Whispering campaign: Anwar 'turned Hindu'

Terence Netto | Dec 24, 07 12:33pm

PKR’s de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim, on a seven-stop barnstorming swing through Penang on Saturday, drew crowds from a couple of hundred to a few thousand as he denounced the government over its policies and practices and called on the people to take charge of their destiny. At all seven stops Anwar referred to what he said was a whispering campaign against him by Umno that he had "turned Hindu" because of his support for Hindraf. Hindu Rights Action Force organised a demonstration in Kuala Lumpur last month, gathering some 30,000 people, drawing attention to their agenda of fighting for Indian rights. Five of the movement’s leaders have since been detained under the Internal Security Act for being a threat to the national security. "I intend to meet this whispering campaign head-on," said Anwar at his first stop in Sungai Nibong. "I have not abandoned my Malay and Muslim moorings but I believe in remaining open to the plight of all people who are faced with problems for which they need help," he added. "Under a PKR government, a Malay problem, a Chinese problem, an Indian problem, a Dayak problem and a Kadazan problem would be regarded as a Malaysian problem. "We will work together to see that the wealth of this nation is shared more equitably and that no one race will remain helpless in the face of rampant poverty," he said in identical remarks in all seven stops, drawing rousing cheers for this particularly at Sungai Nibong and Sungai Bakap where Indians were present in disproportionate numbers in the audience. He rode pillion on a motorcycle to his Sungai Bakap engagement because the North-South Expressway was jammed between the Penang Bridge and Juru at tea time. A roar greeted his arrival on a bike ridden by a Keadilan youngster and the crowd later chuckled knowingly when Anwar said "as deputy prime minister I wouldn't have been allowed on a bike." Populist PKR policies Announcing populist PKR policies such as the abolishment of fees from primary to tertiary level for students from poor families and the lowering of the price of oil, Anwar drew multi-racial crowds at Sungai Nibong in Bayan Baru, Sungai Bakap in Nibong Tebal, and Seberang Jaya in Permatang Pauh, and largely single race crowds in Bukit Gelugor (Indian), Penanti (Malay) and Permatang Beranggan (Malay) in Tasek Gelugor. All the seven stops were made in one day. His longest speech, an hour-long excoriation of the misdeeds of the Barisan Nasional, particularly Umno's, was reserved for a 5,000 strong crowd, the biggest and last stop of the seven, in Permatang Beranggan where he threaded on all the themes he touched on earlier. He said that a Barisan Rakyat (People's Front) government would see that "people would be enabled to be rich and not ministers and their relatives as is the case with the present lot". Penang is regarded as a frontline state by PKR as it attempts to combine with the DAP and PAS to capture more seats in the state assembly and in parliament at the next general election which observers expect will be called soon. In his gruelling swing through the state, Anwar paused at two largely Indian settlements, the first in Bukit Gelugor on Penang island, and the second at Kampung Bagan Serai in Seberang Perai, to express sympathy for people threatened with eviction by developers. He told them to expect in these times when the election is imminent that "representatives from MIC and Gerakan would come and assure you that something will be done for you but nothing will come of it". "So vote for us and vote for change to your fortunes," he urged the crowd at both stops.

BN bacul tidak benar Anwar tanding pilihan raya

Helmi Khalid Mon | Dec 24, 07 | 6:11:18 am MYT

ALOR STAR, 24 Dis (Hrkh) - Presiden PAS, Tuan Guru Dato' Seri Abdul Hadi Awang mencabar Perdana Menteri dan Barisan Nasional (BN) agar tidak menjadi pihak yang pengecut sekiranya mengadakan Pilihan raya Umum ke-12 sebelum tarikh mantan Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim layak dicalonkan semula sebagai calon.

Katanya, BN jadi pengecut, biar Anwar boleh bertanding, kita lawan sama-sama, (BN) jangan jadi pengecut.

"Dulu saya lawan, tapi Dato' Seri Anwar tak lawan, dia kena rehat (PRU-11, akibat dipenjara), sekarang Anwar dah bebas, dia dah mula turun padang, biar dia boleh lawan, kita lawan sama-sama," tegas Ustaz Hadi.

Beliau berucap demikian ketika bersama Anwar dalam Ceramah Perdana 'Bersatu Menolak BN'di Kompleks PAS Kedah di hadapan sekitar 100 ribu hadirin.

Dalam ceramahnya, Ustaz Hadi banyak mengenengahkan prinsip keadilan yang telah dijanjikan oleh Islam sebagai pemerintah terhadap golongan bukan Islam.

Beliau berkali mengulangi ketegasan bahawa disebabkan Umno tidak membawa Islam yang sebenar seperti yang dituntut oleh Allah maka sekarang ini berlaku pelbagai penindasan oleh Umno terhadap rakyat yang bukan beragama Islam.

Sementara, Anwar pula turut menyentuh isu yang sama dengan memberi contoh semakin kerap dan banyak perkataan Islam Hadhari diuangkapkan pemimpin Umno, semakin banyak penindasan dan ketidakadilan dilakukan terhadap rakyat tanpa mengira kaum dan agama.

Bibit-bibit kebangkitan rakyat Kedah telah mula dijelmakan sejak beberapa bulan lalu, jika dilihat dari beberapa program melibatkan semua kaum, jumlah kehadirannya adalah di luar jangkaan.

Petang kelmarin, ketika Anwar berkunjung di Paya Besar, Lunas sekitar 7,000 rakyat di kalangan kaum India menghadiri program tersebut.

Sebelum ini juga, PAS Kedah yang bekerjasama dengan Dewan Himpunan Cina Kedah berjaya mengumpul 120 ribu tandatangan rakyat sebagai tanda bantahan terhadap kenaikan kadar cukai yang melampau di negeri Jelapang Padi ini.

Ceramah pada malam tadi juga menyebabkan jalan raya di Alor Star-Sungai Petani sesak teruk sekitar lima kilometer berdekatan Kompleks PAS Kedah di Kota sarang Semut.

Cuaca yang baik membolehkan rakyat membanjiri dataran kompleks sejak jam 7.00 malam dan mengikuti ceramah yang dimulakan oleh Pesuruhjaya PAS Kedah, Ustaz Haji Azizan ABdul Razak diikuti Ustaz Hadi seterusnya Anwar. - mks.

RIBUAN MAAF KERANA BERITA PENYERAHAN BORANG KEMASUKAN AHLI MIC BAHAGIAN NIBONG TEBAL BERSEMPENA LAWATAN DSAI KE PULAU PINANG TIDAK DAPAT DILAKUKAN KERANA BERADA DILUAR KAWASAN.

ISA vigil at Dataran Merdeka postponed

Dec 22, 07 1:13pm

The Abolish the ISA Movement (GMI) has put off a planned vigil to protest detention without trial under the Internal Security Act at the historic Dataran Merdeka tonight. In a faxed statement last night, GMI president Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh said a police permit was pending for a new date - Jan 5 next year. “In keeping with the constitutional right to assemble peacefully, GMI is firm in its intention to hold this programme,” he said. Syed Ibrahim stressed that the event, like previous GMI events, would be entirely peaceful and pose no threat to public order and national security. “It has rather been the actions and deliberate provocation by the police which have caused (peaceful) gatherings to end in chaos,” he added. The vigil was to be attended by ISA detainee’s family members and civil society groups. The Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf), which was also suppose to participate in the vigil, has advised its supporters not to gather at Dataran Merdeka tonight via Short-Message Service (SMS). Meanwhile, the Deputy Internal Security Minister Fu Ah Kiow said that the police will decide later on the application made to hold the assembly in January. "The police will decide (on their application for a permit) after considering various factors to avoid any untoward incidents," he was quoted as saying by Bernama. Dataran closed to public Hindraf was the latest casualty of ISA detention when five of the movements’s leaders were arrested under the act on Dec 13. Yesterday, Dang Wangi district police chief ACP Zulkarnain Abdul Rahman issued a stern warning to GMI and the public to stay away from Dataran Merdeka because no permit was issued for the event. In recent months the police have carried a no-nonsense attitude in dispersing crowd who had participated in these illegal assemblies by resorting to use water cannons and tear gas. Scores have also been arrested and charged in court for taking part in these rallies.

Be ready for more ISA arrests

Khairil Zhafri | Dec 22, 07 2:17pm

Be ready for a fresh round of government crackdown akin to the 1987 Operasi Lalang, warned an opposition party DAP leader at a forum last night. Ipoh Barat Member of Parliament and the party’s vice chairperson M Kulasegaran said that more political leaders and social activists will be arrested under the dreaded Internal Security Act which allows for detention without trial. The infamous Operasi Lalang, executed by the government on Oct 27, 1987, saw the detention of 119 opposition leaders and social activists, including several high profile DAP leaders including its senior leader Lim Kit Siang and party secretary general Lim Guan Eng. Kulasegaran said that he had reliable information that the government would use the ISA as a follow up to the arrest of five Hindu Rights Action Force leaders. When asked who were in the 'second list', Kulasegaran said he believed that the list included himself and another DAP leader A Sivaresan. Both Kulasegaran and Sivanesan have also played a prominent role in Hindraf. The movement has organised a series of demonstrations to highlight the poor state of the Indian community in Malaysia. The last demonstration held by Hindraf on Nov 25 saw some 30,000 people descending to the streets of Kuala Lumpur. Five Hindraf leaders were then arrested and sent to a two-year detention at the Kamunting Detention Centre for being a threat to the national security. Kulasegaran was speaking at a forum organised by DAP at the Kuala Lumpur-Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall last night. More than 600 people attended the forum which started at 8.00pm. The forum was titled “ISA arrests of Hindraf 5 – Ops Lalang2 coming?”. Making it an election issue Kulasegaran said that ISA served two purposes for the ruling party - one was to instil fear in the people, another was to threat opposition leaders and activists from speaking up. He said the next general election was a good opportunity to bring about changes in the country. He also stressed the importance of women empowerment. He ended his speech saying: “women are the real force in the country”, followed by a big applause from the audience. The only non-politician panellist at the forum, lawyer and activist Haris Ibrahim also touched on the ISA in his talk. He stressed that ISA was a legitimate law. However he added that it was a “bad law” because it was crafted in a way that opened for abuse. “There is no fair check and balance,” he added. Citing a Malaysiakini report on reasons for detention of the five Hindraf leaders, Haris said that the government have abused the ISA although they claimed they have been investigating the movement (Hindraf) since July and have enough evidence to charge them under Sedition Act. “Why aren't they (government) charging them under Sedition Act if they have evidence? If you have evidence, bring them to court, let the public assess the evidence.” he added. Pondering on de facto law minister Mohd Nazri Aziz's statement that the people supported ISA based on their continued support for the BN, Haris urged the civil society to take on Nazri's challenge and make ISA an election issue. “We are law-abiding people ... only one way we can (abolish ISA) – change the parliament,” he said. Everyone is disappointed Seputeh MP Teresa Kok said that Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi have disappointed the people over the last three years by not keeping to his promises in the last general election in 2004. “What [have been] done by Dr Mahathir have been done by Pak Lah (Abdullah). Dr Mahathir curbed press freedom, Pak Lah did the same,” she said. “Pak Lah has shown no sympathy at all ... (and) has failed to see the (underlying) cause of the demonstration. Everyone is disappointed,” she added. Kepong MP Dr Tan Seng Giaw meanwhile called for the immediate release of Hindraf leaders as detention without trial was unacceptable. He also said that he believed Hindraf leaders do not have any connection with Sri Lankan Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) as claimed by the police. Other panellists included DAP leaders Fong Kui Lun, Loke Siew Fook and Lim Guan Eng. The forum was chaired by Tony Pua. Special fund launched Sivaresan and Lim Kit Siang, whose arrival were greeted with applause and standing ovation by the enthusiastic audience, also spoke at the forum. Kit Siang said that the Malaysian Indian community must continue to exert legitimate political pressure on all leaders in the MIC and other Barisan Nasional component parties to end their denial syndrome and own up to the injustices suffered by the community. “As Malaysian citizens, Malaysian Indians have the unquestioned democratic and constitutional right to unite and mobilize support for change and justice to end their long-standing marginalisation,” he said. His speech was similar to the one he made in Ipoh on Wednesday night where he said that the Indian voters can play a big role in determining their elected representatives in the next general election. At the forum, DAP launched a special fund to support the five Hindraf leaders detained under ISA and other 31 Hindraf supporters who face court sentencing next week for participating in the Nov 25 rally. “The donations will help to support the families of these people while they are being detained and after they are released as they hardly could find a job,” said Kulasegaran.

Klip video Lingam: BPR temui Dr Mahathir semalam

Fauwaz Abdul Aziz | Dec 22, 07 2:26pm

Badan Pencegah Rasuah (BPR) telah menemui bekas Perdana Menteri, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad berhubung dengan siasatan kes klip video Lingam. Dr Mahathir berkata beliau ditemubual oleh tiga pegawai BPR selama sejam di pejabatnya di Yayasan Kepimpinan Perdana di Putrajaya (YKP) semalam. “Badan Pencegah Rasuah menemubual saya dan bertanya soalan kepada saya. dan saya menjawabnya," kata beliau selepas melancarkan buku mengenai perundangan antarabangsa oleh pakar undang-udang, Tunku Dr Sofiah Jewa. Klip video tersebut, yang didedahkan oleh Ketua Umum PKR, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, menunjukkan peguam Datuk VK Lingam berbual melalui telefon, didakwa dengan Ketua Hakim Negara, Tun Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim mengenai pelantikan hakim-hakim. Ahmad Fairuz yang bersara baru-baru ini, telah menafikan dakwaan tersebut. Dalam video tersebut, Lingam didakwa turut mengaitkan jutawan Tan Sri Vincent Tan, kroni rapat Dr Mahathir, dan Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri ketika itu, Datuk Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, untuk bercakap dengan Dr Mahathir mengenai pelantikan hakim-hakim. Integriti badan kehakiman Lingam enggan mengulas mengenai klip video itu tetapi menyatakan kesediaannya untuk bekerjasama dengan suruhanjaya diraja. Tengku Adnan juga sebelum ini, telah menafikan terbabit dalam isu-isu yang dibangkitkan dalam klip video tersebut. Pendedahan video tersebut telah mencetuskan kemarahan pelbagai pihak yang menggesa kerajaan supaya mengambil langkah segera untuk memulihkan integriti badan kehakiman. Berikutan itu, kerajaan telah menubuhkan sebuah suruhanjaya diraja yang diketuai oleh bekas Hakim Besar Malaya, Haidar Mohamed Noor untuk menyiasat kesahihan serta perkara perkara-perkara yang ditimbulkan dalam klip video tersebut. Suruhanjaya itu telah menyatakan bahawa pihaknya mungkin memanggil Dr Mahathir untuk memberi keterangan dalam siasatannya. Mengulas mengenainya hari ini, Dr Mahathir berkata, beliau akan patuh dengan arahan untuk memberi keterangan kepada suruhanjaya tersebut. Jadi saksi “Jika saya dikehendaki memberi keterangan, jika undang-undang memerlukan saya memberi keterangan, saya tidak boleh kata tidak," katanya. Beliau bagaimanapun enggan mengulas lanjut mengenai kontroversi atau tuduhan mengenai pengaturan pelantikan hakim-hakim. “Terpulanglah kepada suruhanjaya diraja itu untuk melihat sama ada wujud kebenaran atau tidak mengenai tuduhan tersebut atau di dalam klip video itu," katanya. Ditanya sama ada Lingam atau Tan ada menemuinya mengenai isu pelantikan hakim-hakim seperti yang didakwa dalam klip video tersebut, Dr Mahathir berkata adalah mengarut untuk bertanya kepadanya mengenai perkara itu. “Saya tidak tahu sama ada Lingam menyebutnya ataupun tidak. Saya belum tengok klip video itu. Apa yang saya tengok ialah di TV, TV3. Itu saja. Saya tidak tahu. saya tidak dengar dia menyebut nama Tengku Adnan ataupun nama saya," katanya. Ada pihak yang telah menyalahkan Dr Mahathir berhubung masalah yang timbul dalam badan kehakiman selepas pemecatan Ketua Hakim Negara, Tun Salleh Abbas pada tahun 1998.

Gerakan rep: Umno incites racial sentiments

Dec 21, 07 6:23pm

In an audacious move, a notable Gerakan politician has taken Barisan Nasional coalition leader Umno to task for inciting racial sentiments among Malays to gain political mileage. “They incite racial sentiments among their community in a petty attempt to further their political career,” Gerakan Youth vice-chief S Paranjothy alleged today. Such attempts, he said, include taking potshots at other BN component parties which draw their support from non-Malay communities. “Umno leaders are very found of picking on component parties and use them as their punching bag or stepping-stone to gain popularity in their community,” Paranjothy said in a hard-hitting four-page statement entitled ‘Discrimination from Womb to Tomb’. He singled out Umno Youth chief Hishammuddin Hussien’s keris waving and his deputy Khairy Jamaluddin’s claim that non-Malays would take advantage of a weak Umno leadership, as prime examples of racial posturing. He also cited Khairy’s speech at the Umno general assembly last month, during which heblamed newspaper vendors for not wanting to work on Deepavali day. He made a pointed reference to the fact that the sector is predominated by Indian Malaysians. (Each year, the print media takes a break during the major festivals. This year, Deepavali fell during the week of the Umno general assembly, and there was no publication on the day following the delivery of the presidential address.) “Umno is fond of playing up sensitive issues among Malaysians. Statements and decisions made by Umno politicians have been (discriminatory) and contain a lot of racial slurs. So who is playing racial politics in Malaysia?... So who is causing racial disunity?” asked Paranjothy. He warned that national unity would be elusive as long as political parties and politicians continue their communal approach towards politics. “Politicians always feel (they) must fight for (their) own party. Since we have mostly ethnic parties, they are fighting for their ethnic group. It is difficult to achieve any kind of consensus.” He stressed that the 14 BN component parties must consolidate into a single party in order to “end racial manipulation in politics”. “In a multiracial party, if a politician wants to succeed, he would need to prove his ability and win support from all races, not just his own,” he explained. ‘Fourth-class citizens’ Commenting on the Nov 25 Hindraf rally, Paranjothy said the 30,000 Indians took part to express their “frustrations and anger” because the community has been “marginalised, oppressed and ignored”. Paranjothy said Indians form the most neglected group in economic terms, as shown by key performance indicators such as tertiary education. “(They) are treated as fourth-class citizens. Where the Indians predominate over their fellow Malaysians is mostly in prison, violent crimes, gangsterism, suicide and social ills. Government policies have failed to improve (their situation).” On the government’s hardline stance against public demonstrations, Paranjothy said the government has practised double-standards in the issuance of police permits. “I have participated in street demonstrations and rallies organised by Barisan Nasional Youth, spearheaded by Umno Youth, to handover a memorandum... over certain issues that had taken place (abroad) which I believe would not have benefitted Malaysia. “Did BN Youth obtained a permit to hold the rallies or demonstrations?... Looks like the government is one-sided when it came to the issuance of permits for public gatherings. BN started this culture of street demonstrations and now others have emulated it.”

Samy out of touch with the community

Khairil Zhafri | Dec 21, 07 2:33pm

The Indian voters, who for long have been loyal to the Barisan Nasional, will shift away from voting for the ruling coalition in the next general election, predicted Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang. He also said that the elections will be held in March next year. Constitutionally the prime minister need not call for a national poll until April 2009. Speaking at a forum held in Ipoh yesterday, Lim said that the next general election will be different due to the “awakening of political consciousness among the Malaysian Indians”. “They are an important factor in determining the electoral outcome,” he said. He added that although there were no single parliamentary or state assembly constituencies where the Indian voters constitute the majority of the electorate and could singly decide on the outcome, Indian voters nevertheless represented over 10 percent of the electorate in 62 parliamentary constituencies and 138 state assembly constituencies. “In 28 parliamentary and 78 state assembly constituencies in Peninsular Malaysia, the Indian voters are the ‘kingmakers’ as they constitute more than 15 percent of the electorate and exercise as decisive influence as to who wins or loses in the constituency,” he added. Lim also trained his attacks on MIC president S Samy Vellu, whom he said had confirmed that the government had dismissed the community’s legitimate grievances in an RTM interview on Wednesday night. On the show, he talked about the development and success of the Indian community. Serious denial syndrome Samy’s responses in the interview, Lim charged, showed that the minister had lost touch with the Indian community. Lim further claimed that Samy has a "serious denial syndrome" when he claimed that the government has never neglected the Indians. According to him, Samy blamed "ineffective delivery system" in dismissing legitimate grievances of the Indians over political, economic, educational, social, cultural and religious marginalisation. Saying that it was a very poor excuse, Lim told that "Samy Vellu cannot run away from the fact that he had been the MIC president and sole Indian cabinet minister for over 28 years”. In the interview Samy, who is also the works minister, was quoted as saying that he had asked Abdullah to "give a bit more to the Indians". On this issue, Lim asked: "Why is he asking ... as if (he) must beg on behalf of the Indians, when (they) are entitled to ask what should be rightfully theirs?" Samy’s constituency Sungai Siput is one area where the Indian voters make about 22.45 percent.

'9 reasons' to lock up Uthayakumar

Andrew Ong | Dec 21, 07 3:50pm

Of the five Hindraf leaders detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA), P Uthayakumar recorded the highest number of reasons which the government used to support his detention. The nine reasons were listed in the detention order as an annexure titled “Allegations of facts” on which the order is based - a requirement under Section 11 (2) (b) of the ISA. Other than five seditious speeches, Uthayakumar was accused of organising three illegal assemblies - at the Prime Minister’s Office in Putrajaya, outside Parliament and outside the Attorney-General’s Department - between Nov 2006 to August 2007. The final reason is his alleged links to Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), a separatist group in Sri Lanka which has been declared a terrorist organisation by a number of western countries. Uthayakumar has vehemently denied Hindraf's links to LTTE. Two other Hindraf leaders detained under ISA - V Ganabatirau and T Vasantha Kumar - had six allegations mentioned in their respective detention orders. M Manoharan chalked up seven while R Kenghadharan had only three. The four other detainees were mostly accused of making ‘seditious speeches’ during Hindraf organised public forums and taking the movement’s cause overseas. Hearing next week The five were detained under the ISA on Dec 13 based on an order signed by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi under his Internal Security Minister portfolio. The detainees were immediately sent to the Kamunting Detention Centre to serve their two-year detention. In a related development, Karpal Singh - counsel for the five Hindraf leaders - today filed habeas corpus applications for Uthayakumar and Vasantha Kumar at the Kuala Lumpur High Court. The applications follows similar applications made by Karpal on behalf of Manoharan and Ganabatirau on Wednesday. Speaking to reporters later, Karpal said Judicial Commissioner Zainal Azman Abd Aziz would be hearing all four cases next Wednesday. A habeas corpus application for Kenghadharan would be made on Monday. The move is believed to be a deliberate attempt to disassociate him from Hindraf.

Bantah ISA, GMI adakan himpunan di Dataran Merdeka malam esok

Anis Nazri Fri | Dec 21, 07 | 2:13:24 pm MYT

KUALA LUMPUR, 21 Dis (Hrkh) - Bagi menyatakan bantahan terhadap tindakan kerajaan yang semakin rakus menggunakan Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (ISA) terhadap rakyat yang dianggap mencabar kepimpinan Perdana Menteri, Gerakan Mansuhkan ISA (GMI) menyeru orang ramai agar hadir dalam himpunan aman anjuran badan itu, di Dataran Merdeka, jam 8.00 malam esok (22 Dis 2007).

Program bertemakan 'Solidarity Vigil for ISA Detainees' itu bertujuan untuk menyatakan sokongan kepada semua tahanan ISA yang berada di Kem Kamunting (Kemta) sekarang, di samping membantah penggunaan akta zalim itu terhadap mereka.

Setiausaha GMI, E. Nalini berkata, program malam esok bukanlah untuk berdemonstrasi, tetapi lebih kepada 'peaceful gathering' tanpa ada banyak ucapan.

Katanya, ISA perlu dihapuskan kerana ia tidak memenuhi hak asasi, di mana setiap manusia perlu diberikan pengadilan yang adil dan saksama.

Tambahnya, ISA digunakan sewenang-wenangnya untuk menahan seseorang itu mengikut tempoh yang tidak diketahui tanpa dibicarakan di mahkamah.

"Justeru, GMI berharap rakyat Malaysia yang cintakan keadilan agar turut serta dalam program tersebut, kerana tanpa rakyat perubahan takkan berlaku," tegasnya ketika dihubungi Harakahdaily hari ini.

Tidak perlu permit

Menjawab berhubung soal permit bagi program tersebut, Nalini menegaskan pihaknya tidak memerlukan sebarang permit memandangkan program berkenaan tidak memerlukan permit.

"Menyertai perhimpunan adalah hak setiap individu di Malaysia. Rakyat perlu menggunakan ruang-ruang ini untuk memberikan pandangan mereka.

Suhakam sendiri mengatakan sesuatu perhimpunan itu tidak memerlukan permit polis.

Malah, Perlembagaan Malaysia turut menggariskan hak tersebut. Jadi, kita tidak perlukan permit polis dan orang ramai tidak perlu bimbang untuk menyertai program yang diadakan malam esok, lebih-lebih lagi program anjuran kita ini adalah aman" tegas beliau lagi.

Kebelakangan ini, Perdana Menteri, Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi mengeluarkan kenyataan yang menakut-nakutkan rakyat untuk keluar berhimpun dengan mengenakan tindakan ISA.

Malah, beberapa pimpinan Hindraf turut ditahan di bawah akta tersebut.

Pada 13 Disember lalu, lima pemimpin Hindraf yang ditahan ialah P. Uthayakumar, M. Manoharan, R. Kenghadharan, V. Ganabatirau dan T. Vasanthakumar.

Mereka ditahan di bawah Seksyen 8 (1) ISA yang membenarkan penahanan seseorang sehingga tempoh dua tahun dan terus dihantar ke Kemta.

Kelazimannya, seseorang ditahan di bawah Seksyen 73 ISA iaitu penahanan selama 60 hari untuk disoalsiasat sebelum dinilai Menteri Keselamatan Dalam Negeri, iaitu Abdullah sendiri sama ada dilanjutkan atau tidak penahanan tersebut di bawah Seksyen 8.

Harakahdaily difahamkan, setakat ini terdapat seramai 74 orang yang ditahan ISA di Kemta, Perak sehingga 29 Ogos 2007.

Ramai di antara mereka yang ditahan kerana didakwa kononnya penglibatan mereka dalam Jemaah Islamiah (JI) dan Darul Islam (DI), selain yang ditahan kerana penyeludupan pendatang tanpa izin, pemalsuan dokumen dan pasport dan pemalsuan syiling RM1./wann

Skandal PKFZ: Anwar dakwa Ling, Chan 'salahguna' kuasa

Muda Mohd Noor | Dec 19, 07 5:20pm

Bekas Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim mendakwa bahawa bekas Menteri Pengangkutan Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik dan Menteri Pengangkutan sekarang, Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy telah mengeluarkan surat sokongan sehingga menyebabkan kerajaan terpaksa menyelamatkan Lembaga Pelabuhan Klang (LPK). Katanya, Ling menulis surat sokongan itu pada 28 Mei 2003 – pada hari dia meletak jawatan – manakala Chan pula menulis tiga surat – bertarikh 23 April 2004, 8 Disember 2005 dan 23 Mei 2006. Surat Dr Ling dan Chan tersebut, kata Anwar, memberikan komitmen kerajaan sebagai penjamin untuk apa-apa liabiliti LPK untuk projek Zon Bebas Pelabuhan Klang (PKFZ). Beliau berkata, telah terbukti ia merupakan jaminan kerajaan kerana surat itu mengandungi perkataan yang bermaksud "kami akan pada setiap masa di masa hadapan memastikan LPK berada di dalam kedudukan untuk memenuhi (dan memenuhinya dengan sepenuhnya pada masa yang sepatutnya) liabiliti mereka di dalam jumlah pembayaran semula selagi mana jumlah pembayaran semula masih lagi tidak dilangsaikan...' Kedua-dua mereka menulis surat sokongan supaya kerajaan mengambilalih syarikat Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd (KDSB) yang merupakan kontraktor kepada PKFZ . Manakala empat anak syarikat ialah Special Port Vehicle Bhd, Transshipment Megahub Bhd, Valid Ventures Bhd dan Free Zone Capital Bhd. Berdasarkan jaminan tersebut, syarikat-syarikat berkenaan, telah mengeluarkan bon bernilai RM4.6 bilion untuk Kuala Dimensi dan menerima rating AAA dari Malaysia Rating Corporation Bhd bagi projek PKFZ. Minta BPR siasat Anwar berkata, menurut dasar kerajaan, hanya Menteri Kewangan atau kabinet yang boleh mengeluarkan apa-apa bentuk jaminan bagi pihak kerajaan. "Ketika saya menjadi menteri kewangan, perkara sebegini tidak pernah dibenarkan berlaku," kata bekas menteri kewangan itu dalam sidang media di pejabatnya di Petaling Jaya hari ini. Sehubungan itu, Anwar yang kini Ketua Umum Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) meminta kerajaan menubuhkan Suruhanjaya Diraja, selain menggesa Badan Pencegah Rasuah (BPR) menyiasat perkara tersebut. Beliau berkata, sehingga hari ini kerajaan belum memberikan sebarang penjelasan mengenai status PKFZ dan bertanggungjawab terhadap penambahan kos RM3.5 bilion. Katanya, untuk menutup kerugian projek yang gagal ini, kerajaan telah mengumumkan bahawa ia akan melanjutkan pinjaman berjumlah sehingga RM4.681 bilion. "Kes ini merupakan salah satu daripada begitu banyak contoh yang mendedahkan percanggahan kepentingan, rasuah dan salah tadbir membabitkan ahli politik, tokoh korporat dan pegawai kerajaan," katanya lagi. ‘Tolak pandangan AG’ Anwar berkata, amat aneh sekali menteri pengangkutan waktu itu menolak pandangan peguam negara bahawa tanah tersebut boleh diambil untuk `tujuan awam' di bawah Akta Pengambilan Tanah pada harga RM10 sekaki persegi. Sebaliknya, kata beliau, Kementerian Pengangkutan dan LPK membeli tanah tersebut pada harga RM25 sekaki. "Persetujuan ini dicapai pada 2002 antara Kementerian Pengangkutan, LPK dan Kuala Dimensi tanpa kelulusan Pembedaharaan atau Kabinet," katanya. Dalam sidang media tersebut, Anwar mendakwa antara tokoh-tokoh utama yang terbabit dengan skandal PKFZ dan menurutnya mereka mesti dipertanggungjawab terhadap kerugian yang dialami itu. Menurutnya, mereka termasuk Bendahari Umno, Datuk Seri Abdul Azim Mohd Zabidi; Ahli Parlimen MCA kawasan Alor Star yang juga bekas Timbalan Menteri Hal Ehwal Dalam Negeri, Datuk Chor Chee Heung; Ahli Parlimen Bintulu, Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing dan Pengerusi Tetap Umno, Tan Sri Onn Ismail.

PAS yakin pertahan Parlimen Pendang

Muda Mohd Noor | Dec 18, 07 4:00pm

PAS akan memastikan Parlimen Pendang yang dimenanginya sejak dua penggal lalu dipertahankan, di samping merampas kerusi Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Sungai Tiang dalam pilihanraya umum akan datang. "Matlamat kami ialah menang kerusi Parlimen Pendang, DUN Sungai Tiang dan Tokai," kata Ahli Parlimen Pendang, Dr Mohd Hayati Othman. Dr Mohd Hayati yang juga ahli jawatankuasa PAS Kedah berkata, sasaran tersebut amat realistik kerana PAS cuma kalah kira-kira 2,000 undi di DUN Sungai Tiang dalam pilihanraya umum lalu. "Mood pengundi di Kedah amnya dan Pendang secara keseluruhannya, telah banyak berubah. "Jika pada 2004, mereka sangat yakin kepada BN dan Umno, kini ramai yang menyatakan akan mengundi pembangkang (PAS)," katanya lagi. Dalam pilihanraya umum lalu, PAS memenangi lima kerusi DUN dan satu Parlimen. Manakala dalam pilihanraya umum 1999, PAS menang 12 DUN dan lapan kerusi Parlimen. Pendang merupakan kawasan Parlimen tunggal di Kedah yang dimenangi PAS dalam pilihanraya umum lalu, berbanding lapan kerusi dalam pilihanraya 1999. Penduduk marah Lima kerusi DUN yang dimenangi PAS ialah Tokai, Anak Bukit, Sungai Limau, Pelantik dan Bukit Pinang. Pendang merupakan kubu kuat PAS di mana dalam pilihanraya umum 1999, kerusi Parlimen tersebut dimenangi oleh bekas Presiden PAS, Datuk Fadzil Noor. Dr Mohd Hayati yang juga Naib Yang Dipertua PAS Pendang berkata, Parlimen Pendang mempunyai kira-kira 52,000 pengundi berdaftar - hampir 90 peratus pengundi Melayu, manakala selebihnya kaum Siam dan Cina. Katanya, PAS Pendang kini semakin kuat kerana telah berjaya menambah ramai pengundi baru bagi menghadapi pilihanraya umum yang dijangka diadakan bila-bila masa dari sekarang. "Orang di Pendang mula bercakap mengenai Koridor Ekonomi Wilayah Utara (NCER), walaupun telah dilancarkan sejak beberapa bulan lalu, tetapi belum menampakkan sebarang hasil. "Pengundi juga bimbang dan marah dengan pengambilan tanah orang Melayu atas alasan pembangunan tetapi tidak menguntungkan mereka. "Semakin banyak bendang yang selama ini menjadi sumber pendapatan utama petani telah terlepas ke tangan pihak lain," kata

Controversial SCC bill put off

Yoges Palaniappan | Dec 18, 07 3:44pm

The much-criticised Special Complaints Commission (SCC) Bill scheduled to be tabled for second reading today has been postponed to the next parliamentary sitting in March next year. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Abdul Aziz said it has been put off to give the MPs more time to study the bill and for civil society groups to provide feedback. "We reached the consensus after all cabinet members unanimously agreed to defer the bill," he told reporters, adding that the deferment shows that the government is listening and does not want the bill to be a rushed job. However, Nazri said the bill will not be withdrawn but amendments can be made during the committee stage debate. He also said the appointment of the inspector-general of police as a member of the commission will not be a problem in the implementation of the bill. "This is not IPCMC (Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission) so there's no conflict of interests in the appointment of the IGP. This is SCC," he said. Explaining that the government will never allow the investigating body to prosecute, Nazri said: "The SCC will only receive complaints and investigate. It will not hear cases and prosecute because we have a court system. In this country, only the attorney-general prosecutes." SCC, which was tabled for first reading in the parliament last week, drew flak from opposition politicians and civil society groups, who described it as a watered-down version of the IPCMC. ‘Fundamentally flawed’ Earlier, Nazri received a memorandum from several members of civil society groups demanding the government to immediately withdraw the SCC Bill. They also demanded that the original IPCMC proposed by the Royal Commission on the Police Force to be tabled in Parliament to replace the SCC bill. Reading out the memorandum, which was endorsed by some 43 NGOs, Amnesty International Malaysia executive director Shanon Shah Mohd Sidik (right) said SCC defeats the true intention of the Royal Commission on the Police Force to improve the professionalism of the force and to ensure that human rights, rule of law and public accountability are observed and implemented by the police. "We are outraged that there was no consultation with the public on the bill and that the current bill (SCC Bill) was bulldozed through Parliament in such a short span of time," he said. Shanon said the proposed SCC bill is "fundamentally flawed" and will never convince the public of its independence and effectiveness. "The SCC places the IGP in the oversight governance structure and this creates a conflict of interests. How is the SCC going to make the police accountable with one of its members being the IGP when the IGP himself is to be answerable to all complaints against the police, including those incurred by his own orders to his subordinates and his own actions?" He concluded that the SCC will be another ineffective and redundant institution at the expense of taxpayers' money and that it is nothing more than an attempt to thwart the formation of the IPCMC. Opposition leader Lim Kit Siang welcomed the deferment and said there should be a proper consultation process for the bill. Yesterday, Tunku Abdul Aziz Ibrahim, one of the panel member of the police royal commission, slammed the SCC as an "insult" and "mockery" to the people.

Perhimpunan besar-besaran kedua jika khidmat Rashid dilanjutkan

Wan Nordin Wan Yaacob Foto Wan Zahari Wan Salleh Tue | Dec 18, 07 | 1:07:00 pm MYT

KUALA LUMPUR, 18 Dis (Hrkh) - Gabungan Pilihan Raya Adil dan Bersih (Bersih) tidak menolak kemungkinan akan mengadakan himpunan aman jika kerajaan melanjutkan khidmat Pengerusi Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya (SPR), Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman.

Menurut Jurucakap Bersih, Dr Dzulkifli Ahmad, Berish memandang serius dan kecewa dengan kelulusan Pindaan Rang Undang-undang bersabitan Perkara 114 Perlembagaan Persekutuan bagi melanjutkan usia pemegang jawatan ahli SPR dari 65 ke 66 tahun.

"Bersih sayugia mengingatkan Perdana Menteri, seandainya perkhidmatan Pengerusi SPR ini dilanjutkan juga, maka tidak ada jaminan bahawa rakyat tidak akan bangkit untuk membantah perlanjutan perjawatan beliau demi menjaga keutuhan demokrasi dan kestabilan negara," katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian ketika mengadakan sidang media selepas menyerahkan nota bantahan kepada Perdana Menteri, Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi melalui Setiausaha Politik Perdana Menteri, Dato' Wan Farid Wan Hisham di Putrajaya hari ini.

Turut serta dalam penyerahan memorandum itu ialah, Naib Presiden Parti Keadilan Rakyat (KeADILan), Sivarasa Rasiah dan Jawatankuasa Bersih, Liu Chin Tong.

Mengulas lanjut isu tersebut Dr Dzulkifli berkata, nota bantahan yang dikemukakan kepada Speaker Parlimen pada 11 Disember lalu yang sekali gus telah mencetuskan pesta penangkapan 24 orang ahli dan aktivis Bersih.

Kerajaan pinda lebih 40 'multiple amendments'

Sikap kerajaan yang dilihat tergesa-gesa dalam membuat pindaan tersebut dengan 'bulldozed’ langsung tidak memberi apa-apa kesan malah ia 'precedent' buruk yang mencemar amalan proses 'legislatif' di Negara ini, katanya.

Bersih ingin mengingatkan bahawa negara ini telah mengalami 40 kali pindaan perlembagaan berbentuk 'multiple amendments' dan tak kurang dari 650 'single amendment', katanya.

Begitupun Singapura yang kurang lebih mempunyai latar belakang sejarah yang sama dengan Malaysia hanya meminda perlembagaan mereka sebanyak empat kali, ujar Dr Dzulkifli.

Negara seperti Amerika Syarikat yang memiliki sejarah negara bangsa selama 231 tahun pun, hanya meminda perlembagaan mereka sebanyak 27 kali, katanya.

"Jelas kerajaan Umno-BN yang telah memerintah selama lima dekad ini, kurang memahami dalam pemuliharaan 'Kemurniaan Undang-Undang' sekali gus bagi mempertahankan 'Keluhuran Undang-undang' lantas telah melakukan pindaan dengan memaparkan keangkuhan dan ketidakpeduliaan yang mengaibkan negara di kaca mata masyarakat antarabangsa," tegasnya.

Begitupun Bersih mengakui keperluan menyelaraskan usia penjawat tertinggi kedudukan awam, katanya memetik nota bantahan yang diserah kepada Perdana Menteri.

Namun Bersih melihat segala pindaan dibuat hanyalah bagi melayakkan penjawat jawatan Pengerusi SPR hari ini, yang akan bersara pada 31 Disember akan datang, untuk terus dilanjutkan perkhidmatan beliau, ujarnya.

Buka lembaran baru

Mengulas mengenai nota bantahan kepada Parlimen 11 Disember yang lalu secara tegas menggariskan mengapa peribadi Rashid Abdul sama sekali tidak layak untuk meneruskan tugasannya selaku Pengerusi SPR.

"Negara yang berada di ambang Pilihan Raya Umum ke-12 pada bila-bila masa ini, wajar mengambil peluang ini bagi membuka lembaran baru yang seharusnya menjanjikan satu suasana sihat dan segar, dalam amalan pengurusan proses pilihan raya.yang lebih bebas, adil dan bersih," katanya.

Bagi Bersih, peribadi Rashid akan terus mencemarkan proses pilihan raya sekali gus tidak mampu mengembalikan keyakinan rakyat dan pengundi kepada proses pilihan raya di Negara ini, katanya.

Wajar bagi Bersih Perdana Menteri, bahawa Perkara 114 (2) Perlembagaan Persekutuan menegaskan tentang 'kepentingan mendapat keyakinan awam terhadap SPR'.

Justeru kata Dr Dzulkifli dalam nota bantahannya, Perdana Menteri perlu melihat kepada hujah betapa khidmat Rashid amatlah tidak diperlukan lagi.

Antara hujah Bersiah ialah :

a) Daftar Pemilih masih lagi tercemar dengan nama-nama pengundi yang telah mati, bukan-warganegara, pendaftaran lebih dari sekali, tidak cukup umur lantas menjadi keputusan pilihan raya ditentukan oleh mereka yang tidak berkelayaan atau 'pengundi hantu'.

Likas satu contoh yang jelas dan bagaimana Hakim Dato' Muhamad Kamil Awang telah menolak keputusan pilihan raya tersebut. Amat malang sekali, kerajaan BN telah mengambil peluang meminda Akta Pilihan Raya 1958 Seksyen 9A yang menjadikan Daftar Pemilih setelah diwartakan 'tidak lagi tertakluk atau boleh dicabar, dinilai semula di mana-mana mahkamah'. Tegasnya pindaan ini telah memerangkap kita dengan Daftar Pemilih yang tidak boleh dibersihkan kecuali oleh SPR sendiri.

Awal tahun ini setelah sekian lama bantahan pihak pembangkang khususnya tentang kekotoran Daftar Pemilih, SPR mengakui bahawa telah digugurkan seramai 180,000 pengundi kerana dikesani telah mati.

Seramai 22, 433 pengundi dikesani bukan dari warga negara ini kerana nama mereka tidak pernah wujud dalam Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara. Persoalannya berapa ramaikah mereka ini yang mengundi pada PRU ke-11 lalu dan berapa ramai yang masih berada dalam Daftar Pemilih (DP) yang ada kini? Pengundi jenis ini timbul lagi dalam pilihan raya kecil Ijok pada April 2007.

Isu Daftar Pemilih terbit lagi dengan pengakuan yang dibuat oleh beberapa pengundi yang nama mereka tersenarai sementara mereka tahu mereka tidak pernah berdaftar dan tidak pernah mengundi (contoh Ahirudin Atan iaitu blogger Rocky Bru dan lain-lain). Dakwaan Pengerusi SPR bahawa Daftar Pemilih adalah bersih langsung tidak berwibawa!

b) Kenyataan-kenyataan bercanggah yang sesekali menyokong usaha-usaha reformasi pilihan raya dan sesekali mengatakan pilihan raya adalah bebas dan adil, hanya pembangkang yang kalah yang membuat komplain, sama sekali meletakkan peribadi ini mempunyai personaliti yang sukar untuk dipegang komitmen dan dipertikai kewibawaannya.

Bernama 8 Januari 2007 telah melaporkan bahawa beliau menuntut supaya kerajaan memberi ruang kepada SPR bahawa beliau menegaskan 'undang-undang dan peraturan pilihan raya yang telah berusia 50 tahun ini tidak lagi sesuai digunakan dan tidak lagi memjamin keadilan terus wujud bagi semua'.

Beliau juga pada sesi itu menuntut antara lainnya 'kuasa mengawal dan mencegah rasuah dan aktibiti membeli undi dalam musim pilihan raya, kuasa mengatur keadilan dan kebebasan melapor bagi semua pihak yang bertanding dalam media cetak dan elektronik, kuasa mengawal dan menghukum pihak yang menyalahgunakan kemudahan awam untuk berkempen'.

Jelasnya seperti dakwaan beberapa pihak pembangkang dan awam bahawa peribadi ini mempunyai 'lidah bercabang'. Paling mutakhir beliau menyebutkan hanya 'regim yang ada kini yang mampu mentadbir negara ini'.

Beliau juga memberitahu rakyat yang beliau tahu tarikh pilihan raya sementara Perdana Menteri sendiri belum tahu dan tidak memberi tahu kepada kabinet.

Peribadi ini jelas sudah tidak koheren dan konsisten untuk menjawat tugasan seorang Pengerusi yang sewajar menunjukan sikap 'independen atau tidak memihaknya'. Kenyataan beliau tentang penghakiman Hakim Dato' Muhammad Kamil tentang Likas sebagai 'bias dan prajudis' jelas menunjukkan kecenderungan beliau, sekali gus menghina Mahkamah.

c) Rakyat dan pengundi masih segar dalam ingatan tentang Pilihan raya Umum ke-11 sebagai yang dikatakan oleh pelbagai pihak termasuk ahli akademik dan penganalisis politik sebagai paling kotor dalam sejarah demokrasi tanah air. Pilihan Raya Umum ke-11 adalah di bawah kelolaan dan tanggungjawab Rashid.

Beliau berpeluang untuk memperbaikki prestasi dalam 3 pilihan raya kecil yang menyusul. Amat mendukacitakn bukan sahaja beliau terus menunjukkan keangkuhannya bahkan keadaan semakin lebih buruk seperti yang diketahui umum dalam pilihan raya kecil di Batu Talam, Machap dan Ijok.

Segala ucapan baik beliau dalam beberapa seminar tentang kebersihan pilihan raya, kini dilihat sebagai omong-omong kosong yang tidak terbukti dengan satu 'political will' untuk menjalankan penambahbaikan pilihan raya.

'Padang yang sama-rata' masih jauh dari realiti dan cita-cita untuk menyaksikan pilihan raya bebas, bersih dan adil akan menjadi lebih sulit dan sukar dengan peribadi yang kini cukup dipertikaikan dan disangsikan kewibawaannya untuk terus memimpin SPR.

Jangan sambung khidmat Rashid

Justeru kata Dr Dzulkifli, atas penghujahan ringkas yang Bersih kemukakan pihaknya memohon budi bicara dan kewajaran Perdana Menteri supaya tidak menyambung perkhidmatan Rashid.

"Meskipun laluan untuk beliau (Rashid) telah terbuka dengan kelulusan pindaan kontroversi yang dibuat Parlimen pada 11 Disember yang lalu.

"Apakah Perdana Menteri mahu mengisytiharkan atau mengesahkan bahawa negara ini sudah tidak punya peribadi yang memilikki kewibawaan dan personaliti yang tidak dipertikaikan atau 'of impeccable integrity', dengan izin?," tegasnya.

Sementara itu dalam sidang media yang sama, Sivarasa juga mengulangi pendirian bahawa Berish tidak menolak kemungkinan mengadakan himpunan aman untuk membantah sekiranya khidmat Rashid dilanjutkan.

Beliau turut menyelar keangkuhan kerajaan menggunakan ISA dalam menyelesaikan isu berhubung tuntutan rakyat dan katanya tindakan itu hanyalah menunjukkan keterdesakan kerajaan.

Bersih sama sekali menolak penggunaan ISA sebaliknya mahu kerajaan mengadili mana-mana rakyat dengan menggunakan undang-undang yang sedia ada, katanya.

Bersih activists warn of further protests

AFP | Dec 18, 07 3:38pm

Polls reform group Bersih activists today threatened to take to the streets again to call for electoral reform following the government's crackdown on several mass protests in Kuala Lumpur. Police have recently detained dozens of people, mostly on illegal assembly charges, but five leaders of an ethnic Indian rights group Hindraf are being held under a tougher security act that authorises indefinite detention without trial. They were protesting against alleged discrimination by the government. Today, Bersih, an organisation calling for electoral reform which led a rally on Nov 10 that drew over 30,000 protesters, said the same could happen again. "People will make their protests known in whatever way they deem fit," Sivarasa Rasiah, a Bersih committee member, told reporters. "It can take the form of street demonstrations, it can take the form of different protests but basically what you saw on Nov 10 is that sort of voice of the people and you could see that again," he said. He was among several activists presenting a memorandum to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's office, repeating earlier calls not to extend election commission chairman Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman's tenure beyond this year. International criticism "If the PM is insistent on extending the services of someone we consider primarily responsible for the corrupt and unfree and unclean practice of elections in Malaysia, then he is inviting a response from the (people)," Sivarasa said. Several recent street protests have enraged the government ahead of general election which Abdullah is expected to call next year. Opposition parties and human rights groups condemned the arrests of the five Hindraf leaders last week which Abdullah, who is also internal security minister, said were made to preserve national security. New York-based rights group Human Rights Watch, meanwhile, urged the government today to release the five ISA detainees, three of whom had already facing Sedition charges. "If laws were broken, then the offenders should be charged and properly tried, not detained indefinitely," said Elaine Pearson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch.

PROGRAM KEMASYARAKATAN

KEADILAN(PKR) NIBONG TEBAL SUMBANG UBAT KEPADA PESAKIT KENCING MANIS

Oleh:Wartawan Rasmi Laman Reformasi

Sungai Bakap 18 Dis.-Pergerakan PKR hari ini telah melakukan program kemasyarakatan dengan melakukan sumbangan dan rawatan kepada pesakit kencing manis yang kronik. Sumbangan dan rawatan ini dilakukan oleh Ketua Angkatan Muda Negeri Dr Azhar dan Pengerusi PKR Bahagian Ustaz Maktar di rumah Pn Subaidah semalam.ubat-ubatan tradisional ini disumbangkan oleh Syarikat Meridian Life.

Program kemasyarakatan ini bertujuan untuk menyembuhkan penyait kencing manis yang kronik dengan memberikan ubat-ubatan tradisional dan juga moden.

Kaki Pn Subaidah yang hampir sembuh

MenurutPn Subaidah lagi ubat tradisional yang diberikan oleh Dr Azhar amat berkesan kerana sakit yang dialami beliau sehingga hampir dipotong kakinya telah berjaya memberikan kesan yang luar biasa sehingga luka dikakinya kering. Beliau sekeluarga bersyukur dan berterima kasih dengan usaha dan sokongan yang diberikan sehinggakan kakinya dapat diselamatkan dari dipotong.

Suami dan keluarga Pn Subaidah berasa gembira.kerana ,kalau dahulu,beliau sukar untuk berjalan,kini beliau hampir sembuh dengan bantuan dan nasihat dari Dr Azhar dan juga sokongan dari Ustaz Maktar yang tidak jemu-jemu memberikan rawatan dan sokongan.beliau hanya mengambil dos sekali sahaja dan kini hampir sembuh.Beliau sekeluarga juga mengucapkan ribuan terima kasih kepada Syarikat Meridian Life yang sudi memberikan sumbangan kepada beliau.

Bersempena dengan hari raya Adidul Adha ini, Ketua Umum PKR DSAI akan mengadakan lawatan di Sungai Bakap dan langsung merasmikan Pejabat PKR Bahagian Nibong Tebal yang terletak di Sg Bakap dimana dijangkakan hampir 1500 ahli baru yang mana 100% nya adalah kaum India akan diterima masuk sebagai ahli berdaftar yang baru.Berita selanjutnya akan dilaporkan pada 22hb nanti apabila ketua PKR sendiri akan menerima kemasukkan ahli baru dari kaum India di seluruh Nibong Tabal.Kemasukan beramai-ramai ini akan memberi kesan yang besar kepada undi untuk kemenangan PKR Bahagian.

JOM KITA BANJIRI SUHAKAM PADA 19 DISEMBER !

Kebelakangan ini, pihak Kerajaan dan kroni-kroni NGO mereka telah membuat satu kempen untuk menyekat hak rakyat berhimpun secara aman.

Hak Berhimpun adalah satu hak asasi manusia yang fundamental (asas) dijamin oleh Perlembagaan Persekutuan Negara –Perkara 10, Deklarasi Hak Asasi Manusia 1948 (Perkara 20) dan Kovenan Hak Sivil dan Politik 1966 (Perkara 21).

Melihat kepada intimidasi, ugutan dan penggunaan undang-undang zalim seperti Akta Polis 27 dan salahguna Perintah Mahkamah Majistret dan iklan-iklan di media massa, pihak pemerintah memang berniat untuk menyekat dan mencabul hak rakyat Malaysia berhimpun secara aman. Jika kita membiarkan hak ini dicabul, maka ini akan membawa perjuangan menuntut hak dan demokrasi kebelakang.

Untuk mempertahankan Hak Rakyat berhimpun ini, Gabungan Mempertahanakan Hak Berhimpun yang diwakili oleh kumpulan-kumpulan masyarakat, NGO dan Parti Politik kini bersatu menganjurkan satu lagi perhimpunan aman di SUHAKAM untuk untuk mengutarakan dan mempertahankan :

1. Hak Berhimpun Rakyat dibawa Perkara 10 – Perlembagaan Negara

2. Menyokong Pendirian SUHAKAM dalam mempertahankan hak berhimpun dan pendirian dalam isu pemberian permit polis

3. Membantah segala tindakan pihak Kerajaan dan Mana-mana Kumpulan lain yang berniat untuk mencabul hak berhimpun rakyat secara aman

Sila hadir dengan membawa baner dan sepanduk menyokong hak berhimpun dan berkumpul di bawah Pejabat SUHAKAM pada :

Tarikh : 19 Disember 2007 (Rabu)

Masa : 11 pagi

Tempat : SUHAKAM,

Jalan Raja Laut, Kuala Lumpur

Dikeluarkan Oleh:

Jurucakap Gabungan :

S.Arutchelvan

019-2537791 (arul.psm@gmail.com)

03-22747791 (Pejabat)

GABUNGAN MEMPERTAHANKAN HAK BERHIMPUN

D/A SUARAM –

433A, 1st. Floor, Jalan 5/46 Gasing Indah, 46000 Petaling Jaya, Selangor D.E.

03-77843525, 03-77835724 Fax - 77843526

(Satu Koalisi bersama Kumpulan NGO dan parti Politik)

Marilah kita bersma-sama menujukkan KEKUATAN RAKYAT. Kita buktikan bahawa rakyat tak mudah untuk diugut dan ditakut-takutkan. Kita buktikan bahawa RAKYAT MALAYSIA MAHU DEMOKRASI SEJATI di negara ini.

Hindraf 31: AG drops attempted murder charge

Soon Li Tsin | Dec 17, 07 12:41pm

Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail today dropped the attempted murder charge against the 31 individuals - dubbed the Hindraf 31 - who had allegedly taken part in an illegal assembly and were also accused of causing severe injury to a policeman at the Batu Caves temple on Nov 25. He also withdrew all charges against six others - five of them students - while the remaining 25 pleaded guilty to charges including illegal assembly and causing mischief. Shah Alam Sessions Court judge Nursinah Adzmi fixed bail at RM500, with one surety each, until she delivers sentence on Dec 27. They face up to five years in prison or a fine, or both, when they are sentenced next week. Approached to comment on why the charges were dropped, Abdul Gani said it was difficult to pinpoint exactly who threw the brick that had injured officer Dadi Abdul Rani. “I could be very strict but not this is not the time. This is not a goodwill gesture (to them). This is the fairest thing to do,” he said briefly. He also said the 31 had written to him, disassociating themselves from the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) - which had organised the rally in Kuala Lumpur - and undertook to not participate in an illegal assembly again. The Hindraf rally saw 30,000 disgruntled Indians taking to the streets of Kuala Lumpur. Police had used chemical-laced water and tear gas to disperse them. Family-members present Family members of the accused had initially gathered at the Shah Alam High Court as early as 9am, to hear the outcome of a bail revision hearing that had been postponed last Thursday. Abdul Gani told justice Zaharah Ibrahim that lawyers for the accused had decided not to proceed with the revision, and the matter reverted to the Sessions Court. The crowd of close to 150 then packed into Sessions judge Azimah Omar’s court and waited for an hour before they were informed that the judge was on leave. The matter was transferred to Nursinah’s court. The crowd almost brought proceedings to a halt in the courtroom, while police tried to restore order. With hardly any room to move, family members remained standing to catch a glimpse of the accused when they were brought into court. Relatives, who were in tears, managed to embrace some of them. When the court adjourned, the crowd cheered as the 31 were released. Many family members were seen thanking lead defence counsel, GK Ganesan. Plea bargain Ganesan (right) told Malaysiakini that he was happy with the AG’s decision. “The AG showed extreme compassion and understanding. The parents of the accused are all very grateful that the charges have been withdrawn,” he said. He also affirmed that he had made representations for plea bargaining to the AG on behalf of his clients last Thursday, to have the attempted murder charge withdrawn. “I wrote to the AG to state that my clients are sincerely remorseful and deeply regret the event. All they want to do is to go back to work and be reconciled with their families,” he added. Another lawyer for the accused, A Sivanesan (left), ticked off MIC for seeking to take credit in the dropping of the attemped murder charges. "(MIC leader S) Samy Vellu was misleading to make such statements. The representation was made by the lawyers, not MIC," he said. S Ramash Kumar, 22, one of the students who was discharged, described his time in Sungai Buloh prison as “hell”. “The treatment was bad, the food was bad. I just want to thank all the Indians for their support,” said the soft-spoken first-year civil engineering student of the Universiti Industri Selangor. Vasanta Rao, a 19-year old student at a teacher's training college, was one of the five released unconditionally. "I thank the government. I only went to the temple ... for prayers that day and was arrested. I'm now very happy to be free," he told reporters. PM urged AG to drop charges Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had earlier urged Abdul Gani to drop the murder attempt charges after appeals by family members. But Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang (right), who was present in court today, called for all the charges to be withdrawn. "Although I welcome the dropping of the attempted murder charge against the 31, I'm disgusted that the attorney-general had not withdrawn all the charges against the other 26," he told AFP. Abdullah said those detained were misled by ethnic Indian rights group Hindraf, who had organised the Nov 25 rally that drew at least 30,000 people to the streets of Kuala Lumpur. Abdul Gani said most of the 31 accused had submitted affidavits saying they did not support Hindraf and many vowed not to take part in future illegal assemblies.