BN component parties ‘like beggars’, says Keng Yaik

http://sun2surf.com/article.cfm?id=22267

Kong See Hoh, The Sun

PETALING JAYA (May 12, 2008): Gerakan adviser Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik has likened MCA, Gerakan and MIC to “beggars” in the Barisan Nasional (BN) as the coalition did not treat its component parties equitably.

Criticising the lack of equitability in BN, Lim stressed that although the constitution guarantees the special rights of the Malays, it also safeguards the rights of non-Malays.

He said he believed that the people, who had indicated in the recent general election their desire for multi-racial parties to work together, would also want the BN to become a multi-racial political set-up which treats all people equitably.

Lim said this in an interview with Sin Chew Daily in which he gave his views on the new political order in the country and the shape of things to come.

The former Gerakan president and former Energy, Water and Communications Minister predicted that Umno-led BN’s model of cooperation will be discarded by the people one day.

He also foresaw that the coalition will change the way it operates given another two general elections.

He felt that under such circumstances, race-based parties like Umno, MCA and MIC will have to disband if BN goes multi-racial.

He said over-emphasis on cooperation among race-based parties will not make the people comfortable.

The people not only hope to see BN become a coalition of multi-racial parties but also want BN to play roles that reflect its multi-racial characteristics.

Lim pointed out that 39 years after the May 13, 1969, riots, the people have seen through the domination of a race-based party.

He said the fact that there was no repeat of the (May 13) bloodshed when the Opposition won big this time around showed the maturity of the people.

He said although Gerakan espouses political multi-racialism, it suffered a major setback in the general election mainly because its candidates were fielded in non-Malay-majority constituencies.

“Why were the non-Malays angry with BN? (It’s) Because of the arrogance of Umno, the dominant party in BN. Many people also felt uneasy with the racist remarks made by Umno leaders. These had also caused all BN component parties to suffer in the polls.”

He believed that if BN takes the multi-racial path, at least Umno leaders would be more careful with what they say in the future.

 

 

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/5/13/nation/21227496&sec=nation

Keng Yaik: BN didn’t treat all parties fairly

GERAKAN adviser Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik has said Barisan Nasional component parties were treated like beggars.

In an exclusive interview with Sin Chew Daily, Dr Lim said Barisan failed to treat all its component parties fairly.

He also said that although the rights of Malays were protected in the Constitution, other races also had their rights.

As shown from results of the recent general election, Dr Lim believed that the people wanted a multi-racial party that treated all races fairly.

He warned that parties like Umno, MCA and MIC would have to dissolve if they failed to adopt a multi-racial approach.

On Gerakan, Dr Lim said that although it was a multi-racial party, it still lost in the recent general election.

He blamed the outcome on Barisan sending Gerakan candidates to contest in non-Malay majority areas.

“Why are the non-Malays angry with Barisan? It is because they see that Umno has become proud. Some are also unhappy with the racist remarks of certain Umno leaders,” he said.

 

STOP TWISTING THE STATEMENT BY KARPAL SINGH

11^th May 2008

 

STATEMENT BY KLANG PARLIAMENTARIAN CHARLES SANTIAGO

 

To : All Editors

 

RE : STOP TWISTING THE STATEMENT BY KARPAL SINGH

 

The MP for Klang, Charles Santiago calls on UMNO, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and the vernacular Malay newspapers to stop twisting the statement by Karpal Singh into a race-related issue.

All Malaysians regardless of ethnicity and faith see the Malay Rulers as the symbol of our nationhood and want our constitutional monarchy to function in a healthy manner.

 

He strongly condemns the seditious insinuations that non-Malays are disrespectful of the Rulers.

Whether or not anyone agrees with Karpal’s perspective, his freedom of expression and the democratic space for debate must be protected.

He reminded BN that Attorney-General Abdul Ghani Patail’s statement just two months ago that the King has no power to determine the Mentri Besar of Terengganu was a similar view.

 

Should the AG - and the PM who held the same perspective - be charged for sedition or accused of treason too?

Charles urges UMNO and the premier to instead look into the merits of Karpal’s argument and stop devious attempts to gain political mileage by diverting peoples’ attention from pressing issues in the country and the looming crisis within UMNO.

Karpal’s statement did not question the prerogative of the Sultan as head of religion in Perak. He commented that Sultan Azlan Shah did not have jurisdiction over the transfer of the state Religious Department Director Datuk Jamry Sury.

Karpal’s statement is in line with what is stipulated in the constitution. Although Sultan Azlan Shah is the head of Islam in his state, the power to transfer a civil servant lies with the state secretary, who in turn takes orders from the Mentri Besar of Perak.

 

Karpal Singh had also cited a decision made by the Federal Court in 1982 in the case of the Federal Territory Education Director and Others vs Loot Ting Yee. Here, the court ordered that “whether a civil servant should be transferred, and if so, where and when the transfer is to be made are matters for the government to decide.”

 

 

Thank you.

 

Yours sincerely,

Charles Santiago

MP Klang

016-626 7797

mpklang@yahoo.com

Thanks to DaisyS of MalaysiaToday for the Malay Translation.

 

Kepada: Semua Sidang Pengarang

PER: JANGAN BELOKKAN KENYATAAN OLEH KARPAL SINGH
Ahli Parlimen Kelang, Charles Santiago meminta agar UMNO, Perdana Menteri dan akhbar-akbar tempatan berbahasa Melayu berhenti membelokkan kenyataan Karpal Singh menjadi isu yang berbau perkauman.

Semua rakyat Malaysia tak kira kaum mahupun kepercayaan melihat Raja-raja Melayu sebagai lambang kedaulatan dan menginginkan raja berperlembagaan kita berfungsi dengan sihat. Beliau dengan kuat mengutuk kata-kata berbau hasutan bahawa orang bukan Melayu tidak hormat kepada Raja-raja. Sama ada orang ramai bersetuju dengan pandangan Karpal ataupun tidak, kebebasan beliau untuk bersuara dan ruang untuk perdebatan secara demokratik harus dilindungi.

Beliau mengingatkan BN bahawa kenyataan Peguam Negara Abdul Gani Patail hanya dua bulan yang lalu bahawa DYMM Seri Paduka Baginda Yang diPertuan Agong tidak mempunyai kuasa untuk menentukan Menteri Besar Terengganu mirip pandangan Karpal.

Apakah Peguam Negara – dan Perdana Menteri yang memiliki perspektif yang sama – patut disabitkan dengan tuduhan hasutan dan pengkhianatan juga? Charles sebaliknya mendesak agar UMNO dan Perdana Menteri melihat kewajaran hujah Karpal dan segara memberhentikan cubaan untuk mengaut keuntungan politik dengan membelokkan perhatian rakyat daripada isu-isu yang lebih penting serta krisis yang kian membara di dalam UMNO.

Kenyataan Karpal tidak mempersoalkan hak istimewa Sultan sebagai ketua agama di Perak. Beliau hanya mengemukakan hujah bahawa Sultan Azlan Shah tidak mempunyai jurisdiksi atas perpindahan Pengarah Jabatan Agama Negeri Datuk Jamry Sury.

Kenyataan Karpal selari dengan apa yang telah ditetapkan dalam perlembagaan. Walaupun Sultan Azlan Shah adalah Ketua Agama Islam di negeri DYMM, kuasa untuk memindahkan seorang pegawai awam negeri terletak dengan Setiausaha Negeri, yang menurut arahan daripada Menteri Besar Perak.

Karpal Singh juga telah mengemukakan keputusan yang dibuat oleh Mahkamah Persekutuan pada 1982 dalam kes Pengarah Pendidikan Wilayah Persekutuan dan Lain-lain lawan Loot Ting Yee. Di sini, mahkamah tersebut telah memerintah “sama ada seorang pegawai awam harus dipindahkan, dan jika demikian, di mana dan bilakah perpindahan itu akan berlaku adalah perkara yang diputuskan oleh kerajaan pemerintah.

 

停止扭曲卡巴星的言论

Title : Stop Twisting the statement by Karpal Singh

停止扭曲卡巴星的言论

巴生国会议员查尔斯.圣地亚哥呼吁巫统、首相阿都拉巴达维和马来报章停止把卡巴星的言论扭曲为种族议题。

所有马来西亚人，无论其族群和信仰为何，都视马来统治者为国家的象征，以及希冀君主立宪制以健康的方式运作。

他强烈批评指责非马来人对统治者不敬的煽动暗示。

任何人无论同意卡巴星的观点与否，他的表达自由和民主辩论空间必须被维护。

查尔斯提醒国阵，总检察长阿都干尼两个月前表示苏丹没有权力决定登嘉楼州务大臣的人选的言论，和卡巴星的评论如出一辙。

总检察长 – 以及持同样观点的首相 – 是否也该被控以煽动或叛逆？

查尔斯吁请巫统及首相应该正视卡巴星的议论的内涵，停止偏狭的攻击以逐获政治议程，以转移人民关心国内紧绷的问题和巫统的内部危机。

卡巴星的言论没有质疑苏丹作为霹雳州宗教首长的权限。他评论苏丹阿兹兰莎没有调动州宗教局总监拿督占利苏里的权力。

卡巴星的言论与宪法条文一致。即使苏丹阿兹兰莎是州宗教首长，调动公务员的属于州秘书权限，州秘书则需要听令于霹雳州务大臣。

卡巴星也引用了1982年联邦法庭的判决–联邦直辖区教育总监和陆庭谕案件。法庭的议决指出：“一名公务员调动与否，同样的，无论在什么地点和时刻，都是由政府来决定”

12/5/08

 

Protect Karpal’s right to views, says Santiago

Source : Malaysiakini

May 12, 08 1:47pm

Whether or not anyone agrees with the views of DAP national chairperson Karpal Singh, they should protect his freedom of expression as well the democratic space for debate, said DAP Klang parliamentarian Charles Santiago. Karpal had come under fire last week when he criticised the authority of the Perak Ruler over state matters, in relation to the transfer of Perak religious department director Jamry Sury. Jamry was reinstated some 72 hours later on Sultan’s orders, after Menteri BesarMohammad Nizar Jamaluddin tendered an apology. In a statement today, Santiago said Karpal had not intervened in the Sultan’s prerogative as head of religion in Perak, but had only pointed out that the power to transfer a civil servant lies with the state administration. Santiago also told Malay newspapers to “stop twisting the statement into a race-related issue”. “All Malaysians…see the Malay Rulers as the symbol of our nationhood and want our constitutional monarchy to function in a healthy manner,” he said. Karpal’s statement has resulted in several police reports lodged against him, accusing him of treason, insulting the monarchy and infringing the Sedition Act. However, Santiago said the government should consider a similar situation previously, when the attorney-general questioned the right of the Terengganu Ruler to appoint a menteri besar of his choice. “Should the AG and the prime minister who held the same perspective, be charged for sedition or accused of treason, too?” he asked. On Saturday, Karpal had questioned party-members and allies in Pakatan Rakyat for not having backed him in the furore. ‘Political manipulation’ In a separate statement, the Civil Society Initiative for Parliament Reform (CSI-Parliament) noted that “loyal opposition is a legitimate and necessary part of any system of democracy… including the constitutional monarchy”. “We strongly criticise the threatened use of the Sedition Act 1948 and… the accusation of treason against anyone who has a critical view of our political system, regardless of whether the person is a parliamentarian, a member of the royalty or an ordinary citizen,” the group said. The statement was signed by Dr Lim Teck Ghee (left), Wong Chin Huat, Edward Lee, Andrew Khoo and Haris Ibrahim (right). They further condemned the use of political tactics to manipulate different opinions on constitutional laws and position of Malay rulers into a “stand-off between the palace and the opposition”. Despite the crisis, CSI-Parliament expressed confidence that attempts by certain parties “to take advantage of this situation to promote ill will and hostility between races” would fail.

 

TheStar - 30 families living in flats with big cracks on the walls

http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2008/5/8/central/21170549&sec=central

Thursday May 8, 2008

30 families living in flats with big cracks on the walls

SOME 30 families at the Taman Seri Berembang low-cost flats in Klang are living in fear that their block of flats may collapse anytime.

Housewife N. Sinna Kulanthi, 42, said it was scary to see the cracks in her flat getting bigger and bigger over time.

“When we first moved into the lowest unit of the four-storey block 10 years ago, we saw one or two thin lines on the wall. Now there are cracks in the rooms and kitchen,” she said.

“If nothing is done fast to rectify the problem, we cannot imagine what may happen next,” the wheelchair-bound Sinna said.

According to Sinna, water would seep through the ceiling into her flat when someone from the unit above is bathing.

Signs of danger: Charles checking the crack line in a room at Sinna’s house at Taman Seri Berembang in Klang recently.

She said that both she and her lorry driver husband had complained many times to the developers since 2002 but no action had been taken so far.

“I cannot sleep well at night. I’m alone in the house most of the time. How am I going to run if anything happens?” she asked.

Haris Abdullah, a 45-year-old sundry shop owner, said he had been plastering the crack lines since they moved into the flat nine years ago.

“We didn’t lodge any complaint because we know it would be wasting time,” he said.

According to Klang MP Charles Santiago, who visited the three blocks of flats recently, the flats have serious structure problems and it is unsafe for residents.

“The flats are death traps and I hope the developer will take immediate action before anything untoward happens,” Charles said.

“It is the responsibility of the developer to check and ensure that the buildings are safe for occupancy,” he said.

He said that the flat residents were also facing drainage problems that caused mosquito breeding.

He said that during the last few months, 25 people, including eight children from the area were admitted into the hospital for suspected dengue fever.

Charles also said he would refer the matter to the mentri besar to find solutions to the problem.

According to him, at least five blocks of low-cost flats in Klang are having similar structural problems.

 

Press Conference - Seri Berembang Low Cost Flats

Charles Santiago held a press conference at the Seri Berembang low cost flats on 6th May 2008 to highlight the plight of the residents.

He said that low cost homes have become poor peoples’ death trap. Referring to one home that he visited last week, Charles pointed out that the structural damages and large cracks make the place unsafe for living in.

“I believe even you wouldn’t want to stay in a house which is at its utmost unsafe condition with obvious cracks on the walls,” he told reporters.

He also expressed concern that the flat unit could collapse if necessary actions are not taken.

The wife of the owner is wheel-chair bound and and would not be able to save herself if her home gives in.

Charles also said he had received numerous complaints from the residents about the dangerous living conditions.

“I hope MPK (Majlis Perbandaran Klang) and the state government will look into this issue seriously, This is not an independent case. Many of the low cost flat residents encounter the same problems and the authority should blacklist and take action on these unscrupulous contractors.”

The flat inhabitants say obvious cracks started appearing nine years ago, when they moved in to the units from a nearby squatter.

 

Charles Santiago visited the Seri Berembang Flats on Labour Day

Charles Santiago visited the Seri Berembang Flats on Labour Day. This was his second visit in four days to the low cost flats to monitor the cleaning exercise undertaken by the Majlis Perbandaran Klang (MPK).

In a quick response to the woes faced by the flat residents, the MP’s office had requested the MPK to clean the clogged and dirty drains on Monday. But work started on Wednesday.

This is the first time the drains had been cleaned in many years. The clogged and dirty drains had become a breeding ground for the Aedes mosquito.

About 25 people, including 10 children, were down with dengue in the last couple of months. The MPK has agreed to clean the drain every week. Charles will continue to check on the progress and the residents would drop a thank you note to the municipal council. Charles later inspected the structural damages to some of the low cost flat units. One home had large cracks, enough to see through the rooms. Charles and the people will lodge a formal complaint to the developer and other relevant authorities about the ramshackle condition of the flats.

In a dialogue session with the residents, it was decided that a Resident Association will be formed. This Association will manage the flats and educate residents on proper waste disposal.

 

Labour Day Rally

Source : Malaysiakini

Eventful May Day buoyed by Pakatan MPs’ vow
Rachel Chan Suet Kay | May 1, 08 6:25pm

May 1 is an important day for all workers. This year, the Malaysian working class is pressing harder for an official recognition for a minimum wage.

In fact, workers have been asking for the minimum wage nod for years. This year, they are making a louder demand for it.

With the advent of Pakatan Rakyat, the question in mind while counting down the seconds to the Labour Day march today was whether this could finally become reality. It was not an easy start, however, for the participants of the march from Dataran Merdeka to SMJK Confucian in KL, as armed police had barricaded the roads, disallowing participants and journalists from entering the premises.

 

HYO – YEP – Dinner

The Hindu Youth Organisation invited YB. Charles Santiago and YB Ronnie Liu as guest of honour for the Youth Empowerment Programme Dinner held at the organisations building. The dinner was organised at the sole effort of the youths who participated in the programme. The theme of the dinner was sky high, the hall was decorated with village sceneries, and the food for the day was also prepared by the participants. The HYO of Port Klang carries out several activities aiming in uplifting the Indian Community in Klang and the surrounding area. Among the activities carried out by the organisation are Academic Classes, Religious Camps, Sports Carnival, Outward Bound Camps, Industrial Camps, Tamil Vizha, Rescue, and Skill Training Programme. YB Charles Santiago and YB Ronnie Liu are proud to have an active organisation carrying out community projects in their constituency and have promised to give their full support for them, as a start YB Ronnie Liu has agreed to donate RM2500 for the organisation.

 

DAP’s First Motion

28 April 2008

Menerusi Faks

Yang di Pertua,

Dewan Rakyat,

Parlimen.

YB Tan Sri,

Per: Notis Peraturan Mesyuarat 18 - Hindraf 5 dan lain-lain tahanan ISA

Ini adalah untuk memberikan notis di bawah Peraturan Mesyuarat 18(2) untuk mengusulkan perkara tertentu berkenaan kepentingan orang ramai yang berkehendaki disegerakan pada hari Rabu, 30 April 2008, seperti berikut:

“Bahawa Dewan mengizinkan YB Lim Kit Siang untuk menangguhkan Dewan mengikut Peraturan Mesyuarat 18(1) untuk merundingkan perkara tertentu berkenaan kepentingan orang ramai yang berkehendaki disegerakan mengenai penahanan Hindraf 5 serta lain-lain tahanan di bawah ISA.

“Bahawa Dewan ini mengesa pentadbiran YAB Perdana Menteri menghormati dan mematuhi kehendak rakyat yang digambarkan dalam tsunami politik 8hb Mac tahun ini yang mahu melihat satu masyarakat Malaysia yang lebih demokratik, akauntabel dan maju dan membebaskan lima pemimpin Hindraf (Hindraf 5) - M Manoharan iaitu ADUN DAP kawasan Kota Alam Shah, P. Uthayakumar, V. Ganabatirau, R. Kenghadharan dan T. Vasantha Kumar - yang berada di bawah tahanan ISA sejak Disember 2007 serta lebih dari 60 tahanan ISA lain, ada antaranya yang telah berada dalam tahanan ISA lebih dari enam tahun.

“Penahanan Hindraf 5 Disember lepas yang berdasarkan dakwaan bahawa mereka adalah ‘pengganas’ telah dibuktikan langsung tidak berasas. Pemimpin MIC, Datuk Seri Samy Velu sendiri telah mengakui fakta in semasa diwawancara oleh media negara India dalam bulan Januari tahun ini.

“Dalam kes Hindraf 5, ISA digunakan untuk menafikan peluang masyarakat India menyuarakan rasa tidak puas hati mereka kerana gagal dilayani secara adil oleh kerajaan BN sejak 50 tahun merdeka. Apa yang diminta adalah ruang menyertai pembangunan negara yang saksama, serta peluang menikmati pendidikan yang berkualiti dan kebebasan agama yang selaras dengan hak-hak seseorang rakyat yang termaktub dalam Perlembagaan Malaysia.

“Sama juga dengan penahanan ISA yang lain, yang sekiranya didapati memang mengancam keselamatan negara, sepatutnya dibicarakan di mahmakah terbuka dan bukannya menafikan kebebasan para tahanan dan membiarkan mereka menderita di bawah ISA.

“Keengganan kerajaan membebaskan Hindraf 5 serta berpuluh-puluh tahanan ISA yang lain menunjukkan kehendak rakyat supaya kerajaan mengubah sikapnya yang angguh, menghapuskan dasar-dasar yang tidak demokratik dan tidak adil masih tidak diendahkan.”

Sekian, terima kasih.

Yang benar,

__________________

Lim Kit Siang

Ipoh Timur