I would like to address the shameless murder of at least 10 activists on Gaza-bound aid ships, the Flotilla, boarded by Israeli military forces on Monday. The attack was a disgrace to humanity and a mockery to human rights. The Flotilla was in no way, aiming to de-legitimize the Israeli government through their actions. Their sheer determination to reach out to thousands of Palestinians in need of food and medical aid despite the cruel blockade by the Israeli military should be applauded by people around the world.

It is time for the Government and leaders in Malaysia to reiterate their show of support and commitment to the cause of the Palestinians by recalling the motion unanimously passed by the House of Representatives of the Malaysian Parliament on 12 January 2009 against the Attack in Gaza. The resolution among others, condemn strongly the Israeli military attacks on the Palestinian Territory of Gaza that are claiming the lives of Palestinian civilians, including women, children, infants and the elderly, and urges the full withdrawal of Israel from the Palestinian Territory of Gaza. In addition to that, we also appeal to the international community to immediately extend humanitarian contributions to the people of the Palestinian Territory of Gaza. In light of this resolution, I would like to call everyone, regardless of political ideology or faith to stand united against the attack on Flotilla and to call to the Government of Malaysia to hold on to the 2009 pledge made by issuing a strong message condemning the Israeli government for the atrocious killings.

I hope our Premiere, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak will not follow the foot steps of Barack Obama, in keeping silence over what happened to Flotilla but to stand up against the Israeli military aggression without fear or favour. Therefore, I call for an urgent motion to be tabled in the Parliament next week to further debate and solidify the Malaysian’ government’s firm response to this incident.

NURUL IZZAH ANWAR

Member of Parliament

Lembah Pantai



Teman-teman seperjuangan sekalian,

Tanggal 27 Mei 2010 sekali lagi menyaksikan sambutan Hari Wesak, yang juga dikenali dengan nama lain seperti  Buddha Punima, Hanamatsuri, Fodan mahupun Visakah Bucha  bagi komuniti pelbagai kaum dan kebudayaan di seluruh dunia. Sambutan hari Wesak signifikan bagi memperingati tiga peringkat penting dalam kehidupan Gautama Buddha iaitu kelahiran, pencerahan serta kematian beliau.

Mengikut kepercayaan Buddha, Gautama Buddha tidak menggalakkan pengikutnya memperingati sambutan ini dengan cara meratapi  atau mendewa-dewakan kelahiran, pencerahan serta kematiannya. Dia menggalakkan pengikutnya untuk menggunakan kesempatan yang dimiliki dengan mengukuhkan iltizam dan semangat untuk menjalani kehidupan yang mulia, membangunkan pemikiran, mengamalkan kebaikan dan berusaha untuk membawa keamanan kepada umat manusia.

Oleh itu, kita semua, tidak kiralah penganut agama Buddha, Islam, Kristian mahupun Hindu, haruslah saling berusaha untuk memperbaiki kehidupan dan menyumbang tenaga serta idea kepada usaha-usaha yang menjamin kesejahteraan dan keamanan sejagat. Mari kita gunakan peluang yang ada pada waktu cuti yang agak panjang ini untuk membantu ahli keluarga, teman, jiran mahupun golongan yang berada dalam kesusahan. Semangat sebeginilah yang diharap membantu kita menempuh kehidupan seharian yang penuh dengan pancaroba ekonomi yang mencabar!

Selamat Menyambut Hari Wesak!

PRESS STATEMENT.

Tragic Incident at Brickfields Require Mental Health Reform in the Country

Early this morning, a pair of husband and wife jumped from their 29th floor condominium at Jalan Tun Sambathan, Brickfields after poisoning their own son. I believe the incident triggered many questions and responses from the public as well as the authorities on what were the underlying reasons for the couple to chose such devastating way in taking their child and their own lives.

I am of the view that such tragic incident requires the authorities to conduct full investigations not only on from the criminalogical aspect but also from socio-economic and physcho-social perspective. I emphatized with the fact that the current harsh living condition of urban poor due to commercially driven development and economic disparities would most of the time be too unbearable for the families or individuals affected that it could cause them to suffer from anxiety, depression and suicidal tendencies.

As a consequence, in addition to in-depth investigation, I also call for a proper diagnose of the incident with the view of coming up with proper plan of action to address mental health issues on the ground. I hope that the government will observe similar incidents in order to ensure that any future development programme will not only be commercially driven and profit-oriented but people-centred as well.

–
Nurul Izzah Anwar

PopTeeVee | Nurul Izzah Anwar | The Fairly Current Show.

Synopsis

“Sodomy II” – the media has framed Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s ongoing trial as a sequel. And as with many sequels, the elements are discussed and dissected with greater detail than the original – the formulaic and predictable plot, the returning cast of characters, the introduction of new faces, and the seeming rehash of old angles (not least by the mainstream media – across language lines).

One of the characters in this epic drama is Nurul Izzah Anwar, daughter of the Parti Keadilan Rakyat leader, who has had to come of age in the most public of arenas in the past 10 years. We speak to her about the internal problems affecting PKR, as well as what her father’s trial means for her family and her party.

Nurul Izzah Anwar is the Member of Parliament for Lembah Pantai.

For more info, Check out PopTeeVee

by Deborah Loh from The Nut Graph

Name : Nurul Izzah Anwar

Constituency: Lembah Pantai

Party: PKR (Opposition) 

Years as MP: Since 2008 

Government position: None

Would you support the abolition/review of the Internal Security Act (ISA), in particular the provision that allows for detention without trial?

I began my political education with the knowledge that the ISA is a draconian and oppressive Act that is used in Malaysia to silence dissent related to the Barisan Nasional (BN).

It is a basic principle in law, as well as Islamic teachings, that a person is innocent until proven guilty. That fact led to my active campaign against the ISA, with [non-governmental organisation Suara Rakyat Malaysia or Suaram], back in the political upheaval of 1998 — championing my father’s release from political incarceration, as well as many others held behind bars under the ISA.

That knowledge left such an impression on me that there is no turning back from [my stand that the Act should be abolished]. Terrorist threats or not, it is open to abuse, and has repeatedly been abused by the powers-that-be.

There are sufficient avenues in an open court to deal with concrete threats. Suspects should be charged in court when the authorities have sufficient evidence to do so, i.e. when there is a prima facie case.

2. Do you think Malaysia should be a secular or an Islamic state? Why?

The term “secular” or “Islamic” has been abused repeatedly by the ruling BN coalition, especially Umno. How can anyone categorically state what Malaysia falls under?

I am confident in the Pakatan Rakyat (PR)’s stance to uphold the Federal Constitution. We are not changing Islam as the religion of the federation, or anything else related to Malay [Malaysian] rights, despite what [some] would like to allege against us.

3. How do you define your role as an elected MP? Does Parliament provide you with the necessary infrastructure and support to fulfill your role?

As an elected MP, I am the voice for my constituents.

At the ground level, minus a local government and state assemblypersons, MPs are expected to address local issues and problems, which directly fall under the purview of DBKL (Kuala Lumpur City Hall) — the enforcer, service provider and overall caretaker.

Unfortunately, since DBKL, and even the police force, are not elected, they remain unaccountable to the rakyat. This situation poses quite a challenge to the PR Kuala Lumpur MPs. [Federal constituency allocations also] escape [PR] MPs’ hands and go directly to the ruling party.

It is a steep learning curve that can be useful for MPs as well as their constituents — [to learn] that MPs, as legislators, should be allowed and be given the necessary resources to keep track of Parliament’s day-to-day activity as it makes new laws and be allowed to reject terrible laws, and to check [on] the government’s work.

When in Parliament, each MP should be given research support to aid us during the introduction of bills and specific issues pertinent to the nation. Our Parliament does not provide MPs with the necessary infrastructure and support — a new laptop or personal computer is surely no replacement for consistent research support.

4. Would you support a Freedom of Information Act? Why or why not?

Yes I would. It would go a long way in introducing a culture of transparency and accountability.

However, the current state of the Malaysian Parliament disallows any private member bills (such as the one Subang MP R Sivarasa brought for such an act) to see the light of day. Priority is given for ministerial matters, as well as government-related agenda only.

This situation only feeds the government’s needs while marginalising the needs of civil society.

5. If there was one thing you could do to strengthen parliamentary democracy in Malaysia, what would it be?

Immediately set up a system where select committees are allowed to exist and debate on selected topics.

As it stands now, all 222 MPs are fighting for their chance to speak in the Dewan Rakyat, with no time allocation for specific issues to be debated at length. The DNA Identification Bill 2008, for example, has ramifications affecting all Malaysians. There should have been a select committee created, consisting of MPs from different parties, who are then allowed to debate and come up with a nuanced version of the bill before [it was] approved.

In the long term, we seriously need to relook at just how subservient our Parliament has become — negating any separation of powers that we might think we have.

5. Do you believe in separation of powers between the government, Parliament and judiciary? Why or why not?

Malaysia is governed by three major institutions — the legislative, executive, and judiciary. These three institutions need to function without interference from each other under the doctrine of separation of power.

In turn, the doctrine guarantees that the institutions can work independently so as to avoid one institution from becoming too powerful. Each institution should function as a check and balance to the other. Only when we have total separation of powers can we then call our country truly democratic.

Hence, I call upon the government to take the first step towards this end by [making] our key institutions such as the police and the attorney-general’s chambers answerable to Parliament instead of the prime minister.

The various abuses currently taking place are a direct result of such a powerful Malaysian executive. A clear example is the attorney-general, who is also the legal adviser to the [government] — a clear conflict between [serving] the judiciary and the executive.

As for the judiciary, what more can I say?

Judicial reform is a fundamental need we cannot do without. Unfortunately, I can say there is no sign towards improving judicial integrity. What we have is continuing wastage of public funds on royal commissions. To date, no action has been taken on the recommendations made by the Royal Commission on the VK Lingam tape. Apparently judicial fixing is not a crime in Malaysia.

In sum, we have a long way to go, and we need a huge dose of political will, before true separation of powers becomes a reality in our democracy.