Khamis, 1 Disember 2011

BLOG - BLOG PARTI DAP

BLOG - BLOG PARTI DAP


Lim Lip Eng

Posted: 01 Dec 2011 08:10 AM PST

Lim Lip Eng


Potholes a menace to motorists

Posted: 30 Nov 2011 05:10 PM PST

Pic from Sin Chew Daily

The huge pothole in Jalan Segambut Utara poses a danger to motorists. Pics by Salhani Ibrahim
Source: http://www.nst.com.my/streets/central/potholes-a-menace-to-motorists-1.12631 (By VEENA BABULAL, 30/11/2011)
Three large potholes in a free parking lot behind the RHB bank in Jalan Segambut Utara is a menace to motorists of the business district. The largest of the holes was found to measure about 1.5m in diameter and 15cm deep. Streets found that the holes were so large that motorists entering the car park would try to avoid one hole but would inevitably end up in another. Some unsuspecting motorists ended up in all three holes as the cars parked there had blocked the view of the holes. The parking lot as well as the surrounding roads of Jalan Segambut Tengah and Jalan Segambut Pusat were also riddled with potholes.
Cheryl Chia, a visitor, said the problem was compounded by insufficient parking space in the business area. "Car owners using the parking lot which has ample parking space risk getting a flat and their undercarriage damaged. Motorcyclists can also fall and hurt themselves badly as the road is slippery and full of puddles now," said the 52-year-old housewife.
Segambut member of parliament Lim Lip Eng said based on the complaints received, the holes appeared at least three months ago. Since then complaints about the three gaping holes have accounted for most of the complaints he has received on potholes. "I have informed City Hall numerous times. However, besides temporarily covering the holes with sand, no follow-up action by City Hall has been taken," he said.
"I find it strange that the holes would appear at the parking lot and back alley of shops since heavy vehicles do not ply there. Most potholes appear on busy roads and in residential areas," he said, adding that the building material used for the construction of roads in the city was generally of inferior quality. The patch-up jobs were shoddy, Lim claimed.
"Potholes seem to be re-appearing so often that I wonder whether the contractors are doing the patching job according to proper specifications," he said, adding that he received at least three complaints on potholes daily.
Lim claimed that he could not reach the call centre on weekends and public holidays, contrary to media reports on its working hours.
When City Hall call centre was launched last year, reports stated that members of the public can contact it 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Lim said the service provided by the call centre lags behind that of other countries, citing United Kingdom as an example. Complainants there have only to log on to the council's website and register their problems and it would be followed up immediately. He urged mayor Tan Sri Ahmad Fuad Ismail to consider his suggestion of setting up a 10-member squad team to respond to complaints on potholes as well as survey the roads in search of potholes to patch.


Dr. Boo Cheng Hau's Trilingual Blog: SAY WHAT YOU LIKE

Posted: 01 Dec 2011 07:27 AM PST

Dr. Boo Cheng Hau's Trilingual Blog: SAY WHAT YOU LIKE


Come clean on JCorp's RM4bil liabilities, demands DAP's Boo

Posted: 30 Nov 2011 05:48 PM PST

In the latest 2010 Johor Corporation Financial Report, it is reported that Johor Corporation Group had total liabilities of RM 9.3 billion in 2010 and net assets of RM 5.0 billion. Johor Corporation itself has a total liabilities of 4.3 billion and net assets of only RM 870 million.
In 2010 Johor Corporation and its Group had total debts of RM 6.659 billion of which RM 2.769 billion Islamic Bonds is due for full settlement in 2012. The Johor State Government and Johor Corporation so far has not announced as to how sources of funds could be pooled to settle the RM 2.769 Islamic bond that is due next year.
In August this year Kulim Bhd acquired over 33,800 acres of estate land in Johor from Johor Corp's Subsidiary Sindora for RM700mil cash to settle part of its debts. At an average the estate land was sold for RM 21,000 per acre or 51,000 per hectare which was believed to be lower than market price.
In order to gain public confidence in GLCs management, Johor Corp should present a detailed valuation report on the deal during the upcoming Johor State Assembly sitting between Dec 8 and 19 to convince the elected members of the House that Johor Corp sold the estate land at the best market price.
Johor Corp is urged to be more transparent about its restructuring efforts, prudent in its management in order to help attract more substantial foreign investment to Iskandar Malaysia. Bold steps in liberalising Iskandar Malaysia's development should be considered including open tenders for takeovers of ailing GLCs by both local and foreign companies.








Lim Guan Eng

Posted: 01 Dec 2011 02:01 AM PST

Lim Guan Eng


Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin And Datuk Ahmad Maslan Should Stop Using The Chinese And Christians As Soft Targets(En/BM/Cn)

Posted: 30 Nov 2011 05:28 AM PST

Press Statemengt By DAP Secretary-General And MP For Bagan Lim Guan Eng In Kuala Lumpur On 30 November 2011.

Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin And Datuk Ahmad Maslan Should Stop Using The Chinese And Christians As Soft Targets By Creating Enmity And Hatred Against Innocent Minority Malaysians Just To Frighten The Malays To Return Back To UMNO
.

UMNO Deputy President Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and UMNO Information chief Datuk Ahmad Maslan is embarking on a dangerous game of lies against minority Malaysians as a clear and present threats to frighten the Malays and justify why the Malays must return back UMNO. Both UMNO leaders must stop using the Christians and the Chinese as soft targets to create enmity and hatred against these innocent Malaysians.

Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin was reported as exploiting the race card when he urged Umno to defend the Malay race, culture and institutions from the opposition Pakatan Rakyat (PR) and labelled DAP as an anti-Islam and anti-Malay force. DAP challenges Muhyiddin to show proof of his allegations and that DAP's agenda is form a republic. This is seditious and a blatant lie!

Has Muhyiddin and UMNO run out of ideas that when scandals are exposed within government, then this expose by DAP is an attack on the Malays, never mind that the Malays that have also lost out on financial scandals? Is Muhyiddin racist approach of being a Malay first, and Malaysian second sufficient to ignore principles of democracy, integrity, accountability and transparency?

DAP believes that a majority of Malaysians comprising both Malays and non-Malays rejects this implication that a racial approach justifies lies and financial scandals, such the cows and condos scandal involving an UMNO Minister or makes irrelevant the 2010 Auditor-General criticism of RM 3.7 billion over-expenditure in government departments.

DAP has never been anti-Malay or anti-Islam. The increase in funding for Islamic affairs in Penang and renewal of funding for religious schools that was terminated by UMNO is proof that DAP respect Islam and is fair to all. The Penang state government has not evicted a single Malay kampong house. The only Malay kampong house torn down in Penang is by an UMNO-led koperasi, whose Chairman was also a former UMNO State Assemblyman.

It makes political sense for UMNO to be anti-Chinese, anti-Indian or anti-Christians but it is political suicide for any political party to be anti-Malay or anti-Islam. DAP does not believe in political suicide but is committed towards national reconciliation and collaboration.

Where is the moderate approach promised by the Prime Minister's 1 Malaysia when UMNO Information chief Datuk Ahmad Maslan can threaten Malays with losing their rights because the the Chinese community was slowly gaining control of the country's politics and economy or that DAP does not even respect the royal institution by refusing royal titles of Datukship.

DAP leaders have never pursued royal titles of Datukships. Does that makes us disrespectful of royal institutions just because we do not behave like BN leaders in lusting after titles? If so, then is the late Deputy Prime Minister Tun Ghafar Baba also disrespectful because he refused to accept royal titles too when he was in active politics.

How can the Chinese community be slowly gaining control of the country's politics and economy when the number of Chinese in government service is declining? And the Chinese no longer control the main economic sectors of banking, insurance, automobile, construction, communications and transport.

Ahmad even lied that the DAP are "agents of Christianisation" because Ronnie Liu, Xavier, Elizabeth, Teresa Kok are Selangor State EXCO members. Despite numerous investigations, the authorities have admitted that there is no process of Christianisation by DAP. Are Christians not qualified to be an EXCO member just because he or she is a Christian? And Ronnie Liu is not even a Christian.

For Ahmad to single out the Chinese and the Christians as threats to Malays is no different from what Hitler did in Nazi Germany to frighten Germans to support his rule as an absolute dictator. Innocent minorities suffered in Germany under Hitler. It is morally repugnant that UMNO is willing to see innocent minorities of Chinese and Christians suffer from such lies so that UMNO can get back the support of Malays.

This climate of fear, enmity and hatred by UMNO is not only against 1 Malaysia but destroys national unity and racial harmony. We know what Hitler did to Germany. Malaysians must stand together in the next general elections and not allow UMNO to do the same to Malaysia.

LIM GUAN ENG

—- BM Translation ——-

Kenyataan Akhbar Setiausaha Agung DAP dan Ahli Parlimen Bagan Lim Guan Eng di Kuala Lumpur pada 30.11.2011

Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin dan Datuk Ahmad Maslan Harus Berhenti Menggunakan Kaum Cina Dan Penganut Kristian Sebagai Sasaran Mudah Untuk Mencetuskan Kebencian Dan Permusuhan Terhadap Rakyat Minoriti Yang Tidak Bersalah Hanya Untuk Menakutkan Orang Melayu Supaya Kembali Ke Pangkuan UMNO.

Timbalan Presiden UMNO Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin dan Ketua Penerangan UMNO Datuk Ahmad Maslan sedang bermain dengan api dengan memangsakan kaum-kaum minoriti di Malaysia sebagai ancaman untuk menakutkan orang Melayu supaya kembali ke pangkuan UMNO. Kedua-dua pemimpin UMNO ini harus berhenti menggunakan kaum Cina dan penganut Kristian sebagai sasaran mudah untuk mencetuskan kebencian dan permusuhan terhadap rakyat Malaysia yang tidak bersalah.

Mengikut laporan, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin telah menggunakan isu perkauman untuk meniup semangat ahli-ahli UMNO untuk mempertahankan bangsa, budaya dan institusi negara daripada Pakatan Rakyat (PR), di samping memfitnahkan DAP sebagai anti-Islam dan anti-Melayu. DAP mencabar Muhyiddin untuk membuktikan dakwaannya bahawa agenda DAP adalah untuk membentukkan sebuah negara republik. Ini adalah hasutan dan penipuan semata-mata!

Adakah Muhyiddin dan UMNO sudah ketandusan idea sampai apa-apa skandal kerajaan yang dibongkarkan DAP akan dianggap sebagai serangan terhadap kaum Melayu? Bukankah wang awam yang terbabit dalam skandal-skandal kewangan itu kepunyaan orang Melayu juga? Adakah cukup dengan pendekatan Muhyiddin yang mengaku dirinya Melayu dahulu dan rakyat Malaysia kemudian, sampai prinsip-prinsip demokrasi, integriti, amanah dan ketelusan semuanya boleh diabaikan begitu sahaja?

DAP percaya bahawa majoriti rakyat Malaysia, sama ada Melayu atau bukan Melayu, akan menolak hujah yang mewajarkan penipuan dan skandal kewangan atas nama perkauman, seperti dalam skandal lembu dan kondo mewah seorang Menteri UMNO, ataupun pendedahan Laporan Ketua Audit Negara 2010 tentang terlebihan belanja oleh jabatan-jabatan kerajaan sebanyak RM3.7 bilion.

DAP tidak pernah mengambil pendirian anti-Melayu atau anti-Islam. Kenaikan berkali-kali ganda peruntukan untuk hal-ehwal agama Islam di Pulau Pinang serta penerusan peruntukan untuk sekolah-sekolah agama yang telah ditamatkan oleh UMNO menjadi bukti bahawa DAP menghormati Islam dan adil kepada semua. Kerajaan Negeri Pulau Pinang tidak pernah mengusir walaupun sebuah rumah kampung Melayu. Satu-satunya rumah kampung Melayu yang pernah dirobohkan di Pulau Pinang telah diroboh oleh pemaju-kaitan-UMNO yang dipengerusikan seorang bekas ADUN UMNO.

Mungkin menjadi strategi politik yang berkesan bagi UMNO untuk mengambil pendirian anti-Cina, anti-India atau anti-Kristian, tetapi hanya parti yang ingin membunuh diri sahaja yang akan mengambil pendirian anti-Melayu atau anti-Islam. DAP tidak ingin membunuh diri tetapi komited ke arah perdamaian kebangsaan dan kerjasama antara semua.

Di manakah pendekatan sederhana yang dijanjikan konsep 1Malaysia Perdana Menteri, apabila Ketua Penerangan UMNO sendiri boleh mengugut Melayu dengan mengatakan bahawa mereka akan kehilangan hak kerana kononnya masyarakat Cina makin bertambah kuasa dari segi politik dan ekonomi, atau dengan mengatakan bahawa DAP tidak menghormati institusi raja kerana enggan menerima pingat atau darjah kebesaran yang membawa gelaran-gelaran seperti Datuk?

Pemimpin-pemimpin DAP tidak pernah mengejar gelaran-gelaran seperti Datuk, bukan macam pemimpin-pemimpin BN yang terhegeh-hegeh mengejarnya. Adakah ini bermakna kami tidak menghormati institusi Raja? Jika begitu, adakah mantan Timbalan Perdana Menteri Tun Ghafar Baba juga seorang yang tidak menghormati institusi raja kerana allahyarham juga enggan menerima apa-apa gelaran semasa aktif berpolitik?

Tambahan pula, bagaimana masyarakat Cina boleh bertambah kuasa dari segi politik dan ekonomi apabila bilangan penjawat awam yang berbangsa Cina makin menurun? Di samping itu, masyarakat Cina sudah tidak lagi menguasai sektor-sektor ekonomi seperti perbankan, insuran, industri automobil, pembinaan, komunikasi dan pengangkutan.

Ahmad juga telah menyindir DAP sebagai "agen Kristian" kerana Ronnie Liu, Xavier, Elizabeth, Teresa Kok merupakan EXCO Kerajaan Negeri Selangor. Setelah disiasat berulang kali, pihak berkuasa sudah pun mengakui bahawa tidak ada berlaku sebarang penyebaran agama Kristian oleh DAP. Adakah seseorang itu tidak berlayak untuk menjadi ahli EXCO kerana beliau itu seorang penganut Kristian? Tambahan pula, Ronnie Liu bukan seorang penganut Kristian.

Tindakan Ahmad untuk mensasarkan kaum Cina dan penganut Kristian sebagai ancaman kepada orang Melayu adalah perbuatan yang tidak berbeza dengan taktik ketakutan yang digunakan oleh Hilter pada zaman Nazi di negara Jerman untuk mengekalkan kuasa mutlaknya sebagai diktator. Minoriti yang tidak bersalah di negara Jerman telah mengalami penderitaan di bawah pemerintahan Hitler. Adalah tidak berperi kemanusiaan bagi UMNO untuk menggunakan penipuan dan fitnah yang serupa hanya untuk memenangi sokongan Melayu.

Iklim ketakutan, permusuhan dan kebencian yang digalakkan UMNO bukan sahaja bertentangan dengan 1Malaysia malah membinasakan perpaduan negara dan keharmonian kaum. Kita semua tahu kerosakan yang telah dibawa oleh Hitler kepada negara Jerman. Oleh itu, rakyat Malaysia hendaklah bersatu dalam pilihan raya umum yang akan datang untuk menghalang UMNO daripada melakukan kerosakan yang sama kepada negara Malaysia.

—-Mandarin Translation—

民主行动党秘书长兼峇眼区国会议员林冠英于2011年11月30日在吉隆坡发表的声明:

丹斯里慕尤丁及拿督阿末马斯兰应该停止利用华族及基督教徒为软目标,以对这些无辜的少数马来西亚人制造敌意及仇恨,以吓唬马来人重回巫统的怀抱。

巫统署理主席丹斯里慕尤丁及巫统全国宣传局主任拿督阿末马斯兰应正在玩弄着一场针对少数马来西亚人的危险撒谎游戏,以威胁及吓唬马来人需重回巫统怀抱,并合法化为何马来人需重回巫统。这两名巫统领袖应该停止利用华族及基督教徒为软目标,以对这些无辜的马来西亚人制造敌意及仇恨。

根据报导,丹斯里慕尤丁利用种族牌,呼吁巫统从民联的手中,捍卫马来民族、文化及权益,并把民主行动党标签成反伊斯兰教及反马来人。行动党挑战慕尤丁,为他指行动党的议程是要成立一个共和国的指控示出证据。这根本就是煽动及天大的谎言!

难道慕尤丁及巫统在政府面对众多舞弊丑闻的当儿,已经江郎才尽?如果说这是行动党揭露政府丑闻就是攻击马来人的话,难道就不担心马来人也在这场丑闻中输掉了吗?难道慕尤丁的马来人优先、马来西亚人其次的种族主义思维,已足以忽视民主、廉政、问责及透明度?

行动党相信大部分的马来西亚人,不管是马来人或非马来人,都会拒绝以种族主义方式合理化谎言及财务丑闻,就如涉及巫统部长的养牛公寓丑闻,或者是2010年度总稽查司报告批评政府部门超支37亿令吉一事。

民主行动党从未反马来人及反伊斯兰。在槟城,我们每年增加给宗教用途的拨款,以及重新发放巫统早前中断掉的宗教学校拨款,证明了行动党是一个尊重伊斯兰教、对全民公平的政党。槟城州政府从未拆除任何一个马来柑榜屋。槟城唯一被拆毁的马来人房子,是被巫统主导的合作社所拆除,而其主席也是一名前州议员。

巫统反华人、反印度人及反基督教是政治常识,但反马来人或反伊斯兰教对一个政党而言就是一场政治自杀行为。行动党不相信政治自杀,但致力于民族和解及合作。

当巫统全国宣传主任拿督阿末马斯兰以"华社已慢慢地控制国家的政治及经济",或是行动党拒绝受封拿督勋衔,是不尊重王室的行为,来恐吓马来人会失去权益的当儿,首相在"一个马来西亚"标语中所承诺的中庸去了哪里?

行动党从来不追求王室发出的拿督等勋衔。难道只因我们没有像国阵领袖一样垂涎这些头衔,就指我们不尊重王室?如果这个指责可以成立的话,那我们的前副首相敦嘉华峇峇是否也一样须被套上不尊重王室的罪名?因为他活跃于政治时,也一样拒绝受封赐。

同样的,当政府机构的华裔公务员人数直线下降的当儿,华社如何慢慢地控制国家的政治及经济呢?目前,华人已不再控制经济主要支柱的金融界、保险界、汽车领域、建筑领域、通讯领域及交通领域了。

阿末甚至撒谎指行动党是"基督化的代理",因为刘天球、Xavier、黄洁冰及郭素沁等皆为雪州行政议员。尽管多次调查,但当局也承认行动党并没有涉及任何的基督传教活动。难道基督教徒因为他(她)本身是基督教徒,就没有资格当行政议员吗?再说,刘天球根本不是一个基督教徒。

阿末将华人或基督教徒标签成对马来人的威胁之举,与当年希特勒在德国纳粹展开的恐吓德国人,以逼使德国人接受他的条规、让他成为绝对的独裁者之举没有分别。在德国,无辜的德国人在希特勒领导下受苦。 巫统为了夺回马来人的支持,情愿看着无辜的少数华人及基督教徒在这类谎言下受害。这在道德上是令人反感的。

这种由巫统所制造的恐惧、敌意和仇恨的气氛,不只是毁了"一个马来西亚"的标语,也毁了我们的国家团结及种族和谐。我们知道希特勒对德国做了什么。马来西亚人应该在下届大选齐心站起来,别让巫统以同样的手法对待马来西亚。

林冠英

Lim Kit Siang

Posted: 30 Nov 2011 11:19 PM PST

Lim Kit Siang


Rough politics in 1 Malaysia

Posted: 30 Nov 2011 03:46 AM PST

— The Malaysian Insider Nov 30, 2011 NOV 30 — Datuk Seri Najib Razak wants a high-income and united nation under his 1 Malaysia concept, which is a continuation of the Vision 2020 idea and going back as far as 1971, the Rukun Negara or National Principles. The Rukun Negara has five principles, namely 1) [...]

Muhyiddin! Kalau panik pun janganlah tunjuk sangat

Posted: 30 Nov 2011 02:45 AM PST

— Aspan Alias The Malaysian Insider Nov 30, 2011 30 NOV — Muhyiddin Yassin semasa meresmikan perhimpunan 3 sayap Umno, Wanita, Pemuda dan Putri semalam menggunakan isu sensitif yang tidak masuk akal semata-mata kerana desperate mendapat sokongan orang Melayu yang tidak mungkin mahu bersatu lagi di bawah payung Umno. Ramai yang menghubungi saya bertanyakan kenapa [...]

Umno sudah sampai ke tahap defensif dalam semua hal

Posted: 30 Nov 2011 02:15 AM PST

— Aspan Alias The Malaysian Insider Nov 29, 2011 29 NOV — Apabila negara sudah sampai ke tahap cerca marba seperti yang kita lihat dan alami sekarang ini, kita tahu pihak yang memimpin mempunyai masalah. Setakat kesalahan kecil-kecil orang Melayu dan rakyat amnya sentiasa terbuka untuk memaafkan kesalahan yang boleh diperbaiki dan terus sahaja memberikan [...]

Charles Santiago

Posted: 30 Nov 2011 11:05 PM PST

Charles Santiago


Malaysia under Najib: ASEAN’s new basket case?

Posted: 30 Nov 2011 02:03 AM PST

Source: Malaysia Chronicle

Wednesday, 30 November 2011 13:55

Written by  Charles Santiago

While there is a flicker of progress in Myanmar, the light of democracy has been crushed in Malaysia. And it happened in Parliament, as the UMNO-led ruling Barisan Nasional government muscled its way to bulldoze the Peaceful Assembly Bill.

The parliament saw the play of a lethal game as only three opposition lawmakers were allowed to debate the Bill while the the BN and government-friendly lawmakers whined down their razzle-dazzle debates supporting the new piece of legislation.

Rare protest

A day ago, hundreds of lawyers staged the “Walk for Freedom” march to register their opposition to the Bill which is repressive, encroaches into the civil liberties of the people and violates the Federal Constitution.

It is a rare protest as lawyers do not take to the streets in a whim and fancy. But when they walk, it is a slap on the face of the government as it caricatures the lack of democracy and poor governance.

There has been a significant change in Myanmar after the military handed over power to a nominal civilian government last November. No one could deny that releasing the country’s democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi was a big step forward.

Since then, the new government has reached out to her, allowed for street protests, called for peace with ethnic minorities, freed some 230 political prisoners and suspended a highly-suspect Chinese-funded dam project.

Najib takes Malaysia backwards

In Cambodia there has been concerted effort by the government to weed-out corruption, empower women politically and institute electoral reforms.

We, in direct contrast, are moving backward by curbing the civil liberties of the people. Prime minister Najib Tun Razak, addicted to his flip-flop policies, has gone back on his promise of reforms in the country.

In September, Najib scrapped Section 27 of the Police Act that requires a permit before holding rallies. It was, however, replaced with the more repressive Peaceful Assembly Bill with unacceptable restrictions on freedom of assembly, association and expression – the fundamental principles in a democracy.

The new Bill outlaws all street protests, forces the organizers to give a 10 day notice to the police, regulates, restricts and imposes conditions on an assembly and prohibits anyone under the age of 15 from taking part.

Furthermore, protesters could be slapped with a RM 20,000 fine while organizers who failed to give sufficient notice would be fined RM 10,000.

A gloomy future

We will see the play out of this controversial policy in the next weeks and months. We will witness further clamping down of dissent, persecution of opposition politicians and an erosion of civil rights and liberties in the country.

In the lives of ordinary people, we will see tractors bulldozing down their sweat and blood as they are powerless to protest against corrupt contractors and an equally corrupt police force. We will see the voice of the poor being muffled even further.

Is this the future we envision for our country?

Yes, the Peaceful Assembly Bill is unconstitutional and unfair. But could the government win? To answer this question with a resounding NO, we need the rakyat to exercise their right at the ballot boxes to vote out a corrupt regime.

Charles Santiago is the DAP Member of Parliament for Klang


Assembly law makes us Asean’s new basket case

Posted: 30 Nov 2011 01:56 AM PST

Source: Free Malaysia Today

November 29, 2011

Just as Myanmar and Cambodia are showing progress, Najib’s government here is moving backwards by curbing the civil liberties of the people, says Charles Santiago.

COMMENT

By Charles Santiago

While there is a flicker of progress in Myanmar, the light of democracy has been crushed in Malaysia. And it happened in Parliament, as the Umno-led ruling Barisan Nasional government muscled its way to bulldoze the Peaceful Assembly Bill.

The parliament saw the play of a lethal game as only three opposition lawmakers were allowed to debate the bill while the BN and government-friendly lawmakers whined down their razzle-dazzle debates supporting the new piece of legislation.

Earlier this morning, hundreds of lawyers staged the "Walk for Freedom" march to register their opposition to the bill which is repressive, encroaches into the civil liberties of the people and violates the Federal Constitution.

It is a rare protest as lawyers do not take to the streets in a whim and fancy. But when they walk, it is a slap on the face of the government as it caricatures the lack of democracy and poor governance.

There has been a significant change in Myanmar after the military handed over power to a nominal civilian government last November. No one could deny that releasing the country's democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi was a big step forward.

Since then, the new government has reached out to her, allowed for street protests, called for peace with ethnic minorities, freed some 230 political prisoners and suspended a highly-suspect Chinese-funded dam project.

In Cambodia there has been concerted effort by the government to weed-out corruption, empower women politically and institute electoral reforms.

Najib's flip-flop policies

We, in direct contrast, are moving backwards by curbing the civil liberties of the people.

Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, addicted to his flip-flop policies, has gone back on his promise of reforms in the country.

In September, Najib scrapped Section 27 of the Police Act that requires a permit before holding rallies.

It was, however, replaced with the more repressive Peaceful Assembly Bill with unacceptable restrictions on freedom of assembly, association and expression – the fundamental principles in a democracy.

The new bill outlaws all street protests, forces the organizers to give a 10 day notice to the police, regulates, restricts and imposes conditions on an assembly and prohibits anyone under the age of 15 from taking part.

Furthermore, protesters could be slapped with a maximum of RM20,000 fine while organizers who failed to give sufficient notice may be fined up to RM10,000.

Erosion of civil rights

We will see the play out of this controversial policy in the next weeks and months.

We will witness further clamping down of dissent, persecution of opposition politicians and an erosion of civil rights and liberties in the country.

In the lives of ordinary people, we will see tractors bulldozing down their sweat and blood as they are powerless to protest against corrupt contractors and an equally corrupt police force. We will see the voice of the poor being muffled even further.

Is this the future we envision for our country?

Yes, the Peaceful Assembly Bill is unconstitutional and unfair. But could the government win?

To answer this question with a resounding NO, we need the rakyat to exercise their right at the ballot boxes to vote out a corrupt regime.

Charles Santiago is DAP's Klang member of parliament.


View issues with Tan Seng Giaw

Posted: 30 Nov 2011 03:27 PM PST

View issues with Tan Seng Giaw


Deal with cases of electricity theft fairly

Posted: 30 Nov 2011 04:43 AM PST

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw reiterates that Tenaga Nasional Berhad, TNB, must be fair in handling suspected cases of tampering with electric meters, especially when it is using sophisticated methods and devices to detect elctricity theft.

On 30.11.2011, Dr Tan asked Energy Minister Datuk Peter Chin supplementary question on the tampering of electricity meters di Parliament.

Malaysia has millions of electricity consumers, such as seven millions in Peninsula. According to the Minister, in 2011, there are 9,450 consumers suspected of tampering with meters. In the last few years, 27 cases of electricity theft have gone to court; 23 cases settled out of court. TNB loses some. For example, in one case, it had to compensate a consumer RM1.2 million.

TNB uses sophisticated methods and machines to detect electricity theft, including public complaints, analyses and regular checks. In 2011, it has changed 1,183,701 old meters into new ones. TNB staff members involved in this type of illegal activities are: 2007-2008 2, 2008-2009 4, 2009-2010 1 and 2010-1011 2. The real figures are unknown.

For over 10 years, TNB has collected hundreds of millions of ringgits from suspected consumers. It continues to pursue the matter.

As the company is using sophisticated methods to detect tampering of meters, we hope that it is fair in dealing with consumers who are suspected of meter tampering.

Tan Seng Giaw

MY VOICE FOR NATION

Posted: 30 Nov 2011 01:10 PM PST

MY VOICE FOR NATION


Regional law society says assembly law breaches human rights

Posted: 29 Nov 2011 08:20 PM PST

Muhyiddin’s speech at UMNO General Assembly “the mother of all lies, falsehoods and racism”

Posted: 29 Nov 2011 08:16 PM PST

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