Anwar Ibrahim |
- Amid Political Struggles in Malaysia, Anwar Calls On SBY To Protect Reforms
- Najib Terperangkap Soalan Mahasiswa
- Rizal Doesn’t Deserve This
- Pilihan Raya Olok-Olok: BN Boleh Hilang Perak, Negeri Sembilan
- Kita Semua Jadi Mangsa Umno BN
- Malott Dares “Never Cheated” Najib To Implement 4 Key Election Reforms
- Perutusan Ramadhan 1432H
| Amid Political Struggles in Malaysia, Anwar Calls On SBY To Protect Reforms Posted: 01 Aug 2011 03:31 AM PDT Jakarta Globe He praised former presidents B.J. Habibie, Abdurrahman Wahid and Megawati Sukarnoputri for their roles in helping the democratization process in his country, but Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim stopped short of adding incumbent President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to the list. Speaking at a public lecture at the Indonesia Jentera School of Law on Saturday, Anwar noted the Yudhoyono administration's silence on the Malaysian government crackdown on the July 9 opposition-backed rally for electoral reform in Kuala Lumpur. On that day, about 8,000 protesters defied riot officers in the Malaysian capital to push toward a stadium where they had initially planned to hold the rally, prompting the government to seek to seal off parts of the city. Police descended upon the rally, firing teargas canisters. Malaysian police said 1,667 people were arrested during the protest. As police stations became overwhelmed with detainees, the government began rounding up protesters in sports facilities. Anwar himself was injured in the protests and his bodyguard hit in the face with a teargas canister. Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and other rights groups condemned Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak's approach to the rally, organized by a group calling itself the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections, or Bersih 2.0, and his heavy-handed policing. Despite being this year's chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), Indonesia's leaders remained silent on the issue. "I understand that Indonesia is engrossed in domestic problems," Anwar said in response to a question posed by an audience member about Indonesia's role in promoting democracy in Malaysia. Anwar said that without directly intervening in Malaysian politics, the Yudhoyono administration could make an impact on the region and the Muslim world by safeguarding the outcomes of the reformasi movement that ousted President Suharto. "Indonesia is a fine example of how a regime change can happen and democracy [can be] established without bloodshed, military intervention or foreign pressure," he said. He expressed regret that 13 years since the fall of Suharto, many Indonesians felt the reform movement was straying from its purpose of clean government, and were beginning to think life was better under Suharto's 32-year rule. "Indonesia owes it to the people who poured their tears and sweat and blood for democracy. They also owe it to many developing countries who see Indonesia's struggle for democracy as an inspiration," he said. Teuku Faizasyah, the president's spokesman for international affairs, said Indonesia was focused on domestic issues. "Indonesia does not want to interfere other countries' internal problems. There is also a lot going on domestically [in Indonesia] and they are our main priorities," he said. The president, as chairman of Asean, had only been engaged in issues in other countries that had potentially damaging implications for the region, such as the border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia and promoting democracy in Burma, he said. Hariyadi Wirawan, an international relations expert from the University of Indonesia, said recent tensions between Indonesia and Malaysia had forced Indonesia to take a neutral stance. "Local politics is always a very sensitive issue and intervening could see relations between the two countries further deteriorate," Hariyadi said. Indonesia's ties with Malaysia have fluctuated over the years, dating back to the time of the country's first president, Sukarno, who protested the establishment of then Malaya in 1961, calling it "a puppet country of the British empire." In recent years, the ill-treatment of Indonesian migrant workers by their Malaysian employers, as well as border spats and Malaysian claims to items of Indonesian cultural heritage have fanned the flames. Last year, a survey by the Indonesian Survey Circle found that 59 percent of respondents in 100 villages across Indonesia disliked Malaysia, higher than the 46 percent who harbored negative views of the United States. But Anwar said he believed the international community would support Malaysia's struggle for electoral reform. "The principle of justice is universal. I believe that for the same reason I have supported people like Aung San Suu Kyi [in Burma] and Nelson Mandela [in South Africa], the international community will not tolerate injustice, anywhere in the world," he said. Despite the violent crackdown on anti-government rallies, Anwar said Bersih would not give up its struggle. "The crackdown is a turning point and more people are considering that political reforms are the only way forward. That is what people in Malaysia are saying on social media," he said. "I believe in the people of Malaysia. The Malaysian media and the government may have labeled me as a threat to the country and accused me of being a pawn for Zionists and the United States, but I believe the people can't be fooled." |
| Najib Terperangkap Soalan Mahasiswa Posted: 01 Aug 2011 12:28 AM PDT Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Razak terperangkap dengan soalan yang dikemukakan mahasiswa ketika menghadiri Persidangan Tahunan Pemimpin Pelajar Malaysia ke-5 di Kuala Lumpur, semalam. Tindakan Najib mengelak dari menjawab persoalan 'Melayu dahulu, Malaysia kemudian' oleh mahasiswa yang hadir persidangan itu, menunjukkan beliau tidak mempunyai gagasan pemikiran yang jelas, kata Pengarah Biro Mahasiswa, Angkatan Muda KEADILAN,Saifullah Zulkifli. Saifullah berkata, Najib cuba mengelak dari menjawab soalan itu dengan alasan tidak mahu ia dikaitkan dengan Timbalannya, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, sedangkan rakyat pada umumnya tahu hubungan yang renggang antara mereka. "Najib cuba 'playsafe' tentang soal 'Melayu dahulu, Malaysia kedua'. Sepatutnya Najib wajib menjawab persoalan yang dilontarkan. Anak muda mahu tahu pandangannya tentang itu," "Dalam masa yang sama, Najib cuba menunjukkan kononnya tiada konflik yang ketara di antara mereka. Sedangkan semua orang tahu tentang itu. Pemimpin Umno sekarang berusaha untuk menaikkan Muhyiddin," kata Saifullah. Dalam pada itu katanya, Najib juga terperangkap dengan soalan mahasiswa apabila ditanya mengenai perhimpunan aman anjuran Gabungan Pilihan Raya Bersih dan Adil (Bersih 2.0), 9 Julai lalu. Saifullah berkata, jawapan Najib bahawa beliau menawarkan Stadium Shah Alam dan bukan Stadium Merdeka kepada gabungan itu, menunjukkan sikapnya yang diumpamakan seperti 'lidah bercabang'. "Dia sendiri yang menyatakan – jika mahu berhimpun pergi ke stadium. Ini diucapkan oleh Najib sendiri semasa perhimpunan bulanan Jabatan Perdana Menteri (JPM) 4 Julai lalu. "Sedangkan, dia tidak kata mana-mana stadium secara spesiifik. Mungkin benar kata orang-orang Umno. Sikap seperti ini yang menyebabkan mereka mahu cepat-cepat menurunkan Najib," kata Saifullah. |
| Posted: 31 Jul 2011 10:23 PM PDT By Jarius Bondoc (The Philippine Star) A Twitter message caused a stir in Kuala Lumpur political circles last week. Two reasons. It sullied the Philippine national hero Jose Rizal. And it allegedly was tweeted by Dato Zainab, wife of Malaysian envoy to Manila Dr. Ibrahim Saad. Translated from Bahasa Twitter-speak, it went "That's usual. Anwar Ibrahim is clearly pro-Christian, an admirer of Jose Rizal the infidel Malay! Oh yes, don't forget…" (Original: "@BikMama2U: @datozainab Biasala tu, @anwaribrahim mmg pro-Kristian, pemuja Jose Rizal si Melayu kafir tu! Oh ya, jgn lupa…" See http://twitter.com/datozainab/status/92163428017373184) The tweet spoke of Anwar Ibrahim, former deputy prime minister, now Malaysia's Opposition head. He is visiting Manila to lecture Friday at the University of the Philippines-Diliman. Topic: the influences of Rizal and Ninoy Aquino on ASEAN leadership. The event is timed with the yearlong celebration of Rizal's 150th birth anniversary. August marks the martyrdom of Ninoy (1983) and the passing of wife President Cory (2009). Prime Minister Najib Razak's long-ruling party loathes Anwar so, and is striving to deflate his political clout. In 1999 Razak's mentor, PM Mahathir Mohamad, charged Anwar with corruption and sodomy. In jail Anwar was so inspired by Rizal's Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo that he read the novels twice. The court acquitted him in 2004, but with a caveat to shun politics for five years. He sat out the 2008 federal election, yet his party won unprecedented five of 13 states. Weeks later he was indicted anew for sodomy. Witnesses have flip-flopped; still trial is to begin this August 8. In 2010 Anwar won a special parliament poll, and came close to snatching the PM post by seven votes. Meanwhile, Razak is under fire for hundred-million-euro kickbacks as defense minister in a 2002 submarine purchase, and the murder of a Mongolian model. Three weeks ago riot squads broke up a protest in Kuala Lumpur, aiming teargas canisters at Anwar's head. One hit an aide marching beside him in the eye. Calling Rizal an "infidel Malay" is insolent, to say the least. He is honored in Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines as "The First Malay." In the late 1800s long before independence revolutions, he had advocated equal treatment by British colonialists of Malays, the Dutch of Indonesians, and Spaniards of Filipinos. Shrines, parks and halls dedicated to Rizal abound in Malaysia (and Indonesia, Hong Kong, China, Sri Lanka, North and South America, Germany, Belgium, England, Russia and Spain). Rizal is described as the "pride of the Malay race" for his prolific works. He was a painter, sculptor, sportsman, educator, doctor, biologist, novelist, essayist, diarist and poet. He spoke many languages, mostly European, but also Malay, Chinese, Hebrew, Arabic, and his native Tagalog. Though born a Catholic, Rizal fought the Spanish friars, calling "a double-faced Goliath" the corrupt religionists and abusive colonialists. Extremist Muslims use "kafir" derogatorily to refer to non-Muslims, as in, "all infidels must die." Overzealousness breeds Islamist terrorists, like the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu-Basilan, who in turn incite Christian right-wingers like the recent Norway massacrer. If true that a diplomat's wife is defiling the memory of Rizal as "infidel," then it not only drives a fanatical religionist wedge in Southeast Asian ties. It also derides global peace efforts through interfaith dialogue. |
| Pilihan Raya Olok-Olok: BN Boleh Hilang Perak, Negeri Sembilan Posted: 31 Jul 2011 06:20 PM PDT Barisan Nasional (BN) boleh kehilangan Perak dan Negeri Sembilan pada pilihan raya umum ke-13, demikian menurut keputusan pilihan raya olok-olok melainkan parti-parti komponennya meletakkan muka-muka popular yang berpotensi dan memastikan jentera di peringkat akar umbi menjana sokongan pengundi. The Malaysian Insider difahamkan pilihan raya latihan yang diadakan baru-baru ini menunjukkan BN boleh kehilangan sehingga 15 daripada 56 kerusi di Johor, dikuasai Pakatan Rakyat (PR). Persekitaran itu tidak pernah diduga tetapi BN telah hilang enam kerusi di Johor pada pilihan raya umum 2008. Daripada enam kerusi itu PAS menguasai dua manakala DAP pula empat. Difahamkan Perlis, di mana BN menguasai 14 daripada 15 kerusi, kemungkinan akan kehilangan beberapa kerusi Dewan Undangan Negeri dan salah satu daripada tiga bahagian Parlimen di tangan Pakatan Rakyat disebabkan kemarahan penduduk negeri itu mengenai isu Wahabi termasuk tindakan meletakkan Mufti Perlis Dr Juanda Jaya dalam senarai pengganas. "Pilihan raya olok-olok ini menunjukkan banyak kelemahan. Dan, isu Wahabi tidak membantu," kata satu sumber Umno kepada The Malaysian Insider. Seorang pemimpin Umno yang semakin meningkat juga memberikan sentimen yang sama sambil menegaskan, BN perlu meletakkan muka-muka baru untuk menyegarkan kedudukan perikatan itu sementara memastikan jentera peringkat bawah peringkat aktif bagi mendapatkan sokongan menyeluruh. "Masalahnya ialah jentera Umno boleh bekerja jika diberikan motivasi, tetapi ahli parti komponen kelihatan tidak diberikan motivasi," kata pemimpin Umno itu. Beliau mendedahkan bahawa Umno hanya boleh menang 27 daripada 59 kerusi Dewan Undangan Negeri di Perak meskipun BN memerintah semula negeri itu sejak awal 2009 ekoran tindakan melompat parti melibatkan tiga wakil rakyat dari Pakatan Rakyat. Pada Jun lalu, Umno negeri itu yakin boleh menang 33 kerusi dengan Menteri Besar Perak Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir menolak laporan The Malaysian Insider bahawa kemenangan hanya boleh dipastikan jika calon yang betul dipilih kali ini. Difahamkan beberapa pemimpin Umno bahagian di Perak keberatan untuk berkempen atau mendaftar pemilih baru melainkan mereka pasti akan menjadi calon pilihan raya umum ke-13. "Umno Perak kuat dan boleh menang 33 kerusi negeri tetapi pemimpin-pemimpin bahagian tidak mahu bergerak kecuali mereka atau calon pilihan mereka diturunkan," kata sumber Umno ketika itu. Pada Mac 2008, Umno bertanding di 34 daripada 59 kerusi Dewan Undngan Negeri di Perak dan menang 27 kerusi manakala MCA pula satu. Pakatan Rakyat memperoleh 31 kerusi. "Keadaan tidak berubah di Perak dan kini keadaan yang sama wujud di Negeri Sembilan memandangkan pembangkang menjadi semakin kukuh, melihat pada kemungkinan Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan tidak akan kekal sebagai menteri besar," kata sumber Umno. Mohamad disebut-sebut akan bertanding kerusi Parlimen. Kata sumber itu, mereka melobi dengan kuat untuk mendapatkan kerusi Menteri Besar Negeri Sembilan. "Tetapi mereka lupa bahawa kemenangan ketika pilihan raya umum 2008 adalah tipis," katanya lagi. Di negeri itu, BN menguasai 21 daripada 36 kerusi manakala 15 dimenangi Pakatan Rakyat, yang yakin untuk mengambil alih negeri itu kali ini. Pakatan Rakyat yang terdiri daripada DAP, PKR dan PAS kini menguasai kerajaan negeri Kelantan, Kedah, Pulau Pinang dan Selangor selain memperoleh 82 kerusi Parlimen. Perikatan itu menyasarkan akan memperoleh lebih banyak kerusi kali ini dan mengurangkan lagi majoriti BN pada pilihan raya umum ke-13. Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Razak tidak memberi bayangan bila pilihan raya umum akan diadakan tetapi timbalannya Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin telah memberitahu BN agar bersedia untuk menghadapi pilihan raya umum dalam waktu terdekat. Kebanyakan penganalisis dan pemimpin pembangkang menjangkakan pilihan raya umum akan diadakan dalam tempoh setahun ini tetapi ada juga mengatakan ia kemungkinan diadakan seawal November ini selepas Bajet 2012 dibentangkan di Parlimen awal 7Oktober dan sebelum perhimpunan agung tahunan Umno. |
| Kita Semua Jadi Mangsa Umno BN Posted: 31 Jul 2011 06:05 PM PDT Sudah dua kali hak saya sebagai warganegara Malaysia dihalang untuk bebas bergerak dan bersuara. Pertama pada 9hb Julai 2011 saya dihalang untuk berada di beberapa lokasi di Kuala Lumpur dan semalam saya pula dihalang untuk mengajukan soalan kepada Timbalan Pengerusi SPR, Datuk Wan Ahmad Bin Wan Omar kononnya atas arahan orang atasan. Walaubagaimana pun saya mengucapkan tahniah kepada Sinar yang telah menganjurkan "Dialog Apa selepas 9 Julai?" dengan mempertemukan Bersih 2.0 dan SPR. Bersih 2.0 telah dianggap sebuah pertubuhan haram oleh Menteri Dalam Negeri. Secara tidak langsung Sinar sudah berani menyangah pandangan Menteri Dalam Negeri dan lebih mirip kepada pandangan Timbalan Menteri Pendidikan YB Saifuddin Abdullah yang menggangap Bersih 2.0 bukan sejenis pertubuhan tetapi sejenis aktiviti NGO yang berdaftar. Sebenarnya saya mahu mengajukan beberapa soalan kepada Datuk Wan Ahmad iaitu berkaitan dengan Double Voting, Daftar Pemilih, Pengundi Pos dan Advance Voting. Pada 7hb Oktober 2009 telah diadakan pertemuan antara SPR dan pemimpin PAS yang dianggotai oleh Dato Mustafa Ali , Dato Abdul Halim Abd Rahman, Tuan Hj Mohzit bin Mohid dan saya sendiri. Pemuda PAS telah mengemukakan senarai 253 pengundi pos yang bertindan. Mereka mempunyai nama sebagai pengundi pos di Bagan Pinang tetapi mempunyai nama yang sama di tempat lain. Pertindanan ini telah berlaku dalam pilihanraya umum 2008. Dalam perbincangan itu SPR telah berjanji untuk menghapuskan pertindanan ini. Malangnya pertindanan ini masih lagi berlaku pada tahun 2011. Pertindanan ini bertentangan dengan perkara 119 Perlembagaan Malaysia. Saya mempunyai terlalu banyak bukti pertindanan ini. Dalam kenyataan Dato Wan Ahmad kepada The Star pada 24hb Julai 2011, bahawa beliau bersetuju bahawa terhadap kad pengenalan klon dalam daftar pemilih SPR yang sah. Secara tidak lansung juga SPR telah mendaftarkan pengundi yang tidak sah. Itulah yang dinamakan pengundi hantu. Persoalannya mengapa SPR menafikan pengundi hantu? Walaupun saya tidak dapat mengajukan soalan tetapi soalan ini dapat disampaikan oleh Tuan Hj Mohzit Bin Mohid. Malangnya Dato Wan Ahmad menjawab bahawa soalan itu hanya sesuai untuk kerani sahaja bukan ahli suruhanjaya diraja sepertinya. Beliau hanya bertanggungjawab terhadap dasar-dasar dalam SPR bukan membuat kerja kerani. Sepatutnya Dato Wan Ahmad tidak memberi jawapan seperti itu. Terbukti jawapanya telah di "boo" oleh penonton. Persoalannya apakah dasar yang dipakai oleh SPR jika masih terdapat pertindaan pengundi walaupun telah ditegur pada tahun 2009? Apakah dasar SPR membenarkan nombor kad pengenalan yang diklon dibenarkan masuk dalam daftar pemilih SPR yang sah? Saya berpendapat bahawa SPR sebenarnya terperangkap dalam kerangka politik sempit Umno, Barisan Nasional. Pembaharuan yang mahu dibuat oleh mereka tidak mendapat sokongan pemerintah. Contohnya apabila SPR memperkenalkan pengunaan dakwat kekal pada tahun 2008 maka Pengerusi SPR di ajukan dengan persoalan keselamatan negara yang tidak masuk akal. Inilah bukti bahawa SPR sebenarnya bukan badan bebas untuk melaksanakan pilihanraya yang bebas dan adil. Sampai bilakah SPR mampu melepaskan ikatan daripada pemerintah yang zalim? Yang menjadi mangsa adalah kakitangan SPR seperti Dato Wan Ahmad yang terpaksa menjawab segala persoalan yang tidak mempunyai jawapan. Beliau sendiri pun tidak boleh menerima jawapan yang beliau sendiri berikan. Itulah hakikat kerajaan zalim Umno Barisan Nasional yang wajib ditumbangkan dalam pilihanraya akan datang. Bantahan saya kepada SPR selama ini adalah umpama pukul anak sindir menantu sahaja. Kita semua rakyat Malaysia menjadi mangsa kepada kezaliman kerajaan Umno Barisan Nasional. SUHAIZAN BIN KAIAT, |
| Malott Dares “Never Cheated” Najib To Implement 4 Key Election Reforms Posted: 31 Jul 2011 05:49 PM PDT Former US ambassador to Malaysia John Malott has dared Prime Minister Najib Razak to put his money where his mouth is and prove that UMNO “has never cheated in any election” by implementing 4 key reforms, including allowing foreign observers and the use of indelible ink. In a hard-hitting open letter to Najib and sent to Malaysiakini, Malott – who is believed to have been barred from entering the country due his outspokeness – urged Najib not to keep reneging on his word. “You say that Malaysia’s elections are free and fair. Now you have a chance to prove it to the outside world and remove all doubts. And if your party wins, then the Malaysian people – and the world – might finally be convinced,” wrote Malott. “As a result of the developments on July 9, the world is now paying increased attention to Malaysia. In particular, we now wonder how free and fair your nation’s elections are. We have learned that some of your country’s citizens believe that Malaysia needs electoral reform. On July 9, they marched with a coalition called Bersih 2.0, and they called for free and fair elections.” “You responded by declaring Bersih illegal and suppressing the ‘Walk for Democracy’ with overwhelming police force. The world noticed your heavy-handed reaction, and it wondered why a peaceful demonstration calling for fair elections bothered you so much – so much so that you were willing to risk Malaysia’s international reputation – and give your country and yourself a major black eye.” No reason not to implement Malott called on the Malaysian leader to push through 4 easy to implement and effective electoral reforms. Outlawed polls pressure group Bersih 2.0 had asked for 8. The concessions that Malott advised are: 1) Allow international groups to observe your elections. Based on your assertions, they will find nothing amiss, and their reports will give credibility to Malaysia’s election results. 2) Allow observers from all political parties to witness the postal balloting that takes place on military bases. For years, the opposition has said that something is amiss. But since you say that Umno never cheats, I am sure that they will find nothing wrong, and you will be vindicated. 3) Let’s put an end to all the accusations about phantom voters by using a simple, effective and cheap solution – indelible ink. 4) Finally, let RTM be truly independent, like the BBC and NHK and the public broadcasting systems in Australia, France, Germany, and elsewhere in the world. RTM does not belong to Umno. It belongs to the people. As long as RTM – funded by all the people of Malaysia – acts as the propaganda arm of the 25 percent of Malaysians who voted for Umno, no one can believe that Malaysia’s elections are fair and free. Reason for over-reaction – refusal to give up power Indeed, Najib has disgusted a lot of Malaysians, both at home and abroad with his over-reaction to the rally. He and his UMNO party had feared it could trigger a wave of consciousness for social reform, and blaze a trail for Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim and his Pakatan Rakyat coalition to win. The next national polls is not due to be called until March 2013, but local experts say the latest Najib will delay is early next year. In the runup to the rally, the greater Najib’s paranoia and the more brutal the police crackdowns, the more fiercely the people rejected his leadership. On D-Day, July 9, some 50,000 filled the streets of Kuala Lumpur. They locked arms, chanted, and sang the national anthem. By then it was clear, Najib had mishandled the rally. A slew of global rebukes followed, and to save his dignity, Najib is insisting that Bersih had ulterior motives, and wanted to topple his government. The UMNO-owned Utusannewspaper even suggested that Bersih was the work of ‘Jews’. By now, all of the nearly 2,000 people detained in the runup to and during the July march, have been released. Six socialist leaders remanded under the draconian Emergency Ordinance for rekindling communism and waging war against the King were freed just a day ago. Time is running out Bersih chairwoman Ambiga Sreenevasan has begun a public debate with the Election Commission deputy chairman Wan Ahmad Wan Omar. So far he has agreed to extend the 7-day campaigning period but refused to raise it all the way to 21 as Bersih had requested. Sad to say, this is about all that the EC is willing to concede. Wan Ahmad has even insisted that he was powerless to implement changes and only the Najib administration could do so. Legal experts have said that this was a lie as the federal consititution clearly empowered the EC. Hence, there is growing nervousness now. Some believe that Najib would declare a police state rather than to agree to reforms as there is a strong chance that he might lose in a free and fair competition. Hence, a recent round of calls both from within and outside Malaysia for him to pursue a wiser and fairer course of action. “Governments that manipulate elections have lots to cover up. But you say that your elections are free and fair, so that means you have nothing to be afraid of showing to all of us in the outside world, not to mention your own people,” said Malott. – Malaysia Chronicle Malaysia Chronicle appends below the full-text of his rather hard-hitting statrment An open letter to PM Najib You say that Malaysia’s elections are free and fair. Now you have a chance to prove it to the outside world and remove all doubts. And if your party wins, then the Malaysian people – and the world – might finally be convinced. As a result of the developments on July 9, the world is now paying increased attention to Malaysia. In particular, we now wonder how free and fair your nation’s elections are. We have learned that some of your country’s citizens believe that Malaysia needs electoral reform. On July 9, they marched with a coalition called Bersih 2.0, and they called for free and fair elections. You responded by declaring Bersih illegal and suppressing the ‘Walk for Democracy’ with overwhelming police force. The world noticed your heavy-handed reaction, and it wondered why a peaceful demonstration calling for fair elections bothered you so much – so much so that you were willing to risk Malaysia’s international reputation – and give your country and yourself a major black eye. When you returned from your visit to Europe, you declared that Malaysia’s elections truly are free and fair, and that Umno has never cheated in any election. I am glad to hear that. Because it means that in Malaysia’s next general elections, you have nothing to hide. Governments that manipulate elections have lots to cover up. But you say that your elections are free and fair, so that means you have nothing to be afraid of showing to all of us in the outside world, not to mention your own people. Therefore, I am sure that you are willing to readily agree to the following proposals: 1) Allow international groups to observe your elections. Based on your assertions, they will find nothing amiss, and their reports will give credibility to Malaysia’s election results. 2) Allow observers from all political parties to witness the postal balloting that takes place on military bases. For years, the opposition has said that something is amiss. But since you say that Umno never cheats, I am sure that they will find nothing wrong, and you will be vindicated. 3) Let’s put an end to all the accusations about phantom voters by using a simple, effective and cheap solution – indelible ink. Your Elections Commission wants a super-sophisticated biometric system, but there is no way it can be in place by then – and many people worry that it can be manipulated. Indelible ink works – just ask the world’s largest democracy, India. I don’t think anyone has ever disputed the results of India’s elections in over 60 years. 4) Finally, let RTM be truly independent, like the BBC and NHK and the public broadcasting systems in Australia, France, Germany, and elsewhere in the world. RTM does not belong to Umno. It belongs to the people. As long as RTM – funded by all the people of Malaysia – acts as the propaganda arm of the 25 percent of Malaysians who voted for Umno, no one can believe that Malaysia’s elections are fair and free. So, my dear Prime Minister, it’s all very simple. You say that Malaysia’s elections are free and fair. Now you have a chance to prove it to the outside world and remove all doubts. And if your party wins, then the Malaysian people – and the world – might finally be convinced. If you refuse these suggestions, then the doubts will linger, and your assertions about the honesty of Malaysia’s election will continue to be questioned. Sincerely, |
| Posted: 31 Jul 2011 04:51 PM PDT Alhamdulillah, dengan limpah inayah dan izinNya maka kita dapat memulakan ibadah Ramadhan untuk sekalian kalinya tahun ini. Sabda Rasulullah SAW, “Telah datang kepadamu bulan Ramadhan, di mana Allah melimpah ruahkan di dalamnya dengan keberkatan, menurunkan rahmat, mengampuni dosa-dosa kamu, memakbulkan doa-doa kamu, melihat di atas perlumbaan kamu untuk memperolehi kebaikan yang besar dan berbangga mengenaimu di hadapan malaikat-malaikat. Maka tunjukkanlah kepada Allah Taala kebaikan dari kamu. Sesungguhnya orang yang bernasib malang ialah dia yang dinafikan daripada rahmat Allah pada bulan ini.” Ramadhan adalah bulan pembersihan dan penyucian jiwa, di mana Allah memberi ruang sekondusifnya untuk umat Islam beribadah demi mengimarahkan Ramadhan. Justeru wajarlah ia dimanfaatkan segenap masa agar Ramadhan Semoga Ramadhan kali ini dapat dimanfaatkan sebaiknya oleh kita inshaAllah. ANWAR IBRAHIM |
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