Zaid's walk the talk Letter to PM

At the end of Ramadhan, what a relieving start in this Hari Raya Puasa when Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, a former UMNO Cabinet Minister in charge of law openly defying close door discussion by publishing an open letter to the Prime Minister requesting or rather demanding that the Prime Minister walk the talk.

It is rather long piece. But what I intend to do is to bold what I see as important which the Prime Minister MUST act according to the wishes of the people. Importantly, an UMNO member saw it fit. This is a letter not from a member of the Opposition. Now in his last days as Prime Minister, he can still do what is best in raising the benchmark. And hopefully Prime Minister Abdullah will be known as Bapa Reformasi instead of Bapa Flip Flop...

He still has the power to do good as such if he is reading this (of which I doubt), PLEASE DO SOMETHING....

Maybe Dr Rais Yatim should also do something....

-------

29 September 2008

YAB Dato’ Seri Abdullah Badawi
Prime Minister of Malaysia
5th Floor, East Wing
Perdana Putra Building
Putrajaya
Malaysia

Dear Mr Prime Minister

In our proclamation of independence, our first Prime Minister gave voice to the lofty aspirations and dreams of the people of Malaya: that Malaya was founded on the principles of liberty and justice, and the promise that collectively we would always strive to improve the welfare and happiness of its people.

Many years have passed since that momentous occasion and those aspirations and dreams remain true and are as relevant to us today as they were then. This was made possible by a strong grasp of fundamentals in the early period of this nation. The Federal Constitution and the laws made pursuant to it were well founded; they embodied the key elements of a democracy built on the Rule of Law. The Malaysian Judiciary once commanded great respect from Malaysians and was hailed as a beacon for other nations. Our earlier Prime Ministers, Tunku Abdul Rahman, Tun Razak and Tun Hussein Onn were truly leaders of integrity, patriots in their own right and most importantly, men of humility. They believed in and built this nation on the principles and values enunciated in our Constitution.

Even when they had to enact the Internal Security Act (ISA) 1960, they were very cautious and apologetic about it. Tunku stated clearly that the Act was passed to deal with the communist threat. “My cabinet colleagues and I gave a solemn promise to Parliament and the nation that the immense powers given to the Government under the ISA would never be used to stifle legitimate opposition and silent lawful dissent”, was what the Tunku said. Our third Prime Minister Tun Hussein Onn reinforced this position by saying that the ISA was not intended to repress lawful political opposition and democratic activity on the part of the citizenry.

The events of the last three weeks have compelled me to review the way in which the ISA has been used. This exercise has sadly led me to the conclusion that the Government has time and time again failed the people of this country in repeatedly reneging on that solemn promise made by Tunku Abdul Rahman. This has been made possible because the Government and the law have mistakenly allowed the Minister of Home Affairs to detain anyone for whatever reason he thinks fit. This subjective discretion has been abused to further certain political interests.

History is the great teacher and speaks volumes in this regard. Even a cursory examination of the manner in which the ISA has been used almost from its inception would reveal the extent to which its intended purpose has been subjugated to the politics of the day.

Regrettably, Tunku Abdul Rahman himself reneged on his promise. In 1965, his administration detained Burhanuddin Helmi, the truly towering Malay intellectual, a nationalist who happened to be a PAS leader. He was kept in detention until his death in 1969. Helmi was a political opponent and could by no stretch of the imagination be considered to have been involved in the armed rebellion or communism that the ISA was designed to deal with. This detention was an aberration, a regrettable moment where politics had been permitted to trump the rule of law. It unfortunately appears to have set a precedent and many detentions of persons viewed as having been threatening to the incumbent administration followed through the years. Even our literary giant, ‘sasterawan negara’ the late Tan Sri A Samad Ismail was subjected to the ISA in 1976. How could he have been a threat to national security?

I need not remind you of the terrible impact of the 1987 Operasi Lalang. Its spectre haunts the Government as much as it does the peace loving people of this nation, casting a gloom over all of us. There were and still are many unanswered questions about those dark hours when more than a hundred persons were detained for purportedly being threats to national security. Why they were detained has never been made clear to Malaysians. Similarly, no explanation has been forthcoming as to why they were never charged in court. Those detainees included amongst their numbers senior opposition Members of Parliament who are still active in Parliament today. The only thing that is certain about that period was that UMNO was facing a leadership crisis. Isn’t it coincidental that the recent spate of ISA arrests has occurred when UMNO is again having a leadership crisis?

In 2001, Keadilan ‘reformasi’ activists were detained in an exercise that the Federal Court declared was in bad faith and unlawful. The continued detention of those that were not released earlier in the Kamunting detention facility was made possible only by the fact that the ISA had been questionably amended in 1988 to preclude judicial review of the Minister’s order to detain. Malaysians were told that these detainees had been attempting to overthrow the Government via militant means and violent demonstrations. Seven years have gone and yet no evidence in support of this assertion has been presented. Compounding the confusion even further, one of these so-called militants, Ezam Mohamad Noor, recently rejoined UMNO to great fanfare, as a prized catch it would seem.

At around the same time, members of PAS were also detained for purportedly being militant and allegedly having links to international terrorist networks. Those detained included Nik Adli, the son of Tuan Guru Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat the Menteri Besar of Kelantan. Malaysians were made a promise by the Government that evidence of the alleged terrorist activities and links of these detainees would be disclosed. To date no such evidence has been produced.

The same formula was used in late 2007 when the HINDRAF 5 were detained. Malaysians were told once again that these individuals were involved in efforts to overthrow the Government and had links with the militant Liberation Tiger of Tamil Eelam of Sri Lanka. To date no concrete evidence have been presented to support this assertion. It would seem therefore that the five were detained for their involvement in efforts that led to a mobilisation of Malaysian Indians to express, through peaceful means, their frustration against the way in which their community had been allowed to be marginalised. This cause has since been recognised as a legitimate one. The HINDRAF demonstration is nothing extraordinary as such assemblies are universally recognised as being a legitimate means of expression.

In the same vein, the grounds advanced in support of the most recent detentions of Tan Hoon Cheng, Teresa Kok and Raja Petra Kamarudin leave much to be desired. The explanation that Tan Hoon Cheng was detained for her own safety was farcical. The suggestion that Teresa Kok had been inciting religious sentiments was unfounded as was evinced by her subsequent release.

As for Raja Petra Kamarudin, the prominent critic of the Government, a perusal of his writings would show that he might have been insulting of the Government and certain individuals within it. However, being critical and insulting could not in any way amount to a threat to national security. If his writings are viewed as being insulting of Islam, Muslims or the Holy Prophet (pbuh), he should instead be charged under the Penal Code and not under the ISA. In any event, he had already been charged for sedition and criminal defamation in respect of some of his statements. He had claimed trial, indicating as such his readiness and ability to defend himself. Justice would best be served by allowing him his day in court more so where, in the minds of the public, the Government is in a position of conflict for having been the target of his strident criticism.

The instances cited above strongly suggest that the Government is undemocratic. It is this perspective that has over the last 25 plus years led to the Government seemingly arbitrarily detaining political opponents, civil society and consumer advocates, writers, businessmen, students, journalists whose crime, if it could be called that, was to have been critical of the Government. How it is these individuals can be perceived as being threats to national security is beyond my comprehension. The self-evident reality is that legitimate dissent was and is quashed through the heavy-handed use of the ISA.

There are those who support and advocate this carte-blanche reading of the ISA. They will seek to persuade you that the interests of the country demand that such power be retained, that Malaysians owe their peace and stability to laws such as the ISA. This overlooks the simple truth that Malaysians of all races cherish peace. We lived together harmoniously for the last 400 years, not because of these laws but in spite of them.

I believe the people of this country are mature and intelligent enough to distinguish actions that constitute a ‘real’ threat to the country from those that threaten political interests. Malaysians have come know that the ISA is used against political opponents and, it would seem, when the leadership is under challenge either from within the ruling party or from external elements.

Malaysians today want to see a Government that is committed to the court process to determine guilt or innocence even for alleged acts of incitement of racial or religious sentiment. They are less willing to believe, as they once did, that a single individual, namely the Minister of Home Affairs, knows best about matters of national security. They value freedom and the protection of civil liberties and this is true of people of other nations too.

Mr Prime Minister, the results of the last General Election are clear indication that the people of Malaysia are demanding a reinstatement of the Rule of Law. I was appointed as your, albeit short-lived, Minister in charge of legal affairs and judicial reform. In that capacity, I came to understand more keenly how many of us want reform, not for the sake of it, but for the extent to which our institutions have been undermined by events and the impact this has had on society.

With your blessing, I attempted to push for reform. High on my list of priorities was a reinstatement of the inherent right of judicial review that could be enabled through a reversion of the key constitutional provision to its form prior to the controversial amendment in 1988. I need not remind you that that constitutional amendment was prompted by the same series of events that led not only to Operasi Lalang but the sacking of the then Lord President and two supreme court justices. Chief amongst my concerns was the way in which the jurisdiction and the power of the Courts to grant remedy against unconstitutional and arbitrary action of the Executive had been removed by Parliament and the extent to which this had permitted an erosion of the civil liberties of Malaysians. It was this constitutional amendment that paved the way for the ouster provision in the ISA that virtually immunises the Minister from judicial review, a provision which exemplifies the injustice the constitutional amendment of 1988 has lent itself.

I also sought to introduce means by which steps could be taken to assist the Judiciary to regain the reputation for independence and competence it once had. Unfortunately, this was viewed as undesirable by some since an independent Judiciary would mean that the Executive would be less ‘influential’.

I attempted to do these things and more because of the realisation that Malaysia’s democratic traditions and the Rule of Law are under siege. Anyway, there is nothing wrong with giving everyone an independent Judiciary and the opportunity to a fair trial. This is consistent with the universal norms of human rights as it is with the tenets of Islam, the religion of the Federation. Unchecked power to detain at the whim of one man is oppressiveness at its highest. Even in Israel, a nation that is perpetually at war, the power to detain is not vested in one man and detention orders require endorsement from a judge.

If there are national security considerations, then these can be approached without jettisoning the safeguards intended to protect individual citizens from being penalised wrongfully. In other jurisdictions involved in armed conflicts, trials are held in camera to allow for judicial scrutiny of evidence considered too sensitive for public disclosure so as to satisfy the ends of justice. If this can be done in these jurisdictions, why not here where the last armed struggle we saw, the very one that precipitated the need for the ISA, came to an end in the 1980s? Any doubts as to the continued relevance of the ISA in its present form should have been put to rest by the recommendation by the National Human Rights Commission (SUHAKAM) that the ISA be repealed and an anti-terror legislation suited to the times enacted in its place. Containing as it did a sunset clause in its original times, the ISA was never intended to be a permanent feature on the Malaysian legal landscape.

Through its continued use in the manner described above and in the face of public sentiment, it is only natural that the ISA has become in the mind of the people an instrument of oppression and the Government is one that lends itself to oppressiveness. Its continued use does not bode well for a society that is struggling to find its place in the global arena. It does not bode well for the democracy that is so vital for us to develop sustainably.

Mr Prime Minister, I remember very clearly what you once said; that if one has the opportunity to do what is good and right for the country, then he must take on the task. I respect you deeply for that and if I were confident that I would have been able to do some good for Malaysia, I would have remained on your team. Sir, you are still the Prime Minister and you still have the opportunity to leave your footprint in Malaysian history. I urge you to do so by repealing the ISA once and for all.

Let us attempt to fulfil that solemn promise made by our beloved first Prime Minister to the people of this country.

Yours sincerely

ZAID IBRAHIM
Kuala Lumpur

Selamat Hari Raya

To all my beloved Muslim friends

"SELAMAT HARI RAYA"

and

"BLESSED HOLIDAY"

21 things girls don't realize about guys

I am posting something relaxing during the Hari Raya holidays. Nothing politics for now..... something I got from my mail which I just want to share with all the guys around. My short comment in red.

21 things girls don't realize about guys

You HAVE to read all of them and if you don't your going to come across with problems in your relationship for the next month!
1) Guys may be flirting around all day, but before they go to sleep, they always think about the girl they truly care about.... (Quite true)

2) Guys are more emotional than you think, if they loved you at one point, it'll take them a lot longer then you think to let you go, and it hurts every second that they try (Quite true. I saw that in my friends)

3) Guys go crazy over a girl's smile(: (Quite true. I remember when a girl at Canosa Convent smiled at me, I simply go GAGA. Can't sleep either)

4) A guy who likes you wants to be the only guy you talk to. (Quite true)

5) Giving a guy a hanging message like 'You know what?..uh...nevermind..' would make him jump to a conclusion that is far from what you are thinking. And he'll assume he did something wrong and he'll obsess about it trying to figure it out. (Pretty normal though, anyway that is my real big weakness when my wife do tha.... she is too anyway)

6) If a guy tells you about his problems, he just needs someone to listen to him. You don't need to give advice. (Very true because at the end of the day guys can settle it all by ourselves...male chauvinist, can't help it)

7) A usual act that proves that the guy likes you is when he teases you. (True, I tease my wife)

8) GUYS LOVE YOU MORE THEN YOU LOVE THEM!!! (Of course. We always say I LOVE YOU MORE)

9) Guys use words like hot or cute to describe girls. They rarely use beautiful or gorgeous. If a guy uses that he loves you or likes you a whole heck of a lot. (hehe, informal mah. Only formal words for THE girl. That is why guys are often FAKE. But we fake to impress.)

10)If the guy does something stupid in front of the girl, he will think about it for the next couple days or until the next time he spends time with the girl. (Very so true)

11)If a guy looks unusually calm and laid back, he'll probably faking it and he is really thinking about something (Quite true, refer to no. 9)

12) When a guy says he is going crazy about the girl, he really is as Guys rarely say that (Well we are very honest in terms of relationship. The only problem is Woman just don't believe us)

13)When a guy asks you to leave him alone, he'll just actually saying, 'Please come and listen to me (Tunjuk macho saja. But deep down emotional habis)

14)If a guy starts to talk seriously, listen to him. It doesn't happen that often, so when it does, you know something's up. (Well that depends on situation)

15) When a guy looks at you for longer than a second, he's definitely thinking something. (Probably counting the cost)

16) Guys really think that girls are strange and have unpredictable decisions and are MAD confusing but somehow are drawn even more to them (Quite true. I saw that in my friends)

17)A guy would give the world to be able to read a girl's mind for a day. (Of course because they don't tell you what they think. More often than not you get more confuse)

18)No guy can handle all his problems on his own. He's just too stubborn to admit it (Quite true. Refer to No. 6)

19)NOT ALL GUYS ARE RUDE!!! (Am not rude) Just because ONE is RUDE doesnt mean he represents ALL of them (Well like the saying goes, every profession has a kambing hitam)

20)WHEN A GUY SACRIFICES HIS SLEEP AND HEALTH JUST TO TALK TO YOU, HE REALLY LIKES YOU AND WANTS TO BE WITH YOU AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE (haha. it must be the chats)

21)Even if you dump a guy months ago and he loved you he probably still does and if he had one wish it would be you to come back into his life (Guys are dumb. But what ta hack, worth it)

Now It's Molotov

I seriously cannot understand the motive of these people.

Now they are resorting to Molotov Cocktail on YB Teresa. Thankfully nobody is hurt.

I cannot understand what wrong she did.

The mosque committee already lodge a police report saying she was never involved. And now some idiots use such things on her.

Corruption Index for Malaysia......sama tetapi lebih teruk

After all the hue and cry, after all the arrest made against officers from Puspakom, JPJ, the controversial arrest and charged of Perak EXCO men, AND after all the pledge by the federal BN government to curb corruption, Malaysia's corruption perception index remained UNCHANGED. We are still at 5.1 score and worst still slid from 43rd to the 47th place.

Meaning the Federal Government either do not have the political will to do all the necessary to curb corruption or that the recent arrests are merely sandiwara by the Federal Government.

Bah.... What a ripped off...

-------- from NST
Malaysia's corruption perception index unchanged

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's corruption perception index remains unchanged from last year at 5.1.

While the score remained the same, the country had, however, slid from 43rd to 47th place in the ranking of 180 countries.

President of Transparency International Malaysia Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam said yesterday that this development was disconcerting.

Malaysia's CP index has fluctuated between 4.9 in 2002 and 5.1 in 2008.

"What the latest findings show is that what the government has done so far to eradicate corruption has failed to make an impact," Navaratnam told a press conference during which he released the results of the Transparency International's survey on corruption.

"People don't believe any of these changes are real or meaningful."

He said fighting corruption in the public sector required strong political will.

"A culture of intolerance for corruption needs also to be instilled into the culture of the civil service and political leaders must lead by example and walk the talk," he said.

"However, it cannot be a government effort alone.

"In order for corruption to be eradicated, the people themselves must move to put a stop to it.

The Transparency International CPI measures the perceived levels of public-sector corruption in a given country. It is a composite index, drawing on different expert and business surveys.

The 2008 CPI scores 180 countries, the same number as last year.

It rates them on a scale of zero (highly corrupt) to 10 (highly clean).

This year, Denmark, New Zealand and Sweden share the highest score at 9.3, followed by Singapore at 9.2.

The worst countries in the survey were Somalia (1.0), Iraq (1.3) and Haiti (1.4).

The countries that improved the most since last year were Albania, Cyprus, Georgia, Mauritius, Nigeria, Oman, Qatar, South Korea, Tonga as well as Turkey.

Bulgaria, Burundi, Maldives, Norway and the United Kingdom registered a fall in their scores.

Press Statement On Raja Petra

Tuesday, 23 September 2008 06:50pm

The Malaysian Bar is deeply disappointed that the Government has seen fit to issue a 2-year detention order under S8 of the ISA against Raja Petra. The issue of the order on the eve of the hearing of his habeas corpus application is troubling, as it undermines the application.

Raja Petra is being detained for writing articles, which have long been in the public domain. Police reports have been lodged against him by various parties. If offences have been committed, he can be charged in Court for them as he has been in the past.

Raja Petra’s continued detention is therefore puzzling. The ISA is being used against an individual where other avenues that afford him a chance to defend himself, exist. It confirms the impression that the ISA is being used for purposes other than national security. It is being used to stifle dissent.

Dato’ Ambiga Sreenevasan
President
Malaysian Bar

SAPP out of BN

Press statement by SAPP President Datuk Yong Teck Lee after the SAPP Supreme Council Meeting at Party HQ, Kota Kinabalu on September 17, 2008 (4:30 pm)

1. The BN has lost its "BN spirit". It was not that the people who did not want the BN, it was the BN who abandoned the people. In spite of repeated appeals from some BN members to other BN leaders to be more sensitive to the peoples' feelings, these leaders continue to treat the people with contempt. Perhaps, after 50 years of uninterrupted government, some BN leaders have got it in their heads that they have a divine right to rule.
   
   
2. On March 8, the people had spoken out loud and clear. The BN paid a heavy price. But yet the BN refuses to learn. The ruthless increase in fuel prices on June 4 and the failure to tackle inflation and economic slowdown have dealt a severe blow to ordinary people. The recent blatant abuse of the ISA against an innocent journalist, an MP and a blogger only confirms that the BN leadership has not learned from their mistakes. The shameful Taiwan trip by 49 BN MPs and the instigation of racial animosities have aggravated the collapse of confidence among the people and leaders, not only on the PM but the BN as well. The PM's budget 2009 was totally uninspiring and has already been discredited even before it was debated in Parliament. The BN has lost its moral authority to rule. Numerical majority in Parliament means little if the people no longer respect you.
   
   
3. Minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim's resignation only confirms what many lawyers already knew that is that the Prime Minister and his government has never had the intention to reform the judiciary. Datuk Zaid's exposure about "the BN government being paralysed by internal strife and divisions" has also been known to many people in the BN. In many other countries, such paralysis of government will lead to fresh general elections.
   
   
4. The PM himself appeared drifting, not knowing what has been happening around him. SAPP has nothing personal against the PM and family. None of the matters raised by SAPP concerns his person, his family, son, daughter, son-in-law or businesses. SAPP is only concerned about the issues affecting the country such as the need for good governance, the dangers of racial polarization and injustice of economic imbalances to be tackled effectively.
   
   
5. SAPP hereby proudly dissociates ourselves from these shameful wrong doings of the BN government. SAPP further believes that the BN is not capable of practicing good governance and non-racial politics; that BN has no intention in granting autonomy to Sabah, returning 20% of oil royalties and Labuan to Sabah, implement Borneonisation, review unfair federal laws and departments in Sabah, solve the illegal immigrants problems and remove social and economic imbalances. The BN leadership even refused to recognize historical facts by denying September 16 as Malaysia Day, 45 years.
   
   
6. SAPP had only wanted to see that the legitimate rights of Sabah and the unfairness suffered by Malaysians in Sabah be given due attention with results. The BN must realize that, if not for Sabah and Sarawak, BN would be in the opposition today. But instead of sincerely working to solve the issues raised by SAPP, the BN has chosen to embark on a course of action to destroy SAPP. The SAPP Supreme Council hereby condemns the attempts of BN operatives to destroy SAPP through divide and rule tactics and by abusing the economic resources of the BN State and Federal Governments aimed at instigating SAPP members and leaders to destroy SAPP.
   
   
7. As a matter of fact, by deliberately excluding SAPP from four consecutive meetings of the Dewan Tertinggi and two meetings of the Management Committee ever since the announcement of no confidence on the Prime Minister on June 18, the BN has effectively terminated the membership of SAPP. The SAPP Supreme Council hereby declares that SAPP is no longer a member of the Barisan Nasional coalition of parties.
   
   
8. SAPP is now free from the BN. SAPP shall henceforth use this freedom to pursue our autonomous political path to fulfill our mission to establish a trustworthy government and a progressive, just and harmonious society. We are no longer subservient to BN. We now have the master key to our own house. We shall build a brighter future for our people and the younger generations to come.
   
   
9. SAPP members who hold political appointments in the executive branch of Government shall relinquish their posts by giving the due notice under the constitution and relevant rules and regulations, starting at the Cabinet level.
   
   
10. With our experienced MPs, ADUNs and other party colleagues, SAPP shall provide quality opposition in and outside the Parliament and State Legislative Assembly until the time comes when SAPP is ready to be back in government.
    
    
11. I call on our members to be brave. Do not despair. Remember that one of our party culture seven values is Resilience. From the day we join the party, we knew that things can get very rough for us. Yes, together we shall overcome this difficult period because the people are with us. With the strong encouragement and support of the people, SAPP will succeed in our struggle.
    
    
12. In view of the current fasting month of Ramadhan, SAPP shall only embark on a series of political activities two weeks after Hari Raya. We shall plan a road map to victory in future elections. We shall elaborate how we plan to achieve the eight-points declaration, namely:
    
    (i) Good governance and non-racial politics,
    (ii) Autonomy for Sabah,
    (iii) 20% oil royalties,
    (iv) Return of Labuan,
    (v) Review of unfair laws and detrimental departments,
    (vi) Borneonisation of the federal civil service,
    (vii) Solution to the illegal immigrants issue, and
    (viii) Redress economic and social imbalances.
    
    Thank you.

------

Things are getting interesting....

Boycott UTUSAN the racist Newspaper

I did a cut/paste from Kamal-talks' blog on the nationwide boycott on this racist newspaper. I think the time is now for all Malaysians, to teach this newspaper a lesson.

The nationwide Utusan Malaysia Boycott Campaign is on. This boycott is applicable to all publications under the Utusan Malaysia group of companies, with immediate effect. All right-thinking Malaysians are requested to cancel their subscription to Utusan Malaysia & related publications. The boycott campaign against any company that advertises in any Utusan Malaysia publication will take off on October 1, 2008. This is to provide some time allowance for advertisers to pull their advertisements & accounts from Utusan Malaysia. The voice of lies, deceits & bigotry must be stopped. Please help to spread the word.

Zaid Ibrahim.... the man of the hour

Reading between the lines, I have build my respect with this chap. The Prime Minister accepted his resignation yesterday.

Sayang seribu sayang. The cabinet lost a worker and UMNO will count-it-lost a top lieutenant. I am not surprised (and be watching) with his independent mind and outspokeness, PKR-DAP-PAS may one to approach him. My take is, it is probably the beginning of his career in the new government.

------

©The Star (Used by permission)
by Sim Leoi Leoi and Shaila Koshy

PUTRAJAYA: Datul Zaid Ibrahim said he was quitting from the Cabinet because he had “failed.”

He said he constantly met “a brick wall” from his Cabinet colleagues and party members on many of his suggestions for reform.

The former de facto Law Minister, who remains a Senator, also said he did not want problems arising from his proposals to plague Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi at a time when the latter had to grapple with party conflict and other challenges.

He had submitted his resignation letter to Abdullah on Monday. The Prime Minister at first did not accept his resignation and asked him to reconsider, but on Tuesday finally confirmed he had accepted Zaid’s resignation.

“Although I thanked the PM for his suggestion that I go on leave instead, I am not tired. I’m just disappointed.

“I pray that the PM will be able to overcome all the problems he is facing, and that he remains as Umno president and Prime Minister to accomplish what he has set out to do.

“I apologise to all Malaysians because of my weaknesses, I have failed,” he said in a 40-minute press conference at his office here on Tuesday.

Zaid was appointed Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department after the 12th general election in March as part of Abdullah’s efforts for reform.

“It has not been a mistake to take up the offer,” Zaid said.

Asked why he was giving up when he had bluntly told journalists in May that they should go on fighting for media freedom despite the obstacles of the past 20 years, he said:

“Maybe I’m not as courageous as you are. I agree change does take time but I was looking for some positive development to give me assurance.”

He however maintained Abdullah had been supportive“within his own constraints.”

Asked whether Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim -- if he formed a new government -- would be able to bring reform to the judiciary, Zaid replied: “He hasn’t formed the government. It doesn’t matter whether the Prime Minister is Abdullah, Datuk Seri Najib (Tun Razak), Tengku Razaleigh (Hamzah), (Tan Sri) Muyhiddin (Yassin) or Anwar. I don’t care; I just want to see transformation.”

Describing himself as a “man of deep responsibility”, Zaid lamented that in the six months he had been Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, he had “gone through a lot”, ranging from accusations of not standing up for his own race and religion to being criticised in Parliament.

Naming Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman as one of his critics, Zaid argued that Malays and Malaysians could only benefit from his proposals.

“You can still be a champion for your race and think of the country.”

“But I could not translate what I wanted to do, particularly on issues such as equal rights for everyone as stated in the Constitution. I think I have failed to convince those in authority and positions of power to effect those changes which will allow this Government to move forward.”

In his resignation letter to the Prime Minister, he had enumerated his frustrations in achieving the reforms he had been tasked with. The straw that broke his back was the arrest of three civilians under the Internal Security Act last Friday.

Asked whether the public should give up on Abdullah’s promise for judicial reform since Zaid -- the person specifically tasked with achieving it had resigned -- he replied:

“I don’t think everything should be pegged to me. I am not a hero. Someone else might be more acceptable.”

Asked whether he would now leave Umno for opposition party PKR, Zaid admitted he had not been “treated well” by Umno and was even suspended once on charges of money politics.

“Many of those who criticised me are from Umno. Sometimes, I feel that I should change, instead of them.

“I don’t know PKR well. It’s too early to say, I have an open mind. But I haven’t made any decision to join PKR or anybody else,” he said, adding that he had not been courted.

Asked whether he had advice for the Government, Zaid said it must start trusting its own people it if were to build “one country, one system.”

“If you can’t bring yourself to that level of trust, you will always worry which policy benefits which group. You can have race-based parties but you don’t have to be racist bigots,” he said on his last day in office

Solidarity With Teresa

DAP Melaka held a candlelight vigil for YB Teresa Kok Member of Parliament for Seputeh and State assemblywoman for Kinrara who was recently arrested under the notorious Internal Security Act. The arrest and detention under the Act was not only immoral and unjust but without valid legal grounds. As such DAP Melaka condemn such arbitrary and unilateral act against our Parliamentarian.

With the attendance of no less than 200 people by supporters and members, no doubt shows off a commitment and support by the people of Melaka saying NO TO ISA. We hope and pray that the authorities, especially the police and the Home Affair Minister will come to a realisation that their act was a mistake, uncalled for and went against the rule of natural justice and morality. As such we further hope that YB Teresa Kok will be freed without unnecessary delay.

DSAI says more than 31 will Cross

More than 31 BN Backbenchers will cross over to Pakatan.

DSAI refused to disclose the names of alll intending to cross over as he is afraid that the government will harassed each member of parliament. DSAI also suggested that should the Prime Minister wishes to know who, DSAI will release the list to him. DSAI also gave the Prime Minister some time to think about the whole matter.

In fact yesterday, a letter was send to the Prime Minister's office demanding four areas i.e.

1) That BN garmendoes not hinder or prevent the MPs from acting in accordance with their conscience and judgement;

2) That the BN garman should not invoke the ISA to detain MPs (like what happen to Teresa);

3) That BN garman does not invoke emergency laws or suspend the Constitution or dissolve Parliament; and

4) That the BN garmen shall not impose roadblocks or impede MPs from going to Parliament or any institution of government.

----- Taken from Star

PETALING JAYA: Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has claimed that more than 31 Barisan MPs have agreed to cross over to Pakatan Rakyat.

He, however, refused to reveal the names of the 31 MPs.

Anwar told a press conference at the PKR headquarters in Petaling Jaya on Tuesday that he would do so when he meets the Prime Minister.

The Permatang Pauh MP also claimed that the transition to the new Government has been delayed a few days pending the meeting with Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to ensure a smooth and peaceful transition.

He said it was up to Abdullah to agree to the meeting and its date.

Nah Bagi U, Utusan Setan

Bagi sama you, Setan... Almost a devil. This is Utusan Malaysia. A racist newspaper deserved to be ISAed. License must be revoked immediately. Write without facts, without understanding, only with full malice.

The writer in that piece deserved a knock out. He is never a human, just devilish. You are a bas***d. I just can't believe that you can sleep so soundly. People like you should not be called Malaysians. You are nothing BUT embarrassment to good journalism.

(I have never been SO UPSET before in my blog. I am so pissed off.)

Sassy MP, we are behind you....

*The letter of Demand to Utusan was faxed to the editor at 4.40pm today.

Your Ref: please advise

Our Ref: SNN/YBT/ Civil/08

Date: 15-9-2008
THE EDITOR

Utusan Melayu (Malaysia) Berhad

46M, Jalan Lima Off Jalan Chan Sow Lin

55200 Kuala Lumpur

Sir,

RE: LIBELOUS ARTICLE

We act for YB Teresa Kok Suh Sim.

Our client refers you to the following article that was carried by your newspaper on 10 September 2008 under the captions “Azan, jawi, JAIS, UiTM dan ba-alif-ba-ya…” (hereinafter known as “the impugned article”)

The impugned article that you published, mean and were understood to mean that our client, inter alia:-

1. is a racist;
2. is a religious bigot;
3. is an untrustworthy person as well as an untrustworthy and a bad politician;
4. is intolerant and unprincipled; and
5. is a parochial politician who is anti Islam and anti Malay.

Our client contends the following:-

1. the impugned article as stated above of our client are and were grossly negligent, reckless, irresponsible, deliberate, malicious and aimed to lower our client’s esteem in the eye of the public and expose our client to public hatred, scorn, odium, contempt and ridicule;

2. the impugned article as stated above of our client are motivated or actuated by mala fides, distortion of facts suggesting moral and legal impropriety on the part of our client and are principally done in your pursuit of seeking cheap publicity, sensationalism;

3. the impugned article as stated above of our client are pre-mediated and calculated to tarnish, malign, defame and seriously injure the good name and character of our client;

We are further instructed that you have or caused to have republished the following impugned article.

The allegations and the comments in the impugned article against our client amount to a very serious libel on our client and have caused her considerable distress and embarrassment. These allegations made against her are false and your attack on her is wholly unjustified.

We are therefore instructed to demand, which we hereby do:

1. An immediate and unequivocal public retraction of the impugned article by your newspaper and the removal of all the offending and defamatory comments forthwith.

2. An apology in terms to be approved by us as solicitors to be published in newspapers of our client’s choice.

3. An undertaking by yourselves not to repeat the above words, allegations and comments contained in the impugned article.

Our client has also instructed us to demand damages from you for the injury caused to her reputation of RM30,000,000-00 (Ringgit Malaysia Thirty Million).

Our client has also requested us to demand payment of all legal costs that has been incurred with regard to this matter.

This letter is written in accordance with the pre-action protocol prior to the institution of a libel action. We look forward to hear from you without delay. If we do not receive a satisfactory reply within twenty four (24) hours of receipt of this letter, our instructions are to institute legal proceedings. In the meantime, our client reserves all her rights in this matter.

Kindly acknowledge receipt accordingly.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

S N NAIR & PARTNERS

c.c. client

Anwar a Hypocrite?

10 years political wilderness, a long lesson learnt to DSAI. As such he may have known the pain as a prisoner before. Well I am giving a benefit of the doubt to DSAI to prove his worth to Malaysian. Between the lesser of two evil, I'll choose DSAI to lead. Anyway we have already given 51 years to Barisan Nasional/Alliance. So I don't mind gambling it on DSAI this round. Time to change.

----- taken from the Star

Anwar branded a hypocrite on ISA

KOTA BARU: The sole Independent MP Datuk Paduka Ibrahim Ali has called on PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to stop being a hypocrite with regard to the Internal Security Act (ISA).

When Anwar was a federal minister in 1987, he defended the Government’s move to use ISA in “Ops Lalang,” Ibrahim said.

“But now, Anwar is asking for Selangor senior state exco member Teresa Kok to be released.

“How ironic. When I was among those detained under Ops Lalang, Anwar kept quiet,” he added,

On a new Federal Government being formed come Sept 16 or even later, Ibrahim said he fully supported it if PAS led the initiative to do so.

He added that PAS should nominate one of its leaders to become the new prime minister.

“I am neither supporting Barisan nor PKR but I would support PAS because they are a strategic ally,” said the outspoken MP, adding that he could not support a PKR initiative led by Anwar.

“I cannot accept Anwar because of the hypocrisy of his politics,” said Ibrahim.

ISA should not be used : Zaid Ibrahim

De facto law Minister, Datuk Zaid Ibrahim have spoken. The ISA should not be used against civilians. Compare that to the Home Affair Minister who is legally trained saying that the ISA was used to protect the reporter. Now, I have read from cover to cover on the Internal Security Act and found nothing to suggest what the Home Affair Minister suggested.

Nothing short of a blatant lie to cover a fault or mistake. I think, the reporter should just sue the government for false imprisonment or something to that extent. A complete fabrication.


---- Taken from the Star below

KOTA BARU: The Internal Security Act (ISA) should not be used against civilians, de facto law minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim said.

The Act should only be used against terrorists or those trying to topple the Government by force, the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department said at a press conference at his home here on Sunday.

He was commenting on the arrests of three people -- Seputeh MP Teresa Kok, Malaysia Today editor Raja Petra Kama­rudin and Sin Chew Daily reporter Tan Hoon Cheng -- under the ISA.

Tan has since been released.

“I will seek a meeting with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to have a frank discussion about this issue to seek his views as soon as possible,” he told reporters.

“I know I am breaking rank here ... I am prepared to face the consequences. If I am told to resign, I will do so.

"I am not a trouble maker and I don't want to cause any trouble for the Prime Minister, but I have my principles and will always be a vocal critic of the use of the ISA.

"I joined his administration to make changes and everybody knows, I am also for a more open form of media reporting," he added.

Zaid said it was time for the Federal Government to revert to the original spirit of the ISA, which was enacted to curb Communism and today should be used only on armed terrorists or those out to topple the Government by force.

“I am not calling for a repeal of the ISA, but it should only be use when there is a real threat to national security, such as armed terrorists, and not on civilians,” he said.

He said by using the ISA randomly, the Government was sending out a message that it does not trust the capabilities of its own enforcement agencies, such as the police, in maintaining peace.

There are ample punitive legislations such as the Penal Code, Sedition Act and criminal defamation to take against those who break the law or are involved in activities which may destabilise the Government, without having to invoke the ISA, Zaid said.

He said the use of the ISA also gives the impression of “selective prosecution” as the Government cannot incarcerate everybody.

“In this latest episode, we (the Government) have generated an impression of selective prosecution since no action was taken against the person who allegedly uttered seditious remarks.

“We are saying that we are only acting against those who are disloyal to us.”

“The Government needs to change and Cabinet members need to realise this -- we have to be progressive.”

Asked whether the ISA was likely used because of strained “race relations” which may undermine national stability, Zaid said that while he placed paramount importance on national stability, the role of the Government was to find solutions, not to make matters worse.

“I agree we have many issues and sensitivities to address but for me, racial disharmony is a seasonal thing in Malaysia. We must engage in open dialogues and discussions to resolve these issues,” he said.

On whether the ISA was used because the court process may be too long, Zaid noted that the Government never even attempted to use the court system first -- instead, it simply went ahead with using the ISA first.

“If our court system is too slow, we must ... make it more efficient by hiring more prosecutors, while the police must conduct proper investigation to acquire credible evidence,” he said.

Press Statement by Jamaah Islah Malaysia on ISA

Taken from Tony Pua's blog

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

Press Statement by Muslim Professional Forum - ISA Arrest

Press Statement by Muslim Professionals Forum

Saturday 13/9/2008

MPF PRESS RELEASE - ISA ARRESTS
13th September 2008

The arrests of MP Theresa Kok and journalist Tan Hoon Cheng under the ISA following that of blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin raise grave concern for Malaysians.

An endearing legacy of Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s leadership that we have come to appreciate is the openness albeit limited, that has come as a breath of fresh air after 2 decades of punitive control of the public sphere.

The arrests of the three individuals under the draconian law at a time when Malaysians have become more mature politically and less inclined to be baited by racial politics will no doubt further erode the legitimacy of and support for the ruling party, perhaps irrevocably.

Of no less import will be the repercussions to Malaysia’s reputation internationally, that time and again the ruling party resorts to an unjust and antiquated piece of legislation to silence dissent in order to sustain her cling to power.

It is clear to all that the arrests of MP Theresa Kok and journalist Tan Hoon Cheng are completely without justification. Tan was merely doing her job as a journalist and UMNO has undertaken the appropriate measures, including an apology from its deputy president. In the “Puchong Azan Issue”, MP Theresa Kok was arrested over what is clearly a false allegation. We urge the authorities to immediately release the two and bring to book those responsible for fomenting racial and religious hatred.

It cannot be completely denied that Raja Petra Kamarudin in his writings and those who contribute to his blog have expressed views that many Muslims consider as denigrating the prophet and the religion of Islam. However we believe this can be countered by sound arguments based on well accepted teachings and sources of Islam. In the extreme, the authorities may take him to the Syariah court. The use of the ISA is excessive, inhumane and runs counter to Islam’s principles of justice.

In this blessed month of Ramadhan, we urge the authorities to act justly in carrying out their responsibility of maintaining the peace and security of the country. We also urge everyone in the public sphere to exercise restraint and wisdom in discussing issues of race and religion.

Board of Directors
Muslim Professionals Forum

Dr. Mazeni Alwi
Dr. Shaikh Johari Bux
Haji Mohamed Ali Ghazali
Dato’ Dr. Musa Mohd. Nordin

YB Teresa Kok EXPLAINED....

YB Teresa Kok explained but yet taken in under the ISA. The below is taken from her blog.

Sejak kempen Pilihan Raya Permatang Pauh bermula, saya telah diberitahu bahawa terdapatnya satu email yang mengatakan saya membawa sekumpulan penduduk di Puchong mengadakan petisyen untuk membantah azan terhadap sebuah masjid di Puchong, dan saya dikatakan membentangkan petisyen ini kepada YB Satim, ADUN UMNO di Puchong.

Pada mulanya, saya tidak peduli khabar angin ini kerana saya amat sibuk dengan banyak urusan kerajaan. Tetapi selepas itu, email yang diedarkan di internet ini telahpun dihantar kepada lebih ramai orang, termasuk wakil rakyat kaum Melayu dan wartawan di akhbar Bahasa Malaysia. Pada Ahad yang lepas, saya terima panggilan daripada YB Khalid Samad, Ahli Parlimen Shah Alam dan dua orang pemberita daripada Berita Harian dan Sinar Harian mengenai isu ini. Pada hari ini, saya juga terima panggilan daripada pemberita daripada Utusan Malaysia yang menyoal saya tentang perkara ini, beliau berkata Khir Toyo juga mendakwa saya berbuat demikian.

Tibalah masa bagi saya untuk menerangkan perkara ini dengan kenyataan yang saya telah ulangi kepada YB Khalid Samad dan pemberita pada Hari Ahad adalah seperti berikut:

i) Saya sendiri tidak pernah menerima aduan daripada penduduk di Puchong berkenaan dengan isu azan ini, jadi saya langsung tidak tahu tentang perkara ini dan saya amat hairan untuk mendengar tuduhan tersebut;

ii) Sekiranya saya terima aduan daripada penduduk di Puchong, adalah langsung tidak masuk akal bagi saya sebagai exco Kerajaan Selangor untuk mengadakan petisyen dan membentangkannya kepada YB Satim, seorang ADUN daripada parti pembangkang, kerana beliau bukannya kadi ataupun pengurus masjid, buat apa saya tulis surat kepada beliau yang tiada kuasa tentang perkara ini?

Sekiranya saya terima aduan daripada penduduk, saya akan minta bantuan daripada YB Datuk Dr Hasan Ali, iaitu exco yang menjaga Hal Ehwal Islam di Selangor, ataupun pengarah Jabatan Hal Ehwal Islam di Selangor, dan bukannya Satim.

Satim Gagal Menunjukkan Bukti

Saya minta pemberita yang menanya komen saya tersebut untuk minta surat yang dikatakan ditulis oleh saya daripada Satim, tetapi pembantu Satim gagal menunjukkan bukti tersebut kepada pemberita akhbar Bahasa Malaysia tersebut. Kegagalan menunjukkan bukti tersebut menunjukkan kesemua tuduhan yang disebarkan dalam email dan pemimpin UMNO Selangor tersebut merupakan pembohongan yang besar.

Kes Aduan Tentang Azan di Kondominium di Bandar Tun Razak

Sebenarnya, pada dua tahun yang lepas, saya pernah menerima aduan daripada penduduk bukan Islam di sebuah pangsapuri di Bandar Tun Razak berkenaan dengan bunyi azan yang terlalu kuat pada awal pagi. Saya terpaksa bercampur tangan dalam isu tersebut kerana ia telah mencetuskan pergaduhan dan permusuhan yang agak serius di antara penduduk bukan Islam dan penduduk beragama Islam. Pada waktu itu, saya minta bantuan daripada pengarah Jawi di Wilayah Persekutuan dan kami pernah mengadakan satu dialog di antara penduduk yang beragama Islam dan bukan Islam di kondominium tersebut secara bersama. Akhirnya, isu di kondominium itu diselesaikan dengan bantuan daripada Pengarah Jawi di Wilayah Persekutuan.

Saya tidak memanggil sidang akhbar ataupun menggalakkan pengadu di kondominium berkenaan untuk membuat apa-apa petisyen, dan pergaduhan di kondominium tersebut diselesaikan secara “low key” sahaja.

Penduduk Yang Membuat Petisyen Hantar Faks Kepada Saya

iii) Selepas kenyataan saya disiarkan dalam surat khabar semalam, saya terima satu faks daripada seorang pengundi di kawasan Puchong di pejabat saya. Faks tersebut mengandungi satu surat dan juga petisyen daripada beberapa ratus penduduk di Puchong kepada Satim. Barulah saya sedar memang terdapat sekumpulan penduduk di Puchong membuat petisyen kepada Satim berkenaan dengan isu azan ini.

Selepas itu, saya diberitahu oleh bekas pembantu pejabat perkhidmatan Kinrara saya bahawa penduduk yang membantah tentang bunyi azan tersebut pernah menghantar salinan petisyen tersebut ke pejabat saya dan minta bekas pembantu saya untuk ”acknowledge receipt” dengan cop pejabat saya dalam surat mereka. Tetapi adalah jelas bahawa surat petisyen mereka kepada Satim bukan dibuat atas surat kepala pejabat saya.

Perbuatan UMNO Selangor Sangatlah Keji

Adalah jelas bahawa Satim dan orang UMNO telah memutar-belitkan cerita tersebut. Satim dan Khir Toyo cuba menggunakan taktik kotor mereka untuk membangkitkan kemarahan orang Islam dan orang Melayu di Puchong dan Selangor terhadap saya dalam isu ini. Mereka cuba mewujudkan kesangsian orang Melayu terhadap pemimpin DAP dan cuba menggambarkan saya dan rakan saya dalam DAP sebagai orang politik yang anti Melayu dan anti Islam.

Perbuatan pemimpin UMNO Selangor ini adalah amat keji. Bukankah sekarang bulan Ramadhan, bulan suci? Bukankah mereka sebagai penganut agama Islam sepatutnya kuat bersembahyang dan bertaubat ke atas perbuatan mereka yang lepas? Apakah mereka masih mereka tuduhan yang bukan-bukan dan pembohongan terhadap saya ini bertentangan dengan ajaran Islam dan bulan Ramadhan?

Saya amat menghormati orang Islam yang berpuasa dan berpegang kuat ke atas ajaran agama mereka. Saya selalunya berdoa bersama dengan rakan kerja yang beragama Islam apabila membuat doa Al-Fatihah sebelum bermulanya mesyuarat dan sebelum makan, kerana saya juga percaya pada Tuhan yang Maha Kuasa dan Pencipta kita yang mengadili kita dalam dunia ini dan pada Hari Akhirat.

Peribahasa yang selalu digunakan oleh Orang Cina ialah “Tuhan ada mata”. Saya percaya Tuhan yang maha kuasa ini tengah melihat dan memantau apa yang berlaku pada kita semua. Saya juga percaya balasan dan hukuman Tuhan tentu akan dijatuhkan ke atas mereka yang tidak bertanggungjawab dan orang yang bohong.

Adalah lebih baik bagi Satim dan Khir Toyo untuk insaf dan bertaubat dalam bulan yang suci ini!!”

Release OR Charged

The police have arrested Blogger, Raja Petra Kamaruddin, journalist from Sin Chew Jit Poh, Ms. Tan Hoon Cheng (who was since released in the Saturday afternoon) and MP for Seputeh cum Selangor Exco Member, YB Teresa Kok on 12.9.2008, Friday under the draconian Internal Security Act (“ISA”).

We were annoyed by this drastic and high-handed action taken by the federal government in arresting the above-said persons with the excuse that they have threatened the national security. We believe all the right-thinking and caring Malaysians also share the same sentiment with us. This is because of the fact that we do not see any conduct of the above-said persons which has threatened the national security. The Minister of Internal Security owes Malaysians a decent, reasonable and detailed explanation as to the reasons of their arrest as the matter has involved public interests and international attention. Should they be suspected of breaking any law, they should be produced and charged in court instead of being detained without trial and jeopardising their right to defend themselves.

We also condemn the action of any party by using ISA and the arrests to raise the sentiment of fear among Malaysians and to further achieve their self-serving political conspiracy at this crucial hour, when Malaysians are hunger for a change in the country. Such abuse of power should be rejected by Malaysians totally.

We further opine that the ruling party is trying to be directors and actors on their own in the recent political events in their effort in maintaining powers. We request them to be receptive of people’s view and to have a genuine heart for a better future of Malaysia.

The arrests of Raja Petra, Ms. Tan and YB Kok do not just present no benefit to Malaysians generally, they also lower the confidence of foreigners on Malaysia and further affect foreign investments in Malaysia.

Therefore, we urge the federal government to release Raja Petra, Ms. Tan and YB Kok immediately or produce them and charge them in court of law.

We also plead to Malaysians to remain calm and united at this testing time.

警方在九月十二日, 星期五在恶名招彰的内安法令之下逮捕了部落客拉惹柏特拉, 星洲日报女记者, 陈云清及士布爹国会议员兼雪州行政议员, 郭素沁.

我们对中央政府认为他们威胁国家安全而逮捕他们的理由感到难以理解.我们相信所有正确思想的马来西亚人也和我们有同样的想法.这是因为我们不认为他们的任何举动有威胁国家安全之嫌.因此,内安部长歉人民一个满意的,合理的及详细的解释因为这事件牵涉了公众利益和国际上的注视.若他们有触犯任何法律之嫌,他们应该被带上法庭面控,以让他们能有自辩的权利.这是不可被疱夺的.

我们也评击任何想利用内安法令和逮捕来制造恐慌从而达至某方自私的政治目的的手法.特别是在这人人渴求改变的关键时刻.这样的滥权行为应被大马人拒绝.

我们也认为执政集团企图在最近的政治发展中自导自演,来保住权利.我们恳请个方接收人民求变的心愿,以诚心来让国家有更美好的前途.

对拉惹柏特拉, 陈云清及郭素沁的逮捕行动不止没给人民任何好处,还降低了外国人士对我国的信心,进而影响了外资的进入.

应此,我们呼吁中央政府即刻释放对拉惹柏特拉, 陈云清及郭素沁或把他们提控上庭.

我们也恳求全体马来西亚人在这关键时刻保持冷静及团结一致.

National Security .....My FOOT

Section 73(1) Internal Security Act 1950 stipulates that one can be detained without trial for up to 60 days for police interrogation.

What National Security issue YB Teresa Kok committed?

Worst still what wrong did the Sin Chew reporter did? Reporting what Ahmad Ismail's fiery words during a political ceramah which was confirmed by two other reporters. Wait a minute, Najib the DPM in fact had apologised for those remarks uttered by Ahmad Ismail. Is that a conformation that he actually made those statements, as the DPM was also at the political event.

Ops Lalang 2?? National Security? My foot..... !

Protector of the Malay Race....

Daulat Tuanku

His Royal Highness the YDP Agung and Their Highnesses the Rulers of the States are the best protector of the Malay race and religion of Islam. Not UMNO, not anybody who claimed to fight for Malay rights. All have personal interest and agenda. It is the Royal Court that stands for independence, integrity, fairness and justice.

I totally agree that more power and immunity are to be vested upon our Rulers as the Rulers have significant role in the development of society in multi racial and multi religious Malaysia as such the institution must be strengthened and further enhanced.

Are the institution relevant? DEFINITELY THEY ARE.

Daulat Tuanku
------

KUANTAN: The Tengku Mahkota of Pahang, Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, wants Umno to make efforts to strengthen the institution of the Malay rulers to enhance its role as the protector of the people, especially the Malays, and Islam.

“It’s not that we want more power but we need to study (the matter) so that this institution is not humiliated, mocked or belittled by anyone,” he said in an exclusive interview with Khabar Pahang, the state government’s official newspaper.

He said the abolition of the immunity of the rulers some time ago had indirectly given the impression that the institution was not on a sound footing and could become irrelevant.

But everyone should realise that the institution of the Malay rulers had played an effective role in the country’s development, he said.

He said that while the nation’s leaders were fighting for independence, the representatives of the Malay rulers had also participated, including in the talks in London.

In this context, it was not a question of who had more power, the executive, the government of the day or the institution of rulers but rather, of the Malay rulers and the ruling party having the spirit to co-exist so that the well-being and sovereignty of the nation were preserved at all times, he added. -- Bernama

Suspended?

He should have been sacked. Why?

For calling me an American Jews
For calling me a Penumpang
For calling me a Pendatang

And what he get was just a suspension of 3 years. I remember the former Menteri Besar of Negeri Sembilan also had a suspension for 3 year.

So for UMNO man to get suspended for three years, the gravity of the offence is as good as Money Politics OR uttering seditious statement.

Stop Press

This was taken from the Star:

.... He also said that the Cabinet at its meeting Wednesday also discussed racial relations in the country.

“The Cabinet feels that racial tension may arise if sensitive issues are raised. The Cabinet has ordered ministries with laws pertaining to this to enforce them.

“If it is necessary, the ISA may be used on those who stoke racial tension,” he added.

.....

“All of us are of the view that Ahmad’s comments are not acceptable at all. What he said has caused anger and concern among the people, non-bumiputras and bumiputras alike, not just in the peninsula but also in Sabah and Sarawak,” Abdullah told reporters on Tuesday.

After all the statements made by Pak Lah in the news, and with the gravity of offence, a 3 years suspension is simply not enough.

What a joke.

You are a total IDIOT, Ahmad son of UMNO

Now he called the Chinese American-Jews. This is getting out of hand. Reading from what he had uttered in Malaysiakini, makes me just want to punch his blardie face. Those words are definitely suggestive, malicious, and unforgivable. He is definitely inciting hatred as we all know that Muslim hated the Jews. So in calling the Chinese as American Jews, that would called on the Malay community to hate the Chinese. That is clearly seditious and what are our police doing. Aren't there any arrest made. what are the police waiting for.

I seriously don't understand what is in his kepala otak.

Worst still, he now blame the Chinese for creating all the tension.

Tell It To Ahmad son of UMNO

Whose talking now? From Chief of the Armed Force right to the Wanita UMNO Chief, Rafidah.

This is what the ARmed Force Chief says : "Racial issues are the most feared by security forces as they could lead to chaos. They are a security threat".

And Rafidah says this : "Malaysians should not question each other's racial backgrounds and issues regarding nationality and loyalty"

Well firstly I must advise the two very senior Malaysian to tell it to Ahmad son of UMNO. He was the one who started the spark by telling history and affirmed it by calling me "Penumpang" and "Pendatang". It was he that ignited the fire and raising racial sentiment not the reporters. It was he that affirming it and arrogantly declared that he did NO wrong supported by the other UMNO Penang branches and divisional head.

So who is MORE wrong? Well, I can say that many people heard him said that during the Permatang Pauh "bye-bye" election. And the whole world heard him uttered those words during news at either TV3 or NTV7.

Still denying? Oh I forgot, we are in Bolehland.

----- taken from the Star

KUALA LUMPUR: Armed Forces chief General Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Zainal has proposed that the Government take stern action against those who stoke racial sentiments.

He said racial issues should not be raised as it could create chaos and disorder.

"Racial issues are the most feared by security forces as they could lead to chaos. They are a security threat," he said at the Wanita Umno Hari Raya contribution presentation to the Armed Forces and the police at the Putra World Trade Centre here on Tuesday.

Speaking at the same event, Deputy Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar said street politics is under control and peace is upheld.

He added that the police force is in a state of readiness to face such occurrences.

"We are ready to work day and night, rain or shine, without food and drink to ward off such threats," he said.

Earlier, Wanita Umno chief Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz said Malaysians should not question each other's racial backgrounds and issues regarding nationality and loyalty.

She also said that street demonstations and the mob spirit should be rejected as it affects public peace and security.

Rafidah added that this would further burden the police which already has the task of maintaining public order and combating crime.

This Is What I WANT To Hear

Kenyataan Akhbar
MAJLIS PIMPINAN PAKATAN RAKYAT

8 September 2008

Pakatan Rakyat Menjunjung Prinsip Perlembagaan Persekutuan

Majlis Pimpinan Pakatan Rakyat yang bersidang pada hari ini 8 September 2008 dengan ini menegaskan penolakan kami terhadap usaha-usaha menyemarakkan politik perkauman yang sedang dilakukan oleh UMNO akhir-akhir ini. Kami amat bimbang isu ini sekarang digunakan untuk mengelabui pandangan rakyat yang sebenarnya merupakan usaha terdesak untuk menyelamatkan kepentingan segelintir golongan elit politik dan kroni mereka.

Kami sekali lagi mengulangi pendirian menjunjung prinsip-prinsip dasar yang termaktub di bawah Perlembagaan Persekutuan. Ini termasuk soal-soal dasar seperti kedudukan Islam sebagai Agama Persekutuan dan menjamin kebebasan mengamalkan agama-agama lain, kedaulatan Bahasa Melayu sebagai Bahasa Kebangsaan dan mempertahankan hak bahasa ibunda, kedudukan dan kedaulatan Institusi Raja-Raja Melayu serta kedudukan hak-hak istimewa orang Melayu dan Bumiputera serta hak-hak semua kaum yang telah dijamin oleh Perlembagaan.

Berdasarkan prinsip-prinsip Perlembagaan ini kami menolak sekeras-kerasnya pendekatan politik perkauman sempit yang menjadi dasar UMNO-BN. Pendekatan inilah yang sengaja digunakan untuk memecahbelahkan perpaduan dan keharmonian masyarakat majmuk negara ini.

Sehubungan ini kami membantah ucapan yang dibuat oleh Dato Ahmad Ismail yang disokong oleh semua pemimpin UMNO Pulau Pinang. Isi ucapan itu mencerminkan dasar perkauman UMNO yang sebenarnya bertujuan hanya untuk mempertahankan kepentingan segelintir golongan orang kaya Melayu serta suku sakat mereka yang menggunakan kuasa politik untuk mengambil kesempatan mengaut kekayaan negara dengan berselindung di sebalik membela kepentingan Bumiputera dan orang Melayu.

YB Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim
Ketua Umum
PKR

YB Dato’ Husam Musa
Naib Presiden
PAS

YB Lim Kit Siang
Ketua Ahli Parlimen
DAP

Jump Without Gains

I totally agree with the statements by Kit (below) on the issue of party hopping by BN MPS. Kalau nak lompat, lompat jangan ingat boleh dapat wang atau pangkat. It has to be only with personal conviction that their jump MUST be to benefit their constituents, the country and Malaysians at large or else it serve no purpose at all. Pakatan will just be like another Barisan as we all know that BN greatest weakness is corruption and money politics within themselves.

And secondly the credibility of Pakatan Rakyat will be at stake as now the people see us as champions of the rakyat in terms of credibility, accontability and transparency. For the sake of democracy, and if I were any of them that is intending (or not intending) to FROG, let me go back to the people for at least a referendum and ask the people their opinion. If the people wish that I should JUMP than I will for the sake of my constituent. Well but there will be one problem, I probably get booed by UMNO corrupt where ever I go.... so kena sabar.

------- taken from the Star

KUALA TERENGGANU: The Democratic Action Party (DAP) on Sunday reiterated it would oppose any attempt by Members of Parliament (MPs) from Barisan Nasional crossing over to the Pakatan Rakyat alliance for the sake of monetary, personal advancement or material gains.

Party adviser Lim Kit Siang said Barisan MPs should only decide to jump ship if such a move would benefit their constituents, the country and Malaysians at large.

“It’s commendable and honourable for Barisan MPs to do so if they believe such a defection would benefit the people and country.

“This is more ethical but I believe the Barisan MPs (who may be contemplating defecting) would not do so for material gains,” he told reporters after opening two new branches in Terengganu.

The two new branches are Kampung Cina chaired by Ng Chai Heng, and Sungai Tong in Setiu chaired by Mat Zaki Mamat.

Lim said the Barisan MPs who abandon the coalition by holding to the principle of saving the nation would surely gain the sympathy, support and respect of all Malaysians.

“But do this (cross over) with principle and ethics,” he said.

It Takes Two to Clap

It takes two to clap. In the studies of the law of evidence, we call it Corroboration. Here one reporter corroborate another on Ahmad son of UMNO 'pendatang' remarks on the Chinese. So was he telling some facts in history or is he making the statements with malicious intention.

Your pick?

--------

BUTTERWORTH: Two other reporters covering the event in which UMNO Bukit Bendera divisional chairman Datuk Ahmad Ismail made the pendatng remarks during the Permatang Pauh by-election, said they clearly heard what he said, and were shocked and feeling uncomfortable with it.

Guang Ming Daily reporter Li Weihua pointed out that after covering the first event of deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on 23 August, he went on to cover the DPM's second event, in which he clearly heard the penumpang remarks made by Ahmad Ismail, and was shocked by what was being said.

He said Najib had not yet arrived when he reached Kampung Belah Dua that evening. However, Ahmad Ismail was already giving his speech. As he was not very familiar with the speaker at that time, he did not pay too much attention to what was being said.

He went on, "But later he raised his voice louder and louder, and suddenly I heard this: 'Orang Cina cuma tumpang di sini sahaja.' (The Chinese are only squatting here)"

He said after hearing this, he was very shocked and understood how serious it could be.

Nanyang Siang Pau reporter Chen Minghao also said when he was at Kampung Belah Dua to cover the event, he heard very clearly Ahmad Ismail's penumpang remarks, and felt very uncomfortable with it.

He said after covering Najib's first event, he rushed to Kampung Belah Dua to cover his second event. However, when he reached there, Najib had not arrived yet, while Ahmad Ismail was alreary talking on the stage.

He said although he did not know who Ahmad Ismail was at that time, he heard very clearly that he said, 'Orang Cina cuma tumpang di sini sahaja,' and he felt very uncomfortable with what was being said.

China Press reporter Chen Fengquan, meanwhile, said he arrived too late and missed that part on penumpang.

He said Najib was already talking on the stage when he reached Kampung Belah Dua, and he missed what Ahmad Ismail had said earlier.

- Sin Chew