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
Friday, December 17, 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
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
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 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
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
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Who is Evelyn Salt in PKR?
Four PKR divisions postponed their elections due to fighting and disruption. Losing candidates called press conferences accusing the party headquarters of complicity in fraud and irregularities. The Deputy President aspirant Dato’ Zaid Ibrahim’s comments drew a retort from incumbent Deputy President Dr Syed Husin Ali, sparking an exchange between senior party leaders. The mainstream media lapped at the fracas and accusations. The public mourned in grief while BN leaders gleefully pointed out that disharmony were not confined to their political parties. Anwar Ibrahim said there were Trojan Horses out to cause chaos and disruption.
Who are the Trojan Horses? Adopting the tagline in the movie, “Who is Evelyn Salt in PKR?”
Angelina Jolie is a CIA agent, Evelyn Salt who swore an oath of loyalty to her country, the United States of America. She turns out to be a Russian spy, a sleeper. She is a spy embedded in America having infiltrated the CIA. She waits for decades before being activated to carry out her mission, to assassinate the Russian President visiting the USA thereby wreaking chaos and discord. The latest action in the Keadilan Party elections has turned out to be just as exciting as this blockbuster movie. Are the events unfolding in PKR an indication of PKR imploding or is this the work of a sleeper that has arisen to wreak havoc?
The public is rightly concerned whether the party has lost its direction with infighting reported amongst the leaders. The present discord and disruption is an unfortunate but necessary growing pain PKR must undergo and overcome it, if it is to lead the way to Putrajaya. The party is made up of members from diverse ideologies and backgrounds. It needs to be bound and cemented by the common goal of removing racial politics, injustice and corruption and to articulate its policies in concrete terms. Although there are many selfless and tireless activists and reformists, it also has its share of ineffectual and indifferent members as well as opportunists. The party needs to clean up the deadwood and flush out the Trojan horses. The party acknowledges its weaknesses. It has hitherto a comparatively small membership. There is a lack of depth and quality in its leadership, both at the senior and middle level.
One of the criticisms made against Keadilan is the weaknesses of some of its elected representatives. It has suffered the ignominy of having the highest number of turn coats crossing over to the other side. It is imperative that the party take steps to improve the quality and quantity of the members, machinery and leaders.
Advocates of intra party democracy argue that political parties using internally democratic procedures are likely to select more capable and appealing leaders, to have more responsive policies and as a result, enjoy greater electoral success. Further, it is believed that political parties that “practice what they preach”, strengthen democratic culture generally. The party made two major decisions. The first was to embark on a membership drive. The second to amend its constitution to allow for direct election of party leaders by grass root members at a special congress on 26 February 2009.
The reason for the first decision is that the party must improve the quantity and quality of its members. The reason for the second decision is that if the party is to fight for democracy then it must lead in the practice of democracy. A democracy needs strong and sustainable political parties with the capacity to represent citizens and provide policies that demonstrate the political parties’ abilities to govern for the public good. Since the Mahathir era, there has been a disconnection between the citizens and the elected leaders of our country. This is due to a deliberate design to keep the people in the business of seeking a livelihood separate from the people seeking to maintain themselves in the business of politics. From students to businessmen and housewives, the people have been cowed to stay out of politics. Keadilan seeks to change this and to re-establish the connection between the people and government. A government of the people must be by the people and not by a select few.
The direct election is part of the transformation Keadilan seeks to create in re-establishing this connection. Keadilan seeks a more open political environment in which citizens can actively participate in the democratic process. No ordinary UMNO member has ever voted to elect his president. The UMNO President is elected by the handful of delegates and becomes the Prime Minister. No ordinary MCA member voted in the recent contest for the President. No ordinary MIC member voted even once for Samy Vellu to be President in the thirty-one years since he took over on September 13, 1979. By these party elections, every Malaysian who is a member of Keadilan has a right to vote for its President. Every Malaysian who becomes a member will be able to participate in the abolishing of unjust laws and formulating the new agenda for the nation in Keadilan’s division meetings. The ordinary citizen will be an active participant in determining the direction and policies of the nation.
There were valid concerns that the two decisions will lead to trouble in the party. The first is resistance from incumbents threatened by the new blood. The second is the opening of floodgates to opportunists and infiltrators into the party. There is no doubt that by opening its doors and in allowing direct election, the party earned the ire of ineffectual leaders and allowed infiltrators to slip through to wreak havoc; spreading misinformation and disinformation, sowing dissent and discord among the rank and file. Evelyn Salt was embedded or slipped in during this process.
With full cognizance of these concerns and dangers, the party leadership and grassroots took the brave step to unanimously approve the amendments to the party constitution. It was decided that if the battle for a better Malaysia is to be won, it would only be by Malaysians standing up for justice and freedom. It would be by Malaysians rejecting injustice and corruption. In the same vein, if the party is to transform and lead the fight, it can only do so if the members choose good leaders and not be misled by infiltrators, moles and Trojan horses. The party put its faith in the grass roots’ ability to make the right choice, reject deadwood and not be misled by the Trojan horses.
Evelyn Salt has been activated in these party elections.
Is Evelyn Salt the persons who assaulted the members in the division meetings, attacked reporters and destroyed the ballot boxes? No! There is a method to the madness. The goons and louts were agent provocateurs. The party disciplinary committee will take appropriate action against them. They were instigated by Evelyn Salt.
Is Evelyn Salt, Janapala a/l Perumal, the former assistant secretary who suddenly took upon himself the role of being a gadfly like Socrates did in ancient Athens. He started to hold press conferences to disclose the party’s alleged wrongdoings during these elections. The Athenians executed Socrates by ordering him to drink hemlock. Janapala too will have to answer for his deeds. But no, he is not Evelyn Salt. His allegation that he was wrongfully prevented from contesting in the party elections cannot hold water. He had been sacked more than a year before for forming a new political party. Sacked members cannot stand for elections. He has further admitted that he is an undischarged bankrupt. Bankrupts cannot hold party posts. In any event, the Official Assignee will be interested to find out how an undischarged bankrupt is able to afford holding a press conference in a hotel. Students having difficulty in learning Science and Mathematics in English should ask Janapala for tips as to how he improved his English overnight. He not only spoke the Queen’s English but used verses that will turn William Shakespeare green with envy when he read the prepared text at the press conference. He sounded more like an Englishman looking up to the figure of the famous admiral in Trafalgar Square and not the Malaysian English he used in the party meetings in Merchant Square. He is not Evelyn Salt but Evelyn Salt gave him misleading information such as claiming 800 immigrants with false identity cards were allowed to vote in the Kudat division. Records confirmed that only 268 members attended and voted. The claim of 800 illegal immigrants voting is false and a complete fabrication.
Is Evelyn Salt one of the candidates for senior party positions, making public statements in the mainstream and alternative media? No! Candidates making speeches and comments that the party will be doomed if they failed to be elected may have said or wrote things in the heat of the campaigning. They are more likely to have acted out of impetuous exuberance. Dr. Molly Cheah, Chairman of the Party Election Committee is there to keep their fervour in check. However, if despite the warnings candidates persist with rhetoric that burnt bridges within the party then the members will have to be wary of them. The candidates cannot adopt a slash and burn tactic in an internal party election. Such candidates even if they win will end up with pyrrhic victories. One who is sincere in seeking the job to look after the house cannot in the process of seeking that job burn down the very house one he is aspiring to manage. None of the candidates is Evelyn Salt but some may have been provoked and baited by Evelyn Salt to embark on a misguided scorched earth strategy.
So who is Evelyn Salt? He or she is not acting out of naïve exuberance. He or she is carrying out overt actions for a covert design. The members and public will be able to detect Evelyn Salt as the elections move to the next phase. The running dogs and the sleepers will reveal themselves eventually. He or she is the one who spreads misinformation, disseminates disinformation and instigate agent provocateurs to sow dissent and discord.
Misinformation is incorrect information. One of the most popular forms of misinformation on the internet, especially email is the passing along of urban legends. Urban legends are untrue stories that are passed along by sincere people who believe them and feel the need to inform others. The allegation that the headquarters is involved in irregularities in the party elections is an example of this misinformation. Due to weaknesses in previous administrations, the list of members for each division is incomplete. The Secretariat instructed each of the divisions to check the accuracy of the members’ list for the 2009 annual general meetings in preparation for these 2010 party elections. However, because there were no division elections, there was a lack of interests by both division leaders and the members to confirm the accuracy of the list then. As a consequence those whose names were not in the list of members were not able to vote at the present elections.
Disinformation is the lowest of the low. Never underestimate the evil intentions of some individuals or institutions to say or write whatever suits their particular purpose to the extent of deliberately fabricating false information. Propaganda is generally an appeal to emotion not to intellect. It shares techniques with advertising and public relations. Propaganda seeks to change the way people understand an issue for the purpose of changing their actions and expectations in ways that are desirable to the interest group. Propaganda is part of political warfare. Psychological warfare is one of its weapons.
Propaganda can be classified according to the source and nature of the message. White propaganda generally comes from an openly identified source. Information provided by openly identified BN biased blogs and media is white propaganda. Black propaganda is identified from one source but in fact from another. This is most commonly done to disguise the true origins of the propaganda. Black propaganda and disinformation is fabricated by organizations purporting to convey information in a neutral or impartial manner but is in fact propaganda slanted insidiously towards its own interest group and its personal agenda.
Many associate the special branch as the men in black monitoring opposition party members. It must not be forgotten that the special branch is acknowledged as one of the best agencies in the world. Its ability to infiltrate the Malayan Communist Party (“MCP”), feed false information back to the MCP and to have a special branch agent not only infiltrating the MCP but elected as the second highest ranking official are legends in the world intelligence community. It is the special branch that taught the Americans in the Vietnam War the tactics now known as “Winning the Hearts and Minds of the People”.
The infiltrators into Keadilan have taken the playbook from the special branch manual in spreading misinformation, disinformation and black propaganda.
Democracy depends on a sufficient portion of the electorate having adequate and reliable information so that they can make well informed decisions. The crucial key to a successful democracy is not the quantity but the quality of information provided to voters. Little attention has been given to the role of misinformation, disinformation and propaganda in a democracy. There is misinformation, disinformation, propaganda and finally censorship. The withdrawal of Suara Keadilan’s license by the Ministry of Information, the sacking of radio and television broadcasters for airing news unfavorable to Barisan Nasional speaks volumes on the use of these tactics in Malaysia.
Winston Churchill said:
“A lie travels half way around the world before the truth puts on its shoes.”
A television broadcast or a newspaper article with misleading or even false facts can be seen by millions long before a statement countering the false allegations can be printed in some remote alternative media. Malaysians must be aware that the country is now in the midst of a political war. Barisan Nasional and its supporters are not fighting according to Queensberry Rules. Deception disinformation and propaganda are not new subjects in politics. As early as the 16th century Machiavelli concluded that there were two means for a nation to gain its objective from an unwilling adversary; force or fraud. Since the application of force entailed expending resources and taking serious risks, Machiavelli strongly recommended that a ruler should “never attempt to win by force what he might otherwise win by fraud”. The Chinese strategist, Sun Tzu wrote in the 4th Century B.C.E. that all warfare is based on deception and devoted an entire chapter on the use of spies. Do you expect Barisan Nasional to ignore Machiavelli and Sun Tzu in their attempt to retain control of their political powers?
An example of the disinformation and black propaganda is the story of the Keadilan leadership being undemocratic and that the headquarters is manipulating the party election by fraudulent means. The Headquarters appointed 120 volunteers to supervise the division elections. The volunteers are from a different state from the divisions holding the elections. They have no interest in the particular division elections and do not even know the members of that division. The allegation of fraud made against these volunteers who man the polling booths from 10.00am to 4.00pm and then count the votes for the 3 senior division posts and 15 committee positions and the same number of positions for the Women and Youth Wings would only be completed by 3.00 am or 4.30 am. This accusation is the unkindest cut of all.
The story of infighting amongst leaders such as Tian Chua with Chua Jui Meng is another piece of disingenuous disinformation. Disinformation can be detected when one compares the story with known and reliable facts. When a story is inconsistent with the known and established facts it must be viewed critically. This story is irreconcilable with established facts. Anwar who was imprisoned for more than six years for an offence that he did not commit, Dr Syed Husin Ali who was incarcerated in solitary confinement for eight years under the ISA, Tian Chua and others who have been detained without trial, can it be conceivable that they would all suddenly changed from waging a struggle for justice and freedom to a struggle for personal power? Chua Jui Meng has not declared any interest in vying for an elected position, so how can there be any disharmony between Chua Jui Meng and Tian Chua?
Malaysians need to be able to discern true information from propaganda, disinformation and deception. This means that one must learn to read, hear or view articles and information from the mainstream media, alternative media and even emails critically. We must analyze the stories with a clear awareness of the point of view they embody, recognizing the attempt to influence our thinking and beliefs. One must be vigilant that one sided presentations are not the truth. We must seek viewpoints that are dismissed or ignored. One must always ask oneself who is the author of the story, whether the article identifies the source of the information or whether it is from an anonymous source, the purpose for the statements and whether such a story is consistent with the known and trusted information on the person or subject matter of the story. In this information age, it is vital to know how one can be manipulated if one is not sensitive to verifying sources, determining quality, assessing plausibility and apprehending “effects”.
The same tactics used by Barisan Nasional against PBS in Sabah are now employed against Keadilan. It had turnover PBS leaders and lured them to cross over with offers of Ministerial positions and the establishment of new political parties. The most effective tactic of overcoming a strong opposition is to use the trusted method of “divide and conquer”. The people of Sabah were split when the PBS leaders established new political parties. In the end PBS loss control. It was rendered impotent by defections and establishment of what was deemed as third forces. Sabahans live to regret it to this day.
Those who proposed the formation of a third force on the excuse that Keadilan and Pakatan are weak or ineffective or are purporting to expose its weaknesses to champion the formation of a third force are in fact employing the same tactics used against PBS. These tactics are part of political manipulation. This tactic is commonly referred to as creating a “controlled opposition”. This is where the opposition to a party is infiltrated and manipulated until it is taken over and used as a foil to the benefit of the subverting party. It operates either by making a caricature of the opposing party through antics and scandals or by channeling popular opposition to an ultimately futile and demoralizing direction.
The people must remember the saying:
“Fool me once shame on you. Fool me twice shame on me.”
The people must not be fooled again. The people must have faith that the majority of the Keadilan members will have the wisdom and the acumen to choose the right leaders. The people must believe that Keadilan is a rough diamond that will be polished in the crucible of fire by these party elections. It has started its detoxification process. It will overcome its shortcomings and mature into the party needed to lead this nation to a new dawn. Just like our computers, we must install in our minds anti-virus programmes to filter the information received and block disinformation. It is when the people can detect the lies and deception would the Evelyn Salts and Trojan horses be neutralized and wiped out. The American propaganda failed in Vietnam and those who try the same tricks in Malaysia should fail too. Keep the faith.
William Leong Jee Keen
Member
Parti Keadilan Rakyat
6th October 2010.
p/S: Please read carefully and distribute. THANKS
Who are the Trojan Horses? Adopting the tagline in the movie, “Who is Evelyn Salt in PKR?”
Angelina Jolie is a CIA agent, Evelyn Salt who swore an oath of loyalty to her country, the United States of America. She turns out to be a Russian spy, a sleeper. She is a spy embedded in America having infiltrated the CIA. She waits for decades before being activated to carry out her mission, to assassinate the Russian President visiting the USA thereby wreaking chaos and discord. The latest action in the Keadilan Party elections has turned out to be just as exciting as this blockbuster movie. Are the events unfolding in PKR an indication of PKR imploding or is this the work of a sleeper that has arisen to wreak havoc?
The public is rightly concerned whether the party has lost its direction with infighting reported amongst the leaders. The present discord and disruption is an unfortunate but necessary growing pain PKR must undergo and overcome it, if it is to lead the way to Putrajaya. The party is made up of members from diverse ideologies and backgrounds. It needs to be bound and cemented by the common goal of removing racial politics, injustice and corruption and to articulate its policies in concrete terms. Although there are many selfless and tireless activists and reformists, it also has its share of ineffectual and indifferent members as well as opportunists. The party needs to clean up the deadwood and flush out the Trojan horses. The party acknowledges its weaknesses. It has hitherto a comparatively small membership. There is a lack of depth and quality in its leadership, both at the senior and middle level.
One of the criticisms made against Keadilan is the weaknesses of some of its elected representatives. It has suffered the ignominy of having the highest number of turn coats crossing over to the other side. It is imperative that the party take steps to improve the quality and quantity of the members, machinery and leaders.
Advocates of intra party democracy argue that political parties using internally democratic procedures are likely to select more capable and appealing leaders, to have more responsive policies and as a result, enjoy greater electoral success. Further, it is believed that political parties that “practice what they preach”, strengthen democratic culture generally. The party made two major decisions. The first was to embark on a membership drive. The second to amend its constitution to allow for direct election of party leaders by grass root members at a special congress on 26 February 2009.
The reason for the first decision is that the party must improve the quantity and quality of its members. The reason for the second decision is that if the party is to fight for democracy then it must lead in the practice of democracy. A democracy needs strong and sustainable political parties with the capacity to represent citizens and provide policies that demonstrate the political parties’ abilities to govern for the public good. Since the Mahathir era, there has been a disconnection between the citizens and the elected leaders of our country. This is due to a deliberate design to keep the people in the business of seeking a livelihood separate from the people seeking to maintain themselves in the business of politics. From students to businessmen and housewives, the people have been cowed to stay out of politics. Keadilan seeks to change this and to re-establish the connection between the people and government. A government of the people must be by the people and not by a select few.
The direct election is part of the transformation Keadilan seeks to create in re-establishing this connection. Keadilan seeks a more open political environment in which citizens can actively participate in the democratic process. No ordinary UMNO member has ever voted to elect his president. The UMNO President is elected by the handful of delegates and becomes the Prime Minister. No ordinary MCA member voted in the recent contest for the President. No ordinary MIC member voted even once for Samy Vellu to be President in the thirty-one years since he took over on September 13, 1979. By these party elections, every Malaysian who is a member of Keadilan has a right to vote for its President. Every Malaysian who becomes a member will be able to participate in the abolishing of unjust laws and formulating the new agenda for the nation in Keadilan’s division meetings. The ordinary citizen will be an active participant in determining the direction and policies of the nation.
There were valid concerns that the two decisions will lead to trouble in the party. The first is resistance from incumbents threatened by the new blood. The second is the opening of floodgates to opportunists and infiltrators into the party. There is no doubt that by opening its doors and in allowing direct election, the party earned the ire of ineffectual leaders and allowed infiltrators to slip through to wreak havoc; spreading misinformation and disinformation, sowing dissent and discord among the rank and file. Evelyn Salt was embedded or slipped in during this process.
With full cognizance of these concerns and dangers, the party leadership and grassroots took the brave step to unanimously approve the amendments to the party constitution. It was decided that if the battle for a better Malaysia is to be won, it would only be by Malaysians standing up for justice and freedom. It would be by Malaysians rejecting injustice and corruption. In the same vein, if the party is to transform and lead the fight, it can only do so if the members choose good leaders and not be misled by infiltrators, moles and Trojan horses. The party put its faith in the grass roots’ ability to make the right choice, reject deadwood and not be misled by the Trojan horses.
Evelyn Salt has been activated in these party elections.
Is Evelyn Salt the persons who assaulted the members in the division meetings, attacked reporters and destroyed the ballot boxes? No! There is a method to the madness. The goons and louts were agent provocateurs. The party disciplinary committee will take appropriate action against them. They were instigated by Evelyn Salt.
Is Evelyn Salt, Janapala a/l Perumal, the former assistant secretary who suddenly took upon himself the role of being a gadfly like Socrates did in ancient Athens. He started to hold press conferences to disclose the party’s alleged wrongdoings during these elections. The Athenians executed Socrates by ordering him to drink hemlock. Janapala too will have to answer for his deeds. But no, he is not Evelyn Salt. His allegation that he was wrongfully prevented from contesting in the party elections cannot hold water. He had been sacked more than a year before for forming a new political party. Sacked members cannot stand for elections. He has further admitted that he is an undischarged bankrupt. Bankrupts cannot hold party posts. In any event, the Official Assignee will be interested to find out how an undischarged bankrupt is able to afford holding a press conference in a hotel. Students having difficulty in learning Science and Mathematics in English should ask Janapala for tips as to how he improved his English overnight. He not only spoke the Queen’s English but used verses that will turn William Shakespeare green with envy when he read the prepared text at the press conference. He sounded more like an Englishman looking up to the figure of the famous admiral in Trafalgar Square and not the Malaysian English he used in the party meetings in Merchant Square. He is not Evelyn Salt but Evelyn Salt gave him misleading information such as claiming 800 immigrants with false identity cards were allowed to vote in the Kudat division. Records confirmed that only 268 members attended and voted. The claim of 800 illegal immigrants voting is false and a complete fabrication.
Is Evelyn Salt one of the candidates for senior party positions, making public statements in the mainstream and alternative media? No! Candidates making speeches and comments that the party will be doomed if they failed to be elected may have said or wrote things in the heat of the campaigning. They are more likely to have acted out of impetuous exuberance. Dr. Molly Cheah, Chairman of the Party Election Committee is there to keep their fervour in check. However, if despite the warnings candidates persist with rhetoric that burnt bridges within the party then the members will have to be wary of them. The candidates cannot adopt a slash and burn tactic in an internal party election. Such candidates even if they win will end up with pyrrhic victories. One who is sincere in seeking the job to look after the house cannot in the process of seeking that job burn down the very house one he is aspiring to manage. None of the candidates is Evelyn Salt but some may have been provoked and baited by Evelyn Salt to embark on a misguided scorched earth strategy.
So who is Evelyn Salt? He or she is not acting out of naïve exuberance. He or she is carrying out overt actions for a covert design. The members and public will be able to detect Evelyn Salt as the elections move to the next phase. The running dogs and the sleepers will reveal themselves eventually. He or she is the one who spreads misinformation, disseminates disinformation and instigate agent provocateurs to sow dissent and discord.
Misinformation is incorrect information. One of the most popular forms of misinformation on the internet, especially email is the passing along of urban legends. Urban legends are untrue stories that are passed along by sincere people who believe them and feel the need to inform others. The allegation that the headquarters is involved in irregularities in the party elections is an example of this misinformation. Due to weaknesses in previous administrations, the list of members for each division is incomplete. The Secretariat instructed each of the divisions to check the accuracy of the members’ list for the 2009 annual general meetings in preparation for these 2010 party elections. However, because there were no division elections, there was a lack of interests by both division leaders and the members to confirm the accuracy of the list then. As a consequence those whose names were not in the list of members were not able to vote at the present elections.
Disinformation is the lowest of the low. Never underestimate the evil intentions of some individuals or institutions to say or write whatever suits their particular purpose to the extent of deliberately fabricating false information. Propaganda is generally an appeal to emotion not to intellect. It shares techniques with advertising and public relations. Propaganda seeks to change the way people understand an issue for the purpose of changing their actions and expectations in ways that are desirable to the interest group. Propaganda is part of political warfare. Psychological warfare is one of its weapons.
Propaganda can be classified according to the source and nature of the message. White propaganda generally comes from an openly identified source. Information provided by openly identified BN biased blogs and media is white propaganda. Black propaganda is identified from one source but in fact from another. This is most commonly done to disguise the true origins of the propaganda. Black propaganda and disinformation is fabricated by organizations purporting to convey information in a neutral or impartial manner but is in fact propaganda slanted insidiously towards its own interest group and its personal agenda.
Many associate the special branch as the men in black monitoring opposition party members. It must not be forgotten that the special branch is acknowledged as one of the best agencies in the world. Its ability to infiltrate the Malayan Communist Party (“MCP”), feed false information back to the MCP and to have a special branch agent not only infiltrating the MCP but elected as the second highest ranking official are legends in the world intelligence community. It is the special branch that taught the Americans in the Vietnam War the tactics now known as “Winning the Hearts and Minds of the People”.
The infiltrators into Keadilan have taken the playbook from the special branch manual in spreading misinformation, disinformation and black propaganda.
Democracy depends on a sufficient portion of the electorate having adequate and reliable information so that they can make well informed decisions. The crucial key to a successful democracy is not the quantity but the quality of information provided to voters. Little attention has been given to the role of misinformation, disinformation and propaganda in a democracy. There is misinformation, disinformation, propaganda and finally censorship. The withdrawal of Suara Keadilan’s license by the Ministry of Information, the sacking of radio and television broadcasters for airing news unfavorable to Barisan Nasional speaks volumes on the use of these tactics in Malaysia.
Winston Churchill said:
“A lie travels half way around the world before the truth puts on its shoes.”
A television broadcast or a newspaper article with misleading or even false facts can be seen by millions long before a statement countering the false allegations can be printed in some remote alternative media. Malaysians must be aware that the country is now in the midst of a political war. Barisan Nasional and its supporters are not fighting according to Queensberry Rules. Deception disinformation and propaganda are not new subjects in politics. As early as the 16th century Machiavelli concluded that there were two means for a nation to gain its objective from an unwilling adversary; force or fraud. Since the application of force entailed expending resources and taking serious risks, Machiavelli strongly recommended that a ruler should “never attempt to win by force what he might otherwise win by fraud”. The Chinese strategist, Sun Tzu wrote in the 4th Century B.C.E. that all warfare is based on deception and devoted an entire chapter on the use of spies. Do you expect Barisan Nasional to ignore Machiavelli and Sun Tzu in their attempt to retain control of their political powers?
An example of the disinformation and black propaganda is the story of the Keadilan leadership being undemocratic and that the headquarters is manipulating the party election by fraudulent means. The Headquarters appointed 120 volunteers to supervise the division elections. The volunteers are from a different state from the divisions holding the elections. They have no interest in the particular division elections and do not even know the members of that division. The allegation of fraud made against these volunteers who man the polling booths from 10.00am to 4.00pm and then count the votes for the 3 senior division posts and 15 committee positions and the same number of positions for the Women and Youth Wings would only be completed by 3.00 am or 4.30 am. This accusation is the unkindest cut of all.
The story of infighting amongst leaders such as Tian Chua with Chua Jui Meng is another piece of disingenuous disinformation. Disinformation can be detected when one compares the story with known and reliable facts. When a story is inconsistent with the known and established facts it must be viewed critically. This story is irreconcilable with established facts. Anwar who was imprisoned for more than six years for an offence that he did not commit, Dr Syed Husin Ali who was incarcerated in solitary confinement for eight years under the ISA, Tian Chua and others who have been detained without trial, can it be conceivable that they would all suddenly changed from waging a struggle for justice and freedom to a struggle for personal power? Chua Jui Meng has not declared any interest in vying for an elected position, so how can there be any disharmony between Chua Jui Meng and Tian Chua?
Malaysians need to be able to discern true information from propaganda, disinformation and deception. This means that one must learn to read, hear or view articles and information from the mainstream media, alternative media and even emails critically. We must analyze the stories with a clear awareness of the point of view they embody, recognizing the attempt to influence our thinking and beliefs. One must be vigilant that one sided presentations are not the truth. We must seek viewpoints that are dismissed or ignored. One must always ask oneself who is the author of the story, whether the article identifies the source of the information or whether it is from an anonymous source, the purpose for the statements and whether such a story is consistent with the known and trusted information on the person or subject matter of the story. In this information age, it is vital to know how one can be manipulated if one is not sensitive to verifying sources, determining quality, assessing plausibility and apprehending “effects”.
The same tactics used by Barisan Nasional against PBS in Sabah are now employed against Keadilan. It had turnover PBS leaders and lured them to cross over with offers of Ministerial positions and the establishment of new political parties. The most effective tactic of overcoming a strong opposition is to use the trusted method of “divide and conquer”. The people of Sabah were split when the PBS leaders established new political parties. In the end PBS loss control. It was rendered impotent by defections and establishment of what was deemed as third forces. Sabahans live to regret it to this day.
Those who proposed the formation of a third force on the excuse that Keadilan and Pakatan are weak or ineffective or are purporting to expose its weaknesses to champion the formation of a third force are in fact employing the same tactics used against PBS. These tactics are part of political manipulation. This tactic is commonly referred to as creating a “controlled opposition”. This is where the opposition to a party is infiltrated and manipulated until it is taken over and used as a foil to the benefit of the subverting party. It operates either by making a caricature of the opposing party through antics and scandals or by channeling popular opposition to an ultimately futile and demoralizing direction.
The people must remember the saying:
“Fool me once shame on you. Fool me twice shame on me.”
The people must not be fooled again. The people must have faith that the majority of the Keadilan members will have the wisdom and the acumen to choose the right leaders. The people must believe that Keadilan is a rough diamond that will be polished in the crucible of fire by these party elections. It has started its detoxification process. It will overcome its shortcomings and mature into the party needed to lead this nation to a new dawn. Just like our computers, we must install in our minds anti-virus programmes to filter the information received and block disinformation. It is when the people can detect the lies and deception would the Evelyn Salts and Trojan horses be neutralized and wiped out. The American propaganda failed in Vietnam and those who try the same tricks in Malaysia should fail too. Keep the faith.
William Leong Jee Keen
Member
Parti Keadilan Rakyat
6th October 2010.
p/S: Please read carefully and distribute. THANKS
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
MP Selayang: Saya bangga kejayaan negara tapi Malaysia ‘masih belum matang’
Oleh Syed Mu’az Syed Putra
August 31, 2010
KUALA LUMPUR, 31 Ogos — Beberapa hari sebelum negara menyambut Hari Kemerdekaaan kali yang ke-53, wakil rakyat penggal pertama ini dikejutkan dengan laporan media yang mempertikaikan kehadirannya di Masjid at-Taqwa, Selayang Baru.
Serangan terhadap William Leong, Ahli Parlimen Selayang, berlaku selepas seminggu nasib yang sama menimpa Ahli Parlimen Serdang yang mengunjungi Surau Al-Huda.
Bagaimanapun Leong yang juga Bendahari PKR mempertahankan kehadiran beliau atas alasan dilakukan dengan niat yang baik.
Secara kebetulan beliau juga salah seorang yang lahir pada tahun negara mencapai kemerdekaan.
Menurut pemimpin politik ini istilah kemerdekaan memang besar maksudnya kepada semua rakyat negara kerana ia memberikan makna bahawa negara bebas daripada penjajah dan oleh yang demikian tanggal 31 Ogos amat istimewa.
Leong dilahirkan pada 27 Januari 1957.
“Sudah tentu saya berbangga dengan apa yang dicapai negara sepanjang 53 tahun ini.
“Ini kerana Malaysia telah menunjukkan banyak kejayaan termasuk dari aspek ekonomi, pembangunan dan sukan yang menjadi kebanggaan rakyat di negara ini,” kata beliau kepada The Malaysian Insider.
Sepanjang 53 tahun merdeka Malaysia kini menjadi salah sebuah negara yang menjadi tarikan pelancong dan ia juga merupakan salah satu aspek kebanggaan negara, kata beliau.
“Melihat Malaysia kini dikenali di seluruh dunia juga menjadi satu kebanggaan kepada rakyat malah saya harap pencapaian ini dapat ditingkatkan pada masa akan datang,” katanya.
Anak kelahiran Ipoh, Perak itu berkata,sepanjang tempoh kemerdekaan perkara paling tidak boleh dilupakan adalah ketika tragedi 13 Mei 1969.
“Ketika itu saya berumur 12 tahun dan peristiwa tersebut adalah perkara yang paling menakutkan dan menyedihkan yang berlaku selepas merdeka.
“Saya tidak berapa ingat sangat mengenai kejadian itu tapi ia memang satu kejadian ngeri,” katanya.
Leong berkata sejak dari kecil beliau dibesarkan dalam persekitaran di mana semua kaum termasuk Melayu, Cina dan India bersatu.
“Ketika kecil saya dan rakan-rakan bagaikan sebuah keluarga, kadang-kadang saya juga ada makan di rumah kawan saya orang Melayu dan juga India.
“Tidak ada langsung perasaan marah atau benci kepada kaum lain ketika itu, bagi saya semua kaum adalah sama sebab itu kita boleh merdeka.
“Cuma sekarang ia adalah satu perkara yang menyedihkan apabila semua kaum terutamanya generasi muda tidak lagi bersatu seolah-olah ada satu jurang menyebabkan mereka daripada bersatu,” katanya Leong.
Namum sebagai wakil rakyat Leong kecewa kerana negara masih belum mencapai satu tahap matang walaupun sudah 53 tahun merdeka.
“Bagi saya Malaysia masih belum matang, ini kerana saya melihat perkembangan politik negara masih berada di tahap yang menyedihkan.
“Selain itu sejak 20 tahun kebelakangan ini perkembangan negara agak terbantut sehingga negara lain yang dulu ketinggalan jauh di belakang telah menjangkaui kita,” katanya.
Leong memberitahu jika hendak dibandingkan dengan kemajuan negara Asia lain Malaysia nampak sudah semakin jauh ketinggalan di belakang.
“Dulu pada tahun 1960 hingga 1970 negara berkembang dengan lebih baik berbanding negara Asia lain seperti China dan Korea.
“Malah pada tahun 1980 ekonomi negara berada di tahap terbaik kerana kemampuan untuk bersaingan dengan Singapura, Hong Kong dan Taiwan.
Wakil rakyat penggal pertama ini berharap semua pihak akan kembali kepada makna sebenar kemerdekaan.
“Selain itu, kereta keluaran negara iaitu Proton juga mendapat sambutan yang amat menggalakkan serta menjadi kebanggaan negara,” katanya.
Namun beliau berkata, rakyat kini terpaksa menerima beban apabila negara gagal berkembang dengan baik sejak beberapa tahun kebelakangan ini.
“Sebagai contoh kalau dulu sekitar tahun 1980, pendapatan sebulan minimum RM1,800 dan ketika itu harga sebuah rumah berkembar bernilai RM25,000 sebuah manakala kereta pula berharga RM9,000.
“Tapi hari ini pendapatan minimum rakyat lebih kurang RM2,000 hingga RM2,500 sebulan tapi harga bagi sebuah rumah dan kereta meningkat berlipat kali ganda menyebabkan rakyat terbeban.
“Jadi bagi saya negara tidak seolah-olah tidak lagi dapat membantu rakyat sebaliknya hanya lebih membebankan,” katanya.
Justeru, sempena kemerdekaan negara yang ke-53, Leong berharap supaya negara dapat melakukan satu tranformasi yang boleh membantu rakyat menjalani hidup dengan lebih baik.
“Semua pihak perlu kembali kepada makna sebenar kemerdekaan dan saya percaya jika istilah ini (merdeka) disanjung sudah pasti semangat kemerdekaan dapat dihayati dengan sepenuhnya.
“Bebaskan negara dari semua aspek negatif termasuk rasuah dan penyelewengan... bagi peluang rakyat untuk bersuara sebagai bukti kemerdekaan.
“Ini yang penting bagi saya, ini baru maksud sebenar kemerdekaan. Bebas segala dari anasir tidak sihat,” katanya.
August 31, 2010
KUALA LUMPUR, 31 Ogos — Beberapa hari sebelum negara menyambut Hari Kemerdekaaan kali yang ke-53, wakil rakyat penggal pertama ini dikejutkan dengan laporan media yang mempertikaikan kehadirannya di Masjid at-Taqwa, Selayang Baru.
Serangan terhadap William Leong, Ahli Parlimen Selayang, berlaku selepas seminggu nasib yang sama menimpa Ahli Parlimen Serdang yang mengunjungi Surau Al-Huda.
Bagaimanapun Leong yang juga Bendahari PKR mempertahankan kehadiran beliau atas alasan dilakukan dengan niat yang baik.
Secara kebetulan beliau juga salah seorang yang lahir pada tahun negara mencapai kemerdekaan.
Menurut pemimpin politik ini istilah kemerdekaan memang besar maksudnya kepada semua rakyat negara kerana ia memberikan makna bahawa negara bebas daripada penjajah dan oleh yang demikian tanggal 31 Ogos amat istimewa.
Leong dilahirkan pada 27 Januari 1957.
“Sudah tentu saya berbangga dengan apa yang dicapai negara sepanjang 53 tahun ini.
“Ini kerana Malaysia telah menunjukkan banyak kejayaan termasuk dari aspek ekonomi, pembangunan dan sukan yang menjadi kebanggaan rakyat di negara ini,” kata beliau kepada The Malaysian Insider.
Sepanjang 53 tahun merdeka Malaysia kini menjadi salah sebuah negara yang menjadi tarikan pelancong dan ia juga merupakan salah satu aspek kebanggaan negara, kata beliau.
“Melihat Malaysia kini dikenali di seluruh dunia juga menjadi satu kebanggaan kepada rakyat malah saya harap pencapaian ini dapat ditingkatkan pada masa akan datang,” katanya.
Anak kelahiran Ipoh, Perak itu berkata,sepanjang tempoh kemerdekaan perkara paling tidak boleh dilupakan adalah ketika tragedi 13 Mei 1969.
“Ketika itu saya berumur 12 tahun dan peristiwa tersebut adalah perkara yang paling menakutkan dan menyedihkan yang berlaku selepas merdeka.
“Saya tidak berapa ingat sangat mengenai kejadian itu tapi ia memang satu kejadian ngeri,” katanya.
Leong berkata sejak dari kecil beliau dibesarkan dalam persekitaran di mana semua kaum termasuk Melayu, Cina dan India bersatu.
“Ketika kecil saya dan rakan-rakan bagaikan sebuah keluarga, kadang-kadang saya juga ada makan di rumah kawan saya orang Melayu dan juga India.
“Tidak ada langsung perasaan marah atau benci kepada kaum lain ketika itu, bagi saya semua kaum adalah sama sebab itu kita boleh merdeka.
“Cuma sekarang ia adalah satu perkara yang menyedihkan apabila semua kaum terutamanya generasi muda tidak lagi bersatu seolah-olah ada satu jurang menyebabkan mereka daripada bersatu,” katanya Leong.
Namum sebagai wakil rakyat Leong kecewa kerana negara masih belum mencapai satu tahap matang walaupun sudah 53 tahun merdeka.
“Bagi saya Malaysia masih belum matang, ini kerana saya melihat perkembangan politik negara masih berada di tahap yang menyedihkan.
“Selain itu sejak 20 tahun kebelakangan ini perkembangan negara agak terbantut sehingga negara lain yang dulu ketinggalan jauh di belakang telah menjangkaui kita,” katanya.
Leong memberitahu jika hendak dibandingkan dengan kemajuan negara Asia lain Malaysia nampak sudah semakin jauh ketinggalan di belakang.
“Dulu pada tahun 1960 hingga 1970 negara berkembang dengan lebih baik berbanding negara Asia lain seperti China dan Korea.
“Malah pada tahun 1980 ekonomi negara berada di tahap terbaik kerana kemampuan untuk bersaingan dengan Singapura, Hong Kong dan Taiwan.
Wakil rakyat penggal pertama ini berharap semua pihak akan kembali kepada makna sebenar kemerdekaan.
“Selain itu, kereta keluaran negara iaitu Proton juga mendapat sambutan yang amat menggalakkan serta menjadi kebanggaan negara,” katanya.
Namun beliau berkata, rakyat kini terpaksa menerima beban apabila negara gagal berkembang dengan baik sejak beberapa tahun kebelakangan ini.
“Sebagai contoh kalau dulu sekitar tahun 1980, pendapatan sebulan minimum RM1,800 dan ketika itu harga sebuah rumah berkembar bernilai RM25,000 sebuah manakala kereta pula berharga RM9,000.
“Tapi hari ini pendapatan minimum rakyat lebih kurang RM2,000 hingga RM2,500 sebulan tapi harga bagi sebuah rumah dan kereta meningkat berlipat kali ganda menyebabkan rakyat terbeban.
“Jadi bagi saya negara tidak seolah-olah tidak lagi dapat membantu rakyat sebaliknya hanya lebih membebankan,” katanya.
Justeru, sempena kemerdekaan negara yang ke-53, Leong berharap supaya negara dapat melakukan satu tranformasi yang boleh membantu rakyat menjalani hidup dengan lebih baik.
“Semua pihak perlu kembali kepada makna sebenar kemerdekaan dan saya percaya jika istilah ini (merdeka) disanjung sudah pasti semangat kemerdekaan dapat dihayati dengan sepenuhnya.
“Bebaskan negara dari semua aspek negatif termasuk rasuah dan penyelewengan... bagi peluang rakyat untuk bersuara sebagai bukti kemerdekaan.
“Ini yang penting bagi saya, ini baru maksud sebenar kemerdekaan. Bebas segala dari anasir tidak sihat,” katanya.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Isu Bukan Islam Masuk Masjid
Bagaikan menahan lukah di pergentingan, UMNO dan para kuncunya tidak habis-habis menerkam apa jua kesempatan dan isu sebagai modal mempertahan survival politik perkauman mereka. Seperti biasanya, bagaikan jerat sudah mengena, UMNO dan para pendokongnya mengambil kesempatan ke atas tindakan beberapa pemimpin Pakatan Rakyat bukan Islam yang telah memasuki masjid dan surau baru-baru ini.
Peristiwa Xavier Jayakumar berucap di dewan utama sebuah masjid di Taman Sri Andalas, Klang pada Ogos 2009 yang lalu, telahpun hampir dilupakan. Kini tindakan Teo Nie Ching (Ahli Parlimen DAP Serdang) masuk ke Surau Al-Huda, Kajang dan William Leong (Bendahari PKR, Ahli Parlimen PKR Selayang, gambar kanan) masuk ke dalam Masjid At-Taqwa, Selayang Baru pula dijadikan isu besar.
Untuk menjelaskan pendirian kami mengenai isu ini, kami ingin membawa perhatian semua pihak kedudukan perkara ini dari perspektif fiqh (hokum Hakam Islam). Sekurang-kurangnya ada empat pandangan mengenai masalah ini.
Empat pandangan
Pertamanya: Mazhab Hanafi yang membenarkan bukan Islam memasuki semua masjid.
Keduanya: Mazhab Syafie yang membenarkan masuk kesemua masjid melainkan masjid Haram dan kawasan tanah haram Makkah.
Ketiganya: Mazhab Hanbali yang membenarkan untuk memasuki masjidil haram dan lainnya setelah mendapat kebenaran dari umat Islam atas tujuan-tujuan yang munasabah.
Akhirnya, Mazhab Maliki yang tidak membenarkan memasuki semua masjid melainkan kerana darurat kerja.
Rasulullah benarkan bukan Islam masuk masjid
Beberapa peristiwa di zaman Rasulullah juga boleh dijadikan panduan. Baginda pernah membenarkan ramai orang-orang bukan Islam masuk dan tinggal lama di masjid. Rasulullah juga diriwayatkan pernah menerima tetamu Kristian dari Najran di dalam masjid Madinah, malah diizinkan oleh Nabi s.a.w untuk menunaikan sembahyang mereka di dalam masjid dan nabi menyebut kepada sahabat: "Biarkan mereka (untuk melunaskan sembahyang mereka)."
Kepelbagaian pandangan ini menggambarkan keluasan hukum Islam dalam persoalan yang digembar-gemburkan sebagai isu besar ini. Hakikatnya, majoriti ulama silam dan kontemporari jelas mengharuskan bukan Islam memasuki masjid-masjid biasa dengan syarat-syarat tertentu seperti keperluan mendapat keizinan umat Islam atau badan berkuasa Islam, mempunyai sebab yang munasabah dan menjaga adab-adab yang telah ditetapkan.
Oleh yang demikian, kami berpendirian bahawa adalah tidak wajar bagi siapa jua untuk menyempitkan sesuatu yang tidak jelas dari sudut nas-nasnya dan dalil-dalilnya. Apatah lagi jika kita sememangnya berpegang dengan mazhab al-Syafie sebagai mazhab rasmi umat Islam di Negara ini. Lebih jauh lagi, sikap menghalang bukan Islam memasuki masjid ini adalah bertentangan dengan semangat yang diputuskan oleh Muzakarah Jawatankuasa Fatwa Majlis Kebangsaan Bagi Hal Ehwal Ugama Islam Malaysia Kali Ke-90 yang bersidang pada 1 Mac 2010 telah memutuskan bahawa pelancong bukan Islam diharuskan memasuki masjid dan ruang solat dengan syarat-syarat yang telah ditentukan.
Amalan menerima bukan Islam memasuki masjid atas tujuan yang murni juga telah diamalkan di beberapa negara lain. Ia terbukti memberi nilai positif kepada keberkesanan pemahaman mereka kepada agama Islam, mengelakkan salah faham dan menjana interaksi yang harmoni dalam perhubungan di antara umat Islam dan bukan Islam.
Sewajarnya, para wakil rakyat PR demikian perlulah diberikan pujian kerana kesungguhannya dalam menjalankan tugasnya dengan baik kepada masyarakat majmuk di negara ini. Apatah lagi ia memang telahpun mendapat kebenaran pihak pengurusan masjid dan dilakukan pula atas tanggungjawab mereka sebagai wakil Kerajaan Negeri Selangor.
Kekecohan yang digembar-gemborkan hakikatnya akan memakan tuan. Inilah gambaran kegagalan UMNO selama ini dalam mendidik rakyat mengenai hakikat Islam. Sikap seperti ini akan menyuburkan pendirian fanatik melulu di kalangan orang Islam yang kurang berilmu. Lebih menghinakan apabila berita mengenainya ditokok tambah dengan pelbagai fitnah baru demi mencapai matlamat politik sempit yang diperjuangkan.
Kita sentiasa mengingatkan bahawa umat Islam tidak boleh merelakan diri mereka terus dibelenggu dalam kerangka pemikiran sempit politik perkauman dan agama ala UMNO ini. Ini akan menjadikan kita semakin lesu dan masyarakat bukan Islam pula semakin menjauh dari kita. Yakinlah bahawa, kerja mereka ini akan menjadi sia-sia seperti mencari umbut di dalam batu.
Hakikatnya, tanpa mereka jangka, krisis yang mereka wujudkan ini akan menjadikan orang Melayu dan masyarakat Islam lebih memahami agamanya secara total dan lebih berkeyakinan bahawa Islam dan masyarakat Melayu akan lebih terjamin di bawah Kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat pada masa depan. Inilah keyakinan kita kerana Islam itu tinggi dan merupakan agama yang membawa rahmat untuk seluruh alam.
*Kenyataan media oleh Muhd Nur Manuty selaku Pengerusi Biro Pemahaman & Pemantapan Agama Parti KeADILan Rakyat.
http://merdekareview.com/bm/news.php?n=11052
Peristiwa Xavier Jayakumar berucap di dewan utama sebuah masjid di Taman Sri Andalas, Klang pada Ogos 2009 yang lalu, telahpun hampir dilupakan. Kini tindakan Teo Nie Ching (Ahli Parlimen DAP Serdang) masuk ke Surau Al-Huda, Kajang dan William Leong (Bendahari PKR, Ahli Parlimen PKR Selayang, gambar kanan) masuk ke dalam Masjid At-Taqwa, Selayang Baru pula dijadikan isu besar.
Untuk menjelaskan pendirian kami mengenai isu ini, kami ingin membawa perhatian semua pihak kedudukan perkara ini dari perspektif fiqh (hokum Hakam Islam). Sekurang-kurangnya ada empat pandangan mengenai masalah ini.
Empat pandangan
Pertamanya: Mazhab Hanafi yang membenarkan bukan Islam memasuki semua masjid.
Keduanya: Mazhab Syafie yang membenarkan masuk kesemua masjid melainkan masjid Haram dan kawasan tanah haram Makkah.
Ketiganya: Mazhab Hanbali yang membenarkan untuk memasuki masjidil haram dan lainnya setelah mendapat kebenaran dari umat Islam atas tujuan-tujuan yang munasabah.
Akhirnya, Mazhab Maliki yang tidak membenarkan memasuki semua masjid melainkan kerana darurat kerja.
Rasulullah benarkan bukan Islam masuk masjid
Beberapa peristiwa di zaman Rasulullah juga boleh dijadikan panduan. Baginda pernah membenarkan ramai orang-orang bukan Islam masuk dan tinggal lama di masjid. Rasulullah juga diriwayatkan pernah menerima tetamu Kristian dari Najran di dalam masjid Madinah, malah diizinkan oleh Nabi s.a.w untuk menunaikan sembahyang mereka di dalam masjid dan nabi menyebut kepada sahabat: "Biarkan mereka (untuk melunaskan sembahyang mereka)."
Kepelbagaian pandangan ini menggambarkan keluasan hukum Islam dalam persoalan yang digembar-gemburkan sebagai isu besar ini. Hakikatnya, majoriti ulama silam dan kontemporari jelas mengharuskan bukan Islam memasuki masjid-masjid biasa dengan syarat-syarat tertentu seperti keperluan mendapat keizinan umat Islam atau badan berkuasa Islam, mempunyai sebab yang munasabah dan menjaga adab-adab yang telah ditetapkan.
Oleh yang demikian, kami berpendirian bahawa adalah tidak wajar bagi siapa jua untuk menyempitkan sesuatu yang tidak jelas dari sudut nas-nasnya dan dalil-dalilnya. Apatah lagi jika kita sememangnya berpegang dengan mazhab al-Syafie sebagai mazhab rasmi umat Islam di Negara ini. Lebih jauh lagi, sikap menghalang bukan Islam memasuki masjid ini adalah bertentangan dengan semangat yang diputuskan oleh Muzakarah Jawatankuasa Fatwa Majlis Kebangsaan Bagi Hal Ehwal Ugama Islam Malaysia Kali Ke-90 yang bersidang pada 1 Mac 2010 telah memutuskan bahawa pelancong bukan Islam diharuskan memasuki masjid dan ruang solat dengan syarat-syarat yang telah ditentukan.
Amalan menerima bukan Islam memasuki masjid atas tujuan yang murni juga telah diamalkan di beberapa negara lain. Ia terbukti memberi nilai positif kepada keberkesanan pemahaman mereka kepada agama Islam, mengelakkan salah faham dan menjana interaksi yang harmoni dalam perhubungan di antara umat Islam dan bukan Islam.
Sewajarnya, para wakil rakyat PR demikian perlulah diberikan pujian kerana kesungguhannya dalam menjalankan tugasnya dengan baik kepada masyarakat majmuk di negara ini. Apatah lagi ia memang telahpun mendapat kebenaran pihak pengurusan masjid dan dilakukan pula atas tanggungjawab mereka sebagai wakil Kerajaan Negeri Selangor.
Kekecohan yang digembar-gemborkan hakikatnya akan memakan tuan. Inilah gambaran kegagalan UMNO selama ini dalam mendidik rakyat mengenai hakikat Islam. Sikap seperti ini akan menyuburkan pendirian fanatik melulu di kalangan orang Islam yang kurang berilmu. Lebih menghinakan apabila berita mengenainya ditokok tambah dengan pelbagai fitnah baru demi mencapai matlamat politik sempit yang diperjuangkan.
Kita sentiasa mengingatkan bahawa umat Islam tidak boleh merelakan diri mereka terus dibelenggu dalam kerangka pemikiran sempit politik perkauman dan agama ala UMNO ini. Ini akan menjadikan kita semakin lesu dan masyarakat bukan Islam pula semakin menjauh dari kita. Yakinlah bahawa, kerja mereka ini akan menjadi sia-sia seperti mencari umbut di dalam batu.
Hakikatnya, tanpa mereka jangka, krisis yang mereka wujudkan ini akan menjadikan orang Melayu dan masyarakat Islam lebih memahami agamanya secara total dan lebih berkeyakinan bahawa Islam dan masyarakat Melayu akan lebih terjamin di bawah Kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat pada masa depan. Inilah keyakinan kita kerana Islam itu tinggi dan merupakan agama yang membawa rahmat untuk seluruh alam.
*Kenyataan media oleh Muhd Nur Manuty selaku Pengerusi Biro Pemahaman & Pemantapan Agama Parti KeADILan Rakyat.
http://merdekareview.com/bm/news.php?n=11052
梁自坚进回教堂也遭前锋报追击 公正党引经据典指非教徒可入内
继民主行动党沙登国会议员张念群在祈祷所演讲争议后，《马来西亚前锋报》今日盯上另一名民联议员，即人民公正党财政兼士拉央国会议员梁自坚，炮轰他进入士拉央的一间回教堂，亵渎回教。
该报道引述一个网站（http://www.selangordaily.com）的资料，并刊登网站上的照片（上图）指出，梁自坚与张念群使用同样方式，即借用移交捐款进入回教堂发表演讲。
“此举不仅藐视雪州回教理事会（MAIS）日前禁止非回教徒进入祈祷范围的谕令，同时也亵渎回教的神圣性。”
不过，至截稿为止，上述网站依旧出现故障，无法显示。
列举4回教法规学派意见
此外，人民公正党今日发表正式立场，坚持回教并没有禁止非回教徒进入回教堂。
该党宗教认识与强化局主席莫哈末诺（Muhd Nur Manuty）引经据典证明这一点，并警告巫统炒作狭隘的宗教主义，等于在鼓吹宗教狂热主义。
莫哈末诺今日发表文告指出，从回教法规（fiqh）的角度来看，至少有4个法规学派曾对此事发表意见：Hanafi学派允许非回教徒进入所有回教堂；Syafie教派允许进入所有回教堂，除了违禁回教堂（Masjid al-Haram）以及麦加禁地（tanah haram Makkah）；Hanbali教派则允许进入违禁回教堂，以及其他回教堂，不过必须获得回教堂的允许，而且具有合理原因；Malike教派不允许进入所有回教堂，除非是紧急工作需要。
先知曾允基督教徒在内祈祷
他表示，在回教先知穆罕默德的时代，先知也曾允许许多非回教徒进入与长居在回教堂，甚至曾允许基督教徒在回教堂内祷告。
“上述各种意见都反映，回教法在这项课题上的宽度。许多回教徒与现代回教都允许非回教徒有条件地进入普通回教堂，例如获得回教徒或回教机构的允许、拥有合理的理由，同时遵守既定的习俗。”
裁决理事会允非回教徒进入
莫哈末诺表示，公正党的立场是任何人都不应以狭隘的角度来看待此事，况且我国官方回教奉行的是Syafie教派。
他补充，禁止非回教徒进入回教堂的立场，也违反全国回教裁决理事会（Jawatankuasa Fatwa Majlis Kebangsaan）在今年3月发布的裁决（fatwa）。
有关裁决允许非回教徒在遵守既定条件下，进入回教堂与祈祷范围。
他认为，接受持有正念的非回教徒进入回教堂，能够有效让他们了解回教、避免误解，以及建立非回教徒和回教徒之间的和谐关系。
“因为，民联人民代议士应该受到赞扬，因为他们认真履行职务，为各民族社会服务。况且他们已获得回教堂管理委员会的允许，而且进入回教堂是要履行身为雪州政府代表的责任。”
巫统宗教观催化狂热主义
莫哈末诺警告，巫统对人民实施的回教教育已经失败，该党的态度将在缺乏知识的回教徒之间催化狂热主义。
“更加可耻的是，事件被添加了许多新的诽谤，以达到狭隘的政治目的。”
他提醒回教徒，不要再受困于巫统的狭隘种族与宗教思想，这只会弱化回教徒本身，同时导致非回教徒越来越远离他们。
相反的，他希望巫统所制造的这项危机，能让马来人与回教徒更全面了解回教，同时更加相信回教与马来社群在民联政府的治理下，更加具有保障。
该报道引述一个网站（http://www.selangordaily.com）的资料，并刊登网站上的照片（上图）指出，梁自坚与张念群使用同样方式，即借用移交捐款进入回教堂发表演讲。
“此举不仅藐视雪州回教理事会（MAIS）日前禁止非回教徒进入祈祷范围的谕令，同时也亵渎回教的神圣性。”
不过，至截稿为止，上述网站依旧出现故障，无法显示。
列举4回教法规学派意见
此外，人民公正党今日发表正式立场，坚持回教并没有禁止非回教徒进入回教堂。
该党宗教认识与强化局主席莫哈末诺（Muhd Nur Manuty）引经据典证明这一点，并警告巫统炒作狭隘的宗教主义，等于在鼓吹宗教狂热主义。
莫哈末诺今日发表文告指出，从回教法规（fiqh）的角度来看，至少有4个法规学派曾对此事发表意见：Hanafi学派允许非回教徒进入所有回教堂；Syafie教派允许进入所有回教堂，除了违禁回教堂（Masjid al-Haram）以及麦加禁地（tanah haram Makkah）；Hanbali教派则允许进入违禁回教堂，以及其他回教堂，不过必须获得回教堂的允许，而且具有合理原因；Malike教派不允许进入所有回教堂，除非是紧急工作需要。
先知曾允基督教徒在内祈祷
他表示，在回教先知穆罕默德的时代，先知也曾允许许多非回教徒进入与长居在回教堂，甚至曾允许基督教徒在回教堂内祷告。
“上述各种意见都反映，回教法在这项课题上的宽度。许多回教徒与现代回教都允许非回教徒有条件地进入普通回教堂，例如获得回教徒或回教机构的允许、拥有合理的理由，同时遵守既定的习俗。”
裁决理事会允非回教徒进入
莫哈末诺表示，公正党的立场是任何人都不应以狭隘的角度来看待此事，况且我国官方回教奉行的是Syafie教派。
他补充，禁止非回教徒进入回教堂的立场，也违反全国回教裁决理事会（Jawatankuasa Fatwa Majlis Kebangsaan）在今年3月发布的裁决（fatwa）。
有关裁决允许非回教徒在遵守既定条件下，进入回教堂与祈祷范围。
他认为，接受持有正念的非回教徒进入回教堂，能够有效让他们了解回教、避免误解，以及建立非回教徒和回教徒之间的和谐关系。
“因为，民联人民代议士应该受到赞扬，因为他们认真履行职务，为各民族社会服务。况且他们已获得回教堂管理委员会的允许，而且进入回教堂是要履行身为雪州政府代表的责任。”
巫统宗教观催化狂热主义
莫哈末诺警告，巫统对人民实施的回教教育已经失败，该党的态度将在缺乏知识的回教徒之间催化狂热主义。
“更加可耻的是，事件被添加了许多新的诽谤，以达到狭隘的政治目的。”
他提醒回教徒，不要再受困于巫统的狭隘种族与宗教思想，这只会弱化回教徒本身，同时导致非回教徒越来越远离他们。
相反的，他希望巫统所制造的这项危机，能让马来人与回教徒更全面了解回教，同时更加相信回教与马来社群在民联政府的治理下，更加具有保障。
前锋报今炒梁自坚入回教堂 公正党斥巫统鸡蛋里挑骨头
【本刊记者撰述】巫统与其喉舌报纸《马来西亚前锋报》炒作非回教徒议员进入回教堂课题，人民联盟三党领袖逐一发文告力挺杀登国会议员张念群，除了回教党精神领袖聂阿兹昨日发言表明此举无不妥，人民公正党宗教理解与稳定局主任莫哈末努玛努帝（Muhd Nur Manuty）亦发表文告抨击巫统鸡蛋里挑骨头。
人民公正党宗教理解与稳定局主任莫哈末努玛努帝是在今午发出文告，说明近日《前锋报》炒作的非回教徒议员进入回教堂事件，除了民主行动党籍的沙登国会议员张念群之外，今日《前锋报》又再炒作人民公正党士拉央国会议员梁自坚进入回教堂的议题。
今日《前锋报》第三版刊出网络上图片，指梁自坚同样是以派发捐款为由进入士拉央新镇的at-Taqwa回教堂。
但莫哈末努玛努帝提醒，在此二国会议员之前，人民公正党雪州行政议员塞维尔（Xavier Jayakumar）早在去年八月亦曾前往巴生一间回教堂。
他指出非回教徒进入回教堂一事在不同回教派别上各有说法，第一类如哈纳菲教派（Mazhab Hanafi）允许非回教徒进入所有回教堂；第二类的沙菲教派（Mazhab Syafie）则认为除麦加回教堂及麦加圣地之外，非回教徒可进入其他所有回教堂；第三类汉巴里教派（Mazhab Hanbali）认为非回教徒在正当目的且获得回教徒同意之下，可进入麦加回教堂；最严厉的当属第四类马理基（Mazhab Maliki）教派，此一派别认为除非在紧急工作情况下，非回教徒不得进入所有回教堂。
禁非回教徒入回教堂乃违规
同时，莫哈末努玛努帝亦指出我国回教法规裁决理事会早在今年3月1日，议决非回教徒访客可在获得管理层同意下进入回教堂；而且，“在先知时代的几件事情亦可成为参考，先知曾允许不少非回教徒进入回教堂久居，历史曾记载，先知在麦地纳回教堂内接见从纳季兰（Najran）前来的基督徒客人，他们甚至在获得先知许可的情况下于教堂内祈祷，先知这么告诉他的朋友，‘就由得他们（祈祷吧）！’”
职是之故，莫哈末努玛努帝强调非回教徒可以在取得回教徒同意下进入回教堂，阻止非回教徒进入回教徒形同违反回教法规裁决理事会之议决。
他且说明让非回教徒进入回教堂可传达正面价值，让非回教徒更加了解回教，避免误解增加和谐之互动，实并无不可。莫哈末努玛努帝更直接表明，此次事件证明“巫统长久以来疏于教导人民回教的本质，这种态度只会在部分知识贫乏的回教社群里助长狂热盲目的宗教情绪。”
莫哈末努玛努帝在文告中提醒，巫统这种以狭隘种族、宗教政治思想出发的观念，只会导致非回教徒远离回教徒社群，“他们这种作法轻率随意，如鸡蛋里找骨头。”
莫哈末努玛努帝相信经过这次事件，回教社群应该对自身宗教有更透彻、完整之了解，并明白回教、马来社群在民联政府领导之下将更有保障。
http://www.merdekareview.com/news/n/14704.html
人民公正党宗教理解与稳定局主任莫哈末努玛努帝是在今午发出文告，说明近日《前锋报》炒作的非回教徒议员进入回教堂事件，除了民主行动党籍的沙登国会议员张念群之外，今日《前锋报》又再炒作人民公正党士拉央国会议员梁自坚进入回教堂的议题。
今日《前锋报》第三版刊出网络上图片，指梁自坚同样是以派发捐款为由进入士拉央新镇的at-Taqwa回教堂。
但莫哈末努玛努帝提醒，在此二国会议员之前，人民公正党雪州行政议员塞维尔（Xavier Jayakumar）早在去年八月亦曾前往巴生一间回教堂。
他指出非回教徒进入回教堂一事在不同回教派别上各有说法，第一类如哈纳菲教派（Mazhab Hanafi）允许非回教徒进入所有回教堂；第二类的沙菲教派（Mazhab Syafie）则认为除麦加回教堂及麦加圣地之外，非回教徒可进入其他所有回教堂；第三类汉巴里教派（Mazhab Hanbali）认为非回教徒在正当目的且获得回教徒同意之下，可进入麦加回教堂；最严厉的当属第四类马理基（Mazhab Maliki）教派，此一派别认为除非在紧急工作情况下，非回教徒不得进入所有回教堂。
禁非回教徒入回教堂乃违规
同时，莫哈末努玛努帝亦指出我国回教法规裁决理事会早在今年3月1日，议决非回教徒访客可在获得管理层同意下进入回教堂；而且，“在先知时代的几件事情亦可成为参考，先知曾允许不少非回教徒进入回教堂久居，历史曾记载，先知在麦地纳回教堂内接见从纳季兰（Najran）前来的基督徒客人，他们甚至在获得先知许可的情况下于教堂内祈祷，先知这么告诉他的朋友，‘就由得他们（祈祷吧）！’”
职是之故，莫哈末努玛努帝强调非回教徒可以在取得回教徒同意下进入回教堂，阻止非回教徒进入回教徒形同违反回教法规裁决理事会之议决。
他且说明让非回教徒进入回教堂可传达正面价值，让非回教徒更加了解回教，避免误解增加和谐之互动，实并无不可。莫哈末努玛努帝更直接表明，此次事件证明“巫统长久以来疏于教导人民回教的本质，这种态度只会在部分知识贫乏的回教社群里助长狂热盲目的宗教情绪。”
莫哈末努玛努帝在文告中提醒，巫统这种以狭隘种族、宗教政治思想出发的观念，只会导致非回教徒远离回教徒社群，“他们这种作法轻率随意，如鸡蛋里找骨头。”
莫哈末努玛努帝相信经过这次事件，回教社群应该对自身宗教有更透彻、完整之了解，并明白回教、马来社群在民联政府领导之下将更有保障。
http://www.merdekareview.com/news/n/14704.html
女裁缝没欠阿窿债 二房东使计迫迁
二零一零年八月二十九日 凌晨一时二分
（士拉央28日讯）“女裁缝欠债阿窿找上门，二房东受困扰”事件剧情出现新转折，女裁缝黄燕妃（50岁）今现身说法，澄清根本没有欠阿隆债，斥一切都是二房东周健成因她不同意他起房租，捏造事实迫使她搬迁。
黄燕妃早前被指拖欠大耳隆债务，导致大耳隆上门讨债，造成周健成蒙受损失。对于此事，黄燕妃周六召开记者会指出，她是在去年4月开始租下位于甲洞鸿图园的店屋楼上，当时与她接洽的是一名房屋经纪人，所以房租都交由该经纪人转交屋主。
较后，该名房屋经纪人指出，由于屋主将店屋承租予周健成，因此要求她将房租转交给周健成，她在没有异议的情况下，同意了这项要求，较后即将房租转交给周健成。
反对调高房租
岂知，周健成却要求起房租，即将原本的550令吉调高至600令吉。由于之前在租店屋时，已经说明了房租的费用为550令吉，因此她坚持不肯多给50令吉，但是愿意给550令吉的房租。
她解释，她是裁缝师，该店内是她用来置放裁缝机、衣料等的地方，而且还有员工在店内工作。但是在4月份开始，她的女儿患上癌症，因此她必须照顾她，所以暂时将钥匙转交予友人保管，而友人则协助她帮忙缴房租、水电费等，较后，才将余额转账给她。
不过，周健成却拒收房租，并且在她三番五次找上门要缴房租时，周健成避而不见，打电话也不接听，传简讯要求周健成将银行户头号码告知她，以便缴房租给他，周健成也从来没有回复。与此同时，还擅自锁上她的店，造成她亏损约6000令吉左右。
捏造事实令裁缝师难堪
令她最不满的是，周健成更过份的捏造事实，求助马华公共服务及投诉部主任拿督张天赐在报上指责她欠下大耳隆的债务，导致大耳隆上门追债，令她名誉受损，而且还被亲朋好友追问怎么回事，令她觉得难堪。
黄燕妃表示，她是在本月18日看到报章登出后，才发现事情闹大了，因此马上上门找张天赐要求做出澄清，并且出示两张她分别在6月30日及8月10日的报案书后，张天赐才惊觉自己被周健成所欺骗，因此，当场为息事宁人，即要求两人立下同意书，要求双方和解，即黄燕妃缴清2个月没有缴的1100令吉房租，而周健成则开锁让黄燕妃重新营业。
周健成是在本月17日向张天赐求助指出，黄燕妃在今年4月份开始就失踪，并且还欠下大耳隆债务，导致大耳隆上门讨债，并且也破坏店外的水管等物件，令他蒙受损失。
安排这项记者会的士拉央国会议员梁自坚指出，根据这个案例，黄燕妃有权起诉周健成诽谤，因此周健成捏造事实，造成黄燕妃的名誉受损。
此外，他也谴责张天赐在未经调查，即召开记者会，造成黄燕妃名誉受损，是一个不负责任的行为。
http://www.kwongwah.com.my/news/2010/08/29/39.html
（士拉央28日讯）“女裁缝欠债阿窿找上门，二房东受困扰”事件剧情出现新转折，女裁缝黄燕妃（50岁）今现身说法，澄清根本没有欠阿隆债，斥一切都是二房东周健成因她不同意他起房租，捏造事实迫使她搬迁。
黄燕妃早前被指拖欠大耳隆债务，导致大耳隆上门讨债，造成周健成蒙受损失。对于此事，黄燕妃周六召开记者会指出，她是在去年4月开始租下位于甲洞鸿图园的店屋楼上，当时与她接洽的是一名房屋经纪人，所以房租都交由该经纪人转交屋主。
较后，该名房屋经纪人指出，由于屋主将店屋承租予周健成，因此要求她将房租转交给周健成，她在没有异议的情况下，同意了这项要求，较后即将房租转交给周健成。
反对调高房租
岂知，周健成却要求起房租，即将原本的550令吉调高至600令吉。由于之前在租店屋时，已经说明了房租的费用为550令吉，因此她坚持不肯多给50令吉，但是愿意给550令吉的房租。
她解释，她是裁缝师，该店内是她用来置放裁缝机、衣料等的地方，而且还有员工在店内工作。但是在4月份开始，她的女儿患上癌症，因此她必须照顾她，所以暂时将钥匙转交予友人保管，而友人则协助她帮忙缴房租、水电费等，较后，才将余额转账给她。
不过，周健成却拒收房租，并且在她三番五次找上门要缴房租时，周健成避而不见，打电话也不接听，传简讯要求周健成将银行户头号码告知她，以便缴房租给他，周健成也从来没有回复。与此同时，还擅自锁上她的店，造成她亏损约6000令吉左右。
捏造事实令裁缝师难堪
令她最不满的是，周健成更过份的捏造事实，求助马华公共服务及投诉部主任拿督张天赐在报上指责她欠下大耳隆的债务，导致大耳隆上门追债，令她名誉受损，而且还被亲朋好友追问怎么回事，令她觉得难堪。
黄燕妃表示，她是在本月18日看到报章登出后，才发现事情闹大了，因此马上上门找张天赐要求做出澄清，并且出示两张她分别在6月30日及8月10日的报案书后，张天赐才惊觉自己被周健成所欺骗，因此，当场为息事宁人，即要求两人立下同意书，要求双方和解，即黄燕妃缴清2个月没有缴的1100令吉房租，而周健成则开锁让黄燕妃重新营业。
周健成是在本月17日向张天赐求助指出，黄燕妃在今年4月份开始就失踪，并且还欠下大耳隆债务，导致大耳隆上门讨债，并且也破坏店外的水管等物件，令他蒙受损失。
安排这项记者会的士拉央国会议员梁自坚指出，根据这个案例，黄燕妃有权起诉周健成诽谤，因此周健成捏造事实，造成黄燕妃的名誉受损。
此外，他也谴责张天赐在未经调查，即召开记者会，造成黄燕妃名誉受损，是一个不负责任的行为。
http://www.kwongwah.com.my/news/2010/08/29/39.html
指债券到期未赎回 持有人诉美丽华休闲
2010/08/28 6:40:04 PM
●南洋商报
（士拉央28日讯）一批美丽华休闲公司债券的持有人，将针对该公司没有履行5年连本带利归还协议及5年未发债券利息，诉诸法律行动，并呼吁其他债券持有人凝聚力量，集体讨回公道。
前后等了11年
这批债券持有人曾在去年就此事通过行动党甲洞区国会议员陈胜尧，针对不满债券发行公司自2005年起，连续5年没有分派利息，而要求该公司交待此事；他们也在早前致函向证券监督委员会投诉，但迟至今日仍无下文，所得答案都是：“还在调查中。”
这批投资者今日通过公正党士拉央区国会议员梁自坚再开记者会，申诉他们从1999年已等到2010年，前后长达11年，仍无法取回有关债券的投资额母金，以及过去5年来的债券利息。
“要本不要利”
他们如今“要本不要利”，力促政府以处理巴生港口自贸区发债券事件的方式来看待此事，而他们也会考虑采取法律行动。
这批投资者说，他们是在1994年以每单位1令吉25仙，购买美丽华休闲公司的债券，每项投资最低4单位（即5000令吉）。该债券的投资期限为5年，并给予每年8%股息。
促全马投资者凝聚力量
这批债券投资者声称，据他们所知，此债券投资者至少也有数千人，投资额从最低数万至百万令吉都有，而债券发行总值超过5000万令吉。
其中一名债券者黎春和说，他们当时是因为看到该公司背景强稳才有信心投资，却没想到在16年后的今天，依然无法回本。
他希望全马各地的投资者可以站在一起，凝聚最大力量来讨回当初投资的本钱。
他也说，有关债券发行者所持的产业依然在运作，但就是没有赎回债券，该公司务必给予投资者明确交待。
证监会说正在调查中
另一方面，梁自坚表示在接到投诉后，他向证监会询问此事，当局给予的回复是正在调查中，并无进展详情。
他表示已向投资者建议，采取法律行动来处理此事。
他也促请政府关注此事，并以处理巴生港口自贸区发行债券的态度来处理此事，还投资者公道。
相关债券持有人可联络黎春和019-339 2817、陈照强012-372 0388、刘志彬016-3239550
http://www.nanyang.com.my/NewsCenter/articleDetail.asp?type=N&ID=178822&SID=7&CID=10
●南洋商报
（士拉央28日讯）一批美丽华休闲公司债券的持有人，将针对该公司没有履行5年连本带利归还协议及5年未发债券利息，诉诸法律行动，并呼吁其他债券持有人凝聚力量，集体讨回公道。
前后等了11年
这批债券持有人曾在去年就此事通过行动党甲洞区国会议员陈胜尧，针对不满债券发行公司自2005年起，连续5年没有分派利息，而要求该公司交待此事；他们也在早前致函向证券监督委员会投诉，但迟至今日仍无下文，所得答案都是：“还在调查中。”
这批投资者今日通过公正党士拉央区国会议员梁自坚再开记者会，申诉他们从1999年已等到2010年，前后长达11年，仍无法取回有关债券的投资额母金，以及过去5年来的债券利息。
“要本不要利”
他们如今“要本不要利”，力促政府以处理巴生港口自贸区发债券事件的方式来看待此事，而他们也会考虑采取法律行动。
这批投资者说，他们是在1994年以每单位1令吉25仙，购买美丽华休闲公司的债券，每项投资最低4单位（即5000令吉）。该债券的投资期限为5年，并给予每年8%股息。
促全马投资者凝聚力量
这批债券投资者声称，据他们所知，此债券投资者至少也有数千人，投资额从最低数万至百万令吉都有，而债券发行总值超过5000万令吉。
其中一名债券者黎春和说，他们当时是因为看到该公司背景强稳才有信心投资，却没想到在16年后的今天，依然无法回本。
他希望全马各地的投资者可以站在一起，凝聚最大力量来讨回当初投资的本钱。
他也说，有关债券发行者所持的产业依然在运作，但就是没有赎回债券，该公司务必给予投资者明确交待。
证监会说正在调查中
另一方面，梁自坚表示在接到投诉后，他向证监会询问此事，当局给予的回复是正在调查中，并无进展详情。
他表示已向投资者建议，采取法律行动来处理此事。
他也促请政府关注此事，并以处理巴生港口自贸区发行债券的态度来处理此事，还投资者公道。
相关债券持有人可联络黎春和019-339 2817、陈照强012-372 0388、刘志彬016-3239550
http://www.nanyang.com.my/NewsCenter/articleDetail.asp?type=N&ID=178822&SID=7&CID=10
400英亩农耕地充私人发展 根登菜农恐饭碗不保
2010/08/28 6:09:31 PM
●南洋商报
（士拉央28日讯）雪州政府子公司在前朝时代出售根登新村400英亩农耕地充作私人发展，40菜农恐面临断炊之虞，更甚的是此事或牵一发动全身，影响本地平原菜的市场！
根登菜农公会今日申诉，雪州政府子公司莎阿南产业公司(SAP)在2004年把根登新村的400英亩农地转售五六间私人发展商充作发展，如今其中一家发展商近期展开填泥工程，并通过承包商发信促菜园迁离，并建议作出每英亩600令吉赔偿。
根登新村务农活动蓬勃，40名菜农过去二三十年来以务农种菜为生，而根登所栽种的平原菜，更占了吉隆坡批发公市的20%市场。
有关农地位于新村与万挠公主镇之间，整幅土地800英亩，扣除湖泊后的的农地总面积有400英亩，当中300英亩菜园，100英亩为鱼塘。
该家发展商所拥有的土地面积约100英亩，涉及的菜农及养鱼业者共9人，他们所持有的地段，从15英亩至80英亩不等。
促雪民联介入调解
根登菜农公会及十多名菜农今日通过士拉央区国会议员梁自坚召开记者会，促请雪州民联政府介入调解此事，确保菜农可以继续生存，同时也表达坚决不走的意愿。
这批菜农的首要意愿是得以留在原地种菜，他们甚至愿意向发展商认购有关地段，若逼不得已，他们希望雪州政府在根登新村附近另觅一块适合地点，让他们生存。
菜农申诉，他们在过去二三十年来一直向州政府申请临时地契，但当中只有一名农友成功取得，而其临时地契目前也已失效。
菜农说，前朝政府当初把该地段临时地契交由莎阿南产业公司处理，令人遗憾的是，州政府子公司没有优先考虑菜农的情况，就把整幅土地分批的转售给五六家发展商。
刘志刚：菜农若被逼迁 将影响本地平原菜市场
根登菜农公会秘书刘志刚说，根登菜农若被逼迁，将牵一发动全身影响本地的平原菜市场，因为，该村菜农每天平均出产150至200吨本地菜，并批发给吉隆坡批发公市。
该新村主要是栽种苋菜、蕹菜以及菜心3种。
刘志刚说，承包商之前来函表明建议作出每英亩600令吉赔偿，他们当年在开发农地，每英亩成本已达3000令吉，如今的成本更高至1万5000令吉，有关赔偿费“什么也做不了”。
他强调，菜农要的不是赔偿，他们只希望可以在原地生活，因为，他们世代在这里务农为生，没有其他的谋生技能。
他指出，此事已刻不容缓，因为，有关发展商已开始在地段上填泥，而该工程也影响了当中一块菜园无法耕种，有关菜农至今已损失10万令吉。
“我们很担心一旦开了先例，其他的发展商也会陆续进驻，届时，40名菜农的生计将深受影响。”
梁自坚：若逼不得已 盼物色地点安顿菜农
梁自坚说，这批在当地生活及务农多年的菜园，因为土地转售而沦为“非法”。
他表示将协助菜农把此事向雪州两名行政议员赛韦尔以及耶谷沙峇利反映，要求他们介入调解此事。
“根据我早前向莎阿南产业公司了解进展，有关回应告知该公司与发展商之间的售地协议已完成，我们对此感到不满。”
他指出，菜农愿意与莎阿南产业公司及相关的发展商针对此事商谈，他们甚至愿意向发展商买回各自的农地，确保生计不受影响。
“倘若真的逼不得已，也希望州政府可以物色一块地点来安顿这批菜农。”
http://www.nanyang.com/NewsCenter/articleDetail.asp?type=N&ID=178673&SID=8&CID=15
●南洋商报
（士拉央28日讯）雪州政府子公司在前朝时代出售根登新村400英亩农耕地充作私人发展，40菜农恐面临断炊之虞，更甚的是此事或牵一发动全身，影响本地平原菜的市场！
根登菜农公会今日申诉，雪州政府子公司莎阿南产业公司(SAP)在2004年把根登新村的400英亩农地转售五六间私人发展商充作发展，如今其中一家发展商近期展开填泥工程，并通过承包商发信促菜园迁离，并建议作出每英亩600令吉赔偿。
根登新村务农活动蓬勃，40名菜农过去二三十年来以务农种菜为生，而根登所栽种的平原菜，更占了吉隆坡批发公市的20%市场。
有关农地位于新村与万挠公主镇之间，整幅土地800英亩，扣除湖泊后的的农地总面积有400英亩，当中300英亩菜园，100英亩为鱼塘。
该家发展商所拥有的土地面积约100英亩，涉及的菜农及养鱼业者共9人，他们所持有的地段，从15英亩至80英亩不等。
促雪民联介入调解
根登菜农公会及十多名菜农今日通过士拉央区国会议员梁自坚召开记者会，促请雪州民联政府介入调解此事，确保菜农可以继续生存，同时也表达坚决不走的意愿。
这批菜农的首要意愿是得以留在原地种菜，他们甚至愿意向发展商认购有关地段，若逼不得已，他们希望雪州政府在根登新村附近另觅一块适合地点，让他们生存。
菜农申诉，他们在过去二三十年来一直向州政府申请临时地契，但当中只有一名农友成功取得，而其临时地契目前也已失效。
菜农说，前朝政府当初把该地段临时地契交由莎阿南产业公司处理，令人遗憾的是，州政府子公司没有优先考虑菜农的情况，就把整幅土地分批的转售给五六家发展商。
刘志刚：菜农若被逼迁 将影响本地平原菜市场
根登菜农公会秘书刘志刚说，根登菜农若被逼迁，将牵一发动全身影响本地的平原菜市场，因为，该村菜农每天平均出产150至200吨本地菜，并批发给吉隆坡批发公市。
该新村主要是栽种苋菜、蕹菜以及菜心3种。
刘志刚说，承包商之前来函表明建议作出每英亩600令吉赔偿，他们当年在开发农地，每英亩成本已达3000令吉，如今的成本更高至1万5000令吉，有关赔偿费“什么也做不了”。
他强调，菜农要的不是赔偿，他们只希望可以在原地生活，因为，他们世代在这里务农为生，没有其他的谋生技能。
他指出，此事已刻不容缓，因为，有关发展商已开始在地段上填泥，而该工程也影响了当中一块菜园无法耕种，有关菜农至今已损失10万令吉。
“我们很担心一旦开了先例，其他的发展商也会陆续进驻，届时，40名菜农的生计将深受影响。”
梁自坚：若逼不得已 盼物色地点安顿菜农
梁自坚说，这批在当地生活及务农多年的菜园，因为土地转售而沦为“非法”。
他表示将协助菜农把此事向雪州两名行政议员赛韦尔以及耶谷沙峇利反映，要求他们介入调解此事。
“根据我早前向莎阿南产业公司了解进展，有关回应告知该公司与发展商之间的售地协议已完成，我们对此感到不满。”
他指出，菜农愿意与莎阿南产业公司及相关的发展商针对此事商谈，他们甚至愿意向发展商买回各自的农地，确保生计不受影响。
“倘若真的逼不得已，也希望州政府可以物色一块地点来安顿这批菜农。”
http://www.nanyang.com/NewsCenter/articleDetail.asp?type=N&ID=178673&SID=8&CID=15
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
KING RATS OF THE NEP
Tan Sri Liew Kee Sin, chairman of SP Setia Bhd provided statistics to show that Malaysian Chinese businessmen have prospered and fared well under the pro-bumiputra New Economic Policy.
He said Chinese individuals controlled 73% of the wealth owned by the top 40 richest Malaysians and make up eight of the top 10 richest Malaysians. The people know who these persons are. Some of them are not only among the richest in Malaysia but in the world.
The people also know how they made their fortunes in the past 40 years. The complaint is not that there is no Malaysian Chinese, Indian, Sikh, Kadazan, Dusun, Iban or other non-bumiputra who has found fame and fortune under the NEP. There will always be those who will thrive even in the most brutal and oppressive regimes.
The complaint is that due to the abuses of the NEP, Malaysians have been deprived of their inalienable right to seek a livelihood with dignity.
Malaysians irrespective of race or religion is entitled to the inherent dignity and inalienable equal right to a livelihood and a standard of living adequate for the well being of himself and his family.
Malaysians are entitled to seek a livelihood with dignity. They need not in the struggle for survival have to be like the King Rat in James Clavell’s novel who engaged in bribery, corruption and black market activities to survive in a Japanese POW camp.
The King Rat, an enlisted man without distinction in civilian life becomes a major power in the prison camp by being the most successful trader through bribery and corruption and black marketeer.
The Japanese gave the prisoners nothing other than filthy huts to live in and the bare minimum of food. Officers were reduced to wearing rags and were closed to losing their humanity. Even the senior officers had to come to the King Rat for help in selling their valuables to buy food.
The King Rat thrived in the brutal environment of deprivation of a prison camp. The abuses of the NEP or its bastardization as described by Datuk Seri Nazir Razak, have created an environment that has spawned King Rats.
The implementation of the NEP required the government to grant wide discretionary powers to officers in approving licenses, permits and other instruments to intervene in economic activities.
By wielding such powers, it allowed such officers opportunities to seek payments from business tycoons to street vendors to obtain licenses or approvals. Hawkers and street vendors have to make under counter payments before they are granted license to eke out their meager earnings.
Business tycoons have to pay much more for their projects to move. This has given rise to both petty corruption and grand corruption. How else can you make a living in a country ranked 56 in the Transparency International Corruption Perception Index?
Malaysians should not be subjected to such indignities.
Tan Sri Liew called on the Chinese businessmen to work with their Malay counterparts. This has been done from the outset of the NEP. The disingenuous did not wait for Tan Sri Liew’s call. Many contracts given to the Malays were subcontracted to Chinese contractors.
Class F contracts are only given to bumiputra contractors selected according to the personal discretion of government officers or local council mayors and not by open tenders. The Ali Baba system has put paid to the noble objective of granting contracts, licenses and permits to Malay businessmen to uplift their economic status.
After 40 years and billions of ringgit in contracts 82% of the rural poor and 67% of the urban poor are still Malays. So long as the majority of Malays remain in poverty, Perkasa and the extremists will claim that the NEP must be continued. The NEP will then stand for the Never Ending Policy.
One cannot blame the Chinese and non-bumiputra contractors taking on the jobs as second, third or even fourth hand sub-contractors. They also have to survive. They also have needs. Many of these sub-sub contractors end up not being paid for the work they have done.
In many instances the contractors at the top have taken payments upfront leaving nothing for the sub-contractors. I know of many Chinese and non-bumiputra subcontractors who end up being bankrupts in this way. Why should these sub-subcontractors be forced to earn a living in this way? If Class F contracts are awarded based on needs and not race, much grief and suffering would be avoided for all involved.
Tan Sri Liew pointed out examples of the spectacular gains made by Chinese businessmen under the NEP. It must however be noted that due to the restrictions imposed by the NEP especially under the Industrial Co-ordination Act and key economic areas, Chinese businesses are not a force in manufacturing and they are no longer owners of the number of banks and finance companies they had before the 1970’s.
During the 1980’s the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry have repeatedly complained that if foreign investors were exempted from the obligatory Bumiputra equity participation requirements in their Malaysian enterprises, why were Chinese enterprise forced to bear the same obligation. The complaints fell on deaf ears. The consequential result was the tie up between the Chinese entrepreneurs and Malays who were influential politicians or former top level bureaucrats (including military).
This was not the objective of the NEP. The NEP was intended to be the catalyst for mutually equal tie-ups between Chinese and Malay entrepreneurs to strengthen Malaysian companies’ economic resilience. Instead it became a mix between business and politics.
In the long run this did not portend well for a healthy business or social–economic environment.
Tan Sri Liew said business was all about profits and not politics. Businessmen are in the business to make money. The King Rat when asked by the British captain who liberated the prison why the King Rat was in a far better health and condition than the other ragged, emaciated and sickly prisoners, he replied that there was no harm in looking out for number one.
The British captain retorted it was no harm provided it was not at others’ expense. Similarly there is no harm to continue the NEP provided it is not at others’ expense. In reality the costs and expense is too high and disproportionate to the gains.
A brief example is more than sufficient to illustrate the point. Under the NEP between 1995 and 2000, the Seventh Malaysia Plan for primary education development allocated 96.5% to the national primary schools which had a total environment of only 75%.
The Chinese primary schools which had a total enrollment of 21% was allocated with only 2.4% while Tamil schools with 3.6% of the total enrollment was allocated 1% of the budget.
Despite announcements by the government on a reduction of reliance on racial quotas for admission to public universities in 2004, 128 students who obtained the best possible grade of 5A’s were denied their first choice of course in medicine. The only thing they have in common is that they are not bumiputras. Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Mukhriz Tun Dr Mahathir informed the Dewan Negara on July 27 2010 that SME Bank from 2006 to June this year approved a total of RM9.8 billion loans involving 5,447 applications and other programmes of which 90% of the beneficiaries are bumiputra SMI’s.
According to the Federation of Chinese Malaysia Youth Section Strategy Research Committee Head Professor Dr Chin Yew Sin there are about 519,000 SMEs in Malaysia and they have not received loans from the SME Bank.
The costs of the NEP to Malaysia among others, is the thousands of primary school children who have to do with less, the lost to the nation of the hundreds of brilliant and talented scholars who cannot realize their full potential and hundreds of thousands of small and medium enterprises who face financial difficulties because of race.
The whole world has recognized that inequality within a nation and between nations leads to poverty and generally poorer living conditions. A socially equal system should achieve fairness in distribution and opportunity among everyone. The NEP cannot drive Malaysia out of its present social-economic quagmire.
Just as in the novel, where the King Rat becomes the strongest in an environment that rewards cunning, luck and strength, he in the end becomes food for someone stronger, Malaysia cannot sustain its development in an environment where the bastardization of the NEP rewards the cunning and the disingenuous.
The nation can only prosper where integrity, ethics and good governance are practiced. The few Malaysian Chinese businessmen who have thrived under this restricted environment cannot justify the continuance of the NEP and the social and economic losses suffered by all the others.
William Leong Jee Keen
Member of Parliament
Selayang
17th August 2010
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Account Number: 564191025409
He said Chinese individuals controlled 73% of the wealth owned by the top 40 richest Malaysians and make up eight of the top 10 richest Malaysians. The people know who these persons are. Some of them are not only among the richest in Malaysia but in the world.
The people also know how they made their fortunes in the past 40 years. The complaint is not that there is no Malaysian Chinese, Indian, Sikh, Kadazan, Dusun, Iban or other non-bumiputra who has found fame and fortune under the NEP. There will always be those who will thrive even in the most brutal and oppressive regimes.
The complaint is that due to the abuses of the NEP, Malaysians have been deprived of their inalienable right to seek a livelihood with dignity.
Malaysians irrespective of race or religion is entitled to the inherent dignity and inalienable equal right to a livelihood and a standard of living adequate for the well being of himself and his family.
Malaysians are entitled to seek a livelihood with dignity. They need not in the struggle for survival have to be like the King Rat in James Clavell’s novel who engaged in bribery, corruption and black market activities to survive in a Japanese POW camp.
The King Rat, an enlisted man without distinction in civilian life becomes a major power in the prison camp by being the most successful trader through bribery and corruption and black marketeer.
The Japanese gave the prisoners nothing other than filthy huts to live in and the bare minimum of food. Officers were reduced to wearing rags and were closed to losing their humanity. Even the senior officers had to come to the King Rat for help in selling their valuables to buy food.
The King Rat thrived in the brutal environment of deprivation of a prison camp. The abuses of the NEP or its bastardization as described by Datuk Seri Nazir Razak, have created an environment that has spawned King Rats.
The implementation of the NEP required the government to grant wide discretionary powers to officers in approving licenses, permits and other instruments to intervene in economic activities.
By wielding such powers, it allowed such officers opportunities to seek payments from business tycoons to street vendors to obtain licenses or approvals. Hawkers and street vendors have to make under counter payments before they are granted license to eke out their meager earnings.
Business tycoons have to pay much more for their projects to move. This has given rise to both petty corruption and grand corruption. How else can you make a living in a country ranked 56 in the Transparency International Corruption Perception Index?
Malaysians should not be subjected to such indignities.
Tan Sri Liew called on the Chinese businessmen to work with their Malay counterparts. This has been done from the outset of the NEP. The disingenuous did not wait for Tan Sri Liew’s call. Many contracts given to the Malays were subcontracted to Chinese contractors.
Class F contracts are only given to bumiputra contractors selected according to the personal discretion of government officers or local council mayors and not by open tenders. The Ali Baba system has put paid to the noble objective of granting contracts, licenses and permits to Malay businessmen to uplift their economic status.
After 40 years and billions of ringgit in contracts 82% of the rural poor and 67% of the urban poor are still Malays. So long as the majority of Malays remain in poverty, Perkasa and the extremists will claim that the NEP must be continued. The NEP will then stand for the Never Ending Policy.
One cannot blame the Chinese and non-bumiputra contractors taking on the jobs as second, third or even fourth hand sub-contractors. They also have to survive. They also have needs. Many of these sub-sub contractors end up not being paid for the work they have done.
In many instances the contractors at the top have taken payments upfront leaving nothing for the sub-contractors. I know of many Chinese and non-bumiputra subcontractors who end up being bankrupts in this way. Why should these sub-subcontractors be forced to earn a living in this way? If Class F contracts are awarded based on needs and not race, much grief and suffering would be avoided for all involved.
Tan Sri Liew pointed out examples of the spectacular gains made by Chinese businessmen under the NEP. It must however be noted that due to the restrictions imposed by the NEP especially under the Industrial Co-ordination Act and key economic areas, Chinese businesses are not a force in manufacturing and they are no longer owners of the number of banks and finance companies they had before the 1970’s.
During the 1980’s the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry have repeatedly complained that if foreign investors were exempted from the obligatory Bumiputra equity participation requirements in their Malaysian enterprises, why were Chinese enterprise forced to bear the same obligation. The complaints fell on deaf ears. The consequential result was the tie up between the Chinese entrepreneurs and Malays who were influential politicians or former top level bureaucrats (including military).
This was not the objective of the NEP. The NEP was intended to be the catalyst for mutually equal tie-ups between Chinese and Malay entrepreneurs to strengthen Malaysian companies’ economic resilience. Instead it became a mix between business and politics.
In the long run this did not portend well for a healthy business or social–economic environment.
Tan Sri Liew said business was all about profits and not politics. Businessmen are in the business to make money. The King Rat when asked by the British captain who liberated the prison why the King Rat was in a far better health and condition than the other ragged, emaciated and sickly prisoners, he replied that there was no harm in looking out for number one.
The British captain retorted it was no harm provided it was not at others’ expense. Similarly there is no harm to continue the NEP provided it is not at others’ expense. In reality the costs and expense is too high and disproportionate to the gains.
A brief example is more than sufficient to illustrate the point. Under the NEP between 1995 and 2000, the Seventh Malaysia Plan for primary education development allocated 96.5% to the national primary schools which had a total environment of only 75%.
The Chinese primary schools which had a total enrollment of 21% was allocated with only 2.4% while Tamil schools with 3.6% of the total enrollment was allocated 1% of the budget.
Despite announcements by the government on a reduction of reliance on racial quotas for admission to public universities in 2004, 128 students who obtained the best possible grade of 5A’s were denied their first choice of course in medicine. The only thing they have in common is that they are not bumiputras. Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Mukhriz Tun Dr Mahathir informed the Dewan Negara on July 27 2010 that SME Bank from 2006 to June this year approved a total of RM9.8 billion loans involving 5,447 applications and other programmes of which 90% of the beneficiaries are bumiputra SMI’s.
According to the Federation of Chinese Malaysia Youth Section Strategy Research Committee Head Professor Dr Chin Yew Sin there are about 519,000 SMEs in Malaysia and they have not received loans from the SME Bank.
The costs of the NEP to Malaysia among others, is the thousands of primary school children who have to do with less, the lost to the nation of the hundreds of brilliant and talented scholars who cannot realize their full potential and hundreds of thousands of small and medium enterprises who face financial difficulties because of race.
The whole world has recognized that inequality within a nation and between nations leads to poverty and generally poorer living conditions. A socially equal system should achieve fairness in distribution and opportunity among everyone. The NEP cannot drive Malaysia out of its present social-economic quagmire.
Just as in the novel, where the King Rat becomes the strongest in an environment that rewards cunning, luck and strength, he in the end becomes food for someone stronger, Malaysia cannot sustain its development in an environment where the bastardization of the NEP rewards the cunning and the disingenuous.
The nation can only prosper where integrity, ethics and good governance are practiced. The few Malaysian Chinese businessmen who have thrived under this restricted environment cannot justify the continuance of the NEP and the social and economic losses suffered by all the others.
William Leong Jee Keen
Member of Parliament
Selayang
17th August 2010
BE A FRIEND FOR CHANGE
YOUR CONTRIBUTION WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
Every vote counts,
Every ringgit is vital.
The struggle for justice is won through personal sacrifice. It may take the form of tireless efforts or generous financial contribution.
Every contribution, no matter how small, like a droplet of rain flows into a sea to form a wave of change
Send your contribution to:
Parti Keadilan Rakyat
Malayan Banking Berhad
Account Number: 564191025409
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Jadual Masa Untuk Majlis Buka Puasa
Selamat Berpuasa kepada saudara dan saudari bergama Islam.
Jadual Masa Bagi YB William Leong Menghadiri Majlis Buka Puasa．
13/8(Jumaat) Kg Gombak, Kuang
14/8 (Sabtu) Bandar Baru Kundang, Kundang
15/8 (Ahad) Restoran D’Manggis bt16, jalan Kuang
16/8 (Isnin) Kg Sungai Serai, Kuang
17/8 (Selasa) Kg Setia, Batu 20 Pekan Kuang,
18/8 (Rabu) Batu Arang
19/8 (Khamis) Bandar Tasik Puteri, Rawang
20/8 (Jumaat) Kg Damai, Kuang
21/8 (Sabtu) Surau Ladang Baru, Kg. Cempedak Baru
23/8 (Isnin) Surau di Taman Tun Perak, Rawang
24/8 (Selasa) Masjid di Bandar Country Home, Rawang
25/8 (Rabu) Surau di Jalan Desa 1/15, Bandar Country Home
26/8 (Khamis) Surau di Appartment Palma, Bandar Country Home
1/9 (Rabu) Masjid di Batu 16 Rawang
6/9 (Isnin) Surau di Taman Tun Teja, Rawang
7/9 (Selasa) Surau di Taman Jati Batu 17, Rawang
Jadual Masa Bagi YB William Leong Menghadiri Majlis Buka Puasa．
13/8(Jumaat) Kg Gombak, Kuang
14/8 (Sabtu) Bandar Baru Kundang, Kundang
15/8 (Ahad) Restoran D’Manggis bt16, jalan Kuang
16/8 (Isnin) Kg Sungai Serai, Kuang
17/8 (Selasa) Kg Setia, Batu 20 Pekan Kuang,
18/8 (Rabu) Batu Arang
19/8 (Khamis) Bandar Tasik Puteri, Rawang
20/8 (Jumaat) Kg Damai, Kuang
21/8 (Sabtu) Surau Ladang Baru, Kg. Cempedak Baru
23/8 (Isnin) Surau di Taman Tun Perak, Rawang
24/8 (Selasa) Masjid di Bandar Country Home, Rawang
25/8 (Rabu) Surau di Jalan Desa 1/15, Bandar Country Home
26/8 (Khamis) Surau di Appartment Palma, Bandar Country Home
1/9 (Rabu) Masjid di Batu 16 Rawang
6/9 (Isnin) Surau di Taman Tun Teja, Rawang
7/9 (Selasa) Surau di Taman Jati Batu 17, Rawang
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Paying PKFZ bondholders will further erode FDI, claims PKR treasurer
By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal
July 29, 2010
KUALA LUMPUR, July 29 — PKR demanded today that the Najib Administration review its decision ordering Port Klang Authority (PKA) to pay Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) bondholders until the on-going civil suits involving PKA and turnkey contractor Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd (KDSB) are settled.
PKR treasurer William Leong claimed that the government’s decision will send a wrong signal and would only drive away investors in the near future.
“I call on the government to review its decision and act in the interests of the people by withholding payment until the Court decides on the civil suits otherwise it sends a wrong signal that crime does pay in Malaysia. This decision will not instill confidence in the foreign or local investors but will only lead to further erosion of FDI. Confidence arises in the respect for the laws. In this case it is by withholding payments when there is no legal requirement to pay.
“The Najib Administration’s decision (is) far from showing that the Government is committed to the sanctity of contract and respect for laws, on the contrary sends a signal to the capital markets, investors and the public that in Malaysia crime does pay. It is decisions like this that has eroded FDI by 81 per cent and has reduced our country’s competitiveness behind Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines,” said Leong in statement today.
The Selayang MP said that the government’s move showed that it was giving preference to the interests of “private bondholders and KDSB” instead of protecting taxpayer’s monies and maintaining accountability.
Leong pointed out that since the PKA board had lodged police reports and was currently embroiled in civil suits against KDSB for fraud, overpayment and breach of contract, there was no legal obligation whatsoever to complete the payments to the bondholders pending the outcome of the said civil suits.
“The government’s reason that this is because of the government’s commitment to bondholders is not acceptable. The statement serves instead to confirm that the whole truth behind the PKFZ scandal has not been revealed. The Najib Administration’s decision amounts to a volte-face or a complete turnaround from the position announced by the Badawi Administration. The previous Transport Minister, Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat informed Parliament that the letters issued by the former Transport Minister were not guarantees.
“He stated in the Parliament and it was recorded in the Hansard that the letters were letters of support. It means that they were mere statements of intent that the Government will ensure PKFZ shall have sufficient funds to meet its contractual obligations. If this statement given in the Parliament is true then there is no legal requirement for PKFZ to pay KDSB when KDSB did not comply with and breached its contractual obligations,” said Leong.
Leong added that if the government insisted on paying the bondholders irrespective of whether or not KDSB had complied with its obligations under the contract with PKFZ, then the letters issued by the former Minister of Transport Dato’ Chan Kong Choy were not “mere letters of support as claimed but are indeed guarantees.”
“As such these letters of guarantees were issued in violation of Section 14 of the Financial Procedure Act 1957 and offences have been committed. In such circumstances, the failure to act according to the Public Accounts Committee’s recommendation to investigate and charge Dato’ Chan Kong Choy and all those involved (other than subordinates and lower echelon officers) for criminal breach of trust and other offences in this scandal sends a signal that there is a shocking lack of political will to enforce the laws and regulations by the authorities under the present administration.
“If, on the other hand, the Badawi Administration and Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat are correct then there is no legal obligation to pay. The present administration’s decision to pay cannot be not due any legal commitment. It is thus an extra-legal payment made for the benefit of these private interests. The Najib Administration in seeking to protect the interest of bondholders and KDSB has failed to protect the interests of Malaysians,” said the PKR man.
Pakatan Rakyat (PR) have attacked the Najib Administration ”bailing out” the culprits by ordering the Port Klang Authority (PKA) to pay its Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) bond obligation of RM222.58 million to Freezone Capital Bhd (FZCB).
The Barisan Nasional (BN) government had announced yesterday of the order for PKA to honour its final bond obligation despite the board’s ongoing suit against turnkey contractor Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd (KDSB).
The Transport Ministry said yesterday that PKA would have to make payment to special-purpose vehicles as set out in the payment schedule.
Kong had said that the ministry would stick to the original schedule set before, which stipulates that the board had an obligation to fulfil a final payment of RM372 million, a second part of the RM723 million repayment due to bondholders this year.
Of the total, PKA is obliged to pay RM222.58 million to FZCB and the remaining RM150 million to Special Port Vehicle (SPVB) by July 31 this year.
It was reported that the PKA board had decided to hold back on its final payment to FZCB, one of the four special-purpose vehicles (SPVs) that was established by KDSB, the turnkey contractor for the troubled PKFZ project.
KDSB is now facing a suit of RM1.4 billion by the PKA for, among other things, allegations that it had made bloated claims for work done on the project.
The board had last month disbursed some RM350 million to Transshipment Megahub Bhd (TMB) and Valid Ventures Bhd (VVB).
It is due to make more payments to three other SPVs besides FZCB up until 2017.
Last month, former Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat had called for a freeze on all repayments pending the outcome of the PKA’s lawsuit against KDSB.
He claimed that further payments would jeopardise the existing legal action by PKA, noting that freezing them was a more favourable position than later having to recover monies already paid.
In an interview with The Malaysian Insider last night, Ong reiterated his stand, saying that the government should “consider the reasons” for not fulfilling the bond obligation.
The former transport minister said the government should ask PKA about its refusal to pay instead of forcing the payment by the deadline this Saturday.
“We must look at both sides of the story — the justifications, the rationale — given by PKA as to why they chose to defer payment,” Ong told The Malaysian Insider last night.
The former MCA president said one factor influencing PKA’s decision to hold back monies was the outstanding allegations of fraudulent claims made on projects, especially new additional development work, where no work had been carried out.
“Do you think that you’d still want to pay them? That explains why the panel that I formed to probe into the possible wrongdoings and the 20 points raised by PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers) in the review report made such a recommendation to the PKA board [to defer payment],” Ong said.
Sources in PKA told The Malaysian Insider that the directors of PKA risk being held liable for hundreds of millions of ringgit after being asked to pay bondholders of the controversial PKFZ project, despite ongoing legal disputes over the amounts owed.
The sources said that the directors were advised that should PKA win their lawsuit against KDSB but fail to recover any money, the directors could be held responsible for money already paid out.
“The directors could be held liable for failing to discharge their fiduciary duty” said the sources.
“That is the crux of the issue.”
In Parliament on June 29, Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Abdul Rahim Bakri had said that the government would not stop the payments to bondholders for it had a “commitment” to them.
He had said this following a question by Ipoh Timor MP Lim Kit Siang who asked whether the government through PKA should not pay KDSB since PKA was in a legal dispute with KDSB, and instead set up a (escrow) third-party account to hold the money.
Pua later pointed out to Abdul Rahim that PKA’s commitment was not to KDSB’s bondholders, but KDSB itself as the main contractor for PKFZ.
He also predicted that the government would eventually have to bail out KDSB from its financial woes.
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/paying-pkfz-bondholders-will-further-erode-fdi-claims-pkr-treasurer/
July 29, 2010
KUALA LUMPUR, July 29 — PKR demanded today that the Najib Administration review its decision ordering Port Klang Authority (PKA) to pay Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) bondholders until the on-going civil suits involving PKA and turnkey contractor Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd (KDSB) are settled.
PKR treasurer William Leong claimed that the government’s decision will send a wrong signal and would only drive away investors in the near future.
“I call on the government to review its decision and act in the interests of the people by withholding payment until the Court decides on the civil suits otherwise it sends a wrong signal that crime does pay in Malaysia. This decision will not instill confidence in the foreign or local investors but will only lead to further erosion of FDI. Confidence arises in the respect for the laws. In this case it is by withholding payments when there is no legal requirement to pay.
“The Najib Administration’s decision (is) far from showing that the Government is committed to the sanctity of contract and respect for laws, on the contrary sends a signal to the capital markets, investors and the public that in Malaysia crime does pay. It is decisions like this that has eroded FDI by 81 per cent and has reduced our country’s competitiveness behind Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines,” said Leong in statement today.
The Selayang MP said that the government’s move showed that it was giving preference to the interests of “private bondholders and KDSB” instead of protecting taxpayer’s monies and maintaining accountability.
Leong pointed out that since the PKA board had lodged police reports and was currently embroiled in civil suits against KDSB for fraud, overpayment and breach of contract, there was no legal obligation whatsoever to complete the payments to the bondholders pending the outcome of the said civil suits.
“The government’s reason that this is because of the government’s commitment to bondholders is not acceptable. The statement serves instead to confirm that the whole truth behind the PKFZ scandal has not been revealed. The Najib Administration’s decision amounts to a volte-face or a complete turnaround from the position announced by the Badawi Administration. The previous Transport Minister, Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat informed Parliament that the letters issued by the former Transport Minister were not guarantees.
“He stated in the Parliament and it was recorded in the Hansard that the letters were letters of support. It means that they were mere statements of intent that the Government will ensure PKFZ shall have sufficient funds to meet its contractual obligations. If this statement given in the Parliament is true then there is no legal requirement for PKFZ to pay KDSB when KDSB did not comply with and breached its contractual obligations,” said Leong.
Leong added that if the government insisted on paying the bondholders irrespective of whether or not KDSB had complied with its obligations under the contract with PKFZ, then the letters issued by the former Minister of Transport Dato’ Chan Kong Choy were not “mere letters of support as claimed but are indeed guarantees.”
“As such these letters of guarantees were issued in violation of Section 14 of the Financial Procedure Act 1957 and offences have been committed. In such circumstances, the failure to act according to the Public Accounts Committee’s recommendation to investigate and charge Dato’ Chan Kong Choy and all those involved (other than subordinates and lower echelon officers) for criminal breach of trust and other offences in this scandal sends a signal that there is a shocking lack of political will to enforce the laws and regulations by the authorities under the present administration.
“If, on the other hand, the Badawi Administration and Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat are correct then there is no legal obligation to pay. The present administration’s decision to pay cannot be not due any legal commitment. It is thus an extra-legal payment made for the benefit of these private interests. The Najib Administration in seeking to protect the interest of bondholders and KDSB has failed to protect the interests of Malaysians,” said the PKR man.
Pakatan Rakyat (PR) have attacked the Najib Administration ”bailing out” the culprits by ordering the Port Klang Authority (PKA) to pay its Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) bond obligation of RM222.58 million to Freezone Capital Bhd (FZCB).
The Barisan Nasional (BN) government had announced yesterday of the order for PKA to honour its final bond obligation despite the board’s ongoing suit against turnkey contractor Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd (KDSB).
The Transport Ministry said yesterday that PKA would have to make payment to special-purpose vehicles as set out in the payment schedule.
Kong had said that the ministry would stick to the original schedule set before, which stipulates that the board had an obligation to fulfil a final payment of RM372 million, a second part of the RM723 million repayment due to bondholders this year.
Of the total, PKA is obliged to pay RM222.58 million to FZCB and the remaining RM150 million to Special Port Vehicle (SPVB) by July 31 this year.
It was reported that the PKA board had decided to hold back on its final payment to FZCB, one of the four special-purpose vehicles (SPVs) that was established by KDSB, the turnkey contractor for the troubled PKFZ project.
KDSB is now facing a suit of RM1.4 billion by the PKA for, among other things, allegations that it had made bloated claims for work done on the project.
The board had last month disbursed some RM350 million to Transshipment Megahub Bhd (TMB) and Valid Ventures Bhd (VVB).
It is due to make more payments to three other SPVs besides FZCB up until 2017.
Last month, former Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat had called for a freeze on all repayments pending the outcome of the PKA’s lawsuit against KDSB.
He claimed that further payments would jeopardise the existing legal action by PKA, noting that freezing them was a more favourable position than later having to recover monies already paid.
In an interview with The Malaysian Insider last night, Ong reiterated his stand, saying that the government should “consider the reasons” for not fulfilling the bond obligation.
The former transport minister said the government should ask PKA about its refusal to pay instead of forcing the payment by the deadline this Saturday.
“We must look at both sides of the story — the justifications, the rationale — given by PKA as to why they chose to defer payment,” Ong told The Malaysian Insider last night.
The former MCA president said one factor influencing PKA’s decision to hold back monies was the outstanding allegations of fraudulent claims made on projects, especially new additional development work, where no work had been carried out.
“Do you think that you’d still want to pay them? That explains why the panel that I formed to probe into the possible wrongdoings and the 20 points raised by PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers) in the review report made such a recommendation to the PKA board [to defer payment],” Ong said.
Sources in PKA told The Malaysian Insider that the directors of PKA risk being held liable for hundreds of millions of ringgit after being asked to pay bondholders of the controversial PKFZ project, despite ongoing legal disputes over the amounts owed.
The sources said that the directors were advised that should PKA win their lawsuit against KDSB but fail to recover any money, the directors could be held responsible for money already paid out.
“The directors could be held liable for failing to discharge their fiduciary duty” said the sources.
“That is the crux of the issue.”
In Parliament on June 29, Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Abdul Rahim Bakri had said that the government would not stop the payments to bondholders for it had a “commitment” to them.
He had said this following a question by Ipoh Timor MP Lim Kit Siang who asked whether the government through PKA should not pay KDSB since PKA was in a legal dispute with KDSB, and instead set up a (escrow) third-party account to hold the money.
Pua later pointed out to Abdul Rahim that PKA’s commitment was not to KDSB’s bondholders, but KDSB itself as the main contractor for PKFZ.
He also predicted that the government would eventually have to bail out KDSB from its financial woes.
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/paying-pkfz-bondholders-will-further-erode-fdi-claims-pkr-treasurer/
指下令付款予KDSB错放讯息 梁自坚：违法得利难以服人
作者／本刊记者 Jul 29, 2010 03:59:58 pm
【本刊记者撰述】人民公正党总财政兼士拉央区国会议员梁自坚针对国阵联邦政府推翻巴生港务局决定，指示港务局必须按照原订时程表付款表示遗憾，因为国阵政府决定牺牲人民的利益，把纳税人的钱约马币3亿7200万支付给Kuala Dimensi（KDSB）。
梁自坚表示，联邦政府作出这项决定是以遵守合约的法律责任和对债权人的承诺为理由。“这项决定带来了一个很清楚的讯息给我国的资本市场、投资者和人民，那就是在马来西亚违法还可以得到付款。”
他称，这也是为什么马来西亚外国直接投资已经削弱了81％以及马来西亚的竞争力已经落后于泰国、越南和菲律宾的原因。”
梁自坚也是著名的企业律师，他表示，巴生港务局董事部已经向警方报案并针对KDSB作出诉讼欺诈、多付款项和违约。如果承包商被起诉欺诈、多付款项和有缺陷的或不完整的工程，在这段审讯过程以及法庭尚未审判，港务局是没有法律责任需要支付给该承包商。
指翁否认发保证信件
梁自坚也说，政府对于债券人的承诺而指示港务局付款的理由是不能接受，因为前交通部长翁诗杰在国会下议院时说，前交通部长发出的信件是没有保证的，这些信件只是支持信件而已。
“这意味着，那些支持信件的用意是属于陈述的意图，那么政府将确保巴生港口自贸区是有足够的资金以符合其合约的声明。如果那些声明在国会下议发表时是正确的话，KDSB 不遵守和违反其合约义务时，那么就没有法律规定巴生港口自贸区需要支付KDSB款项。”
他表示，如果像联邦政府所说的，政府因法律承诺而支付给债券持有人无论KDSB有没有履行和巴生港务局所签下的合约义务，那么前交通部长陈广才发出的信件不是单纯的支持信，而是保证信件。
梁自坚最后表示，他呼吁政府检讨和撤回其决定直到法庭作出任何审判，因为这项决定将会导致外国直接投资的进一步侵蚀、投资者的信心下滑。
http://www.merdekareview.com/news/n/14348.html
【本刊记者撰述】人民公正党总财政兼士拉央区国会议员梁自坚针对国阵联邦政府推翻巴生港务局决定，指示港务局必须按照原订时程表付款表示遗憾，因为国阵政府决定牺牲人民的利益，把纳税人的钱约马币3亿7200万支付给Kuala Dimensi（KDSB）。
梁自坚表示，联邦政府作出这项决定是以遵守合约的法律责任和对债权人的承诺为理由。“这项决定带来了一个很清楚的讯息给我国的资本市场、投资者和人民，那就是在马来西亚违法还可以得到付款。”
他称，这也是为什么马来西亚外国直接投资已经削弱了81％以及马来西亚的竞争力已经落后于泰国、越南和菲律宾的原因。”
梁自坚也是著名的企业律师，他表示，巴生港务局董事部已经向警方报案并针对KDSB作出诉讼欺诈、多付款项和违约。如果承包商被起诉欺诈、多付款项和有缺陷的或不完整的工程，在这段审讯过程以及法庭尚未审判，港务局是没有法律责任需要支付给该承包商。
指翁否认发保证信件
梁自坚也说，政府对于债券人的承诺而指示港务局付款的理由是不能接受，因为前交通部长翁诗杰在国会下议院时说，前交通部长发出的信件是没有保证的，这些信件只是支持信件而已。
“这意味着，那些支持信件的用意是属于陈述的意图，那么政府将确保巴生港口自贸区是有足够的资金以符合其合约的声明。如果那些声明在国会下议发表时是正确的话，KDSB 不遵守和违反其合约义务时，那么就没有法律规定巴生港口自贸区需要支付KDSB款项。”
他表示，如果像联邦政府所说的，政府因法律承诺而支付给债券持有人无论KDSB有没有履行和巴生港务局所签下的合约义务，那么前交通部长陈广才发出的信件不是单纯的支持信，而是保证信件。
梁自坚最后表示，他呼吁政府检讨和撤回其决定直到法庭作出任何审判，因为这项决定将会导致外国直接投资的进一步侵蚀、投资者的信心下滑。
http://www.merdekareview.com/news/n/14348.html
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
TRUTH WILL HELP US CHANGE THE 10TH MALAYSIAN PLAN PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE
Honourable Dato Speaker,
Critical Economic Structural Reforms
I am grateful for the opportunity to participate in the parliamentary debate on the 10th Malaysian Plan. It is heartening to know that the Government finally acknowledges the country needs critical economic structural reforms. The Government proposes to make this transformation under the New Economic Model. Pakatan Rakyat had prior to the 12th General Elections warned that dire reforms are needed and had proposed the New Economic Agenda. BN and PR therefore share a common platform that reforms are needed. The difference lies in political will.
Courage and Conviction
Pakatan Rakyat’s struggle for reform is based on courage and conviction. Courage based on knowledge of the truth. Conviction based on the faith in the people’s desire for change.
1,500 delegates from Keadilan, DAPand PAS have given full endorsement for the New Economic Agenda at PR’s Convention on 19th December 2009. No UMNO or any BN division has given support to the NEM. In fact, not only UMNO members but even ministers have attended and supported anti-NEM forums. Perkasa, UMNO members and Bumiputra NGOs and movements such as “Bangkit Melayu” led by the previous Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir, have objected to the NEM. They claimed that the Malays are still poor and are economically disadvantaged. They fear that if the NEP’s affirmative policy is abolished the Malays will suffer. They have called for a “May 13 Rally” to remind the people of the riots when Malay rights are not respected. Due to these pressures, the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, officers in the Economic Planning Unit and government officials have disowned the National Economic Advisory Council (“NEAC”) and disclaimed the NEM as government policy. The Prime Minister, Dato Sri Najib Tun Razak declared at the Bumiputra Economic Congress on 31st May 2010 that he would not betray the NEP policies.
In the light of this development, the Government’s political will to make the changes is suspect. The Government needs to show that it has the political will and conviction to carry out the promised reforms. It is therefore imperative for the Government to carry out the following actions.
Firstly: Establishing a Truth and Reconciliation Tribunal on the May 13 Incident.
The Government must firstly acknowledge that the May 13 Incident was a political coup d’etat and not a racial problem. The cornerstone of the NEP has been the May 13 Incident. There must be a Truth and Reconciliation Tribunal to investigate whether “the May 13 Incident” was a ploy by Malay capitalists to depose Tunku Abdul Rahman as prime minister and not a racial riot.
Tunku referred to such a plot in the book “K. Das and the Tunku Tapes” :
“You know Harun was one of those-Harun, Mahathir, Ghazali Shafie-who were all working with Razak to oust me, to take over my place…”
Subki Latiff, a journalist wrote in 1977:
“The May 13 Incident did not occur spontaneously. It was planned quickly and purposely. The identity of the planners of the incident cannot be stated with accuracy. But whatever it was that happened, the May 13 Incident was a form of coup d’etat directed against Tunku Abdul Rahman. The Tunku’s power in fact ended from then onwards. Although he continued to be Prime Minister and President of UMNO, he was no more than a figurehead.”
(Dr Kua Kia Soong “May 13 Declassified Documents on the Malaysian Riots of 1969)
Recently, Tan Sri Abdullah Ahmad, who was Tun Razak’s political secretary prior, during and after the May 13 Incident wrote an article about the incident. He said that the tragic and vicious incident need not have happened had Tun Razak’s message to Dato’ Harun Idris, the Menteri Besar of Selangor, reached him 30 minutes earlier or had Tan Sri David Tan Chee Khoon and Tun Lim Chong Eu spoken to Tun Razak 30 minutes earlier to relay their message that they would not cooperate with DAP to form the state government of Selangor nor work together in Perak and elsewhere. Tan Sri Abdullah said he was beside Tun Razak when he took the calls. He recalled clearly what Tun Razak told Dato Harun:
“…the good news is you will continue to run Selangor. Chee Khoon and Chong Eu have just spoken to me and they want the status preserved. So tell the people gathering at your house to disperse.”
Dato Harun thanked Tun Razak and asked him to convey his gratitude to the two statesmen. Between five and ten minutes after that, Dato Harun rang Tun Razak to say it was too late. As he was persuading them to disperse, news reached the crowd that clashes had begun in Chow Kit area and beyond.
The New Economic Policy was created in the aftermath of the May 13 Incident. Since then “the spectre of May 13” is raised whenever the supremacy of UMNO is threatened or civil rights issues are raised. From above accounts a Truth and Reconciliation Tribunal must be established to ascertain whether the tragic clashes were to oust the Tunku, or to enable Dato Harun Idris to be retained as Chief Minister or due to racial disharmony. This country has been caught in a quagmire of racial politics for 40 years. As the nation searches for a new direction, it is imperative that the Government acknowledges the facts behind the May 13 Incident. For this nation to move forward in the future, it must be anchored on a past grounded on solid truth and not a tissue of lies.
Secondly: It must be acknowledged not all Malays benefited from the NEP.
The Government must secondly acknowledge that the NEP benefited only a select few. The argument for maintaining the NEP is Malay poverty.
Based upon Government Statistics, after 40 years of the NEP, 62% of the Malays earn RM3,000.00 or less. They are farmers, rubber tappers, fishermen, factory workers and small traders. 34% of Malay households earn between RM3,000.00 and RM10,000.00. They are government servants, officers in government linked companies, contractors and traders. Only 2.8% of Malay households earn between RM10,000.00 and RM20,000.00. They are senior executives in GLCs, big contractors and professionals. Only 0.5% of the Malay households earn more than RM20,000.00. The claim that NEP benefited all Malays therefore cannot withstand scrutiny. Only the select few benefited while the majority remains in poverty or trapped in the lower income group.
The Prime Minister in his answer to my parliamentary question on 10 June 2010 said the Government acknowledged that Malays form 80% of the lowest 40% income group in the rural areas. Malays constitute 53% in the urban areas.
The Prime Minister explained that the reasons for this predicament are caused by the lack of capacity and ability to take advantage of economic opportunities, lack of capital resources, low level of education and skills, staying in rural areas and in the interior and being involved in low productivity activities.
It is only the select few who have taken advantage of the economic activities generated by the NEP. They also do not have capital resources but bank loans are arranged for them and they are bailed out when they face financial troubles. They have been given RM54 Billion worth of Bumiputra shares, privatized contracts, APs and licenses.
The Government must explain to the 80% lower income group of Malays and the Malay students why under the DEB, they have to repay the Government student loans, why they have to repay these loans with interests, are black listed when they default in repayments and are declared bankrupts when they fail. While on the other hand the select few are bailed out when they are in trouble such as the Government buying MAS shares from Tajudin Ramli at RM8.00 each when the market price was only RM3.62.
Tun Dr. Mahathir explained this in 1998 “The Way Forward” London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson) when he said:
“The NEP, it must be iterated, was not concerned in making all the bumiputras earned equally or share equally the wealth distributed amongst them. … the intention of the NEP was to create in the bumiputra community the same division of labour and rewards as was found in the non-bumiputra communities, particular, the Chinese. … the equitableness was not to be between individuals but between communities.”
The Honourable Member from Gua Musang in his speech on launching the second edition of the late James Puthucheary’s book “No Cowardly Past” on 22 March 2010 referred to this concept of creating a group of a few Bumiputra capitalists. He said that the NEP was intended as a unifying policy. There is no mention of race in the policy. It was subsequently reinvented as an inalienable platform for a Malay agenda. This group asserted the incongruous fiction of a Malay supremacy that requires affirmative action for a permanently dependant Malay. In its implementation, it became a project to enrich a selection of Malay capitalists. James Puthucheary warned back in 1959 that this was bound to fail:
“The presence of Chinese capitalists has not noticeably helped solve the poverty of Chinese households. Those who think that the economic position of the Malays can be improved by creating a few Malay capitalists, thus, making a few Malays well to do, will have to think again.”
Today, we asked those who oppose the structural reforms to think again. We are facing a crisis that threatens the political and economical foundation of our nation. We have come to the end of the road for the myth of the Malay Dilemma. It is important that the Government has the courage to acknowledge that the NEP did not provide for all the Malays but instead benefited only a select few. It is necessary to have a new policy such as Pakatan Rakyat’s New Economic Agenda for an affirmative action programme based on needs and not race. The Government must have the courage to acknowledge that a policy that is sustained through the rhetoric of ethnicity cannot succeed.
Conclusion:
The Government must show it has the political will to make the critical changes needed. The Government must have the courage to face the truth. It is only when the truth is known can the nation find the strength to change. We have reached the cross roads of our nation’s development. The Government must not allow emotional issues of race to shroud the NEP’s failure to the nation in general and the Malays in particular. A Truth and Reconciliation Tribunal will allow proper closure of the May 13 Incident. It has haunted the nation for 40 years. The nation has not healed because we continue to fear. It is a fear built into our political system. This fear is rooted in the ignorance of the truth. We must as a nation exorcise the ghost of the May 13 Incident. As long as the truth remains hidden, we will not mature as a people and as a nation.
Thank you.
William Leong Jee Keen
Member of Parliament for Selayang
21 June 2010
Critical Economic Structural Reforms
I am grateful for the opportunity to participate in the parliamentary debate on the 10th Malaysian Plan. It is heartening to know that the Government finally acknowledges the country needs critical economic structural reforms. The Government proposes to make this transformation under the New Economic Model. Pakatan Rakyat had prior to the 12th General Elections warned that dire reforms are needed and had proposed the New Economic Agenda. BN and PR therefore share a common platform that reforms are needed. The difference lies in political will.
Courage and Conviction
Pakatan Rakyat’s struggle for reform is based on courage and conviction. Courage based on knowledge of the truth. Conviction based on the faith in the people’s desire for change.
1,500 delegates from Keadilan, DAPand PAS have given full endorsement for the New Economic Agenda at PR’s Convention on 19th December 2009. No UMNO or any BN division has given support to the NEM. In fact, not only UMNO members but even ministers have attended and supported anti-NEM forums. Perkasa, UMNO members and Bumiputra NGOs and movements such as “Bangkit Melayu” led by the previous Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir, have objected to the NEM. They claimed that the Malays are still poor and are economically disadvantaged. They fear that if the NEP’s affirmative policy is abolished the Malays will suffer. They have called for a “May 13 Rally” to remind the people of the riots when Malay rights are not respected. Due to these pressures, the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, officers in the Economic Planning Unit and government officials have disowned the National Economic Advisory Council (“NEAC”) and disclaimed the NEM as government policy. The Prime Minister, Dato Sri Najib Tun Razak declared at the Bumiputra Economic Congress on 31st May 2010 that he would not betray the NEP policies.
In the light of this development, the Government’s political will to make the changes is suspect. The Government needs to show that it has the political will and conviction to carry out the promised reforms. It is therefore imperative for the Government to carry out the following actions.
Firstly: Establishing a Truth and Reconciliation Tribunal on the May 13 Incident.
The Government must firstly acknowledge that the May 13 Incident was a political coup d’etat and not a racial problem. The cornerstone of the NEP has been the May 13 Incident. There must be a Truth and Reconciliation Tribunal to investigate whether “the May 13 Incident” was a ploy by Malay capitalists to depose Tunku Abdul Rahman as prime minister and not a racial riot.
Tunku referred to such a plot in the book “K. Das and the Tunku Tapes” :
“You know Harun was one of those-Harun, Mahathir, Ghazali Shafie-who were all working with Razak to oust me, to take over my place…”
Subki Latiff, a journalist wrote in 1977:
“The May 13 Incident did not occur spontaneously. It was planned quickly and purposely. The identity of the planners of the incident cannot be stated with accuracy. But whatever it was that happened, the May 13 Incident was a form of coup d’etat directed against Tunku Abdul Rahman. The Tunku’s power in fact ended from then onwards. Although he continued to be Prime Minister and President of UMNO, he was no more than a figurehead.”
(Dr Kua Kia Soong “May 13 Declassified Documents on the Malaysian Riots of 1969)
Recently, Tan Sri Abdullah Ahmad, who was Tun Razak’s political secretary prior, during and after the May 13 Incident wrote an article about the incident. He said that the tragic and vicious incident need not have happened had Tun Razak’s message to Dato’ Harun Idris, the Menteri Besar of Selangor, reached him 30 minutes earlier or had Tan Sri David Tan Chee Khoon and Tun Lim Chong Eu spoken to Tun Razak 30 minutes earlier to relay their message that they would not cooperate with DAP to form the state government of Selangor nor work together in Perak and elsewhere. Tan Sri Abdullah said he was beside Tun Razak when he took the calls. He recalled clearly what Tun Razak told Dato Harun:
“…the good news is you will continue to run Selangor. Chee Khoon and Chong Eu have just spoken to me and they want the status preserved. So tell the people gathering at your house to disperse.”
Dato Harun thanked Tun Razak and asked him to convey his gratitude to the two statesmen. Between five and ten minutes after that, Dato Harun rang Tun Razak to say it was too late. As he was persuading them to disperse, news reached the crowd that clashes had begun in Chow Kit area and beyond.
The New Economic Policy was created in the aftermath of the May 13 Incident. Since then “the spectre of May 13” is raised whenever the supremacy of UMNO is threatened or civil rights issues are raised. From above accounts a Truth and Reconciliation Tribunal must be established to ascertain whether the tragic clashes were to oust the Tunku, or to enable Dato Harun Idris to be retained as Chief Minister or due to racial disharmony. This country has been caught in a quagmire of racial politics for 40 years. As the nation searches for a new direction, it is imperative that the Government acknowledges the facts behind the May 13 Incident. For this nation to move forward in the future, it must be anchored on a past grounded on solid truth and not a tissue of lies.
Secondly: It must be acknowledged not all Malays benefited from the NEP.
The Government must secondly acknowledge that the NEP benefited only a select few. The argument for maintaining the NEP is Malay poverty.
Based upon Government Statistics, after 40 years of the NEP, 62% of the Malays earn RM3,000.00 or less. They are farmers, rubber tappers, fishermen, factory workers and small traders. 34% of Malay households earn between RM3,000.00 and RM10,000.00. They are government servants, officers in government linked companies, contractors and traders. Only 2.8% of Malay households earn between RM10,000.00 and RM20,000.00. They are senior executives in GLCs, big contractors and professionals. Only 0.5% of the Malay households earn more than RM20,000.00. The claim that NEP benefited all Malays therefore cannot withstand scrutiny. Only the select few benefited while the majority remains in poverty or trapped in the lower income group.
The Prime Minister in his answer to my parliamentary question on 10 June 2010 said the Government acknowledged that Malays form 80% of the lowest 40% income group in the rural areas. Malays constitute 53% in the urban areas.
The Prime Minister explained that the reasons for this predicament are caused by the lack of capacity and ability to take advantage of economic opportunities, lack of capital resources, low level of education and skills, staying in rural areas and in the interior and being involved in low productivity activities.
It is only the select few who have taken advantage of the economic activities generated by the NEP. They also do not have capital resources but bank loans are arranged for them and they are bailed out when they face financial troubles. They have been given RM54 Billion worth of Bumiputra shares, privatized contracts, APs and licenses.
The Government must explain to the 80% lower income group of Malays and the Malay students why under the DEB, they have to repay the Government student loans, why they have to repay these loans with interests, are black listed when they default in repayments and are declared bankrupts when they fail. While on the other hand the select few are bailed out when they are in trouble such as the Government buying MAS shares from Tajudin Ramli at RM8.00 each when the market price was only RM3.62.
Tun Dr. Mahathir explained this in 1998 “The Way Forward” London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson) when he said:
“The NEP, it must be iterated, was not concerned in making all the bumiputras earned equally or share equally the wealth distributed amongst them. … the intention of the NEP was to create in the bumiputra community the same division of labour and rewards as was found in the non-bumiputra communities, particular, the Chinese. … the equitableness was not to be between individuals but between communities.”
The Honourable Member from Gua Musang in his speech on launching the second edition of the late James Puthucheary’s book “No Cowardly Past” on 22 March 2010 referred to this concept of creating a group of a few Bumiputra capitalists. He said that the NEP was intended as a unifying policy. There is no mention of race in the policy. It was subsequently reinvented as an inalienable platform for a Malay agenda. This group asserted the incongruous fiction of a Malay supremacy that requires affirmative action for a permanently dependant Malay. In its implementation, it became a project to enrich a selection of Malay capitalists. James Puthucheary warned back in 1959 that this was bound to fail:
“The presence of Chinese capitalists has not noticeably helped solve the poverty of Chinese households. Those who think that the economic position of the Malays can be improved by creating a few Malay capitalists, thus, making a few Malays well to do, will have to think again.”
Today, we asked those who oppose the structural reforms to think again. We are facing a crisis that threatens the political and economical foundation of our nation. We have come to the end of the road for the myth of the Malay Dilemma. It is important that the Government has the courage to acknowledge that the NEP did not provide for all the Malays but instead benefited only a select few. It is necessary to have a new policy such as Pakatan Rakyat’s New Economic Agenda for an affirmative action programme based on needs and not race. The Government must have the courage to acknowledge that a policy that is sustained through the rhetoric of ethnicity cannot succeed.
Conclusion:
The Government must show it has the political will to make the critical changes needed. The Government must have the courage to face the truth. It is only when the truth is known can the nation find the strength to change. We have reached the cross roads of our nation’s development. The Government must not allow emotional issues of race to shroud the NEP’s failure to the nation in general and the Malays in particular. A Truth and Reconciliation Tribunal will allow proper closure of the May 13 Incident. It has haunted the nation for 40 years. The nation has not healed because we continue to fear. It is a fear built into our political system. This fear is rooted in the ignorance of the truth. We must as a nation exorcise the ghost of the May 13 Incident. As long as the truth remains hidden, we will not mature as a people and as a nation.
Thank you.
William Leong Jee Keen
Member of Parliament for Selayang
21 June 2010
PERUBAHAN MELALUI KEBENARAN PEMBAHASAN RANCANGAN MALAYSIA KE-10
Dato Yang Di-Pertua,
Dengan izin saya mengucapkan terima kasih diberi peluang untuk mengambil bahagian dalam pembahasan Rancangan Malaysia Ke-10 ini.
Keperluan Kritikal: Perubahan Struktur Ekonomi
Saya sungguh tertarik membaca Rancangan Malaysia Ke-10 terutamanya cadangan bagi negara kita mencapai status ekonomi berpendapatan tinggi menjelang tahun 2020. Mukasurat 2 Buku Rancangan Malaysia Ke-10, menyatakan aspirasi tidak akan tercapai tanpa transformasi ekonomi yang menyeluruh. Jika transformasi tersebut tidak dilaksanakan, Malaysia bakal ketinggalan memandangkan negara membangun yang lain berkembang pantas dan kian merapatkan jurang kemajuan. Kerajaan bercadang melaksanakan perubahan struktur ekonomi melalui Program Transformasi Kerajaan dan Model Ekonomi Baru (”MEB”).
Kami di sebelah Dewan sini sebelum PRU 12 telah memaklumkan bahawa negara kita telah hilang daya saing. Negara perlu Reformasi. Pakatan Rakyat telah mencadangkan Agenda Ekonomi Baru. Tindakan Afirmatif hendak mengikut keperluan dan bukan kaum.
Pada masa ini, Kerajaan Barisan Nasional dibawah pempipinan Yang Berhormat Perdana Menteri bercadang membuat perubahan dengan program Transformasi dan Model Ekonomi Baru. Samadanya dipanggil Reformasi melalui Agenda Ekonomi Baru oleh Pakatan Rakyat atau Transformasi melalui Model Ekonomi Baru, kita kedua-dua belah di Dewan Mulia terdapat titik persamaan bahawa Malaysia perlu melakukan perubahan struktur yang kritikal. Perbezaan ialah dalam keazaman politik.
Pakatan Rakyat percaya perubahan dapat dicapai dengan adanya keberanian dan keyakinan. Keberanian berubah berasas dari kebenaran. Keyakinan berubah berasas dari kepercayaan dalam semangat rakyat untuk perubahan. Pada 19 Disember 2009, di Konvensyen Pakatan Rakyat Pertama, 1,500 ahli dari PAS, DAP dan Keadilan telah mengisytiharkan perjuangan Pakatan Rakyat untuk membuat perubahan besar-perubahan asas, dengan izinnya, “big change-fundamental change”. Kita, Pakatan Rakyat yakin melaksanakan perubahan kerana kami percaya “keberanian berasaskan kebenaran” dengan izinnya, “the courage of truth” disandarkan oleh “keyakinan dalam semangat rakyat untuk berubah” dengan izinnya, “Faith in the spirit of the people for change”. Kita pasti rakyat mahu perubahan dan kita akan berjuang untuk perubahan sampai berjaya.
Berbezaan antara BN dan PR ialah keazaman politik. Saya melihat Kerajaan tidak cukup keazaman politik untuk melaksanakan perubahan melalui MEB. MEB akan menjadi seolah-olahnya Dasar Ekonomi Baru (”DEB”) dibawah nama baru dan tidak ada perubahan sebenara akan dicapai. Kerajaan telah menunjukan bahawa kerajaan kekurangan keazaman politik. Kerajaan telah menunjukan Kerajaan tidak ada cukup keberanian untuk melakukan perubahan. Ini jelas dilihat bila Kerajaan dicabar oleh golongan tertentu.
Perkasa, ahli UMNO dan kumpulan yang menganggil ”Bangkit Melayu” membantah NEM dan perubahan. Mereka menyatakan bahawa ramai Melayu masih miskin dan terbelakang dari segi ekonomi. Kalau tindakan afirmatif dibawah DEB dihapuskan, mereka takut Melayu akan rugi. Mereka menyeru perhimpunan ”Peristiwa Mei 13” untuk mengingatkan rakyat Malaysia tentang rusuhan perkauman jika hak-hak orang Melayu tidak dihormati.
Dengan tekanan seperti ini, Yang Berhormat Menteri dalam Pejabat Perdana Menteri di Unit Perancang Ekonomi dan pegawai kerajaan menolak Majlis Penasihat Ekonomi Negara (”MPEN”) sebagai badan kerajaan dan menyangkal MEB sebagai usul kerajaan.Pada Mei 31, 2010, Dato Seri Najib Tun Razak, Perdana Menteri, juga telah membuat pengisytiharan di Kongress Ekonomi Bumiputra bahawa beliau tidak akan mengkhianati prinsip-prinsip DEB.
Kita di PR tidak akan teragu-ragu membuat perubahan. Ini adalah sebab 1,500 ahli dari DAP, PAS dan Keadilan didalam Konvensyen Pakatan Rakyat Pertama telah memberikan sokongan penuh untuk Agenda Ekonomi Baru. Rakyat telah memberikan sokongan penuh kepada PR untuk membuat perubahan yang diperlukan. Bila kita mebanding dengan BN, sehingga hari ini UMNO atau parti parti komponent tidak ada konvensyen oleh ahli ahli mereka memberikan sokongan penuh kepada MEB. Sebaliknya saya melihat bukan sahaja ahli UMNO tetapi juga Menteri hadir diforum-forum yang membantah MEB. Ini sudah menjadi jelas bahawa MEB tidak ada kesokongan penuh oleh semua menteri dalam jemaah menteri.
Jika Kerajaan bersungguh-sunguh ada niat untuk membuat perubahan, saya meminta Kerajaan mempamirkan keazaman dan keberaniannya untuk melakukan perubahan seperti yang dicadangkan dalam NEM dan melaksanakan perubahan struktur ekonomi dengan memberikan penjelasan dan pengakuan terhadap perkara berikut.
Perkara Pertama: Menubuhkan Tribunal Kebenaran dan Rekonsiliasi Peristiwa Mei 13
Kerapkali supremasi UMNO diancam atau isu kekurangan hak asasi manusia dibahas, momok ”Peristiwa Mei 13” dibangkitkan.Negara kita telah terperangkap dalam kancah politik perkauman selama 40 tahun. Negara kita telah sampai kepersimpangan yang kritikal. Rakyat kita perlu membuat keputusan samaada mengikut jalan lama dengan DEB dan politik perkauman atau mengambil jalan baru dengan melaksanakan perubahan. Untuk membolehkan rakyat dapat mencapai konsensus tentang halatuju, Kerajaan perlu menubuhkan satu Tribunal Kebenaran dan Rekonsiliasi Peristiwa Mei 13.
Tribunal ini perlu untuk membantu negara kita membina satu masa depan yang cerah daripada sejarah Peristiwa Mei 13 yang suram dan rumit. Negara kita perlu mebina masa depan dan harapan baru atas batu asas sejarah yang disandarkan oleh fakta benar yang berkukuh dan bukan atas rangkaian syak wasangka dan pembohongan.
Adakah Peristiwa Mei 13 merupakan satu komplot orang Melayu kelas kapitalis menggulingkan Tunku Abdul Rahman sebagai Perdana Menteri atau adakah peristiwa yang tragik ini belaku disebabkan oleh masalah perkauman.Tunku Abdul Rahman telah menyatakan dalam buku "K. Das and the Tunku Tapes" bahawa insiden adalah komplot untuk menggulingkan beliau. Beliau menyatakan berikut:
“You know Harun was one of those-Harun, Mahathir, Ghazali Shafie-who were all working with Razak to oust me, to take over my place…”
Pada tahun 1997, Subki Latiff, seorang wartawan menulis:
“The May 13 Incident did not occur spontaneously. It was planned quickly and purposely. The identity of the planners of the incident cannot be stated with accuracy. But whatever it was that happened, the May 13 Incident was a form of coup d’etat directed against Tunku Abdul Rahman. The Tunku’s power in fact ended from then onwards. Although he continued to be Prime Minister and President of UMNO, he was no more than a figurehead.”
(Dr Kua Kia Soong “May 13 Declassified Documents on the Malaysian Riots of 1969)
Baru-baru ini, Tan Sri Abdullah Ahmad, bekas setiausaha politik Tun Razak, sebelum,semasa dan selepas Peristiwa Mei 13 telah menulis sebuah artikel tentangkejadian itu.Beliau menyatakan bahawa insiden tragik dan ganas itu tidak perlu terjadi sekiranyapesanan Tun Razak kepada Dato’ Harun Idris, Menteri Besar Selangor diterima 30 minit lebih awal atau jika Tan Sri David Tan Chee Khoon dan Tun Lim Chong Eu memaklumkan Tun Razak 30 minit lebih awal bahawa mereka tidak akan bekerjasama dengan DAP untuk membentuk kerajaan negeri Selangor atau bekerjasama di Perak dan di tempat lain. Tan Sri Abdullah mengatakan beliau berada di samping Tun Razak ketika beliau mengambil panggilan-panggilan tersebut. Beliau jelas mengingati tentang apa yang dikatakan oleh Tun Razak kepada Dato’ Harun:
“…the good news is you will continue to run Selangor. Chee Khoon and Chong Eu have just spoken to me and they want the status preserved. So tell the people gathering at your house to disperse.”
Dato’ Harun mengucapkan terima kasih kepada Tun Razak dan meminta beliau menyampaikan rasa terhutang budi dan amat berterima kasih kepada dua ahli politik terhormat. Lebih kurang lima hingga sepuluh minit selepas itu, Dato’ Harun menelefon Tun Razak untuk memaklumkan bahawa ia sudah terlambat. Pada masa beliau mengarahkan mereka untuk bersurai, berita telah diterima rusuhan telah bermula di kawasan Chow Kit dan berhampirannya.
Dasar Ekonomi Baru dibentukan selepas Peristiwa 13 Mei atas alasan resmi kaum Melayu merasa dibelakangkan oleh kaum Cina. Daripada petikan dan pengalaman peribadi yang disebut diatas, terdapat alasan yang mencukupi untuk sebuah Tribunal Kebenaran dan Rekonsialisi ditubuhkan demi memastikan apakah kejadian sebenar adalah untuk menguling Tunku, untuk Dato’ Harun Idris merebut jawatan sebagai Ketua Menteri atau kerana ketidakharmonian perkauman. Tribunal Kebenaran dan Rekonsiliasi sungguh penting untul memberikan satu ketamatan dengan izin “closure” kepada rakyat dan mengadakan pembaruan “a renewal” untuk Negara kita.
Perkara Kedua ialah Perakuan DEB hanya bermanfaat segelintir terpilih
Perkara yang kedua, Kerajaan perlu membuat untuk membuktikan Keazaman melaksanakan perubahan, ialah mengakui DEB tidak memberi manfaat kepada semua orang Melayu. DEB hanya memberi manfaat kepada golongan kecil yang terpilih.
Hujah yang selalu digunakan untuk mempertahankan DEB adalah dasar ini akan membasimikan kemiskinan orang Melayu. Akan tetapi perlaksanaan DEB terpesong. DEB telah disalahgunakan. DEB digunakan untuk memberi manfaat besar hanya kepada satu golongan terpilih. Selain daripada golongan kecil ini, orang Melayu biasa masih miskin atau berpendapatan rendah.
Selepas 40 tahun DEB dilaksanakan, kebanyakan Melayu masih adalah golongan pendatpatan terendah 40%. Berdasarkan Statistik Kerajaan (a) 62% dari orang Melayu memperolehi RM3,000.00 atau kurang. Mereka adalah petani penoreh getah, nelayan, pekerja kilang dan peniaga kecil; (b)34% keluarga Melayu memperolehi antara RM3,000.00 dan RM10,000.00. Mereka adalah pekerja kerajaan, pegawai di syarikat yang berkaitan dengan kerajaan, kontraktor dan peniaga; (c ) 2.8% keluarga Melayu memperolehi antara RM10,000.00 dan RM20,000.00. Mereka adalah eksekutif kanan di syarikat berkaitan kerajaan (GLC), kontraktor besar dan profesional; (d )Hanya 0.5% dari keluarga Melayu berpendapatan lebih daripada RM20,000.00.
Yang Berhornat Perdana Menteri pada 10 Jun 2010 (Khamis) dalam jawapan kepada pertanyaan parliament saya, telah menyatakan bahawa Kerajaan sedar 80% daripada golongan luar Bandar berpendapatan 40% terendah adalah terdiri daripada bumiputra. Dalam Bandar 53% adalah dari kaum Melayu.
Mengikut Yang Berhormat Perdana Menteri, banyak factor yang menyebabkan Bumiputera masih merupakan sebahagian besar daripada kalangan isi rumah 40% terendah. Ini antara lainnya disebabkan oleh kekurangan dari segi kapasiti dan keupayaan untuk merebut peluang ekonomi, tidak mempunyai sumber modal, mempunyai tahap pendidikan dan kemahiran yang rendah, tinggal di luar Bandar atau kawasan pendalaman dan terlibat dalam aktiviti yang berproduktiviti rendah.
Peluang ekonomi yang dijana oleh DEB direbut oleh golongan terpilih. Mereka juga tidak ada modal tetapi Bank Bumiputra, Bank Rakyat, UMBC dan lain lain Bank memberikan pinjaman kepada mereka. 54 Billion Ringgit saham yang diperuntukkan untuk Bumiputra telah diberi. Hanya 2 Billion masih dimiliki oleh Bumiputra. Siapa yang menerima saham ini. Bukan semua orang Melayu atau Bumiputra menerima saham ini. AP, lesen, kontrak penswastaan dan kontrak lumayan telah dibeikan kepada golongan terpilih.Kerajaan harus menjawab bagaimana saham Bumiputera yang diperuntukkan di bawah DEB telah diagihkan dan dibahagikan kepada siapa. Bukan semua orang Melayu/Bumiputra menerima saham tersebut.
Kerajaan harus memberikan alasan kepada golongan 80% Bumiputra berpendapatan terendah dan pemimjam-pemimjam PTPTN mengapa golongan terpilih ini diberikan bantuan kewangan dan diselamatkan bila ada masalah tetapi mereka hendak membayar faedah untuk pinjaman, disenaraikanhitam bila membayar dan menjadi muflis bila gagal. Mereka juga Bumiputra mengapa layanan berlainan. Mengapa mereka tidak dapat manfaat DEB seperti yang dinikmati oleh golongan terpilih ini.
Tun Dr Mahathir telah memberikan alasan pada tahun 1998 di dalam"The Way Forward" London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson) bahawa:
“The NEP, it must be iterated, was not concerned in making all the bumiputras earned equally or share equally the wealth distributed amongst them. … the intention of the NEP was to create in the bumiputra community the same division of labour and rewards as was found in the non-bumiputra communities, particular, the Chinese. … the equitableness was not to be between individuals but between communities.”
Yang Berhormat Gua Musang dalam ucapannya pelancaran edisi kedua buku mendiang James Puthucheary's "No Cowardly Past" pada 22 Januari2010 merujuk kepada konsep mencipta sebuah kumpulan kapitalis dari beberapa Bumiputra. Beliau menyatakan bahawa DEB telah dicipta dengan niat menyatupadukan masyarakat. DEB tidak ada syarat yang merujuk kepada mempentingkan mana-mana satu kaum yang spesifik. Ia telah direkasemula sebagai satu batu loncatan untuk agenda Melayu dan pada masa yang sama menegaskan ketuanan Melayu dan mengekalkan mitos orang Melayu yang berdependan kepada tindakkan afirmatif untuk selamalamanya. Dalam pelaksanaannya, ia telah menjadi sebuah projek untuk memperkaya segelintir kapitalis-kapitalis Melayu yang terpilih.
Hari ini, saya meminta mereka yang menentang perubahan struktural untuk berfikir semula. Kami berada dalam krisis mendasar dalam isu politik dan ekonomi. Kita telah sampai pada penghujung jalan dalam menggunakan cara lama untuk menguruskan hal. Kerajaan harus mempunyai keberanian untuk mengakui bahawa DEB bukan untuk semua orang Melayu dan telah menguntungkan hanya segelintir golongan. Kerajaan harus ada keberanian untuk mengakui bahawa suatu dasar tergantong kepada retorik perkauman tidak boleh
berjaya.
Kesimpulan:
Hanya dengan adanya pengakuan dan penjelasan dari Kerajaan bolehlah Negara Bermaju. Keraajaan hendak keberanian untuk mengaku bahawa DEB telah gagal memberi manfaat kepada negara pada umumnya dan kaum Melayu khusunya. Retorik emosional perkauman tidak sepatutnya digunakan untuk mengekalkan DEB yang teleh gagal.
Tujuan Tribunal Kebenaran dan Penyelarasan (Perdamaian) adalah penting untuk menggalakkan legitimasi kebangsaan dan perdamaian dengan mendedahkan kebenaran Insiden. Kita harus ada penutupan bagi Peristiwa Mei 13. Hal ini telah menghantui negara selama 40 tahun. Kita belum sembuh sepenuhnya kerana suasana ketakutan dimainkan oleh unsur-unsur tertentu. Rasa ketakutan ini telah dibina di dalam system politik kita sehingga menjadi sebahagian daripada jiwa rakyat. Ketakutan ini timbul sebab rakyat tidak ada pengetahuan tentang peristiwa yang sebenar. Kita harus mengusir hantu Peristiwa Mei 13 ini. Selagi kebenaran itu
tersembunyi dan perasaaan ketakutan dan syak wasangka meneruskan dan berlanjutan, kita tidak akan matang dan maju sebagai satu masyarakat dan sebagai satu negara.
Sekian terima kasih.
William Leong Jee Keen
Ahli Parliament Selayang
21 Jun 2010.
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