. Prices are up and inflation is at record levels. The Cabinet even made a show of "sacrifice" by cutting 10% of their entertainment allowance. However, it's certainly clear that this philosophy isn't fully subscribed by the Barisan Nasional government.

The Member of Parliament for MUAR, noted in his speech in Parliament supporting the Government's motion to reduce subsidy and increase fuel prices that will share the burden with the rakyat - "ringan sama dijinjing, berat sama dipikul". Lets reflect this against the little drama in Terengganu over Perdanas and Mercedes for state executive councillors.

The state government has defended the purchase of 14 Mercedes E200 Kompressor cars at RM3.43mil for the use of its state executive councillors and senior officials.

The Menteri Besar of Terengganu, Datuk Ahmad Said had the cheek to suggest that the measure to purchase Mercedes cars was a "cost-cutting measure". Does he take Malaysians for idiots?

What is perhaps more enlightening is our UMNO's leaders honesty with regards to the quality of Proton vehicles.

“We are not saying that the national car is not good but in reality we are coughing up more money for maintaining the Proton Perdanas, particularly the gear boxes,” he said.

In essence, what this new MB is saying is that anybody who purchases a Proton Perdana is an idiot as well, because, money will actually be better spent buying a Mercedes which cost double a Perdana. (Great advertisement for Proton, I'm sure)

Despite the Deputy Prime Minister, otherwise also known as Mr "Tighten Your Belt" among other things, insistence that only Proton Perdanas are acceptable, it misses the point of why 4-year old executive cars must all be replaced wholesale.

Is this part of a "new Menteri Besar, new cars" philosophy, regardless of how much the people are suffering?

Without wanting to sound like we are blowing our own trumpets, the move by the Barisan Nasional state government in Terengganu stands in stark contrast to the new government in Penang, where vehicles ordered by the previous administration worth more than RM600,000 were cancelled. And that's barely a-fifh of what Terengganu is spending.

Is this a direct implication of a Malaysian government being flushed with windfall cash, in this case from record petrol revenues?

Besar periuk, besar keraknya.

Or to the right honourable member from Muar, I think the more appropriate description of the Barisan Nasional government's policy should be "ringan kerajaan jinjing, berat rakyat yang pikul".

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Vote on Price Hike Policies

A vote has just been called on the Government's motion by the Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs to move his motion on the recent oil price hikes. (Warning: Long Post)

Bahawa mengikut peruntukan Peraturan Mesyuarat 27(3) Dewan ini mengambil ketetapan-ketetapan berikut:

"Bahawa Dewan ini,

Prihatin akan kenaikan mendadak harga minyak, makanan dan komoditi lain di pasaran dunia, yang merupakan fenomena global di luar kawalan Kerajaan.

Menyedari bahawa fenomena kenaikan harga ini membawa impak negatif yang besar kepada kesejahteraan rakyat serta kemajuan ekonomi negara.

Memahami dan menyokong langkah Kerajaan untuk menstruktur sistem subsidi minyak dan gas yang menjejas kewangan Kerajaan dan tidak dapat ditanggung tatkala harga minyak di pasaran global terus meningkat tinggi, agar beban ke atas ekonomi negara dapat dikurangkan dan subsidi dapat diagihkan dengan lebih saksama kepada mereka yang benar-benar memerlukannya yakni golongan miskin dan berpendapatan rendah dan sederhana.

Menyokong langkah-langkah yang dilaksanakan oleh Kerajaan untuk mengurangkan beban ke atas rakyat yang disebabkan oleh kenaikan harga minyak, makanan dan komoditi, agar kesejahteraan hidup rakyat terus terjaga.

Menyedari keazaman dan usaha Kerajaan untuk terus mempertingkatkan pertumbuhan ekonomi dan memperjuangkan agenda pembangunan nasional, walaupun persekitaran di peringkat global semakin mencabar.

Bahawa Dewan yang mulia ini menyeru kesemua lapisan rakyat Malaysia termasuk pekerja dan pengusaha agar tabah dan bersatu padu dalam menghadapi cabaran global ini serta memelihara keamanan, kestabilan dan kesejahteraan kita bersama”.

I have voted against the motion together with my other Pakatan Rakyat colleagues. The Government won the vote with 129 votes against 78 votes. The high profile pair from SAPP were missing from the Parliament.

My reasons to vote against the motion was to be expressed in my speech, attached below, which unfortunately didn't get to see the light of day as I didn't get a chance to speak. 9 MPs from the opposition got to speak - 4 from PAS, 2 from PKR, 2 from DAP and 1 supposed Independent.

My speech is as follows (a large part of which I have taken from my earlier blog post here.)

Tuan Yang DiPertua,

Saya ingin menyatakan bahawa walaupun kenaikan harga minyak sudahpun dijangka dan memang susah dielakkan, kerajaan tidak mengambil langkah yang mencukupi untuk mengurangkan beban rakyat Malaysia dalam menghadapi masalah kenaikan harga petrol dan elektrik.

Saya akan membangkang usul yang dikemukakan kerana Kerajaan tidak menyediakan mekanisme yang sempurna dan mencukupi untuk membantu rakyat Malaysia yang memerlukan bantuan dan menghadapi cabaran yang besar dan payah.

Kerajaan telah menggurangan subsidi minyak yang menyebabkan kenaikan harga minyak dan elektrik setinggi 63%.

Pada masa ini, Kerajaan telah mengumumkan pemberian wang tunai mengikut saiz kenderaan. Ini menglibatkan pemberian setahun sebanyak RM625 untuk kenderaan dengan kapasiti engine 2L ke bawah, RM150 untuk motorsikal dengan kapasiti engine 250CC ke bawah. Cukai jalan juga diturunkan sebanyak RM200 bagi kenderaan 2L ke atas dan sebanyak RM50 bagi motorsikal 250CC keatas.

Walaupun cara ini nampaknya adil dan innovatif, cara penyelesaian ini adalah untuk jangka pendek dan tidak dengan sepenuhnya menyelesaikan isu-isu lain yang penting sekali:

1.Usaha-usaha ini akan terus menggangu (distort) corak pengangkutan, harga-harga, dan kemahuan tetapi tidak menggalakan kegunaan pengangkutan awam. Tiada insentif bagi rakyat Malaysia, terutamanya rakyat di kawasan urban, untuk berubah kepada pengangkutan awam, yang akan mengurangkan kegantungan kepada minyak, mengurangkan kesesakan jalan raya, dan juga mengurangkan impak terhadap persekitaran apabila subsidi diberi mengikut pemilikan kenderaan.

Sebaliknya, terdapat khabar bahawa subsidi bas akan dikurangkan dan kos pengangkutan awan akan dinaikkan. Negara kita dijangka menjimat RM13.7 billion daripada pengurangkan subsidi-subsidi, tetapi kejimatan ini telahpun dirancangkan bagi kepelbagaian guna kecuali memperbaiki pengangkutan awam yang akan menolong Negara kita dalam jangka masa panjang.

2.Kenaikan harga minyak seharusnya diumumkan seiring dengan pelan-pelan konkrit untuk mempercepatkan pembinaan rangkaian pengangkutan awam (mass transportatation networks), seperti membesarkan rangkaian LRT dan "bus feeder system" ataupun memperbaiki rangkaian sedia ada. Kekurangan pelan-pelan tersebut adalah sesuata kemuradaratan kepada penduduk Lembah Klang dan juga kawasan bandar di mana kesesatan jalan raya adalah kebiasaan dan system pengangkutan awam kurang baik.

Kerajaan telah lama membincangkan dan menjanjikan pelan system pengangkutan awam komprehensif. Namun, tiada langkah-langkah konkrit telah dilaksanakan dan negara kini kian bergantung kepada kenderaan-kenderaan persendirian. Akibat kelalaian kerajaan dalam merancangkan pembangunun, peningkatan harga minyak baru-baru ini sangat menyusahkan raykat Malaysia, terutamanya rakyat berpendapatan rendah.

Namun, kerajaan hanya mengumumkan RM100 juta untuk mereka yang ingin mengambil pinjaman untuk menjadi pemandu teksi. Tiada lagi langkah konkirt buat masa ini. Raykat tidak berdaya menunggu sehingga tahun depan untuk kerajaan mengumumkan pelan serta langkah pelaksanaan untuk memantapkan pengangkutan awam Malaysia. Rakyat memerlukan reaksi positif dari kerajaan sekarang juga.

3.Akhirnya, kenaikkan harga tenaga akan menyebabkan inflasi sekunder barang-barang penggunaan dan servis harian. Pemberian wang tunai kenderaan yang disyorkan cuma membantu mereka yang memiliki kereta atau motorsikal tetapi tidak membantu mereka yang masih menghadapi masalah-masalah kenaikan harga keperluan harian.

Secara kebetulan, golongan ini lebih mungkin adalah dari golongan berpendapatan rendah yang paling memerlukan pertolongan dalam menghadapi kesan-kesan sekondari inflasi yang disebabkan reduksi subsidi.

Saya mengulangkan pengesyoran DAP untuk menimbangkan skim geran sebanyak RM3000 kepada setiap pekerja ataupun RM6000 bagi setiap keluarga yang kurang keupayaan dan pendapatan. Wang ini boleh diberi melalui mekanisme EPF (KWSP) di mana kita terus dapat maklumat gaji pekerja.

Konsumer-konsumer seterusnya akan mempunyai pilihan untuk mengguna wang dengan sebaik mungkin mengikutan keperluan masing-masing. Di samping itu, konsumer-konsumer ini akan mendapat wang gran ini sama ada mereka memiliki kenderaan.

Membantu rakyat melalui sistem yang sedia ada juga lebih murah dan kurang bermasalah untuk menghantar wang balik kepada rakyat, jauh lebih murah dan effisien berbanding dengan skim money order ataupun kad subsidi yang dibentang kerajaan.

Kerajaan memang mampu memberikan bantuan yang dicadangkan ini kerana sumbangan Petronas kepada kerajaan kian meningkat, dan mencapai sebanyak RM55 bilion tahun lalu. Wang Petronas adalah wang kepunyaan rakyat dan ianya perlu dikongsi supaya beban rakyat dapat diringankan.

Negara Hong Kong dan Singapura dan, dua-dua ekonomi yang langsung tidak ada sumber semulajadi seperti minyak, gas, balak, tanah untuk tanaman komersil seperti minyak sawit, dapat mengendalikan polisi grant tunai kepada rakyat mereka yang kurang berupaya dari segi kewangan. Malaysia sebagai antara sebuah negara yang terkaya dengan sumber minyak di seluruh dunia, patut mengikut teladan yang baik dimana nasib rakyat diutamakan, apatah lagi minyak yang digali Petronas adalah minyak kepunyaan semua rakyat Malaysia.

Akhir sekali, saya menyeru supaya kerajaan memberikan kuasa persaingan harga kepada setiap syarikat petrol. Dua belas tahun yang lalu, apabila sebuah syarikat petrol memberikan diskaun kepada pengguna, pihak Petronas membantah langkah tersebut and kerajaan mengambil keputusan menyokong bantahan tersebut dan persaingan harga petrol dilarangkan.

Demi meringankan beban rakyat, kerajaan mesti membatalkan larangan tersebut supaya persaingan harga minyak antara syarikat seperti yang ada di luar negara boleh digalakkan. Hanyan dengan kebabasan persaingan, rakyat jelata Malaysia akan bermanfaat.

Tuan Yang Dipertua, saya memohom menolak usul yang dikemukakan oleh Menteri.

Despite voting enbloc with my other opposition colleagues, I voted with my consciences with only the interest of Malaysians in my mind. We could only have hoped that our honourable members on the other side of the fence can do the same.

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What's Wrong With Our Ministers?

The House ruptured into disorder again this morning, all within the live TV coverage as well, this morning in Parliament.

Yesterday, we had the Deputy Minister of Health, Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad creating a smaller storm by saying that doctors have the "license to kill", in describing the fact that doctors may cause fatalities via human failures. While the deputy minister in all probability didn't mean it in the literal sense, his lack of tact and respect for the medical profession caused a furore amongst many doctors sitting on the opposition bench including KEPONG, KUALA KRAI, TITIWANGSA as well as PERMATANG PAUH.

Despite the controversy and despite initial instructions from the Speaker to retract his statement, the deputy minister refused causing the proceeding to be further delayed by demands from parliamentarians who were rightly offended by the Deputy Minister. It was also not helped by the Speaker who was swung between decisions on whether to enforce the retraction or just secure a promise that the phrase will not be used again.

At the end, the Deputy Minister stood to retract his remarks, but stated that he will not apologise for the remarks made.

Today, we have the Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Datuk Idris Harun, creating another unnecessary ruckus by using a obscene Tamil swear word when responding to a valid question raised by Nasir Zakaria [PAS/PADANG TERAP]. Most of us were oblivious to the term used, but M Kulasegaran [IPOH BARAT] and N Gobalakrishnan [PADANG SERAI] caught the use of the term loud and clear and demanded, rightly so, that the Deputy Minister retract and apologise for his use of the word.

The Deputy Minister gave the most thuggish of replies, despite leading the Higher Education Ministry, shouting and challenging PADANG SERAI to "repeat the word" that he allegedly used. The Speaker clearly lost control of the House then he'll always qualify his response with the excuse that he does not know the meaning of the word expressed and hence the House should move forward while he obtain the understanding of the word utilised before making a ruling subsequently.

The situation was really quite a disgrace. Unfortunately, BAGAN SERAI took matters into his own hands and chose to walk towards the Speaker to whisper the explanation of the word to him. It was unfortunate because it then created a total diversion from the unparliamentary act by the Deputy Minister, allowing the BN backbenchers to create another ruckus demanding that BAGAN SERAI be punished for breaking all decorum and showed disrespect towards the Speaker.

The party whip for PKR, Azmin Ali [GOMBAK] took the most honourable and admirable stand that BAGAN SERAI will apologise for his action to the House, which the latter did accordingly. Much less could be said for the integrity of the BN whip and parliamentarians who chose not to chastise their own colleague for bringing disrepute to the House.

As the Question time proceedings restarted, the disgraceful Deputy Higher Education Minister got away scot free, without even a need to retract his use of the word.

Are these the only people Barisan Nasional or the Prime Minister could find, who are competent enough to shoulder our Government ministries? And I'm not even referring to the quality of answers, which deserves another post altogether.

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Quality of Ministerial Replies

I asked a very specific question, which was scheduled to be answered in the Parliament today at No. 26 (i.e., won't get answered orally but will get written response). I asked the Home Affairs Minister:

...bagaimanakah nilai maklumat dan kedudukan projek mega "Sistem Imigresen 'Single Platform' (SIM). Adakah projek sensitif keselamatan dalam negeri ini diberi kepada sebuah syarikat yang kurang berpengalaman dalam bidan sistem imigresen, yang dimiliki oleh warganegara asing pada masa kontrak ditetapkan?

The reply by the Minister is as follows:

Untuk makluman Ahli Yang Berhormat, Sistem Imigresen Malaysia berasaskan 'Single Platform' (SIM) dibangunkan oleh Syarikat Multimedia Glory System Sdn Bhd adalah syarikat dimiliki warganegara dan mempunyai status syarikat MSC.

Adalah tidak benar syarikat ini tidak berpengalaman dalam pembangunan sistem kerana pada masa ini beberapa modul sistem telahpun siap dibangunkan dan sudahpun beroperasi seperti sistem kawalan pintu masuk di lokasi-lokasi pintu keluar/masuk imigresen seluruh negara, sistem keselamatan, sistem pas sempadan di semua pintu masuk Imigresen Imigresen sempadan Malaysia - Thai dan sistem kawalan depot Imigresen. Malah SIM telahpun menyalurkan maklumat statistik pelancongan kepada TDC secara 'online real-time' pada masa ini.

I'll make a few comments and you can judge for yourself, if the Minister has avoided my questions altogether. Of course, to ask the above questions, I'll have my little birds (more little birds welcome).

1. The Minister completely ignored my question on the value of the project awarded. What I do understand is that the project is valued at 9 figures.
   
   
2. The Minister evaded my question as to whether the sensitive project was awarded to a company belonging to foreigners at the time of award.
   
   
3. The Minister did not state if the company had the necessary experience to carry out such a sizeable and specialised project at the time of award.
   
   
4. And besides stating certain modules which were apparently implemented, the Minister did not state if there were significant delays to the project, and when it was meant to be completed, and of course, what the Government is doing about it.

From what I can see, the clear lack of transparency and honesty with the answers certainly give rise to greater cause that something isn't particularly right with the project, and more investigation is needed. It is one thing when the Minister is clueless about a particular topic, but another altogether when he is clearly evasive.

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Independent Anti-Corruption Agency?

Just as the response to local government elections as well as the IPCMC have been particularly disappointing, this morning, SERDANG (Teo Nie Ching/DAP) has her question on the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) addressed to the Prime Minister which received only a lukewarm response. Her question was:

...sama ada Kerajaan akan mengikut seruan rakyat untuk membebaskan Badan Pencegahan Rasuah daripada kawalan Jabatan Perdana Menteri dan diletakkan di bawah Parlimen. Jika tidak, mengapa.

The reply was given by the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Datuk Nazri Aziz was fairly standard, who said he'll be gentle with first time parliamentarian SERDANG, was unfortunately disappointing.

Despite initial euphoria when the Prime Minister first raised the possibility of a Malaysian Commission on Anti-Corruption (MCAC) as part of the restructuring plan for ACA (i.e., "commission" instead of "agency"), we have been subsequently disappointed by the fact that this remains a half-hearted step towards reform as the "commission" remains under the purview of the Prime Minister's Department.

When further asked by SERDANG as to why the powers of prosecution will not be granted to MCAC, the Minister responded that the Government needs to subscribe to the "principle of separation of duties" i.e., different bodies doing the investigation as opposed to prosecution and adjudication.

When pressed by IPOH TIMUR as to why such principles don't seem to apply when the MCAC is placed under the Prime Minister's office instead of the Parliament i.e., the separation of powers, with the specific example of the Prime Minister abusing his powers by "ordering" the Attorney-General (AG) to prosecute BUKIT GELUGOR for raising questions of legality with regards to the extent of powers of the royalty, the reply by the Minister with "gentle" but clearly evasive.

The Minister responded that anybody can request for the AG to charge anybody, including IPOH TIMUR, but it's still up to the AG to decide as to whether the charge should be carried out. (The fact that the Prime Minister is the AG's boss was of course irrelevant)

And the Minister added that even if MCAC is placed under the Parliament, its powers can be abused by Parliamentarians!

Isn't placing the MCAC under Parliamentary purview less likely to be abused then under the arbitrary powers of the Prime Minister? That's what the separation of powers between the executive, the legislative and the judiciary is all about isn't it?

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Raja Petra Bailed

OK, I must confess I did a little boo boo this morning ;-)

After 15 minutes of circling around, I finally found the Petaling Jaya Sessions Court where the Malaysia Today writer was scheduled to be freed on bail this morning.

I arrived early before 9 and was informed that Raja Petra will only arrive at 9.45 am. Happily, I wandered off with Wan Hamidi, who is rumoured (heh!) to have quit New Straits Times to join my boss in Penang in the coming months, for a cup of teh tarik.

Mana tahu, as I was happily strolling back to the sessions court at 9.40, I saw a group of supporters outside the court from a little distance, and Raja Petra was already being driven off!

Sigh, and I sheepishly joined the crowd, including the media who was present who all looked at me "knowingly" that I missed the "show". And now I need to go back and report to my boss that I umm..., "failed" to represent the Chief Minister of Penang to show his (and my own of course) moral support for the ordeal he is going through.

Readers may be reminded that Sdr Lim Guan Eng was also jailed for 2 years on sedition charges, which resulted in his disqualification as a Member of Parliament (and losing all benefits, including his pension and gratuity), plus the non-renewal of his accounting practice license from the Malaysian Institute of Accountants (MIA). But this things some how have a way of coming around. ;-)

With regards to the sedition charge by the Government, which I've yet to "formally" register my position on my blog - my position is clear, and so is the Party's, that without going into the merits of Raja Petra's allegedly seditious article, the Government's use of the sedition act is a clear cut abuse of an oppressive law.

If the Deputy Prime Minister or his wife so find that the articles published were misleading or factually inaccurate, they should take the necessary civil suit route to resolve the matter, and not clearly using and abusing the state machinery.

DAP leader in Parliament, Sdr Lim Kit Siang made it the number 1 item on his agenda, "The Empire Strikes Back" in his first speech in the 12th parliament. See also the video of his speech here.

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Jetsetting PM & DPM II

Heh, thanks to the sharp memory of the moderators of Berita Malaysia, I was reminded that the Barisan Nasional (BN) secretary-general then, had himself advised "component parties of the coalition against using government facilities, including public buildingsand canopies, for the March 8 general election campaign."

[Datuk Seri Mohd Radzi Sheikh Ahmad] said they would have to apply to lease the facilities if they wanted to use them. The BN should be cautious so as to avert problems which might crop up later following the use of government facilities during the campaign, he told reporters after attending an election briefing pertaining to the Kangar parliamentary constituency near here.

Now, the BN Secretary advises one thing, and the BN Chief and Deputy Chief completely defied the "advise". I do wonder if BN has applied to "lease" the jet facilities, and if so, how much is BN paying for these services. After all, their use of the services cost the Government a whopping RM792,000!

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