Let this year’s Merdeka Day celebration spark a new national discourse on rewriting the Malaysian script so that it focuses on our “common humanity”, says Lembah Pantai member of parliamant (MP) Nurul Izzah Anwar of PKR.

In an email interview, Nurul Izzah, 30, speaks about the crucial need to replace the old national script, which continues to dwell on the spectre of inter-communal strife, and says politicians should not stand in the way of promoting patriotism and nationalism.

Below are her answers to our Merdeka Day questions.

What, to your mind, should be the next major goal for Malaysians?
We need a new script to follow, as the old script continues to play on the bogeyman of inter-communal strife and Malay insecurities… To achieve this, we need a new era of constructive engagement involving all stakeholders to chart a new script based on the principles of a modern, progressive economy and the ideals of our founding fathers.

Our country has lost its competitiveness. It has become more risky and less attractive for foreign investment. Foreign investments are crucial for development and prosperity as we cannot rely solely on domestic-led investments.

Economic reforms are a prerequisite, but not sufficient, to achieve the performance of a high-income economy. Civil reform is a necessary step.

In today’s borderless world, what does independence mean to you?
Independence, in a democratic and pluralistic society, means freedom in all forms as dictated by our constitution… We must look forward. We must be allowed to pursue our dreams and fulfil our potential as a people and nation that has historically been inclusive and diverse.

In fact, diversity is our nation’s foundation and it is this diversity that will make us stronger and help us grow as a proud and prosperous nation.

What is your idea of nationalism and national cohesiveness?
Our identity must be Malaysian. Our interest must be the Malaysian interest.

By celebrating our differences, we can then frame a new national script that will make us a more humanistic nation. At the core of our ethnic existence lies our common humanity, which must be our reason for a common identity and polity that is Malaysia.

Rhetorics aside, we need all these ideals to be translated into action. Politicians should lead the charge, not stand in the way of promoting true patriotism and nationalism.

Is Malaysia heading in the right direction as a society? What would you change about the national outlook?
Political tension and temperature are rising due to the irresponsible play, by certain groups, on Malay insecurities. We must not allow “ultra” views to gain mainstream support or we might regress to tribalism and feudalism. My vision is for Malays to rise as a confident society.

The real debate should be about how, after 53 years of independence, the Malays have come to perceive themselves as being more insecure, disadvantaged and under siege. Why have the numerous government policies intended to create a more equitable and just society, but now undermined by corruption and institutional abuse, been allowed to continue unchallenged?

This is the national outlook or consciousness that I would like to see change. (I would like for us to think that) we can be truly independent, because there is hope which lies in the hearts of all Malaysians.

What are Malaysia’s prospects for the next generation?
The outlook is bright and promising. We are witnessing an unstoppable generational shift, a new consciousness brought about by… [a] movement of a new Malaysian generation (driven) by the information age.

No longer are we blinded or misled by propaganda and mere rhetoric. We understand political theatrics as we see it. We feel empowered and have the God-given right to chart our own future by writing our own Malaysian script. We sense that the tide of history is on our side.

We are optimistic and ever hopeful that this new generation is on the edge of a new beginning. All we have to do is believe and just do the right thing.

What is your wish for Malaysia this Merdeka Day?
My wish is for all Malaysians to stand up and claim our right to live in the spirit of Merdeka. That’s all we have to do now as we face the grumblings and crumbling of the old order.

This article appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, August 30 2010.

Kehadiran YB Nurul Izzah ke Madrasah Al-Falah (lama) pada 29 ogos 2010 disambut meriah oleh masyarakat sekitar. Majlis berbuka puasa dan pemberian sumbangan Ramadhan kepada fakir miskin dan anak yatim.

Program ini dianjurkan oleh Madrasah Al-Falah dan turut dihadiri oleh Kepimpinan PAS Lembah Pantai. Keramahan masyarakat Lembah Pantai bersama YB Nurul Izzah membuktikan sokongan padu terhadap kepimpinan YB Nurul Izzah di Lembah Pantai

FreeMalaysiaToday By Teoh El Sen

MON, 30 AUG 2010 21:29

PUTRAJAYA: Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar is planning to start her very own newspaper, which would be a Malay daily called “Utusan Rakyat”.

The PKR leader earlier today submitted a letter of intent to Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein at the latter’s office to assist in speeding up her application for a publication permit.

Nurul Izzah’s application comes in the wake of the Home Ministry’s recent decision not to renew the permit of Suara Keadilan, a PKR news organ, after the permit expired on June 30.

The ministry had sent a show-cause letter seeking explanation over several articles, including the one entitled “Felda Bangkrap”(Felda bankrupt). Felda has since filed a suit against the paper over the “bankruptcy” allegation.

Asked if “Utusan Rakyat” was a revival or a spin-off from Suara Keadilan, Nurul Izzah said: “This is going to be different, it is not a party organ. We are going to be non-partisan. We will be free and independent.”

She said the paper would focus on national issues alongside with another PKR-linked Malay weekly “Mingguan Era”, which focuses on local issues in the Klang Valley. She also welcomed funds or contributions from writers.

Nurul Izzah, who will act as the editor-in-chief, said she was applying for a permit in her personal capacity as a citizen of Malaysia and not as an MP or politician.

She said the paper would be funded by several business individuals and activists.

Constructive engagement

Nurul Izzah said that her application form, which requires a mock-up of the first issue for the ministry, will be sent in by Sept 16.

“I hope the minister would grant us the licence,” she said.

“After Umno leaders had alleged that I am a traitor and that I had jeopardised national security, I realised that we needed to have constructive engagement on policy issues,” Nurul said, adding that the submarine issue was based on official information in Parliament.

Hishammuddin had said Nurul Izzah had bad-mouthed the country abroad when commenting on an interview she gave to an Indonesian newspaper recently.

In the interview, she was alleged to have belittled the capabilityof the country’s submarines.

Nurul Izzah said the aim of starting the newspaper was to create a platform for constructive engagement of all parties to better develop the country.

“Also, our prime minister recently said that we now have better media freedom today, and I would like to challenge and put his statement to the test,” she said.

She added that she would like to prove that freedom of speech really exists after 53 years of independence.

“The paper aims to raise the country’s image by proving that Malaysia is truly democratic and also to increase the confidence of Malaysians as well as foreign investors,” she said.

“This is also to fulfil my wish to not only speak out on foreign soil but also in our beloved Malaysia,” she said.

Debat Agung Malaysia

Wacana bersama Perkasa untuk permulaan baru Malaysia:

Malaysia atau Malaysaja?

Oleh Nurul Izzah Anwar

Mukadimah

Perkasa mendakwa mempertahankan hak keistimewaan orang Melayu dalam kepelbagaian kaum di Malaysia. Hak-hak ini kononnya tidak boleh dicabar, dibincang dan kekal abadi. Mereka yang tidak bersetuju dianggap penderhaka dan disuruh meninggalkan Malaysia.

Jemputan untuk perbincangan

Sempena sambutan Kemerdekaan dan semangat Ramadhan, saya ingin menjemput Perkasa untuk berwacana dalam membentuk halatuju baru Malaysia bersama saya.

Saya mahu bertanya kepada Perkasa, beberapa persoalan pokok untuk sama-sama memahami dan mencari penyelesaian kepada krisis yang dikatakan melanda orang-orang Melayu.

Saya percaya Perkasa adalah suara paling lantang walaupun tidak semestinya majoriti, yang mewakili orang-orang Melayu. Dalam erti kata lain, Perkasa dicipta atas imej dan bayangan Umno.

Jika Perkasa sudi untuk berwacana demi manfaat bersama, kemungkinan ia akan dapat menjawab persoalan yang membelenggu orang Melayu dan mengakhiri perbincangan ini buat selama-lamanya.

Untuk menjalankan dialog atau wacana yang jujur, saya mencadangkan kita menerima empat perkara pokok.

Pertamanya dialog itu haruslah berasaskan kepada dokumen yang dipersetujui. Sama ada Perlembagaan Persekutuan? Perlembagaan Umno atau Perlembagaan Perkasa?

Sekiranya persetujuan ini gagal dicapai, maka dialog ini tidak mungkin berjaya dan akan berakhir sebagai perbincangan sehala.

Bagaimanapun, melihat bagaimana Perkasa terus merujuk Perkara 153 Perlembagaan Persekutuan, bolehlah diandaikan dokumen itu akan menjadi standard rujukan bagi dialog tersebut.

Kedua, selepas dokumen rujukan dipersetujui, isu tafsiran perlembagaan juga harus dipersetujui.

Sebagai contoh, perlembagaan tidak menyebut secara langsung atau menggunakan istilah “Hak Istimewa Orang Melayu.” Istilah yang digunakan dalam Perkara 153 adalah “Kedudukan Istimewa Orang Melayu.”

Fasal itu menyentuh dengan jelas kuasa-kuasa yang ada pada Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di Pertuan Agong dalam memastikan kedudukan orang Melayu dalam perkhidmatan awam, institusi pengajian tinggi selain kuota dalam pembahagian biasiswa, dan permit serta lesen untuk perniagaan dan perdagangan yang diperuntukkan untuk orang Melayu dan Bumiputera Sabah dan Sarawak.

Satu lagi contoh menarik adalah untuk mengimbangi peruntukan “Kedudukan Istimewa” orang Melayu dengan Fasal 8(1) bahawa “Semua orang adalah sama rata di sisi undang-undang dan berhak mendapat perlindungan yang sama rata di sisi undang-undang”; dan Fasal 8(2): Kecuali sebagaimana yang dibenarkan dengan nyata oleh Perlembagaan ini tidak boleh ada diskriminasi terhadap warganegara semata-mata atas alasan agama, ras, keturunan, tempat lahir atau jantina dalam mana-mana undang-undang atau dalam pelantikan kepada apa-apa jawatan atau pekerjaan di bawah sesuatu pihak berkuasa awam atau dalam pentadbiran mana-mana undang-undang yang berhubungan dengan pemerolehan, pemegangan atau pelupusan harta atau berhubungan dengan penubuhan atau penjalanan apa-apa pertukangan, perniagaan, profesion, kerjaya atau pekerjaan.

Sebaiknya satu entiti seperti Mahkamah Perlembagaan atau sekurang-kurangnya Majlis Perlembagaan yang dilantik Yang diPertuan Agong bertindak sebagai pentafsir muktamad dalam isu-isu perlembagaan.

Peranan Yang di Pertuan Agong dalam penafsiran perlembagaan sememangnya disebut dalam Perkara 153, “Menjadi tanggungjawab Yang di-Pertuan Agong untuk melindungi kedudukan istimewa orang Melayu dan anak negeri mana-mana antara Negeri Sabah dan Sarawak dan kepentingan sah kaum-kaum lain mengikut peruntukan Perkara ini.”

Bagaimanapun, perlu dinyatakan di sini bahawa pihak kehakiman adalah berperanan sebagai pentafsir kepada isu-isu perlembagaan di Malaysia.

Untuk tujuan dialog, kedua-dua pihak bolehlah mengemukakan tafsiran sendiri, tetapi ianya hendaklah boleh dicabar kemudiannya.

Ketiga, dialog ini hendaklah dibuat secara terbuka dan dipersembahkan kepada orang awam untuk maklum balas dan pengesahan.

Sudah tentu, proses referendum adalah lebih ideal dengan isu-isu fundamental dapat ditentukan oleh rakyat dan semua pihak terikat dengan keputusan itu.

Sebagai alternatif, maklum balas awam untuk komen dan mekanisme cadangan melalui surat atau internet sudah cukup baik. Ianya tidak mengikat tetapi mencukupi untuk mengukur penglibatan awam, yang sudah tentunya akan mengayakan proses demokrasi.

Keempat, saya mencadangkan format dialog seperti berikut, saya akan membentangkan pandangan saya melalui artikel terbuka ini untuk disanggah oleh Perkasa dan kemudian terserah kepada Perkasa untuk membentangkan versi mereka bagi tujuan sanggahan saya.

Hasilnya bolehlah dipersembahkan kepada awam untuk komen dan cadangan.

Sebagai tanda keikhlasan, saya juga menjemput Perkasa untuk berdebat secara terbuka dengan disiarkan oleh televisyen.

Kaedah Dialog

Saya juga mencadangkan supaya Perkasa dan juga saya tidak melibatkan mana-mana parti politik dalam membentangkan pandangan.

Mungkin UMNO tidak bersetuju dengan pandangan Perkasa dan Pakatan Rakyat juga mungkin tidak menerima pandangan saya. Namun semua parti politik boleh melibatkan diri dalam memberikan cadangan dan maklum balas sekiranya mereka sudi.

Untuk mengelakkan mengeluarkan kenyataan berbentuk hasutan saya juga mencadangkan pandangan yang dikeluarkan dibuat sebagai pertanyaan untuk penjelasan dan bukannya cabaran untuk meminda perlembagaan.

Saya percaya Perkasa dan juga saya adalah anak Malaysia sebenar dan bersifat patriotik, cuma pandangan sahaja yang berbeza.

Bagaimanapun, sekiranya Perkasa enggan untuk menerima jemputan saya ini, cukuplah untuk rakyat dan sejarah melihat dialog ini sebagai usaha ikhlas saya untuk menghulurkan salam, demi untuk negara kita.

Soalan Pertama Saya; Siapakah Melayu?

Fasal 160 Perlembagaan Persekutuan mentakrif orang Melayu sebagai “seseorang yang menganuti agama Islam, lazim bercakap bahasa Melayu, menurut adat Melayu dan yang lahir sebelum Hari Merdeka di Persekutuan atau Singapura atau yang lahir sebelum Hari Merdeka dan ibu atau bapanya telah lahir di Persekutuan atau di Singapura, atau yang pada Hari Merdeka berdomisil di Persekutuan atau di Singapura; atau ialah zuriat seseorang yang sedemikian.”

Oleh itu, di sisi perlembagaan, orang Melayu adalah mereka yang bercakap bahasa tersebut, beragama Islam dan mengikut adat-resam orang Melayu.

Soalan saya kepada Perkasa adalah, dari segi spiritual dan intellektual, adakah Melayu menerima ketidakadilan, salah guna kuasa, rasuah, undang-undang anti-demokrasi, kehakisan institusi negara untuk menjadikan orang Melayu sebagai Bangsa Agung di Malaysia, dengan hak-hak istimewanya yang tidak boleh dikongsi oleh warga yang bukan Melayu?

Soalan kedua saya, apakah hak istimewa orang Melayui?

Hak istimewa orang Melayu adalah konstruk ideologi dan falsafah dan bukannya diperuntukkan oleh perlembagaan.

Fasal 153 hanya menyebut “Kedudukan Istimewa” orang Melayu dan bukannya “Hak-hak Istimewa” orang Melayu.

Istilah hak-hak istimewa orang Melayu membawa kepada “kontrak sosial” yang akhirnya membentuk “Agenda Melayu” yang dipanjangkan untuk merangkumkan istilah “Hak Istimewa Melayu.”

Kontrak Sosial menyatakan bahawa masyarakat Melayu menikmati hak-hak tertentu atas balasan kepada hak kewarganegaraan yang diberikan kepada bukan Melayu menjelang kemerdekaan oleh para pengasas negara kita seperti mana yang terkandung dalam Fasal 14-18, Bab 1 Bahagian III-Kewarganegaraan.

Hak-hak ini sering dirujuk sebagai “Agenda Melayu” yang merangkumi peruntukan untuk menjaga kedudukan Raja-Raja Melayu dengan Yang di-Pertuan Agong dipilih dari kalangan Raja-Raja. Islam menjadi agama kebangsaan dan bahasa Melayu diangkat sebagai bahasa kebangsaan. “Agenda Melayu” turut merangkumi peruntukan-peruntukan tentang hak-hak ekonomi seperti terkandung dalam Fasal 153.

Perlu juga dinyatakan di sini, bahawa mengikut Suruhanjaya Reid yang merangka perlembagaan, Fasal 153 hanyalah tindakan sementara untuk merapatkan jurang antara kaum yang perlu dikaji keperluannya oleh Parlimen selepas 15 tahun.

Sepatutnya ia dikaji semula pada 1972, bagaimanapun rusuhan kaum 1969 mengubah perkara ini. Usaha dibuat untuk membuang tempoh luput Fasal 153, dan Akta Hasutan yang dipinda pada 1971 mengharamkan perbincangan daripada dibuat di Parlimen.

Hak-hak ekonomi kemudiannya diinstitusikan selepas rusuhan kaum 1969, Dasar Ekonomi Baru (DEB) kemudiannya dirangkumkan kedalam Dasar Pembangunan Baru (DPB) pada 1990 hingga tahun 2000 dan kini kita berada dalam tahun terakhir Rancangan Jangka Panjang Ketiga (RJP3 2000-2010) yang juga mengandungi Dasar Wawasan Negara (DWN).

Bagaimanapun, kami mengalu-alukan pengumuman untuk mengubah dasar afirmatif daripada berasaskan kaum kepada yang berasaskan keperluan seperti yang diumumkan dalam Model Ekonomi Baru (MEB), bagaimanapun berdasarkan kepada pengalaman lalu, tindakan afirmatif berdasarkan kepada hubungan pastinya akan kekal. Kita akan terus melihat pembahagian kekayaan yang memihak kepada kroni-kroni elit pemerintah.

Dasar pro-kroni ini telah menjadi “Hak dan Keistimewaan Orang Melayu” yang menjadi asas kepada “Ketuanan Melayu” yang terus menghantui MEB yang diumumkan oleh Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Soalan saya kepada Perkasa adalah, adakah konsep hak istimewa orang Melayu kini menjadi konvensyen kekal dalam dasar dan amalan dan perlu diterima oleh warga bukan Melayu, walaupun ia bertentangan dengan perlembagaan?

Soalan ketiga saya; apakah yang dikatakan keresahan orang Melayu itu sebenarnya?

Bolehkah dikatakan “keresahan orang Melayu” yang dibina atas rasa ketidakyakinan orang Melayu, mungkin nampak dalam bentuk perkauman, tetapi adalah “Mentaliti minda tertawan”, yang merupakan reaksi kepada kegagalan untuk mencapai matlamat DEB (yang lahir semula sebagai DPB pada 1990, diikuti dengan RJP3 dan dihalusi sebagai MEB) selepas 40 tahun pelaksanaannya.

Mungkinkah juga rasa bimbang tidak berasas akan kehilangan Hak dan Keistimewaan orang Melayu sudah berkembang sebagai ideologi politik ketuanan Melayu yang terus memecah-belahkan negara?

Mungkinkah juga orang Melayu merasakan mereka menjadi semakin miskin, dipinggir dan tertipu di negara sendiri, walaupun berbilion dibelanjakan untuk DEB.

Mungkinkah “keresahan Melayu” itu sengaja saja diarahkan kepada kerajinan bukan Melayu dan anak-anak Melayu yang sudah mengalami perubahan?

Nampaknya, “keresahan Melayu” itu lebih berkisar kepada hak-hak ekonomi dan bukannya kebudayaan, raja-raja, perundangan, pendidikan, agama atau kekurangan kuasa politik yang sebenarnya masih dikawal orang Melayu dan tidak dapat dicabar seperti dilihat dalam komposisi kaum dalam institusi negara dan perkhidmatan awam.

Mungkinkah soalan yang membelenggu umat Melayu adalah, apakah nilai dan keperluan mempunyai tarian tradisional Melayu, institusi raja, bahasa Melayu, sekolah Melayu, institusi negeri dan persekutuan, sistem mahkamah syariah, dan kerajaan yang didominasi Melayu sekiranya orang Melayu kekal miskin?

Ketidakseimbangan dalam pencapaian akhirnya menimbulkan identiti Melayu yang celaru, kerana namanya sahaja “tuan” namun tidak berharta. Hakikat inilah yang menjadikan konsep “Ketuanan Melayu” kekal popular.

“Keresahan Melayu” secara sengaja diarahkan kepada kegagalan pencapaian DEB dan kegagalan ini digunakan unt

By Yow Hong Chieh  August 31, 2010

Nurul Izzah wants clarification from Perkasa on where they are going with their agenda.

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 31 — Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar today invited Perkasa to a public debate on Malay rights, contending that the question of Malay special rights should be put to the King and the people of Malaysia.

Her invitation to the Malay rights group appeared to be an attempt to contain Datuk Ibrahim Ali’s growing influence on policy by locating his discourse squarely within the democratic process.

Referencing Article 153 of the Federal Constitution – which Perkasa says grants “Malays rights” in perpetuity — Nurul pointed out that the article only specified that Malays be given a special position and should, in fact, to be interpreted in light of Articles 8(1) and 8(2) by the King or a body appointed by him.

Article 8(1) states: “All persons are equal before the law and entitled to the equal protection of the law”; and Article 8(2): “Except as expressly authorised by this Constitution, there shall be no discrimination against citizens on the ground only of religion, race, descent or place of birth in any law relating to the acquisition, holding or disposition of property or the establishing or carrying on of any trade, business, profession, vocation or employment.”

“It would be ideal to have a mandated entity such as a Constitutional Court or at least a Constitutional Council appointed by the King to act as the final interpreter of any constitutional issues,” Nurul said, adding that the judiciary, which already deals with constitutional matters, would also have a role to play.

Alternatively, she proposed a possible solution in the form of a legally binding referendum, while simultaneously challenging Perkasa to both a dialogue through open letters as well as a televised debate.

Nurul argued that “Malay rights”, as envisioned by Perkasa, were an ideological and philosophical construct that was not rooted in either the constitution or law.

“My question to Perkasa is, has the concept of ‘Malay rights’ now become a permanent convention that supersedes even the written constitution in policy and practice that has to be accepted by all non-Malay citizens?” she asked.

“My question to Perkasa is,  spiritually and intellectually, does a Malay accepts injustices, power abuse, corruption, racism, anti-democratic laws, state institutional degradation to ensure that the Malays are a Supreme Race in Malaysia, with first class citizenship privileges not to be shared with other non-Malay citizens?”

She added that it was important to note that the Reid Commission, which drafted the constitution, had seen Article 153 as temporary measure, subject to review after 15 years by Parliament, before it was institutionalised into the NEP following the 1969 race riots.

Arguing that Malaysia was at a “monumental cross-road”, Nurul hammered home the point that it ultimately came down to the people to decide if Ketuanan Melayu (Malay supremacy) or Ketuanan Rakyat (people’s supremacy) was going to define Malaysia.

“Once the next general election outcome is determined, and if ‘Ketuanan Melayu’ is victorious, then some may choose to vote with their feet (emigrate with massive brain drain and a diminishing tax base), and some will choose to vote with their wallet (domestic capital flight compounded with decreasing FDI that further stunts our economic growth), which in turn will indicate the makings of a potential failed state with irreversible consequences,” she warned.

“What is left will be a shell of a former Malaysia that could have been a great example of a democratic and pluralistic nation to the world.”

YB Nurul Izzah ke Blok P20 Taman Bukit Angkasa pada 30 ogos 2010 (Isnin) bagi menyampaikan sumbangan ramadhan dan berbuka puasa dengan penduduk sekitar.

Seramai 33 penerima telah menerima bantuan barangan keperluan dapur dan wang zakat dari YB Nurul Izzah. Sumbangan ini sedikit sebanyak dapat meringankan beban golongan yang kurang berkemampuan dalam bulan Ramadhan yang mulia ini.

Mariam Mokhtar
Aug 30, 10 11:57am

Three BN ministers were not speaking from a position of strength when they labeled PKR politician Nurul Izzah Anwar a traitor and a sinner for saying in an Indonesian newspaper, that Malaysia’s new, multimillion ringgit submarine is defective.

She also highlighted the problems plaguing our navy and expressed doubts about the New Economic Policy (NEP).

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Jamil Khir Baharom said, “Those who tarnish their country’s image with the aim of causing turmoil are regarded to have sinned.”

The truth hurts, but Jamil is mad to brand people who are critical of the Malaysian government as ’sinners’.

He then said: “We should love our country and be prepared to defend it, as defending our own country is a jihad (holy war) which carries a big divine reward.”

Calling the defence of one’s country a jihad is wrong. 

The last idiot who used a similar pejorative term was George W Bush. He used the expression ‘crusade’, to describe his country’s response to the Sept 11 attacks.

Terms like ‘crusade’ and jihad produce a negative reaction in both Christian and Muslim communities.

Bush’s use of the word ‘crusade’ evoked a visceral reaction worldwide because it portrayed bloody, violent images of the battles between Christians and Muslims in the Middle Ages. 

So, whose sentiments is Jamil appealing to? He is trying to discredit Nurul Izzah and deflect attention from the faulty submarine.

At some point or other, most of us have condemned corruption, abuses of power, nepotism, racism, cronyism, injustices and cover-ups. Are we the sinners or are the corrupt politicians the sinners?

Jamil’s use of jihad alienates the Chinese, Indians and Malays. He is defending patriotism as a Muslim trait. 

But if Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi can call on politicians to stop politicising national defence issues, then Jamil should stop making these religious issues.

When he branded Nurul Izzah a penderhaka (traitor) who has damaged Malaysia’s image in the eyes of the world, he was wrong. 

The country’s reputation has already been tarnished by the protracted sodomy trial of Anwar Ibrahim, Teoh Beng Hock’s suspicious death, the farcical cross-examination of Dr PornthipRojanasunand at Teoh’s inquest, the Port Klang Free Zone scandal, the impotence of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and the denial of justice for Penan girls who were raped. 

By accusing Nurul of ‘exaggerating the problems in this country’, Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein only managed to raise the ire of the public.

Stagnant politicians

Thus, it seems facetious of the Royal Malaysian Navy to wade in and lodge police reports against both Nurul Izzah and Malay Mailreporter Marhalim Abas over the claims that the country’s first submarine, KD Tunku Abdul Rahman, was unable to dive.

The job of this journalist was to disclose the failings of the submarine, just as Nurul Izzah was doing her job as a politician. 

The three ministers condemned Nurul for not mimicking the actions of past and current politicians, who keep quiet about indiscretions. 

Are we to heap praise on the former defence minister, Najib Abdul Razak, for his two-year silence over the theft of two fighter-jet engines? These engines surfaced in Paraguay, and were returned, after attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail flew there to secure their ‘release’.

Jamil’s talk of traitors reminds us of the service personnel who sold state secrets to foreign agents. What happened to them?

Nowadays, Malaysians are more critical and are not afraid of asking probing questions. But instead of embracing change, some politicians and NGOs, like Perkasa, are happy to stagnate. 

No inner peace

On the eve of the 53rd Merdeka celebrations, our attempts to demolish the walls between the races are hampered by the people who don’t like change.

We have chosen to move forward instead of looking back, like Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Ibrahim Ali and Ahmad Ismail, who have all lost their bearings.

We should focus on the needs of all, so that everyone can contribute. This is impossible because of the unfair quota system in our public universities, which hampers development. Or, the preferential business terms which stunt growth.

After decades of autocracy, our politicians have forgotten to listen and engage. They keep the non-Malays at arm’s length and fail to acknowledge that able Malays are confident of abandoning the worn-out NEP, to embrace change.

People who are absorbed in their own problems, like Ibrahim Ali, will not make a difference or leave the world a better place.

Are we prepared to do what is right? While some of us demanded justice for Teoh, A Kugan and Aminulrasyid Amzah, others were content to look the other way. 

Racist comments were recently uttered by two school principals. A swift response under Najib’s new policy of zero-tolerance has not materialised. 

Many politicians only pay lip service to important issues, so does this mean they lack discipline? 

Bung Moktar Radin broke the law with his illegal polygamous marriage. His disregard for Syariah law and contempt of court only fuelled resentment. 

Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarnor’s ’s life disintegrated because of a pint of beer but the brewing deals of Muslim politicians would leave many in a drunken stupor. 

Malaysians appear to be more religious today, but we seem to lack inner peace. 

Muslims claim ownership of the word ‘Allah’ and force people to behave. The moral police run wild and wreak havoc. Their constant checks on behaviour, endanger those who risk their lives trying to escape from the raids. In an effort to prevent teenagers having underage sex and the ensuing problem of abandoned babies, child marriages have been made legal.

On the eve of Merdeka, it is a shame we still have these problems of corruption and disunity.

Nurul Izzah is right to highlight these problems. Is the feeble-minded BN elite aware of the deplorable role it played in these sorry affairs?

Have a Happy and Peaceful Merdeka!

MARIAM MOKHTAR is a non-conformist traditionalist from Perak, a bucket chemist and an armchair eco-warrior. In ‘real–speak’, this translates into that she comes from Ipoh, values change but respects culture, is a petroleum chemist and also an environmental pollution-control scientist.

Sambutan Ramadhan semakin terasa dengan pelbagai ibadah sunat dilakukan termasuklah pengagihan bubur lambuk secara percuma kepada muslimin dan muslimat.

Majlis gotong royong memasak bubur lambuk untuk diagihkan kepada masyarakat sekitar Lembah Pantai turut diadakan pada 20 ogos 2010 di Perumahan Pantai Permai. Turut serta di dalam gotong royong ini masyarakat setempat. Sebanyak 1300 bungkus bubur lambuk diagihkan di Stesen LRT Universiti dengan kehadiran YB Nurul Izzah Anwar selaku Ahli Parlimen Lembah Pantai yang turun bertemu mata sambil mengagihkan bubur lambuk bersama masyarakat Lembah Pantai.

Majlis berbuka puasa ini diadakan pada 24 ogos 2010 bertempat di PPR Kerinchi. Program berbuka puasa ini anjuran Perhubungan PKR Wilayah Persekutuan, Dato’ Zaid Ibrahim dengan kerjasama Ahli Parlimen Lembah Pantai di dalam majlis ini juga YB Nurul Izzah turut menyampaikan bantuan zakat dan beras kepada 71 orang penerima iaitu warga emas, fakir miskin, ibu tunggal dan OKU.

By Stephanie Sta Maria THU, 26 AUG 2010 10:44

SPECIAL REPORT ON KL The Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur has long been a political trophy for the government and the opposition and the competition took a fierce turn after 2008.

Prior to that fateful year, the Barisan Nasional (BN) enjoyed dominion over the city with seven representatives in the 11 constituencies. The tsunami washed out six of them thus putting the trophy in the hands of Pakatan Rakyat.

Now BN understandably wants it back and has begun its conquest with the key constituency of Lembah Pantai. But MP Nurul Izzah Anwar isn’t going down without a fight.

Right now though, her days are occupied by regular scuffles with Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), which she claimed is an immovable block in her path towards serving her constituents.

“Most of the issues plaguing Lembah Pantai, like enforcement, public housing and services, fall under DBKL’s purview,” she said. “Which means that all the opposition MPs in KL are at the mercy of DBKL’s officers, legislations and structure. And our role is made even more complex by the on-going dynamics between elected and appointed representatives.”

One particular DBKL practice that has Nurul gritting her teeth in frustration is its lack of transparency in issuing housing to the people of Kampung Kerinchi. Her requests that DBKL publicly display a list of recipients has gone unheeded.

“The list is crucial so people know that no invisible hand is involved in the distribution of housing,” she emphasised. “But DBKL is still continuing to operate based on its whim and fancy. There is no way of tracking the basic requirements to qualify for housing, and when there is no rule of thumb or consistency, the whole process is then open to abuse.”

Concerned over Bangsar

DBKL’s inconsistency has also grated on her nerves where Bangsar is concerned. As the vibrant hub of Lembah Pantai, Bangsar has attracted droves of developers, businesses and regular city slickers. Residential and commercial property often vie for space and priority.

DBKL’s move to change certain zoning areas to include commercial premises became a bone of contention among residents who viewed it as encroachment on their living environment. In most cases, DBKL axed the business concerned to placate the residents but Nurul once again spied double standards at play.

“The five-year lease for One Bangsar, a string of commercial property facing a stretch of residences, expired last December,” she pointed out. “Yet it remained open. In March, the KL Mayor (Ahmad Fuad Ismail) assured unhappy residents that Bangsar One would be closed down within six months. Now I heard that it plans to use legal assistance to fight to continue operations.”

“And yet a nearby shelter for orphans in Jalan Bukit Pantai was given a month to close down for the same reason. How can DBKL favour certain places this way? You will never see such leniency in Pantai Dalam or Sri Sentosa. DBKL has to be consistent and answerable, otherwise it is just contributing to the problems in Lembah Pantai.”

Nurul then cast her sight on Brickfields which is currently undergoing a face-lift aimed at transforming it from a mere township into a cultural enclave named Little India.

“The Little India project will definitely bring an economic boom to Brickfields, but again it’s a very top-down approach,” she observed. “There is existing artistic value displayed by the businesses and community itself, so I don’t see a need for Malaysian Resources Corporation Bhd (MRCB) to decide on what represents the Indian culture there.”

She also reminded Deputy Federal Territories and Urban Well-being Minister M Saravanan of his promise to supply her with the project blueprint, which she has yet to receive.

“As an MP there is a sense of futility when the appointed representatives don’t take your requests and suggestions seriously,” she said in frustration “It drives you to become angry and vocal just to force a response from them.”

Ornamental enforcement

Aside from stubborn business owners, Bangsar also faces an alarmingly high crime rate. The police beat in the midst of the thriving entertainment vicinity may very well be invisible, considering the number of brazen criminals who get away scot-free.

Just recently, a press photographer accompanying Nurul on her rounds in the bustling Telawi streets fell prey to a snatch thieve who made off with his camera.

“This is unacceptable,” Nurul said. “That police beat is a useless ornament and all it has done is erode the people’s faith in the police. Instead of fighting crime, the police are being misused to monitor subversive elements and political events.”

“A few weeks ago we were handing out leaflets explaining the subsidy cuts and the entire police contingent, including three FRU trucks, were present at the scene. It’s ridiculous and a waste of police resources. And at the end of the day the residents suffer because they have to pay extra for a gated community.”

Then there are the illegal car jockeys. They emerge at nightfall to offer a much-needed service to Bangsar’s party-goers. Apart from the legal aspect of their job, the patrons’ safety is a prime concern.

“Many of these jockeys are known to get aggressive, especially with drunk patrons,” she said. “We have repeatedly asked DBKL to take action, but the growing number of illegal jockeys has raised suspicions of a collusion between them and the authorities.”

“Bangsar isn’t prepared to address the needs of private car users, but it’s not too late to set up a system to legalise these jockeys. People need to be able to park and feel a sense of ease and comfort when visiting an upmarket place like Bangsar.”

Returning fire and pushing ahead

Nurul, however, reserved her harshest criticism for Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin. She is incensed with the Federal Territories and Urban Well-being Minister for constantly thwarting her efforts to deliver assistance to her constituents.

According to her, the minister has resorted to using government agencies to prevent her from holding non-political events in a mosque, which she has called a “disservice to our democracy”.

Of late, Nong Chik has been picking on both Lembah Pantai and Nurul, which has not gone unnoticed by the other MPs. While they bristled on her behalf, Nurul herself is unexpectedly amused.

“I’m touched because I didn’t realise that I pose such a threat,” she grinned. “And Nong Chik has helped me tremendously in attracting interest to the redevelopment of Lembah Pantai.”

“Where it angers me is when he tries to stop me from doing my work. I draw the line there. When he orders my banners removed and blocks me from running programmes in my constituency. I can’t even book halls under my name anymore! It’s disappointing to have a minister involved in such practices.”

“If he wants to fight, then he should fight on an equal playing field so that it is fair to the people too,” she declared. “I wouldn’t say I’m not worried but I won’t live my life always looking over my shoulder. And I will counter-attack when the time and place is right.”

Her mood peaked, however, at the topic of PKR’s new Federal Territories chief Zaid Ibrahim, who subsequently handpicked her as his vice-chairperson for KL.

“This is very exciting as KL MPs are often brushed aside because we don’t control the state unlike Selangor,” she said. “KL is an opposition stronghold and the birthplace of PKR. It’s crucial to ensure our success in KL before focusing on other states.”

“From Zaid’s first speech, it is clear that he understands the importance of this. Since losing Wangsa Maju to an independent, we are down by one MP and there is still much to do. We have our work cut out for us and we have to start now.”