Isnin, 19 Mei 2014

Anwar Ibrahim

Anwar Ibrahim


[PROGRAM] Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim di Teluk Intan

Posted: 19 May 2014 08:29 PM PDT

Program Ceramah Perdana bersama Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim di Telok Intan, Isnin 26hb 2014

1) 8.00pm – Perkarangan Bilik Gerakan KEADILAN, Bandar Baru, Pasir Bedamar.

2) 9.00pm – Batu 4, Selaba, Changkat Jong.

(*Jumaat 23hb malam di Bukit Gelugor. Akan dimaklumkan tempat nanti)

PEJABAT DATO’ SERI ANWAR IBRAHIM

Dr Mahathir dakwa Melayu ditipu kerana dia menipu 22 tahun, kata Kit Siang

Posted: 19 May 2014 08:13 PM PDT

TMI

Lim Kit Siang hari ini menyelar kenyataan Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad yang menyifatkan calon DAP bagi kerusi Parlimen Teluk Intan Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud adalah untuk mengaburi mata orang Melayu.

Ketua Parlimen DAP itu berkata keny?ataan bekas perdana menteri berkenaan tidak memeranjatkan kerana itulah yang dilakukan selama 22 tahun memerintah Malaysia.

“Semalam Dr Mahathir kata orang Melayu mudah ditipu. Mungkin betul kerana dia tipu orang Melayu 22 tahun.

“Saya percaya Melayu, Cina dan India tidak akan begitu mudah ditipu kerana mereka tahu apa hak dan impian mereka,” katanya kepada media selepas menemui pengundi di pasar pagi di Teluk Intan hari ini.

Semalam, Bernama melaporkan ?Dr Mahathir berkata tindakan DAP meletakkan calon Melayu pada Pilihan Raya Kecil (PRK) Parlimen Teluk Intan merupakan tindakan ‘hiasan luaran’ parti itu bagi mengaburi mata orang Melayu.

Katanya, tidak mustahil ramai orang Melayu akan menyokong calon DAP itu kerana sejarah membuktikan orang Melayu mudah tertipu dengan tindakan seperti itu.

Life of Najib – why he feeds the tiger

Posted: 19 May 2014 08:13 PM PDT

Malaysiakini

Would the unflattering comparison irk Chinese readers? I reflected on this as the idea for the article bobbed about in my head like a lifeboat drifting in the Pacific Ocean.

I blame Yann Martel, the author of the book for this predicament. For it was he, despite the abundance of more dignified predators in the animal kingdom, who chose a hyena.

I nevertheless press ahead but not without first expressing sincere regret to those who might feel slighted by the hyena-Chinese reference.

If you thought director Ang Lee’s Oscar winning celluloid adaptation of “Life of Pi” was brilliant, then you should read the book, which I did over the past week. It is, in one word, magnificent.

For those not acquainted with this fantasy tale either in its cinematic or literary manifestations, allow me to recount the plot in brief.

A sixteen-year-old boy is sailing in a cargo ship with his family from India to Canada. On board with them is a host of animals, given that his father owned a zoo. The ship sinks, and the boy finds himself in a lifeboat with an injured zebra, a famished hyena, a 450-pound tiger and a seasick orang utan.

The hyena kills the zebra and orang utan. Later, the tiger butchers the hyena. And the boy spends the next several months on the lifeboat with the tiger.

Najib’s lifeboat is BN

As I devoured the pages, I could not help but allow imagination to saunter and entwine the plot in hand with the politics of our land. And so I pictured the prime minister in the role of the protagonist, Piscine Molitor Patel, or Pi for short.

It occurred to me that Pi’s shipwreck saga, the version with the animals, bore a striking resemblance to the situation that Najib Abdul Razak finds himself in at this moment.

Though some might contend that it is not a male royal Bengal tiger named Richard Parker that has him sweating but a ferocious tigress, whose name incidentally, also begins with the letter R, who prowls the corridors of Seri Perdana. Rumour has it that it was at her behest that he took up the job in the first place.

Fact or adversaries-conjured horror fables, Najib’s domestic woes are of no concern to us.

Given that these are sensitive times, I believe it would be best to convert Richard Parker into a religious extremist for the “Life of Najib” edition. Hence, the tiger shall be known as RidhuanTee bin Abdullah.

Ridhuan Tee bin Abdullah represents the conservative Malay/Muslims, the Umno hardliners as well as the likes of Isma. Whereas the hyena – once again with deep apologies – the Chinese.

As for the inconsequential zebra that is eaten alive – that would be the Indians, who lack both political and economical clout and have for decades been represented by politicians who, some would argue, rightly belong in a zoo.

The orang utan, another insignificant character in the storyline which dies soon after the zebra, is perhaps the indigenous population of both East and West Malaysia.

And the lifeboat, the last remnant of a large vessel which has since sunk, that is now floating aimlessly, would be symbolic of the BN ruling coalition.

Keeping the tiger satiated

At one point during his ordeal, Pi sums up enough courage to believe that he has a fighting chance against the hyena. But when he catches a glimpse of Richard Parker, he believes his fate is sealed.

However, he later arrives at the conclusion that keeping the tiger alive by supplying it with adequate food and water would in turn keep him alive as well.

Similarly, Najib is in no position to act against Ridhuan Tee bin Abdullah and the peddlers of hate speeches.

To crack down on those championing the cause of the Malay race and Islam would upset the precious votes preserving BN in power and further antagonise the ultras in Umno.

As for the Chinese, the prime minister cannot be too concerned about their sentiments or feelings. Whatever he does, their votes would not return. So why stick his head into the jaws of a tiger for them?

Pandering to their demands prior to the polls had earned the wrath of some influential people and the conservative Malays. It would not be wise to push his luck too much, for it is already a miracle that he has not been mauled after the last electoral debacle.

With parties like MCA and MIC being reduced to mere decorative items, it is the conservative Malays who hold the key to Umno and BN's survival. With defeat nibbling at the heels, one is forced to up the ante on issues of race and religion.

Fear must be struck in the Malay heart that with the powerful Chinese DAP in the opposition bloc – handing Pakatan Rakyat the keys to the administrative capital would sound the death knell for their special rights and erode the significance of their religion.

So Najib and the so-called moderates in Umno can withstand the attack of the hyena. But should Ridhuan Tee bin Abdullah pounce, it would be end game. The tiger must be kept satiated.

But at least to Pi's credit, he attempts to tame Richard Parker.

The nation crumbles

But Khairy Jamaluddin was spot on when he remarked that bigotry could be found in all races, parties and religions. It is not something exclusive to Umno, Malays or Muslims.

True enough. I have come across Chinese who frighten their children into finishing their meals with the “Indian man will catch you” threat. As well as Chinese and Malays who believe that all Indians are drunkards and criminals.

I have met Indians who believe that the Chinese would drink the blood of others and swindle them. There are Indians and Malays who believe that the Chinese are exploitative and would never promote a non-Chinese in their organisations even if the person is deserving.

I have also met Chinese and Indians who think that all Malays are bone-idle, sex offenders and not the sharpest of tools in the shed, who are undeserving of their positions and wealth.

And let us not even get started on the Christian, Hindu, Buddhist and God knows what else fanatics out there who deride the faiths of others.

However, the difference is that groups like Isma seem to have the tacit backing of our leaders and that is what bodes ill for this nation. It is the selfish shortsightedness of winning the next election at the expense of the next generation.

When the “pendatang” and “intruders” cross the line, even by a fraction, justice is swift. But such is not the case when Ridhuan Tee bin Abdullah embarks on a marauding rampage.

Police reports are lodged, investigation papers are opened, statements are recorded, evidence is gathered, and all of this is then submitted to the attorney-general’s office, where the files gather dust or are stamped “No Further Action”.

The politics of race and religion is this nation’s greatest bane, which has caused and continues to widen the fissures, where the focus over the decades has been on tolerance and not integration.

What is more disheartening is when those like the Oxford-trained Umno Youth chief also turn the wheels of this vicious political cycle.

One can understand the Ahmad Zahid Hamidis, Liow Tiong Lais or G Palanivels taking this route, for it is only in BN can such dim bulbs have a bright future.

But it is an ignominy when young and capable leaders who can alter the fate of this nation decide instead to focus on their own fates in terms of personal elevation.

With the sins of the past revisiting us and as we reap what has been sown in the name of greed for power and wealth, our nation crumbles in the harvest.

Radio Free Sarawak picks up key award in Australia

Posted: 19 May 2014 12:16 AM PDT

Radio Free Sarawak

The team from the independent Iban language radio show Radio Free Sarawak (RFS) have won recognition in Australia, with a key award from the University of Queensland in Brisbane.

The Communication for Social Change Award 2014 was designated by the university's Centre for Communication and Social Change to the organisation as a whole.

The other winner in the individual category went to a photo-journalist working in Afghanistan, Barat Ali Batoor.

The RFS team, who work mainly incognito in order to avoid harassment from the authorities in Sarawak, were delighted and cheered by the news:

"We have been struggling against persistent attempts to jam our show over the past weeks, which is an illegal interference of our right to broadcast. People in Sarawak have a right to choose alternative media to the relentless propaganda on the government controlled channels. There are legitimate dissenting voices against the programme of so-called development being put forward for Sarawak by Taib Mahmud and the state government and there are issues of corruption and human rights abuses that ought to be addressed.  We provide a platform for ordinary folk to have their say on this show about the enormous changes being forced upon them and we provide a rare opportunity for elected opposition politicians in Malaysia to be heard as well" says the programme founder, London based Clare Rewcastle Brown.

This is the second recognition of the work of Radio Free Sarawak in less than a month.

Peter John Jaban interviews a local headman

Peter John Jaban interviews a local headman

On World Press Freedom Day, May 3rd, one of the station's DJ's Peter John Jaban, was nominated one of the worlds '100 Information Heroes' by the NGO, Reporters Without Borders.

Jaban, who has publicly acknowledged his involvement in the show, paid tribute to the team of determined broadcasters, who have kept the project going for the past 4 years and to the radio station's key supporters around the world.

The nightly show is targeted at Sarawak's indigenous rural communities, who have been confronted by industrial scale logging on their traditional forest lands and also land grabs for oil palm plantations.

The latest and most devastating threat for up to a quarter of the mainly riverine communities is the plan to build a series of 12 mega-dams across Sarawak's river system, which will displace tens of thousands of native people.

This weekend the Radio station took part in a public exhibition in Miri with a stall to advertise the station to local folk. The broadcast regularly brings news on land conflicts and court cases, which are suppressed in the mainstream media. It also provides a platform for NGOs and the discussion of human rights issues in the state.

Sarawak's unparalleled rainforest turned into mass monoculture on eroding hillsides.

Sarawak's unparalleled rainforest turned into mass monoculture on eroding hillsides.

A 'virus' that 'poisons the minds of the people'?

Current Acting Transport and Defence Minister Hishamuddin Hussain

The broadcast, which has developed a powerful following amongst native communities, has been condemned by local and national politicians, who have sought to accuse the broadcasters of illegal activity.

When Home Minister, Hishammuddin Hussein (of MH 370 fame) announced he would "leave no stone unturned" to discover crimes against the radio station:

 "This is not about politics. This is about spreading malicious lies, the issue of unity and harmony among the races", he said.

However, Hishammuddin was unable to find sufficient evidence under the stones he turned and prosecutions never resulted.

Likewise, the Sibuti MP Ahmad Lai Bujang is one of a number of local BN politicians who have likened RFSto a virus which must be avoided by the people:

"This is because the radio is meant to mislead its listeners by disseminating false information and spreading malicious lies that could jeopardise racial unity and harmony", he claimed.

It has been pointed out that such words imply an accusation of 'sedition', a serious crime that carries a punishment of years of imprisonment and it has forced the broadcasters to conduct their legitimate right to freedom of expression clandestinely to avoid harassment.

The criticism has continued relentlessly, indicating that ruling politicians find themselves threatened by an independent source of information which they cannot control.

Another BN minister Douglas Uggah has called Radio Free Sarawak poison.  And the Deputy Information, Communications and Culture Minister, Joseph Salang Gandum announced, in reply to a parliamentary question:

 "We know that several Sarawakians are involved in the broadcast and are liable to legal action"

The BN Assemblyman, the wealthy young Snowdon Lawan, son of a key crony of Taib himself, also spoke out  saying the state government should monitor activities by Radio Free Sarawak, because it was a pro opposition independent radio station "known to manipulate facts for the opposition's political mileage in the upcoming general election".

The Malaysian authorities have been clearly connected to persistent jamming of the radio station and cyber-attacks against its website at regular intervals over the past four years, particularly during election periods.

Emerging frontier – communicating change

The accolade from Queensland University is a powerful academic endorsement for the Radio Station, which has been the butt of so much virulent criticism from politicians in the ruling BN coalition in Malaysia.

The Centre for Communication and Social Change CfCSC is based at the School of Journalism and Communication at the University of Queensland, one of Australia's premier learning and research institutions. It was established in 2007 and is the only specialised centre in this field, in Australia.

"Our Centre is staffed by experienced researchers and practitioners who have global expertise in development and communication matters, including with the UN, NGOs and government institutions…. Communication for social change is an emerging frontier, the goal of which is to use communication processes, techniques and media to facilitate social, economic and technological development. The underpinning philosophy of CSC is that communication is not simply about transferring information and sending messages, but rather about listening, responding to, and helping people give direction to their own change, and supporting enabling environments for this change to take place."[Centre for Communication and Social Change]

Malaysia has one of the lowest ratings in the world's media freedom indexes. The government has regulated to ban  all forms of criticism from the licensed broadcast media and is quick to charge challengers with 'sedition' for undermining the reputation of the governing party.

RFS, however, broadcasts on shortwave from outside of the state and via the internet and is therefore not subject to such rules. The station is a sister project to Sarawak Report.

A native Penan listens to the show.

A native Penan listens to the show.