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.”

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Free Malaysia Today

By Ken Vin Lek FRI, 20 AUG 2010 14:10

KUALA LUMPUR: PKR’s Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar has denied committing treachery as alleged by Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

The minister had lambasted the opposition politician over her statements regarding Malaysia’s submarines, which were published in the Indonesian newspaper, Kompas.

He claimed that Nurul, the daughter of Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim, had tarnished the nation’s image and put its security at risk.

However, Nurul begged to differ.

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Jadual Iftar dan Terawikh

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.

PERUTUSAN KHAS 07 MAC 2010

Nurul Izzah Anwar, Ahli Parlimen Lembah Pantai

Sempena Hari Wanita Sedunia

Saban tahun, masyarakat antarabangsa meraikan Hari Wanita Sedunia pada 8 Mac. Pada tahun ini, tema yang digagaskan adalah “Equal Rights, Equal Opportunities: Progress for All”. Dalam laporan terbaru yang dikeluarkan, didapati kebanyakan negara masih mengamalkan dasar atau undang-undang yang mendiskriminasi wanita. Tidak hairanlah jika tema Hari Wanita Sedunia tahun ini meminta kita semua merefleksi samada wanita diberikan hak serta peluang yang sama rata sama ada dalam bidang pendidikan, kerjaya mahupun pembuatan  keputusan.
Selaku ahli Parlimen, tugasan di kawasan mendedahkan saya kepada wanita-wanita yang saban hari menempuh pelbagai cabaran besar. Wanita yang bergelut dengan kerjaya demi menyara keluarga dan diri, sedangkan pada masa yang sama, turut menjadi seorang ibu mahupun isteri di rumah. Di Lembah Pantai, saya mendapati kehidupan di tengah kota yang sarat dengan cabaran sementara taraf hidup yang meningkat turut menyebabkan wanita terpaksa bertungkus-lumus mencari nafkah bersama-sama suami mahupun bersendirian sehinggakan ada ketikanya, mereka tidak dapat menumpukan perhatian kepada tanggungjawab membesarkan anak sepenuhnya.
Kes penderaan serta kehilangan anak di pusat jagaan pastinya menambah kegusaran para ibu yang bekerja tentang keselamatan serta kebajikan anak yang ditinggalkan di pusat-pusat sedemikian. Pada masa yang sama, kos menghantar anak ke pusat jagaan atau didikan awal yang menawarkan perkhidmatan atau kemahiran tambahan agak tinggi. Hal ini menyebabkan kaum wanita bukan sahaja berdepan dengan cabaran sedia ada di tempat kerja dan rumah, bahkan dalam membuat keputusan terbaik untuk anak mereka.
Oleh kerana itulah, perkhidmatan jagaan anak mahupun didikan awal kanak-kanak yang berkualiti dan sesuai dengan kemampuan keluarga merupakan prasyarat penting kepada wanita yang bekerjaya. Keperluan ini lebih-lebih lagi meruncing apabila mengingatkan kepada penderaan yang meragut nyawa adik-adik Syafia dan Haresvarra baru-baru ini.
Penyediaan pusat jagaan atau pendidikan awal kanak-kanak merupakan prasyarat ke arah memaksimakan bakat dan kemahiran wanita yang menyumbang kepada sektor ekonomi negara. Pelan tindakan mungkin ada – hanya pelaksanaanya belum meluas sehingga ke akar umbi lagi.
Justeru, sempena Hari Wanita 2010, marilah kita, tidak kira wanita ataupun lelaki membantu mereleasasikan pelaksanaan langkah-langkah yang membantu para ibu yang bekerjaya. Kerana dedikasi serta semangat jatidiri yang ditonjolkan bukan sahaja sebagai seorang ibu dan isteri, tetapi selaku pendukung aspirasi politik dan ekonomi negara. Saya turut berasa bangga dan meyokong penuh usaha serta hasrat gerakan wanita di Malaysia yang tidak pernah gentar dan mengalah dalam memperjuangkan kesaksamaan gender dan hak wanita di Malaysia. Saya berharap agar kita dapat bekerjasama dalam merangka strategi ke arah mewujudkan dasar atau program yang dapat membantu wanita terutamanya ibu-ibu yang bekerja samada di kawasan saya mahupun seluruh negara.

Salam Hari Wanita!

Nurul Izzah Anwar & Raja Shahrir, Nur Safiyah dan Ahmad Harith

Kuala Lumpur

PKR’s young leaders optimistic despite defections

By Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani (Malaysian Insider)

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/55196-pkrs-young-leaders-optimistic-despite-defections

KUALA LUMPUR, March 4 — Nurul Izzah Anwar stepped into the forefront last night, stressing that the future of a PKR wracked with resignations lies in the younger generation.

The Lembah Pantai MP said the voice of the young is being lost in the aftermath of three resignations that have rocked the party which is led by her father, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

“I believe it is important that the public at large realize or know the voices or aspirations of the younger leadership in the party which sometimes can be left behind and forgotten in the calamity that has ensued,” the first-term MP told a forum here.

Bagan Serai MP Mohsin Fadzli Samsuri yesterday became the third MP to quit PKR and turn independent after the resignations of Bayan Baru MP Datuk Seri Zahrain Hashim and Nibong Tebal MP Tan Tee Beng.

“I think of all us here has differences of opinion and that the fact we are here and still committed to the struggle is basically testament that there are sufficient avenues to air opinions especially from the younger generation. If you are truly a reformist then you will do the best to address the differences and work together to come out with a workable solution.

“People who decide to leave the party should just be labelled opportunists because you are leaving the struggle,” she said.

Dubbed “Puteri Reformasi” when leading the movement to free her father years ago, she said the party needed the young to succeed.

“When you talk about the future direction of the party, you cannot succeed without the support and the younger generation coming together,” she told her audience.

Nurul Izzah said the country’s political landscape had been shaped by Barisan Nasional with many of the institutions getting young people to be involved in money politics.

“You have to understand the realities of being involved in opposition politics. You are facing real trials and tribulations even a harsh future without financial renumeration so how do you educate the younger generation to be part of the political process. You should be incorruptible when you are young and should not be together with those people who are willing to sell their souls to do anything so that you can the rich or to be very successful.

“So this is very important struggle for me which is beyond the struggle of Pakatan Rakyat,” she added.

Seri Setia assemblyman, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, added that the party defectors were not used the party’s new politics.

“We want to show that we are defection proof unlike the mentality of the old guards that have tried to play with the media.

“PKR as a new party is bringing a new culture of politics which maybe stranger for those used to old politics. It is difficult for certain people so we have to go through this process,” said the political secretary to the Selangor Mentri Besar.

He noted that Anwar had apologised for the quality of candidates following other spate of resignations in the past.

“Of course, we have to improve certain things but I think we just have to bite the bullet and face it,” said Nik Nazmi.

Since the 12th General Election, PKR has lost six assemblymen beginning with the Perak “frogs” Behrang assemblyman Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi and Changkat Jering assemblyman Mohd Osman Mohd Jailu, and followed by Lunas assemblyman Mohd Radzhi Salleh, Port Klang assemblyman Badrul Hisham Abdullah and former Penanti assemblyman and former Penang Deputy Chief Minister I Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin.

Another PKR assemblyman, V. Arumugam (Bukit Selambau) had also quit the party in April last year due to personal marital issues. He had contested as an independent in March 2008 but subsequently joined PKR.