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This blog is dedicated to you with the purpose of understanding and participating in social reform. Your invaluable feed-backs in terms of suggestions, opinions and comments would be very much appreciated.

The Malaysian society is meant for all Malaysians and the process of globalisation has brought us closer to reality more than ever before. People do not take official announcements at their face value any more and only truth would prevail as there are many modern channels to uncover truth.

Social reform is an on-going process as people are always on a look out for improvement. Hence constant social reform is the motto of this blog! Let’s be frank and open in our discussion for the betterment of mankind!

By the Administrator

On 8th March, Tony Pua, MP Petaling Jaya Utara(DAP), and Dr. Zul;kifli Ahmad, MP Kuala Lelangor (PAS), briefed the Penang Pakatan members on GSY (Goods and Services Tax) to be tabled by the BN Government in Parliament soon.

Members are now fully aware of GST’s impacts on the whole fabric of the  Malaysian society and the hidden agenda of BN to pass on the tax burden which is now shouldered by less than 20% of our population to be passed on

to everyone. Tony Pua pointed out that out of the 12 million Malaysian workers, only 15% of them have to pay tax at the moment. The remaining 85% do not have to as  their monthly incomes are below RM3,000 each.   

He also said that among the 28 million population, only 6.4% are paying tax.

But this scenario is going to change drastically as a bottom-up after the passing of GST in Parliament.

Under the present SST or Sales and Services Tax regime, exporters are contributing RM1.4 billion, and professional services RM11.7 billion. Whereas with GST, more than 90% of the rakyat have to be the main contributors of the expected RM 13 billion GST collection. And this had been worked out to be an average of everyone having to pay RM550.

According to Dr. Zulkifli, the BN government has been on a deficit for a continuously 13 years, and they have been relying on government expenditures to inflate the National Growth Rates. But now they could not do that anymore, as our debt is about RM368 billion or 52% of the Gross Domestic Products.

He also said that Malaysia is no longer an attractive country for investment, so far as the ’soverign-rating’ goes.

The BN government used to depend 44% of its income from Petronas.

So, the whole population has become the target for GST, and all those do not have to pay tax before, have to pay now!

Announcement
organised by Protes

Event: Protest against GST

Start Time: Monday, March 15 at 9:00am
End Time: Monday, March 15 at 12:00pm

By the Administrator

In a PKR Penang MP’s, Assemblymen and Local Councillors Council Meeting on 3rd March, preparation was made to carry out a series of activities to celebrate the 2nd Anniversary of Pakatan Rakyat governments in 5 states.

Great enthusiasm was shown by the participants at the meeting which was chaired by Law Choo Kiang, the Penang state Deputy . Mansor Othman, the State Chairman, went to KL for another meeting.

For the 3 MP.s who had just left the party, members felt that it was unavoidable as they have their own personal agenda, and it was better for the party’s own cleaning-up.

The best defence is offence, so the meeting thought voters registration must be carried out. The aim is to capture Kepala Batas and Tasek Gelugor Parliamentary seats, and the 7 state seats which PKR l;ost in the last general elections.

Issues on the reorganisation of Bayan Baru and Jelutong Divisions, as well as well as the continuing service to be carried out in Bayan Baru and Nibong Tebal were discussed, with a call for improvement of a mechanism which could pave the way for a greater solidarity among all members.

By the Administrator

Members of the Infrastructure and Traffic Standing Committee of the Penang Island Municipal Council (or MPPP, Majlis Perbandaran Pulau Pinang) made their rounds to several places on 3 nd March with the aim of improving the road system and condition.

Councillors preferred to be on the ground instead of meeting on the drawing-board to be mire realistic or down to earth.

Below are some pictures of their visit :

 This TNB (Tenaga National Berhad) pole had been there along Jelutong Road for years and become an obstacle to vehicles and hence a cause of accidents. From left : Councillors Zikri, Ooi Chee Hock, Boo Chang and Ismail Ibramsah

The  2 JKR (Jabatan Kerja Rara) staff  above were asked to remove it.

 From left : Boo Chang, Khairi Annuar, the PKR Jelutong Division Youth Secretary andhis friend, and Zikri

2 big islands in the middle of the Jelutong Road to be removed and a u-turn lane to be created, with installation of a few more lamp-posts

Exit of Lebuhraya Batu Lancang to be changed to a traffic light system

 Listening to the public grouses

 Ooi Soo Hin, the Special Assistant of Batu Lancang Assemblyman pausing over the idea

 How to avoid to let vehicles coming out from this dangerous junction to Green Lane just before the under-pass

 The JKR (Public Roads Department) have to improve on the winding road of Paya Terubung towards Relau, by straightening it and also making it into 4 lanes for safe travelling

A colletive approach

From Aliran, by Martin Jalleh

The public has increasingly perceived the fledging PR to be a
“fragile”, “feuding”, “fraying” and “faltering” coalition – one that
was “not on a firm footing”, observes Martin Jalleh.

2009 saw the end of the euphoria that enveloped the whole country
after the political tsunami of March 2008. It was a year during which
the Opposition coalition, Pakatan Rakyat (PR), was brought down to
earth and forced to face the enormity of the challenge to deliver what
it had promised during the elections.

It was also a year when the public increasingly perceived the fledging
PR to be a “fragile”, “feuding”, “fraying” and “faltering” coalition -
one that was “not on a firm footing”.  In light of this scenario, the
PR was hard pressed to convince the public that they could form the
next federal government.

One would have thought that the PR, after having lost Perak to the BN
in February 2009, would come to its senses about the need to be
united. But it continued with its petty and puerile public inter and
intra-party squabbles, spats and skirmishes, much to the surprise and
scorn of the public and the satisfaction of Umno!

Meanwhile, the great hope which the apolitical Hindraf gave to the
Indians and in fact to Bolehland came to a halt. Its high-browed
leaders haggled over its future, hurled accusations at one another and
accused PR of hypocrisy. By year’s end, Hindraf appeared headless,
helpless, hopeless and headed for oblivion!

Coming back to the PR, in contrast to those disappointed,
disillusioned and even disgusted over what they felt was the
coalition’s failure to deliver and to stop its disunity, there were
the PR die-hards who felt that it was too early to dismiss PR
altogether or to write its death sentence. It deserved more time and
trust to prove itself.

The opposition coalition was only less than two years old as compared
to the BN of more than 50 years. The PR was made up of many first-
timers with divergent ideologies and inclinations and like any
coalition, has varying kinds of leaders/members such as the
enlightened, the erratic, the eccentric and the egocentric!

Further, the PR in fact had ruled well in their states. The Auditor-
General (AG) gave the highest rating to Selangor and Penang in terms
of good governance since March 2008, which compared very favourably
against BN-ruled states. The AG also gave a commendable rating to the
PR’s performance during its 11-month rule in Perak.

In 2009, PR also contributed significantly to Parliament in the form
of better participation and stronger arguments during Question Time
and debates. In July, the PR formed parliamentary committees in tandem
with 25 government ministries to help its MPs deliberate important
bills and issues including the Budget.

Even in terms of by-elections, the PR fared well. There was a time
when it was a foregone conclusion that the BN would be the winner in
any by-election. But in 2009 (a year of by-elections), the PR and the
BN faced off seven times, with the opposition pact winning five times
to BN’s two.

The PR successes in 2009, however, were overshadowed by its many
shortcomings. In August 2009, Anwar conceded that his party PKR was
the “weakest link” in PR and that “there is a flaw in our vetting
system. We rushed to choose candidates to contest in the last general
elections but I promise that this will be improved.”

In October 2009, the PR was humbled in the Bagan Pinang by-election.
There were a host of lessons to be learned. Anwar did not hesitate to
admit that the defeat was due to the “weaknesses and shortcomings” in
PR. Some PR supporters even heaved a sigh of relief that the PR had
lost! It was a heaven-sent harsh wake-up call.

In the same month, an exasperated Lim Kit Siang warned: “Pakatan
Rakyat had been suffering a prolonged and unceasing bout of loss of
public confidence… to convince the Malaysian electorate in its
credibility, cohesion, integrity and common sense of purpose.” PR may
be only a “one-term miracle”, he prodded them.

Lethargy set in as the year went by. If not for the political
lassitude of 20 missing PR MPs in Parliament, the BN’s Budget Bill (in
mid-December 2009) could have been voted out and the PR could have won
a vote of no-confidence against the BN government. PR appeared to be
resting on its laurels. How long would it last?

In 2009, Karpal Singh slammed Anwar for “creating enough trouble” and
asked him to quit. Raja Petra said Anwar was in a “self-destruct
mode”. Umno shamelessly labelled the PR chief a “chameleon” (which
Umno politician is not?) and a High Court ordered him to stand trial
for sodomy charges! But Anwar soldiered on.

Umno spent the year systematically sabotaging the PR-ruled states by
abusing varous institutions of democracy. The PR was portrayed as
weak, wavering and wobbling and Umno as having bounced back stronger
to stamp its “supremacy”. Najib was back in the saddle (taking the
country for a ride) with his slogans!

The PR’s successes were downplayed. Umno’s scandals were diverted.
Federal funds were denied or delayed or distributed discriminately. PR
leaders were demonised and Umno portrayed as the champion of Islam and
the Malay race, and the defender of the royalty. Umno was bent on
destabilising and destroying PR!

The PR was undaunted by the task ahead. In December 2009, Pas MP
Dzulkefly Ahmad introduced the PR’s Common Policy Framework as a “Dawn
of a New Awakening” – a daring framework of common goals and grounds
derived out of debate and dissent among the three parties, determined
to deliver the “revolution of a political culture”.

The road to Putrajaya requires stomach, stamina, solidarity and the
sacrifice of personal agendas and parochial party issues for the the
larger national agenda. Sloganeering will not do.  The 1,500 delegates
at PR’s first national convention were reminded of the dictum “Perform
or Perish”.

Martin Jalleh is a well known political commentator and writer.

From Aliran, by Rani Rasiah

Maybe Najib can be called a shameless strategist, skilled but
unrepentantly contemptuous of democracy and the rule of law. How then
does this qualify him to preach, asks Rani Rasiah.

Suddenly I feel like I am in another world ruled by a saint. The
supreme leader of Malaysia’s government , the Prime Minister has
exhorted people, specifically Muslims, to emulate the Prophet’s traits
on the auspicious day of his birthday in order to achieve excellence.

There are four traits the Prime Minister lists – sincerity,
trustworthiness, ability to deliver and wisdom (NST, 26 February
2010). The PM further refers to how, guided by these traits, through
strategic and consistent planning, consultation and implementation,
the Prophet gained success. He stresses strategic planning to achieve
success and show how Malaysia is an example of the Prophet’s way.

But I am terribly befuddled, not by the Prophet’s traits or his
strategies in bringing progress to his people. It’s just that I am
constantly amazed at the audacity and skill of people in high places
like Najib seeking to preach from a morally bankrupt position, and
doing it again and again, with ample aid from a servile media, with
the conviction that widely held perceptions can flip from negative to
positive.

What traits does one see in the shameless coup in Perak? At the ballot
box, the people clearly voted out the Barisan Nasional, paving the way
for a coalition of opposition parties to rule the state. Before the
dust had settled, Najib and his ilk begin scheming.

The servile MACC tails certain Pakatan Rakyat politicians of dubious
character, trying to entice and entrap them in compromising
situations. (I believe if you line up all Malaysian politicians and
set the MACC test on them, many, many would fall.) The BN legal system
then hauls them up, the BN shouts corruption, faking horror and moral
outrage.

Three PR politicians are then allegedly bought over to the BN side.
Along with a ‘frog’-like Umno-now, PR-now, then Umno again politician,
hey presto, the Perak state government falls to the BN! And this is
showcased at a press conference attended by none other than a beaming
Najib along with his strategic political turncoat catches.

For Najib and his BN, expediency wins the day over no matter what. The
ends justify the means, even if it means killing democracy, even if it
means creating mayhem and physically removing the rightful Perak
Speaker from his seat.

Najib has shown none of the traits of the Prophet that he is
preaching. Maybe he can be called a shameless strategist, skilled but
unrepentantly contemptuous of democracy and the rule of law. How then
does this qualify him to preach the Prophet’s traits?

Rani Rasiah, an Aliran member, is coordinator of the Oppressed
People’s Network (Jerit).

By the Administrator

On 1st March, the Counter-Hall Tuah Pek Kong Temple organised a Dinner Celebration with a Teow Chew Opera show by a troup from Thailand.

Being the Honorary Legal Advisor, I was given a souvenir by the Temple’s Chairman Mr. Huan Beng Hua in honour of my receiving of a DJN (Darjah Johan Negeri) title from the Tuan Yang Di Pertua, the Governor of Penang, last July.

From Aliran

Anwar can forget about getting justice from the Malaysian judicial system. Rules can be bent, rules can be ignored, rules can be overlooked when it involves Anwar. This is what the man in the street is saying.

We witnessed this nauseating so-called judicial process in both the trials concerning Anwar’s sodomy and corruption trials in 1999. In the first sodomy trial the charges were amended three times because the authorities did not know the definite date to conclusively state when the so-called sodomy was believed to have taken place then.

In the corruption trial, the presiding judge made it so difficult for the defence to mount a serious challenge to the charge. The judge even decided that he should be convinced of the relevance of the point before the defence was allowed to question the prosecution witnesses. It was so outrageously unjust that it led Malaysians to believe that Anwar had to be convicted no matter what.

Are we witnessing a similar scenario in this instance where Anwar is on trial for the second time charged with, of all things, another sodomy?

The way things are moving, it seems, only divine intervention can save him from the injustice he is being subjected to.

Today’s ruling (25 February 2010) by the Federal Court refusing to review an earlier Federal Court decision has an unsettling effect on our system of justice.

Solicitor general II Mohd Yusof Zainal Abiden had argued that the court is not empowered to review its decision. A review can only (be) granted if the applicant manages to prove that “there was an error in law” and only in extremely rare cases is a review granted (Malaysian Insider).

There may not be “an error in law” but what course of remedy is open to the litigant when there was an error in justice? When such error involving justice is so apparent, should the court turn a blind eye to the injustice?

We are made to understand that Rule 137 of the rules of the Federal Court stipulates that the court had limited power to decide on a review of its own decision “to prevent injustice or to prevent an abuse of the process of the court” (Malaysian Insider).

Is this the reason why the law is sometimes referred to as an ass? Does this mean that an injustice and an abuse of the process of court can be tolerated and condoned by the court? Is this what rule of law is all about?

Why is Anwar being denied the list of witnesses? Why is he denied additional information and evidence which is so crucial to his defence? Is it meant to crucify him by all means as many believe it to be?

Shouldn’t the court, in all fairness, order this vital information be given to him so that the three foreign experts who are here can advise Anwar’s team of lawyers as to how to counter the so-called evidence with the prosecution?

Strangely, the court has also ruled that in spite of the fact that there was no penetration according to medical evidence, it will not dismiss the case as there is other corroborating evidence to support the charge.

Normally, penetration is most crucial in the case of rape and sodomy. In such an eventuality, other corroborating evidence may lend credence to the charge but without any positive evidence of penetration what credibility would this charge hold in any fair trial?

In the words of Lord Devlin, the court process “is to provide a civilized method of settling disputes. It is …to remove a sense of injustice.”

Unfortunately, we have not witnessed this truth so far. The injustice has not been removed by any stretch of the imagination.

 P Ramakrishnan
President of Aliran

25 February 2010

By the Administrator

On the 15th night of the Chinese Lunar Calender, some 30 over Taoist Temples in Penang have their trligious procession to chase away the bad luck of the year, apparently the year of the’white, blind tiger’ as it is said.

Such procession is only held once every 12 years, a cycle of a tiger year, and is orgasnised by Poh Hock Seah, the Tua Peck Kong Temple of Armenian Street.

Below are some pictures of an organisation called Cheng Lum Keong of Tamasn Free School, Datok Keramat area, just before they joined the procession

By the Administrator

Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim, the Opposition Leader of the Parliament, hit out at the corrupt practices of BN government on 27th February during the CNY Celebration of the Permatang Pauh Division of PKR.

In his speech, Anwar queried the 2 missing fighting jet engines which have now resurfaced in Uruguay,where so-called internal disciplinary action had been taken against people whose identities which were not disclosed. He also refuted the low value quoted by the Minister of Defence as being just about RM300,000 jet engines. He said a lorry engine was alrerady worth about RM300,000, and thus a fighting jet engine could easily worth a Million Ringgit.

He also held the audience in stiches when he said if there was a war, the Malaysian submarines, which cost the nation about 2.6 billion ringgit, could not take order to submerge into water, and would conrinue to show themselves even after crossing the Indian Ocean.

Anwar, also as the MP for the area, thanked the voters of Permatang Pauh to have had supported his wife Dato Seri Dr.Wan Azizah Ismail, who is also the PKR President, as the area’s MP even when he was detained during a by-election at one time.

Later on Azmin Ali, the Vice-President of PKR and MP for Gombak, pledged his support for Lim Guan Eng, the Chief  Minister of Penang, as being fair to all races. He said he also told Mansor Othman, the 1st Deputy Chief Minister of Penang, to be the DCM of all races in order to obtain support from all the people here.

Also greeted the public in their speeches earlier on  included Mansor Othman, the Penang party Chairman, Abdul Malik and Law Choo Khiang, both the Penang State Ex-Co Members.

Immediately after his speech, Anwar left for 2 other functions (one in Kampung Guah Jering and one in Kedah) and flew to Sabah the next morning. He also gave confidence to the people that Pakatan Rakyat could wrest power from BN 3 more states in the next general elections, and they are Johore, Sabah, and Sarawak, and thus, more hard works are required to be stepped up, he emphasised.