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Category: Politik

  • Activists Dismay At Preservation of Sedition Act 1948 In Malaysia

    Activists Dismay At Preservation of Sedition Act 1948 In Malaysia

    Tasked to draft a replacement to the Sedition Act 1948, two members of the National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC) today expressed surprise and dismay over Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s shock announcement that the controversial law will stay.

    Noting that the announcement was made during the on-going Umno General Assembly today, NUCC member Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa also questioned the intent in breaking the pledge that has been made thrice publicly.

    “I think this is, unfortunately, just to please the Umno delegates who are now having their yearly meeting,” the Parit Buntar MP said.

    “If the intention was to please them, that is most unfortunate, because we are looking at the issue of Sedition Act from a substantive point, because standard of proof for this act is very low and does not address racial and religious incitement.”

    The NUCC has been pushing for the law to be eliminated, contending that its ambit is too broad as it criminalises speech with an undefined “seditious tendency” and without need to prove intent.

    Sharing his dismay was social activist Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir, who expressed surprise that the Act will not be replaced by the National Harmony Bills proposed by the NUCC.

    As part of his administration’s raft of reforms, Najib had in 2012 pledged to do away with the Sedition Act and replace it with laws on national harmony. This was repeated twice more, most recently on September 5.

    The NUCC was formed November 30 last year to establish a National Unity Blueprint and was tasked with, among others, to propose new legislation to replace the Sedition Act.

    It later proposed three draft bills to replace the Sedition Act: The Racial, Religious and Hate Crimes bill, which outlaws hate speech; the National Harmony and Reconciliation Bill, which prohibits discrimination; and the National Harmony and Reconciliation Commission Bill, which details the functions of the commission that will inquire into complaints of discrimination.

    Confusion over the drafts led to vicious attacks against the NUCC and the Bar Council that was roped in to help prepare the legislation, forcing Putrajaya to repeatedly deny that the proposals were the intended replacements for the Sedition Act.

    Putrajaya later also began to convey that the repeal of the Act was not certain, hinting that it may be retained if the replacements are inferior.

    At the 65th Umno General Assembly today, Najib removed all doubts when he declared that the Sedition Act 1948 will remain, after consultation with party leaders, NGOs and grassroots members.

    He also announced that the Act will be strengthened with two extra provisions: One prohibiting insults against all religions, and the other prohibiting talks of Sabah and Sarawak seceding from Malaysia.

    “I assumed he had thought long and hard before he said he would abolish it, and I’m hoping he gave the same amount of thought to this reversal of that decision,” Marina told Malay Mail Online.

    “As with all laws, they mean nothing no matter what amendments are made if implementation is poor and prosecution is selective.”

    Today, Mujahid also wondered aloud about the prime minister’s given reasons for the retention of the criticised law, pointing out that the Federal Constitution contains clear provisions protecting the Malays, Islam and the Malay rulers.

    The PAS lawmaker criticised the possibility that the decision was made solely to convince Umno delegates at the convention of the party’s commitment to protect the Malay agenda.

    “This is the wrong perception,” said the PAS MP. “The whole idea is, Umno is afraid of its own shadow and now they are trying to drag the whole country because they feel threatened and not the people, Islam or the Malay rulers.”

    Up until the announcement today, Putrajaya has repeatedly insisted it will repeal the Sedition Act and sought to justify an accelerated use of the law against opposition politicians, activists, academics and even a journalist.

    Defenders of the Sedition Act, primarily pro-establishment conservatives including former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, contend that its removal will open the floodgates of attacks against the Bumiputera, Islam, and the Malay rulers in the absence of another pre-independence law that has since been repealed, the Internal Security Act.

     

    Source: http://www.themalaymailonline.com

  • Gilbert Goh: 10 Ministers To Ship Out Of The Cebiner After The Next Elections

    Gilbert Goh: 10 Ministers To Ship Out Of The Cebiner After The Next Elections

    Ten ministers we want to see out of the cabinet after the next election:-

    1. Lim Swee Say – a minister without portfolio, Mr Lim is in charge of the labour department here but is seldom seen advocating for our workers.

    In fact, he earns his million-dollar salary by discouraging the implementation of minimum wage as he says that wage increase should be accompanied by higher productivity.

    Termed the tooth-pick minister because he is only concerned about the lack of tooth pick when he visited a Dai Tai Fong restaurant two years ago, Singapore will not miss him at all if he is out of the cabinet after the next election as he is seldom saying anything useful for the people.

    Certainly not deserving of his million-dollar salary.

    2. Admiral Lui Tuck Yew – in his first term as transport minister, Admiral Lui mishandled the many train mishaps that occurred the past few years by simply brushing them off as ordinary occurrences and seldom spoke out convincingly against any annual PTC fare hike even though SMRT made millions in profits for many years.

    When he tried to travel in public transport to get a real personal feel of the daily grind of average Singporeans, he was jeered at by many as trying to score cheap political points.

    He was also the first minister in Singapore to almost have a effigy burnt in his name at Hong Lim park early this year during the transport fare hike protest.

    A minister that is best left to manage ships than trains and buses.

    Deserve a pay-cut if he continues to perform this manner.

    3. Gan Kim Yong – Mr Gan was transferred to take care of the health ministry after the 2011 election when he couldn’t manage the problematic manpower ministry during his first term.

    An average minister at best, Mr Gan could not inspire in his parliamentary speeches and lack the charisma and leadership to helm a ministry.

    Singaporeans will not miss him if he is taken out as a minister after the next election.

    He probably only has the capacity to be a state minister.

    Singapore can get someone to replace him as minister after the next election.

    4. MG Chan Chun Sing – he led the social work ministry of the country even though he is an army officer for the best part of his career.

    Parachuted in by the prime minister when the party lost its first-ever GRC after the 2011 GE, MG Chan quickly established himself and became the kee-chu minister.

    In many of his speeches to the constituents, he asked people to raise their hands in hokkein “kee-chu” if they agreed with his points.

    Since taking over the social work ministry, MG Chan has not really introduced any policies that deserve mention so far.

    Touted as the next prime minister material, MG Chan is labelled a hardliner and prefer to use the rod than spoil the child type.

    If he does eventually take over as prime minister, Singaporeans will have many sleepless nights and human rights activists will be busy trying to escape lawsuits.

    5. BG Tan Chuan Jin – helming the massive heavyweight manpower ministry, BG Tan quickly established himself as a good communicator and used his fast oratory wit alot to side-step important issues.

    Seldom wanting to take side on any matter, he generalises alot in his speeches and sometimes one could not really tell what he is trying to communicate to the people.

    He has charming baby-face look and could be a poster boy for the government.

    Many people speculated that he didn’t do a good job as manpower minister when they didn’t confirm him as a full-fledged minister like they have done for MG Chan – he was acting minister for another 6 months before turning permanent.

    Also seen as best left to serve in the army than helming a complicated ministry that requires alot of private sector and industrial experience, BG Tan is seen lacking as the manpower minister. He seldom speaks as if he truly understand what is happening on the ground.

    He has really done nothing much during his term as manpower minister to remedy the serious flaw in our manpower dilemma right now. People get terminated easily without proper redress and foreigners on social tourist visas could look for work without repercussion.

    So far, besides Mr Gan, none of the minister could boast of any solid private sector experience that is vital in many portfolio ministry and this is seriously exposed through BG Tan.

    This lack of private sector experience is a serious flaw in our current cabinet make-up right now and Singaporeans are paying the price.

    6. Dr Vivian Balaikrishnan – taken out from the heavyweight MCYS social work ministry after the 2011 GE after his massive controversial remark on our poor – three hot meals and hotel stay, Mr Balaikrishnan now helms the public works department.

    He also says that there is no homeless people staying in Singapore and thus ridiculed the intelligence of Singaporeans.

    Often seen as speaking arrogantly and completely out of line with the ground, he will remain minister for the minor ministry for the rest of his political career and public works suits him best.

    Singaporeans won’t miss him if he is taken out of the cabinet altogether.

    7. Admiral DPM Teo Chee Hean – DPM Teo is also seen as a hardliner and often took on duties that our prime minister shrink from.

    He was the man who handled the two top civil servant corruption cases and also got embroiled in the Michael Palmer disgraced exit as Speaker of Parliament.

    Lacking charisma and hardnosed, DPM Teo lacks empathy and seldom inspires with his speeches.

    He is also dull looking and has sleepy eyes that hardly could wake up.

    A deputy prime minister that Singapore could do without.

    8. Khaw Boon Wan – Mr Khaw shone in his ministerial term as health minister but is seen lacking as national development minister after taking over in 2011. He could not pacify a population that is crying for transparency in the actual costing of our HDB flats.

    Cost of new HDB flats have rose considerably but the build-in size has shrank much.

    However, to his credit, he manages to speed up the building of new HDB flats and the waiting time has being slashed by almost one-third from the tenure under previous minister Mah Bow Tan.

    Mr Khaw has performed ordinarily as housing minister and we expect more from him as he is capable of doing much more like when he helmed the health ministry.

    9.Dr Yaacob Ibrahim – deemed the minister for Malay affairs, he seldom however speaks up for the plight of Malays and is the much-hated mouthpiece for the government.

    He also helms the ministry for communication and information.

    Caught in the unenviable position of having to speak up for the Malays and yet not trampling on the tail-coat of our government, Dr Yacob could not function well in his role except to collect his million-dollar paycheck every year.

    Singaporeans, especially the Malay community, will not miss him if he is out of the cabinet either by the loss of his GRC or a downgrade in portfolio duties.

    10. Ng Eng Hen – the surgeon minister is now handling defence after trying out education in his first term.

    Not many people know of his ministerial effort as he is often soft-spoken and stay in the shadow.

    The best thing he has done is to reduce national service to 24 months from 30 months and he seldom inspires with his speeches.

    Its also strange a surgeon led the defence portfolio when we have more than seven generals in the cabinet team.

    A minister that will not be missed if he is gone after the next election as so far his contribution is really very minimal.

    He can then get back his 5-million dollar job as a top private surgeon.

     

    Gilbert Goh

    *Article first appeared on https://www.facebook.com/goh.gilbert/posts/10153402207138975

     

    Source: www.therealsingapore.com

     

  • Israel’s Status As National Homeland Of Jewish People Enhrined In Constitution

    Israel’s Status As National Homeland Of Jewish People Enhrined In Constitution

    JERUSALEM (AFP) – Israel’s government on Sunday endorsed a proposal to anchor in law the country’s status as the national homeland of the Jewish people, drawing fire from critics who said it weakened democracy.

    “The cabinet today approved a draft basic law: ‘Israel the national state of the Jewish people’,” said a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party, one of whose MPs was a sponsor.

    Netanyahu also announced a separate initiative to strip Arabs of their residency and welfare rights if they or their relatives take part in unrest.

    Following a stormy meeting, the cabinet voted 14 to six in favour of the national homeland proposal, with ministers from the two centrist parties – HaTnuah led by Justice Minister Tzipi Livni and Yesh Atid of Finance Minister Yair Lapid – voting against, media reports said.

    The proposal would mean Israel would no longer be defined in its Basic Laws as “Jewish and democratic” but instead as “the national homeland of the Jewish people”.

    Critics, who include the government’s top legal adviser, say the proposed change to the laws that act as Israel’s effective constitution could institutionalise discrimination against its 1.7 million Arab citizens.

    By giving preeminence to the “Jewish” character of Israel over its democratic nature, the law in its current format is anti-democratic, they say.

    The Israel Democracy Institute said that the state’s Jewish identity is already contained in its 1948 declaration of independence.

    “However, that declaration also emphasises the Jewish State’s absolute commitment to the equality of all of its citizens – an essential component missing from the proposals being presented to the government today,” IDI president Yohanan Plesner said in a statement.

    Netanyahu insisted the law would give equal weight to both characteristics.

    “There are those who would like the democratic to prevail over the Jewish and there are those who would like the Jewish to prevail over the democratic… both of these values are equal and both must be considered to the same degree,” he said.

    The proposal has provoked uproar among MPs and ministers from the centre and the left, who fear the text only institutionalises discrimination.

    There are also concerns about a plan to revoke the rights of any Arab resident who took part in or incited violence, even stone-throwing.

    “It cannot be that those who attack Israeli citizens and call for the elimination of the State of Israel will enjoy rights such as National Insurance – and their family members as well, who support them,” Netanyahu told ministers.

    Israel’s Arab minority, comprising some 20 per cent of the population, are descendants of Palestinians who stayed after the establishment of Israel in 1948.

    If the Jewish homeland proposal becomes law, it would mean “the institutionalisation of racism, which is already a reality on the street, in both law and at the heart of the political system”, warned Majd Kayyal of Adalah, the Legal Centre for Arab Minority Rights in Israel.

    “Democracy guarantees that all citizens have the same rights and are equal before the state, but this racist change introduces a distinction on the basis of religion,” he said.

    Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein, the government’s legal adviser, has also criticised the proposal, saying it weakens the state’s democratic character.

    The version of the bill approved by ministers on Sunday represents a nod from Netanyahu to the most hardline elements of his party and ruling coalition as talk grows of an early election.

    But it will be incorporated into a hybrid proposal approved by Netanyahu, the Likud statement said.

    “The bill will pass a preliminary reading in the Knesset this Wednesday and will be revised to conform with a government bill which will be drafted and approved by the cabinet soon,” it said.

    The final version of the text submitted to parliament for approval is likely to be softened, predicted Denis Charbit, a political scientist at Israel’s Open University.

    “The text proposed by Netanyahu is more moderate but it is still problematic because he disassociates the Jewish character from the democratic character of the state and this institutionalises a hierarchy between them, to the detriment of democracy,” he said.

     

    Source: www.straitstimes.com

  • ESM Goh Underwent Surgery For Prostate Cancer

    ESM Goh Underwent Surgery For Prostate Cancer

    SINGAPORE: Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong underwent a successful surgery for prostate cancer on Saturday (Nov 22), according to a news release issued by the office of ESM Goh.

    His doctor, Dr Sim Hong Gee, a senior consultant urologist in Gleneagles Hospital and visiting consultant at Singapore General Hospital (SGH), said Mr Goh is expected to make a full recovery as the cancer was localised and detected early.

    Mr Goh will remain at SGH for a few days for observation.

    WELL-WISHES FOR ESM GOH

    Manpower Minister Tan Chuan-Jin asked his followers to join him in wishing ESM Goh a smooth and speedy recovery in a Facebook post on Saturday evening.

    “ESM had earlier told me of his condition. It was detected early and the operation was successful. The doctors believe that he should have a full recovery.

    Take care ESM!” the post read.

  • Osman Sulaiman Dilantik Setiausaha Agung Persatuan Belia MOTIVASI

    Osman Sulaiman Dilantik Setiausaha Agung Persatuan Belia MOTIVASI

    Persatuan Belia MOTIVASI telah memilih sdra Osman Sulaiman sebagai Setiausaha Agung nya yang baru.

    Persatuan Belia MOTIVASI yang berdaftar dengan Pendaftaran Persatuan (ROS) sejak tahun 1993 yang bergerak aktif dengan program-program khas untuk belia  dan isu-isu masyarakat amnya. MOTIVASI yang pernah berkerjasama dengan badan-badan Islam dan masjid-masjid Singapura sebagai contoh PERTAPIS, Masjid Ar-Rhaudah, Masjid Kassim dan lain-lain.

    Program-program yang telah MOTIVASI laksanakan adalah seperti Kelas Tuisyen Percuma, membantu belia dalam kes-kes mahkamah (juvenile delinquency), mengadakan pertandingan bolasepak, acara-acara sukan, Konvensyen Belia dengan penglibatan masyarakat dalam isu-isu semasa dan sebagainya.

    MOTIVASI juga telah bersama dalam program YMS (Young Muslim Secretariat), Belia Dunia Melayu Dunia Islam (DMDI), WAY (World Assembly Of Youth) yang memberi ahli-ahlinya kemahiran dan kematangan dalam kepimpinan.

    Integrasi kaum dan kerjasama diantara NGOs, CCs dan masjid-masjid dalam projek ‘Belia Jaya’ adalah diantara usaha MOTIVASI pelopori bagi keharmonian kaum dan kemakmuran masyarakat Singapura.

    Justeru itu usaha untuk mendekati belia dan masyarakat dipergiatkan bagi meneruskan usaha murni ini dengan motto MOTIVASI ‘Kejayaan Melalui Perpaduan’ (Success Through Unity). Untuk pertanyaan, penyertaan dan keahlian emel [email protected].

     

    Source: http://singapurakita.bravejournal.com