Lim Guan Eng's Memorandum to SUHAKAM

Yang Berbahagia Tan Sri Abu Talib Othman
Chairman
The Human Rights Commission Of Malaysia (Suhakam),
Level 29, Menara Tun Razak
Jalan Raja Laut
50350 Kuala Lumpur.

BY HAND

Yang Berbahagia Tan Sri,

Holding An Inquiry Into The Infringement Of Human Rights Under Section 12 Of The Human Rights Commission Act of Malaysia Into The BN's Government Crackdown On Civil Society, Opposition & Democratic Activists That Has Grossly Violated Fundamental Human Liberties. To Fend Off BN's Campaign Of Lies, Intimidation And Threats Of Violence To Use Fear To Win The Next General Elections.

We record our approval for Suhakam's expression of regret that the Government had ignored its repeated calls to repeal the law requiring permits from the police for public assemblies and processions. We further support your statement that holding peaceful assemblies is a fundamental human right enshrined not only in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights but also sanctioned both in spirit, form and substance by our Federal Constitution (Article 20).

You are correct that police should be present merely to maintain order during peaceful assemblies and not disrupt and sabotage peaceful assemblies whereby no peaceful assembly should be rejected solely based on imagination or speculation but on hard evidence of violent intent. However we fear that the government is using their wildest imagination of violent demonstrations conducted by so-called "extremists linked to terrorists" to create a state of fear within the country.

We thereby request that Suhakam hold an inquiry into the infringement of human rights under Section 12 of the Human Rights Commission Act into the BN's government crackdown on civil society, opposition & democratic activists that has grossly violated fundamental human liberties to fend off BN's campaign of lies, intimidation and threats of violence to use fear to win the next general elections.

We refer to the recent harsh government crackdown by security forces that violate fundamental human liberties on civil society, opposition and democratic activists who were exercising their right to freedom of expression and assembly. Clearly the two massive demonstrations held by the Coalition of Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih) on 10 November 2007 and Hindraf's rally on 25 November 2007 drawing crowds of 40,000 each has so rattled the government that it is now resorting to draconian measures to stem the cry for freedom, justice and accountability.

After 50 years of Merdeka marked by the government's continued suppression of press freedom and repression of the people's rights, the people are demanding the restoration of their essential freedoms. We must work out a New Deal for all Malaysians that founded upon four essential human freedoms outlined by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

1. The first is freedom of speech and expression--everywhere in the world.

2. The second is freedom of every person to worship God in his own way--everywhere in the world.

3. The third is freedom from want-everywhere in the world.

4. The fourth is freedom from fear --anywhere in the world.

We verily believe that these four essential freedoms nourish and encompass the struggle for political equality, equal economic opportunity, socio-economic justice, environmental protection and enhancing human dignity inherent in the common citizenry of the bangsa Malaysia.

Instead of enjoying these four essential freedoms, there are clear abuses of police powers, excessive use of force and public display of police contempt for human rights which has resulted in 100 arrests, including amongst them:

1. 10 PAS supporters charged together with PAS Vice-President Mohamad Sabu with obstructing a police officer from discharging his duty on 12 December 2007.

2. 29 people arrested on 11 December 2007 for trying to submit a memorandum by Bersih to oppose the constitutional amendment to Article 125 to extend the retirement age of the Election Commission Chair by one year from 65 years to 66 years, including 9 who were arrested within the supposedly inviolable grounds of the Parliament building.

3. DAP E-General Election Campaign Director Jeff Ooi was harassed and hauled up for interrogation and investigation by the police over baseless charges of criminal defamation relating to his live commentaries criticizing the government and police conduct over Al-Jazeera English news network as news broke on the November 10th BERSIH rally.

4. A total of 23 persons were arrested on various offences on 9 December 2007 ranging from illegal assembly for 5 lawyers and 3 activists marching to commemorate International Human Rights Day, whilst Pas Vice-President Mohamad Sabu, Parti Keadilan Rakyat information chief Tian Chua and 12 others were arrested for illegal assembly in the Bersih rally. Bar Council Human Rights Committee chairman Edmund Bon was arrested for obstructing government officers from carrying out their duty when he protested against their unlawful removal of Human Rights Day banners from the Bar Council headquarters in Kuala Lumpur. The manner of their arrests were also harsh and brutal when Edmond Bon was manhandled and Mohamad Sabu was forcefully removed from his car whilst attending his daughter's wedding and police smashed his car's windscreen causing three of his elderly relatives to collapse in fear.

5. Two men who were shot by police during a Bersih rally in Batu Burok on September 8 2007 were charged with attempting to cause grievous hurt to a policeman and illegal assembly on 9 December 2007. Questions are raised why the policemen who shot them were not charged for attempted murder or causing grievous hurt to the two men.

6. Charges of attempted murder and illegal assembly against 31 persons in Batu Caves with a manhunt carried out for at least another 30 on the same counts for being involved in the massive Hindraf rally on 25 th November 2007.

7. Sedition charges filed against Hindraf leaders, expecially P. Uthayakumar, who was arrested again on 11 December 2007 after posting bail of RM 50,000 for a second sedition case. He was released on 12 December 2007, 24 hours later without being charged after being spending 24 hours in the police-lock-up in what is seen as an abuse of police powers to unnecessary detain him.

8. Demands by UMNO senior leaders led by UMNO Vice- President Datuk Mohd Ali Rustam to revoke the citizenship of Hindraf lawyers and leaders, threats by former Melaka Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Tamby Chik to hold a counter-demonstration of parang-wielding Malays and wielding of the kris to threaten non-Malays by UMNO Youth President Datuk Hishamuddin Tun Hussein Onn are glossed over and ignored.

9. Threatening to invoke the use of ISA and turning Malaysia into police state by mobilizing the entire police force and giving them full authority to act in a high-handed and arbitrary manner against peaceful citizens instead of focusing attention on catching criminals and reduce the deteriorating crime rate.

10. Attorney Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail's personal intervention in minor cases of illegal assembly and obstructing government officers from performing their duties is a clear sign of influencing court decisions in the government's favour. Why has the AG refused to personally lead the prosecution in high profile cases such as the corruption trial of former Perwaja General Manager Tan Sri Eric Chia or the sensational Altatunya murder trial by a close aide of Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak? Bail is imposed to secure the presence of an accused in court not to be misused as a tool to impose punishment before conviction on the accused by refusing him bail so that he can be imprisoned in the lock-up. By asking the court to refuse bail for instance on lawyer Edmond Bon who faces a charge that carries a sentence of only three months in jail with a fine of not more than RM 1,000, or both, Tan Sri Gani Patail no longer acts in the public interest but as an agent of BN to conduct its campaign of political victimisation to intimidate and harass those who oppose BN.

The time has come for such double-standards, selective prosecutions and abuses in the administration of justice to stop. Suhakam must intervene to protect the human rights of ordinary citizenry to ensure that the law is enforced and applied judiciously, fairly and equally. Public interest requires that the government stops the harsh, arbitrary and discriminatory manner against peaceful demonstrators whilst providing full immunity for supporters of BN making direct threats of violence.

Freedom Of Religion Under Threat When Places Of Worship For Non-Muslims Are Banned And No Action Is Taken Against UMNO MPs Demanding The Removal Of The Crucifix From Mission Schools.

Another national issue of importance is the constitutional right of freedom of religion under Article 11 of the Federal Constitution continues to be eroded with religious fatwas such as the latest directive by the Sabah Mufti S.S. Datuk Haji Ahmad Alawai Haji Adnan to the Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman on 7 July 2006 .

The Sabah Mufti informed the Sabah Chief Minister that a fatwa was issued following a meeting on 27-8 June 2006 that the building of any statues or replicas of living beings or animals is "haram" under Islam. The Sabah Mufti then insisted that the building of the Goddess of Sea statue in Kudat must be stopped.

Subsequently, t he Thean Hou Foundation was forbidden from erecting the Goddess of the Sea statue and was ordered to halt all work although they had already brought in the statue and work had progressed halfway. Interference by religious authorities on matters of administration is disturbing and not limited to Sabah.

Two BN MPs by Syed Hood Syed Edros (BN-Parit Sulong) and Datuk Mohamad Aziz (BN-Sri Gading) had even demanded the removal and destruction of the crucifix and Christian images from mission schools (see trancript of Hansard velow). However no action was taken against them despite making such insensitive, unsubstantiated and baseless comments.

Farilure to take action against such baseless allegations of mission schools under the control of the Vatican and the need to purge Christian influence from all schools would only show that comments against Islam would be punished but not against non-Islamic religions. Clearly freedom of religion is under threat when places of worship for non-Muslims are banned and no action is taken against UMNO MPs demanding the removal of the crucifix from mission schools.

Such restrictions of building of religious places of worship for non-Muslims which have been approved earlier by the local authority and do not receive a single cent from the state is unacceptable and against the secular basis of our Malaysian constitution. Suhakam needs to be more pro-active to protect and defend freedom of religion and conscience in Malaysia.

Yours faithfully,

( LIM GUAN ENG)
SECRETARY-GENERAL

Mahfuz persoal integriti Haidar

Wan Nordin Wan Yaacob
Harakahdaily

Ketua Penerangan PAS, Mahfuz Omar hari ini mempersoal wibawa dan integriti Tan Sri Haidar Mohamed Noor yang diumumkan sebagai Pengerusi Suruhanjaya Siasatan 'Pita Lingam'.

Menurut Mahfuz, pelantikan Haidar hanya akan menggambarkan bahawa suruhanjaya itu secara keseluruhannya dipertikai integritinya.

Haidar didakwa pernah dikaitkan dalam kes mantan Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim ketika Haidar menjawat jawatan sebagai pendaftar.

Percaturan

"Saya melihat bahawa ianya membawa persoalan kepada integritinya sebagai Pengerusi memandangkan beliau juga menjadi hakim dalam era tersebut," katanya.

Pelantikan Haidar ini amat diragui dan timbul persoalan samada kenaikan pangkat Haidar ini ditentukan oleh percaturan yang mungkin dibuat oleh VK Lingam dan Vincent Tan, dakwa Mahfuz.

Meskipun katanya Nama Haidar tidak disebut dalam perbualan 'Pita Lingam' namun, kesangsian tetap timbul kerana sebagaimana yang didedahkan dalam pita tersebut, ada kemungkinan pelantikan hakim sebelum dan selepas dari tahun 2002 (ketika perbualan VK Lingam dirakam) ada kaitan dengan percaturan yang dibuat.

Ambil pandangan Sultan Azlan Shah

Justeru itu keanggotaan Haidar sendiri boleh disangsikan dan beliau juga melihat kenyataan kerajaan bahawa pelantikan itu dibuat setelah mendapat perkenanan dari Yang di-Pertuan Agong serta Majlis Raja-raja Melayu adalah amat disangsikan.

Ini kerana katanya, kali terakhir Majlis Raja-raja Melayu bersidang ialah ketika memutuskan soal kedudukan bekas Ketua Hakim Negara, Tun Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim.

Justeru selepas dari itu hingga kini, Majlis Raja-raja Melayu belum bersidang lagi, dan kenyataan kerajaan bahawa keanggotaan suruhanjaya itu telah dirujuk kepada pihak Istana adalah meragukan.

"Kita tidak mahu proses ini dibuat atas nasihat Perdana Menteri, Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi kepada Yang di-Pertuan Agong dengan saranan yang mungkin tidak menyeluruh dan kurang tepat.Ia memerlukan perbincangan dari Majlis Raja-raja," katanya.

Beliau melihat bahawa pandangan tokoh undang-undang dalam Majlis Raja-raja Melayu seperti Sultan Azlan Muhibuddin Shah Ibni Almarhum Sultan Yusuff Izzuddin Shah Ghafarullahu-Lah dalam melantik kenaggotaan suruhanjaya ini amatlah penting. |more...|

Aksi-aksi elit pentabiran kerajaan

Kalau sekali dengar apa yang tersiar dalam Buletin Utama TV3 pada 11hb Dis 2007, tidak ada apa-apa yang akan menarik perhatian kita mengenai berita KHN-Ketua Hakim Negara yang baru serta membuat ucapan sulung sempena majlis angkat sumpah Presiden Mahkamah Rayuan di Markas Besar Kehakiman yang dipanggil “Istana Keadilan” yang mana sepatutnya sesuai dipanggil “Balairong Sri Keadilan” kerana bukankah para hakim adalah wakil Yang Di Pertuan Agong untuk menyelesaikan kes undang-undang dan keadilan dan dahulu kes-kes undang-undang dijalankan di Balairong Seri, jika dirujuk kepada Sultan atau pun raja.

Dalam keghairahan dan mungkin terperanjat berok apabila dilantik menjadi KHN, dengan tidak sengaja beliau telah menyindir bekas pendahulunya yang terpaksa mengosongkan jawatan dan tidak disambung untuk waktu kecederaan enam bulan sebagai KHN, peluang yang seperti kebiasaan diterima sebagai KHN yang akan bersara wajib.

Maka terdengar dan berkata KHN ini dan kemudian dilaporkan dalam akbar Berita Harian akan katanya: "Berdasarkan pemerhatian saya, dalam hampir setiap tuduhan rasuah dan salah laku yang membabitkan hakim atau kakitangan mahkamah akan ada sekurang-kurangnya seorang peguam terbabit”. Di mana tujuan untuk menempelak Majlis Peguam Malaysia atas salah laku berlakunya rasuah dalam badan kehakiman.

Oleh itu hanya sekadar mungkin satu andaian dan tanpa niat prasangka buruk, kenyataan KHN itu seperti menyindir akan kebenaran tuduhan dan aduan akan isu Video Lingam yang menuduh bahawa bekas KHN dahulu dan sebelumnya terlibat dalam isu rasuah dan pemainnya ialah peguam sendiri, yang sudah pasti menjadi ahli Majlis Peguam Malaysia |more...|

SUHAKAM BATAL SIASATAN?

"Di bawah peruntukan Seksyen 12(2) dan (3) Akta Suhakam 1999-Akta 597 menyatakan suruhanjaya tidak boleh menyiasat apa-apa aduan yang berhubungan dengan apa-apa perlanggaran hak asasi manusia yang merupakan hal prosiding yang belum selesai di mahkamah atau telah diputuskan secara muktamad oleh mahkamah," katanya pada sidang media di sini yang turut dihadiri dua lagi anggota panel iaitu Tan Sri Asiah Abu Samah dan Prof Datuk Dr Khoo Kay Kim.

Suhakam Batal Siasatan Awam Penggunaan Peluru Di Batu Buruk

KUALA TERENGGANU, 13 Dis (Bernama) -- Suruhanjaya Hak Asasi Manusia Malaysia (Suhakam) hari ini membatalkan siasatan awam terhadap dakwaan penggunaan peluru hidup semasa perhimpunan haram pada malam 8 September lepas di Batu Buruk di sini.

Pengerusi panel siasatan awam itu Datuk Muhammad Shafee Abdullah berkata pembatalan itu perlu dibuat kerana dua mangsa dalam kejadian itu telah dihadapkan ke Mahkamah Sesyen di sini pada 9 Disember lepas atas tuduhan cuba mencederakan anggota polis ketika perhimpunan haram itu.

Muhammad Shafee berkata keterangan yang diberikan di mahkamah nanti akan merangkumi kejadian tembakan atau penggunaan peluru hidup dan fakta itu akan bercantum dalam satu transaksi yang sama.

Haidar,another Pat Lah’s prodigal son returns.....

source: alditta.blogspot.com

Finally the gomen has setup the 'Commission of Enquiry' to look into the Lingam Video Clip, under the Commissions of Enquiry Act 1950 (Act 119) with immediate effect. It’s headed by former chief judge of Malaya Haidar Mohamed Noor and the other members of the commission are former chief judge of Sabah and Sarawak Steve Shim, former Court of Appeal judge Mahadev Shankar, former solicitor-general Zaitun Zawiyah Puteh and historian and Suhakam commissioner Khoo Kay Kim. PM Deparment's Legal Affairs Division head Abdullah Sani Hamid will act as the commission secretary. They have three months or till mid-March to investigate and summit their findings.

Meanwhile Haidar and Mahadev Shankar were from the earlier three member panel. The toothless panel of inquiry headed by Haidar had nothing on their table and ended up by submitting reports based what they gathered from the IGP, AG and ACA. In the end each panel members submitted their report independently. What a sheer waste of public money. However, though media reports indicated all three panelists supported the formation of a Royal Commission some inside source told me that only two panelist suggested the formation of Royal Commission, while Haider wanted the case to be closed. Haidar feared that the Royal Commission will expose more skeletons in the cupboard and he could likely be one of them.

Haidar Mohamed Noor's role in the 1988 judicial crisis which saw the arbitrary and unconstitutional sacking of Salleh Abas as Lord President and two Supreme Court judges renders him as untrustworthy of such an appointment.

The 2nd term of reference states "to enquire and identify the speaker, the person he was speaking to in the video clip and the persons mentioned in the conversation” . Haidar’s name was mentioned in the video clip.

How in the hell do you think he is going to deal with that? Is he taking leave when his name comes out or he just going to plug his ears as nothing happens? Or,he can go in with a preconceived idea that all along this video clip was nothing more but a fake cooked up by some frustrated people.

At least Abdul Rashid had openly declared that he's an ardent fan of the gomen and in a recent speech,he declared that “there is only one regime in this country that is capable of running” the nation, and that Malaysia would be “in trouble” if he was in disagreement with BN. With the amendment bill passed, Abdul Rashid is going to do his best so as not to hurt or be in any disagreement with the BN gomen.

How Haidar Mohamed Noor going to do his piece towards this Lingamgate scandal inquiry is anyone's guess. Let’s wait and see.... Again, a black eye on the judiciary!

Sure enough, with this new development,coupled with Bersih,Hindraf public rallies and a series of corruption scandals bruising the gomen,thus, compelling Pat Lah to reschedule his general election date,reportedly set for the last week of December to a later date,probably during the mid-March 2008 school holidays. By then the Royal Commission would have done their work, but sure enough it will be before April 2008. You guys should knows why........

KHIR TOYO CUBA GUNAKAN SALURAN BLOG

Eksklusif: "Saya yatim piatu dalam politik" Khir Toyo

klpos

Oleh Helme Hanafi

"INI kali pertama Datuk Seri bercakap secara terus-terang macam tadi," kata Dr Karim Mansor, setiausaha politik Menteri Besar Selangor Datuk Seri Dr Khir Toyo, setelah pertemuan lebih dua jam itu bersurai. Sebagai orang yang selalu bersama Khir ketika bertemu media, Dr Karim agak 'terkejut' melihat bossnya bercakap terus-terang terutamanya soal-soal peribadi yang jarang disentuhnya sebelum ini.

Radenjowo - Khir Toyo terpaksa tunduk akur mengakui bahawa blog adalah salah satu saluran yang diterima ramai dewasa ini.

Pertemuan Khir Toyo dengan editor website dan penulis politik diatur oleh pengendali laman web agendaselangor.com, Roslan Bian berharapan agar rakyat boleh menerima penjelasan dan alasan beliau merobohkan rumah setinggan. Itu dari kata mulut Khir Toyo tetapi apa yang kita tahu, sekarang adalah masanya untuk beliau mengeluarkan isi hati dan lakunan untuk menagih simpati dari pelayar internet terhadap perobohan surau dan kuil.

Kononnya beliau memberikan alasan, tanah itu milik orang. Dan dengan merobohkan secara tergesa gesa tanpa menyelesaikan masalah penduduk yang sekian lama duduk terlebih dahulu di tanah tersebut tidak cuba diselesaikan. Mahukah anda memaafkannya? Ini agenda sebelum pilihanraya. Kalau mahu tahu kuku sebenar Khir Toyo, tunggu sekiranya ia menang sekali lagi dan keadaan yang sama akan berulang. zalim dan kemudian berbuat baik untuk tagih simpati.

GEMPAR ! Sistem Amaran Banjir Gagal Berfungsi

amkns.blogspot.com

Lagu Bangau Oh Bangau akan didendangkan lagi. Maklumat dari laman web Jabatan Pengairan dan Saliran www.water.gov.my menunjukkan banyak alat pengukur aras air sungai di negara ini yang samada rosak, tidak berfungsi atau tidak menyalurkan maklumat terkini. Apa sudah jadi ? Macamana hendak menyalurkan sistem amaran awal banjir kalau banyak alat yang rosak ? Di Pahang 27.8% alatnya rosak iaitu dari 18 alat, 5 tidak berfungsi dengan baik. Paling teruk di MADA Kedah semua 9 alat tidak berfungsi, Sarawak 63.2% tidak berfungsi. Hanya Pulau Pinang dan Sabah yang tidak mengalami masalah. KESELAMATAN ORANG AWAM MESTI DIUTAMAKAN

Public safety above all “If the choice is between public safety and public freedom, I do not hesitate to say here that public safety will always win” Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/12/11/nation/19724935&sec=nation&focus=1

KAWASAN Bil Alat Tak berfungsi Peratus tak berfungsi
Kedah (MADA) 9 9 100.0
Sarawak 19 12 63.2
Kedah 13 7 53.8
Perak 18 9 50.0
Johor 23 9 39.1
Melaka 3 1 33.3
Pahang 18 5 27.8
Wilayah Persekutuan 11 3 27.3
Kelantan 10 2 20.0
Terengganu 15 3 20.0
N.Sembilan 5 1 20.0
Perlis 6 1 16.7
Selangor 18 2 11.1
Penang 11 0 0.0
Sabah 10 0 0.0

Kenyataan Bersama: Temujanji Segera dengan Perdana Menteri

dipetik: keadilanrakyat.org

Kami amat prihatin dengan krisis-krisis terbaru yang membelenggu negara kita.

Kami memandang serius ketegangan kaum dan agama yang melanda masyarakat kita. Komitmen utama kami ialah perpaduan nasional, muafakat masyarkat majmuk dan juga keselamatan dan kebajikan semua rakyat Malaysia. Kami percaya satu-satunya cara memelihara nilai-nilai tersebut ialah untuk menolak pendekatan yang memecahbelahkan masyarakat dan memelihara jaminan Perlembagaan. Justeru kami sekali lagi ingin mengulangi komitmen kami untuk mengambil pendekatan yang benar-benar bersatu dan pelbagai kaum dan agama di dalam perjuangan kami memperjuangkan keadilan untuk semua.

Kami juga kesal dengan tindakan kasar pihak berkuasa di dalam siri penahanan yang berlangsung pada 9 hingga 11 Disember. Penangkapan pimpinan badan bukan kerajaan dan parti-parti politik merupakan satu pelanggaran jelas hak asasi manusia yang dijamin oleh Perlembagaan Persekutuan. Peristiwa tangkapan dan tekanan ini jelas bertentangan dengan jaminan kerajaan bahawa Malaysia merupakan sebuah demokrasi yang kukuh, dan akan mencemar nama negara di mata dunia.

Kami juga terus komited di dalam memperjuangkan agenda pilihan raya yang bebas dan adil di samping reformasi Pilihan Raya yang benar-benar bermakna. Pemindaan Perlembagaan yang membenarkan pengerusi Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya untuk terus berkhidmat setahun lagi ialah petanda jelas bahawa kerajaan benar-benar ingin meneruskan sistem pilihan raya yang penuh dengan kelemahan dan penipuan. Sekali lagi kami mendesak kerajaan untuk memberi akses yang saksama terhadap media untuk semua parti politik dan menerima bukti-bukti yang kami kumpul secara serius untuk membanteras penyelewangan pilihan raya yang menular selama ini.

Jika tiada langkah yang segera diambil untuk menyelesaikan masalah-masalah ini, kita tidak akan memperoleh keadilan, keamanan dan kebebasan. Justeru, kami bersedia untuk membawanya ke peringkat kerajaan yang paling tinggi memandangkan adalah penting masalah-masalah ini dapat diselesaikan segera.

Dengan itu, kami ingin mendapatkan temujanji segera dengan Perdana Menteri untuk membincangkan masalah-masalah negara yang mustahak ini dan mendesak beliau berpegang pada janjinya untuk mendengar masalah semua rakyat Malaysia. Di dalam pertemuan ini kami berhasrat meneruskan agenda perpaduan dan muafakat nasional di kalangan semua rakyat Malaysia tanpa mengira kaum dan agama dan meneruskan gesaan
kami untuk pilihan raya yang bersih dan adil, di samping berusaha menyelesaikan masalah negara yang kita hadapi.

Senarai Penandatangan:

Parti Politik

1 Democratic Action Party (DAP)
2 Parti Keadilan Rakyat (KeADILan)
3 Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM)
4 Parti Islam se-Malaysia (PAS)

NGO

1 Center for Independent Journalism (CIJ)
2 Centre for Policy Initiatives
3 Citizen Think Tank
4 Civil Rights Committee (KLSCAH)
5 Concerned Citizens Group
6 Gabungan Mansuhkan ISA (GMI)
7 Jemaah Islah Malaysia (JIM)
8 Pusat Komunikasi Masyarakat (Komas)
9 Labour Resource Centre (LRC)
10 Malaysians Against the Death Penalty and Torture (MADPET)
11 National Human Rights Society (HAKAM)
12 National Youth and Student Democratic Movement (DEMA)
13 Police Watch and Human Rights Committee
14 Research for Social Advancement (REFSA)
15 Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM)
16 Writers Alliance for Media Independence (WAMI)
17 Youth For Change (Y4C)

We are not a police state, says Malaysia

Source: Reuters
By Jalil Hamid

PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia, Dec 12 (Reuters) - Malaysia denied on Wednesday it was a police state, despite launching the biggest crackdown on anti-government activists in a decade. Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar told Reuters the government was merely trying to ensure public safety in enforcing a blanket ban on street protests that has prompted opposition groups to accuse it of political repression ahead of a possible early election. "We have never been a police state," he said in an interview in his office in the sprawling the administrative capital of Putrajaya. "To say Malaysia is heading into a police state is an untrue statement and is an exaggeration, especially under our current PM. He is very careful, open and transparent. I think there is a limit to everything." Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi raised the country's expectations for reform when he took office in 2003, vowing to fight corruption and usher in more transparent, open government.
"During APEC or WTO meetings, they close up roads in order not to allow demonstrators. We are (doing) nothing more than that." Opposition parties and non-governmental bodies issued a joint statement on Wednesday seeking an urgent meeting with Abdullah to discuss the "recent crises" and press for national unity. But the opposition accuses

Abdullah now of using public order and the memory of 1969 as an excuse to stifle peaceful dissent.Four years later, frustrations at the slow progress of his reform agenda, coupled with discontent over rising living costs, have boiled over into the biggest street protests in nine years. More than 20,000 people defied riot police and took to the streets of the capital, Kuala Lumpur, in two separate protests over the past five weeks, on issues that chimed with the clamour for reform: fairer politics and more equal race relations. The last major rally, staged by more than 10,000 ethnic Indians complaining of racial discrimination, drew world attention, particularly from India, whose prime minister voiced sympathy for the plight of the Indian diaspora in Malaysia.

Syed Hamid, who now has the job of explaining Malaysia's actions to the world, said the government tolerated criticism but street protests risked public security and stability. "You have to distinguish between riotous behaviour and open and transparent discussion," he said. "There is no problem with open and transparent discussion." RIOTOUS BEHAVIOUR He also showed irritation at a media report that the U.S. State Department had also expressed criticism of the crackdown. "If you look at every developed country, they don't tolerate riotous behaviour," he said, citing the large deployments of riot police in Western capitals during international summits such as the Asia Pacific Economic Forum and the World Trade Organisation.

Washington said Kuala Lumpur should allow freedom of expression and peaceful assemblies. "We have repeatedly raised with Malaysian authorities our belief that citizens of any country should be allowed to peacefully assemble and express their views," Nancy Beck, U.S. State Department spokeswoman said in a remark originally reported by AFP. "We also stated in our human rights report our belief that the Malaysian government places significant restrictions on the right to assemble peacefully." "We intend to purse the agenda of national unity and reconciliation ..., press on with our demands for free and fair elections, and work towards resolving the serious national problems we face," said de facto opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim. The risk of street protests turning into riots is a real fear among many Malaysians, particularly those who lived through the last major eruption of racial violence in Kuala Lumpur in 1969. Hundreds died in those riots between ethnic Malays, who make up most of the population, and ethnic Chinese. The current prime minister played a leading role in the immediate aftermath of that crisis to find a political solution to the racial troubles.

In seeking to protect public security, police moved last weekend in the early morning to halt an annual human-rights march by just 60 people in the near-deserted streets of Kuala Lumpur. Syed Hamid accused Anwar, sacked and jailed after he fell out with the then Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad in 1998, of instigating and organising the protests. "When you start to instigate and you start to throw aspersion that can cause people to get emotional ... to organise demonstrations is not good. We have been very tolerant of him."

(Editing by Mark Bendeich and Alex Richardson)