Selasa, 10 Ogos 2010

Anwar Ibrahim

Anwar Ibrahim


Rebuttal to Josh Treviño on Anwar Ibrahim’s Trial

Posted: 10 Aug 2010 06:32 PM PDT

From Huffington post
By Azeem Ibrahim

In Malaysia, opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has been put on trial for sodomy. In the main, the Western political establishment is skeptical about the trial, believing it to be a politically motivated attempt to remove the popular opposition leader from the political scene before he can take power. As is the Malaysian public. Only 11 percent believe the charge, and 88 percent think it’s a political conspiracy.

Public Relations professional Joshua Treviño has been on “attack-Anwar” mode lately, authoring several pieces in recent months critiquing Anwar and questioning his credibility in the West. In his most recent piece, Treviño doesn’t come right out and say that the trial is genuine, but he does try to give a few reasons as to why we should question the conventional wisdom that the trial is merely a political maneuver to get rid of Anwar. Those reasons fall short. Let us look at them one by one.

In the article Treviño argues that Anwar’s relative popularity in the West is based on the mistaken impression that he shares many of the West’s political values.

But Anwar is popular in the West because he has consistently called for democracy, good governance, accountability, and dialogue of civilizations. Compare this to the current Prime Minister, or any of his predecessors, who have said relatively little about such things in Malaysia and done even less to reform a system saddled with endemic corruption.

What’s more, if Treviño really had a good reason to believe that Anwar did not support such values, he would surely have used his article to say so. The fact that he did not take the opportunity implies that he knows that compared to his predecessor, Anwar does in fact share many of the West’s political values.

If we look at the specifics of the trial, there are more reasons to be skeptical of Treviño’s argument.

Firstly, he accuses the Western media of not taking the substantive accusations against Anwar seriously. He is accused of sodomy – a crime in Malaysia – with Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, a young former political aide.

It is true that most Western media have not taken the accusations too seriously. There are three good reasons for this.

The first is that the Malaysian government has falsely accused Anwar of sodomy to remove him from the political scene before. In 2000, after feuding with Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohamad, Anwar was publicly denounced by the Prime Minister as a homosexual, tried, and sentenced to fifteen years in prison – a punishment which under Malaysia law means he could not engage in political activities for five years after the end of his sentence. His accusers later recanted their accusations, saying that they had been coerced into making them. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch both expressed doubts that he got a fair trial. And indeed, the year after Mahathir left office, Malaysia’s highest court overturned the conviction, citing contradictions in the prosecution’s case. Treviño concedes that the first trial was indeed a politically motivated plot by the government to get rid of Anwar. He also concedes that the reason most Western media are not taking the accusations seriously “lies in the circumstances of Anwar’s first trial.”

It certainly seems that way. This time, when Anwar had reemerged from the political wilderness as popular opposition leader and potentially the next Prime Minister of Malaysia, he was accused of sodomy again.

The second reason why the Western media have not taken the accusations too seriously is lack of evidence. At the moment, it is the word of the aide against the word of Anwar. Not only is there no substantial evidence in the public domain to back up the accuser’s case, there are also medical reports in the public domain, which refute the accuser’s claims.

The third reason is that the trial is being held amidst great secrecy, for no good reason. Today, over six months into the trial, Anwar Ibrahim’s defense team is still denied access to documents, forensic reports, and CCTV recordings held by the prosecution. One has to ask why, if the government is really so confident of its case, it would want the trial to be subject to so little scrutiny.

Another reason to think that the trial is politically motivated is that the accusers cannot get their story straight about what Anwar did wrong. Treviño says that although Anwar “is on trial for violation of Malaysian anti-sodomy law, this is effectively ancillary to his alleged crime: a sexual assault.”

Treviño does not explain why Anwar is not being charged for the main crime he is being accused of. He does not explain why, if the putative encounter was forced, medical reports conducted only forty-eight hours afterwards showed no signs of an assault. He does not explain why, if it was forced, Anwar – a man who can barely walk up the stairs because of the injuries he sustained in prison – could have forced himself on a man of twenty-three years. And he does not explain, given that the charges are for consensual sex, why it is not both individuals on trial to be consistent with Malaysian laws. In any attempt to defend the fairness of the judicial process, these are serious omissions.

Treviño argues that we cannot assume that the trial is a political plot because we are no longer in the Mahathir era (he does concede that the marginalization of Mahathir doesn’t prove that Anwar’s present trial is legitimate). Surely though, the trial and the way it has been conducted raises questions about whether the spirit of Mahathir has survived his Premiership.

The real point, though, is that it is not about Mahathir — it is about the system as a whole. Mahathir may be gone, but his party, the United Malays National Organization (UMNO), is still in power, and the system even under Prime Minister Najib is generally unchanged. UMNO is primarily concerned with survival, and Anwar is viewed as the biggest threat to that survival. As a result, none of the democratizing reforms which Malaysia needs have been undertaken. The judiciary remains compromised, the press is shackled (three opposition newspapers were suspended in July, one was reinstated with restrictions), and the opposition, in general, faces a repressive environment including the looming specter of detention without trial under the Internal Security Act. This trial is just the latest incarnation of those facts.

Finally, Treviño argues that if the Malaysian government did want to marginalize Anwar, they would not do it like this, both because Anwar emerged from prison more popular last time, and because they would not want to draw attention to him. Treviño suggests that in fact, the current government probably just prefers that Anwar would go away.

On this, I think Treviño is probably spot on. As a popular opposition leader and main threat to their supremacy, they probably do want him to go away. And it looks very much like they have found a way to do it: trying to get him imprisoned on a charge of sodomy. Like last time.

Azeem Ibrahim is a Research Scholar at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, Member of the Board of Directors at the Institute of Social Policy and Understanding and Chairman and CEO of Ibrahim Associates.

Press Release: Malaysian Bar calls for Royal Commission of Enquiry

Posted: 10 Aug 2010 06:11 PM PDT

The Malaysian Bar is disappointed that the Attorney-General's Chambers has withheld a crucial document from the Coroner's Court in the Teoh Beng Hock inquest. The suppression of evidence, particularly in such a high profile matter, is disturbing, regardless of the reason. This action is indicative of a serious lapse of judgment and undermines the proceedings of the inquest.

It is a fundamental tenet of the criminal justice system that all evidence must be disclosed, and made accessible to all parties, including evidence that is detrimental to the prosecution's case. Prior to the commencement of the inquest, the prosecution ought to have furnished to the defence and the Court all documents that are relevant and necessary for the Coroner to determine the cause of death based on all facts and evidence before the Court. The principle of disclosure is aimed at ensuring that justice is served in all cases.

It is the duty of the court, and not of the prosecution, to determine the authenticity or relevance of any piece of evidence. The prosecution is duty bound to uphold fairness and justice, which without doubt includes the full disclosure of all evidence uncovered during the investigation. The failure to produce the document as soon as it was discovered raises misgivings about the credibility and fairness of the prosecution, and its poor judgment points to the lack of transparency.

Over one year after Teoh Beng Hock's untimely demise, public confidence in the investigation and prosecution of the case remains low, and the credibility of the Malaysian criminal justice system is still very much in doubt. The Malaysian Bar calls on all parties in the case, particularly the prosecution, to do their utmost to ensure that not only justice is done, but it is seen to be done.

We reiterate our longstanding call for the establishment of a Royal Commission of Enquiry (RCE) to investigate Teoh Beng Hock's death. The RCE should also examine the shortcomings within the criminal justice system, and ensure that protocols are introduced to guarantee full compliance with accepted norms of the criminal justice system.

Ragunath Kesavan
President
Malaysian Bar

10 August 2010

Kerajaan Selangor Salur RM2.7 Juta Kepada Sekolah Agama Rakyat, KAFA Dan KAFAI

Posted: 10 Aug 2010 06:09 PM PDT

KENYATAAN AKHBAR

10 OGOS 2010

Kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat di Selangor mengagihkan peruntukan sebanyak RM2.7 juta kepada sekolah agama di seluruh negeri untuk baik pulih prasarana yang daif di sekolah-sekolah berkenaan.

Majlis penyerahan cek bantuan disampaikan Menteri Besar, YAB Tan Sri Datuk Seri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim di Maahad Tarbiyah Islamiyah Al-Ansar, Kampung Asahan, Bestari Jaya, Kuala Selangor, hari ini.

Hadir sama, Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Tetap Pendidikan, Pendidikan Tinggi dan Pembangunan Modal Insan, YB Dr Halimah Ali, Ahli Parlimen Kuala Selangor, Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, ADUN Meru, Dr Abd Rani Osman dan ADUN Bukit Melawati, YB Muthiah.

Kerajaan Selangor menerima 238 permohonan untuk bantuan peruntukan sejak permohonan fasa pertama dibuka bermula Februari hingga 30 April 2010.

Permohonan diterima dari Sekolah Agama Rakyat (SAR), Sekolah Rendah Agama (SRA), Sekolah Rendah Agama Intergrasi (SRAI), Kelas Agama dan Fardhu Ain (KAFA) dan Kelas Agama dan Fardhu Ain Intergrasi (KAFAI).

Daripada jumlah itu, hanya 136 permohonan SAR, KAFA dan KAFAI telah diluluskan dan layak untuk menerima bantuan peruntukan ini. Jumlah ini meningkat berbanding hanya 114 buah sekolah yang menerima peruntukan sepanjang tahun lalu.

Bagi SRA dan SRAI, peruntukan disalurkan secara terus menerusi Jabatan Agama Islam Selangor (JAIS).

Bagi tahun 2010, Kerajaan Selangor menyediakan peruntukan RM6 juta untuk SAR, KAFA dan KAFAI kerana kebanyakan bangunan sekolah dalam keadaan uzur dan daif yang memerlukan perhatian Kerajaan Negeri.

Permohonan Bantuan Pembangunan Fizikal Sekolah bagi FASA II 2010 dibuka bermula 22 Julai lalu sehingga 30 September.

Di bawah pemerintahan Barisan Nasional (BN), SAR tidak mendapat perhatian sewajarnya yang menjadi faktor sekolah ini ketinggalan dari segi infrastruktur berbanding sekolah kebangsaan, sekolah cina dan tamil.

Dalam ucapannya, Menteri Besar berkata, Kerajaan Selangor mentadbir negeri ini secara adil dengan memberikan perhatian kepada semua sekolah termasuk SAR, Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina (SJKC) dan sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Tamil (SJKT).

"Inilah bukti kerajaan negeri menepati janji apabila hasil negeri dikembalikan semula kepada rakyat. Hasil kekayaan negeri diberikan kepada semua tanpa mengira kaum dan agama," katanya.

Menteri Besar berkata, peranan dan aktiviti sekolah agama wajar diberi sokongan dan bantuan kerana ia mampu menjadi wadah alternatif kepada rakyat Selangor dalam usaha memberikan pendidikan kepada anak-anak.

SEKRETARIAT AKHBAR
PEJABAT DATO' MENTERI BESAR SELANGOR

Felda: Peneroka Patut Tuntut Lebih RM200 Juta

Posted: 10 Aug 2010 02:02 AM PDT

Dari Malaysiakini

Peneroka Felda patut menuntut jumlah yang lebih tinggi daripada RM200 juta dalam samannya terhadap agensi kerajaan itu memandangkan keringat membangunkan hartanan itu lebih tinggi nilainya, kata Pengerusi PKR Negeri Sembilan.

“Kita lihat, (tanah Felda) dari hutan belukar menjadi sebuah perkampungan yang memiliki segala-galanya,” kata Datuk Kamarul Baharin Abbas.

“Justeru tanpa sumbangan dari peneroka bagi saya kesemua itu tidak akan tercapai.”

Semalam, seramai 766 peneroka memfailkan saman berjumlah RM200 juta di Mahkamah Tinggi Seremban terhadap agensi kerajaan itu atas dakwaan terlibat dalam penipuan dan pecah amanah dalam jual beli hasil kelapa sawit.

Tuntutan itu difailkan oleh peguam Sivarasa Rasiah bagi pihak peneroka daripada Felda Serting dan Gugusan Raja Alias, berdekatan Jempol, Negeri Sembilan.

Dalam tuntutannya itu, mereka mendakwa “wujud penipuan dan/atau konspirasi untuk melakukan penipuan dalam urusan jual beli dan hasil buah sawit” selama 15 tahun.

Dalam satu kenyataan hari ini, Kamarul berkata tindakan peneroka terbabit menyaman Felda adalah tindakan yang wajar kerana “Felda mengaut keuntungan tanpa keihklasan dari peneroka bagi memenuhi kantung mereka”.

“Kita tahu pentadbiran yang pincang berlaku di dalam Felda. Kegagalan Felda untuk memperbetulkan urus tadbirnya boleh menyebabkan ia menyimpang dari matlamat asal,” kata Kamarul yang juga ahli parlimen Telok Kemang.

“Usaha yang sepatutnya diambil oleh Felda adalah kembali kepada prinsip asalnya. Apa yang boleh diandaikan jika berlaku kekusutan di dalam akaun Felda, maka peneroka yang menjadi mangsa.”

Beliau menjangkakan, kemungkinan wujudnya ugutan dan desakan daripada pihak tertentu ekoran tindakan mengejut mereka semalam.

“Pesanan saya kepada setiap peneroka jangan gusar dengan segala dugaan tersebut kerana kita berada di tempat yang benar.

“Jangan sesekali kita tunduk dengan desakkan pihak berkenaan, apatah lagi yang dilakukan oleh Umno-BN yang selama ini hanya mempergunakan peneroka untuk kepentingan politik mereka,” katanya.

Selamat Menyambut Ramadhan Kareem

Posted: 10 Aug 2010 01:55 AM PDT

Tibalah bulan Ramadhan yang dinanti-nantikan umat Islam. Moga amalan ibadah puasa disempurnakan sebaiknya hingga meningkat kederajat taqwa . Kesempatan dan kerahmatan yag hadir bersama Ramadhan memberi ruang untuk dimanfaatkan oleh umat Islam mendekatkan diri kepada Yang Maha Pengasih lagi Maha Penyayang. Ditegaskan oleh Allah SWT di dalam Al-Quran lewat ayat 183 Surah Al-Baqarah:

"Wahai orang-orang yang beriman! Diwajibkan kepada kamu berpuasa sebagaimana telah diwajibkan atas orang-orang sebelum kami, supaya kamu menjadi orang yang bertaqwa.."

Ibadah puasa memupuk pendidikan jiwa dan ruhani, membuatkan kita bermuhasabah betapa ibadah ini bukan sekadar menahan lapar dan dahaga. Ibadah di bulan Ramadhan menuntut kita untuk peka dengan lingkungan, menginsafi kekurangan diri dan masyarakat sekaligus membangkitkan hasrat melakukan kebaikan serta memperkukuh usaha menghilangkan kemudaratan. Menjalani tarbiyyah dan tazkiyyah sepanjang madrasah Ramadhan menemukan kita dengan dua medan; medan perjuangan dalam diri serta lingkungan. Inshaallah dengan rahmat serta kasih Allah SWT, kita akan terus beristiqamah berusaha menjalani ibadah puasa ini agar tercerna serta terpancar akhlak dan sahsiah yang terpuji.

Ramadhan kareem.
ANWAR IBRAHIM

Perutusan Ramadhan Al-Mubarak oleh Ketua Menteri Pulau Pinang, Y.A.B. Lim Guan Eng

Posted: 10 Aug 2010 01:51 AM PDT

Saya ingin berdoakan agar keberkatan dan kesucian bulan Ramadhan Al-Mubarak pada tahun 1431 Hijrah ini dapat dihalusi dan dinikmati semua berdasarkan perkongsian, pengorbanan dan sumbangan kepada masyarakat.

Kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat (PR) Pulau Pinang akan terus berusaha mendirikan kerajaan berjiwa rakyat dengan berteraskan prinsip 3P – Perkayakan Rakyat, Perkuasakan Rakyat dan Perkasakan Rakyat- dan urus tadbir kerajaan Cekap, Telus dan Akauntabel (CAT). Prinsip integriti dan kebenaran adalah penting dalam pentadbiran negara.

Kerajaan yang baik dan bersih akan dapat jimatkan wang untuk dikongsi bersama rakyat. Ini boleh dilihat buat pertama kalinya semua warga emas yang melebihi 60 tahun telahpun menerima RM 100 setiap tahun dan waris akan menerima buat pertama kalinya RM1,000 untuk urusan jenazah. Di samping itu, Pulau Pinang merupakan negeri pertama di Malaysia yang berjaya basmikan miskin tegar pada 2009.

Sebagai Ketua Menteri Pulau Pinang, saya memberi jaminan bahawa amalan CAT akan dilaksanakan tanpa pilih kasih bagi memastikan pentadbiran Kerajaan Negeri diteruskan dengan tiga teras pembangunan ekonomi yang digariskan iaitu merancakkan pertumbuhan ekonomi (pro-growth), mewujudkan peluang pekerjaan (pro-jobs) dan menjamin keadilan sosio-ekonomi (pro-poor).

Di bulan yang mulia ini juga, saya mengambil semangat Ramadhan Al-Mubarak yang penuh keberkatan ini untuk menyeru rakyat negeri Pulau Pinang agar mengelakkan fitnah walaupun mempunyai ideologi politik yang berbeza. Tindakan aibkan orang atau meniup sentimen perkauman berdasarkan pembohongan dan berita palsu memang kelaziman tidak sihat yang masih dimainkan. Contohnya dakwaan Perarakan Maulud diharamkan diulang-ulangi sungguhpun berjalan seperti dulu kala dan dengan lebih meriah. Ataupun demonstrasi ke atas dakwaan palsu Bazar Ramadan di Komtar diharamkan oleh sipenganjur yang telah kutip wang sewa daripada peniaga tetapi tidak serahkannya kepada Perbadanan Pembangunan Pulau Pinang(PDC).

Kerajaan negeri sedia menerima cabaran ini dengan tabah hati dan keyakinan serta anggapnya sebagai suatu ujian daripada Tuhan untuk melawan kemungkaran dan fithnah. Ini adalah kerana kerajaan negeri yakin orang Islam, dapat bezakan di antara benar dan salah, hak dan batil, antara maaruf dan mungkar.

Akhirnya, marilah kita menjauhi segala laranganNya bagi mendapatkan puasa yang sempurna sejajar sabda Rasulullah SAW bersabda: “Barangsiapa yang berpuasa kerana iman dan mengharap pahala, maka diampuni dosa-dosanya yang telah lalu”.

Selamat menyambut Ramadan Al-Mubarak, bulan rahmat yang penuh keberkatan.

Amal Makhruf Nahi Mungkar.

LIM GUAN ENG

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