Bersih admits lost crowd control

Bersih admits lost crowd control

Protestors breaking the barriers surrounding Dataran Merdeka. — Picture by Choo Choy May

KUALA LUMPUR, April 28 — Bersih admitted it lost control of the tens of thousands on the streets of the capital today when protesters failed to adhere to strict instructions not to breach the police barricade surrounding Dataran Merdeka.

Steering committee member Wong Chin Huat told The Malaysian Insider that Bersih chairman Datuk Ambiga Sreenavasan had ordered the crowd to disperse some time after 2pm but this message did not reach the crowd of thousands gathered outside the square.

People surrounded the police car which was overturned by protestors.

"The dismissal was announced but they could not hear. Ambiga could have been at one end and they could not hear it," he said, adding that the Bersih co-chair had marched from her meeting point at Central Market and reached Jalan Tun Perak near Dataran Merdeka when she told the crowd to disperse.

When the rally continued, said Wong, Bersih leaders and security personnel from PAS's Unit Amal failed to hold back protesters from proceeding to breach the barricade, which the election watchdog group had earlier promised it would not do today.

Following the breach, the Federal Reserve Unit and hundreds of riot police sprung into action, raining down chemical-laced water and tear gas canisters upon protesters who were running in droves towards the square.

The coalition of 84 civil societies also called for investigations into the violence that took place, pledging to give full co-operation to the police.

Ambiga told a press conference that the some 250,000 to 300,000 protesters who turned up were "extremely well-behaved and excellent," until "someone" pushed through the barriers in front of Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) leading to Dataran Merdeka.

"The turnout itself was a success as we received so much support. Everything was going fine until someone broke through the barriers — which we do not support at all — and thus provoked the tear gas.

"We want the police to fully investigate all who engaged in violence. This was not what we wanted at all," the former Bar Council president said.

Police had fired water cannons and tear gas on demonstrators who pushed through the barricade in front of DBKL, resulting in chaos on the streets.

Some of the 15,000-strong crowd, led by PKR deputy president Azmin Ali, broke down the barriers and moved towards the historic square, leading to police firing chemical-laced water and tear gas canisters.

Police fired as far as the DBKL premises, which are across Jalan Parlimen, and the move broke up the crowd at Dataran who fled helter-skelter.

Angry protestors later attacked a police car which then crashed into at least two people while trying to flee.

The angry crowd then surrounded the policemen but volunteers from PKR's Jingga 13 formed a human shield around the officers, saying "don't blame them, it's not their fault."

After an ambulance took away the injured policemens, the protestors flipped the car over on its side but then fled after tear gas was fired.

Unresolved dispute over the Election Commission’s (EC) credibility

Unresolved dispute over the Election Commission's (EC) credibility

 

The much-anticipated face-off between Datuk Ambiga Sreenavasan and Khairy Jamaluddin last night resulted in an , with both parties taking turns to either trash or defend the country's election regulator.

On the one hand, Ambiga insisted on the EC's resignation, claiming the body's lethargic efforts and "lame excuses" for true electoral reform were proof that it could not be trusted.

Ambiga (left) and Khairy in thoughtful poses during their debate on April 25, 2012. — Picture by Jack Ooi

In response, Khairy said it was Ambiga who could not be trusted, saying her stubborn refusal to accept any effort taken by the EC proved that the civil society leader has been "misrepresenting" the reasons to hold Bersih 3.0 this Saturday.

"I came here tonight expecting a spirit of co-operation and reasoning.

"But ultimately, if you have already said we cannot work with the EC and want their resignation, then it is a foregone conclusion," he said.

The duo spewed countless figures and technical information to disprove one another, forcing the event into an exchange of reasons why the EC should or should not be believed.

They were perpetually interrupted by cheers and heckles from the highly-charged crowd of at least 1,000 spectators, many of whom were clear supporters of either contenders — Ambiga, the well-known civil society leader and Bersih co-chair, or Khairy, the fiery Oxford graduate and leader of the youths in the ruling Umno.

Neither, however, were announced the winner at the end of the intense 90-minute debate, the first such event to be held amid anticipation over Bersih's impending rally for free and fair elections this Saturday.

During the verbal duel, Khairy accused the election watchdog group of being pre-emptive and prejudicial to the EC's efforts for reform.

He disputed Bersih's claim that the EC had failed to satisfy the prime minister's reform pledges, insisting that at least seven out of the group's eight reform demands have either been implemented or are in the process of implementation.

"I put it to you, unlike Ambiga, that of the eight demands, seven have been met or are being addressed," he said.

"The electoral roll is being cleaned up, indelible ink implemented... the only thing is the 10-day campaign period.

"For free and fair access to media, as a Barisan Nasional (BN) MP, I support all parties given the same amount of time on all national media to tell the rakyat their policy platform and manifesto — let's be fair about that," he said.

Khairy added that many of the recommendations in the Parliamentary Select Committee's (PSC) final report were "time-bound", such as the three-month timeframe given for the EC to look into a suitable system for overseas voters.

"So why go out on the streets? I respect your right to go out but you are pre-judging and misrepresenting," he said.

But Ambiga disagreed, citing the 10 major problems in the EC's electoral roll as highlighted by academic Dr Ong Kian Ming in his Malaysian Electoral Roll Analysis Project (MERAP) preliminary findings.

She noted that according to the study, there are at least 3.1 million voters whose IC addresses show different voting constituencies from the one which they are actually voting in.

"Also, there are about 65,455 foreigners on the electoral roll. A total of 106,743 cases of deletions and 6,672 cases of additions without public display to the roll from Quarter 4 2010 to Quarter 3 last year.

"The 3.1 million is very troubling because this information was actually given to the EC by the National Registration Department (NRD) in 2002 but the EC did nothing," she said.

"The 65,455 foreigners... some removed, some added without the rolls displayed... It leaves us with a lot of doubt over whether they are actually cleaning the roll," she added.

The former Bar Council chairman, who earned hoots from the crowd as she spoke, pointed out that the EC has only been harping on the existence of some 42,051 "doubtful voters" in the roll, which it discovered after its registry was cross-checked with the NRD's records.

"Don't forget, they even downplayed this figure, saying 0.3 per cent margin of error is nothing... This is highly irresponsible, given that in the election, the margins between winning and losing is very small.

"You could knock over the state government of Selangor with 42,000 votes," she pointed out.

In his rebuttal, Khairy said if the 42,051 were indeed fraudulent cases, the EC would not have put the voters' names on public display for three months after discovering them.

He said the voters were not non-existent but were merely those who had failed to update their IC records with the NRD.

"But Bersih would have you believe they are fraudulent," he charged, to loud applause.

Further to this, Khairy pointed out that during the three-month public display period, 1,248 cases came forward to confirm the names on the roll.

"If not a single one came forward, then I'd go with Ambiga... Strike them off. But they came forward, over 1,000 names," he said.

He pointed out that if the EC had decided to strike off the names of the 42,051 voters from the roll, they would have been denying these citizens their constitutional right to vote.

Ambiga, however, called this a "lame excuse", pointing out that election laws state that the EC must revise the supplementary roll once every three months by making house-to-house calls or sending notices requiring updated information from the voters.

"If no information is returned, they are entitled to strike out these names. Why not use it?

"On the one hand, they are violating the Constitution but when it comes to removing voters, they are suddenly coy and respectful of the Constitution," she said.

Both leaders also clashed in their views on overseas voting, with Khairy pointing out that the EC has three months to find a formula for the best voting system while Ambiga said this should have been done years ago.

"We have had Malaysians overseas for years. Why only now? And what is this about it being a logistical nightmare? They must have this sorted before the polls," she said.

Ambiga later agreed with Khairy to engage with the EC further on all outstanding issues regarding electoral reforms but said the discussion must be attended by MPs from both sides of the political divide.

But the leader repeatedly stressed on the need for reforms to be implemented before the coming polls or if this could not be done within months, then the election should be delayed.

Bersih is holding its third rally for free and fair elections at Dataran Merdeka from 2pm this Saturday.

 

 

 

SOURCE:    http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/litee/malaysia/article/ec-credibility-focal-point-of-ambiga-khairy-debate

 

 

*****************************************************************************************************************************************************************

 

 

 

 

 

安美嘉指四万可疑选民冰山一角
凯里却轰净选盟误导民众上街头

王德齐 2012年4月25日 晚上11点22分

凌晨2点10分更新

距离净选盟428静坐抗议只剩不到72小时，逾4万可疑选民的问题今晚成为了净选盟联合主席安美嘉和巫青团团长凯里台上辩论的激烈交锋点之一。

安美嘉试图以选委会和国民登记局稽查所发现的4万2000名可疑选民，以及民间研究所揭发的邮寄选民、选民性别错乱等问题，来证明我国选举充满弊端，而这些问题只是冰山一角。

不过，凯里却出示净选盟的传单，紧咬净选盟指责这4万2000名可疑选民是选举"舞弊"（fraud）的说辞。凯里甚至争辩说，这些案件其实都是选民"没有更新身份证的问题"，并炮轰净选盟"误导事实"（misrepresentation of facts），来促使民众走上街头。

他也表示，这些案件充其量只是"例外个案"（exception），不能就此断定选举充满舞弊。

这4万2000名可疑选民都是去年由选委会和国民登记局联手调查得出，他们都是国民登记局记录里"不活跃"的公民，因此被怀疑可能已经逝世。

避谈大选之前落实改革

凯里也在辩论中频频扮演选委会的"辩护士"，并主动攻击对手，怒斥安美嘉（左图）和净选盟不愿信任选委会，拒绝通过坐下来会谈的方式讨论和解决问题，相反却诉诸静坐抗议来对抗。

尽管安美嘉点出现今选举改革最大的问题，其实是政府和选委会不愿明确保证会在来届大选之前落实所有改革建议，但是凯里却避谈这个问题，并且也自嘲不是首相，因此无权给予保证。

安美嘉和凯里今晚是受英文报章《马来邮报》邀请，在万达镇俱乐部礼堂针对选举改革问题进行面对面的激烈交锋。这场题为"选举改革是否足够"的辩论，总共吸引超过600名民众到场聆听，一些不得其门而入的民众甚至被迫站在礼堂外，通过直播电视来跟进辩论的发展。

辩论的主持人是演说者基金的代表莫哈末尤努斯（Muhammad Yunus Zakariah）。他一开始给予安美嘉和凯里15分钟表达立场，然后就接受观众的提问，让双方直接互动和对辩。

由于主持人并未多加限制安美嘉和凯里发言，因此整个辩论过程也显得火辣，双方频频针对多个问题针锋相对。

4万选民足让雪州变天

安美嘉一开始就叙述政治学者王建民通过"大马选民册分析计划"（Merap）所揭发的问题，来证明我国选民册充满弊端。这包括超过1000名选民超过100岁、19名选民在1900年之前出现、1万5855名选民选民册上的性别和身份证号码上的性别不同，以及16万7000名选民是在外国出生。她也强调，这些案件只是冰山一角。

她接着表示，这些案例其实还不包括选委会自行发现的选民册问题，包括4万2000名可疑选民，以及310万名选民没有在身份证上的地址投票。

"我关注的是选委会似乎只是关注这4万2000名可以选民的问题，相反有问题的选民却是超过300万。而且，他们一直淡化这4万2000名选民的问题，一直声称这是很小的数目，这是非常不负责任。"

"就如（政治学者兼净选盟委员）黄进发的研究，4万2000名选民就已经足以推翻雪州政府。"

她也指出，选民册的其他问题还包括邮寄选民，以及100万名海外选民被剥夺投票权的问题。

凯里轰安美嘉未审先判

不过，凯里随后发言时却反驳说，尽管双方都认同公平与干净选举的诉求，但是安美嘉发动428静坐抗议的决定，已经如同对政府正在推行的选举改革"未审先判"，抢先认为来届大选是最肮脏的大选。

他为政府辩护说，净选盟的8大选举改革诉求中，其实已经有7项已经获得国会特委会的落实或处理，只有一项是没有无法获得满足，就是净选盟要求最少21天竞选期，而国会特委会只是建议最少10天的竞选期。

他也出示净选盟的宣传传单，表示该联盟对于静坐抗议的理由，拥有"误导事实"的说法。

"安美嘉，为什么你要对这些改革未审先判，并走上街头？我捍卫你集会的自由，但是我并不支持你的呼吁。你为什么要未审先判？你为什么要预设立场？更重要的是，你已经误导人民为什么要走上街头！"

只是错在没更新身份证

凯里指出，传单当中其中一个误导的说法就是指责4万2000名可疑选民都是舞弊。他强调，这批可疑选民其实都是选委会自行要求国民登记局进行稽查，并且发现他们没有更新登记局里面的记录，但是净选盟已经一口咬定这些可疑选民是中央政府和选委会所犯下的舞弊，因此必须被剔除。

他表示，根据本身向选委会的了解，选委会其实已经展示可疑选民册长达3个月，总共有1248人挺身而出，其中55%选民证明他们还活着，而另外45%则由亲属证明已经死亡。他说，这些案例其实都是合法的案例，他们只不过是没有更新身份证，或是投报亲人的死亡。

"他们唯一做错的就是没有更新身份证资料，但是安美嘉却指责他们是舞弊选民，并要求剔除他们的名字。如果选委会真的剔除他们的名字，那么选委会将会抵触法律和宪法，否决他们宪赋的投票权力。"

"安美嘉，我要再问你，在这4万2000个例子当中，你能否告诉当地有哪一些案件是舞弊选民，还是他们有可能是合法选民？这个例子已经显示你安美嘉要求人民在这个星期六走上街头的理由是不真实，而且也是误导事实。

对此，安美嘉驳斥说，选委会至今仍称本身无法采取任何行动来清除这4万2000名可疑选民是一个站不住脚的借口，因为法律有授权选委会通过沿户拜访和发信通知的方式，来鉴定一名选民是否合法选民。

反讥卡立也没更新地址

她也重申，这些问题其实只是冰山一角，因为选民册还有很多的问题，包括300万名选民没有在身份证地址投票，以及尚在世的选民名字突然从选民册中消失。此外，国会特委会本身也曾建议要成立一个皇委会，来调查沙巴州外国选民的问题。

"如果不是有舞弊，为什么国会特委会要成立皇委会来调查沙巴州的问题？"

双方随后也继续把焦点转向雪州大臣卡立被选委会没有通知的情况下，就从雪州灵南区国会议席移至吉隆坡班台谷国会议席的争议。

凯里辩称，卡立真正投票的选区应该是班台谷，因为其八打灵16/2路的住址其实是属于吉隆坡范围内，所以当选委会开始使用电子地理执法系统之后，他们就作出纠正，把他移至正确的选区。

"我只是怪责选委会没有通知卡立。这并不是搬迁选民的问题，这只是你研究谷歌地图后，发现他其实是属于班台谷国会议席。"

他也趁机讥讽，卡立其实是安美嘉所指的310万名没有在身份证登记地址投票的选民。

"他已经不是住在八打灵16/2路，他现在是住在沙亚南官邸，他之前也住在白沙罗。如果连他都没有更换地址，你还能说什么？"

坚称民众受净选盟误导

尽管一名观众随后质疑凯里漠视更大的选举舞弊问题，但是凯里还是坚称，他认为民众已经受到净选盟的系列误导。

"我不是指你纯粹因为4万2000名可疑选民而走上街头，而是指你受到系列的误导而走上街头。我已经点出数个问题，包括4万2000名可疑选民、9342名选民好像卡立纠正选区的问题，以及310万名选民好像卡立不要更新地址的案例。"

"如果这些案例都是误导事实，那么其他的案件又如何？"

安美嘉则反驳说，凯里只是一味抨击她和净选盟"误导民众"，而她和凯里最大的分别就是后者一味相信选委会的说辞，而她并不对选委会抱有任何信任。

 

 

5課題等火箭巨頭回應 謝順海促表明立場

5課題等火箭巨頭回應 謝順海促表明立場

 
 

（亞羅士打25日訊）民政黨吉打州聯委會主席謝順海促請行動黨重量級領袖如秘書長林冠英、雪州議長拿督鄧章欽及副財政倪可敏週四晚出席吉打州行動黨籌募第十三屆大選基金晚宴時，能夠表明行動党的立場，並回應最近困擾吉打州民的5大課題。

他所強調的5大課題為（1）在本月17日州立法議會通過修改的2008年吉州伊斯蘭顧問（MUFTI）和伊斯蘭法學家裁決委員會（FATWA）權限法案、（2）道路撥款去向、（3）吉打英莎尼亞宗教大學事宜、（4）零廉價屋，及（5）50％房屋固打。

也是德卡區州議員的他週三早上在該黨青年團團長陳慶亮等人陪同下召開記者會時說，吉打州議會通過修改的2008年吉州伊斯蘭顧問和伊斯蘭法學家裁決委員會權限法案期間，全體國陣議員，包括民政、馬華與巫統議員都大力反對，惟，行動党和公正党的州議員卻噤若寒蟬。

"雖然行動黨明知此法案不只將影響穆斯林，也會影響非穆斯林，但卻懼怕于伊斯蘭党，而不敢站起來與國陣一起反對，只好眼睜睜讓這法案順利通過。"

他說，身為哥打達魯阿曼區州議員的行動党吉打州主席李源益竟厚臉皮的在州議會結束後，跳出來辯解說當時自己來不及出聲發言反對，這根本就是無稽可笑。

 
 

非議火箭不敢反伊黨

 
 

"當時李源益是有機會辯論祝賀元首登基御詞，可是他卻沒有發表任何反對言論，可見他根本就是不敢針對此法案發言反對，而不是所謂的來不及發言，這也明顯看出行動党在民聯政府內是沒有地位，只能一味服從伊斯蘭党的為所欲為。"

他強調，伊斯蘭党很明顯的正逐步將吉打州伊斯蘭化，邁向神權州，但行動党和公正党卻根本無心無力阻止該情況的惡化，甚至只能屈服于伊斯蘭党的權威下，扮演著傀儡的角色。

他促請行動党領袖應該借此千人宴會的機會向在308大選時支持行動黨和民聯的吉打州人民解釋，並表明立場，是否同意伊斯蘭党的如此做法，及向人民交代清楚是否認同李源益的做法。

吉打州政府是在本月17日州立法議會上，以朝野議員聲浪大小聲表決方式 ，通過修改2008年吉州MUFTI和FATWA權限法案。

有關法案是將2008年的MUFTI和FATWA的權限條規修正為2012年22A條規。在這修正條規下，MUFTI和FATWA所提供的意見和決定，不管是否憲報上公佈，都不得被挑戰、求情、被檢討、被否定和被任何民事法庭和伊斯蘭法庭挑戰。

 
 

逾2億中央撥款去哪

 
 

謝順海說，根据吉打州議會的書面回答，吉打州政府于2009年至2011年的3年內獲得的中央政府撥款以用于提升道路用途，總額高達3億9308万5348令吉，但州政府動用在道路維修方面卻只是1億5103万4480令吉，剩餘下的2億4205万868令吉到底去了哪裡？用在什么方面？

因此，他促請行動党中央領袖，特別是向來自詡透明度的林冠英和倪可敏，向李源益詢問進一步詳情。之後趁著千人宴向廣大的吉打州人民交代，讓人民能清楚了解到底吉打州民聯州政府把這些中央政府的撥款用在了哪些關係到人民的福利用途方面。

 
 

宗教大學料年耗逾億

 
 

謝順海說，州政府在興建英莎尼亞宗教大學期間，總共貸款3億3000万令吉，而每年必須攤還4400万令吉，加上該大學的行政開銷，估計每年開銷高達一億令吉。

他說，在這樣情況下，吉打州政府每年的財政預算案，到底還有剩下多少是真正用在提升人民福利方面，尤其是非穆斯林的華、印裔人民？

他透露，民聯從2008年執政吉打至今，未見廉價屋。截至2011年10月31日，有2万5759人向州政府登記，以申請廉價屋。

 
 

 
 

DAP senator says 'no' to Bersih rally at Dataran

DAP senator says 'no' to Bersih rally at Dataran

Senator Tunku Abdul Aziz Tunku Ibrahim has become the first Pakatan
Rakyat leader to oppose having the Bersih 3.0 rally at Dataran
Merdeka.

Tunku Abdul Aziz, who is also DAP vice-chairperson, said he is opposed
to street demonstrations and warned that the event planned for this
Saturday will cause chaos.

"They all start with peaceful intentions, no one want to cause
chaos... But it can turn out to be violent and when that happens, who
will be responsible?" he said.

Speaking to reporters at the Parliament lobby, Tunku Abdul Aziz said
it "irresponsible" of opposition lawmakers to support holding the
rally at Dataran Merdeka because he believes act violates the law.

He added that Bersih should take up the authorities' offer for an
alternative venue as they are better at deciding security concerns.

"The whole idea is to protest. Why does it matter where? DBKL is the
owner of (Dataran Merdeka)," he said.

Personal opinion

Asked if his views goes against the constitutional right to peaceful
assembly, Tunku Abdul Aziz said he has "all (his) adult life" been a
defender of individual freedoms and human rights.

"I am not opposed to assembly, the law provides for us to assemble but
what I'm saying is: Who is responsible for security in our country?
The police.

"Whatever we do, we have to consult the police. If they advise us (to)
change our route (or) should do it somewhere else, that' what we
should do because (they) are an established legal authority," he said.

He also admits that not all laws are good laws but as leaders and
lawmakers, they should push for change in Parliament and not on the
streets.

The 78-year-old, however, noted that this is his personal opinion
which he has raised with his DAP colleague.

He also cannot say if others within Pakatan Rakyat share his views.

"We may be part of any party or organisation but that does not mean we
abandon our conscience," he said.

In face of tyranny

In a related development, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said DAP
fully supports the Bersih rally at Dataran Merdeka and vowed to
mobilise its members.

Lim said that DAP was strongly opposed to the actions and warnings
against the rally by the federal government, especially Kuala Lumpur
City Hall (DBKL).

He said such fear tactics proves that BN's administration is
dictatorial and tyranical.

"As American President Thomas Jefferson said: When a government fears
the people, there is liberty; When the people fear the government,
there is tyranny," he said.

PENJELASAN TENTANG PERUNTUKAN MENAIKI TARAF JALANRAYA

PENJELASAN TENTANG PERUNTUKAN MENAIKI TARAF JALANRAYA YANG DITERIMA DARI KERAJAAN PUSAT

Jumlah peruntukan yang diterima dari Kerajaan Pusat bagi tahun 2009, 2010, 2011.

 

TAHUN 2009 2010 2011

Jumlah RM134,828,673 RM147,575,242 RM110,681,433

 

Peruntukan yang RM54,000,000 RM54,600,000 RM55,000,000

Diluluskan oleh DUN

 

Perbelanjaan untuk RM53,990,770 RM54,355,740 RM42,687,970

Menaiktaraf jalan

 

Baki mengikut RM9,230.66 RM244,263.57 RM12,312,000

Bajet DUN (99.98%) (99.55%) ( 77.6%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jumlah peruntukan yang diterima dari kerajaan pusat bagi tahun 2009,2010,2011

 

TAHUN 2009 2010 2011

Peruntukan kerajaan RM134,828,673 RM147,575,242 RM110,681,433

Pusat

 

Perbelanjaan untuk RM53,990,770 RM54,355,740 RM42,687,970

Menaiktaraf jalan

 

Baki mengikut peruntukan RM80,837,903 RM93,219,502 RM67,993,463

Kerajaan pusat

Jumlah peratusan 40% 36.8% 38.5%

 

Jumlah baki RM242,050,868

(RM242 juta 50 ribu dan 868 ringgit )

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

州政府所提供的道路提升款項盈餘数据如下：－

 

2009年        2010年        2011年                  
         (RM)            (RM)            (RM)                    

 

州议会通过        54,000,000        54,600,000        55,000,000

动用的款额

 

已动用道路        53,990,770        54,355,740        42,687,970 

維修費

 

按照州议会     9,230.66     244,263.57        12,312,000    

议算案的餘款    (99.98%)      (99.55%)        (77.6%)

 

 

 

 

中央撥款        134,828,673        147,575,242  110,681,433

 

 

已动用道路       53,990,770 54,355,740        42,687,970 

維修費

 

动用巴仙率    40%            36.8%        38.5%

 

中央拨下 80,837,903        93,219,502        67,993,463

动用後的餘款    

 

總計餘款  :     242,050,868     （2億4205萬868令吉）

 

 

 

 

 

给吉打州人民一个清楚交待

给吉打州人民一个清楚交待 吉打民政党促行动党中央领袖回应5大课题

 
 

吉打州民政党主席兼德卡区州议员

谢顺海医生

文告

2012年4月25日

 
 

今日召开记者会的目的主要是想趁着行动党中央领袖，包括其秘书长林冠英、邓章钦、倪可敏等将于明天（4月26日）到亚罗士打出席吉打州行动党在吉华独中举办的《筹募第13届大选基金晚宴》之际，能很好地表明行动党的立场，回应最近困扰着吉打州人民的5大课题：

 
 

1. 2012年伊斯兰教顾问和宗教司理事会22A条款修正法案

  相信大家都知道吉打州州议会刚于上星期通过2012年伊斯兰教顾问和宗教司理事会22A条款修正法案。全体国阵议员，包括民政、马华及巫统都站起来发言大力反对，当时国阵议员Dato Ku Rahman辜拉曼 还呼吁执政党的全体州议员做出勇敢的发表良知言论 ，可是行动党和公正党的州议员却噤若寒蝉，虽然明知该项法案将不止影响穆斯林，也会影响到非穆斯林，但却惧怕于伊斯兰党，而不敢站起来与国阵一起连声反对，只好眼睁睁地让该法案顺利通过。所以何来没机会发言，州议会只给三位议员发言是一个谎言。

 身为州议员的吉打州行动党主席李源益竟然还厚脸皮地在州议会结束后，跳出来辩解说当时自己来不及出声发言反对，这根本就是无稽可笑。当时李源益还有机会辩论祝贺苏丹登基元首御词，可是他却没有发表任何反对言论，可见他根本就是不敢针对此法案发言反对，而不是所谓的来不及发言，这也明显看出行动党在民联政府内是没有地位的，只能一味服从伊斯兰党的为所欲为。

  这已经不是第一次发生这样的事件了，伊斯兰党很明显地正逐步将吉打州回教化，迈向神权回教州。可是行动党和公正党却根本无心无力阻止该情况的恶化，甚至只能屈服于伊斯兰党的权威下，扮演着傀儡的角色。

  基于如此的情况，我促请行动党的领袖应该借此千人宴会的机会向在308大选时支持行动党和民联的吉打州人民作出解释，表明立场，是否同意伊斯兰党的如此做法，并向人民交代清楚是否认同行动党李源益不反对2012年伊斯兰教顾问和宗教司理事会22A条款修正法案，如果不认同，则将如何对付在州议会内没有反对该修正法案的李源益。

 
 

2. 道路拨款款项

  根据吉打州议会的书面回答，吉打州政府于2009年至2011年的3年内获得的中央政府拨款以用于提升道路用途，总额高达3亿9308万5348令吉，可是州政府动用在道路维修方面却只是用了1亿5103万4480令吉，那么剩余下的2亿4205万868令吉到底去了哪里？用在什么方面？

 我们要促请行动党中央领袖，特别是向来自诩透明度的行动党秘书长林冠英和倪可敏，向吉打州行动党主席李源益询问进一步详情？然后趁着在千人宴会上致词时向广大的吉打州人民做个清楚交待，让人民可以清楚了解到底吉打州民联州政府把这些中央政府的拨款用在了哪些关系到人民的福利用途方面，还是做了其他政治用途？

 
 

 3. 吉打回教人文大学学院（Kolej Universiti Insaniah）

  由伊斯兰党主导的吉打州民联州政府执意要在吉打州设立一所吉打回教人文大学学院，并总共贷款了3亿3千万，而每年必须摊还4千4百万，再加上该大学的行政开销，估计每年得开销高达1亿。

  在这样的情况下，吉打州政府每年的财政预算案，到底还有剩下多少是真正用在提升人民福利方面的，尤其是非回教徒的华、印裔人民？

 
 

4. 廉价屋

 
 

2008,2009,2010,2011,2012

"0"

一间都没有建

民联执政逾4年未见廉价屋

截至2011年10月31日，有2万5759人向州政府登记，以申请廉价屋，从2008年至2012年没有廉价屋建竣。州政府计划兴建7000个廉价单位以迎合需求，并已向中央政府提出3亿令吉贷款，但至今未获得中央回复。

 
 

 
 

5. 房屋50%估打制的制度

 
 

 308大选时，吉打州人民给予民联三党大力的支持，而他们也对选民作出了许多的承诺，但真正办到的和落实的却又有几项？反而是压迫人民的恶法与不公的回教化政策却接二连三地出现！人民当年支持民联三党，本以为民联三党会兑现承诺造福人民，但如今却受到如此的待遇，真叫当年投选民联三党的人民情何以堪啊？

  我再次郑重希望行动党中央领袖可以勇敢地要求伊斯兰党主导的吉打州民联州政府公开所有用在提升人民福利上的款项数额详情。

 在明晚吉打州行动党在吉华独中举办的《筹募第13届大选基金晚宴》上，我希望行动党中央领袖与其浪费时间再向吉打州人民作出口惠而不实的种种承诺，倒不如清楚地向吉打州人民交代上述事项，让人民得以了解行动党在吉打州政府内到底是为他们做了些什么，争取了什么，还是出卖了什么，损失了什么？

Speak up, Kedah turning into "pure Islamic" state

Tsu Koon dares Guan Eng: Speak up, Kedah turning into "pure Islamic" state

 
 

KUALA LUMPUR- Gerakan president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon today challenged DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng to voice out his stand on the issue of the amendment to the 'Mufti and Fatwa (Kedah) Bill 2012'.

Koh said Guan Eng, who is also Penang Chief Minister, must state his stand whether to support or oppose the amendment as it would give an impact to the non-Muslim people in the state.

"We challenge Lim Guan Eng to voice out his stand on Kedah issue because all the time DAP always criticized on democracy, emphasizing on the need for the judiciary and now the process is going on in Kedah.

"Even non-Muslims are worried and concerned that Kedah is going towards a pure Islamic state but yet not a voice from the DAP on this issue...So, Lim Guan Eng what say you," said Koh during a press conference at the Gerakan Office, here.

Also present were Gerakan Deputy president Datuk Chang Ko Youn and Wanita Gerakan chief Datuk Tan Lian Hoe.

On April 17, the Kedah State Assembly had approved the provisions in the 'Mufti and Fatwa (Kedah) Bill 2012' to replace the 'Mufti and Fatwa (Kedah Darul Aman) Enactment 2008 (Enactment 10)'.

The new law is doubted as it doesn't show the democracy in Pakatan Rakyat since it prevents the Fatwa made by Mufti or Fatwa committee, whether enacted or not, to be challenged, appealed, reviewed or questioned in any civil or syariah court.

Meanwhile, Koh said he would hand over Gerakan's list of candidates for the coming 13th general election to the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on April 30.

 
 

Fatwa Bill passed with ‘majority of voices’

Kedah Speaker: Fatwa Bill passed with 'majority of voices'

 
 

ALOR SETAR: The amendment to the Mufti and Fatwa (Kedah Darul Aman) Enactment 2008 was passed by the state assembly sitting with a "majority of voices".

State assembly Speaker Datuk Dr Abd Isa Ismail said although there were some who did not shout in agreement, the Bill was passed due to the majority of voices.

He claimed that some of those in the House did not agree but the number was small.

The amendment to the enactment provides that a fatwa decided by the state mufti or Fatwa Committee, whether gazetted or not, cannot be challenged, appealed, reviewed, denied or questioned in any civil court or syariah court.

Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak had said that the new provision was to give conclusiveness to any fatwa decided by the committee or mufti.

Kedah Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Paduka Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah said some Barisan backbenchers supported the amendment after listening to the explanation.

"When the amendment was tabled, a number of assemblymen including Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid (Pedu), Datuk Dr Ku Abdul Rahman Ku Ismail (Guar Chempedak), Dr Leong Yong Kong (Gurun) and Dr Cheah Soon Hai (Derga) stood up with questions.

"We stood up to protest the words used in the amendment because we wanted further clarification," he said, adding that the amendment only affected Muslims.

Dr Cheah said the amendment was undemocratic as no one could challenge the mufti or committee.

"A few of us voted by shouting tidak setuju (disagree) but since the majority agreed to it, the Bill was passed," he said.

Barisan has 14 members in the 36-seat state assembly.

 
 

Kedah’s new fatwa ruling anti-democratic — Islamic Renaissance Front

Kedah's new fatwa ruling anti-democratic — Islamic Renaissance Front

 
 

APRIL 19 — The Islamic Renaissance Front (IRF) reads reports of Kedah's new fatwa ruling with alarm. 

According to The Star, the ruling enacted by the Kedah State Assembly on Tuesday will ensure that a fatwa decided by the mufti and fatwa committee "cannot be challenged, appealed, reviewed, denied or questioned in any civil court or syariah court."

This ban against any challenge to all of Kedah's fatwas practically grants the mufti and fatwa committee absolute say in matters concerning religion — a clear breach of democracy. 

What took place on Tuesday, in other words, was nothing less than an exploitation of the democratic process towards authoritarian rule. It also assumes that those in the fatwa committee as infallibles.

The ruling also goes against what a fatwa is supposed to be. A fatwa is not supposed to be bound to any institution. It is not more than a juristic opinion from a mufti. It has no divinity attached to it. Even the great Imam Malik, one of the highest authorities in Sunni tradition after the Companions of the Prophet, prohibited his fatwas in al-Muwatta' to be enacted as the rule of the land at that time. 

Furthermore, that opinions and fatwas must take into account changing times and circumstances, which the new ruling — because it prohibits any review of fatwas — denies. Fatwas in matters of science and medicine, for example, require opinions of experts in such fields, also known as ulama' al-waqi' or context experts and not just ulama' an-nusus or text experts.

Additionally, this ruling also goes against Adab Ikhtilaf (the ethics of disagreement) which has for long been a hallmark of the dynamism and richness of the Islamic intellectual tradition. The principle of Ijtihad which Islam safeguards necessitates that the freedom of conscience and disagreement is also secured in the process. 

In leading to the next general election, PAS has repeatedly told Malaysians that they are now endorsing a welfare state. With this development it appears clear that many among the ranks of the party are still attached to the notion of an authoritarian Islamic state. 

Sympathisers of Pakatan Rakyat have often viewed the coalition as a united front against the fascism of BN that had gripped Malaysian politics for so long. Should the Kedah ruling be all that it's made to be, it only suggests that the supposedly united front still bears its own traces of fascism — in this case Islamic fascism — a clear indication that real change may take much longer than already imagined. 

* This statement is written by Dr Ahmad Farouk Musa, Ahmad Fuad Rahmat, Edry Faizal Eddy Yusof and Muhammad Nazreen Jaafar of the Islamic Renaissance Front.

 
 

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication. The Malaysian Insider does not endorse the view unless specified.

 
 

Azizan defends new fatwa ruling amid growing criticisms

Azizan defends new fatwa ruling amid growing criticisms

 
 

ALOR SeTAR: Amid growing criticisms of the new fatwa ruling passed by the state assembly, Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razakstood his ground and told dissenters they should not politicise the matter.

"We have been discussing this issue for two years because we realise the difference between the mufti and the judicial body can be confusing.

"This amendment has nothing to do with the Madrasah Salihiah surau suit," he said, referring to the legal action against the state government over the development of a shopping mall that would take a portion of the land that houses the surau.

Several quarters had taken the state government to task over the amendment to the Mufti and Fatwa (Kedah Darul Aman) Enactment 2008, which makes it an offence to challenge any religious edict made by the state mufti or the fatwa committee.

Controversial Section 22A provides that any fatwa decided by either the state mufti or the fatwa committee, whether gazetted or not, cannot be challenged, appealed, reviewed, denied or questioned in any civil or syariah court.

Azizan said non-Muslims should not be too worried as the amended enactment does not apply to them.

Meanwhile, the Madrasah Salihah Surau action committee has lodged a police report against the state government, saying the new fatwa ruling has disgraced the Sultan of Kedah and the Malay Sultanate.

Committee chairman Mansor Ahmad said the amended law gives the mufti a power over the Ruler.

Gerakan expressed its fears that the new fatwa ruling could affect non-Muslims as well as undermine democracy and the rule of natural justice.

Bar Council constitutional law committee chairman Syahredzan Johantold an online news portal the amended fatwa enactment was unconstitutional.

He said that it went against the basic principles of a functioning democracy, which underlines the separation of powers between the legislative, executive and judiciary arms of the Government.

Syahredzan added that the state assembly does not possess such powers to usurp the jurisdiction of the courts as enshrined under Article 121 of the Federal Constitution.

 
 

吉州伊斯兰教法令并无一致通过

吉州伊斯兰教法令并无一致通过

民政党吉打州主席及德卡区州议员

谢顺海医生

文告

2012年4月19日

 
 

有关《星报》于2012年4月18日报导"吉打州全面实行伊斯蘭教法"，我在此澄清该项由州务大臣拿督阿兹占阿都拉萨所提呈的修正案在议会里并非一致通过的。

 
 

2012年4月17日所召开的吉打州议会中，我及其他国阵州议员是反对第22A伊斯兰教顾问（Mufti）及伊斯蘭教法条文的，并不是如《星报》在报导中所说的一致通过。

 
 

事实上，我、马哈兹尔卡立、阿末峇沙、苏拉耶、辜拉曼、拉兹、阿兹米、再尼、拉威、纳华威和梁荣光都参与这项修正案的辩论。几乎所有的国阵议员都担心该法令不会公报让人民知道，并产生人为误差、滥权、不公正、专制和影响民主进程，所以都不同意该项修正案。我想赞扬我的同僚，尤其是那些做出勇敢举措的穆斯林代表。所有的民联议员，包括公正党及民主行动党的议员都没参与该项辩论。

 
 

伊斯兰教顾问及伊斯蘭教法2008条文的修正案规定，伊斯兰教顾问所制定的伊斯蘭教法，无论有否公报，任何人都不可在民事或回教法庭挑战、申诉、检讨、否决或质问该项法令。

 
 

当议长宣布赞成该项修正案的议员请说"赞成"时，我清楚听到来自民联一方的议员大声喊出"赞成"。议长接着指示不赞成的一方说出"不赞成"时，我与我的同僚都喊出"不赞成"。之后，议长宣布"赞成"的声音大于"不赞成"，所以该项修正案正式通过。

该项修正案明显是在简单多数情况下通过，绝对不是一致通过。

我已向在亚罗士打的《星报》资深记者传达此事项。我希望编辑能关注此事，并作出必要的澄清。

 
 

Kedah Fatwa Amendment Not Passed Unanimously

With reference of STAR report Kedah makes fatwa absolute Nation 06 today,I would like to categorically denied that the amendment which was tabled by Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak was unanimously passed by the House.

In Kedah state assembly sitting yesterday(17/04/2012),Section 22A of the Mufti & Fatwa Enactment was objected by me and other Barisan Nasional state representatives.It was not approved unanimously as reported in Star today.

In fact my colleagues Mahadzir Khalid,Ahmad Bashah,Suraya,Ku Rahman,Radzhi,Azmi,Zaini,Rawi,Nawawi,Leong and myself have all taken part in the debate of this amendment.Almost all BN assemblymen voicing their disapproval of the amendment,citing gazettement,human error,abuse of power,injustice , autocratic and democratic process.I would like to congratulate my colleagues especially Muslim representatives who had put up such a brave front.All the Pakatan Rakyat representatives including those from PKR & DAP did not take part in the debate.

The mendment in the Mufti and Fatwa(Kedah DarulAman) Enacment 2008 provides that a fatwa decided by the mulfti or the committee,whether gazette or not,cannot be challenged,appealed,reviewed,denied or questioned in any civil or syariah court.

When the Speaker asked those agreed with the amendment,please state "Setuju",I can clearly heard the shout of "Setuju" from the opposite side i.e. from the Pakatan Rakyat.The Speaker continued with those disagreed with the amendment please state "Tak Setuju".I and my colleagues have responded with "Tak Setuju".Then the Speaker announced that the voice of "Setuju" is louder than "Tak Setuju",therefore amendment bill is passed.

It is clear that the amendment is passed with a simple majority and definitely not uninamously.

I have made this note to the senior reporter of Star in Alor Setar.I do hope the editor will take note of this and make the necessary correction.

担忧安全罪行法案侵犯隐私

担忧安全罪行法案侵犯隐私
谢顺海促设投诉委员会监督

 

自中央政府本周二提呈《2012年国家安全罪行（特别措施）法案》以来，民政党德卡州议员谢顺海今日成为首名表达担忧的国阵议员，认为这项取代内安法令的法案极有可能会被警方滥用，来侵犯个人隐私权利。

这是因为我国《刑事法典》将配合《2012年国家安全罪行（特别措施）法案》作出修订，允许警长阶级以上的警察可以在没有搜查令的情况下入屋展开搜查。

也是吉打州民政党主席的谢顺海发表文告表示，警方与民众之间时常产生冲突，也是因为这个搜查权。

"如果搜查可以在没有搜查令的情况下展开，那么它很容易被滥用，而且民众要如何分辨警察的真伪？"

警察搜查前须证明身份

谢顺海建议，警察在展开搜查前，至少要携带警察局所发出的相关公函作为证明警察身份的证据。这样不仅对被搜查者公平，同时也可让民众致电到警局确认是否真被搜查，并进一步确认相关警察的身份，避免被假警有机可乘。

谢顺海也说，每个团体总会有些害群之马，而这种权力很容易被警察部队中的害群之马所利用，并威胁人民的安全。

他再次呼吁政府考虑成立一个独立警察投诉与行为不检委员会，以便让民众能够有一个管道来投诉警方的过错。

首相署部长纳兹里是在本周二于国会提呈《《2012年国家安全罪行（特别措施）法案》一读，它将缩短原本60天的扣留期至28天，并且规定28天后必须带上法庭提控。

若警方在28天扣留期届满前释放扣留者，警方可以申请庭令，在获释者的身上安装电子监控器，直到28天届满为止。

 

 

 

SOURCE：    http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/194948

警察搜查前应证明身份

警察搜查前应证明身份 

吉打州民政党主席兼德卡区州议员

谢顺海医生

文告

2012年4月13日

 
 

吉打民政党主席兼德卡区州议员谢顺海医生指出，取代内安法令的2012年国家安全罪行（特别措施）法案，将废除内政部长未审先扣的权力，这除了确保国家安全免受暴力威胁，也是为了维持社会的安全与秩序。可是，我国的刑事法典也将被修订，以允许警长阶级以上的警察可以在没有搜查令的情况下入屋展开搜查。

 

谢顺海医生认为，该刑事法典条文极有可能被滥用来侵犯个人隐私权力。他认为，警方与民众之间时常产生冲突，也是因为这个搜查权。

 

谢顺海说，"如果搜查可以在没有搜查令的情况下展开，那么它很容易被滥用，而且民众要如何分辨警察的真伪？"

 

也是民政党中央环境、安全与生活素质局主任的谢顺海医生建议警察在展开搜查前，至少要携带警察局所发出的相关公函作为证明警察身份的证据。这样不仅对被搜查者公平，同时也可让民众致电到警局确认是否真被搜查，并进一步确认相关警察的身份，避免被假警有机可乘。

 

谢顺海也说，每个团体总会有些害群之马，而这种权力很容易被警察部队中的害群之马所利用，并威胁人民的安全。

 

谢顺海也再次呼吁政府考虑成立一个独立警察投诉与行为不检委员会，以便让民众能够有一个管道来投诉警方的过错。

 

Police must prove indentity before seizure

 Police must prove indentity before seizure

 
 

Press Statement by

Kedah Gerakan Chairman and Derga State Assemblyman

Dr Cheah Soon Hai

13 April 2012

 

The Security Offences (Special Measures) Bill 2012 will be replacing the ISA 1960 with the aim of ensuring national security from threats of violence while maintaining public order of the society.  With that, the Criminal Procedure Code will also be amended with new provision which allows police officer ranked Inspector and above to be able to conduct searches and seizure without warrant.

 

Kedah Gerakan Chairman and Derga State Assemblyman Dr Cheah Soon Hai feels that the particular clause in the Bill can be used to violate individual privacy or abused.  He is in the opinion that there has always been a lot of frictions between police and the public because of this power of seizure.

 

"If a seizure can be conducted without warrant, how can people determine whether the police is a real police?" said Dr Cheah.

 

Dr Cheah who is also the Chief of Gerakan central bureau on environment, safety and quality of life suggested that there could at least be an official letter from the police station to the policemen who intend to carry out a seizure as a proof so that it would be fair to the owner of the house.  The letter would also help the owner to verify the seizure with the police station that issues the letter so that the owner would not be falsely seized by unauthorized police or worst still, lay person who pretends to be police. 

 

Dr Cheah also said that when such power is conferred to the police force, it would be difficult to avoid ill willed policemen or even lay person who pretends to be policemen to abuse the power and that would put the people's safety at stake.

 

Dr Cheah once again urges the government to consider setting up an Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission ("IPCMC") so that the public will have a channel to make any complains on police. 

 

Government is serious about resolving the issue

When Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak recently announced efforts to resolve the long-standing issue of the shortage of Chinese schoolteachers, what significance does it hold?

It simply means that the government is serious about resolving the issue.

Teachers with no dual language training to be sent to national schools

DPM: Teachers with no dual language training to be sent to national schools

PETALING JAYA: Rehabilitation teachers from Chinese vernacular schools who are not qualified to teach in dual languages will be transferred to national schools starting April 16.

In a statement Wednesday, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the Education Ministry has investigated the claim by the Chinese schools' board of governors that there were around 100 rehabilitation teachers in Chinese schools who did not have Chinese language qualifications.

"It was found that seven of those rehabilitation teachers have Chinese language qualifications.

"These teachers will remain in the Chinese vernacular schools while the rest will be reposted to national schools," said Muhyiddin, who is also the Education Minister.

The decision, he added, was made after the special committee on overcoming the teacher shortage in Chinese vernacular schools held a meeting on Monday.

Muhyiddin said the Government was committed and serious about addressing the teacher shortage issue in Chinese vernacular schools and urged that the issue not be politicised.

"It is hoped that the Chinese community will be receptive towards the short- and long-term solutions because vernacular schools have never been isolated from the national school system.

"The focus should instead be on the effort to improve the quality of education in all schools, whether national or vernacular," he said.

On the issue of the dual-language qualifications of teachers who teach Bahasa Malaysia and English, Muhyiddin said teachers with the minimum Chinese language qualification at the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) level will teach the subjects in grades A and B Chinese vernacular schools for Level One (Years One to Three).

Schools with a low enrolment will be taught by teachers who have the minimum SPM Chinese language qualification, he said.

Announcing long-term initiatives, Muhyiddin said the Teacher Training Division and Teacher Training Institutes were drafting the Add-Option Intervention Programme to train teachers who did not have Bahasa Malaysia and English options and also those who have taught subjects other than the Chinese language for more than five years.

"The training will be conducted by the end of this year so that the teaching and learning process in schools will not be disrupted," he said.

Muhyiddin said 105 graduate teachers with SPM Chinese language qualifications will be posted to these schools.

 

Full text of the Deputy Prime Minister's statement:

The special committee set up by the Education Ministry to overcome the issue of insufficient teachers in Chinese vernacular schools as decided by the Cabinet committee meeting is proof that the Government is really committed and serious about solving the issue immediately and effectively.

As a concerned Government, systematic measures as well as uniformed and continuous policy have been, and are still being taken to overcome the issue of insufficient teachers in Chinese vernacular schools.

Therefore, I hope the Chinese community welcomes the short-term and long-term measures that were announced by the committee on March 20 because primary vernacular schools have never been isolated (diasingkan) in our national education system.

The measures taken are also not because of pressure from any parties and the conclusion that the Government had only taken these measures after pressure from certain parties is not true.

This issue needs to be clarified so that a true picture can be presented to refute unfounded claims and allegations made against the Government and Education Ministry.

To ensure that the teaching and learning process runs smoothly in SJKCs throughout the country, the Education Ministry has earnestly worked to fill teacher vacancies in these schools.

In 2009 there was a shortage of 4,991 teachers, the following year this number was reduced to 3,043, in 2011 the number decreased to 2,720, and finally this year, SJKCs only have a shortage of 1,874 teachers. From this, the Education Ministry has appointed a total of 1,482 interim teachers to fill the vacancies.

The remaining shortage is 392 teachers and SJKC school heads are allowed to suggest candidates who can be appointed as interim teachers by the state education departments.

The Education Ministry has allocated for a total of 38,047 teaching positions in SJKCs. As of Jan 31, 2012, a total of 36,173 trained teachers have been placed in all SJKC schools.

A total of RM1.8bil is spent anually for teachers' salaries and management operations of SJKC across the country.

There are currently 1,294 SJKCs in the country. Of the 1,294 schools, 455 schools are under-enrolled schools (schools with less than 150 pupils).

I urge all parties to stop politicising Chinese education issues and instead focus on improving the quality and progress of education in all schools, whether they are national schools or vernacular schools, with the aim of increasing our competitiveness to face upcoming challenges.

The special committee headed by Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong held discussions with Chinese educationists' associations and other stakeholders to overcome the problems faced by Chinese vernacular schools. This has resulted in an eight-point plan that has been agreed to by the Government.

This committee held four meetings with relevant parties and accepted all the feedback provided by all parties.

The meetings we held on:

March 5 - With the Educational Planning and Research Division (BPPDP), the Teacher Training Divsion (BPG), the Education Services Commission (SPP), Malaysian Teachers' Training Institutes (IPGM), the School Management Divsion (BPSH), SJKC heads' associations.

March 8 - BPPDP, BPG, SPP, IPGM, BPSH, SJKC school heads associations, Dong Zong (United Chinese School Committees Association of Malaysia), Dong Jiao Zhong, Hua Zhong and the National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP).

March 16 - BPPDP, BPG, SPP, IPGM, BPSH, SJKC school heads associations, Dong Jiao Zhong, Hua Zhong and NUTP (Dong Zong was not present).

March 23 - BPPDP, BPG, SPP, IPGM, BPSH, SJKC school heads associations, Dong Jiao Zhong, Hua Zhong and NUTP (Dong Zong was not present).

April 2 - BPPDP, BPG, SPP, IPGM, BPSH, SJKC school heads associations, Dong Jiao Zhong, Hua Zhong, NUTP and Dong Zong.

To ensure that the Committee's decision is carried out as it was agreed upon, a meeting on the follow-up action to the committee set up to overcome Chinese vernacular school teachers issue was held on March 27, 2012 with the BPPDP, BPG, IPM, NUTP, dan BPSH (as the secretariat).

On the teacher shortage in Chinese vernacular schools:

To overcome the teacher shortage, a total of 1,482 interim teachers were deployed to all states, while the remainding 392 interim teachers were allowed to be appointed on April 1, 2012.

These interim teachers will serve until the vacancies can be filled by trained teachers and subject to the number of actual vacancies provided for in the approved Staffing Management Expenditure Estimate (Anggaran Belanja Mengurus Perjawatan).

On March 27, 2012, the Education Ministry sent out service extension letters to the interim teachers in SJKCs. To carry out this agenda, SJKC heads can nominate teachers who meet the criteria and the appointments will be made by the relevant state education department directors.

On the problem of rehabilitation teachers who do not have bilingual qualifications:

Regarding the problem of rehabilitation teachers who do not have bilingual qualifications, Chinese vernacular schools' boards of governors feel that the act of transferring the 100 teachers is fair as these teachers cannot speak nor write in the language. To them, the question is how these teachers are able to interact with the weaker pupils in rehabilitation classes.

The Education Ministry has conducted a detailed investigation of claims that the 100-odd rehabilitation teachers have no Chinese language qualifications, and found that some of these teachers have a credit in the Chinese language.

A total seven teachers possess a credit in the Chinese language, namely two teachers in Malacca (SJKC Chabau and SJKC Pay Hsien), two teachers in Sarawak (SJKC Chung Hua, Sibuti and SJKC Chun Hua Serian), one teacher in Selangor (SJKC Hin Hua), and two teachers in Johor (SJKC SEngkang, Kulaijaya and SJKC Ban Foo).

Thus, the Education Ministry has decided to allow teachers who have Chinese language qualifications to remain in their respective schools while the other teachers will be redeployed to national schools from April 16 onwards, as decided by the special committee set up to overcome the Chinese vernacular school teachers issue on April 2.

On the problem of teachers with the Social Studies option:

A total of 17 Social Studies teachers who have a minor in Bahasa Melayu were deployed in Klang, Selangor.

A check made by the Education Ministry found that one of these teachers possessed Chinese language qualifications and will remain in the respective school (SJKC Chung Hua).

Meanwhile, the remaining 16 teachers will be transferred to national schools. A Social Studies teacher in Malacca has been replaced by a Chinese studies teacher (SJKC Chabau), while another teacher in SJKC Chung Hwa, Subis (was replaced). All these teachers will be transferred from April 16 onwards.

On the lack of bilingual qualifications of teachers with the Bahasa Melayu and English options:

The teaching of Bahasa Malaysia and English at Level One in Chinese vernacular schools of Grade A and B will carried out by teachers who are qualified to teach the Chinese language at least at the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) level.

For under-enrolled schools, the teaching of Bahasa Malaysia and English at Levels One and Two will be carried out by teachers who have Chinese language qualifications at the SPM level at least.

Long-term initiatives to overcome the teacher shortage in Chinese vernacular schools:

The BPG and IPGM are currently formulating the Add-on Option Intervention Programme (Program Intervensi Tambah Opsyen or PITO) for teachers who do not have a Bahasa Melayu or English option, and have taught a subject other than the Chinese language for over five years.

This course is expected to start by the end of the year, so as to not affect the teaching and learning process in the classroom.

The Government has introduced plans according to the needs of Chinese vernacular schools, and mechanisms to not only train Chinese language teachers but also increase the number of Chinese Studies lecturers.

There are currently 72 Chinese Studies lecturers in teachers' training institutes across Malaysia. The Education Ministry has agreed to employ 30 more Chinese Studies lecturers to improve the capacity of teachers' training.

Applications for lecturing posts in teachers' training institutes, including for Chinese Studies lecturers, was open from March 13 to 30. The ministry's teachers' training institute is currently processing the applications and the intake will commence on June 1. The intake of lecturers will be conducted on an on-going basis. The advertisement of this lecturer intake closed on March 30.

In order to increase the number of trained teachers in Chinese vernacular schools, the ministry has also checked with the SPP and found that of the Bachelor of Education graduates from public higher education institutions interviewed, 105 graduates have SPM level qualifications in the Chinese language. Therefore, the ministry has agreed to appoint them to serve in Chinese vernacular schools in the near future.

These steps taken clearly demonstrate the sincerity of the Government in resolving this issue that is seen as a long-standing issue by the Chinese community.

Even so, I have directed the committee to keep holding discussions and gathering feedback, as well as collect input from all the relevant parties and look at all the views voiced while taking into consideration all aspects and find possible solutions if other issues are brought up.