LONE

Friday, September 30, 2005

28th September

28th September came and went by with little fanfare locally. Is 28th September, a day to be remembered? On this day in 2002, Freedom of Information Organizations from a number of countries around the world met in Sofia, Bulgaria. As a result of this meeting, a network of Freedom of Information Advocates [FOIA Network] was born. The network agreed to collaborate in promotion of the individual right of access to information and open, transparent governance. It was also agreed that on 28th September each year, International Right to Know Day would be celebrated. The Day was first celebrated around the globe in 2003. 60 countries around the world, including 10 Commonwealth countries, have implemented some form of Freedom of Information [FOI] legislation, which sets rules on governmental secrecy. Over 40 more countries are working towards introducing such laws. Countries having FOI laws include :: Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, India, Slovenia, South Africa and Thailand.
As for Malaysia, though there has been a repeated request to the gomen for a Freedom of Information or a Right to Information Act by the opposition as well as civil society, it has yet to be born. On 26th September, the Parliament oppositon leader asked the PM about the introduction of a Freedom of Information law to allow easy public access to government information excluding special cases such as national security or personal confidentiality. The Menteri y/m Parliament replied on behalf of the PM, thus :: “The government is of the opinion that existing legislation is adequate to allow and ensure public access to government-held information.” Can the Menteri y/m Parliament be believed? He went on further to add that dissemination of official information is covered by the Official Secrets Act 1972, and that heads of government departments are tasked with placing official documents in one of two main categories --- ‘classified information’ and ‘open information’. So it looks like the public's right to information is covered by the Official Secrets Act!!!
The Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative [CHRI], a non-governmental body based in New Delhi, is promoting the enactment of enabling legislation in Commonwealth member-countries to allow right to information. The CHRI believes that the right to information must be guaranteed by a strong legislation and the Right to Information is fundamental to the realisation of economic and social rights as well as civil and political rights.
freedominfo.org is a virtual network that links freedom of information movements as they struggle for greater openness in their own countries. Access to information is a means to achieving the goals of poverty eradication and good governance. Information is a public resource in the hands of the government and the challenge is to share it equitably and manage it to the best advantage of civil society.
The Centre for Independent Journalism has an online petition requesting for a Malaysian Freedom of Information Act for the past few months. Malaysian vicil society is often heard clamouring for such an act. But till today, only a small pathetic number of Malaysians have signed the online petition. Where one would have expected a few thousands to sign only 199 signatures have been added to the online petition. Surely there must be many many more out there who are in favour of the enactment of such an act, the online petition awaits your signature. The Menteri y/m Parliament must have taken a good look at this petition and found it wanting, considering the number who has signed it. It is little wonder when asked, he replied "No Need" when the opposition leader asked about the introduction of a FOI act!!!
So are Malaysians serious about wanting their Freedom of Information or Right to Know act? If yes, then when they vote next, they must ensure their votes are given to a gomen which comes into power next will provide the country with such an act. An act which will be beneficial to all and ensure that the fight against corruption can really be effective and that there will be transparency and accountability leading to the nation being subjected to good governance. Be serious fellow Malaysians, show Nazri and his BN mates the door and that we are indeed serious in wanting a FOI act.

| ¶ 9/30/2005 01:25:00 AM

Monday, September 26, 2005

Subra Dumped. Subra Dumbed.

MIC elections maybe many moons away but Samy has decided to go for the throat of his deputy early. MIC elections are scheduled for June 2006. This despite Subra having said that he will only defend his present post and not go for the president's. Will Subra now have to do a "Chua Jui Meng"?
According to the NST, Samy has announced his running mate in a poem to division leaders from Subang and Puchong. The report loosely translated Samy, the poet, as having said this, he has certainly left little to the imagination that he wants Subra dumped ::

"A party that serves the people;
A change will fine-tune its efforts;
Development was due to education and knowledge;
A leader who realises that will come into MIC;
We need a change;
And for the change we need a leader;
And he is Datuk G. Palanivel."

The NST feels that Subra has an uphill battle in front of him, now that Samy has endorse Palanivel. It would be interesting to see what Subra would do in the next 8 months or so now that he has been so publicly dumped. Will he remained also dumbed?

| ¶ 9/26/2005 09:53:00 AM

Sunday, September 25, 2005

ISA 9 Protest March

Kamunting was the scene of a protest march to mark the 4th anniversary of the detention of the ISA 9. These nine detainees had been detained under the ISA in Kamunting's famous [or infamous, take your pick] Kem Perlindungan for 4 long years, recently they had their detention extended for a further 2 year period. The ISA 9 were rounded up in mid-2001 and accused of belonging to the then-unknown Malaysian Militant Group, or KMM. After 4 long years of detention, the gomen has so far not produced any evidence against them on the gomen's allegation that they were involved in militant activities and posed a threat to national security. Now the gomen intends to detain them for another 2 years, this appears manifestly unjust.

Image hosted by Photobucket.com

Meanwhile instead of bringing them to court to face the allegations made against them, the gomen is hiding behind the ISA shield to continue their unjust detention. The gomen continue to insists it is necessary for the ISA to protect national security and ensure stability. Many wonder whether the ISA is meant to protect gomen security and stability. Little attention and help have been provided for those others affected by the detention of the ISA 9. Obviously their family members, wives and children have been greatly affected by their prolonged detentions.

The peaceful protest march carried out under a bright shiny sky and involved more than 200 activists. They were led peacefully by members of the Abolish the ISA Movement [AIM] members and included also the family members of the detainees, leaders from DAP, PSM and others. They had headbands, armbands and badges demanding for the ISA to be abolish and carried posters and placards too. The marchers were multiracial and on their best behaviour. The red-helmeted ones of course were there with their shields and batons and pistols and guns. No water cannons were spotted. Many of the onlookers wondered why there was this need for the show of force and power as the marchers were peaceful and were just armed with those things just mentioned. Among the marchers, was spotted this guy wearing this rather attractive and hopeful T.
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The hopeful message reads "Malaysia Bebas Dari ISA" ["Malaysia Free of the Internal Security Act"]. Will the gomen get the message? When will Malaysia be free?

More pics of this peaceful protest march will be posted later and can be viewed here.

| ¶ 9/25/2005 03:26:00 PM

Thursday, September 22, 2005

Defamation Suit, the Tun Unfazed

The SUN reported that the Tun said his former deputy DSAI had the right to sue him for libel if he so wished. According to the report, the Tun told reporters after delivering a keynote address at a bumiputra women entrepreneurs seminar ::

"I don't know about it, if he wants to sue me, it is his right."

According to a Kyodo News report, when asked by reporters whether Anwar's sacking in 1998 by the UMNO supreme council was based on the book, "50 Dalil mengapa Anwar tak boleh jadi PM", the Tun said ::

"We did not take that book into consideration at all...This is not the case of whether the court has decided or not. This was our decision. We are and were convinced and we acted on the information that we have."

The NST was even more explicit, its report went like so ::

Dr Mahathir said Anwar was given the chance to defend himself. "The others heard him and they gave their views and their decision was that he was no longer fit to be in the supreme council."

Obviously the Tun appears to be still able to speak for members of the then UMNO supreme council.
When Anwar won his case against the "50 Dalil mengapa Anwar tak boleh jadi PM" book author; Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Rais Yatim reportedly questioned whether UMNO had done the right thing in sacking Anwar. Was Rais a member of the supreme council which sacked Anwar in 1998? The PM's response to Anwar's victory in this case was to dismiss suggestions that Anwar could be reaccepted back into UMNO. Pak Lah said that Anwar's sacking from UMNO on allegations of sodomy and corruption was part of “party procedure”. The PM reportedly said ::

“His sacking is not related to the court.” “It’s a disciplinary case that has nothing to do with the courts.”

Could it be possible that the Tun and members of the then UMNO supreme council have infomation regarding Anwar that only they are privy to? Would they like to share share with joe public. Maybe if Anwar does proceed with his threat to sue, we may yet get to share this privy info which the Tun has been keeping close to his heart all these years.

| ¶ 9/22/2005 10:33:00 PM

Wednesday, September 21, 2005

20th September

On this day, 7 years ago, sacked deptuy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was arrested after thousands of his supporters demand the removal of then Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Mahathir Mohamed [now Tun]. That night he received his now famous black eye. In Aug this year, the one who gave him the black eye, then IGP, Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Noor [still Tan Sri as far as we know], publicly apologize after claiming responsibility. We are also told that an undisclosed amount of money was paid [by the gomen? by the Tan Sri?] to settle the case out of court.
On this day, this year, DSAI is in the news again. TODAYonline reported that he has taken steps to get the Tun to retract a statement the Tun made about Anwar recently. Saying that he will not allow these lies and slander to continue, he added :: "Thus I have instructed my counsel to initiate legal action against Dr Mahathir." According to DSAI's lawyer, he will demand the Tun to retract his statement, make an apology and pay RM100 million because of the latter's offensive statement which is serious and damaging.
So what did the Tun have to say about DSAI this time around. At a recent press conference, was it after his controversial piece about the US and UK being terrorists, the Tun had this to say ::

"I cannot have a person who is like that in my Cabinet who may succeed and become the prime minister.
"Imagine having a gay prime minister — nobody would be safe."

Can anyone be clearer than that with regards to what the Tun has to think of DSAI?
With Anwar being awarded only RM4.5 million when he recently won the case in connection with the "50 Dalil mengapa Anwar tak boleh jadi PM" book, one would think that defamation cases involving millions would be over and done with. There appears to be one more to come. According to TODAYonline, political analysts are saying that savvy Anwar is taking the opportunity to try and stay in the limelight and this could help DSAI on the way to return to the Malaysian political mainstream. The article quoted, newly out-of-a-job Prof Ramasamy as having the following to say :: "For a man who is in retirement, Dr Mahathir certainly knows how to remain in the forefront of things." "But the outcome of his latest outburst can cause embarrassment to Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi, as they are both senior men in Umno." Others feel that this time around though both DSAI and the Tun may get to be in the limelight, DSAI might stand to benefit more.
This threat by DSAI to sue his former mentor has appeared in international news providers like Japan Today, Aljazeera.net, Gulf Daily News; locally it has only made it to Malaysiakini.
Maybe we should be patient and wait till Friday to see whether Anwar will carry out his threat to sue. According to Anwar's lawyer, on that day the letter of demand would be sent to the Tun. Maybe then the playing-deaf mainstream papers would finally pick up this piece of news.

| ¶ 9/21/2005 08:52:00 AM

Tuesday, September 20, 2005

'I'll Resign' MINIster

What has come over our Education MINIsters? Only the other day the MINIster of Higher Education was dubbed the "I don't know" MINIster. He was so labelled because he claimed that he has no knowledge of matters related to the campus elections which are said to be overdue. The Malaysia Students Solidarity, a coalition of eight national student bodies, pointed out that the councils would be acting "illegally" from now, as their one-year term of office ended on 15th September. The MINIster of Higher Education is said to be the one who is supposed to announce the date for campus elections.
Today the other Education MINIster, the one who is now famous for the "keris brandishing incident" declared :: “If the RM10 million is not enough, I will resign.” He said this when announcing the allocation of RM 10 million for the repairs of dilapidated Chinese, Tamil and mission schools nationwide. These dilapidated schools came to his notice after the late Mr Chan Boon Heng fell through the termite-eaten floor of his school. Malaysia's most influential blogger asked "Will teacher Chan die in vain?". The SUN answered, when reporting this RM10 million special allocation, saying :: "Teacher Chan Boon Heng did not die in vain."
Parliament also thinks that enough is already being done following the tragedy as today the Deputy Speaker of Parlaiment rejected an emergency motion submitted by Chong Eng (DAP-Bukit Mertajam) to debate the teacher’s death. The Deputy Speaker said that the education ministry has taken the necessary measures to ensure the safety of students and teachers. He is quoted by an online news report to have also said :: “The ministry has issued additional allocations... Chan’s death was an accident and everyone is sympathetic over this.”
Already a survey carried out by a Chinese daily has found that 40 Chinese primary schools have structural problems. Wonder whether the MINIster really knows how many schools are in need of repairs in toto, there must be many more too among the Tamil and mission schools, nationwide. And if each of these require RM100,000 or more for repairs, it looks like RM 10 million won't be sufficient for all the rundown schools. Lets wait and see whether the MINIster of Education will really resign then.

| ¶ 9/20/2005 12:13:00 AM

Saturday, September 17, 2005

Daim on Malay Transformation, the NEP and Corruption

Former Finance Minister Tun Daim Zainuddin when conferred an honorary Doctorate in Economics by Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia at its 33rd convocation recently had this stuff to say ::

On Malay Transformation ---

"The natural second phase to social and economic transformation of the Malays is only through education, not equity participation. You take care of education and they will have enough to participate in the capital market."
"The NEP has always concentrated on equity participation of the Malays. The poor Malay's route to success will not be through having shares in the KLSE.
"(But) it is through education. The obsession with equity figures have eclipsed the true success story of the NEP. The vast numbers of educated Malays produced since the 70s, they have contributed to the expanding middle class."

On The NEP ---

"There are poor Chinese and Indians and poor pribumis, as there are Malays. They need help as much as any poor Malay. Cases of poverty in any race should haunt our conscience. Poverty is a national issue, not a racial issue.
"The Malay problem is not confined to Malays. In the same way, an Indian problem is a problem for the Malays and the Chinese. It is a national problem. We operate as a unit."

On Corruption ---

Daim said it starts with the inability to conceptualise income versus spending, and stems from personal jealousy and delusions.
"Collecting toll from Malay entrepreneurs who devote their lifetime to improving their business is dreadful. It is born out of envy and the inability to applaud the success of the Malays and that of others.
"Once you spend more than what you earn, with or without the artificial help of credit cards, you cease to be viable. The corrupt lose control of his or her moral fibres. They are exposed to exploitation and manipulation, even blackmail."

One wonders how many other former cabinet ministers and present cabinet ministers think like Daim where "Issues Facing the Malays" are concerned. Or is it only when one becomes a "former minister" or even "former PM" or "former DPM" that one puts on the thinking cap and does some straight thinking.

| ¶ 9/17/2005 10:26:00 PM

5 mil Last Farewell

On 15th Sept, the NST carried a report that a retiring DG would be given farewell parties whcih could cost up to a total of 5 million!

When told about this our PM responded spontaneously (see BERNAMA) ::

"Hah? Five million ringgit? To celebrate a party for someone who is retiring! I have not heard...I'm very surprised! ... I hope this is not the department's money... more than what was spent for Dr Mahathir (former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad)'s farewell!"

Joe public responded on hearing what the PM had to say ::

"Really ah, the Tun cost less, meh? How much, how much lehli ah??"

According to the STAR's frontpage report, the Customs and Excise Dept DG admitted that he was the retiring DG and claimed that the RM5 million farewell story was circulated to smear him. On the STAR front page too, the DG appears to be saying that RM5 million was the going rate for farewell parties for retiring DGs. No mention of this is made in the online article. This reported the DG saying ::

“This is all part of a grand scheme to put me in disrepute. After 35 years in (government) service, I am not so stupid. I have never ordered my personnel to organise parties for me or buy me gifts. I have even refused gifts.”

Joe public says :: "Is the DG "a victim of jealousy" as claimed by him? Who is eyeing his job? Is he the victim of "the victims of his tough enforcement actions"?"

| ¶ 9/17/2005 09:44:00 AM

Friday, September 16, 2005

16th September

Today marks the end of our month long Merdeka Celebration. Many would say that this marks the 48th year of Malaysian independence. But when was Malaysia really born, that day was 16th September 1963. On that day the Federation of Malaya, Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak came together to form MALAYSIA.

As such Malaysia is just 42 years young and will need another 6 years to be 48 years old.

Happy Malaysia Day.

| ¶ 9/16/2005 12:08:00 PM

Saturday, September 10, 2005

The Pot calling The Kettle Black

At the Suhakam annual conference yesterday, the Tun let off his rapid firing mouth and we were treated to another of his episode of "verbal diarrhoea". How many would agree if the Tun was called a "Defender & Protector of Malaysian Human Rights". One just need to check on his "rap sheet" here; and surely that is not in its entirety. For someone who is not known to be a defender of human rights [some would say a frequent repeat abuser too], he goes on the stage at a human rights forum and accuse others of being "murderers and terrorists" and human rights abusers; then somethings are just not quite right.
Take a look at what he had to say regarding Human Rights and Globalisation, check out his entire speech here. Did he go off point? Was he misusing the opportunity to lambast the US and UK leaders? It appears to be a case of the Pot calling the Kettle Black. Knowing the Tun's background and what he has done and has been associated with in the past, Surely, Suhakam must have thought twice or even thrice before providing him the stage. Did Suhakam desire to provide the Tun an opportunity to show all and sundry that he, himself, like the present leaders of the US and the UK are all hypocrites where human rights are concerned?

| ¶ 9/10/2005 11:16:00 AM

Friday, September 09, 2005

The Tun leads to Boycott & Walkouts

The Tun was invited to speak at SUHAKAM annual conference. NGOs were not happy and 30 of them are said to have boycotted the conference as SUHAKAM insisted on its decision to have the Tun, it must be remembered that SUHAKAM has "human rights" too. The Tun s well nown for his disdain of the human rights of others and this Malaysiakini letter writer has documented what he thinks are the occasions the Tun has trampled on human rights of others. But the Tun insisted that he has the right to say his piece and that others should not deny him his human rights! Of course he has the right to say what on his mind at some Speaker's Corner somewhere or other but to allow him the forum to do so at the SUHAKAM annual conference, does that sound right? What he has done for human rights and to human rights for Malaysians in the recent past when he was at the helm of this nation mst be taken into consideration. Since when has the Tun become a human rights activist where others are concerned? It must be noted that the boycotting NGOs also have their "human rights" to boycott the conference because of the presence of the Tun.

Today at the said conference, he went on to lambast the USA and the UK and this is said to have led to the walkout by at least 3 foreign envoys. They obviously had had enough of him and his human rights. When asked about the walkout, the Tun still fully focused on rights, he said ::

“They have the right to walk out”. "They have the right to criticise me like I have the right to criticise them."

At the end of the day, it looks like it would have been better for all if SUHAKAM had used its "human rights" not to have organised the confernece at all and saved the much needed finances used for the conference as the nation is facing problems as a result of rising fuel prices.

| ¶ 9/09/2005 04:35:00 PM

Sunday, September 04, 2005

Half Bridge Over Troubled Waters

It looks like the half Bridge Over Troubled Waters* will be built after all. According to the NST, the gomen has given another nod, this time to the building of a new bridge to Singapore. As Singapore has been dilly-dallying with her decision to or not to replace the causeway with a bridge, Malaysia will start work on the new bridge even if it ends only halfway to Singapore. The new design will allow Singapore to build her half of the bridge whenever she decides to do so in the future.
In bilateral talks to be held soon, Singapore will be informed of the Malaysian decision to proceed. Technical details of the bridge will be shown to Singapore at the talks. Further delay in its construction is said to cause problems for the Malaysian side as it would delay growth of Johore. Further, the new 1.1 billion ringgit customs, immigration and quarantine [CIQ] complex in the Johore is near completion.
In 2003, when Singapore rejected Malaysia’s 2000 proposal for a bridge to replace the 80-year-old causeway, then PM, now the Tun came up with the smart idea of what became known as “the crooked half-bridge”. On 21st Aug, the STAR reported that the Big Minister of Johore reiterated that the state still wants a bridge, straight or otherwise, to replace the existing Causeway.
Singapore claims that KL's half-bridge plan is 'unlawful' and she appears not keen to remove the causeway for nostalgic reasons. Our new PM has presented a new design for a conventional straight bridge linking the two sides. Meanwhile Singapore is said to reviewing the whole causeway-replacement bridge to ensure that there is "balanced benefits" for "both sides now*". We will just have to wait and see whether the bridge that will eventually be built is a crooked one or a straight one. Will the neighbours see eye to eye now that the Tun is no longer in the way.

| ¶ 9/04/2005 09:47:00 PM

Friday, September 02, 2005

Coming Soon::Tenaga Hike

According to a report in the theEdgeDaily.com, the long requested electricity tariff hike by Tenaga has been given the nod by the gomen. For joe public the consequences of this nod by the gomen will be felt as early as the beginning of 2006. In the meanwhile we may continue to enjoy cheaper electricity for the few remaining months of 2005. If planning to buy any electrical appliances which are current guzzlers, please to refrain and restrain.

Apparently, under the new tariff structure, high-energy users would have to pay more compared with ordinary consumers. But the exact tariff structure has not been revealed. As always the gomen claims that the new tariff will not burden the lower income group.

Apparently the PM's special sector, the agro economy sector will also receive a special rate so that those involved will be able to grow that sector.

With another expected price increase for petrol and gas soon, joe public will have to consider tightening his belt once again so soon after the spectacular light and colour celebrations of Merdeka. We just have to be grateful as always to the gomen which will always never burden the populace with each price hike.

| ¶ 9/02/2005 08:04:00 PM

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