Democracy sneaks into Malaysia

Stop by a coffee shop for teh-tarik (tea with a frothy top) in any neighbourhood in the Malaysian capital these days, one can hear a lively exchange of street wisdom on the future of Malay politics. Will Pak Lah (Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi) resign? Is Anwar coming back? Is UMNO collapsing? The list goes on.Nataraja Naidu, 58, a former government official, says proudly that he voted for the opposition for the first time. "I realised that a change in Malaysian politics must come from me first. I support the opposition," he said. "I want to see every Malaysian being treated equally."Yang Lee-jing, 72, a taxi driver, who has seen it all, is more cautious in his appraisal. "I have seen riots on the streets before. Although now things are different, but it is still bumiputra," he says, referring to the Malay race. Yang was more resigned about the current political scene, saying Malaysian politics will continue to be based on race. The country's population comprises 65 per cent Malays, 25 per cent Chinese, 6 per cent Indian and the rest are other nationalities.Naidu and Yang are not alone in having such juxtaposed sentiments. They know, as minorities, it is a tall order to have everybody enjoy the same rights. But for them to be able to speak aloud on this issue without fear is already a huge accomplishment. Malaysia is more open than ever before. While the mainstream media are still timid, online media and bloggers have filled in the gap and are thriving. The Internet has now become one of the most important communication tools in Malaysian politics. Even Prime Minister Badawi confessed that his party's defeat was due to its failure to acknowledge the power of the Internet.Prem Chandra, chief of the Internet portal Malaysiakini, was succinct, saying that the voices of opposition candidates could be read and heard online. "Quite often, mainstream media have to catch up with the online information, which is freer and faster," he said. Ironically, former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad also lamented the lack of media freedom and sought media space online.Increasingly, ordinary Malaysians have come to grips with the political reality that they have been brought up in since the country gained independence in 1957. Since then, the politics here have been dominated by the United Malay National Organisation (UMNO), along with other smaller community-based parties known as the Barisan Nasional. The Malay voters used to think that without UMNO, their interests would not be protected.But in the past few two years, the Malaysians, especially the Chinese and Indians, have begun to think differently in responding to religious and social discrimination. Instead of asking the ruling political party for changes, they have chosen instead to look for an alternative group, which can give them a better deal. Then came the formation of an opposition coalition with a more holistic approach to economic and social development. Now they think change is possible. As in the US primaries, the call for change is getting louder by the day in the world's most modern Islamic nation.The political tsunami started with the outcome of the March 8 general elections. The opposition seized 82 out of 222-seats in parliament, just 30 seats short of forming a government. The opposition group comprises the Islamist party known as PAS, the Chinese-based and secular Democratic Action Party (DAP) and the multiracial People's Justice Party (PKR). Both PAS and DAP are more pragmatic and more reconciliatory towards each other.For the first time, Malaysians feel that a new dawn is approaching for their country. Of course, mindful of racial history, there is also some anxiety. But intellectuals and the middle class are discussing the possibility of a multi-party system or even an end to race-based politics, which has dominated the country in the past five decades."Malaysians believe that there could be changes without bloodshed as in 1969. We have learned lessons from the past," said Tian Chua, a former activist, who got elected in Batu constituency. Chua was optimistic that sooner than later there would be an alternative government rather than the current National Front led by UMNO."First of all, we have to show that the opposition has the capacity to provide better policies and reduce corruption," he said. Only a few days in his job, he told me in a kopi tiem in Ambang Utama that several wasteful projects were reviewed and slashed and money was saved. At the moment, he said the opposition could make a difference in Selangor, Penang, Perak, Kedah, the country's four richest states, who contribute 60 per cent of its gross domestic product.Chua is confident that if the opposition parties are resilient and end discrimination and can still maintain stability and prosperity, then they would get a chance to form the government. "We must make things better and understand the feelings of the people. It is the \Ireformasi\I spirit."After all, one can also sense that the \Ireformasi\I movement started by former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim is still very much alive. Ordinary people want social justice and better governance. Politics is too elitist, focusing on a few groups of people, they said.If Malaysia can achieve all these, it would impact on political developments in the region and beyond. Singapore has already dispatched teams of political scientists to Malaysia to gain understanding and insights into the latest phenomenon. Currently, the region's existing democracies such as Thailand and the Philippines are in disarray, plagued with political instability, corruption and lack of governance. Further consolidation in Malaysia's democracy will resonate well in Indonesia's current political dynamic.- The Nation/ANN(The writer is a senior editor of The Nation, Bangkok)

Malaysia PM in deeper crisis as 2 Cabinet ministers seek leadership reforms

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: Two Cabinet ministers have endorsed demands by ruling party dissidents to hold an open contest for the party leadership, highlighting the prime minister's weakening control over power in Malaysia after disastrous election results.
The Star daily quoted International Trade Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and Higher Education Minister Khaled Nordin on Monday as saying everybody should be eligible to run for the post of the United Malays National Organization party's president.
At present, a contestant must be nominated by 30 percent of the party's divisions, which is hard to secure by someone not endorsed by the party leadership. The party president automatically becomes the prime minister.
The nomination quota encourages an "unhealthy political culture," Muhyiddin, who is the party vice president, was quoted as saying. "I hope that with the abolition, the party at all levels will have a healthy democratic election system."
Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is facing the biggest crisis of his political career after the March 8 general elections, in which the ruling National Front retained power but lost its traditional two-thirds majority. It also conceded five states to the opposition.
Being the dominant party in the coalition, Abdullah's United Malays National Organization took most of the blame for the losses. The pressure on Abdullah increased after critics called on him to resign, a demand he rejected.
He also postponed party elections, which had been due in August, until December. But it will be difficult for a challenger to dislodge Abdullah in the elections because of the quota system, which was introduced by former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad in 1987 after he narrowly survived a challenge by then-Finance Minister Razaleigh Hamzah.
Mahathir, now an ordinary party member, is one of those calling for abolishing the quota system. Among the others is Razaleigh, who has openly declared he will try to challenge Abdullah.
Critics say the quota system ensures that members dissatisfied with the prime minister's leadership cannot challenge him democratically. Supporters say it is necessary to ensure only serious candidates contest.
Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak, who is also the party deputy president, acknowledged there was unhappiness over the system but denied it was an impediment to democracy in the party.
"The system was introduced to prevent candidates that do not have strong support in the party to contest for top posts just to challenge the leadership," he told reporters.
"It is not aimed at deterring democracy. Even though there is a quota system, democracy still flourishes in our party," he said.
Abandoning the system would also mean changing the party constitution, which can only be done at an extraordinary general meeting. Party leaders have so far rejected calls for such a meeting.
Khaled and Muhyiddin, the two ministers, claimed they had opposed it when it was introduced by Mahathir but failed.
Muhyiddin stressed that his call did not mean he was against the current leadership or was encouraging members to challenge the president, The Star said.
Aides to Khaled and Muhyiddin confirmed they made the comments. The aides declined to be identified citing protocol.

Finally Samy calls for Hindraf 5's release

Finally Samy calls for Hindraf 5's release
Mar 30, 08 12:14pm
MIC president S Samy Vellu today called for the release of the five Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leaders detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA).
The five were detained shortly after they had organised a mammoth rally in Kuala Lumpur which drew some 30,000 Indians.
Samy Vellu said he will meet Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to discuss this matter.

When a government department can accept gift in Malaysia

When a government department can accept gift in Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur, March 29 (IANS) Malaysian government offices can accept gifts from companies and private parties after respective secretaries-general approve of it, according to new rules.
In a recent circular issued by the Public Service Department, director-general Ismail Adam said secretaries-general, who are also the controlling officers, were authorised to approve gifts, including those valued at more than RM 10,000 (nearly $3,000).
But the gift has to be voluntary, unsolicited and useful to the department or the country and must be in kind. Anything in cash must be dealt with immediately with a trust fund set up, said the New Straits Times.
Previously, gifts worth more than RM 10,000 had to be approved by the treasury.
Several conditions, however, must be met before the secretaries-general give such approvals.
Among others, Ismail said, the gifts should be freely given, without any conditions attached.
Those presenting the gifts must also not have any connections or interests in the government.
Ismail said the gifts, including equipment, must be new and spare parts should be available in the market in case of a breakdown.
'The gifts must be given voluntarily and not on the request or demand made by the departments or agencies.
'Government departments are barred from soliciting presents or donations from other parties, organisations or individuals,' the circular stated.
Ismail reminded secretaries-general that they should ensure the gifts were used in accordance with the wishes of the donors.
All gifts approved should be noted down in the departments' inventories.
Corruption was a major issue during this month's general elections. Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has asked his ministers and government officials to stay away from anything that smacks of corruption and behave in an exemplary manner.

yahoo india..

Malaysia Spurns Calls to Free Lawmaker

Malaysia Spurns Calls to Free Lawmaker
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - A Malaysian opposition party on Saturday condemned the government's refusal to release an ethnic Indian activist elected as a state legislator while in jail.
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M.Manoharan _ a leader of the Hindu Rights Action Force, or Hindraf _ was arrested shortly after his group organized a rally in November in which 20,000 Indians protested alleged government discrimination. He has been held since December under Malaysia's Internal Security Act, which allows for indefinite detention without trial.
While behind bars, he contested the March 8 election as a member of the Democratic Action Party and won a seat in the Selangor state legislature.
Despite Manoharan's win, Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar said the government cannot free him because he is still a security threat, The Star newspaper reported Saturday.
Calls to Syed Hamid and his aides went unanswered Saturday.
Lim Kit Siang, who heads the opposition Democratic Action Party slammed the government's decision.
"It shows that the Cabinet is not really listening to the people's voice for change toward a more democratic, accountable, just and more progressive Malaysian society," Lim told The Associated Press.
Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's ruling National Front coalition retained power in the March election, but suffered the worst losses in its 51-year rule.

AP - Saturday, March 29

Hope spreads from tsunami

Hope spreads from tsunami
For younger Singaporeans who want political change the defining March 8 general election in Malaysia has come as an encouragement and morale booster.
SEVERAL Malaysian friends have asked me whether I believe their election ‘tsunami’ would generate a similar phenomenon on this small island state.
Will the near defeat of an almost indestructible political icon across the Causeway result in some sort of upheaval in Singapore’s next election expected in 2010-11?
“We’ve done it, when will you?” a Malaysian journalist asked me, half in jest. Are Singaporeans stimulated by the Malaysian result to opt for change in the city-state, others wanted to know.
So do Singaporeans. Many, including a few younger People’s Action Party (PAP) Parliamentarians, have discussed it at length. The blogo-sphere is hyperactive with speculation.
So can it happen here? Frankly, my answer is yes, to an extent – but only if the opposition coalition in Malaysia fares well and not degenerate into chaos.
In fact, there has already been a psychological impact on some Singaporean minds that if it can happen there, it can surely happen here.
Historically, there has always been a modicum of affinity, or mutual influence, between our two peoples.
I recall one-time deputy minister and Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi coming here to warn Singapore not to try to set itself up as an example to influence the ethnic Chinese in Malaysia.
In turn, Singaporean leaders have accused Umno “ultras” of acting as “protectors” of the Malays in Singapore, in violation of non-interference.
Actually, the shocking results evoked a bigger concern in Singapore beyond impacting its next election.
The first over-riding concern here was, and remains, potential racial or political violence. May 13 still evokes emotions in many older Singaporeans.
The second is economic impact. Malaysia still ranks high in Singapore’s economy and tourism and any dislocation in its economy would be very bad news for every Singaporean.
Malaysia is also a major supply of foodstuffs, not to mention water!
It hadn’t helped when the Malaysian stock market dropped more than the allowed 10%, resulting in an hour-long suspension. (It has since recovered significantly).
Singaporeans were reassured only after seeing how maturely both sides – winners and vanquished – reacted, ordering their members to avoid being provocative.
But for younger Singaporeans who want political change here, it has come as an encouragement and morale booster. Some 33.3% of Singaporeans voted opposition in 2006.
Not every one agrees with the domino theory, however.
“The two countries are vastly different in the way they are governed. Many of their problems are different. Their voters and political parties are not the same,” said a long-time foreign journalist.
Despite the close affinity, the peoples are different, and Singapore’s opposition and its leaders are far less able to organise or be as cohesive as Malaysia’s, at least for now.
Singapore’s Low Thia Khiang (Workers Party) is no Anwar Ibrahim.
Singaporeans are nowhere as committed as Malaysians to any political cause.
Lee Hsien Loong – or Lee Kuan Yew, if you believe he really runs things in Singapore – is no Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. Politically, the latter is more tolerant of dissent.
Singapore has serious problems that Malaysia hasn’t got, but the latter, being a larger and more divided nation, is burdened with big troubles that the island-city is largely free of.
“It is these problems – the NEP, corruption, and racial and religious divides – that have dealt the Barisan Nasional a political blow,” he said.
A portion of Singaporeans will undoubtedly be influenced by the Malaysian development to vote against the PAP, but it is unrealistic to expect the mass electorate to follow suit.
However, there are general similarities, too, that must worry the PAP, including the following:
> The ruling parties of both countries – the PAP and the Barisan – have ruled without interruption, and often with huge majorities, since independence;
> They were both powerful giants, domineering, even arrogant. Before this election, the Barisan held about 91% of Parliament seats, almost comparable to the PAP’s 97.6% control in Singapore;
> Their new generation, better educated, with a different mindset, are taking over whose votes can swing elections. Many voted PAP, but a growing number may be turning against it;
> Both are similarly strong about controlling the media, which is forcing the educated towards the largely anti-government Internet; and
> Singaporeans, too, are unhappy over rising prices (highest in 26 years) and the widening economic gap between rich and poor.
The cynics dismiss any chance – short of a larger tsunami than Malaysia’s – of the PAP losing so badly.
The controversial GRC (Group Representative Constituency), which groups together five or six sometimes scattered candidates, into a voting bloc ensures only the rich and big parties benefit.
If Malaysia’s election is run the same way, a voter in Perak may be voting in a Johor group ward.
The election result tells the story: In Singapore 33% popular votes went to the opposition, which won two – or a pitiable 2.4% – of Parliament seats.
Even it gains 51% of the votes, it could be far from forming the government, let alone win a two-thirds majority.
In Malaysia, the government won 52% of the popular votes and 63% of the Federal seats, a more representative result.
But there the Malaysian result could be a two-edged sword for Singapore’s opposition.
If Kuala Lumpur’s three-party Opposition works well, the impact here will be greater.
But if it fails to deliver in the next three years – or worse still, the members start fighting with each other and everything ends up in chaos – then the PAP will have cause to tell Singaporeans: “You want opposition? This is what you’ll get.”

thestar

Malaysia's former PM defends actions after shocking polls results

Malaysia's former PM defends actions after shocking polls results
1 day ago
KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) — Malaysia's former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad defended his 22-year leadership as his successor faces a backlash over the ruling coalition's recent shocking poll losses.
The Barisan Nasional (BN) government coalition was delivered a stunning blow in March 8 general elections, ceding five states and a third of parliamentary seats to the previously impotent opposition.
Mahathir said in an open letter published on the front page of The Sun newspaper Friday that supporters of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who heads the BN, would try to blame him for the coalition's woes.
"My detractors are going to say I did worse things when I was prime minister... I am aware that people are looking into possible misdeeds by me during my 22 years so as to threaten me and to ask me to shut up," Mahathir said in the letter.
Abdullah has repeatedly refused to stand down since BN was handed its worst electoral result since 1969 in the elections.
Mahathir had blamed Abdullah of "destroying" the BN and urged him to step down.
Observers say Abdullah, who led the BN to a landslide victory in 2004 after he first became prime minister, was punished for the country's high inflation, rising crime rates, ethnic tensions and a failure to tackle corruption.
The release last year of a video recording by former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim purportedly showing a well known lawyer allegedly brokering top judicial appointments, triggered a commission inquiry.
Mahathir's critics say the image of a tainted judiciary stems from his tenure as prime minister after three of the country's most senior judges were dismissed in 1988 after clashing with him.
In an effort to rejuvenate his administration, Abdullah unveiled a new cabinet last week, appointing many fresh faces including Zaid Ibrahim as the de-facto law minister.
Zaid, tasked with reforming the judiciary, has suggested that the present administration apologise for the sacking of the three judges but the opposition has demanded that Mahathir himself offer an apology.
The former prime minister flatly denied any wrongdoing during his rule.
"Unless there is a frame-up, I think there should be nothing to pin on me. Even other accusations against me, including the dismissal of judges, were not my doing and I do not feel obliged to apologise," Mahathir wrote.

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gRbUli-E2JHN9lfLxGq3kwIDrIjQ

Malaysia mulls 'blogger register'

Malaysia mulls 'blogger register'
The suggestion comes at a testing time for Malaysia's political blogging community [AP]
Malaysia is reportedly considering moves to compel bloggers on locally-hosted websites to register with the authorities in an effort to control anonymous postings the government says could harm security.
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A compulsory registration could curb the spread of negative or malicious content in cyberspace, the minister responsible for communications was quoted as saying by The Star newspaper.
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Shaziman Abu Mansor said the government welcomed blogging but not negative postings by anonymous bloggers.

Critics however have condemned the idea as "anti-IT" saying it violates the government's own widely-touted 'no-censorship' policy for internet content.

There are about 50,000 websites registered using the .my suffix for Malaysia, Shaziman said, allowing anyone to host websites with malicious content.

Lawsuit

"It's like asking a person who wants to start writing a personal diary to register with the government"
Ahirudin Attan, Malaysian bloggerWhat is malicious and negative content was not specified in the newspaper report, but such terms are generally used in topics considered as sensitive including criticism of the government, and discussions on race and religion.

The government proposal comes as two Malaysian bloggers, Jeff Ooi and Ahirudin Attan, face a defamation suit filed by the government-controlled New Straits Times newspaper.

They allegedly posted libellous remarks in their blogs about the paper's editors and executives.

The defamation suit against Ooi, who runs Screenshots, and Ahirudin, who blogs on Rocky's Bru, is the first time Malaysian bloggers have been hauled before the country's courts.

While the government and parties from the ruling coalition control much of the country's traditional media, many of Malaysia's most popular blogs offer political commentaries that include scathing criticism of government policies.

'Threat'

"Instead of coming up with ways to inhibit blogging, these ministers should be educated to start blogging themselves"
Lim Kit Siang, opposition leaderOoi criticised the proposal saying the government should be "very sure of its objective in formulating new policies and guidelines" for the internet.

"The last four years has seen roughly 20,000 blogs spring up in Malaysia, including those which could not be sustained," he told Al Jazeera.

"If they [the government] are super-cautious of blogs, they need to specify what type of blogs or bloggers who pose a threat to national security."

Both Ooi and Ahirudin said the government was unclear on the concept of blogging.

Ahirudin said the government was trying to control what Malaysians were writing online and to create fear among bloggers.

"I think Shaziman is making the proposal out of ignorance, a lack of understanding of what blogging is all about," he told Al Jazeera.

"It's like asking a person who wants to start writing a personal diary to register with the government."

Influential

He said Malaysian bloggers were planning to set up an alliance to engage the government in discussions about blogs and blogging.

Some politicians with their own blogs have criticised the government's suggestion but acknowledged there were elements in the blogging community looking to stir up trouble.

Shahrir Abdul Samad, member of parliament for the southern city of Johor Baru, said bloggers were generally aware of ethical issues and the responsibility for their content.

But some bloggers do post inflammatory remarks, he said. The problem was also about comments left by anonymous visitors to the blogs, added Shahrir.

Lim Kit Siang, parliamentary opposition leader, said Shaziman's proposal showed that the government was becoming increasingly anti-information technology.

"I think this is the wrong approach altogether," Lim, also a blogger, said.

"Instead of coming up with ways to inhibit blogging, these ministers should be educated to start blogging themselves to invite a more interactive, communicative style of government."
Source: Al Jazeera and agencies