Friday, December 17, 2010

Suspensions violate the rule of law and threaten the integrity and dignity of Parliament

The suspensions of the Leader of the Opposition, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim ( Member for Permatang Pauh, Karpal Singh ( Member for Bukit Gelugor ), Azmin Ali ( Member for Gombak ) and myself are a flagrant violation of the rule of law.

The nature of these suspensions cannot be seen merely as actions to prevent us as individual members of Parliament from attending Parliament. The complete lack of any basis for the suspensions and the manner they were done threaten fundamentals of Parliament conventions and freedom of speech in Parliament. These are threats to all Malaysians, not just to the four of us.

The issues relating to the suspension of Anwar Ibrahim have been fully canvassed in the Minority Report of the Committee of Privileges written by myself and Karpal Singh ( see http://sivarasa.blogspot.com/2010/12/minority-report-presented-by-yb-karpal.html).

The most outrageous aspect of our four suspensions is the insistence by the BN majority in Parliament to not even accord us the fundamental right to be heard in our defence. In the case of Anwar Ibrahim, as fully explained in the Minority Report, the Speaker himself had repeatedly assured the House on 22.4.10 when the motion to refer Anwar to the Committee of Privileges that a full hearing would be accorded with all parties and witnesses heard. The Committee proceeded on this basis for its 1st three meetings on 17.5.10, 8.6.10 and 9.6.10. No meetings were called for another 6 months and then suddenly at the 4th meeting on 3.12.10, the BN majority members voted to decide the matter without hearing Anwar or any witnesses saying it was sufficient to decided the matter by reference to a letter from APCO dated 19.8.10 and contents of Hansard. Karpal and then withdrew in protest from the proceedings after this decision.

The refusal to hear Anwar Ibrahim shows without doubt the inability and fear of the BN majority to confront the facts and evidence that would have been produced before them by him.

Karpal Azmin and I are now suspended for 6 months for allegedly mentioning “evidence taken before and documents produced to the Committee” outside the House ( for Karpal and me ) and in respect of Azmin, in his urgent motion under Standing Order 18(1) on 6.12.10.

The motion to suspend uses the word “menyentuh” or “mention”. This is not what is prohibited under Standing Order 85 which only prohibits “publishing” or “menyiarkan” the evidence taken before or documents presented to the Committee.

Karpal and I had a press conference together with Datuk Seri Anwar at Parti Keadilan’s Headquarters at 2.30 pm to explain to the media the reason for our withdrawal from the proceedings of the Committee. As far as I was concerned, we were duty bound as members of the Committee and Parliament to do so. It was a matter of public interest to inform the public of the grossly unfair decision that the Committee had just made that morning and to explain our withdrawal.

We did not distribute the letter from APCO to the press nor did we disclose the details of its contents. We had, of course, to mention the fact of the letter from APCO in order to explain the decision of the Committee not to hear Anwar. Mentioning the fact of the letter in that context cannot at all be a breach of Standing Order 85.

A clause in one sentence of the letter was mentioned where the writer of the letter Brad Staples, the CEO of APCO falsely claimed that “he was not permitted to testify”. This was clearly false that because at no time did the Committee tell him that he would not be heard. Mentioning only that clause was relevant to the issue of the gross unfairness of the Committee deciding to proceed on the basis of that letter without hearing Anwar.

Similarly Azmin did not publish the contents of the APCO letter at any time either in his urgent motion itself or the short debate in the House.

Standing Order 85 is very clear. It only means that members of the Committee or Parliament cannot disclose ”evidence” given by witnesses. That does not arise here because the Committee had not even started hearing witnesses. As stated above, the contents of the letter were never published.

Standing Order 85 cannot be used to muzzle members of the Committee or the House from speaking about grossly unfair decisions of the Committee which are obvious matters of public interest.

When the Committee decided to disallow Anwar the right to be represented by legal counsel on 8.6.10 and also refused members of Parliament the right to observe the committee proceedings as done in other Parliaments, we also communicated this to the media. The BN majority led by Minister Nazri seemed to have no issue about this at that time. Somehow the letter from APCO seems to be a much more prickly issue!

The suspension of the Leader of the Opposition is clearly intended to silence his voice in Parliament raising the concerns of the rakyat whilst denouncing the corruption and misdeeds of UMNO/BN. parties.

Azmin’s, Karpal’s and my suspensions are similarly intended but are also petty minded acts of reprisal inflicted to punish us for persistently highlighting the gross unfairness in the proceedings of the Privileges Committee.

Our suspensions will prevent us from attending Parliament for the next 6 months but will not prevent us from discharging our duties to our constituents and the people of Malaysia.

I reiterate – these suspensions are not just about removing us as 4 individual members of Parliament. They represent BN’s desperate attempt to prevent the emergence of truth in Parliament proceedings. They have severely damaged the dignity and integrity of Parliament as an institution.

We will continue to take the message of these and other injustices to the people of Malaysia.


Sivarasa Rasiah, Member of Parliament for Subang
17 December 2010

KENYATAAN AKHBAR

Tindakan Dewan Rakyat menggantung Ketua Pembangkang merangkap Ahli Parlimen Permatang Pauh, Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim; Ahli Parlimen Bukit Gelugor, Karpal Singh; Ahli Parlimen Subang, Sivarasa Rasiah dan saya selaku Ahli Parlimen Gombak selama 6 bulan merupakan tindakan yang tidak bersandarkan kepada ‘rule of law’.

Prinsip keadilan asasi (natural justice) diabaikan dimana hak kami berempat untuk mempertahankan diri daripada dakwaan tersebut dihadapan Jawatankuasa Hak dan Kebebasan diabaikan. Kerajaan UMNO–Barisan Nasional telah mempertontonkan kerakusan dan keangkuhan kuasa yang melampau.

Menteri Di Jabatan Perdana Menteri, Dato’ Seri Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz sewaktu mencadangkan usul penggantungan tersebut di Dewan Rakyat pada 15 Disember 2010, telah menyatakan :

“…Bahawa Yang Berhormat Tuan Mohamed Azmin bin Ali, Ahli Parlimen kawasan Gombak melalui pemberitahu bersurat bertarikh 6 Disember 2010 dibawah Peraturan Mesyuarat 18 (1) telah menyentuh tentang keterangan dan surat yang dikemukakan semasa Mesyuarat Jawatankuasa Hak dan Kebebasan pada 3 Disember 2010...

Bahawa Yang Berhormat Bukit Gelugor, Yang Berhormat Subang dan Yang Berhormat Gombak telah melanggar peruntukan Peraturan mesyuarat 85 iaitu keterangan yang diambil di hadapan sesebuah Jawatankuasa Pilihan dan apa-apa surat yang dikeluarkan kepadanya tidak boleh disiarkan oleh siapa jua, sebelum Jawatankuasa itu membawa penyata itu kepada Majlis…”

Namun begitu, saya tidak menyentuh kandungan surat daripada APCO Worldwide yang dikemukakan kepada Mesyuarat Jawatankuasa Hak dan Kebebasan pada 3 Disember 2010 dalam pemberitahu surat saya kepada Yang Di-Pertua bertarikh 16 Disember 2010 tersebut ataupun sewaktu berbahas di dalam Dewan.

Dalam pemberitahu surat tersebut dibawah Peraturan Mesyuarat 18 (1), saya telah mohon mencadangkan :

“Bahawa Dewan Rakyat membincangkan perjalanan mesyuarat Jawatankuasa Hak dan Kebebasan pada Jumaat, 3 Disember 2010 yang membuat keputusan menafikan hak Ahli Yang Berhormat Permatang Pauh yang juga Ketua Pembangkang Parlimen daripada menghadiri prosiding mesyuarat tersebut dan mempertahankan dirinya daripada hal perkara penyiasatan oleh Jawatankuasa Hak dan Kebebasan.”

Sehubungan dengan itu, alasan yang diberi oleh Dato’ Seri Nazri yang mencadangkan untuk menggantung saya daripada Dewan tidak boleh diguna pakai kerana saya tidak pernah sesekali menyiarkan kandungan surat APCO tersebut kepada sesiapapun ataupun sewaktu berbahas di dalam Dewan.

Isu APCO telah berkali-kali dibangkitkan di dalam parlimen yang membawa implikasi kepada kepentingan dan keselamatan negara. Apa salahnya sebagai seorang ahli parlimen yang dipilih rakyat, saya membangkitkan urusan yang berkaitan dengan kepentingan dan keselamatan negara?

Keputusan Dewan Rakyat untuk menggantung Anwar, Karpal, Sivarasa dan saya tidak mempunyai asas sama sekali serta tidak menurut prosedur Parlimen.

Justeru itu, saya dan rakan-rakan di dalam KEADILAN dan Pakatan Rakyat berpendapat bahawa tindakan Dewan Rakyat ini merupakan tindakan yang bermotifkan politik dan bertujuan untuk mengurangkan suara Pakatan Rakyat di dalam Dewan. Ini merupakan tamparan kepada pembangunan demokrasi dan keluhuran undang-undang di dalam negara. Demokrasi terancam dalam negara akibat pemerintah yang tidak punya hasrat untuk berubah dan tidak mahu mengangkat keadilan serta kebenaran.

Saya cukup yakin rakyat mampu menilai bahawa UMNO-BN dengan pemusatan kuasa, tidak menghormati integriti institusi Parlimen dan keangkuhan pemerintah yang korup itu akan menyebabkan Kerajaan UMNO-BN tumbang pada Pilihanraya Umum ke 13 yang akan datang.


MOHAMED AZMIN ALI
Ketua Whip KEADILAN / Ahli Parlimen Gombak

17 Disember 2010

Friday, December 10, 2010

Respons terhadap soalselidik Pusat Kajian Demokrasi danPilihan Raya UM / Response to UM Democratic and Elections Research Centre Study

Soalselidik yang baru dijalankan oleh Pusat Kajian Demokrasi dan Pilihan Raya UM menjelang pemilihan parti telah dibentangkan kepada pimpinan KEADILAN beberapa minggu sebelum disampaikan kepada media.



KEADILAN merupakan parti yang memimpin budaya politik baru di Malaysia. Sejak awal lagi, parti menyedari risiko yang dihadapai, sekiranya sistem satu anggota satu undi menyebabkan persaingan yang berpanjangan. Namun walaupun proses pemilihan mencabar, proses tersebut juga perlu bagi memastikan kualiti kepimpinan dan mengurangkan risiko politik wang.



Parti mengambil risiko ini sekarang meskipun wujud kemungkinan persepsi negatif pengundi selepas kempen serangan UMNO-BN untuk memanipulasi pemilihan. Sebelum in, KEADILAN telah membuat satu lagi keputusan berani. Pada tahun 1999, konsep parti pelbagai kaum yang benar-benar mewakili semua rakyat Malaysia dilihat berisiko, namun KEADILAN tetap istiqamah dan pendekatan ini menyumbang kepada kejayaan pada Pilihan Raya Umum ke-12 dan pembentukan Pakatan Rakyat.



Keputusan melalui proses pemilihan langsung telah terbukti keputusan yang baik apabila lebih ramai pimpinan wanita dan muda mendapat tempat di peringkat nasional dan cabang seluruh negara.



Kami yakin dengan kematangan rakyat dan KEADILAN mempunyai kebolehan untuk bertindak berdasarkan kematangan ini. Kekuatan KEADILAN datangnya daripada rakyat dan kami akan terus berusaha untuk terus memantapkan KEADILAN agar rakyat Malaysia mendapat parti politik yang terbaik. Justeru kami mengalu-alukan sebarang kritikan membina dan pandangan dengan hati yang terbuka.



KEADILAN akan memulakan siri kempen di peringkat nasional untuk kembali menengahkan keadilan sosial dan permasalahan rakyat dalam wacana politik Malaysia.


Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad



Response to UM Democratic and Elections Research Centre Study



The recent study conducted by the University of Malaya Democratic and Elections Research Centre during the party elections was made available to the KEADILAN leadership a few weeks ago before it was released to the media.



KEADILAN prides itself as a party that leads in bringing new political culture in the country. The party full recognised the risk it would face, should the one-member one-vote election become fractious and long drawn. While it is difficult, it is also a necessary step to ensure high quality of leadership and reducing the risk of money politics.



The party takes the risk now despite a possible backlash from the voters given
the anticipated hate campaign by UMNO- BN to manipulate the election. In the past, we had made a similar bold move. When the concept of a
multi-racial party that is truly representative of the population was
considered risky in 1999, KEADILAN persevered – that perseverance contributed to the gains made in the 12th General Elections and the subsequent formation of Pakatan Rakyat.



The direct election has been vindicated as more capable women and youth leaders have been promoted both at the central and local levels.



We trust the maturity of the public and KEADILAN - of all the parties
- has the inert ability to respond to the maturity of the public
accordingly. At the end of the day our power comes from the people, and we will do our best to keep changing KEADILAN for the better so that Malaysians have the political party that they deserve. We therefore welcome all constructive criticisms and feedback with an open heart and mind.



KEADILAN is preparing a series of national level campaigns aimed at bringing social justice and people's issues back at the centre of
political debate in the country.


Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad

BIRO KOMUNIKASI
PARTI KEADILAN RAKYAT
A-1-09, Merchant Square
No. 1, Jalan Tropicana Selatan 1
47410 Petaling Jaya

Tel: +603 7885 0530
Fax: +603 7885 0531
E-mail: komunikasi@keadilanrakyat.org
Web: www.keadilanrakyat.org

Monday, December 6, 2010

Demo For Water Right (Pt 3) : The Arrests

Demo For Water Right (Pt 2) : The Confrontation

Demo For Water Right (Pt 1) : The March

Demo Air Rakyat, Tahniah Kepada Anak Muda

Parti Islam Se-Malaysia PAS mengucapkan tahniah dan syabas di atas keberanian rakyat Malaysia khususnya rakyat Selangor kerana berjaya mengadakan himpunan aman di perkarangan Masjid Negara pada 5 Disember 2010. Walaupun himpunan ini berakhir dengan tembakan dan tangkapan yang dibuat oleh polis secara melulu menyebabkan ada yang tercedera.



Tahniah khusus kepada 70 peratus anak-anak muda yang berumur 30 tahun kebawah datang untuk menyatakan bantahan. Kedatangan mereka memberi isyarat kepada Umno BN, bukan jalan mudah mereka untuk menang selesa dalam PRU akan datang. Generasi muda tidak rela hak mereka diperkosakan oleh kerajaan BN. Pada mereka sudah cukup setengah abad pertama ibu bapa mereka ditipu, mereka tidak akan biarkan sejarah setengah abad kedua menimpa mereka. Mereka akan mencipta sejarah baru dan membentuk pemetaan politik baru di negara ini.



Kenapakah pihak polis tidak menggunakan akal yang waras untuk menghadapi himpunan aman ini. Jika tidak ada porovokasi daripada polis himpunan akan berjalan dengan aman, contohnya ketika himpunan BERSIH 10 November 2007 tidak ada satu pasu bunga pun yang dipecahkan walaupun kehadiran hampir 100 ribu orang. Air dan gas yang mereka gunakan adalah wang rakyat. Bukankah polis tidak tahu, kantong negara semakin kurus, kenapa perlu dibazirkan wang, sehingga polis hanya dapat bonus RM500 sahaja tahun ini. Sedangkan ini adalah perjuangan untuk polis, sama-sama dapat menikmati air percuma daripada kerajaan yang berjiwa rakyat.


Ustaz Idris Ahmad
Ketua Penerangan PAS Pusat