THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 8, 2013
Statement by the Press Secretary on Malaysia’s Elections
On behalf of the President and the people of the United States, we congratulate Prime Minister Najib on his coalition’s victory in Malaysia’s parliamentary elections on Sunday May 5. We also congratulate the people of Malaysia, who turned out in record numbers to cast their votes, as well as the parties of the opposition coalition on their campaigns, as a vibrant opposition is a foundation of democracy.
We note concerns regarding reported irregularities in the conduct of the election, and believe it is important that Malaysian authorities address concerns that have been raised. We look forward to the outcome of their investigations. The United States looks forward to continuing its close cooperation with the government and the people of Malaysia to continue to strengthen democracy, peace, and prosperity in the region.
Mr Press Secretary
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington DC
Who’s going to address the irregularities?
Watch this Youtube about what happened on May 8 at Kelana Jaya Stadium, Selangor, Malaysia. Malaysians have shown to the United States and the rest of the world that they are unhappy with the outcome of the Malaysian elections no.13. Your statement is, therefore, disappointing to say the least.–Din Merican
While there are flaws and irregularities in the conduct of the recently concluded 13th general election, we should accept it – even if it is only partially free and not fair – as the starting point for reforms.
“I am too afraid to say if the flaws affected the results,” said Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (Ideas) CEO Wan Saiful Wan Jan.
“But I personally believe that we should accept the result, it is credible as of now… partially free and not fair. If we don’t, where do we go from here?”
Speaking to reporters in Putrajaya today, Wan Saiful (left) advised everyone to accept the GE13 results which were as close to credible as it was going to get, but then put their energy and effort not in anger, but towards reforming the system.
One question we should ask while taking a long hard look at ourselves in the mirror said Wan Saiful,was not to question how a person can vote twice, but why would someone do that.
“Why are we cheating? There must be bigger problems in our society if we do that,” he reasoned.
Wan Saiful spoke at a joint Ideas and Centre for Public and Policy Studies (CPPS) press conference to submit their findings as GE13 observers to the media.
Their unified view is that GE13 was partially free but not fair, though the leaders from both NGOs are of different minds as to the effect of flaws in the electoral process and their impact.
Different take
CPPS Chairperson Tan Sri (Dr) Ramon Navaratnam, for one has a slightly different take on latest polls. “We cannot find any proof of fraud… I believe that the results of GE13 is credible,” he stated.
While he acknowledged that there are flaws as Wan Saiful pointed out, the systemic failure of the indelible ink for one, Ramon believed the flaws be too insignificant to adversely effect the accuracy of the GE13 results, except in “one seat or two”.
“It accurately reflected the will of the people, that BN be re-elected but with a reduced majority,” argued Ramon. He also warned the public from laying too much of the blame on the Election Commission (EC) for perceived irregularities, adding that many of the problems were in fact explainable had the commission more people doing public relations.
Ramon (right) argued that with phantom voters for example, the main culprit is the National Registration Department who issued blue MyKad to non-qualified foreigners for whatever reason.
“The EC had no choice by law, but to accept those with blue ICs,” he said.
It is the NRD which must first be reformed contests Ramon. What is also more important he said, is to not only to correct the flaws, but also to handle the issue of unequal weight caused by the unequal population of constituencies.
Ramon added that all the issues, like flaws in EC practices, unequal constituencies and electoral roll integrity must not be tackled individually but attacked on all fronts simultaneously.
An image being shared amongst Malaysian Facebookers outlining the various acts of electoral fraud.
IDEAS and CPPS find that the general election was unfair and partially free not because of polling day itself, but the weeks leading up to it.
Two accredited election observers concluded today that GE13 was conducted in a “partially free but not fair” manner, based on the weeks leading up to May 5.
“Our observation indicated that the EC functioned generally well during the period between the dissolution of parliament and polling day…the larger problem was the events leading up to the election period,” said the observers in their report titled “Was GE13 Free and Fair”
The Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS) and Centre for Public Policy Studies (CPPS) said that media bias, abuse of government facilities, lack of integrity in the electoral roll, Registrar of Society’s (ROS) perceived bias, uneven delineation, lack of transparency in political financing, and ethnic issues exploited for partisan purposes resulted in an “unfair election”.
Meanwhile, the elections were “partially free” because while people had the right to vote, the above factors made the freedom of choice “incomplete”.
But Wan Saiful Wan Jan, CEO of IDEAS, and Ramon Navaratnam who is chairperson of CPPS, said they personally believed the election results remained “credible” despite its unfairness.
“There could have been some little discrepancies which might have affected results, but overall it captured the spirit of Malaysians who returned the government with a narrower margin,” said Ramon.
On Sunday, BN won 133 parliamentary seats, compared to 140 in the previous election, and gained only 47% of the popular vote.
“The election result is credible…. If we say no, it’s not credible, then where do we go from here? I think it’s the best results we can get,” said Wan Saiful.
“I accept the results because I do not see how else we can move forward. I’m more interested in strengthening the institution, rather than criticising it.”
Their stand comes hot in the heels of election watchdog BERSIH 2.0’s declaration that it would withhold recognition of the government until a fact-finding mission was complete.
Improving integrity of electoral roll
Earlier, in a statement, Wan Saiful said IDEAS found that EC successfully ensured that the overall process between nomination day and election day proceeded smoothly without any major glitches.
“Complaints have been filed about the possibility of phantom voters and the failure of the indelible ink to work as it should. Both are important issues that must be addressed.
“However, we position these two issues in the context of the wider lack of trust in the integrity of the electoral roll, instead of simply a weakness of the EC,” he said.
Wan Saiful said to address the root cause of the problem, serious attention must be given to improving the integrity of the electoral roll. This, he added, involved improving the integrity of the National Registration Department’s database, which may not be within the EC’s purview.
He also noted that:
1. The media was heavily biased in favour of Barisan Nasional. State-funded media platforms have been abused to project partisan views to the public.
2. There were doubts about the EC’s impartiality and competency despite their many efforts to improve the electoral system. They were seen as being part of an already biased civil service. The fact that EC members repeatedly issued statements that could be construed as partisan did not help. Their defensiveness when criticised further angered the public.
3. Trust in the integrity of the electoral roll is low. This resulted in the public being very cautious when there were reports of foreigners being flown in, when they saw foreign-looking individuals, or when the indelible ink was seen as ineffective.
4. The Registrar of Societies did not treat all political parties equally, delaying the registration process of non-BN parties.
5. Constituency sizes are too unequal, allowing parties that win many smaller seats to win parliament, despite not commanding popular support.
6. Financing of political parties is not transparent, resulting in a big lack of clarity about the financial standing of the competing parties.
7. During the campaigning period, government and armed forces facilities were repeatedly used for campaigning purposes during the official campaign period.
8. Racial issues were dangerously exploited for political gains. There were many instances of BN fishing for votes by sowing mistrust between the Chinese and Malay communities.
Recommendations for the EC
In the report, the election observers had outlined a number of recommendations for the EC, but Wan Saiful said it was up to the EC to implement the suggestions.
“The idea is we now submit to the EC and we are informing the public of the findings, so we hope this raises public awareness. IDEAS intends to look further into the issues we raised, with the help of ASLI and CPPPS. But we have not planned any specific action,” he said.
The recommendations concern the appointment of election observers, improving the EC, improving the electoral roll, improving political party registration pricess, normalisation of constituency sizes and political financing.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOW PRIORITISE ON GUARANTEEING OUR TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY AND SECURITY
Any leader of any country must defend his nation’s sovereignty and the security of his people. Failing to do so is a grave betrayal of the people’s trust in its government.
Therefore, Pakatan Rakyat urges the present national leadership to do that which is required of them, to defend our land and never to compromise the safety of each and every Malaysian, and the test of those principles is ongoing in and around Sabah’s Lahad Datu and Semporna with the escalating violence brought by armed foreigners.
In Lahad Datu two of members of our security forces have lost their lives, while the latest acts in Semporna have claimed six of our men in uniform. We express our sincere condolences to these men’s families and may God bless them for they have given the highest sacrifice for a grateful nation.
Pakatan Rakyat calls on all Malaysians to show unreserved support to our security forces, both the police and military. And pray that they remain safe while defending our nation and its people from harm.
Pakatan realises the recent incidents in Sabah raise concern and fear, but we urge the public to remain calm and not to act rashly and hurt their fellow countrymen.
The coalition takes this opportunity to restate its confidence in the capacity and capability of our security forces to protect our country’s sovereignty.
We are disappointed with the weak leadership show by the Federal government whose responsibility is to keep Malaysia’s security intact. While we are convinced that national security transcends political divides and all citizens must support the security forces’ efforts, it does not abrogate the federal leadership for its lax treatment of the whole affair.
This leadership has failed to pass accurate information quickly so that the public is aware of what is happening, an error which has caused rumour-mongering to be rife.
We understand that the government is investigating the leader of opposition to over the armed intrusions in Sabah. We would like to state categorically that Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim is in no way involved with the escalation of violence in Sabah nor the cause of it.
The Sabah intrusion is now into its fourth week (Day 23) — fourth day of hostilities — and the Federal leadership appears not to have a clear plan to overcome the violation of our sovereign territory, or to stop any further intrusions.Instead Putrajaya is irresponsibly trying to avert the eyes of the people from its own role.
It is time the Fderal government realises its jobs is to defend and protect Malaysia, its people and the warriors on the frontline.
Pakatan urges for an immediate meeting between the leadership of our coalition and the Prime Minister, Home Minister and Defence Minister, followed by a special sitting of Parliament to discuss the intrusion.
We strongly demand Putrajaya stops finger-pointing at others especially Pakatan Rakyat and never to betray the trust of the Malaysian people.
DATO’ SERI ANWAR IBRAHIM Leader of the Opposition
DATO’ SERI ABDUL HADI AWANG PAS President
LIM KIT SIANG DAP Adviser
BAHASA MALAYSIA VERSION
Setiap pimpinan mana-mana negara sekalipun bertanggungjawab mempertahan kedaulatan wilayah negara, keselamatan rakyat dan anggota pasukan keselamatan.
Kegagalan mempertahankan kedaulatan negara dan keselamatan rakyat merupakan satu pengkhianatan serta menodai amanah rakyat. Justeru Pakatan Rakyat berhasrat mengingatkan pimpinan negara agar tegas mempertahankan kedaulatan wilayah negara dan tidak alpa memastikan keselamatan setiap rakyat Malaysia, terutamanya di Sabah ekoran dari insiden pencerobohan sekumpulan bersenjata warga asing di sekitar Lahad Datu serta Semporna. Setiap inci tanah Sabah dan keselamatan rakyatnya wajib dipertahankan.
Pencerobohan di Lahad Datu telah mengorbankan dua nyawa perwira negara manakala insiden terbaru di Semporna pula mengorbankan enam nyawa perwira negara. Kita merakamkan ucapan takziah buat keluarga mereka dan rakyat Sabah serta berdoa moga roh mereka dicucuri rahmat.
Pakatan Rakyat juga mengajak seluruh rakyat Malaysia untuk tetap teguh mendokong pasukan keselamatan, samada dari pihak polis atau tentera. Kita berdoa moga mereka kekal selamat serta bersemangat mempertahankan negara dan rakyat Malaysia dari ancaman penceroboh.
Pakatan Rakyat sedar keadaan mutakhir di Sabah sememangnya menimbulkan kebimbangan, akan tetapi kita menyeru agar orang ramai tetap bertenang dan tidak mengambil tindakan terburu-buru atau menyebarkan berita-berita fitnah yang boleh menimbulkan keresahan. Pakatan Rakyat ingin menyatakan dengan jelas keyakinan kita terhadap kecekapan dan kebolehan anggota pasukan keselamatan. Mereka pastinya dapat menjalankan tugas dengan profesional sekiranya diberi kebebasan bertindak tanpa sebarang campurtangan politik.
Sehingga kini, kita merasa kesal dan kecewa dengan sikap kepimpinan negara yang tidak mempamerkan kewibawaan dan iltizam dalam menyelesaikan masalah ini. Pimpinan negara juga gagal menyalurkan maklumat tepat, cepat dan telus serta memberikan penjelasan terhadap apa yang berlaku kepada umum sehingga menyebabkan khabar angin tersebar luas.
Pakatan Rakyat menggesa supaya isu ini tidak dijadikan arena tuduh-menuduh dan sewajarnya kepimpinan negara memberi tumpuan kepada isu keselamatan negara serta tidak mengalihkan pandangan rakyat dari kelemahan mereka. Sewajarnya mereka menyedari, keutamaan adalah demi mempertahankan kedaulatan negara, keselamatan rakyat dan perwira negara yang bertungkus lumus di perbatasan.
Pakatan Rakyat menuntut agar segera diadakan satu sidang khas Parlimen bagi membincangkan isu pencerobohan ini serta demi untuk mendapatkan gambaran sebenar insiden yang tercetus di Sabah. Kita juga berhasrat mengadakan satu persidangan meja bulat di antara pimpinan Pakatan Rakyat dengan pimpinan kerajaan dalam usaha untuk mencapai muafakat bersama berhubung isu ini.
Army General Zulkifli Zainal Abidin opinied that armed intruders in Sabah have shown combat experience and adeptness in insurgency tactics.
“From our intelligence and observation, they have combat experience and their insurgency guerilla tactics are quite good, I would say,” he said.He said that the group has positioned snipers in one area with a large public space. He did not name the area.
“They know we are not able to go in without casualties because of the open area,” he told a press conference in Felda Sahabat Residence, Lahad Datu.
Today was the first ever joint press conference by the Police and Army, more than three weeks after the first standoff in Kampung Tandou, some 15km away from here.
The press conference was held following another landing by intruders in Kunak and an ambush on a police team in Sempoerna. It is still unconfirmed if the two incidents are related to armed intruders loyal to the Sulu Sultanate.
More armed intruders have landed in Sabah following clashes between Malaysian security personnel and followers of the Sulu Sultanate.
Inspector-general of police Ismail Omar confirmed that the intruders had infiltrated two villages in Kunak, a town between Semporna and Lahad Datu – both flashpoints over the past two days.
Ismail said the authorities were alerted late last night that at least ten intruders were present in Kampung Lormalong and Kampung Dasar Lama near Kunak.
“There were sightings of a group of ten men, three of them were in military fatigues similar to those in Kampung Tandou,” he told a press conference in Lahad Datu.
He added that security forces have moved in to contain the group within the area and a manhunt is underway.
EXCLUSIVE: Former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad told billionaire financier George Soros, a survivor of the Second World War, how he had personally witnessed a British soldier being killed by Japanese troops.
In a three-page personal letter he wrote to Soros six years ago to seek the support of his then-nemesis for his Perdana Leadership Foundation’s global anti-war efforts, Mahathir recalled the unforgettable incident in Alor Setar during the Japanese invasion of Malaya.
“The bayoneting death of a young British soldier by the Japanese in my hometown had left a lasting impression on me,” Mahathir wrote in his January 11, 2006 letter, a copy of which is with Malaysiakini.
“It may seem a minor incident but I cried for this young boy, 8,000 miles from home and family, feeling the bayonet piercing his body. And he screamed two or three times. And then there was silence. I was a teenager and I could not help imagining the thing happening to me. How could we kill people so cruelly and feel no sense of guilt.”
According to author Barry Wain in his book, Malaysia Maverick, this was one of the traumatic events that shattered Mahathir’s teenage innocence, and “thoroughly politicised him and changed the course of his life”.
Horrors of war
Soros himself is no stranger to the horrors of war. Born in Budapest, Hungary, to a Jewish family, he survived the Battle of Budapest, where German and Soviet troops fought house-to-house during the last days of the Second World War. In 1947, still a teen, Soros migrated to post-war England.
Mahathir had written to Soros to urge the much-maligned currency speculator to join him in his Global Peace Forum, which sought to criminalise war and outlaw it as an option to settle international conflicts.
“I write to invite you to lend your name to this effort to achieve the ultimate human rights – the right to life,” Mahathir says in his January 11, 2006 letter.
Both Octogenarians – Mahathir is 87 and Soros, 82 – have had a bitter war of words, with Mahathir calling Soros a “moron” and blaming the currency speculator for igniting the 1997-98 Asian financial crisis, while Soros hit back by describing the Malaysian Premier as a “menace to his country”.
Mahathir also says in the letter: “We regard killing a person as a crime punishable with the most extreme punishment.It seems to me hypocritical – on the one hand, regarding killing as murder and a serious crime, and at the same time training our young men to kill people, ordering them to kill and glorifying their deeds.”
‘Identical views’
In highlighting their common war-time experiences both men had witnessed when they were in their teens, Mahathir had hoped that the billionaire philanthropist would “lend his name” to the global anti-war movement.
“Whatever may be the differences between us, we seem to have identical views on war, i.e. on killing people in the pursuit of a national agenda.”
It is not known what Soros had said in his response to Mahathir, but it is likely to have been a polite “no”, given that he did not join the Global Peace Forum.
Mahathirmet with Sorosin Kuala Lumpur 11 months after his letter to the billionaire financier, during which the two foes buried the hatchet.
Following the meeting, Mahathir said he accepted that Soros was not involved in the devaluation of Malaysia’s currency. However, four days ago, Mahathir dug up the hatchet and took another stab at Soros, claiming that the international financier was seeking regime changein Malaysia.
The enmity between Mahathir and Soros can be traced back to the early 1990s when Bank Negara Malaysia – then considered by financial observers as a rogue central bank for dabbling heavily in high-risk currency speculation – lost a whopping RM5.7 billionto the likes of Soros.
There will be no new postings effective from midnight today. I would appreciate it if you could stop making comments as soon as you read this message. All comments received after midnight will be deleted.
The UMNO-BN government is so desperate that it has decided to curtail freedom of expression. It is behaving in a cowardly fashion. Nobody can help this government if it is scared of its own shadow. If it fails to amend this law, then we as voters must show our disgust at GE-13. How can we support a government that does not respect our constitution which guarantees our fundamental freedoms.
Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) Executive Officer Masjaliza Hamzah said, “Under Section 114A (of the Evidence Act), an Internet user is deemed the publisher of any online content, unless proven otherwise.
“It also makes individuals and those who administer, operate or provide space for online community forums, blogging and hosting services liable for content published through their services.This presumption of guilt goes against a fundamental principle of justice – innocent until proven guilty – and disproportionately burdens the average person who may not have the resources to defend himself in court”.
This blog will resume on August 15, 2012. Thanks for your cooperation.. –Din Merican
(Geneva, 19 June 2012): A Malaysian delegation of civil society organisations, comprising SUARAM, Aliran and Bersih 3.0, are attending the 20th Regular Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, which opened yesterday in Geneva, Switzerland.During this week, the group will meet with the Special Rapporteurs on freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, as well as various permanent missions to the UN in Geneva and NGOs, to highlight and make recommendations on Malaysia’s poor human rights record.
The delegation was pleased to note that, in her opening address to the Human Rights Council, Navi Pillay (left), the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, actively championed working with countries towards the adoption of legislation which enshrine women’s human rights and protect women human rights defenders.
She further called on States to “fulfil their commitments to issue invitations, facilitate country visits, respond promptly to communications, and respect the independence and mandate of the rapporteurs.”
The Permanent Representative of Malaysia, Mazlan Muhammad, in his statement to the Human Rights Council, was adamant of the government’s position that human rights in general shall not sideline the right to development. He also advised the High Commissioner and her Office to not “succumb to the political agendas of certain quarters” and that the Council should focus on “real violations and not imaginary or over blown incidences”.
Nevertheless, at a parallel event , the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, Maina Kiai (right), affirmed that he took the human rights situation in Malaysia very seriously, saying, “…the State cannot lose its duty to protect people, protestors alike…”.
Answering to the questions asked by SUARAM Executive Director Nalini Elumalai, he also repeated his offer to visit Malaysia ahead of the 13th General Election.
In June 2012, Maina Kiai had issued a joint press statement together with the Special Rapporteurs on the right to freedom of expression and the situation of human rights defenders, Frank La Rue and Margaret Sekaggya, requesting to conduct an independent inquiry into the human rights abuses during BERSIH 3.0.To date, the Malaysian government has failed to respond.
In discussing the recent violence at BERSIH 3.0, Maria Chin Abdullah (left) of BERSIH highlighted two issues. Firstly, how could assembly organisers reconcile the competing interests of demonstrators and private business owners?
Harm to business owners was the key rationale in the intimidation, harassment and personal attacks against BERSIH 2.0 co-chairman Datuk S Ambiga by the Traders Action Council, who had purportedly suffered financial loss during the rally. Secondly, what are the duties of the State and assembly organisers in ensuring the safety of protestors?
In his response, Maina Kiai reminded the audience that “…public space has as much right to be used by protestors as anyone else…” and urged for “one standard” – that peaceful protests be treated fairly whether or not the demonstration is in favour of the government, without bias or favouritism.
Moreover, it is considered trite law for the State to ensure a peaceful and safe environment for any demonstrators; this responsibility cannot be transferred wholly to the organisers.
The learned Special Rapporteur also stated that it is not remote that financial loss would occur in a demonstration and emphasised that financial interest cannot supersede the opportunity and space for freedom of peaceful assembly and of association.
In collaboration with FORUM-ASIA, FIDH and Human Rights Watch, SUARAM will be hosting a parallel event, titled “Malaysia: Human Rights and Democracy Reforms Under Siege” on Wednesday 20 June at the 20th Regular Session of the UN Human Rights Council at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.
For inquiries, please contact:● Nalini Elumalai, SUARAM Executive Director, detention@suaram.net
The Bersih organisers, the Police and DBKL should have met and sorted out the logistics of getting such a huge number of people together in Dataran Merdeka for a couple of hours.
WITHIN hours of BERSIH 3.0 being over, I received an angry e-mail from a reader asking me in no uncertain terms: “Are you happy now?” The writer was furious at the scenes of violence, and I suppose I was a convenient and appropriate target for his vitriol.
After all, I have been a consistent supporter of the right to assemble and have gone on record (along with nine other concerned citizens) to demand that the Government allow BERSIH 3.0 to go on without harassment at Dataran Merdeka.
Well, to answer the question, of course I am not happy that people, mostly participants, were injured during BERSIH 3.0.However, some perspective is needed here.
If thousands of people set out to cause trouble, the damage and injuries would have been astronomical.The fact that the number of injured was minuscule only serves to confirm that the vast majority of people went there with peaceful intentions.
The Police have been going on about how there would have been no trouble if the organisers had just listened to them and staged a sit-in at a stadium.This makes them look reasonable to the casual observer.
Why insist on going to Dataran Merdeka when alternatives were offered? I beg to differ. The issue is not about alternatives; the issue is about the constitutional right of the people to gather in public spaces.
According to our Constitution, and a plethora of international legal documents relating to human rights, the only limitation and consideration that authorities should take into account is with regard to national security and public order.
Traffic jams are not a national security or public order issue.This being the case, the organisers, the Police and DBKL should have got together and sorted out the logistics of getting such a huge number of people together in Dataran Merdeka for a couple of hours.
The duty of the authorities is to facilitate this right, not to offer alternatives based on their own convenience.
The violence on Saturday is unfortunate and regrettable. It is hoped that all culprits will be brought to book. I would also hope that if there is to be another BERSIH rally in the future, less prominence should be given to political parties.It is of course within the rights of political parties to take part in Bersih events, especially if they too have been calling for clean and fair elections.
However, in order to minimise the usual accusations that BERSIH is a mouthpiece for Pakatan Rakyat, it would be prudent if, in the future, the role of political parties be more one of solidarity, with no need for speech-making and the like.
However, what has almost been forgotten amid the accusations, blaming and finger-pointing, is that the largest ever group of Malaysians rallied together to demand clean and fair elections.The fact that so many people would take their feelings to the streets surely indicates that there is an important groundswell here.
Our right to choose our leaders must be done in a way that is above suspicion. The question that remains is: “Are those who matter listening?”
Joint Message by UN Secretary-General, Mr Ban Ki-moon and UNESCO Director-General Ms Irina Bokova on the occasion of the World Press Freedom Day, May 3 2012
Freedom of expression is one of our most precious rights. It underpins every other freedom and provides a foundation for human dignity. Free, pluralistic and independent media is essential for its exercise.
This is the message of World Press Freedom Day. Media freedom entails the freedom to hold opinions and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers, as stated in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This freedom is essential for healthy and vibrant societies.
Change in the Arab world has shown the power of aspirations for rights when combined with new and old media. Newfound media freedom is promising to transform societies through greater transparency and accountability. It is opening new ways to communicate and to share information and knowledge. Powerful new voices are rising – especially from young people – where they were silent before.
This is why this year’s World Press Freedom Day is centred on the theme of New Voices: Media Freedom Helping to Transform Societies. Media freedom also faces severe pressures across the world. Last year, UNESCO condemned the killing of 62 journalists who died as a result of their work. These journalists must not be forgotten and these crimes should not remain unpunished.
As media moves online, more online journalists, including bloggers, are being harassed, attacked, and killed for their work. They must receive the same protection as traditional media workers.
The first UN Inter-Agency Meeting on Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity met at UNESCO on the 13 and 14 September 2011. We produced a Plan of Action for the UN to build a more free and safe environment for journalists and media workers everywhere. At the same time, we will continue to strengthen the legal foundations for free, pluralistic and independent media, especially in countries undergoing transformation or rebuilding after conflict. At a time of information overload, we must help young people especially to develop critical skills and greater media literacy.
World Press Freedom Day is our opportunity to raise the flag in the fight to advance media freedom. We call on States, professional media and non-governmental organisations everywhere to join forces with the United Nations to promote online and offline freedom of expression in accordance with internationally accepted principles. This is a pillar of individual rights, a foundation for healthy societies and a force for social transformation.
Here is the Bersih Statement I received via e-mail.–Din Merican
Press Statement
4 April 2012
DUDUK BANTAH!
Yesterday, BERSIH 2.0 released a statement responding to the Parliamentary Select Committee on Electoral Reform’s report which was tabled in Parliament.
This statement is being issued as a follow-up to the Parliamentary Select Committee’s report and relates to the fraud that is currently taking place with respect to the electoral roll and other aspects of elections in Malaysia.
The Parliamentary Select Committee report in our view contains some sound recommendations. However the Parliamentary Select Committee has fallen far short in many areas. What was hoped for was that a tough, no-nonsense approach would have been taken by the Parliamentary Select Committee to ensure that the next elections would be clean and fair.
Many of the recommendations of the Parliamentary Select Committee, and indeed the 8 demands of BERSIH 2.0, can be implemented before the 13th General Elections. In fact they MUST be implemented NOW. But the silence of the government as to its commitment to implementing reforms before the 13th General Election is deafening.
Neither the Parliamentary Select Committee nor the government appears to have taken a serious view of the many allegations of fraud. Both have glossed over the disenfranchisement of so many citizens both overseas and within Malaysia. Many of the other matters that so many citizens have painstakingly and diligently presented to the Parliamentary Select Committee have not been comprehensively considered.
The continuing fraud, as has been explained, continues unabated, thus leaving us with the feeling that nothing will be done by this government to ensure that the upcoming elections will be clean and fair.
In fact, it promises to be the dirtiest yet. The Election Commission has failed in its responsibility, and has lost the confidence of the public. They must resign.
The rakyat must voice their dissatisfaction with the government and the Election Commission and protest the continuing fraud and obvious lack of commitment to election reform before the 13th General Election.
In order to express our deep disappointment with a government that continues to manipulate the electoral system to their advantage, we will stage a nationwide and worldwide sit-in, to be known as DUDUK BANTAH!
In Kuala Lumpur, we will meet at Dataran Merdeka on 28 April 2012 from 2pm to 4pm. Sit-ins will also take place in other parts of Malaysia and throughout the world.
BERSIH 2.0 comprising 84 non-governmental organisations, call upon Malaysian citizens wherever they are who love this country to participate in the sit-in. Members of political parties are also invited to participate as citizens. This will be BERSIH 3.0!
BERSIH 3.0 will be a time for reflection by all Malaysians, particularly those in power, as to the kind of legacy and future we intend to leave to the next generation.
Salam BERSIH!
Steering Committee, Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (BERSIH 2.0)
The Steering Committee of BERSIH 2.0 comprises:
Dato’ Ambiga Sreenevasan (Co-Chairperson), Datuk A. Samad Said (Co-Chairperson), Ahmad Shukri Abdul Razab, Andrew Khoo, Arul Prakkash, Arumugam K., Dr Farouk Musa, Liau Kok Fah, Maria Chin Abdullah, Richard Y W Yeoh, Dr Subramaniam Pillay, Dato’ Dr Toh Kin Woon, Dr Wong Chin Huat, Dato’ Yeo Yang Poh and Zaid Kamaruddin, Hishamuddin Rais, Niloh Ason, Awang Abdillah, Matthew Vincent , Anne Lasimbang, Andrew Ambrose.
The Auditor-General: Audit was on the National Feedlot Centre Project
By NSTOnline, Masami Mustaza
The Auditor-General said today the audit it conducted was on the National Feedlot Centre project, and not the company National Feedlot Corporation Sdn Bhd (NFCorp).
The Auditor-General, Tan Sri Ambrin Buang
In a statement released on its website, Auditor-General Tan Sri Ambrin Buang also said nowhere in the report did it refer to the NFC as being “in a mess”, adding that those words were used by other parties.
He also clarified that the audit analysis found that the objectives of the NFC were not fully realised due to several factors which have been explained in the Auditor-General’s Report 2010. Among them, based on a implementation agreement signed in March 2010, the production target for NFC of 38,600 cattle for 2010 could not be achieved as the Entrepreneur Development Programme (EDP) which involves 130 satelite farm operators were yet to be implemented.
“If there are any elements of misappropriation in the implementation of the project, this should be revealed in the investigation of the authorities such as the Royal Malaysian Police and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission,” he said.
Highlights of the Auditor-General statement:
audit was on National Feedlot Centre’s performance, not NFCorp the company.
audit analysis found that NFCentre had not fully met its objectives.
the Auditor-General’s report did not meantion chaos, “in a mess” or misappropriation. These words were used by other parties and should not be attributed to the Auditor-General.
from an audit perspective, there were weaknesses in the project’s implementation.
the audit on NFCentre project was done in an independent and professional manner, without prejudice to any parties.
Below is the full statement from the Auditor-General (in Bahasa):
KENYATAAN AKHBAR OLEH KETUA AUDIT NEGARA PUSAT FIDLOT NASIONAL
Ekoran laporan media mengenai beberapa isu yang menghubungkaitkan Jabatan Audit Negara (JAN) dengan projek fidlot di Gemas, Jabatan Audit Negara ingin memberi penjelasan seperti berikut:
2. Perkara yang menjadi fokus utama pengauditan prestasi yang dijalankan oleh JAN ialah pencapaian projek Pusat Fidlot Nasional (PFN) sejak penubuhannya pada tahun 2006 dan bukannya National Feedlot Corporation Sdn. Bhd. (NFCorp.) sebagai sebuah syarikat. NFCorp. adalah syarikat yang berdaftar di bawah Suruhanjaya Syarikat Malaysia di mana Kementerian Kewangan Diperbadankan memegang satu golden share bernilai RM1.
Manakala modal berbayar berjumlah RM1.11 juta telah disumbangkan oleh Agroscience Industries Sdn. Bhd. Projek ini diaudit memandangkan ia penting dari segi pengeluaran makanan negara yang mana Kerajaan Malaysia telah memperuntukkan sejumlah wang yang besar berupa:
i) Peruntukan di bawah Kementerian Pertanian Dan Industri Asas Tani (KPIAT) berjumlah RM73.64 juta di bawah RMKe-9 bagi menampung kos pembangunan dan pengoperasian. Daripada peruntukan ini, sejumlah RM48.71 juta telah dibelanjakan setakat akhir tahun 2010 oleh KPIAT untuk menyediakan tapak seluas 5,000 ekar bagi projek ini. Kawasan ini kemudiannya dikurangkan kepada 2,000 ekar sahaja.
ii) Geran pelancaran untuk penyediaan infrastruktur berjumlah RM13 juta diluluskan kepada NFCorp. pada bulan September 2007 dan setakat akhir tahun 2010 sejumlah RM6.52 juta telah dibayar kepada NFCorp. untuk syarikat ini menyediakan infrastruktur seperti kandang dan jalan ladang.
iii) Pinjaman mudah (soft loan) juga telah diluluskan kepada NFCorp. yang berjumlah RM250 juta menerusi satu perjanjian pinjaman yang telah ditandatangani pada Disember 2007.
Setakat Mac 2010, sejumlah RM134.7 juta telah dikeluarkan kepada NFCorp. berdasarkan kepada tuntutan yang dibuat kepada Kementerian Kewangan.
3. Tujuan pengauditan dilaksanakan adalah untuk menilai sama ada projek PFN telah dirancang dan dilaksanakan dengan teratur dan berhemat serta mencapai objektif yang ditetapkan. Pengauditan ini melibatkan semakan terhadap maklumat yang diperolehi daripada beberapa agensi Kerajaan seperti KPIAT, Kementerian Kewangan, Jabatan Perkhidmatan Veterinar dan juga daripada pegawai-pegawai NFCorp. semasa lawatan tapak dilakukan pada bulan Mac 2011. Berdasarkan analisis audit yang bersandarkan kepada maklumat tersebut, pemerhatian-pemerhatian audit telah dibuat secara bertulis untuk mendapatkan pengesahan dan maklum balas daripada pihak-pihak ini. Selain itu, perbincangan menerusi Exit Conference telah dibuat dengan wakil-wakil KPIAT sebagai Kementerian yang bertanggungjawab ke atas pelaksanaan projek ini sebelum laporan audit dimuktamadkan untuk dimuatkan ke dalam Laporan Ketua Audit Negara (LKAN) 2010.
4. Analisis audit mendapati objektif projek PFN masih belum dicapai sepenuhnya. Ini disebabkan berbagai faktor yang dihuraikan dalam LKAN 2010. Antaranya, mengikut perjanjian pelaksanaan yang ditandatangani pada bulan Mac 2010, sasaran pengeluaran PFN iaitu 38,600 ekor lembu untuk tahun 2010 belum dicapai kerana Entreprenuer Development Program (EDP) yang melibatkan 130 pengusaha ladang satelit belum dilaksanakan lagi.
5. Jika dibaca keseluruhan LKAN 2010 itu, tidak ada pun disebut perkataan-perkataan seperti kucar kacir, ‘in a mess’ atau pun penyelewengan. Perkataan-perkataan ini telah digunakan oleh pihak-pihak lain dan JAN tidak sepatutnya dipertanggungjawabkan. Pada pendapat JAN, sama ada terdapat unsur-unsur penyelewengan dalam pelaksanaan projek ini terpulanglah kepada penyiasatan pihak berkuasa seperti Polis Diraja Malaysia dan Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia.
6. Pada perspektif audit, sememangnya terdapat beberapa kelemahan dalam pelaksanaan projek ini. Jikalau tidak, mengapa pada bulan Mei 2009 (sebelum pengauditan dijalankan), Kerajaan perlu menangguhkan pelaksanaan PFN sehingga satu kajian viability and business model (model perniagaan) dijalankan bagi projek ini?. Perkara ini ada dinyatakan dalam LKAN 2010. Ianya membayangkan Kerajaan Malaysia sememangnya sedar akan kelemahan-kelemahan dalam pelaksanaan projek ini dan telah pun mengambil tindakan untuk menentukan hala tuju projek ini.
7. JAN ingin menjelaskan bahawa pengauditan terhadap projek PFN ini telah dibuat secara bebas dan profesional tanpa sebarang prejudis kepada mana-mana pihak. Sebarang kenyataan yang mempertikaikan kewibawaan dan integriti juruaudit JAN adalah dikesali.
I refer to blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin’s interview in which he discusses ‘ gay Prime Ministers’ in relation to the sodomy trial of federal Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
He also says he is ’90 per cent sure’ that the person in the notorious ‘Datuk T’ sex video is Anwar Ibrahim. I do not wish to speculate as to RPK’s motives in making such statements. However I do say that his statements, insinuations and innuendoes are unfair,untrue, unsupported by any believable evidence and plainly libellous.
For some reason, RPK ignores the fact that the entire sodomy case is a transparent fabrication by UMNO-BN with the connivance and cooperation of the Police Force and the Attorney General’s Chambers. RPK’s insinuations are thus based upon a malicious conspiracy which is widely disbelieved throughout this country and abroad.
Anwar’s trial has made a mockery of justice, and fair and accepted legal procedures; and it has been condemned as such by civil and political leaders as well as rights bodies worldwide. The failure to disclose material evidence critical to the defence; the serious flaws in the way forensic samples were obtained,stored and analyzed; the unusual and legally unsound pre-judgement of the case by Judge Zabidin at the end of prosecution case; the extraordinary meeting between the complainant and the Prime Minister, and the PM’s lying explanation for it, are but some of the proofs of a wide-ranging conspiracy behind the Sodomy II case. Upon this shaky ground, RPK builds a ramshackle tower of vague suppositions and wild innuendoes.
Desperation
As for the sex video, it was concocted out of desperation by UMNO-linked conspirators as a result of Sodomy II’s failure to turn the rakyat against Anwar Ibrahim and Pakatan Rakyat. A key figure in the shameful sex video fiasco is the former UMNO Vice-President and Chief Minister of Melaka, Rahim Thamby Chik who was forced to resign over a sex scandal involving a minor.
Tens of thousands of copies of the pornographic video were freely distributed all over the country, while the police sat by and took no action against the porn-peddlers. When after months of public pressure, the Datuk T trio were charged for a minor offence, the A-G’s Chambers took advantage of the proceedings to slander and attack the reputation of Anwar Ibrahim.
Has RPK forgotten UMNO’s long, disgraceful and criminal history of abusing the Police, prosecution and judiciary in order to silence or neutralize key opposition figures? Further, he provides not the slightest basis or evidence for his extraordinary claim that he is ’90 %’ certain that it is Anwar in the sex video.
It is extremely fortunate that the people of this country have not fallen for these UMNO-inspired plots, which are simply underhand and criminal attempts to halt the reform movement and Pakatan Rakyat’s march to federal power. UMNO must engage in democratic politics by debate and discussion, and stop using dirty and dishonest means to try to bring down Anwar and Pakatan Rakyat.
N Surendran is the vice president of Parti Keadilan Rakyat
On behalf of the President and the people of the United States, we congratulate Prime Minister Najib on his coalition’s victory in Malaysia’s parliamentary elections on Sunday May 5. We also congratulate the people of Malaysia, who turned out in record numbers to cast their votes, as well as the parties of the opposition coalition on their campaigns, as a vibrant opposition is a foundation of democracy.
Speaking to reporters in Putrajaya today, Wan Saiful (left) advised everyone to accept the GE13 results which were as close to credible as it was going to get, but then put their energy and effort not in anger, but towards reforming the system.
Ramon (right) argued that with phantom voters for example, the main culprit is the National Registration Department who issued blue MyKad to non-qualified foreigners for whatever reason.
In discussing the recent violence at BERSIH 3.0, Maria Chin Abdullah (left) of BERSIH highlighted two issues. Firstly, how could assembly organisers reconcile the competing interests of demonstrators and private business owners?
