Khamis, 14 Julai 2011

BLOG - BLOG PARTI DAP

BLOG - BLOG PARTI DAP


魏宗贤文打烟之声 Gwee Tong Hiang for Bentayan

Posted: 14 Jul 2011 03:32 AM PDT

Lim Guan Eng

Posted: 14 Jul 2011 02:19 AM PDT

Lim Guan Eng


Ketua Polis Negara telah memberi kebenaran kepada 3 orang Ahli Parlimen untuk melawat YB Dr Jeyakumar (bm/cn)

Posted: 13 Jul 2011 08:36 PM PDT

Ketua Polis Negara Tan Sri Haji Ismail bin Haji Omar telah memberi kebenaran kepada 3 orang Ahli Parlimen untuk melawat Ahli Parlimen Sungai Siput, YB Dr Micheal Jeyakumar yang berada di Ibu Pejabat Polis Diraja Malaysia.

Saya telah mengemukakan permohonan kepada Tan Sri Haji Ismail bin Haji Omar untuk melawat YB Dr Micheal Jeyakumar pada 12 Julai 2011, beliau membalas surat pada 13 Julai 2011 dan memberitahu bahawa YB Dr Micheal Jeyakumar telah pun keluar daripada Institut Jantung Negara pada 13 Julai 2011 jam 2.30 petang.

Dalam suratnya, Tan Sri Haji Ismail bin Haji Omar juga mengatakan bahawa pihak polis membenarkan lawatan ke atas YB Dr Micheal Jeyakumar pada 15 Julai 2011(Jumaat) jam 11 pagi di Ibu Pejabat Polis DiRaja Malaysia, Bukit Aman. Walau Bagaimanapun lawatan ini terhad kepada 3 orang Ahli Parlimen sahaja.

Sehubungan itu, 3 orang Ahli Parlimen yang akan melawat YB Dr. Michael Jeyakumar adalah Ahli Parlimen Ipoh Timur Lim Kit Siang (DAP), Ahli Parlimen Kubang Kerian Salahuddin Ayub (PAS) dan Ahli Parlimen Subang R Sivarasa (PKR) akan melawat YB Dr Micheal Jeyakumar.

Kenyataan Media oleh Ketua Menteri Pulau Pinang Lim Guan Eng pada 14 Julai 2011 di KOMTAR, George Town

—- Mandarin Translation—-

槟州首席部长林冠英于2011年7月14日在乔治市光大发表声明:

总警长丹斯里依斯迈奥玛已经允许三名国会议员探访和丰区国会议员再也古玛医生,他目前身在大马皇家警察总部。

我在2011年7月12日致函总警长,要求他批准我们探望再也古玛医生。他在2011年7月13日的回函中说,再也古玛医生已经在当天2时30分从国家心脏中心出院。

在信中,总警长也说,警方允许我们在2011年7月15日早上11时前往武吉阿曼全国警察总部探望再也古玛医生。但是,警方只限三名国会议员探访。

三名即将探望再也古玛医生的国会议员分别为:行动党怡保东区国会议员林吉祥、回教党古邦阁亮区国会议员沙拉胡丁及公正党梳邦区国会议员西瓦拉沙。

林冠英

Lim Kit Siang

Posted: 13 Jul 2011 11:10 PM PDT

Lim Kit Siang


I did the BERSIH thing for my babies

Posted: 13 Jul 2011 09:48 PM PDT

By Goh Siu Lin July 13, 2011 | AWL I am a mother, a wife, a daughter, a sister and I happen to be a lawyer too. Mine was a spontaneous decision to go to the rally. Something struck a chord in me when I heard my senior partner tell stories of BERSIH 2007, of [...]

Raja Aziz – A legal mandarin’s sad last days

Posted: 13 Jul 2011 09:45 PM PDT

By Terence Netto Jul 14, 11 | MalaysiaKini Raja Aziz Addruse, for all his ultimate eminence as a lawyer, must have felt himself a marginal man, especially in the last decades before his death on Tuesday from lymphatic cancer at the age of 75. Nothing exemplified this peripheral stature than the refusal of the Federal [...]

Bersih 2.0: Arrested and sent to Pulapol

Posted: 13 Jul 2011 09:24 PM PDT

By CL Shue Jul 14, 11 | MalaysiaKini EYEWITNESS On July 8, 2011, my doctor friend SMS-ed me and said he was not sure whether he would be able to get into Kuala Lumpur by the next day. I was also not sure whether I would be able to get near Stadium Merdeka on July [...]

Malaysia’s Najib must abandon the Mubarak model

Posted: 13 Jul 2011 09:11 PM PDT

By Simon Tisdall 13 July 2011 | Guardian It is not in the same league as Arab spring uprisings in Egypt and elsewhere. But Malaysia’s fancifully named “hibiscus revolution” has potential, at least, to inflict a winter of discontent on the gormless government of prime minister Najib Razak. That’s something David Cameron should bear in [...]

Kit Siang: I will wear yellow every Saturday

Posted: 13 Jul 2011 07:31 PM PDT

Malaysiakini | Jul 13, 11 DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang has vowed to wear yellow every Saturday until the government accedes to the demands of civil society and political activists pertaining to electoral and political reform. The demands include the release of the six PSM activists currently detained under the Emergency Ordinance (EO), the [...]

Minister Liow, photos and videos don’t lie

Posted: 13 Jul 2011 07:17 PM PDT

Malaysiakini Your Say | Jul 14, 11 ‘Fearing the consequences of being called a liar, he flipped and has pointed the finger squarely now at the Tung Shin hospital’s board.’ Liow takes tear gas explanation to Twitter Karma: How about MCA chief Dr Chua Soi Lek who said that despite video or photo evidence, it [...]

BN’s stupidity is Godsend for Bersih

Posted: 13 Jul 2011 07:13 PM PDT

Malaysiakini Your Say | Jul 14, 11 ‘It brought about a unity among the races which we had never been seen before. If ever there was such thing as 1Malaysia, we saw it on Saturday.’ Ambiga: Never any intention to topple BN Quigonbond: The government’s resistance to entertain Bersih 2.0′s demands is an unambiguous sign [...]

Bersih’s Ambiga is tool of the rakyat

Posted: 13 Jul 2011 07:10 PM PDT

Malaysiakini Your Say | Jul 14, 11 ‘When I saw Anwar, Kit Siang and Saifuddin next to Ambiga while she gave the PC, I knew this was a new beginning for a multiracial Malaysia.’ Noh Omar: Pakatan MPs have become Ambiga’s tool Jiminy Qrikert: As usual, Umno-BN is now spinning their lies into truths. Earlier, [...]

Family: We still don’t know how Baharudin died

Posted: 13 Jul 2011 05:58 PM PDT

Salhan K Ahmad Malaysiakini Jul 13, 11 Closure appears to be slow in coming for the family of Baharudin Ahmad, the sole fatality allegedly linked to the Bersih 2.0 rally last Saturday. The police recently claimed that a preliminary report based on the post-mortem on the 59-year-old taxi driver indicated that he had died of [...]

Doctors say cops fired tear gas into Tung Shin compound

Posted: 13 Jul 2011 05:31 PM PDT

The Malaysian Insider Jul 13, 2011 KUALA LUMPUR, July 13 — A group of doctors said today they were prepared to provide sworn affidavits to say that police had fired tear gas and chemical-laced water into the compounds of the Tung Shin and Chinese Maternity Hospitals during the Bersih rally last Saturday. In a statement [...]

Lessons learnt in a walk with friends

Posted: 13 Jul 2011 05:21 PM PDT

— Sheila Santharamohana The Malaysian Insider Jul 13, 2011 JULY 13 — Like all others who came alone for Saturday's Bersih rally, I found that I needn't have worried. In the confusion and chaos with each blinding onslaught, we reached out and found each other. The strong supported the overcome, the sighted helped the blinded [...]

I was afraid, therefore I walked

Posted: 13 Jul 2011 05:15 PM PDT

— Celine Yong The Malaysian Insider Jul 13, 2011 JULY 13 — I almost didn't make it. But I went. The week leading up to the Bersih 2.0 rally on July 9th, I was like most of my friends; poked fun at the BN government's decision to ban yellow outfits and Bersih T-shirts on my [...]

Cop: Use of excessive force was wrong

Posted: 13 Jul 2011 04:38 AM PDT

Teoh El Sen | July 13, 2011 Free Malaysia Today There were special police teams who were already targeting those leaders behind the rally, such as Bersih chairman S Ambiga, says a policeman. EXCLUSIVE KUALA LUMPUR: The police force has been denying the use of violence during the Bersih 2.0 march on July 9. But [...]

Sarawak to hold reform rally in August

Posted: 13 Jul 2011 04:24 AM PDT

Joseph Tawie | July 13, 2011 Free Malaysia Today While patriotism to country and loyalty to government is important, the same reasoning should be used to oust bad leaders and governments, says Movement of Change Sarawak. KUCHING: Inspired by the success of Bersih 2.0′s 'Walk For Democracy' march last Saturday and the fact that some [...]

Najib ‘troubled’ by people’s willingness to act

Posted: 13 Jul 2011 02:51 AM PDT

By Mohd Ariff Sabri Aziz July 13, 2011 | Free Malaysia Today Comment What has Bersih 2.0 become? To me Bersih 2.0 has come to represent the people's willingness to translate beliefs into action. That's what is troubling Umno president Najib Tun Razak. Bersih represents willful readiness to translate articulation into action. The shocking thing [...]

Karpal: DAP’s presence was felt

Posted: 13 Jul 2011 02:49 AM PDT

By S Rutra July 13, 2011 | Free Malaysia Today KUALA LUMPUR: DAP chairman Karpal Singh said his party was committed to the Bersih 2.0 rally from the start. Responding to allegations that DAP members did not turn up in droves for last Saturday's rally, he said many party leaders and members were confined at [...]

Umno, Utusan the real traitors, says Kit Siang

Posted: 13 Jul 2011 02:47 AM PDT

By Yow Hong Chieh July 13, 2011 | The Malaysian Insider KUALA LUMPUR, July 13 — Lim Kit Siang today turned the tables on Umno and Utusan Malaysia, which he said were "traitors to the King" for attempting to tar Bersih protesters as turncoats. The DAP parliamentary leader said such unfounded accusations by the ruling [...]

Bar report shows police waged war against Bersih, says Pakatan

Posted: 13 Jul 2011 02:44 AM PDT

By Shannon Teoh July 13, 2011 | The Malaysian Insider KUALA LUMPUR, July 13 — Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders have accused the police of attacking protestors at Saturday's Bersih rally "as if we were terrorists" following the Bar Council's report that the police had fired water cannons and tear gas canisters in a manner suggesting [...]

Justice for Jeyakumar!

Posted: 13 Jul 2011 01:52 AM PDT

By Martin Jalleh 13.7.11 Bersih 2.0 laid bare the fact that Umno is politically bankrupt. It brought out the same old bag of tricks, treats and threats. It looked like a party in a sordid state of denial and beyond redemption. Alas, the BN went berserk over Bersih! The coalition continues to be the bane [...]

A Bersih Experience

Posted: 13 Jul 2011 04:17 AM PDT

Emmanuel Joseph 12th July 2011 I woke up like many Malaysians on Saturday morning, resolute to attend the rally in Kuala Lumpur, but, also like many Malaysians, worried. Worried I could not make it into the city, worried that I would be detained, worried about the new depths which the police were willing to take [...]

Charles Santiago

Posted: 13 Jul 2011 11:04 PM PDT

Charles Santiago


மஇகா தலைவர்கள், தே.மு அரசுக்கு கும்புடுப் போடும் கூட்டம் : சார்ல்ஸ்

Posted: 13 Jul 2011 10:56 AM PDT

மூலம் :- செம்பருத்தி

Wednesday, July 13, 2011 7:10 pm

கடந்த சனிக்கிழமை நிகழ்ந்த பெர்சே 2.0 பேரணியில் பல்லாயிரக் கணக்கான மலேசியர்கள் ஒன்றுகூடி தங்களது கருத்தை தெரிவித்திருந்தனர். அதில் இந்தியர்கள் பலரும் கலந்துகொண்ட போதிலும் இந்தியர்கள் பெரும்பாலும் கலந்துகொள்ளவில்லை என கூறும் மஇகா தலைவர் ஜி.பழனிவேலுவின் பேச்சு மிக வேடிக்கையாக இருக்கிறது என்று கிள்ளான் நாடாளுமன்ற உறுப்பினர் சார்ல்ஸ் சந்தியாகோ கூறினார்.

இளையர்கள், முதியவர்கள், தனியார் நிறுவனத்தினர், அரசு சார்பற்ற இயக்கங்கள், பெண்கள் உட்பட எதிர்கட்சி தலைவர்கள், போராட்டவாதிகள் என பல இந்தியர்கள் பல இடங்களில் வந்து மலையாய் குவிந்தது அவரது கண்களுக்கு தென்பட வில்லையா? என வினவிய சார்ல்ஸ் சந்தியாகோ, வராத இந்தியர்கள் அம்னோவுக்கு பயந்து ஒளிந்துக் கொள்ளும் கூட்டங்களே எனவும் சாடினார்.

இந்தியர்கள் பலர் எழுச்சிக் கண்டுவிட்டதால்தான் பலர் ஒன்று கூடினார்கள் என்பதை முதலில் அவர் புரிந்துக் கொள்ள வேண்டும். வராத இந்தியர்கள், முதுகெலும்பு இல்லாத மஇகா தலைவர்களும் தேசிய முன்னணி அரசாங்கத்திற்கு கும்புடுப் போடும் கூட்டம் மட்டும்தான் என சாடிய சார்ல்ஸ் அவர்களும் இப்பேரணியில் கலந்துக்கொண்டிருந்தால் அம்னோ அவர்களுக்கு மதிப்பு கொண்டுத்திருக்கும் என வேடிக்கையாக கூறினார்.

தேசிய முன்னணி – அம்னோ அரசாங்கத்திற்கு கூனிக்குறுகி தாளம் போடுவதை நிறுத்தி விட்டு, இந்தியர்களின் மேம்பாட்டிற்கும் உரிமைகளுக்கும் முக்கியத்துவம் கொடுத்து அவர்களின் பிரச்சனையை தீர்க்க வழி காண வேண்டியதின் அவசியத்தை வலியுறுத்திய சார்ல்ஸ், 50 ஆண்டுகாலமாக ஆட்சியில் இருக்கும் இந்த மஇகா இந்தியர்களின் பிரச்சனை எதையும் தீர்த்தபாடில்லை என வருத்தம் தெரிவித்தார்.

தவறான தகவல்களை அளித்து இந்திய சமூகத்தினரை திசை திருப்ப நினைக்கும் மஇகா தலைவர்களின் எண்ணமும் திட்டமும் வெற்றியடைய போவதில்லை.

நியாயமான மற்றும் நேர்மையான தேர்தலுக்காக போராடும் பெர்சே 2.0இல் கலந்துகொண்ட இந்தியர்களின் எண்ணிக்கையைப் பார்த்து மஇகாவின் நிலை தடுமாற்றத்திலும் கேள்விக் குறியிலும் இருப்பதை அறிந்துதான் அவர் இப்படியெல்லாம் அறிவிக்கிறார் என சுட்டிக் காட்டிய சார்ல்ஸ், இதனை எல்லாம் நிறுத்திவிட்டு இந்தியர்களின் நலன் காக்க பேசுங்கள் என அறிவுறுத்தினார்.

நேர்மையான மற்றும் நியாமான தேர்தல் நடைபெற்றால், மலேசியாவில் வாழும் அனைவரின், குறிப்பாக வறுமையில், ஏழ்மை நிலையே கதியென அல்லல்படும் நமது இந்தியர்களின் தலை எழுத்தும் மாறும் என சார்ல்ஸ் மிக ஆணித்தரமாக வலியுறுத்தினார்.


Q&A: Malaysia’s Ambiga Sreenevasan

Posted: 13 Jul 2011 07:14 AM PDT

wsj

An estimated 20,000 protesters gathered in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday to call for reforms to Malaysia's electoral system. The surprisingly large turnout—and the government's tough response, with water cannons and tear gas—appears to have galvanized the country's opposition, which until recently had struggled to gain traction against a government led by Prime Minister Najib Razak.

The protesters believe Malaysia's government must reform to reduce electoral fraud and create a level playing field for all parties, including the opposition. Government officials say rally organizers were trying to embarrass the government, garner sympathy for opposition politicians and threaten social order.

The question now is whether Malaysia's opposition groups can capitalize on the momentum from Saturday's rally and force further changes in one of Southeast Asia's linchpin economies– or if voters will continue to stick with Mr. Najib and the ruling coalition that has dominated Malaysia since it gained independence from Britain several decades ago.

The Wall Street Journal's Celine Fernandez recently spoke with Ambiga Sreenevasan, chairwoman of Bersih 2.0 (or the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections), a coalition of activists that organized Saturday's rally. A former president of the Malaysian Bar Council, she was the first Malaysian to receive the U.S. Secretary of State's International Women of Courage Award for championing human rights, the status of women and religious tolerance in Malaysia.

Here are some edited excerpts from the interview:

Q: Your organization has built up some momentum with Saturday's rally. What is the next move for Bersih?

A: Our agenda for electoral reform still stands firm, but we have two priority items which we think should be resolved. The first, of course, is that we express terrible regret at the death of Baharuddin Ahmad (a man who died of a heart attack during the rally), and we are very concerned at the manner in which it occurred. One of our top priority items is to refer the issue of the excessive use of the police force upon the rally to Suhakam (the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia). And we are asking them for a full investigation.

(Editor's note: Malaysian authorities have said they believe the man's death was from natural causes and not related to the rally. They have also defended the police's use of tear gas and water cannons, saying they were provoked into action and had to act to protect public order, and relied on minimal force to disperse crowds).

The second priority item for us is the release of those held under the Emergency Ordinance (including a number of activists arrested in connection with the rally). We are very, very, very concerned about the reports we are getting, about the manner in which they have been treated. We call for their unconditional release.

We are pushing for the setting up of a Royal Commission of Inquiry consisting of experts acceptable to the people to look into comprehensive electoral reform before the 13th General Elections (Malaysia's next elections, which must be called by spring 2013), and we reiterate our call for this to the government.

Q: Will you hold more rallies?

A: I do not see it happening in the near future.

Q: What are the most important reforms needed in Malaysia, and why? Is it just about electoral reforms, or are other changes needed?

A: Immediately, we want a more level playing field for the 13th General Elections. But apart from that, in the last six weeks, I think Bersih has become more than just a movement for electoral reform. I think that there is a real yearning for a higher standard of democratic values. People are utterly, utterly shocked by the abuse of power displayed by the government. So it has also become about the integrity of our institutions and the manner of governance and the abuse of power. I think people were very moved by that, and that is why we got the numbers that we did.

Q: What benefits would come from those reforms, and why are they needed in Malaysia?

A: The benefits would be providing a more level playing field and we think it brings legitimacy to the government who wins. If you come in because of free and fair elections, it would be something that would be more acceptable to the people.

Q: If Malaysia had truly free and fair elections, what do you think would happen?

A: I really can't predict. I wouldn't want to even begin to predict, actually. All I can tell you is that we will get a government who truly reflects the will of the people. And that's all we want.

Q: Why do you think the government cracked down so hard on Saturday?

A:  Really, I fail to completely understand that. But I think they acted because they have taken a position and they were not prepared to move from that position. And they wanted to teach us a lesson, not by reason, but by force. I had made this statement earlier: They thought might could win over right, but I am afraid might can never win over right. Right always ultimately wins.

Q: The government says Bersih is really just a front for opposition parties and is trying to promote their interests ahead of any national election. They note that Anwar Ibrahim (Malaysia's most prominent opposition leader) played a conspicuous role at Saturday's rally. Is the government's criticism fair?

A: Not at all fair, because we invited all political parties including Barisan Nasional (Malaysia's ruling coalition) to support us. How can you say the cause for free and fair elections is only for the opposition? It is for everybody. Pakatan Rakyat (Malaysia's main coalition of opposition parties) did support Bersih. What's wrong with that? Pakatan Rakyat members are also citizens of this country. Are they not entitled to support a movement for free and fair elections?

Q: The government also says you're also trying to destabilize the country and undermine public order. Is that fair?

A: Totally unfair. So far, I have refused to respond to personal allegations. My issue is please judge me by my conduct and the government by their conduct. And let the public draw their own conclusions.

Q: Many people have said it took a lot of courage to organize Saturday's rally. Why are you doing this? What drove you to get involved and take such a leadership role in Bersih? Do you feel like you are putting yourself at any risk?

A: A few NGOs approached me and asked me to lead a civil society movement for free and fair elections, which I was very willing to do because it was for a good cause. And I did not for one minute think there was anything controversial about this topic. We thought we won't even get the numbers – we were worried about how to publicize the event. We never expected the government to react the way it did. I certainly did not want any of this attention that I am getting. I don't know why the focus was on me. We have 14 steering committee members. I was not making decisions on my own. We had nongovernmental organization members who had their views as well.

A government that comes across as such a great bully repulsed a lot of people. And I think that is why we had the numbers and the momentum that we did. Honestly, if they had allowed us to proceed and played it down, we would not have gotten those numbers. That's why you saw on that day, ordinary citizens, and these are not even members of political parties, from all walks of life, old, young, all races, all religions. Where have you ever seen that?  And how does the government read it? They come back on Monday and attack Bersih again. Those are the people you are attacking. Those are the voters you are attacking. They are not reading the situation properly at all. But I still say there is time to salvage, to reconcile, and I hope the government will seek to do that.

Q: Although there are obviously major differences between Malaysia and countries such as Egypt, Tunisia or Syria, any demonstration these days inevitably invite comparisons to the Arab Spring protests. Are there are any similarities here?

A: No similarities, in my view. They were in a completely different situation. Here, all we are doing is asking for a free and fair election. It is the government's disproportionate response that created a momentum. But we are still a peace-loving nation. We still want the government to be fair. To me it was never our intention and it is still not our intention to bring down this government. We want to work with this government, to improve our electoral system.

Q: How deep is the support for Bersih?

A: When you look online, you will find it growing exponentially. I am amazed at how it has taken off. Bersih is not a word any more. It is an idea. It is a feeling. It is a passion, which is why you can never kill it.

Q: There is a Facebook page with 100,000 people requesting Najib Razak's resignation. What do you think about that?

A: We have nothing to do with that. It is never and has never been Bersih's intention for the prime minister to step down.  As I said, we want to work with the prime minister and his government to have a better electoral system


Arab Spring, meet Malaysia’s summer of discontent.

Posted: 13 Jul 2011 06:53 AM PDT

William Pesek

That thought is surely on Prime Minister Najib Razak's mind as the dust settles from Saturday's botched demonstrations in Kuala Lumpur. By "botched" I mean the way Najib mishandled what should have been a ho-hum political-reform rally of little note by the international news media.

Public-relations experts would have told Najib to let the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections have their day in the capital. Let them wave signs and wear their yellow shirts. Instead, he tried to stop the rally, increasing its size. Then, he cracked down. Police fired tear gas and detained 1,697 people, turning the event into a top cable TV news story.

The over-the-top response did something worse: It enraged Malaysians who weren't all that interested in rallying before Saturday. It also underlined the rise in political risk sweeping Asia, something that investors would be wise to track.

No serious observer expects an exact Asian rerun of the Arab Spring movement that saw uprisings topple leaders in Egypt and Tunisia and threaten regimes in Syria, Libya and Yemen. But then neither do serious people argue that Asia has done enough to enhance its democratic credentials during the past 10 years.

Political Change

Malaysia's protest was the biggest since 2007 — roughly 20,000 people. It came amid rising calls for political change from Thailand to China. What these nations have in common is that the overhaul in domestic political systems lags behind economic and financial reforms.

Take Thailand, where voters this month ejected the incumbent Democratic Party, which had used soldiers to disperse opposition protests in 2010, leading to more than 90 deaths. The party had promised to attack the corruption and undemocratic ways of the government run by Thaksin Shinawatra that soldiers ousted in 2006. Last week, fed up voters went full circle, making Thaksin's sister premier.

Officials in China are pulling out all the stops to clamp down on political activists amid the so-called Jasmine Revolution. Nothing unnerves the Communist Party in Beijing more than the specter of social discontent. The winds of change are even sweeping Singapore; its ruling party in May won its narrowest election victory since independence in 1963.

Common Threads

Although the causes of such tension differ from country to country, there are a few common threads. One is the frustration of the have-nots as they watch the haves get richer. Another is rising global commodity prices, which make it harder for many to make ends meet. Finally, political modernization has been slower than critics hoped.

Malaysia's case is especially complicated thanks to the inescapable issue of race. The conventional wisdom is that Saturday's protests will delay Najib's pledge to dismantle a 40- year preferential program that favors the Malay majority. The policy makes it harder for Chinese and Indian Malaysians to find good jobs, and its quotas scare away foreign investors. It holds Malaysia back in an increasingly competitive world.

To me, Najib wasn't moving fast enough before Saturday. Foreign executives considering whether to build a factory in Malaysia want a clear schedule: By Jan. 1, 2012, we will do this, and by Jan. 1, 2013, we will do that. Instead, Najib offered vague intentions without meaningful or specific goals.

Misplaced Priorities

It's no mystery why. All that matters to the United Malays National Political Organisation is clinging to its five-decade hold on power. Such misplaced priorities explain why Malaysia has been slow to streamline the economy and encourage the kind of entrepreneurialism that creates well-paid jobs. It's also why leaders are timid about scrapping productivity-killing policies that only benefit portions of the population.

The question now is which way Najib turns. At this point, he may avoid calling an early election this year — there's just too much risk for him. Which direction he takes in changing policy is an even bigger unknown. On July 10, the Guardian newspaper carried comments by Najib in which he cautioned protesters not to test his party's will. "We can conquer Kuala Lumpur," he said.

What can we make of a leader who promised reform and moderation and now sounds like a Roman emperor? Can a nation that arrests almost 1,700 people, some just for wearing yellow shirts, still be called a democracy? Najib's response even had Malaysians feeling sorry for opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, who was injured by flying tear gas canisters.

Events in Kuala Lumpur remind us that geopolitical risks are on the rise in Asia. Yes, growth rates are healthy even as the U.S., Japan and Europe limp along. The establishment of democratic institutions has been far less robust, though, and entrenched leaders may pay a considerable price. Maybe not in the Hosni Mubarak-sense, but the potential for upheaval shouldn't be underestimated. There really is a bull market in the desire for political change.

Investors looking for places to put their money tend to lock themselves in offices combing through statistics, bond spreads, stock valuations and central-bank policies. In Asia's case, more success might be had by looking out the window at the street demonstrations below.

(William Pesek is a Bloomberg View columnist. The opinions expressed are his own.


Blog@Wengsan...博客@永山

Posted: 13 Jul 2011 09:42 PM PDT

Blog@Wengsan...博客@永山


Saranan-saranan JP-ABAS tentang pengurusan PNSB dan SIC perlu diterima dan dilaksana oleh kerajaan negeri

Posted: 13 Jul 2011 07:46 PM PDT

MY VOICE FOR NATION

Posted: 13 Jul 2011 01:36 PM PDT

SUARA PERAK

Posted: 13 Jul 2011 11:51 AM PDT

SUARA PERAK


PENIPUAN OLEH MIC TERHADAP MASYARAKAT DI KG ULU TUPAI, TAIPING

Posted: 13 Jul 2011 09:16 AM PDT

Philosophy Politics Economics

Posted: 13 Jul 2011 09:36 AM PDT

Philosophy Politics Economics


Bersih2.0: Liow Should Apologise to Hospital

Posted: 12 Jul 2011 10:39 PM PDT

Dato' Seri Liow Tiong Lai has disgraced his position as the Health Minister and the MCA Deputy President by outraging all right thinking Malaysians for his pathetic and lame defence of the police force. He has denied despite the irrefutable and mounting visual evidence that the police force has shot tear gas and deployed water cannons into the Tung Shin hospital compound during the Bersih gathering last weekend.

Liow has denied outright that the police has fired the tear gas into the compound, claiming that it was shot onto the main road, and blamed the wind for blowing the gas into the hospital compounds. He further argued that the water cannon only 'brushed' the edges of the hospital walls, and wad not shot directly into the compound.

As one seeking refuge in the compound, I can testify with absolute certainty that Liow was lying through his teeth. It is impossible that the police has fired onto the main road as the road was already cleared of protestors by then with everyone forced onto the hospital compounds in both the new and old wings. Pictures have also shown clearly that the water cannons have also been sprayed directly into the hospital and not mere 'brushed' the walls of the compound.

What is worse is Liow's complete refusal to even see the evidence for himself when reporters offered to present them to him. What's more, there are scores of eye-witness testimonies, including those from journalists present who corroborated that both the tear gas and water canons were shot into the Hospital where the Bersih supporters were seeking refuge.

Liow's attempt to blame the supporters for seeking refuge in the hospital is also mischievous because the they were being attacked by the police from both ends of Jalan Pudu, making the hospital compounds the only possible escape from the relentless firing of tear gas and chemical-laced water.

In fact, the visit by DAP leaders to the Hospital the day after was to express our thanks and appreciation to the hospital management for letting the supporters seek refuge, to apologise for the inconvenience caused and to understand if there was any damage caused.

Liow as the Health Minister should have gone to the Hospital to apologise in behalf of he Federal Government for the unwarranted actions by the police force for failing to respect the sanctity of hospitals even in times of unrest.

Instead, he had proceeded to deny and lie about what is the obvious truth in order to defend the police force, demonstrating the recalcitrance of the BN government and a complete lack of respect for the hospitals under his purview and Malaysians at large. His actions proved that MCA is only an apologist for the BN coalition, qnd disgraced himself and his party for not having spoken up for Malaysians.

Bersih2.0: Police Should Cooperate with Bersih

Posted: 06 Jul 2011 10:52 PM PDT

The DAP would like express our full support the plans outlined by Bersih chairman Datuk S Ambiga to gather in Stadium Merdeka on 9 July 2011 at 2 pm.

At the same time, we fully endorse the call for the set up of a Royal Commission for Free and Fair Elections to investigate the 8 demands by Bersih and propose the necessary reforms to our electoral system.

In addition, the Police force must cease the reckless clampdown on Bersih supporters by immediately releasing those who have been detained without conditions, and to stop all moves to charge those who have been previously arrested or questioned. The charges have become a complete mockery when 11 municipal councillors from MBKj are to be charged for wearing Bersih T-shirt in their full board meetings, with more from other local councils to be charged.

Given that the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak has proposed and agreed to the Bersih rally being held in the stadium, with the consent of the King, the actions of the police, including blockading the city since the early hours of this morning is a direct affront to both the Prime Minister and the King.

We call upon the Police to instead cooperate with Bersih to ensure that the gathering on 9 July will proceed smoothly with hindrance and minimal inconvenience to the general public, and uphold our constitution which grants Malaysians the freedom of assembly and expression.

FDI: Actual vs Approved

Posted: 30 Jun 2011 10:57 PM PDT

MITI must start reporting "actual investment" figures instead of just "approved investment" to disclose the true investment picture for Malaysia due to the wide disparity between the relevant numbers

After several attempts, I have finally received a response from the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MITI) with regards to the actual foreign direct investment (FDI) figures corresponding to the approved FDI into Malaysia.

The figures shed completely new light on the investment picture in Malaysia which is completely contrary to the rosy picture which as been presented by the Government over the past few months. The Minister of International Trade and Industry has been gloating about the FDI recovery and achievements in 2010 and 2011, with RM29 billion and RM11 billion to date respectively.

However, despite the relatively credible numbers reported for approved investments, the actual investment numbers are almost shocking to see.

For 2010, where the approved FDI was RM29.1 billion, to date only RM9.4 billion or 32.3% were actually invested.

If the Government were to argue that the FDI approved in 2010 is still in progress as we are still only in June 2011, the figures are not much better for 2009. In that year, RM22.9 billion has been approved, but only RM7.9 billion or 34.4% has been invested.

Even for 2008, our record year for approved FDI of RM46.1 billion, only RM29 billion has been invested with a whopping RM17.1 billion mysteriously missing-in-action.

And if one were to review the numbers over the past 15 years, only RM179.8 billion out of RM298.9 billion of approved investments have been realised. A shocking RM119.1 billion of declared FDI had disappeared without a trace.

It is hence unsurprising to see that the UNCTAD World Investment Report often presents a less than rosy picture than that presented by he Government because the former looks at "actual investments" while the latter only reports "approved investments".

We call upon the MITI Minister, Dato' Mustapa Mohamed to explain the wide disparity between the two sets of numbers and why many of the approved and promised investments never materialise. In addition, to present a more objective view of the Malaysian FDI performance, the Ministry must publish and announce both approved and actual investment figures so that investors, policy makers and the Malaysian public can measure the performance of the Malaysian economy more accurately. The Government should not just present only the positive statistics while hiding all the less than rosy stuff from the prying eyes of the public for that will only lead to self-praise and complacency, ensruing longer term decline in our economic performance.

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