Give Election Observers A Chance

Asli: Give election observers a chance

S Pathmawathy 2:36PM Jul 4, 2012

The appointment of five non-governmental movements as election observers is not a ‘public relations' move by the Election Commission (EC), protests Asian Strategy and Leadership institute (Asli) senior vice-president Ng Yeen Seen.

Besides Asli, the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (Ideas), independent pollster Merdeka Centre, Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M) and the Association for the Promotion of Human Rights (Proham) have been offered to observe the looming election.

"We have had only preliminary discussions on guidelines. This is the first time we are embarking on such a project and we are willing to give it a chance," said Ng (left) at a press conference today in Kuala Lumpur.

She reiterated that "negotiations are ongoing", when pressed on whether they agreed to the proposed restriction by the EC to impose a gag on the observers from highlighting discrepancies to the media during the general election which must be called by mid-next year.

She refrained from commenting further, only saying that: "We support the move by the EC to set up a domestic observation group."
The EC's choice of NGOs as election observers drew flak from seasoned election monitoring groups who were snubbed on grounds that they have been seen as "pro-opposition".

Malaysians for Free and Fair Elections (Mafrel) chairperson Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh had complained that these NGOs were chosen over others which specialised in the task, to create an image of "fake transparency".

The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih) lashed out at the decision as a "public relations" exercise and pointed out that there were too many rules that constrained the observers from functioning optimally.

Among the constraints are that the appointed election observers cannot engage with the media, their findings must go through the EC before being published and they cannot able take photographs of fraud without the presiding officer's permission.

Read the rest on the web.

Diplomats Harassed Over BERSIH 3.0

A while back, I mentioned on the blog that even diplomats had been sighted at the BERSIH 3.0 demonstration in KL.

I have been following the developments on this matter and since then, the Singaporean High Commissioner was summoned to Wisma Putra to bear the wrath of Putrajaya's annoyance.

It turns out, however, that the Asian neighbours are taking the brunt of the Special Branch's questioning.

From The Malaysian Insider:

KUALA LUMPUR, July 1 — Malaysian intelligence agents are said to be hassling diplomats here for meeting Pakatan Rakyat (PR) officials and observing political events over the past few years since Election 2008, in what is seen as a move to lessen recognition for the federal opposition.

Diplomats told The Malaysian Insider that officers from the police’s Special Branch (SB) have begun asking more questions about their meetings with PR leaders and making it clear such contacts are unwelcome.

“Such meetings are normal especially since PR runs more states since the 2008 polls. But some of the SB guys hint the meetings should not happen,” a Western diplomat told The Malaysian Insider.

The diplomat, who didn’t want to be named, said informal chats in the diplomatic circles show that Asian diplomats are asked more questions about such meetings.

“Asian diplomats are the focus though, more than what we get from the SB,” he added, noting that Singaporean diplomats get it worst.

Wisma Putra recently chided three envoys from the republic over unsubstantiated accusations from pro-Umno bloggers that they actively participated in the chaotic April 28 Bersih rally.

Singapore has officially responded to the accusations of its envoys’ involvement by pointing out that the three had only been on the streets of Kuala Lumpur to observe the rally, along with diplomats from many other countries.

“It must be the neighbours thing. But you know, all diplomats have to meet people from all political hues to know what’s going on. And any protest or rally too,” the diplomat said.

An Asian envoy pointed out that Malaysian diplomats are also seen observing events and meeting politicians from all sides of the divide in other countries.

“I don’t see what the fuss is with some bloggers unless they are looking for scapegoats or a political diversion,” he said.

Read the rest on the web: Diplomats getting SB hassle for meeting Pakatan leaders

Email Warning To Ambiga

Is this what this country is coming to?

I am ashamed that people would stoop so low to eliminate the voice of reason.

If you ask me, it would be simpler to correct oneself and govern the nation in a reasonable manner instead of holding on so desperately to power.

From Free Malaysia Today:

PETALING JAYA: Bersih co-chairperson S Ambiga has received an email warning her of a threat against her life.

The former Bar Council president told FMT that she received the email yesterday afternoon.

The email with its subject stated as “Beware hired guns out to kill you” claimed that a particular group had contracted two thugs to “terminate” her.

Although she withheld the identities of those mentioned in the email as well as that of the sender, Ambiga however said there were no references to any political parties.
The Bersih leader, who lodged a report with the Travers police station, preferred not to reveal the sender in order to protect the source.

“I will leave it to the police to investigate the matter,” she said.

Ambiga also revealed that police officers had recorded her statement regarding the threat yesterday evening.

Expressing concern for her safety, Ambiga said: “Yes, I am worried and I must be careful. I would need to beef-up security for myself.”

Read the rest: Hired thugs to kill you: email warns Ambiga

MH5439 Joins The Ranks

There is so little good news that anything remotely of interest is most welcome.

We recently joined the exclusive ranks of major long-haul airlines.

Flight MH5439 from Toulouse, France receives a traditional water canon salute after touching down at KLIA.

MAS is set receive another 3 Airbus 380 aircraft later this year.

Not Malay Enough?

The Indonesians are yet again annoyed with the Malaysians for claiming some traditional dances and instruments as part of our heritage.

This time it's the Tor-tor and Gordang Sambilan. In ages past, it was the Pendet, Rasa Sayang, Wayang Kulit and Batik.

What is exceptionally amusing to me is the reaction of Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali:

"Perkasa president Datuk Ibrahim Ali said he could not understand the action of the protesters because Malaysia and Indonesia had a lot in common in their cultural heritage."

Aww. Guess Ibrahim Ali is not Malay enough for the Indonesians.

Perkasa away, if you must.

Wakakakakaka!!!

UN Concerns Over Bersih 3.0 Crackdown

From Malaysiakini:

United Nations special rapporteur for freedom of assembly and association Maina Kiai yesterday expressed "utmost concern" over crackdowns on peaceful assemblies in Malaysia.

Malaysia was specifically mentioned by the rapporteur during the 20th session of the UN Human Rights Council yesterday.

"The special rapporteur expresses his utmost concern in relation to peaceful assemblies that were either not allowed or violently dispersed in a number of countries, such as in Bahrain, Belarus, China, Egypt, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Malawi, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and the Syrian Arab Republic," the UN said yesterday.

Vernacular Schools And Being Less Malaysian

By Josh Hong in Malaysiakini

Regarded as 'less Malaysian'

Then again I must say among the non-Malays, those who have gone to a Chinese or a Tamil school are often regarded as 'less Malaysian' for the simplistic and erroneous reason that these schools 'reinforce the racial divide'.

In other words, a Malaysian who has gone to a vernacular or an independent Chinese school is required to work doubly or even triply hard to prove his/her 'Malaysian credentials', although many of them have contributed no less than any other Malaysians even in terms of paying taxes.

Paradoxically, for all their pretense to safeguard national culture and language, neither Najib Abdul Razak nor Hishammuddin Hussein were educated locally, and I am certain they don't send their children to a national school either. So why is Muhyddin not questioning the loyalty of his cabinet colleagues to the country?

If Umno and other BN parties are so obsessed with national education, perhaps they should pass a law that all state assemblypersons, parliamentarians and cabinet ministers - as well as heads of government-linked companies (GLCs) - must have attended a national school. But they will not do so because the first to resign would be Najib and Hishammuddin!

Let There Be No WITCH HUNT

This is a little disappointing for me as I long for revenge against the UMNO napoleons.

But there is more in the big picture.

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PETALING JAYA: There is a fear lurking in the hearts of some that should Pakatan Rakyat form the federal government, it will embark on a witchhunt against the corrupt.

The condemning paper trails, observers noted, might land high-ranking civil servants, politicians and their kin as well as corporate captains behind bars.

The courts would need to work overtime as prosecutions would involve those at the bottom and at the top of the food chain.

Read the rest on the website:

http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2012/06/18/ambiga-let-there-be-no-witchhunt/

Jail Rather Than Fine

Catholic priest prefers jail than pay fine if guilty of illegal assembly

By Debra Chong,
Assistant News Editor
June 16, 2012

KUALA LUMPUR, June 16 — Rev Father Paulino Miranda could be jailed a year and fined up to RM10,000 for taking part in a candlelight vigil four years ago in Petaling Jaya near here despite a new law allowing public assemblies in Malaysia. 

But the Malaysian Catholic priest has said he would rather be locked up than spend a single sen on the fine. 

"I would rather go to jail than pay a fine but only if they find me guilty," Miranda told The Malaysian Insider. 

"Paying the fine would be conceding that what I did was wrong," he added when contacted yesterday. 

Miranda is among 21 people on trial for taking part in an illegal assembly in Petaling Jaya on October 9, 2008 and refusing a police order to disperse, under section 27(5)(a) and section 27(4) of the Police Act 1967 which have since been amended and replaced with a new law allowing peaceful public rallies. 

Despite the change in law, the charge remains. 

The vocal parish priest of the only Catholic church in Shah Alam, the capital of Malaysia's most-developed state, said he had asked his lawyer, Francis Pereira, to write in to the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) in September last year asking for the charges against him to be dropped following the change in law. It was to no avail. 

The public prosecutor wrote back three months later in November 2011 rejecting his application. 

"We will continue the prosecution against your client under section 27(5)(a) and section 27(4) of the Police Act 1967," deputy public prosecutor Mohamad Hanafiah Zakaria said in his letter of reply dated last November 22. 

"I've decided, simply because as far as I am concerned, I did not do anything wrong. 

"The whole thing was a candlelight vigil calling for the abolishment of the ISA," Miranda said, referring to the recently repealed Internal Security Act, which had been criticised as an outdated law used to clamp down on dissent against the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) government. 

The parish priest of the Church of Divine Mercy has made no secret of his stand and says he has also informed the Catholic Archbishop, Tan Sri Murphy Pakiam, of his decision. 

"Yes, I told him. He didn't chide me. He said he'll pray for me," he said. 

Asked what would happen to his church if he had to go to jail, he said: "Oh, don't worry. We're all not indispensable." 

But not everyone agrees with Miranda's decision. His own lawyer seemed concerned for his client's welfare. 

Pereira told The Malaysian Insider he was aware that Miranda had been telling several people about his jail-than-pay-fine stand, but could not sway the priest to change his mind. 

"I am the lawyer, I wouldn't advise something like that. 

"He's got a mind of his own and his own convictions," the lawyer said. 

The prosecution closed its case yesterday. It will be a while before the court makes its ruling. 

Related: http://harismibrahim.wordpress.com/2012/06/16/and-then-there-was-paulino-miranda/

What's On People's Minds

A Facebook appeal by Malaysia's leader for help naming two young Chinese pandas has drawn ridicule with users seizing the opportunity to take shots at the government.

Premier Najib Razak posted a message on his Chinese-language Facebook page Wednesday seeking help naming the pandas, which China will send to Malaysia for 10 years in the latest chapter in Beijing's "panda diplomacy."

More than 300 people commented by Thursday, with many alluding to government corruption or other sensitive political issues.

One user suggested naming the pandas "Bersih" and "Stop-Lynas".

"Bersih" is the name of an NGO coalition that organised a huge April 28 rally for free and fair elections that saw clashes with police, while the other name refers to a controversial rare earths plant being built in eastern Malaysia by Australian mining firm Lynas Corp.

Read the rest:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/malaysia/9332733/Malaysian-appeal-to-name-pandas-backfires.html