The political situation now is unprecedented in the country. The situation over the past few days will be uncertain – dogged by the opposition claims that they will take over the government within the next few days and the government’s pooh-pooh over the suggestion. But the greatest losers will be the common people. Over the past few months, leaders on both sides of the political divide have been caught in little battles of their own, diverting them from the attention of much bigger issues at hand – governing the country and winning back the confidence of the people and more importantly, the investors. And the sad thing really, is that this situation is threatening to drag on. And this happening over the period where we are supposed to be celebrating 51 years of independence is very unfortunate and shameful. It would seem that that the story of how our forefathers struggled to achieve independence was furthest from our minds now. 51 years and we are supposed to be reaping and enjoying the fruits of our labour – and here we are pushing back years of progress and development our former leaders had so painstakingly acquired over the decades.
I urged all political leaders – myself included no doubt – to refrain from saying or doing anything that will worsen the current situation – events have still to unfold over the next few days – and instead to undertake measures that will put back some form of sanity into the political scenario. I think what the people really want to see now is the government of the day getting back into their actual businesses of governing the country. What they really want, for us now and for their future generations, is a Malaysia that is united and progressive and dynamic, a place where we can celebrate (not tolerate) our multi-racial and multi-religious mix, somewhere we can all call home and be regarded as true Malaysians (not referred to by any other terms). We are ONE country, ONE people.
( Mand version click "more" )
我们应该认真看待监管事务
我国目前的政治局势是空前的。过去一些日子的局势非常不稳定- 反对党宣称，他们将在今后几天内接管政府，而政府认为，这个说法不可能实现。然而，最大的输家将是老百姓。 过去几个月来，政治分歧的双方领袖不时发生争执，而没有把注意力放在更重大的问题上，那就是，好好治理国家，以赢回人民的信心，而更重要的是，争取恢复投资者的信心。 然而，令人遗憾的是，双方的争执情况依然持续，而且是在我国庆祝独立51周年期间发生，这是不幸和令人感到可耻的事。我们的先辈为争取独立而展开斗争的故事显然已经远离我们。 51 年来，我们理应获取和享受到我们艰苦努力所取得的成果 – 如今，我们却把前任领袖过去几十年来煞费苦心取得的进展和发展往后推。
我促请所有的政治领袖 – 当然也包括我在内 – 应该避免发表或采取任何足以使目前的局势恶化的言论和行动。 一些事件可能会在今后几天内陆续发生，因此，他们应该采取一些措施，使我国的政治局势恢复正常和健全。我认为，人民现在真正要看到的是，现今政府恢复监管国家的实际任务。实际上，为了我们这一代和子子孙孙，人民希望看到的是一个团结、进步和朝气蓬勃的马来西亚，一个可以让我们感到非常庆幸（非容忍）的多元种族和多元宗教信仰的地方，也是我们大家可以称为家园，以及可以被视为真正的马来西亚人（没有附带任何条件）的地方。我们是 “一个国家，一个人民”。
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Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Monday, September 15, 2008
Release RPK and Teresa Kok
I strongly urged the government to release Raja Petra Kamaruddin and YB Teresa Kok from the Internal Security Act. The ISA should not be used against civilians. If the government strongly feels that the two had broken any laws of the country, then let them be tried in the open court. Detaining them under the ISA is not consistent with Malaysia's profile as a well developed democratic country.
Both RPK and YB Teresa Kok have written extensively on many issues in the country and if the government feels they have violated provisions of the law, including the Sedition Act, then the government and the police should have enough evidence to charge them.
Using the ISA to detain the two paints a very negative and bleak picture of the government and the investigative intelligence of the police.
( Mand version click "more" )
释放拉惹布特拉和郭素沁
我强烈促请政府释放在内安法令下被扣留的拉惹布特拉和郭素沁。内安法令不应该被利用来对付普通人民。如果政府强烈认为，这两个人违反了我国的任何法例，那么，就让他们在法庭上接受审讯。在内安法令下拘捕他们，不符合作为一个民主相当发达的国家 - 马来西亚的国情。
拉惹布特拉和郭素沁广泛撰写了有关我国的问题，如果政府认为他们触犯了法例，包括煽动法令，政府和警方应该拥有足够的证据提控他们。援引内安法令拘捕这两个人，只能让人对政府和警方情报局产生非常负面和失望的形象。
More...
Both RPK and YB Teresa Kok have written extensively on many issues in the country and if the government feels they have violated provisions of the law, including the Sedition Act, then the government and the police should have enough evidence to charge them.
Using the ISA to detain the two paints a very negative and bleak picture of the government and the investigative intelligence of the police.
( Mand version click "more" )
释放拉惹布特拉和郭素沁
我强烈促请政府释放在内安法令下被扣留的拉惹布特拉和郭素沁。内安法令不应该被利用来对付普通人民。如果政府强烈认为，这两个人违反了我国的任何法例，那么，就让他们在法庭上接受审讯。在内安法令下拘捕他们，不符合作为一个民主相当发达的国家 - 马来西亚的国情。
拉惹布特拉和郭素沁广泛撰写了有关我国的问题，如果政府认为他们触犯了法例，包括煽动法令，政府和警方应该拥有足够的证据提控他们。援引内安法令拘捕这两个人，只能让人对政府和警方情报局产生非常负面和失望的形象。
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Sunday, September 14, 2008
Syed Hamid's Explanation on Detention of Sin Chew Daily News Reporter
I find Home Minister, Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar’s explanation that Sin Chew Daily reporter Tan Hoon Cheng was detained under the Internal Security Act as police believed that her life was “under threat” to be totally unacceptable. It was a feeble attempt to justify the use of the ISA on Tan. By detaining her under the ISA, police has turned her into a “victim” of circumstances. By doing so, the police have caused added emotional distress and mental agony to Tan and her family.
Moreover, Datuk Seri Syed Hamid’s explanation that the detention was made by police without his knowledge is also not consistent. As the Home Minister, he should be responsible for any actions undertaken by the police, especially when it involves the sensitivities of the people. As a former member of the Cabinet, sensitive issues are discussed at the weekly Cabinet meetings before any decision is taken. As a senior Minister, Datuk Seri Syed Hamid must be very familiar with these procedures. Also, an important decision such as detention under the ISA should be referred to the Prime Minister for his advice.
In view of the recent developments, the government should abolish the ISA or relook at the ISA to put in place a rigorous system of checks and balances before any decision is taken to detain someone.
( Mand version click "more" )
赛哈密对星洲日报记者被扣留事件所作的解释
内政部长赛哈密对星洲日报记者陈云清在内安法令下被扣留所作的解释是，她的性命面对威胁，我认为，这种解释完全不能被接受。以这个理由援引内安法来逮捕陈云清是站不住脚的。警方利用内安法拘捕她，使她成为了大环境的牺牲者。警方这么做，令她和家人的情绪和精神都感到痛苦万分。
此外，赛哈密解释说，他并不知道警方采取这项逮捕行动。这个解释也不符合事实。身为内政部长，他应该对警方所采取的任何行动，尤其是涉及人民的敏感问题的行动负责。我担任内阁成员时，所有的敏感问题在做出决定之前，必须先在每周的内阁会议上讨论。身为一位资深的部长，赛哈密必须非常熟悉这个程序。 此外，援引内安法令进行扣留这么重要的事件，应该先向首相请示才能做出决定。
鉴于最近的事态演变，政府应该废除内安法令，或者重新检讨这项法令，以便实行严格的调查和衡量体系，才可以做出逮捕任何人的决定。
More...
Moreover, Datuk Seri Syed Hamid’s explanation that the detention was made by police without his knowledge is also not consistent. As the Home Minister, he should be responsible for any actions undertaken by the police, especially when it involves the sensitivities of the people. As a former member of the Cabinet, sensitive issues are discussed at the weekly Cabinet meetings before any decision is taken. As a senior Minister, Datuk Seri Syed Hamid must be very familiar with these procedures. Also, an important decision such as detention under the ISA should be referred to the Prime Minister for his advice.
In view of the recent developments, the government should abolish the ISA or relook at the ISA to put in place a rigorous system of checks and balances before any decision is taken to detain someone.
( Mand version click "more" )
赛哈密对星洲日报记者被扣留事件所作的解释
内政部长赛哈密对星洲日报记者陈云清在内安法令下被扣留所作的解释是，她的性命面对威胁，我认为，这种解释完全不能被接受。以这个理由援引内安法来逮捕陈云清是站不住脚的。警方利用内安法拘捕她，使她成为了大环境的牺牲者。警方这么做，令她和家人的情绪和精神都感到痛苦万分。
此外，赛哈密解释说，他并不知道警方采取这项逮捕行动。这个解释也不符合事实。身为内政部长，他应该对警方所采取的任何行动，尤其是涉及人民的敏感问题的行动负责。我担任内阁成员时，所有的敏感问题在做出决定之前，必须先在每周的内阁会议上讨论。身为一位资深的部长，赛哈密必须非常熟悉这个程序。 此外，援引内安法令进行扣留这么重要的事件，应该先向首相请示才能做出决定。
鉴于最近的事态演变，政府应该废除内安法令，或者重新检讨这项法令，以便实行严格的调查和衡量体系，才可以做出逮捕任何人的决定。
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Saturday, September 13, 2008
Act Decisively on the Perpetrator!
The government should act against Ahmad Ismail and not on the reporter who was merely carrying out her duties assigned to her. Arresting Tan under the ISA is tantamount to taking action against the person carrying the message and not against the messenger himself. The people have registered their disgust at this recent arrest and I personally share their feelings. Ahmad Ismail should not be allowed to escape with just a three-year suspension from UMNO for making sensitive remarks while Tan has been "victimised" This goes against the tenets of democracy as espoused by the Barisan Nasional in the 8 March General Election and not consistent with the spirit of the Barisan Nasional coalition.
Similarly, the government should not detain YB Teresa Kok and Raja Petra. If the government feels strongly that they have broken any laws, then charge them under the relevant laws.
( Mand version click "more" )
果敢地对付滋事者！
政府应该采取行动对付阿末伊斯迈，而不是对付只是执行被指派任务的记者。当局在内安法令下逮捕陈云清，等于是采取行动对付传达信息的人， 而不是对付发出信息的人。人们对最近的逮捕行动感到厌恶和反感，而我本人也有这个感受。阿末伊斯迈由于发表敏感的言论而受到的惩罚，不应该只限于被中止巫统党员籍三年，而陈云清则成为了牺牲者。这是违反国民阵线于3月8日大选时维护的民主原则，而且也不符合国阵联合政府的精神。
同样的，政府也不应该逮捕郭素沁和拉惹布特拉。如果政府强烈认为，他们触犯了法例，那么，就应该援引相关的法令提控他们。
逮捕星洲日报的记者
我万分不同意，而且非常反感政府援引内安法令逮捕星洲日报的记者陈云清。身为一名记者，陈云清只不过执行指派给她的任务。此外，她所写的新闻稿，在刊登以前已经被编辑审阅过。
援引内安法令逮捕陈云清，不但违反了言论自由的本质，而且也让民众觉得，政府封锁资讯，进而引起人民的不满，可能还会导致谣言满天飞。这也将造成人民从阅读传统的主流媒体，转为浏览部落格和互联网，而有些部落格和互联网，则可能被某些集团所利用。如果政府认为，陈清云触犯了任何法例，当局应该援引相关的法令提控她。
More...
Similarly, the government should not detain YB Teresa Kok and Raja Petra. If the government feels strongly that they have broken any laws, then charge them under the relevant laws.
( Mand version click "more" )
果敢地对付滋事者！
政府应该采取行动对付阿末伊斯迈，而不是对付只是执行被指派任务的记者。当局在内安法令下逮捕陈云清，等于是采取行动对付传达信息的人， 而不是对付发出信息的人。人们对最近的逮捕行动感到厌恶和反感，而我本人也有这个感受。阿末伊斯迈由于发表敏感的言论而受到的惩罚，不应该只限于被中止巫统党员籍三年，而陈云清则成为了牺牲者。这是违反国民阵线于3月8日大选时维护的民主原则，而且也不符合国阵联合政府的精神。
同样的，政府也不应该逮捕郭素沁和拉惹布特拉。如果政府强烈认为，他们触犯了法例，那么，就应该援引相关的法令提控他们。
逮捕星洲日报的记者
我万分不同意，而且非常反感政府援引内安法令逮捕星洲日报的记者陈云清。身为一名记者，陈云清只不过执行指派给她的任务。此外，她所写的新闻稿，在刊登以前已经被编辑审阅过。
援引内安法令逮捕陈云清，不但违反了言论自由的本质，而且也让民众觉得，政府封锁资讯，进而引起人民的不满，可能还会导致谣言满天飞。这也将造成人民从阅读传统的主流媒体，转为浏览部落格和互联网，而有些部落格和互联网，则可能被某些集团所利用。如果政府认为，陈清云触犯了任何法例，当局应该援引相关的法令提控她。
More...
Arrest of Sin Chew Daily News Reporter
I strongly disagree and am utterly disgusted with the government’s use of the Internal Security Act on Sin Chew Daily News reporter Tan Hoon Cheng. As a reporter, Tan was only carrying out her duties as assigned to her. Her story had gone through the due editorial process before it was printed.
Detaining Tan under the ISA would go against the grains of freedom of the press and give the public the perception that the government was keeping information from them, thus further stroke discontent among the people and may spin off rumours arising from the issue. It will also turn the people further away from the mainstream media as a source of information and encourage them to turn to blogs and Internet which may be exploited by certain quarters. If the government feels that Tan had broken any laws, she should instead be charged in court under the those laws.
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Detaining Tan under the ISA would go against the grains of freedom of the press and give the public the perception that the government was keeping information from them, thus further stroke discontent among the people and may spin off rumours arising from the issue. It will also turn the people further away from the mainstream media as a source of information and encourage them to turn to blogs and Internet which may be exploited by certain quarters. If the government feels that Tan had broken any laws, she should instead be charged in court under the those laws.
More...
Monday, September 8, 2008
2009 Budget: Bolder Measures Needed!
While the proposals of Budget 2009 seek to address the concerns of the people and help them to cope following the increase in fuel prices and goods and services, it lacks punch and most of the measures just trickles at the margin. For example, the reduction of the income tax from 28 percent to 27 percent works out to just RM150 a month. I feel that bolder measures at the micro and macro levels are needed to boost the economy and to pass the benefits of this growth to the people. In the medium term, more incentives are needed to encourage local investors as well as foreign direct investments. These measures should reflect the challenges of an increasingly open and competitive global economy.
At the macro level, the government should remove any hindrances or constraints to economic growth and investments – both domestic and foreign. The Deputy Prime Minister, YAB Dato Sri Najib Tun Razak mentioned at the Mid Term Review of the Ninth Malaysia Plan, that the guidelines under the Foreign Investment Committee needed to be reviewed to encourage investments, but the Budget fails to highlight this important aspect. The government should give serious thoughts to removing any hindrances to investments, especially when we are facing fierce competition from China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Indonesia. Such hindrances and obstacles are also not consistent with globalization. The requirements for listing on the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange, Bursa Malaysia, also needs a relook. Companies are now free to list on regional bourses like Singapore and Hong Kong. If the government does not remove restrictions such as the 30 percent requirement on equity ownership, more and more companies will seek to list in these bourses. The local bourse used to be a major stock exchange in Asia after Tokyo and Hong Kong. Now, it has been overtaken by Singapore, Korea and China and Jakarta and Bangkok are fast catching up. Budget 2009 also does not have any comprehensive proposals to help the small and medium enterprises which are the most affected by rising materials and operations costs. What is needed to push the SMEs to the next level are advisory centres or incubators to help them. The government should not just pump in the funds per se but should assist the SMEs in areas such as upgrading of technology, human resource development and marketing. Killing the goose that lays the eggs! The windfall tax on oil palm estates needs a relook. The windfall tax was introduced about 10 years ago when the breakeven was RM600 per tonne. But this has increased to about RM1300 per tonne. If the government wants to maintain the windfall tax, they should consider moving the level to RM2500-RM2700 per tonne. On Human Resources, as a former Minister of Human Resources, I feel that the requirement of having to report ethnicity make-up in the workforce (as proposed in the Mid Term Review of the Ninth Malaysia Plan) is a step backwards. This will indeed be a constraint to companies, including multi-national corporations in Malaysia, to employ the best talents and will deter Malaysians from improving themselves to compete on a level playing field. At the people level, the people are still feeling the effects of the rise in prices following the increase in fuel prices. While the government has lowered fuel prices a little, the people are still affected by the increase in prices of commodities and goods and services following the initial increase in fuel prices. Now, the government should look into measures to pass down the reduction in fuel prices to the people. More important is the lack of emphasis on a Social Safety Net. One way is to set up a fund to help the unemployed by providing them with financial assistance over a period of 6 months until they get another job. The government can kick-start the Fund by providing an initial grant of RM200-RM300 million and contributions from both the employers and employees can sustain the Fund. The measures proposed to upgrade private transportation are not comprehensive enough. Assistance should not be confined to Rapid KL or Rapid Penang, but should be more nationwide as an efficient national private transportation system is important. The government should look into problems faced by commuters, including a more efficient feeder service, enough car parks at LRT/commuter stations, besides ensuring comfort and punctuality of services. I am sure that if such facilities are in place, more people will be encouraged to use these services. Toll charges should be reduced by half for all and not just for buses. The government should seek to renegotiate the compensation with Highway Concessionaires as revenue has increased with the increase in traffic volume from the time their compensation were first negotiated. Similarly, the estates should also pay their workers higher wages and provide better welfare services. This way, they will also encourage more Malaysians to work as estate workers and not have to rely on foreign workers. ends
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At the macro level, the government should remove any hindrances or constraints to economic growth and investments – both domestic and foreign. The Deputy Prime Minister, YAB Dato Sri Najib Tun Razak mentioned at the Mid Term Review of the Ninth Malaysia Plan, that the guidelines under the Foreign Investment Committee needed to be reviewed to encourage investments, but the Budget fails to highlight this important aspect. The government should give serious thoughts to removing any hindrances to investments, especially when we are facing fierce competition from China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Indonesia. Such hindrances and obstacles are also not consistent with globalization. The requirements for listing on the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange, Bursa Malaysia, also needs a relook. Companies are now free to list on regional bourses like Singapore and Hong Kong. If the government does not remove restrictions such as the 30 percent requirement on equity ownership, more and more companies will seek to list in these bourses. The local bourse used to be a major stock exchange in Asia after Tokyo and Hong Kong. Now, it has been overtaken by Singapore, Korea and China and Jakarta and Bangkok are fast catching up. Budget 2009 also does not have any comprehensive proposals to help the small and medium enterprises which are the most affected by rising materials and operations costs. What is needed to push the SMEs to the next level are advisory centres or incubators to help them. The government should not just pump in the funds per se but should assist the SMEs in areas such as upgrading of technology, human resource development and marketing. Killing the goose that lays the eggs! The windfall tax on oil palm estates needs a relook. The windfall tax was introduced about 10 years ago when the breakeven was RM600 per tonne. But this has increased to about RM1300 per tonne. If the government wants to maintain the windfall tax, they should consider moving the level to RM2500-RM2700 per tonne. On Human Resources, as a former Minister of Human Resources, I feel that the requirement of having to report ethnicity make-up in the workforce (as proposed in the Mid Term Review of the Ninth Malaysia Plan) is a step backwards. This will indeed be a constraint to companies, including multi-national corporations in Malaysia, to employ the best talents and will deter Malaysians from improving themselves to compete on a level playing field. At the people level, the people are still feeling the effects of the rise in prices following the increase in fuel prices. While the government has lowered fuel prices a little, the people are still affected by the increase in prices of commodities and goods and services following the initial increase in fuel prices. Now, the government should look into measures to pass down the reduction in fuel prices to the people. More important is the lack of emphasis on a Social Safety Net. One way is to set up a fund to help the unemployed by providing them with financial assistance over a period of 6 months until they get another job. The government can kick-start the Fund by providing an initial grant of RM200-RM300 million and contributions from both the employers and employees can sustain the Fund. The measures proposed to upgrade private transportation are not comprehensive enough. Assistance should not be confined to Rapid KL or Rapid Penang, but should be more nationwide as an efficient national private transportation system is important. The government should look into problems faced by commuters, including a more efficient feeder service, enough car parks at LRT/commuter stations, besides ensuring comfort and punctuality of services. I am sure that if such facilities are in place, more people will be encouraged to use these services. Toll charges should be reduced by half for all and not just for buses. The government should seek to renegotiate the compensation with Highway Concessionaires as revenue has increased with the increase in traffic volume from the time their compensation were first negotiated. Similarly, the estates should also pay their workers higher wages and provide better welfare services. This way, they will also encourage more Malaysians to work as estate workers and not have to rely on foreign workers. ends
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Monday, September 1, 2008
It's seditious!
Bukit Bendera division chief, Datuk Ahmad Ismail should be charged with sedition for calling the non-Malays "pendatang". What he said was racist. The citizenship of the non-Malays should not be questioned just as some religious issues should not be called into dispute. We are celebrating the 51st year of independence and such statements or comments by an UMNO leader is very damaging to the unity of Malaysians.
It is not enough for Ahmad to just apologize and action should be taken against him to reflect on the severity of his comments. What he said should be viewed seriously as it borders on non-respect to the non-Malays. What is more disturbing is that such remarks from UMNO leaders and members were occuring too often. The remarks had offended the Chinese and also MCA grassroots. I will forward the issue at the next MCA central committee meeting.
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