Nurul Izzah Anwar » Parliament

PM’s aides stymie Sabah green activists

nanwar1 — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 05:04:23 +0000

Joe Fernandez
Jul 19, 10
4:19pm

Green activists in Sabah are getting increasingly jittery as the authorities play hide-and-seek with public opinion on a proposed 300MW coal-fired power plant in Lahad Datu.

They turned up at three places – two in Kota Kinabalu and one in Lahad Datu – yesterday to express their concerns over the controversial project.

Prime Minister Mohd Najib Abdul Razak (right), who was in Kota Kinabalu yesterday, was again prevented by his aides from receiving a memorandum on energy options for Sabah put together by Green Surf, an alliance of anti-coal NGOs in the state.

Green Surf activist Cynthia Ong expressed fears that Najib may not be getting the correct information on the plant.

“There are local, national and global movements against this plant. All we wanted was a few moments of his time to explain our stand,” she said.

This is the second such disappointment for the movement which wants to put the permier’s ‘People First, Performance Now’ administration to the test.

Activists had visited Kuala Lumpur last month where they tried to corner Najib in Parliament House, with a memorandum for him. However, he gave them the slip as his aides tied up the activists in delaying tactics.

Yesterday, too, more than 400 villagers from Kampung Sinakut and Lahad Datu protested with banners at Sinakut, the proposed site of the plant in their area (left, artist’s impresion) or anywhere else in the state.

They were led by Kampung Sinakut chief Jimi Uddin, 55, who denied that they were in favour of the coal plant.

“The authorities claim that we are squatters and will be relocated to Sungai Merah which is away from the sea,” said Jimi who has been living in the village since 1970.

“We are fishermen and we depend on the sea. We also have seaweed farms which help us out with extra income.”

The villagers wanted their demonstration to coincide with Najib’s visit. They hoped that their message – ‘we are not squatters, no to the coal plant, no to relocation’ – would get through to the prime minister.

“Over 200 people drove up from Lahad Datu to express their solidarity with the villagers of Sinakut who will be uprooted to make way for the project,” said Vincent Ng of the Sabah Environment Protection Association, a component of Green Surf.

He said the people of Lahad Datu also want to impress upon the Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) that they are strongly opposed to the plant . He noted that the east coast town will be the first to experience the negative environmental impact of the ‘dirty energy’ option.

Concerns ‘not relieved’

Green Surf NGOs turned up in full force at the SESB Open Day, also held yesterday in Kota Kinabalu.

“Briefing after briefing, and all they do is raise even more questions than relieving us on our concerns,” said WorldWide Fund for Nature (WWF) Malaysia policy analyst Lanash Thanda.

“We want to know that no local community will be affected adversely. The state government has promised sustainability and conservation while promoting tourism.”

Lanash wanted panelists at the Open Day to share with participants the details on the type of coal mined, the company that would be dealing with the trade and the exact location of the mine. But she was brushed aside by a panelist with the excuse that “SESB has nothing to hide and furthermore, nothing can be made public due to commercial considerations”.

WWF, a Green Surf member, is not only concerned about the community in Lahad Datu but also that in Kalimantan which has been tipped to provide the coal for the plant, according to Lanash.

“We have to think globally and ensure that we don’t create problems in Kalimantan in addition to those in Lahad Datu.”

Lanash expressed the worry that Sabah had no definite energy policy and was going from crisis to crisis “based on a bundle of contradictions”.

She noted that SESB’s excuse was that the state does not have sufficient biomass and LNG reserves but, at the same time, it is prepared to embrace coal which cannot be mined in Sabah since the only known reserves are in the Malaiu Basin, a world heritage site.

“Why ship our gas to Bintulu (Sarawak) and Japan and end up buying a dirty commodity like coal from Kalimantan? These are questions to which the panelists could not provide any answers. We are being kept in the dark,” she said.

Lanash stressed that Sabahans are losing out in terms of jobs and contracts in the petroleum and petrochemical sector as the resources are being exported to the benefit of other places in Malaysia, including several states without oil reserves, and to other countries.

She expressed dissatisfaction with the manner in which the Environmental Impact Assessment for the proposed coal plant had been carried out.

The methodology used was that for coral reefs, according to her, while Sinakut was largely nipah swamp and mangrove until the late 1980s “which means the bottom is still muddy”.

Sinakut is important for prawns and fish breeding, said Lanash, adding that most of Sabah’s prawns and lobsters come from here.

‘Breathing time’ needed

A panelist inadvertently let the cat out of the bag when he admitted that the proposed coal plant would not use clean coal technology as trumpeted in the media by the Sabah power monopoly. Instead, the plant would now meet “Department of Environment (DOE) standards”.

“There’s a big difference between clean coal technology and meeting DOE standards,” fumed S. M Muthu from the Malaysian Nature Society.

“If you are not using clean coal technology, how can you say that you will be meeting DOE standards? It does not make sense.”

SESB senior general manager for operations, Abdul Razak Sallim, said the power utility cannot afford to experiment with unproven energy sources.

“The 25-year life span of the coal plant and technology will give SESB the breathing time needed to consider alternative energy options,” he said.

Nurul: Disclose report on Norhashimah’s tragic death

nanwar1 — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 10:13:29 +0000

Tuesday, 13 July 2010 19:01 Adrian Phung

The government has been urged to disclose the Public Service Department’s internal investigation report on the tragic death of Training and Diplomatic Officer, Norhashimah Wahid to the public.

There are unanswered questions regarding her death and the government’s refusal to reveal details of the investigation not only makes the situation worse but also deepens the grief of the victim’s family, Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar told reporters at the Parliament lobby today.

Nurul Izzah added that she did not want to politicise this issue but had the responsibility to speak out about the incident so that appropriate action would be taken to prevent similar tragedies from happening again.

“Norhashimah died while she was under the care of the National Institute of Public Administration (INTAN) so suitable compensation should be given to the victim’s family and not an ex-gratia payment.” she added.

An ex-gratia compensation was inadequate as Nurul Izzah felt that it would reflect on the attitude of the Prime Minister’s Department in letting go the issue and was not concerned about the irresponsible officials or coaches who were in charge.

According to Nurul Izzah, she did some research and found out that Tuntas Consultancy Sdn Bhd, which was owned by the sons of former Kuala Langat MP Datuk Dr Shafie Salleh, was awarded the contract of fully managing the training stint located at the Training Academy of Innovation And Motivation.

She wanted to know if the contract was awarded to the company because of political connections and why the government did not initiate action against it, adding that the government should confirm whether it was true that Tuntas Consultancy undertook the training exercise.

Commenting on this issue, Batu MP Chua Tian Chang said this was not the first time that death occurred at national service training camps and no one was held responsible, causing pain and sorrow to the victim’s family members.

Full story here

Death of PTD officer: Umno-linked company off the hook?

nanwar1 — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 14:25:42 +0000

Free Malaysia Today

By Rahmah Ghazali TUE, 13 JUL 2010 18:00

KUALA LUMPUR: Lembah Pantai MP Izzah Anwar today questioned the government’s decision not to charge the company responsible for training diplomatic and administrative officers with Nor Hashimah Wahid’s death on May 31.

Nurul Izzah said the Umno-linked company, Tuntas Consultancy Sdn Bhd, was awarded a government contract to oversee the training centres and as such, should also be held responsible.

She said it was grossly unfair to only “transfer” the six government officers involved in the programme and “free” the company, which is owned by the off-springs of former Higher Education Minister and ex-Kuala Langat MP Shafie Salleh.

“Why are the government servants made the scapegoats?

“If it is true that the contract was given to Tuntas, why are their instructors let off the hook?” she asked.

She has also questioned the type of training provided by the firm and the quality of the instructors.

Nor Hashimah, who fell unconscious during the commando-style training, died after drifting in and out of consciousness for four days. She died of severe pneumonia with multiple organ failure.

Following this, many reports have indicated that the 30-year-old mother was “bullied” and was even made to drink a “stocking juice” by an instructor at Selangor Enforcement Training Centre in Jugra, Banting.

Nor Hashimah’s family has alleged that the camp management only took her to Banting Hospital when her condition worsened and she had breathing difficulties.

She was warded for a day but was forced to continue with her training after her discharge.

Nurul Izzah also expressed her disappointment with the ex-gratia settlement paid by the government to the victim’s family as compensation.

“The payment made is nothing out of the ordinary as it is usually paid to those who died of natural causes (unlike Nor Hashimah’s),” she said.

Wildlife Bill 2010

nanwar1 — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 14:10:12 +0000

Dear friends,

For those of you who would like more details on the specific clauses we were concerned about, pls browse through the following.

And.. for the record, PR Lawmakers are FOR the Wildlife Bill 2010

KRITIKAN BERKAITAN RANG UNDANG

Open Letter on the Wildlife Bill (printable)

Expanding Pakatan bullish on next GE

nanwar1 — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 10:36:10 +0000

By Shannon Teoh

July 05, 2010

Pakatan Rakyat leaders attend the launch of FoPR in London yesterday, July 4, 2010. — Picture by Danny Lim

LONDON, July 5 — Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders continued their bullish stance towards a possible snap election by insisting that they would win big, when launching an outreach programme here yesterday.

Despite losing five MPs this year, they further taunted Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak by stating that the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition was running scared.

“Umno is in a state of panic. They see enemies everywhere,” PR secretariat chief Datuk Zaid Ibrahim told a crowd of over 200 at the launch of Friends of Pakatan Rakyat (FoPR) in London.

Other leaders at the FoPR launch, such as PAS treasurer Dr Mohd Hatta Ramli, DAP’s Kepong MP Dr Tan Seng Giaw and Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar, were also confident of expanding their historic wins in Election 2008 into the next general election, which must be held by 2013.

Their upbeat mood followed Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s statement last week that PR would be ready should BN opt to dissolve Parliament early.

The government’s reluctance to upset the majority Malays has led to policy reversals and reform pullbacks that are fuelling talk Najib may be readying to get his own mandate as prime minister. The last election was led by Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who stepped down in April 2009.

Najib raised constituency allocations for BN MPs from RM1 million to RM1.5 million last month, leading to further speculation.

Dr Hatta expressed his belief that there was a significant possibility of a snap election after Umno vice president Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said yesterday that the time had come for BN to go to the polls to prove that they have overcome past mistakes.

“If it’s in September, we will win big. If it’s next year, we will win even bigger,” the Kuala Krai MP said.

Zaid added that “ministers are talking rubbish all the time, because they are panicking over early elections.

“When you start banning newspapers, charging people for sedition and play races against each other and manufacture enemies, that’s the sign of an emerging fascist government. We cannot afford to let that happen,” the former de facto law minister said.

He also claimed that the constant persecution of opposition figures while Umno figures got away with outrageous statements was evidence that the Malay party had “destroyed all sense of fairness in the system.”

“Najib can blatantly buy elections by promising millions because they know they will never be prosecuted,” he said, referring to his recent defeat in the Hulu Selangor by-elections where the prime minister handed out millions to sway voters including RM3 million he promised to a Chinese school if BN won the poll as well, as in the Sibu by-election where the prime minister made a similar appeal.

Nurul Izzah expounded on how PR was more than just “not BN”, but a viable alternative today.

Nurul, who is Anwar’s eldest daughter, stressed that PR had established a Common Policy Framework; while in Selangor, it has introduced a select committee to ensure the integrity of lawmakers and are set to table the Freedom of Information Act in the state assembly.

“The only innovation from BN is Perkasa,” she said, referring to the Malay rights group led by Pasir Mas MP Datuk Ibrahim Ali.

“Change will come and [the] next general election will not be something easily forgotten by BN,” she promised.

Dr Hatta added that in the last elections, DAP, PKR and PAS had only formed an electoral pact to avoid three-corner fights and campaigned individually, whereas this time they would campaign together and make sacrifices for each other.

“This administration should have been over in the last general election. Victory is within reach,” he said.

Dr Tan also insisted that PR would not wait to capture government state-by-state but would be taking over both federal and state governments “simultaneously.”

“While we cannot ensure that PR will be 100 per cent clean once we are in government, we promise that we will show no mercy to those who are corrupt. We must have integrity,” the DAP vice-chairman said.

The Launch of Friends of Pakatan Rakyat

nanwar1 — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 09:38:59 +0000

Friday, 02 July 2010

Friends of Pakatan Rakyat (FPR) is being officially launched as an organisation to rally the support of Malaysians who share the vision of the Pakatan Rakyat coalition for a better Malaysia. The launch will be held on the Sunday 4th of July 2010 in London and officiated by Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, the Pakatan Rakyat Secretariat Coordinator.

Speakers at the event will also include the ineffable Raja Petra Kamarudin as well as speakers from PAS and DAP together with a number of civil society activists sharing their experiences in shaping the agenda of change in Malaysia.

Naturally we would like to attract as many as possible particularly the “unconverted” to experience first hand the depth of support that currently exists globally amongst Malaysians living abroad particularly in the UK. The Friends of Pakatan Rakyat (FOPR) movement is currently being duplicated in various countries throughout Europe, Canada, USA, New Zealand, Australia, Asia, etc. The objective is to harness the global strength of highly qualified Malaysians and former Malaysians living and working abroad to tap into their expertise and financial strength in preparedness for GE 13.

Date: Sunday 4th of July

Time: 10.30 am to 4pm.
Registration begins at 10am

Venue: Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, Holborn, London WC1R 4RL

Map: http://tinyurl.com/35d6kre

The programme for the day is as follows:
1000 Registration
Meet civil society activists

1100 Introduction & Welcome address by MC in the Main Hall

1110 Opening Address by Pro tem Chairman of Friends of Pakatan Rakyat – Brian Morais

1130 Speech by Raja Petra Kamarudin, Malaysia Today

1150 Speech by YB Dr Tan Seng Giaw, DAP Deputy Chairman and 7th Term MP Kepong

1210 Introduction to Civil Society Movements
Fair Comment
Abolish ISA Movement UK
Malaysia Freedom Film Festival
1225 Speech by Ustaz Idris Ahmad, Ketua Penerangan PAS

1245 Canapès & Lunch served by Mango Tree, Top Fine
Cuisine Restaurant, Belgravia, London … www.mangotree.org.uk

1400 Keynote speech by Pakatan Rakyat Secretariat Coordinator for PKR – Datuk Zaid Ibrahim

1430 Speech by YB Nurul Izzah Anwar, PKR MP for Lembah Pantai

1500 Q & A session

1630 End of Conference
This event will represent the largest gathering of overseas Malaysians max. possible 500 people, to demand a nation that we can all be proud and call home.

Do bring along your entire family.

For those with young children families, provisions will be made for a playroom and creche.

To join us on this momentous occasion, please indicate your interest by registering online athttp://www.eventbrite.com/event/714363681.

Do register early as seats are limited and pass this invitation to your other friends.

Be part of the torch that lights the spirit of hope for Malaysia.

FRIENDS OF PAKATAN RAKYAT

Pakatan outreach extends to UK

nanwar1 — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 16:05:35 +0000

Danny Lim
Jul 5, 10
3:23pm

As rumours of a snap general election intensify, Pakatan Rakyat is taking its fight overseas with the launch of their Friends for Pakatan Rakyat (FoPR) club in London yesterday.

FoPR chairperson Brain Morais estimated that 20,000-30,000 Malaysians live in London alone.

They represent a potential political support group that could channel its energies and resources through the club.

For the launch, Pakatan top guns flew in from Malaysia to massage the morale of overseas supporters and run through a lengthy checklist of BN blemishes, whilst allaying concerns about problems within the coalition, during a five-hour wide-ranging forum.

Above all, the message was to exude confidence in Pakatan’s ability to win the next general election, adding that the Sibu by-election was the precursor to BN’s downfall.

PKR supreme council member Zaid Ibrahim (right) said this has led to a situation where BN would attack imaginary enemies or create dodgy excuses to taint rivals.

Among others, he cited the banning of cartoon books by Zulkiflee Anwar Ulhaque, better known as Zunar, and attempts to taint his Manchester rendevous with fugitive blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin as a criminal act.

“(BN) are in a state of panic, they now see enemies everywhere,” said Zaid, who later stated confidently that Pakatan’s takeover of Putrajaya is inevitable and near.

Withholding dissolution

As the cheerleading baton passed on to PAS treasurer Hatta Ramli, he said BN bigwigs such as Umno vice-president Hishammuddin Hussein have dropped wide hints that a general election is looming.

“Which is September I guess. If it is, I think we will win big,” said Hatta (left).

He then mooted the possibility of Pakatan-held states of Kelantan, Kedah, Penang and Selangor choosing not to dissolve their respective state legislative assemblies as a tactical manoeuvre.

“I’m trying to persuade our leaders…. I hope, or we hope, that the states now controlled by Pakatan will not join the fray and will not dissolve out state assembly.

“We have a duty to do. We have been given the task to rule for five years. We cannot run away from our responsibilities,” he said.

Hatta said that should a snap election be called, this scenario will allow Pakatan to concentrate its efforts on capturing other states, particularly the “difficult” states of Johor, Sabah and Malacca.

BN’s only innovation

The final speaker, Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar, took a more nuanced perspective and invited her audience to appreciate the fact that unlike the BN, Pakatan is open to criticism and willing to improve itself.

“You shouldn’t choose Pakatan just because we are the antithesis to BN. We have our weaknesses, but we have also been making progress,” she said.

Eager to quote policy positions, she cited successes like the implementation of Selangor Select Committee on Competency, Accountability and Transparency which acts as a internal check-and-balance mechanism.

“(Pakatan) distinguishes the power of the state, the state assembly and the powers of the executive,” said Nurul Izzah, adding that with the BN, the lines are opaque.

Nurul Izzah (left) also took a jibe at Umno’s apparent attempts to “outsource” its racial agenda to controversial Malay rights advocate Perkasa.

“In the 10th Malaysia plan, innovation is said to be the main driver of economic growth. The only innovation (thus far) seems to be Perkasa,” she quipped.

“Ibrahim Ali… he is a creature who has to be avoided at all cost… The prime minister has allowed the voice of these narcissistic, narrow-minded, dangerous Malays and allowed (Dr) Mahathir (Mohamad) to back them up, to shore up support, supposedly for Umno, at what cost?”

Other personalities at the event were fugitive blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin, private investigator in exile P Balasubramaniam (in red shirt), and Tumpat MP Kamaruddin Jaafar.

The event was held at the Conway Hall, which is reputed as a hub for free speech and previously a platform for speakers such as author Salman Rushdie.

For Pakatan, the cost of flying its leaders to London will be far outweighed by the votes it can achieve, if FoPR can get even half as many Malaysian Londoners to make the trip back home.

DANNY LIM is a freelance writer and photographer currently based in the UK.

Nurul Izzah wants speed camera contract reviewed

nanwar1 — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 11:08:48 +0000

Free Malaysia Today

By Teoh El Sen SAT, 03 JUL 2010 00:58

PETALING JAYA: Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar today urged the Transport Ministry to review an “unfair” decision it made to award two companies a multi-million-ringgit contract for a nationwide implementation of a speed camera system to catch traffic offenders.

FMT yesterday reported that local company Tess Capital Sdn Bhd claimed that it has been sidelined in the award of the RM700 million contract for the Automated Enforcement System (AES). The deal went to the two companies whose AES is based on foreign technology.

The AES is made up of cameras installed at accident-prone areas and traffic light junctions. The devices can detect speeding vehicles and those who beat the red light.

Tess Capital claimed that its AES, the product of its homegrown technology, is equal, if not better, than its competitors.

Its executive director Soh Joon Hang said he has lodged a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to investigate what he claimed was the abuse of power and “manipulation” by Road Transport Department over the tender process in 2007.

Tess Capital was established in 2004 and later given an MSC (Multimedia Super Corridor) status a year later. Soh said his company was officially recognised as AES supplier by the New South Wales government after it had passed a stringent 18-month trial in 2008.

‘Make dealings transparent’

Said Nurul Izzah: “I think Transport Minister Kong Cho Ha should seriously address this issue (awarding the contract) and find out how this could have taken place. This is wrong.”

She added that Tess Capital deserved to know why it was not chosen or least be treated fairly.

“It is hard enough to research and develop something locally with your own funds. If your own government doesn’t support your initiative, it will eventually discourage other local companies

from developing their own technology,” she said.

Nurul Izzah said it is widely known that the Transport Ministry has “always given priority” to certain companies, and urged for transparency in its dealings.

“One of the points in the 10th Malaysia Plan was to support innovation to spur economic growth. In the last stimulus package, the government allocated RM10 billion for the Working Capital Guarantee Scheme and invariably the funds will be given to government-tendered projects — meaning crony companies. But only RM150 million was set aside for the creation of innovative high-tech companies. Why?”

“If we are really supporting innovation, the ones in need of backing are companies like Tess Capital. I am glad that Tess Capital is brave enough to lodge a report with the MACC,” she said.

“But now we must ensure that the MACC will investigate this matter properly. Is the tender process in accordance with international standards?”

Nurul Izzah also questioned whether the ministry had taken into account Tess Capital’s MSC status.

“What’s the use of awarding that status if it doesn’t help our local companies win a tender? The Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry has complained that many companies have not survived long; is this because of our government’s attitude?”

Nurul Izzah said the Tess Capital case was only the tip of the iceberg, adding that the same problem also plagues all small and medium enterprises in the country.

“It (awarding contracts) is really skewed towards those ’special’ companies,” she said.

‘Be fair to all lawmakers’

nanwar1 — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 15:43:30 +0000

By G Vinod FRI, 02 JUL 2010 10:54

KUALA LUMPUR: Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar expressed her disappointment over Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s announcement that only Barisan Nasional lawmakers will get an increase in their allocations.

The BN Backbenchers Club chairman Bung Moktar Radin today announced that BN lawmakers will receive RM1.5 million in allocations this year, compared with the previous RM1 million.

“It is highly irresponsible of the premier to do such a thing,”she said.

“The prime minister should be fair to all lawmakers as the the fund belongs to the taxpayers.”

Nurul Izzah added this is another way for Najib to placate his members in the ruling coalition.

She also queried whether the additional funds will be used on their respective constituencies.

“Right now, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is investigating on how we spend our allowances but the MACC is pussyfooting when it comes to BN lawmakers,” Nurul Izzah said.

Meanwhile, Kapar MP S Manickavasagam said Najib’s move is unconstitutional.

“Both BN and Pakatan Rakyat lawmakers are elected by the people. So why discriminate?” he asked.

He also spoke of the woes suffered by Pakatan MPs.

“I have not received any allocation from the federal government for the past two years. Other Pakatan lawmakers are facing the same problem.”

“Fortunately, the Selangor government gives me some funds but it is not enough. I even have to use my own money to serve my constituents,” he said.

He added that if the prime minister is really a person who puts the people’s interest first, he should allocate funds to all lawmakers irrespective of their political affiliations.

“In the end, it is the people who will be getting the benefit,” he said.

Suara Keadilan suspended

nanwar1 — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 15:19:03 +0000

By Patrick Lee FRI, 02 JUL 2010 14:22

FULL REPORT PETALING JAYA: The Home Ministry has suspended the printing permit of PKR organ Suara Keadilan.

The decision came three days after the ministry slapped the publication with a seven-day deadline to explain a controversial article.

“After discussing the matter yesterday, the ministry came to the conclusion that it is not satisfied with the answer given by Suara Keadilan,” said the ministry’s al-Quran and text control department secretary Zaitun Samad in a statement.

According to Zaitun, the decision was made after reviewing the newspaper’s reply to the ministry’s show-cause letter on Tuesday regarding the “Felda Bankrupt” article in its June 22-29 edition.

She said the ministry received the reply on June 30 and held a meeting the next day to discuss the matter with regard to the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984.

“We have sent a letter to Suara Keadilan’s printers instructing them to discontinue publication until a decision is made regarding the paper’s request for a permit renewal,” she added.

Lawyer: We’re not surprised

Suara Keadilan’s lawyer Shamsul Iskandar told FMT that he was not surprised by the ministry’s decision.

He also claimed that Suara Keadilan never received the three show-cause letters supposedly sent by the ministry.

When Suara Keadilan met with ministry officials on Monday, they were told that it was not the ministry’s responsibility to provide them with copies of the letters.

The paper was then told through Zaitun that it would be furnished with these letters for its benefit.

“It didn’t matter, because they went ahead and suspended our permit,” Shamsul said. “We have fully cooperated with the ministry and asked for a bit of time to come out with the response to these letters.”

Shamsul also said that Suara Keadilan was not informed of the ministry’s decision and had to learn about it through the media.

FMT also learnt that Suara Keadilan’s editors would be attending a special meeting tonight regarding the matter.

Asked if the paper had the right to appeal against the decision, Shamsul said that it was possible but it was up to the ministry to consider it.

‘Political interference’

In an immediate response, PKR leader Tan Kee Kwong condemned the government’s decision to suspend Suara Keadilan’s permit.

“Nobody knows what the hell is going on. But when people want to tell the truth, you ban them,” he said.

The former land and cooperatives deputy minister was the first to break the news on Felda’s alleged cash reserve loss in early June.

Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar described the ministry’s decision as “a clear-cut example of political interference”.

“The Felda suit has yet to be heard in court, and the ministry has already taken action,” she said, referring to Felda’s announcement yesterday that it would sue the PKR organ for RM200 million.

Nurul Izzah also criticised the government over its lack of seriousness in allowing media freedom in the country.

Asked if PKR expected the suspension, she said: “We were expecting the worst, but we did not think it would be as swift as this.”

Meanwhile, the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) believes the home ministry’s action was to send a message to the other publications.

“The ministry has control over all publications in the country. It is a consolidation of political power,” said Chuah Siew Eng, the CIJ publicity officer.

“The action against Suara Keadilan is a reminder to the other media (in the country) not to cross the line,” he added.