Samy Vellu correct about Dr.Mahathir-Indians marginalized

PARTI REFORMASI INSAN MALAYSIA (PRIM)
SUITE 8-10-5 (A) MENARA MUTIARA BANGSAR
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BANGSAR 59100 KUALA LUMPUR
TEL: 03-22825241 / FAX: 03-22825616


MEDIA STATEMENT
31-5-06

SAMY VELLU IS CORRECT:
DR.MAHATHIR DID NOT DO AS PROMISED FOR THE MALAYSIAN INDIAN COMMUNITY IN HIS 25 YEAR RULE AS PRIME MINISTER.

Since Independence in 1957 and through the New/National Economic Policies, OPP 1,2,3 and right up to the 8th Malaysian Plan the Indian poor have been marginalized and sidelined. In all the aforesaid national development programmes no affirmative action programmes have either been designed or implemented with the view to uplift the living standards of the Indian poor and taking them out of poverty/remaining in the lower income group. This has resulted in about 80% of the Malaysian Indians remaining in poverty and/or in the lower income group.

The recent statement by Cabinet Minister Dato’ Seri S.Samy Vellu that Dr.Mahathir did not do as promised to help the Malaysian Indian Community is true. Samy Vellu and the MIC have allowed themselves to be “used” by Dr.Mahathir and the ruling elite to shortchange the Indians in every Malaysian Development Plan. This is to justify their continued existence in the government and private sectors and being at the expanse of the poor Indians. Samy Vellu and the MIC repeatedly claim to be able to solve Indian problems but achieved almost nothing through government development plans. Even the very basic human necessities have not been addressed even after 50 years of Independence. The truth is the MIC is powerless and the said ruling elite have no regards for them even though the MIC is a very senior partner in the ruling coalition.

This is so much so that over the last 25 years the Indian poor in Malaysia have degenerated into the “negros” of Malaysia.

Dr.Mahathir is primarily responsible for the current pathetic state of affairs befalling the Malaysian Indian poor as follows: -

1. KG.MEDAN GENOCIDE
The genocide against the innocent and unarmed people of Kg Medan in 2001 left 100 over killed and / or seriously injured still remains a mystery. The Malaysian Human Rights Commission refused to hold an inquiry while the State refused to hold a royal commission of inquiry. The courts / Attorney General refused to hold Inquests into the deaths contrary to Article 5 of the Federal Constitution and section 339 of the Criminal Procedure Code. Worst still only USD526.00 to a maximum of USD6, 578 for some victims being permanently maimed and / or loss of life cases was awarded for the said victims though RM136.8 billion was approved for the 2006 budget (The Star Online, Friday, September 30th, 2005)

2. VICTIMISATION BY POLICE /STATE
Studies have revealed that the Indian poor form about 60% of suspects shot dead by the police including an 8-month pregnant Indian lady, 60 % of innocent people dying in police custody, 60% of suspects / detainees in police lockups and other detention centres. Latest update, Malay Mail, October 3rd 2005 at page 4, 4 ethnic Malaysian Indian men (mere suspects) were shot dead by the police in one day and in one incident. There was zero outcry from the “Malaysian civil society” as opposed to the London underground suspected bomber who was shot dead and getting worldwide attention and the Prime Minister of the UK apologizing despite being a country at war (Malay Mail, October 3rd, 2005 at page 3) and “Senior cop to be charged” New Straits Times, October 9th 2005 at page 29.
Gory pictures for Items 1 and 2, click here
http://www.policewatchmalaysia.com/index.php?ucat=13
http://www.policewatchmalaysia.com/index.php?ucat=12

3. NO EFFECTIVE LEGAL AID
Out of the aforesaid 60% suspected ethnic Indian criminals, almost 95% of them plead guilty when they may not necessarily be guilty. Most of the crimes they commit (if any) are poverty related. They cannot afford legal fees and neither is there an effective legal aid system. They spend long prison sentences and come out of prisons to be more hardened criminals and potential terrorists.

4. UNIVERSITY INTAKE
University intake for Indians reduced by about 50% from the over 10% quota in 1970 to 5.2% in 2003. In 2004 the supposed meritocracy system was introduced but it turned out to be “meritocracy without merits” Hundreds of especially poor ethnic minority Malaysian Indian students were deprieved of their basic right to education. Matriculation courses for entry into public universities are almost exclusively for the majority Malay Muslim community.

5. MEDICAL SEATS
Medical seats in the University of Malaya was reduced by 98% from 16 seats in 2001 to only 1 seat in 2003. This in effect means that the almost 1.8 million Indians have to compete for just one (1) medical seat at this university. When they opted to study at affordable Universities overseas, the government in June 2005, in an effort to reduce the number of ethnic Malaysian Indian medical students studying overseas acted in the most hostile manner. The Crimea State medical university’s medical degrees were derecognised for dubious and questionable reasons. In an effort to reduce the number of Indian medical doctors most other foreign medical universities with high ethnic Malaysian Indian student enrolment is currently having its status reviewed and is also expected to be derecognised.

6. TAMIL SCHOOLS
80% of the 523 Tamil schools (ethnic minority Malaysian Indian schools) are in dilapidated conditions with almost no sports, recreational, computer, library and other basic facilities accorded to National Schools and is still not made fully aided government schools when primary school education has been made compulsory by law. To the contrary, the prime minister announced a sum of RM1.8 billion for primary and secondary schools in the 2004 budget (NST 13/9/2003 at page 12 (Note: all the above are in breach of Article 8 (equality before the law and Article 12 (rights to education) of the Federal Constitution and the Education Act 1968. About 95% of these Tamil schools do not have kindergartens unlike 99% in national schools which has the same.

7. HINDU TEMPLE DEMOLISHMENT
Malaysia is about the one and only country in the world where one Hindu temple / shrine is unlawfully broken down by the state authorities in every three weeks contravening article 11 (freedom of religion) of the Federal Constitution and the Penal Code. The emergency ordinance (outdated by about 40 years) is often used to legalise their actions. There have been reported cases of policemen torching temples, motolov cocktails thrown into temples by policemen and state authorities or they are simply burnt down or bulldozed down.

8. MAJORITARIAN RULE THROUGH THE CIVIL SERVICE, POLICE AND ARMED FORCES
About 97% of the Civil Servants, police and armed forces personnel are form the majority Malay Muslims. This “force” is used to rule by “majoritarian might” at the expense and violations of fundamental Human Rights and victimization of this ethnic minority Malaysian Indians.

9. TOKEN PARTICIPATION IN THE CIVIL SERVICE
Discrimination in employment in the Civil Service sectors (Indian participation in the civil service reduced from about 40% in 1957 to about 2% in 2003. This remaining 2% of these Indians largely work in the clerical and industrial manual group (IMG) levels. Senior, Middle level and executive level civil service jobs are almost exclusively for the majority Malay Muslims. For promotions etc there is no equal opportunity. This is contrary to article 8 (equality before the law) of the Federal Constitution.

10. DISCRIMINATION IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR
The economy is controlled by the ethnic Chinese minority. The Government has “forced” the Chinese to “accept” average Malay Muslims into the top levels of the business and corporate sectors. Only the cream of the ethnic minority Indians (about 1%) make it in the private sector

11. NO BUSINESS LICENCES / OPPORTUNITIES
Mearge or no business licences / opportunities / small businesses / commercial licenses for Malaysian Indians to run businesses resulting in less than 1% Indian participation in the country’s economic wealth. (and that too believed to be largely held by one state sponsored Indian millionaire).

12. LOWEST PER CAPITA
Studies have revealed that Indians have the lowest per capita income of only about RM 1000.00 per month when the national per capita income is projected at RM17,741 in the 2006 budget (The Star Online September 30th 2005) This is about 98.3% below the national average. At the ground we are aware of many ethnic Indian families earning a mearge RM450.00 (USD 118.00) per month.

13. ABUSE OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN
Everyday even ethnic minority Indian women and children are not spared. As part of interrogation by the police, an Indian lady was told to perform oral sex on another male detainee at the Rawang police station. Her husband was then brought in naked before her and her daughter. She was then told that her 18 year old daughter would be raped later that night.
Another 14 year old ethnic minority Indian boy was arrested from his house and was told to do 150 push ups in police custody. When he stopped at 20 he was kicked with police boots which broke his leg.

14. LABOUR CLASS
Hopelessness, poverty and lack of opportunities leads to high Indian involvement in crime arising out of poverty. 80% of ethnic Malaysian Indians have degenerated into becoming laborers, Industrial Manual Group (IMG) workers, office boys, security guards, public toilet cleaners, general workers, road sweepers, beggars, squatters, criminals, gangsters etc, as a result of the nearly 50 years of direct discrimination by the state / government.

15. ETHNIC MALAYSIAN INDIAN POOR
Indians form sixty percent (60)% of urban squatters and forty-one (41)% of beggars (the economist 22/2/2003). About 80% of this community is in the poor and / or hardcore poor bracket but receives the least attention as they don’t have any political clout locally and / or their plight not properly ventilated by the NGOs, Opposition parties and the Malaysian civil society locally and / or internationally.

16. POVERTY AMONG ESTATE WORKERS / URBAN LABOURERS
Fifty-four (54%) of Malaysian Indians work as plantation or urban underpaid laborers. (Asiaweek 26/1/2002)

17. PATHETIC MONTHLY WAGES
After 46 years of independence the state has capped the monthly salary of plantation workers at RM325.00 (USD85.00) per month and RM 350.00 (USD92.00) per month for rubber tappers.

18. POOR STUDENTS
RM200 million was allocated to assist poor students to continue with their education (NST 13/9/2003 at page 12) but it is doubtful if even 1% of the ethnic minority Indians benefit from this allocation.

19. EMERGENCE OF A NEW ETHNIC MALAYSIAN INDIAN CRIMINAL CLASS
Over the last 25 years a new ethnic Malaysian Indian criminal class has emerged as a result of the aforesaid years of direct discrimination, oppression and suppression. High incidences of crime, violence, slashings and killings largely among themselves take place even over the most mundane issues and / or is poverty related.

20. SQUATTERS
Due to rapid development large plantations have been developed resulting in the plantation workers being displaced and forced to become squatters. Their squatter colonies are in turn demolished to make way for development with no or little alternative housing. Classical case of poverty leading to further poverty.


21. ORPHANS / OLD FOLKS
The majority of orphanages and old folks homes are filled up with members of this ethnic minority Indian community. This is yet another clear indicator of poverty.

22. SKILLS TRAINING
Access to even the lowest level skills training Institutions are deprived for this community resulting in most of them remaining unemployed or unskilled workers. Even at the NTS Arumugam Pillai skills training Institute which was build on funds derived from the dissolution of the South Indian Labour Fund, not even a single ethnic Malaysian Indian student was admitted in the first intake.

23. UNDOCUMENTED ETHINC MINORITY MALAYSIAN INDIANS
Despite 48 years of Independence, there are thousands of ethnic minority Malaysian Indians left being undocumented, without birth certificates, identity cards, marriage certificates etc. This in effect precludes and excludes them from even the formal primary schooling structure what more obtaining licences to run a business or from securing employment. (c/f almost all aboriginal people in the remotest areas Malaysia are documented)

24. HIGHEST SUICIDE RATE
Indians have the highest suicide rate in the country because of primarily poverty or poverty related matters, loss of loved ones for example, divorce, etc. Health Minister Datuk Chua Soi Lek stated ,”For Indians, 21.1 persons for every 100,000 suicides, Chinese 8.6 persons for every 100,000 suicides and for Malays 2.6 persons for every 100,000 suicides (Sadatul Nahir and Rosli, Utusan Malaysia 12/9/2005)

25. NO INDEPENDENT MEDIA
The local print and electronic media gives this community the lowest priority though they suffer the most serious discrimination, victimisation and violations of human rights. The local media too plays to the gallery and almost often highlighting “majoritarian issues”/ issues which carries mileage. The International media prefers Iran, Africa, Katrina terrorist etc.

26. UNCARING INDIAN PROFESSIONALS / BUSINESSMEN.
Indian professionals and businessmen do not care and / or shy away and / or out of fear of the government keep away from the real problems befalling on this community. They want to be seen to be “multi-racial” / “non racist” and / or championing “majoritarian” issues arising out of minority complex / inferiority complex syndrome.

27. LEAST ATTENTION BY THE OPPOSITION PARTIES NGOS’ AND CIVIL SOCIETY.
Because this community is politically, economically and internationally insignificant and where there is not much “mileage” to be made, and / or no local and / or international funding, even the opposition parties, NGOS’ and the Malaysian civil society generally give this community the least attention and /or prefer to play to the gallery and / or the “majoritarian issues” and / or rather focus on where there is local or international “mileage” to be made. In short they too are generally “selective” in championing even the worst violated cases / issues and / or Human Rights issues. (Refer Latest Open Letter dated 5/9/2005 by 30 Malaysian NGOs campaigning for all issues concerning merely the majority community / internationally acclaiming issues except the most serious affecting the Malaysian Indians) Click here for the open letter http://www.policewatchmalaysia.com/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1128570956&archive=&start_from=&ucat=16&


28. THE MALAYSIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION AND THE ROYAL COMMISSION ON THE POLICE REFUSE TO REPORT THE TRUTH
The Malaysian Human Rights Commission and the Royal Commission on the Police have continuously refused to report even the most serious violations of human rights by the state against this community. For example the Kg.Medan genocide, shootings to death of suspects, some deaths in police custody and the gunpoint attack on a human rights lawyer.

29. INDEPENDENT JUDICIARY?
The independence of the judiciary has been put to question in the aforesaid -Kampung Medan genocide for example when the High Court struck out with costs a civil suit by a victim bring a class action against the Malaysian Human Rights Commission for failing to hold an Inquiry without even hearing the merits of the case which the victims believe is because all the victims were ethnic minority Malaysian Indians and the attacks are believed to be state sponsored. Most other such cases against the state authorities are dismissed in a similar fashion or at the end of the trial.


30. INDEPENDENT ATTORNEY GENERAL?
The Attorney General has not been independent in many instances where he has acted partially in prosecuting lawyers / activists for defending the rights of this community and / or for failing to initiate Inquests into custodial deaths / deaths by police shootings of suspects and / or for failing to prosecute police criminals / authorities and / or for failing to act without fear or favour.

31. GOVERNMENT BODIES / INSTITUTIONS NOT INDEPENDENT
Almost all government institutions including hospitals, police, chemistry registration department etc are biased and in favour of the government and have been known or engaged in “covers up” in favour of the authorities and against the people and in particular the ethnic minority Malaysian Indians.

32. NO FUNDING FOR NON PRO-GOVERNMENT NGOS
No funding is granted by the Government for almost all non pro-government NGO’s with which they would be a million times more effective.

33. FEAR FACTOR
This community as a result of the years of oppression and suppression and the factors hereinabove mentioned has turned out to be a fear riddled community. They are fearful to stand up for even the worst form of violations, victimisation, discrimination and human rights abuses against them. The fatal factor is that they even get the least support from even NGOs, Opposition parties and the “Malaysian Civil Society”.

CONCLUSION

We hereby call upon the Prime Minister and the Government of Malaysia to stop the sidelining and marginalising especially the Malaysian Indian poor.

We call upon for the creation of equal opportunities for all Malaysians including and not excluding the Malaysian Indian poor. As an immediate and urgent step forward we call for the extension of all affirmative action plans and programmes for the majority Malay/Muslim community also to be extended to all the Malaysian Indian poor.

We finally hope that Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi does not also “do a Dr.Mahathir” at the end of his tenure as Prime Minister.

Thank you

Yours faithfully

P. Uthayakumar
Secretary General (Pro-Tem)

20/11: Maya is monsoon cup envoy

Maya Karin

The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: The organisers of the Monsoon Cup 2007 has named actress Maya Karin (pic) as the event’s “maiden”, akin to being an ambassador.

Event adviser Peter Gilmour said Maya would be the spokesman for celebrities taking part in an upcoming concert that would be held in conjunction with the annual sailing competition.

“We chose her because of her popularity in the entertainment arena, especially in TV dramas and movies,” he told reporters at a restaurant here yesterday.

The press conference also announced the upcoming concert, An Evening with Maya Karin and Monsoon Cup 2007. Among the artistes who would be featured are Deja Moss, Farah Wahida, Zaibo, Badri, Syanie, Raja Azura and Nazri, the former singer of nasyid group Raihan.

Maya, who counts sailing as one of her favourite past times, said: “I will do my best to promote the sport as well as the local culture, especially to the foreign participants.”

This year’s Monsoon Cup is part of the World Match Racing Tour 2006-2007 and the final of 10 international legs. (A match race is a regatta for two sailing boats, racing each other around a course.)

The competition, which is in the calendar of events for Visit Malaysia Year, is the training ground for America Cup qualifiers and will crown the champion of this season’s World Match Racing Tour. It will be held from Nov 28 to Dec 2 at the Heritage Bay Club Marina and Resort in Pulau Duyong, Terengganu. Gilmour, a four-time world match champion, said this year’s competition would feature an all-female team in the sailing event.

Apart from sailing, there are also side events that include the arts and fishing

competitions.

T-Best Events, the organisers, said the Monsoon Cup offers a prize purse of RM1mil, making it the richest sailing event in the world.

19/11: Lingam's brother spills the beans

By Alang Bendahara and David Yeow
New Straits Times

The younger brother of lawyer Datuk V.K. Lingam has alleged he was privy to various acts of "corruption" involving judges.

V. Thirunama Karasu lodged a police report in March detailing his brother's alleged relationship with two former chief justices, several judges and a former inspector-general of police in the mid and late 1990s.

Malaysian Democratic Party secretary-general Wee Choo Keong released the police report at a press conference yesterday.

Among other things, Karasu alleged that he used to send his brother to a former chief justice's house just before midnight and pick him up an hour or so later and that he had delivered handphones and briefcases to several judges, adding he had paid the handphone bills of a former inspector-general of police.

Karasu, met at his house, said: "I did not give Wee consent to announce the police report. But the contents of the police report are true."

He said he was willing to testify before the proposed royal commission to investigate the Lingam video clip.

Asked why he decided to make a police report implicating himself and his brother, Karasu claimed it was a mixture of guilt and threats on his family.

Karasu, a former electrician with Tenaga Nasional, claimed he was asked by his brother to join the latter's firm in 1995 to run errands for him but he quit in 1996.

Earlier, Wee said Karasu contacted him 10 days ago by phone, claiming he had evidence in relation to the Lingam video clip which showed the lawyer allegedly discussing judicial appointments with a top judge.

"He asked for my help and explained it over the phone. But as it is an important issue, I persuaded him to meet me personally to discuss the details and that is when he gave me a copy of the police report.

"He is an important witness in the case and I revealed his identity to make sure the soon-to-be-established royal commission uses his statement in its investigation.

"Although this may be risky, the police and attorney-general already know of him and the report."

Wee described the contents of the police report as alarming and asked why the police and attorney-general had not acted as the report had been lodged eight months ago.

He said he would forward a copy of the police report to the Bar Council and the acting chief justice, urging them to take action. He also claimed that he had the unedited version of the Lingam video clip which showed the identity of the person who had made the recording.

He said Karasu was not the one who took the video.

Lingam could not be reached for comment.

Karasu's allegations

THESE are some of the allegations made by V. Thirunama Karasu in his police report dated March 19:

- He witnessed the handing-over of a cheque for RM50,000 to an Industrial Court chairman;

- He helped host a dinner at Lingam's house for a former chief judge of Malaya and his wife and children.

Also present were a former Court of Appeal judge and his wife;

- He was asked to deliver a new leather briefcase containing several documents, a wallet and a lady's leather handbag to the house of a former chief judge of Malaya;

- He had on several occasions sent Lingam to a former chief judge of Malaya's house at 11.30pm, from which Lingam would emerge around 12.30am or 1am;

- He was given cash to purchase a handphone for a former chief judge of Malaya.

The handphone was later delivered to the former chief judge of Malaya by a family friend;

- He delivered a handphone to a former judge in Kuala Lumpur and that the former judge had asked him for extra batteries for the handphone.

The handphone line was registered under the name of the former judge's wife;

- He sent a heavy briefcase to a Court of Appeal judge;

- He and a family friend were told to deliver two handphones to a Court of Appeal judge; and

- He was given cash to settle the handphone bills of a former inspector-general of police.

19/11: Fourth charge - for abuse of power

By LOURDES CHARLES
The Star

Federal Commercial Crimes Investigation Director Datuk Ramli Yusoff will be slapped with a fourth charge – for abuse of power – in Sabah today.

Ramli, who was a former Sabah Commissioner of Police, is expected to be produced in a Sessions Court here on charges under Section 15 of the Anti-Corruption Act.

The senior officer was charged in Kuala Lumpur on Nov 1 with not disclosing information about two office units belonging to his sisters and on shares which he allegedly owned.

He is on RM20,000 bail and has been suspended from his post.

Ramli has returned from performing the umrah in Mecca with the Kelantan royalty.

It is learnt that the latest charge against Ramli, 55, is centred on allegations that he had used a Cessna aircraft belonging to the Police Air Wing to inspect his land project in Lahad Datu.

ACA deputy director-general Datuk Abu Kassim Mohamed confirmed that Ramli would be charged here.

The senior officer, in his capacity as a public servant, was also charged with being involved in business as a company director.

He claimed trial to all three charges at a Sessions Court in Kuala Lumpur.

Ramli, who rose from the ranks to be among the top cops in the country, is the most senior police officer ever to be charged in a corruption case in the country.

The Nov 1 charges against him were:

THAT he failed to reveal information on two office units in Jalan Yap Kwan Seng, which belong to his elder sister Rohmah @ Hasmah and younger sister, Roslina.
The two units are worth RM1mil. The two sisters are directors of an investment holding company, Bonus Circle Sdn Bhd.

THAT he failed to disclose information on 154,000 units of shares worth about RM200,000 in a property company, Permaju Industries Bhd, at the same place and time.

THE third was a summons charge where he was accused of unlawfully engaging in business in Kinsajaya Sdn Bhd on April 25 last year.

If convicted, Ramli could be sentenced to 20 years’ jail and fined a maximum of RM100,000 on each of the two charges under Section 32(2) of the Anti-Corruption Act 1997.

19/11: Adieu to the 'Asean Way'

By KHAIRY JAMALUDDIN
Asian Wall Street Journal

Since its founding, the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations has deftly balanced the interests of its members, anchored regional geopolitical stability, and launched moves toward a free trade area. Much of this success was due to the so-called "Asean way," a policy of noninterference in member states' internal affairs. Decisions were made by consensus, effectively giving every member a veto. Confrontation and, at times, even honesty, were considered serious diplomatic faux pas.

As useful as the "Asean way" was in managing regional ties during past eras of autocratic leadership and the early years of nation-building in member states, it is time for Asean to slaughter its most sacred cow. This week, the group's leadership will meet in Singapore to decide on a new Charter that has been drafted by a group of Asean's former statesmen. The Charter aims to recast Asean as a rules-based organization with enough teeth to enforce its rules on member states, especially those who have repeatedly hidden their bad behavior behind the grouping's international credibility.

At stake is nothing less than Asean's future. The "Asean way" has proved a double-edged sword. It has allowed for a top-level, generalized commonality of purpose in creating a peaceful and prosperous region. Not interfering with your neighbors creates a lot of goodwill. At the same time, the "Asean way" has also excused egregious human-rights abuses and hampered effective action in many key transborder issues, such as economic integration and environmental degradation.

Among other things, the Charter proposes a new decision-making process which will allow members to vote on some issues, thereby breaking the chokehold that consensus has on efficacy. It calls for a human-rights commission, a strengthened secretariat and a biannual "council meeting" of government leaders to speed decision-making beyond Asean's current once-a-year summit. Most significant is a proposal to give Asean the power to suspend members who violate agreements, or act in a manner which breaches the association's objectives.

If these recommendations are adopted, Asean's commitment to reform will immediately be tested by how it will deal with Myanmar's generals. Under the old "Asean way," Myanmar's 1997 admission into the grouping was defended by other members as a form of "constructive engagement" with Yangon. Asean believed inclusion would lead to moral suasion, and eventually, toward democracy and good governance. Trade and investment between Myanmar and fellow Asean countries benefited both sides. For the generals, Asean membership afforded the country an international platform, and took the edge off Myanmar's pariah status, forcing other countries to deal collectively with the grouping, even though they would not deal with Myanmar individually.

But the events of the past few weeks in Myanmar have reminded us in no uncertain terms of what was becoming increasingly obvious: Engagement and appeasement has not worked. Indeed, Asean had little choice but to censure Myanmar in the strongest possible way -- in itself, a very un-Asean thing to do. Myanmar represents the biggest embarrassment for Asean and with graphic images of the violent suppression of monks and activists beamed globally, there was no "Asean way" out this time around. Although Yangon has shown through its cozy relations with China that it is not entirely dependent on Asean, the grouping must demonstrate that it is willing to wield its new powers against those who refuse to play by the rules. The Charter must mean a very real threat of suspension from Asean if Myanmar refuses to restore democracy immediately in a manner acceptable to the majority of the Burmese people.

* * *
Asean's long-term relevance will also be determined by its ability to boost economic growth through greater integration. For decades, the original Asean members benefited from uncontested flows of foreign direct investment which fed an export boom that exponentially raised living standards and built impressive infrastructure. Today, the flows of capital are no longer uncontested. China and India have emerged as the Asian growth stories of this century. Even within Asean, the five founding members -- Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand -- can only watch as Vietnam replicates their earlier success.

Although plans for a free trade area have been accelerated, the reality of economic integration is not encouraging. Intraregional trade fell in the initial years of the Asean Free Trade Agreement, inked in 1992. Companies are discouraged from taking advantage of common preferential tariffs because of the red tape involved. Prices for the same goods vary significantly across the region.

Companies want to view Asean as a single production platform where flows of goods, services, workers and capital are open, smooth and predictable. Asean makes a big deal about its combined market size of more than half a billion people. It counters the rise of China with a "China plus one" sales pitch, with Asean being that "plus one." But its attractiveness as an investment destination with a sizable market only works if there is seamless economic integration. Although it may be far too premature to talk about an economic and monetary union in the model of the European Union, the creation of a customs union and later a common market must be a priority if Asean is going to make good on its promise of offering investors a single production platform.

* * *
The Charter's recommendations were, interestingly, put forward by former Asean leaders -- such as former Philippines President Fidel Ramos, former Indonesian Foreign Minster Ali Alatas, and former Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Musa Hitam -- many of whom were practitioners of the "Asean way" during their time in office. Having once been part of the system, it is significant that they realize Asean must now change. Although a political union may be many years away, Asean has no choice but to accelerate its economic integration if it is to put up a good fight against the Chinas and Indias of today.

These goals can only be achieved if the institution tasked with looking after the region is strengthened and rules-based, and its members are rooted in common principles of democracy, justice and good governance. For too long, the "Asean way" has allowed one or two members to tarnish the entire grouping's credibility. For too long, the "Asean way" has been synonymous with a weak central institution, unable to enforce rules among its members and constantly lost in a labyrinth of intergovernmental bureaucracy.

The "Asean way" has reached a dead end. The days of the strongman who closed one eye to what was happening in his backyard are gone. The time for peddling Asian values as an excuse for not upholding basic standards of human rights and development has passed. Asean needs a new way to do things, and the time for change must be now.

Mr. Jamaluddin is deputy leader of the United Malays National Organization's youth movement and a director of Iron Cage, a private investment company based in Kuala Lumpur.

16/11: Rommel's remarks irresponsible and baseless, says Hishammuddin

UMNO Youth Chief aka Malaysian Minister of EDUCATION


New Straits Times


Umno Youth chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein has described Thierry Rommel's statement that Malaysia was living under an effective state of emergency as baseless and irresponsible.

Hishammuddin described Rommel's act as meddling into Malaysia's domestic affairs.

He also claimed that the former European Commission envoy to Malaysia had a hidden agenda.

"I want to warn him not to meddle into our affairs. He should do his homework before coming up with such remarks which are uncalled for and will only damage his credibility and that of the EU."

In reality, Hishammuddin said there were no barriers or restrictions imposed on Malaysians.

"The people can judge for themselves whether what he (Rommel) had said is true or not," Hishammuddin, who is also Education Minister, said after presenting a Jalur Gemilang to the Malaysian team participating in the World Olympiad Robotic Championship.

Rommel had claimed that Malaysia was living under an effective state of emergency after police used tear gas and water cannon to break up a rally on Saturday.

Rommel had also said that the crackdown on demonstrators asking for "clean" elections had proven his point and that a part of the population was feeling their voice was not being heard because of the way the elections were managed.

The former envoy, chastised recently for criticising Malaysia's affirmative action policies to help Malays, also came out with a similar line in an interview with Reuters.

He had said that affirmative action towards the Malays distorted trade ties with others.

Hishammuddin also criticised the Al-Jazeera News for its "one-sided" and unfair coverage of the demonstration.

The demonstrators, he said, did not realise that they were being exploited by certain parties to achieve their agenda.

"They are not happy that our country is progressive and the people from various races, could live side-by-side in peace and harmony. Some Malaysians do not realise that they are being used by these unscrupulous quarters to create havoc, to belittle our country and its leaders."

Youth: [S or U] the period of your life when you are young, or the state of being young.

Words related to Youth:

adolescence, babyhood, boyhood, ( girlhood ), childhood, formative, juvenile, delinquent, kid, laddish, minor, rite of passage, etc etc etc.

16/11: Badruddin says sorry to all women

New Straits Times

DATUK Badruddin Amiruldin (BN-Jerai) has profusely apologised to women in the country following the furore he had created as a result of his remark at the Umno general assembly.

"I did not mean to be sexist or vulgar. I was, as the Malays say, terlajak (carried away)," he said at the lobby yesterday.

Badruddin said he had never intended to offend the delegates or any woman.

"I have daughters and women are an integral part of my election and service machinery in Jerai. I apologise to women if they feel offended and I am sincere."

Badruddin's apology over his remark at the Umno assembly came a day after Karpal Singh (DAP-Bukit Gelugor) had warned that he would make an issue of it.

Karpal, quoting a New Straits Times report on Wed-nesday, said Badruddin had interjected with his sexist remark when delegate Zaleha Hussin spoke about uniforms worn by AirAsia stewardesses.

Zaleha was relating how a friend had boarded the airline and said how uncomfortable it was looking at a seated stewardess with bare legs, thighs and calves.

At this point, Badruddin struck with his sexist remark.

"Yes, we can see a tunnel under her skirt," he was quoted as saying.

Karpal had called on Bad-ruddin to apologise to women within seven days.

"Otherwise we will make this a public issue," he had said.

14/11: Rafidah: Foreign investors' confidence not affected by Bersih gatherings

Charles Ramendran and Pauline Puah
The Sun

International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz today expressed confidence that foreign investments will not be affected by the rally organised by the Opposition on Saturday (Nov 10).

"I must say that when I go overseas, business people do not ask about the Opposition. They understand (the Opposition). They also know the history of our opposition members. They are not interested," she said after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had opened Intrade Malaysia and the Kuala Lumpur International Trade Forum 2007.

Referring to the gathering organised by the Coalition for Clean and Fair Election (Bersih), Rafidah said foreign investors are more interested in understanding the government’s new policies and the business environment here.

"I don’t even have one question about the Opposition. I had been going around. I just came back from Europe, not even one (investor) asked about the Opposition," she said.

Rafidah said foreign investors understand that these are politicians who demonstrate in the name of democracy.

"The public should be aware that this is the way of the opposition. It’s not really positive. It’s very negative for them. But for foreigners, they don’t worry. They are not interested. Even in their country, they also have demonstrations," she said.

In Saturday’s gathering, thousands of people marched from various parts of Kuala Lumpur to Istana Negara to submit a memorandum to the King, calling for electoral reforms.

The police, which did not issue a permit for the gathering, had used tear gas and the water cannon on the protesters near Masjid Jamed area when the demonstrators failed to disperse.

On another question whether the government would ask Petronas to increase oil production following the increase in oil prices, Rafidah said the government is studying it.

"Like the prime minister said, we are all looking at the subsidy structure. This is being done at the technical and official level. We are working it out. So bear with us," she added.

15/11: Malaysia lives under state of emergency - EU envoy

By Mark Bendeich

(Reuters) - Malaysia is living under an effective state of emergency, an EU envoy said on Tuesday, after police used tear gas and water cannon at the weekend to break up the biggest anti-government protest in a decade.

"Today, this country still lives under emergency," the European Commission's envoy to Malaysia, Thierry Rommel, told Reuters by telephone on the last day of his mission to Malaysia.

Rommel's remarks, extraordinarily blunt for a diplomat, chime with a chorus of criticism from opposition parties and some non-government groups about the way the government handled the protest, which it called an illegal assembly of troublemakers.

Police had set up road blocks around the capital to prevent protesters converging on Kuala Lumpur for Saturday's rally, but despite these measures and heavy rain, around 10,000 people thronged the city centre to call for electoral reform.

Police later moved in with tear gas and water cannons, which fired jets of water laced with a chemical irritant, to break up the crowd. There were no reports of any serious violence.

Rommel, who has spent four and a half years in Malaysia, said many Malaysians felt that their voices were not being heard and agreed that the electoral system should be reformed.

"It's not a secret that elections are not fair," he said, noting complaints from electoral reform group Bersih, organiser of Saturday's protest, that election campaigns were too short and that the media was biased toward government campaigning.

"There's a significant part of the population that feels their voice is not really heard because of the way elections are managed," he added. "They feel locked out."

The Belgian noted that several emergency-style laws were still in use, such as the Emergency Ordinance, born in 1969 to deal with race riots, and the colonial-era Internal Security Act (ISA). Both allow detention for years without trial.

None of these powers were used to quell Saturday's protest, and the ISA has not been used against opposition politicians and activists for several years. But the chief minister of central Pahang state, a member of the main ruling party, has said the ISA should be used if necessary to deal with future protests.

"They (emergency laws) all very clearly establish the legal framework for the executive to take measures in cases of unrest -- as the executive defines them," Rommel said.


PAINTING AN UGLY PORTRAIT

Rommel, a career diplomat, is not new to controversy in Malaysia. He created a storm in June when he gave a speech likening Malaysia's affirmative-action policy to a trade barrier.

That remark brought a swift backlash and formal protest from the government. The trade minister even complained publicly that Rommel had an attitude problem, and his name started to disappear from the government's invitation lists.

But Rommel, who spoke to Reuters on condition that his comments be published after his departure later on Tuesday, said he was unrepentant about his criticisms and denied he was trying to superimpose Western values onto Malaysia.

He said Malaysia's "Bumiputra" policy of affirmative action, which favours majority ethnic Malays, distorted trade because it allowed the government to award state contracts to Malay businesses without clear, competitive tender procedures.

It also fostered corruption, he added.

"The extension of Bumiputra-based discrimination and preference in public procurement -- which is massive in the Malaysian economy -- has worked to the disadvantage of foreign players in particular and has become a vehicle for officially acknowledged corruption...," Rommel said.

"It is public knowledge that local Malay vested interests, with powerful political or administration connections, want to see this mechanism maintained."

14/11: Michael Backman on Malaysia again

Malaysian Indian Congress ( MIC ) President S. Vellu - the Indian "feudal lord".

Michael Backman
www.michaelbackman.com

Ethnic rivalry in Malaysia usually is portrayed as rivalry between the majority Malay population and the large Chinese minority. But sandwiched between the two are Malaysia's Indians. They make up about 2 million or 8% of the population but according to some estimates they account for around 2% of the nation's corporate wealth. This disparity is leading to rising tensions from a group that the authorities normally take for granted.

The Indian community is split into Muslims and Hindus. The Muslims, known locally as the 'Mamak', tend to blend more easily with the dominant Malays - both being Muslim means that intermarriage is not uncommon. (Former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad is the product of such a union.) The Hindus on the other hand are far more marginalised. Politically weak and disorganised, they tend to be largely ignored by the government.

Many are very poor. But despite this, as non-Malays and non-Muslims they do not qualify for Bumiputera status – the status given to Malays which gives the Malays preferred access to university places, government share distributions and other such privileges. Some of the poorest work as rubber tappers.

Several years ago I visited several rubber estates in the northern state of Kedah and the poverty and physical condition of the rubber tappers was unbelievable particularly as Malaysia is not a poor country. The plight of the tappers is akin to that of the aborigines in the more remote parts of Australia except that the Australian government pours billions into the community but with little discernible effect.

Malaysia's Indians are among those to suffer the greatest displacement from the million or more legal and illegal Indonesian migrants now in Malaysia. Sporadic ethnic unrest now beaks out between poor Indians and resident Indonesians but rarely is such unrest reported in the Malaysian media – the government directs the local media either not to report it or not to highlight it.

Growing resentment too derives from the demolition of Hindu temples by the various state governments. Dozens have been destroyed in the last few years. All or most targeted for demolition have been built on land to which the temples have no title. Typically the demolitions proceed with a court order and as such are reasonable. The real issue is why do so many of Malaysia's Indians need to squat on land that isn't theirs in the first place?

But it is the manner in which the demolitions are carried out which unnecessarily raises tensions. The authorities who enforce the demolition orders invariably are Malay and Muslim giving such demolitions unfortunate religious rivalry overtones. Sometimes the idols are smashed before worshippers are given a chance to remove them to a safe place, action which is insensitive at best and a deliberate provocation at worst. The most recent temple to be demolished was at Shah Alam, near Kuala Lumpur on October 30. Scuffles broke out and people were manhandled.

In another perceived sleight, the most important Indian festival Deepavali this year falls on November 8. The (Malay) ruling UMNO party's annual General Assembly is being staged on 5-9 November without stopping for Deepavali even though Deepavali is one of Malaysia's gazetted public holidays. The Malay politicians of yesteryear would not have been this insensitive.

Many better educated Indians are migrating. Those who remain are becoming more strident politically.

On August 12, around 2,000 Malaysian Indians protested outside the prime minister's office to demand better treatment. The protest might have been bigger but according to organisers the police blocked as many as 15 buses carrying Indians from entering the area on the basis that the bus drivers did not have valid driving licences.

On August 30, a class action was filed in London by a group of activists against the UK government for bringing indentured labourers from India during the colonial era and failing to "protect" them thereafter including during the fifty years since Malaysia's independence. The suit will go nowhere of course but it is a calculated attempt to embarrass the Malaysian government internationally to force it to better look after the welfare of the Indian minority. And on November 25, a petition with what activists claim will have 100,000 signatures will be presented to the British High Commission in Kuala Lumpur in support of the legal action.

But what of the Indians' political leaders?

Samy Vellu is head of the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) party and has been so since 1979. He is also Malaysia' Public Works Minister. Vellu completely dominates the MIC which his critics claim he runs almost along feudal lines.

He was the subject of a major scandal in the early 1990s when the government allocated ten million shares in the country's national telephone company to Maika, an Indian cooperative company set up by the MIC. The company accepted only one million shares. The other nine million were then given to three companies which Vellu described as MIC-linked companies, but which, according to his critics, were actually linked to his relatives. The three companies made tens of millions of dollars in capital gains on the shares. Meanwhile Maika became almost insolvent.

Former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad when asked why he didn't sack Vellu from his cabinet given this and other scandals replied that he had no control over the MIC's internal processes and that he was obliged to have in the cabinet whomever the MIC chose as its leader. To be fair, Mahathir once told me that Vellu had an appalling job, given how politics is played out in the Indian community with the constant and seemingly trifling demands for gifts and direct assistance. But essentially, Vellu is part of the wider malaise of political leadership from which Malaysia suffers from today.

Watch him in action here: http://www.youtube.com/llanfairVideos
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17/11: Mind your own business, Syed Hamid tells foreign Human Rights groups

(Bernama) -- Mind your own business. This is the candid response from Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar to foreign human rights groups who have called for a royal commission of inquiry to investigate whether the authorities had breached human rights laws in handling last Saturday's illegal assembly in Kuala Lumpur.

He said although Malaysia was a democratic country, democracy did not equate to lawlessness.

"Let me put it this way... Malaysia will govern the country in its own way.

"You still have to abide by the law, so I don't think any country's human rights body can tell other countries what it should do," he told reporters after hosting lunch for his counterpart from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sven Alkalaj, at a hotel here today.

Syed Hamid said foreign human rights groups should instead look at correcting the wrongs in their respective countries and improving their own justice system.

"In the past we've seen what they have prescribed for a country, there's always trouble in that countries. They should just look after their own country and see whether there are things that can be improved and then maybe we can learn from them.

He said Malaysia allowed rallies provided they were staged in accordance with the law.

Alkalaj, accompanied by senior government officials and representatives from the country's private sector is in Malaysia on a three-day visit since Tuesday.

Syed Hamid said he and Alkalaj had very fruitful discussions and both Malaysia and Bosnia and Herzegovina can learn a lot from each other, especially in areas of defence and technology.

"As we know Bosnia has a very strong technology industry and I think even in the defence industry they are very strong and modernised because of their past experiences.

"In our case, the defence industry is still in its infancy. So there is interest in developing cooperative efforts between our two countries," he said.

Syed Hamid said Alkalaj had also been looking at development modules in Malaysia suitable for application in Bosnia because the country was similar to Malaysia with its multi-ethnic, cultural and religious society.

He said Alkalaj also visited the Economic Planning Unit in the Prime Minister's Department and addressed a seminar on business and investment opportunities in his country.

17/11: Royal commissions: What are they about?

New Straits Times

A ROYAL Commission is usually formed when a matter of national interest arises that requires immediate action.

In 1993, when rejecting a motion by Kepong MP Dr Tan Seng Giaw to set up a royal commission to investigate the Highland Towers collapse, Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker Juhar Mahirudin said the three requirements necessary for such a commission to be considered was that it had to concern a specific issue, it had to be of importance to the general public and it had to be a matter of urgency.

In that case, the request to set up a commission failed because it did not meet the third requirement.

In Malaysia's history, Royal Commissions have been set up to look into a host of issues, ranging from the operations and management of the police force, to the deadly blaze at the Sungai Buloh Bright Sparklers fireworks factory in 1991, to the collapse of the Butterworth ferry terminal in 1988 and the salaries and conditions in the public service in 1965.

Originating in the United Kingdom, Royal Commissions exist in many Commonwealth countries, including Malaysia, Canada, Australia, India and New Zealand.

Royal commissions can consist of any number of commissioners depending on the complexity of the investigation.

For example, the Butterworth ferry terminal commission panel consisted of three members, while the last commission, the Royal Commission to Enhance the Operations and Management of the Police Force in 2004, had 16 members from various segments of society.

Royal commission members are usually notable public figures headed by retired senior judges.

Created by the king on the advice of the government, royal commissions have great powers but a limited sphere of operation that extends only to its terms of reference.

However, once a royal commission of enquiry has begun, the government cannot stop it until the date given in the terms of reference expires.

The commission is given whatever facilities, technology or expert assistance it needs, and can compel anybody it wants to appear before it and give evidence under oath if necessary.

It can seize documents and other evidence that is relevant to its investigation.

Once the investigation is completed, the results are usually published in public reports that also contain policy recommendations.

The reports tend to lead to the government turning the recommendations into law.

13/11: Hindus angered by Deepavali jeer from Khairy...

Left: Khairy Jamaluddin ( KJ ), UMNO Deputy Youth leader & son-in-law of Prime Minister Badawi of Malaysia
Right: UMNO Youth Chief aka Minister of EDUCATION kissing the keris.

Umno Deputy Youth Leader and the Prime Minister's son-in-law Khairy Jamaluddin has offended Hindus and the Indian community by attacking Indian newsvendors at the recent Umno General Assembly.

We are outraged when Khairy blamed Indians as the cause why Umno President Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's presidential address at the Umno General Assembly was not published on Thursday which is deepavali day and a press shut down day.

It is foolish to blame newsvendors for your own foolishness to fix the Umno assembly on a deepavalli day.

Why were the Umno officers so slack. Everybody knows that deepavali is a pores shut down day and there will be no newspapers. But Umno and Datuk Seri Abdullah when ahead and now blame the poor vendors.

Khairy said "Today is the first time the Umno president's speech is not being read by the masses because a particular ethnic group controls the distribution line of newspapers and they are on holiday."

Yes, true. Who is too blame, Umno or the poor newsvendors.

The holding of the Umno General Assembly during Deepavali, a gazette public holiday, had also upset many Malaysians, both Hindus and non-Hindus, as it seems to point to a growing pattern of insensitivity by the powers-that-be in the country.

If the MIC, MCA or Gerakan had held their annual party assemblies during Hari Raya holidays, it would have been regarded as highly insensitive, offensive and unacceptable – and undoubtedly pressures would have been brought to bear to move such assemblies to another date.

Why wasn't the same consideration given in the case of this year's Umno General Assembly clashing with Deepavali – as the excuse that Abdullah had a "tight schedule" is simply just unacceptable?

Newsvendors wake up at 3am to start distributing newspapers from 5am. They work very hard and their labour should be admired and respected not belittled.

Khairy should apologies to the Indian community for his uncalled-for and most unwarranted aspersions on the Indian community yesterday.

M. Kulasegaran

18/11: 3 groups lodge reports against blogger

New Straits Times

Three police reports were lodged against blogger Jeff Ooi for allegedly defaming the country, government and police force.

The reports were lodged by the Malaysian Islamic Consumers Association, Malaysian Indian Muslim Congress and Pertubuhan Seni Silat Ikatan Kalam Malaysia against a statement issued by Ooi to an Al Jazeera reporter. The statement was allegedly broadcast on YouTube following an illegal gathering on Nov 10 organised by a coalition of opposition parties and non-governmental organisations calling itself Bersih.

The police reports were lodged at the Sentul police headquarters yesterday about 4.30pm.

The complainants want Ooi to be investigated, alleging that the interview given to Al Jazeera not only tarnished the image of the country but was also seditious and caused racial tension.

Ooi is also alleged to have given inaccurate information to Al Jazeera in stating that the police used unnecessary force in dispersing the demonstrators.