Shadow Policy Committee

The inconsistent claims made by Barisan Nasional (BN) on DAP’s relationship with PAS shows that the ruling coalition’s leaders were misleading, Lim Kit Siang said today. The DAP parliamentary leader said claims by Umno leaders that PAS was “under the thumb” of DAP contradicted MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek’s charge that DAP was a “stooge” of the Islamist party. “Who has lied? Najib and Muhyiddin or Chua Soi Lek?” Lim asked in a statement. “Umno and MCA leaders cannot all be telling the truth — as the DAP cannot be a stooge of PAS and PAS also a stooge of DAP [at the] same time. “Either Umno or MCA leaders have lied.” But Lim alleged it was more likely that all three — Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak, his second Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Dr Chua — were being devious. The Ipoh Timur MP said the trio were guilty of “perpetuating lies” to ensure their respective parties stood a chance in the next general election. He added that ordinary Malays stood to gain should Pakat...

By Clara Chooi A PAS MP filed an emergency motion notice to Parliament today, calling for the immediate release of Sungai Siput MP Dr Michael Jeyakumar, currently under remand for allegedly “waging war against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong”. Dr Hatta Ramli (PAS-Kuala Krai) confirmed with The Malaysian Insider this afternoon that notice had been given to the office of Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia this morning. “We, Pakatan Rakyat (PR) MPs, stand behind a man who was chosen by the people. He fights not only for the rights of those in Sungai Siput but for the entire country. “You (the police) have [prevented] an MP [from] serving his duties in the House. In any democratic country, no parliamentarian should be mishandled like this. We are very unhappy and we want justice,” he told a joint press conference earlier today with other Pakatan Rakyat (PR) MPs. He said the Speaker will decide on the motion by Wednesday. During the press conference, PR lawmakers expressed their dis...

The Sarawak state election will be held on 16 April. It is time for the people of Sarawak to voice their choice of government for the next 5 years. The DAP hopes to bring change to Sarawak by fighting the rampant abuse of power, cronysim and corruption by BN leaders, who enriched themselves while impoverishing the people over the past 50 years.

By Clara Chooi The Najib administration’s latest “Christmas blunder” has religious leaders in a mad scramble to explain to Christians that the church had not bowed to a directive to remove religious symbols during a Christmas party a fortnight ago. The Malaysian Insider understands that over the weekend, Catholic priests were forced to address the issue as it had caused an uproar among parishioners who questioned why the church had adhered to such “overzealous” requests, allegedly made by the prime minister’s aide. But the leaders also agreed that despite their attempts at defusing the situation, the “damage has already been done”, resulting in a rekindling of the same tension that rose during last year’s “Allah” controversy. Father Simon Labrooy, who spoke on the issue during two separate masses, predicted that the Christian community’s anger was not likely to dissipate until the premier publicly clarified his stand. He agreed that the administration, now mulling snap polls, would enc...

Utusan Malaysia today raised fears of Selangor joining Singapore as another “country belonging to China outside mainland China” over the ‘state secretary’ tussle between the state and Putrajaya. Assistant editor-in-chief Zaini Hassan’s column called on Malays to “have the same zeal as China, India and Israel” to “defend their sovereignty in governing the country” after seeing Pakatan Rakyat (PR) reject the choice of the federally-controlled Public Services Department (PSD), Datuk Mohamed Khusrin Munawi, as the new state secretary. “Do we Malays (already so few in the world) want to allow another country belonging to China or India outside their own lands? It should be enough with Singapore (a country belonging to China outside mainland China). Do we also want to give away this homeland?” he wrote, referring to Selangor. Zaini cited the Hans in China and the Hindus in India who enjoyed supremacy in their countries as they formed the majority population. “The People’s Republic of China w...

By Shazwan Mustafa Pakatan Rakyat (PR) appealed for unity amid speculation of snap polls, as they gathered here to work out policies and strategies to unseat the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) from power. DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng told a crowd of 2,000 at the PR convention that the BN, chiefly Umno, would try their best to “politicise” the ties among PR members. “Umno will always try to play up the relationship between PAS and DAP. They want to politicise this. They will use the 3Rs — Race, religion and ‘Raja’ (the Rulers) to try and drive a wedge between us,” said the Penang chief minister. Umno along with its newspaper, Utusan Malaysia, have consistently attacked the DAP and PAS for their inability to agree on several key policy issues — including the Islamist party’s insistence on forming an Islamic state. Echoing Lim, PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang warned of the same threat, saying that PR needed to focus on balancing living and interacting within a “multi-religio...

By Tunku Abdul Aziz, DAP National Vice Chairman In an article I wrote recently, Rulers for all Malaysians, I had suggested, in a spirit of helpfulness, that their highnesses the rulers should drop the word “Malay” and instead use the more commonly understood title Sultan, for example, of Selangor or Sultan of Kedah as the case may be. Continuing to describe themselves as Malay Rulers at a time when inclusiveness is what is required as part of the process of integrating our disparate community of races seems to be a little perverse. His Highness the Sultan of Selangor, in decrying the suggestion I had made in my article, has, I fear, got the wrong end of the stick. Even a cursory reading of the article will show that the position of their highnesses in the constitutional arrangements of our nation remains inviolate, and Malaysians do not want it any other way. We recognise the crucial importance of stability in the life of a nation. Stability is inherent in the system of constitutional ...

By Lau Weng San It is quite disturbing to read statement from several MCA leaders attacking Selangor State Government by implying that the Pakatan Rakyat (PR)-led state government only approves 12 Chinese applicants for study loan, when MCA leaders are not prepared to reveal how many study loans were offered to Chinese in states ruled by Barisan Nasional (BN). In fact, I was the first assemblyman who helped promoting the study loan scheme offered by the state government as early as in August 2010. All elected representatives in Selangor received letters and brochures from the state government requesting helps from elected representatives to promote such scheme and to recommend suitable students to apply for the study loan irregardless of race and religion. This prompted me to request for more details about the almost-interest-free study loan in August 2010. I also called a press conference to promote the study loan, which is opened to applicants from all races provided that the applica...

The concept of Malay supremacy must be abandoned so that the younger generation would grow up with the right vision, says Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail. "Malay supremacy is the slogan used by a small 'elite' group of Malays who deceives the larger group of the community to satisfy their personal interests," she said, adding that the small group comprised those who committed bribery, corruption, criminal breach of trust and other crimes. Dr Wan Azizah said that a nation and the people would only gain respect when they have dignity. "So, if a nation wants to grow, it must preserve and maintain its dignity, and this includes the Malays." She also said that after 53 years of independence, the fate of the Malays and the bumiputra in Malaysia were still neglected, and they were still plagued by social, educational, economic and cultural ills. She said the current government had neglected the Orang Asli in Malaysia, who were no...

By Adib Zalkapli As expected, the PKR annual congress renewed its support for Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to continue leading the party, declaring today that the opposition leader should not be forced to go through a party election. Anwar had refused to contest the presidency which has been held by his wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail since the party’s formation 11 years ago. Faris said Anwar did not appoint himself de facto leader. “There are those who question Anwar’s legitimacy to make decisions, who make us doubt his leadership. Some had questioned his competency to be the de facto leader,” said Faris Musa when tabling the motion to debate the president’s address. “He did not appoint himself to be the de facto leader. We put him there,” he told the congress. Faris later asked the 1,200 delegates to stand up as a show of support to Anwar as the de facto leader. “Let us give our undivided support to Anwar Ibrahim,” said Faris to loud cheers from the crowd. Another delegate,...

Racial profiling of Malaysians should be blamed for the dismally small number of non-Malays in the armed forces, said a former Sabah chief minister. Yong Teck Lee, who is also Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) president, noted that in the early years after independence, the armed forces, police and the civil service were multi-racial. “By way of policy and practice, the federal civil service has changed from Malaysian to Melayu. It is not “lack of patriotism” but a “marginalisation of non-Melayu“ that has turned our armed forces from Malaysian into Melayu,” he said. He was responding to remarks made by the Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in parliament where he cited “lack of patriotism” as one of the reasons for the small number of non-Malays in the armed forces. Ahmad Zahid has since come under heavy criticms from both sides of the political divide. Describing the remark as one of 'poor judgment' and a ‘double insult’ to non-Malays, Yong said after being systemically exclude...

Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has come under fire from both sides of the political divide today for insinuating that non-Malays are not patriotic. His critics wanted the Umno vice-president to apologise and retract the statement made in Dewan Rakyat yesterday. Zahid had listed four reasons why non-Malays were not interested in military service. One of the reasons was that non-Malays were “not patriotic”. His cabinet collegue S Subramaniam led the charge saying that Zahid's statement had disappointed non-Malays. "On the part of non-Malays, I wish to state that we have received many complaints that their application to join the armed forces was unsuccessful for various reasons including failing the physical tests and interviews. Apart from this, lack of promotion for non-Malays in the service is another reason why they are not interested in joining the armed forces. "Taking all these and other factors into account, I feel that connecting patriotism with the participat...

Utusan Malaysia’s editorial describing the May 13, 1969 riots as a “blessing in disguise” could set off another wave of racial riots in the country, said Pakatan Rakyat (PR) lawmakers today. Labelling the article as “seditious”, several PR MPs are also considering lodging police reports against the Umno-owned daily. The Utusan Malaysia editorial today described the May 13 racial clash as a sacred day for Malaysia and warned DAP to recognise its significance. “Utusan Malaysia, which is a racist mouthpiece for Umno, has put in a framework to put some sort of meaning and interpretation to May 13. I would like to remind Utusan Malaysia that May 13 was paid in blood, and as much as there was Malay blood there was also Chinese and Indian blood being spread over those many days of chaos,” said DAP MP Jeff Ooi. Ooi also questioned the juxtaposition of the Utusan Malaysia piece today with the Malay daily’s assertion of non-Malay dominance in the Malaysian economy currently. “Are they then setti...

The DAP claimed today of links between MCA’s bid for Tanjong Plc’s gaming business and its previous pro-sports betting licence position. MCA was supportive of tycoon Tan Sri Vincent Tan’s Ascot Sports’ attempt to get a sports betting licence earlier this year. DAP MP Anthony Loke demanded that MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek clarify the news report carried by The Malaysian Insider this morning. “Did they (MCA) support sports betting in the past because they were planning or hoping to buy into the gaming business? Was that why the MCA supported the government’s intent to legalise sports betting? Come clean on this. “MCA president Chua Soi Lek must confirm this news report. What moral authority does the MCA have left, with taking over a gaming business?” said Loke. The MCA is said to be in the mix to buy Tanjong Plc’s gaming business, valued at about RM2.5 billion, along with the Cheng family, Filipino tycoon Roberto ‘Bobby’ Ongpin Jr and some international private equity firms....

Malaysians are aghast with the latest incident of political violence in our country where Sekinchan state assemblyman Sdr Ng Suee Lim was attacked by UMNO members while he was doing his duty as a people's representative. Malaysia is a country ruled by law, not by brute force. No one and definitely not those from the ruling party UMNO should act in violence especially against political opposition. Sdr Ng was invited as a wakil rakyat to visit some farmers at Tanjong Karang afflicted with problems. The people, especially the oppressed farmers have rights to seek redress from any leaders they want, from any political party they desire. UMNO should not take the laws into their own hands and prevent our wakil rakyat from executing their duties. If UMNO members can be so arrogant and beat up a YB and wakil rakyat, ordinary people will have no security from UMNO's hegemony and abuse of power. We fully support Sdr Ng to continue to serve the people and hope he will not be affected by t...

Pakatan Rakyat memutuskan untuk menghentikan penerbitan semua parti komponennya ekoran ancaman yang berulangkali dari Kementerian Dalam Negeri (KDN), yang mengeluarkan permit penerbitan mereka. Ia diputuskan dalam mesyuarat pucuk pimpinan Pakatan di Parlimen hari ini, di mana pemimpin tertingginya memutuskan untuk menangguhkan penerbitan, sementara menunggu satu pertemuan dengan pegawai KDN. Akhbar rasmi parti komponen Pakatan - Harakah (PAS), Suara Keadilan (PKR) dan Rocket (DAP) telah menerima surat tunjuk sebab dari KDN kerana didakwa melakukan pelbagai kesalaan. Ketua Pembangkang, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim berkata, mereka akan bekerjasama dengan mematuhi prosedur yang diperlukan dan garispanduan yang dikenakan. "Buat sementara waktu, lidah rasmi parti sama ada Suara Keadilan, Harakah dan Roket ditangguhkan penerbitannya dan keputusan ini akan dikaji semula minggu depan bagi membolehkan kita bertemu Hishammuddin. "Kami akan menjawab semua surat tunjuk sebab...

Kongres Nasional Khas DAPSY akan diadakan pada hari, waktu dan tempat seperti yang berikut: Tarikh: 16 Januari 2010 (Hari Sabtu) Tempat: Dewan Bonzai A & B, Hotel Syuen, Ipoh Waktu: 3.00 petang Tujuan Kongres Nasional Khas ini diadakan adalah untuk meminda beberapa aritikel-aritikel yang terkandung di dalam perlembagaan DAPSY bagi memantapkan lagi perjalanan pergerakan pemuda di dalam parti kami.

Muslim terrorists attempted to set fire to the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church here, causing minor damage to the building, another Klang Valley Christian church attacked over two days. Church authorities said the building in Petaling Jaya Old Town was believed to be firebombed sometime between last night and this morning. “The fire-bomb missed a window and caused minor damage,” said Rev Dr Hermen Shastri, the general-secretary of the Council of Churches, Malaysia. When further reports and complaint were made to the police, the inspector-general of police Tan Sri Musa Hassan said that the police force were unable to provide full protection to the churches reasoning that their manpower were short. Tan Sri Musa's explanation was unreasonable given the fact that they had sufficient personnel in the force nationwide to curb the activities and peaceful protest organised by the Pakatan Rakyat component parties all these while. Are they telling us that politics of securing the positions of U...

A fourth Klang Valley church, this time in Kampung Subang, was reportedly attacked with Molotov cocktail which failed to explode while police have dismissed reports that cars with Christian symbols having their windscreens smashed in the Bangsar suburb today, hours after arson attacks on three churches. Police have sent a team to investigate the latest church attack in Kampung Subang which is linked to the controversial High Court ruling allowing “Allah” to be used by Catholic weekly Herald in its Bahasa Malaysia section that has outraged Muslim groups. Selangor police chief DCP Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar said the Molotov cocktail failed to explode. City police have also increased patrols in the middle-class Bangsar suburb after people reported cars with Christian symbols such as crucifixes and rosaries had their windscreens smashed. However, police say no cars have been found smashed. DAP Bagan Parliamentary Liaison Committee would like to the authorities concerned to gear up their presen...

DAP leaders today urged the police to get their priorities right in Teoh Beng Hock's case, who was found dead outside the Selangor Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) office earlier this year. In a statement today, DAP Socialist Youth (DAPSY) chief Loke Siew Fook said the move to investigate Lim Guan Eng over his remarks at the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) convention last week, showed the police lacked sincerity in solving the case. "By lodging a police report themselves against Guan Eng, the Selangor police have given the impression that they are not so interested in solving the Teoh Beng Hock’s case compared with finding faults with Pakatan Rakyat leaders," said Loke who is also the Rasah MP. What the DAPSY chief had stated is right. The police is merely acting in a political motivated anti Pakatan move ir order to curb the influence of our party leaders. The police wanted to scare PKR, DAP and PAS leaders into giving up their quest for democracy in our country. But our ...