Extracted from NST
2009/09/24
MALAYSIA has been in the spotlight not as a source country but rather as a transit point for child trafficking.
A recent assessment found such trafficking activities continued despite the best efforts of the governments concerned and aid agencies.
The study, "Child Trafficking in East and Southeast Asia: Reversing the Trend", showed that a new approach was needed to confront not only child trafficking, but also other related forms of abuse and exploitation.
There were many instances of child labour, sexual exploitation and child violence or neglect.
The study showed that much had been done in generating bilateral, multilateral and transnational cooperation besides legislative and policy reform.
It was found, however, that enforcement of laws was generally poor in the countries.
Unicef said the study concluded that what was required to address the situation was the development of national child protection systems within countries, similar to the creation of effective health systems.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
‘MCA conflict won’t dent BN hopes in by-election’
Extracted from The Edge
Wednesday, 23 September 2009 22:44
KUALA LUMPUR: The conflict between the MCA president and his deputy is expected to come to a head at the party’s extraordinary general meeting (EGM) on Oct 10, but a senior official thinks it will not dent Barisan Nasional’s (BN) standing with some 1,500 Chinese in the Bagan Pinang by-election, whose votes may be crucial at the ballot the following day.
MCA central committee member Datuk Ti Lian Ker said the Chinese in Bagan Pinang were more concerned with bread-and-butter issues, Chinese educational matters and the prime minister’s general policies rather than with political polemics.
He said the Chinese in the primarily urban constituency would appreciate that the government had been more accommodative towards the economic well-being of non-Malay communities by lifting the 30% bumiputera equity. They are also happy that there are now bigger allocations to build vernacular schools.
“Datuk Seri Najib Razak has brought in a positive vibe since taking over the premiership. There have been no sensitive issues his administration had introduced,” Ti told The Edge Financial Daily on Sept 23.
According to him, the MCA Teluk Kemang division under which Bagan Pinang falls, has not shown any indication whether it would support president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat or suspended deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek, so the MCA conflict should be a non-issue during the by-election campaign.
“MCA has always campaigned with one voice in any election... The local Chinese leadership will be able to deliver,” said Ti, who is also MCA NGO liaison bureau chairman.
Expressing confidence that MCA has a strong base of voters in Bagan Pinang, he however felt that should there be media hype and sensationalisation over the MCA conflict leading to polling day, the Chinese voters could be disheartened and end up either not coming out to vote or voting in protest.
“If every day during the campaigning period the MCA conflict is front-paged, then the general mood of the Chinese voters would be different,” said Ti, a former three-term state assemblyman.
Last week, MCA announced it will convene an EGM on Oct 10 to solve a crisis plaguing the party following the sacking of Chua. However, the party central committee had over the weekend overturned the sacking, in favour of a four-year suspension.
The by-election for the Bagan Pinang state constituency is anticipated to be another fierce face-off between BN and Pakatan Rakyat (PR). Some political analysts opined that the battle would favour BN as it would be an uphill task for the opposition pact to overturn the 2,333-vote majority obtained last year by Umno’s Azman Mohammad Noor on a backdrop of PR showing signs of cracks in a couple of states under its control.
An analyst said BN’s choice of candidate would be critical to ensure whether it would win big in Bagan Pinang, adding that Najib’s strong approval ratings coupled with some goodies expected to be thrown in and support of the majority of the 4,000-odd postal voters would force PR to do plenty of catching up.
Bagan Pinang has 13,664 voters of whom 8,577 or 62.77% are Malays, 1,498 (10.96%) Chinese, 2,834 (20.74%) Indians and others 755 (5.54%). The figure includes 4,604 postal voters.
The opposition, however, is not impressed. “Nobody cares about MCA. Did you read the latest online news?” said Negri Sembilan opposition leader Anthony Loke when contacted.
He said the MCA conflict had virtually no bearing on the Bagan Pinang by-election and that PR would want to reach out to the voters en masse with a combination of national and local issues, including the Port Klang Free Zone scandal, death of political aide Teoh Beng Hock and the Perak political impasse, to ride on.
Loke pointed out that the by-election would be a platform to advise voters on the higher cost of living in Negri Sembilan, as the DAP had received numerous complaints that household water bills in the state have surged following the corporatisation of the Negri Sembilan Water Supply Department early this year.
“There has been no increase in water tariffs but many have complained that their water bills have gone up quite high,” said Loke, who is also Lobak assemblyman and Rasah MP.
“Every voter is a king-maker and it is our duty to bring to the attention of the voters any shortcomings in the governance and delivery system of the state,” he added when asked if the DAP would mainly concentrate on the Chinese voters.
Prior to the death of the Bagan Pinang assemblyman, BN controlled 21 of the 36 seats in the Negri Sembilan state legislative assembly, while PR has 15. The Election Commission has fixed Oct 3 for nomination and Oct 11 for polling in the event of a contest.
Wednesday, 23 September 2009 22:44
KUALA LUMPUR: The conflict between the MCA president and his deputy is expected to come to a head at the party’s extraordinary general meeting (EGM) on Oct 10, but a senior official thinks it will not dent Barisan Nasional’s (BN) standing with some 1,500 Chinese in the Bagan Pinang by-election, whose votes may be crucial at the ballot the following day.
MCA central committee member Datuk Ti Lian Ker said the Chinese in Bagan Pinang were more concerned with bread-and-butter issues, Chinese educational matters and the prime minister’s general policies rather than with political polemics.
He said the Chinese in the primarily urban constituency would appreciate that the government had been more accommodative towards the economic well-being of non-Malay communities by lifting the 30% bumiputera equity. They are also happy that there are now bigger allocations to build vernacular schools.
“Datuk Seri Najib Razak has brought in a positive vibe since taking over the premiership. There have been no sensitive issues his administration had introduced,” Ti told The Edge Financial Daily on Sept 23.
According to him, the MCA Teluk Kemang division under which Bagan Pinang falls, has not shown any indication whether it would support president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat or suspended deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek, so the MCA conflict should be a non-issue during the by-election campaign.
“MCA has always campaigned with one voice in any election... The local Chinese leadership will be able to deliver,” said Ti, who is also MCA NGO liaison bureau chairman.
Expressing confidence that MCA has a strong base of voters in Bagan Pinang, he however felt that should there be media hype and sensationalisation over the MCA conflict leading to polling day, the Chinese voters could be disheartened and end up either not coming out to vote or voting in protest.
“If every day during the campaigning period the MCA conflict is front-paged, then the general mood of the Chinese voters would be different,” said Ti, a former three-term state assemblyman.
Last week, MCA announced it will convene an EGM on Oct 10 to solve a crisis plaguing the party following the sacking of Chua. However, the party central committee had over the weekend overturned the sacking, in favour of a four-year suspension.
The by-election for the Bagan Pinang state constituency is anticipated to be another fierce face-off between BN and Pakatan Rakyat (PR). Some political analysts opined that the battle would favour BN as it would be an uphill task for the opposition pact to overturn the 2,333-vote majority obtained last year by Umno’s Azman Mohammad Noor on a backdrop of PR showing signs of cracks in a couple of states under its control.
An analyst said BN’s choice of candidate would be critical to ensure whether it would win big in Bagan Pinang, adding that Najib’s strong approval ratings coupled with some goodies expected to be thrown in and support of the majority of the 4,000-odd postal voters would force PR to do plenty of catching up.
Bagan Pinang has 13,664 voters of whom 8,577 or 62.77% are Malays, 1,498 (10.96%) Chinese, 2,834 (20.74%) Indians and others 755 (5.54%). The figure includes 4,604 postal voters.
The opposition, however, is not impressed. “Nobody cares about MCA. Did you read the latest online news?” said Negri Sembilan opposition leader Anthony Loke when contacted.
He said the MCA conflict had virtually no bearing on the Bagan Pinang by-election and that PR would want to reach out to the voters en masse with a combination of national and local issues, including the Port Klang Free Zone scandal, death of political aide Teoh Beng Hock and the Perak political impasse, to ride on.
Loke pointed out that the by-election would be a platform to advise voters on the higher cost of living in Negri Sembilan, as the DAP had received numerous complaints that household water bills in the state have surged following the corporatisation of the Negri Sembilan Water Supply Department early this year.
“There has been no increase in water tariffs but many have complained that their water bills have gone up quite high,” said Loke, who is also Lobak assemblyman and Rasah MP.
“Every voter is a king-maker and it is our duty to bring to the attention of the voters any shortcomings in the governance and delivery system of the state,” he added when asked if the DAP would mainly concentrate on the Chinese voters.
Prior to the death of the Bagan Pinang assemblyman, BN controlled 21 of the 36 seats in the Negri Sembilan state legislative assembly, while PR has 15. The Election Commission has fixed Oct 3 for nomination and Oct 11 for polling in the event of a contest.
‘Third force’ behind redistribution of sex DVD
Extracted from The Sun
PETALING JAYA (Sept 23, 2009): The sex DVD featuring suspended MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek has resurfaced just before the extraordinary general meeting (EGM) on Oct 10, bringing the party's internal conflict to another level.
An unknown "third force" is said to be redistributing the DVD to fuel the anger of Chua's supporters against party president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat.
The DVD is allegedly being distributed to the central delegates as well as some Barisan Nasional leaders.
In a statement today, MCA non-governmental organisation liaison bureau chief Datuk Ti Lian Ker said there is a "hidden hand" in the DVD issue that has damaged MCA as a credible political party.
"The DVD incident is an incident of the past and Chua has been an unfortunate victim of these unseen hands rendering him a liability to the party. The DVD is a blemish of the past and ought to be cast out and not continue to last," he said.
"MCA members must not be distracted with the re-emergence of the DVD by a third force calculated to instill maximum damage to the party and arousing the anger of Chua's sympathisers against Ong."
Ti said the central committee had recognised that Chua had discharged his duty well in the past and there was no necessity to embarrass him any further.
He said the party is faced with a leadership conflict as a result of the DVD incident. The re-emergence of the DVD is another move by unseen hands to incite emotions, anger and hatred among the members to embarrass Chua, calculated to put the blame on the present MCA leadership.
"There is indeed a third force from within the party intending to exploit and inflict maximum damage to the personality and credibility of both Ong and Chua with little or no love for the party," he said.
"Their apparent motive is obvious, to dislocate and uproot Ong's leadership of the party and to damage Chua permanently. The ultimate effect of an angry MCA will result in the party being shattered permanently and whoever leads the party subsequently will be a lame duck."
Ti said the third force wanted to control MCA's leadership for its personal motive and agenda.
He said the disagreement from within the party had rendered them an opportunity to "kill two big birds with one stone".
The delegates must be wary of the unseen hands "manipulating the events leading to the ultimate destruction of the party's image and dignity".
He also warned that there will be further manoeuvres by the third force to provoke the emotions and sentiments of the delegates in the coming days preceding the EGM.
"We are at a crossroads whereby the rationality, sensibility and the maturity of all the delegates have been taken to task," he said.
"Once again, I call upon and appeal to all the MCA delegates to maintain their cool and exercise prudence and due diligence in exercising their vote on the coming EGM. We must emerge stronger and not end up in tatters. It is time to unite for the larger and longer interest of the party's struggles and its unfinished agenda."
Pro-Chua EGM action committee chief coordinator Datuk Seri Tan Chai Ho said the re-emergence of the sex DVD was expected but he disagreed that it was the work of a third force.
"The circulation of the DVD did not just happen once. We have told the delegates that this is going to come. The talk of an involvement of a third force is just a diversion."
Tan said the distribution of the DVD will be ineffective against Chua.
PETALING JAYA (Sept 23, 2009): The sex DVD featuring suspended MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek has resurfaced just before the extraordinary general meeting (EGM) on Oct 10, bringing the party's internal conflict to another level.
An unknown "third force" is said to be redistributing the DVD to fuel the anger of Chua's supporters against party president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat.
The DVD is allegedly being distributed to the central delegates as well as some Barisan Nasional leaders.
In a statement today, MCA non-governmental organisation liaison bureau chief Datuk Ti Lian Ker said there is a "hidden hand" in the DVD issue that has damaged MCA as a credible political party.
"The DVD incident is an incident of the past and Chua has been an unfortunate victim of these unseen hands rendering him a liability to the party. The DVD is a blemish of the past and ought to be cast out and not continue to last," he said.
"MCA members must not be distracted with the re-emergence of the DVD by a third force calculated to instill maximum damage to the party and arousing the anger of Chua's sympathisers against Ong."
Ti said the central committee had recognised that Chua had discharged his duty well in the past and there was no necessity to embarrass him any further.
He said the party is faced with a leadership conflict as a result of the DVD incident. The re-emergence of the DVD is another move by unseen hands to incite emotions, anger and hatred among the members to embarrass Chua, calculated to put the blame on the present MCA leadership.
"There is indeed a third force from within the party intending to exploit and inflict maximum damage to the personality and credibility of both Ong and Chua with little or no love for the party," he said.
"Their apparent motive is obvious, to dislocate and uproot Ong's leadership of the party and to damage Chua permanently. The ultimate effect of an angry MCA will result in the party being shattered permanently and whoever leads the party subsequently will be a lame duck."
Ti said the third force wanted to control MCA's leadership for its personal motive and agenda.
He said the disagreement from within the party had rendered them an opportunity to "kill two big birds with one stone".
The delegates must be wary of the unseen hands "manipulating the events leading to the ultimate destruction of the party's image and dignity".
He also warned that there will be further manoeuvres by the third force to provoke the emotions and sentiments of the delegates in the coming days preceding the EGM.
"We are at a crossroads whereby the rationality, sensibility and the maturity of all the delegates have been taken to task," he said.
"Once again, I call upon and appeal to all the MCA delegates to maintain their cool and exercise prudence and due diligence in exercising their vote on the coming EGM. We must emerge stronger and not end up in tatters. It is time to unite for the larger and longer interest of the party's struggles and its unfinished agenda."
Pro-Chua EGM action committee chief coordinator Datuk Seri Tan Chai Ho said the re-emergence of the sex DVD was expected but he disagreed that it was the work of a third force.
"The circulation of the DVD did not just happen once. We have told the delegates that this is going to come. The talk of an involvement of a third force is just a diversion."
Tan said the distribution of the DVD will be ineffective against Chua.
Chua’s sex DVD resurfaces, sparks off fresh controversy
Extracted from The Star
Thursday September 24, 2009
PETALING JAYA: The sex DVD which led to the downfall of Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek has resurfaced, sparking off a fresh round of controversy and raising the who-and-why question.
MCA central committee member Datuk Ti Lian Ker is blaming it on a “third force” from within the party which re-distributed the DVD to add more fuel to the current leadership tussle.
The DVD, which became public last year, was a recording of a tryst between the suspended MCA deputy president and an unidentified woman.
Dr Chua reportedly said that the DVD was sent from Bukit Mertajam this time. However, the Bukit Mertajam MCA division has denied that they had a hand in it.
Yesterday, Ti said the re-emergence of the DVD was another move by unseen hands to embarrass Dr Chua besides inciting anger and hatred against party president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat.
“There is indeed a third force from within the party intending to exploit and inflict maximum damage to the personality and credibility of both Ong and Dr Chua, with little or no love for the party.
“Their motive is obvious – to dislocate and uproot Ong’s leadership and to damage Dr Chua permanently,” he said on his blog http://tilianker.blogspot.com/.
Such an act was targetted at destroying the party and the next party leader would be a lame duck, he said.
“This third force wanted to control MCA’s leadership for their personal agenda. The disagreement from within the party had rendered them an opportunity to kill two big birds with one stone,” he said.
Ti warned delegates to be wary of these unseen hands which were bent on manipulating events that would affect the party’s image and dignity.
“The DVD is a blemish of the past and ought to be left behind.”
He said the party needed to move forward “instead of being stuck in muddy waters.”
“All we need now is a fresh mandate and added strength to enable the present party leadership to continue with the course that we have taken,” he said.
Thursday September 24, 2009
PETALING JAYA: The sex DVD which led to the downfall of Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek has resurfaced, sparking off a fresh round of controversy and raising the who-and-why question.
MCA central committee member Datuk Ti Lian Ker is blaming it on a “third force” from within the party which re-distributed the DVD to add more fuel to the current leadership tussle.
The DVD, which became public last year, was a recording of a tryst between the suspended MCA deputy president and an unidentified woman.
Dr Chua reportedly said that the DVD was sent from Bukit Mertajam this time. However, the Bukit Mertajam MCA division has denied that they had a hand in it.
Yesterday, Ti said the re-emergence of the DVD was another move by unseen hands to embarrass Dr Chua besides inciting anger and hatred against party president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat.
“There is indeed a third force from within the party intending to exploit and inflict maximum damage to the personality and credibility of both Ong and Dr Chua, with little or no love for the party.
“Their motive is obvious – to dislocate and uproot Ong’s leadership and to damage Dr Chua permanently,” he said on his blog http://tilianker.blogspot.com/.
Such an act was targetted at destroying the party and the next party leader would be a lame duck, he said.
“This third force wanted to control MCA’s leadership for their personal agenda. The disagreement from within the party had rendered them an opportunity to kill two big birds with one stone,” he said.
Ti warned delegates to be wary of these unseen hands which were bent on manipulating events that would affect the party’s image and dignity.
“The DVD is a blemish of the past and ought to be left behind.”
He said the party needed to move forward “instead of being stuck in muddy waters.”
“All we need now is a fresh mandate and added strength to enable the present party leadership to continue with the course that we have taken,” he said.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
'Third force' behind return of Chua's sex DVD
Extracted from Malaysia Kini
Sep 23, 09
5:31pm
The re-emergence of Dr Chua Soi Lek's infamous sex DVD is a ploy masterminded by a third force, alleged party central committee member Ti Lian Ker.
According to him, it is a two-pronged strategy - incite anger against and embarrass Chua while pinning the blame on his nemesis and current president Ong Tee Keat.
Ti, who is also the MCA NGO bureau liaison chief, lamented that the DVD incident has already damaged the party's credibility.
The DVD, which has resurfaced for the third time, is being allegedly distributed among MCA central delegates and Barisan Nasional component party leaders.
When the scandal erupted last year, Chua resigned from his government and party posts. He was the former health minister and Labis MP.
"The DVD incident is of the past and Chua had been an unfortunate victim of these unseen hands which rendered him a liability to the party," said Ti in a statement.
He warned members of the Chinese-based party not to be distracted by the re-emergence of the DVD.
Ti said the third force was aiming to inflict 'maximum damage' on the party by stoking the anger of Chua’s supporters towards the president.
He added that it was in the interest of uniting the party that an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) was called to decide on the future leadership and to stabilise the party.
'We need to move forward'
However, he said the 'third force' was undermining this effort by damaging the credibility of both Chua and Ong.
"Their apparent motive is obvious, to dislocate and uproot Ong's leadership and damage Chua permanently.
"The ultimate effect of an angry MCA will result in the party being shattered permanently and whoever who leads the party subsequently will be a lame duck," he added.
Ti also cautioned delegates to be wary of the 'third force' manipulating events leading to the ultimate destruction of the party's image and dignity.
"We are on a course of re-branding and seriously walking our talk towards a revitalised MCA with courage, political will and honour. The DVD is a blemish of the past and ought to be left behind.
"Now we need to move forward and move on with the larger picture instead of being stuck in muddy waters. All we need now is a fresh mandate and added strength to enable the present party leadership to continue with the course we have taken," he said.
Ti also reminded delegates to maintain their cool, exercise prudence and due diligence when casting their votes in the upcoming EGM on Oct 10.
"We must emerge stronger and not end up in tatters... it is time to unite for the larger and longer interest of the party's struggle and its unfinished agenda," he said.
Sep 23, 09
5:31pm
The re-emergence of Dr Chua Soi Lek's infamous sex DVD is a ploy masterminded by a third force, alleged party central committee member Ti Lian Ker.
According to him, it is a two-pronged strategy - incite anger against and embarrass Chua while pinning the blame on his nemesis and current president Ong Tee Keat.
Ti, who is also the MCA NGO bureau liaison chief, lamented that the DVD incident has already damaged the party's credibility.
The DVD, which has resurfaced for the third time, is being allegedly distributed among MCA central delegates and Barisan Nasional component party leaders.
When the scandal erupted last year, Chua resigned from his government and party posts. He was the former health minister and Labis MP.
"The DVD incident is of the past and Chua had been an unfortunate victim of these unseen hands which rendered him a liability to the party," said Ti in a statement.
He warned members of the Chinese-based party not to be distracted by the re-emergence of the DVD.
Ti said the third force was aiming to inflict 'maximum damage' on the party by stoking the anger of Chua’s supporters towards the president.
He added that it was in the interest of uniting the party that an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) was called to decide on the future leadership and to stabilise the party.
'We need to move forward'
However, he said the 'third force' was undermining this effort by damaging the credibility of both Chua and Ong.
"Their apparent motive is obvious, to dislocate and uproot Ong's leadership and damage Chua permanently.
"The ultimate effect of an angry MCA will result in the party being shattered permanently and whoever who leads the party subsequently will be a lame duck," he added.
Ti also cautioned delegates to be wary of the 'third force' manipulating events leading to the ultimate destruction of the party's image and dignity.
"We are on a course of re-branding and seriously walking our talk towards a revitalised MCA with courage, political will and honour. The DVD is a blemish of the past and ought to be left behind.
"Now we need to move forward and move on with the larger picture instead of being stuck in muddy waters. All we need now is a fresh mandate and added strength to enable the present party leadership to continue with the course we have taken," he said.
Ti also reminded delegates to maintain their cool, exercise prudence and due diligence when casting their votes in the upcoming EGM on Oct 10.
"We must emerge stronger and not end up in tatters... it is time to unite for the larger and longer interest of the party's struggle and its unfinished agenda," he said.
‘Third force’ re-distributing sex DVD: MCA’s Ti
Extracted from The Star
Published: Wednesday September 23, 2009
MYT 12:51:00 PM
PETALING JAYA: A “third force” from within the MCA is redistributing the controversial sex DVD involving Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek in a bid to add more fuel to the party leadership tussle, said party central committee member Datuk Ti Lian Ker.
He said the re-emergence of the DVD was another move by “unseen hands” to embarrass the former deputy president as well as to incite emotion, anger and hatred amongst party members against party president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat.
“There is indeed a ‘Third Force’ from within the party intending to exploit and inflict maximum damage to the personality and credibility of both Ong and Dr Chua with little or no love for the party.
“Their apparent motive is obvious -- to dislocate and uproot Ong’s leadership of the party and to damage Dr Chua permanently,” he wrote on his blog.
He said the act was designed to shatter the party permanently and ensure that the future party leader is a “lame duck.”
“This third force wants to control MCA’s leadership for their personal motive and agenda,” he said, adding that recent disagreements within the party have given them an opportunity to “kill two big birds with one stone.”
Ti warned delegates to be wary of these unseen hands that manipulated events, adding that the sex DVD was an incident of the past and the party was now faced with a leadership conflict.
“The DVD is a blemish of the past and ought to be left behind,” he said.
He said the party needed to move forward.
“All we need now is a fresh mandate and added strength to enable the present party leadership to continue with the course that we have taken,” he said, adding that the party must emerge stronger and not end up in tatters.
Published: Wednesday September 23, 2009
MYT 12:51:00 PM
PETALING JAYA: A “third force” from within the MCA is redistributing the controversial sex DVD involving Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek in a bid to add more fuel to the party leadership tussle, said party central committee member Datuk Ti Lian Ker.
He said the re-emergence of the DVD was another move by “unseen hands” to embarrass the former deputy president as well as to incite emotion, anger and hatred amongst party members against party president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat.
“There is indeed a ‘Third Force’ from within the party intending to exploit and inflict maximum damage to the personality and credibility of both Ong and Dr Chua with little or no love for the party.
“Their apparent motive is obvious -- to dislocate and uproot Ong’s leadership of the party and to damage Dr Chua permanently,” he wrote on his blog.
He said the act was designed to shatter the party permanently and ensure that the future party leader is a “lame duck.”
“This third force wants to control MCA’s leadership for their personal motive and agenda,” he said, adding that recent disagreements within the party have given them an opportunity to “kill two big birds with one stone.”
Ti warned delegates to be wary of these unseen hands that manipulated events, adding that the sex DVD was an incident of the past and the party was now faced with a leadership conflict.
“The DVD is a blemish of the past and ought to be left behind,” he said.
He said the party needed to move forward.
“All we need now is a fresh mandate and added strength to enable the present party leadership to continue with the course that we have taken,” he said, adding that the party must emerge stronger and not end up in tatters.
‘Chua should have used central committee, not EGM’
Extracted from The Star
Tuesday September 22, 2009
MYT 1:29:00 PM
PETALING JAYA: PETALING JAYA: Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek should have gone to the party’s central committee to overturn an earlier decision by the presidential council to sack him instead of pressing for an extraordinary general meeting, a central committee member said.
Datuk Ti Lian Ker said the party constitution stated a central committee member or party official could not be suspended or expelled without the support of two-thirds of the central committee present and voting at the meeting.
“In the case of Dr Chua, he only needed to garner the support of one-third of the central committee to overturn the decision of the presidential council.
“If he had failed to do that, he then had the added avenue in the general assembly by requesting an extraordinary general meeting to reverse the central committee decision,” he wrote on his blog.
Ti said Dr Chua however chose to “disregard and indignified the central committee” by calling it a rubber stamp.
“If he had garnered support of one-third of the central committee to reverse the presidential council decision, could the issue have been settled earlier and rendered the EGM, which is a waste of funds and energy, unnecessary?” he said.
Ti said that express protection provided by the constition was a condition precedent before any expulsion or suspension could be effected.
“The central committee, upon being convened on Saturday (Sept 19), must obtain the support of two-third of its members present before the presidential council’s decision to expel Dr Chua Soi as the deputy president could be effected.
“Therefore, the central committee cannot be denied of its right to deliberate on any actions taken to expel or suspend any party official or central committee member.
“The central committee is duty bound to deliberate and decide on the recommendation by the disciplinary council and presidential council with or without an appeal in the case of a party official or central committee member.
“This provision is a reminder to the presidential council to act prudently to avoid its decisions being overturned or overruled by the central committee,” he said.
On the EGM, he said the party was on the road to recovery and called upon all central delegates to exercise prudence and due diligence at the EGM on Oct 10 “ to stir MCA towards the right direction.”
Dr Chua’s supporters pressed for an EGM to reinstate him following the Aug 26 presidential council decision to endorse a recommendation by the party’s disciplinary board to expel him from the party over his sex video clip issue.
The central committee on Sept 19 however decided to suspend his membership and party post instead, effectively revising the presidential council’s decision.
The EGM would however still be held on Oct 10.
Tuesday September 22, 2009
MYT 1:29:00 PM
PETALING JAYA: PETALING JAYA: Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek should have gone to the party’s central committee to overturn an earlier decision by the presidential council to sack him instead of pressing for an extraordinary general meeting, a central committee member said.
Datuk Ti Lian Ker said the party constitution stated a central committee member or party official could not be suspended or expelled without the support of two-thirds of the central committee present and voting at the meeting.
“In the case of Dr Chua, he only needed to garner the support of one-third of the central committee to overturn the decision of the presidential council.
“If he had failed to do that, he then had the added avenue in the general assembly by requesting an extraordinary general meeting to reverse the central committee decision,” he wrote on his blog.
Ti said Dr Chua however chose to “disregard and indignified the central committee” by calling it a rubber stamp.
“If he had garnered support of one-third of the central committee to reverse the presidential council decision, could the issue have been settled earlier and rendered the EGM, which is a waste of funds and energy, unnecessary?” he said.
Ti said that express protection provided by the constition was a condition precedent before any expulsion or suspension could be effected.
“The central committee, upon being convened on Saturday (Sept 19), must obtain the support of two-third of its members present before the presidential council’s decision to expel Dr Chua Soi as the deputy president could be effected.
“Therefore, the central committee cannot be denied of its right to deliberate on any actions taken to expel or suspend any party official or central committee member.
“The central committee is duty bound to deliberate and decide on the recommendation by the disciplinary council and presidential council with or without an appeal in the case of a party official or central committee member.
“This provision is a reminder to the presidential council to act prudently to avoid its decisions being overturned or overruled by the central committee,” he said.
On the EGM, he said the party was on the road to recovery and called upon all central delegates to exercise prudence and due diligence at the EGM on Oct 10 “ to stir MCA towards the right direction.”
Dr Chua’s supporters pressed for an EGM to reinstate him following the Aug 26 presidential council decision to endorse a recommendation by the party’s disciplinary board to expel him from the party over his sex video clip issue.
The central committee on Sept 19 however decided to suspend his membership and party post instead, effectively revising the presidential council’s decision.
The EGM would however still be held on Oct 10.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
For whom the bell tolls (interview with MCA PRESIDENT)
Extracted from The Sun
Thu, 10 Sep 2009
Embattled MCA president and Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat takes time off party politics and the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) probe to tell R. Nadeswaran and Terence Fernandez that the two issues are indeed related.
Ong: Well, I see our two investigative journalists are here!
theSun: This is the longest story we have been pursuing … six years.
Ong: Well, at the end of the day, we are interested in the ending. How this is going to culminate.
That is very important.
theSun: That depends on all those concerned in seeing that justice is done.
theSun: There are other abuses not related to the free zone that are being uncovered. Shouldn’t the task force be looking into other abuses not related to PKFZ?
You must understand that the task force is focusing on only the 20 over issues regarding the free zone. I am not quite sure if the other abuses are included in its investigations.
Because you have uncovered so many issues on the conduct of the general manager (Datin Paduka O.C. Phang) with regards to PKFZ, doesn’t it warrant an internal inquiry at least on the other affairs of PKA (Port Klang Authority)? The task force reports state that she refused to heed the advice of other officials. She could have taken such an attitude to other matters.
I get what you mean but we need to stay focused. I understand your concerns that certain dimensions of the investigation may be overlooked or neglected or some of these jokers may go scot-free. But the crux of the matter is that we have come so far and we want to see justice done. This is the last lap and the last lap is normally the most challenging part.
Do you support the suggestion that the previous board of directors must be held responsible and be prosecuted for failing in their responsibilities?
They have their jurisdiction of responsibilities but I am not certain of the extent in which they were involved in. Were they properly informed of each and every decision? If not, what remedial solutions did they attempt to take? I have no know-ledge of this, but accountability must be there.
I agree. Whether they should be charged, I cannot answer that as I don’t know to what extent is their involvement.
What about the past chairmen? At the end of the day they are guardians of PKA and should be held accountable for allowing this to go so far.
So far, how much have they (the past chairmen) been informed? Look at (Datuk Yap) Pian Hon for instance. He had 1,001 reasons to protest, 1,001 grouses to air. In all fairness, he was brushed aside probably because she thought that he did not have the intellectual capacity to grasp the issues.
That’s why we need people who know what’s going on. (Present chairman) Datuk Lee Hwa Beng is an accountant by training, so he will know when the numbers don’t add up. Members of the (internal audit) directors include a forklift driver with minimal education. What does he know about port operations? They just come to collect their allowance. Enough of all these political appointees!
We hope this episode will have a positive ending but what is even more challenging is the subsequent part. We must get people who at least know something about the subject matter. You might be a political appointee, but at least be well-versed with the subject matter.
How do we reconcile what you intend to do for the restructuring of PKA and the political realties?
We need to set new rules and that is going to be very unpopular but after all, I have been unpopular.
How we handle PKFZ must be the yardstick for future probes. So it is important to see this to the very end.
You mean use the PKFZ investigations as a template for future probes involving misuse of public funds? Yes! I explained in no uncertain terms to my grassroots behind closed doors why I must take the risk and what gains do I get. Nothing! In fact CSL (sacked MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek) said I want to play hero. What hero? As an ethnic Chinese minister, as MCA president can I go further to a higher rank?
But I said that PKFZ should be made a turning point if we really want to bring in a new breed of political culture – of accountability and transparency. We don’t just talk, we must walk the talk and this is a classic example, a real acid test to our commitment to accountability and transparency.
You have the unenviable task of exposing two past MCA leaders, your predecessors in the ministry (Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik and Tan Sri Chan Kong Choy). It must have been really hard for you.
My conscience is clear. When I made the decision to commission PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) for the job, I told them that this must be an entirely independent probe. At the end of the day, the PwC Panel informed me of the outcome. Throughout the process I never, ever tried to influence them in one way or another. Even the contents of the findings, I only came to know about it when the report was ready and whether it was going to implicate this or that personality.
Whether from MCA or not from MCA, this never crossed my mind. That’s why I say my conscience is clear because after all, I commissioned the comprehensive audit not as a witch hunt or that I might be harbouring some personal agenda. What personal agenda? I hold firm to what I believe in but of course I had to pay a price for it ... the smears, threats, below the belt blows. Like today (Sept 7) in the Chinese papers, CSL mentioned that by brewing up PKFZ, it will blow up MCA and Barisan Nasional.
They say so many things about me. The latest is that I have gone cuckoo. There have been SMS going around using my number saying I scold people and call them names. I don’t know how it’s done but they are using my name.
So in the challenge to your presidency, PKFZ is the central issue and there are external forces involved in trying to topple you?
When I first decided to commission PwC for the comprehensive audit last October, hardly 10 days into my presidency, I did not correlate PKFZ with my political career in MCA. It was seemingly unrelated. But little did I expect this to have sparked off the kind of collaboration between CSL … the CSL factor and KDSB (turnkey contractor Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd) ... (KDSB CEO Datuk Seri) Tiong (King Sing); as I had mentioned in July, as well as some of Ling’s lawyers. This is something that I had never imagined.
Maybe you have broken the unwritten rule that you don’t ‘kacau’ your predecessors.
I don’t know because in politics there are a lot of unwritten rules. When I do certain things, what comes to mind is whether this will serve the public interest. I prioritise the public interest. That’s why I say my conscience is clear. I can tell you very candidly that when certain detractors of mine say I want to play hero, I have everything to lose if this issue is mishandled. It is a ticking time bomb and how do I defuse it? If I do it wrongly, I’ll be blown up.
You could have taken the easy way out by stalling until it becomes someone else’s problem. But you decided to take the bull by its horns.
That’s right. I came in after this entire project was contractually concluded. Immediately after Hwa Beng lodged the police report based on the findings of the task force, that point of time we were talking about RM500 million to RM1 billion in fraudulent claims. Immediately after that, Tiong brought up the story that I took RM10 million from him. In the first place, at the point of time, if a person is to offer any political bribery, he would have expected something in return. But at that material time, what could I have given him as the project was completed and whatever governmental clearance was secured?
Despite the various challenges we had to navigate through we have yet to call it quits. Even after the completion of the report we had taken painstaking efforts to declassify the documents. It took us awhile – four months. And those who couldn’t understand us hurled allegations but we couldn’t tell them. I don’t believe in behaving like a cry baby but this is what we had to go through.
You had instructed for copies of the PwC report to be placed on the tables of all MPs in Parliament. That was not done. Why?
MPs know the rules. Any submission of any literature from the various agencies must be done through the Parliament Secretariat. Meaning we can’t distribute as and when we like. We approached the secretariat but later on I was made to understand that the speaker made the ruling that he is only prepared to release the report in totality with the PAC (Public Accounts Committee) report. For whatever reasons, I wouldn’t know.
I made an appointment to see him at the height of the controversy and I was told that the PAC hearing is still in progress. Of course I understand (DAP stalwart Lim) Kit Siang and his boys made very serious allegations against me, distorting facts which were grossly unfair, but I managed to debunk his biased allegations.
Think about it, why must I suppress it? After all, on May 28 when we decided to release the report after getting the cabinet’s approval, we made it available to the public the next morning. So what’s there for us to hide? But you must understand where the release of documents is concerned; we must abide by the rules.
But to dramatise it by saying I hid the copies in an underground strong room; that was mere drama and fabricated lies. That was absurd!
Throughout the course of your handling of the PKFZ issue, did you make errors in judgment in terms of misplacing your trust in certain individuals that you had handpicked?
It is not absolutely true to say that I handpicked anybody. Certain appointments I have the right to make recommendations but again, whatever recommendations I make have to be scrutinised by higher authorities.
We must admit the very fact that in life, individuals with certain aptitudes may be recommended for certain jobs because of their strengths and aptitude; but one thing for sure we cannot stop any individual from being influenced by various temptations. Even our own kids I don’t think we can do much to contain them or insulate them from being influenced by temptation. Over the years I have seen many such examples but more so in endeavours, especially mammoth projects where the stakes get higher and higher. Somehow or rather people’s pattern of behaviour to a large extent are influenced or moulded by so many variables, including the temptations of money.
So you are a lot more cautious in allowing people into your inner circle?
People can claim what they like but the thing is that I know what I am doing. I need people to be truthful. As a friend you can come to my house but that doesn’t mean I am giving you a carte blanch to do what you like or use my name. There is an unwritten rule of how you treat a friend.
We are going to tread very carefully here because there are two law suits pending but the allegations against you could stem from people who claim to represent you or from your inner circle.
I have come across all sorts of fabricated lies, self-proclaimed inner circles, self-proclaimed confidants. They know that my life and family life is very simple. They know that I don’t need to have so many levels of inner circles and confidants, like an empire. If you talk about inner circle, then what about my aides? Are they in my inner circle?
What are these road shows you have embarked on about?
I have to do it behind closed doors simply because I for one don’t believe in washing dirty linen in public. Also these are untrue stories and members may be influenced by the various lies. So I think it is good to share with them the real scenario they are in now and the real challenges. For me this is part of information sharing and political education. Not just to tell them my side of the story. To me I believe in imparting to them the facts, just like PKFZ. Until today, there are certain quarters harping on their school of thought that this is just an MOT affair, a government affair and even an Ong Tee Keat affair, nothing to do with the party. I must say that is absolutely bull and which is why I need to do the road show.
Since you have set this going, is this a new culture you are setting for the party?
That is what I want to do. That is exactly what I want to do! To me this is not just a battle in the face of the EGM. It is not just that. I want them to understand that I mean business and I tried so hard to bring in a new political culture.
Would you accept the challenge of an open debate with CSL?
I think even before this, there was an invitation for an open debate with CJM (former vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Jui Meng). I must tell you that I for one know that if I were to follow my own wish I can take on anybody. But I must also take into consideration that what is said in the open, might be used as ammunition against the party. And that explains why I declined the offer for an open debate last year from CJM. People were surprised as to why I declined as my character is that I always take on such challenges. I don’t want to wash dirty linen in public and I have been consistent in my statements and principles.
Thu, 10 Sep 2009
Embattled MCA president and Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat takes time off party politics and the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) probe to tell R. Nadeswaran and Terence Fernandez that the two issues are indeed related.
Ong: Well, I see our two investigative journalists are here!
theSun: This is the longest story we have been pursuing … six years.
Ong: Well, at the end of the day, we are interested in the ending. How this is going to culminate.
That is very important.
theSun: That depends on all those concerned in seeing that justice is done.
theSun: There are other abuses not related to the free zone that are being uncovered. Shouldn’t the task force be looking into other abuses not related to PKFZ?
You must understand that the task force is focusing on only the 20 over issues regarding the free zone. I am not quite sure if the other abuses are included in its investigations.
Because you have uncovered so many issues on the conduct of the general manager (Datin Paduka O.C. Phang) with regards to PKFZ, doesn’t it warrant an internal inquiry at least on the other affairs of PKA (Port Klang Authority)? The task force reports state that she refused to heed the advice of other officials. She could have taken such an attitude to other matters.
I get what you mean but we need to stay focused. I understand your concerns that certain dimensions of the investigation may be overlooked or neglected or some of these jokers may go scot-free. But the crux of the matter is that we have come so far and we want to see justice done. This is the last lap and the last lap is normally the most challenging part.
Do you support the suggestion that the previous board of directors must be held responsible and be prosecuted for failing in their responsibilities?
They have their jurisdiction of responsibilities but I am not certain of the extent in which they were involved in. Were they properly informed of each and every decision? If not, what remedial solutions did they attempt to take? I have no know-ledge of this, but accountability must be there.
I agree. Whether they should be charged, I cannot answer that as I don’t know to what extent is their involvement.
What about the past chairmen? At the end of the day they are guardians of PKA and should be held accountable for allowing this to go so far.
So far, how much have they (the past chairmen) been informed? Look at (Datuk Yap) Pian Hon for instance. He had 1,001 reasons to protest, 1,001 grouses to air. In all fairness, he was brushed aside probably because she thought that he did not have the intellectual capacity to grasp the issues.
That’s why we need people who know what’s going on. (Present chairman) Datuk Lee Hwa Beng is an accountant by training, so he will know when the numbers don’t add up. Members of the (internal audit) directors include a forklift driver with minimal education. What does he know about port operations? They just come to collect their allowance. Enough of all these political appointees!
We hope this episode will have a positive ending but what is even more challenging is the subsequent part. We must get people who at least know something about the subject matter. You might be a political appointee, but at least be well-versed with the subject matter.
How do we reconcile what you intend to do for the restructuring of PKA and the political realties?
We need to set new rules and that is going to be very unpopular but after all, I have been unpopular.
How we handle PKFZ must be the yardstick for future probes. So it is important to see this to the very end.
You mean use the PKFZ investigations as a template for future probes involving misuse of public funds? Yes! I explained in no uncertain terms to my grassroots behind closed doors why I must take the risk and what gains do I get. Nothing! In fact CSL (sacked MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek) said I want to play hero. What hero? As an ethnic Chinese minister, as MCA president can I go further to a higher rank?
But I said that PKFZ should be made a turning point if we really want to bring in a new breed of political culture – of accountability and transparency. We don’t just talk, we must walk the talk and this is a classic example, a real acid test to our commitment to accountability and transparency.
You have the unenviable task of exposing two past MCA leaders, your predecessors in the ministry (Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik and Tan Sri Chan Kong Choy). It must have been really hard for you.
My conscience is clear. When I made the decision to commission PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) for the job, I told them that this must be an entirely independent probe. At the end of the day, the PwC Panel informed me of the outcome. Throughout the process I never, ever tried to influence them in one way or another. Even the contents of the findings, I only came to know about it when the report was ready and whether it was going to implicate this or that personality.
Whether from MCA or not from MCA, this never crossed my mind. That’s why I say my conscience is clear because after all, I commissioned the comprehensive audit not as a witch hunt or that I might be harbouring some personal agenda. What personal agenda? I hold firm to what I believe in but of course I had to pay a price for it ... the smears, threats, below the belt blows. Like today (Sept 7) in the Chinese papers, CSL mentioned that by brewing up PKFZ, it will blow up MCA and Barisan Nasional.
They say so many things about me. The latest is that I have gone cuckoo. There have been SMS going around using my number saying I scold people and call them names. I don’t know how it’s done but they are using my name.
So in the challenge to your presidency, PKFZ is the central issue and there are external forces involved in trying to topple you?
When I first decided to commission PwC for the comprehensive audit last October, hardly 10 days into my presidency, I did not correlate PKFZ with my political career in MCA. It was seemingly unrelated. But little did I expect this to have sparked off the kind of collaboration between CSL … the CSL factor and KDSB (turnkey contractor Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd) ... (KDSB CEO Datuk Seri) Tiong (King Sing); as I had mentioned in July, as well as some of Ling’s lawyers. This is something that I had never imagined.
Maybe you have broken the unwritten rule that you don’t ‘kacau’ your predecessors.
I don’t know because in politics there are a lot of unwritten rules. When I do certain things, what comes to mind is whether this will serve the public interest. I prioritise the public interest. That’s why I say my conscience is clear. I can tell you very candidly that when certain detractors of mine say I want to play hero, I have everything to lose if this issue is mishandled. It is a ticking time bomb and how do I defuse it? If I do it wrongly, I’ll be blown up.
You could have taken the easy way out by stalling until it becomes someone else’s problem. But you decided to take the bull by its horns.
That’s right. I came in after this entire project was contractually concluded. Immediately after Hwa Beng lodged the police report based on the findings of the task force, that point of time we were talking about RM500 million to RM1 billion in fraudulent claims. Immediately after that, Tiong brought up the story that I took RM10 million from him. In the first place, at the point of time, if a person is to offer any political bribery, he would have expected something in return. But at that material time, what could I have given him as the project was completed and whatever governmental clearance was secured?
Despite the various challenges we had to navigate through we have yet to call it quits. Even after the completion of the report we had taken painstaking efforts to declassify the documents. It took us awhile – four months. And those who couldn’t understand us hurled allegations but we couldn’t tell them. I don’t believe in behaving like a cry baby but this is what we had to go through.
You had instructed for copies of the PwC report to be placed on the tables of all MPs in Parliament. That was not done. Why?
MPs know the rules. Any submission of any literature from the various agencies must be done through the Parliament Secretariat. Meaning we can’t distribute as and when we like. We approached the secretariat but later on I was made to understand that the speaker made the ruling that he is only prepared to release the report in totality with the PAC (Public Accounts Committee) report. For whatever reasons, I wouldn’t know.
I made an appointment to see him at the height of the controversy and I was told that the PAC hearing is still in progress. Of course I understand (DAP stalwart Lim) Kit Siang and his boys made very serious allegations against me, distorting facts which were grossly unfair, but I managed to debunk his biased allegations.
Think about it, why must I suppress it? After all, on May 28 when we decided to release the report after getting the cabinet’s approval, we made it available to the public the next morning. So what’s there for us to hide? But you must understand where the release of documents is concerned; we must abide by the rules.
But to dramatise it by saying I hid the copies in an underground strong room; that was mere drama and fabricated lies. That was absurd!
Throughout the course of your handling of the PKFZ issue, did you make errors in judgment in terms of misplacing your trust in certain individuals that you had handpicked?
It is not absolutely true to say that I handpicked anybody. Certain appointments I have the right to make recommendations but again, whatever recommendations I make have to be scrutinised by higher authorities.
We must admit the very fact that in life, individuals with certain aptitudes may be recommended for certain jobs because of their strengths and aptitude; but one thing for sure we cannot stop any individual from being influenced by various temptations. Even our own kids I don’t think we can do much to contain them or insulate them from being influenced by temptation. Over the years I have seen many such examples but more so in endeavours, especially mammoth projects where the stakes get higher and higher. Somehow or rather people’s pattern of behaviour to a large extent are influenced or moulded by so many variables, including the temptations of money.
So you are a lot more cautious in allowing people into your inner circle?
People can claim what they like but the thing is that I know what I am doing. I need people to be truthful. As a friend you can come to my house but that doesn’t mean I am giving you a carte blanch to do what you like or use my name. There is an unwritten rule of how you treat a friend.
We are going to tread very carefully here because there are two law suits pending but the allegations against you could stem from people who claim to represent you or from your inner circle.
I have come across all sorts of fabricated lies, self-proclaimed inner circles, self-proclaimed confidants. They know that my life and family life is very simple. They know that I don’t need to have so many levels of inner circles and confidants, like an empire. If you talk about inner circle, then what about my aides? Are they in my inner circle?
What are these road shows you have embarked on about?
I have to do it behind closed doors simply because I for one don’t believe in washing dirty linen in public. Also these are untrue stories and members may be influenced by the various lies. So I think it is good to share with them the real scenario they are in now and the real challenges. For me this is part of information sharing and political education. Not just to tell them my side of the story. To me I believe in imparting to them the facts, just like PKFZ. Until today, there are certain quarters harping on their school of thought that this is just an MOT affair, a government affair and even an Ong Tee Keat affair, nothing to do with the party. I must say that is absolutely bull and which is why I need to do the road show.
Since you have set this going, is this a new culture you are setting for the party?
That is what I want to do. That is exactly what I want to do! To me this is not just a battle in the face of the EGM. It is not just that. I want them to understand that I mean business and I tried so hard to bring in a new political culture.
Would you accept the challenge of an open debate with CSL?
I think even before this, there was an invitation for an open debate with CJM (former vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Jui Meng). I must tell you that I for one know that if I were to follow my own wish I can take on anybody. But I must also take into consideration that what is said in the open, might be used as ammunition against the party. And that explains why I declined the offer for an open debate last year from CJM. People were surprised as to why I declined as my character is that I always take on such challenges. I don’t want to wash dirty linen in public and I have been consistent in my statements and principles.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
MCA NGO Liaison Bureau lauds AG’s decision to charge Shah Alam protestors:
Extracted from Malaysia Today
Tuesday, 08 September 2009 12:13
Slams mob antics by aggressive minority as political blackmail against political will of silent majority.
MCA NGO Liaison Bureau would like to congratulate the police and the Attorney General's decision to charge the Shah Alam demonstrators under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act and Penal Code for sedition and Section 27(5) of the Police Act 1967 for illegal demonstration. Their act of carrying a decapitated cow’s head to the Selangor state Secretariat besides making racial/religious provocative statements are blatant disregards of our law and order.
Of late we have seen Malaysians developing a tendency to resort to mob antics and violence to express themselves. The street demonstrations and mob behaviours are alien to our Malaysian political culture until recent years and they are in direct contrast with the civil society that we are cultivating and expecting.
Taking to the streets over issues like teaching Maths and Science in English etc is a form of political blackmail by an aggressive minority against the political will and desire of the silent majority.
The recent ugly incident of some 50 over demonstrators in Shah Alam against the proposed relocation of the Sri Maha Mariaman Hindu temple with a cow head as well as hurling abuses and inciting racial/religious sentiment goes against the grain of our culture of racial/religious sensitivity and tolerance since independence.
This ugly manifestation of dissent has gone against the Malaysian political culture of consensus building in a legal and peaceful manner.
We hope that the decision to charge these illegal demonstrators and those who had spewed and inflamed religious racial sentiments will be consistent and without regard of their political support or affiliations in order that the Rule of Law prevails.
Malaysians are getting uglier by day and the public must be satisfied that there is no selective persecution in discharging duties to uphold and enforce the rule of law. Justice must be done and be seen to be done.
The tendency to display violence, force, might or brutish behavioral patterns must be immediately nipped at the bud.
MCA further calls upon the Police and the Attorney General to charge the residents who had committed criminal assault and battery against the Menteri Besar of Selangor Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim and Shah Alam Member of Parliament Khalid Samad in a recent dialogue with the residents. Both the Menteri Besar and Member of Parliament are honorably elected representatives of the people. The uncouth mob behaviour displayed by several residents such as carrying a chair in a display of violence to an elected official or any member of the public must not be allowed or encouraged. This trend of violence in whatever name must be stopped and there should be no justification given. An offence is still an offence. A wrong is still a wrong.
The people must be taught that the arms of the laws will ultimately catch up with them. They must be made to realize that it does not pay to break the law and we are all equals before the law irrespective of whether you are PKR,PAS,DAP or UMNO/BN.
Datuk Ti Lian Ker
Chairman
MCA NGO Liaison Bureau
Tuesday, 08 September 2009 12:13
Slams mob antics by aggressive minority as political blackmail against political will of silent majority.
MCA NGO Liaison Bureau would like to congratulate the police and the Attorney General's decision to charge the Shah Alam demonstrators under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act and Penal Code for sedition and Section 27(5) of the Police Act 1967 for illegal demonstration. Their act of carrying a decapitated cow’s head to the Selangor state Secretariat besides making racial/religious provocative statements are blatant disregards of our law and order.
Of late we have seen Malaysians developing a tendency to resort to mob antics and violence to express themselves. The street demonstrations and mob behaviours are alien to our Malaysian political culture until recent years and they are in direct contrast with the civil society that we are cultivating and expecting.
Taking to the streets over issues like teaching Maths and Science in English etc is a form of political blackmail by an aggressive minority against the political will and desire of the silent majority.
The recent ugly incident of some 50 over demonstrators in Shah Alam against the proposed relocation of the Sri Maha Mariaman Hindu temple with a cow head as well as hurling abuses and inciting racial/religious sentiment goes against the grain of our culture of racial/religious sensitivity and tolerance since independence.
This ugly manifestation of dissent has gone against the Malaysian political culture of consensus building in a legal and peaceful manner.
We hope that the decision to charge these illegal demonstrators and those who had spewed and inflamed religious racial sentiments will be consistent and without regard of their political support or affiliations in order that the Rule of Law prevails.
Malaysians are getting uglier by day and the public must be satisfied that there is no selective persecution in discharging duties to uphold and enforce the rule of law. Justice must be done and be seen to be done.
The tendency to display violence, force, might or brutish behavioral patterns must be immediately nipped at the bud.
MCA further calls upon the Police and the Attorney General to charge the residents who had committed criminal assault and battery against the Menteri Besar of Selangor Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim and Shah Alam Member of Parliament Khalid Samad in a recent dialogue with the residents. Both the Menteri Besar and Member of Parliament are honorably elected representatives of the people. The uncouth mob behaviour displayed by several residents such as carrying a chair in a display of violence to an elected official or any member of the public must not be allowed or encouraged. This trend of violence in whatever name must be stopped and there should be no justification given. An offence is still an offence. A wrong is still a wrong.
The people must be taught that the arms of the laws will ultimately catch up with them. They must be made to realize that it does not pay to break the law and we are all equals before the law irrespective of whether you are PKR,PAS,DAP or UMNO/BN.
Datuk Ti Lian Ker
Chairman
MCA NGO Liaison Bureau
Positive response from MCA on A-G’s decision to charge cow-head protestors
Extracted from Malaysia Today
Tuesday, 08 September 2009 17:27
The decision by the Attorney-General to charge the cow-head protestors has received some positive responses from around, and the MCA is one who lauded the move. According to Lee Wei Kiat, a spokesman of the party, “The decision by the A-G’s Chambers was a positive move towards restoring civility in an otherwise simmering situation in Section 23.
It indicates the A-G’s Chambers, as a public body, is impartial ... when the laws of the land are broken. It was incumbent that the A-G’s Chambers and police implement the rule of law irrespective of the protestors’ political afflication. Public confidence in enforcement agencies is undermined and the perception of selective prosecution emerged if no further action was taken against one group whose actions were tantamount to inciting racial disharmony. While protestors can have ideals they hold on to, at no time whatsoever should public assemblies or closed-door dialogues be allowed to be turned into launchpads of war cries which threaten public order and lives or instigate carnage. Matters are more easily resolved amicably when people of divergent views sit down and talk rationally to work towards a common solution that is acceptable to both parties,”
Datuk Ti Lian Ker, the chairman of the MCA’s Non-government Organisation Liaison Bureau too voiced a similar stand saying that “The Aug 28 incident went against the Malaysian political culture of consensus building in a legal and peaceful manner. We hope that the decision to charge these illegal demonstrators and those who had inflamed religious and racial sentiments will be consistent and without regard of their political support or affiliations so that the rule of law prevails. The police and the A-G should also charge residents who “committed criminal assault and battery” against Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim and Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad in last Saturday’s dialogue. Both are elected representatives of the people. The uncouth mob behaviour displayed by several residents -- such as carrying a chair in a display of violence to an elected official -- must not be allowed or encouraged,”
Tuesday, 08 September 2009 17:27
The decision by the Attorney-General to charge the cow-head protestors has received some positive responses from around, and the MCA is one who lauded the move. According to Lee Wei Kiat, a spokesman of the party, “The decision by the A-G’s Chambers was a positive move towards restoring civility in an otherwise simmering situation in Section 23.
It indicates the A-G’s Chambers, as a public body, is impartial ... when the laws of the land are broken. It was incumbent that the A-G’s Chambers and police implement the rule of law irrespective of the protestors’ political afflication. Public confidence in enforcement agencies is undermined and the perception of selective prosecution emerged if no further action was taken against one group whose actions were tantamount to inciting racial disharmony. While protestors can have ideals they hold on to, at no time whatsoever should public assemblies or closed-door dialogues be allowed to be turned into launchpads of war cries which threaten public order and lives or instigate carnage. Matters are more easily resolved amicably when people of divergent views sit down and talk rationally to work towards a common solution that is acceptable to both parties,”
Datuk Ti Lian Ker, the chairman of the MCA’s Non-government Organisation Liaison Bureau too voiced a similar stand saying that “The Aug 28 incident went against the Malaysian political culture of consensus building in a legal and peaceful manner. We hope that the decision to charge these illegal demonstrators and those who had inflamed religious and racial sentiments will be consistent and without regard of their political support or affiliations so that the rule of law prevails. The police and the A-G should also charge residents who “committed criminal assault and battery” against Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim and Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad in last Saturday’s dialogue. Both are elected representatives of the people. The uncouth mob behaviour displayed by several residents -- such as carrying a chair in a display of violence to an elected official -- must not be allowed or encouraged,”
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