Malaysiakini :: Letters

Posted: 06 Jul 2011 04:47 AM PDT

"All it takes for evil to triumph is for good men [and women] to do nothing." - Edmund Burke

Basically we are tired of a unfair election system. We are sick of the fact that the Electoral Commission can draw electoral lines at whim, and we are tired that we are not really sure that our vote counts as it should.

Why is it that a DAP Member of Parliament can have a constituency of 50,000 people when a BN Member of Parliament has a constituency can only have 10,000 people?

This is most obvious in the case of Seputeh, where Teresa Kok received 47,230 votes from 58,207 votes cast versus the case of Putrajaya, where Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor received a majoriry of 2,492 votes out of 5,500 votes.

The disparity between seats are staggering.

The sheer disproportion of the drawing of constituencies has to be put in doubt in what has been dubbed as 'gerrymandering'.

The most recent example was reported by Malaysiakini in their May 26, 2011 article claiming that 1,210 voters from the Sabak state constituency have been transferred to Sungai Panjang.

The most telling statistic is that something is not right with everything at home comes from the most recent 2008 General Election, where Barisan Nasional garnered a simple majority of 50.27% of the popular vote, but held 140 seats or 63.1% in Parliament, as compared to the opposition who garnered 46.75% of the popular vote, but only translates to 82 seats or 36.9% in Parliament.

Although it is all in the guise of democracy, it is clear that some votes count more than others.

Now, we have Najib, Muyhiddin Yasin, Hishammudin Hussein, Khairy and Ibrahim Ali all jumping into the mix, on one side saying that it is a matter of national security that the march should be stopped and the other side who said that they would march as well.

In the mainstream media, the hype continues and it heightens day by day culminating in the arrest of 30 Parti Sosialis Malayia activists accused to be communists, and a youth in Gombak Baru, Kuala Lumpur being arrested for wearing a Berish T-shirt.

So does Bersih really serve a point? The government doesn't like it, the police don't like it nor do the cabbies. It is disruptive to public order and it will bring Kuala Lumpur to a standstill.

The likelihood of a clash is high, whether it is between Perkasa and Bersih, or the police and Bersih, or between the police, Bersih, Perkasa and UMNO Youth all at the same time. Although most of the crowd will remain calm, it is always a couple of individuals who spoil it all for everyone.

Despite all of this, the government continues to practice double standards. If Perkasa can continue their message of hate, for Utusan Malaysia to continue defaming Datuk Ambiga, but for poets and opposition members pulled up for 'sedition', Bersih 2.0 has to go on.

What this would do is expose the BN coalition for what it really is, and the whole world will be watching with intense interest.

All democracies require a free and fair system. Similarly, the right to assemble is another of our rights enshrined in our own constitution. If we can't do something as simple as uphold our constitution, we become prisoners in our own country.

For those who want to march, bring along a bottle of water, goggles and a hand towel. For those in KL who don't want to join the rally, stay at home.

If you do go out, expect severe delays. But wherever we are on July 9, let us be united in spirit for a united, peaceful, democratic nation.

________________________________________________

DOUGLAS TAN is a DAP member who yearns for a fair, peaceful and prosperous nation. He currently resides in KL.

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Release PSM political detainees immediately

Posted: 06 Jul 2011 01:44 AM PDT

Stop the charade and release the remaining six PSM political detainees immediately.

The six PSM leaders are now being detained without trial under the draconian Emergency Ordinance - the Other ISA.

Till now, they have been denied access to legal representatives and family visits. We are worried for their safety and their well being.

We demand their immediate unconditional release.

The charade by the Najib administration:

First the 30 were arrested on 25th June and remanded the following day under Section 122 of the Penal Code for the charge of waging war against the King.
On 26th June 2011, The Police paraded several T-shirts of former MCP leaders and PSM Newspapers as subversive elements and said PSM was trying to revive the MCP.
On July 2nd, the end of the remand period, the police released six of the detainees including Dr Jeyakumar - PSM Member of Parliament, M Saraswathy - Party's National Deputy Chairperson , Choo Chon Kai - Central Committee Member and three others from all charges under Section 122 but they were immediately rearrested under the draconian Emergency ordinance.
The six were initially given family notification letters which stated that they have been arrested under the EO to prevent them from participating in the July 9 Bersih rally. This was replaced later by another which stated that they have been arrested under the EO to maintain public order. In the media, the Deputy IGP said that those arrested under EO were subversives with links to foreign elements. The script kept changing.
For the remaining 24, the police asked another seven days extension under the same Section 122 - 'waging war against the King' in spite of key leaders of PSM been cleared from the same allegation a few hours before that. The police requested seven days stating that they have a list of things to do including holding an ID parade. The court gave them another three days.
But in the three days, there was no ID parade or any other investigation. Those detained were just languishing in their lock-ups.
On July 4th 2011, at 4pm - when the banks were be closing(making bail processing impossible) , the 24 were charged now NOT under 122 but under Section 48 and Section 43 of the Societies Act; and section Section 29 (1) of the Internal Security Act for being in possession of subversive documents.

Bail was set at RM8,000 each which means RM192,000 in total.

In the charge sheet, it is stated that the illegal organisation is Bersih though the PSM campaign ended on June 26 before Bersih was banned by the home minister while the subversive documents were leaflets on Bersih's eight demands.

Now these 24 are not charged for the PSM "Udahlah Bersaralah" leaflet nor were they charged for having possession of T-shirts of MCP leaders and other T-shirts.

Udahlah...end the charade now.

PSM would also like to categorically state that PSM will not compromise on the release of the six for supporting the Bersih rally on the 9th.

The rally is the right of the rakyat in a democratic society to exercise their freedom of assembly and expression.

PSM calls upon the immediate and unconditional release of the EO Six.
Their continued detention is a violation at the highest level by a corrupt and cowardly government.

S.Arutchelvan is PSM Secretary General.

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Kredit: www.malaysiakini.com

Rabu, 6 Julai 2011

Malaysiakini :: Letters

Malaysiakini :: Letters

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