Ex-Perlis mufti Asri backs Bersih’s intentions
MalaysiaKini
Jun 22, 11
Former Perlis mufti Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin said after hearing and evaluating the briefing given by the Coalition for Free and Fair Elections (Bersih), he found its intentions to be good.
Asri said he had been swarmed with questions over the Bersih campaign and for him to take a stand on the issue of demands for just elections.
He explained that any life dealings should be assessed in two ways: its purpose and method. Read the rest of this entry »
Ibrahim Ali as guilty as hell
I have seen the video recording of the speech by the Perkasa President Ibrahim Ali at the launch of the Bersih 2.0 counter-protest in Kampung Baru in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday and there can be no doubt that he is as guilty as hell in his incendiary, inciteful and treasonous “Chinese should stock up food” tirade.
If the Home Minister, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussin and the Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sir Ismail Ismail Omar have not seen the video recording, I can send them a copy of the video.
The question is why the paralysis of the Home Minister and the Inspector-General of Police in the past three days when confronted by Ibrahim Ali’s open contempt for the law and the authorities?
Is this because the face of Ibrahim Ali is increasingly coming to represent the real power in Umno politics – replacing that of Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
Read the rest of this entry »
Home is where my heart is at ease to serve
Posted by Kit in 1Malaysia, Brain drain on Wednesday, 22 June 2011, 1:30 pm
By Kang Ho
June 22, 2011 | The Malaysian Insider
JUNE 22 — In the 1980s, I received 8A’s for SRP. Thereafter, I transferred to a technical school and received 3A’s for SPM with Grade 1.
My Malay schoolmates who received Grade 1 were sent overseas for further studies and those who received Grade 2 were placed in local universities. My other Malay schoolmates who received Grade 3 were left behind in the same class as I was in Form Six.
Even back then, I knew something was not right and I lost focus on my studies in Malaysia. My teachers told me that the reason I was not treated the same as my Malay schoolmates was because of “kulitfication.” Read the rest of this entry »
Hisham: Police to haul up rallies’ organisers
By Clara Chooi
June 22, 2011 | The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, June 22 — The Home Ministry will flex its muscles ahead of the Bersih rally next month, announcing today that organisers of all three assemblies will be hauled up by Bukit Aman today.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein also confirmed today that the three — Bersih 2.0, Umno Youth and Perkasa — would not be granted permits for their planned gatherings on July 9.
“My statement today is that all three parties will not be granted permits to gather on that date. I am saying that categorically, all three of them will not get it. Read the rest of this entry »
Kit Siang: RM1.7b Sarawak pork barrel justifies Bersih march
Posted by Kit in Corruption, Elections, Sarawak, UMNO on Wednesday, 22 June 2011, 1:25 pm
By Shannon Teoh
June 22, 2011 | The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, June 22 — Lim Kit Siang has accused Barisan Nasional (BN) of vote buying during the April 16 Sarawak election, stating that the RM1.7 billion spent on its campaign was reason enough for the July 9 Bersih rally calling for free and fair elections.
The DAP parliamentary leader added that the entire federal Cabinet had campaigned in Sarawak, leaving no one to govern the country during the election period.
“It was not just Sarawak BN but the entire federal government campaigning in the Sarawak elections — making a complete mockery of the principle of free and fair elections,” said the Ipoh Timur MP of the RM1.18 billion spent by the Najib administration up to April 30 this year in Sarawak. Read the rest of this entry »
Federal Govt spending RM1.18 billion, Cabinet campaing in Sarawak and RM500 mil BN election outlay reasons for Bersih 2.0 rally
Posted by Kit in Corruption, Elections, Sarawak on Wednesday, 22 June 2011, 10:56 am
FACT 1: In Parliament yesterday, in written answer to the DAP MP for Seputeh Teresa Kok, the Prime Minister’s Department revealed that the Federal Government had announced a total of 62 programmes and projects worth a total of RM1.18 billion in Sarawak during the just-concluded Sarawak state polls.
The RM1.18 billion was divided between 10 ministries, namely the Prime Minister’s Department; Rural and Regional Development Ministry; Natural Resources and Environment Ministry; Defence Ministry; Health Ministry; Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Ministry; Education Ministry; Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry; Works Ministry; and Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry.
The projects include upgrading work for suraus, mosques and other places of worship; community halls, schools and roads; longhouse repairs; electricity supply; the construction of jetties and bridges; the renovation of hospitals and clinics; flood mitigation work; and contributions and welfare aid, among others.
Read the rest of this entry »
Perkasa chief an ‘unmitigated coward’
Malaysiakini Your Say | Jun 22, 11
‘Ibrahim Ali is lying through his teeth. He meant to threaten the Chinese but now has to eat his own words as he fears the wrath of the society.’
‘Chinese stay home’ remark just advice, says Ibrahim
Malaysian Born: True to form, Ibrahim is showing himself for the unmitigated coward that he is. Suddenly, he’s now apparently “advising” (instead of threatening) the Chinese not to participate in the Bersih rally.
Frankly, it is high time that he is treated for the racist troublemaker he is. He instigates everyone and when the shit hits the fan, he hides in some hole where rodents like him usually breed.
Read the rest of this entry »
Blogger warns Chinese away from Bersih
By Clara Chooi
The Malaysian Insider
Jun 21, 2011
KUALA LUMPUR, June 21 — After a similar threat from Perkasa’s Datuk Ibrahim Ali Sunday, the Chinese community was yesterday warned against participating in next month’s Bersih rally via an email thread making its rounds to several media organisations here.
The email, sent by a self-proclaimed nationalist and blogger with the pseudonym “Panglima Perang Cyber” (cyber war commander), came with an attached video found on Youtube.com of the infamous May 1998 racial riots in Indonesia that caused the deaths of hundreds.
“Are the Chinese in Malaysia willing to accept the same fate as their brethren in Indonesia if our country goes into chaos?
“So let us 1 Malaysia Malay, Chinese and Indians reject the Bersih demonstration for the good of our grandchildren. Watch the video below,” the email read. Read the rest of this entry »
Putrajaya says RM1.18b worth of projects announced for Sarawak polls
By Clara Chooi
The Malaysian Insider
Jun 21, 2011
KUALA LUMPUR, June 21 — Putrajaya revealed today that it had announced projects worth a total of RM1.18 billion in Sarawak during the just-concluded state polls.
In a written response to Teresa Kok (DAP-Seputeh) yesterday, the Prime Minister’s Department explained that until April 30 this year, a total of 62 programmes and projects were announced for the hornbill state.
Of the total, it added, 52 projects were kicked off this year with the remainder to be carried out in the years to come.
“The programme/projects announced were planned earlier,” it said. Read the rest of this entry »
Hackers ‘steal entire 2011 census’
Posted by Kit in IT, science/technology on Tuesday, 21 June 2011, 11:14 pm
By Christopher Williams
21 Jun 2011 | The Telegraph
The entire 2011 UK census database has been stolen by hackers and will be published online, it has been claimed.
Ryan Cleary, an alleged member of the hacking group behind the claim, LulzSec, was arrested in Essex this morning by specialist cyber crime officers from Scotland Yard.
The 19-year-old was taken to a central London police station and remains in custody on suspicion of Computer Misuse Act and Fraud Act offences Read the rest of this entry »
Kit Siang ajak BN sertai perhimpunan Bersih 2.0
21 June 2011 | Roketkini
KUALA LUMPUR, 21 JUN – Semua pemimpin Barisan Nasional dijemput menyertai perhimpunan Bersih 2.0 sebagai tanda sokongan kepada usaha rakyat prihatin yang mahukan pilihan raya yang bebas, adil dan bersih.
Ketua Parlimen DAP Lim Kit Siang berkata Datuk Seri Najib Razak, timbalannya Tan Sri Muhyiddin dan pemimpin-pemimpin BN lain perlu turut serta dalam perhimpunan aman itu yang dijadualkan pada 9 Julai ini. Read the rest of this entry »
Govt strangely silent on Perkasa’s racist threats
By Syed Jaymal Zahiid
Free Malaysia Today
June 21, 2011
KUALA LUMPUR: DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang wants to know why the Najib administration is so silent on the racist threats made by extremist Malay group Perkasa and bloggers.
The Ipoh Timur MP said the government has so far been silent on the groups’ May 13 threat against a planned mass rally calling for free and fair elections by Bersih despite the seditious nature of such a warning. Read the rest of this entry »
Bersih 2.0’s fair and just demands
By Toh Kin Woon
June 21, 2011 | The Malaysian Insider
JUNE 21 — In recent weeks, many negative, unfair and unreasonable statements have been made against Bersih 2.0. Some of these bordered on vicious personal attacks, in particular against its Chairperson, the highly respected Ambiga Sreenevasan. These attacks arose following the announcement by, and firm commitment of, the entire Steering Committee to hold a peaceful walk to demand for electoral reform and upholding of democracy on 9 July. As a member of Bersih 2.0’s Steering Committee, I feel duty bound to come to its defence.
Allow me first to reiterate the overall objective of our coalition, which is to help the Election Commission realise its noble goal of conducting elections that are fair and clean. All will agree that the attainment of this goal is a must, if Malaysia is to be a fully developed country. Apart from high income, a just and democratic electoral system is an important institution of a first world country. Read the rest of this entry »
Ibrahim Ali and a sex-changed Umno
By Sakmongkol AK47
June 21, 2011 | The Malaysian Insider
JUNE 21 — Ibrahim Ali continues to abuse Umno and it stands idle. He continues to belittle Umno every moment he gets and Umno absorbs the punishment willingly. Umno must be led by masochists. Are we enjoying receiving pain and getting sexually aroused at that?
Ibrahim Ali continues to humiliate Umno and all we can do is say, Ibrahim Ali is harmless and he speaks for the unspeaking Malay. Read the rest of this entry »
British joint-venture gets Kelana LRT job for RM670m
Posted by Kit in Finance, Good Governance on Tuesday, 21 June 2011, 10:38 pm
June 21, 2011
KUALA LUMPUR, June 21 — A Malaysia-British joint-venture has won the coveted Kelana Jaya light rail transit extension project for RM670 million, operator Syarikat Prasarana Negara Berhad said today.
Prasarana said it issued the Letter of Award to CMC-Colas-Uniway (CCU) to undertake works worth RM673, 920, 651.04.
“The job entails the engineering, procurement, construction, testing and commissioning of system works for the Kelana Jaya Line Extension project,” Prasarana said in a statement. Read the rest of this entry »
European NGOs want Taib’s assets in Germany frozen
Posted by Kit in Corruption, Sarawak on Tuesday, 21 June 2011, 2:41 pm
Malaysiakini | Jun 21, 11
More Europe-based NGOs are plying pressure on the authorities there to freeze the assets of Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud.
In a press statement today, Swiss NGO Bruno Manser Fund said that it had written to German chancellor Angela Merkel on the matter, together with two German NGOs – the Society for Threatened Peoples and Rettet den Regenwald.
They asked “the German government to clarify Deutsche Bank’s business ties with Taib and to freeze all Taib (right) assets in Germany.
“We are seriously concerned that, as a leading German financial institute, Deutsche Bank is closely cooperating with the highly corrupt and internationally discredited Taib regime.
Read the rest of this entry »
99% support for Bersih rally in ‘Star’ poll
Malaysiakini | Jun 21, 11
A staggering 99 percent of slightly more than one million respondents in a poll by The Star Online have indicated support for the Bersih 2.0 rally on July 9.
The actual number of respondents cannot be confirmed as the poll was taken down about noon today.
According to a screen capture taken by a Facebook user, the number of respondents had hit 1.3 million at 12.25pm from 527,330 recorded at 6.11am today, according to a Google Cache snapshot of the website.
To the question ‘What is your view on the proposed Bersih 2.0 rally on July 9?’, 1,312,917 respondents answered ‘It should be allowed to go on’ as at 12.25pm.
The other option – ‘It should be cancelled’ – was selected by 14,222 respondents.
Read the rest of this entry »
Kit Siang invites Najib, Cabinet to march with Bersih
Posted by Kit in Elections, Najib Razak on Tuesday, 21 June 2011, 1:55 pm
By Clara Chooi | June 21, 2011
The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, June 21 — DAP’s Lim Kit Siang today called on the Najib administration to support the Bersih 2.0 Rally, and urged the Inspector-General of Police to facilitate the election watchdog’s July 9 gathering in the nation’s capital.
The first Bersih rally in 2007 saw up to 50,000 people take to the capital’s street, but they were forced to disperse by police armed with tear gas and water cannons, sparking chaotic scenes which embarrassed the government.
“I would like to call on the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Cabinet ministers and leaders of all Barisan Nasional compnent parties to come forward to join in the Bersh 2.0 rally on July 9 to support the civil society initiative for free and fair elections.
Read the rest of this entry »
A reply to the EC
By Ambiga Sreenevasan
June 21, 2011 | The Malaysian Insider
JUNE 21 — We thank the EC for the invitation but the time for talk and discussion has passed. This is due to the reports of blatant abuses of power in the recent Sarawak election and in view of the impending General Elections.
The EC’s continued assertions that they have no power to act in the face of such abuses and the information that the suggestions they have made to the Government for reform have met with no success gives us little hope in further discussion. Read the rest of this entry »
Democracy and freedom of expression
Posted by Kit in Articles, nation building on Tuesday, 21 June 2011, 11:46 am
By Art Harun
June 21, | The Malaysian Insider
JUNE 21 — In The Wolf and The Silence of the Lamb, I said, among others:
“The core of democracy is representation. It is a system of governance where the people are represented by representatives who are elected by the people. These representatives then form a government. The government than governs the people. A state is then formed, consisting of the government and the people it governs.”
More importantly, I attempted to correct the popular notion that democracy was the cause of liberty. After alluding to Marx’ Utopian state, I opined: Read the rest of this entry »
