Thursday 26 April 2012

EC credibility focal point of Ambiga-Khairy debate


By Clara Chooi
April 26, 2012
Source: The Malaysian Insider 

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/ec-credibility-focal-point-of-ambiga-khairy-debate/

KUALA LUMPUR, April 26 — The much-anticipated face-off between Datuk Ambiga Sreenavasan and Khairy Jamaluddin last night resulted in an unresolved dispute over the Election Commission’s (EC) credibility, with both parties taking turns to either trash or defend the country’s election regulator.

On the one hand, Ambiga insisted on the EC’s resignation, claiming the body’s lethargic efforts and “lame excuses” for true electoral reform were proof that it could not be trusted.

Ambiga (left) and Khairy in thoughtful poses during their debate on April 25, 2012. — Picture by Jack Ooi

In response, Khairy said it was Ambiga who could not be trusted, saying her stubborn refusal to accept any effort taken by the EC proved that the civil society leader has been “misrepresenting” the reasons to hold Bersih 3.0 this Saturday.

“I came here tonight expecting a spirit of co-operation and reasoning.

“But ultimately, if you have already said we cannot work with the EC and want their resignation, then it is a foregone conclusion,” he said.

The duo spewed countless figures and technical information to disprove one another, forcing the event into an exchange of reasons why the EC should or should not be believed.

They were perpetually interrupted by cheers and heckles from the highly-charged crowd of at least 1,000 spectators, many of whom were clear supporters of either contenders — Ambiga, the well-known civil society leader and Bersih co-chair, or Khairy, the fiery Oxford graduate and leader of the youths in the ruling Umno.

Neither, however, were announced the winner at the end of the intense 90-minute debate, the first such event to be held amid anticipation over Bersih’s impending rally for free and fair elections this Saturday.

During the verbal duel, Khairy accused the election watchdog group of being pre-emptive and prejudicial to the EC’s efforts for reform.

He disputed Bersih’s claim that the EC had failed to satisfy the prime minister’s reform pledges, insisting that at least seven out of the group’s eight reform demands have either been implemented or are in the process of implementation.

“I put it to you, unlike Ambiga, that of the eight demands, seven have been met or are being addressed,” he said.

“The electoral roll is being cleaned up, indelible ink implemented... the only thing is the 10-day campaign period.

“For free and fair access to media, as a Barisan Nasional (BN) MP, I support all parties given the same amount of time on all national media to tell the rakyat their policy platform and manifesto — let’s be fair about that,” he said.

Khairy added that many of the recommendations in the Parliamentary Select Committee’s (PSC) final report were “time-bound”, such as the three-month timeframe given for the EC to look into a suitable system for overseas voters.

“So why go out on the streets? I respect your right to go out but you are pre-judging and misrepresenting,” he said.

But Ambiga disagreed, citing the 10 major problems in the EC’s electoral roll as highlighted by academic Dr Ong Kian Ming in his Malaysian Electoral Roll Analysis Project (MERAP) preliminary findings.

She noted that according to the study, there are at least 3.1 million voters whose IC addresses show different voting constituencies from the one which they are actually voting in.

“Also, there are about 65,455 foreigners on the electoral roll. A total of 106,743 cases of deletions and 6,672 cases of additions without public display to the roll from Quarter 4 2010 to Quarter 3 last year.

“The 3.1 million is very troubling because this information was actually given to the EC by the National Registration Department (NRD) in 2002 but the EC did nothing,” she said.

“The 65,455 foreigners... some removed, some added without the rolls displayed... It leaves us with a lot of doubt over whether they are actually cleaning the roll,” she added.

The former Bar Council chairman, who earned hoots from the crowd as she spoke, pointed out that the EC has only been harping on the existence of some 42,051 “doubtful voters” in the roll, which it discovered after its registry was cross-checked with the NRD’s records.

“Don’t forget, they even downplayed this figure, saying 0.3 per cent margin of error is nothing... This is highly irresponsible, given that in the election, the margins between winning and losing is very small.

“You could knock over the state government of Selangor with 42,000 votes,” she pointed out.

In his rebuttal, Khairy said if the 42,051 were indeed fraudulent cases, the EC would not have put the voters’ names on public display for three months after discovering them.

He said the voters were not non-existent but were merely those who had failed to update their IC records with the NRD.

“But Bersih would have you believe they are fraudulent,” he charged, to loud applause.

Further to this, Khairy pointed out that during the three-month public display period, 1,248 cases came forward to confirm the names on the roll.

“If not a single one came forward, then I’d go with Ambiga... Strike them off. But they came forward, over 1,000 names,” he said.

He pointed out that if the EC had decided to strike off the names of the 42,051 voters from the roll, they would have been denying these citizens their constitutional right to vote.

Ambiga, however, called this a “lame excuse”, pointing out that election laws state that the EC must revise the supplementary roll once every three months by making house-to-house calls or sending notices requiring updated information from the voters.

“If no information is returned, they are entitled to strike out these names. Why not use it?

“On the one hand, they are violating the Constitution but when it comes to removing voters, they are suddenly coy and respectful of the Constitution,” she said.

Both leaders also clashed in their views on overseas voting, with Khairy pointing out that the EC has three months to find a formula for the best voting system while Ambiga said this should have been done years ago.

“We have had Malaysians overseas for years. Why only now? And what is this about it being a logistical nightmare? They must have this sorted before the polls,” she said.

Ambiga later agreed with Khairy to engage with the EC further on all outstanding issues regarding electoral reforms but said the discussion must be attended by MPs from both sides of the political divide.

But the leader repeatedly stressed on the need for reforms to be implemented before the coming polls or if this could not be done within months, then the election should be delayed.

Bersih is holding its third rally for free and fair elections at Dataran Merdeka from 2pm this Saturday.

Wednesday 25 April 2012

Imperative for clean, free and fair elections in Malaysia


Media statement by Dr Chen Man Hin, DAP Life Advisor in Serem ban on 25th April 2012

THE WHOLE WORLD IS WATCHING MALAYSIA TO SEE THERE IS CLEAN, FREE AND FAIR GENERAL ELECTIONS DUE TO BE HELD BEFORE 2013

It is with dismay that Bersih 3 gathering on April 28th is meeting obstruction from the Kuala Lumpur city council, and has refused to allow Bersih 3 to have its meeting at Dataran Merdeka.

Bersih 3 is organised by peaceful citizens who are keen to see that there will be clean, free and fair elections when general elections is called.

The KL City Mayor has lost touch with developments in other parts of the world where protests by citizens are allowed to he held, unhampered by the authorities.  He should know that the Arab Spring has swept countries in the Middle East, and protests, demonstrations and marches are as common as football matches.

The KL City government by refusing to allow Bersih to use Dataran Merdeka, show that it is out of touch with the rest of the world. Other countries would have the impression that MALAYSIA IS A DICTATORSHIP, AND THIS WILL DRIVE TOURISTS AND VISITORS AWAY. KL WILL ALSO LOSE ITS REPUTATION AS ONE THE MODERN PROGRESSSIVE CITIES IN THE WORLD.

Keep in mind that world reacted strongly when PM Najib treated Bersih 2 by launching tear gas and water cannons at the protesters in KL streets last year. If Bersih 3 is also suppressed this time again, expect the international outcry would be even worse.

Foreign investors will stay away from countries which are not democratic. Tourists will also keep away

Our advice to KL City government and to the ministers of Barisan National would be to be civilised like Arab countries, and let protestors demonstrate freely and peacefully, in their sacred task to have clean, free and fair general elections.

Dr Chen Man Hin
Dap Life Advisor

Tuesday 24 April 2012

The death of civil liberties

by Malik Imtiaz Sarwar

 http://blog.limkitsiang.com/2012/04/23/the-death-of-civil-liberties/

Though the Government has said much about the repeal of the infamous Internal Security Act, little has been said to explain how its so-called replacement, the Security Offences (Special Measures) Bill (SOA), will impact on our lives. Even less has been said about the bill tabled to amend the Penal Code that went hand in hand with the SOA. I think there was a reason for this.

To say that the two bills are draconian would be a gross understatement. They brutally curtail the constitutional freedom of Malaysians to dissent. It seems that we have been made the victims of a sleight of hand. While we were being distracted by the song and dance that attended the termination of the ISA, Parliament was being harnessed to diabolical purpose. The passing of the two bills has sounded the death knell of civil liberties.
I am not given to hyperbole. The facts speak for themselves.


The SOA is more a procedural instrument. It puts in place the legal framework for the investigation and prosecution of what are described as “security offences”. It allows for the kinds of invasive measures that we have come to understand are needed for governments to combat terrorism effectively. Government tells us that terrorism is the raison d’etre of the legislation.

The SOA could arguably be justified on this basis, though I question the need for such extreme anti-terrorism legislation in light of our not having been subjected to terrorist attacks or even threats. Curiously, the preamble to the SOA states that action has been taken and further action is threatened by a body of persons both inside and outside Malaysia to cause organized violence against Malaysians, to excite disaffection against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and to procure the alteration though unlawful means of legal institutions in the nation. This is news to me. These are matters of great significance to us; they suggest that we are virtually in a state of war or that we are in the midst of an insurgency.

The truth of the matter is that we have not been made the subject of such scurrilous action and we have not been threatened with such action. The bill recites this so the Government can invoke a provision of the Federal Constitution, Article 149, that allows for Parliament to enact laws that contravene certain constitutional guarantees including those that prohibit detention without trial and guarantee a fair trial. The SOA allows, amongst other things, detention without trial for a period of twenty-eight days, and empowers the Attorney General to take extraordinary measures including the interception of all forms of communication where he has reason to believe a Security Offence (this is explained below) has been committed.

We should not lose sight of the fact that the ISA was enacted under Article 149 to address the guerrilla insurgency we faced in the 1960s. I have been made to understand that the Opposition’s unwillingness to associate with an obvious untruth is one of the main reasons it does not support the bill. The fact that Government has resorted to Article 149 gives credence to suggestions that the ISA has merely been repackaged and that the Government is not ready to give up the political advantages that such legislation gives it. As one Minister has observed, there were abuses under the ISA and no law is beyond abuse.

The SOA could perhaps be stomached if it was confined to terrorism. It however is not. In fact there is no mention of the word terrorism or terrorist in the legislation at all. Instead the SOA applies to what is referred to as “Security Offences” which is defined by newly introduced offences, hence the amendments to the Penal Code. This is where the real evil is.
The new offences fall within three categories: activity detrimental to Parliamentary democracy, espionage and sabotage. What is immediately apparent is that the three offences, and the various permutations the amendments allow for, are so widely defined so as to capture almost any form of conduct deemed undesirable by the powers that be. This is extremely alarming in light of trends on the part of the authorities where civil liberties are concerned.

Take the offence of activity detrimental to parliamentary democracy. It is defined to mean “an activity carried out by a person or group of persons designed to overthrow or undermine parliamentary democracy by violent or unconstitutional means”. This is worry in light of the way in which we have heard accusations of unconstitutional behaviour being hurled at diverse persons from opposition members to activists. Consider also the way in which the members of Parti Sosialis Malaysia were arrested prior to the Bersih 2.0 demonstration last year for the alleged offence of “waging war” against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

This point is further illustrated by the offence of “possession of documents and publications detrimental to parliamentary democracy” which carries a jail term of up to ten years. This offence is defined to include documents or publications that have a tendency to, amongst other things, counsel disobedience to the law pertaining to public order. It would clearly impact of demonstrations like those organised by Bersih 2.0 and other activist groups which were deemed by the police to be unlawful. Under this offence, any notices concerning such an event would be a document or publication detrimental to parliamentary democracy.

It does not stop there. Such offending documents or publications include any invitation or request for contributions or donations for the use of persons who counsel disobedience to the law, amongst others. Persons receiving such offending documents or publications are required now to deliver the same to a police officer failing which that person may be convicted and sentenced to a jail term of ten years as well. This would be the case if those offending documents or publications were republished. So, the net would widen to include any bloggers who author or publish material deemed undesirable.

In the same vein, espionage means “an activity to obtain sensitive information by ulterior or illegal means for the purpose that is prejudicial to the security or interest of Malaysia”. What that means is not clear. “Sensitive information” is defined to include any information that concerns, amongst other things, public order and the “essential public interest of Malaysia”. The scope of these provisions become a little clearer when we consider how it is our leadership has a tendency to label activities detrimental to its political standing as being aimed at undermining the Government. It seems to me that whistleblowers might also be caught by this provision as well, a point worth noting in light of the numerous scandals the Opposition have been disclosing recently.

I could go on but the point has, I think, been demonstrated. The scope of these offences leaves no room for doubt. They are self-evidently geared towards far more than terrorism. The question I have is this: why has the Government led us to believe that these laws are intended to combat terrorism when in fact they do far more. Parliament has created a monstrous law that defies legal logic as much as it flies in the face of promise of reforms towards a more inclusive and participatory democracy.

Malik Imtiaz Sarwar is a practising lawyer and the President of the National Human Rights Society (HAKAM)

Sunday 22 April 2012

Shocking polls amendments bulldozed through


Sunday, 22 April 2012 Super Admin
Ambiga Sreenevasan, The Malaysian Insider

On 19 April 2012, many Bills were rushed through Parliament. One of them, which appears to have escaped the attention of the public, was a Bill that sought to amend the Election Offences Act 1954. The amendments are, to say the least, shocking and have far reaching consequences upon the voting process. They are designed solely for the purpose of making the voting process less transparent. Needless to say this Bill was passed.

1. Those that publish defamatory, racist and sexist remarks may do so with impunity

Section 11(c) which had required any print materials to have the names and addresses of its printer and publisher is DELETED IN FULL.

This means that anyone can now put up anonymous defamatory, racist or sexist posters without identifying the publisher or printer. Poison posters will now become standard fare. This goes completely against Bersih 2.0’s demand to end dirty politics.

2. Election monitoring at EC’s discretion

s14 1(A) is replaced with a clause which allows the Election Commission to appoint time slots to determine when polling agents or counting agents of a candidate may be present. Therefore the time when an agent of a candidate is allowed into the Polling Station is no longer fixed and is now left to the discretion of the EC to decide. They are free to remove Agents from Polling Station at will.

The reality is that polling and counting agents are usually appointed by the candidate and this ensures a more transparent process. However, with the new amendment there are possibilities of abuse. The time schedule is best understood by the candidates as they organise their agents according to their time availability, as most of them are volunteers. If the time schedule is at the discretion of the EC, this may mean that different persons are being rotated and this does not allow the agents to observe inconsistencies systematically. Worse, when such a time schedule is applied during vote counting, as it again may open up opportunities for mis-counting.

3. Curbing candidates and their staff from checking on identity of voters

S26 1(e) which allowed for checking of the identity of any person entering a polling centre is DELETED IN FULL.

The implication is that candidates and its election staff are not allowed to check on the identity of voters to establish if they are genuine or even to help them to identify if they are at the correct polling station. This also means that phantom voters or multiple voters will not be detected. The 50m exclusion zone outside the polling centre is now extended to 100m or more, depending on what the EC to decide. This makes it impossible for election monitors to see anything illegal going on.

It will also make it impossible to see if a voter is marked with indelible ink thus minimising its effect.

4. Election agent or candidate disallowed at election booths (barong) S26A Sub-section (2) and (3) are DELETED IN FULL. 

This means that all channels of election observation are sealed off as it now does not allow election candidates and staff to observe the registration of voters during polling day. Such an amendment opens up possibilities of abuse and fraud. There will be no more Barung Observers who were previously the only non-EC people able to look at the IC of the voter and pick up discrepancies. This is a major blow to the plans to weed out phantom voters. They can now walk in freely and the polling agent (even if he is allowed into the polling station) will have no opportunity to look at the IC of the voter. The same point about indelible ink made above, will apply

These amendments which have been introduced so late and bulldozed through Parliament makes a mockery of our electoral process. More importantly it makes a mockery of the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) as it appears that these amendments were hidden from them. What does the PSC have to say about this?

Today, Bersih 2.0 reiterates its call for the Election Commissioners to resign immediately as it has failed to uphold the rakyat’s demand for a clean, fair and democratic electoral system. In fact it is unashamedly doing the opposite.

If anyone had any doubt that Bersih 3.0 is necessary, that doubt is now dispelled with this latest move. These amendments confirm our worst fears that the 13th GE will be the dirtiest yet.

The audacity with which these amendments are proposed and the speed with which they were passed reflects the utter contempt being shown for the rakyat’s call for clean and fair elections.
The EC must resign for allowing such amendments to be proposed.

We urge members of the public to read the amendments for themselves and then to fax the EC at 603-88889117 to express their views and if seen fit to call for their resignation.


Salam Bersih 2.0!

DUDUK BANTAH! — aliran

* Dato’ Ambiga Sreenevasan is Co-chairperson of the Steering Committee for the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih 2.0)

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication. The Malaysian Insider does not endorse the view unless specified.

Subject: BERSIH SPRING IS ARRIVING


Media statement by  Dr Chen Man Hin,  DAP Life Advisor In Seremban on 21st April 2012

BERSIH 3 WILL HERALD THE BERSIH SPRING TO BRING ABOUT VITAL CHANGES TO MALAYSIA TO BE UNITED, PROGRESSIVE AND PROSPEROUS


BERSIH 3 will herald the Bersih Spring which will sweep throughout the country and bring about the changes to create a free, just and democratic multiracial, multilingual and multireligious society.

The people have long hungered for a new society where all Malaysians are equal, and have equal opportunities to be educated and to be prosperous.

The people will all be Malaysians who are equal under the Malaysian sun.  There will be one people – who are all ketuanan rakyat, all equals whether Malays, Chinese, Indians, Kadazans and others.  Allowing for Malays and indigenous natives to be the first among equals.

The Bersih Spring will promote unity and solidarity among the people.  We shall be one and our political, economic and social progress will advance rapidly.  We shall become one the main players of the new Asian Century...

it is therefore of the utmost importance that on April 28th all Malaysians must unite and gather together by the hundreds of thousands or millions throughout the country and demand for clean, free and fair elections.

With clean, free and fair elections,  Pakatan Rakyat will have a good chance of winning the  13th  General Elections, and form the government, and bring the changes for a better society.

BERSIH 3 28TH APRIL IS A VITAL OCCASION.  IF THE PEOPLE MEET BY THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS THROUGHOUT  THE COUNTRY AND DEMAND CLEAN , FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS, WE CAN MAKE PRIME MINISTER NAJIB LISTEN TO OUR DEMANDS.  WE CAN THEN CREATE A NEW, UNITED AND PROSPEROUC MALAYSIA.


Dr Chen Man Hin, 
Dap life advisor

Wednesday 18 April 2012

Tuesday 17 April 2012

Malaysia tables new laws to replace feared Internal Security Act | ABC Radio Australia

Source :http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/radio/onairhighlights/malaysia-tables-new-laws-to-replace-feared-internal-security-act

KOTA KINABALU: Bersih Sabah 3.0 calls for a ‘Royal Commission Inquiry into the Grant of Malaysian Citizenship to Aliens and the Presence of Illegal Immigrants in Sabah’.

Source: Malaysia Today

LETTERS/SURAT
Tuesday, 17 April 2012 admin-s

The future of Malaysia may be decided by those who are essentially not Malaysians.

Bersih Sabah


On 21 August 2011, the Prime Minister of Malaysia Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Bin Tun Razak had asked us to be patient and not to doubt his sincerity for polls reforms. We are waiting, anxiously.

The increase in the population in Sabah has been extraordinary since 1970s. The Population Distribution and Basic Demographic Characteristics 2010 report published by the Department of Statistics, Malaysia reveals that more than 1 in 4
residents in Sabah is not a Malaysian citizen, or 27.7%.

The situation is much worse when one looks into the population of youths in Sabah. According to the Ministry of Youth and Sports, there are 1,046,869 Malaysian youths in Sabah in 2010, and 525,218 non-Malaysian youths residing in Malaysia. And this is just the number of detectable migrants. These figures do not include aliens who have obtained their Malaysian citizenships through improper means.

Very real and substantiated allegations have been made against the National Registration Department on the improper issuance of Malaysian citizenships to aliens (in what is dubbed the 'Project IC'). Worse of all, there have been allegations of 'citizenship for votes' whereby foreign aliens have been promised citizenship of Malaysia in exchange for loyalty to UMNO.

This is a chance for the Barisan Nasional government to clear its name. The NRD has not released any figures as to how many foreign aliens have been granted citizenship since 1970. However, it is estimated that there are 737,000 of them are recipients of this 'Project IC' and 200,000 of them are eligible to vote. This means the future of Malaysia may be decided by those who are essentially not Malaysians. We, the genuine Malaysians, should be the ones who shall decide the future of our beloved nation.

The socioeconomic impacts are just as severe. The burden on the State and Federal government is extremely heavy due to the utilisation of public amenities, schools and hospitals by these unaccounted aliens. This is why Bersih Sabah 3.0 calls for a Royal Commission.

There is a unanimous and overwhelming support for the establishment of this Royal Commission. From all sides of political divide, be it UMNO, PBS, and UPKO from Barisan Nasional and PKR, DAP and PAS from Pakatan Rakyat, SAPP and STAR
as well as NGOs and individuals, the entire Sabah echoes the same call. In fact, the Parliamentary Select Committee on Electoral Reforms headed by Dr. Maximus Ongkili reiterated the same.

The situation is Sabah is dire and the Sabahans are unanimous - if our government is sincere about reforms, the Royal Commission must be established now.

Andrew Ambrose
Mewakili Jawatankuasa Pepandu
Gabungan Pilihanraya Bersih dan Adil (BERSIH Sabah 3.0)

APRIL 28TH BERSIH DAY - DAY OF RECKONING FOR STRUGGLE FOR FREE, FAIR AND CLEAN ELECTIONS

A day for all democratic forces to unite, protest, demonstrate and call for free, fair and clean elections.

The chance for CHANGE is here, but the forces of Barisan are conspiring to destroy the legitimate rights of the people to have a free, fair and elections.

The rejection of the minority report of the special parliament committee set up to reform the Electoral Commission is a clear example of the intention of the Najib government to deny free, fair and clean elections in the coming General Elections.

They do not want to rectify the problem of phantom voters, gerrymandering, and fraudulent registration of foreign workers as legal voters.

Sources indicate that the number of fraudulent voters come up to 3 million. If this is not rectified, the GE 13 elections will be a walkover for Barisan National.

This must not be allowed to happen. Hence we must protest and call for justice

the DAP and all freedom loving people, must rise up and unite with Bersih in the sacred call for Free, Fair and Clean Elections.

Dr Chen Man Hin
DAP Life Advisor

Monday 16 April 2012

New law RUU to replace the ISA is hoodwinking the people that there is no more ISA.

RUU mengantikan ISA a blatant act of cunning facial surgery to legalise inhuman laws of ISA. They are trying to bluff the people that there is no more ISA..

This should be condemned. Another of PM Najib’s so called reforms. The ISA laws are still on but under a new name of RUU

This is cheating. It is an attempt to legalise inhuman laws by giving the ISA a legal face under the disguise of civil laws. The ISA is given a new face lift of legality – a face surgery for a criminal

The ISA laws are meant for terrorists, not the democratic activists. ISA laws are extra – judicial meant for extraordinary crimes harmful to the country, in the realm of terrorists.

RUU are extra judicial laws and cannot be implemented in civil, democratic society.

We should reject the RUU totally and completely.

Chen


Ucapan Setiausaha Agung DAP Dan Ahli Parlimen Kawasan Bagan Lim Guan Eng Di Parlimen Semasa Membahas Rang Undang-undang Kesalahan Keselamatan(Langkah-langkah Khas) 2012 Di Dewan Rakyat Pada 16 April 2012.

Pemansuhan Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri(ISA) Tidak Bermakna Kerana Kuasa Tahanan Luasnya Digantikan Dengan 3 RUU Kesalahan Keselamatan (Llangkah-langkah Khas) 2012, Kanun Tatacara Jenayah(Pindaan) 2012 Dan Kanun Keseksaan(Pindaan) 2012
------------------------------------------------------------------

Dengan pemansuhan Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (ISA) maka berakhirlah satu era penindasan rakyat oleh Kerajaan BN. Berakhirlah satu sejarah hitam buat negara kita, di mana sepanjang 52 tahun pelaksanaan ISA dijangka lebih 10,000 orang mangsa telah ditahan tanpa bicara di bawah akta tersebut.
Tetapi adakah kita rakyat harus rasa gembira?

Saya rasa ini bukannya masa untuk diraikan kegembiraan dengan membaca Al-Fatihah kepada ISA kerana ia masih belum benar-benar meninggalkan tanah air Malaysia. Di samping itu keengganan kerajaan BN mengambil tanggungjawab ke atas kezaliman yang diperlakukan ke atas mangsa-mangsa ISA dengan meminta maaf secara terbuka atas tahanan tanpa bicara yang melanggari segala asas perikemanusiaan serta lunas undang-undang hak asasi manusia dan due proses.

Setengah mangsa yang tidak bersalah mahupun berdosa terdiri daripada Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Menteri-menteri, ketua pembangkang aktivis sosial dan rakyat biasa. Apakah kesalahan sehingga boleh memudaratkan keselamatan negara selain daripada menentang pemimpin BN yang rasuah dan menggugat monopoli kuasa rakus BN daripada terus menindas rakyat.

Apakah kesalahan Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Lim Kit Siang, Karpal Singh, Mat Sabu yang selalu ini menegakkan kedaulatan undang-undang dan sistem perlembagaan beraja sehingga perlu merengkok dalam tahanan di bawah ISA tanpa bicara dan dituduh melakukan kesalahan dengan sewenang-wenangnya tanpa bukti langsung. Malah mereka yang buat tuduhan palsu bukan sahaja tidak dikenakan tindakan sebaliknya dinaik pangkat dan diangkat ke jawatan yang tinggi.

Sebagai seorang bekas orang tahanan ISA, saya tahu secara peribadi daripada pengalaman pahit macam mana ISA ini boleh disalahgunakan. Bila saya ditahan dalam 1987 di bawah Operasi Lallang, saya hanya berumur 26 tahun dan baru dipilih sebagai Ahli Parlimen Kawasan Kota Melaka. Dalam umur yang begitu mentah ini, saya dituduh mengancam keselamatan negara sehingga boleh mencetuskan negara menjadi huru-hara sekiranya saya masih bebas. Kalau begitu dengan umur saya sekarang menjangkau 52 tahun, bukankah saya lagi mengancam?

Proses 60 hari “solitary confinement” sukar dilalui kerana nyawa kita terletak di bawah tangan seorang dua pegawai polis yang boleh buat apa-apa pun secara suka hati ke atas saya. Saya dipersoalkan mengapa menentang Perdana Menteri Malaysia, adakah saya mahu dibebaskan dengan syarat saya mengaku atau bertaubat di depan kaca mata televisyen bahawa saya terlibat dalam kegiatan subversif dan dianiayai secara mental.

Saya diletakkan di dalam sebuah bilik berwarna biru habis tanpa cermin dengan sebuah kipas tidak bergerak dengan 4 cangkuk besar. Saya tidak dibenarkan tidur lebih 24 jam dengan dipaksa duduk di atas bangku dengan pegawai polis berteriak ke dalam telinga saya setiap kali saya nak mengantuk untuk memaksa saya “bertaubat”. Saya sudah dikira bernasib baik kerana tidak dipukul dan dibelasah dengan ganas macam berlaku ke atas YB Ketua Pembangkang dan ramai rakan-rakan lagi.

Sebagai peneraju dan pewaris ISA, adakah BN bersedia meminta maaf secara terbuka ke atas semua mangsa-mangsa kezaliman. Selagi BN enggan berbuat demikian susah untuk menemui penutupan atau “closure” dan menimbulkan keraguan bahawa pemansuhan ISA hanya permainan silap mata untuk menyembunyikan muslihat jahat BN nak meneruskan ISA dalam bentuk dan rupa lain(in in different guise and form).

Hakikatnya, kita harus mengingati bahawa ISA ini sebenarnya telah diwujudkan sebagai langkah pencegahan komunis di Malaya dan kemudiannya Malaysia pada zaman darurat. Perdana Menteri Malaysia yang pertama, Tunku Abdul Rahman sendiri telah berkata bahawa:

“ISA yang telah diperkenalkan pada tahun1960 telah dirancang untuk digunakan semata-mata untuk melawan komunis... Sayadan para jemaah menteri saya telah berjanji kepada Parlimen dan kepada negara bahawa kuasa besar yang diberi kepada kerajaan di bawah ISA tidak akan digunakan untuk menyekat pembangkang yang sah.”

Sekiranya apa yang dikatakan Bapa Kemerdekaan kita ini benar, maka ISA sepatutnya dimansuhkan selepas tamatnya pemberontakan senjata komunis secara rasmi pada tahun 1989 dengan perjanjian damai di antara Parti Komunis Malaya ditandantangani dengan Ketua Polis Negara Tan Sri Rahim Nor di Haadyai pada 2 Disember 1989. Ini kerana tujuan utama undang-undang ini diperkenalkan sudah tidak lagi relevan. Tanpa ada lagi ancaman komunis, ISA seharusnya tidak diperlukan lagi. Namun, ISA diteruskan sebagai senjata ke atas musuh politik BN yang menentang BN secara aman dan berlandaskan Perlembagaan.

Sejarah hitam ISA harus dikuburkan buat selama-lamanya, dan ini tidak akan berlaku selagi Kerajaan tidak mengambil langkah untuk meminta maaf dan memberi jaminan bahawa undang-undang kuku besi seperti ISA tidak akan diulangi lagi, mahupun secara tidak langsung. Selagi Kerajaan tidak meminta maaf, selagi itulah hantu ISA akan membayangi legasi mereka. Ini jelas tertera secara langsung atau tidak dalam tiga RUU yang dibentangkan untuk menggantikan ISA, RUU Kesalahan Keselamatan (Llangkah-langkah Khas) 2012, RUU Kanun Tatacara Jenayah(Pindaan) 2012 dan RUU Kanun Keseksaan(Pindaan) 2012

Hakikat ini dinyatakan oleh YB Menteri Dalam Negeri dua hari lepas bahawa “The new law replacing the Internal Security Act (ISA) will not hamper the abilities of the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) to protect the safety of the public” Dengan kata lain, pihak polis masih mempunyai kuasa samada adanya atau tidaknya ISA sepertimana yang termaktub dalam Perkara 149 Perlembagaan Persekutuan yang membolehkan sesiapa ditahan untuk apa tujuan pun.

RUU ini pada permulaannya menyebut bahawa“tindakan telah diambil dan tindakan lanjut diancam oleh sekumpulan besar orang di dalam dan di luar Malaysia”, sebagaimana yang disenaraikan. Siapakah kumpulan besar itu, dan apakah tindakan-tindakan yang telah diambil dan yang diancam? Saya rasa bahawa ahli-ahli yang berhormat hendaklah diberitahu terhadap kumpulan manakah RUU ini ditujukan, kerana hanya selepas itu bolehlah Dewan yang Mulia ini meneliti dengan baik RUU ini.

Pada mukadimah RUU ini adalah disebut bahawa, dengan izin: “action has been taken and further action is threatened... to procure the alteration, otherwise than by lawful means, of anything by law established”. Inilah satu contoh penggubalan undang-undang secara“cut-and-paste”. Sepatutnya, “anything” itu hendaklah merujuk kepada“something” atau “certain things” yang sudah diketahui. Ancaman yang dirujuk,adakah ia benar-benar wujud atau hanya dalam khayalan Kerajaan sahaja?

RUU ini dicadangkan untuk digubal di bawah Perkara 149 Perlembagaan Persekutuan, yang membenarkan undang-undang khas diperbuat bagi tujuan menentang tindakan subversif walaupun undang-undang itu bertentangan dengan hak-hak asasi yang dijamin oleh Perlembagaan. Kita semua tahu bagaimana lagi satu Akta yang digubal di bawah Perkara 149, yakni ISA yang sepatutnya bertujuan untuk menentang kempen keganasan Parti Komunis Malaya,tetapi telah disalahgunakan oleh Kerajaan BN untuk menzalimi dan menganiayai rakyat Malaysia yang tidak bersalah walaupun kempen komunis itu telah tamat lebih daripada 23 tahun lalu, pada tahun 1989.

Sebenarnya, Perkara 149 pada asalnya hanya membenarkan undang-undang khas diperbuat untuk setahun sahaja. Jika ia tidak dilanjutkan setiap tahun, maka undang-undang khas itu seharusnya luput.Demikianlah perlindungan yang wujud di bawah Perlembagaan zaman Merdeka, tetapi Kerajaan Perikatan dan BN telah meminda Perlembagaan kita untuk menghapuskan perlindungan hak-hak rakyat. Jika Kerajaan benar-benar patuh kepada semangat Perlembagaan dan hak-hak rakyat, RUU ini harus dipinda supaya ia luput jika tidak diperbaharui setiap tahun oleh Parlimen.

Fasal 4 RUU ini membenarkan pihak polis untuk menahan seseorang bagi tempoh selama 28 hari tanpa bicara dan tanpa dibawa ke hadapan majistret. Fasal ini amat bahaya. Perkara 5(4) Perlembagaan Persekutuan memperuntukkan bahawa: “Jika seseorang ditangkap dan tidak dilepaskan, maka orang itu hendaklah tanpa kelengahan yang tidak munasabah, dan walau bagaimanapun dalam tempoh 24 jam ... dibawa ke hadapan majistret dan orang itu tidak boleh ditahan dalam jagaan selanjutnya tanpa kebenaran majistret itu.”

Dengan fasal 4 ini, hak asasi yang dijamin oleh Perkara 5(4) Perlembagaan Persekutuan adalah dirampas dan dicabuli. Jika mana-mana orang boleh ditahan selama 28 hari tanpa dibawa kehadapan majistret, manakah jaminan bahawa orang itu tidak akan dibelasah dan diseksa polis selama tempoh itu? Siapakah yang boleh tahan diseksa selama 28 hari? Dalam masa satu bulan orang tahanan boleh dibelasah sampai lebam, dan selepas itu ditahan sehingga lebam itu pudar.

Sekurang-kurangnya, seseorang yang ditahan patut dibawa ke hadapan majistret selepas 24 jam pertama, dan selanjutnya selepas setiap 7 hari yang berlalu. Mengapakah Kerajaan dan pihak polis begitu takut membawa orang tahanan ke hadapan majistret? Bagaimanakah hak asasi rakyat yang dijamin oleh Perlembagaan boleh diketepikan dengan begitu senang?

Bagi orang tahanan yang mampu mendapat perwakilan peguam dan mampu menyaman pihak polis, memang tindakan mahkamah boleh diambil terhadap polis sekiranya kuasa tahanan disalahgunakan. Namun realitinya, lock-up dan penjara-penjara di seluruh negara kita penuh dengan orang tahanan, termasuklah pemuda-pemuda bawah umur, yang tidak mampu mendapat perwakilan undang-undang. Oleh sebab itu, penyeliaan badan kehakiman adalah mustahak. Sekali lagi, saya ingin tanya, mengapakah Kerajaan dan pihak polis begitu takut membawa orang tahanan ke hadapan majistret?

Tanpa penyeliaan badan kehakiman, kami rasa bahawa pihak polis boleh melanjutkan tempoh tahanan orang tahanan selepas akhir 28 hari, dengan membebaskan dan menahan semula orang tahanan itu selepas setiap 28 hari, seperti yang sering dilakukan di bawah ISA. Dengan ini, tempoh tahanan itu boleh dilanjutkan bertahun-tahun tanpa had. Bolehkah YB Menteri memberi jaminan bahawa tempoh tahanan 28 hari itu tidak boleh dilanjutkan secara membebaskan dan menahan semula orang tahanan?

Bahagian IV RUU ini memberi kuasa kepadaPendakwa Raya berkenaan dengan kes-kes yang melibatkan “maklumat sensitif”.Pentakrifan “maklumat sensitif” ini amat luas, dan merangkumi apa-apa dokumen,maklumat dan bahan yang berkaitan dengan Jemaah Menteri dan jawatankuasanya atau yang menyentuh kedaulatan, keselamatan negara, pertahanan, ketenteraman awam dan hubungan antarabangsa, sama ada bahan itu dikelaskan sebagai rahsia atau tidak. Pentakrifan ini adalah terlalu luas, dan nampaknya adalah bertujuan melindungi kepentingan Kerajaan dan bukan kepentingan awam atau kepentingan negara. Keperluan menjamin keadilan perbicaraan tidak disebut sama sekali dalam Bahagian ini. YB Menteri patut menjelaskan sama ada mahkamah mempunyai budibicara untuk menolak permohonan Pendakwa Raya di bawah fasal 8 jika perlu untuk menjamin keadilan perbicaraan. Ini hanyalah satu contoh peruntukan dalam RUU ini yang tidak adil dan tidak wajar.

Kalau dilihat secara keseluruhan, semua peruntukan-peruntukan RUU ini jelas bertujuan untuk membolehkan Kerajaan menyabit dan memenjarakan sesiapa sahaja atas kesalahan keselamatan dengan bukti yang direka-reka. Fasal 8 RUU ini membolehkan Pendakwa Raya menyembunyikan fakta-fakta yang menunjukkan bahawa orang dituduh itu tidak bersalah atasalasan maklumat itu sensitif.

Fasal 14 membolehkan bukti diterima daripada saksi yang menyembunyikan identitinya daripada pihak tertuduh. Fasal 18 membolehkan penyata yang kononnya dibuat oleh orang yang mati, hilang atau tidak dapat hadir ke mahkamah diterima sebagai bukti. Fasal 19 membolehkan orang dituduh disabitkan kesalahan atas testimoni kanak-kanak yang tidak disokong. Fasal 20 membolehkan apa jua dokumen yang kononnya disita oleh polis, walaupun secara menyalahi undang-undang,diterima sebagai bukti.

Fasal 22 membolehkan senarai dokumen atau benda yang kononnya disita oleh polis diterima sebagai bukti kewujudan dokumen atau bend aitu walaupun dokumen atau benda itu tidak boleh dikemukakan di mahkamah. Fasal 23 membolehkan eksibit yang dikatakan sensitif tidak dikemukakan di mahkamah tanpa menjejaskan kes pendakwaan. Fasal 25 membolehkan apa jua dokumen yangdibuat dengan komputer diterima sebagai bukti. Fasal 26 membolehkan testimoni rakan sejenayah dan polis yang memprovokasi tindakan kesalahan itu diterima sebagai bukti.

Fasal-fasal 13 dan 30 pula membolehkan orang dituduh ditahan bertahun-tahun walaupun ia belum disabitkan kesalahan atau didapati tidak bersalah oleh mahkamah, sehingga habis rayuan terakhir. Sungguhpun hak orang yang ditahan boleh menuntut perbicaraan selepas 28 hari tetapi berkemungkinan tidak dapat menikmati kebebasan kerana Fasal 30(1) menyatakan boleh terus direman di dalam penjara sementara menunggu notis rayuan difailkan terhadap pembebasan tertuduh itu oleh Pendakwa Raya dan semua proses undang-undang ditamatkan.

YB Menteri perlu menjelaskan, apakah kaitan khas antara kesalahan keselamatan dan testimoni kanak-kanak? Apakah saksi yang berkaitan dengan kesalahan keselamatan lebih sering mati atau hilang (mungkin kerana diletup dengan C4), kalau berbanding dengan kes-kes yang lain?Apakah cetakan dari komputer lebih boleh dipercayai dalam kes kesalahan keselamatan? Mengapakah kes kesalahan keselamatan harus lebih senang dibuktikan jika dibandingkan dengan kes bunuhatau kes rogol? Ini semua menunjukkan bahawa undang-undang di negara kita tidak digunakan untuk melindungi rakyat, malah untuk melindungi Kerajaan.

Badan Peguam Malaysia juga telah menyatakan kebimbangan mereka terhadap RUU ini, termasuk sama ada RUU ini patut digubal dibawah Artikel 149 jika syarat-syarat perlindungan memadai, definisi "kesalahan keselamatan" yang terlalu luas, kekurangan pengawasan kehakiman atas penahanan serta penyekatan atas komunikasi, kekurangan perlindungan atas komunikasi peguam-pelanggan, dan yang paling penting sekali keberlainan dengan peraturan-peraturan biasa berkaitan perbicaraan jenayah.

Selagi bayang-bayang, sisa dan saki-baki ISA masih wujud dalam RUU Kesalahan Keselamatan (Llangkah-langkah Khas) 2012, RUU Kanun Tatacara Jenayah(Pindaan) 2012 dan RUU Kanun Keseksaan(Pindaan) 2012, maka ia akan mengujudkan ketakutan di kalangan orang ramai terhadap kerajaan yang bersedia menggunakannya untuk niat dan hasrat politik mereka. Buat apa Let me close by quoting from American President Thomas Jefferson,

When the people fears the government, there is tyranny;
When the government fears the people, there is liberty.

By continuing to instil fear amongst the people, there is false liberty or no liberty at all but BN continues to exercise tyranny over Malaysians. Pemansuhan Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri(ISA) tidak bermakna kerana kuasa tahanan luasnya digantikan dengan 3 RUU Kesalahan Keselamatan (Llangkah-langkah Khas) 2012, Kanun Tatacara Jenayah(Pindaan) 2012 dan Kanun Keseksaan(Pindaan) 2012. Oleh itu parti DAP menyokong pemansuhan ISA tetapi menentang kesemua tiga RUU yang dibentangkan bersama ini.
Menubuhkan RCI untuk menyemak segala undang-undang yang menyalahi prinsip hak asasi manusia yang menyekat kebebasan rakyat Malaysia.


- Lim Guan Eng

Monday 9 April 2012

Malaysians fail to get into Harvard for second year running

by Lee Wei Lian
The Malaysian Insider
Apr 07, 2012

KUALA LUMPUR, April 7 — Malaysians failed to gain admission into the world’s most prestigious university for the second year in a row due to a slide in the quality of applicants, said Harvard University’s selection panel chief for Malaysia.

Not only did no Malaysian student receive an offer letter but none apparently was even good enough to make it to the interview rounds.

This comes after a controversy erupte over the quality of Malaysian education when Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin pointed to a World Economic Forum report to claim that Malaysians had a higher standard of education compared to that in some advanced countries.

Opposition lawmaker Tony Pua later rubbished Muhyiddin’s claims, pointing to another international study — the PISA 2009+ — that showed Malaysian students lagging far behind western nations in terms of literacy, mathematics and scientific understanding.

Datuk Dr Goh Cheng Teik, who leads the Harvard team that interviews prospective Malaysian students, said he was informed the quality of applicants had deteriorated.

“I called the Harvard College of Admissions Office and was told that although they received applications from Malaysian students, no one was shortlisted for interviews as they are not considered competitive enough,” he was quoted as saying by The Star

A two-year absence from incoming Harvard freshman classes is enough to raise concerns over the quality trends of Malaysian education given that at least one Malaysian had been admitted to Harvard every year from 1985 to 2010.

A statement from Harvard’s interview panel showed that Malaysia was only fourth among Southeast Asian countries in terms of enrolment in the Ivy League institution.

Singapore has the highest number of Harvard undergraduates with 18, followed by Thailand with seven, Vietnam with six, Malaysia with five and Indonesia with two.

SMK Damansara Jaya alumnus Avinaash Subramaniam, who was awarded a full scholarship, was the last Malaysian accepted at Harvard in 2010.

Harvard was ranked the world’s best university for seven consecutive years by Times Higher Education (THE) until it was bumped into second place by the California Institute of Technology last year.

It was ranked the No. 1 university in the world last year by the Center for World-Class Universities of Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

Some 34,950 applicants were received by Harvard for the 2016 graduating class and only 6.3 per cent were accepted.

According to the World Economic Forum’s global competitiveness report that was cited by Muhyiddin, Malaysia was ranked 14th among 142 countries and second in Asean for quality education.

Pua pointed out however that the WEF study was merely based on the opinions of 87 local businessmen who were asked to rate on a scale of one to seven how much they felt the country’s educational system has met the needs of a competitive economy.

He noted that the PISA report said that only “56 per cent of students are estimated to have a proficiency in reading literacy that is at or above the baseline level needed to participate actively and productively in life”.

For mathematics, the PISA study revealed that only 41 per cent of students are proficient in the subject at the baseline level. For science, 57 per cent made the baseline level.

JURY STILL OUT ON PERFORMANCE OF PM NAJIB AS PRIME MINISTER SINCE 2008

Media statement by dr chen man hin, DAP Life Advisor on 7th March 2012

JURY STILL OUT ON PERFORMANCE OF PM NAJIB AS PRIME MINISTER SINCE 2008

ON Monday 2nd April 2o12, PM Najib in his report card on his performance as Prime Minister claimed that under his watch, the per capita income increased by 45% from US6700 2 years ago (2009) to US 9700 in 2011. He also claimed that the country was on track to become a high income nation in 2020 with a per capita income US 15000

Like his other claims made in his speech, the figures are suspect as they differ from the figures from the records of WORLD BANK, IMF AND CIA

THESE ARE FIGURES FOR THE PCI OF MALAYSIA IN 2011 AS QUOTED BY

WORLD BANK US$ 8373
INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND US$ 8373
CIA US$ 8400

PM NAJIB CLAIMS THAT THE PER CAPITA INCOME OF MALAYSIA WAS US$9700, A 45% JUMP FROM US 6700 IN 2009

Who are we to believe, Malaysia or World Bank, IMF and CIA? Was there a big jump in the GDP for Malaysia in the years 2006 to 2011?

The WORLD ECONOMIC OUTLOOK SHOWED THE GDP GROWTH FOR MALAYSIA SHOWED FIGURES ranging FROM 5.4% IN2002 TO 5.2% IN 2011 IT DIPPED DOWN TO –1.6% IN 2009

WHILE THE GDP WAS STRUGGLING AROUND 5%, HOW DOES NAJIB EXPLAIN THE PHENOMENAL RISE OF 45% JUMP IN PER CAPITA INCOME BETWEEN 2009 TO 2O11?

Obviously, his figures were a put up job, hurriedly conjured to show that he is interested in creating a high income nation in Malaysia. With the general elections around the corner, he is using the high income nation issue as a gimmick to show that he has the interest of the people at heart.
If he were sincere, we want him to announce that the NEP (New Economic POLICY) is abolished and investors both local and foreign are welcome to invest freely.

Also want PM Najib to announce that the general elections 13 will be free and fair, and that all the conditions recommended by the Parliamentary Select Committee on electoral reforms be fully accepted and implemented for the coming general elections 13

Dr Chen Man Hin
DAP Life Advisor

Media statement by Dr Chen Man Hin, DAP Life Advisor, in Seremban on 7th April 2012

PM ON EGO TRIP JUDGING BY HIS SPEECHES RECENTLY WHEN HE DECLARED THAT HIS ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION PROGRAM AS VERY SUCCESSFUL SINCE ITS LAUNCHING THREE YEARS AGO

Actually, since his announcement of his reforms with the NEM ( new economic model) he has done a number of flip flops. He declared that he would remove the NEP (new economic policy) or do serious modifications. He was immediately criticised by Perkasa who demanded that the NEP should remain. PM Najib caved in to Perkasa demands, and the NEP stayed, to the dismay of investors both domestic and foreign.

In its place, PM Najib introduced the Economic Transformation Program (ETP) which included a plethora of projects amounting to RM179 billion.

FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENTS RESPONSE POOR FOR ETP

How did foreign investors respond? They gave the ETP the thumbs down by investing only US9 billion billion Foreign Direct inflows (FDI). Indonesia had more at US$13 billion, Vietnam 8 billion, Singapore 39 billion, and China highest FDI at 106 US billion.

The small amount of FDI at US$9 billion, (RM33 billion) reflect a loss of confidence by foreign investors. without strong foreign participation in the reforms, economic progress will slow down, because FDIs not only bring in cash, but also much needed and valuable foreign technology, research and expertise. Loss of foreign confidence will be a serious handicap for the reforms,

Malaysia may be listed as among the world’s top 10 favorites for investments, but the NEP has put an end to that, and recent figures show that Indonesia and Vietnam are attracting more foreign investors.

GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT (GDP)

Loss of investor confidence is also reflected in the GDP. The World Economic Outlook, september2011, show that since the Asian financial crisis in 1997, Malaysia has not yet recovered, and since then, the GDP
Was hovering between 4 to 6. GDP is predicted to be 4.8 this year. With this scenario, the per capita income of Malaysians will be low, at around US$10000 per capita.

If Najib wants to reform AND

IF NAJIB IS SINCERE IN WANTING TO CREATE A HIGH INCOME NATION, HE SHOULD CONSIDER ALL MALAYSIANS AS KETUANAN RAKYAT, IMPLEMENT DEMOCRACY, AND JUSTICE FOR ALL; ERADICATE CORRUPTION, AND FREE AND FAIR GENERAL ELECTIONS.

CHEN MAN HIN
DAP LIFE ADVISOR

Monday 2 April 2012

Looming polls may force FELDA listing onto back burner

Monday, 02 April 2012
Source: The Malaysian Insider






BN may be unwilling to gamble with its vote bank of FELDA settlers so close to the general election. — Reuters pic


KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 23 — Putrajaya could delay the US$2-billion (RM6 billion) listing of FELDA Global Ventures (FGVH) as settlers’ opposition to the deal risks undermining Barisan Nasional’s (BN) support in fiercely contested national polls expected this year.

The listing of FGVH, originally set for mid-2012, aimed to give Malaysia’s US$27-billion palm oil sector much-needed financial firepower to boost yields and expand when top producer Indonesia is gaining market share.

But the initial public offering has triggered unexpectedly strong resistance from some of the 113,000 farmers who together own 60 per cent of the land given to them by FGVH’s parent, the Federal Land Development Authority (FELDA).

Although the listing would bring each family a one-time windfall, opponents say it would deprive them of financial control of an asset they have held for generations.
Pressing on with the IPO without addressing these concerns would be risky for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who calls the farmers his “safe deposit” in the fight to win elections that must be called by April 2013, but are expected this year.


Najib is said to be worried about the possible fallout from the listing. — File pic

Najib is fighting to reverse a dismal election showing by his ruling coalition in 2008, when the opposition made historic inroads in parliament.

“The prime minister is concerned about this. He wants the listing to happen but he may take a step back to ensure the settlers are satisfied,” said a senior government official with direct knowledge of the listing plans.

“The process needs to take time. In the worst case scenario, Najib will push the IPO after the elections,” said the official, who declined to be identified.
The FELDA settlers number about 1.6 million, including their extended families. They form the bulk of the voters in 54 of Malaysia’s 222 parliamentary seats and are mostly Malay, the core support base of the ruling BN coalition.

The opposition has backed the farmers over the deal as it seeks to push its way into the traditional rural strongholds of Najib’s Umno.

Najib’s father, former prime minister Tun Abdul Razak, started FELDA in the 1950s, handing out land to Malays to fight poverty. The farms expanded to 880,000 ha, making for the world’s biggest plantation scheme, with FELDA owning about 40 per cent of the land bank.

The farmers and FELDA played a crucial role in making Malaysia the world’s second-largest palm oil producer.

“There is now the potential for widespread dissatisfaction over the listing, with the younger generation of settlers questioning the economic benefits,” said Ibrahim Suffian, director of Merdeka Center, an independent polling group.
“It is a generational gap.”

The listing plan envisages FVGH taking over the plantation group’s commercial arm, Felda Holdings, which is 51-per cent owned by farmers through an investment cooperative (KPF).

On paper, it fits Malaysia’s plan to privatize state assets and draw in investors seeking exposure to palm oil prices that have risen six per cent this month alone.
Settlers’ opposition to the listing has grown after government media published details of FGVH’s new structure, which signalled KPF would have to sell its share in Felda Holdings for a mix of dividends and equity.

While KPF would end up as the single largest shareholder with a stake of 37 per cent in the listed FGVH, there would be a dilution of KPF’s assets and a government-formed asset management firm would control its voting rights.

A settlers’ group won an interim court order this month in Najib’s home state of Pahang to stop the listing. FELDA officials said they would offer to remove KPF as a major shareholder from the proposed listing but would ensure the farmers would still get dividends, domestic media said.

A cash cow, Felda Holdings has delivered average annual dividends of 14 per cent to farmers over the past 30 years, making it one of the success stories in Malaysia’s decades-old affirmative action policy that favours majority ethnic Malays.
The firm reported 2010 pre-tax profits of RM760.1 million from processing palm fruits from the farmers and running the land authority’s estates.
That puts it between Malaysia’s No.3 listed planter, KL Kepong, with its RM1.3 billion profit before tax, and smaller rival Genting Plantations, which earned RM439 million.

FGVH, which owns the rest of Felda Holdings, needs to buy out the farmers so it can use the IPO proceeds to build mills and replant the estates the firm manages.
“It is really about streamlining the operations. No farmer is going to lose out. In fact, they could get more dividends,” said a senior executive with FVGH, who declined to be identified as he was not authorised to speak to the media.
Investors were already wary over the listing because the government is likely to retain significant influence over the new company through shareholdings.




Isa had been found guilty of vote buying in Umno elections. — File pic
The worry was spotlighted last year when Najib named a corruption-tainted former minister as chairman of the land authority. The former minister, Tan Sri Isa Samad, had been found guilty of vote buying in internal Umno party elections.

“There are many outstanding issues that need to be resolved. Isa Samad is one of them,” said a fund manager based in Kuala Lumpur who buys shares in Malaysian plantation firms. “There is the euphoria of a listing, it looks good for national pride, but it needs more financial cost controls.”

The listing deal will club profitable Felda Holdings together with some of FGVH’s loss-making overseas ventures, including a partnership with Dubai-based trading house IFFCO that has struggled with poor refinery margins.

That means the new entity, if it lists, will start from a low base to compete with Indonesian firms that enjoy strong margins, owing to a recent cut in export taxes for finished palm oil products and growing supply.

“FELDA is aware of the concerns. It appears to be talking to other global trading houses to market their products aggressively,” said James Ratnam, an analyst at TA Investment, referring to plans to forge ties with firms such as Cargill and Bunge.
“They are making an effort, but from a markets perspective, they need to do more to improve the valuations and that could go a long way to appease the settlers and their children in better dividends.” — Reuters