Sunday, July 31, 2011
Friday, July 22, 2011
当今大马 - 姑里：马来人从不是种族主义者 拉拢国阵非主流领袖设民间组织
 | 李龙辉 2011年7月22日 下午 2点17分 |
“独立信赖之声”是个不分党派的非政府组织，其宗旨是为了重燃各族在争取独立时期的合作、团结与家庭和谐精神。
在净选盟709大集会之后，民心思变之际，拉沙里牵头设立“独立信赖之声”，俨然有成立“第三股势力”的含义。
该组织今日特意选择在东姑阿都拉曼纪念馆，也是东姑阿都拉曼的住所举行盛大推介仪式，并吸引逾300名支持者出席。公正党副主席努鲁依莎，格拉纳再也国会议员罗国本和惠民党首领再益依布拉欣也赴会。
翁诗杰、苏巴马廉任署理
“独 立信赖之声”中央理事会以拉沙里为首，旗下共有6名署理主席，一字排开的有班登国会议员翁诗杰、砂州前副首席部长丹尼尔泰仄（Daniel Tajem）、前新闻部及旅游部长阿都卡迪（Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir）、国大党前署理主席苏巴马廉（S Subramaniam）、沙巴团结党斗亚兰国会议员威弗烈邦（Wilfred Bumburing）和前教育部副部长布占乌里斯（Bujang Ulis）。
无独有偶的是，这六名署理多属国阵非主流派领袖。
苏巴马廉曾出任昔加末国会议员，长期与国大党前主席三美威鲁不咬弦。三美在2006年的党选中力挺现任党主席巴拉尼威（G Palanivel）击败寻求蝉联的苏巴马廉。苏巴马廉更在第11届全国大选提名日3天前，被三美从候选人名单刷下来。
翁诗杰曾是马华总会长兼交通部长，但在308大选后的马华党争中，在重选与黄家定及蔡细历的三角战败下阵来，失去部长职，至于其班登国会议席被也传岌岌可危。
丹尼尔曾担任砂拉越达雅党主席，也是1986年反砂州首长泰益的“明阁事件”的主角，但达雅党最终陷入党争被社团注册局取消注册。丹尼尔目前担任砂国民党的顾问。
前律师会主席任副主席
该组织另设7名副主席，成员包括前律师公会主席拉古纳（K Ragunath）、拥有回教党党员身份的民主与经济事务研究机构（IDEAS）执行长旺赛夫（Wan Saiful Wan Jan）及大马人权委员会前委员西蒙（Simon Sipaun）等。
誓言走透透以打破偏见
东姑拉沙里在致词时强调，马来人不曾是种族主义份子，并归咎他们是被一些有影响力的人士所操弄，才变相成为“地方自治主义者”（komunalis）。
这名前46精神党领袖说，这些教导马来人变成“地方自治主义者”的马来人，其行为是违反回教教义的，意图引导他们回到回教先知穆罕默德诞生前的蒙昧时代（zaman jahiliah）。
他指出，本身见证国内宗教与种族关系，在最近几年加剧恶化，加上某些有心人士为了个人利益，蓄意破坏我国的团结机制，让他感到非常担忧。
因此他表示，本身将全马走透透，打破这种种族之间的偏见。
团结各族拒绝贪污朋党
东姑拉沙里声称，他也不能再接受“沉默的大多数”袖手旁观的态度，因为这种行为将令我国尝到无可修复的恶果。因此他决定成立“独立信赖之声”，团结各族人民向贪污、朋党主义、种族主义和浪费等行为说“不”。
“我们主张‘以民主利益为先’，即以国家和人民的利益作为优先。”
呼吁选委会纳入在野党
尽管本身曾担任部长，但阿都卡迪今日也呼吁选举委员会，应积极推动修改联邦宪法，将在野党纳入成为选委会其中一员。
他指出，如此一来，在野党就不会再频频抨击选委会了，因为他们也有份策划日后的选举条规与制度。
阿都卡迪说，政府和选委会目前所采纳的选举系统，已经不能符合当下的需求。
“政府和人民都知道，我们到底有没有自由和公平的选举……因此让它真的干净吧。”
“选委会是时候扩大运作，推动修改联邦宪法，以便可纳入在野党的代表。
Free Malaysia Today - Ku Li’s Amanah likely to lead third force
Syed Jaymal Zahiid | July 22, 2011
Umno veteran says his group aims to be in the forefront of the fight against the country's "continuous disintegration".
KUALA LUMPUR: Umno veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah hinted today that his new group, Angkatan Amanah Merdeka (Amanah), could possibly be the catalyst to a rising third force.
The Kelantan prince, in an inspiring speech at the launch of his new group, called on the silent majority to voice their discontent against “rife corruption, cronyism and racial crisis”.
Razaleigh said Amanah aims to be the platform for Malaysians to fight against what he sees as the country’s “continuous disintegration”, hinting at the group’s bid to be a non-partisan pressure group.
“I believe at the end of the road that we are taking in these early steps, we will be called upon to make several important decisions for the future of our nation – choices that we must take regardless of the problems, challenges and obstacle that we face,” he said.
“This morning could be another normal social event or it could be the beginning of a journey towards something that has never taken place before, that may change the current of our country’s future,” he said.
The setting up of Amanah has triggered speculation that Razaleigh, who has been highly critical of his own party’s leadership, no longer believes he could reform Umno from within.
Defection to the opposition could also see his reputation as an independent statesman tarnished. In a country without a strong third force, Razaleigh’s weight among the moderates and especially among the idealistic younger voters could be appealing.
Amanah’s ideology could also be a charm factor. Studies have shown that younger Malaysian voters tend to vote for the opposition given the lack of a credible middle choice, not due to partisan politics.
Amanah aims to rekindle the multi-racial spirit that was fought for by the country’s founding fathers. Their goal is to bring everyone who believe in Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra’s vision of a truly united Malaysia together.
Middle and moderate voice
The group, boasting multi-racial political veterans membership like former Sarawak deputy chief Minister Daniel Tajem, former tourism minister Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir and those still active like former MCA president Ong Tee Keat, could well fill in this gap.
While Razaleigh continued to pound the government, indirectly blaming them for worsening racism and dismal economic performance, he dropped more hints of Amanah’s possible third force role throughout his speech:
“We want to represent the middle and moderate voice that try to avoid confrontation with the authorities because we want to continue with our daily lives normally.
“If we do not do anything, the consequences will be horrible and the situation cannot be resolved. This is the time for the majority who have been silent to voice out”.
Razaleigh was not available to explain the real role of Amanah nor did he state how his group aims to achieve their objectives but said that they will be explained in due time.
Razaleigh, affectionately known as Ku Li, is touted to be the best candidate to lead the country next to Opposition Leader and former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim.
Rumours were rife that the Gua Musang MP was approached by opposition leaders and offered the position should Pakatan Rakyat wrest federal power, but the former dismissed this.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
The Malaysian Insider – Anti-Lynas residents irked by MB’s ‘irrational’ remark
By Shannon Teoh
KUALA LUMPUR, July 21 — Kuantan residents opposed to a RM700 million rare earth plant being built there have challenged Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob to a debate after the Pahang mentri besar dismissed them as “irrational.”Adnan told reporters last weekend that the state government will not engage with the local residents groups over the project as they were “ignorant.”
“We challenge him to a debate so that the public can see whose views are more rational,” said Tan Bun Teet, chairman of the Save Malaysia, Stop Lynas (SMSL) group of residents from the Pahang capital.
Residents from Beserah, who live as close as two km from the plant, also questioned the MB’s stance as the federal government was still willing to engage the residents.
“If the secretary-general of the ministry of international trade and industry can meet us and even agree to the points we made, why not the Pahang MB? Now who is irrational?” said Andansura Rabu, who leads the Badan Bertindak Anti-Rare Earth Refinery (Badar) movement.
Adnan had told reporters that experts have already studied the project but “even after the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) panel report was announced, those anti-Lynas groups still would not budge.”
“They are not rational. So, there is no use engaging them in a dialogue. They are ignorant,” he added.
Opposition leaders, especially PKR vice president Fuziah Salleh, have attacked the Barisan Nasional (BN) state and federal governments over the plant being built by Australian miner Lynas Corp, turning it into a major election issue in Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s home state.
Kuantan MP Fuziah has led local residents and environmentalists in loud protests against the plant that they say will be a source of radiation pollution.
The federal government bowed to public pressure in April and ordered a month-long review by a team of international experts led by the IAEA, which was concluded on June 28.
Putrajaya has adopted 11 safety recommendations from the review panel, which Lynas has said it is confident of meeting by the end of the year.
The mining giant has gone ahead with a deal with Thai engineering firm to complete a second phase of the plant by the last quarter of 2012 subject to approval from local authorities.
Lynas says that its plant — which will extract rare earth metals crucial for high-technology products like smartphones, hybrid cars and wind turbines — will create a RM4 billion multiplier effect annually and 350 jobs for skilled workers.
Although reports say the plant may earn RM8 billion for Lynas, critics have questioned the real economic benefit of the project, pointing to the 12-year tax break Lynas will enjoy due to its pioneer status.
The Malaysian Insider - Lynas jumping the gun with second phase, says Badar
By Shannon Teoh
KUALA LUMPUR, July 21 — Residents living near Lynas Corp’s controversial rare earth plant have accused the Australian miner of disrespecting local regulations by signing a deal to complete a second phase of the refinery despite not having met prior safety requirements.
Beserah residents, who live as close as 2km from the Kuantan plant, told reporters today that the mining giant’s RM630 million deal with a Thai engineering firm was “arrogant and unreasonable.”
Local residents around Kuantan and environmentalists have strongly opposed the Lynas Advanced Materials Plant (LAMP) due to fears of radiation poisoning and forced the government to order a month-long review that concluded on June 28.
The review led by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) put forward 11 recommendations for Lynas to meet before beginning operations which have been adopted by Putrajaya.
But Lynas has denied reports that the new conditions set by the government will delay the plant by up to two years, insisting that it remains on track to begin operations and complete phase one of the plant by the end of 2011.
It then announced on July 13 that a deal with Toyo-Thai Corporation has been struck to complete phase two of the plant by the last quarter of 2012 subject to approval from local authorities.
“This shows great disrespect to our regulations and is an unreasonable and arrogant move,” Andansura added.
The Australian mining giant has said that its plant — which will extract rare earth metals crucial for high-technology products like smartphones, hybrid cars and wind turbines — will create a RM4 billion multiplier effect annually and 350 jobs for skilled workers.
Although reports say the plant may earn RM8 billion for Lynas, critics have questioned the real economic benefit of the project, pointing to the 12-year tax break Lynas will enjoy due to its pioneer status.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Malaysiakini - Doctors: We'll produce more evidence if challenged
However, they will not reveal any further details on their account of the incident until their statement is challenged by the authorities, their spokeperson Dr Sheikh Johari Bux said today.
"If that (denial) arises, we will discuss as a group and take the neccesary steps required," said Sheikh Johari, a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist. "If not, we would rather leave the matter at that," he said, adding that they would only respond, if needed, at the "right time" and in the presence of a lawyer.
Sheikh Johari said the information they had was not something "secretive".
It was also not their intention to go against anyone, "for all we want is only to tell the truth", he added.
"What we are asking for is that the people in high office be transparent."
The doctors' statement, issued last night and signed by 11 senior medical officers, condemned the authorities for the attack on Bersih 2.0 rally participants in the hospital compound last Saturday.
The act violated universal recognition of hospitals as places of sanctuary. 
It was the first public statement made by medical officers following denials by the police and Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai that police shot tear gas and water cannons into the hospital compound on July 9.
Besides Sheikh Johari, the other doctors who signed the statement are Musa Nordin, Ng Kwee Boon, Ng Swee Choon, Ronald Mcoy, David Quek, Mary Cardozo, Farouk Musa, Mazeni Alwi, Pixie Low and Steve Wong.
They said some among them were visiting or working at Tung Shin Hospital at the time of the incident, and that they were ready to provide sworn affidavits "if required, as to the veracity of the incident".
Questioned further on the matter today, Sheikh Johari would only say, "If we see a need to give more details, we will send (a statement) to you."
Meanwhile, minister Liow Tiong Lai (seated centre in picture) gave his assurance to the people that the ministry "will look into the matter".
After attending a function in Kuala Lumpur today, Liow told reporters, "We will look into all that, we will definitely (do so). I have said yesterday we would like to investigate the case."
He also said the hospital's management did not tell him about eyewitness to the incident.
"When I went to Tung Shin (hospital) that day, they didn't tell me all this."
He welcomed the doctors for coming forward on the police attack and said that the ministry "would like to have this kind of input".
'Docs may have been demonstrators'
In a related development, Chong Teck Hong, honorary general secretary of Tung Shin Hospital board, told Malaysiakini that only two out of the 11 doctors who signed the statement are with the hospital.
Chong said he does not know the motive of those behind the statement, but said he assumes some of the doctors had joined the rally and had sought shelter at Tung Shin Hospital.
“I don't know why are they doing this. I'm also not sure whether they were at the scene (during the assault).”
He also reiterated Liow's assertion that police did not shoot water cannon and tear gas at the hospital.
The tear gas canisters only hit the public car park, which is beside the alley, which is itself beside the hospital, and which is not within the hospital compound, he said.
The water cannon only reached the buildings and guard house outside of the hospital, he added, "which are still far from the hospital (building)".
He admitted, however, witnessing police personnel entering the hospital building to arrest protestors.
The action did not disrupt the hospital's operation, said Chong.
"Anybody can enter the hospital because our door is always open... including the police. Whether they want to arrest people or not is their duty. We can't interfere," he said when contacted.
Additional reporting by KUEK SER KUANG KENG
Malaysiakini - Anti-Lynas group ends trip with 'disappointment'
Kuantan-based Save Malaysia Stop Lynas (SMSL) movement today expressed its disappointment with Lynas CEO Nicholas Curtis following a meeting with him at the rare earth mining company's headquarters in Australia.
In a statement, SMSL said the meeting yielded nothing new as Curtis (right) had merely repeated the points that were already aired through a public relations video on Youtube."He (Curtis) tried to justify Lynas' presence here (in Malaysia) by basing his argument entirely on the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report," the group said.
A nine-member panel to review the RM700 million Lynas Gebeng plant in Pahang, set up by the government under the auspices of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), had declared the plant 'safe'.
However, it listed 11 conditions for compliance by the government, state agency Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB) and Lynas, before the pre-operating licence is to be granted.
The anti-Lynas group had criticised the report, claiming that the scope of recommendations issue was too narrow.
Six-day trip to Australia
The meeting with Curtis was part of a six-day trip to Australia to gather support to prevent Lynas from operating its rare-earth refinery plant in Malaysia.
After concluding its trip on Monday, the group announced it has learnt of additional options at its disposal to aid its struggle to stop Lynas as well as to secure help from Australian parliamentarians.
"We had very fruitful discussions and we were promised that there will be follow-up actions on their part to bring forth the issue in the next sitting (of Parliament)," the group said.
SMSL added that despite all its efforts, an easier solution to this problem lies in the hands of voters.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
The Malaysian Insider - Lynas plans next phase of Gebeng plant
Something very fishy is going on....
By Shannon Teoh
The first phase of the refinery being built in the Gebeng industrial zone, which still needs to meet several safety conditions, is expected to be completed by the end of this year.
Subject to the receipt of approvals, the second phase — worth a lump sum payment of between US$180 and US$210 million (RM540 – RM630 million) — is scheduled to be completed in the last three months of 2012, according to Lynas.
Lynas previously denied media reports that the new conditions set by the government after an International Atomic Energy Agency review will delay the plant by up to two years, insisting that it remains on track to begin operations by the end of 2011.
The Australian miner said its plant — which will extract rare earth metals crucial for high-technology products such as smartphones, hybrid cars and wind turbines — will create a RM4 billion multiplier effect annually and will hire 350 skilled workers, 99 per cent of whom will be Malaysians.
Although reports say the plant may earn RM8 billion for Lynas, more than one per cent of the Malaysian GDP, critics have questioned the real economic benefit of the project by pointing to the 12-year tax break the Australian company will enjoy due to its pioneer status.
The federal government defended the Lynas project as a “strategic industry” for Malaysia in spite of fears of radiation pollution that it has raised among local residents and environmentalists.
The Malaysian Insider - IAEA also gave green light for Bukit Merah, says SAM
By Shannon Teoh
KUALA LUMPUR, July 13 — An environmental group has questioned the credibility of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) review of a controversial RM700 million rare earth plant in Kuantan, saying that it also approved the Asian Rare Earth (ARE) plant in Ipoh which was linked to a surge of birth defects and cancer in the surrounding area.
Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) also said that the United Nations body had vested interest in the matter as it is “an agency that was set up to promote nuclear energy and lends support to the nuclear industry.”
President S. M. Mohamed Idris said that the nine-man review panel invited by the federal government to study the refinery being built by Australian miner Lynas Corp “did not have a public health expert to study the potential public health impacts resulting from pollution and radiation from the plant.”
“The same was the case with the Asia Rare Earth plant in Bukit Merah whereby the IAEA also gave the green light for the plant to proceed work, only to produce radioactive contamination and disastrous health impacts to the surrounding community, resulting in unnatural and untimely deaths,” he said.
The refinery in the Gebeng industrial zone has raised concerns of radiation pollution among local residents and environmentalists who fear a repeat of the ARE plant which went ahead despite public protest in the 1980s.
Despite being forced to shut down in 1992, it is still undergoing a cleanup exercise costing over RM300 million and has been linked to seven leukemia deaths in the past five years.
Although both the Najib administration and Lynas claim that the review led by the IAEA deems the project to be safe, opposition MPs and Kuantan residents insist that the 11 recommendations made by the panel show otherwise.
Lynas has said that it expects the recommendations set out in the report to be met by the end of the year, allowing it to begin selling the rare earth metals by the beginning of 2012.
The Australian miner has said that its plant — which will extract rare earth metals crucial for high-technology products such as smartphones, hybrid cars and wind turbines — will create a RM4 billion multiplier effect annually and will hire 350 skilled workers, 99 per cent of whom will be Malaysian.
Although reports say the plant may earn RM8 billion for Lynas, more than one per cent of the Malaysian GDP, critics have questioned the real economic benefits of the project, pointing to the 12-year tax break the Australian company will enjoy due to its pioneer status.
The Malaysian Insider - Bersih rally shows May 13 ‘bogeyman’ buried, says Bar Council
By Clara Chooi
KUALA LUMPUR, July 12 — The Bar Council today said that Saturday’s Bersih 2.0 rally had shown that the “bogeyman” of the May 13, 1969, race riot has been buried and will no longer be feared by Malaysians.
Its president Lim Chee Wee told a press conference here that although the spectre of the violent racial clash had been raised prior to the rally, Malaysians had still dared to gather in the streets of the capital here to march for free and fair elections. While stressing that the council was apolitical, Lim observed that the thousands who thronged the city on Saturday had not instigated violence against one another or turned the gathering racial.
“The rally participants generally behaved in a peaceful and calm manner; most importantly, we witnessed that people from a wide variety of backgrounds across Malaysia participated in this rally withut any conflict.. this is contrary to the fear of possible racial disharmony or riots, expressed by certain irresponsible public figures,” he said.
Before the rally, Perkasa president Datuk Ibrahim Ali earned much criticism from the opposition when he told the Chinese community to stay home and stock up on food on Saturday.
Lim noted that chaos had only broken out on the streets of the capital when police launched tear gas canisters and water cannons at protestors to break the crowd, a move which he said was unwarranted.
“They must recognise that Malaysians are by nature a peaceful group. We have moved far ahead of 1969... the bogeyman of 1969 has been buried. It does not exist in the minds and hearts of Malaysians today.
Bersih 2.0, the now-outlawed coalition of 62 non-governmental organisation, held at march on Saturday to call for free and fair elections and drew a mixed crowd of thousands to the city centre.
Chaos however broke out at about midday when the police fired tear gas and water cannons to break up the crowd and made random arrests of over 1,600 people, saying that they had wrongfully participated in an illegal rally.
Mixed sentiments have emerged from the tumultuous event with the Najib administration playing down the turnout and saying that the police had acted lawfully, while Bersih 2.0 and the opposition declared it a successful rally that drew nearly 50,000 people.
On social media sites like Twitter and Facebook, thousands of people have been posting up comments in support of the rally and sharing their personal accounts, pictures and videos of the event.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Malaysiakini - Bar Council: Tung Shin Hospital was hit
Presenting the observation report compiled from some 100 observers deployed during the rally, Bar Council president Lim Chee Wee said police had used indiscriminate and excessive tear gas and water cannons against peaceful protesters.
Water from the cannons fired by the police, Lim told a press conference at Bar Council office in Kuala Lumpur today, went into the compound of Tung Shin Hospital, and according to eyewitness accounts, tear gas canisters also landed in the compound."Although we don't have any footage from our monitoring team, accounts from our eyewitnesses say 'yes, tear gas was launched and canisters did land in the Tung Shin premises'."
Lim also screened footage taken by an observer, showing the hospital being hit by water cannons during the rally
According to the report, the participants were hit by water cannons while the rally organisers were negotiating with the police.
"Some monitors noted that the police did give warnings prior to using the tear gas and water cannons. However, it was difficult for the huge crowd to hear what the police commandants said via their loud hailers, except for participants who were situated near the police," the report says.
Elaborating on the Bar Council report, Lim said the use of tear gas and water cannons was "wholly unnecessary" in many locations when the crowd was stationary and showed no indication that they would charge the police or create any havoc.
No warning, not enough time to disperse
He also said that police either did not give any warning or sufficient time for the crowd to disperse before unleashing tear gas and the water cannons, resulting in chaos and injuries.
"What we found was that throughout Kuala Lumpur, there had been a mismanagement by the police in terms of crowd control."
Another footage screened during the press conference showed police, without any provocation, firing tear gas at a group of protesters holding their position in front of the Agro Bank on Leboh Pasar Besar.
Lim then cited the example of the crowd behind Dayabumi, where tear gas was fired at them from both ends.
"The crowd was actually squeezed in on both ends by the launching of the tear gas. When you launch tear gas, it is with the aim of dispersing a crowd. You do not launch tear gas at both ends, without any exit routes for the crowd. This also happened in the Puduraya area."
He noted that the tear gas was fired towards the crowdat the human height level, instead of being fired up in the air, which is the universal standard.
Apart from the use of tear gas and water cannons, Lim also condemned the random and arbitrary arrests by police during the rally.
"We ourselves, the office-bearers, saw with our own eyes, as the crowd was dispersing, the FRU moving forward into the crowd with plainclothes policemen behind them, who then ran out and started arresting people at random. There was no need for this, as the people were already dispersing."
Lim urged the police to adopt the recommendations made by the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) on engagement with the leaders of a demonstration to find out the intention of the group and to give sufficient time for them to disperse before resorting to the use of non-lethal weapons.
Nevertheless, he said, an exemplary model had been shown by the police on Jalan Hang Jebat, where the crowd was allowed to gather and listen to short speeches from their leaders just beyond the barricades after the organisers, including PKR's Chua Jui Meng, negotiated with the police.
"There was no use of tear gas or water cannons, nor was there any arbitrary arrest after or during the dispersal of the crowd. That is how crowd control should have been done throughout Kuala Lumpur."
He reminded the government that Suhakam had conducted at least two inquiries into public rallies and had come out with various recommendations to the government.
"We cannot understand why the government has not taken heed of the recommendations and suggestions of Suhakam," he added.
Malaysians mature and peace-loving
On the participants of rally, the report states that they generally behaved in a peaceful and calm manner, except for a few untoward incidents at Jalan Hang Jebat:
- One protester threw a bottle of water at a news reporter while he was up on the stairs leading to a basketball court hall, reporting live, but the reporter managed to evade it. Some of the crowd showed their middle fingers at the police and chanted "menyebuk" (troublemakers);
- At one point, the crowd booed the TV3 crew inside the building. As they chanted "penipu" (liars), some threw a few plastic bottles at the cameraman. None hit. Rally marshals told crowd to keep walking. No uniformed police personnel were present.
The report concluded that the rally had demonstrated that the people of Malaysia are mature and peace-loving when championing a cause they believe in.
"Most importantly, we witnessed that people from a wide variety of backgrounds across Malaysia participated in this rally, without any conflict.
"This is contrary to the fear of possible racial disharmony or riots expressed by certain irresponsible public figures," the report says.
Added Lim: "On that day, a lot of members of our monitoring team saw friends and acquaintances who are not aligned to any political party, whom they would categorise as very conservative people, but they were out there in the streets that Saturday because they are outraged by the way in which the government mismanaged this entire situation."
Malaysia Chronicle - 'Liar' minister Liow Malaysia Chronicle - insists police did not shoot tear gas into Tung Shin
'Liar' minister Liow insists police did not shoot tear gas into Tung Shin
Video Proof of Bersih2.0 Teargas in Hospital Compound:Written by Melissa Lee, Malaysia Chronicle
Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai became an object of nationwide ridicule when he insisted the police had not launched tear gas or water canons into the compound of the Tung Shin hospital, and was even arrogant enough to warn journalists not to show him any videos of photos that contradicted his claim.
"LiowTiong Lai lied bravely to defend the police, claiming no tear gas, no water cannons and no arrests in Tung Shin hospital compound," Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua said on Twitter.
Denial mode
On Saturday, the main road along the Tung Shin hospital in Pudu was the scene of one of several citizen marches organised by the Bersih 2.0 for free and fair elections.
For reasons that have been condemned both in and out of the country, Prime Minister Najib Razak chose to clampdown on the mammoth rally and ordered one of the harshest crackdowns in recent years, leaving one dead and thousands injured.
The PM is in denial mode, refusing to apologize. This has created great public anger and calls are growing for him to quit. Meanwhile, in what has become typical fashion, Najib has just left for an overseas trip leaving his Cabinet to deal with the mess.
An iconic hospital that began as a maternity home, Tung Shin got caught in the crossfire when marchers ran into its grounds to escape police who came after them and firied tear gas directly at them rather than into the air.
The behaviour of the Malaysian police contrasted sharply with the authorities in overseas nations like Australia, who commended Malaysians in sister-marches at Melbourne for conducting an orderly rally.
To make matters worse, Malaysian police denied ever firing tear gas and chemical-laced water into the Tung Shin compound. This despite the hundreds of available video footage on You Tube.
For sake of brownie points
Liow, the MCA deputy president, is not unknown for liking to score brownie points with Najib.
But ambition aside, Liow angered not only the Chinese community but also lost the respect of many Malaysians with his refusal to accept any view other than the police were innocent.
"The board of the hospital also confirmed this. Don't cite whatever pictures or videos again. The most important thing is that the person in charge of the hospital has confirmed that the police did not shoot the tear gas or water cannon into the hospital compound,” Malaysiakini reported Liow as saying on Monday.
"The police shot the tear gas over the main road. Maybe the smoke was blown by the wind in this direction - that, we don't know, but they were not aiming at the hospital. As for the water cannon, they were shooting at 45 degrees onto the main road, maybe the edge of it."
Tung Shin board head Ng Beh Tong, who was present, was quick to echo Liow's claim. According to Ng, the hospital administrator had briefed the board on the situation at a meeting this morning.
Both men also denied that the police came into the compound to arrest the marchers, claiming the police “only brought in some injured demonstrators for medical treatment”. Liow lost his temper when journalists were obviously sceptical of his answers.
“The board chairman has clarified this, but you still want to ask this question. Anybody including the media, if you have any allegation, you can tell the Health Ministry or Home Ministry, and we will investigate it,” he said.
Hospital should carry out internal probe, view the visuals
Under pressure, the MCA No. 2 then blamed the opposition for politicising the issue, refusing to acknowledge the wealth of visuals and eyewitness account.
"This is a sad day for Malaysians when their ministers lie out of desperation. Liow is Health minister. When the head is rotten, how long can the fish stay alive. Our concerns are two-pronged. Authorities should not lie for political reasons and hospitals must be respected," PKR vice president Tian Chua told Malaysia Chronicle.
"We also regret the Tung Shin board chief for not doing sufficient checks or and viewing the visuals before rushing to help Liow. We hope that for the sake of the hospital patients and staff, an internal investigation is launched into this and Ng's conduct as well. There is just too much evidence to accept what they both said."
- Malaysia Chronicle
Monday, July 11, 2011
Press Release President Malaysian Bar: The will of the people trumps Government repression and police aggression
| Press Release: The will of the people trumps Government repression and police aggression |  |  |  |
| Monday, 11 July 2011 04:04pm | |
 Looking back at the events of the past few weeks, the Malaysian Government must realise and accept that neither random arrest, nor preventive detention, nor water cannons, nor tear gas, nor rain, nor the threat of any of the above and more, can quell the spirit of the people to exercise their rights to the twin freedoms of assembly and expression. The two rallies held on 9 July 2011 are eloquent testimony to the will of the people in the face of Government repression and police aggression.The Malaysian Bar denounces the Government’s over-zealous and excessive show of power in its blatant determination to crush the people’s exercise of their Constitutionally-guaranteed fundamental rights. According to media and eyewitness accounts, the police used arbitrary, improper and disproportionate physical force, including assaulting some participants physically, wantonly arresting hundreds of individuals and recklessly using tear gas and water cannons on unarmed participants who were gathered in a peaceful and disciplined manner. The Government must never abuse its power, particularly to undermine the very freedoms that it is responsible to uphold and defend. The elementary freedoms of assembly and expression entitle the rakyat to voice their concerns and grievances, and to call for redress. The Malaysian Bar calls on the police to adhere to the United Nations (“UN”) Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials, adopted in 1979 by the UN General Assembly, of which Malaysia is a member. Article 3 provides that “[l]aw enforcement officials may use force only when strictly necessary and to the extent required for the performance of their duty”. Furthermore, in 1990 Malaysia adopted the UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials, which mandate that law enforcement officials “shall, as far as possible, apply non-violent means before resorting to the use of force”, and may use force “only if other means remain ineffective”. Even when the use of lawful force is unavoidable, law enforcement officials must “exercise restraint in such use and act in proportion to the seriousness to the offence”. Another basic principle is that “the deployment of non-lethal incapacitating weapons should be carefully evaluated in order to minimise the risk of endangering uninvolved persons, and the use of such weapons should be carefully controlled”. The police reportedly fired several rounds of tear gas into the compound of a hospital along Jalan Pudu, one of many acts that day that were antithetical to these basic principles. The Malaysian Bar calls for a thorough and independent investigation by SUHAKAM, by way of an inquiry on its own motion, into the use of aggression and undue force by the police. We acknowledge the co-operation given by the police to members of the Bar’s monitoring teams during the rallies. The Malaysian Bar will submit its report on the events of 9 July 2011, along with its recommendations, to the Inspector General of Police shortly. We also urge the immediate and unconditional release of the six individuals who are still being detained under the Emergency (Public Order and Prevention of Crime) Ordinance 1969. These individuals should be charged and tried in open court instead. Furthermore, their habeas corpus applications should be heard expeditiously and without further delay. From lessons worldwide, it is clear that the voice of the people cannot be silenced. Our Government ignores the wishes and resolve of the people at its peril, and should, instead, rise to the occasion, to embrace and protect its people’s freedoms and rights consistent with a true democracy. Lim Chee Wee President Malaysian Bar 11 July 2011 |
Tuesday, July 05, 2011
当今大马 - 访澳洲国会到莱纳斯总部示威 反稀土组织展开澳洲抗争之旅
由关丹居民自组的反莱纳斯稀土厂“救大马”委员会，今日正式展开6天5夜的澳洲抗争旅程。他们将在当地举办论坛、前往莱纳斯总部示威和到访澳洲国会，希望能终止这项7亿令吉的稀土厂计划。
这个由12人组成的“救大马”委员会澳洲团是以主席陈文德为首。他们在昨晚飞往澳洲悉尼，预计在本月9日（周六）回国。
悉尼主办论坛分享抗争史
他们在今日当地时间傍晚6点，在悉尼举办一项论坛，与当地人分享他们反对稀土厂的抗争史，并希望能获得澳洲人的支持。
根据该委员会发给媒体的电邮，他们将于次日下午1点直捣莱纳斯总部示威，随后在周三到访位于澳洲首都堪培拉的国会大厦。
陈文德早前受访时指出，“救大马”委员会的这趟澳洲之旅，旨在告诉澳洲人关于莱纳斯在大马所做的一切，进而向澳洲政府施压，终止莱纳斯在关丹格宾工业区建立稀土厂的计划。
中国以外首间稀土提炼厂
莱纳斯是澳大利亚矿业巨头，它耗资7亿令吉，在关丹以北25公里外的格宾工业区，建筑世界最大稀土厂，主要冶炼采自澳洲沙漠深处的稀土。
稀土元素（Rare Earth），是一组包括17种元素的金属，它存在于比较稀少的矿物中，不溶于水，有“工业味精”之称，被公认为全球用途最广泛、最重要的金属元素。
由于制造高科技产品需要稀土作为原料，但是在提炼这种原料的过程中，据说将会产生有害的辐射废料。
目前，全球大约95%的稀土皆来自于中国。不过，由于最近北京限制稀土出口，引发全球稀土价格高涨，导致一些工业国急于寻找替代管道。
这也使到澳洲的莱纳斯公司赶建提炼厂，以满足大约三分之一的世界需求量。
关丹人民自组反对稀土厂
由于80年代的红泥山亚稀厂惨剧历历在目，关丹居民不得不成立“救大马”委员会自救。
迄今该委员会已在关丹进行了多场抗议活动，向政府表达反稀土厂的立场。
他们之前曾前往澳洲最高专员署，提呈反对莱纳斯来马备忘录，也在关丹举办全国非政府组织研讨会，冀望将这个运动推向全国。
莱纳斯关丹稀土厂原本计划在9月开始试验操作，但负责探讨稀土厂的国际独立专家评估小组提呈给大马政府的报告书中，开出11项莱纳斯必须符合的条件，才能获准营运。不过在报告出炉后，莱纳斯即时表态有信心符合这11项条件，并预料稀土厂将会如期运作。
当今大马 - 政府要莱纳斯呈废料管理计划 符合所有条件前禁止进口原料
贸工部长慕斯达法与科学、工艺及革新部长麦西慕今日发表联合文告指出，虽然评估报告为稀土厂计划亮绿灯，但是莱纳斯依然有责任向政府提供一份全面且长远的辐射废料管理计划。
否则稀土原料不准进口大马
部长指出，在政府发出任何执照前，莱纳斯也必须说明其拆厂与应对意外的方案。
“在发展这项计划前，莱纳斯有责任遵守国际原子能机构评估小组的所有建议，而政府将确保这事。”
“在这完成前，事情将保持原状，（稀土）原料将不会运进我国，工厂也不准操作。”
加强民众认知提升监督水平
他们指出，政府也将依据报告的建议，提升原子能执照局和其他机构的监控水平。
“针对这项计划，我们也会加强公众对监控单位行动的认知，特别是关乎莱纳斯稀土厂的监督与执法。”
他们表示，政府将持续采取必要的监控与执法措施，确保公众的健康与安全达到令人满意的水平。
有信心符合条件且如期操作
位于关丹以北25公里外，格宾工业区的莱纳斯稀土厂，原本计划在9月开始试验操作。
尽管如此，根据评估小组早前提呈给大马政府的报告书中开出11项条件，要求大马政府、原子能执照局与莱纳斯必须符合条件，稀土厂才能获准营运。
在报告出炉后，莱纳斯即时表态有信心符合这些项条件，并预料稀土厂将会如期运作。
Monday, July 04, 2011
光明日報 - 《紐約時報》指建築有紕漏‧3關丹人報案‧促警查稀土廠設施
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羅基誠（左3）出示報案紙，右2為黃偉民。（圖：光明日報）
（彭亨‧關丹3日訊）3名關丹市民針對美國《紐約時報》新聞報導指稀土廠建設有紕漏一事，向關丹警方報案，要求警方徹查，保障市民的安全。
同時，報案者呼吁關心稀土課題的民眾，到鄰近的警察局報案，壯大聲勢，讓警方儘快展開調查。
週日上午11時，報案者羅基誠、孫秋霞及吳起偉，在10名民眾的陪同下，到關丹警察總部報案。
號召民眾報警
代表3名報案人發言的黃偉民向記者表示，關心稀土課題的人士應該向警方報案，讓警方調查稀土廠的設備及設施狀況。
他表示，美國《紐約時報》新聞報導與稀土廠的說法有出入，人民要知道真相。
“我希望從即日起，所有關心這課題的民眾陸續到鄰近的警察局報案。”
羅基誠和孫秋霞受詢時說，希望更多民眾加入報警行列。
“我們必須團結一致面對稀土地課題。”
另一方面，拯救大馬委員會主席陳文德在受詢時，鼓勵委員會的支持者前往報案。
他表示，基於技術問題，委員會不能以該會名義報案，因此呼吁支持者自動自發響應報案行動。
“我們一行人將於週日晚出發到澳洲，所以週日無法以個人名義向警方報案。”（光明日報）
中国报 - 《紐約時報》指設計有問題 3人報案促警徹查
《紐約時報》指設計有問題 3人報案促警徹查
（關丹3日訊）3名關丹市民今早報案，促請警方徹查《紐約時報》揭發澳洲萊納格賓稀土廠建築設計有問題的報導，是否屬實。
報案的市民包括孫秋霞（33歲）、吳起偽（46歲）及羅基誠（58歲），他們也是拯救大馬委員會成員。
孫秋霞說，由于市民力量有限，無法調查事實的真相，希望警方關注，因問題關乎人民健康及環境的影響。
“我們也希望更多市民，若對此報道存有疑問，也可向警方報案。”
她說，由于該委員會主席陳文德今日與11名委員往澳洲反映反稀土意願，她們3人今日以個人名義報案。
Sunday, July 03, 2011
东方新闻网 - 公司主席拒與傅芝雅對談
（吉隆坡30日訊）澳洲萊納斯公司主席柯迪斯， 已拒絕在公開場合會見關丹國會議員傅茲雅，因此明日的會面取消。
他在上週致函傅芝雅要求會談，雙方已答應明午3時會見。可是傅芝雅堅持在公開場合對談。
由於雙方對會面形式談不攏，傅芝雅在今晚宣佈，該會談已取消。
私下會面更方便
柯迪斯今午在新聞發佈會上強調，身為外來人的他，不應在公開場合與一名民選的國會議員辯論。他強調，兩人公開辯論，無助於整體討論。
他續稱，過去與其他國會議員私下會面，成效理想，因此他認為，私下與傅芝雅等人會面，更能開誠佈公，讓兩造滿意。
「我們其實是想瞭解當地居民的想法，我相信私下會面會更為方便，而且更能開誠佈公地討論這些課題。」
至於傅芝雅是否曾建議，在三名非政府組織代表協同下進行協商，再舉行記者會？
柯迪斯表示，若雙方會面以此方式進行，他願意接受會面。
星洲日報 - 傅芝雅：受委澳專家完成報告‧稀土評估近日公佈
國內
（雪蘭莪‧八打靈再也2日訊）公正黨關丹國會議員傅芝雅指出，她委托來自澳洲的“Starlight”礦務諮詢公司針對萊納稀土廠進行的調查與評估報告已完成，預計將在近日公佈。
她向星洲日報表示，已收到該礦務諮詢公司寄來的報告，目前在尋找獨立專家協助解讀報告，以便公開時大家能對報告內容可更加清楚明瞭。
傅芝雅早前指出，其服務中心已正式委任來自澳洲的“Starlight”礦務諮詢公司，以針對萊納稀土廠計劃作出正式的調查與評估。
有關公司在礦務、地質、環境管理及廢料處理領域都有專家隊伍負責研究，因此他們將根據這項計劃所提供的環境影響評估報告（EIA），以及國際原子能專家的評估報告，對萊納進行更深入的研究及評估，包括進入稀土廠取得詳盡資料。
指專家小組報告“另有深意”
另外，針對國際原子能機構專家公佈的稀土廠評估報告，傅芝雅指，報告結果如她所料，而該份報告不過是評估小組發表的“政治正確”聲明。
“國家原子能機構組成的專家小組是受大馬政府邀請進行評估，不可能掉轉鎗頭做出批評，因此報告內容也是為了保全大馬政府面子。”
她聲稱，如果認真研究細讀有關報告，可從字裡行間發現專家小組“另有深意”。
傅芝雅舉例，雖然報告中指評估小組認同原子能執照局能力，但該小組11項建議中，除了數項針對萊納公司外，其餘幾乎都是建議原子能執照局做出改進或採取行動。
“評估小組指原子能執照局能勝任職務，在建議中卻希望大馬政府能確保該局擁有充足人力、物力、技術資源，獨立性與夠稱職，如果該局真的能勝任，為何又提出這麼多建議，希望他們改進？”
不過，她強調，從報告中可發現評估小組確實有考量到各界的意見與擔憂。
拒與萊納主席私下會面
至於與萊納會面事項，傅芝雅堅持，她只會在公開、透明的情況下與萊納主席會面，婉拒對方私下會面的邀約。
UMNO thugs at the IAEA meeting with the stakeholders turned actors as “Kuantan residents” in TV3’s Karam Singh Walia Pro-Lynas program
UMNO thugs threatened and hit the peaceful residents and journalists during the IAEA meeting with the stakeholders in Teluk Cempedak, Kuantan turned main actors as “Kuantan residents”in TV3’s Karam Singh Wallia 3-day program.