Malaysiakini :: Letters
Malaysiakini :: Letters |
| Does BN owe extended reign to election fraud? Posted: 19 Aug 2011 02:58 AM PDT Around the middle of last year the federal government proposed a petrol rebate of RM126 for cars 1,000cc and below and RM54 for motorcycles 250cc and below to lessen the burden suffered by the poor and the low-income group due to the so-called 'subsidy rationalisation' aka. price-hikes. More recently, due to the ever-rising cost of basic necessities and foodstuffs, Food Stamps have been touted as a way to help lessen the people's burden. These proposals seem to have been put on the back-burner with the usual accompanying statements from the government such as "we will conduct a feasibility study ..." or "we will set up a committee to first study ..." and so on and so forth. It is anybody's guess whether these ideas will come into fruition but one thing for sure is that the government can always rely on the public's less than elephantine memory as a convenient means of escaping their responsibilities. Although the opposition can remind the government of these proposals, they can only do so much because without public pressure the government will act deaf and dumb. In Malaysian street lingo it is simply known as 'buat bodoh' (play dumb). Further to that, since 2005, the government has vowed to improve the public transport but till today, it is still in disarray. The Rapid bus service does not live up to its name while the commuter trains are always delayed. These issues of the present government's inefficiency and empty promises are not to be taken lightly. It is amazing that they continue to be voted in time and time again. Or is their victory attributed to election fraud? If it is the former, then Malaysians must be the most saintly voters in the world for continuing to put up with the present government but if it is the latter, then it is time that the public speak out vociferously against the hanky-panky that is perpetuated by the Election Commission courtesy of instructions from the federal government itself. This sorry state of affairs must end right now or else Malaysia will be left behind by our neighbours in the South-East Asian region. The writer is DAP member for Segambut branch. Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by Used Car Search. |
| Jais raid: Leaders must stem hate campaign Posted: 19 Aug 2011 12:42 AM PDT It is with deep regret that Jais' raid on a fundraising dinner at the DUMC church is being used as a political tool to win votes at the expense of the rakyat. Firstly, no warrant of search was issued and obligatory reasons for the investigation were not made known at time of raid. Secondly, salacious details of the raid and names of the people were released to the press. The details printed in the media gave an impression that DUMC was proselytising Muslims and that Malays attending the dinner at the church had dishonoured their faith. This has tarnished the image of the church and these Malays, subjecting them to ridicule when in fact no offence has been yet established. Even of greater sadness is that politicians are using these unproven insinuations as truth and irrationally conclude that objecting to the legality of the raid is disrespectful of the Islamic faith. Senator Ezam claims that media like Malaysiakini are anti-Islamic, presumably for reporting true facts, for which they should be burned. In so doing, he is fanning the fears of the Islamic community into hate. The conduct of such politicians are irresponsible and may well amount to a criminal offence. This incendiary game of inciting religious hatred based on unfounded allegations or half truths is dangerous and is attempting to divide the peace of all Malaysians for their own political interest. Allowing politicians and media to print half truths without sanction will only inflame the fear and ignorance of citizens to hate and violence. It will also be fodder for others to reinforce an image of Islam as being an extremist faith and further the divide. The peace and unity we all long for to build a beautiful and progressive Malaysia will be undone. Our leaders and especially the ruling authority over Jais have to step in to manage the overzealous handling of the investigation by Jais, in breach of rules and procedure designed to safeguard the interests of all parties and religious groups. Such breaches include irresponsibly leaking information to the press, subjecting its suspects to ridicule and shame without going through a formal process of proof. The failure of leaders thus far to stop incendiary remarks which play up imagined fears based on religious prejudice is sorely absent. Our leaders have to do what is right for the rakyat and courageously uphold rule of law by ensuring Jais acts in accordance with constitutional safeguards that protect sensitivities of both Muslims and non-Muslims alike. Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by Used Car Search. |
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