High comm responds to ‘Bersih letters’

The Malaysian High Commission in Singapore has responded to letters published in The Straits Times.

SINGAPORE: The Malaysian High Commission in Singapore has responded to letters published in The Straits Times last Thursday on the alleged participation of three Singaporean diplomats in the Bersih 3.0 rally seeking electoral reforms held in Kuala Lumpur on April 28.

Counsellor (Political) Nik Ady Arman wrote that firstly, it was important to recognise the difference between the action taken by the Government of Malaysia and the acts of certain NGOs and interest groups.

He said that while the Malaysian government had summoned Singapore’s High Commissioner to Malaysia to address the issue diplomatically, the reaction of the NGOs and other interest groups did not come as a surprise considering the sentiments involved and was just as anticipated, as were the responses expressed by the readers in their letters to The Straits Times.

Secondly, Nik Ady said, there was also a need to appreciate the minor but nevertheless significant differences attached to the issue of diplomats attending a legitimate and illegal rally.

He said Malaysia, as a democratic country, had never restricted or prevented anyone from participating in any legitimate assembly, but pointed out that it was important to remember that the Bersih 3.0 rally was an illegal one.

“Not just foreign citizens’ participation in local illegal rallies would generate speculation on the motive for their involvement, but the host government would also be accountable should the diplomats become victims of violent acts during the demonstration,” he said.

Nik Ady said this was why Malaysian diplomats were continuously reminded to be mindful not to participate in illegal activities while serving abroad.

Thirdly, he said, Malaysia appreciated the Singapore government’s decision to reject the application from certain groups in support of Bersih 3.0 in Singapore, which he added was a friendly gesture that surely had been in Singapore’s best interest as well.

We don’t consider S’pore ‘adik’

“Fourthly, there is no truth in the assertion that Malaysians still think of Singapore as an ‘adik’ (younger sibling). Many Malaysians were born after or have very little experience with the separation (of Malaysia and Singapore in 1965).

To them, Nik Ady said, Singapore has always been a separate independent country from Malaysia.

Furthermore, he said, the success of its closest neighbours was important to Malaysia, as “we are clearly aware that prosperity can only be achieved when our neighbours are also doing well”.

Nik Ady noted that the prime ministers of both countries were also visionary enough to have left the historical baggage behind, as evident from recent encouraging developments in bilateral cooperation.

On June 22, Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah Aman summoned Singapore High Commissioner to Malaysia Ong Keng Yong to explain that “the direct participation of diplomats in the illegal rally is an inappropriate move”.

The Singapore High Commission has denied that the diplomats participated in the rally, saying they attended as observers as part of their “diplomatic duties”.

– Bernama

Local syndicates behind fake USM certs

USM vice-chancellor Prof Omar Osman says the university is working closely with the police to nab the culprits.

GEORGE TOWN: Local syndicates are believed to be behind a cyber scam offering fake Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) degree certificates to potential buyers.

USM vice-chancellor Prof Omar Osman said the university management had been working closely with the police to nab the culprits operating the websites offering the fake degrees.

However, he did not reveal which were the websites making such offers.

He said in a statement today that USM had lodged a police report after an internal probe detected the scam a few weeks ago.

He said USM had also liaised with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to crackdown on the syndicate.

Omar revealed that the police was now moving fast to clampdown on the cyber scam operators, who were believed to be Malaysians operating from within the country.

He admitted that the scam had caused anxiety and apprehension in the tertiary education

“USM views the criminal act seriously,” said the vice-chancellor.

He said the scam would tarnish the credibility of the country’s tertiary education sector if it was not crippled as soon as possible.

To thwart the scam, he said the USM management had also taken internal steps to tighten its already rigid security features on its degree scrolls.

Each degree scroll for instance had its own security serial numbers.

Omar said anyone doubting USM’s degree scrolls could contact the management for assistance. But so far USM had not received any such complaints.

The return of exiled P. Waytha Moorthy (HINDRAF) to Malaysia

Wong Mun Chee

It is rather fascinating that the Chairman of HINDRAF has taken the decision to forego his asylum status in United Kingdom and return to a possible arrest when he lands in Malaysia on August 1, 2012; more so after filing the class action against the British government on behalf of the Malaysian Indians.

The return of Waytha Moorthy, who is often seen as a pragmatic and the real deal person, may throw the spanners at both the BN and PAKATAN as far as the Malaysian Indian voters are concerned.     

Parties and organizations are merely mediums for the goals of the leaders which have mainly been political in Malaysia, let it be BN or PAKATAN, but not to identify a real leader with a goal for the public. We need to at least acknowledge a character like Mr Waytha Moorthy who has fought gallantly in the international arena, while in exile, for the release of the HINDRAF 5 from ISA, bringing the Borneo issues in British Parliament & the United Nations, and even arranging for Anwar’s EDM in British Parliament in 2010.          

The act and desire of the HINDRAF Chairman had been greeted well as seen above but whenever HINDRAF raises an issue that concerns the Malaysian Indians, it has been classified racist even by Anwar, the chameleon savior.   

Many skeptics and soothsayers run an agenda, like how BN is with their have the government machineries or PR with their $3 billion account of Anwar, but HINDRAF with neither in place is still sustaining through genuine leadership.

The mere fact that HINDRAF continues to hold its own ground and pursue its objective with all the backlash along with the decision by Waytha Moorthy to return to Malaysia even when he faces imminent arrest, characterizes the notion of the movement for the truth that needs to surface beyond politics.

If we are Malaysian, I am sure we do know what the truth is when we see it. The perseverance of HINDRAF has always fascinated me as they continue to struggle and fight and the bold effort taken by their Chairman only shows how shallow the current political leaders are whether it is BN or PR who can only run with the tide for political strength rather than what is morally dutiful to accomplish what is pertinent for the people.

The detractors may come in hoards full, but we need to recognize and acknowledge real leaders as opposed to those who bow for vote counts.

Should we continue paying taxes?

Lucius Goon, The Malaysian Insider

My wife and I pay our taxes on time and we are assessed at the highest tax bracket. We never avoided or evaded taxes and viewed it as a moral duty.

But let me put in a caveat. I believe the time has come for us taxpayers (and this excludes 90 per cent of civil servants, Umno politicians and their nominees as well as rent-seekers) to consider a campaign of civil disobedience against paying taxes until the government of the day can show that it can utilise this revenue in a responsible way.

I am not talking about the world record holidays/trips abroad taken by the prime minister and the first family or his cabinet ministers. I am referring to the over-the-top spending by the Barisan Nasional government to stay in power.

It seems like every day is Christmas for this prime minister. Tyres for taxi drivers, cash for Malaysians, a few million for this group and another few million for that group.

And then there is the never-ending slush money for BN MPs, the latest being RM1.5 million for every one of those jokers in Parliament. Yes, you and I are sponsoring Mohamed Aziz of Sri Gading.

If that were not enough, we have an MRT project that seems to get more expensive by the day and which is being parcelled out to the rich and connected.

Oh, I forgot, we have an LRT that also gets more expensive by the day and which is being parcelled out to the rich, unqualified and connected.

And then are the billions being spent on infrastructure projects that the country does not need, just so that Najib can make some powerful Umno politician happy.

Basically, my wife and I are working like crazy to pay taxes, which are then used by a corrupt, racist and morally-bankrupt regime to stay in power. Not only that, our hard-earned money is being lavished on people who are allergic to work: Umno politicians and cybertroopers.

I am interested to hear from right-minded Malaysians on whether the time is right for a campaign to stop paying taxes until we can put in place a government that understands it is a steward of our money.

At present, the people in Putrajaya are behaving like feudal lords, “taxing their subjects and spending as they see fit.”

Sabah MP quits Umno post, denies jumping ship

Lajim had been expected to defect from BN earlier this month. — File pic

KUALA LUMPUR, June 30 — Beaufort MP Datuk Seri Lajim Ukin has confirmed his resignation as  Kerambai Kebatu Umno branch chief earlier this month but maintained he was not leaving the party to join the opposition, the Borneo Post reported today.

The vocal Umno supreme council member has been repeatedly rumoured to be part of a Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN) crossover to PKR earlier this month, having said “nothing is impossible in politics” and adding that he will make a switch if such was desired by his constituents.

“So far, I have no intention (of leaving Umno) but what we want are changes and improvements especially in the state leadership,” the Sabah paper quoted Lajim as saying.

He stressed that his decision to quit did not mean he was leaving the party, but to make way for “younger and more active candidates with potentials to become a leader at division level.”

“In fact, I may also probably not contest in the 13th general election ... maybe I would not be given an opportunity ... so it is better to hand over the post earlier,” he was quoted as saying.

The deputy minister of housing and local government has repeatedly called for changes in Sabah’s leadership, saying that there is no room for those who only “think about the future of their friends.”

Federal seats in east Malaysia’s Sabah and Sarawak are expected to be the opposition Pakatan Rakyat’s (PR) focal point come the elections as both states, including the federal territory of Labuan, contain 57 federal constituencies, or 25 per cent of the 222 parliamentary seats available.

In Election 2008, BN retained power over Putrajaya largely due to wins in east Malaysia and Labuan, where it made a near-clean sweep, winning 55 seats against PR’s two.

But the ruling pact lost its customary two-thirds parliamentary majority after only securing a five-seat margin over PR in the peninsula, winning in just 85 constituencies versus the 80 that the opposition pact secured.

In Sabah, the deep-seated issue of illegal immigrants will likely be used as a key campaign issue in the coming polls, with the Najib administration holding the trump card for having finally agreed to investigate the issue by forming a royal commission of inquiry to investigate the matter.

Nizar to drop federal seat in battle to regain Perak

Nizar said his decision to forego the Johor constituency was not linked to his recent run-in with the state palace. — File pic

KUALA LUMPUR, June 30 — Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin will not defend his parliamentary seat in the next general election, saying today he will instead focus on winning back Perak from Barisan Nasional (BN).

The outspoken PAS vice-president, currently Bukit Gantang MP and Pasir Panjang state assemblyman, was appointed as Perak mentri besar when Pakatan Rakyat (PR) won 31 out of the 59 seats in the state assembly back in 2008.

A spate of defections later saw BN taking over Perak, with Umno’s Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir sworn in as mentri besar on February 6, 2009.

“After serving for four years, I thought that I must concentrate my efforts on winning the state. All this time, my efforts and time have been divided between my state and parliamentary seat,” Nizar told The Malaysian Insider.

“If you look at it, Bukit Gantang was not really an election. It was an instant decision, someone passed away, and by the grace of God, I was given the responsibility to defend the seat.

“What I want right (now) is to prioritise, and the priority is on Perak,” he said.

Nizar won the Bukit Gantang by-election on April 7, 2009 where he defeated Umno’s Ismail Saffian and independent candidate Kamarul Ramizu Idris in a landslide victory.

The popular PAS leader denied, however, that his decision to not contest the Bukit Gantang was due to the ongoing controversy over his remarks about the “WWW 1” vehicle registration number that was won by the Johor Sultan in an open tender.

“Frankly, it has nothing to do with it, there is no connection, it’s just prioritising,” Nizar stressed.

Nizar earned the Johor’s palace wrath last month for suggesting the RM520,000 winning bid placed by the state Ruler could be better used to the aid the  needy.

He has since apologised and requested an audience with the Sultan of Johor to explain his May 28 remarks that he posted on micro-blogging service Twitter.

Today, Nizar dismissed suggestions that his decision would affect confidence in PR, saying BN would be the most “affected” party in the matter.

“BN will be in a much more difficult decision to face... my decision will mean a greater focus on state, and they will have to step up their game,” Nizar added.

But public anger over BN’s 2009 takeover of Perak appears to have dissipated, with a recent PR poll showing it will win fewer seats in the state now than if snap polls had been called then.

An opinion poll conducted by the state PR shortly after February 2009 found that the coalition would have swept to victory in 40 seats, or with a two-thirds majority in the 59 seat assembly currently controlled by BN with 28 assemblymen and four “friendly” independents.

A similar survey by Perak PR earlier this year showed it would only win 33 seats if polls were held now.

Hansard causes further 'hang Ambiga' furore

A copy of the Parliament Hansard detailing Sri Gading MP Mohamad Aziz's ‘hang Ambiga' faux pas circulated online by a DAP leader has generated fresh criticisms against the controversial Umno politician.

A snapshot from a page of the Hansard, originally posted by Rasah MP Anthony Loke and later shared 400 times, has generated a furore of discussion among netizens.

 

The netizens were outraged by Mohamad Aziz's exhortations not to let "pendatang asing" (foreign migrants) and "awang hitam" (colloquial expression used to refer to Africans and dark-skinned migrants) run riot in our country.

This remark was made immediately after the Umno MP insinuated that Bersih co-coordinator Ambiga Sreenevasan should be hanged for her role in organising a mass rally in Kuala Lumpur two months ago.

Loke's photo was also picked up by DAP Penang which reposted it on its Facebook page, throwing in a question: "And why waspendatang asing, 'awang hitam' mentioned?"

In response, many DAP-linked netizens openly accused Mohamad of labelling Ambiga a 'pendatang asing' and 'awang hitam'.

A netizen clarifies

Some netizens however questioned if the excerpt really represented Mohamad Aziz's speech and questioned if he was actually referring Ambiga as "pendatang asing" and "awang hitam".

"Can't explain what he means, because (that's) just a part of the conversation," said one commentator.

One of the more level-headed of the commentators took pains to access the full Hansard and read through the MP's speech before coming to the conclusion that:

"The excerpt does not show how Sri Gading's speech started, which was focused on immigration (gejala pendatang asing) and how foreigners are settling down here and stealing our 'hak keistimewaan'.

"He then moved on to talking about diplomats attending Bersih (which he referred to as rusuhan). He then asked if these diplomats helped finance Bersih. He's accusing Ambiga of helping foreigners (to) meddle in our affairs and causing unrest in our country.

"Looking at the context of his entire speech (not this excerpt), he is critical of foreigners coming here and causing trouble, and foreign powers (that in his mind) are influencing local affairs by paying for street demos. He is not calling Ambiga a pendatang."

Tian Chua told to leave the country

Downloading the full Hansard of that fateful day's proceedings from the Parliament website, Malaysiakini verified that the BN MP's speech was indeed centering around foreign immigrants, which he claimed were causing a rise in crime.

In particular, Mohamad Aziz blamed the Bangladeshi migrants. He also singled out Singaporean diplomats and an Australian politician for allegedly interfering in our country's affairs during the Bersih 3.0 electoral reform rally on April 28.

His controversial remark in asking whether Ambiga should be hanged was part of his argument but the bulk of it was about the migrants, and his comment on ‘pendatang asing' and ‘awang hitam' was phrased in that context.

Without the benefit of the full Hansard, most netizens however jumped to the conclusion that Mohamad Aziz had accused Ambiga of being a foreigner and a dark-skinned person.

Whatever the case, brickbats continue to fly at Mohamad Aziz as netizens blackball him for his remarks which they claim disparaged Malaysians of Indian descent, if not his apparent bigotry towards migrants.

But Mohamad Aziz was not alone in espousing his bigotry on that day.

During the heated parliamentary debate, at least two other Umno representatives - Lipis MP Mohamad Shahrum Osman and Silam MP Salleh Kalbi - urged Batu MP Tian Chua to leave the country should he believe that the country is no longer safe for Malaysian citizens.