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.

JANGAN JADI MANGSA KEPADA AGEN PROVOKATOR!
KUTUKAN SEKERAS-KERASNYA TERHADAP SERANGAN KE ATAS MASJID-MASJID

Serangan terbaru yang berupa kepala khinzir di dalam kawasan Masjid At-Tirmizi, Sri Sentosa merupakan satu lagi cubaan terbaru golongan tertentu dalam mewujudkan ketegangan antara kaum dan agama di Negara kita.
Tindakan yang jijik ini, yang merupakan satu lagi siri provokasi berniat jahat perlu dikecam dan ditolak oleh semua pihak demi perpaduan ummah dan keharmonian antara kaum di Malaysia.

Saya menyambut baik kehadiran hampir keseluruhan pimpinan PDRM pagi tadi yang hadir bersama saya, dan menggesa agar pemantauan dilakukan bukan sahaja di sekitar Masjid At-Tirmizi tetapi juga semua masjid-masjid serta rumah ibadat lain yang berdekatan. Siasatan terperinci wajib dilakukan oleh PDRM, dan menjadi harapan saya agar tumpuan dirubah daripada memantau ahli politik pembangkang kepada provokator-provokator jahat sebenar yang bertanggungjawab dalam serangan-serangan sebegini.

Saya juga menggesa Kerajaan agar menubuhkan Suruhanjaya Siasatan Diraja bagi menyiasat kesemua serangan jahat terhadap rumah ibadat yang dilakukan untuk menggugat kesejahteraan dan keharmonian awam. Kita berhadapan dengan kemungkinan adanya dalang di sebalik serangan-serangan ini yang memaksa sebuah suruhanjaya bebas untuk menyiasat dan meneliti sebarang kemungkinan siapa pelaku serta penyebabnya.

Saya ingin menyeru semua pihak terutamanya rakyat Lembah Pantai agar bertenang dan bersabar dengan apa yang berlaku. Kita harus sentiasa bersatu hati dan saling percaya mempercayai antara sama lain demi memelihara ukhwah antara kaum. Saya akan turut serta dalam majlis kuliah Marghrib malam ini bertempat di Masjid At-Tirmizi untuk bersama dalam usaha memelihara ketenangan sesama kita. Sama-samalah kita berdoa untuk perlindungan dari Yang Maha Esa.

Soalan

Puan Nurul Izzah Anwar [ Lembah Pantai ] minta MENTERI SAINS, TEKNOLOGI DAN INOVASI menyatakan jumlah hasil penyelidikan oleh para saintis negara serta penyelidik universiti yang telah dipatenkan dan telah dikomersilkan. Berapakah jumlah dan peratus dari jumlah keseluruhan kajian yang telah dilakukan digunapakai oleh syarikat tempatan dan antarabangsa?

Jawapan

Tuan yang di-Pertua,
Untuk makluman Ahli Yang Berhormat, data dari Perbadanan Harta Intelek Malaysia (MyIPO) sejak tahun 1986 hingga Julai 2009 menunjukkan sejumlah 1369 paten dalam pelbagai bidang telah didaftarkan di Malaysia oleh rakyat Malaysia. Harta intelek kini merupakan salah satu sumber pertumbuhan baru yang menyumbang kepada kemakmuran ekonomi dan sosial negara. Kementerian Sains, Teknologi dan Inovasi (MOSTI) memang sentiasa melipatgandakan usaha untuk meningkatkan pendaftaran paten bagi projek-projek penyelidikan yang dibiayai oleh MOSTI dalam RMKe-8 dan RMKe-9. Namun, tidak semua projek yang dibiayai oleh MOSTI boleh dipatenkan dan seterusnya dikomersilkan kerana sesetengahnya adalah penyelidikan asas dan fundamental.
Melalui projek R&D yang dibiayai oleh Kerajaan sejak RMKe-8 hingga kini, sejumlah 1270 harta intelek telah diperolehi. Dari jumlah ini sebanyak 668 adalah paten, 420 adalah hakcipta, 84 adalah reka bentuk industri, dan 98 adalah cap dagang. Jumlah keseluruhan untuk harta intelek bagi RMKe-8 adalah sebanyak 773. Manakala dalam RMKe-9 pula, sejumlah 497 harta intelek telah diperolehi di mana 103 adalah paten, 296 adalah hakcipta, 13 adalah rekabentuk industri dan 85 adalah cap dagang.
Jumlah bilangan projek yang berpotensi dikomersilkan pula bagi RMKe-8 adalah sebanyak 239 projek. Dari bilangan ini sebanyak 204 projek telah Berjaya dikomersilkan dengan hasil jualan sebanyak RM850.80 juta. Bagi RMKe-9 pula, sebanyak 304 projek berpotensi dikomersilkan dan dari jumlah ini terdapat sebanyak 79 projek yang telah dikomersilkan. Bilangan projek dalam RMKe-9 adalah rendah kerana masih terdapat projek yang dalam proses untuk dikomersilkan sehingga penghujung tahun 2010.
Teknologi yang telah dikomersilkan kini telah digunapakai dalam berbagai bidang seperti biofarmasi, pertanian, farmaseutikal, pertanian, industri, kesihatan dan tenaga diperbaharui. Sebagai contoh terdapat sepuluh (10) teknologi telah dipasarkan untuk kegunaan rakyat tempatan manakala sebanyak lapan belas (18) teknologi pula telah berjaya dikomersilkan di luar negara.
Peratusan projek yang telah dikomersilkan dari projek yang telah siap dalam rancangan RMKe-8 adalah sebanyak 8.95% dan peratusan projek yang dikomersilkan dari projek yang telah siap dalam RMKe-9 pula adalah sebanyak 8.54% (RMKe-9 belum tamat).

Monday December 7, 2009
DBKL to focus on upgrading services and amenities
By BAVANI M ( STARMETRO NEWS)

A PEOPLE-centric budget for next year focusing on maintaining and upgrading existing public amenities as well as improving services is expected to be unveiled by the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) today.

Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Ahmad Fuad Ismail who disclosed some details of the 2010 budget at a meeting with Kuala Lumpur MP’s on Friday had said the budget of RM2.12bil is aimed at ensuring that KLites enjoy a better quality of life with a better administered DBKL.

DBKL’s 2010 budget with the theme “Putting People First’’ is aimed at promoting integrity and transparency and to emphasise on people-centric projects.

DBKL has allocated RM1.102bil for administration costs for cleanliness, beautification, upgrading of pipes, roads, public amenities, recreation as well as safety while the RM1.07bil for development cost will focus more on projects that would benefit the residents.

As for revenue, a bulk of DBKL earnings are from assessment (RM755mil), sale of asset/housing (RM451mil), rental of public housing (RM65mil), licence and permit (RM47.96mil) and planning and construction (RM116 mil).

DBKL would also receive various grants from the Federal government totalling millions for administration and development purposes.
Even though the budget is supposed to be more people friendly, city MP’s are disappointed that their request for a more detailed budget was not granted.
“They are talking about integrity and transparency and being accountable, but they are not practising it,’’ said disgruntled Cheras MP Tan Kok Wai.

“Open up all the 20 departments in DBKL and show the various projects and contracts given out. The Public Works Department alone has over 100 projects amounting to hundreds of millions of ringgit. Show us all the contracts,’’ he said.
Tan said that the DBKL is the third biggest spender in the country.
“Compare KL’s RM2.12bil against Selangor’s RM1.2bil. On paper it would seem that KL’s two million residents are getting a fair deal compared to Selangor’s 5.6 million residents but KLites have the right to know where their money is going,’’ he added.
Batu MP Tian Chua said that DBKL should allow elected reps to give input when formulating the budget.
“Not just the budget. They should also let us see when tabling their annual audited accounts. We have the right to know how people’s money is being spent so there is some monitoring. This is certainly inadequate,’’ he said.

Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar said DBKL needs to review the contracts of its service providers like Alam Flora.
“Waste collection service has deteriorated ever since Alam Flora took over the management of waste in the city.
“DBKL has to honour numerous contracts that are still running but the quality and service performance of these contractors must be re-examined as well,” she said.
She also said the surplus budget, thanks to federal government assistance, formed a whopping 67.6% of the development expenditure and which also included a one-off payment amounting to RM451.3mil.
“There is no rationale for distribution of development expenditure according to constituencies. DBKL is not answerable to Parliament. One example is the number of public housing in Bandar Tun Razak, Lembah Pantai and Bukit Bintang – 11, 3 and 5 respectively.
“You would expect that the budget would follow the number of housing but Bandar Tun Razak gets RM79.2mil, Lembah Pantai 26mil and Bukit Bintang RM240mil.
“As such, the RM2.12bil budget (even higher than that for Selangor and Penang), has to be tabled in Parliament, to constituents and to MPs.
“This is made even more necessary with the disclosure that not even the Auditor General has the right to review the big budget.
“Such powers have been given to DBKL to freely use taxpayers’ money with no proper check and balance, save for some episodes of internal auditing.”
“We were also informed, after a query, that an item under maintenance costing RM250mil (for 2010) has been transferred from the FT Ministry to DBKL in the form of the said amount. Hence for 2010, the maintenance item under the FT Ministry has been effectively erased.
“How do we monitor and compare past and present implementation of maintenance works in our cities.
Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng feels that the budget allocation is a huge amount.
“Make no mistake. It is still a deficit budget despite the extra windfall from the sale of PPR units. The RM451mil revenue from the sale of the flats is a ‘one off thing’ and DBKL cannot rely on that,’’ added Lim.

The KL Members of Parliament were given a briefing on City Hall’s 2010 Budget last Friday, 4th of December 2010. The surplus budget, thanks to federal government assistance which formed a whopping 67.6% of the development expenditure also included a one off payment amounting to RM 451.3 million.

There is no rationale for distribution of development expenditure according to constituencies, as DBKL is not answerable to parliament. One example is the number of public housing in Bandar Tun Razak, Lembah Pantai and Bukit Bintang -11, 3 and 5 respectively. You would the budget would follow the number of housing – but BTR gets RM 79.2 mn, Lembah Pantai 26 mn and Bukit Bintang a staggering RM 240 mn.

As such, to properly judge, the huge RM2.1 billion budget (even higher than that for Selangor and Penang), has to be tabled to parliament, to constituents, to MPs! This need remains even more necessary with the disclosure that not even the Auditor General has the right to review the enormous budget. Such huge powers of discretion is given to DBKL to freely use taxpayers’ money with no semblance of proper check and balance save for some episodes of internal auditing.

We were also informed after a query that an item under maintenance costing RM250 million (for 2010) has been transferred from the FT Ministry to DBKL in the form of the said amount. Hence for 2010, the ‘maintenance’ item under FT Ministry is effectively ‘erased’ by the higher ups. How then do we monitor and compare past and present implementation of maintenance works in our cities.

And finally, how do we judge the feasibility of projects chosen by the Mayor to improve services. This includes the OSC online development planning, which will speed up the process of accepting development plans -online -anytime, anywhere with expected approval time to be shortened to even just 3 months. As it stands, residents face tumultuous challenges in objecting against any development (especially those above 30 degrees) -they will not get any free lunches as the OSC only serves the needs of developers not residents. The usual lengthy process of residential objections with very ‘little one can do to stop the development’ remains, with disclosure from the mayor that those who go to the courts will be sidelined. I brought up the cases of Bukit Gasing, Medang Kapas and Medang Serai only to hear that Ekram’s decision is final, and even though the residents might decide to challenge it, it is unlikely to be cancelled save only if Ekram says so.

The tabling of the DBKL budget smacks of non transparency, lack of fiscal discipline and only aggravates the call for the council to be answerable to taxpayers yet again -not only by way of budget tabling, but also in the choice of its top officials.

Nurul Izzah Anwar
Lembah Pantai, M.P.

KENYATAAN AKHBAR 4 DISEMBER 2009
Penyerahan Memorandum kepada YAB Menteri Besar Selangor, Tan Sri
Dato Abdul Khalid Ibrahim oleh YB Nurul Izzah Anwar mewakili
penduduk Kg. Kerinchi, 1030 pagi, 4 Disember 2009
Pada tepat jam 1030 pagi tadi, saya beserta seluruh AJK Bertindak Rumah
Pangsa Kos Rendah PKNS 4 Tingkat telah menyerahkan MEMORANDUM
MENGENAI KEMELUT PEMBANGUNAN SEMULA TANAH DI TAPAK
RUMAH PANGSA KOS RENDAH PKNS 4 (EMPAT) TINGKAT, KG.
KERINCHI, KUALA LUMPUR SERTA PAMPASAN KEPADA PEMILIK
RUMAH BERKENAAN kepada YAB Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim melalui
Setiausaha Politik beliau, YB Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.
Daripada maklumat yang diterima, jelas bahawa pembangunan semula ini
penuh kontroversi, kepincangan dan manipulasi yang akhirnya meminggirkan
hak penduduk rumah pangsa tersebut. Tentunya semua ini membangkitkan
kebimbangan serius saya selaku Ahli Parlimen kawasan setempat.
Mereka yang merupakan pembeli unit-unit rumah pangsa tersebut telah
dikerah berpindah dalam upacara penyerahan kunci pada hari Rabu, 2
Disember dengan kehadiran pimpinan UMNO kawasan yang dilihat lebih
berkuasa daripada DBKL sendiri. Pemindahan sementara ditempatkan di
PPR yang diselenggarakan oleh DBKL sedangkan status tanah di mana
rumah pangsa tersebut bertempat masih tidak dimaklumkan dengan jelas.
Pemilik Rumah Pangsa tersebut adalah pemilik benefisiari setelah membuat
Perjanjian Jual Beli dengan PKNS lebih 30 tahun yang lalu. Pada tahun 2006
pemilik dimaklumkan bahawa PKNS telah menjual tapak tanah dimana
Rumah Pangsa milik mereka dibina kepada pihak Ketiga untuk dimajukan
dengan PKNS bertindak sebagai Pemegang Amanah. (Lampiran 1)
Tawaran pampasan untuk perpindahan telah dilakukan dan JKB tidak
berpuashati dengan tawaran yang diberikan oleh Pemaju pertama dikatakan
Maha Construction and Development Berhad yang kemudiannya ditukar
kepada Amanah Raya Berhad. Manakala dalam borang kaji selidik DBKL
menyatakan bahawa projek pembangunan semula telah dikategorikan di
bawah projek kerajaan serta kenyataan terbaru Menteri Wilayah Persekutuan
bahawa projek pembangunan tersebut akan dibuat melalui tender terbuka
(Lampiran 2, 3 dan 4)
Beberapa isu pokok seperti berikut perlu dipersoalkan:
Bagaimana tanah PKNS ini diserahkan kepada pemaju dan kenapakah
mantan Ketua Bahagian UMNO Lembah Pantai bertindak sebagai jurucakap
bagi projek pembangunan ini dan berterusan meminta agar penduduk
menyerahkan surat pemegang kuasa kepada pemaju?
2
Kenapa perumahan awam DBKL digunakan sebagai tempat menyimpan
penghuni rumah pangsa tersebut untuk 3 tahun sewa berbayar? Siapa
sebenarnya pemaju dan kenapa gesaan untuk berpindah dilakukan oleh
DBKL atas arahan Menteri Wilayah Persekutuan?
Justeru, memorandum ini diserahkan kepada YAB Tan Sri Dato’ Khalid
membantu merungkaikan dilema pemilik Rumah Pangsa tersebut serta
penduduk setempat dalam mendapatkan status milikan tanah, serta perincian
pelan pembangunan untuk kawasan yang merangkumi Rumah Pangsa ini jika
benar ia akan dibangunkan. Kami bukan menolak pembangunan, tetapi
sebarang proses yang dijalankan perlu mengikut prosedur serta tatacara yang
telus, profesional dan adil.
NURUL IZZAH ANWAR
Ahli Parlimen Lembah Pantai