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‘Malaysians know what’s right and wrong’

By Anisah Shukry | August 16, 2012
Free Malaysia Today

KUALA LUMPUR: It is a rare sight when the fiery spokesperson for free and fair elections – S Ambiga – is rendered speechless. But that was what happened when she was presented with over 10,000 signatures from Malaysians in support of her work.

Ambiga was stumped and the only word which initially kept rolling out was ‘wow’.

But her laughter and happiness was infectious as she perused the large banner which had numerous signatures scrawled on both its sides.

“This is really precious to me! I am totally overwhelmed by the number of signatures,” gushed the Bersih co-chairperson once she recovered from her surprise.

Ipoh Barat MP M Kulasegaran, who presented the banner to Ambiga in her office along with Sungkai state assemblyman A Sivanesan, said it “was worth the effort to garner the support.”
Continue reading “‘Malaysians know what’s right and wrong’”

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Why then am I featured and defamed in Tanda Putera’s official Facebook page as having urinated at flagpole bearing Selangor flag at residence of the then Selangor Mentri Besar provoking May 13, 1969 riots?

I am supposed to be assured by the clarification of the director of the May 13 film, Tanda Putera, Datin Paduka Shuhaimi Baba that I am not even featured in the footage of the film, but I am not.

This is because Shuhaimi has failed to give a satisfactory explanation why I had been featured and defamed in Tanda Putera’s original official Facebook page as having urinated at the flagpole bearing the Selangor flag at the residence of the then Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Harun Idris and provoking the May 13, 1969 riots.

The caption of a photo portraying me being manhandled, which were later taken down, read: “Lim Kit Siang telah kencing di bawah tiang bendera Selangor yang terpacak di rumah menteri besar Selangor ketika itu, Harun Idris”. The photo and caption was posted in the album in the “Tanda Putera” Facebook titled “Peristiwa-peristiwa yang dimuatkan di dalam filem ini” (Events depicted in this movie).

Shuhaimi’s explanation that the creators of the film had received many photographs from netizens which were shared on the Facebook page, including the offending picture, and that it was removed from the Facebook page after complaints were received about the photo, is neither credible nor acceptable.
Continue reading “Why then am I featured and defamed in Tanda Putera’s official Facebook page as having urinated at flagpole bearing Selangor flag at residence of the then Selangor Mentri Besar provoking May 13, 1969 riots?”

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Section 114A and legal presumptions: Are they fair?

By Art Harun | August 15, 2012
The Malaysian Insider

AUG 15 ― Many may not realize this but the law does make many presumptions about the subject matter of its governance, namely, us.

The most famous (infamous?) and perhaps harshest presumption that our law makes is in respect of drug trafficking. Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 stipulates that whoever is found guilty of drug trafficking shall be punished by death.

Making things a lot easy for the prosecution is a legal presumption imposed by Section 37 of that Act that any person who is found in possession of, among others, 15g or more of heroin or morphine or 200g or more of cannabis will be presumed to be a drug trafficker unless proven otherwise.

Without that legal presumption, the prosecution would, regardless of the quantity of the drug being in possession of the accused person, have to prove that he or she is a trafficker. That means, the prosecution would have to prove that the accused person has been doing any of the following acts, namely, “manufacturing, importing, exporting, keeping, concealing, buying, selling, giving, receiving, storing, administering, transporting, carrying, sending, delivering, procuring, supplying or distributing any dangerous drug otherwise than under the authority of the Act.”
Continue reading “Section 114A and legal presumptions: Are they fair?”

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‘Tanda Putera’ doesn’t unite but divides

— The Malaysian Insider
Aug 15, 2012

AUG 15 — The jury is already out on “Tanda Putera” even before the Datin Paduka Shuhaimi Baba film has hit the silver screen.

From the little scraps of information gleaned from one preview, the script, Shuhaimi herself and chatter within the crew, the movie presents one view of the May 13, 1969 race riot.

A view that is not shared by many, especially those who feel it is an inaccurate portrayal of events on that blood-spilled day in Kuala Lumpur.

And just like the riot, the movie has become divisive, not unifying. Continue reading “‘Tanda Putera’ doesn’t unite but divides”

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Siapa kafir harbi?

By Aspan Alias
15 Ogos |The Malaysian Insider

Setakat ini belum ada apa-apa tindakan pihak kerajaan terhadap pihak yang memfatwakan DAP sebagi parti untuk ‘kafir harbi’. Sikap kerajaan membiarkan perkara ini terus menerus di sebut oleh pihak tertentu yang ‘desperate’ ini, membawa tanggapan yang pihak kerajaan BN hari ini tidak prihatin terhadap sensiviti rakyat berbilang kaum dan agama dalam negara ini.

Tidak ada sesiapa berhak untuk melebelkan pihak yang menyokong dan bermuafakat dengan DAP bagi kebaikan negara menggelarkan mereka sebagai kafir. DAP merupakan sebuah parti politik yang terdaftar secara halal dengan pendaftaran pertubuhan dan parti itu telah menjunjung segala peruntukan yang tertulis di dalam perlembagaan negara. Hanya pihak Umno sahaja yang cuba menafikannya.

Ulamak sesat yang memberikan fatwa itu wajar di ambil tindakan kerana ia merupakan satu tindakan memecah belahkan rakyat berbilang agama dan kaum dan ini merupakan tentangan secara ‘direct’ terhadap agama suci kita. Memecah belahkan masyarakat merupakan tindakan yang tercemar dari pandangan agama suci kita, kerana kita di tuntut untuk saling menghormati diantara semua puak dan bangsa serta agama.
Continue reading “Siapa kafir harbi?”

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Mat Zain’s letter to IGP on “Statutory Declaration Bala Menggugat Kewibawaan PM Najib”

Mat Zain bin Ibrahim | 15 Ogos 2012

Kepada;

YDH Tan Sri Hj.Ismail Hj.Omar,IG,
Ketua Polis Negara,
Polis Di-Raja Malaysia,
Bukit Aman.

YDH Tan Sri,

STATUTORY DECLARATION BALA MENGGUGAT KEWIBAWAAN PM NAJIB.

Saya amat mengalukan dan teruja dengan kenyataan YB Dato Seri Mohamad Nazri Aziz(YB Nazri) Menteri di-JPM, memperakukan komitmen Kerajaan menyiasat pendedahan RPK berkenaan pembikinan dan kandungan affidavit P.I.Bala, sepertimana yang dilaporkan dalam media pada 12 Ogos.

Sekiranya pendedahan RPK sedemikian itu diberi perhatian serious oleh Kerajaan, maka saya percaya pendedahan yang saya telah buat berkaitan pemalsuan dan penipuan, yang dilakukan oleh Gani Patail dan Musa Hassan juga tidak diketepikan.
Continue reading “Mat Zain’s letter to IGP on “Statutory Declaration Bala Menggugat Kewibawaan PM Najib””

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When was Malaysia’s destiny hijacked?

Stanley Koh | August 14, 2012
FMT

Why does a debate on patriotism, deriving from the Greek word, ‘patriarch’ meaning ‘fatherland’ can easily shake, rattle and roll human reactions?

COMMENT

The uncertainty about this nation’s future is not just leadership styles and differences in governance that may be changed but allegiances and loyalties on both sides of the political divide.

Naturally, August brings about the seasonal topic of “patriotism” like the seasonal Malaysian fruit king, durian, making its odour and thorny presence felt at the right time. Nobody is immune.

But time has also given “patriotism” many meanings to different people even as unscrupulous politicians use the definition in their rhetoric to gain favourable political mileage.

The concept of “loyalty and patriotism” to the nation has always been a touchy issue particularly in the formative years of the nation, before and after independence.

It reared its ugly head occasionally when rank and file Umno leaders at the party’s annual general assemblies belittled and questioned the loyalty and patriotism of non-Bumiputera communities, labelling them as “pendatang” or migrants despite generations being born here.

Why does a debate on patriotism, deriving from the Greek word, “patriarch” meaning “fatherland” can easily shake, rattle and roll human reactions?

Is it just a feeling of being Malaysian in a manner that either you love it or leave it type of sentiment? Does it apply to those Malaysians who are often critical of their government but yet love this country not necessarily in a blind or unquestionable way?

Or does it mean that if you see something wrong with your country or your government but not do anything about it – makes you qualified as a patriot? Continue reading “When was Malaysia’s destiny hijacked?”

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Najib to Reassess Malaysian Web Law

By SHIBANI MAHTANI | August 14, 2012, 11:50 a.m. ET
The Wall Street Journal

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak took to microblogging site Twitter on Tuesday to say that he will ask his government to reassess a new law that critics say could restrict online freedoms.

Throughout the day, Malaysians surfing popular blogs and some political websites were greeted by pop-up banners and blacked-out pages prepared as part of a concerted campaign against section 114A, a controversial amendment to the country’s Evidence Act. The law holds owners of Wi-Fi connections or editors of blogs or forums legally accountable for any seditious or defamatory material spread through their accounts or websites.

A series of prominent websites, including those of the Malaysian Bar Council, the opposition Democratic Action Party, and news portals Malaysiakini, Free Malaysia Today and BFM Radio, were either blacked out voluntarily or featured a pop-up message: Stop 114A.
Continue reading “Najib to Reassess Malaysian Web Law”

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‘Childish, extreme’ to stop Muslim backing for DAP

Malaysiakini | 3:15PM Aug 14, 2012

Perlis mufti Juanda Jaya has described Islamic teacher Abdullah Sa’amah’s claim that it is haram for Muslims to support DAP as “strange”, “extreme”, “childish” and “outdated”.

In an email interview, Juanda said such views should not be taken seriously because they are not reflective of Islamic teachings, and are not in line with the federal constitution and democracy.

“Thus, those who highlight and give room to such extreme and anti-democratic views, and who are inclined towards causing arguments in a peaceful country like Malaysia, have an attitude that is very disappointing,” he said.

Juanda was replying questions on whether Abdullah’s comments have any basis and if these could have any impact on society.

He said Malaysia is a plural society and Muslims should vote for those who fulfil the needs of Islam and who can bring stability to the country.
Continue reading “‘Childish, extreme’ to stop Muslim backing for DAP”

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Does it takes a blackout, sir?

— Jaleel Hameed
The Malaysian Insider
Aug 14, 2012

AUG 14 — Thank you, Mr Prime Minister, for realising the effects of the Internet Blackout Day today.

But, sir, how did this come about? Why does it take an uproar for your ministers and government to snap into action.

Well, not the government. Only you, sir, and a few other lawmakers, figured it out but that too way after Section 114A of the Evidence Act was passed.

Is this People First, Performance Now?

Because tonight, sir, you reaffirmed that people come first.

“I have asked Cabinet to discuss section 114A of the Evidence Act 1950. Whatever we do we must put people first,” you said on Twitter.

See, sir, you have to watch what’s going on now within your government and supporters, including the sycophantic cybertroopers who support anything done by your colleagues without thinking about it. Continue reading “Does it takes a blackout, sir?”

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Historic triumph 4Msian online democracy

Tweets @limkitsiang

12:01am
Historic triumph 4Msian online democracy – 24hr Internet Blackout Day initiated by CIJ 2demand repeal of repressive S114A Evidence Act 1950

12:02am
“I have asked cabinet 2discuss S114A” – Najib acknowledges power of solidarity of online Msian community w sea of black on Msian cyberspace

12:02am
Law needed 2deal with slanderous offensive incendiary postings lies falsehoods 2incite hatred illwill agnst individual group race religion

12:03am
But NO 2any law which acts as internet censorship 2violate responsible legitimate freedom of expression online n persecute innocent ppl

12:03am
Outcome of historic “Internet Blackout Day” – Online community should be fully involved/consulted in framing any internet legislation

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Internet Blackout Day on 14 August gaining momentum

CIJ Release
13 August 2012

Kuala Lumpur — Malaysian civil society’s latest effort in campaigning against the newly introduced Section 114A to the Evidence Act 1950 — Internet Blackout Day – is gaining momentum and has received more endorsements from prominent websites, Netizens and politicians.

Bar Council has confirmed taking down their website (http://www.malaysianbar.org.my/) to support this while the Democratic Action Party (DAP) is shutting down all websites administered by them and will not be updating their Facebook and Twitter accounts all day on 14th August, 2012. Tech-savvy DAP politician Lim Kit Siang and lawyer/avid Twitter user Edmund Bon have both vowed to go offline for 24hours.

Bloggers who have pledged to support a pop-up to promote the Stop 114A campaign include Marina Mahathir, Hishamuddin Rais (Tukar Tiub), Uppercaise, Nat Tan, Niki Cheong, Anil Netto, Juana Jaafar, Sarawak Bloggers, Fahmi Fadzil, myasylum etc.

Internet Blackout Day pop-up is also being supported by news sites Free Malaysia Today, Malaysiakini, Digital News Asia, The Nut Graph, bfm, Merdeka Review, and party organ news sites Harakah Daily and Keadilan Daily. Supporters from commercial/entrepreneurial sector include lelong.com.my, entrepreneurs.my, nexusmediaworks and MOL. From the online resources & community sector, cari.com.my, anixekai.com, LoyarBurok, mobile88, jbtalks and edu.joshuatly.com Continue reading “Internet Blackout Day on 14 August gaining momentum”

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RCI must give priority to purging phantom voters

By Kim Quek | August 13, 2012
The Malaysian Insider

AUG 13 — Sabahans should reject the terms of reference of the Royal Commission of Inquiry on Illegal Immigrants proposed by Prime Minister Najib Razak because they fail to address the issue of purging the state’s electoral roll of phantom voters.

The entire eight-item terms of reference are marked by hypocrisy and evasion of the real issues.

Item after item is centred on “whether” there are illegal identity cards or citizenship granted, and “whether” there are illegally registered voters in the electoral roll, when the whole world knows that the Sabah electoral roll is heavily infested with illegal immigrants who have been illegally registered as voters.

There is already abundance of incontrovertible evidence produced in court as well as in books recording details of clandestine campaigns to massively infuse these phantoms into the electoral roll so as to enable Umno to grab political power in Sabah; so why still keep up the pretence that such a phenomenon is an hypothesis that requires exhaustive investigations to establish its veracity?
Continue reading “RCI must give priority to purging phantom voters”

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Piss off, Tanda Putera filmmakers!

By P Ramakrishnan | 12 August 2012
Aliran

It is a wonder how the makers of the film, Tanda Putera, raked up an incident in our history that had never been documented or talked about. In fact, such an incident never even took place!

Yet, the producer-director, Shuhaimi Baba, claims that the events depicted in the movie are based on established truth. “My team and I did a lot of research, such as studying documented materials and photographs, to make sure the scenes were backed by historical facts,” she asserted on 4 August 2012.

But where was it documented and by whom that Lim Kit Siang had urinated on the flagpole (in the compound of) the Selangor Menteri Besar’s residence while at the same time shouting a racial slur? Which photographer captured this alleged despicable act being committed?

We need to ask some simple questions:

  • Can anyone just wander into the Menteri Besar’s residence, pee on the flagpole and quietly walk away?

  • Isn’t the Meneri Besar’s residence gated and guarded?

  • If this incident had actually taken place, why hadn’t anyone mentioned it over the last 43 years? Was it classified under the OSA?

  • If Kit Siang had committed this unmentionable act, wouldn’t they have finished him off politically long ago? He wouldn’t have survived this alleged sordid episode! No sane person would have supported him!

  • How could this incident have taken place when Kit Siang had irrevocably established the fact that he was not in Kuala Lumpur on 11–13 May 1969?

  • Was Kit Siang a delinquent or educationally subnormal or mentally deranged to have committed this shameful act?

  • Knowing Kit Siang, would anyone believe that he would be that foolhardy to commit this insane act?

Continue reading “Piss off, Tanda Putera filmmakers!”

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Why is Shafie Apdal telling bare-faced lie that UMNO does not use religion for politics when it is so easily debunked by UMNO/ Utusan’s “Sokong DAP Haram” campaign in past 6 days?

I am astounded by the growing frequency and the increasing number of instances of Umno/Barisan Nasional leaders abandoning principles, scruples and elementary ethics just to score political points with the approach of the 13th general elections.

The closer the approach of the next general elections, and the more uncertain and even more desperate UMNO/BN leaders feel about their electoral prospects in the next general elections, UMNO/BN leaders have shown their preparedness to be even more unscrupulous, unprincipled and unethical than in the past in their attempt to remain in power.

Yesterday for instance Umno vice president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal was caught red-handed telling a bare-faced lie when he said in Kota Belud that UMNO does not use religion for its political interests.

How could Shafie make such a preposterous claim when it could be so easily debunked by UMNO and Utusan Malaysia’s irresponsible, seditious and anti-national “Haram Sokong DAP” campaign in the past six days? Continue reading “Why is Shafie Apdal telling bare-faced lie that UMNO does not use religion for politics when it is so easily debunked by UMNO/ Utusan’s “Sokong DAP Haram” campaign in past 6 days?”

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SUPREME STUPIDITY!

By Martin Jalleh

Umno supreme council member Nazri Abdul Aziz declares that Anwar Ibrahim’s efforts to entice Sabah BN leaders will not affect BN (Mkini, 12 Aug 2012).

He then adds: “If Anwar want to take those who will not be fielded by (BN), go ahead. Anwar is also a frog because he left Abim (a Muslim youth movement) for Umno and then to PKR.

“It is no surprise that he takes in his own kind. The frog will accept another frog.

“Anwar’s political journey has made him ‘Bapa segala katak (King of frogs)’

Fact No. 1: Abim is not a political party. Therefore there was no hopping involved. Furthermore Anwar was invited by Dr Mahathir to join Umno!

Fact No. 2: Anwar did not leave Umno, he was sacked by Dr M and the Umno Supreme Council.

Fact No. 3: He did not jump into PKR, he formed it!

Fact No. 4: Nazri’s political journey has made him an idiot!

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We are the descendants and the inheritors, Nazri!

By P Ramakrishnan | 11 August 2012
Aliran

It is a ridiculous to claim that only Umno. MCA and MIC have the right to decide the Merdeka Day theme because the founding members of these parties fought for and won Independence for the country.

This was stated by the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz. It is well known that his forte is in making statements that have very little merit!

Every Malay, every Chinese and every Indian was not a member of these communal parties then. Is he trying to assert that without the support of the vast majority of these communities who were not members of these parties, Umno, MCA and MIC successfully negotiated with the British for our Independence?

Common sense will dictate that there was no need for them to be members of any political party to support a just cause. Just because they were not members of any political party at that time that did not invalidate their support and influence in the quest for our freedom. Without the tacit support of the majority of people who were not members of these political parties, we could not have attained our freedom.
Continue reading “We are the descendants and the inheritors, Nazri!”

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Fatal flaw in the RM180 million allocation to Indians

By Jeyaseelan Anthony | Saturday, 11 August 2012 01:55
CPI

Recently our Prime Minister had announced an allocation of RM180 million to uplift the economic standing of the Indian community. It was indeed a major announcement and a big step forward on the part of the government to help the Indian community. However in practice whether this allocation will help Indians in the long run is doubtful.

Malaysia is still plagued by discriminatory policies which favour the majority Bumiputra races. Announcing an allocation is rather easy but making the money usable for business or social purposes is another.

Take for example a real incident highlighted by Senator Dr. S. Ramakrishnan recently and I quote it here.

“One of my cousins wanted to import goats from Myanmar sometime in 2006. When he went to the Customs and Agriculture department for permits to import, he was told that he can only import under a Bumiputera name. My cousin then went looking for a trusted Bumiputra partner to import goat or at least lend his name for that purpose and he managed to find one. He imported goat and sold it in Malaysia. After the first import the Bumiputera partner went to Myanmar and started importing himself. My cousin lost a reliable source of supply and income.
Continue reading “Fatal flaw in the RM180 million allocation to Indians”

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Konsep kafir harbi-zimmi, satu penjelasan

Dr Muhammad Nur Manuty
Ketua Penerangan, PKR
11 Ogos 2012

Sesungguhnya, di bulan Ramadan yang penuh dengan kerahmatan Ilahi ini, kita dikejutkan dengan pandangan seorang Tok Guru yang mendakwa bahawa umat Islam di Malaysia haram menyokong DAP kerana DAP menentang hudud and tidak mahu mendaulatkan Islam. Tuan Guru Haji Abdullah Sa’mah, seorang guru pondok dari Geting, Tumpat, Kelantan, berhujah bahawa umat Islam di negara ini tidak boleh menyokong PAS dan PKR justeru kedua-dua parti tersebut bersekongkol dengan DAP.

KEADILAN berpendirian bahawa konsep kafir harbi (boleh diperangi dan dibunuh) serta kafir zimmi (patuh kepada pemerintahan Islam) perlu diperjelaskan kepada umum secara lebih tepat. Ini bagi memastikan supaya konsep ini difahami mengikut perkembangan semasa bersesuaian dengan perkembangan dunia pemikiran Islam yang bersifat global. Sebenarnya, begitu ramai figur ulama dan cendekiawam Islam yang telah memberikan pandangan mereka yang lebih bersifat kontemporari berasaskan pemahaman yang nyata mengenai perbezaan di antara syari’ah dan fiqh serta menganalisis fiqh berasaskan realiti semasa (fiqh al-waqi’),

Sheikh Rashid Ghanoushi (Ketua Parti al-Nahdah, Tunisia), yang kini menjadi penasihat kepada Kerajaan baru Tunisia, dalam beberapa tulisan ilmiahnya menyatakan bahawa idea kafir harbi dan kafir zimmi serta kewujudan Negara yang boleh diperangi (dar al-harb) memang relevan pada zaman keagungan empayar Islam di masa yang silam. Namun, pada hari ini, ketika umat Islam tergabung dalam sebuah entiti dunia yang terbahagi di antara warga Muslim dan bukan Muslim yang berimbangan serta semakin bersifat global, maka kedudukan kafir harbi dan kafir zimmi sudah tidak praktikal lagi. Justeru, beliau menganjurkan konsep al-muwatinun (kewarganegaraan) diguna pakai sebagai alternatif yang praktis. Continue reading “Konsep kafir harbi-zimmi, satu penjelasan”