A new year plea to Manikavasagam, The Kapar MP

DR RAFFIC-WRIGHT TO WRITE

1. Today is the 1st of Jan 2009. I wish all my readers and friends, a happy and prosperous new year. I hope all Malaysian have a fantastic year in 2009. Sadly though, it appears that there is someone that is leaving the 2008 with so much anger in him. The Star paper front page headline was “New Year Ultimatum”. Normally I do not read much of political news in Malaysian papers as usually the reports tends to be one sided. With KT by election is around the corner, more negative news on PR is being pushed to our ears and eyes. Too much garbage that sometimes I feel like I want to puke (vomit).

2. I believe by now, many of you will be wondering what I am blabbering about. I am talking about PKR Manikavasagam (aka Mike)(Kapar MP) who has been airing his frustrations against his party via public media. He is seeking glory via the media by washing dirty laundry in public. So juicy is the news that TV3 has been showing it repeatedly on daily basis as one of the important agenda. I do not wish to talk about what his frustration but I want to focus on some of the things that he said which I find is too hard to swallow and rather distasteful.

3. In Malaysiakini it was reported that “Mike quits S’gor post, remains supreme Council member” where he announced his resignation and subsequently attended an “Informal Indian Liaison Committee”. What Indian committee in PKR? I am shocked when I read this because PKR is a multiracial party and everyone is equal. Why then there is a need to have an Indian group within PKR. Another committee member was upset as 3 others Indian PKR MP did not attend the meeting. I am glad that they did not attend the meeting. PKR was not form on the basis of skin color or ethnic background. Mike action and the action of some of his supporters were wrong. It is quite obvious that Mike doesn’t know the meaning of being a team player. He doesn’t know the aspiration of PKR and those people that put him into office because he stands as a PKR candidate.

4. On the Malaysiakini TV, Mike said that he is disappointed about several Issues which includes among others, the Klang Bas stand relocation issue, land issue and he sighted the example of “Taman Sentosa in Kapar where despite 95% of the population being Indians, the Ketua Kampung is Malay! What the heck is wrong with you Mike? Why are you questioning the ethnic background of this Ketua Kampung? I expect you to criticize his inability to do his job and not his ethnic background in relation to the population. Has he failed in his duty as Ketua Kampung? How has he failed? This is what I expect him to argue. I think along the line Mike forgot that he is the deputy chairman of Selangor PKR which members is more than 70% Malays and in Selangor he represent the interest of more than 60% Malays. No one questions his position.

5. I am not privy to the land problems that he has raised but I am quite aware of the bus station relocation issues. I understand the impact on businesses with the relocation but then I am also aware with regards to the issue of congestion, pollution and poor town planning in the existing area. Is Mike suggesting that because it has an impact on Indian business with the relocation then it should not be done? If that is the case then he certainly disappoints me with his micro view. Certainly there would be an impact initially. What he should have done is to address the businesses relocation to the new area. He should assist them in minimizing the cost of relocation and the cost of doing business in the new place. This would be a win-win situation for all parties. Saying outright no to dislocation is a disservice to the majority of consumers that use buses at the Klang Bus Station. The needs of the majority need to be taken into consideration also. A good leader will find a balance situation.

6. As for Mike, he needs to reexamine his position on his racial biasness. If he wants to be racially bias then I think PKR or PR is not the political platform for him. He should consider the MIC of IPF or PPP which are racial bases political party in the BN. In 2009, I had hope that the country will move forward and away from communal politics but Manikavasagam action has dampen my spirit on the first day of the new year. Lastly, I hope Mike will learn something from Mahatma Gandhi (MG).

7. At the height of the civil war that led to the partition of India and Pakistan, an Indian man (of Hindu faith) came and sees Gandhi in tears for killing his Muslim neighbor and now the couple 3 year old son is orphaned without any relatives. He ask Gandhiji for advice and Gandhi told him that he must raised the child as one of his own son but make sure he turns out to be a good Muslim and not a Hindu.

8. MG saw what many of us did not see. He sees the need to blend in the differences. He sees the future of India. I suggest Mike sit down and reflect on this short story. You have a lot to learn. Stop bickering and stop with this communal politics, please la macha….

As Hindraf spat worsens, a new Anwar ally emerges

Posted by admin


Thursday, 01 January 2009 17:56

By Baradan Kuppusamy



KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 1 — When the bushfire of Indian dissatisfaction in the PKR threatened to turn into an inferno, party supremo Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, holidaying in the Middle East, called from Dubai and urged a man he trusted to investigate what was really going on, how big it was and why it was happening.


Shadowy businessman Datuk Ravi Dharan, chairman of the Daya group of companies, has always been in the shadows of the PKR, serving only Anwar before and after the March 8 polls and during the run-up to the abortive Sept 16 plan to topple the Barisan Nasional government via defections.


He was close to Anwar when the latter was the finance minister and like other tycoons in Anwar's circle, he suffered after Anwar was sacked and jailed in 1998.


Ravi, 59, went abroad and soon settled down in Indonesia where he has interests in several areas, including coal mining in Kalimantan.


However, unlike Anwar's other former friend Datuk K.S. Nallakaruppan, Ravi remained loyal to the former and was a big supporter — personally and financially — of the opposition leader during the March 8 general election campaign.


Anwar has now become worried that Indian dissatisfaction with his party, centred on the resignation of Kapar MP S. Manikavasagam as the party's Selangor deputy chief, will flare up, and he has sought out Ravi to quell the rebellion.


This will be the political coming out for Ravi who had always remained in the shadows.
It is significant that Anwar did not task any of the more senior party leaders such as deputy president Dr Syed Husin Ali, vice-president S. Sivarasa, seen as the nominal Indian head of the party, Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, Selangor exco member Dr Xavier Jeyakumar or even PKR Padang Serai MP M. Gobalakrishnan.


"It was to Ravi that Anwar turned too," said a PKR insider, adding that Anwar was worried that a "hidden hand" was manipulating the "rebellion" and splitting the party especially in light of speculation reported in online news website Malaysiakini that PKR rebels together with Hindraf leader P. Uthayakumar and chairman P. Waythamoorthy were in alliance with MIC rebels to oust embattled MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu.


Manikavasagam's relationship with Sivarasa and Dr Xavier and possibly Khalid, whom he has accused of betraying the people's trust by not fulfilling election promises, is now beyond repair, PKR insiders said.


Under these circumstances Anwar relied on Ravi as a trusted ally, in the same role once played by Nallakaruppan before their dramatic falling out, to help contain or extinguish the Manikavasagam fire.


Ravi attended a meeting of over 100 Indian supporters of Hindraf/Makkal Sakthi yesterday that discussed the problems raised by Manikavasagam and former PKR deputy secretary-general P. Jenapala.


Both Manikavasagam and Jenapala also attended the closed-door meeting.
"Ravi listened carefully, watched their body language and never uttered a single word," said a PKR supporter who attended the meeting.


Later at the press conference Ravi moved in to take charge, admitting there were differences over issues among the PKR leaders. "This is a democratic process, we meet, we discuss, tell our differences and we seek consensus," Ravi told The Malaysian Insider after the meeting.
"We all have one aim — to make Anwar prime minister — and until then we should remain committed and united," said Ravi.


He was worried PKR's political enemies would exploit the differences.


"We should not give them that opportunity," he told the people gathered. "I don't think there is a hidden hand behind the open airing of differences in PKR."


The meeting resolved that Manikavasagam and others would meet Anwar on his return and lay their unhappiness at his feet for a resolution of the differences.


Nevertheless the discontent is too fundamental to be resolved without upsetting the PKR's delicate racial balance.
The animosity between Manikavasagam and the rest of the PKR Indian leadership cannot be ignored.


The others — Sivarasa, Dr Xavier, Khalid and others — control Selangor PKR and are big names in the PKR setup although at the Makkal Sakthi grassroots level they are lightweights compared with Manikavasagam.


While Manikavasagam sees himself as a Makkal Sakthi founder, he accepts Uthayakumar and Waythamoorthy as his real mentors, and he also has the highest regards for Anwar.


It is left to Anwar to see how best to balance the demands of the big names in the PKR who are all for sacking Manikavasagam and satisfying the Makkal Sakthi grassroots who have adopted PKR as their new political home but want a bigger slice of the largesse.


What Ravi recommends to Anwar will play a crucial role in the balancing act.

Malaysian Indians give ultimatum to opposition chief Ibrahim

Kyrgyzstan News.NetThursday 1st January, 2009 (IANS)

A group of Indian leaders from the Pakatan Rakyat, Malaysia's opposition alliance, has sent an ultimatum to opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim to solve their problems or prepare for 'further action'.The opposition alliance has witnessed rumblings as its ethnic Indians have complained that the two million-plus community was being marginalised.They have asked Parti Keadelan Rakyat's (PKR) de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim to solve their problems.

The leaders have conveyed to Ibrahim that they would be forced to mull 'further action' if their call is not heeded.One of the ethnic Indian lawmakers, unhappy over local issues in Selangor state, resigned a post in the PKR, but did not quit the party Wednesday, The New Straits Times said.S. Manikavasagam quit as Selangor PKR deputy liaison chairman.He sent in his letter to Ibrahim and his wife, Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, saying that they, and not Selangor chief minister

Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, should decide on his matter.Manikavasagam said he was leaving for Chennai, India, for the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention of Indians who live overseas.'When I come back, I hope to meet opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim,' he said here Wednesday.Manikavasagam, who said he would remain as a PKR member and the MP for Kapar, claimed that he had received numerous calls asking him not to quit the party.

Kikis Sikap Fanatik Pemikiran

Oleh: DR. ASYRAF WAJDI DUSUKI

Antara kelemahan yang paling mengkhuatirkan sedang melanda umat Islam ketika ini ialah perpecahan yang diakibatkan oleh kepelbagaian aliran pemikiran. Walaupun Islam tidak pernah menolak hakikat kerencaman pendapat, namun perselisihan yang menimbulkan pertentangan tajam sehingga menenggelamkan hakikat persamaan risalah dan matlamat ditentang sama sekali.

Jika diperhatikan secara objektif, kebanyakan perselisihan yang membawa kepada pertentangan dan perpecahan amat terkait dengan sikap fanatik terhadap pendapat sendiri, lantas cuba memonopoli pemikiran dan tiada kesediaan untuk menghormati pandangan orang lain. Penyakit yang disebut juga sebagai ‘al-`ijab bi al-ra’yi’ atau penyakit mengkagumi pendapat sendiri ini bagaikan wabak merbahaya yang sedang menjalar dalam urat saraf umat sehingga mereka tidak lagi mewarisi sikap dan adab para pejuang dan pendokong Islam terdahulu.

Para imam mazhab umpamanya turut berselisih pendapat dalam pelbagai persoalan semasa namun mereka tidak pernah mendabik dada sebagai pemonopoli kebenaran. Sebaliknya berpendirian: “Pendapatku betul tetapi masih berkemungkinan salah. Pendapat orang lain salah tetapi mungkin juga betul”. Ungkapan seperti ini adalah manifestasi adab dan etika dalam perbezaan pendapat yang telah diwarisi sejak zaman para sahabat lagi. Sebab itulah jika disingkap tabir sejarah, kita akan dapati bagaimana para sahabat turut berselisih dalam banyak perkara cabang namun tidak pernah melunturkan iman apa lagi melemahkan mereka walau sedikitpun.
Diriwayatkan bahawa Khalifah Umar Abdul Aziz juga tidak pernah mengimpikan supaya para sahabat tidak berselisih faham sama sekali. Ini kerana baginya, perselisihan faham akan membuka pintu keluasan, keanjalan dan kemudahan kepada umat yang mempunyai tabiat dan keperluan yang berbeza (Al-Qaradawi, Fatawa Mu’asarah).

Pelbagai bukti sejarah mengenai perselisihan di kalangan sahabat dapat disaksikan sejak zaman Rasulullah s.a.w. lagi seperti perselisihan mereka mengenai arahan Nabi berkenaan sembahyang Asar sewaktu pergi ke Bani Quraizah. Ini adalah peristiwa terkenal yang mengungkapkan hakikat perselisihan tetapi Rasulullah s.a.w. sedikitpun tidak mencela kedua-dua kumpulan yang berselisih faham itu.Perselisihan tidak hanya berlaku di zaman Rasulullah sahaja, namun seawal kewafatan baginda, para sahabat sekali lagi berselisih mengenai tempat sewajarnya di mana Rasulullah s.a.w. patut dimakamkan. Ada yang berpendapat baginda wajar dikebumikan bersama sahabat-sahabatnya, manakala sebahagian yang lain berpendapat agar dipusarakan jasad Nabi s.a.w. di dalam masjid. Namun setelah dirujuk kepada sebuah hadis Nabi s.a.w. yang disampaikan oleh Abu Bakar: “Tidaklah diwafatkan seorang Nabi melainkan ia dikebumikan di tempat ia diwafatkan itu”, para sahabat terus mengangkat tikar tempat Rasulullah diwafatkan dan digalikan pusara untuknya.Banyak lagi contoh-contoh lain perbezaan dan perselisihan pendapat yang berlaku dikalangan sahabat seperti persoalan politik, pemilihan Khalifah, isu memerangi golongan yang enggan membayar zakat dan pelbagai perselisihan dalam masalah fekah yang kesemuanya ditangani tanpa mengikut hawa nafsu dan emosi melulu. Begitulah tingginya adab dan etika perbezaan pendapat yang didokongi para sahabat Nabi s.a.w. yang kemudiannya diwariskan kepada generasi selepasnya, sehinggalah umat dihinggapi penyakit baru yang cepat membarah, sekaligus meranapkan akal budi dan peribadi umat.Gara-gara penyakit inilah maka kita menyaksikan suasana umat yang amat menyayat hati dan meruntun emosi. Gamatnya pertelagahan di kalangan pendokong-pendokong wadah Islam sehingga mengakibatkan terabainya tanggungjawab utama menyelesaikan pelbagai masalah umat yang melanda kini. Sebaliknya seluruh tenaga dihabiskan dan tertumpu kepada polemik, “politiking”, adu-domba dan perlumbaan menambah bilangan penyokong pendapat masing-masing. Justeru, dalam upaya mengembalikan sinar kegemilangan Islam yang semakin pudar, usaha penjernihan sikap dan pemikiran harus segera dilakukan ke atas setiap umat Islam. Umat seharusnya kembali menjiwai budaya dan prinsip penting yang mendasari sikap dan perwatakan generasi awal Islam terutamanya dalam menangani fenomena perbezaan pendapat.

Prinsip-prinsip tersebut termasuklah sikap keterbukaan kepada pandangan berbeza, tidak taksub atau fanatik kepada pandangan sendiri, berlapang dada, saling hormat-menghormati dan sayang-menyayangi antara satu sama lain. Mungkin jalan keluar dari belitan konflik kefanatikan pemikiran yang melanda kini terumus dalam ungkapan keramat tokoh reformis Islam, Jamaluddin al-Afghani: Bekerjasamalah dalam hal-hal yang disepakati dan berkompromi dalam hal-hal yang diperselisihkan.Sesungguhnya kepelbagaian pendapat sebenarnya mampu memperkaya khazanah pemikiran Islam andainya kita bersedia menghadapinya secara dewasa. Tetapi andainya kita menanganinya dengan sikap keanak-anakan, menganggap mereka yang tidak sealiran sebagai musuh, maka perbezaan pendapat pasti menjadi bahan bakar penyemarak api persengketaan yang membinasakan.
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UNDILAH CALON PAS-PAS FOR ALL

KLIK WEBTV P036

SIARAN LANGSUNG MALAM INI MELALUI WEB TV PAS.

1,000 syarikat terjejas - MSWG

Oleh AZMAN IBRAHIM


ABDUL Wahab Jaafar Sidek menunjukkan risalah mengenai peranan dan kejayaan Badan Pengawas Pemegang Saham Minoriti Bhd. di Kuala Lumpur, semalam.
KUALA LUMPUR 31 Dis. - Badan Pengawas Pemegang Saham Minoriti Bhd. (MSWG) menjangkakan lebih 1,000 syarikat senaraian awam tempatan akan terjejas pada akhir tahun depan berikutan kemelesetan teruk ekonomi Amerika Syarikat (AS).


Ketua Pegawai Eksekutifnya, Abdul Wahab Jaafar Sidek berkata, ini berikutan Bank of America meramalkan kemelesetan ekonomi negara itu dijangka terburuk pada Jun akan datang.
Beliau memberitahu, selepas enam bulan, negara tersebut mengalami kemelesetan ekonomi dan tempiasnya dijangka diterima negara ini.


"Malaysia tetap menerima tempias kemelesetan teruk ekonomi di AS dan sebahagian syarikat akan menerima kesan berkenaan manakala selebihnya akan dapat bertahan.
"Senario tersebut pernah berlaku dalam kegawatan ekonomi pada 1997 yang lalu dan pakej rangsangan ekonomi yang diumumkan kerajaan beberapa bulan lalu sebanyak RM7 bilion perlu disalurkan sebaiknya dalam sektor-sektor tertentu kerana ia masih belum mencukupi bagi menyokong pertumbuhan ekonomi negara,'' katanya.


Beliau berkata demikian dalam sidang akhbar terakhir beliau sebagai Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif MSWG di sini hari ini.

Abdul Wahab berkhidmat di MSWG sejak November 2004 dan secara rasminya menamatkan perkhidmatan hari ini.

Beliau menambah, walaupun Malaysia menerima kesan daripada kemelesetan teruk ekonomi AS, sebahagian syarikat di negara ini akan dapat bertahan berikutan rangka kerja kawal selia (regulatory framework) oleh kerajaan amat baik.
Selain itu, katanya, kepelbagaian aktiviti ekonomi turut membantu negara mempertahankan kedudukan dan prestasi ekonomi.


Ketika ditanya mengenai perancangan beliau selepas tamat perkhidmatan di MSWG, Abdul Wahab berkata, beliau akan terus berkhidmat dalam sektor perkhidmatan.
Beliau juga akan meneruskan kegiatan dalam kajian pentadbiran korporat.


"Saya akan terus bekerja dan memastikan memberi sumbangan kepada sektor korporat dan kepada MSWG sendiri,'' ujarnya.


Mana satu yang betul? Sekejab ekonomi OK.Sekejab kata Ekonomi tak OK

KELAB BIMMER UTARA KE TAMBUN

AHLI KELAB BMW UTARA

PULAU PINANG-Satu konvoi BMW utara telah mengadakan perjumpaan di Ipoh bersama kelab BMW Ipoh.

Lbih 20 buah BMW berbagai model bergerak ke Ipoh untuk membentuk satu kumpulan kelab BMW.

Hanya PAS Membela Melayu dan Islam

Ditulis oleh Fadzilah Mansor

WEDNESDAY, 31 DECEMBER 2008 22:27

KUALA TERENGGANU : Mursyidul Am PAS, Tuan Guru Dato' Nik Abdul Aziz Nik mempersoalkan kedudukan Umno yang mengatakan bahawa mereka membawa Islam dalam keadaan prinsip perjuangan mereka adalah kebangsaan.

"Bagaimana Umno boleh mengatakan bahawa mereka membawa Islam sedangkan dasarkan mereka adalah kebangsaan, pada masa yang sama PAS adalah merupakan parti yang membawa Al-Quran dan Sunnah sebagai dasar," katanya dalam ceramah pelancaran jentera Pilihan Raya PAS Negeri Kelantan, Wilayah Persekutuan dan Dun Pembantu, Kuala Nerus di Masjid Hiliran, 28 Disember lalu.

Tegasnya, kini timbul pelbagai isu dalaman yang membangkitkan nasib dan masa depan Melayu dan Islam tetapi ternyata Umno gagal membela dan mempertahankan kesinambungan Islam apatah lagi Melayu.

"PAS jaga Melayu sampai akhirat tapi Umno jaga Melayu sekali-sekala sahaja, mereka ini menganut aqidah kebangsaan.

"Kalau kita undi kebangsaan bermakna kita redha kepada kesesatan dan kegelapan pada masa depan," katanya lagi.

Tambahnya, Umno membudayakan amalan pemberian rasuah di dalam parti mereka.
"Beri rasuah salah, tak beri kalah, jadi serba salah. Inilah cara Umno mendidik rakyat," ujar.
Dalam pada itu, Menteri Besar Kelantan itu turut mengulas mengenai tindakan kerajaan Umno-BN yang meniru program yang dibuat oleh kerajaan PAS Kelantan.

"Banyak tindakan dan program di Kelantan, kerajaan pusat tiru contohnya Ar Rahnu, Kifaalah, dan sebagainya.

"Kalau musnahkan PAS, nanti dia (Umno-BN) hendak tiru siapa," demikian ujarnya.
Majlis yang dimulakan dengan solat fardhu Maghrib, diselangi bacaan doa akhir dan tahun baru diteruskan dengan solat hajat secara berjamaah yang diimamkan oleh Ustaz Nik Aziz.
Program pelancaran tersebut merupakan kali pertama diadakan di dalam sebuah masjid.
Rombongan Kelantan diketuai Pengarah JPN, Abdul Fatah Harun, timbalan pengarah Jabatan Pilihan Raya PAS Pusat, Dato' Wan Abdul Rahim Wan Abdullah manakala jentera Wilayah Persekutuan diketuai Yang DiPertua PAS Wilayah Persekutuan, Ustaz Mohd Nor.

Dalam ucapan pembukaan, Abdul Fatah menjelaskan bahawa kehadiran jentera PAS Kelantan bertujuan menghulurkan bantuan dari sudut buah fikiran dan tenaga selain berkongsi pengalaman menghadapi situasi pilihan raya ini.
Bersama-sama beliau rombongan petugas daripada kalangan kelab penyokong PAS berbangsa Cina yang dibawa oleh Exco Kerajaan Negeri Kelantan, Dato' Anuar Tan Abdullah bagi membantu.

Turut hadir, Timbalan Pesuruhjaya PAS Terengganu, Dato' Wan Mutalib Embong, Exco Kerajaan Kelantan, Dato' Anuar Tan serta Yang DiPertua Dun Bandar, Abdul Wahid Endut dan pimpinan di semua peringkat kedua-dua negeri termasuk muslimat.

Selain pelancaran jentera bagi menghadapi pilihan raya, program tersebut juga diadakan sempena sambutan maal Hijrah.

Majlis diakhiri dengan jamuan makan yang disediakan pihak penganjur kepada semua yang hadir.

TOGETHER WE BUILD THE PEOPLE'S MOVEMENT TO FACE THE CHALLENGES AHEAD! HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM JERIT

JARINGAN RAKYAT TERTINDAS ( JERIT)

http://www.jerit.org/

TOGETHER WE BUILD THE PEOPLE'S MOVEMENT TO FACE CHALLENGES AHEAD

31/12/2008

2008 has come and went .What an eventful year. We started the year with the Protest Against Oil Price Hike in January 2008 where more than 50 people were arrested. Then we were busy with elections in March 2008 where the Tsunami for Change saw 5 states falling to Pakatan rakyat and 2/3 majority was denied in Parliament for BN. Then Oil prices went up, people were angry and there were more protests organized demanding the oil price to be reduced.

A large rally was organised in July 2008, initially on the streets but last minute changed to Stadium Kelana Jaya which was controversial as it was questioned why do a protest in stadium. August 2008 - September 2008 was all about September 16 which came and left without much political change. Of course along the way , there were many issues involving the people and politics. Anwar's comeback into the Parliament, reduction of oil price that was done to boost the image of BN but also because of the protests that shook the government and of course the power transition agreement between Najib and Pak Lah.

Hindraf was " banned" but despite that they won the SUARAM human rights awards, Pak Lah had an eventful Hari Raya open house this year. In December 2008, JERIT organised " The People : The Force of Change " bicycle campaign. A campaign that was aimed in bringing awareness to the people's issues and demands. A campaign which was full of police harrasment but then we ended the year in a high note. 120 people entered parliament with 12 cyclists and bicycles to handover a memorandum to the government and pakatan rakyat on the people's demands.

A great victory for the Rakyat after days of intimidation,. harrasment and arrests to stop the campaign as suddenly the police said cycling in groups is a crime in Malaysia. Not only the 6 demands of the people was higlighted but also issues on police abuse of power and children rights's was also highlighted in this campaign. The cycling campaign is a good lesson to all, that perseverance and determination in the people's struggle will help us to reach our destination. Solidarity support is also crucial especially in times of arrests and detention.

The struggles before this by many other groups and communities and struggles to come will again and again reiterate this message to all of us and give us strength to move forward. 2009 : is a big challenge to all of us. With a very bad recession hanging above our head and existence of draconian laws silencing the rakyat , it will be a a challenging year as the workers face retrenchment, cut in salary, shut downs and also price hike . The government will continue to silence its critics using the police and ISA .

Thus is it important for us to unite as a movement to face it together and bring significant change. Let's put forward the People's Demands for a better salary, good housing, good public facilities and abolishment of draconian laws such as ISA. Together we unite as one that is Rakyat Malaysia to struggle for the betterment of the nation and its people. As only the people and the people's power alone can bring real change in the country. The year is almost gone, but it has also made us strong . The path was long but we walked it with hope and strength. There were struggle and fears but people's victories gave us reasons for cheer.

Bye Bye 2008 Welcome 2009 Happy New Year to all comrades, supporters, friends of JERIT, NGO friends, bloggers, media friends and friends in the people's struggle . People the Force of ChangeRakyat Pengayuh Perubahan .

Kohila

JERIT Secretariat