Shadow Policy Committee

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has said that a Pakatan Rakyat (PR) federal government would be satisfied with a simple majority in Parliament, citing concerns that a two-thirds majority victory will make the coalition complacent. The PKR advisor and Opposition Leader said that a simple majority would ensure a strong federal government as well as opposition, as well as allow a proper-check-and balance system so that PR does not end up mirroring the current Barisan Nasional government. “Why do you need to win and have two-thirds majority, for what? Simple majority cukup (is enough). Two-thirds will make (us) complacent... two-thirds if you are too strong, you don’t and won’t have a strong, formidable opposition,” Anwar (picture) told an interview session yesterday. The opposition leader said he was confident of PR’s chances of taking over Putrajaya and forming a new federal government, and that he wanted “Umno to perform well as an opposition party.” Election 2008 saw PKR become the largest o...

The constitutional provision outlining the special position of Bumiputeras has been manipulated by Umno and is now being used as a weapon of aggression, Pakatan Rakyat (PR) lawmakers claimed today amid growing debate on the subject. On Saturday, National Evangelical Christian Fellowship (NECF) chairman Reverend Dr Eu Hong Seng said Article 153 of the Federal Constitution is akin to “bullying” if it only protects the rights of one group. Today, several PR lawmakers suggested that Article 153 was being intentionally conflated with the concept of “ketuanan Melayu”, or Malay supremacy. “Reverend Eu mentioned it should be inclusive and I think it did try to cover it (inclusiveness),” PAS Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad said today. “Fundamentally it is inclusive but has been manipulated and it is not about protection anymore but aggression.” Eu’s remark sparked protest from Malay rights group Perkasa and drew a denial today from Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyddin Yassin that the provi...

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...

The Penang state government continues to be in the good books of the Auditor General, who commended its improved financial position in 2010 compared to 2009. According to the latest AG report, Penang's consolidated revenue grew by 2.7 percent, from RM1,101.89 million for 2009 to RM1,131.17 million in 2010. The consolidated cash reserve rose by 6.2 percent to RM572.49 million, up from RM538.95 million in 2009. “The state’s revenue for 2010 has increased by RM34.19 million or 9.1 percent compared to 2009 from RM376.51 million to RM410.70 million,” observes the report. The AG advises the state government to make better investment analysis as a way to increase dividends. “Besides that, the state government is also urged to continue its effort to collect arrears in revenue amounting to RM78.78 million at the end of 2010 from land tax, loan repayment to students, rental of houses, shop lots and so on,” the report adds. On development under the Ninth Malaysia Plan, the AG rates the state’...

By R Kengadharan The fundamental problem in Malaysia today is racism, and each day it escalates to a more dangerous level. We cannot ignore the ugly truth that racism is the consequence of privilege, institutionalised discrimination and the claim of supremacy by one group. The sad thing is that there is no national effort on a credible scale to destroy the racist mentality. We must destroy racism by openly condemning it and rejecting it in whatever form it takes, including the form of a race-based political party. The result of the 2008 general election did provide a ray of hope for a political system dominated by two multiracial parties, but the euphoria was short-lived. No true political observer can be oblivious of the fact that racial politicking is making a comeback and threatening to push the nation ever backward. While the vast majority of Malaysians see nothing but ugliness in racial politics, there are still many politicians who believe they cannot survive unless they continue...

Oleh Abd Manan Abd Razak, Naib Pengerusi DAP Kuala Perlis Pemerintahan Barisan Nasional selama 54 tahun telah menyebabkan rakyat Malaysia dipecahbelahkan mengikut kaum masing-masing. Oleh itu BN menerusi parti-parti komponennya telah mempropagandakan perjuangan terhadap sesuatu kaum yang seolah-olah dilihat hanya UMNO berjuang untuk orang Melayu, MCA untuk orang Cina dan MIC untuk kaum India serta lain-lain komponen yang secara dasarnya adalah sama. Setelah sekian lama di bawah pentadbiran BN, kini rakyat sudah sedar akan politik berasaskan perkauman yang dibawa oleh BN tidak membawa kepada perpaduan. Tsunami politik 2008 telah membuktikan kebenaran rasa tidak puas hati rakyat yang ditafsirkan dalam bentuk kertas undi. Rakyat pelbagai kaum bersatu secara sendirinya tanpa diadakan apa-apa program khusus. Semuanya berlaku atas kesedaran peribadi serta secara bermasyarakat. Parti PAS, PKR dan DAP telah mendapat habuan besar dengan 82 kerusi Parlimen dan 5 kerajaan negeri. Setelah terkesan...

By Soong Phui Jee Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's recent visit to the Palace of Justice has triggered a dispute as some claimed that the visit could jeopardise the independence of the judiciary. However, I am more interested in the remarks made by retiring Chief Justice Tun Zaki Tun Azmi. He said that the government had allocated RM130 million to upgrade court facilities and it was normal for the Prime Minister to see how the money was spent. Also, the more people the more transparent it was and there was nothing to be kept in the dark. It would not affect judges' independent judgement. The judiciary needs money to operate and the bill is paid by the government. Then how could we be sure that the judiciary would not lose its independence for government funding? Judiciary independence is a universal value. According to the Basic Principles on the Independence of the Judiciary adopted by the Seventh United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of O...