malaysiakini-Kee Thuan Chye: Not a time to lose March 8 spirit

Not a time to lose March 8 spirit

Kee Thuan Chye
malaysiakini, Mar 8, 10
12:24pm

comment There was a lot of optimism right after March 8, 2008. There was a sense that things would get better. But has there been much change two years since that day?

Instead of seeing multi-racialism being freely accepted and manifested in government policies, we find ourselves becoming more divided along racial lines. Right after March 8, Umno embarked on its campaign to warn the Malays that they were under threat and to rise up against this.

The government has assumed a schizophrenic personality - the prime minister talks about 1Malaysia while his deputy says things that are completely contradictory. The PM talks about multi-racial unity while his own party campaigns for Malay unity.

Many of us had hoped that, after the elections, both Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat would set aside their political differences and get down to the business of working for the national interest, of saving this country. 

Instead, they have been doing their darnedest to do the dirty on each other. BN is coming out tops in that effort because it has the media under its control. Both seem to be doing their worst to win the next general election.


We hoped for leaders who would be honest, clean and respectful of us the people, who would not think we were stupid or immature. Quite soon after Najib Abdul Razak took over as prime minister, he told a gathering of senior mainstream media editors: “I have no baggage.”


The editors nearly fell off their chairs. If the No. 1 leader of this country can say something like that, what can we expect of the rest?


No wonder then Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar could say that Sin Chew Daily journalist Tan Hoon Cheng had been detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) “for her own protection”. And current Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein (right) could come out to defend the cow-head protestors and actually say “they felt victimised”.


But the 'best' comment on that incident came from Dr Mohd Khir Toyo: “There was no religious significance in bringing the head. The cow is a stupid creature and (the protestors) wanted to point out that the (Selangor) state government was being stupid.”


How did such a person become menteri besar of Selangor?


Instead of being a formidable force providing a strong opposition in Parliament, Pakatan is now fighting to salvage its image. The number of elected representatives who have quit PKR is distressing, and Pakatan can't blame the mainstream media for this. Neither can Pakatan blame anyone for its ability to produce 'frogs'.


Anwar Ibrahim promised us defections from BN to Pakatan on Sept 16, 2008, but it never happened. Now it's happening - but the defectors are from Pakatan. In any case, Anwar's attempt to take over the federal government on Sept 16 was misguided and merely exposed his true ambition - to be prime minister, above all else.


We now see infighting among Pakatan's elected representatives. We hear allegations of corruption in their ranks. We realise that many of them are in public service not to serve the public but to serve their own interests. All these negative developments threaten to erode our faith in Pakatan. Can they put their act together? Can they form a viable government?


After March 8, we hoped the government would undo the damage that had been inflicted on our country by the man who screwed up our institutions, created a culture of fear, fostered the negotiated contract, invested our money in white elephants - and still doesn't know when to shut up. The Americans could only make 'Avatar'; he managed to lead a country to the dogs. And yet the government has not dismantled the culture he created in order to restore our faith in the country's institutions.


On the issue of race, Najib's 1Malaysia project is mere window-dressing. It's old wine in a new bottle. And I'm not apologising for the non-halal reference. I leave that sort of apologising to Star.

What 1Malaysia is there when Najib says one thing and his deputy, Muhyiddin Yassin, says the direct opposite? The very day Najib publicly unveiled the 1Malaysia logo, Muhyiddin said Umno would fight to the last drop of blood to protect Malay rights. He has also said the BTN courses are uniting Malaysians in line with the 1Malaysia concept. How? Pray tell.


What 1Malaysia is there when Najib says one thing and his aide Nasir Safar says the Indians came to this country as beggars and the Chinese as prostitutes? And that “We can anytime revoke the citizenship of the Indians in Malaysia”?

Media failures


More insidious is the rise of the right-wing movement that the government has done nothing to discourage. Only last week, the Home Ministry granted its most prominent group, Perkasa, a permit to publish a fortnightly newspaper. Meanwhile, Utusan Malaysia and Berita Harian continue to pour poison into the ears of the Malays by spinning that they are losing their land and privileges.


Surely, Najib could put a stop to such spin since the newspapers are owned by Umno? Why doesn't he? Is it because he encourages media freedom? If so, why do we still have the Printing Presses and Publications Act, which requires media organisations to renew their licences every year at the pleasure of the home minister? Why is it still there to turn media owners and editors into eunuchs?


Star recently published an article which critiqued the caning of the three Muslim women for illicit sex, and public caning in general. When a few Muslim NGOs complained, the Home Ministry promptly issued the newspaper a show-cause letter. The ministry also insisted on an apology. So the paper dutifully apologised. No doubt all this is meant to intimidate Star so it won't dare to run such articles again.


Should it be frightened? How do we push the parameters if we continue to be frightened? How do we encourage healthy public debate? I personally doubt the ministry would close down Star. The public repercussions would be negative for the government. More importantly, BN would cease to have an important organ for the dissemination of its propaganda. Star reaches out to a wide non-Malay, mainly middle-class readership. BN can't afford not to reach out to these people.


Even after March 8, the mainstream media is failing us. Remember how relatively balanced they were in the months after March 8? Their owners realised that for the sake of public acceptance, they had to temper their pro-government bias and so they opened the window of objectivity by a few degrees. Besides, they had to hedge their bets in case Anwar did manage to take over the government.


But then when Sept 16 didn't happen, there was no need to consider that any more. So the mainstream media stopped being balanced. Months later, Najib took over as PM. He tightened the screws. Thereafter, the mainstream media went back to bashing Pakatan.


Selective change


To be fair to Najib, he has shown that he's serious about economic reform and he's trying to make Malaysia more competitive and to lure foreign investors. He has also come up with the Government's Transformation Programme that identifies six key areas in which the government intends to improve its service to the public.


The effects of all these, however, are not conspicuous yet. He did try to table three laws in Parliament to settle the touchy issue of religious conversion but this was forestalled at the last minute by the Conference of Rulers. But meanwhile, where are the institutional reforms?


When he became PM, he released numerous ISA detainees, among them the Hindraf leaders. But wasn't that done with the next general election in mind - to win back the Indians? What about the more important issue - the ISA itself? What is being done about that? And what about the Universities and University Colleges Act, which denies student participation in not just political activities but also social activities that are not approved by the vice-chancellor?


Recently, the Universiti Malaya Speaker's Corner was reactivated and a deputy minister who was somehow present at the event called it a clear example of the government's open approach. Someone should test what can't be said at that Speaker's Corner.


What about the law enforcement institutions? We have yet to see the setting-up of the IPCMC which could help reduce crime and police corruption, and promote better observance of human rights by the police.

The ACA was reformed to become the MACC to battle corruption more effectively. Look at what it's doing these days - mostly picking on opposition politicians to bring them to shame. Almost every opposition leader worth his salt is being investigated by the MACC. If you are not being investigated, you haven't arrived.


We could also go into the attorney-general's office and ask what has happened to the Lingam case, the PKFZ case, the RMAF case, the Hasbie Safar case, and whether the people who placed wild-boar's heads in the two mosques have been arrested. What do you think we might discover?

Shaking off fear


So, what good has March 8 brought us after all?


Fundamentally, I think Malaysians are becoming more courageous. More and more are speaking up. Fewer and fewer are kowtowing to the people in high places. We are struggling to shake off the culture of fear - and I think we are succeeding. Look at the turnout at candlelight vigils and protest marches.


At the protests against the ISA detention of Tan Hoon Cheng, Raja Petra Kamarudin and Teresa Kok, people whom you'd never expected to see at such gatherings actually showed up. Three years ago, such people would not have dared come near such activities.


There is a new spirit of defiance now, and we have models of defiance to show us the way - among them Anwar Ibrahim since the reformasi days, Raja Petra, P Uthayakumar, Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin and his Perak band, and Malaysiakini. Instead of giving in to authoritative pressure, they stood tall. And that's how it should be.


Malaysians are no longer so afraid of another May 13. Sure, there is always the possibility of racial riots flaring up but people are generally more sensible now. Besides, no responsible government would want racial riots to erupt and frighten away investors. The recent 'Allah' issue reinforces that. Despite the puny efforts of a few to create an incident by fire-bombing churches, attacking a surau and depositing wild-boar heads in mosques, the opportunity for riots fizzled out.


The political battlefields of Malaysia are no longer so clear-cut and marked by Malays versus non-Malays. From the time of reformasi in the late 1990s, the split within the Malay community has been evident.

In the 1999 general election (GE), it was the non-Malay voters who saved BN from possibly losing its two-thirds majority. Compared to the 1995 GE, Umno's votes in 1999 dropped by 8 percent. Najib nearly got voted out of the Pekan constituency. He scraped through with a majority of only 241 votes.


In fact, as long ago as the mid-70s, it had already been predicted that a time would come when the major political strife would be between the Malays. The failure of the NEP to evenly redistribute wealth among the Malays has accelerated this. A class fight is settling in between the Malays who have not and the Malays who have a lot.


The real issue now is corruption. Many Malays have come to realise that the people who join Umno these days are largely doing so not because they believe in helping their own community but because they want to get rich.


Umno still tries to sell the idea of ketuanan Melayu but to the Malay have-nots, what is the meaning of that ketuanan? Even so, when push comes to shove, anything can happen. Much will depend on how effectively Umno plays the racial game. While it is unwise to look at the Malays as a monolith, it is equally unwise to ignore the tribal instincts of a community. Especially when it's constantly being told that it's under siege.


Looking forward on a more optimistic note, however, we have to acknowledge that March 8 has given us something precious for the next GE, and hopefully for longer into the future - choice. Now we have two coalitions to offer us their idea of a better deal. If we want to retain this duopoly that should work to our benefit, we have to nurture it. It sure beats having a monopoly.


The next GE will be crucial. It will determine whether we'll get more of the same old, same old or whether we will get real change. Whether we will continue to be a nation divided along racial lines or be hopeful of being a truly Malaysian nation. If we are to keep the March 8 spirit alive and make irreversible the trend to take Malaysia out of the dark ages, we have to do our part. Those who have not yet registered as voters should do so as soon as possible.


It's going to be a tough GE. Najib will want to prove himself worthy of being PM by winning it. He hasn't won one yet. He's PM now by default. He's PM because of 2,600 Umno delegates. That's the number that actually decided who would become prime minister. Only 2,600. We have seen in his handling of Perak how ruthless he can be when it comes to such things. So we need to be vigilant.


One of the tactics BN will resort to is gerrymandering. This might explain the recent PKR defections. BN will need a two-thirds majority to push through a Bill in Parliament calling for a redelineation of parliamentary constituencies. If it succeeds, redelineation will be really bad news for Pakatan. The opposition will have to strive even harder to win constituencies re-drawn to favour BN.


As it stands, Sabah and Sarawak seem secure for BN. To ensure that, Najib has been pumping more and more money into those states. In the peninsula, 70 percent of the current parliamentary seats are Malay-majority seats. That's where PAS and PKR have to work really hard to deliver the votes. If they lose the battle for the Malay votes and Sabah and Sarawak remain loyal to BN, not only will Pakatan not make it to Putrajaya; BN might get back its two-thirds majority.


Whatever it is, when the next general election comes around, it might be appropriate to recall the words of Franklin Roosevelt: “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”


Choice is what we have now. That has been the gift of March 8. We should exercise that choice - for the betterment of our country. And exercise it without fear.

KEE THUAN CHYE is the man behind the book 'March 8: The Day Malaysia Woke Up', which is also available in Chinese.

Malaysiakini-OneMalaysian: The sad tale of 'one' against the 'other'

The sad tale of 'one' against the 'other'

OneMalaysian
Malaysiakini, Mar 5, 10
5:59pm

 

Dear Mr Prime Minister,

I am a Malaysian. My race is the human race and peace is my religion and love is what I have for all people. And, I swear I am a Malaysian by heart and by soul. Malaysia has been the only home I have known and the only one I will ever know. But I am treated like the 'other'.

I attended a job interview recently and among others I was asked if it would matter to me that I would be working with people who are mostly the 'other' if you get what I mean. I reminded the panelists that I am a Malaysian but they still eagerly awaited my answer. My answer to them was, 'If I do not recognise the 'other' as anything but 'one' how will I ever become the 'other?'.

I did not get the job and it must be because they probably thought they would not want this 'other' to be in their midst. Indeed sad but is it my misfortune or their misguided judgment?

Dear sir, how can I erase such thoughts from such people? I was born on this soil and I have lived here all my life.

Is it my fault that my ancestors came from not here but elsewhere? I am here now and want to be treated with some dignity and respect and more importantly, I desperately need to have a sense of belonging. I was recently in the land where my mother was born for a brief period of four days and during those days, I did not feel at home for it is not my home.

I did not feel a 'one-ness' with the people from my mother's homeland. Strange, too, that I was treated like the 'other' and I did not mind it one bit. I missed home and every minute I was dying to return to the familiarity of my own home. How can I explain this?

If you ask us to go back to where our ancestors came from, we will be like fish out of water. I have no ties with anywhere else except Malaysia. Dear sir, will you give us the assurance that we will be able to call Malaysian our home till we kick the bucket? There is unknown fear inside us that we will be made to leave, extricated from our own homeland.

This fear and apprehension are turning into anger and frustration. I even fear my own judgment now. Will I start hating the 'other' who treats me like the 'other' and not like 'one'? I have only good memories of my schools friends, my colleagues, my bosses and everybody else who happened to be the 'other' but treated me as 'one' and not the 'other'.

There was no discrimination then but the recent spells of hate and incitement have left me bruised inside. I try to fight my emotions but I am in a dilemma. Some unknown force is telling me that I can never be 'one' despite everything about Malaysia being presented as 'one'.

Dear sir, the hurt is spreading like cancer, destroying the likes of me in many awful ways for we have the young and old from 'one' and the 'other' alike looking for prejudices, excuses and reasons to feed the mind. The mind is like a torpedo. The moment it receives a signal to hit its target, it will do so by whatever means. The missiles are searching for their target so how will you detonate them?

For 'one' to blend with the 'other', the 'one' and the 'other' need to discard all their prejudices towards one another and see themselves as children of the same soil. It sounds like a distant dream but dreams will eventually evolve into reality if there is collective will, conviction and belief.

Dear sir, you may not see and sense this rising discomfort from where you are on the pedestal of fame and popularity. From where you are, the problem is just a tiny dot. If you come closer, you will see the dot spreading across to millions called the minority. But sir, even if you come close enough, some Very Important People might not want you to see the real dot representing the millions and the dot will remain a tiny dot with no significance.

Dear sir, we can recognise the will in you but the conviction and belief must come from both 'one' and the 'other'. It is not a one man's battle, but that of a nation. Every day there are nuances from people everywhere inciting hatred between 'one' and the 'other'.

Dear sir, I must confess that I am now truly depressed feeling this way and I am consciously trying to 

fight my thoughts and pretend that I am 'one' with the 'other' but I feel the 'other' is bent on not allowing me to be 'one' with them. Does this mean I am meant to be the 'other' forever and if so, how do I relate to and emulate '1Malaysia' and be 'one' with 'others'?

Please tell me sir, I beg you.

Malaysiakini-Dr Lim Teck Ghee: Tyranny of the Malaysian bureaucracy

Tyranny of the M'sian bureaucracy

Dr Lim Teck Ghee
Malaysiakinin, Mar 5, 10
5:53pm

 

During the last few days we have had two clear examples of how tyrannical and vicious the Malaysian bureaucracy can be, and how unyielding it is to any reform measures or initiatives. This Mr Hyde side of the Malaysian bureaucracy is not the usual dark side that the Malaysian public is familiar with – one associated with inefficiency, laziness, poor service, abuse of power or corruption.

It is one that is part and parcel of the hidden racially-charged context of our institutions and it smacks of the ideology of Malay dominance – or even Malay supremacy – that the civil service has come to personify. This is the dark side that is generally kept away from public scrutiny and accountability, not only because it runs against the grain of what a modern, progressive and representative civil service is, but also because it is regarded as politically incorrect to discuss or analyze it.

The first example appeared just two weeks ago when a courageous whistle-blower, Dr Selvaa Vathany, a doctor from the Orang Asli Affairs Department (JHEOA) Hospital, Gombak made startling claims of rampant malpractice, misappropriation of resources and other wrongdoings by the hospital staff and associated agencies of government dealing with the Orang Asli. Selvaa is not your ordinary whistleblower.

Providing details on the importance of healthcare and medical assistance for the Orang Asli – their children are 15 times more likely to die from malnourishment compared to other children – she revealed that for entire communities 'essentials given out are limited to one to two bottles of cooking oil, six to eight tins of canned food, two packets of 400g Milo, 15 to 20 small packets of milk powder, 10 to 20 diapers, two bottles of detergent and 10 to 20 pairs of slippers, per visit. These are distributed at random. If the villagers are lucky, distribution could be as frequent as once in every two to three months'.

She noted that 'a tin of infant milk is divided into six small packets with 15 to 20 packets distributed to a village of between 250 to 500 people'. All of this is strong circumstantial evidence that resources meant for Orang Asli communities are hijacked, possibly by the very people entrusted with the responsibility of distributing them to these vulnerable groups.

At her press conference, she also pointed to an institutional defect in which individuals without medical training and incapable of following Health Ministry protocols and standards were made hospital administrators and were appointed from the Rural and Regional Development Ministry.

Most tellingly, she pointed to an extensive cover-up of the scandal with little or no follow-up to the complaints made to the Prime Minister's Department, Rural and Regional Development Ministry, Health Ministry, Chief Secretary, Public Service Department and Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

The only follow-up that has taken place appears to have been the thuggish and unacceptable response of the team from the Rural and Regional Development Ministry who 'questioned the complaint…made by the Orang Asli in an unprofessional manner', and threatened and attempted to intimidate them.

For her professionalism and integrity in speaking out on behalf of a marginalised and impoverished community, Selvaa is now being transferred to Kedah where presumably she will be left to rot and to rue her courageous challenge of the status quo.

The second example also relates to the Orang Asli and it concerns the response of the Orang Asli Affairs Department to the demand for increased representation at the management level in government agencies formed to handle Orang Asli affairs. According to the group raising these concerns, the JHEOA is staffed by over-80 percent non-Orang Asli, resulting in decisions not favourable to their needs and the marginalisation of Orang Asli voices in important policies that affect their livelihoods.

This is not the first time that such concerns have been raised. During the past 50 years we have had a constant stream of written petitions, memoranda, press statements, expert reports and academic work that have drawn attention to the way in which the government has violated the basic rights of the Orang Asli and analysed how the JHEOA and associated government agencies have been the main instruments for control and repression of the community. In response, the government has simply ignored them or opted for delaying tactics.

In this particular instance, in typical foot-dragging response, the department's director-general Mohd Sani Mistram said that the group should have gone through the 'proper channels' to air their grievances and that it was an 'internal matter' between the Orang Asli and the department.

Both these cases – the punishment meted out to a whistleblower and the cold shoulder treatment of legitimate Orang Asli grievances – epitomise how dangerous it is for our democratic system to remain silent or passive in the face of an increasingly out of touch and unrepresentative civil service. They are the tip of the iceberg of many unexposed and undisclosed abuses that needs to be put in the spotlight of public scrutiny.

At the end of the day, the most effective public scrutiny that can realistically have an immediate impact on these cases of rogue individuals and agencies of the civil service that are throttling the Orang Asli is that coming from Malay intelligentsia and Malay civil society.

Indeed, some Malay colleagues have shown goodwill in helping the Orang Asli to correct some of the 'historical injustices' that have been perpetrated on the original inhabitants of the Peninsula. It could make a difference if Malay leaders are willing to take up the case of Selvaa and stop her victimisation by the Rural and Regional Development Ministry. 

At the same time, more Malaysians of conscience need to step up to the plate if the Orang Asli community is to regain their rightful place in the country.

Malaysiakini-Josh Hong: Fight for nation's soul continues

March 8: Fight for nation's soul continues

Josh Hong
malaysiakini, Mar 5, 2010
12:17pm

"When buying and selling are controlled by legislation, the first things to be bought and sold are legislators." - PJ O'Rourke

What a difference two years can make. To appreciate the ramifications brought on by the rapid successions of events, one need only look at Malaysia since March 8 general election two years ago.

Anwar Ibrahim, flanked by his entourage of lawmakers, was beaming with ecstasy and hopes. 

Boosted by the unexpected wins in several states, he threw down the gauntlet by engineering defections from Barisan Nasional (BN) and securing his former parliamentary seat with an increased majority.

But the failure to cause the downfall of one of the world's longest surviving coalitions and the exit of the utterly ineffective Abdullah Badawi - whose ability to mess things up was legendary - signaled a drastic turn in BN's fortunes. 

With Najib Abdul Razak in charge, things seem to have moved into the right direction for Umno, though not for its increasingly irrelevant partners.

Among the latterly formed Pakatan Rakyat parties, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) is the one that Umno has its sights firmly on. Founded by Anwaristas in the late 1990s, PKR's 'original sin' lies in its stated aim to end Umno's long rule by those who know the Malay party best. After all, a large segment of PKR membership comes from ex-Umno members.

Given the limited time and the prospects of a protracted economic gloom, Najib and his lieutenants are acutely aware they may not be able to swing enough non-Malay votes in the next election, which makes regaining the Malay ground vitally important.

While Umno had attempted to up the ante with the controversy over the usage of Allah by non-Muslims, it backfired terribly, with PAS emerging as a moderate Islamic party looked upon rather favourably by many.

It is very clear by now that Umno under Najib, while making earnest efforts to revive the faltering economy, has not lost sight of simultaneously wreaking havoc on PR and weakening its administrations in Penang and Selangor, especially through defection. 

Since PAS members are seemingly God-fearing, and DAP lawmakers are generally of stronger credentials, Najib has no option but to concentrate his offensive on PKR.

PKR's 'curse'

PKR itself is a paradox: it represents the best hope for multiracial politics in Malaysia, led by arguably the most charismatic and politically savvy politician in the country. 

Unlike PAS and DAP, it has an unsettled political constituency and therefore the biggest potential to grow beyond its current shape. But all this has also become a curse for the party.

Thanks to PAS' firm control of Kelantan and relatively strong showing in Kedah, Umno is unable to project the Islamists as subservient to DAP. 

Hence, in furtherance of the objective of de-stabilising Pakatan's Malay base, Najib must go all out to portray PKR as a party that has betrayed the Malay cause. 

Unexpected wins

I personally know of quite a few people who had turned down the offer to stand on PKR tickets simply because they saw no realistic chances of winning those seats. It does not take a genius to understand why some of them have since been quietly lamenting the missed opportunity.

When I chanced upon Donald Lim Siang Chai the other day, I addressed him as my "bekas YB". He was not in the least amused, for he too was puzzled at his defeat by a rookie by nearly 6,000 votes!

Many also thought PKR would be lucky if it could wrestle a few parliamentary seats from BN to keep its reformist agenda going. It would also ensure Anwar's (diminished) role to some extent.

So, when the smartest and the brightest people shun PKR, not to mention business "leaders" who were seasoned enough to stay above the fray although they knew the country's economy was going downhill, all that the party could get was a mixed bag of everything: from genuine reformists, pseudo-religionists to shameless opportunists, many of whom have now turned out to be PKR's underbelly.

While I concede too much politicking on both sides of the political divide has undermined public confidence considerably, there is still no denial that Umno has been relentless in persecuting PR leaders. 

Anwar's failed attempt to entice BN lawmakers to cross over may have been reckless, the way Umno is going for the jugular - from merciless media offensive to blatant misuse of state institutions - is shameless, effectively denying the opposition time and space needed to concretise policies.

Still, we must not overlook the positive developments since March 8, Pakatan's current shambles notwithstanding. Its stand on a host of critical issues is crystal clear: weeding out corruption, reforming the state institutions (especially the police), restoring judicial independence, ensuring freedom of speech and the press, abolition of the Internal Security Act, adhering to retributive justice in terms of economics etc..

In Selangor, the fact that more and more public office bearers are made to account for their words and deeds by means of open hearing is epochal, and one must not forget this would not have become a reality if the Khir Toyo government had not been routed.

Of greater interest to us all is that a large number of Malay leaders Pakatan are now openly in favour of affirmative action for those who need it most, regardless of race, creed and religion.

This new political milieu has compelled Najib to adopt an inclusive and liberal image, although he is still shackled by Umno's racist structure. Najib understands PKR's strength in pulling various communities together, and now seeks to emulate some of its ideals. There would not have been this propagandistic myth called 1Malaysia without March 8 in the first place.

Be so as it may, Najib's endeavor to transform BN into a multiracial grouping could be transient, depending on how Pakatan, and PKR in particular, performs come next election. 

As long as PKR has not abandoned its moderate stance and multiracial platform, it deserves our support to keep Umno, PAS and even DAP in check.

There are many curses, but one should learn to count the blessings too.

To move Malaysian politics forward and beyond the crass manipulation of race and religion, PKR and all other political parties aspiring for change must firm up their respective ideologies. Even if some of them may be unpalatable to others, the public has the right to know and ponder on them.

In view of the fluctuating chaos over the last two years, it is not surprising that the faint-hearted begin to miss the 'good old days', when politics were relatively stable and predictable. But there is always a price to pay for greater freedom and democracy. It is either for Malaysians to continue the fight for reform and a better future, or slip back to past false sense of security that has proven most damaging to the nation.

After five decades of totalitarian rule, Malaysia has lost its soul. Now that March 8 has given us a rare chance to recover it, only we can decide if our politics will ever be the same again.

Malaysiakini: Jeswan Kaur: Open Letter to PM

An open letter to Najib Abdul Razak
Jeswan Kaur | Malaysiakini, Jan 14, 10 10:33am
 

Mr Prime Minister,

I am compelled to pen you a letter, feeling very distraught over the racial discord rearing its ugly head yet again.

The negative outbursts resulting from the High Court's approval for the Catholic weekly Herald to go ahead and use the word ‘Allah' in its publication and the subsequent attacks on churches have made it very clear, that 1Malaysia is only and only political propaganda.

Your giving the go ahead for protests at mosques only added fuel to the fire, one that is sure to ‘engulf' Malaysians across the board if not enough effort is put into extinguishing it.

You know very well that the unity in diversity Malaysians once enjoyed has been destroyed by the powers that be for their own gain.
God by any other name is God and the house of worship is simply that.

Is a Chinese denied entry into a kuil? If yes, then the annual show at Batu Caves in conjunction with the Thaipusam celebration is nothing but an exercise at making money, thanks to the devotees who offer prayers at a fee.

What about the Sikhs, whose holy scripture the Guru Granth Sahib Ji makes reference to ‘Allah' and its derivatives Alah, Alhu, Allahu and Allahi some 46 times?

What does this tell you? Will the Sikh holy book be tampered with to erase all references made to Allah? Will the Sikhs be banned from reciting prayers from their holy book?

Mosque and blessed feeling for non-Muslim

If religion is so ‘private', I wonder what will happen to that tourist with a tattoo of the word ‘Allah' on her or his arm walking innocently along Petaling Street, Malaysia's very own Chinatown?

I was 22 when I started off as a journalist with an established newspaper company. Even then I had no hang ups over ‘my religion and your religion'.

This explained why I asked my Muslim colleague if I could accompany her to the surau and wait while she did her solat. She was more than happy and said ‘yes'.

As she fulfilled her religious obligations, I sat, feeling blessed at being in a house of worship.

It never crossed my mind that the surau was a place of worship exclusive to Muslims, until a senior reporter walked in and ordered me out, as she said the surau did not welcome a non-Muslim.

Along the way I had more Muslim friends, some who said it was a no-no for me to set foot inside a mosque or to hold the Quran.

But there was one Muslim whom I befriended who was only very helpful in helping me understand more about Islam, including going through the Quran, understanding the Sunnah, Hadith and even experiencing the month long fasting during the Ramadan month.

Urgent need for comparative religion studies

As a reporter, I was assigned to cover assignments at mosques. It was never unnerving for me as it was for the Muslims who became restless noticing the presence of a non-Muslim at their place of worship.

I cannot understand why Muslims become so insecure at the sight of a non-Muslim inside their mosque. But they will only be too happy if the non-Muslim comes in with a purpose to convert.

Doesn't a non-Muslim have the right to set foot inside a masjid, since it is yet another house of worship, to seek God's blessings?

Maybe this is why many Malaysians especially are ignorant about religious practices in Malaysia because they are not given a chance to learn, with no conditions attached. Is comparative study not possible without converting?

A Muslim friend passed away a year ago and we, her non-Muslim friends, gathered at the mosque. We brought along selendang or scarfs to cover our heads, knowing well what was expected of us.

And we later marched to the Muslim burial ground after the Zohor prayers to bid our friend farewell. No hang-ups there.

Even shampoo and toothpaste not spared

I remember as a child listening my grandmother uttering the word ‘Allah Taala' to the Muslim makciks in the kampung where we lived each time they talked about their respective health.

No one took umbrage then, so why today the unnecessary excitement over the court approval for a Catholic news bulletin to use the word ‘Allah'?

Why does the government take offence and demonstrate absolute authority in displaying its dismay over this, to the point that your colleague Nazri Aziz went on to say that the judge had erred in allowing the word ‘Allah' to be used? Is he saying that we no longer trust the judiciary?

Mr Prime Minister you definitely have lots to do, but your to-do list will be hogged by the utmost urgent need to address the issue of 1Malaysia, in the true sense of the word, where the Indians, Chinese and the Malays live as brethrens, with no hint of doubt or syak wasangka.

I believe advertisements showing toothpaste and shampoos exclusively for the Muslims have been doing a lot of damage. Is this a good example of 1Malaysia? Should the Indians and the Chinese follow suit?

I do not understand how Malaysians of today are united in their diversity. A walk to the pasar malam scares me as I dread passing by the stall that sells beef, as there hangs the head of the cow that was slaughtered. Can the non-Muslims make noise about this?
We do not because we 'understand'. But if pork meat was sold openly there would be chaos in the country.

Whither ‘love thy neighbour' ?

Why? Just like we ‘understand' when opulent mosques are built throughout the country.

But how would the Sikhs feel when Astro's Zee station abruptly ends the morning prayer telecast live from their holy shrine, the Golden Temple in Amritsar, Punjab, because of Astro's timing glitch.

This shows Astro's insincerity in making available such service to the Sikh community, not to mention complete disrespect for the prayers.
Also, why must the term ‘babi' (pig) be used to hurl abuses at non-Muslims? Do the non-Muslims stoop as low as use the term ‘lembu' to offend the Muslims?

Non-Muslims keep their pet dogs miles away from their Muslim friends who avoid ‘man's best friend' like the plague.

Sad, truly that even animals are not spared by mankind, God's most challenging creation.

If we have stooped so low, then it is time the country's national anthem ‘Negaraku' be relooked, for the rakyat no longer live bersatu dan maju (the people live united and progressive) nor does the rahmat bahagia, Tuhan kurniakan (God bestow His blessings and happiness on us) seems applicable anymore, keeping the racial tensions in mind.

I am sure God is thoroughly dismayed with his creation, for they have failed to grasp the true meaning of ‘love thy neighbour' and are ever thirsty for each other's blood.

Attacking churches like that happened recently is a bleak demonstration of 1Malaysia.

When will the politicisation of religion stop?
How many more hearts will your administration break to protect the interests of the dominant race of this country?

Is worshipping the creator an exercise in politics?

Mr Prime Minister, where were you when a Muslim transsexual was accused of bringing shame to Malaysia?

For human rights sake, why did you not utter a word?
Is the issue of transsexualism a petty affair to you? What happened to your catch-phrase of ‘rakyat diutamakan etc'.

Is Malaysia gearing towards a second black May 13? If the current events are to be looked at, then yes, the worry and fear are very real as we watch the nation emasculate gradually but surely.

But if we all come to our senses and realise the truth and beauty of ‘love thy neighbour', all will be well, insyallah.  

--------------ooooooooo0000000000ooooooooo-------------------

Comments (DQ):

A very brave and heartfelt plea to the PM to reconsider his style of leadership and to defuse the ethnic and religious tensions that appear to be spiralling out of control, that the Muslim ascendancy and strident bigotry are making Malaysians feel more and more disenchanted and lost, to the point of losing any semblance of belonging or patriotism. 

We as non-bumiputra Malaysians can no longer continue to be marginalised and repeated told that we do not belong and are pendatangs and of secondary importance...
 

Malaysian Mirror: Martin Jalleh: An Unhappy Chinese New Year?

An Unhappy Chinese New Year?	Share
Martin Jalleh Sunday, 21 February 2010 03:55
A CHINESE New Year has dawned. The Prime Minister declares that Malaysian Chinese should be daring to help build a more dynamic 1Malaysia. Such a dramatic invitation by Najib Abdul Razak  is made against the dark and depressing background of discordant voices by Umnoputras which the drums and deafening firecrackers fail to drown out and exorcise. We hear the disturbing insult of all the Ahmad Ismails labelling the Malaysian Chinese "immigrants" and "squatters" and adding that they have no right to equal treatment with the Umnoputras – who just happened to migrate here a little earlier than the rest of us. Lost in translation We hear the deranged Nasir Safars spitting on us in 1Malaysia seminars with their vile claim that our mothers and grandmothers came here to sell their bodies, whilst never mentioning how the Umnoputras sell their principles, souls and even the country away. We hear the devious speeches of Umno “intellectuals” in the Biro Tatanegara such as the ridiculous claim of a Chinese conspiracy with Singapore, when the Malays are disunited, to topple the Malay government, when very obviously the BTN courses are meant “to promote certain government leaders” (Nazri Aziz) and to protect, perpetuate and preserve their political power! We hear the disgraceful racist rant of all the Abdul Rauf Yusohs in closed-door Umno functions abroad and at home calling non-Malays “‘bangsa asing” and accusing them of “trampling on the Malays in ''Tanah Melayu'', when the glaring reality is that of Umnoputras trampling on each other and on ordinary Malays to grab and gobble the largest piece possible of ‘Tanah Melayu’ that is left! We hear the despicable and highly racist hysteria of Perkasa whose president Ibrahim Ali has hopped back as the saviour of the hapless Malay by waging war against the supposedly avaricious Chinese, whilst hiding the fact that the real enemy of the Malays are people like him and his cohorts who have been Umno’s self-serving sycophants who suck up to the powers that be to satisfy their insatiable greed. We hear the views of Dr M claiming (without any substantiation, solid evidence or statistics) that the Chinese are the real masters of the country – when in reality it is he, his cronies and a few Chinese capitalists whom he had created who are the real “tuans”. He is also the real mastermind of Umno’s racist policies – the “Father of all racists” as Nazri Aziz has crowned him! The real culprits We hear the disgusting attempts to make the Chinese the scapegoat of Malay poverty when for the last 39 years of the NEP it was the Umnoputras who have squeezed and bled this country dry, siphoned and stashed their ill-gotten gains overseas and sent their children abroad to study in premier schools, whilst deceiving, denying and depriving the poor Malay of what was due to them. We hear the deafening silence of the Umnoputras on the many bail-outs, buy-outs and the mind-boggling billions wasted and still more which went missing without being accounted for or anyone held responsible for, especially during the Mahathir years, and which goes on unabated till today, whilst the Chinese are accused of getting richer at the expense of the Malays! We hear the derogatory remarks of Umnoputras against the Chinese newspapers while Umno-owned English and Malay papers, especially the Utusan Malaysia, are allowed to go on a spree of spinning falsehood, spouting lies, spewing seditious articles and spreading what Nazri Aziz calls “outdated racist propaganda” with impunity and immunity by the Umno Home Minister. We hear the diabolical voices in Umno who politicise religion for the party’s survival by creating unfounded fears and insecurities amongst Muslims, deepening distrust of adherents of other religions and derailing sincere efforts at inter-religious dialogue whilst declaring those who detest their devious ways as anti-Islam and anti-Malay. We hear the desperate attempts by Umnoputras to manufacture imaginary threats and bogeymen such as the Chinese wanting to conquer this country from the Malays, the Christians hell-bent on confusing and converting every Muslim and even the CIA having covert operations here! Alas, Umno can only survive with a siege mentality which Khairy Jamaluddin had urged it to abandon. We hear the deceiving hypocrisy of Umnoputras who portray themselves as the protectors of the Malays to revive their comatosed political careers, and when in actuality Malay rights have always been outlined, stated and guaranteed clearly by the Federal Constitution (Professor Dr Abdul Aziz Bari), i.e., the Malays do not need further protection from Umno or the likes of Ibrahim Ali! We hear the Umnoputras’ drummed-up danger of the Malays losing their rights – when they in fact control all the (Malay) institutions, dictate all laws and policies, own all the state-owned companies, GLCs (Petronas), banks and national assets and resources and are accorded priorities and privileges when it comes to properties, public contracts and scholarships! If indeed the Malays do lose their rights – it is to the Umno elite! Pervasive delirium We hear the delirium of the Umno warlords who are drunk with power, warning non-Malays not to push the Malays too far (who is pushing?) or they would go amok, create a bloodbath and start another May 13 “or Feb. 13”, when it is obvious that such intimidating threats of thuggery and mob violence are meant to defend “the most corrupt institution in this country” (Lim Kit Siang), Umno! We hear Najib’s voice spurring the country towards oneness, but will it be silenced by Umno’s cacophony of racism? Will the PM show spine, substance and nerves of steel and stop the mounting dissonance by the Umno warlords, government officials and extremist groups like Perkasa or will he be satisfied in being a sloganeer and somnolent PM and meet the same tragic fate as his predecessor? We hear Najib’s invitation to the Malaysian Chinese to be more courageous, committed and to contribute to a more dynamic 1Malaysia. At the same time, Umnoputras are allowed to gamble away the country by playing the racist card to the hilt! Is this part of Najib’s charade and chicanery of “concrete change” on Chinese New Year’s Day? If it is, he and Umno will not last very long.

Mysinchew: The moment when dream is awakened

The moment when dream is awakened 

mysinchew, 02/12/2009

I wonder if you feel the same as me, all of the sudden, I realized friends and relatives around me seem to get lesser by the day.

Those years when the New Year drew near, all sorts of gathering appointments almost completely filled the diaries, but this year it seems so quiet.

Even in normal time, phone calls become less and less, face to face meet up also become much less.

Perhaps, everybody is busy with their own things, or perhaps, nowadays people prefer to stay in.

However, it is not entirely like this, thinking further, actually old friends and relatives are not around any more. God bless, they are still alive and well, they just left the country, Malaysia.

They have gone to China to set factory; Ah Wang quit his engineer job and migrated to Australia to set up his little food store business, Ah Fong left the local University went to Hong Kong as a lecturer. 'Frog' went to Taiwan to pursue his second career life. Others went to Americia, England, even Indonesia... 

At first, I thought these are individual cases, but gradually, people around me realized the same, these are not individual cases but a general symptoms of our society. they are not small numbers but the pretty big indeed.

Department of Foreign Affairs released the figures earlier, it confirmed the situation is real.

From March 2008 through September 2009, a total of 300,000 Malaysian migrated to other countries, among them 200,000 left between Jan - Aug 2009. (in 8 months)

Cumulatively, there are 2 million Malaysian migrated, this figure is close to the number of Indonesian workers in Malaysia today.

The difference are, those migrated are mostly professional and middle class people.

They have many reasons to leave: pursue career development, for the future of
their children,  in search of better life and environment...   

In one sentence, they lost hope of Malaysia.

50 years ago people said: Malaysia is very good, better than Hong Kong and even Japan.

30 years ago people said: Malaysia is not bad, comparable to S.. Korea and Taiwan. (No mention of Hong Kong and Japan any more).

20 years ago people said: Malaysia can do lah, at least better than China and Thailand (Cannot compare with Taiwan and Korea lah)

10 years ago poeple said: No matter how bad Malaysia is, cannot be worse than Vietnam and Indonesia (China is already in a different category).

Today, the economic growth rate of Vietnam and Indonesia already far exceeded Malaysia. Social activity and intellectual development of the country is also better, the gap between us and them is closing up.

Why worry? there are still Philipines, Cambodia and Myanmar behind us.  
However, according to an economist who recently surveyed Phillipines,  he thinks in 20 years' time, Malaysia can replace Phillipines to become the World exporter of Malaysian maids. 

Over half the century, Malaysians live in the big old imperial housing complex, closed up and survive on properties left behind by the ancestor; continue to consume up social resources, wasteful, and drive away talents; they never talk about competitiveness, totally neglect productivity and hate meritocracy. 

When Asia economic storm hit in 1997, Malaysia closed their doors, thinking we beautifully avoided a disaster, they even think of themselves as genius being able to handle the situation so well.

However, just look at other countries in our neighbourhood, they stand up, face the storm, and walk out of the storm. They overhauled the system, improve the processes and march forward, they moved up to a new level. And Malaysia, still walking on the same spot.

Dear Malaysia, it's time to wake up! We are very very late now ! 

For original article, please see link below: http://opinions.sinchew-i.com/node/12566

Malaysiakini: Ramon Navaratnam, Lim Teck Ghee: Civil service: More non-Malays would benefit Malays too

Civil service: More non-Malays would benefit Malays too

Ramon Navaratnam, Lim Teck Ghee
Malaysiakini, Feb 8, 10, 6:23pm

We refer to the article Emphasis on raising standards.

This was written as a commentary in response to the above article by Shagul Hamid Abdullah, director-general of Biro Tatanegara which appeared in The Star.

Since the paper has declined to publish it, we are making it available to other media outlets in the hope that it will be widely read and the subject of the racial composition of the Malaysian civil service is given the serious analysis and policy attention that it deserves. We consider this issue of paramount importance to our future as a united country.

The article seems to be aimed at ensuring that the situation of Malay dominance in the civil service should remain unchanged and unchallenged. The director-general's analysis fails to point out some very important reasons why a representative and multi-racial civil service should remain a key national priority, especially in the context of building '1Malaysia'.

One crucial reason is that the second prong of the New Economic Policy (from 1970) – the reduction in the identification of economic function with ethnicity – was intended to apply to both the private and public sectors. This second prong has been deemed to be so vital to the cause of national unity that the restructuring of the private sector continues until today (nearly 20 years after the NEP was supposed to have ended in 1990).

What has happened to the restructuring of the civil service that was part of the original NEP?

Although great strides have taken place towards a more multiracial private sector, the reverse has happened in the civil service.

According to available statistics for the year 2005, the proportion of Malays in the civil service had grown from 60% to 77% from 1970 to 2005 whilst the Perkhidmatan Tadbir dan Diplomatik (PTD) had 85% Malays in its staffing, or six Malays for one every non-Malay.

The situation of Malay dominance of the civil service, especially for the higher level service groups, is likely to have been enhanced since. It is not simply the issue of Chinese under- representation mentioned by the DG that is of concern. Representation of other communities and the East Malaysia native communities in the civil service at all levels is of as much concern.

Official statistics such as the racial and regional breakdown of civil service staffing by ministries, agencies and departments and categorised according to top management group, management and professional group and support group and other key variables can provide us a better understanding of the representational issue. From it we can draw related racial, regional and other ramifications and implications.

Though easy to collate, analyse and make publicly available, these data are conspicuously unavailable. Many government leaders have acknowledged that we need more transparency in government to raise public confidence.

Should these data and the relevant analysis be made publicly available, we are confident that they will agree with the concerns of many Malaysians that the current Malay over-dominance of the civil service is unhealthy and undesirable and that it adversely affects national unity, social cohesion and economic competitiveness.

Another important reason why the civil service in Malaysia needs to be made fully representative of the country's racial make-up is that in all modern governments, civil servants are fully engaged in formulating and implementing public policies on behalf of, and in the interests of, all the communities.

Democratic norms call for a representative, impartial and neutral bureaucracy not only to ensure that public policies are responsive to the legitimate needs of all citizens in a fair and equitable fashion but also to ensure that there is an absence of racial bias in the individual or collective manner that the civil servants formulate policies and conduct their work.

In February 2006, a study titled 'Towards a representative and world class civil service' was presented to the government as part of the Centre for Public Policy Studies (CPPS) proposals for the Ninth Malaysia Plan. The study contained a full set of arguments as to why the civil service needs to pursue an appropriate and racially diverse representation policy in its staffing. It also provided practical suggestions on how this policy could be implemented in the form of a quota system in recruitment and career advancement.

The quota system would be similar to the quota systems long used by the government in sectors such as education and commerce to bring about Malay advancement. The civil service quota system – in this case specifically used as a temporary affirmative action tool to increase non- Malay numbers and reduce marginalisation – could be formulated in such a way as to meet with the constitutional provisions providing for the special position of the Malays and bumiputera groups of Sabah and Sarawak.

This 60-40 recruitment system would be relatively easy and painless to implement. It would ensure Malay dominance but not over-dominance by helping bring a gradual increase in the number and proportion of non-Malay civil servants in the country.

Since that CPPS study aforementioned, the growing number of racial profiling allegations aimed at the police and various other ministries and agencies is a clear danger sign that changes in recruitment of new staffing and racial composition at the higher levels are urgently needed if these allegations are not to spiral out of control.

The director-general has emphasised that "there has never been any deliberate and conscious effort to discourage the non-Malays from entering and staying in public service'. The veracity of this statement can be questioned. If a full and open inquiry is held on the issue of whether or not bias exists in terms of recruitment and promotion in the civil service (and this includes staffing in the public universities and many strategic ministries and agencies), we are sure that many conflicting views – including those based on personal experience – are likely to dominate the proceedings.

Even if we accept as largely true the statement that there are no 'deliberate and conscious' attempts to discourage non-Malay participation in the civil service, it does not absolve the government from its responsibility of ensuring a fully representative civil service – a national objective which it has long pledged to pursue but has cynically ignored instead.

In fact, if only a miniscule fraction of the public resources that has gone into the restructuring of the private sector had been allocated towards the restructuring of the civil service, we would have long ago achieved that goal and arrived at a higher stage of national unity, resilience and competitiveness.

Instead what we have had is a lot of rhetoric, foot dragging, attempts to 'blame the other side', and now another garbled attempt at explaining why the status quo in terms of the civil service composition has to remain the same. That is why the contrasting statement by the Second Minister of Finance Ahmad Husni Mohd Hanadzlah, that the civil service should be more multiracial is most welcome.

In order to fulfill this noble aspiration, we hope that Husni and his colleagues in the Barisan Nasional will support the introduction of a quota system reflective of the country's racial composition and for the system to be introduced as soon as possible for all civil service recruitment and promotion.

It is important for the government to change its mindset on the issue and not to view the issue of a representative civil service in zero-sum game terms. It is not simply the interests of the non -Malay communities presently under-represented that would be enhanced with more equitable representation. Malay interests would also benefit in many ways.

Implementation of reforms providing for the recruitment and career advancement of non-Malays in the civil service will help ensure that national unity and the goal of '1Malaysia' will be more quickly realized.

Dr Lim Teck Ghee is director, Center for Policy Initiatives and Ramon Navaratnam is former president, Transparency International Malaysia.

Judge Young: Shoe Bomber Sentencing: January 30, 2003, United States vs. Reid.

Remember the guy who got on a plane with a bomb built into his shoe and tried to light it?

Did you know his trial is over?  Did you know he was sentenced?  Did you see/hear any of the judge's comments on TV or Radio?  Didn't think so.!!! Everyone should hear what the judge had to say.   Ruling by Judge William Young, US District Court. Prior to sentencing, the Judge asked the defendant if he had anything to say.  His response: After admitting his guilt to the court for the record, Reid also admitted his 'allegiance to Osama bin Laden, to Islam, and to the religion of Allah,' defiantly stating, 'I think I will not apologize for my actions,' and told the court 'I am at war with your country.' Judge Young then delivered the statement quoted below: January 30, 2003, United States vs. Reid.   Judge Young:   'Mr. Richard C. Reid, hearken now to the sentence the Court imposes upon you. On counts 1, 5 and 6 the Court sentences you to life in prison in the custody of the United States Attorney General.  On counts 2, 3, 4and 7, the Court sentences you to 20 years in prison on each count, the sentence on each count to run consecutively.  (That's 80 years.) On count 8 the Court sentences you to the mandatory 30 years again, to be served consecutively to the 80 years just imposed.  The Court imposes upon you for each of the eight counts a fine of $250,000 that's an aggregate fine of $2 million.  The Court accepts the government's recommendation with respect to restitution and orders restitution in the amount of $298.17 to Andre Bousquet and $5,784 to American Airlines. The Court imposes upon you an $800 special assessment. The Court imposes upon you five years supervised release simply because the law requires it. But the life sentences are real life sentences so I need go no further. This is the sentence that is provided for by our statutes.  It is a fair and just sentence.  It is a righteous sentence. Now, let me explain this to you.  We are not afraid of you or any of your terrorist co-conspirators, Mr. Reid.  We are Americans.  We have been through the fire before.  There is too much war talk here and I say that to everyone with the utmost respect.  Here in this court, we deal with individuals as individuals and care for individuals as individuals.  As human beings, we reach out for justice. You are not an enemy combatant.  You are a terrorist. You are not a soldier in any war.  You are a terrorist.  To give you that reference, to call you a soldier, gives you far too much stature. Whether the officers of government do it or your attorney does it, or if you think you are a soldier, you are not----- you are a terrorist.  And we do not negotiate with terrorists.  We do not meet with terrorists.  We do not sign documents with terrorists.  We hunt them down one by one and bring them to justice. So war talk is way out of line in this court.  You are a big fellow. But you are not that big.  You're no warrior.  I've known warriors. You are a terrorist.  A species of criminal that is guilty of multiple attempted murders.  In a very real sense, State Trooper Santiago had it right when you first were taken off that plane and into custody and you wondered where the press and the TV crews were, and he said: 'You're no big deal.' You are no big deal. What your able counsel and what the equally able United States attorneys have grappled with and what I have as honestly as I know how tried to grapple with, is why you did something so horrific.  What was it that led you here to this courtroom today? I have listened respectfully to what you have to say. And I ask you to search your heart and ask yourself what sort of unfathomable hate led you to do what you are guilty and admit you are guilty of doing?  And, I have an answer for you.  It may not satisfy you, but as I search this entire record, it comes as close to understanding as I know.   It seems to me you hate the one thing that to us is most precious. You hate our freedom.  Our individual freedom.  Our individual freedom to live as we choose, to come and go as we choose, to believe or not believe as we individually choose.  Here, in this society, the very wind carries freedom.  It carries it everywhere from sea to shining sea.  It is because we prize individual freedom so much that you are here in this beautiful courtroom, so that everyone can see, truly see, that justice is administered fairly, individually, and discretely.  It is for freedom's sake that your lawyers are striving so vigorously on your behalf, have filed appeals, will go on in their representation of you before other judges. We Americans are all about freedom.  Because we all know that the way we treat you, Mr. Reid, is the measure of our own liberties.  Make no mistake though.  It is yet true that we will bear any burden; pay any price, to preserve our freedoms.  Look around this courtroom.  Mark it well.  The world is not going to long remember what you or I say here.  The day after tomorrow, it will be forgotten, but this, however, will long endure. Here in this courtroom and courtrooms all across America , the American people will gather to see that justice, individual justice, justice, not war, individual justice is in fact being done.  The very President of the United States through his officers will have to come into courtrooms and lay out evidence on which specific matters can be judged and juries of citizens will gather to sit and judge that evidence democratically, to mold and shape and refine our sense of justice. See that flag, Mr. Reid?  That's the flag of the United States of America .  That flag will fly there long after this is all forgotten. That flag stands for freedom.  And it always will. Mr. Custody Officer.  Stand him down. So, how much of this Judge's comments did we hear on our TV sets?  We need more judges like Judge Young.  Pass this around.  Everyone should and needs to hear what this fine judge had to say. Powerful words that strike home.

Malaysian Insider: The ideal of a united Malaysia is under strain

The ideal of a united Malaysia is under strain

Malaysian Insider, Canberra, Feb 7 — What’s happening with Malaysia? The country has long been viewed in Australia as not only an especially friendly Southeast Asian neighbour — the “recalcitrant” Mahathir Mohammad excepted, though he’s been retired six years — but also a model of middle-class success and tolerance in that region.

Today, however, the country is having a hard time holding things together, in the face of religious and ethnic divides, political battles, and economic challenges.

Michael Danby, who chairs Australia’s foreign affairs subcommittee, told parliament last Tuesday night that “fellow democrats around Asia are flabbergasted at events unfolding in Kuala Lumpur.”
He was referring to the second trial of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim for sodomy.

“For the second time,” Danby said, “the Malaysian legal system is being manipulated by supporters of the incumbent government to drive Malaysia’s best-known leader, Anwar Ibrahim, out of national politics.

“For the second time, documents are being forged, witnesses are being coerced, and evidence is being fabricated. This trial, like the first trial, is a disgrace to Malaysia, a country that aspires to democratic norms.”

Danby said it was long past time that Malaysia repealed these British colonial laws, which could not then be used for such political purposes.

“In the second place, everyone in Malaysia, and everyone in the international legal community, knows that Anwar is innocent of these charges.”

The underlying problem is that Anwar, leader of the People’s Justice Party, is the first charismatic Malay opposition politician with sufficient appeal for Malay voters to pose a real threat to Umno’s 52-year hold on power.

This episode indicates that it’s also long past time Umno took a spell in opposition, as Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party is doing.

Declared a middle-income country by the World Bank several years ago, Malaysia has grown accustomed to patronising its giant neighbour Indonesia — even though it still rankles that Malaysia itself continues to be patronised by its tiny neighbour Singapore.

Now, though, it is Indonesia — the raucous democracy with a rapidly acquired capacity to change leaders and governments peaceably, the world’s largest Muslim country renowned for its moderation and pluralism — that is receiving international praise, with US President Barack Obama flying across the world to visit (with a side-trip to Australia).

In 2008, last year and — as estimated by IMA Asia — this year, Malaysia’s economic growth figures are 4.6 per cent, -2.8 per cent, and 4 per cent. Indonesia’s are 6.1 per cent, 4.5 per cent and 5.6 per cent.

Since taking office last April, Prime Minister Najib Razak has started to dismantle the 40-year-old New Economic Policy, Sydney-based business consulting firm IMA notes.

It says: “While the NEP did little for ordinary Malays, its supposed beneficiaries, it enriched a handful of businessmen and contributed to corruption in Umno.”

Najib also has to tackle the over-reliance on oil money — for more than 40 per cent of government revenues — while just 2.3 million of the 28 million population pay income tax. And he needs to open more sectors of the economy to foreign investors.

That’s hard to do, while at the same time grappling with the plethora of problems resulting from Malaysia’s restrictive religious laws, reflecting Islam’s role as the state religion.

Queensland University political scientist David Martin Jones, currently working in Malaysia, says: “There is now an interesting collection of scandals dating from the first Anwar case in 1998 that coincides with the fragmentation of Umno-controlled politics.”

One such scandal comprised the tragic case of Lina Joy, aged 45, who was born into a Muslim family but began attending a church in 1990 and was baptised in 1998, and naturally wished to marry her Christian fiance. But marriage between Muslim women and non-Muslim men is forbidden under Malaysian law, and after years of battling the authorities in the courts, in 2007 she was refused permission to convert formally.

This year, Malaysia has seen its simmering religious and racial conflicts boil over after a ruling of the High Court that the Malay language pages of the Catholic Church’s weekly newspaper, the Herald, could use the term “Allah” as a translation for “God”.

Malaysian Christians say they have used “Allah” for God for centuries.

The government is appealing the decision. But in the meantime, it has triggered violent protests from Muslim Malays who comprise 60 per cent of the population, and who claim exclusive rights over the Arabic word “Allah”. Christians comprise just 9 per cent of Malaysians.

Eleven churches, a Sikh temple and two Muslim prayer rooms have been attacked so far, as a result of the row, and the severed heads of three wild boars — considered unclean by Muslims — with their mouths stuffed with bank notes, in plastic bags, were found outside two mosques.

The High Court last April sentenced to death two policemen who were assigned to the office of Najib Razak, the then deputy prime minister and defence minister. They were found guilty of murdering a Mongolian woman who had had a relationship with Abdul Razak Baginda, a defence analyst for a think tank, and had translated for him on a deal to buy submarines from France.

Abdul Razak, arrested for abetting the murder, was acquitted. But the motives for the policemen to have killed Atlantuyaa — by explosives — remain murky.

Martin Jones says: “Malay political scandals and the cynicism they engender, together with the bitter debate over the ‘Allah affair’, are seriously fragmenting the Malay community, whilst minority communities are increasingly rejecting the Umno model of Satu Malaysia (1 Malaysia). I suspect this portends some trouble ahead for the Malay political process.”

Razak has launched a multimedia 1 Malaysia campaign to promote the virtues of “perseverance, a culture of excellence, acceptance, loyalty, education, humility, integrity, and meritocracy.”

This looks to be a hurdle too high for a political establishment whose credibility is too low, for an economy that for two years has suffered net outflows of foreign investment, and for a culture suffering some confusion.

Jones points out: “It’s somewhat ironic that an ostensibly puritanical political culture that won’t contemplate a Beyonce concert seems to lap up details of Anwar’s alleged penetration of his aide.”

The singer Beyonce last October cancelled a second planned concert in Malaysia after accusations by Islamic conservatives that her show was immoral. She scored a huge hit when she flew instead to a Muslim neighbour with less stringent rules on dress or behaviour: Indonesia. — The Australian

Malaysiakini-Dean Johns: The sodUmny never stops

The sodUmny never stops

Dean Johns
Feb 3, 2010; 10:39am

 

At the risk of repeating some of the sentiments I expressed back when Anwar Ibrahim was charged with Sodomy II, his latest trial is just one more in an unending series of Umno/BN sodomies on the Malaysian people.

Ever since Tun Razak shafted Tungku Abdul Rahman by allegedly orchestrating the May 13 riots back in 1969, successive Umno/BN regimes have violated every principle of civic virtue and good governance in their insatiable lust for power and plunder.

This species of SodUmny became routine during Mahathir's premiership, a 22-year debauch that saw the ravaging of the judiciary's political independence, the defilement of the media and other civil institutions by a combination of force and corruption, and the rape and pillage of the nation's riches by Umno/BN members, relatives and cronies.

One of Mahathir's dirtiest public deeds, of course, was his vicious assault on his erstwhile deputy, Anwar Ibrahim, in 1998. A charge of sodomy that was so clearly and evidently false that the judge in the case, the late, unlamented Augustine Paul, had to give prosecution three goes at getting the time and scene of the 'crime' straight.

As you may recall, the condominium at which the 'offence' was at first alleged to have occurred turned out not to have been built at the time. And on the second occasion on which the sodomy was alleged to have taken place, the defence demonstrated that Anwar had been out of the country on that date.

Then, in the course of the hearing, 'victims' and other procured witnesses recanted the testimony that they had initially given. But despite all this perjury and other irregularities the charade proceeded, and Anwar was convicted and jailed.

But Mahathir hadn't finished with him yet. When Anwar complained of a black eye and other injuries as the result of a beating by the then head of the Royal Malaysian Police, Mahathir brazenly sneered that Anwar had probably inflicted the injuries on himself.

This was a glaring example of possibly the most disgusting sodUmny that Mahathir, his two successors and their entire regime have committed, and continue to commit against the people of Malaysia: utter perversion of the truth.

A pack of pernicious lies

Official government propaganda and public relations are a pack of pernicious lies. Najib Razak's “1Malaysia. People first. Performance now,” is so plainly and patently false as to constitute a sodUmny on the people's intelligence.

Far from truly promoting a united Malaysia, Umno persistently plays on the issues of race and religion to keep-up its pretense of championing the cause of the Malay/Muslim majority at the expense of the rest. Witness the notorious “cow's head” protest against the construction of a Hindu temple. The police stood by and did nothing to stop it, and Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein excused the perpetrators on the grounds that they had “no intention” of provoking racial or religious ill-feeling.

Another glaring example of Umno/BN's promotion of racial and religious disunity has been its involvement in the latest episode of the God/Allah controversy, in which it has allowed one of its newspapers, Utusan Malaysia, total license to inflame the sectarian passions of its readers.
But of course Utusan Malaysia is just an extreme example of the fact that Umno/BN commits its ultimate sodomy of the truth by means of a Printing, Presses and Publications Act that requires virtually all of the nation's news media to submit to Umno/BN's rapacious demands for special treatment.

No coverage of news of the few Umno/BN crimes that escape the net of the Official Secrets Act. No criticism of Umno/BN derelictions, lies or idiocies. No positive coverage of opposition politicians or supporters. Nothing, in fact, from the pathetically prostituted 'mainstream' television, radio and press but the Umno party line.

So, despite the heroic efforts of the few independent virtual media and the burgeoning pro-democracy blogosphere, millions of Malaysians still live in blissful ignorance of many of the obscenities of the Umno/BN regime.

And will continue to, if the authorities have anything to do with it. Barry Wain's book 'Malaysian Maverick: Mahathir Mohamad in Turbulent Times' is apparently not yet allowed into the country, presumably to spare Malaysians from revelations of putrid dealings like the preposterous public funding of Umno headquarters, Putra World Trade Centre.

And two other books apparently headed for the banned list are '1Funny Malaysia', a collection of cartoons by Zunar lampooning the Umno/BN regime, and 'Where is justice?', an account of countless atrocities committed in police and MACC custody, including the cases of Teoh Beng Hock, A Kugan, Altantuya Shaariibuu and Anwar Ibrahim.

A good account

Now that we're back to Anwar, according to the ongoing Malaysiakini report he's giving a good account of himself on the first day of his Sodomy II trial.

On the grounds that his accuser and alleged victim Mohd Saiful Bukhan Azlan met at least twice with Prime Minister Najib Razak prior to reporting the 'crime', Anwar said that he intends to request the court to subpoena Najib and his wife Rosmah as witnesses.

“If Najib and the government have managed to cover up the Altantuya (murder),” he asked, “what more is this? This is a desperate attempt to implicate me.”

Anwar's lawyers also applied for a review of last week's decision by the Apex Court denying them additional evidence, documents and CCTV footage needed for his defence.

The trial is being attended by foreign diplomats, legal observers and global media, with BBC News already running a report on the first day of proceedings.

So Malaysia's image, already darkened by Dr Mahathir's global notoriety, Najib Razak's dubious reputation and the ruling regime's dismal record of financial, social and human-rights abuses, is bound to be blackened even further by this latest bum rap.

Let's hope there's enough of an international outcry, and sufficient revulsion on the part of sufficient Malaysians, to finally depose the political inverts of Umno/BN, and put an end to their sodUmnies for once and for all.

DEAN JOHNS, after many years in Asia, currently lives with his Malaysian-born wife and daughter in Sydney, where he mentors creative writing groups. Soon to be published in Kuala Lumpur is a third book of his columns for Malaysiakini, following earlier collections 'Mad about Malaysia' and 'Even Madder about Malaysia'.