elizabeth wong

On 8th March 2008, Malaysians made history at the ballot box.

Tonight, during the extended sitting of the 12th session of the Selangor State Assembly, we witnessed history in the making.

For the first time since 1960 (the year in which the Internal Security Act (ISA) was passed), a motion against the ISA and for the release of state assemblyman Manoharan (Kota Alam Shah) and other political detainees was moved in a Malaysian legislature, debated and passed!

Those who contributed to the debate were Lau Weng San (Bkt Tunku), Dr. Nasir Hashim (Kota Damansara), Saari Sungib (Ulu Klang), Gan Pei Nee (Rawang), Hannah Yeoh (Subang Jaya), Nik Nazmi (Seri Setia) and Amir Sari (Batu Caves). Those who witnessed the debates included Aliza, wife of Saari Sungib and Manoharan’s wife too. (Suaram - where were you on this momentous night??)

A step for Pakatan Rakyat, a giant leap for human rights in Malaysia.

A gift to the nation. From those who love Malaysia to those who feel the same.

This video should be mandatory viewing for politicians, from both divides, including those retired, axed, elected or otherwise.

Multi-lingual versions out soon. Please support Malaysian Artistes for Unity.

Hands up, everyone who had once dreamt of being a doctor, to help society, cure diseases, world peace etc.

(Even I once taped a paper cutting of an article on ‘Flying Doctors’ next to my bed for a full year when I was a student, to inspire me while dreaming of helping the poor and marginalised, alongside other possible occupations eg. being an agriculturist, writer, artist, quantum physicist etc.)

Today, a 17 year old from my state constituency Bukit Lanjan, despite having 12 As, was told he couldn’t qualify a JPA scholarship, evidently based on his ethnicity. He too dreams of being a doctor and to be of service to society. And despite the recent announcement by the Ministry of Education that all those 9As and above will be recipients, our young friend still has not received an new offer from MoE.

He is not the only one out there.

Our young friend has penned a most articulate letter to Malaysiakini as a result:-

The signals are clear for BN that it needs to reform after the massive vote of no-confidence especially in Peninsular Malaysia. Alas, there are none so blind as those who will not see.
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Press Statement
20th May 2008

Tun Dr. Mahathir’s decision to leave Umno today is indicative of Umno’s worsening crisis, where leaders continue to bicker and fight, while the welfare of ordinary Malaysians are increasingly neglected.

The internal problems of Umno are clearly deteriorating beyond any hope of recovery. Nonetheless, we must avoid being trapped by personal agendas to replace weak leaders with corrupt ones.

In view of the worsening crisis, any and all Malaysians of conscience who are concerned for the continued stability, prosperity or unity of the country are invited to join KeADILan and Pakatan Rakyat and pursue our shared ideals for a better, united Malaysia.

ANWAR IBRAHIM
___________

Kenyataan Media
20 Mei 2008

Keputusan Tun Dr. Mahathir untuk keluar dari Umno hari ini mencerminkan krisis Umno yang kian merosot, di mana pemimpin saling berebut dan bercakaran, manakala rakyat semakin tidak terbela.

Masalah dalaman Umno semakin parah dan jelas tiada harapan untuk pulih. Walaubagaimanapun, kita mesti mengelakkan dari terperangkap dengan agenda peribadi untuk menggantikan pemimpin yang lemah dengan pemimpin yang rasuah.

Memandangkan masalah dalaman Umno yang semakin merudum, semua rakyat Malaysia yang prihatin dengan kestabilan, kemajuan dan perpaduan masa depan negara dijemput menyertai KeADILan dan Pakatan Rakyat untuk merealisasikan visi bersama untuk bersatu demi memulihkan Malaysia.

ANWAR IBRAHIM

In the interest of transparency and good governance, the sitting of the Selangor state assembly will be Live webcast-ed at http://www.selangor.gov.my starting Wednesday.

Not just the first half hour (that’s just warm up), but available in its entirety

What in store?
Balkis, abandoned projects, land scam from previous regime, Teng Chang Khim in full Speaker regalia, Khir Toyo not looking too happy (jeng, jeng, jeng!) etc.

Enjoy the fireworks!

(Schedule will be posted later today)

Updated

Wednesday (approx 9 am - 10 am) - Sessions adjourns for the day after the Royal Address from the Sultan of Selangor

Thursday: 10 - 11 am Question Time; 11-12.30 pm Debate on the Royal Address; 12:30-2.30 pm Lunch; 2.30-4 pm Debate continutes

Friday: 10 - 11 am Question Time; 11-12.30 pm Debate continues; 12:30 pm Session adjourns til Monday.

Monday: As Thursday.

In addition, there will be a motion moved by Pakatan Rakyat backbencher Lau Weng San calling for the release of Manoharan (Kota Alam Shah) and all other ISA detainees.

Tun Dr. Mahathir’s opting to get out from UMNO should not have surprised anyone.

The question was not ‘why’ but ‘when’, as it followed the age-old tradition of former Prime Ministers and/or ex-UMNO presidents (with the exception of the late Tun Razak who passed away when in office).

Datuk Onn Jaafar.
Tunku Abdul Rahman.
Tun Hussein Onn.

The gift of clarity descended only when they were not in power.

It remains to be seen if sitting Members of Parliament from his faction will leave the party too en masse, which must naturally be led by his son, Mukriz “May 13 was a blessing….” Mahathir. (Sorry, but ex-MB Sanusi Junid doesn’t quite make the grade.)

The future which will see the first woman Prime Minister in the short history of our country is in sight.

(Warning - distressing and shocking scenes on video)

One could hear those young trainees wailing and crying out in pain.

What have you got to say, Najib - Defence Minister? How long has this been going on? Will we see the Prime Minister ordering an expeditious enquiry and prosecution? Please don’t pretend this was the first time the Government has heard about this.

And if this is happening to our own citizens, just imagine how asylum-seekers and undocumented workers are being treated in our detention camps.

Charge ‘em. Charge the oil palm plantation owner who allowed this on his/her property. Make Malaysia a torture-free country.

I spoke to Petra briefly on Monday night, just before boarding the plane, to express my solidarity and to apologise for not being able to be in court on Tuesday. He did not indicate at anytime that he would forgo bail and sit it out until his trial.

So imagine the stir at the Dubai travel fair when some Malaysians received SMS about this. After the political tsunami of 8 March, one imagines the Government has learnt its lesson. Guess not .”Perjuangan belum selesai“.

The Sedition Act should have been abolished decades ago. I recall having written, in some of SUARAM’s past annual human rights reports, that it is kept to stifle oppositional and dissident views. So long as it remains, our relative and limited freedoms are illusory.

Justice for Altantuya.
Free Petra. Free Malaysia.

M. Manoharan, the State Assemblyman of Kota Alam Shah will be sworn in on 8th May, 9 am at the Kamunting Detention Camp in the presence of Selangor Speaker, Teng Cheng Khim.

With our MPs and more importantly, the public, applying constant pressure in Parliament for the release of the HINDRAF-5, we hope Mano will be joining us soon.

GMI (Gerakan Mansuhkan ISA) is running a postcard campaign to free them and all others who remain in detention without trial. For sale are little anti-ISA button badges which Pakatan Rakyat legislators will be wearing too. Please contact Nalini (email: suaram@suaram.net) if you wish to help with the signature campaign and to obtain the button badges.

After the Malaysian polls, parties must embrace new competition in policy-making

April 26, 2008, Dr. Ooi Kee Beng

THE remarkable results of the Malaysian general elections of March 8 almost certainly mean that the country’s politics has changed forever. Five states are in opposition hands and the government has lost its two-third majority in Parliament. At the individual level, a sense of empowerment is widely felt in the northern states that fell to opposition parties.

Even supporters of Barisan Nasional (BN) parties such as Gerakan, which governed the state of Penang for 38 years, are pleasantly surprised by the sense of relief felt in coffee shops and on the streets.

With this change in political climate comes a mindset shift. Suddenly, a concept of “new politics” has appeared in contrast to “old politics” and to the discourses that emanated from the race-based system of the BN.

Public enthusiasm has entered the political arena in a way not seen in decades. This is evidenced by the sharp increase in membership that opposition parties have experienced over the last month, as well as by the sudden rise in popularity of all the newspapers in the country.

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