The harsh reaction by Kuala Lumpur’s police Sunday to a protest organized by the Hindu Action Force, a pressure group established to further the cause of Malaysia’s 2 million Indians, turns the spotlight on the country’s third largest ethnic group and the problems it has faced for decades.
Tensions have been inflamed recently with the accelerated destruction of Hindu temples by the government. Although many have been built without permits on government land, they have been in place for decades. Three have been bulldozed this year to make way for road construction and a housing development and another three are due for demolition over the next few months.
The Kuala Lumpur police set up road blocks for three days in advance of the demonstration and charged the group’s leaders with sedition. As they had on Nov. 10 against the pressure group Bersih calling for election reform, the police confronted an estimated 10,000 Indian demonstrators with water cannon and tear gas. Some police were armed with submachine guns, weapons they rarely carry openly, as helicopters hovered overhead.
This demonstration was notably more aggressive than the Nov. 10 one, which was multiracial and led not only by Bersih, a good-government organization, but three opposition parties. Defying an order that the protest was illegal, the protesters Sunday, many of them swinging motorcycle helmets as weapons, threw cans and bottles. Disobeying an order to disperse, they gathered outside the city’s gleaming Petronas Towers, with police chasing them down side streets. Scores also gathered at the huge, Batu Caves north of Kuala Lumpur, which is filled with Hindu statues and other objects of worship. READ THE REST OF THE ARTICLE HERE
Indian discontent in Malaysia
11 Orang Yang Merosak Imej dan Menyusahkan Abdullah Selaku PM
Di bawah ini disenaraikan menurut markah (ranking) paling tinggi mereka yang boleh merosak dan membawa imej buruk kepada Abdullah sebagai perdana menteri.
No: 1. Khairy Jamaluddin - Menantu lelaki sulong Abdullah. Tentang Khairy orang melihat beliau telah menggunakan kedudukan dan pengaruh Abdullah untuk kepentingan dirinya mendapat peluang perniagaan dan kontrek Kerajaan.
Imej bersih Abdullah ini juga tercalar kerana imej Khairy yang ego dan sombong terutamanya ketika mengeluarkan ulasan dan serangan balas politik.
No: 2. Zainuddin Maidin - Menteri Penerangan. Serangan beliau kepada pembangkang menerusi media massa pro kerajaan, pemanipulasi berita untuk kepentingan dirinya serta membela Abdullah dalam kes-kes tertentu yang dilakukan dengan penuh kesombongan dan bersikap dialah yang bijak menyebabkan orang ramai meluat dengan gelagat itu dan kesannya terheret kepada Abdullah.
No: 3. Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman - Pengerusi SPR. Kenyataan, sikap dolak dalih serta mulut celuparnya yang mencabar pihak-pihak yang mendakwa beliau (SPR) menipu agar kemukakan bukti menyebabkan orang marah kepada Rashid. Cara beliau mempertahankan dirinya dan SPR seolah beliau turut sama bersubahat membentengi kerajaan BN. Apa lagi Abdullah tidak pernah memberi jaminan untuk memperbetulkan perjalanan pilihan raya yang diurus tadbirkan oleh Rashid.
No: 4. Musa Hassan - Ketua Polis Negara. Pergeseran beliau dengan Ketua Siasatan Jenayah Perdagangan Bukit Aman, Ramli Yusuf sehingga membawa kepada pendakwaan Ramli menjadikan orang meragui akan tugas dan tindakan Musa selaku orang bertanggungjawab dalam menjaga keselamatan negara. Tuduhan mengatakan beliau menerima rasuah juga menjadikan orang meragui akan integritinya selaku ketua poilis negara.
Abdullah menerima kesan itu apabila menyambung kontrek Musa selama setahun lagi.
No: 5. Ahmad Firuz Abdul Halim - Ketua Hakim Negara, pendedahan klik vido percakapan VK Linggam yang didakwa kononnya dengan beliau telah menimbulkan rasa kurang percaya orang ramai kepada tugas beliau sebagai Ketua Hakim Negara.
No: 6. S Samy Vellu - Menteri Kerja Raya, kenyataan-kenyataannya berhubung masalah dalam JKR yang sering ditunding kepada pihak lain dan enggan bertanggungjawab, menjadikan orang ramai merasakan dia seorang menteri yang lucu (babok). Kenaikan konsesi tol setiap tahun dilihat kegagalan beliau selaku menteri yang tidak berusaha membantu rakyat. Abdullah menerima tempias ini kerana tidak menukar kedudukan Samy Vellu sebagai menteri JKR.
No: 7. Jeanne Abdullah - Isteri Abdullah. Kemesraan melampau dan berlebihan yang ditunjuki oleh Jeanne yang selalu mengekori Abdullah ke majlis-mahlis Kerajaan dan beberapa kali kerap ke luar negeri dan penampilannya sering berpakaian sedondong dengan Abdullah, menyebabkan orang merasakan Jeanne mengada-ngada dan lebih teruk berbanding dengan Allahyarhmah Endon. Jeanne juga mula diperkatakan telah cuba menggunakan kedudukannya untuk kepentingan keluarganya.
No: 8. Kalimullah Hassan - Bekas Ketua Pengarang NST, hubungannya dengan Khairy dan membentuk rangkaian perniagaan dengan menantu PM itu dilihat sebagai orang yang mengatur dan menguruskan Khairy dalam politik dan menjadi dalang kepada agenda politik peribadi Abdullah. Tindakan itu secara langsung menjadikan orang menuduh Kalimullah Hassan sebagai agen yang ingin menjualkan Malaysia kepada Singapura.
No: 9. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi - Timbalan Menteri Penerangan, dakwaan beliau terlibat dalam memukul dan membelasah duda dari Kelantan Amir Bazli sehinggakan penyek dahi, pecah tengkorak dan kabur mata mencemarkan imej Abdullah dan orang beranggapan Kabinet Abdullah memiliki seorang kaki pukul nombor wahid yang berselindung di sebalik wataknya sebagai ahli politik yang berakhlak dan beragama.
No: 10 Mohamad Khir Toyo - MB Selangor, layanannya kepada setinggan, melarang masjid dari mengadakan tazkirah di bulan Ramadhan menyebabkan beliau dilihat sebagai anti agama. Hadiah penyapu kepada PBT yang gagal mencapai prestasi menunjukkan beliau tidak tahu menghormati orang lain dan seorang menteri besar di era Abdullah yang tidak memiliki sahsiah keMelayuan tulen.
No: 11 Mohamad Nazri Aziz - Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri yang kononnya lulusan undang-undang dan arif mengenai Perlembagaan negara tetapi kadang kala menunjukkan sikap jahilnya mengenai hal itu. Lagak dan sifatnya yang pongah ataupun berkuasa menyebabkan orang ramai meluat dan sering geram dengan kenyataan yang dikeluarkannya. Kesan sikap menteri yang berwajah kassanova itu ialah kepada Perdana Menteri yang lemah lembut.
MSO Melayu
Hindu Rights Action Force (HINDRAF) demonstration in Kuala Lumpur
Labels: NATIONMembers of Malaysia's Indian community have protested on the streets of Kuala Lumpur, the capital. They are demanding equal rights in a country they believe discriminates against them.
They are also said to place blame on the colonial policies of Britain, and were intending to deliver a petition to the British High Commission in Malaysia. Check out the video report taken from Al Jazeera and also photos from the demonstration here.
Abdullah tidak 'berwuduk sebelum beribadah'
Apabila rakyat membela kebenaran, memastikan pilihan raya benar-benar bersih, suci daripada najis mughallazah, mukhaffafah dan mutawassitah, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi melalui ucapan penggulungannya di dalam Perhimpunan Agung Umno telah membentak pentas tempat dia berpidato: "Saya pantang dicabar!"
Sebagai cucu mufti dan waris ulama tersohor tanahair yang mencadangkan tarikh kemerdekaan negara kepada Almarhum Tunku Abdul Rahman, Abdullah harus faham bahawa pilihan raya adalah suatu ibadat. Seperti mana kita mahu bersolat, bab awal diajar dalam kitab fiqah oleh mana-mana mazhab sekali pun, akan meletakkan bab pertamanya sebagai at-Toharah!
Jangan kata solat, malah setiap kanak-kanak lelaki Muslim perlu bersunat sebelum mereka dibenarkan berada dalam saf dewasa dalam solat jemaah. Semua ini terkait dengan kebersihan sebagai satu kefardhuan dalam meniti hidup beribadat.
Erti toharah adalah penyucian. Kitab fiqah as-Shafie al-Umm (Induk), yang terkandung padanya tatacara penyucian turut menyentuh hal yang sama di bab permulaannya. Kalau di dalam kitab tasawwuf pula seperti Ihya' Ulumuddin (Imam al-Ghazali) yang mementingkan penyucian rohani dan jiwa, turut dimuatkan perihal taubat.
Apakah persamaan antara at-toharah dan at-taubah? Apa pula beza antara kedua-duanya? Persamaannya, kedua-duanya bertujuan penyucian dan pembersihan. Bezanya, at-toharah merujuk penyucian anggota tubuh luaran atau jasad. Taubat adalah merujuk penyucian roh, jiwa untuk melangkah menuju Allah dan menuju kesempurnaan ibadat.
Imam Muhammad bin Idris, gelarannya as-Shafie, adalah ilmuan fiqah, sementara Imam Abu Hamid termasyhur namanya sebagai al-Ghazali adalah ilmuan sufi. Ilmu fiqh dan sufi, kedua-duanya menuntut penyucian, pembersihan roh dan jasad.
Sekarang, rakyat bertanya - apakah Abdullah masih mahu teruskan pencariannya dalam menemukan sosok ilmuan seperti as-Shafie dan al-Ghazali seperti mana yang tergambar dalam puisi 'Aku Mencari Damai Abadi' yang sering dilagu-lagukan di tetuang udara (radio) itu? - "Aku cari di mana as-Shafie, aku cari di mana al-Ghazali," demikian Abdullah berdeklamasi.
Tiba-tiba, apabila rakyat menuntut penyucian pilihan raya serta pembersihan buku pendaftaran daripada pengundi hantu, dan mahu bersihkan selut lumpur yang tercalit di wajah SPR, Abdullah bertempik: "Saya pantang dicabar!" ... Apa kes?
Siapa cabar Abdullah? Tiada siapa pun yang berniat mencabar Abdullah selama ini. Saja-saja dia perasan sorang-sorang diri. Mungkin beliau takutkan kepada bayang-bayang sendiri. Kalau Abdullah tak percaya, cuba tanya kepada sesiapa saja yang datang tempoh hari, "awat depa memang nak cabar Abdullahkah? Mana ada?"
Mereka sebenarnya menuntut pilihan raya bersih, yang adil dan saksama. Jika dalam pilihan raya itu BA kalah, kalahlah. Mereka kalah secara bersih. Jika BN menang, menanglah. BN menang pun secara bersih. Semua pihak yang berseteru akan berpuas hati dengan kemenangan dan kekalahan, asalkan kemenangan dan kekalahan itu berlaku secara bersih.
Ertinya, ibadat dalam memilih kepimpinan itu berjalan dengan sempurna. Yang tidak puas di hati rakyat ialah memerintah di dalam keadaan tidak bersih kerana pilihan raya berselut najis khinzir, dan mereka bagaikan melihat secalit najis di kaki imam ketika beliau sedang mengimamkan solat.
Bak pepatah Fansuri - kerana tahi cicak secalit, rosak solat jemaah semasjid (apatah lagi kalau solat Jumaat).
Kalau imam BN bersih, apa salahnya dia memimpin? Demikianlah sebaliknya dengan BA. Kita pun percaya, ramai ahli Umno yang cintakan kebenaran ingin menyertai perhimpunan Bersih itu, tapi kalau dapat ditangkap, nahas mereka nanti.
Tiba-tiba Abdullah bertempik: "Saya pantang dicabar!" ... Apa kes beliau berkata demikian?
Mungkin juga Abdullah berkata demikian kerana dalam lubuk nalurinya yang paling dasar berbisik, "Aku pun tahu aku ini tidak bersih. Mereka berhimpun kerana inginkan pilihan raya bersih. Sebab, aku naik memerintah di dalam keadaan tidak bersihlah, maka rakyat mula memberontak!"
Sebenarnya, Abdullah naik pada kali pertama secara bersih kerana Allah telah mendorong hati Mahathir untuk memilih beliau. Kalau bertempur secara tidak bersih melalui debat seperti Umno Baru (Mahathir) vs. Semangat 46 (Ku Li) tentulah dia kalah. Kejatuhan S46 adalah buktinya. Jadi, kenaikan pertama Abdullah bersih, kerana Allah mendorong hati Mahathir memilihnya. Kenaikan kedua Abdullah adalah melalui pilihan raya Mac 2004. Di sinilah Abdullah naik secara tidak bersih.
Ketika itu, saya adalah wartawan pelatih di Bernama antara Mac sehingga Mei 2004. Saya masih ingat pejabat pagi itu lengang. Editor dalam taklimatnya berkata, "Sikit hari lagi, riuhlah pejabat ni. Semua wartawan sudah keluar membuat liputan di tempat masing-masing."
Apabila wartawan pulang, riuh satu pejabat oleh kalangan wartawan sendiri tentang masalah di tempat mereka membuat liputan. Jika mahu cerita di sini panjanglah hikayat dan riwayatnya. Pendek kata memang kotor! Bantahan demi bantahan melalui faks kerap menghinggap di bilik berita, "beberapa buah peti undi dijumpai tersorok dalam semak ..." dan lainnya…
Pertanyaan demi pertanyaan menyinggah dari bibir ke bibir oleh wartawan-wartawan perempuan yang gemar bergosip darihal kehancuran pilihan raya yang sedang mereka taip sebagai santapan akademik oleh rakyat Malaysia seluruhnya!
Ketika berbual dengan editor pada satu petang sambil minum teh tarik, saya tawarkan diri untuk siasat fenomena ini. Kata editor, "Awak nak bagi peluru untuk pembangkang serang kita pula?"
Selesai pilihan raya, Abdullah mengucapkan kalimah wallahi wabillahi watallahi untuk melayakkan beliau menjadi Perdana Menteri. Setelah diajukan pertanyaan oleh wartawan, apakah beliau ingin tubuhkan suruhanjaya siasatan ke atas pilihan raya yang difatwakan para pembangkang sebagai bermasalah ini, Abdullah berkata: "Tidak perlu, saya ingin meneruskan tumpuan kepada kerja." Kenapa beliau enggan? Di sini pun jelas bahawa beliau enggan membersihkan pilihan raya!
Jadi, inilah kesilapan Abdullah yang pertama apabila beliau mula-mula menjawat Perdana Menteri di dalam keadaan tidak "berwuduk" secara sempurna sebelum beribadat dalam pilihan raya sebagai imam hadhari di Malaysia ini. Bukan saja tak menyempurnakan wuduk pilihan raya, malah bertaubat, beristighfar pun tidak juga. Jadi, Allah murka dengan Abdullah.
Hanya Abdullah yang tidak perasan. Kemurkaan Allah terpancar pada kemurkaan rakyat. Ibarat keredhaan Allah ke atas seorang anak terletak atas keredhaan ibu bapanya, demikian menurut suatu hadis. Kemurkaan, kegembiraan rakyat tidak terletak atas kemurkaan, kegembiraan para perwakilan Umno di perhimpunan di PWTC. Ini yang Abdullah harus faham.
Saya menulis begini, supaya Abdullah segera kembali ke jalan Allah sebelum terlambat. Makmum datang memberikan panduan dan menghantar isyarat kepada Abdullah sebagai imam sebenarnya jika beliau benar-benar ingin faham. Bukan menentang dan mahu mencabar Abdullah.
Jika Abdullah menonton filem 1957 Hati Malaya nescaya beliau tersua dengan dialog Abdullah Fahim yang mencadangkan tarikh kemerdekaan. Tetapi, setelah itu, Syeikh Abdullah Pak Him menamatkan perbualan dengan kata-kata lebih kurang: "Kalau kita dah merdeka nanti, jangan pula kita menindas ..." Inilah pesanan datuk beliau sendiri.
Siapa Abdullah di hati rakyat? Tiada apa-apa sebenarnya. Beliau seperti namanya, Abdullah cuma hamba Allah. Itu saja. Hati Abdullah kian dirosakkan oleh tepukan, gurauan makmum Umno dan Pengerusi Tetap yang mendefinisikan P-A-K-L-A-H sebagai gabungan ayat yang boleh direka oleh sesiapa pun sebenarnya. Itu saja. Manusia 'kan pandai mereka-reka?
Jikalau begitu, maknanya benarlah Abdullah berada dalam kebatilan. Rakyat berniat mahu pilihan raya yang bersih. Tiba-tiba beliau berkata, jangan cabar say ... saya ini pantang dicabar. Ertinya, Abdullah menegakkan kebatilan, bukan kebenaran. Kalau Abdullah ikhlas, maka beliau menerima saranan khalayak itu dengan redha, bersikap pemaaf dengan santun yang tinggi seperti Abdullah Fahim juga adanya, datuknya itulah. Siapa lagi? Wallahu 'Alam ...
Harakahdaily
Kos Istana Negara RM 1 bilion
Sudah hampir tiga bulan, kos pembinaan Istana Negara baru di Jalan Duta, Kuala Lumpur, menelan belanja RM 1 bilion yang menimbulkan pelbagai tanda tanya belum mendapat sebarang kenyataan dan penjelasan bertulis daripada Menteri Kerja Raya Dato' Seri S. Samy Vellu semalam.
Ketua Penerangan PAS, Mahfuz Omar berkata sikap senyap dan membisu Samy terhadap isu ini dilihat seolah-olah menyembunyikan sesuatu kepada pengetahuan rakyat dan mempunyai kepentingan serta agenda sendiri terhadap projek istana negara ini.
Malah seolah-olah mengiyakan lagi tanggapan bahawa wujud usaha pihak tertentu yang 'memperalatkan institusi raja' untuk mengaut keuntungan jutaan ringgit dengan membazirkan wang rakyat.
"Sekiranya dia gagal jawab isu ini, saya anggap beliau cuba menyembunyikan sesuatu daripada saya dan rakyat serta ini membuktikan bahawa Dato' Seri mempunyai kepentingan peribadi dan agenda tersendiri dalam projek ini," katanya sewaktu sidang media di Pejabata Agung PAS semalam.
Beliau menjelaskan bahawa PAS telah menghantar surat memohon penjelasan dan memo berhubung isu tersebut kepada Samy di Kementeriannya dan diserahkan melalui Ketua Setiausaha Kementerian Kerja Raya Dato' Syed Jamal Syed Jaaffar dengan disaksikan oleh Timbalan Ketua Setiausahanya, Dato' Asiah Marzuki.
"Saya dukacita dengan sikap Samy yang tidak prihatin dan telus dalam isu ini. Saya mahu dia jawab semua lima perkara penyelewengan yang perlu dijelaskan segera," katanya yang menghantar sekali lagi surat penjelasan sebaik sahaja sidang media tersebut selesai.
Antara kepincangan dan kesangsian yang timbul berhubung isu ini selain harga tawaran yang begitu tinggi ialah projek tersebut dilakukan secara rundingan terus dan bukannya secara terbuka malah diberikan kepada kontraktor tidak berdaftar dan bukan kategori kelas A.
Sebelum ini, Mahfuz pernah menyfatkan bahawa pembinaan Istana Negara baru bukan atas kemahuan Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin tetapi disebabkan oleh pihak berkepentingan yang mempunyai agenda tertentu untuk mengaut untung yang lebih dengan menggunakan nama institusi raja-raja.
Katanya ada pihak tertentu yang seolah-olah memperalatkan institusi raja untuk mengaut keuntungan jutaan ringgit dengan membazirkan wang rakyat, dan sebagai satu helah supaya masyarakat tidak mempersoalkan ketelusannya kerana khuatir dilabel atau didakwa sebagai menghina atau menderhaka kepada raja-raja.
"Tidak timbul soal saya derhaka kepada raja tetapi saya derhaka kepada pihak pengurusan kewangan negara dan mempersoalkan pembaziran wang rakyat RM1 bilion," katanya.
"Saya rasa hati kecil baginda Sultan Mizan pun merasakan ini bukanlah satu keperluan penting malah melibatkan jumlah wang rakyat yang begitu besar tetapi saya percaya ada agenda orang-orang tertentu untuk mendapat habuan melalui projek pembinaan Istana," katanya pada Ogos lalu.
Selain itu daripada maklumat yang diperolehi, hasil projek pembinaan istana negara itu kemungkinan akan digunakan sebagai dana untuk menghadapi pilihan raya umum akan datang.
"Kita tidak menghalang pembinaan Istana Negara untuk memberi keselesaan kepada Yang di-Pertuan Agong tetapi yang dipertikaikan ialah kos begitu luar biasa dan melibatkan dana awam berjumlah RM1 bilion, walaupun ada yang mempersoalkan kewajaran dan keperluan membina istana yang baru," kata Mahfuz.
"Kita tidak menghalang pembinaan dan wajar beri tempat selesa kepada raja kita, cuma yang dipertikaikan ialah kosnya dan kita mahu penjelasan," katanya
Tambah Mahfuz lagi projek yang melibatkan jumlah besar itu diserahkan pula secara rundingan terus kepada satu syarikat kontraktor sahaja Maya Maju Sdn Bhd, yang difahamkan bukan pun daripada kategori kelas A atau B, malah tidak berdaftar dengan Pusat Khidmat Kontraktor (PKK).
Sebelum ini, berita utama muka belakang Harakah keluaran 1-15 Julai 2007 mendedahkan bahawa kos kerja-kerja tanah Istana Negara baru ini mencecah hampir RM130 juta, manakala kerja-kerja 'interior design' bernilai sekitar RM250 juta. Site Office Building pula dicadangkan RM9 juta, manakala kerja 'landscaping' dan 'garden' melebihi RM35 juta.
Berdasarkan Kabinet sudahpun meluluskan kos pembinaan Istana Negara baru di Jalan Duta, Kuala Lumpur itu yang pada awalnya bernilai RM400 juta tetapi telah meningkat melebihi RM1.1 bilion.
Harakahdaily
Cerita Polis dan Anjing
Labels: NATIONSAYU dan sedih membaca laporan bagaimana sekumpulan 15 wartawan telah diherdikkan sebagai anjing oleh seorang pegawai polis semasa mereka sedang menjalankan tugas masing-masing. Kejadian itu berlaku ketika kumpulan wartawan itu mengerumuni tempat penemuan dua mayat lelaki di sebuah ladang kelapa sawit di Bukit Hijau, Kedah.
Kumpulan wartawan yang merasakan terhina dengan kejadian itu telah membuat laporan polis. Pegawai kanan polis yang berada di tempat kejadian itu dikatakan telah menghalang kumpulan wartawan berkenaan daripada mendekati dan merakam tempat kejadian dengan menyebut; “anjing jangan masuk,” di samping meminta agar anjing dilepaskan untuk mengertak kumpulan wartawan berkenaan.
Memang tidak dinafikan ada kalanya gelagat dan keghairahan wartawan dalam menjalankan tugas boleh menganggu tugas-tugas pihak lain termasuk polis. Ada setengah mereka kurang peka dan mempunyai perasaan sensitiviti kerana terlalu menekankan kepada profesionalisme mereka. Seharusnya semua pihak faham dan mengerti tugas seorang wartawan. Pantas, cergas, kurang beradab dan suka mendesak adalah wartawan!
Kalau mereka tidak berbuat begitu mungkin mereka tidak akan mendapat maklumat atau merakam gambar dengan tepat. Jadi untuk memastikan mereka mendapat sesuatu yang terbaik, lengkap dan cantik (berkualiti) menyebabkan mereka kadang kala bersikap agresif dan melewati sempadan sepatutnya.
Serigala atau sekawan babi
Pun begitu apabila polis mengeluarkan kata-kata itu, (anjing) (yang ianya lebih teruk dari hadiah penyapu seperti mana digunakan Khir Toyo), apa lagi dilepaskan anjing untuk menghalau wartawan, jadilah kumpulan wartawan itu seolah-olah seperti serigala atau sekawan babi. Betapa hina dan rendahnya martabat kumpulan wartawan itu.
Lebih malang lagi tidak cukup diherdik dan dianjingkan, maka anjing yang hidup yang selalu digunakan untuk mengesan pengganas dan penjenayah pula digunakan. Tindakan itu samalah lagaknya wartawan itu seperti serigala yang kena dihalau pakai anjing.
Kita faham apa yang berlaku itu bukan menggambarkan sikap polis keseluruhannya. Tidak dinafikan ada polis yang baik dan saling memahami tugas masing-masing. Namun kes berkenaan ia tidak boleh dianggap sebagai kes terpencil. Pihak atasan polis perlu menyiasat dan mengambil tindakan jika dakwaan itu berlaku. Tidak sewajarnya seorang pegawai polis bersikap biadap begitu.
Apa lagi kejadian itu berlaku dengan wartawan di mana entiti yang sangat-sangat diperlukan oleh pihak polis dalam membantunya menjaga keselamatan negara. Seharusnya kejadian yang keji dan buruk itu tidak patut berlaku. Mereka sepatutnya bekerjasama.
Polis yang menggunakan slogan, tepat dan betul dan senantiasa berkhidmat itu seharusnya menunjukkan suri tauladan yang baik. Akhlak dan diplomasi polis seharusnya melebihi daripada akhlak dan diplomasi orang lain.
Sedikit sebanyak sikap pegawai polis menggunakan anjing itu memberi implikasi buruk kepada pasukan polis. Kerana tindakan pegawai polis itu menyebabkan orang yang sudah terkilan dengan sesetengah tindakan polis sebelum ini menjadi lebih marah lagi kepada polis. Dengan kelakuan biadap polis itu orang boleh menerima atau menganggap kejadian itu sebagai itulah sikap dan budaya sebenar polis.
Kalau di tempat terbuka di hadapan khayalak polis tergamak menyumpah dan mencaci orang begitu rupa, bagaimana kalau di dalam bilik siasatan atau tahanan? Tentu bahasanya lebih kesat dan kasar lagi. Jadi tidak hairanlah kalau ada cerita atau pengalaman orang ditahan polis menceritakan mereka kena tumbuk, kena pukul, dilondehkan seluar dan sebagainya.
Kata Malek Hussein, yang ditahan di bawah akta Keselamatana Dalam Negeri (ISA) air kencing pun disuruh minum oleh polis. Berdebah, kata Malek!
Adalah elok kalau Polis di-Raja Malaysia (PDRM) menghantar mana-mana anggota atau pegawainya yang kurang memiliki sifat perikemanusiaan dan berlebihan pula sifat kebinatangan untuk mengikuti kurus sivik di Biro Tata Negara (BTN), ataupun kurus keperibadian sebagai seorang insan kamil di Jabatan-Jabatan Agama Islam Negeri-Negeri.
Tidak terlupa juga Jawatankuasa Pembakaian Perkhdimatan Polis yang ditubuhkan tidak lama dulu seharusnya meneliti sama kes-kes dan kejadian pegawai polis yang ‘gila’ seperti itu. Dan mungkin juga perlu bagi pasukan polis terus menghantar anggota-anggota yang sudah jelas mereng dibuat uji kaji mental di mana-mana hospital bahagia!
Hindus to hold protest rally on Sunday
Labels: NATIONA HINDU group is defying police orders by going ahead with a massive gathering on Sunday to highlight the plight of marginalised Indians in Malaysia.
Organisers hope to draw 50,000 people to the gathering, which is taking place two weeks after the biggest protest rally Malaysia has seen in a decade.
Police yesterday set up roadblocks at major roads leading into the city, causing massive traffic jams. Some policemen were armed with submachine guns - weapons which are rarely carried openly by cops.
'It is part of the police's crime prevention efforts,' Kuala Lumpur police chief Zul Hasnan Najib told The Straits Times.
He added that Sunday's gathering, which has not been issued a police permit, was one of the reasons for putting up the roadblocks.
Similar roadblocks were set up during the Nov 10 rally to prevent protesters from entering the city centre.
Sunday's protest is organised by the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf), an influential pressure group to protect Hinduism, the religion of most of Malaysia's two million Indians.
In August, Hindraf leader Waytha Moorthy had filed a £4 trillion (S$12 trillion) class-action suit against the British government in London.
The sum is sought as compensation for the sufferings of the Indian community, whose ancestors were brought into then Malaya by their British colonial masters during the 19th and early 20th centuries as labour.
Mr Moorthy also blamed the British government for failing to protect the Indians after Malaya's independence, resulting in the community's continued marginalisation.
Hindraf leaders plan to submit a petition to the British High Commission here on Sunday, asking Queen Elizabeth II to appoint a counsel for the Indian community.
'We are too poor to get our own lawyers. So far, we have collected over 100,000 signatures,' Hindraf legal adviser M. Manoharan told The Straits Times.
Deputy Internal Security Minister Mohd Johari Baharum said the police would not grant a permit for Sunday's rally.
'Some of the text messages (circulated about the rally) can incite feelings. They are blaming the government, the police and Umno,' Datuk Johari was quoted as saying in the New Straits Times.
Two weeks ago, Bersih, a coalition of opposition and civil society groups, staged a protest march to the King's palace, demanding electoral reforms. Police fired tear gas and water cannon during the gathering, which attracted some 10,000 people, making it the largest protest since former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim's sacking in 1998.
The Straits Times/span>
Timbalan Menteri terima wang haram 10 juta
Labels: NATIONSebuah syarikat pengangkutan kargo dipercayai milik Timbalan Menteri didakwa menjalankan pemindahan wang secara haram (money laundering) melebihi RM10 juta dari Bangladesh.
Bagaimanapun Parti Keadilan Rakyat (KeADILan), Bahagian Kelana Jaya, Selangor, mendakwa polis dan Badan Pencegah Rasuah (BPR) masih enggan mengambil tindakan undang-undang terhadap syarikat tersebut.
Setiausaha Bahagian tersebut, Faizal Mustaffa mendakwa walaupun laporan dibuat sejak tahun 2001 yang lalu tetapi sehingga sekarang tiada sebarang tindakan diambil.
Beliau mendedahkan perkara tersebut kepada pihak media dalam satu sidang di ibu pejabat KeADILan, Jalan Tun Sambanthan, Brickfields, dekat sini, hari ini.
Dakwanya Timbalan Menteri berkenaan memiliki saham sebanyak 49 peratus dengan syarikat itu.
"Semasa memegang jawatan Timbalan Menteri wang tersebut dipindahkan ke akaun setiausahanya.
"Timbalan menteri itu adalah seorang Ahli Majlis Tertinggi Umno menyalahgunakan kuasanya sebagai Menteri Kabinet dalam mendapat kontrak dengan syarikat berkenaan," dakwanya.
Beliau yang turut mengedarkan beberapa salinan dokumen kepada wartawan berhubung pendedahan kes tersebut mendakwa, Timbalan Menteri itu masih menjalankan urus niaga melalui sebuah syarikat asing biarpun perbuatannya bertentangan dengan sumpah semasa dilantik sebagai timbalan menteri.
Pemindahan wang haram itu dakwa Faizal bercanggah dengan peraturan bank negara Bangladesh dan Bank Negara Malaysia.
Dalam pada itu, Timbalan Menteri tersebut turut didakwa memiliki empat buah kediaman mewah di sekitar Shah Alam dan Subang Jaya.
Selain itu dakwanya Timbalan Menteri itu dipercayai mempunyai lapan buah kereta mewah termasuk sebuah Porche dan motosikal Harley Davidson.
Harakahdaily
BN confesses: RTM "a govt dept"
The Barisan Nasional government has surprisingly admitted that RTM is its mouthpiece! Whether he did this so inadvertently or after being flustered while searching for a ‘clever’ reply to allegations that RTM news reports and programmes in general were politically biased, Information Minister Zainuddin Maidin stated in no uncertain terms (in a television news report on 15 November 2007) that Radio and Television Malaysia (RTM) is a government department. This is the statement of the century by our government, which has always been big on the ‘window-dressing’ principles of a democracy that it only pays lip service to. It is now abundantly clear to the Malaysian public and the world at large, that our mainstream media, especially RTM, is directly controlled by the government.
Malaysians are familiar with laws intended to muzzle the media and keep the right of free expression to a minimum. The government deems this basic human right a privilege reserved for itself and all who are willing to toe its line. Thus it has encouraged and nurtured self-censorship amongst writers and journalists in the country’s mainstream media, turning the voice of the supposedly ‘independent’ privately owned media into a whimper. The government has killed the dynamism of the media, which could have challenged its record of poor governance and allowed the public space to air their decent views.
Thanks to Bersih, the coalition of NGOs for Free and Fair Elections, for creating an environment of challenge to a ruling party, unused to democratic practices, that has held the country in its grip since Independence.
RTM is funded by Malaysian tax-payers who have still to realise and learn that they have a right to withdraw their support for a ruling party that squanders their hard-earned income on prestige projects, backs crony companies, keeps itself in power through vote-buying at every election, and stifles the Opposition by controlling media coverage.
The latest, useless project was to send some academic to space, riding on an international space programme, to which tax-payers had to contribute. The government called this ‘adding prestige’ to the country’s name internationally – though it probably served more the interests of those with vested interests than being of any use to the ordinary Malaysian.
The mainstream newspapers are increasingly becoming government advertisement brochures, to sell the country to foreign investors, as well as propaganda material. All the hype about freedom of expression is just what it is: merely hype and nothing else. The ruling party’s spin-doctors must keep busy spinning illusions for the consumption of the electorate. One can only get constipated after taking in all those illusions.
The good thing is that the truth is seeping out. The thousands that turned up near Dataran Merdeka on 10 November were not phantom voters or phantom members of the ruling coalition. They were flesh-and-blood people who braved police water cannons, tear gas and possible brutality. Incidences of police brutality during their charge on peaceful protestors were perhaps given minimal publicity. Some observant viewers said certain television reports testified to random attacks on members of the public.
In this action, the public has spoken and may continue to speak wordlessly, energised by an objective the political Opposition and civil society will not be diverted from. If the ruling Barisan Nasional doggedly insists on pushing it hard-line allegedly autocratic ‘one-party state’ rule down the electorate’s throat, public reaction remains to be seen. The electorate remain unpredictable, due to their fear of the unknown and may ironically opt for a “ better- the- devil- you- know- than- the- devil- you- don’t” compromise, as they have done in past elections.
It will depend on the proportion of the electorate who still place hope in the Barisan Nasional despite its overt ‘war on democracy’ by the suppression of free expression by the Opposition, civil society groups and conscientious objectors. Public political awareness and realism of the consequences of the choices they make coupled with the question of whether a majority of voters prefer piecemeal solutions to their problems will largely influence the results of the forthcoming polls.
The Truth Is Out There
Labels: NATIONExactly a week ago, the rakyat came out in full solidarity to accompany Bersih to send a memorandum for electoral reforms to His Majesty DYMM The Agong at the istana.
Since then, there have been a plethora of conflicting reports regarding the details of the 10-Eleven rally by the mainstream media and bloggers in this country.
The difference between the two, as we have come to know it, can be summed up thus - the former are journalists for the establishment whereas the latter are journalists for the citizens. Who has reported the truth of the event will depend on the credibility of the journalists, and, the intelligence of the readers.
Information deciphering and sieving out the truth have never been easy and it will continue to remain so. The readers will have to apply their smarts to get to the bottom of things.
Who reported the truth? Consider some of the following questions and one will begin to understand the discrepancies that have been dished out.
Was it 4,000 or 40,000 that turned up for the rally?
Was the use of force by the police provoked or not?
Were the traffic jams caused by the police or the rally?
Was the event organized by the opposition?
Was the rally legal or illegal?
Was the Royal Malay Regiment 19th Brigade on stand-by?
As though the above were not enough to obfuscate, now we have journalists for the establishment screaming that The Agong, Tuanku Mizan, “regrets claims he supports the illegal rally.”
Whose report is the truth? Did The Agong issue the statement or not?
Malaysian general election in March?
NOVEMBER and December are out. March is now being bandied about as the likely date for an early general election in Malaysia. This new window - after Chinese New Year on Feb 7 - seems to be gaining traction among Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders, who have taken into account several factors, including current voter concerns.
Reasons cited for holding polls...
...this year
1. Government may need to raise fuel prices next year.
2. Inflation is expected to worsen.
3. Chinese support may drop due to their perception that the government is handling poorly the economy, crime rate, and race and religious issues.
4. Fear that Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad may resume his attacks on Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi when he recovers fully from heart surgery.
5. Stop opposition chief Anwar Ibrahim from taking part as an election ban on him expires only on April 15.
...next year
1. Datuk Seri Abdullah wants to make the ground sweeter by pushing big projects in mostly rural areas and raising economic growth.
2. Keeping with tradition as the Barisan Nasional (BN) has never gone to the polls until it completes four years of its five-year term.
3. Datuk Seri Abdullah wants to improve the government's record on fighting crime and corruption.
4. The annual end-of-year moonsoon season and flooding in the east coast.
YAB Dato' Seri Abdullah bin Haji Ahmad Badawi Please Stand Up!
No wonder, we, Malaysians are in deep shit. While Yang Amat Berhormat Dato' Seri Abdullah bin Haji Ahmad Badawi sleeps, who actually run the country? He is a national disgrace.
His ministers are squandering millions. It's public knowledge that RM100 million commission was paid for purchasing Sukhois, RM500 million commision paid for purchasing the Scorpion submarines, RM70 million for a non-existent Sports Centre in London and RM40 million lease for a STUPID ferris wheel called Eye-on-Malaysia. We all are going down if he keep on doing what he does best.....sleeping.
POLICE! STOP THE NONSENSE
I was at the balai polis last Tuesday night to lodge a report. My maid went missing, so for immigration purposes, I need to lodge a report. Nowadays, they have one stop center in the balai, with air-cond, big sofas and 29 inch TV, just in case you need to wait.
30 minutes later, with a police report in my hand, I drove off a happier man. Thank you Mr L/Kpl. Except for his typing "speed", which is about 15 alphabets per minute, overall, I'm quite happy with the service and advice they provide.
At home, I kept thinking about the internal war between Commercial Crime Investigation Department director Datuk Ramli Yusuff and the Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hasan. Police are agents or agencies empowered to enforce the law and to effect public and social order through the legitimate use of force. What is wrong with PDRM?
Digging further, I found a few facts that I believe should be a reminder to PDRM's to stop all the nonsense and start doing your work i.e. policing.
The Government has actually fails to provide, we, the rakyat, the right to live, work, study and play in a safe and secure environment. We, Malaysians have a fundamental right for our families and children be safe and ensure that criminals get caught, instead of being allowed to roam free. Any government should be ashamed for failing to deliver a police force that works and protects us.
WHAT IS GOING ON?
Certain things is still unclear to me and maybe to others too. Is it a norm for the Deputy Minister of Internal Security to give specific directives to the CCID without the knowledge of the IGP? Does this mean that what we have heard i.e. that the Deputy Minister of Internal Security was at loggerheads with the IGP is totally true? Why wouldn't the Internal Security Ministry’s (note, not Deputy Internal Security Ministry’s) legal advisor - who is an officer of our world’s famous Attorney-General’s Chambers - declined to help the CCID to fight the case? Is there an internal war within the Internal Security Ministry/Police Force/ACA? This 'wayang' is getting more interesting each day...
The following is Ramli's statement in full:
DATO' PAHLAWAN RAMLI BIN YUSOF
DIRECTOR OF COMMERCIAL CRIME INVESTIGATION DEPARTMENT
I have until today remained silent about developments in the police force, in particular, the arrest and prosecution of officers of the Commercial Crime Investigation Department ("CCID") who are alleged to have falsified statements of confidential informants in connection with the banishment of one Goh Cheng Poh @ Tengku.
Sometime last year, a Joint Committee and a Special Task force were established at the Cabinet level and PDRM respectively to combat the worrisome menace of Ah Long activities and illegal gambling. In March 2007, the Deputy Minister of Internal Security gave specific directives to the CCID on the activities of certain crime syndicates operating in Johor involving certain Dato's and JPs. The investigations by the CCID led to the eventual detention and banishment of the said Goh to Jeli, Kelantan. The detention and banishment order was made under the hand of the Deputy Minister of Internal Security, based on the intelligence gathered by police officers of the CCID. The banishee, Goh, is, on his own confession, a person of questionable background, having been banished previously and who was involved in a shooting incident in which a friend of his was shot and murdered. The merits of his banishment are a matter which is within the subjective purview and prerogative of the Deputy Minister of Internal Security and, consequently, I am not at liberty to comment.
Soon after the banishment order was made by the Deputy Minister of Internal Security, the press reported that both the ACA and the Criminal Investigation Department ("CID") had already investigated and cleared Goh of any wrongdoing. This certainly did not include the subject matter of the CCID's investigations into Goh affairs as directed by the Deputy Minister of Internal Security. In the aftermath of these newspaper reports, Goh applied to the High Court to set aside the banishment order made against him by the Deputy Minister of Internal Security.
In an unprecedented stance, the Legal Adviser of the Ministry of Internal Security, an officer of the Attorney-General's Chambers, declined to advise and directed that my officers and I prepare affidavits of the events surrounding the preparation of the investigative papers on Goh for the benefit of the Deputy Minister of Internal Security. Those affidavits were to be filed in the High Court arising from the application by Goh to have his banishment order set aside. Given the constraints of time, we, the officers of the CCID, sought legal advice from a private law practice who advised and assisted in the preparation of the draft affidavits concerned. I was under advise at the time that the Attorney-General was under a duty to advise and assist us in the preparation of the said affidavits under Article 145 of the Federal Constitution and the Government Proceedings Act, 1956.
My officers and I were then directed to deliver up the confidential case files containing the names of the confidential informants to the Attorney-General's Chambers. I have since been aware that officers of the ACA have tracked down these informants and taken statements from them. Subsequently, these informants have made further statements in connection with their seeking protection from the Deputy Minister of Internal Security.
During the course of these events, the press began widely reporting the involvement of a senior officer for the following:-
(a) investigation by ACA into the unexplained accumulation of wealth alleged to be RM 27 million;
(b) investigation by the ACA of the said Sr Police officer taking on the role of an "Enforcer/Godfather" of a company in Sabah and being its shareholder/director without departmental clearance; and
(c) investigation for the abuse of powers by the CCID in the crime preventive action concerning the detention and banishment of the aforesaid Goh Cheng Poh @ Tengku.
Although the name of the officer was not disclosed, it is public a knowledge that I was the officer referred to in these widely sensationalized news.
I understand that one Sok One a/i Esen, an ACA officer, has sworn and filed an affidavit in the proceedings brought by Goh to have his banishment order set aside. In that affidavit, Sok One a/I Esen confirmed that the ACA was investigating the CCID in connection with Goh allegations of CCID officers having abused their powers.
On the eve of Hari Raya, one of my longstanding friends who also acted as my legal adviser was arrested and charged for the alleged failure to comply with a notice served on him at the behest of the ACA. One of the officers present at the time of his arrest and detention was the said Sok One a/i Esen. He was also one of the lawyers who assisted in the preparation of the affidavits of CCID officers filed in the proceedings in connection with the Goh case.
Within the week, several officers of the CCID were arrested and charged in Court for allegedly falsifying evidence concerning the banishment of Goh. In the charge sheets, the names of the confidential informants have been disclosed.
I am gravely concerned by the manner in which the identities of police informants are dealt with in investigations carried out by the ACA. The identities of the informants were obtained through the circumvention of the Inspector General's Standing Orders. Given these events, there exists a clear and present danger as to the intelligence gathering ability of the police force and its ability to protect its informants.
These are disturbing events and will undeniably have a deep impact, not only on the CCID but the police force as a whole. The officers of the CCID have been mistreated by the ACA and are yet to be protected by their own force. I will be departing for my umrah and in my absence I hope these issues will be dealt with by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Malaysia's CJ Retires
Labels: NATION2 lessons learnt from this issue is ; 1. This shows the wisdom of our rulers and also a victory to the people and therefore should be treated as a beginning for something new in this country. This is unprecedented in our history. 2. Finally The NST admits that our Constitution requires the Rulers consent when it comes to Judicial appointment. DAULAT TUANKU!
From The Straits Times
MALAYSIA'S beleaguered Chief Justice, Tun Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim, reaches retirement age today, with no word from the government on extension of his term.
Several months ago, he was said to have asked to be allowed to stay on for six more months.
He turns 66 today - the age of mandatory retirement for judges.
It is believed that his request for extension has not received the approval of the King, which is required under the Malaysian Constitution.
Under Malaysian law, the second most senior judge - Court of Appeal president Abdul Hamid Mohamad - will automatically assume the post of acting Chief Justice.
Datuk Abdul Hamid, 65, is said to be on the list of candidates slated to take over the top judicial post.
Sources say that the issue of the new Chief Justice is on the agenda of today's meeting of the country's nine hereditary rulers with Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi.
The Constitution requires the rulers' consent for judicial appointments.
The sultans, who normally do not rock the boat, collectively showed their strength earlier this year when they refused to endorse a government choice for the third most senior judicial post, the Chief Judge of Malaya.
This latest turn of events comes in the wake of a scandalous video clip released recently of a lawyer boasting on the phone that he could use his political connections to get judges promoted.
Tun Ahmad Fairuz has denied, through the de facto Law Minister Nazri Aziz, that he was on the other end of the line, but speculation continues to rage.
This saga has put intense pressure on the government to reform the system of making appointments to the Bench.
The Malaysian Bar Council, which represents 12,000 lawyers, also piled on the pressure by calling for a more transparent system of judicial appointments.
Just last Friday, a human rights lawyer handed the King a 5,000-signature petition calling for reforms.
Even Perak Sultan Azlan Shah joined the call for change - to widespread support from the legal fraternity - when he opened the Malaysian Law Conference on Monday.
The government's prolonged delay in making a decision on the succession to the top judicial post underlines the dilemma that it is in.
Its next move is being closely watched as a signal of its political will to institute reforms.
It thus came as a further blow when Tan Sri Zaki Azmi, said to be a candidate for the Chief Justice's post, came under attack in parliament on Tuesday for being Umno's former top legal adviser.
Parliamentary opposition leader Lim Kit Siang was quoted in the New Straits Times yesterday as saying that Tan Sri Zaki's appointment would be a prelude to him becoming 'Umno's Chief Justice'.
A former senior lawyer, Tan Sri Zaki, 62, was appointed a judge of Malaysia's apex court in September, the first person to be elevated directly to the highest court without having served as a judge in the lower courts.
The de facto Law Minister Nazri Aziz came to Tan Sri Zaki's defence in parliament, saying that the judge was only an ordinary Umno member who sat on the disciplinary committee.
