Singapore Democrats meet Anwar Ibrahim's daughter

The following Article was contributed by Jeff Goh.

Leaders of the Singapore Democrats met with Ms Nurul Izzah Anwar (picture above), MP from the Parti Keadilan Rakyat, last weekend. Ms Nurul Izzah, who is the eldest daughter of Malaysia's Opposition Leader and former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim was in Singapore last weekend with her fellow MPs to give a talk at NUS Law School on the future of Malaysian politics.Over coffee, Ms Nurul spoke about what she thought were the causes of the turn in favour for her party in the recent general election. She also spoke briefly about the conditions and the key role her father played in denying the ruling coalition Barisan National two-thirds majority in the Malaysian Parliament.

The MP for Lembah Pantai also intimated to the group how civil societies and political parties worked together in Malaysia. Groups such as SUARAM (Voice of the Malaysian People) and the Malaysian Bar Council provide training to political party members. She noted that many NGOs in Malaysia are committed to speaking up against government repression. These NGOs work together with opposition figures and parties to further the cause of freedom, human rights and democracy for their fellow citizens. "We are going to continue to work hard to become the government and to make sure that democracy in the country takes root," the 27-year-old MP said.

Ms Chee Siok Chin said that the parties talked about NGOs and opposition parties in the countries on both sides of the causeway working more actively together."I feel that there is much room for closer cooperation between the two camps and that democrats in the two countries should strengthen our ties," Ms Chee said. The SDP and PKR expressed a desire to foster better cooperation between the two parties.

Source: http://yoursdp.org/index.php/news/singapore/1287-singapore-democrats-meet-anwar-ibrahims-daughter

MAKE SURE YOU CHECK OUT SINGAPORE'S OWN REFORMASI 'TAK BOLEH TAHAN' CAMPAIGN VIDEOS AGAINST THE PAP REGIME BELOW:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmcI9LPW4_A

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQSAefPb6Yo

Racialist Social Contract a 1980s Umno Creation - Malaysiakini

The Scribe has lately been hitting it hard on Umno regarding the so-called Social Contract and ‘Ketuanan Melayu’ (Malay Supremacy). The Scribe has always maintained that the so-called Social Contract was conjured up by Umno to maintain their grip on power and at the same time enslaving the Malays. Now Zaid Ibrahim (picture above) is echoing what The Scribe has been saying all along. The following was from Malaysiakini.

Zaid Ibrahim says racialist social contract a 1980s Umno creation.Zaid says the racialist social contract was a product of Umno ideologues in the 1980s.

If at all there was a social contract between the Malays and non-Malays before independence, it was the guarantee of equality and the promise of the rule of law, said former de facto Law Minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim.Offering his take on an issue that has been at the core of a roiling debate in the country, he said that the more racialist social contract — which places more emphasis on Malay primacy — was a product of Umno ideologues in the 1980s.He believed that on the eve of independence, one of the elements which gave Alliance leaders and all Malayans confidence was the knowledge that "a constitutional arrangement that accorded full respect and dignity for each and every Malayan, entrenched the rule of law and established a democratic framework for government had been put in place.

''The Federal Constitution, he noted, was crafted by brilliant jurists who understood the hearts of minds of those who would call this nation their home and whose children would call it their motherland."Hundreds of hours of meetings with representatives of all quarters resulted in a unique written constitution that cemented a compact between nine sultanates and former crown territories, '' he said.This compact honoured the Malay Rulers, Islam, the special status of the Malays, and created an environment for the harmonious and equal coexistence of all communities through the guarantee of freedoms, he noted in a speech at the Lawasia conference today.

This social contract was unilaterally restructured in the 1980s by "a certain segment of the BN leadership that allowed for developments that have resulted in our current state of affairs,'' said Zaid."The non-Malay BN component parties were perceived by Umno to be weak and in no position to exert influence. Bandied about by Umno ideologues, the social contract took on a different, more racialist tone. The essence of its reconstructed meaning was this: that Malaya is primarily the home of the Malays, and that the non-Malays should acknowledge that primacy by showing deference to the Malays and Malay issues. Also, Malay interest and consent must be allowed to set the terms for the definition and exercise of non-Malay citizenship and political rights. This marked the advent of Ketuanan Melayu or, in English, Malay Supremacy.

"Affirmative action and special status became a matter of privilege by reference to race rather than of need and questioning of this new status quo was not to be tolerated."The new political philosophy in which the primacy of Malay interests was for all purposes and intents the raison d'être of government naturally led to interference with key institutions, '' he said.He urged the Barisan Nasional government to abandon the reworked concept of the social contract and embrace "a fresh perspective borne out of discussions and agreements made in good faith with all the communities in this country.''In his speech, Zaid also touched on:

• Democracy, the rule of law and Umno"Mukhriz Mahathir will probably be the new Umno Youth leader. In saying as he did recently that there is no need for law and judicial reforms as it will not benefit the Malays, he typifies what is perceived as the kind of Umno leader who appeals to the right wing of Malay polity."That he may be right is sad as it leads to the ossification of values that will only work against the interests of the party and the nation. This type of thinking may pave the way to a suggestion in the future that we may as well do away with general elections altogether as they may not be good for the Malays. We are a deeply divided nation, adrift for our having abandoned democratic traditions and the rule of law in favour of a political ideology that serves no one save those who rule.''

• The transition to democracy in Indonesia"The majority of Indonesians have embraced democracy, religious tolerance, and religious pluralism. In addition, a vibrant civil society has initiated public discussions on the nature of democracy, the separation of religion and state, women's rights, and human rights more generally. These developments have contributed to a gradual improvement in conditions for human rights, including religious freedom, over the past few years. Since 2003, Indonesia has also overtaken Malaysia on the Reporters sans Fronteres Press Freedom Index, moving up from 110th place to 100th out of 169 countries covered. Malaysia on the other hand has dropped from 104th place to 124th place in the same period. I am not surprised. In 1999, Indonesia passed a new press law that, in repealing two previous Suharto administration laws, guaranteed free press through the introduction of crucial measures. Progress has not stopped there. On April 3 this year, Indonesia passed its Freedom of Information Act. This latest law allows Indonesia's bureaucracy to be open to public scrutiny and compels government bodies to disclose information.''

• Nation building"We have failed miserably in dealing with complex issues of society by resorting to a political culture of promoting fear and division amongst the people. The Ketuanan Melayu model has failed. It has resulted in waste of crucial resources, energy and time and has distracted from the real issues confronting the country. The obsession with the Ketuanan Melayu doctrine has in fact destroyed something precious in us. It makes us lose our sense of balance and fairness.”

• Malays and modernity"Dr Mahathir was right to ask that Malays embrace modernity. He fell short of what we needed by focusing on the physical aspects of modernity. He was mistaken to think all that was needed to change the Malay mindset was science and technology. He should have also promoted the values of freedom, human rights and the respect of the law.”

• The Judiciary"The courts must act with courage to protect the constitutionally-guaranteed rights of all citizens, even if to do so were to invoke the wrath of the government of the day. In PP vs Koh Wah Kuan (2007), a majority bench of the Federal Court chose to discard the doctrine of separation of powers as underlying the Federal Constitution apparently because the doctrine is not expressly provided for in the Constitution. This conclusion is mystifying as surely the court recognises that power corrupts absolutely and can thus be abused. If the courts are not about to intervene against such excesses who is?

Checks and balance are what the separation of powers is about. Surely the apex court is not saying that the courts do not play a vital role in that regard?"The rule of law has no meaning if judges, especially apex court judges, are not prepared to enter the fray in the struggle for the preservation of human rights and the fundamental liberties. To all our judges I say discard your political leanings and philosophy. Stick to justice in accordance with the law.

MALAYS MUST FREE THEMSELVES FROM THE BONDAGE OF THE 'SOCIAL CONTRACT' - Malaysiakini

"In any election people have many reasons to support one candidate or to oppose another. Some of these reasons may be wise and good, some not so good, and others simply wrong. The promotion neither of abortion nor racism can ever be a motivation for one vote. Voting for a candidate solely because of that candidate support for abortion or against him or her solely on the basis of his or her race is to promote an intrinsic evil. To do so consciously is indeed sinful.

That is behavior incompatible with being a Christian. To allow racism to reign in our hearts and to determine our choice in this solemn moment for our nation is to cooperate with one of the great evils that has afflicted our society. In the words of 'Brothers and Sisters to Us', 'It mocks the words of Jesus, treat others the way you would have them treat you.''''

Bishop Blase J. Cupich, Rapid City, S.D.

Malaysia's policy of affirmative action has resulted in a lack of competition among Malays while at the same time the preferential treatment given towards Malays has hurt the country's economic competitiveness in the region. The BN/Umno regime knows that it has to keep the Malay support to itself if it is to stay in power. Also read http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/92152. The results of the March General Elections not only dealt a devastating blow to the BN/Umno regime but also clearly showed that Malaysia as a nation is moving away from politics based on race and religion.

Some Malays however, have to discard their 'siege' mentality which has been ingrained in their minds for years by the racist and myopic Umno. The constant invocations by Umno leaders of the so-called Social Contract, Malay Rights, Islam and Ketuanan Melayu will not only be detrimental to the Malays but also to the Nation as a whole.

Malaysia's growing racism and Islamic fundamentalism can be attributed to its education system. Very often you will find that ethnic Malay teachers from the Malay belt states of Kedah, Kelantan and Trengganu finding it very hard to to fit in in cosmopolitan Penang or Kuala Lumpur.These people can't accept non Malays and non Muslims as Malaysia's, let alone being equal. The worse of the lot are Government sponsored students who are sent to universities in the Middle East. These group comes back to the country and wants Malaysia to be another Saudi Arabia.

When Selangor Menteri Besar (Chief Minister) YAB Khalid of the Opposition Pakatan Rakyat suggested that Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) accept non Malay students, the students at the university, the largest in Malaysia, beg to differ. They protested in their thousands against any attempt to allow ethnic Chinese and Indian students to study at the university. Malay newspapers, led by Umno owned Utusan Malaysia and TV3 had condemned plans to open up the university, with one quoting a Malay leader warning of a repeat of the 1969 race riots between ethnic Malays and ethnic Chinese and Indians which left hundreds dead. It was obvious they were instigated by the evil BN/Umno regime.

Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) accepts only ethnic Malay students as part of an affirmative action policy that Malaysia adopted in 1971 to help the economically disadvantaged Malay majority compete against the Chinese and Indian minorities. The constitution, drawn up in 1957, prescribes legal rights for the Malays and Bumiputras, a Malay word that means "sons of the soil", by giving them special access to certain jobs and business licences.

UiTM began in 1956 as a college to teach Malays basic accounting and other skills. Since then, it has grown into a fully-fledged university with about 120,000 Bumiputras taking up degree courses ranging from engineering to medicine and law at any one time. It churns out about 30,000 graduates a year.

Analysts and some employers say many graduates from UiTM and other state universities that have quotas favouring Malays simply cannot compete for the best private sector jobs and either swell the ranks of the civil service or the unemployed. According to Bridget Welsh, a Malaysia expert at Johns Hopkins University, UiTM has been politicised by Umno and it is reflected in years of providing a crutch so that Malays cannot compete on a level playing field. She added that it contributes to reducing performance standards limiting understanding of the marketplace and ultimately makes many Malays less suited for employment.

As a result of such racist policies, Malaysia is already facing falling foreign investment, eroding competitiveness and a worsening brain drain. Data from the United Nations shows that foreign direct investments to Malaysia has stagnated this decade, while foreign direct investment to neighbours such as Singapore has surged. In 2006 foreign direct investment (FDI) to Malaysia totalled US$53.58 billion ($76.09 billion), little changed from US$52.75 billion in 2000.
Many analysts trace the stagnation in foreign investment to the racial and religious politics that divide the country. Malays are Muslims by state definition, while Chinese and Indians are mostly Christians, Buddhists, Hindus and Sikhs.Investors are concerned with the quality of the graduates in Malaysia.

UiTM is the only university in Malaysia that is closed to other races, although other state-run institutions generally have high Malay enrolments because of quotas. This has forced ethnic Chinese and Indians to turn to private universities or move abroad, creating an economically damaging brain drain that might hurt Malaysia's competitiveness for years to come.

Meanwhile, Malaysia has fallen completely off the list of the world's top 200 universities in 2007, according to a ranking by London's Times Higher Education Supplement and Quacquarelli Symonds. By comparison, Singapore's NUS was ranked in 33rd place. Still, UiTM defends its policy, saying that non-Malays form the majority of students in critical courses such as accountancy and pharmacy at state universities. At private universities, 90 per cent of the students are non-Malays.

The only hope left for Malaysia is for YB Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Pakatan Rakyat to take power by setting up a new majority bloc in parliament. In the meantime, Malaysians especially the Malays must open their eyes and see that only in meritocracy and the spirit of comradeship with their non Malay brothers and sisters can Malaysia as a Nation take her place as an Asian success story.

Its time for the Malays to ditch Umno and move away from race and religion based politics. It's time for Malays to say TAK NAK to Ketuanan Melayu, NEP, and the Social Contract. BERSATU KITA TEGUH, BERCERAI KITA ROBOH!

THE RAKYAT (PEOPLE) MUST EXORCISE THE EVIL SPIRIT CALLED UMNO

The failure of the New Economic Policy is becoming increasingly apparent. Affirmative action has morphed into cronyism, nepotism and corruption.

It is a system where a first-generation Indonesian immigrant, who is likely to be Muslim and physically resemble native Malays, can qualify as a "son of the soil" within several years of arriving in Malaysia. But a fifth-generation Chinese or Indian Malaysian is still classified as an immigrant.

Nurtured by the BN/Umno regime for years, these hand-picked Malay captains of industry are today deep in debt and running unprofitable businesses that rely on government largess's. The country's Malay leaders are faced with the decision of whether to bail them out or let them sink — and thus liquidate the very symbols of Malay enterprise.

The NEP has also contributed to a brain drain. Others suggest that the NEP has contributed to racial polarisation and a feeling of marginalisation among the non-Malays. Umno's very own political survival depends on the support of the Malays especially from the rural heartland. Whenever Umno is in trouble as they are now, Umno will invoke The 'Evil Spirits'. These 'Evil Spirits' come in the form of Israel, the United States, of non Malays and non Muslim Malaysians threatening or questioning the so-called Social Contract, the NEP, Islam, the Malay language, Malay Special Rights, the Malay Rulers and Ketuanan Melayu (Malay Supremacy).

Umno knows that by invoking these imaginary 'Evil Spirits', the Malays will go into a frenzy and go running to Umno's bosom. One of the ways Umno whips the Malays into a frenzy is to use the MSM such as Utusan Malaysia and TV3. Next, in order for Umno to 'Exorcise' these Evil Spirits, it invokes the Evil ISA and the Chief Exorcist will be none other than Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar. Whatever you may say or believe, Malaysia is ruled by a racist regime that is using race and religion to enrich themselves, their families and cronies at the expense of the Rakyat (People).

The following is a Comment by MASTERWORDSMITH.

Thank you very much, MarGeeMar for this great post. We need more people like you who can see the UMNO moronic racist fiends for who they are. May I have your permission to put your post in my blog and have it linked to yours? I await your response with anticipation.

With regards to your question, I would encourage the child to work towards that dream and to let him know that God willing, one day it may happen. But not at the moment where morons and bigots rule the country.

Having said that, I would not snuff out that desire in his heart but would encourage him to develop himself in the relevant areas, prepare himself mentally, socially, intellectually, spiritually etc and to make him realize that his dream COULD come true if UMNO is not in control of the government and if there is constitutional reform.

I would encourage that child to be a leader in his own little way and to impress upon him that leadership must begin with the right attitude. I would tell the child and guide him along the way to develop himself to be a wise and virtuous man.

Along the way, I would help him to develop powerful analytical skills and also the uncanny knack of sensing possibilities that would benefit the rakyat as a whole and not just for himself or his group. If he cannot get along with his peers, how then can he try to be a political leader?

Although this might sound a wee bit idealistic, as a mother, I almost always try to ensure that my boy has well-integrated personality and display thorough discipline, training and learning, acquired poise, tact, maturity and the ability to discern truth from falsehood and to see everything in the light of reason without vested interests or selfish influences that could come both internally and externally. And this must be done without him losing his childhood. Far too often, in Malaysian society (especially in Chinese families), the desire for meritocracy ends in a dead end because of unfair practices. As such, many parents overload their children with excessive homework, tuition classes etc. with the hope that one day, they will win a scholarship etc and leave the country. Sadly, the development of critical thinking skills, and how to be street smart. The over emphasis on A's must be put to a stop!!!

I also believe that regardless of whether a child wants to be PM or whatever, he/she must be taught to respect the traditions and beliefs of his fellow citizens and show deep respect for the opinions of others even if these contradict his own. Fact is, with the appalling examples from UMNO brats and other racist leaders, this will be difficult because such disgraceful leaders are setting a most unhealthy trend as can be seen by the protest re PKNS GM.

Sadly, our educational institutions seldom teach kids of today moral courage and the need to have complete honesty with himself and his subordinates. We have moral education but does it teach kids today to be able to make the distinction between holding on and living for ideals with integrity and not show moral cowardice but be gentlemanly to admit his mistakes? If they were to look at our leaders of today, *sigh* they would probably be wondering why their parents teach one thing and leaders do the opposite.

Finally, I believe that anyone, young or old, who wants to be a political leader must be a self-sacrificing leader who joined politics because of a genuine love for the country and the well-being of the rakyat and so must be willing to sacrifice comfort, safety and advancement for the greater good of the country. Needless to say, he must have mastery of language and show clarity of expression in speech, writing and thought. If not, then he would have muddled and fuzzy thinking

As for now, we can only dream of a just, capable, intelligent and pragmatic PM for our country because ....reality speaks louder than words.

October 29, 2008 12:48 PM

AMERICA HAS BARACK OBAMA, MALAYSIA HAS THE 'SOCIAL CONTRACT'

In the United States, Barack Obama (picture above) is on the threshold of becoming the first African-American President. If he does become President, it would mean that the majority White Americans see his abilities and not his skin color to lead America. Very often we have read how the local media especially trash journalists like Bunn Nagara of The Star demonizing everything American They claim America as racist. This recent episode regarding the appointment of the PKNS GM shows to the world who is more racist.

According to Malaysiakini 6 staff bodies of PKNS have objected to the appointment of Low Siew Moi on the grounds that she is Chinese. The report goes on to state that "In their joint memorandum dated Oct 25 to Khalid, the staff associations said: “PKNS was established for Malays and to fulfill the Malay agenda. Because of this, the organisation needs to be led by a Malay.”…The memorandum stated that, as PKNS conducts activities that are spiritual in nature, its leader must understand and practice Islamic values.“In other words, the one who will become the general manager will be the ‘imam’ for all the staff,” the signatories said’.

Omanis here are asking The Scribe since when did Malaysia become a Theocratic State? PKNS is after all a Government owned corporation right? PKNS is like the PDC in Penang right? So where the hell it says that the GM of PKNS must be a Muslim or even a Malay? Don't the racist, religious bigots from the 6 staff bodies of the PKNS know that their salaries are paid by the Rakyat (People) of all races and faith?

What's going on in PKNS is also going on in both state and federal government departments, bodies and agencies. The reason for this is the result of 51 years of rule by the racist, evil regime of BN/Umno. Just go into any government department or school and you will find racism and religious fanatics in Malaysia. The biggest culprits are teachers who are fermenting their racist and religious ideology among students.

Coming back to the brouhaha over the appointment of Low Siew Moi as PKNS acting GM, it just goes to show what the so-called Social Contract has achieved. All these bullshit about thew Social Contract, Malay Rights etc. will cost the country dearly as we will be overlooking the right person for a certain job just because he or she is not of a certain race or religion. This is what The Scribe calls 'INSTITUTIONALIZED RACISM'. If Malaysia is going to continue such practices based of race or religion rather than on merit. The Scribe is afraid that we will never see the light of day as far as VISION 2020 is concerned!!!

One interesting note, what would you say if you, a non Malay, non Muslim Malaysian have a five year old who tells you that he wants to be the Prime Minister of Malaysia when he grows up. What would you tell him? Please share with The Scribe what your response would be. I'm sure there are many parents who would like to hear the solution to this as well.

WHY KHAIRY LOST STEAM. - Malaysiakini

According to .malaysiakini, it took three weeks but Khairy Jamaluddin has finally qualified to contest for the Umno Youth’s top post.

The following Article which was contributed by SEINMAL MANNC explains why Khary appears to have lost steam his rise to power.

The word 'government' ['kerajaan'] used frequently by dissidents,critics,activists,commentators and such likes of the government have always been to refer to the present ruling party of this country. Intentionally or unintentationally it has worked very well to the benefit of the ruling elites. Seems like they always have this huge solid floor under them to work out their deeds and misdeeds as and when fancied.Why the word 'fancied'? Most of our thinking observant population knows.

Tun Dr.Mahathir Mohammad (top center) was one politician who cleverly used the word 'government' to garner support for his local and foreign agendas. And of course for his personal glory. Manupulation of this honorable word has been practiced by many, knowingly and unknowingly alike.The government comprises of, among other compositions, the human species.Many in this honorable body do not agree to the thoughts and actions of the ruling party.But the 'saya yang menurut perintah' swearing-in phrase that must be adhered has turned them into a big portion of the silent majority.Mahathir Mohammad had cunningly used the word 'government' to mean the ruling party.

All 'government servants' are therefore servants to the ruling party.The term 'public servants' had been wiped out.They are not serving the public which is rightfully what they should be doing.But the manipulation has been passed on to the present ruling elite.There was hardly a time when Mahathir referred to them as civil servants, he called them 'kakitangan kerajaan' and not the honorable term of 'pekerja awam' or 'kakitangan awam'.Should we expect more from a mis-leader[misleader].Stop using the word 'government' when criticising the present ruling party and ruling elites.They are not the government in the true sense of the word. They are merely people elected through the polls to administer the government sector.

The government servants in turn serve the public to keep the country moving.Thus the ruling party is the administrator and they are in the business of 'administration'.Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi (top left) has assembled his administration team to administer the country, of course through the government sector.Then it must be referred to as the 'ABDULLAH'S ADMINISTRATION', or 'PAK LAH'S ADMINISTRATION' and by whatever nickname he is fond of, but it has to be followed by the word 'ADMINISTRATION '.So be it deed or misdeed done or yet to be done by them, we should not be saying, the 'government' did this or the 'government' did not do this, the 'government' crackdown on whatever and so on and on.

This will save the nation and its people from many embarrassment regionally and internationally.The citizens of this country are commendable and it is the Abdullah's Administration that is the torn in the people's flesh. What then if we refer to his administration as the 'ABDULLAH'S/KHAIRY'S (top right) ADMINISTRATION'. Sounds fondly disastrous does, it not? A 69 year old brain trying to draw excerpt of whatever from a 31 year old brain inorder to move a nation towards prosperity?

As a non civil servant and has never been in the civil service, I may not be the perfect representation of the service.But I could listen to voices of some civil servants.It is my intention to get some of your thoughts on this and perhaps you could write an article on this for your readers.And hopefully you will be able to encourage bloggers to direct their criticism appropriately and may the public be aware that the mishaps in the country is contributed by the weak and incapable administration and not the people at large including the government servants who must be servants to the public and not otherwise, because we all work so that their wages can be met every month.With high regards to you and all working with you.Peace and thank you.

HAPPY DIWALI FROM OMAN

Diwali or Deepavali to some is celebrated by Hindus the world over. Here in Oman Diwali is celebrated with great enthusiasm. The Scribe still remembers being invited to a Diwali party at the Novotel Seeb Hotel couple of years ago. There is a large Indian expatriate community in Oman. There are also a sizable number of ethnic Omani Indians. One of the most prominent Omani family business empires in Oman is the Khimji family who belong to the ethnic Indian community here.

After offering prayers, Hindus here light their entire house with Deeyas (tea lights). Traditionally they have an open house where family and friends visit bearing good wishes for health, wealth, and happiness. Hindus believe that this is one occasion when all enmity should be forgotten.

The Scribe takes this opportunity to wish Hindus every where “HAPPY DIWALI”. The Scribe also hopes that all the ISA Detainee’s will also be released unconditionally.

Social Contract Must Adapt To Changed Times - Malaysiakini

Social contract must adapt to changed times -

John Lee

The social contract is something people tell us never to question. If at all we mention it, we are supposed to be deferent towards it, as a measure of the infinite wisdom of our forefathers. But the social contract, however wise it may have been five decades ago, is irrelevant to us today, at least as it is completely understood. The notion that some people are more worthy of being Malaysian than others, or that some Malaysians are innately more loyal to the country is complete nonsense today.In the first place, what is the social contract? For every politician who has threatened to exile uppity non-Malays and denounce their citizenship, I've got some news: that's violating your precious "social contract".

It's in the Constitution. If you want your worship of the social contract taken seriously, you have to be consistent: either you take the whole deal, or you don't.And quite frankly, I don't see why we ought to accept this whole deal. Let's think about real contracts for a moment. Let's use a common analogy people love to bring up: the tenants sharing a home. First, let's be realistic: if there is a landlord at all, it is God — or fate, if you're an atheist. God let out this country to the Orang Asli first, and later he brought in the Malays. Then with a twist, he let the colonial powers invade us and brought in other peoples to join the Malays. We're all sharing the land now, on a lease from God, and of course to make the sharing fair and equitable, we need an agreement — a contract.But like any human room-mates will, we often end up arguing about the agreement. Who is supposed to take out the trash? Is it okay for one tenant to take the other's leftover nasi lemak from the fridge?

Who should oversee the renovations? Even if we sort these matters out in the contract, no normal or even reasonable human being will let that be the end of the matter. Circumstances change, and the reasonable thing to do is to adapt to change.Let's make this even more personal now — let's make this a family. Because really, that's what we are — whether I like them or not, my parents are my parents and my siblings are my siblings. I may hate some of them, I may disagree vehemently with some of their views, but I still have to love and respect them.That doesn't mean I will do whatever they tell me to do — if my father tells me to jump into a lake I won't do it. But what it means is that when we disagree, we try to do respectfully, and we try to work something out that works for everyone in the family.

And realistically, there is no way we will be able to ignore, let alone toss out, whole swathes of Malaysia: you are not going to be able to deport the non-Malays or let the rural farmers and estate workers wallow in poverty, just as you can't disown your flesh and blood.Now, as a parent or a room-mate, maybe you work things out by bossing everyone else in the house around — I don't know. But that strikes me as a particularly bad way to be running a household. If I share a house with someone else, I don't scream at them until they clean the toilet, even if it's their turn and I pay more than half the rent.If my father told my mother exactly how to run her life, she would be mad as hell at him, and for good reason — my father shouldn't be ordering her to massage his feet or yelling at her to shut up.

That's not how adults talk to each other. As a Malaysian, I don't like it when one of us talks down to the other, whether it's a Chinese CEO denigrating the abilities of his Malay colleagues or a Malay politician insulting the integrity of his non-Malay constituents.But at the same time, adults also know that we have to deal with reality. If my room-mate breaks his ankle, I can't expect him to mop the floor. If my sister has an examination, I don't expect her to help hang the laundry. Yet, whenever we insist that the social contract must remain perpetually unchanged, we are insisting that we can never adapt to changed circumstances.The simple fact is, the Malaysia of 50 years ago is not the Malaysia of today. Fifty years ago, most non-Malays could not read or write in the national language, and felt closer to China or India than they did to their homeland.

Try today to find a Malaysian who roots for China or India in the Olympics, or who cares more about the fate of the Chinese Communist Party or Congress Party in India than he does about the Umno party elections. Fifty years ago, it was not unreasonable to assume a non-Malay did not feel very keenly loyal to the country; today, it's perfectly preposterous.To say that the social contract of 50 years ago remains completely applicable and is thus completely non-negotiable today is to deny that anything about Malaysia has ever changed and will ever change. If you do not see the insanity inherent in this position, that is like saying when I am 70, I should still be expecting my parents to be cooking my meals and paying my bills. People change; countries change. Our social contract, whether it is in the home or in the public sphere, must adjust accordingly.Now, inherent too in the social contract is the principle that the disadvantaged must be helped to stand on their own two feet.

I don't think any person can be against that. But again, times change, and needs change. When I was three years old, I needed knee guards because I kept falling down. Should I still be wearing them now? Of course not — I don't need them now. Some members of our family need more help than others, and it is only fair that they be helped. But those who by now clearly do not need any more assistance — the Nazir Razaks and Ananda Krishnans — they shouldn't be counting on any help from the "social contract”.The level of discourse when it comes to the social contract in our country is pathetic, because we refuse to talk like adults about the agreements we have made. We refuse to adjust to changing circumstances, we refuse to accept that reasonable adults can disagree respectfully about controversial things. A husband and wife can argue about their marriage without getting divorced. Why can't Malaysians talk about the founding basis of our nation without threatening to throw one another out of the country?

THE ALBARS, LIKE FATHER LIKE SON ~ Ref: Malaysiakini

Syed Jaafar bin Hassan Albar was the father of the current controversial Home Minister, Syed Hamid Albar. His staunch defense of his political party, the United Malays National Organization (UMNO) — which leads the governing Barisan Nasional coalition — led to him being given the moniker "Lion of UMNO". Like his son, Syed Jaafar was also known for his radical views on Malay sovereignty over Malaysia, and Malay supremacy in politics. He is of Hadhrami Arab descent and came to Malaya from Indonesia as an immigrant just before World War 2 at the age of more than thirty. This makes Syed Hamid Albar, just like the other racist Former Selangor MB Khir Toyo, only first generation Malaysians as they are both sons of immigrants. It's rather strange that non Malays who are 4th and 5th generation Malaysians are still referred to by the Malay ultras from Umno as 'kaum pendatang' (immigrants). Both Syed Jaafar and his son Syed Hamid are known Malay ultras.

Syed Jaafar bin Hassan Albar served as the Secretary-General of UMNO during the early 1960s, but resigned after Singapore was allowed to secede from Malaysia. After the 1963 Singapore state elections held shortly after Singapore merged with Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak to form Malaysia, it emerged that the Singapore UMNO branch had been terribly defeated by the ruling Peoples Action Part (PAP). Albar then travelled to Singapore to address the Malays, and denounced Malay PAP leaders such as Othman Wok as traitors to the Malay race and UnIslamic.

Later, he had participated in verbal duels with the charismatic Singaporean Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew, over the issue of Ketuanan Melayu (Malay sovereignty over Malaysia). Lee accused Albar of being an "ultra" for making remarks such as "Wherever I am, I am a Malay." Lee excoriated him for this, asking "If I had been going round and saying what [he] has been saying — wherever I am, I am a Chinese — where would we be? But I keep on reminding the people that I am a Malaysian. I am learning Bahasa Kebangsaan (Malay, the national language) and I accept Article 153 of the Constitution."

Albar also accused Lee and some other Chionese Malaysians — referring to them as kaum pendatang or pendatang asing (immigrants) — of being lodgers (orang tumpangan), abusing the hospitality of the Malays who were the "masters of the house". This provoked a response from Cabinet member Lim Swee Aun, who insisted "we are co-owners, not lodgers, not guests."
Lee took a swipe at his politics by arguing "According to history, Malays began to migrate to Malaysia in noticeable numbers only about 700 years ago. Of the 39% Malays in Malaysia today, about one-third are comparatively new immigrants like the secretary-general of UMNO, Therefore it is wrong and illogical for a particular racial group to think that they are more justified to be called Malaysians and that the others can become Malaysian only through their favour."

Tunku Abdual Rahman, eventually tired of the bickering and told Singapore to secede from Malaysia. The matter was hushed up, with not even the UMNO Members of Parliament such as Albar being informed of what the August 9, 1965 Parliamentary session would be concerned about. When Albar demanded more information on why their presence was demanded, he was rebuffed. Upon discovering that day itself that the purpose of the meeting was to allow Singapore to secede, Albar left Parliament House, not participating in the final unanimous vote. As this was directly contrary to his orders, the Tunku insisted on sacking Albar as UMNO Secretary-General, but was later persuaded to permit Albar to graciously resign instead.

Albar was opposed to the idea of allowing Singapore to secede, because he felt that imposing emergency rule over Singapore and removing Lee as Prime Minister would have been an ideal solution. Before secession, he had vocally called for Lee to be arrested for destroying racial harmony through his "Malaysian Malaysia" campaign, which the Malays saw as threatening the special rights granted to them under Article 153 of the Constitution. This explains why just like his dad, Hamid Albar also has the same sadistic, evil and cruel streak in him in continuing to use the ISA and brute police force against any citizen who dares to stand up against the evil BN/Umno regime. Syed Hamid Albar also considers a 6 year old as a threat to the dominance of the evil BN/Umno regime. Read http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/91918

Albar also served as Minister of Rural Development for a time, and later had a son, Syed Hamid Albar. Albar died in 1977. His son, Syed Hamid Albar, currently serves as the Malaysia's Home Minister.

WHAT PENAN IS ALFRED JABU?

THE FOLLOWING PUBLIC INTEREST ARTICLE IS CONTRIBUTED BY JAMES ANAK BOND.

What Penan is Jabu?

http://knightadventure.blogspot.com/2008/10/what-penan-is-jabu.html

By Devil’s Advocate

If truly we want to winch the Penans out of their true sense of backwardness and ignorance, hear me now. To map the Penan’s salvation and sustainable future we need more people in the quality of Raymond Abin and fewer people in the quality of Alfred Jabu (picture above). Now the fate of Sarawak Penans falls at the mercy of the latter quality, the job is made harder but we shall persevere.

Jabu vs Devil

Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu anak Numpang is Deputy Chief Minister of Sarawak. He is also Chairman of Penan Steering Committee in Sarawak. Behold! Jabu anak Numpang is not a Penan, he is Iban – the fearless tribe in Dayak society. Neither is I a Penan; I am devil and that says everything about my kind.His function as Deputy Chief Minister of Sarawak is spared, my outrage is aimed at Jabu in his capacity as Chairman of Penan Steering Committee. I don’t know what is ‘Steering Committee’ but I know ‘Chairman’ and I certainly know ‘Penan’.

If Jabu thinks he is the Chairman of Penan, I think I am the Penan.I am sad. I am angry. I am sick of this man’s antic.Alfred Jabu anak Numpang, you come here!Sit down.Now you listen to me.Do you know what you’re doing? As Chairman of Penan, do you have a clue what you are doing? As a Penan, I am telling you plenty of things you do for the Penans are worldly wise but your Penan sentiment is misplaced. If you’re Chairman of Penan then start feeling like Penan. You brought luxury to the Penans but what good is that bridal gown if the bride is pregnant?Yeng ka’au medei, akau manou bareng jian ita’u.(In English: Fret not I’m doing you a favour here)If you cannot make out that Penan words I just uttered, Alfred Jabu anak Numpang, what Penan are you?You know what the people in Malaya are saying about you this very moment?

They said Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu anak Numpang – so long the name so short the temper –, the Chairman of Penan Sarawak, cannot even save his own people.

If the Chairman of Penan himself could not be bothered to protect the Penan girls from their rapists, said they, why bother sticking their neck out for people who wished not their protection. Yes, Chairman Jabu, they’re talking about you. Yes, Chairman Jabu, they’ve got a point there. No, Chairman Jabu, I cannot save your face there.They said one million Dayaks in Sarawak commanded by Chairman Jabu cannot be marshalled to shield a small tribe Penan from further harassment while the Indians in Malaya can rally in full force behind a campaign to pressure the Malaysia Government to release the five jailed HINDRAF activists.

If the Indians can lay siege to Abdullah Ahmad Badawi until he quit as Prime Minister what hardship is that for a Dayak army to arrest a handful of rapists? Yes, Chairman Jabu, I wonder the same. No, Chairman Jabu, we still cannot catch the rapist.They said because a Sarawak Jabu took his sweet time to response to cries for help from Penan girls in the bushes, the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development from Malaya had to fly over to help those girls. Yes, Chairman Jabu, they flew in haste to Sarawak. No, Chairman Jabu, some girls are already pregnant by the time they got here.

They said SUHAKAM (Human Rights Commission of Malaysia) has to carry out their own investigation because a Sarawak Jabu does not want to waste his time checking on rumours. Yes, Chairman Jabu, you should have checked the rumours. No, Chairman Jabu, you didn’t check it out.They said a rumour is no longer a rumour if highly credible scouts in the shape of Borneo Resources Institute of Malaysia (BRIMAS) already confirmed the story. Yes, Chairman Jabu, I wonder what took you so long to believe the story when the whole of Malaysia are ready to believe that story. No, Chairman Jabu, you’re not helping yourself.They said while a Sarawak Jabu waited for proof to find its way to his desk while he was napping, a group of journalists from far and wide went down to the field to look for proofs. Yes, Chairman Jabu, you’re sleeping on the job. No Chairman Jabu, no proof has come to your desk by itself.

Alfred Jabu anak Numpang, where are you going?I am not yet finished here. Sit down!They said you don’t want to response to allegations made in a website. They said you have said that will only be a waste of time to investigate. But when blogger Joseph Tawie wrote something about you in his blog brokenshield you were quick to response and investigate. Yes, Chairman Jabu, that’s very ironic. No, Chairman Jabu, we don’t know what you are trying to prove.Can’t you see the tight spot you put yourself in as Chairman of Penan Sarawak? You are an embarrassment to us and to yourself. You still don’t get it, do you? The forces from Malaya and elsewhere can overcome all obstacles, brave the uncertainties and sidestep protocols to response to a distress voice from the jungle while a Sarawak Jabu, the Chairman of Penan Sarawak, cannot even clear the first hurdle.You still don’t get it, do you? While the whole of Malaya, including their hordes of bloggers, are deliberating night and day devising plans for the Penan rescue, Alfred Jabu anak Numpang, the Chairman of Penan Sarawak, can only be bothered about protecting Sarawak image against foreign propagandas.

For all we know the adverse influences you fear are merely played up by your hallucination, your paranoia or phobias or hypochondrias or Dayak Syndrome.Yet your most embarrassing moment is when Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri George Hong Nam anak Chan – so long the name so far the vision –, a Chinese who could not even speak Dayak, stepped in to do what you cannot do for the Penans. In case you didn’t see it, George and Chan is stepping in because you’re starting to mess it up for the Sarawak Government – Again. I’m sure you hate to be reminded of your messing up big time during the helicopter drama in Bario Highland 2004, not to mention your howler, gaffer-prone, and fanatical optimism.

George anak Chan wrestled the job as Director of Operation from you but by then it was already too late as the seven men onboard the ill-fated helicopter were already dead.Now I’m banging my head against the wall. A Chinese, unknown even to the Penans, someone who looked so pale that leeches don’t find him appetising, now meddles with the Penan affair – and does it right – while a Chairman of Penan failed the Penans.

Think Penan

I know it’s hard for you to stomach this thing I said to you, Chairman Jabu, but please bear with me a little longer because it’s not you we need to save here but the Penans. So if you think you’re the Chairman of Penan start thinking like Penan.All the projects and infrastructures you plan and build for the Penan Sarawak no doubt are of value to the Penans and they are grateful to you for that, although they may not know the RM100 million-fund allocation was actually from the Federal Government. They know you want to settle the 16,000 Penans, including 3 per cent still nomadic. They know you have identified specific project to build handicraft centre and Tadika in Long Bruang in Upper Baram, and that soon the Penans will enjoy the Internet service via project e-Bruang.They know you’re a good man,

Alfred Jabu anak Numpang. But how well do you know the Penans? Your title ‘Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri’ probably means nothing to them but when they start calling you Lake jaau that’s equivalent to Chief Minister of Baram. Has it ever occurred to you, Lake jaau, that the Penans love their children more than they love anything else in the entire world? Did you not see how the parents and even the entire village move in to live near a primary school just to make sure the children can study comfortably and having enough food? What I’m trying to say, sir, is your million-Ringgits projects can mean nothing to the Penans if you disrespect their children and neglect their morale welfare.Now the Penan children are in danger of sexual harassment you can imagine the worries and sadness paining their parents every day.

Your million-Ringgit projects cannot make up for their loss. I thought you knew this already since you’re the Chairman of Penan Sarawak. You are after all Iban, if not devil like me.Learn the Penan psyche and reorganise your priorities. Maybe you think building infrastructures for the Penans is more important. Don’t be surprised if they think Penan-defined human values are more important to them. I repeat, your works are worldly wise but your Penan sentiment is misplaced. You brought luxury to the Penans but what good is that bridal gown if the bride is pregnant? Save the Penan children first, later we worry about building Internet café for them.In case you don’t know where you’ve been wrong with the handling of priorities for the Penans read below the newspaper reports:

Where Jabu went wrong

September 22, 2008

Penan girls cry rape

KUCHING: A foreign organisation has claimed that Penan women and girls in the deep interiors of Baram are being sexually abused by logging company workers. The Bruno Manser Fund (BMF), which is based in Switzerland, claimed on its website that the workers were frequenting several Penan settlements looking for women.(http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Monday/National/2356584/Article;)

September 23

BRIMAS confirms

The Borneo Resources Institute (BRI) substantiated BMF’s claims, adding instances of ‘forced marriages’.(http://www1.malaysiakini.com/news/90256)

September 22

BRIMAS reports

Borneo Resources Institute’s (BRI) Sarawak coordinator Raymond Abin said that he too has been informed by Penans of the abuses, pregnancies and ‘forced marriages’ – for some time now. “But perhaps the operations offices of the logging companies do not inform the head office of the matter,” said Abin when contacted today. “Even if they are aware, the most that they would do when their workers are involved is to transfer them to other operations offices,” he added. He said due to the distance between the interior settlements and closest police stations, police reports are rarely lodged. Even if they lodge a police report, will the police act on it?” he asked in reference to long standing complaints of the police acting in favour - and sometimes on behalf - of the state-backed logging companies.(http://www1.malaysiakini.com/news/90173)

September 24

JABU denies one time

KUCHING: Sarawak Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Alfred Jabu today dismissed the claims of a Swiss non-governmental organisation Bruno Manser Fund that Penan women and girls were being sexually abused by workers from two logging companies. Jabu said unless the organisation was able to give specific details of their allegations, it would be a waste of time to investigate. “Show proof. Tell us where and which Penan settlement. I have not heard of such complaints from the Penan communal leaders in my many visits to ulu Baram,” said Jabu.(http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Wednesday/NewsBreak/20080924164429/Article

September 25

JABU denies two times

KUCHING: The report of Penan women being sexually abused by logging camp workers was mere sensationalisation. It was meant to smear the good name of Sarawak, said Deputy Chief Minister, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu yesterday. He said that the foreign organisation making the claim was fond of sensationalising events to create stories to earn a living. “I’ve just came back from the Penan areas, meeting their leaders and people but no such thing was reported to me. But if the allegations were true then the non-governmental organisation (NGO) concerned should be specific. State the logging area and who are involved.

Otherwise we are just wasting our time with such an NGO preying upon any situation just to create sensationalisation without respect to the facts...respect to the truth,” he said when asked to commend on the claims by the Bruno Manser Fund (BMF). (http://www.easterntimes.com.my/index.php?news_id=1&news_content=8855)

October 1

SUHAKAM steps in

MIRI: Suhakam will investigate claims about timber workers sexually abusing Penan women and girls in the deep interior of Sarawak. The probe by the human rights commission will begin after the Hari Raya holidays, its commissioner for Sarawak Dr Mohd Hirman Ritom told The Star yesterday. “We must establish the truth. These allegations are very serious in nature, especially if they involved natives who are isolated and defenceless.

They are allegations of a criminal nature, not just a violation of human rights. We will have to visit those areas where such alleged crimes took place and speak to the people in those areas. If there is any truth to these allegations, then Suhakam will have to make sure the police and the relevant authorities do something against those who had victimised these natives,” he said.(http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/10/1/nation/2159546&sec=nation)

SARAWAK POLICE also stalling

No report lodged: Sarawak Police cannot investigate

Sarawak Police Commissioner Datuk Mohmad Salleh had said that the police had not received any official report on the allegations.Suhakam commissioner for Sarawak Dr Mohd Hirman Ritom said the Sarawak police must find out why there were no such official reports. “Is it because the Penans are afraid to come forward and lodge official reports? Maybe the reports have not been accepted or they have been threatened or maybe it is due to logistic problems,” he said.“The excuse by the Sarawak police that there is no official report and thus they cannot investigate is shallow and unacceptable,” said Kuala Lumpur Suhakam commissioner Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria.He said the Sarawak Government should initiate their own investigations into the allegations.

October 1

WOMEN MINISTRY steps in

PETALING JAYA: The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry will investigate claims about timber workers sexually abusing Penan women and girls. Its minister, Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen said she has instructed the director-general of Women Affairs to meet Sarawak deputy chief minister Tan Sri Alfred Jabu to get more information immediately after the Hari Raya holidays. “We are very concerned about the matter. I have also talked to the Health Ministry to do something as we want to ensure the health of the Penans has not been compromised,” she said. Alfred Jabu, who is also the chairman of the steering committee on the Penans, had previously dismissed the sexual abuse claims saying he had not heard such complaints from Penan community leaders. Dr Ng was responding to a statement from Suhakam commissioner for Sarawak, Dr Mohd Hirman Ritom, who had said on Tuesday that the commission would investigate the sexual abuse claims.(http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/10/1/nation/20081001142642&sec=nation

October 6

REPORTERS step in

A visit to several villages reveals the prevalence of sexual abuse since the advent of commercial logging. Village leaders who readily air their grouses of hardship brought by logging are hesitant to talk about the sexual exploitation by workers from nearby logging camps. Bulan Laing, a female elder of Long Pakan claims that violation of the women began around 1996 when a logging company began operation in middle Baram. “There have been three pregnancies so far; the last one was in 2006. In one case, the woman married the Indonesian worker who violated her but was later divorced after she was sexually abused by another worker,” recalls Bulan. Asked if the cases were reported to the police, Bulan appears not to know that rape is a criminal offence. “We complained to the camp manager. He assured us that they would take action against their men but we’re still suffering.” Her husband, headman Pada Jutang, says: “We’ve lost hope in the police taking any action.

So we stopped going to them.” Further north in the Apoh region, Long Belok’s headman Alah Beling recalls no less than four cases of sexual violation. The latest incident resulted in a baby born last December. He reckons that the known numbers could just be the tip of the iceberg. Victims who do not end up with unwanted pregnancies may choose to remain silent to hide their shame.Following recent publicity of the alleged sexual abuse of Penan women in the local media, Sarawak Police Commissioner Datuk Mohmad Salleh says the force needs a police report to be lodged to facilitate investigations.Dismayed by the police response, the Women’s Centre for Change pointed out that according to the Child Act 2001, the authorities must take action if they suspect child sexual abuse has taken place. Under the Act, anyone below the age of 18 is a child.

The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry and the Human Rights Commission have announced that they will investigate the claims.Last year, a 16-year-old student from Long Kawi, a settlement in the Middle Baram, became pregnant after being raped while returning to her boarding school. She gave birth recently. At Long Belok, Rina (not her real name) who was raped in her house and delivered a baby girl in May 2005, is fearful of timber camp workers. “If I see them in the village, I will run and hide in the forest.” Mindy (not her real name) of Long Item, recounts the intimidation, deceit and harassment of a 40-something man who works for Interhill. “We know him as Ah Heng.

My parents and I got a ride in his vehicle from Ba Abang sometime in 2005. Shortly after that, he came looking for me in the village. He offered to take care of me but I declined. He then said I should give in or he would hurt me and my family,” says the 21-year-old woman who eventually acceded to his demands and has since borne him two girls, one in 2006 and another in February.(http://thestar.com.my/services/printerfriendly.asp?file=/2008/10/6/lifefocus/2150772.asp&sec=lifefocus)

October 7

GEORGE CHAN steps in

KUCHING: Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr George Chan has called for a full investigation into claims of sexual abuse of Penan girls by timber workers. “This is a serious allegation and I hope that a complete investigation will be done to find out what’s going on,” he said on Tuesday.Borneo Resources Institute of Malaysia (Brimas) project director Raymond Abin said there were cases of Penan women and girls being sexually assaulted by loggers in the deep interior of Baram. "I have heard of such cases, but I do not know how widespread they are." He said Brimas, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) which had a close relationship with the Penan community, would go to the ground and gather evidence of sexual abuse by loggers on Penan women and girls.

He said Brimas wanted to verify allegations made by the Bruno Manser Fund (BMF), a Swiss-based non-governmental organisation, that loggers had harassed and raped Penan women and girls. Abin said there was truth in BMF's allegations. Abin said Brimas would report its findings to the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam). "We want Suhakam to conduct a public inquiry into the sexual abuse against Penan women and girls by loggers. The exploitation of the Penans has to be stopped once and for all."JABU tries damage control"We need solid evidence to present cases of sexual abuses to the state government," said deputy chief minister Tan Sri Alfred Jabu, who is in charge of Penan affairs. Alfred had recently denied that sexual abuses had ever taken place.BRIMAS doubtful of Jabu’s source

On Jabu's statement that the sexual abuses had never taken place, Abin said the minister should have met the Penan elders at a proper forum. "From what I know, Jabu had met the community leaders from Baram where some of them spoke in praise of the government." He said he did not think that the community leaders would be brave enough to speak about sexual abuse at such a gathering. Abin said Jabu should meet ordinary Penans and learn the truth behind the allegations.(http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/10/7/nation/20081007133403&sec=nation)

THE LAST OF THE NEANDERTHALS

Hindraf leader P Waythamoorthy did not mince his words in attacking Malaysian Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar (picture right) for labelling the outlawed group as an extremist organisation.MORE

If the Neanderthal (picture left) can't see the big picture, what can we expect from Albar. They both seem to be gazing into oblivion or having looks that can be best describe as 'bagaikan pinang dibelah dua'.

With all these talk about racial supremacy, special rights and social contracts, The Scribe find this following article very appropriate for the current political and social climate in the country.

According to the Recent Africa Origin (RAO) hypothesis; homo sapiens sapiens (descendants of homo erectus) migrated out of Africa circa 40,000BC. These nomadic explorers travelled far and reached to Europe, Asia, America and Oceania.The earliest human civilisation in Asia evolved circa 6,000BC in Mesopotamia.By this time, they have already spread out to the present land of India and China.The Indian and Chinese civilisation were 3,300BC and 2,100BC "old" respectively.

The Melanesian had long settled in Oceania; as far as 35,000BC and have their presence felt in the Southeast Asia. According to the Formosan hypothesis, the Austronesian came from the island of Formosa (present Chinese Taipei) circa 6,000BC and intermingled with the Melanesian. These Austronesian settlers resided on the island of Luzon of Phillipines and then spread out to the rest of the Malay Archipelago circa 5,000BC.Various Hindu Kingdoms were established in the Malay Archipelago since 300AD.

This was before the region first Muslim Kingdom of Malacca was established in 1400AD.Over time, European nations came conquering and colonized most of the region.The Kingdom of Thailand remained independent since 600AD.After 1900AD, most of the population have founded their own nation.Intermingling was up to the extreme extent that the civilisation, cultures and religions have segregated the homo sapiens sapiens apart.Homo sapiens sapiens can tell different lies.But not religion and science.And there are all but one species.Homo sapiens sapiens.

Source: http://1957mas.blogspot.com/

THE SOCIAL CONTRACT: CAUSE OF UNITY OR DISUNITY?

"For those who love and feel they owe undivided loyalty to this country, we will welcome them as Malayans. They must truly be Malayans, and they will have the same rights and privileges as the Malays."

Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Alhaj, Malaysia's First Prime Minister.

"It is absurd and unjust to tell the children of families that have lived in Malaysia for generations that, in effect, they are lucky not to be deported and will have to put up with second-class treatment for the rest of their lives, in the name of 'racial harmony'". The policies based on the social contract is in essence, "official racism".

The Economist

Aug 30th 2007

"According to history, Malays began to migrate to Malaysia in noticeable numbers only about 700 years ago.Of the 39 percent Malays in Malaysia today, about one-third are comparatively new immigrants like the then secretary-general of UMNO, Syed Ja'afar Albar (father of Malaysia's Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar), who came to Malaya from Indonesia just before the war at the age of more than thirty. Therefore it is wrong and illogical for a particular racial group to think that they are more justified to be called Malaysians and that the others can become Malaysian only through their favour".

Lee Kuan Yew (Speaking in Parliament before Singapore seceded from Malaysia).

The Reid Commission which prepared the framework for the Constitution stated in its report that Article 153, the backbone of the social contract, would be temporary only, and recommended that it be reviewed 15 years after independence. The Commission also said that the article and its provisions would only be necessary to avoid sudden unfair disadvantage to the Malays in competing with other members of Malaysian society, and that the privileges accorded the Malays by the article should be gradually reduced and eventually eliminated. Now, Umno continues to use this so-called Social Contract with the support of their BN partners to cling on to power and stay relevant in the eyes of the Malays and Muslims whom it depends for its political survival.

The is a rising resentment by ethnic Chinese and Indians, together over one-third of the population, at the continuing, systematic discrimination they suffer in favour of the majority bumiputra, or sons of the soil, as Malays and other indigenous groups are called. There are also worries about creeping “Islamisation” among the Malay Muslim majority of what has been a largely secular country, and about the increasingly separate lives that Malay, Chinese and Indian Malaysians are leading. More so than at independence, it is lamented, the different races learn in separate schools, eat separately, work separately and socialise separately.

Some are asking: is there really such a thing as a Malaysian? At the core of the problem is the non Malay non Muslim BN component parties i.e. MCA, MIC, PBS, PBRS, UPKO, SUPP, Gerakan, PPP which claims to represent Malaysia's non Malay non Muslim communities. The Plain Truth has been that these political parties are led by people who are only interested in accumulating power and wealth for themselves, their families and their cronies. In the process, they have sold out the rights and future of the very people they claim to represent.

Umno on its part is a racist party and continues to bully its partners in the BN knowing very well that whatever it does, it will get the support of its non Malay non Muslim partners. The danger here is that Umno assumes that the approval given by its partners on whatever racist policy it carries out, is in essence with the approval of the non Malays and non Muslims these parties supposedly claim to represent.

That's the reason why the non Malays and non Muslim Malaysians must reject the BN and its component parties. Umno on its part hides behind the Social Contract, the Malay Rulers and Islam to carry out its version of APARTHEID. In fact, the Malay Ruler's themselves are saying that the Social Contract cannot be questioned. So where does that leave the non Malay and non Muslim Malaysians?

The following is an Article by Siva Regan Kathiravelu

I refer to the Malaysiakini report ISA: Suaram activist released.

When Cheng Lee Whee was arrested it made us wonder whether Malaysians were united or disunited. This poor girl was fighting for hardcore poor Malays to protect their shelter.

I think she is one of the bravest women in Malaysia for rising above racial difference to fight for something she believes in. So what is the fuss about disunity about?

When Hindraf was declared an illegal organisation, it was accompanied by loud outbursts from every quarter. Even PAS, a dominant Islamic party, appeared to defend them.

When Teresa Kok was arrested for god knows what, we heard the same protests from everyone regardless of race or religion. Even the mosque committee involved came out to defend her saying that she never stepped foot into nor got involved in their matters.

In Penang, the former chief minister was defeated in the general election by an Indian professor against all odds considering Penang is an area that reflects Chinese sentiment mostly. Ironically, the same Indians - regarded as extremist by certain ‘smart’ ministers - for PAS instead of the MIC.

In parliament, it is Lim Kit Siang who is fighting for the Indian’s cause more than any of the other Indian ministers now or past.

Kelantan in dominated and ruled by an Islamic party yet if you ask an Indian or a Chinese who lives there to consider shifting to Kuala Lumpur, he could give you more reasons why you should shift to Kelantan instead.

When Raja Petra Kamarudin was arrested, we witnessed Malays, Chinese and Indians coming together like never before to fight for a single cause and to finance support to him.

They who bravely stood out to talk to their friends about him to those who courageously followed him to court and back are heroes who defied racial differences and focused our on uniting for a common cause that we all believed in and supported.

Our forefathers would have been proud of us all today. Although we live normal life's, we have been instilled with compassion and tolerance for other races and religions by our experience.

We might not realise it because it is instilled so deep into us that we fail to notice it yet we practice it consciously and unconsciously.

So where the heck is all this supposed ‘disunity among the races’?
It would seem that this ‘disunity’ has been induced by those whom we ourselves gave power to so there is an illusion that they are fighting for our rights peculiarly.

If you doubt the above statement, check whenever a racial remark is made - the person will most probably be someone whom we put there in the first place.

THE BN/UMNO REGIME CONTINUES TO BULLY MALAYSIANS - Malaysiakini

"I've been convicted on seven occasions already and have another nine charges outstanding. I can't afford to pay any fines so I will have to go to prison. The only way out is to leave, but if I leave the government wins and if the government wins the people lose".

Singapore Democratic Party and leader of the opposition, Dr. Chee Soon Juan

Malaysia and Singapore share many similar traits when it comes to denying their citizens the right to freedom of speech and the freedom to assembly. Both regimes use draconian laws such as the Internal Security Act to detain and torture innocent law abiding citizens who dare to speak up against the cronyism, corruption and abuse of power by the BN/Umno regime in Malaysia and the PAP regime in Singapore.

Western governments should share the blame for propping up such regime as portraying these countries as success stories in economic terms while completely closing their eyes to the fundamental liberties that these Western nations preached about. How hypocritical are these Western governments to call the democratically elected governments of Brother Evo Morales of Bolivia and Brother Hugo Chavez as being undemocratic. How hypocritical is it also of the Western media to hype up the pro-American Malaysian and Singaporean capitalist regimes while feeding the world with half-truths about the TRUE DEMOCRACY that Bolivia and Venezuela are currently enjoying.

The following Article was contributed by JEFF GOH. This Article shows how Malaysia and Singapore are stifling Democracy with pro-American crony capitalism.
Singapore represents itself as a good place to live and do business -- a democracy with the rule of law.

In reality, Singapore is a bully. But it ensures that the rest of the world fails to realize it by using a carefully crafted PR strategy designed to portray the city-state as a model of good government and economic development.

"The frustrating thing is that people continue to see Singapore as a rules-based society. I want the international community to realize the abuses," said secretary-general of the Singapore Democratic Party and leader of the opposition, Dr. Chee Soon Juan, in an exclusive telephone interview yesterday from his home in Singapore. "Fortunately, international organizations are getting involved, like Lawyers Rights Watch, the International Bar Association, the Inter-national Commission of Jurists. All have criticized Singapore."

Dr. Chee should know. His saga, which began in 1992, reads like the Book of Job and shows that the city-state of five million people is truly an autocracy whose ruling elite use defamation lawsuits and other court techniques to harass democratic activists like Chee, as well as media and corporate entities which fall out of favour.

This Thursday, Dr. Chee will be on trial for the eighth time. He is accused of the "crime" of holding a meeting with more than five persons without a permit. (So much for the Singapore constitution's guarantee of freedom of opinion, expression and assembly.)
"Every time we [have] applied for a permit we have been turned down and the minister said that he would never grant a permit," Dr. Chee explained.

His ordeal began after he joined the opposition party and criticized the cronyism and secrecy of the Singaporean government. Since then, lawsuits waged by the ruling elite have bankrupted him personally and are about to bankrupt his political party. He has ended up in jail because he is no longer able to pay the fines, and he has lost his university position as a lecturer. Throughout, Dr. Chee has been denied basic legal rights such as legal representation and the right to cross-examine and present a defence. Every time he criticizes such unjust treatment he is sued for defamation, then fined huge amounts or sent to jail.

Singapore also muzzles the press. Local media is government-owned and foreigners have been harassed when they tried to report on such abuses. "International newspapers, The Dow Jones, The Wall Street Journal, Fair Eastern Economic Review, Time, The Economist, International Herald Tribune [and] Bloomberg have all been sued and/or prosecuted for making statements about these matters," Dr. Chee said.

Fortunately, a team of lawyers, led by Canadian law firm Amsterdam & Peroff in Toronto, has been set up in order to help Dr. Chee defend himself in court and to embarrass Singapore before the world for its failure to uphold the rule of law. The team is headed by Bob Amsterdam (who defended Mikhail Khodorkovsky and other high-profile Russians against the oppressive Putin regime), U. K. defamation expert Anthony Julius (who represented Lady Di) and American law professor.

William Burke-White. "The Singaporean authorities are using the law to repress political rivals and as punishment," Amsterdam said in a phone interview from his headquarters in London. "It's a myth that Singapore is a democracy, a complete myth."
The team is going to help Dr. Chee represent himself in court and also intends to bring the injustice to the attention of the United Nations. They also plan to register the Singapore Democratic Party in their jurisdictions so that it may continue its work as an exiled entity.

On Thursday, Dr. Chee will have to represent himself, however. The Singapore court will not give standing to a foreign lawyer, and local lawyers have been frightened away from his case. There is no Legal Aid representation provided either. He knows he probably faces jail again because he cannot pay any more fines.

"I survive financially by selling books. I peddle them on the street. I was trained in academia but after I joined the opposition in 1992 I was sacked and since then nobody will want to work with me. They are frightened of guilt by association," he said.
He was fired by a member of parliament with the ruling party. "When I said my sacking was politically motivated, he sued me for defamation. I went to court, lost and the court awarded damages of US$350,000. My wife and I sold our house, car and everything to pay this fine," he said.

Another two defamation lawsuits resulted in US$400,000 in fines after Dr. Chee raised questions about Singapore's secret financial support for the corrupt Suharto regime in Indonesia.
"The significance of those cases was we didn't even go to trial. It was a summary judgment, decided by the judge in chambers without any right to cross-examine," he said.
"A third case in 2006 was a defamation lawsuit by former prime minister Lee Kuan Yew and his son, the current Prime Minister, over an article written in our party's newspaper. Fines were huge [US$610,000] and the judgment was delivered in the judge's chambers again."
When Dr. Chee criticized the result, the judge said this constituted contempt of court and jailed him for 12 days.

"I've been convicted on seven occasions already and have another nine charges outstanding. I can't afford to pay any fines so I will have to go to prison. The only way out is to leave, but if I leave the government wins and if the government wins the people lose. Singapore is my home and lack of transparency and accountability will simply result in huge problems down the road for my country and for my children."
"I hope to see democracies like Canada, the U. S. and others in the world pay attention to these matters before it's too late. Ultimately, their interests are going to be affected as well."

Source: http://yoursdp.org/index.php/news/singapore/1291-the-myth-of-singaporean-democracy

Meanwhile NAGA sent in this interesting note to The Scribe about SYED HAMID ALBAR 'THE PATHOLOGICAL LIAR'. PLEASE PRINT AND FORWARD THIS VIA EMAIL AND SMS TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE TO EXPOSE THIS SICKENING VERMIN!
This is the document which was handed over to the opposition MP's and the press, which proves this guy lied.

http://sactyr.googlepages.com/UKBorderAgencyletter.pdf

Please forward to as many bloggers and friends as you can, its now or never to remove the liar from office. Read also http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/91735