Khamis, 7 November 2013

Anwar Ibrahim

Russell Brand: we deserve more from our democratic system

Posted: 07 Nov 2013 04:44 AM PST

Following his appearance on Newsnight, the comedian explains why he believes there are alternatives to our current regime

I’ve had an incredible week since I spoke from the heart, some would say via my arse, on Paxman. I’ve had slaps on the back, fist bumps, cheers and hugs while out and about, cock-eyed offers of political power from well intentioned chancers and some good ol’ fashioned character assassinations in the papers.

The people who liked the interview said it was because I’d articulated what they were thinking. I recognise this. God knows I’d love to think the attention was about me but I said nothing new or original, it was the expression of the knowledge that democracy is irrelevant that resonated. As long as the priorities of those in government remain the interests of big business, rather than the people they were elected to serve, the impact of voting is negligible and it is our responsibility to be more active if we want real change.

Turns out that among the disenchanted is Paxman himself who spends most of his time at the meek heart of the political establishment and can’t summons up the self-delusion to drag his nib across the ballot box. He, more than any of us is aware that politicians are frauds. I’ve not spent too much time around them, only on the telly, it’s not pleasant; once you’ve been on Question Time and seen Boris simpering under a make-up brush it’s difficult to be enthusiastic about politics.

The only reason to vote is if the vote represents power or change. I don’t think it does. I fervently believe that we deserve more from our democratic system than the few derisory tit-bits tossed from the carousel of the mighty, when they hop a few inches left or right. The lazily duplicitous servants of The City expect us to gratefully participate in what amounts to little more than a political hokey cokey where every four years we get to choose what colour tie the liar who leads us wears.

I remember the election and Cameron didn’t even get properly voted in, he became prime minister by default when he teamed up with Clegg. Clegg who immediately reneged (Renegy-Cleggy?) on his flagship pledge to end tuition fees at the first whiff of power.

When students, perhaps students who had voted for him, rioted they were condemned. People riot when dialogue fails, when they feel unrepresented and bored by the illusion, bilious with the piped in toxic belch wafted into their homes by the media.

The reason these coalitions are so easily achieved is that the distinctions between the parties are insignificant. My friend went to a posh “do” in the country where David Cameron, a man whose face resembles a little painted egg, was in attendance. Also present were members of the opposition and former prime minister Tony Blair. Whatever party they claim to represent in the day, at night they show their true colours and all go to the same party.

Obviously there has been some criticism of my outburst, I’ve not been universally applauded as a cross between Jack Sparrow and Spartacus (which is what I’m going for) but they’ve been oddly personal and I think irrelevant to the argument. I try not to read about myself as the mean stuff is hurtful and the good stuff hard to believe, but my mates always give me the gist of what’s going on, the bastards. Some people say I’m a hypocrite because I’ve got money now. When I was poor and I complained about inequality people said I was bitter, now I’m rich and I complain about inequality they say I’m a hypocrite. I’m beginning to think they just don’t want inequality on the agenda because it is a real problem that needs to be addressed.

It’s easy to attack me, I’m a right twerp, I’m a junkie and a cheeky monkey, I accept it, but that doesn’t detract from the incontrovertible fact that we are living in a time of huge economic disparity and confronting ecological disaster. This disparity has always been, in cultures since expired, a warning sign of end of days. In Rome, Egypt and Easter Island the incubated ruling elites, who had forgotten that we are one interconnected people, destroyed their societies by not sharing. That is what’s happening now, regardless of what you think of my hair or me using long words, the facts are the facts and the problem is the problem. Don’t be distracted. I think these columnist fellas who give me aggro for not devising a solution or for using long words are just being territorial. When they say “long words” they mean “their words” like I’m a monkey who got in their Mum’s dressing up box or a hooligan in policeman’s helmet.

As I said to Paxman at the time “I can’t conjure up a global Utopia right now in this hotel room”. Obviously that’s not my job and it doesn’t need to be, we have brilliant thinkers and organisations and no one needs to cook up an egalitarian Shangri-La on their todd; we can all do it together.

I like Jeremy Paxman, incidentally. I think he’s a decent bloke but like a lot of people who work deep within the system it’s hard for him to countenance ideas from outside the narrowly prescribed trench of contemporary democracy. Most of the people who criticized me have a vested interest in the maintenance of the system. They say the system works. What they mean is “the system works for me”.

The less privileged among us are already living in the apocalypse, the thousands of street sleepers in our country, the refugees and the exploited underclass across our planet daily confront what we would regard as the end of the world. No money, no home, no friends, no support, no hand of friendship reaching out, just acculturated and inculcated condemnation.

When I first got a few quid it was like an anaesthetic that made me forget what was important but now I’ve woken up. I can’t deny that I’ve done a lot of daft things while I was under the capitalist fugue, some silly telly, soppy scandals, movies better left unmade. I’ve also become rich. I don’t hate rich people; Che Guevara was a rich person. I don’t hate anyone, I judge no one, that’s not my job, I’m a comedian and my job is to say whatever I like to whoever I want if I’m prepared to take the consequences. Well I am.

My favourite experiences since Paxman-nacht are both examples of the dialogue it sparked. Firstly my friend’s 15-year-old son wrote an essay for his politics class after he read my New Statesman piece. He didn’t agree with everything I said, he prefers the idea of spoiling ballots to not voting “to show we do care” maybe he’s right, I don’t know. The reason not voting could be effective is that if we starve them of our consent we could force them to acknowledge that they operate on behalf of The City and Wall Street; that the financing of political parties and lobbying is where the true influence lies; not in the ballot box. However, this 15-year-old is quite smart and it’s quite possible that my opinions are a result of decades of drug abuse.

I’m on tour so I’ve been with thousands of people every night (not like in the old days, I’m a changed man) this is why I’m aware of how much impact the Newsnight interview had. Not everyone I chat to agrees with me but their beliefs are a lot closer to mine than the broadsheets, and it’s their job to be serious. One thing I’ve learned and was surprised by is that I may suffer from the ol’ sexism. I can only assume I have an unaddressed cultural hangover, like my adorable Nan who had a heart that shone like a pearl but was, let’s face it, a bit racist. I don’t want to be a sexist so I’m trying my best to check meself before I wreck meself. The problem may resolve itself as I’m in a loving relationship with a benevolent dictator and have entirely relinquished personal autonomy.

Whilst travelling between gigs I had my second notable encounter. One night late at the Watford Gap I got chatting to a couple of squaddies, one Para, one Marine, we talked a bit about family and politics, I invited them to a show. Then we were joined by three Muslim women, all hijabbed up. For a few perfect minutes in the strip lit inertia of this place, that was nowhere in particular but uniquely Britain, I felt how plausible and beautiful The Revolution could be. We just chatted.

Between three sets of different people; first generation Muslims, servicemen and the privileged elite that they serve (that would be me) effortless cooperation occurred. Here we were free from the divisive rule that tears us apart. That sends brave men and women to foreign lands to fight their capitalist wars, that intimidates and unsettles people whose faith and culture superficially distinguishes them, that tells the comfortable “hush now” you have your trinkets. It seemed ridiculous that refracted through the power prism that blinds us; the soldiers could be invading the homeland of these women’s forefathers in order to augment my luxurious stupour. Here in the gap we were together. Our differences irrelevant. With no one to impose separation we are united.

I realised then that our treasured concepts of tribe and nation are not valued by those who govern except when it is to divide us from each other. They don’t believe in Britain or America they believe in the dollar and the pound. These are deep and entrenched systemic wrongs that are unaddressed by party politics.

The symptoms of these wrongs are obvious, global and painful. Drone strikes on the innocent, a festering investment for future conflict.

How many combatants are created each time an innocent person in a faraway land is silently ironed out from an Arizona call centre? The reality is we have more in common with the people we’re bombing than the people we’re bombing them for.

NSA spying, how far-reaching is the issue of surveillance? Do you think we don’t have our own cute, quaint British version? Does it matter if the dominant paradigm of Western Capitalism is indifferent to our Bud Flanagan belief in nation? Can we really believe these problems can be altered within the system that created them? That depends on them? The system that we are invited to vote for? Of course not, that’s why I won’t vote. That’s why I support the growing revolution.

We can all contribute ideas as to how to change our world; schoolboys, squaddies, hippies, Muslims, Jews and if what I’m describing is naive then you can keep your education and your indoctrination because loving our planet and each other is a duty, a beautiful obligation. While chatting to people this week I heard some interesting ideas, here are a couple.

We could use the money accumulated by those who have too much, not normal people with a couple of cars, giant corporations, to fund a fairer society.

The US government gave a trillion dollars to bail out the big five banks over the past year. Banks that have grown by 30% since the crisis and are experiencing record profits and giving their execs record bonuses. How about, hang on to your hats because here comes a naïve suggestion, don’t give them that money, use it to create one million jobs at fifty grand a year for people who teach, nurse or protect.

These bailouts for elites over services for the many are institutionalised within the system, no party proposes changing it. American people that voted, voted for it. I’m not voting for that.

That’s one suggestion for the Americans; we started their country so we owe them a favour now things are getting heavy.

Here’s one for blighty; Philip Green, the bloke who owns Top Shop didn’t pay any income tax on a £1.2bn dividend in 2005. None. Unless he paid himself a salary that year, in addition to the £1.2bn dividend, the largest in corporate history, then the people who clean Top Shop paid more income tax than he did. That’s for two reasons – firstly because he said that all of his £1.2bn earnings belong to his missus, who was registered in Monaco and secondly because he’s an arsehole. The money he’s nicked through legal loopholes would pay the annual salary for 20,000 NHS nurses. It’s not illegal; it’s systemic, British people who voted, voted for it. I’m not voting for that.

Why don’t you try not paying taxes and see how quickly a lump of bird gets thrown in your face. It’s socialism for corporate elites and feudalism for the rest of us. Those suggestions did not come from me; no the mind that gave the planet Booky Wook and Ponderland didn’t just add an economically viable wealth distribution system to the laudable list of accolades, to place next to my Shagger Of The Year awards.

The first came from Dave DeGraw, the second Johann Hari got from UK Uncut. Luckily with organisations like them, Occupy, Anonymous and The People’s Assembly I don’t need to come with ideas, we can all participate. I’m happy to be a part of the conversation, if more young people are talking about fracking instead of twerking we’re heading in the right direction. The people that govern us don’t want an active population who are politically engaged, they want passive consumers distracted by the spectacle of which I accept I am a part.

If we all collude and collaborate together we can design a new system that makes the current one obsolete. The reality is there are alternatives. That is the terrifying truth that the media, government and big business work so hard to conceal. Even the outlet that printed this will tomorrow print a couple of columns saying what a naïve wanker I am, or try to find ways that I’ve fucked up. Well I am naïve and I have fucked up but I tell you something else. I believe in change. I don’t mind getting my hands dirty because my hands are dirty already. I don’t mind giving my life to this because I’m only alive because of the compassion and love of others. Men and women strong enough to defy this system and live according to higher laws. This is a journey we can all go on together, all of us. We can include everyone and fear no one. A system that serves the planet and the people. I’d vote for that.

BULETIN RAKYAT

USAHAWAN SEKITAR RAWANG BERBENGKEL BERSAMA GENERASI USAHAWAN HEBAT @ GEN-UH, HOTEL SAHARA, RAWANG 26 OKT 2013

Posted: 07 Nov 2013 04:30 AM PST

Bersama PKM Dun Rawang, Yb Gan Pei Nei dan Gen UH Generasi Usahawan Hebat mengadakan bengkel keusahawan di Hotel Sahara, Rawang..26 Okt Sabtu lepas demi ntuk mertabatkan peniaga dan usahawan kecil sekitar rawang. Tahniah kepada semua peserta bengkel Gen-UH..

PARTI KEADILAN RAKYAT NEGERI SEMBILAN

Naik caj Astro RM2, lagi beban kepada pengguna

Posted: 06 Nov 2013 08:17 PM PST

KUALA LUMPUR 6 NOVEMBER: Astro tidak seharusnya menambah beban pengguna dengan menaikkan caj untuk beberapa pakej yang disiarkannya memandangkan syarikat tersebut telah meraih keuntungan besar saban tahun.

Malah Pengerusi Biro Kepenggunaan KEADILAN, Yahya Sahri berkata, Astro yang diberi hak memonopoli khidmat televisyen berbayar seharusnya menyelesaikan terlebih dahulu isu melibatkan kepuasan pelanggan sebelum bertindak menaikkan caj.

"Astro ini sudah untung besar, sudah monopoli pasaran. Jadi tak wajarlah caj perkhidmatan kepada pengguna dinaikkan.

"Apatah lagi bila kita selalu dengar tentang rungutan berkaitan dengan mutu penyiaran Astro yang kurang memuaskan selain penyiaran rancangan yang berulang-ulang," tegas beliau yang mahu Suruhanjaya Komunikasi Malaysia (SKKM) mengkaji cadangan Astro itu.

Astro dalam laman sesawangnya memaklumkan akan mengenakan tambahan caj RM2 bagi pakej keluarga dan RM6 bagi pakej sukan bermula 24 November ini.

Yahya sementara itu berkata, monopoli Astro harus ditamatkan, Kementerian Penerangan, Komunikasi dan Kebudayaan seharusnya meluluskan lesen khidmat televisyen berbayar kepada syarikat lain.

Menurutnya ia bagi mewujudkan persaingan sihat di antara penyedia perkhidmatan seperti yang berlaku di antara pembekal perkhidmatan komunikasi selain memberikan lebih pilihan kepada pengguna.ni.

Short URL: http://www.keadilandaily.com/?p=56639

Anwar: Seluruh negara Asean harus bantah intipan Amerika

Posted: 06 Nov 2013 08:15 PM PST

JAKARTA 6 NOVEMBER: Seluruh negara Asean harus membantah keras intipan Amerika Syarikat (AS) ke atas beberapa negara terlibat, kata Ketua Pembangkang Malaysia, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Lapor Kompas.com, Anwar berkata, melalui penyatuan semua negara Asean, bantahan lebih mudah dan didengari.

"Kita harus ambil sikap (tindakan), harus tegas, terutama menuntut mereka untuk minta maaf. Segera keluarkan (ungkapan(kenyataan)) siapa saja yang terlibat," kata Anwar pada pertemuan dengan Ketua Dewan Perwakilan Daerah (DPD) Irman Gusman di Jakarta, semalam.

Katanya, negara-negara Asean seperti Indonesia dan Malaysia yang dikhabarkan diintip Amerika masih berlembut dan tidak tegas.

Menurut Anwar, Indonesia hanya sekadar melakukan bantahan tanpa tindakan lebih jauh.

Bagaimanapun, beliau menyifatkan, reaksi Indonesia itu lebih baik dibandingkan pemerintah Malaysia yang sama sekali belum mempamerkan bantahan.

"Sampai sekarang pemerintahan Malaysia belum ada pernyataan keras terhadap (isu) ini. Sering kali kita menemukan sikap yang lemah," kata mantan Timbalan Perdana Menteri Malaysia itu, lapor portal Indonesia itu dipetik.

Anwar selanjutnya membandingkan dengan negara-negara Eropah seperti Jerman yang juga menjadi sasaran intipan Amerika. Ini kerana Jerman menentang keras setelah mengetahui Kanselor Jerman, Angela Merkel diintip.

"Jerman sebagai negara tetangga (jiran) masih dicurangi, apalagi negara Asia. Untuk itu, kita harus memprotes keras. Harus tegas, terutama menuntut untuk (Amerika) meminta maaf," tegas Anwar.

Dilaporkan, Agensi Keselamatan Kebangsaan (NSA) AS diketahui mengintip komunikasi negara-negara sekutu mereka di Eropah. AS juga disebut mengintip komunikasi pemerintah Indonesia. Australia juga dilaporkan melakukan hal yang sama terhadap Indonesia.

Laporan terbaru di laman Sydney Morning Herald 31 Oktober lalu menyebut, pejabat Kedutaan Besar Australia di Jakarta turut menjadi lokasi intipan maklumat elektronik.

Sehubungan itu, Kerajaan Indonesia meminta pengesahan Kedutaan Besar AS dan Australia mengenai intipan yang diduga dilakukan kedua-dua negara tersebut terhadap negara itu tetapi hasilnya, AS mahupun Australia sekadar membisu.

Anwar dalam kenyataan sebelum itu menyelar sikap Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Razak yang membisu terhadap tindakan tercela itu.

Short URL: http://www.keadilandaily.com/?p=56626

Rabu, 6 November 2013

Anak Muda Kampung Nak Senang

PIDATO RAKYAT

Posted: 06 Nov 2013 06:23 AM PST

Isnin, 4 November 2013

Anwar Ibrahim

[KENYATAAN MEDIA] Perutusan Ma’al Hijrah 1435H

Posted: 03 Nov 2013 11:32 PM PST

PERUTUSAN MA'AL HIJRAH 1435H OLEH DATO' SERI ANWAR IBRAHIM

Tatkala menghimbau peristiwa Hijrah, kita sewajarnya menginsafi iltizam dan tekad Rasulullah SAW yang tetap istiqamah dalam memacu dakwah dan proses perubahan ummah. Meski pun dihadapkan dengan pelbagai rintangan dan mehnah, namun umat Islam di bawah kepimpinan Rasulullah SAW tetap teguh berpegang kepada prinsip dan keimanan kepada Allah SWT.
Peristiwa Hijrah sememangnya telah membuka dimensi baru dalam sejarah ketamadunan Islam. Sentimen dan faham perkauman berteras semangat kabilah dan suku yang menebal di kalangan masyarakat Arab ketika itu telah berjaya dirobek dan dipecahkan.

Perpindahan umat Islam dari Makkah ke Madinah menyaksikan bermulanya era baru dalam perkembangan dakwah Islam. Penyatuan kaum Ansar dan Muhajjirin merupakan titik tolak kepada pembinaan sebuah masyarakat madani dan pemerintahan negara yang berteraskan prinsip al-adli wal ihsan.
Justeru penghayatan Hijrah seharusnya disemai menerusi pemahaman terhadap falsafah pembaharuan yang digagaskan oleh baginda Rasulullah SAW. Lompang besar dalam persoalan tatakelola yang mengabaikan prinsip kebertanggungjawaban dan ketelusan sewajarnya diatasi dan diperbaiki. Pembaziran dan ketirisan yang menjadi budaya dalam amalan tadbir urus mutakhir ini tidak boleh dibiarkan terus berlaku. Perubahan tidak akan dicapai seandainya kita terus bersikap laih dan lesu. Firman Allah SWT di dalam Al-Qur'an:

"Sesungguhnya Kami tidak akan mengubah nasib sesuatu kaum itu, melainkan mereka mengubah nasib mereka sendiri."
(Surah Ar-Rad: ayat 11)
Bagi pihak KEADILAN, saya mengucapkan Salam Ma'al Hijrah 1435 kepada seluruh umat Islam di Malaysia. Semoga Allah SWT terus melimpahkan rahmat dan hidayah untuk kita semua serta memberikan kita kekuatan untuk meneruskan perjuangan membawa perubahan di negara Malaysia yang tercinta ini.

DATO’ SERI ANWAR IBRAHIM
KETUA PEMBANGKANG PARLIMEN MALAYSIA
KETUA UMUM PARTI KEADILAN RAKYAT

MEDIA Rakyat MALAYSIA

SITI NORALIZA DAN DATUK K DI FINAL MALAYSIAN CUP

Posted: 03 Nov 2013 08:13 PM PST

Ahad, 3 November 2013

Anwar Ibrahim

Speech By Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim On The Launch of Syed Husin Ali’s “The Malay Rulers: Regression Or Reform?”

Posted: 03 Nov 2013 02:34 AM PST

Speech by Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim On The Launch Of Syed Husin Ali's “The Malay Rulers: Regression Or Reform?” in Petaling Jaya, November 3rd, 2013

Introduction

This is a booklet by general standards – a huge booklet perhaps but still a small book.

But Dr Syed Husin is not competing on size here. If we accept that the qualities of a good political book must include clarity of writing, an interesting story or history to tell, bold assertions of fact and most importantly a no-holds-barred criticism of those considered to be above criticism, then there is no question that this book meets the test.

His theme

Having had the privilege of reading it earlier, I can say that there are things said here about which many of us, if not all, wouldn't dare to say. Dr Syed Husin is, as social scientists would like to say, sui generis.

He is in a category of his own. Unique in terms of moral conviction. He is not in the business of saying things to please people.

I may be biased of course having known him for so long and partisan too for he had been in the senior party leadership. But let's put all these aside for thosefamiliar with his writings will be able to tell you that there is an unbreakable chain in his overriding theme and that is the theme of social justice.

And it is not just about welfare for the underprivileged or the economic position of Malays or how real development should be given to the lower-income group – no doubt important issues that should never be ignored.

But he goes beyond that into the realm of justice for those who have been unjustly treated, deep-seated inequality not just of material wealth but societal inequality in terms of status.

Unapologetic approach

In this book almost all the facts are in the public domain but, it is the manner in which Dr Syed Husin has asserted them that makes the difference. Inthis regard, some controversy will be stirred up by those who are in the business of stirring up controversies.

At p. 4 we get an immediate taste of the unapologetic approach of the author when he recounts an incident as told in Sejarah Melayu (The Malay Annals). This is the story of the son of Sultan Mansur Shah, Raja Muhamad,who killed the son of Tun Perak, Tun Besar. Well, he killed him because a ball that was kicked by Tun Besar had hit him on the head.

Did Tun Perak keep quiet and just let the matter pass? He most certainly did not. As the most famous prime minister in The Malay Annals he was not about to suffer in silence. So, he proclaimed:

"The Malay slave is never disloyal, but we should not have this prince as our master."

Consequently, he was not allowed to succeed his father.

This is not a story about disloyalty or treason but a story about a Prime Minister who had the courage to stand up to the Ruler in the face of oppression and injustice.

But one must not forget that it is also a story about the sense of justice and fairness of the Sultan. The cruelty was committed not by him but his heir. And by stripping his son of his position, the Sultan allowed justice to prevail.

Feudalism

As the title of the book suggests, it is about the Rulers of the Malay states but what is even more telling is the sub-head: Regression or reform? The focus therefore is very much also on the Malay feudal system. We know where the author is going when he refers to the existence of "a slave psychology" among the people. He uses this term interchangeably with "psychological servitude" as well as "slave mentality" and by his analysis, this phenomenon is buttressed by such concepts as loyalty and treason – as in 'setia' and 'derhaka'.

According to Dr Syed Husin, this slave mentality is manifested by the hierarchical terms of address, customs related to the palace, and the psychological attitude that influences the relationship between the Ruler and the people.

These are outdated terms of address and while linguistic changes cannot be achieved by mere legislation, Dr Syed Husin advocates the democratization of the spoken language when addressing the Ruler. The leaders must set the example.

For the record, I too have talked about feudalism before. This was in a speech atthe 51st UMNO General Assembly where I quoted Dato' Onn Jaafar who said that the concept of independence was not about reviving feudalism.

The point has to be made that criticising feudalism and calling for a change of mind-set – and this is essentially the thrust of Dr Syed Husin's book – is not the same as advocating the abolition of the institution of the Malay Rulers. No one is calling for such a thing – even though we expect the spin doctors from the other side to be working overtime to twist and turn our words.

British colonisation

In terms of style, Dr Syed Husin writes smoothly and concisely. The history ofBritish colonisation is summed up in just a few sentences. At p. 9, we are told that after the 1874 Treaty of Pangkor, Raja Abdullah was recognised by the British as Sultan while Raja Ismail was made regent. But indeed as there is no such thing as a free lunch, Sultan Abdullah had to agree to accept a British resident to be advisor to the Sultan on all matters except Islam and Malay custom.

And this is the part that sums up succinctly in one short sentence the history ofhow the British colonised the Malaya:

"Following Perak, one after another of the Malay states fell under British domination. In every state, a British Resident or Advisor was appointed."

This is history told in a no-nonsense fashion and truly illustrates the meaning of 'less is more'.

I won't cite further excerpts which speak for themselves but must be retold on this occasion since we have the audience and the medium. Dr Syed Husin debunks the concept that the Ruler is above the law and can do no wrong.

This, he says, can be clearly seen from the ceremony of the installation of a ruler. There are two significant characteristics. First, the ruler takes the oath to be just. Secondly, he is positioned below a copy of the Holy Quran symbolically placed on his head. Dr Syed Husin contends that this means the Ruler is subject to and cannot override Allah's commands as contained in the Quran.

Conflicts with rulers

As explained by the author, even though in theory the Rulers do not take part in the administration of the their states, several instances of conflicts with the political leaders in power stem directly from their interfering with the choice of the state's head of government.

Convention dictates that the Ruler acts on the advice of the Menteri Besar but there is a lacuna here because the appointment of the Menteri Besar is in the hands of the Ruler. Of course, the Ruler does not have absolute power in this regard but only discretionary power. He is to appoint as Menteri Besar someone who commands a majority in the state legislative assembly. That sounds elementary enough but as we know, and as is well documented in the book, the reality has been quite different.

And even more significant is the question of dissolution of the state assembly when it is requested by the Menteri Besar. Must he accede to the request or can he just ignore the incumbent Menteri Besar and, effectively sacking him, appoint a new Menteri Besar instead?

We know what happened in Perak.

Dr Syed Husin supports the removal of the Rulers' immunity from the law but he questions why the political leaders in power are so reluctant to remove their own immunity. Why, for example, have so many politicians got away with murder, literally?

Code of ethics

At p. 27, Dr Syed Husin talks about the Federal Government taking action to introduce a Code of Ethics to govern the Rulers. Indeed, at this juncture I can add some perspective into this account. Yes, in 1993 I led the delegation of senior UMNO leaders to meet with Sultan Azlan Shah who, as the Agong at that time, represented the Conference of Rulers. In my discussion with Sultan Azlan while drafting the Code of Ethics he expressed concern about the double standards of the political leaders. His concern was why were the UMNO leaders harping on the Rulers being involved in business while they themselves were so deeply tied up in business and enriching themselves.

This is a crucial point and it must be remembered that the support that was given to the government's initiatives to curtail the protection of immunity of the Rulers was predicated on the belief that there would be proper governance and the rule of law.

These moves were supported by all sides including the Opposition at that time. On hindsight, it would appear we were indeed misled and taken advantage of. The expectations that we had held then were eventually shattered as a result of the greed the powers that be.

Sabtu, 2 November 2013

Anwar Ibrahim

[PROGRAM] Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim di Majlis Peluncuran Buku “The Malay Rulers: Regression Or Reform”

Posted: 02 Nov 2013 03:23 AM PDT

PEJABAT DATO’ SERI ANWAR IBRAHIM

Transparent money

Posted: 01 Nov 2013 11:50 PM PDT

The Economist

Clarity about public spending can make poor countries richer

WHETHER you are a farmer in Mexico, a student in Nigeria or an IMF official, openness about government expenditure matters. In the run-up to this week's summit in London of the Open Government Partnership, a slow-moving international effort to promote transparency, clarity about budgets is a bit of a bright spot.

Until 2008 the Liberian government provided scant information on its spending. It now puts budget documents online, and in January erected an electronic billboard outside the Ministry of Finance in Monrovia, the capital, to provide fiscal news to passers-by. Meanwhile, Morocco and Kyrgyzstan publish their budgets on downloadable spreadsheets.

Openness need not be costly. Of the African states surveyed by the International Budget Partnership (IBP), a pressure group, 24 turned out already to produce 58 of the budgetary documents needed. But these were private—either for donors or for internal purposes. Warren Krafchik of the IBP says political will, not technical capacity, is the main brake on openness.

Once details are published, citizens can lobby for different spending priorities. BudgiT, a Nigerian group, turns the numbers into easily understood infographics. It shows that $144 billion from oil revenues could pay the university costs of 1.5m students, or provide fertiliser for 14m farmers. Fundar, a Mexican think-tank, created a website showing that richer states got the lion's share of money from the Procampo farm-subsidy programme. (Getting the data took 30 requests and 16 appeals.) After a media uproar the authorities brought in a new maximum payout for subsidies and promised to revise the list of recipients.

Openness and scrutiny encourage lenders. In a study in 2012 the IMF linked economic crises to undisclosed debts and deficits. Openness in public finances was found to be an important predictor of a country's credibility in the eyes of the market. Richard Hughes from the IMF's Fiscal Affairs Department says that clarity also makes shocks to fiscal policy less likely.

The IMF does not exactly practise what it preaches, however. In an index on aid transparency published last week, it came 28th out of 67 donor organisations for the openness of its aid programmes, with a "poor" score of 32%. (America's Millennium Challenge Corporation came top, with 89%.) Secrecy is a hard habit to ditch. But at least it is becoming more conspicuous.

Jumaat, 1 November 2013

Suara Sri Andalas

Sambutan Deepavali Peringkat Negeri Selangor di Jalan Tengku Kelana, Klang

Posted: 01 Nov 2013 03:03 AM PDT

Gambar-gambar ketika malam majlis sambutan Deepavali Peringkat Negeri Selangor pada 30 Oktober 2013 di Jalan Tengku Kelana, Klang. YB Dr Xavier Jayakumar hadir bersama Ahli Parlimen Kapar, YB Manivannan dan ahli-ahli majlis PBT. Dirasmikan oleh YAB Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, Dato' Menteri Besar Negeri Selangor.

Program Jom Shopping Hargai Warga Emas

Posted: 01 Nov 2013 02:48 AM PDT

Pejabat Khidmat ADUN Seri Andalas telah mengadakan Program Jom Shopping Warga Emas di Pasaraya Econsave Kg Jawa pada 31 Oktober 2013.

Dalam program ini warga emas diberi baucar RM100 untuk membeli sebarang keperluan. Hadir dalam program adalah YB Dr Xavier Jayakumar dan Encik Abdul Manaf, Ahli Majlis MBSA.

YB Dr Xavier mengucapkan terima kasih kepada sukarelawan yang terlibat menjayakan program ini.

Anwar Ibrahim

[KENYATAAN MEDIA] Perutusan Sambutan Deepavali 2013

Posted: 01 Nov 2013 08:40 AM PDT

KENYATAAN MEDIA
1 NOVEMBER 2013

PERUTUSAN SAMBUTAN DEEPAVALI 2013

Pesta cahaya yang meraikan kemenangan keadilan ke atas kezaliman sekali lagi disambut oleh masyarakat Hindu di Malaysia dengan penuh semangat kekeluargaan dan pengeratan semula hubungan sesama keluarga dan kenalan. Kegembiraan ini sememangnya terpancar melalui hiasan beraneka rupa, hidangan juadah pelbagai rasa dan pakaian tradisi yang penuh warna-warni.

Dalam meraikan 'kemenangan' ini, jangan teman-teman lupa akan pengajaran disebalik perayaan Deepavali iaitu penerusan perjuangan menegakkan kebaikan dan keadilan serta penentangan penuh terhadap setiap kejahatan dan kezaliman.

Perjuangan memperbaiki taraf hidup kaum India di Malaysia terutama sekali di dalam isu pendidikan dan kebajikan rakyat luar bandar wajib terus diperjuangkan oleh seluruh rakyat Malaysia. Ini penting demi memastikan masalah jurang antara yang kaya dan yang miskin – tanpa mengira kaum, sememangnya – akan dapat diatasi.

Ketika menyambut perayaan ini di dalam suasana penuh kegembiraan, jangan juga lupa akan jiran-jiran dan rakan taulan yang kurang bernasib baik. Kongsilah kegembiraan anda bersama mereka semampunya.

Akhir sekali, saya mengambil kesempatan ini untuk mengucapkan "Deepavali Nal Valthukal" sempena sambutan Deepavali pada tahun ini.

DATO’ SERI ANWAR IBRAHIM
Ketua Pembangkang Parlimen Malaysia
Ketua Umum Parti KeADILan Rakyat

Khamis, 31 Oktober 2013

Anwar Ibrahim

VANITY BINGE? Najib splurges overseas to BUY the praises of world leaders

Posted: 30 Oct 2013 08:08 PM PDT

Malaysia-Chronicle

National leaders around the globe are heaping praises on Malaysia but who is paying the price?

The British Prime Minster, as reported by BERNAMA, unashamedly praises the Malaysian government.

The US recently heaped praises too when the Secretary of State visited the country in place of Barack Obama recently.

The Australians have sugar-coated their reservations too very recently, although Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and a concerned Australian Senator highlighted the Malaysian government's dereliction of duty to human rights.

But why are all these government leaders singing accolades? Why not mate especially when they are happy with Najib's promises of enriching these foreign governments to the tune of millions of Euros and US Dollars.

So Malaysia is busy looking for ways and means to enrich and prosper all developed nations who are certainly fearing a tornado of financial crisis that seems quite set in the horizon.

So just because Najib can give them business deals and attractive employment opportunities, these leaders have chosen to play blind and deaf and mute to the realities back in our own yard.

From songs of "moderate nation" to "prosperous leadership" Najib continues to carve a global image for himself. Well nothing wrong with that – lest we are accused for being jealous of his successes.

But when the home ground is in tatters and stinks to high heavens with evidences of human rights abuses and political marginalization and religious affronts, we have reasons to question and challenge.

Questions to prick the conscience

Have the leaders of USA, Australia and the UK forgotten that we have a Mongolian murdered here in a heinous way that no country can match in all of its recorded history and yet we have no killers and plotters?

Have the leaders forgotten how civil society was beaten, arrested and chased away when they assembled for peaceful, unarmed protests in all of the BERSIH rallies?

Have the leaders who seemingly only care for their own citizens' well being and their very own power agendas, not aware of how Malaysia rates in the world index for human rights? What about how we have notoriously been treating the exodus of immigrant labor and how the system rips off and profiteer from the millions of foreign labor in the country?

Have you Honorable – the British Prime Minister, US Secretary of State and Australian Prime Minister not read your local dailies that have responsibly reported how we have messed up religious freedom, rights and honor recently through the "Allah" debacle affronting the non-Muslims here?

Are you also absolutely blind to the way we are raping our environment and disposing indigenous natives of their rights?

Have you forgotten how Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was sacked, charged and still continues to be hounded using the 'Sodomy fixation' by the so-called government of Malaysia that you now say is a model to the world and feel so gratified that it can now give you billions of currency opportunities?

Creating ‘Africas’

You know for sure how elections here are still being questioned the world over for suspicions as well as alleged lack of free, fair and clean benchmarks as observed by democratic nations. You surely know too that Malaysia practices gerrymandering – don't you?

Malaysians are crying under the yoke of increased living costs, stagnant wages, divisive policies based on race and creed priorities, and more threats of GST and TPPA in the pipeline.

If you are not practicing 'colonialisation' now then what else is it? There seems to be no other way to explain how you could be praising and flattering Malaysia's leadership when the world – including all your own citizens know the whole truth and nothing else but the truth about what really is taking place in Malaysia these past thirty years.

Hopefully your own nation's local dailies will find it appropriate and important to spill the beans in the wake your "any means to your ends" strategies that you are championing.

Let us not in the distant future end up lamenting that it is leaders like you who would be guilty of creating many ‘Africas’ in the world.

[PROGRAM] Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim Di Sungai Limau

Posted: 30 Oct 2013 07:48 PM PDT

Program Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim Di Sungai Limau 1 November 2013

1) 7.30 mlm: Tazkirah Maghrib di Masjid Batu 16 Pdg Lumat

2) 8.30 mlm: Makan malam di Bilik Gerakan Utama KEADILAN di Kg Setia Jaya, Ulu Sedaka

3) 9.15 mlm: Perjumpaan dengan masyarakat Cina di Pekan Sg Limau Dalam

4) 10.00 mlm: Ceramah Perdana di Simpang Tiga Sg Limau Luar

5) 11.00 mlm: Ceramah Perdana di Dulang Besar

Tel : 04-522 1463
Faks : 04-521 1431

PEJABAT DATO’ SERI ANWAR IBRAHIM

陈家兴：国家收支不均非津贴问题，政府财务管理不当才是主因

Posted: 30 Oct 2013 11:55 PM PDT

（怡保31日讯）新邦波赖州议员陈家兴认为，目前国家收支不平衡造成连续15年出现财政赤字及国债飙升问题，这并非如同当权者所说过的"太多津贴"导致国家负债累累，反之中央政府财务管理不当才是主要肇祸的因素。他表示，国阵政府必须着手削减庞大的行政开销以平衡国家财政收支，而非通过大量减少津贴及实行消费税，逼使百姓为政府财务管理不当而常年埋单。他同时也敦促国阵政府必须更透明化管理国油公司每年支付的股息，国油公司必须向国会报告而非只限向首相负责，政府必须向民众汇报该主要收入来源为何每年减少。 "倘若政府能够妥当管理收入和开支，政府可以避免在百物涨价的时刻选择削减津贴及实行消费税，这形同如进一步掏空人民的口袋。" 他表示，国家主要开销分为行政开销以及发展开销，每年没有太大经济效应的行政开销逐年提高，特别是政府供应及采购开销（Supplies & Services）均是每年增加，然而政府却无法有效管制该采购开销的舞弊事件发生，凸显政府管理财务充斥着"人为因素"的弱点。他认为，国阵政府以大量削减津贴及实行6%消费税，是直接增加人民负担的作法，该两项举措肯定能够为政府带来更客观的税收，所以首相表示不会冲击人民负担的说法是毫无根据的言论。 "国家通过实行消费税而提高国家收入，估计的数十亿收入从哪里来？肯定是来自百姓的荷包；而消费税是累退税（Regressive Tax）并不是以能者多付作为原则，这意味着中产及劳动阶级必须以更大部分的收入比率来缴税。"他是在昨日前往相德花园及申雅园丘派送屠妖节物品后发表文告表示。他直言，政府无法管理常年行政纰漏及舞弊问题，同时国家主要收入也同样面对逐年减少的问题，可是政府却怪罪百姓太过依赖津贴而导致国家收支不平衡，这是百姓都不能够接受的歪论。

BR1M tidak cukup menampung kos kehidupan

Posted: 30 Oct 2013 09:17 PM PDT

ADUN Teja Chang Lih Kang mengatakan bahawa pemberian Bantuan Rakyat 1 Malaysia (BR1M) tidak cukup menampung kos kehidupan memandangkan harga barang melambung tinggi berikutan subsidi dimansuhkan. “Apabila subsidi gula dimansuhkan dan subsidi minyak masak dikurangkan, yang rugi dan terus dibebankan adalah rakyat.” Katanya semasa penyampaian sumbangan kepada miskin tegar di kawasan DUN Teja. Lih Kang […]

实行消费税减津贴，是在向人民开刀

Posted: 30 Oct 2013 07:25 PM PDT

（务边31日讯）人民公正党中央理事郑立慷表示，政府一意孤行落实6%消费税以及削减白糖津贴，以填补国债以及应付庞大的政府行政开支，简直是在向人民开刀。他指出，虽然首相指大部分物价不会因实行6%消费税而受到影响，但消费税所带来的连锁效应，百姓还是最终的受害者。 "实行消费税加剧国人负担，首当其冲的便是中低收入者，因为有能力缴税的人将减少纳税，而原本不必缴税的中低收入群却被逼缴税，这更加扩大贫富差距。" 郑立慷也是迪遮区州议员，日前在新咖啡山重组村配合即将来临的屠妖节，派发礼篮给当地贫困家庭时发表上述谈话。他表示，预算案总开支是2642亿令吉，行政开销占总开支80%，而发展开销却不到18%。 "这显示政府在进一步扩大经济效益低的行政开销之余，也同时减少经济效益更高的发展开销。" 也是霹雳州副主席的他透露，民联2014年替代预算案并没有为了减少国家赤字而削减津贴，反而建议通过降低10%的政府行政开销，以达到开源节流的效果。他说，政府连续17年推出赤字财政预算案，国阵政府挥霍无度是国家负债累累的导因。他相信，通过民联替代预算案，政府以透明、廉洁的方式治理国家，我国赤字可从4.6&降低至3.2%。