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.”

(more…)

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.

(more…)

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.

05:47:01 PM 13-08-2010

Oleh G Manimaran, Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, 13 Ogos — Pemimpin muda Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) menggesa diadakan kokus merentasi parti bagi memperjuangkan penglibatan mahasiswa dalam politik ekoran keputusan Kabinet didakwa mengekalkan larangan pelajar universiti aktif berpolitik.

Gesaan itu dibuat oleh sembilan wakil rakyat muda PKR hari ini.

“Sebelum ini kami menyambut baik bahawa ada rakan-rakan kami di dalam Barisan Nasional yang turut berkongsi keyakinan bahawa membenarkan mahasiswa terlibat dalam politik dan proses politik bagi menggembleng potensi anak muda menyumbang kepada negara sepenuhnya.

“Usaha Timbalan Menteri Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah untuk menarik perhatian terhadap isu ini beserta tentangan daripada Khairy Jamaluddin terhadap pengumuman Kabinet tempoh hari menggambarkan kita boleh mewujudkan penyelesaian rentas parti terhadap isu ini,” kata mereka dalam satu kenyataan dikeluarkan petang ini.

Dalam pertemuan dengan The Malaysian Insider semalam Saifuddin berkata beliau bersedia menerima jemputan untuk mengadakan perbincangan dengan mana-mana pihak.

Kata mereka, memandangkan komitmen mereka, kami ingin menjemput Saifuddin untuk mempimpin kokus rentas parti dalam isu ini. Jika rakan-rakan kami daripada Barisan Nasional (BN) benar-benar ikhlas tentang masa depan generasi muda, peluangnya terbuka luas untuk mereka membuktikan keikhlasan mereka.

Wakil-wakil rakyat muda yang mengeluarkan kenyaan ini ialah Nurul Izzah Anwar (Ahli Parlimen), Yusmadi Yusuf (Ahli Parlimen  Balik Pulau), Yunus Jamhari (ADUN Kuala Kurau), Kesavan  (ADUN Hutan Melintang), Nik Nazmi Ahmad (ADUN Seri Setia), Chan Ming Kai (ADUN Simpang Pulai), Chang Lih Kang (ADUN Teja), Sim Tze Tzin (ADUN Pantai Jerejak), Amiruddin Shari (ADUN Batu Caves) dan Gan Pei Nei (ADUN Rawang).

Kata mereka, pengumuman  Menteri Pengajian Tinggi Datuk Seri Khaled Nordin tentang keputusan Kabinet meneruskan sekatan terhadap penglibatan mahasiswa dalam politik menggambarkan sebuah kerajaan yang ketinggalan dengan perubahan yang berlaku di persekitarannya.

“Tindakan kerajaan melayan tentangan daripada Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad dan kuncu-kuncunya bermakna pentadbiran Datuk Seri Najib Razak lebih prihatin dengan pandangan lapuk berbanding keperluan mendengar dan berinteraksi dengan generasi masa depan.

“Faedah membenarkan mahasiswa terlibat di dalam politik sudah diketahui umum dan telah dibahaskan berkali-kali di peringkat nasional,” kata wakil rakyat berkenaan.

Selain itu kata beliau, lebih penting lagi, matlamat negara melahirkan modal insan yang berdaya saing mesti menekankan pendidikan menyeluruh yang melangkaui bilik kuliah dan kurikulum yang diajar.

“Generasi yang kreatif dan inovatif lahir daripada minda yang bebas – yang diberikan sepenuhnya peluang berbahas, berbincang dan lebih penting lagi melakukan kesilapan agar mereka belajar daripada kesilapan mereka.

“Kita cuma menunggu masa sebelum mahasiswa negara ini yang membentuk kelompok pengundi yang penting, menghantar mesej menolak Barisan Nasional; memandangkan petanda jelas daripada pilihan raya umum 2008 telah diketepikan begitu sahaja,” kata mereka.

Mereka menambah, tindakan seterusnya untuk menyanggah keputusan Kabinet bahawa mahasiswa tidak bersedia terlibat di dalam politik ialah dengan menggambarkan kematangan dan pengaruh sebenar mahasiswa dan anak muda.

Malaysiakini

Hazlan Zakaria Aug 15, 10  12:15pm

PKR parliamentarians have extended a call offering Deputy Higher Education Minister Saifuddin Abdullah the lead in a bi-partisan parliamentary caucus to pave the way for student participation in politics.

“About students in politics, we are willing to work with YB Saifuddin in a caucus to work towards abolishing the University and University College Act (UUCA),” said PKR Lembah Pantai parliamentarian Nurul Izzah Anwar.

She added that despite Saifuddin (right) being a top Umno leader, they are still willing to work with him as long as the common goal can be attained.

Saifuddin has been vocal in supporting students’ participation in politics, despite the hardline approach taken by other Umno leaders against the move.

The proposal to allow student involvement gained momentum recently after the government decided to reverse an earlier ban on graduate teachers from politics.

Nurul Izzah said this at a press conference after PKR facilitated a seminar on the perspective of youth on current affairs.

Nearly 80 students and young professionals attended the seminar organised by the Selangor State Economic Planning Unit (Upen), discussing their views on matters like education, economy and governance.

Direct elections: Zaid’s views welcomed

At the same press conference, PKR leaders were also asked if they were disappointed with Pakatan Rakyat co-ordinator Zaid Ibrahim’s recent comments against the party’s newly mooted code of ethics for party election candidates.

Zaid (right) had criticised the code of ethics as encumbering candidates from being able to campaign and promote themselves adding that such strict rules mirrors the practice of his former party Umno.

“We welcome his views; we respect it, though we would have liked it better if it were not aired publicly. But we accept his opinion as part of the democratic process,” said Nurul Izzah.

PKR youth chief Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin who was also there added that they view the matter as a positive development in the party, as it evolves towards the better.

“The question of disappointment never arose,” said the youth chief.

He added that a special committee has been set up under party vice-president R Sivarasa to look into suggestions such as those raised by Zaid, to ensure that the code of ethics is implemented smoothly and in a structured manner

Lee Way Loon
Jul 17, 10
1:51pm

A year has passed since the tragic passing of Teoh Beng Hock, but his family is still unable to come to terms with his death.

During an emotional speech at Beng Hock’s memorial last night, his younger sister Lee Lan said her family’s inability to reconcile with the death was due to the lack of answers forthcoming from the authorities.

Often fighting back tears, Lee Lan appealed to the 1,000-strong crowd at the Kuala Lumpur-Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall to offer “nothing but support” for the family’s fight for the truth.

“Your support gives us strength. I’m standing here before you because my family is seeking justice. Our family cannot reconcile with (Beng Hock’s) death.

“He was a good young man and he had left us. He didn’t even have the opportunity to cradle his own baby,” said Lee Lan, referring to Teoh’s son, born recently.

“We are not asking for much, only justice. We are worried that we may not have enough strength to pull through,” she said.

Lee Lan has over the past year been the main spokesperson for Beng Hock’s family.

Family worried inquest will be inconclusive

Lee Lan’s speech was punctuated with sombre applause at every major junction, while tears flowed for some among the audience.

“The inquest will soon come to an end and we are worried that the finding would be inconclusive. That is why we hope you will support us.

“We don’t know how long this will take, but we promise that we will pursue (the truth) till the end and I hope you will all stand by us,” said Lee Lan, who at one point apologised for not being a good orator.

After Lee Lan’s short speech, a short tribute video clip was screened depicting Beng Hock’s happier moments.

The video clip featured Beng Hock’s photographs and his last known video recording, albeit only his voice could be heard as he was behind the camera.

Earlier, Beng Hock’s family, along with DAP leaders and their Pakatan Rakyat comrades, took to the stage in a solemn ceremony to place red palm prints on a massive banner.

Rosmah dragged in too

Following this, Penang Chief Minister and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng spoke in a lengthy speech casting doubts at the authorities’ attempt to paint Beng Hock’s death as a suicide.

Guan Eng, as he had done many times before, reasoned to the crowd that there was no way Beng Hock would have committed suicide as he was due to register his marriage to his pregnant 
sweetheart, Soh Cher Wei, the day after he was grilled by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

“I want to ask Najib: Would you commit suicide if you’re going to marry Rosmah tomorrow?” asked Guan Eng.

While most of the crowd shouted “No”, a significant portion shouted “Yes! Yes!” breaking the mood of the otherwise sombre memorial event.

Realising that his attempt to trigger an uniform response was not very successful, Guan Eng quickly added, “No! Because he loves Rosmah!”, forcing most of his audience to laugh.

Thus, according to Guan Eng, to argue that Beng Hock commit suicide was illogical.

“No one believes this. Only the wicked, and those who want to insult Beng Hock’s family, would say so,” he said.

One year is too long

Guan Eng also lambasted the authorities for failing to provide answers to Beng Hock’s family although a year had passed.

Comparing investigations on Beng Hock’s death to that of pop superstar Michael Jackson, Guan Eng said the the probe into the latter’s death was swift.

“Michael Jackson died on June 25. It has been one year and the person responsible (for his death) is already being punished.

“Beng Hock died a year ago and we are still as far from the truth as we were a year ago,” he said.

Guan Eng then jokingly suggested that the authorities should employ the services of the investigation team into Jackson’s death to expedite the probe into Beng Hock’s death.

Guan Eng was among a long list of speakers during the memorial, which included DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang, Selangor legislative assembly speaker Teng Chang Khim and Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar.

MACC chief flayed

In her speech, Nurul Izzah said Beng Hock’s mysterious death and her father Anwar Ibrahim’s arsenic poisoning incident were reasons for the people’s struggle for reforms.

“A student once told me that while the arsenic incident did not cause anyone to die, now a person being investigated by MACC can result in death,” she said.

In view of this, Nurul Izzah said that the people must not give up hope that the system can be reformed in order for justice to prevail.

Meanwhile, Kit Siang lambasted MACC chief Abu Kassim Mohamed for issuing a statement of condolence a year after Teoh’s death, but also for initially issuing the statement only in Mandarin.

“It is only after public outcry did an English and Bahasa statement appear on their website,” he said.

He added that this has put a large question mark on Abu Kassim’s sincerity and integrity.

Photo credit: Andrew Ong