Don't hide from foreigners- made-voters charge, EC told

The Election Commission (EC) should not wash it hands off the allegation on its former chief's admission that 60,000 foreigners in possession of "fake" identity cards had become voters, the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections, Bersih 2.0, said today.

The EC should be doing its work as to why it allowed these people to be registered as voters, Bersih 2.0 steering committee member A Subramaniam Pillay (left) said today.

"Maybe the fault lies with the National Registration Department, for issuing the ICs making them officially as citizens. This is part of the alleged 'Project IC" in Sabah to give citizenship to new immigrants in the state, who are Indonesians and Filipinos.

"The EC cannot wash off its hands as it is entrusted to do monitoring of the electoral roll. If it is not doing this, it is thereby creating an imbalance.

"There must be better communication and tie-up between the NRD and EC to resolve this problem and it (the process of voter registration) should be tightened up, now," Subramaniam said.

The very least, he added, was for the EC to have raised the issue when it took place in the 1990s, so that the people could have become aware of the situation and investigations carried out.

Fellow steering committee member Maria Chin Abdullah (right) said the practise of issuing ICs to foreigners in the 1990s would have created imbalances and to a certain extent, have manipulated the election results.

Subramaniam said as public bodies that should be independent, the EC and NRD should admit their mistakes and carry out investigations.

"They cannot run away or absolve themselves from the blame," he said.

Subraminam said this when asked about the allegation made by the former head of the NGO Malaysians for Free and and Fair Elections, Abdul Malek Husin, that former EC chief Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman was involved in the "Project IC", which is otherwise known as "Project M".

Wikileaks recently posted a leaked confidential US Embassy cable that quoted Malek as having told American officials that Rashid had admitted to issuing 60,000 fake ICs to foreign workers in Sabah in the 1990s.

Yesterday, Malek clarified on the US cable quoting him, saying that Rashid did indeed admit to being involved in the controversial "Projek IC'"operation in the 1990s - but only to register individuals with dubious ICs as voters.

The "Project IC" has been blamed for helping the BN wrest control of the Sabah government from Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS).

Subramaniam also called on those who know of cases of foreigners having been given ICs or MyKad and had become voters to report this to the authorities and to Bersih 2.0.

'MCMC must explain pulling plug on Undilah video'

The authorities must explain why local stations have been directed not to air a non-partisan video encouraging the public to register as voters, said Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar.

“I am disturbed after reading the news that the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has directed local broadcasters this week to not use the 'Undilah' public service announcement (PSA) that was produced by Pete Teo and launched on Hari Malaysia,” she said in a statement today.

Nurul Izzah (right), who was one of the participants in the video clip that also featured BN politicians such as Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah and Deputy Education Minister Wee Ka Siong (below), said this contradicted the government leaders' claims that Malaysia was the world's “best democracy”.

“At a time when those leading the country clamour about making Malaysia the 'best democracy' in the world, actions taken by entities like MCMC clearly undermine such efforts and belittle the intelligence of Malaysians,” said the MP who is also PKR vice president.

She maintains that the PSA was a rally cry for Malaysians to register as voters to strengthen the country's democratic process.

“It is meant to rouse the democratic spirit of all Malaysians, regardless of political leanings.

“I call on the MCMC to clarify its orders to local broadcasters regarding this PSA, and in fact I urge MCMC to reverse its order and promote the video as a step to strengthen democratic practice in our beloved country,” said Nurul Izzah.

A news website reported today that MCMC had in an email this week directed Astro and Media Prima Bhd not to air the PSA, as it featured opposition politicians as well as Tengku Razaleigh referring to problems the country was facing.

'MCMC must be non-partisan'

Tengku Razaleigh opens the four and a half minute video saying, “Malaysia is a beautiful country, but there are many problems. I don't need to talk about them. We know what these problems are.

“What I do want to say is, Malaysia's future is in our hands. So if you haven't registered to vote, please do so as soon as possible...

“Remember, whatever happens, Malaysia is your country, this is our country, she has many problems. Malaysia needs us."

It also features Deputy Health Minister Rosnah Abd Rashid Shirlin (right in photo), DAP Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua, PAS Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad and PKR Seri Setia assemblyperson Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad along with artistes such as Namewee and Afdlin Shauki.

Nurul Izzah reminded MCMC that it was an independent body that should remain non-partisan in carrying out its duties.

“Let not MCMC's independence be subjected to the political machinations of an archaic and dogmatic minister, who is lost in the undercurrents of partisan politics and quite out of touch with the latest developments in Malaysia's political scene,” she said.

On Malaysia Day on Sept 16, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak claimed that he would repeal the draconian Internal Security Act to make Malaysia the best democracy in the world

Among the reforms he announced included amendments to the Printing Presses and Publications Act (PPPA) that has been seen as the biggest obstacle to media freedom in the country.

‘Dr M has vested interest in Lynas’

NGO alleges former premier supporting Lynas to shore up his son Mokhzani's sizeble stake in the rare earth project.

PETALING JAYA: Former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has an ulterior motive for supporting the Lynas rare earth project, claimed an NGO.

“Mahathir’s eldest son Mokhzani Mahathir, the CEO of Kencana Petroleum has a large stake in the Lynas rare earth refinery project, said the Save Malaysia Stop Lynas (SMSL).

Its spokesperson, Steven Hang, said: “Kencana Torsco Sdn Bhd is a subsidiary of Kencana Petroleum that won lucrative contracts from Lynas Malaysia Sdn Bhd.

“Kencana Torsco is involved the design, fabrication, lining, supply, installation, and commissioning of carbon steel and stainless steel tanks worth RM9.1 million for the project.”

Hang made this claims based on facts obtained from Bloomberg Businessweek, a US-based business website portal.

On Wednesday, Mahathir wrote in his blog that groups opposing the rare earth processing plant in Gebeng, Kuantan had political interest in opposing the project.

“The Lynas contracts are a windfall for Mokhzani since his return to the corporate world in 2007. Back in the 1998 Asian Financial Crisis, he was written off,” said Hang.

Hang also speculated that these lucrative contracts signaled a return of Mokhzani into the corporate world, and the timing of Mahathir’s article was intended to boost Lynas shares.

“Perhaps daddy decided it was time lend his weight to the deal to make sure Lynas is healthy enough so as boost shareholders’ confidence in their investments,” said Hang.

“It is no co-incidence that Mahathir decided to blog on Lynas to give it a leg up when its shares are tumbling by the day.”




Bank pulls out

 

 Lynas share value plummeted by 13.67% yesterday, the steepest in two years according to FIN News Network, an Australian news agency.

Hang also revealed that HSBC bank Australian had sold off its shares in Lynas worth millions due to the negative publicity over the plant and to safeguard its (HSBC’s) reputation.

“It is hardly surprising, given the publicity generated in Malaysia and in Australia over the plant,” Hang said.
The group also brushed off Mahathir’s allegations that opponents to Lynas’s plant had a political agenda.
“The only agenda the people have is for a clean and safe environment to live in,” charged Hang.

He added that like-minded people should team up and exercise their democratic to reject hazardous projects against politicians with vested interest in Lynas.

Zaid told: Apologise, quit or get sacked

PETALING JAYA: Kita president Zaid Ibrahim’s recent controversial and solitary decisions have earned him three options from a party leader – apologise, resign or prepare to be ousted.

Zahrein Zakariah, a member of Kita’s central executive committee, today issued a second call for Zaid’s resignation, saying the party no longer needed him. He suggested that he return to Umno.

“I will continue calling for his resignation,” Zahrein told FMT. “Nothing changes. I will rally the others to bring him down. And then we will introduce a new decision-making system which will be bottom-up.”
Asked if Kita could function without Zaid, he replied, “Yes it can. I repeat, Kita is not Zaid and Zaid is not Kita.”

Zaid began courting dissent when he sacked three party leaders. It sparked accusations of tyranny and persistent flouting of party protocol.

He exacerbated the uproar when he apologised to Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak for doubting his political will to make reforms. His most recent controversial move was to announce a Kita Democracy Roadshow to garner support for Najib’s reform pledges.

Zahrein said Zaid did not consult anyone in the party leadership on the roadshow, adding that members were angry, viewing the move as another one of his “apple polishing antics”.

Scandal list

He expressed incredulity at Zaid’s support of a prime minister and government that had “clearly lost the people’s confidence” and had “killed democracy”.

“Maybe Zaid Ibrahim believes in Najib, but Kita does not,” Zahrein said. “Barisan Nasional is failing big time and Kita wants nothing to do with it.”

He rattled off a list of “scandals” that he said had erupted since Najib came into power, including the Perak coup, the church burnings, the Teoh Beng Hock case and the accusations of corruption in the purchase of Scorpene submarines.

“Zaid can talk for himself,” he said. “He can polish all the apples he wants, but Kita will not follow.
“There is no Kita roadshow for Najib. Zaid can call it the Royal Malaysian Circus for all we care.

“Zaid is a one-man show and he is leading Kita in the wrong direction. Kita is a social justice movement aimed at setting things straight in Malaysia and it makes no sense for us to support Najib.”

Zahrein disagreed with party leaders who had said that Kita’s image remained intact despite Zaid.

He said it was “badly damaged” and that the only way to salvage it would be to boot out the “Umno people” within it.

“Otherwise we are no different from Umno and PKR in their authoritarian practice,” he said. “In my view, a party chief is merely a spokesperson for decisions that are made collectively.”

Zahrein nevertheless said that he would give Zaid a chance to redeem himself by proving that he was not behind the roadshow decision and then apologising to party members.

“Zaid has yet to issue a statement on this issue,” he noted. “If he says that this idea was that of his two liaison-directors-henchmen, Masrum Dayat and Aziz Kadir, and then sacks them and apologises to us, then we might give him some space.”

Asked if it was too much to expect an apology for Zaid, he shot back: “If he can apologise to Najib, then he can apologise to us.”

Bersih: Undilah ban contradicts Najib’s reforms

By Shannon Teoh

September 23, 2011

 

PETALING JAYA, Sept 23 — Bersih said today the ban on a video promoting the right to vote flies in the face of Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s push for greater democracy.

The electoral reforms movement called for the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to allow the Undilah public service announcement to be aired by local broadcasters as it posed no threat to the public.

“It’s sad that a video like that can be seen as threatening. If that is considered sensitive, what kind of democracy and political liberalisation is the prime minister talking about?

“It looks like he is doing one thing while his government is doing something else,” steering committee member Subramaniam Pillay told a press conference this morning.

The Malaysian Insider reported this morning that the MCMC directed local broadcasters not to use the video because it contains opposition figures and Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah’s speech about Malaysia having problems.

“What is wrong with asking people to vote? Even the 1 Malaysia campaign asks people to vote,” added another steering committee member Maria Chin Abdullah.

Najib had announced on September 15 a raft of reforms that included repealing the Internal Security Act and ending the requirement for printing and publishing permits to be renewed annually.

The prime minister said in his Malaysia Day address that the reforms were necessary as the public has matured and should be given more freedom.

Subramaniam also said today that the ban was made more alarming as “the video is not even partisan.”
Apart from Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh, the video also features other Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders such as Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong and Deputy Health Minister Datuk Rosnah Abd Rashid Shirlin.

Opposition figures include Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua, Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar, Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad and Seri Setia assemblyman Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.

Tussle over body takes another strange twist

It appears the troubles have just piled up for the family of purported Muslim convert Lawrence Selvananthan, as his friends allegedly took matters into their own hands to cremate his body yesterday afternoon.

It is understood that Lawrence's friends, transporting his body to a church in Seremban for funeral rites, decided on their own to cremate his remains and bury the ashes in Segamat.

The situation has left the Lawrence's family in a fix, as they are now facing legal action initiated by the Negeri Sembilan Islamic Affairs Department (JHEAINS), said Port Dickson state assemblyperson Ravi Munusamy, who is acting as mediator in discussions between the family and religious officials.

Ravi (left)said police officers turned up at the family's home in Lukut around midnight to serve a syariah court order on the family, informing them that action would be taken against them.

"Because of that, the mother suffered some heart problems. She is still a bit sick now, and has not risen from bed yet.

"I advised them (police) not to come at midnight. If they want to discuss anything, they should come in the day," Ravi said when contacted by Malaysiakini.

Lawrence's body was at the centre of a claim by religious officials, who stopped his family from proceeding with his funeral service and burial yesterday on grounds that he had converted to Islam three days earlier.

The situation initially sparked a tense stand-off between family members and at least 30 police officers and JHEAINS officials, though they eventually entered into discussions with Ravi and a local priest representing the family.

'No proof he converted'

Ravi said the family are very unhappy over the incident and the ensuing situation they are now faced with, saying that they have not come across sufficient evidence to back the claim by the religious authorities.

"From what we understand, it takes three weeks to complete a conversion process, as a person needs to go through a course first.

"Here they are saying that he converted just three days ago.

"Secondly, he was never circumcised, and also he never informed his family.

“If he really converted, why is it that it was not shown on his death certificate?

"If he did convert, they should have keyed it in (the national registration database) on the day that he converted. After three days there was still nothing, so he was still not endorsed as a Muslim," Ravi said.

He noted that the family was now discussing their options with their lawyer on how to proceed with the court action by JHEAINS.

Attempts to contact the JHEAINS director have so far been futile. His office said he was in a meeting.

Devout Catholic and willing convert 

Lawrence, 33-year-old father of one, was found unconscious in a parked lorry outside his store in KM9.6 Jalan Seremban, and declared dead on arrival at the Port Dickson Hospital sometime on Wednesday night.

Star today reported Pusat Dakwah Islamiyah officer Muhammad Zuwairi Baharudin as saying Lawrence had gone to the centre, with a friend named Shahul Hameed, to convert to Islam.

The officer is quoted as saying he had asked Lawrence, whose Muslim name he said was Zairy Abdullah, several times if he was certain about converting to Islam and that the latter had replied in the affirmative.

Zuwairi said he had recordings and photographs of the session.

The report also said Father Clement Lim of the Immaculate Conception Church had expressed shock at the news of Lawrence's conversion, saying the deceased was a "devout Catholic and an active member of the parish".

Bishop takes nuanced stance on hudud

The reignited debate over the implementation of hudud law in Kelantan has drawn a nuanced response from what at first glance would be considered an unexpected quarter.

Catholic Bishop Dr Paul Tan Chee Ing, in remarks made to Malaysiakini today, held forth on the subject and has come up with a stance he thinks is calibrated to meet the challenges the question of Islam poses to Malaysian society.

“One would think I should lack the presumption to weigh in on the discussion, being non-Muslim and belonging to a religion that subscribes to the separation of the secular from the religious spheres,” said the titular head of Catholics in the Melaka-Johor diocese.

“But Islam is, above all, a political question, and support for syariah, of which hudud is a part, is an obligation for the Muslim. Therefore a non-Muslim citizen such as me, and a religious leader at that, ought to have a say on this matter,” asserted the Jesuit-trained prelate.

“I say it's time to allow Muslims in Kelantan, if they so desire, to implement syariah only for them and with that the hudud enactments provided non-Muslims are exempt from its implementation,” said the bishop who is concurrently president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Malaysia.

“Between the contention that the Federal Constitution is a colonial imposition and the obligation of Muslims to support syariah, I say the wiser non-Muslim stance would be to hold that if syariah is what Kelantan Muslims want and if we are given a cast-iron guarantee that it will not be implemented on us, we would not object to Muslims wanting it,” he argued.

“Bear in mind, this is not a question that is going to go away but it is not a question that will continue to be framed in the same terms as it is today in Malaysia,” continued the bishop.

“What do I mean by this?” asked the cleric who obtained his doctorate from Ecole Etude Science Sociales whose degree is from Sorbonne, the 'Harvard of Europe' in medieval times.

“You take the Arab Spring that has roiled nations in that arc from Tunisia to Syria. Do you see it as an Islamic uprising or a democratic insurgence?

“I hesitate to claim that it's a democratic rising of peoples. You cannot tell for sure, but it is not specifically Islamic in character.

Enduring debate
“I take the long view and see it all as part and parcel of the enduring debate between the Mutazilities and the Asharites in Islam.

“The former holds that you need reason to explain the world; the latter that God does not need reason and that He is all power and will.

“I pray the Mutazilites win the debate. I don't know if that extraordinary man, the Kelantan menteri besar (Nik Aziz Nik Mat), is a Mutazilite or an Asharite. Sometimes he sounds like a Mutazilite, sometimes like an Asharite.

“But that ambiguity is a good thing. It shows he is not dogmatic. I say let him and all who hold with him have their way so long as non-Muslims have iron-clad guarantees of their exemption.

“I am in favour of Kelantan Muslims having hudud implemented for them only.”