Policy Speech by DAP Secretary-General Lim Guan Eng at DAP National Conference 2014 on 14thDecember 2014 in Subang Jaya.

 Berat sama dipikul, ringan sama dijinjing. 


Gunung sama didaki, lurah sama dituruni. 
Biar putih tulang, jangan putih mata.

Preamble

Salam Ubah dan salam Bersih kepada semua.

I thank all invited guests, delegates and observers for being here, especially to those who traveled afar. 

Today we are gathered here at the DAP National Conference 2014 in Subang Jaya to chart the future of the party and Malaysia for we believe that together with all other progressive Malaysians, we hold the key to Putrajaya and to a new and better Malaysia.

By May 2015, it would be two years after the 2013 general election and almost the mid-term before we face the 14^th general election. And, the Sarawak state election is looming.

The National Conference 2014 is held following the 16th National Congress on 15^th and 16^th December 2012 in Penang and the re-balloting for the existing Central Executive Committee (CEC) at the National Special Congress on 29^th September 2013 in Petaling Jaya to thwart the mischievious designs and mala fide intentions of the Registrar of Society to break up the party.

The re-balloting of the CEC with the same set of leaders that were previously elected have allowed the DAP to emerge more united and stronger as a party. The DAP is set to consolidate, renew and expand; now more than ever.  

We must set the agenda for the next election and for the next generation. If we do not set an agenda that unites all Malaysians for a common purpose and a shared destiny, the alternative would be to accept UMNO and BN’s agenda to divide and destroy Malaysia through extremism, abuse of power and corruption. 

The theme for this Conference is “Berat sama dipikul, ringan sama dijinjing.”, that reflects the DAP’s commitment to the solidarity, sharing and sacrifice of all Malaysians towards unity, tolerance, social justice and equal opportunities for all.

This message of solidarity, sharing and sacrifice is particularly important, when we face a mounting economic crisis that will have dire consequences for the poor, helmed by a government that has lost the plot and can only counter by shamelessly breaking promises and blaming the economic hardship on minorities and imaginary enemies of Islam, Malays and the Rulers.

Tributes

2014 is likely to be remembered as Malaysia’s annus horribilis in decades but we have faith in Malaysians that we will rise as a people to overcome the challenges ahead.  

As a people, Malaysians have been crippled by a double tragedy of MH17 and MH370; and DAP extends its sympathy, support and solidarity to the affected family members. We will support all efforts to seek justice for those who were murdered on MH17 and search for the missing MH370.

With deepest regret and sadness that we mourn the passing of our party stalwarts who had stood together with us for a new Malaysia based on democracy, justice and equal opportunity. We bid them farewell and we extend our condolences to their respective family members.  

Sdr Karpal Singh

Our Party Chairman Sdr Karpal Singh, who has been one of the loudest voices of conscience to our nation, tragically left us on the 17^th April 2014. Yet even until his final moments, he was fearlessly fighting the oppressive forces, who wished to change the character and identity of our Federal Constitution. Sdr. Tan Kok Wai assumed the position of acting National Chairman.

Sdr Wong Ho Leng

The party was plunged into further sorrow and despair, when on the 21^st June, the then Chairman of DAP Sarawak Sdr Wong Ho Leng, passed away after a long battle with cancer. Sdr Ho Leng’s legacy will remain strong in the ever growing influence and current leadership of DAP Sarawak that he has built up over the years.

Sdr Seah Leong Peng

Sdr Seah Leong Peng’s departure on 1^st May spelt another painful bereavement for the party. He was a true testament to the power of dedication and unfettered hard work in building a strong grassroots support that allowed PR and DAP to win 55% of the popular vote in the 2013 general election.

Dr Chen Man Hin’s 90^th years old birthday

On a happier note, I would like to report to the National Conference that our beloved founding Chairman Sdr. Chen Man Hin has just reached a very rare milestone in human life, celebrating his 90^th birthday in November. Dr. Chen is a towering Malaysian who devoted his life to work towards a better Malaysia, without whom the DAP would not exist. We wish him good health.

By-elections

I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to all leaders and members who had campaigned tirelessly in the Bukit Gelugor, Teluk Intan and Kajang by-elections for DAP and Pakatan Rakyat candidates, and we thank the voters for their support as well. We welcome Sdr Ramkarpal for joining us in our parliamentary delegation. We salute the tenacity of Sdri Dyana Sofya in giving a good electoral fight. And we congratulate Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah for becoming a wakil rakyat, again.

The State of the Party

I would like to thank the delegates for the trust and mandate given to the Central Executive Committee by being elected twice at both the election on 15^th December 2012 and the re-balloting on 29^th September 2013. 

Since the electoral success of 2008, the UMNO-controlled Barisan Nasional has been attacking the DAP day and night. The reason is simple: if Malaysians, especially the Malays can accept the DAP’s non-racial politics, integrity in leadership and good governance, it will spell the end of BN and UMNO. UMNO and BN’s relentless hostilities even amounted to attempts by the Registrar of Societies (ROS) to ban DAP on the eve of the 13th General Election in 2013. We refused to back down and we have won the first round.

Then the ROS came charging at us. And again, a great legal battle was won by our Sdr Gobind Singh Deo in court, when the ROS was forced to concede in court that the ROS cannot refuse to recognize the right of the Central Executive Committee, elected on the 29th September 2013, to make decisions. Although DAP was constrained to agree to the ROS’s earlier demand of conducting fresh party elections, at risk of being de-registered, and we did hold this reelection but under protest, we worked in solidarity and proved that we will never be defeated.

We expect the ROS to come charging at us again for the third time, the fourth, the fifth and again and again. That is why we are proposing some party constitutional amendments not just to test the ROS but to protect the party from sabotage at the eve of the electoral battle. Although the threats are there, we will continue with our struggle. We have faith in our party members, that each and every single one of us will do our very best to prevent de-registration and ensure the survival of the party.‎

The next five years and the next fifty years

There is a saying that “When the going gets tough, the tough get going”. The DAP has gone through trials and tribulations in the last 48 years since the party was formed on 18^th March 1966. In less than a year and half, on 18^th March 2016, we will be celebrating DAP’s 50^th anniversary. Sdr Liew Chin Tong has been tasked with the 50^th anniversary celebrations which will be the launching pad for the 14th general elections.

While the DAP has been steadfast in its commitments to the struggle for a democratic and socially just Malaysia with equal opportunities for all, since the political tsunami on 8^th March 2008; DAP is expected to play the role of a principled and effective opposition and also a partner in power of a government-in-waiting.

DAP must offer a long term vision of moderation, equity, justice, freedom and economic growth through a set of desirable and achievable policies for ordinary Malaysians of all ethnic and religious backgrounds, from Batu Sumpah in Sabah to Sarawak and onwards to Johor and Bukit Kayu Hitam in Perlis.

We must recognise not only the contributions of Malaysians but that of Sabah and Sarawak as one of the three(not one of 13 states) equal integral partners with Peninsular Malaysia that make up Malaysia in 1963. Only all three will make one Malaysia, where without either Sabah or Sarawak there will be no Malaysia

Our party’s constitutional amendments

The Central Executive Committee is tabling several major proposals to amend the party’s Constitution to strengthen the party and also increase women participation which is key to winning the 14^th General Election.  I wish to thank Sdr. Loke Siew Fook for leading the Constitutional Amendment Committee, as well as CEC members who served on the Committee, for their efforts in assisting the party to strengthen its organisational structure.

We propose that the Central Executive Committee be expanded from 20 to 30 elected members to give more opportunities to all to aspire to positions of leadership, especially as “the party for the young and women”. The DAP prides itself as having the largest porportion of young leaders at the central leadership and among elected representatives. For instance, 21 out of 104 current DAP state assemblypersons were born after 1980.

It is also proposed that a 30% women quota is imposed on elected positions, to ensure that at least 9 out of the 30 elected CEC members are women. The DAP believes however, that women are equal partners in our struggle and is committed towards gender equality. Let us not forget that whilst leaders like Sdr Karpal, Kit Siang, Kok Wai, Seng Giaw and myself have faced prosecution and persecution, and new leaders in Anthony Loke, Tony Pua, Ng Wei Aik, Phee Boon Poh, R.S Rayer who face similar action, we have also women leaders like Teresa Kok and Teo Nie Ching who are charged for sedition or face sedition charges.

The terms for State Committees are extended from two years to three years to align with the CEC, and Branch Committees from a year to two years in the hope that a slightly longer period to perform can help to consolidate the party’s support bases. Parliamentary Liaison Committees are revamped with election coordination in mind to better prepare the party for electoral battles. 

A term limit of three terms for state chairperson is a move to ensure continuous renewal and rejuvenation of the party and train leaders at the state level. The DAP was the first party to limit our top leader theSecretary-General's term more than a decade ago. Today we make another historic and progressive move to expand this term limits to the state chairperson.

I humbly request for your support in the various amendments to consolidate the DAP in the face of greater challenges as well as opportunities ahead of us. 

The party of ideas and the party of the future

It must however be said, that a great party structure can only get us so far. Ultimately, what matter most are the ideas that define the party. The DAP must see itself as “the party of ideas”, “the party of the future“ and the “party of hope”.

One of the core efforts to make DAP the party of the future is to make a lasting imprint with Malaysians in Sabah and Sarawak, who were previously ignored by Barisan Nasional because they were seen as BN “fixed deposits”.

The recently announced Royal Commission of Inquiry report on illegal immigrants in Sabah, is a cover-up and a whitewash of a 40-year long injustice against the people of Sabah who are now strangers in their own land. Those who were responsible for this mess, both at the policy level and at the working level, should be named and be charged under the laws. They must be punished for betraying fellow Malaysians as well as our sacrosanct Malaysian citizenship.

I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate the Central leadership’s support for the Bintulu Declaration presented by DAP Sarawak at its state convention on 26^th October 2014. The concept of Equal Partnership with Sarawak, as well as Sabah, should be the guiding principle for all to adopt.

The DAP,just a little more than a year ago launched, the Impian Sabah and Sarawak campaigns under the Impian Malaysia vision, to expedite and trigger a paradigm shift in political perceptions and affinity in rural Malaysia, particularly in East Malaysia. The road to Putrajaya goes through Sabah and Sarawak.

The projects, ranging from the provision of gravity-fed water to villages who have been denied this basic right, to the construction of basic roads for villages which are cut off from vehicle access, to the building and repairs of basic amenities such as river jetties, bridges, community centres and places of worship, have captured the imagination of rural Sabah and Sarawak.  

The Impian team have since increased the scope of activities to include projects to upgrade the economic well-being of the rural folks. This  includes the provision of microcredit to oil palm smallholders, the set up of Kedai Impian operated by the villagers, and organising seminars for arts and crafts for the womenfolk.

We have also started conducting Impian Education Camps to help stir interest in English, Mathematics and Science among the rural children as well as to emphasize the importance of education to their parents.  Come January, we will be conducting our very first Impian Health Camp to the marginalised rural folks, courtesy of a dedicated team of volunteer doctors and specialists.

I wish to thank Sdr Tony Pua for his efforts and leadership and all CEC leaders who have gone over. Let me just stop here to present to you a short video of the work carried out by Impian Malaysia.

The DAP is proud to have completed more than 30 projects big and small, benefiting more than 800 families and involving 150 selfless volunteers from all races and backgrounds  all over Malaysia.  We would like to congratulate and thank these volunteers for upholding the Impian Malaysia spirit, the spirit of “berat sama dipikul, ringan sama dijinjing”.

Let all DAP leaders make this commitment by ensuring that all elected representatives must make a least one trip to Sarawak before the next state general election.

DAP enters its “second-phase”, according to Sdr. Lim Kit Siang, by focusing on semi-urban areas which eluded DAP, where most marginal seats lie. DAP must not only be the party of ideas but one that make ideas work, beginning with the Gelang Patah Declaration, of how we address the problems faced by marginalised Indian communities in Penang. Let us look at one more video.

On the same ship 

Malaysians are on the same ship. DAP leaders will sink and swim with Malaysians on this ship. Unlike BN leaders who have Permanent Resident status in foreign countries, we have no other place but Malaysia. Yet we must concede that we face an uphill battle to this ingrained perception perpertuated by the lies of UMNO that the DAP is anti-Malay and anti-Islam.

When we expose corruption and police brutality we are accused of being anti-Rulers because the Malay Rulers appoint those who head such institutions of Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission or SPRM and the police, which are helmed by Malays. When we talk of Islamic religious edicts or fatwa applying only to Muslims and not applying to non-Muslims, we are accused of being anti-Islam by interfering in the religious affairs of Muslims.

And yet when the Penang PR state government doubled the annual Budget allocations to Islamic religious affairs as compared to the previous BN state government, MCA and Gerakan criticised us to the extent of being anti non-Muslims. NO UMNO leader defended the Penang PR state government against MCA or Gerakan, for doubling annual allocations for Islamic affairs in Penang.

DAP supports the Rulers, the position of Islam and Malays as well as protecting the legitimate rights of non-Malays and non-Muslims as stated in the Federal Constitution. Let me state clearly that DAP is not anti-Malay nor anti-Islam nor anti non-Muslims. We are only anti-corruption. And anti-BN as BN is the mother of all corruption. The DAP is and will always be a non-racial multiethnic party that fights for all.

There will be more ferocious attacks by UMNO on DAP as more and more young Malays see DAP as a potential platform to champion their shared dreams for a better Malaysia. We must convince Malays that DAP, as one of its governing parties in PR, would never hurt the interests of ordinary Malays but instead, deliver a better life for all Malaysians, Malays included.

All Malaysians  must openly oppose racism and religious extremism, in particular the uncivilised politics of Perkasa and Isma as well as the racist elements within UMNO. We fully support the open letter by 25 former top civil servants who demanded Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to take action against right wing groups that are hijacking Islam by perverting the moderate nature of the religion into an instrument of hate and violence.

The time has come for the Prime Minister to exercise leadership – to lead from the front and not from behind. Moderation in Islam is about truth,equity and justice.

There is no equity when Datuk Seri Najib refuses to answer questions about the RM 42 billion debts of 1MDB. There is no justice when Sedition Act is used against opposition leaders and academics. There is no truth when Najib breaks his thrice-repeated promise to abolish the Sedition Act, instead fortifying it or paying BR1M of RM950 when BN had promised RM1200 during the last general elections.

There is no mention of 1Malaysia by UMNO anymore. Only the language of lies, hate and violence used by racists and extremists alleging that the Chinese’s economic strength comes from illegal activities in gambling, prostitution and recreational activities.

Or worse the failure to act against ex-Deputy Minister Dr Mashitah Ibrahim’s dangerous and provocative lies in blaming the Chinese community of burning the Quran as part of their prayer rituals, even though Kedah Menteri Besar had announced that the Quran.was torn by a demented Malay Muslim who had been sent to a mental hospital for treatment.

A winning coalition worthy of a government as good as its people

That is why there must be a change of government from one of hate to love for our Malaysian brothers and sisters and to liberate ourselves from a fate full of national government and personal debts. We must not be a nation filled with loan sharks but of economic dignity, we must not be a nation of corrupt political cronies and parasites but productive generators of wealth.

I fervently believe that UMNO and Barisan Nasional would fall in the next general election but for the PR to win, it must have an effective, broadbase, winning coalition that unites all forces in the society to defeat UMNO Barisan Nasional convincingly. Even Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin concedes that it is probable for BN to lose because a 2% swing in votes will cause BN to lose power by winning only 103 Parliamentary seats.

As UMNO is gets increasingly insecure, sedition charges are used against critics and more racial sentiments to whip up support for UMNO. The despicable attempt to put Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim behind bar is just another desperate act. We stand by Anwar and all other leaders who are persecuted

UMNO deserves to lose like the Congress Party of India. But to prove that we are a worthy government is very different from showing that we are an effective opposition. We must win the middle ground and Middle Malaysia can only be won if PR can demonstrate that our good governance is superior and cleaner than BN as well as benefit and not harm the rakyat..

We must present a coherent and consistent policy agenda that is convincing to the middle ground as the partisan bases of each of the Pakatan Rakyat parties can only get us so far. Let me be frank. There can be no repeat of the Selangor Menteri Besar crisis and all its consequences of public disunity on display. Pakatan Rakyat would not be able to enter the next election not having agreed upon who would be the next Prime Minister nor on a clear and definite position that there will be no hudud laws.

These are the aspirations of the moderates within Middle Malaysia. A winning PR coalition must have clear policies that win among all ethnic groups, especially the majority Malays, and across Sabah and Sarawak as well. 

I call on all Pakatan Rakyat leaders to take up the challenge of creating a winning coalition that brings together all progressive forces in the society to execute this historic mission of defeating UMNO convincingly. We owe the 52% voters who voted for us, a responsibility to make their economic future secure. With the drop in oil price and ringgit, Malaysia is in for tough times. Just as there is no substitute for good governance, there is no substitute for hard work.

Economy Always The Economy

The theme for the 2014 National Conference – “Berat sama dipikul, ringan sama dijinjing” – is DAP’s response to the challenges of income inequality, lack of high-income jobs and equal opportunities.

The fundemental contradiction in the Malaysian economy is that 2 million and half skilled Malaysians with high education attainment are working overseas yet, 6.7 million unskilled foreigners, documented and undocumented, are working in Malaysia.

Today, even 7-Eleven hires foreign labour to man the stores and private contractors rely on them to clean up our rubbish. The Penang State Government tried a different approach via the Seberang Perai Municipal Council(MPSP) through the termination of all cleaning and garbage collection contracts with private contractors who mostly hired unskilled foreign labour at low wage.

Instead MPSP hired 2,469 Malaysians at RM1,500 and above per month.. In the past these garbage contractors, who are most likely to be cronies of the previous government, have used foreign workers to pad their profits. Even though our costs have now risen by 50% extra, we have created jobs for 2,469 ordinary Malaysian families who can prove that they can make Penang Cleaner and Greener.

If the economy can generally pay municipal cleaners or equavalents at RM1,500 per month, why is it that fresh graduates cannot get jobs?. In many other countries, even if the economy depends on unskilled foreign labour, the government itself would not hire unskilled foreign labour.

We want to showcase the PR Penang state government as a model of good governance because we believe in the ideal of a government as good as its people, especially those who are honest and hardworking. Indeed, the annual budget surpluses and annual commendation accorded on Penang in the annual Auditor-General Reports and even by Transparency International, proves that a clean government can do better than a corrupt administration.

The budget surpluses annually are achieved despite almost doubling development expenditure compared to the previous BN government and allocating almost 12% of our Budget is given for cash assistance, the highest amongst all state governments. DAP has proven that we are an effective opposition party that is a fearless voice and defender of the rakyat but that our record in Penang, shows we can also govern within PR much better than BN.

DAP is calling for cheaper fuel pump price. Despite the more than 40% drop in international oil price from US 105-110 per barrel to less than USD 60 per barrel, petrol prices in Malaysia have not seen a similar 40% drop in price. The retail price for RON97 and RON95 decreased by only nine sen to RM2.46 per litre and four sen (RM2.26 per litre) whilst the price of diesel increased instead by three sen to RM2.23 per liter is just unacceptable.

The DAP is opposed to the implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST) in April 2015. First, given that more than 60% of the population are receiving BR1M, the social cost of depleting disposable income of already low income families would be extremely steep. Second, the GST is likely to result in inflation which will cut domestic consumption, and slow the growth economy-wide. Third, the implementation of GST is likely to wipe out the informal business sector and the small businesses.

DAP contends that there is no need for the GST if corruption, inefficiency and wastage is rooted out as outlined in the annual Auditor-General Reports.Instead of punishing the cronies, ordinary Malaysians have to pay the price of BN’s failure in good governance.

Conclusion

DAP and PR offers an alternative formula for nation-building through a party of ideas not of racism and extremism, that benefits the public not the individual cronies and saves not steal our children’s future.

We must never rely on the rhetoric of extremism and racism but commit ourselves to action that there is no substitute for good governance that delivers a better life for ourselves, a better future for our children and a hope of creating a proud developed nation with economic dignity and respect for human rights. A nation.where we are one in solidarity and share our successes equally with our sacrifices.

Berat sama dipikul, ringgan sama dijinjang.

Gunung sama didaki, lurah sama dituruni. 


Biar putih tulang, jangan putih mata

UMNO Sengaja Mengguris Hati Bukan Melayu Untuk Menjadi Jaguh Kampung Dalam Isu Perbahasan Kedudukan Sekolah-sekolah Vernukular, Apa Pendirian MCA dan MIC?

Kenyataan Media V.Sivakumar Ahli Parlimen Batu Gajah, Timbalan Pengerusi DAP Perak pada 21 November 2014 di Batu Gajah.


Kenyataan Naib Presiden UMNO Hishamuddin Hussien baru-baru ini mengenai kedudukan sekolah-sekolah vernukular telah banyak menimbulkan kekecewaan dan rasa tidak puas hati di kalangan kaum bukan Melayu. Kenyataannya yang berbaur perkauman untuk menutup sekolah-sekolah vernukular adalah hasil pemikiran sempit dan tidak menepati janji Barisan Nasional kepada rakyat Malaysia.

Dalam persidangan Dewan Rakyat ketika menjawab soalan-soalan pembangkang baru-baru ini, Timbalan Perdana Menteri yang juga merupakan Menteri Pendidikan Muhyiddin Yassin telah berjanji bahawa sekolah-sekolah vernukular akan dikekalkan malah telah dimaktubkan dalam Pelan Pembangunan Pendidikan (PPP) 2013 - 2025. Tetapi, masih terdapat pemimpin-pemimpin utama UMNO seperti Hishammudun Hussein dan Khairy Jamaluddin yang mahu mengkhianati janji Barisan Nasional kepada rakyat Malaysia terutamanya kaum bukan Melayu. Ugutan-ugatan rasis seperti inilah yang sebenarnya menjadi punca perbelahan dan berbalahan kaum di negara ini.Dalam keadaan yang membimbangkan ini, dua parti utama iaitu MCA dan MIC yang kononnya mewakili masyarakat Cina dan India bukan lagi dianggap sebagai harimau yang hilang taring malah sudah mula menunjukkan ciri-ciri kucing yang dijinak oleh tuannya, UMNO. Menurut Hishamuddin, sekolah satu aliran menggantikan sekolah vernukular akan menjadi isu atau topik hangat yang akan dibahaskan dalam Pehimpunan Agung UMNO yang akan berlangsung dari 25hb hingga 29hb November 2014.

Saya tidak faham kenapa UMNO sengaja mahu campurtangan dalam hal ehwal bukan Melayu terutamanya berkaitan dengan sekolah-sekolah vernukular di negara kita. Ada banyak lagi hal ataupun isu-isu ekonomi dan pembangunan negara yang patut dijadikan topik hangat dalam perbahasan UMNO itu. Hutang negara, GST, Inflasi, kemiskinan kaum Bumiputera dan sebagainya patut dijadikan antara topik-topik hangat dalam perbincangan forum tersebut. Tetapi, kedudukan sekolah-sekolah vernukular bukanlah isu berkaitan dengan orang-orang Melayu akan dibahaskan. Ini membuktikan bahawa UMNO merupakan satu parti rasis dan sentiasa campurtangan dan mengugat kedudukan dan hak-hak kaum lain di negara ini.

Apa yang mengecewakan lagi ialah MCA dan MIC masih lagi tunduk dan membiarkan UMNO membahaskan isu mengenai kedudukan sekolah-sekolah vernukular yang sudah pasti kritikal dan kontroversial. Sungguh mengaibkan kepada kedua-dua Presiden Parti itu yang tidak berani berjuang dan mempertahankan kedudukan sekolah-sekolah Cina dan sekolah-sekolah Tamil. Saya mencabar kepada Presiden kedua-dua parti tersebut supaya keluar daripada gabunagan Barisan Basional jika UMNO ingkar mematuhi kehendak dan desakan orang ramai supaya menggugurkan tajuk perbahasan yang menyentuh kedudukan sekolah-sekolah vernukular di negara ini.

Saya ingin menegaskan kepada MCA dan MIC supaya jangan menjadi parti yang tidak relevan dan membebankan rakyat Malaysia. Lebik baik gulung tikar dan buat kerja lain daripada menjadi liabiliti kepada rakyat yang menyokong mereka. Saya juga mohon kepada rakyat yang mengundi MCA dan MIC membuka mata dan melihat sendiri kedaifan pemimpin-pemimpinya yang tidak berani memperjuangkan hak mereka.

Penutupan sekolah-sekolah Cina dan Tamil akan menghilangkan identiti kaum-kaum tersebut di negara ini. Inilah agenda yang dihasratkan oleh UMNO dalam permainan politik perkaumannya. Saya juga ingin menyeru kepada sahabat-sahabat Melayu di seluruh negara supaya tidak menyokong apa-apa usaha untuk menutup sekolah-sekolah Cina dan Tamil di negara ini. Sekolah-sekolah ini tidak pernah menjadi ugutan kepada perpaduan kaum seperti yang didakwa oleh pihak-pihak yang berfikiran cetek.

Kepelbagaian kaum, agama, bahasa dan budaya adalah warisan unik Bangsa Malaysia. Marilah sama-sama kita berjuang untuk mengekalkan identiti unik ini yang menjadi kebanggaan kita di arena antarabangsa. Kita harus memberitahu pemimpin-pemimpin UMNO yang rasis untuk memberhentikan usaha-usaha jahat yang mengkhianati rakyat Malaysia semata-mata kerana ingin menjadi jaguh kampung yang kononnya memperjuangkan hak orang-orang Melayu.

Kita secara hati terbuka harus menerima sekolah-sekolah vernukular yang menjadi asas kepada keunikan dan kepelbagaian yang menjadikan negara kita lebih warna-warni di kaca mata dunia. Sekolah-sekolah ini bukanlah punca kepada perbelahan kaum. Sebenarnya, banyak diantara dasar-dasar kerajaan yang rasis inilah yang telah memecah belahkan kaum di negara ini. Kita kita harus menyokong segala usaha untuk melahirkan 'perpaduan dalam kepelbagaian' sebagai teras pembangunan kemasyarakatan di negara ini.

Saya membantah sekeras-kerasnya terhadap usaha-usaha menghapuskan sekolah-sekolah vernukular di negara ini. Perbahasan mengenai kedudukan sekolah-sekolah vernukular dalam Perhimpunan Agung UMNO adalah langkah pertama kearah matlamat itu

Instead of scapegoats, restore confidence in exams

A number of Tamil school teachers were arrested since September 12 onwards for the leakage of UPSR science and English paper of national schools. 470000 students are required to re-sit the UPSR science and English on September 30th.

The media highlight on Tamil school teachers for the leakage of the UPSR science and English paper seems dubious and is trying to shift the blame to someone else.

So far no official from examination syndicate have been arrested. Why were the police so quick in arresting Tamil teachers for the leakage of national school UPSR Science and English papers?

Kuala Lumpur city police chief Datuk Tajuddin Md Isa said Examinations Syndicate officers lodged the reports about the leak of the UPSR Tamil and Mathematics papers on the 21th September, 2014.

But Tamil school teachers have been arrested since the 12th September 2014. The UPSR examination questions selection were entirely at the discretion of examination syndicate. Printing, storage in strong rooms and distribution to schools are managed by the officials from examination syndicate.

Why were the Tamil teachers targeted and not the examination syndicate officials?

The police report on 21st September seems an afterthought to legitimize the police action to arrest Tamil school teachers.

Last year 2013 SPM additional mathematics and chemistry papers were said to be leaked. Earlier moral paper was said to be leaked. There were rumors that examination papers had leaked in the past too.

Therefore there are serious flaws in the way the examination syndicate is safekeeping and distributing these examination papers to schools.

All of these things are very disturbing and utterly unacceptable in the context of running fair, balanced and accurate assessments of students through examinations.

There has to be through check on the entire distribution process and storage of examination papers.

Those who are entrusted to prepare, select the questions and safe keep and distribute the examination papers must be people of high integrity.

Ministry of education must restore the integrity and confidence in local public examination once and for all. Shifting the blame to people outside the examination process and low level officers does not look good on the senior officials of the education ministry.

Education minister had announced the suspension of examination syndicate director Dr Na'imah and her deputy Wan Ilias with immediate effect on 12th September 2014.

Tan Sri Muhyiddin said that the two civil servants should be held responsible for having tarnished the image of the ministry and that of public examinations.

But the Education Ministry secretary-general Tan Sri Dr Madinah Mohamad clarified on 20th September that Examinations Syndicate director Dr Na'imah Ishak and the deputy director of operations Dr Wan Ilias Wan Salleh had not been suspended from duty but were assigned to other duties unrelated to the Examinations Syndicate to enable the independent committee to carry out its investigations.

Meanwhile, Madinah said that the Education Ministry will take disciplinary action against all the teachers responsible for the leak of the English and Science papers in this year's UPSR examinations. She added that if any of the teachers are charged in court, they would be temporarily suspended from service with a 50% salary cut.

Ministry of education must be transparent and come clean on the investigation and restoration of a more leakage proof examination system.

S.Ramakrishnan

(former Senator)

Zahid’s baseless and wild accusation of DAP throwing the stones at the car of the Raja Muda is uncalled for and he shall be subject to investigation on this fold. We hereby challenge Zahid to lodge a police report on the alleged stone-throwing incidents as accused by him to prove his case. However, Zahid should also be reminded that there will be serious consequence for lodging a false report.

Press Statement by YB Wong Kah Woh, DAP Perak State Secretary and ADUN Canning, on 25.09.2014 (Thursday) in Ipoh:

I recorded my statement for my police report against Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi for his seditious remarks and baseless, wild accusations towards DAP with the Investigating Officer at 9.20am this morning at IPD Ipoh. I have also taken the opportunity to urge the Police to obtain a copy of Zahid’s ceramah recording from the Special Branch Officers and to take immediate action against him. 

The recording of statement took approximately 45 minutes. It is shameful for a seasoned politician like Zahid to have resorted to the creation of racial hatred and disharmony in his attempt to win the votes of the full Malay audience. Zahid also quoted the example of a demonstration in Kuala Kangsar during the Constitutional Crisis and launched baseless accusations that the DAP threw stones towards the car of the Raja Muda. Zahid has to be responsible for his statement.

No one is above the law, including the Home Minister, Zahid himself. As the complainant to the police report against Zahid, I have given full co-operation to the police within 24 hours and recorded my statement as requested. We will now see whether or not the police can act impartially in order to secure the presence of Zahid for his statement to be recorded.

At the same time, Zahid’s baseless and wild accusation of DAP throwing the stones at the car of the Raja Muda is uncalled for and he shall be subject to investigation on this fold. We hereby challenge Zahid to lodge a police report on the alleged stone-throwing incidents as accused by him to prove his case. However, Zahid should also be reminded that there will be serious consequence for lodging a false report.

The Police and the AG Chambers have levied a charge against the former Menteri Besar of Perak, Dato’ Seri Mohd Nizar bin Jamaluddin, based on the recording of one of his ceramahs in 2012, for allegedly criminally defaming the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. If the charge against Nizar is truly necessary, just and fair, Zahid will not be immune for his baseless accusation and attack against the DAP.

YB Wong Kah Woh

DAP Perak State Sectary

ADUN Canning

25.09.2014

Ramai Warga Emas & Ibu Tunggal Memerlukan Bantuan Kerajaan, Tetapi Peruntukan Kerajaan Tidak Mencukupi Untuk Membantu semua Pemohon Yang Benar-benar Memerlukannya

Kenyataan Media YB V.Sivakumar Ahli Parlimen Batu Gajah pada 19/9/2014 di Taman Badrishah, Ipoh

Telah mengadakan perjumpaan dengan rakyat di Taman Badrishah Ipoh pada 19/9/2014 dari jam 7pm himgga 9.30pmLebih kurang 50 orang daripada taman itu telah keluar untuk memberi pelbagai aduan dan memohon bantuan.

Ahli-ahli DAP Batu Gajah telah mendengar dan membantu mereka yang membuat aduan pada petang itu.

Antara masalah yang paling ketara ialah mengenai permohonan bantuan kebajikan.

Ramai diantara yang datang adalah dengan harapan untuk memperolehi bantuan kewangan daripada Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat

 Memang ramai diantara mereka memerlukan bantuan kerana keadaan sosio ekonomi yang amat mendesak. Terdapat juga kes-kes ibu tunggal dan warga emas yang ditinggalkan oleh anak-anak yang telah berpindah jauh daripada keluarga mereka.


Ada juga yang tidak bekerja dan mengharapkan bantuan pihak ketiga untuk menyara hidup.

Mereka ini tidak dibantu oleh mana-mana pihak. Permohonan yang dibuat sebelum ini juga pernah ditolak oleh jabatan kebajikan masyarakat.

Pejabat saya iaitu Pusat Khidmat DAP Parlimen Batu Gajah akan membantu mereka yang benar-benar memerlukan membuat permohonan bantuan kewangan jabatan kebajikan masyaraka.

Exam paper leaks weaken the Integrity of Malaysian exams

 The annual leakage in examination papers under the Malaysian examination syndicate is undermining the integrity and confidence in the public examinations. These scams are very shameful and unfortunate given the amount of effort, time and preparation put in by students and parents. All the promises of bringing in the culprits behind these leakages to justice have not seen the light of the day. 

The second education minister announced today that UPSR English paper was found to have leaked and the students have to re-sit for this paper. Yesterday UPSR science paper was reported to have been leaked. The science paper of the 2014 primary school achievement test (UPSR) scheduled on the 11th September has been postponed to September 30th after detecting the paper leakage at the last minute. Examination syndicate said that a preliminary investigation showed that the questions for the papers had been circulated over social media.

 Last year 2013 SPM additional mathematics and chemistry papers were said to be leaked. Earlier moral paper was said to be leaked. Promises of probe by police into the leakage in previous years did not yield any outcome so far. In the past the education ministry blamed private tutors, cleaners and security guards for examination paper leakages. But the mishap still continues to add more stress and pain to parents, students and teachers.
 No official in the examination syndicate has ever held responsible for these leakages. As usual the education minister who is also the deputy prime minister apologized for the scam. When the SPM papers leaked last year the same deputy prime minister apologized too. What happened to the probe by police? What action taken to strengthen the security of these papers? Where is the weak link in the examination paper preparation? In fact the ministry of education announced the formation of task force to probe into the leakages. No news forthcoming on the probe till now.

 The general public has not seen any visible action taken to restore public confidence in the public education system. Mere apology without any concrete action to reprimand education ministry officers’ responsible and not taking corrective action is useless. Talking hard at the time of leakage and forgetting the issue in due course fades the confidence and interest in the public examination. Ministry of Education need to make every effort to track down and expose the perpetrators and make the offence and punishment publicly known. Secured and leakage proof examination is top priority to restore the integrity and confidence in the education system.

S.Ramakrishnan

(former senator)

11/9/2014

P.Waythamoorthy Meletak Jawatannya Sebagai Timbalan Menteri Di Jabatan Perdana Menteri, Siapakah Yang Mengambill Alih Portfolionya?

Kenyataan Media YB V.Sivakumar Ahli Parlimen Batu Gajah & Timbalan Pengerusi DAP Perak pada 15 Sept 2014 di Taman Badrishah, Ipoh.

Saya ingin bertanya kepada Perdana Menteri samada kerajaan Barisan Nasional benar-benar serius dalam menangani masalah sosio-ekonomi kaum India di negara ini. Setakat ini tidak ada apa-apa 'blue print' yang konkrit untuk membantu dan membangunkan iktisad masyarakat India.

Hanya terdapat janji-janji kosong yang ditaburkan oleh kerajaan sebelum pilihanraya umum untuk mendapat sokongan kaum India. Selepas pilihanraya masyarakat India telah dilupakan sama sekali. Bantuan yang diberikan untuk kaum India adalah terlalu sedikit yang pastinya tidak mungkin dapat melepaskan masyarakat itu daripada belenggu kemiskinan.

Setiap pemimpin India daripada pelbagai parti komponen Barisan Nasional hanya memperdayakan masyarakat India untuk kepentingan politik masing-masing. Ada juga pemimpin-pemimpin utama seperti Datuk Seri G. Palanivel yang tidak berani menyuarakan aspirasi masyarakat India malah ramai yang menganggapnya sebagai seorang pemimpin yang takut kepada bayang-bayangnya sendiri.

 Masyarakat India telah kehilangan pelbagai hak warganegara kerana pemimpin-pemimpinnya yang tidak berani menentang kerajaan yang diketuai oleh UMNO. Mereka terpaksa menjadi 'pak angguk' ataupun 'yes boss' kepada Perdana Menteri dan Menteri-menteri UMNO untuk menjaga kerusi dan kedudukan masing-masing. Agenda ekonomi kaum India telah dilupakan oleh pemimpin-pemimpin ini sama sekali. Perbuatan mereka ini seolah-olah 'ayam hitam terbang malam' melupakan tanggungjawab dan melakukan semua perbuatan jahat secara tersembunyi.



Apa sudah terjadi dengan jawatan Timbalan Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri yang diberikan kepada P.Waythamoorthy selepas PRU13? Beliau telah meletak jawatan itu setelah sedar baha beliau dan masyarakat India telah sekali lagi dipermainkan oleh Barisan Nasional yang dipimpin oleh Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

 Tetapi, adakah perletakan jawatan itu boleh menyelesaikan masalah masyarakat India? Siapakah yang sebenarnya rugi kalau bukan masyarakat India? Apakah ruginya kepada kerajaan Barisan Nasional? Barisan Nasional akan berasa lebih seronok dengan perletakan jawatan itu.

Saya telah membangkitkan satu soalan lisan untuk dijawab oleh Perdana Menteri dalam persidangan Parlimen yang akan bermula pada 7 Oktober 2014. Saya minta Perdana Menteri menyatakan tentang status jawatan Timbalan Menteri yang diberikan kepada pemimpin Hindraf P. Waythamoorthy. Siapakah yang telah dilantik oleh kerajaan untuk mengambil alih portfolio yang diberikan kepada P.Waythamoorthy yang telah meletak jawatan. Adakah agenda sosio-ekonomi masyarakat India diteruskan oleh Jabatan Perdana Menteri dan apakah fungsi-fungsinya. Nyatakan juga perkara-perkara yang telah dicapai dan akan dilaksanakan dalam tempoh terdekat.

Tidak ada gunanya untuk pemimpin-pemimpin India daripada Barisan Nasional untuk merebut jawatan Timbalan Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri jika tidak ada satu hala tuju atau 'blue print' yang diterima dan diiktiraf perlaksanaannya oleh kerajaan. Jawatan itu sahaja tidak akan membawa apa-apa keuntungan kepada masyarakat India. Malah, ianya akan disalah gunakan untuk kepentingan sendiri yang amat merugikan masyarakat India.

Kerajaan Harus Mendengar Dan Lebih Prihatin Dalam Menangani Isu Kejatuhan Harga Getah Yang Melibatkan Kesengsaraan Ekonomi 427,000 Orang Pekebun Kecil

Kenyataan Media YB V.Sivakumar Ahli Parlimen Batu Gajah & Timbalan Pengerusi DAP Perak pada 7 September 2014 di Ipoh

 Getah merupakan komoditi perdagangan yang penting bagi Malaysia dari dahulu lagi. Pada suatu ketika dahulu getah menjadi tulang belakang ekonomi negara kita. Pada masa ini, walaupun getah tidak lagi menjadi komoditi perdagangan utama kita, tetapi sumbangannya dalam urusniaga antarabangsa tidak boleh diperkecilkan.

Masih lagi ramai terutamanya pekebun-pekebun kecil getah masih bergantung kepada industri ini sebagai bekalan pendapatan utama bagi menyara hidup mereka. Kini, Malaysia merupakan negara kelima terbesar di dunia menghasilkan 845,000 tan metrik getah asli setahun.

Masalah yang amat ketara dalam sektor tanaman getah ialah mengenai harga pasaran bagi getah. Harga getah adalah amat bergantung kepada mekanisme keseimbangan diantara permintaan dan penawaran di pasaran antarabangsa. Ketidak stabilan harga merupakan merupakan satu risiko besar dalam pasaran komoditi.

 Perkara ini memang tidak dapat dielakkan oleh negara-negara yang terlibat dalam pasaran ini. Malaysia, Thailand dan Indonesia merupakan pengeluar getah asli yang utama di dunia. Ketiga-tiga negara ini menghasilkan hampir 70% daripada pengeluaran getah asli dunia.

Harga pasaran getah ditentukan oleh permintaan dan penawaran di pasaran antarabangsa. Selain daripada mekanisme penentuan harga melalui permitaan dan penawaran terdapat juga beberapa faktor lain yang turut mempengaruhi harga getah seperti ekonomi antarabangsa, sosio-politik global, kewujudan stok, pertukaraan mata wang asing dan spekulasi pasaran getah. Penawaran getah juga boleh berubah-ubah mengikut keadaan.

Pada masa ini hampir 70% daripada getah yang dihasilkan digunakan dalam industri membuat tayar. China merupakan negara pengguna utama getah asli iaitu 40% daripada penawaran dibeli oleh negara tersebut. Ini adalah kerana China merupakan salah sebuah negara yang giat mengeluarkan tayar. Pada masa ini boleh dikatakan kira-kira 30% daripada tayar global datangnya daripada negara China.

Pengunaan getah di China telah meningkat kepada 4.15 juta tan pada tahun 2013 berbanding dengan hanya 2.84 juta tan pada tahun 2007 iaitu peningkatan sebanyak 46%. Oleh yang demikian, harga geta pada hari ini amat dipengaruhi oleh permintaan negara tersebut.

Memang tidak dapat dinafikan permintaan untuk getah asli berkadar langsung dengan industri automotif. Ini bermakna jika sekiranya industri automotif berkembang, permintaan untuk getah asli juga akan turut bertambah. Sebaliknya, jika industri automotif menjadi mundur, ini akan pasti menurunkan permintaan untuk getah. Pada dasarnya permintaan untuk getah adalah berkait terus dengan industri aotomotif dunia yang sebahagian besarnya dikawal oleh China, Amerika Syarikat, Jepun dan Kesatuan Eropah.

Selain daripada itu, getah asli juga terpaksa menghadapi persaingan dengan getah sintetik. Perbezaan harga diantara getah asli dan getah sintetik juga akan menjadi satu lagi faktor yang perlu diambil kira dalam menilai risiko yang dihadapi oleh pengusaha-pengusaha getah asli.

Getah tiruan dihasilkan daripada sejenis bahan mentah iaitu Butadiena. Bahan mentah ini diperolehi daripada proses penapisan petroleum. Jika kos penghasilan dan harga Butadiena meningkat, maka ini sewajarnya meningkatkan permintaan untuk getah asli sebagai pengganti getah tiruan.

Pada masa ini, kita menghadapi masalah penurunan harga getah. Penunurun yang ketara berlaku sejak bulan Jun 2012. Penurunan ini dikatakan berpunca daripada 3 faktor :

1) Krisis hutang negara-negara zon Eropah
2) Kelembaban ekonomi China
3) Pergolakan politik Timur Tengah dan Thailand

Menurut Laporan International Rubber Study Group (IRSG) jumlah stok getah asli sehingga bulan September 2013 berada pada paras 2.09 juta tan iaitu peningkatan sebanyak 13.5% bagi tempoh yang sama pada tahun 2012. Selain daripada itu, peningkatan stok sebanyak 270,000 tan juga direkodkan di Qingdao, China iaitu pelabuhan kemasukan getah ke negara tersebut.

Disamping itu, stok getah di Shanghai Futures Exchange juga berada ada paras 225,000 tan, peningkatan tertinggi sejak tahun 2007. Ini bermakna telah berlaku lambakan stok getah asli di China yang menjadi salah satu punca utama dalam penurunan permintaan untuk getah asli. Ini sememangnya akan menurunkan harga pasaran untuk getah asli.

Selain daripada itu, penutupan kilang-kilang di negara tersebut pada bulan Jan dan Februari 2014 kerana sambutan Tahun Baru Cina juga telah mempengaruhi permintaan untuk getah. Di tambah lagi, isu kelembaban atau kemerosotan pengeluaran kederaan di China dan Amerika Syarikat juga menggangu permintaan untuk getah asli pada bulan Jan 2014. Dikatakan bahawa terdapat lebihan penawaran getah asli sebanyak 384, 000 tan pada tahun 2014.

Kejatuhan harga getah yang dialami sejak bulan Februari 2011 adalah berpunca daripada ketidakseimbangan diantara kadar pertumbuhan penawaran getah asli berbanding dengan kadar pertumbuhan permintaan. Ini diikuti dengan keadaan kemelesetan ekonomi yang dihadapi di kalangan negara-negara pengeluar getah asli yang utama di dunia.

Mengikut rekod, getah asli telah mencapai harga tertinggi iaitu 1717 sen per kg pada 18 Februari 2011. Selepas itu, harga getah asli mulai turun kerana permintaan menjadi semakin lembab. Penurun harga getah ini telah memberi kesan yang amat negatif kepada pekebun-pekebun kecil. Pendapatan mereka telah jatuh dengan banyaknya. Peningkatan kos hidup dan penurunan dalam pendapatan telah amat menggangu status sosio-ekononomi kaum pekebun ini.

Mereka terpaksa menghadapi keperitan hidup tanpa banyak bantuan daripada pihak kerajaan. Walau bagaimapun terdapat juga beberapa langkah yang diambil oleh kerajaan untuk menangani masalah ini. Tetapi, sejauh manakah tindakan-tindakan yang diambil itu dapat membantu pekebun-pekebun kecil getah tersebut?

Sebagai contoh, kerajaan melalui Kementerian Perusahaan Perladangan Dan Komoditi telah memperkenalkan KAT-G iaitu Kad Autoriti Transaksi Getah melalui Lembaga Getah Malaysia. Bagai manakah tindakan ini sebenarnya berkesan dalam membantu pekebun-pekebun kecil menghadapi kesegsaraan ekonomi ? Walaupun jutaan ringgit dibelanjakan oleh kerajaan melalui Skim Bantuan Pendapatan Pekebun Kecil Getah (2001) dan Bantuan Khas Kejatuhan Harga Getah (2013), tetapi masalah yang dihadapi oleh pekebun-pekebun kecil masih meruncing lagi.

Sejauh manakah kerjasama 3 negara iaitu Malaysia, Indonesia dan Thailand yang dikenali sebagai International Tripartite Rubber Council yang memperkenalkan Supply Management Scheme dan Agreed Export Tonnage Scheme membantu menangani masalah penurunan harga getah ini? Walaupun beberapa langkah diambil dalam negeri dan juga melalui hubungan antarabangsa tetapi kesan penurunan harga getah masih lagi menekan golongan pekebun-pekebun kecil ini.

Kerajaan harus mengkaji semula semua langkah-langkah yang telah diambil untuk mengatasi masalah ini. Perkara ini tidak boleh dibiarkan begitu sahaja kerana mangsa-mangsa yang ditampar akibat kejatuhan harga getah adalah pekebun-pekebut kecil yang miskin dan memerlukan bantuan segera daripada kerajaan. Di negara kita terdapat 427,000 orang pekebun kecil yang mengusahakan keluasan tanah kira-kira 1.3juta hektar. Kerajaan harus menggunakan MARDEC dan RISDA untuk mencari jalan penyelesaian dengan segera untuk membantu mereka.

Dalam satu kenyataan yang dibuat oleh Menteri Kemajuan Luar Bandar Dan Wilayah, Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal berkata kerajaan melalui RISDA akan memberi tumpuan untuk meningkatkan produktiviti getah sebagai alat bagi menangani kejatuhan harga getah. Bagaimanakah peningkatan dalam produktiviti getah akan dapat mengatasi masalah penurunan harga getah? Pada hemat saya, peningkatan produktivi dari segi kualiti dan kuantiti penghasilan getah tidak boleh menyelesaikan masalah ini. Harga getah ditentukan oleh pasaran antarabangsa. Malah, peningkatan dalam produktiviti iaitu dari segi kauntiti mungkin akan menjejaskan lagi harga pasaran pada masa hadapan.

Adalah kerajaan bercadang untuk melaksanakan 'social safety net' yang sesuai sebagai satu mekanisme untuk membantu pekebun-pekebun kecil getah? Jika ya, bilakah cadangan ini akan dilaksanakan oleh kerajaan ?

Charging Professor Azmi Sharom under the Sedition Act is a cowardly attack on academic freedom and should be condemned in the strongest possible terms

Media Statement by Dr. Ong Kian Ming, MP for Serdang, on the 3^rd of September 2014

Yesterday, Professor Azmi Sharom, law professor at the University of Malaya was formally charged under Section 4(1)(b) and (c) of the Sedition Act 1948 for his comments in a Malay Mail online news article on the 14^th of August, 2014. This is the section of the article in which he was quoted:[1]

Citing the Perak case, law lecturer Assoc Prof Dr Azmi Sharom cautioned against such action outside the state assembly, and insisted the lawmakers wait until next sitting to indicate their lack of confidence.

“You don’t want a repeat of that, where a secret meeting took place,” the University of Malaya lecturer said, referring to the Perak crisis.

“I think what happened in Perak was legally wrong. The best thing to do is do it as legally and transparently as possible.”

Azmi said the open spectacle of a no-confidence motion would leave Khalid no choice but to resign from his post and possibly call for the dissolution of the state assembly,

“A vote by the house of representative should be done in the house of representative,” said Azmi.

(His quotes are in bold italics)

Professor Azmi was merely stating his academic opinion on what had transpired in Perak in 2009 which led to the fall of the then Pakatan Raykat state government. Many other stronger statements have been made by other academics, lawyers and former judges on the Perak episode and the High Court, Court of Appeal and Federal Court decisions which followed.

For example, distinguished constitutional scholar, Professor Andrew Harding, wrote the following:

But the decision that came down from the Federal Court on the contrary endorses the idea that the fate of the people’s Government can be settled behind the scenes according to who-knows-what secret communications and extraneous considerations which would prevent the voter (or even, in this case, the MB himself) from understanding what had happened and why, and what attitude he or she should take towards the events and the standing of the Government)[2]

Emeritus Professor Shad Saleem Faruqi wrote the following:

The Judiciary has not come out of the Perak crisis well. When the case first reached the courts, a Judicial Commissioner gave judgements that deft understanding.[3]

Constitutional Professor Kevin YL Tan wrote the following:

In my comment “The Perak Crisis: Keep Focused on the Real Issues”, I could not help but note the willingness with which the Court of Appeal Judges were prepared to overturn a trial judge’s findings of fact. The recounting of acts went on for pages on end, and lamentably, the Federal Court did the same thing… The Federal Court castigated the High Court Judge for being perverse in refusing to believe the evidence of the State Legal Adviser and the documentary evidence before him even though they were not present at the trial.[4]

Former Court of Appeal judge, NH Chan, wrote the following:

The unconstitutional appointment of Zambry to the post makes him an imposter. This is a blatant unconstitutional exercise of a non-existent executive power by a pretentious constitutional monarch. Are we back to the days of the pretensions of King Charles I?[5]

Lawyer, Amer Hamzah Arshad, wrote the following:

The difference in treatment between Zambry’s and Nizar’s applications are like heaven and hell. The delay on the part of the Court of Appeal to hear Nizar’s setting aside application, deliberate or otherwise, also provokes one to wonder whether there were hidden hands hell-bent on preventing Nizar from continuing to perform his duties as MB despite the High Court decision which was made a day earlier?[6]

Lawyer, Art Harun, wrote the following:

In my humble view, and I say this with the greatest of respect to HRH the Sultan of Perak, the crisis in Perak was not caused by a lack of power. It was driven by a departure from conventions in the exercise of HRH’s discretion.[7]

(All of the quotes above are taken from “Perak: A State of Crisis, Loyarburok Publications, Petaling Jaya, 2010”)

The quotes above illustrate the fact that lawyers, judges and former judges, and law professors can and will have very strong opinions on a constitutional issue that is as controversial as the events which transpired in Perak in February 2009 and the associated legal cases which occurred in its aftermath. The decisions made to allow the change in government in Perak were heavily criticized as were the basis of the judgements of the Court of Appeal and the Federal Court.

To charge Professor Azmi for expressing his academic opinion on the Perak issue in relation to the current political crisis in Selangor is mind boggling and a direct assault on academic freedom. If academics in Malaysia were to be targeted for expressing their academic opinions on controversial issues in the country, it would be akin to putting a muzzle on academia. This is a cowardly act and I condemn it in the strongest possible terms. I call on all others who value academic freedom, in and outside Malaysia, to do the same.

Nasib 745 Pelajar Cemerlang Tidak Patut Dipertaruhkan Oleh Kerajaan Jika Benar-benar Prihatin Tentang Masa Hadapan Mereka.

Kenyataan Media YB V.Sivakumar Ahli Parlimen Batu Gajah & Timbalan Pengerusi DAP Perak di Majlis Jamuan Makan Malam DAP Cawangan Lahat sempena Sambutan Hari Merdeka pada 30 Ogos 2014 di Dewan Orang Ramai Lahat

Apakah nasib 745 orang pelajar yang mendapat CGPA 4.00 tetapi gagal mendapat tempat dalam jurusan perubatan di Institut-institit Pengajian Tinggi Awam? Anak-anak kita yang telah bertungkus lumus membakar pelita untuk mencapai cita-cita mereka untuk menjadi doktor. Tetapi, usaha dan harapan mereka terkecai apabila mereka mendapat tawaran membuat jurusan lain di Unviesiti-universiti awam. Mereka diminta untuk membuat rayuan jika tidak puas hati oleh Kementerian Pendidikan. Tetapi, berapakah di antara mereka ini akan dipertimbangkan rayuannya?

Saya rasa simpati dan terharu dengan nasib pelajar-pelajar yang gagal mendapat tempat di jurusan perubatan pada tahun ini. Mereka tidak mampu berbuat apa-apa kecuali mengikuti kursus lain yang ditawarkan kepada mereka. Bagi mereka yang datang daripada keluarga yang berada, masalah ini boleh diselesaikan dengan menghantar anak-anak ke institusi-institusi pengajian tinggi swasta. Tetapi, bagi keluarga yang miskin, pilihan untuk menghantar anak mereka memasuki universiti-universti swata adalah anggan-anggan sahaja. Ini adalah kerana kos pembelajaran yang sangat tinggi melampaui batas kemampuan mereka.

Alasan bahawa Malaysia menghadapi lambakan doktor adalah tidak munasabah. Jika benar kita sedang menghadapi lambakan doktor, kenapa pula banyak institusi-institusi pengajian tinggi swasta diberi lesen untuk menawarkan kursus perubatan? Adalah tidak logik apabila kita membuka banyak universiti-universti swasta yang menawarkan kursus perubatan padahal negara kita dikatakan menghadapi lambakan doktor.

Pada pandangan saya, alasan lambakan doktor ini dibuat semata-mata untuk menjustifikasi pengurangan pengambilan pelajar-pelajar baru di universiti-universiti awam pada tahun 2014. Pada tahun ini hanya 418 pelajar yang mendapat keputusan cemerlang diberi tawaran untuk memasuki jurusan perubatan berbanding dengan tahun 2011 seramai 983 pelajar diberi peluang tersebut. Ini bermakna telah berlaku pengurangan sebanyak 565 tempat perubatan di universiti-universiti awam dalam tempoh 3 tahun.

Saya ingin mengetahui berapakah jumlah pengambilan pelajar-pelajar di universiti-universti swasta di seluruh negara bagi tahun 2011, 2012, 2013 dan 2014. Soalan ini akan saya bangkitkan melalui soalan lisan Dewan Rakyat yang akan mula bersidang pada 7 Oktober 2014. Saya juga mahu mendapatkan penjelasan yang sebenar daripada Menteri Pendidikan supaya perkara ini tidak diputar belitkan oleh mana-mana pihak dengan fakta-fakta yang salah.