Government: Uphold Rule of Law.

I am comforted by the assurances given by the Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad that the rule of law will be uphold.

Our country has established rules, procedures and regulation to govern matters. This is especially important now since its a historic moment where a new government is in place. It is very important that at the very outset the new Governement clearly shows its commitment to upholding the rule of law which forms a fundamental part of its oath of governance.

At the same time, the new government should also ensure that necessary action is taken against any malicious news that is being spread to cause uneasiness, strife and doubt in the country.

The elections are over. It is time to govern in the interest of the Nation in accordance with the rule of law.

Peace !

Manusia Merancang, Allah menentukan !!! - PRU14 Malaysia

Perdana Menteri Ke7

YAB Perdana Menteri Malaysia ke 7, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad dilihat sebagai begitu cepat sekali dalam melaksanakan tugas nya. Pada hari pertama sahaja beliau sudah awal dipejabat mengalahkan orang yang lebih muda. Ini berlaku bukan kerana beliau Perdana Menteri tetapi kerana beliau adalah Mahathir. 

Kini menjadi tugas pahit saya sebagai Rakyat biasa untuk memperingati YAB Perdana Menteri bahawa Rakyat jelata mempunyai harapan yang besar terhadap Kerajaan Pakatan Harapan untuk membawa reform-reform yang amat di perlukan untuk menuju kearah Negara yang bertamadun tinggi. Saya juga berharap Kerajaan ini menjadi satu era dimana Rakyat di galak menjadi rakyat yang bukan sahaja mampu berfikir tetapi mempunyai sifat keihsanan yang tinggi.

Tanggungjawap Rakyat

Kepada Rakyat jelata, Kita wajib memperingati diri Kita semua bahawa kempen pilihanraya sudah habis dan kini mula lah tempoh kempen untuk berkerjasama bagi membangunkan kesejahteraan Negara dan maruah Negara Bangsa.  

Apa-apa keterlaluan dalam tindakan satu pihak politik terhadap pihak politik seterunya oleh penyokong masing-masing harus di maafkan. Ini adalah konsekuen proses pilihanraya dalam sistem demokrasi yang tidak pernah tekankan nilai keihsanan (compassion). Maka, kita semua bersalah kerana berlaku nya kelakuan sedemikian dan semoga Allah maafkan Kita semua. Perkara ini juga Allah telah memperingati kita bahawa Ia akan menanamkan cinta sesama Kita jika Kita rela. 

“Dan ingatlah akan kenikmatan Allah kepadamu ketika kamu dahulu bermusuh-musuhan, maka Allah mempersatukan hatimu, lalu menjadikan kamu karena nikmat Allah orang-orang yang bersaudara." (Ali Imran: 103)

Kita tidak boleh lagi terlalu gembira kerana menang atau terlalu sedih kerana kalah jika kita beriman bahawa sebenarnya manusia hanya lah merancang tetapi Allah jua lah yang menentukan.  Kita kena sentiasa insaf bahawa Allah lebih mengetahui apa yang baik untuk kita serta apa yang buruk untuk kita. 

“Kamu diwajibkan berperang (untuk menentang pencerobohan) sedang peperangan itu ialah perkara yang kamu benci; dan boleh jadi kamu benci kepada sesuatu padahal ia baik bagi kamu, dan boleh jadi kamu suka kepada sesuatu padahal ia buruk bagi kamu. Dan (ingatlah), Allah jualah Yang mengetahui (semuanya itu), sedang kamu tidak mengetahuinya”. (Surah Al Baqarah ayat 216)

Oleh yang demikian, kewajipan kita hanya lah untuk bersama-sama menuju kearah melakukan kebajikan serta amalan2 yang menguntugkan Rakyat bersama. 

Pakatan Harapan

Kini PH telah menjadi kerajaan untuk semua rakyat termasuk bagi mereka yang tidak mengundi mereka. Saya percaya Kerajaan PH yang terhasil daripada gabungan parti2 politik yang mempunyai individu2 yang bermusuhan sesama sendiri berdekad dekad akan mudah memaafkan mereka yang menentang mereka dalam proses kempen pilihanraya. Kerajaan wajib mempertahankan hak2 sistem demokrasi. 

Saya percaya mereka sedar bahawa tugas mereka kini sebagai kerajaan tidak sama seperti tugas mereka dahulu sebagai pembangkang. 

Sudah muncul secara realiti konsep sistem dua parti di Malaysia seperti yang di perjuangkan berdekad-dekad. 

Barisan Nasional

Barisan Nasional yang di anggotai oleh manusia sudah tentu tertakluk kepada perasan sedih kerana kalah dalam PRU14.  Saya dengan merendah diri menasihati supaya cepat2 keluar daripada zon kesedihan dan lihat lah ia sebagai rahmah Allah di mana mereka di beri peluang untuk mengawasi tindakan Kerajaan sebagai pembangkan bagi pihak Rakyat.  

Kekalahan ini juga akan memberi peluang pada mereka untuk melakukan post mortem, muhasabah diri, penilaian semula struktur dan kelemahan parti mereka kearah pembaikan dan keadaan yang lebih efektif pada rakyat. BN wajib jujur pada diri kerana kebenaran nya adalah seperti mana yang difirman oleh Allah:

“Apa saja nikmat yang engkau peroleh adalah dari sisi Allah. Dan apa saja bencana yang menimpamu, maka dari kesalahan dirimu sendiri," (Surah  Al-Nisâ’ [4]:  ayat 79).

Salam.

Rakyat Mempertahankan kesejahteraan negara

Memang pun semua orang tahu bahawa kerajaan perlu untuk mentadbir negara dari pelbagai segi. Pada amnya, Kerajaan boleh dikatakan terdiri daripada wakil-wakil rakyat yang menjawat jawatan dalam kabinet dan keduanya daripada sektor perkhidmatan awam.

Amanah Sektor Perkhidmatan awam

Perkara 132 (1) Perlembagaan Persekutuan mengariskan siapa kah yang tergolong didalam sektor perkhidmatan awam seperti berikut:

Bagi maksud Perlembagaan ini, perkhidmatan-perkhidmatan awam ialah—

(a) angkatan tentera;

(b) perkhidmatan kehakiman dan perundangan;

(c) perkhidmatan awam am Persekutuan;

(d) pasukan polis;

(e) (Dimansuhkan);

(f) perkhidmatan awam bersama yang disebut dalam Perkara 133;

(g) perkhidmatan awam setiap Negeri; dan

(h) perkhidmatan pendidikan.

Senarai diatas jelas merangkumi pelbagai aspek penting yang menyentuh kehidupan Rakyat serta kesejahteraan am Negara. Kumpulan ini lah yang lazimnya mentadbir negara secara hampir otomatis samada piliahan raya ada atau pun tidak. Maka, mereka di berikan kuasa dan pengaruh yang besar untuk menjalankan amanah bagi pihak Rakyat jelata.

Sebagai imbuhan atau balasan untuk menjalankan amanah mereka dengan seefisien dan sejujur mungkin, mereka di bayar serta di beri kemudahan-kemudahan dan keistimewaan yang tidak dinikmati oleh rakyat lain. Sebagai contoh, pekerjaaan mereka pada amnya tetap/stabil, gaji tiap2 bulan pun tetap/stabil, dapat pencen, dapat kemudahan luarbiasa untuk memperolehi pinjaman perumahan dan sebagai nya.  Semua ini di tanggung oleh Rakyat jelata sebagai "majikan" kepada mereka. 

Maka, tidak harian lah dan sebenarnya di alu alukan oleh Rakyat apabila SPRM di bawah pimpinan Pesuruhjaya SPRM Datuk Dzulkifli Ahmad kini mengambil langkah berterusan untuk memastikan bahawa gejala rasuah di kalangan sektor awam di hapuskan.  Adalah menjadi harapan Rakyat bahawa usaha SPRM ini akan melahirkan sikap benci rasuah dan melihat rasuah sebagai kemungkaran yang menindas Rakyat jelata dikalangan anggota perkhidmatan awam. Rakyat yang bertangunggjawap dan cintakan kesejahteraan Negara wajib menyokong usaha SPRM ini melalui beberapa cara. 

Disamping menyokong usaha SPRM, Rakyat harus sentiasa perihatin bahawa menjadi tanggungjawap kita bersama untuk mempertahankan kewibawaan, integriti dan maruah institusi-insitusi negara seperti yang disenaraikan dalam Artikel 132(1) Perlembagaan Malaysia daripada di cemari oleh tindakan sebilangan kecil dalam institusi-insitusi tersebut mahupun oleh tindakan sesiapa yang lain. 

Eksekutif atau Wakil Wakil rakyat dalam Kabinet 

Kabinet memainkan peranan yang teramat penting didalam menentukan polisi negara serta memastikan bahawa wawasan atau polisi yang di tetapkan bersama dicapai dalam tempoh yang di tentukan. Disamping itu, kabinet juga berkuasa didalam mempengaruhi agihan harta dan sumber-sumber negara. Pendekata, sebagai manusia, mereka juga terdedah kepada bisikan syaitan untuk berlaku tidak adil, bersikap korupsi dan menindas.

Kumpulan ini juga perlu di awasi oleh Rakyat supaya tidak berlaku sebarang penyalahgunaan kuasa yang merugikan negara dan rakyat. Rakyat harus memastikan bahawa golongan ini juga tertakluk kepada undang-undang tertentu yang dapat mendorong mereka kepada tindakan-tindakan yang baik dan menjauhi bisikan syaitan. Peruntukkan didalam Perlembagaan Malaysia bahawa semua Rakyat adalah saksama dibawah undang-undang perlu di  manifestasikan. 

Rakyat perlu ingat bahawa terdapat banyak pemimpin politik yang memang ikhlas dan berusaha untuk berkhidmat kepada Rakyat. Namun, ada juga yang hanya menggunakan kedudukan untuk memperkayakan diri  dengan anggapan bahawa mereka tidak akan tertangkap dan rakyat tidak boleh buat apa-apa. 

Pemimpin politik yang korup harus tahu bahawa tidak ada had masa dalam mendakwa sesiapa untuk suatu perbuataan jenayah. Maksudnya, jangan lah mana-mana pemimpin politik korup menjangka bahawa selepas mereka bersara, undang-undang tidak boleh membawa mereka ke gelanggang keadilan walaupun berdekad dekad telah berlalu.

Rakyat sentiasa berawas dan mempertahankan kesejahteraan Negara.  Kalau kita sendiri tidak buat, orang lain tidak akan.

Salam ramadan.

Who or What is "Government"

The word “government” appears about 450 times in the Federal Constitution and understandably, it is not defined.

In our country today, there is an increasing demand for accountability and transparency from the government. Citizens want to know what the government is doing, how they are doing it and why.

Obviously, the citizens seem to want to play a greater and more significant role in the direction and evolution of the country. A simple enough desire but a complex quest as life is complex with many aspects to it.

On the other hand, if we do not know what a “government” is, how do we know what role to play in shaping the destiny of our nation?

We have heard about the separation of powers between the executive, judiciary and legislature, the three branches of government that are supposed to “check and balance” each other through their perceived independence from each other. In reality, however, the so-called independence may not be absolute due to overlaps between the three branches. 

For instance, the executive is made up of Cabinet members who are also members of Parliament, the legislature. These are the elected members of Parliament and at the state level, the elected state representatives — the so called people’s representatives in a democracy.

In theory, the members of the legislature are required to pass laws that would curb any abuse of power by the executive and to pass “good laws” that would benefit the nation generally. However, in reality, since some of the members of the legislature are also members of the Cabinet, how would the citizens ensure laws are not passed to perpetuate the power of the existing executive members?

Some of the laws passed by Parliament may contain what is known as “ouster clauses”. 

These “ouster clauses” aim to oust the jurisdiction of the courts to review the executive’s exercise of discretion in certain matters. In other words, the courts may be precluded, for example, from reviewing a minister’s decision thus effectively removing the theoretical “check and balance” objective of the separation of powers doctrine.

In my view, a more effective “check and balance” mechanism is a mature, responsible and united opposition in Parliament, which our country sorely lacks. I observe a greater role has been played by non-governmental organisations, pressure groups and organised concerned citizens that consists of opposition members in many cases.

Our discussion has not even touched on what exactly is a “government”.  It is not easy to come up with a comprehensive definition of “government”.  Merriam Webster dictionary defines it as  “ the group of people who control and make decisions for a country, state, etc, a particular system used for controlling a country, state, etc, the process or manner of controlling a country, state, etc.  This is a useful simple definition because it sets out three important areas that concerns government — the people involved, the system used and the process of governance used.

Once the ordinary citizen understands these three areas, then it becomes easier for them to decide which of these areas they want to be involved in or concerned with. 

In the context of Malaysia, our system of government is made up of the federal, state and local governments. It is often forgotten Malaysia is a federation made up of thirteen states and three federal territories (Labuan, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya). It is not like a situation where there is one country governed by one body of government in all aspects. The states have their own legislature and executive bodies. While the federation has the Federal Constitution which is the “supreme law” of the land, the 11 states also have their own state constitutions.

At the same time, while we have a constitutional monarchy and a King at the federal level, we also have nine state monarchs (Sultans) who have certain powers as given to them by their State Constitutions.

It is for this reason, for example, we do not have a codified uniform Shariah law for the whole country because Islamic law is a matter for the state to legislate. There are some matters the federal government can decide and there are certain matters only the state government can decide. Hence, in a system such as this, close cooperation between state and federal governments becomes crucial.

The process by which the country is governed is also determined by both Parliament and state assemblies that pass the necessary laws. This is an extremely important process as it will determine the behaviour of citizens in terms of what they can and cannot do in the broadest sense possible.

For example, some states have made it an offence for any Muslim to skip Friday prayers three times in a row, which is punishable either by fine or jail term. 

In other instances, the kinds of laws passed by both the state and federal legislatures can have a major impact on how and how much the ordinary citizen can earn his living or what kind of life he may lead.

What about the people involved in the three branches of government? Obviously, we would broadly hope it is made up of competent, honest, diligent, compassionate and “good” people. However, hope alone will be insufficient and we have to put in place the best possible mechanisms that can reduce the chances of our hopes being dashed.

* Jahaberdeen is a senior lawyer and founder of Rapera, a movement that encourages thinking and compassionate citizens. He can be reached at rapera.jay@gmail.com

** This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail Online.

- See more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/what-you-think/article/definition-of-government-jahaberdeen-mohamed-yunoos#sthash.gJSzTWi9.dpuf

A New Era of Democracy or Same Mediocrity ???

The first parliamentary sitting after the 13th General Elections begins on 24th June 2013 and ends on 18th July 2013.

For many years, the Rakyat did not know what was going on in Parliament except that the Yang Berhormats were are "busy debating and passing laws" in the "interest of the Rakyat".

After 2008 elections, THEY experimented with live telecast of the Parliamentary debates and that was when the Rakyats realised that some of the Yang Berhormats are not necessarily "Yang Bersopan" nor "Yang Berkebolehan". The Rakyat, I think were shocked at the low level of debates and sometimes at the speed with which some important bills are passed without debate. That was when I think THEY decided to stop live telecasting the Parliamentary debates. (who are "THEY" who decide anyway?)

I would like a TV station dedicated to live telecasting the parliamentary debates - apa yang nak di malu atau di sembunyi? It is just like a CCTV at work where the boss monitors the workers. SO, why cannot the Rakyat who can vote for them to get into Parliament not see and follow what they are doing there?

If live telecast of parliamentary sittings and debates are not allowed, the Rakyat will make an adverse inference - MPs are scared the people will know they are not performing.

My hope is that Parliament functions for the best interest of the Rakyat and the Nation. Partisan politics should be kept outside the door of the hall when the MPs walk into it. Leave the political campaigning and party whacking out.

The Rakyat hopes to see the Government and the Opposition engage in debates intelligently based on facts and statistics. The rules of the game should be fair and this should be ensured by the Speaker. Members bills should be given due regard and not dismissed outright.

The Rakyat will like to see the BN Government propose good bills and policies and, the Opposition to behave as a responsible opposition. Occasions where the interest of the Rakyat demands that both parties support bills tabled by either party should be readily grabbed.

Let us not turn parliamentary sittings into  a circus of mediocrity.

I wish all the MPs happy sitting and may you be true to the voters who voted you in.

Salam.

Any Fatwa on this - GM Mosquitos ???

We find that our religious authorities and/or the religious "scholars" are very quick to pass fatwas on many things - yoga, women dressing up in "men's clothes", even bollywood movies are not spared.

We have something even more fundamental and radical - tampering with "God's creation" here.

The EDGEMALAYSIA reported that genetically modified mosquitoes (GM Mosquitoes) are going to be released in Bentong and Melaka on a trail basis. The idea, if I understand it is to allow male mosquitos who have an enzyme altered in them to mix with the female and this will eventually, somehow cause the female mosquitos unable to fly. The purpose it is stated is to tackle dengue. This is a joint venture project between the Health Ministry and an UK private company. (Has anyone read this in the mainstream media? I have not!)

The EDGEMALAYSIA reports that this has caused major concern among scientists and environmentalists. They are concerned that tampering with man's greatest enemy - the mosquito - could cause unintended consequences. Even the well known Malaysia's number one consumer issues advocate S.M. Idris has expressed concern.

Of course the private company says it is safe. And the research arm of the Health Ministry is convinced of the high tech nature of the operation. But those who are concerned are asking: if it is so safe, why do the testing in Malaysia and not in other countries where many more are actually dying from mosquitos?

Even I am worried !

What do the religious authorities say? A fatwa please.

Peace !

You are at the Mercy of the System – do you not want to make sure it is does not oppress you?

The majority of us are ordinary citizens. Ordinary in the sense that we go about our own lives without much influence on the system that surrounds us. However, with every turn, our lives are affected by the system we live in. Let me make myself clear by giving an example.

It can be a very simple thing like: - you want to start a small business because you want to support your family and earn an income. Having registered your business, you now may want to apply for the relevant permits or licences. This application process should be a simple and routine process. The relevant authorizing officer should simply ascertain whether your application complies with the law. If all requirements under the law are complied, then, the application should be expeditiously approved. If there are any shortcomings, he should advise you to rectify the same. After all, civil servants are supposed to be civil and “servants” of the Rakyat.

However, do things always go according to what I have described above?

You may meet an officer who wants to be taken “care of” before he can “speed up” or even approve your application.  You are in a dilemma. You are starting a business because you need income to live but you have to pay toll first. You also know that the request is immoral and illegal because it is corruption. You get frustrated, maybe angry but you realize you need the licence. 

You have bills to pay. You have a family to support. You have to find money to live because God has given you a life. So, you need the licence or permit. All you want is to do a business and earn honestly. But the system seems to oppress you and prevent you from doing so.

So, you weigh your options. You can report the officer to his superiors. But will the superior protect his officer and put you into trouble instead, your mind worries. All you want is just the licence or permit. Maybe you should report the officer to the MACC, you wonder. But all you want is just the licence, your mind insists. Further, you are concerned about “how to prove”. It is just your word. You are also concerned that your application for the licence may be further jeopardized. In this country, we still do not have an Act to protect whistle blowers adequately.

You may also consider the last option of doing your business without the licence – illegally and run the risk of “greasing” enforcement officers instead. Or finally, you may decide to forget about the licence application and tell your family that they just have to starve.

Someone comes along and suggests that you get a letter of recommendation from some MP or Adun or better still from a political secretary to a Minister. They tell you that the “surat sokongan” will help. You do it and go back to the officer. Two things may happen: 1) he asks you how much you paid the political secretary for the letter (you didn’t pay but he does not believe you anyway!) and/or 2) he still insists on his toll payment which you refuse and/or 3) Your application is “considered” and rejected though you comply with all the requirements of the law.

You go back home and tell your kids that papa cannot afford to support them since the government does not give him the licence to start a business. They and your relatives begin to hate the government whom you now see as wanting your family to suffer. Your kids ask what wrong have they done. You have no answer. It is the system that YOU have allowed to evolve.

I am not exaggerating here. Over the years, I have heard these complaints so many times from low and lower middle income people who want to start a small business honestly. I have offered to pursue the matter but most of them are afraid. It also does not help that some of the complainants are Malays because the oppressive officer is also a Malay.

It is such stories that have convinced me that corrupt and evil people come in all skin colors and labels. They eat the flesh of the weaker ones from any tribe including their own to satisfy their evil and selfish desires. This is why I have always maintained that tribalistic mentality is not good for the majority weaker ones in the tribe. Racism is a cover to exploit one’s own race and spread hatred.

You can apply the above story to every aspect of your life – every single government department, agency, the so called Courts of justice, etc, etc. There are rotten people everywhere. However, not all become unjust due to money. There are other motivations or reasons – friendships, pure laziness, indifference, arrogance, etc, etc. The effect is: you are inflicted with injustice and you feel powerless to do anything about it. You feel alone in the fight.

The system should work. It should work for the People. We have to study the system and rectify its weakness so that ordinary people are not being pushed around, bullied and oppressed. People must insist that they too have a dignity that must be respected and recognized.

If you have a high sense of dignity and refuse to be cowed by people in seeming power lording over you unjustly, what do you do? You know there will be risks in opposing these people because even other citizens may not support you. Citizens tend to be selfish. “Not my problem”, may be their mindset.

I am sure many times, you may have wanted to take the law into your own hands and “get justice”. Inflict a pain on the oppressors. Make them suffer as they make you and your family suffer. However, such an approach will not solve the problem in the long run. It may also get you into problems with the law.

So, if you are a Rapera – what would you do??? What would you do????

What I know is that a single voice is never loud enough to be heard.

Peace !

Remember we have Our own Shariah Laws?

Many people seem to forget that Malaysia has syariah laws in place in every state. I say “forget” because every time the relevant syariah enforcement officers act according to the Syariah enactments in the respective states, quite a number of people raise an alarm and cry “That cannot be done!” But the officers are only acting within the powers given to them by the respective syariah enactments.

Whenever the syariah courts sentence someone according to the provisions of the respective State Syariah laws, even more people protest and start saying that cannot be done. But the syariah courts are only exercising the powers given to them by the respective syariah enactments.

When Hishamuddin Hussein Onn announced that 3 women were caned, some quarters raised an alarm. When Kartika voluntarily subjected herself to the existing syariah law and the presiding Judge sentenced her according to the existing syariah law, many protested.

If it was just the ordinary citizen, then it is understandable. They do not what laws has been passed as “syariah” and when.

What is mind boggling is that the sounds of protest come from those who are in the government, even Minister. It is ironical that Ministers do know or forget that there are Syriah laws in place.

I was shocked long time ago when Tun Dr Mahathir, being Prime Minster then voiced his displeasure when three girls who took part in a beauty pageant was arrested. What? He is the Prime Minister. Why didn’t he start a reform of the syariah laws if he felt strongly about it? He didn’t, therefore it must mean that the Barisan Nasional Government is very happy with the existing syariah laws.

Let me point out some basic facts:

1. Every State has its own Syariah Laws – meaning one offence in one state may not be an offence in another state. Punishments for the same offence may be different.
2. These Syariah laws are passed by the State Assembly of each State – that means the credit for all these laws must go to the Barisan Nasional State Assemblymen because they were mostly in power since merdeka until now.
3. Each ruler of each state is the head of the religion of Islam in the respective State and they must give their assent to the laws passed.
4. Each ruler has advisers on Islam who advise them.
5. Non-Muslims are not subjected to these laws. Muslims, therefore are privileged to be subjected to two laws – the “civil law” and the “syariah laws”.
6. Generally, the Syariah laws regulate how the Muslims in this country must practice their religion. If you are a Muslim citizen, you are bound by it.
I have spoken about the impact, legality, content and importance of the Syariah laws to various MPs, including Ministers over the past 10 years. The impression that I was left with is: they do not understand the true impact of it in the long run. In fact, they do not really want to know as they have the mindset (seems to me), that it is best left to the “experts”. They “fear to touch the subject”. Politics again.

I do not know whether the time will come when concerned Muslims who take their belief seriously will also want to take active part in evaluating the syariah laws to determine if it is consistent with the teachings of the Quran and the Sunnah. After all, Muslims believe that each of us will be solely responsible for our own deeds in the hereafter.

In the meantime, Barisan Nasional MPs and State Assemblymen should not complain about the implementation of the syariah laws that they helped to pass and exist.

Peace !

Is Tun Mahathir off his rockers with his 911 disbelief??

Image thanks to J.McMicheal

Obviously, we all feel for the victims of the World Trade Center and what happened should not have happened. Innocent lives should not be taken. Whoever is responsible must be punished and it is important to find out WHO is responsible. At the very least, we will know how to deal with them in the future to avoid such horrible calamities.

Before you are with or against Tun Mahathir on the issue, you may find the following informative reading:

MUSLIMS SUSPEND THE LAW OF PHYSICS!

There are many more alternative views on what actually happened at the World Trade Center. But considering them may be a waste of time as surely, George W Bush  cannot be a lair!

Bush aside, you may want to watch this too (look at the way it collapses):


Peace !

Datuk Seri Najib Questions motive behind Dr Asri’s arrest (“The DrMaza Fiasco”)

The StarOnline reports that the PM has questioned the motive behind Dr Mohd Asri’s arrest.  The PM reportedly said:

“Najib said that Dr Mohd Asri was a truthful speaker whose talks were always backed by proof and clear dalil (quaranic and Hadith verses).
“I don’t know what is the motive of the arrest. It was done by the state religious agency. It has nothing to do with the Federal Government,” he told reporters on Monday after launching a Pasar Tani convention”

While it is comforting to hear the PM assure the public that the “DrMaza Fiasco” has nothing to do with the Federal Government, it is disturbing to hear the entry of Jakim into this fiasco. Jakim is a Federal Institution and any act by Jakim will certainly be interpreted as having the tacit or direct approval of the federal Government.

It now appears that a Jakim officer has alleged that the undergraduate degree obtained by Dr Asri is false!!! This is a serious allegation and one wonders why this is now made in the heat of the “Dr Maza Fiasco”? Is something brewing behind the closed religious doors of Malaysia which the public in general and the Muslim public in particular do not know about?

If the Federal Government does not set the record straight by taking bold actions, the public perception will move in one direction.

Dr Asri’s unthinkable arrest is the tip of the iceberg and a trailer of a greater show to come.

What is more worrisome is the question – do our leaders know what is going on behind the very tightly closed doors of the powerful religious corridors? I have raised this matter many times over the past many years to many leaders (ministers, prime ministers and a deputy minister – will not mention names) but they seem to be in the blur and/or too “fearful” to interfere where the word “Islam” is uttered. Only last month, I have raised the need for Muslim political leaders to be aware of the trend “Islam” is taking in this country and the quiet but effective quest for control over the Malays by non-elected individuals with the religious tag. I will call this “hidden group” as “religious dominators”.

There appears to be a hidden movement to convert this country into a type “Islamic state” as dictated by the religious dominators. It is as if a conspiracy has been going on under the very noses of the public and the leaders. One day we may wake up in a country that we do not recognize – and this includes the Muslims! I am sincerely afraid that the current crop of leaders does not seem to understand the issues and the gravity of the movement. At the end, the sensible and peace loving people may suffer.

It is of concern to the Muslim populace of this country because the unthinkable conclusion is that the determination of “things Islamic” is completely in the hands of paid “religious civil servants”.  It is frightening that while in all areas we are clamoring for accountability and transparency, in matters concerning Islam (and I am a Muslim), those who are given the responsibility (and paid to do so) to “develop things Islamic” are going about it in a much unseen manner.

Are political leaders impotent when the people voice out their views on “matters Islamic”? I think people generally want to see the Government showing leadership, and under Najib, it appears to be showing some signs of leadership but in areas touching religion – what happened?

It is about time that we seriously, honestly and intellectually address the issue of where “Islam” is going in this country and “who” is dictating its form in the larger interests of those who want to practice Islam in peace and the Nation.

Dr Asri, I wish you strength in this test.

Peace!

ISA : Necessary Preventive Powers that any self-respecting Government should have.

This article was written by someone as a response to Tun Dr Mahathir's article on ISA on Che Det's blog.

ISA : Necessary Preventive Powers that any self-respecting Government should have.

by Ceylonese Lawyer

The nations that tout themselves with the most advanced of civilizations and who claim to have achieved the greatest degree of civility seem to be unable to let go of what they would regard as - the ultimate weapon- the nuclear bomb. The cold war is over. There is no enemy with missiles pointed at their civilian centers. Yet not a single leader in Western Europe or North America is prepared to say - that the time has come to destroy these weapons which may harm persons who have not been found guilty on a beyond reasonable doubt standard.

Perhaps they feel that the security of their people necessitates the retention of such an array of weaponry, despite the fact that its need has diminished and that its dangers have grown.

In our context, the danger of this nation being undermined by acts of instigation is real. These acts can, when viewed singularly be regarded as innocent enough- standing on a cow's head so what. But a combination of these acts coupled with the actions and reactions that follow will have as their probable consequence the fanning of racial and religious sensitivities. The momentum that such a spiral could gather would be so great and the results would be so horrifying that one can in hindsight even wonder how did something seemingly so innocent have caused such harm, pain and destruction. Who would have thought that a single assassination would plunge the world into World War I, who would have thought that a group of angry young men would force their way into government and pave the way to World War II as Nazis and facists, who would have thought that one of the two nations formed by a religous community - Pakistan would be plunged into an ever deepening darkness, who would have thought that the innocent socialist philosophies of a simple man would lead a nation to the killing fields.

Likewise if we reflect on May 13th or any other such event, it is difficult to pin point a cause, which is so definitive in character and purpose that it may be regarded as a crime. Yet the presence of such a combination of harmful ingredients necessitates action by any self-respecting government. ISA gives the government that power. This is not a power that can be relegated to a Court. A Court can act when there are criminal charges that may be proven on a prima facie basis and then on a beyond reasonable doubt standard. But when a nation is confronted with a latent threat, the power and the responsibility falls to its democratically elected government to exercise the ultimate power -ISA. That government then stands accountable to Parliament. But as a Government duly elected it has a solemn to prevent the untold harm that may otherwise unfold. As a democratic nation the government will be judged by its actions its honesty and its ability to hold its own in the court of public opinion.

As fate would have it, when the power of ISA is exercised and the threat is extinguished people can with hindsight contend cynically that the power was abused or that the harm was contrived and was never real. This is the burden of duty that a government will have to shoulder. We have to face the fact that when faced with a latent threat to security, the only way to prove to the world that the threat exists is to allow it to fester, to grow and to manifest itself. But can we chance that. What may seem to be an innocent enough caricature, sarcasm of rulers and religion can have untold consequences.

As a citizen, I am mindful of the peace that we enjoy and which we cherish and I would like my government to have at its disposal an instrument that will enable it to intervene and halt a threat to the peace. I would want my government to be able to do so without having to convince some judge that the threat is real. I voted for my government not the judiciary. When faced with such a threat it is my government I turn to. Look around us - can we not see how hard it is to build a peace and how easy it is to tear it asunder. There a nations in this world today that are not even the shadow of their former selves, there are nations who have become ungovernable and we now have a new jargon - "failed states". I suppose at that point there would be evidence beyond reasonable doubt that instigation had been a foot.

I don't know about the others - but I don't want my government to wait until then to realize that something is wrong.

JOMHEBOH: KARTIKA SARI DEWI SHUKARNO DISEBAT?

Firstly, I apologise that this article is quite lenghty. Secondly, it is written in Malay as I hope Malays will read it. It is meant for them.

Kes Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno menimbulkan pelbagai reaksi daripada pelbagai pihak – PM, politikus, pakar undang-undang, Ketua Hakim Mahkamah Syariah negeri Terengganu dan lain-lain. Rata-rata nampak nya tidak menyokong hukuman sebatan keatas Kartika.

BAGAIMANA KES IN TIMBUL?

Kartika di dapati meminum bir di Cherating Bay Lounge, the Legend Hotel di Cherating at about 11.40pm on July 11, 2008. Beliau telah dihadapkan di Mahkamah Syariah diatas tuduhan meminum bir yang menjadi kesalahan jenayah dan dihukum dibawah Seksyen 136 Enakmen Pentadbiran Undang-undang Islam dan Adat Melayu. Beliau mengaku salah.

JADI, APA KEPUTUSAN MAHKAMAH TINGGI SYARIAH KUANTAN?

Hakim Mahkamah Tinggi Syariah Datuk Abdul Rahman Yunus yang mendengar kes ini telah memerintah hukuman terhadap Kartika dengan denda RM5,000.00 dan sebatan 6 kali dengan rotan. Hakim Mahkamah Tinggi ini merasakan wajar untuk mengenakan hukuman sebatan yang paling maksimum yang dibenarkan oleh Enakmen Syariah Pahang terhadap Kartika. Beliau menjalankan tugas berdasarkan apa yang dibenarkan oleh undang-undang Syariah Negeri Pahang. Didalam penghakiman beliau, Datuk Abdul Rahman juga berkata Kartika akan dipenjarakan selama 3 tahun sekiranya gagal untuk membayar denda itu.

Hakim Mahkamah Tinggi Syariah Datuk Abdul Rahman Yunus juga dilaporkan berkata

"The court reached the judgment after the accused pleaded guilty. We feel the sentence is fair after going through the prosecution's argument and since the rotan is provided for in the law.

"The rotan is aimed at making the accused repent and serves as a lesson to Muslims."

Mahkamah merasakan hukuman itu adalah adil. Mengikut Hakim, hukuman itu juga bertujuan sebagai pengajaran kepada Muslim yang lain.

Pihak pendakwaan (iaitu bagi pihak kerajaan Pahang), diwakili oleh timbalan pendakwara Saiful Idham Sahimi. Kartika pula diwakili oleh seorang peguam syarie bernama Mohd Zuki Che Muhamad Ghani.yang mengesahkan bahawa Kartika tidak akan merayu terhadap hukuman.

Kes selesai. Hanya menunggu hukuman untuk dilaksanakan. Lazimnya tidak ada yang mempertikaikan lagi keputusan yang di buat berlandaskan undang-undang yang telah di luluskankan oleh Dewan Undangan Negeri bersama dengan kelulusan Raja-raja Melayu.


APA PULA PENDIRIAN KARTIKA?


Sebenarnya, aneh bertanya soalan diatas kerana kita jarang bertanya soalan: apakah pendirian penjenayah dalam mana-mana kes. Dari kacamata undang-undang Syariah Pahang, Kartika telah melakukan kesalahan jenayah iaitu meminum bir. Namun keadaan kes ini memerlukan kita bertanya soalan diatas.

Kartika dilaporkan berkata demikian:

“I will accept this Earthly punishment, let Allah decide my punishment in the hereafter…for now the court has yet to tell me when the sentence will be carried out, so I would like to ask them to hasten it.
“I truly respect the court’s decision…I admit that it’s my offence and not that of others’, it’s not the offence of my parents, not the offence of my other family members,” a teary Kartika Sari Dewi told reporters when met here, on Wednesday.
Beliau akur dan menghormati keputusan Mahkamah Syariah itu dan mahu hukuman ini dijalankan dengan secepat mungkin. Beliau mahu perkara ini selesai secepat mungkin. Beliau juga minta supaya hukuman ini dijalankan di hadapan khalayak ramai, in public. Secara logic, kalau niat Hakim Syarie adalah untuk perkara ini menjadi pengajaran kepada Muslim yang lain, mungkin bernas permintaan Kartika bahawa ia di rotan di hadapan khalayak ramai. Mana tahu, dengan demikian kita dapat membanteras sekali gus “gejala dasyat meminum bir ini”.

Malangnya, selepas dijatuhkan hukuman dan rela menjalani hukuman, pelbagai pihak pula kini cuba melenggahkan hukuman ini! Pelbagai pihak ini pula bukan lah jenis yang terdiri daripada demonstrasi jalanan tetapi yang berkuasa, yang dianggap bijak pandai serta yang dianggap pakar dalam bidang syaria dan undang-undang.

Melenggahkan hukuman syaria Negeri Pahang ini memberi tekanan kepada Kartika sehingga beliau di laporkan sebagai berkata bahawa beliau di perbuat sebagai bola sepak oleh pihak-pihak tertentu:

“Describing herself as "a football being kicked around", she questioned her status because the religious department had not given her any definite answer for not carrying out the punishment on her"

Ada juga pihak-pihak yang seolah-olah tidak senang dengan hukuman yang dikenakan keatas Kartika.

SIAPA YANG KOMEN, SIAPA YANG KURANG SENANG? MENGAPA?

Dr Lo'lo Mohd Ghazali MP Titiwangsa telah disalah lapor oleh berita perdana tertentu kononnya beliau tekejut bahawa Mahakamah Syariah di Malaysia membenarkan hukuman rotan bagi pesalah wanita. Beliau memberi penjelasan didalam blog nya

dimana beliau jelas menyokong hukuman ini. Beliau menulis:

“Memang saya terkejut kerana ada juga Mahkamah Syariah di Malaysia yang berupaya menghukum pesalah dengan hukuman sebegitu walaupun peruntukkan tersebut telah lama ada. Tetapi baru sekarang hukuman sebegitu dijatuhkan bagi pesalah kesalahan tersebut. Saya amat bersetuju dengan hukuman tersebut kerana sekurang-kurangnya hukuman tersebut begitu hampir dengan hukuman Hudud. Di dalam Hudud, hukuman bagi pesalah minum arak adalah 40 kali sebatan malah ada ulamak yang mengatakan sehingga 80 kali sebatan”.

Beliau juga menulis:

“Akhir sekali, SYABAS KEPADA MAHKAMAH SYARIAH KUANTAN dan Syukur Alhamdulillah kepada Puan Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarnor yang telah menginsafi perbuatan tersebut. Moga Allah menerima taubat hambaNya yang menyesali kesalahan. DI SINI SAYA LONTARKAN PERSOALAN INI KEPADA SEMUA ORANG ISLAM DI MALAYSIA, SIAPAKAH YANG SEPATUTNYA DISEBAT DALAM ISU ARAK DI MALAYSIA??...

Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib berpendapat bahawa Kartika seharusnya membuat rayuan terhadap hukuman tersebut (Kartika tidak mahu rayu.). Manakala, Menteri Dalam Negeri Dato’ Hishammuddin Onn pula mengatakan bahawa kita tidak mempunyai pengalaman serta “expertise” dalam menjalankan hukuman ini. (Kalau tidak ada expertise, mengapa di jadikan undang-undang?)

Menteri Wanita, keluarga dan Pembangunan Masyarakat Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil juga berpendapat bahawa hukuman yang dikenakan itu adalah keterlaluan



Di lapurkan juga bahawa timbalan president Persatuan Peguam-peguam Syarie Malaysia iaitu Musa Awang menanggap kenyataan sedemikian merupakan satu cabaran serta penghinaan kepada Mahkamah Syariah Kuantan. Memang aneh apabila ada kenyataan mempertikai dibuat terhadap suatu hukuman yang diperintah oleh suatu Mahkamah berlandaskan undang-undang sedia ada. Lagi pun, pesalah sendiri yang diwakili oleh peguam yang semestinya diberi nasihat guaman telah memutus untuk tidak mengemukakan sebarang rayuan!

Musa menjelaskan bahawa “a rotan or small branch should be used for whipping and that it should be not more than 1.22 metre long and not more than 1.25cm thick” mengikut undang-undang Syariah. Hukuman syariah di terima rata-rata sebagai hukuman Allah.

Ketua Hakim Syariah Terengganu Datuk Ismail Yahya juga membangkitkan isu bahawa jika Kartika ditahan dalam penjara untuk di sebat, ini adalah ultra vires perlembagaan iaitu melanggar peruntukkan perlembagaan.

Nampak nya jalan keluar ialah untuk pihak TPR membuat rayuan kepada Mahkamah Rayuan Syariah Pahang supaya hukuman terhadap Kartika ditambah dengan hukuman penahanan dalam penjara!

Penasihat Jakim Mohd Zulbahrin Zainuddin pula dilaporkan berkata bahawa penjara hanya lah tempat untuk Kartika menungu untuk menjalankan hukuman dan ia nya bukan lah hukuman tambahan”.

Majlis Peguam juga di laporkan berpendirian bahawa hukuman sebatan in bertentangan dengan hak asasi manusia. Tetapi ini bukan kah sudah di luluskan sebagai undang-undang syariah negeri Pahang?

JADI, APA DENGAN SEMUA INI? APA HEBOH NYA?

Saya pun kurang faham. Kenapa ada MP atau Adun kini sahaja membuat pelbagai komen terhadap hukuman syariah dalam Negara ini? Dimana mereka ini sepanjang 50 tahun selepas merdeka dimana pelbagai undang-undang syariah digubal dan diluluskan? Bukan kah Adun-adun BN yang meluluskan semua undang-undang syariah yang ada hari ini? Mengapa tidak bahas, komen dahulu atau teliti dahulu semasa pembentangan dalan dewan undangan negeri dan di luluskan sebagai undang-undang? Tak berani ke? Atau jahil? Atau tak peduli? Atau ketiga-tiga sekali?

Labi pun, bukan ke hampir semua rakyat Melayu menerima undang-undang syariah dalam Negara ini sebagai hukuman Allah atau setidak-tidak nya hampir dengan hukuman “hudud” yng di terima sebagai hukuman Allah? Kalau jawapan nya ya, kalau pesalah dah mengaku salah, mengapa heboh? Hukuman Allah boleh tukar-tukar sesuka hati ke? Aneh!

Kalau jawapan nya tidak, mengapa tidak mahu mengorak langkah kearah reformasi undang-undang syariah? Mengapa tidak lakukan tajdid? Kalau tidak boleh, tidak mampu atau tidak peduli, diam saja lah wahai YB-YB!

I have raised the matter of tajdid to various MPs, ministers, including one former deputy prime Minister and even one former Prime Minister (when he was PM). Some agree with me in private and the others – they cannot understand it! Actually, I felt that they do not care because it is politically sensitive.

Fire fighting attitudes among the elected representatives is becoming tiring and boring for the Rakyat! If you cannot do the job, just resign and give up/sacrifice the” glory”. Be a shopkeeper or a hawker somewhere – at least you earn rezeki yang halal!

Peace !

NOTA: Saya juga kurang faham bagaimana penundaan hukuman ini pada bulan Ramadan di anggap sebagai "menghormati bulan Ramadan". Menundakan perjalankan hukuman syariah yang diterima oleh Melayu di negara ini sebagai hukuman Allah adalah penghormatan ke? Saya memang kurang faham pemikiran ini.

Cabinet, MACC, The Late Teoh and The People

Of course our condolences goes out to Teoh Beng Hock's loved ones. It is a tragedy that should not happen to any family.

His death in the vicinity of the MACC building and just after having been in the custody of MACC for a 10 hour questioning does give rise to legitimate concerns in the minds of the People, especially the Raperas.

The cabinet has correctly decided on an inquest into Teoh's death and the setting up of a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the operating procedures of MACC. I welcome Prime MInister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's statement as reported in the Star:

“The Royal Commission will be set up according to specific terms, which is to scrutinise and study the procedures related to interrogations that are used by the MACC. It will also identify if there were any violations of human rights during Teoh’s interrogation".

This is clearly important as MACC (previously ACA) has come under frequent accusations of having employed rather inhumane methods of interrogation. It is critical for the safety of potential witnesses that the interrogation techniques employed by MACC is brought under public scrutiny and in compliance with human rights. Likewise, the image of MACC as an institution must be guarded by putting in place mechanisms that are not open to abuse by "over zealous officers".

Peace !

Where Did RM253.6 billion go???

On Tun Dr Mahathir's blog, he asks: "Where has the money gone to?"

He wrote:

"I reproduce here the payments made by Petronas to the Federal Government since 1976. That year the Government received RM300 million. The amount increased to RM2 billion in 1981. By 2003 it paid RM15.6 billion to the Federal Government. The total from 1981 to 2003 is RM168.8 billion in 22 years.

From then onwards it increased from RM19 billion in 2004 to RM67.8 billion in 2009. The total for six years is RM253.6 billion.

I am sure the Government had spent the money wisely. It would be interesting to know what the RM253.6 billion was spent on".

YES, WHAT HAPPENED TO THE RM253.6 BILLION? THE RAKYAT MUST KNOW.

Jebatmustdie writes on his blog:

"Wastage is one of the government’s worst enemy. But in our case, the main perpetrator for this wastage was Pak Lah’s own mismanaged administration. With RM173 billion for 28 years we have had Penang Bridge, PLUS highways, KLCC, KLIA, Sports Stadiums for the Commonwealth Games, Sepang F1 circuit, Putrajaya and many other infrastructures. And those were just infrastructures. Many other fiscal policies were made which required money yet the economy was vibrant while the cost of living was kept low.

What did we get after the government spent RM253.6 billion for the past 6 years?"


I think we need to know...WHAT HAPPENED TO THE RM253.6 BILLION?

Peace !

NAJIB: WE CAN BRING DOWN RACIAL WALLS

We have heard of speeches and exhortations by political leaders on unity and the dangers of racism and religious extremism for so long.

Probably we must have done some things right to be able to live together for so long, some of us even fall in love with each other and get married transcending racial, religious and cultural barriers, and so on.

But more needs to be done at the STREET LEVEL - meaning at the level that affects REAL PEOPLE, not just at elitist discussions and forums or at political rallies or on events such as Merdeka Day, Festival Days, New Year and so on.

Najib spoke right about the BN's approach to taking that step - each component party while looking at the interests of its members, must rise up that higher ground of championing the rights of "others", though not from their own party.

Eg: would it not be a breath of fresh air if MCA "protests" against violation of any "Malay rights?"

eg UMNO　steps in to protect the legitimate rights of the person who has CONVERTED OUT OF ISLAM (what a sensitive issue!). Actually, people's lives cannot be swept under the carpet on grounds of sensitivity for at the bottom line - we each only have ONE life. There is no reason why yours should be less important than mine.

BN as a party itself is in a position to address the concerns of all ALL MALAYSIANS irrespective of differences in social construct, be ther racial, religious, cultural, etc. It has a good formula and what is needed is the courage, COMPASSION, and persistence to push through the LIFESTYLE of Malaysians.

I fear that good exhortations without concrete steps to remove things that divide Malaysians will not be helpful. On the contrary, hypocritical statements by political leaders will not only invite negative backlash, it will be counter productive to national acceptance of each other( one of the values of Najib's 1Malaysia concept).

As Wong Chun Wai of the Star pointed out, self restraint is a virtue in moving towards honest acceptance of each other.

"For 1Malaysia to work, our politicians, including ministers, need to exercise plenty of self-restraint. They cannot spew racist remarks to become champions of their races, and then talk about national unity. The days of talking to different audiences and expecting such double talk not to reach the ears of other communities are over".

Yes, we can bring down racial barriers and we must if we want to stand before God and say that we are all His Creations/ "His Children".

PEACE !

NOTE: CIVIL SERVANTS WHO PRACTICE RACISM SHOULD BE SEVERELY DEALT WITH BY THE LAW.

GLCs and Other Institutiions - Any Change?

Now that the interim cabinet has been announced, the next thing that the people are watching is whether there will be changes in the other institutions and organizations linked with, part of, or are affiliated to the Government. I said interim cabinet because I expect that it may undergo a reshuffle as early as August in the event of noN-performance of the appointed Ministers or due to other circumstances that will eventually arise in these uncertain times.

With the new CEO at the helm of the Government, one should equally expect changes in the other parts of the government. It will be a mistake if the other "departments" are not overhauled and this cannot happen with the old woods remaining in place. A change may also be necessary to give a breath of fresh air so that new ideas and new ways of doing the task more efficiently can be achieved. This is imperative.

The Rakyat is now waiting for the advent of these changes.

PEACE !

MALAYSIAN CABINET 2009

PERDANA MENTERI : Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak
TIMBALAN PERDANA MENTERI: Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin
JABATAN PERDANA MENTERI:
Menteri:
1. Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon (Hal Ehwal Perpaduan & Pengurusan Prestasi)
2. Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz (Hal Ehwal Perundangan dan Parlimen)
3. Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop (Unit Perancang Ekonomi)
4. Mejar Jeneral (B) Datuk Jamil Khir Baharom (Hal Ehwal Agama Islam)
Timbalan Menteri:
1. Datuk Liew Vui Keong
2. Datuk Dr. Mashitah Ibrahim
3. Datuk S.K. Devamany
4. Ahmad Maslan
5. T. Murugiah
KEMENTERIAN KEWANGAN:
Menteri: Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak
Menteri II: Datuk Ahmad Husni Mohamad Hanadzlah
Timbalan Menteri:
1. Datuk Chor Chee Heung
2. Datuk Dr. Awang Adek Hussin
KEMENTERIAN PELAJARAN:
Menteri: Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin
Timbalan Menteri:
1. Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong
2. Dr. Mohd Puad Zarkashi
KEMENTERIAN PENGANGKUTAN:
Menteri: Datuk Ong Tee Keat
Timbalan Menteri:
1. Datuk Abdul Rahim Bakri
2. Datuk Robert Lau Hoi Chew
KEMENTERIAN PERUSAHAAN, PERLADANGAN DAN KOMODITI:
Menteri: Tan Sri Bernard Dompok
Timbalan Menteri: Datuk Hamzah Zainudin
KEMENTERIAN DALAM NEGERI:
Menteri: Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein
Timbalan Menteri:
1. Datuk Wira Abu Seman Yusop
2. Jelaing anak Mersat
KEMENTERIAN PENERANGAN, KOMUNIKASI, KESENIAN DAN KEBUDAYAAN:
Menteri: Datuk Seri Utama Dr. Rais Yatim
Timbalan Menteri:
1. Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum
2. Senator Heng Seai Kie
KEMENTERIAN TENAGA, TEKNOLOGI HIJAU DAN AIR:
Menteri: Datuk Peter Chin Fah Kui
Timbalan Menteri: Noriah Kasnon
KEMENTERIAN KEMAJUAN LUAR BANDAR DAN WILAYAH:
Menteri: Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal
Timbalan Menteri:
1. Datuk Hassan Malek
2. Datuk Joseph Entulu anak Belaun
KEMENTERIAN PENGAJIAN TINGGI:
Menteri: Datuk Seri Mohd Khaled Nordin
Timbalan Menteri:
1. Datuk Dr. Hou Kok Chung
2. Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah
KEMENTERIAN PERDAGANGAN ANTARABANGSA DAN INDUSTRI:
Menteri: Datuk Mustapa Mohamed
Timbalan Menteri:
1. Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir
2. Datuk Jacob Dungau Sagan
KEMENTERIAN SAINS, TEKNOLOGI DAN INNOVASI:
Menteri: Datuk Dr. Maximus Ongkili
Timbalan Menteri: Fadillah Yusof
KEMENTERIAN SUMBER ASLI DAN ALAM SEKITAR:
Menteri: Datuk Douglas Uggah Embas
Timbalan Menteri: Tan Sri Joseph Kurup
KEMENTERIAN PELANCONGAN:
Menteri: Datuk Ng Yen Yen
Timbalan Menteri: Datuk Seri Sulaiman Abdul Rahman Abdul Taib
KEMENTERIAN PERTANIAN DAN INDUSTRI ASAS TANI:
Menteri: Datuk Noh Omar
Timbalan Menteri:
1. Datuk Johari Baharum
2. Datuk Rohani Abdul Karim
KEMENTERIAN PERTAHANAN:
Menteri: Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi
Timbalan Menteri: Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad
KEMENTERIAN KERJA RAYA:
Menteri: Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor
Timbalan Menteri: Datuk Yong Khoon Seng
KEMENTERIAN KESIHATAN:
Menteri: Datuk Liow Tiong Lai
Timbalan Menteri: Datuk Rosnah Rashid Shirlin
KEMENTERIAN BELIA DAN SUKAN:
Menteri: Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek
Timbalan Menteri:
1. Datuk Razali Ibrahim
2. Wee Jeck Seng
KEMENTERIAN SUMBER MANUSIA:
Menteri: Datuk Dr S.Subramaniam
Timbalan: Datuk Maznah Mazlan
KEMENTEIAN PERDAGANGAN DALAM NEGERI DAN HAL EHWAL PENGGUNA:
Menteri: Datuk Ismail Sabri Yaakob
Timbalan Menteri: Datuk Tan Lian Hoe
KEMENTERIAN PERUMAHAN DAN KERAJAAN TEMPATAN:
Menteri: Datuk Kong Cho Ha
Timbalan Menteri: Datuk Lajim Ukin
KEMENTERIAN PEMBANGUNAN WANITA, KELUARGA DAN MASYARAKAT:
Menteri: Datuk Seri Sharizat Jalil
Timbalan Menteri: Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun
KEMENTERIAN LUAR:
Menteri: Datuk Anifah Aman
Timbalan Menteri:
1. A. Kohilan Pillay
2. Datuk Lee Chee Leong
KEMENTERIAN WILAYAH PERSEKUTUAN:
Menteri: Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin
Timbalan Menteri: Datuk M. Saravanan

HOW IS A NEW GOVERNMENT FORMED?

Thanks to thenutgraph.com for this photo.

Since Pak Lah will be resigning "shortly", many have asked me what is the constitutional position - how is the new government formed constitutionally? YBM Tengku Razeleigh Hamzah has written a simple and clear explanation how a new government is formed. He says:

"In a recent interview I was quoted as saying that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong could appoint someone other than the man nominated by the party. The fact that this was reported as “news” shows how far we as a country have drifted from the principles set out in our Constitution".

Let us understand very clearly the transitional situation we are in".

You can continue reading it at razaleigh.com

BEYOND UMNO ASSEMBLY

By large, even though the UMNO Assembly is yet to be convened and some quarters are even speculating what may happen at the Assembly or prior to it, the results of the Assembly can to a certain extent to be predicted. Whatever the results of the election may be, a few things are patently clear:

1) Come 3rd Of April, Najib will be the new Prime Minister, God willing.

2) He will have to reshuffle the cabinet and possibly even reshuffle various other "segments of the Government".

3)He is not necessarily bound to appoint the victors of the UMNO assembly to the cabinet if they are not up to mark for national service.

4) He may very well appoint several "new and fresh" faces to the cabinet by appointing them as senators - for this he needs courage and tact.

5)He will have to get BN ready for the next general elections.

6)He needs to totally reform the working culture of the civil service by removing dead wood from the top down.

7) He must ensure that the BN MPs are more accessible to the Rakyat and stop behaving like feudal lords.

8) Return the mainstream media to its original function of dissemination of true information and not pathetic spin doctoring - appoint the right chiefs of media.

9)For heaven's sake, get good economic advisers.

PEACE !

AGAINST NATIONAL INTEREST!

The true test of citizenship is when the country is facing a crisis. I believe that the country is now facing an economic crisis.

At this time of crisis, national interest takes precedence over selfish interests. Hence this is the time to be Raperas and this is the time to “pay back to the country” for all the good times we have enjoyed.

AT time of crisis, there are only two groups – those who worsen it OR those who make it easier to recover. This is the time that leadership that entrusted to safeguard the nation must take RADICAL measures, not the worn out solutions given by the failed Oxbridge and Harvard graduates (who do you think got us in this mess in the first place?).

We have to customize our economic defence and our economic strategies.

In this regard, I submit that the following are anti-national interests:-

1) Banks and financial institutions who refuse to “restructure” debts during these times- by restructure I do not mean another “financial trap” to enslave the borrower.
2) Credit card companies who would rather bankrupt the credit card user instead of giving him a chance to pay according to his means.
3) Civil servants who make it difficult for small and medium industries to earn a living.
4) Civil servants who do not carry out economic recovery plans diligently;
5) Companies that make profits and yet retrench worker without exhausting other methods of cost reduction, including renegotiating pay with the workers;
6) Workers who cause economic disruption by picketing in the face of fair and benevolent temporary pay cuts;
7) Politicians who insist on using these difficult times against each other;
8) Any group who maliciously distract economic recovery efforts by the Government and the people;
9) Any person or persons who diverts economic recovery funds for corrupt purposes;

If you have any more, please add on to the list. The point is – we NEED RADICAL action. It can be done, if there is a WILL.

PEACE !