NAJIB'S FREE KL BUS TRANSPORT - GO-KL CITY BUS (COPYING PENANG WHICH HAD EARLIER MOOTED THIS PLAN)

Najib's UMNO/BN have just copied Penang by providing a free bus transport called Go-KL City Bus and it operates from 6 am to 11pm and with initial 15 purple buses providing WIFI, CCTV, global sitting system which is passenger friendly. Destination were around Kuala Lumpur.

Penang had earlier initiated this free bus transport system for their Penang folks.



source : Zakri Ali blog

Rais: N-Day rally attendees are ‘warriors’ of peace

Rais’ ministry had expected over 200,000 to attend the rally at Bukit Jalil. — File pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 31 — Information Communication and Culture Minister, Datuk Seri Rais Yatim described the people’s support in facing all challenges as proof that they were “warriors” who loved independence and peace.

“One mind, one direction, one spirit, one goal. That’s why each seat in this stadium is filled by a ‘warrior’,” he said during his speech at the 55th Merdeka Gathering: Promises Fulfilled in conjunction with the Independence Day celebrations at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium here tonight.

Rais attributed the success of each government programme, including this year’s dynamic Independence Day celebrations throughout the month, to these “warriors”.

“This morning’s parade successfully portrayed the National Key Results Area and tonight we display the young generation’s independence spirit by supporting and appreciating the government.

“I wish to record my appreciation and gratitude to all parties, be they non-governmental or voluntary who participated throughout this Merdeka Day programme,” he said.

An estimated 150,000 Malaysians of all races packed every inch of the stadium to rejoice in tonight’s celebrations, which included various patriotic programmes. — Bernama

Khalid: Not protocol for Sultan to grace state Merdeka do

Khalid noted that the same practice has been kept in previous years. — File pic

SHAH ALAM, Aug 31 — Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said today that it was not a norm for the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah to be invited for state level Independence Day celebrations.

“Such an invitation is not in the programme. This is how we do it every year, that’s all,” he commented on a local daily’s report that stated the Sultan had been left out of the 55th Independence Day celebrations at Dataran Kemerdekaan here last night.

He was speaking to reporters after Friday prayers in conjunction with Independence Day here today.

Meanwhile, the Sultan of Selangor’s confidential secretary, Datuk Mohamad Munir Bani said it was the custom of the previous state government to invite the Sultan for such celebrations.

“The invitation was a formality and it was up the Sultan to accept or otherwise,” he said.

Meanwhile, state Umno Information chief, Abdul Shukor Idrus, questioned the Selangor government’s invitation to PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is also Selangor’s economic advisor, as the main guest at the event.

The action was seen as improper as the post of Selangor economic advisor was merely a political post created by the state administration and was not in the State Constitution.

He said: “Is the state government using the celebration funded by the state government for its political interest. If it is true, it is an irresponsible act apart from insulting the institution of the Selangor Sultanate.”

Over in Kota Baru, president of Malay rights group Perkasa Datuk Ibrahim Ali said that certain parties were alleging that a small group from the opposition coalition was trying to deny the role of the royalty in the name of democracy. — Bernama

A new dawn? — May Chee

Woke up around 7am today, after about five hours of sleep. By the way, “Selamat Hari Merdeka” folks! 

My husband and I went for the Janji Demokrasi Merdeka Countdown at the clock tower in Malacca last night. Again, it was another heartwarming experience. Syabas to all those who gathered there and elsewhere for the Janji Demokrasi!

This time around, no untoward incidents, I hear. That’s good, really good. See, if we have everyone’s good intentions in mind, all would be swell.

We left our house at 9pm. There was ample parking around the designated area. As we walked towards the clock tower, we could see cops and Rela personnel already in position. Since we were early, we walked towards Jonker, hoping to join some people at the stage. Along the way, we met some friends, so we headed for the stage together. Some yellow shirts were walking in the opposite direction. They were heading towards the clock tower. All youths. Good, I thought!

At the stage, there was a handful of yellow shirts and a group of around 15 members from the Unit Amal PAS. By 9.30pm the group had swelled to quite a huge number. After taking a group photograph at the foot of the stage, our Unit Amal youngsters led us to the clock tower. Before that, we were told to be at our best behaviour, not to provoke nor hamper the traffic. We walked on the pavement and at all times, the Unit Amal boys made sure traffic for the public was smooth. Though the folks along Jonker were burning incense and some other stuff (Ghost Month?), the Unit Amal boys admirably braved the ashes (some flying into their faces) to guide us. 

I just love these Unit Amal boys. I’ve seen how selfless they can be during my Bersih 2 experience. Now and then when I see some fools pitting us non-Muslims against our Malaysian brothers and sisters from PAS, I feel so irritated. I may run when I see some people but definitely not when I see these boys from the Unit Amal. I bet my last ringgit they will lay down their lives for me, a Chinese Christian, but not their detractors! So I say to these detractors, don’t waste your time spewing such venom. Our PAS brethren have my vote, any time! 

At the clock tower, by 10pm, the group was huge. The whole place was swarmed with yellow shirts and others. Again, it was heart-warming to see Malaysians from all walks of life gathered there. Young and old, even kids, armed with the Jalur Gemilang waving, chanting in unison, while waiting for the clock to strike midnight. I saw so many familiar faces, and at the same time made some new friends. A friend remarked that at events like this, you cannot escape the fact that we, Malaysians, are united in wanting the best for our country. I’m so proud of my fellow Malaysians. I really am.

Again, my Malacca cops did us proud. Some guided traffic while some lined themselves along the road to prevent the exuberant ones from rushing into the traffic. We were around the clock tower and also on the opposite side of the road as there wasn’t enough room to house all of us around the clock tower. Apart from the chanting of slogans like “Hidup ,Hidup, Hidup Rakyat”, “Janji, Janji, Janji Demokrasi”, etc, there were also some trumpeting of vuvuzelas. We also sang the “Negaraku”. Now and then, when some motorists honked their vehicles as a mark of solidarity with us, the crowd went into a frenzy, waving their flags and started chanting again.

I saw how the younger cops wore faces of great restrain amidst the din. They were unsmiling, only because, I think, they were taking their duties seriously. However, there was this tall, fair, policewoman who walked along the road smiling broadly. She made a pretty picture! I also noticed how some guy who at one moment could be chanting “Negara Bersih, Rakyat Sihat” and the next bantering away with this senior policeman. I heard that the latter was the leader of the team deployed at the clock tower. Great chap; was smiling throughout. Really, I love my Malacca cops! 

At a quarter to midnight, a group of people made their way to the balcony of the Stadhuys opposite the clock tower. They took turns to lead us in chanting those slogans. One of them read out the “10 Tuntutan Janji Demokrasi” which went like this:

Membersihkan senarai pengundi

Mereformaiskan undi pos

Menggunakan dakwat kekal

Minima 21 hari berkempen

Ases media yang bebas dan adil

Kukuhkan institusi awam

Hentikan rasuah

Hentikan politik kotor

Pihak SPR harus meletak jawatan

Menjemput pemantau dari luar negeri

When the clock struck midnight, shouts of “Merdeka” verberated throughout the whole area. After that, Shamsul Iskandar read out A. Samad Said’s poem “Janji Demokrasi”. A few more rounds of chanting, some greetings, then, we were asked to disperse peacefully. 

Away we went, smiling happily and laughing. A good and productive outing, I thought. 

While celebrating “Hari Merdeka”, I cannot help but think of our brothers and sisters in Sabah and Sarawak. About 15 years ago, I went to a neighbouring country for a holiday. I left thinking that they had a sinful government. How can I not but feel that way when I see boys as young as five or six years old jumping into the sea, performing a trick or two, just so we tourists would buy their wares for an equivalent of a ringgit or two. I remember relieving a boy of a bunch of bananas. They should be in school but here they were, risking their lives for just a ringgit or two. Everywhere I went, I saw their menfolk just hanging around their coffeeshops, smoking away with nothing better to do. (Cigarettes must be cheap there, I thought.) No school for the little ones and no jobs for what should be the breadwinners! And this was a country blessed with an abundance of natural resources. How come?

You know what was sadder? Some years later I went to Sarawak. I saw exactly the same situation there. It broke my heart to see how hard my brethren there had to slog in order to earn the same ringgit or two. Sarawak, the Land of the Hornbills, abundantly blessed, yet the majority live in poverty. How can this be? Only five per cent royalty from their oil? You got to be kidding me! Daylight robbery or what? They joined us on September 16, 1963 to be enslaved? Don’t think that was their intention at all! The best democracy in the world or aping colonial masters of old? Or worse? Come on, there’s more than enough for everyone. Why so greedy? I wonder how some people go to sleep at night? Really, this is more than sinful!

I believe our brethren in Sabah also suffer the same fate. Honestly, how could anyone in their right mind, enslave their own brethren? Even animals behave better!

“Merdeka” for whom? Definitely not for our brethren in Sabah and Sarawak. If we in the peninsula think we have it bad, they in east Malaysia have it a lot more worse! They toil their land day and night but do not get to taste the fruits of their labour. Is this justice? Is this equality? Do we ever see them as fellow Malaysians? Or do we think we are masters and they slaves? Come on, “Merdeka” for whom?

If the powers-that-be still refuse to grant Sabahans and Sarawakians their liberty and accord them the dignity they deserve, I don’t see why they should be with us and what’s there to celebrate, come the so-called “Malaysia Day”. 

My friends in Sabah and Sarawak, please educate your people and tell them, each and every one of you deserve a lot, lot better. Arise and claim back your birthright. Enough of slavery. You didn’t ask for this. It was forced onto you. Be brave and arise. Life can be a lot, lot better. You choose.

My fellow Malaysians, till the day each and every one of us enjoy the same liberty and dignity, we are not one. Till the day we are accorded the same privileges, we will always view each other with suspicion. Let’s work towards that day. We can do this if we all think, truly as one. And this must include our brethren from Sabah and Sarawak. Best we stop this charade and call them Malaysians when they cannot even begin to live the Malaysian dream. For so long, it has been only a nightmare for them. Enough, please, enough.

Hopefully, with the change that will come soon enough, we can usher in a new dawn. One, where we are truly all Malaysians. Work on it. Work hard.

Mat Rempit to Help Fight Crime? This is a Signal that Hishammuddin Hussein's Time as Home Minister is Up!

The Home Ministry wants to engage the mat rempit to help fight crime in the country. Describing the idea as out-of-the-box thinking, Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said the ministry had asked selected non-governmental organisations and groups to enlist the bikers' co-operation in the fight against crime.

Calling this an 'out-of-the-box thinking' goes to show that our minister is really suffering from a serious mental block or he is totally not qualified to hold the position. Any credible home minister would have instructed his top home security officials to come out with a comprehensive plan and strategy to curb and combat crime. 

Second, he should address the issue of a lack of police personnel doing patrolling and just desk jobs. He should be mindful not to abuse security forces to meet political ends or using them to stop freedom of assembly and expression. 

The full brunt of security forces should be used to protect and guarantee public safety.

Hence, using mat rempit to help fight crime is not even an idea, let alone an 'out-of-the-box thinking'. It epitomizes Hishammuddin's state of mind and his suitability to continue serving as our home minister. No wonder, he has a knack to ignore distortions in crime statistics posted by his ministry.

I am not looking down on these mat rempits. The right thing to ask them to do is to get a job and help contribute to this nation's development. By getting themselves duly employed, we do not have to rely on so many foreign workers.

Second, these mat rempits are not trained and equipped to handle criminals. What if some of them get hurt or killed in the process of fighting crime? Will Hishammuddin be responsible for their safety?

What if these mat rempits take Hishammuddin's instruction and suggestion too seriously and start to act like enforcement officers and abuse their 'power'? Will Hishammuddin be responsible for their action and behaviour?

What is some of the criminals are fellow mat rempits too? Can we depend on them to take action against their own kind? Afterall, they are not paid to do the policing job.

If Hishammuddin is keen on this 'idea', he should encourage these mat rempits to attend interviews and apply for positions in the security forces. 

The last thing Hishammuddin should do is to belittle our intelligence with his so-called idea and out-of-the-box thinking.

If our current home minister is feeling the fatigue, he can volunteer to step down and allow a fresher person to take over. 

The writing’s on the wall, Najib!

FMT reports that a total of 205 police officers from the Dang Wangi and Bukit Aman police stations were deployed at Dataran Merdeka last night.

Well, I reached Dataran a little after 7pm, to do some reconnaissance on the accessibility to Dataran and to report back on twitter and to the Gabungan Janji media base.

And I was armed with 100 pieces of ABU’s 2-in-1 for delivery to our military and police personnel.

ABU 2-in-1 : The Mengapa Harga Barang Naik? pamphlet wrapped with the Message to our Police and Military

I went back home last night with just tw0 left.

I tagged 98 officers in blue with the ABU message!

Two weeks ago, dumb ass home minister Kerismudin speculated that the violence that occurred during BERSIH 3.0 would put off many people from coming for the Janji Demokrasi gathering at Dataran last night.

Malaysiakini reported him as saying then that not many were keen on the Janji Demokrasi event.

Were you at Dataran last night?

No?

I wasn’t able to take photos last night, so I am just going to nick some from Facebook.

Malaysiakini and FMT counted the numbers out at Dataran last night at about 10,000.

I estimated at least 15,000.

Hawkeye is convinced the number is closer to 25,000.

James sms’d me to say he was awed by the crowd, which he estimated at 50,000.

Rais Yatim is still counting.

- The People's Parliament

MORE MEDIA LIES: BN's & Najib's political survival on the line at GE13 - Kit Siang

With the approach of 13th General Election, which Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said in Kedah yesterday would determine UMNO and Barisan Nasional’s survival (or to be more exact, Najib’s own political survival), the UMNO/Barisan Nasional mainstream media are throwing journalistic ethics to the winds and resorting to more lies and falsehoods in their attacks on Pakatan Rakyat leaders.

It is a measure of the increasing desperation felt by UMNO/BN leaders that the next general elections could result in a change of federal government in Putrajaya that the next polls in shaping up to the dirtiest elections in the nation’s 55-year history – with blatant and flagrant lies and falsehoods recklessly spread by UMNO/BN cybertroopers about individual Pakatan Rakyat leaders like the accusation that I had urinated at the flagpole in the Kuala Lumpur residence of the former Selangor Mentri Besar, Datuk Harun Idris sparking off the May 13 riots in 1969, when I was never in Kuala Lumpur on May 10, 11, 12 or 13, 1969 or the ludicrous allegation that the Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng had provoked the May 13 riots in his capacity as DAP Youth leader when Guan Eng was only eight years old at the time!

Pure concoction

The latest lie and falsehood by UMNO mainstream media is today’s New Straits Times report entitled “’Anti-hopping law unfair and impractical’” on Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s call to introduce a law against party-hopping, which among other things, said:

“The critics pointed out that Lim's father, DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang, had even praised members of parliament Datuk Seri Wilfred Mojilip Bumburing of Tuaran and Datuk Seri Lajim Ukin of Beaufort when the duo left Barisan Nasional to support the opposition coalition.”

This is pure concoction for up to now, I have not said anything about the actions of Wilfred Bumburing and Lajim Ukiin in leaving Barisan Nasional to support the Pakatan Rakyat coalition.

My position against party-hopping by elected representatives had been clear and consistent and I stand by what I said in Parliament 34 years ago when on March 21, 1978, I moved a motion in the Dewan Rakyat to seek the leave of the House to introduce a private member’s bill intituled Members of Parliament (Prevention of Defection) Act 1978 to ensure political integrity of Members of Parliament

This is what I said in Parliament on March 21, 1978:

“I rise under Standing Order 49(2) to move a motion to seek leave of the House to introduce a Private Member’s Bill intituled Members of Parliament (Prevention of Defection) Act, 1978, which would require a Member of Parliament to vacate his seat within 30 days and cause a by-election to be held on his resignation or expulsion from the Party on whose ticket he was originally elected.

“In November last year, I was invited by a Tamil national daily, Tamil Nesan, to answer question submitted by Tamil Nesan readers. One question that was asked was about the defection of Opposition Members of Parliament and State Assemblymen after their election, in betrayal of the confidence and trust placed on them by the electorate.

“I was asked what effective measure could be taken to prevent such opportunistic political betrayal of the people’s confidence. I replied that the most effective way would be for the enactment of a law requiring a Member of Parliament to vacate his seat and cause a by-election to be held on his resignation or expulsion from the Party on whose ticket he was originally elected. I promised to move a private member’s bill on this matter considering its importance.

“Such a Bill is important so as to ensure the political integrity of elected MPs and to prevent political corruption.

“Nothing disgusts the Malaysian public more than to see MPs or State Assemblymen elected on one party’s ticket and then betray the Party and the people’s trust by switching parties. This makes them very little different from con-men. Such practices debase politics, and strengthen the general impression that ‘politics is dirty’, when it is the dirty people who get into politics to make politics dirty.

“The defection of MPs or State Assemblymen from parties on whose ticket they got elected is most undesirable and unethical, because they are elected not because of their personal qualities, but because of the Party they represent. Such practices also permit elected politicians to be bought and sold as if they are on the market place.

“If an elected MP resigns or is expelled from the Party on whose ticket he was originally elected, then he should resign his seat and cause a by-election to be held. If the resignation and expulsion is over a matter of political principle which has the support of the people, then the MP or State Assemblymen concerned should have no qualms about getting re-elected…

“A law which I am proposing will uphold political integrity of MPs and be a serious deterrent to political corruption. Those who wish to see a cleaner political atmosphere should give it support.”

In fear of MPs resigning on grounds of principle causing by-elections to be held in 1990, the then Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad abused the UMNO/BN command of two-thirds parliamentary majority to amend the Constitution providing for a new Article 48(6) which stipulates:

“48(6) – A person who resigns his membership of the House of Representatives shall, for a period of five years beginning with the date on which his resignation takes effect, be disqualified from being a member of the House of Representatives.”

Automatic new mandate

Article 48(6) of the Constitution will have to be revoked if any anti-party hopping legislation is to take full effect – allowing any MP or State Assembly member who resigns on matters of political principle to be able to seek a new mandate from his or her voters by contesting in a by-election.

I have no doubt that both Wilfred Bumburing and Lajim Ukiin would be prepared to resign their parliamentary seats for by-elections to be held to submit to their constituents to secure their support and a new mandate for their political decision to leave the Barisan Nasional and support Pakatan Rakyat – if they are not barred by Mahathir’s Article 48(6) from recontesting a by-election for the next five years.

Lim Kit Siang is the DAP adviser & MP for Ipoh Timur

Najib faces DILEMMA on vote: That's why he keeps postponing GE13 date

KUALA LUMPUR—Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak faces a tricky challenge as the deadline approaches for holding fresh elections here: He remains relatively popular in much of the country—but his government is less so.

Mr. Najib has continued to fare well in voter surveys this year, with many residents saying they believe his reform efforts—including a promise to repeal an unpopular law criminalizing speech with a "seditious tendency"—are well-intentioned.

But voters also tell pollsters they are dissatisfied overall with the coalition government led by the United Malays National Organization, which has governed Malaysia since independence from Britain in 1957. Many voters have indicated they want more radical change, notably to rein in corruption and make the economy more competitive.

Disconnect

That disconnect between voters' views of Mr. Najib and of his ruling coalition complicates the prime minister's decision on when to call the next election, which by law must be held by the first part of next year. The vote—whose timing has been the subject of heated popular debate for months—is widely expected to be the most competitive in Malaysia's history, following a 2008 election in which opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim guided a multiethnic opposition alliance to its best performance in years.

Many analysts believe the date could be announced as early as September, after the government unveils its next budget, but Mr. Najib's team has declined to say.

He can call a vote soon and hope Malaysians will bet on him to push his coalition to back tougher reforms, in a fresh term or he can hold out longer and hope his government's overall ratings improve. But waiting has an added risk: Some analysts expect Malaysia's economy to weaken amid slowing global demand.

On election day, they're not voting for Najib!

A June survey by local research organization the Merdeka Center found 64% of voters satisfied with Mr. Najib's performance more than three years after he assumed power. Although down slightly from a few months ago, that is far higher than his 45% rating just after taking office. But only 42% were happy with his government, with 44% dissatisfied or angry. Many expressed concern over the economic outlook.

Other surveys this year have also found fairly strong backing for Mr. Najib, even as public criticism of his government has intensified. Criticism boiled over in an April protest in downtown Kuala Lumpur by tens of thousands of people calling for cleaner elections. It ended with the police bringing in water cannons and tear gas.

"Najib all around comes across positively, but the party he controls alienates" people, said Ibrahim Suffian, program director at the Merdeka Center. Although surveys show he "is effective as an individual" and articulates his policies well, "on Election Day, they're not voting for Najib, they're voting for the party."

Weak performance

Mr. Najib faced some criticism of his own for the handling of the April protests. But he avoids harsher condemnation largely by positioning himself as a backer of changes sought especially by younger Malaysians—including repeal of the Sedition Act a publications act that gives the government wide-ranging powers over the issuing of licenses to print. He has offered to modify a decades-old affirmative-action program for the majority ethnic-Malay population and liberalize parts of the economy to attract more foreign investors. He has also shown up at rock concerts and worked to build up a following on Twitter.

"Since taking office in 2009, the prime minister has implemented bold policies to transform the economy, improve the delivery of government services and expand civil liberties," a government representative said.

Mr. Najib's efforts haven't gone as far as many activists would like, though, as more conservative elements of his UMNO party resist.

"I think Najib has tried hard to be a good leader," said Chris Eng, head of research in the Investment Management Division at Etiqa, an insurance arm of Malaysia's largest lender by assets, Maybank. "It is not easy to change the culture of the government overnight and there are still many within the government [and] ruling political body that are still resistant to recommendations of change by Najib."

Even so, he said, "I would personally like to see Najib take the bull by its horns" and push more politically painful policies—such as reducing costly state subsidies for fuel and other products and more aggressively attacking corruption.

'Vote buying'

Mr. Najib's government has unveiled big spending programs that critics call vote buying, including about $700 million in payouts for civil servants and retired government workers, with other sweeteners expected when he unveils the next budget in September.

One risk, his supporters say, is that Mr. Najib's coalition could eventually win, but with a narrow enough result that UMNO elders seek to replace him. Mr. Ibrahim at the Merdeka Center says he believes the coalition will do no better than in the last election, when it lost its accustomed two-thirds parliamentary majority.

"That's why they keep postponing the vote," he said.

-WSJ.com

STOP harassing Pak Samad & Janji Demokrasi for Merdeka eve gathering - Surendran tells Najib

I refer to the announcement by police that National laureate A Samad Said will be investigated for reading poetry near Dataran Merdeka on merdeka eve last night.The police decision to commence criminal proceedings against our national laureate is arbitrary, unconstitutional and a gross abuse of police powers.

In reading poetry in a public place, Samad Said was exercising his fundamental rights of freedom of speech and assembly under Article 10 of the Federal Constitution.

It is clear that Samad Said who is also Bersih co-chairperson is being targeted because of his consistent public criticism of the ruling UMNO-BN political coalition. Once again, UMNO-BN is using the police force as an instrument to suppress political dissent and intimidate civil society and the opposition.

It is shocking that for narrow political reasons, Najib and his government are prepared to harass and persecute Samad Said, who is an icon of Malay literature and a towering Malaysian.

What hypocrisy!

We also note that police have commenced criminal investigations upon the organisers of the peaceful Janji Demokrasi rally at Dataran Merdeka yesterday. This probe is clearly politically motivated and in breach of the rakyat's basic rights under Article 10 of the Federal Constitution.

It is a terrible irony that on Merdeka day, UMNO-BN is trampling upon the rights contained in the Federal Constitution, which is our nation's founding document and the supreme law of the land.

We call upon Prime Minister Najib to drop all criminal investigations against National laureate A Samad Said and the organisers of the Janji Demokrasi peaceful rally

N SURENDRAN IS VICE PRESIDENT OF PARTI KEADILAN RAKYAT