Monday, August 29, 2011

当今大马 - 交全民定夺莱纳斯稀土厂 回教党倡议政府举行公投

2011年8月29日
上午 11点25分

回教党认为,目前在两方对莱纳斯稀土厂课题各执一词的情况下,政府应该举行全民公投,以便定夺稀土厂的建废。

回教党宣传主任端依布拉欣(Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man)表示,稀土厂课题对关丹及周围居民拥有巨大的影响,因此政府与莱纳斯不应该轻视人民的抗议,因为无论是兴建与否的决定,都会对居民及该公司带来直接的影响。

他指出,如果政府与莱纳斯选择对人民的抗议声充耳不闻,那么该党相信人民将会继续抗议,而且也会向法庭申请禁令。

举行公投对各方公平

因此,他认为,政府可以透过全民公投的方式,来定夺继续或取消这个计划,而且任何决定都对各方公平。

“换言之,如果公投显示大部分人民同意稀土厂计划,那么莱纳斯与政府将不再面对问题。”

稀土厂课题最近再次引起关注,因为身为核能科学家的回教党乌鲁冷岳国会议员仄罗斯里,日前突然透过第三电视台表态,支持莱纳斯稀土厂。

Sunday, August 28, 2011

星洲日報 - 擬與萊納在馬設磁鐵廠‧西門子:無關稀土廠

  • 傅芝雅(右起)、安當蘇拉、莊易凡、李志雄和胡塞爾蘇萊曼向記者披露與西門子代表會談的結果。(圖:星洲日報)

(吉隆坡5日訊)馬來西亞西門子(Siemens)私人有限公司主席兼首席執行員巴拉卡斯占德拉今日指出,德國西門子公司與萊納(Lynas)以聯營方式設立永久性的綠化磁鐵廠,惟該公司與萊納現有的稀土提煉廠毫無關係。

他說,西門子決定在中國以外的國家設立磁鐵廠,至於設在哪個國家,該公司仍在考慮。

馬是3個受選擇國之一

他指出,大馬是3個選擇中的其中一個,而大馬則有4個地點受到考慮,目前未作最終定奪。

他與公正黨關丹區國會議員傅芝雅等5名反稀土廠代表會晤後受訪時說:“我們尚在進行評估工作,估計數個月內將會有結果。”

巴拉卡斯占德拉強調,萊納將是該公司其中一個供應商,而所有供應必須遵守和符合該公司的商業伙伴准則與指南,包括遵守法律、尊重員工基本人權、照顧員工健康和安全,以及符合有關環保的國際標準。

他說,根據該公司的標準作業程序,一旦出現任何問題,其專業小組將會進行評估工作。

料今年杪開始運作

他指出,萊納已經向該公司作出承諾,因此,相信後者會遵守該公司的准則與指南。

“我們作為商業機構,我們尊重政府對萊納作出的任何決定。”

德國西門子驅動科技部於7月7日與萊納簽署了意向書,以成立一家聯營公司生產磁鐵,有關公司預計在今年杪開始運作,估計在2013年上半年開始投入生產。

出席新聞發佈會的包括德國西門子公司銷售部主管亞歷山大普吉和公共關係組高級主任韋特曼。

星洲日報 - 傅芝雅:西門子作出保證‧供應商萊納會依足標準

(吉隆坡5日訊)公正黨關丹區國會議員傅芝雅指出,馬來西亞西門子(Siemens)私人有限公司表明會確保其供應商萊納(Lynas)符合該公司訂制的商業標准。

她說,西門子一向秉持綠色工藝進行生產的原則,因此,相信該公司對供應商也有同樣的要求。

她今日連同4名反稀土廠代表,與大馬西門子私人有限公司主席兼首席執行員巴拉卡斯占德拉,以及德國西門子公司代表進行會談後,在新聞發佈會上如是指出。

4名反稀土廠代表包括反稀土行動單位(Badar)主席安當蘇拉和委員胡塞爾蘇萊曼、專業人士莊易凡和李志雄。

傅芝雅指出,西門子表明將會設立專業小組自行調查,確保萊納符合西門子的標准。

“對我們而言,這是一種保證,我們相信西門子會守諾言。”

否認設專業小組調查

不過,巴拉卡斯占德拉在較後接受記者訪問時,否認特別設立專業小組進行調查的說法。

他說,該公司已經有本身的專業小組,只是一旦出現任何問題,公司將根據現有標准作業程序,把問題交由現有專業小組進行評估。

另一方面,安當蘇拉披露,預料該單位會在本月杪之前入稟法庭,以申請庭令禁止萊納繼續在大馬進行建設稀土提煉廠的工程。

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Malaysiakini - Pahang PAS maintains stance against Lynas

Link
Aug 26, 11 4:37pm

In an apparent snub to party colleague and Hulu Langat MP Che Rosli Che Mat, Pahang PAS today reiterated its opposition to the Lynas Advanced Material Plant (Lamp) project in Gebeng.

Pahang PAS commissioner Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said while they "respect" Che Rosli's views on the controversial project, for PAS it is the people who come first.

"His statement is his right and personal expert opinion that should be respected. This is not an issue for the party. Instead, we celebrate this difference of opinion on this matter in line with democracy," Tuan Ibrahim said in a statement.

Che Rosli was recently quoted by pro-government station TV3 as saying he was "ashamed" that Kuantan MP and PKR vice-president Fuziah Salleh had misled the publicpas muktamar 130610 tuan ibrahim tuan man into going against the RM700 million project in Gebeng, Pahang.

This earned him a scathing rebuke from Fuziah, who described Che Rosli's arguments in support of the project as "too simplistic".

Tuan Ibrahim (left) acknowledged that there has been a clash in arguments between experts for and against Lamp, but maintained that Pahang PAS will not waver in its opposition to the project being built Australian mining giant Lynas Corporation.

"... for PAS, the rakyat must come first in this issue. Concerns over risks faced by the people due to the Lynas project, especially the residents of Kuantan, cannot be brushed aside. The rakyat have the biggest right and must be heard," he said.

Gebeng residents well aware about Bukit Merah case

Tuan Ibrahim pointed out that the Lamp project would not bring any benefit, save for a handful of jobs, compared with the risks that come with the rare earth processing plant.

He said in many high-risk projects, such as nuclear plants, nuclear experts would say that there is no danger "under normal circumstances".

Tuan Ibrahim noted that residents in Gebeng, where the project is located, and nearby Kuantan are well aware of the Bukit Merah case of the 1980s, where a rare earth plant run by a Japanese company was blamed for killing and poisoning scores of local people from radiation poisoning.

He stressed that in such cases, the local residents ended up facing dangers wrought by such projects, while the "experts" who gave their support for the projects would quietly slink away.

"... when something happens outside of human control due to negligence, earthquakes, floods, tsunamis and other events, will we only then want to admit that it has become a threat?"

Meanwhile, PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar accused TV3 of attempting to discredit Fuziah in their bid “to further BN's narrow and divisive political objectives”.

In declaring their party's support for Fuziah, Nurul Izzah said the BN had merely hidden behind two nuclear experts who had misrepresented the aims and objectives of the anti-Lynas movement.

“The anti-Lynas movement was never narrowly confined to objecting about radioactivity alone. On the contrary, the movement opposed Lamp on the basis that operating a rare earth refinery in Prime Minister Najib Razak's home state brings with it other hazards such as health and environmental damage that would have dire consequences for the tourism and fishing industry, thus the local economy as a whole.

“Lamp will be the world's largest rare earth plant outside China once it operates. We believe that the health and safety of the residents of Gebeng and the surrounding areas are too precious to be sacrificed for short-term economic benefit. In this regard, YB Fuziah has rightly defended the rights of Gebeng residents, and should be applauded for continuing to do so as a responsible member of Parliament for Kuantan,” she said in a statement.


http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/174213

当今大马 - 首要新闻指控对稀土课题撒谎 傅芝雅律师信要第三电视道歉

2011年8月26日
下午 1点47分
由于不满巫统控制的第三电视在新闻节目中指控她针对莱纳斯稀土厂课题撒谎,公正党国会议员傅芝雅昨日发出律师信要求该电视台和记者在7天内道歉,并且撤回报道,否则她将会提出诉讼。

她今日在彭亨州关丹召开记者会,宣布她已经通过律师苏仁德兰,发信给第三电视和其记者卡兰星(Karam Singh Walia),提出上述要求。

批新闻内容高度诽谤

NONE也是公正党副主席的苏仁德兰在致给第三电视和卡兰星的信中表示,傅芝雅(左图)是不满第三电视在6月28日、29日、30日和8月24日播出的《首要新闻》(Buletin Utama)节目,指控她撒谎。

“上述声称是要揭露莱纳斯提炼厂真相的新闻节目,事实上是对我们当事人作出强烈和不合理的攻击。”

“相关的事实都是不真实的,而且对我们的当事人高度诽谤。你们甚至指控我们的当事人撒谎,这是过分和毫无根据的。”

他指出,这些新闻节目也是刻意计划,以破坏傅芝雅作为国会议员的信誉,并且导致她面对公众非议、憎恨和藐视。

郑联科也面对律师信

NONE除了第三电视之外,傅芝雅也同样通过苏仁德兰发出律师信给马华中委兼关丹区会主席郑联科(右图),因为后者涉嫌在第三电视6月30日和8月24日的《首要新闻》节目中指责“傅芝雅曾说我们的官员、马来专家、大马人民的专家完全不可信赖”。

苏仁德兰表示,傅芝雅从来没有说过这些话。

“考虑到我们当事人的职位,你对她的指控其实是非常严重,并且是严重的诽谤。”

要求赔偿其名誉损失

傅芝雅通过律师向这三方提出四大要求,包括作出公开道歉和撤回报道、给予书面保证不会重复同样或类似的指责、对于名誉损失给予合理的赔偿,以及赔偿律师费。

傅芝雅也特别要求,第三电视和卡兰星必须在接下来的第三电视《首要新闻》节目中,依据傅芝雅的同意的字眼,作出完整和彻底道歉和撤回报道。

律师表示,第三电视、卡兰星和郑联科必须在7天内作出回复,否则他们将会采取法律行动。

抨击国阵包庇莱纳斯

傅芝雅也在文告中重申,第三电视相关新闻节目是国阵策划的阴谋,为了本身的利益而包庇莱纳斯稀土厂。

NONE“通过只是接触单一领域的专家,并且漠视其他领域的专家,揭露了国阵自私的议程已经否决人民的利益和福祉,不像他们所谓的人民为先政策。”

她也表示,国阵是为了来届大选,而提早展开竞选运动,借用他们的喉舌来抹黑和攻击他。

根据媒体报道,第三电视在相关节目中就访问身为核能科学家的回教党乌鲁冷岳国会议员仄罗斯里,批评公正党为了利益,而不惜扭曲稀土厂议题。他表示,公正党在没有科学及学术基础下跟人理论,已令他感到羞耻。

罗斯里和另一名辐射安全及健康专家阿末特米兹(Ahmad Termizi Ramli)也认为,傅芝雅将稀土厂与核能设备相提并论,是在误导大众。

曾咨询多名本地专家

 
无论如何,傅芝雅强调,莱纳斯稀土厂是一个复杂和含有多个层面的课题,因此他们已经针对此事访问本地多个领域的专家,才会决定反对在关丹格宾工业区设立稀土厂。

她也驳斥,这证明他们不相信本地专家的说明是不确实的。

傅 芝雅和反对稀土厂民众所咨询的专家,包括毒理学专家再也巴兰(Jayabalan)和祖基菲里阿末(Dzulkifly Ahmad)、流行病学专家陈志勤(Chan Chee Khoon,译音)、环境化学工程专家陈家庆(Tan Kah Kheng,译音)、金属化学工程专家李志芬(Lee Chee Hoon,译音),环境法律学者古蒂亚星(Gurdial Singh)和核物理学家阿末邦苏(Ahmad Bungsu)。

Friday, August 26, 2011

Malaysiakini - Fuziah demands apology from TV3, journalist and Ti

Aug 26, 11 2:35pm

Kuantan MP Fuziah Salleh of PKR has demanded TV3, its journalist and a politician retract and apologise for defaming her in a news piece on the Lynas Advanced Material Plant (Lamp) in Gebeng, Pahang.

Fuziah's lawyers sent out three letters of demand yesterday, with one naming environmental journalist Karam Singh Walia and TV3 as the first and second respondents while the other two letters were addressed to MCA Kuantan division chief Ti Lian Ker.

NONEIn the letter addressed to Karam and TV3, Fuziah (left) sought a complete withdrawal of a series of news pieces aired between June 28 and 30 and on Aug 24, which she claimed were “untruthful and the contents taken as a whole are highly defamatory” towards her.

She also demanded that TV3 not air the contentious news pieces in the future and provide an apology on terms approved by her lawyers.

In Ti's case, Fuziah demanded that the former state assemblyperson publish a withdrawal and apology over his statement carried by TV3.

Damages sought

In the news piece, Ti had allegedly quoted Fuziah as saying that “pegawai-pegawai kita, pakar-pakar Melayu, pakar-pakar rakyat Malaysia semua tak boleh dipercayai” (our officers, Malay experts, Malaysian experts, all cannot be trusted).

Her claims against Ti were outlined in two separate letters of demand, in reference to two separate incidents on June 30 and Aug 24 respectively when TV3 aired Ti's comments in its series of news pieces on the RM700 million plant.

All three letters also demanded a written assurance that no such allegations against Fuziah would be repeated, and sought damages and indemnity on legal costs.

On Wednesday night, TV3 aired a news piece by Karam in which two local nuclear experts – one of them her Pakatan colleague and PAS' Hulu Langat MP Che Rosli Che Mat – slammed Fuziah for allegedly misleading the public over the Lynas issue.

Fuziah, a PKR vice-president, railed against the news report, saying that the television station had insinuated she had been lying to the people over the dangers of the controversy-ridden project.

Strong basis for concerns

In a statement issued today, she again stressed that her position against the multi-million ringgit project, owned by Australian mining giant Lynas Corporation, is supported by in-depth research and views from at least seven local experts in toxicology, health, engineering, nuclear physics and law.

NONEFuziah pointed out that the rare earth industry is a “totally new” area in Malaysia and with no best practice model in operation anywhere in the world.

She repeated that the recent string of news reports carried by TV3 had a clear political purpose of discrediting her while at the same time supporting the Lamp project at the expense of the people of Gebeng, as well as Balok and Kuantan nearby, and Malaysians on the whole.

The Lynas controversy broke out early this year, after a group of disgruntled Kuantan residents mounted a peaceful protest in front of Parliament to demand the scrapping of the project over fears of potential radiation poisoning.

The Australian project saw sustained protests from locals, eventually forcing the federal government to moot the formation of an expert review panel headed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

The panel eventually found the project to be complying with international radiation standards, but stressed that Lynas must first implement 11 recommendations before it could start operations.

However, this failed to appease detractors, who claimed that the scope of the recommendations put forward by the panel was too narrow.

The rare earth processing facility was initially scheduled for completion next month, but the approval of its pre-operating licence from the federal government is still pending.

Thursday, August 25, 2011

当今大马 - 稀土厂争议引发民联议员内讧 傅芝雅否认撒谎误导关丹民众



2011年8月25日
下午 4点13分
莱纳斯稀土厂风波节外生枝,身为核能科学家的回教党乌鲁冷岳国会议员仄罗斯里昨日突然透过第三电视台向民联同僚开炮,抨击公正党关丹国会议员傅芝雅在有关议题误导大众。
 
NONE对此,傅芝雅(左图)今日否认本身误导民众,同时也反驳仄罗斯里的言论不能代表回教党对莱纳斯稀土厂的立场。

她也认为,仄罗斯里对整个稀土厂议题的分析则过分简单。
 
“他的分析过分的单纯,他说他已测量(辐射),但他只是针对矿石而已。核能科学家典型的做法便是只着重在矿石而已。”

“我们讲的是莱纳斯稀土厂,不只是矿石而已。我们所讨论的问题也包括处理过程、废料管理等等议题。”
 

与核能设备相提误导民众


傅芝雅是接受《当今大马》的访问,回应第三电视台昨晚播出的新闻节目。

该台分别访问罗斯里及一名辐射安全及健康专家阿末特米兹(Ahmad Termizi Ramli),两人皆认为,傅芝雅将稀土厂与核能设备相提并论,是在误导大众。
 
仄罗斯里更批评公正党为了利益,而不惜扭曲稀土厂议题。他表示,公正党在没有科学及学术基础下跟人理论,已令他感到羞耻。

“我的研究非靠谷歌搜索”


傅芝雅反驳仄罗斯里的说法,强调本身已经进行详细的研究。

“我已做了我的研究,绝非靠谷歌搜索所得。我想,指责我们不知核能设备及稀土厂分别的人,才不知他们在说甚么。”
 
傅芝雅也不满,第三电视台的新闻影射她撒谎。她表示,该台邀请的两名核能专家反驳她的论点,根本是以一个“太多简单”立场来回应一个复杂的议题。
 
利用电视台显示国阵情急
 
“利用第三电视台和(其环境议题记者)卡兰星(Karam Singh Walia)来作出这项报道,是国阵情急下的尝试。彭亨州政府已在连场巡回活动上说我说谎。”
 
“这是他们告诉大众的事,来达致本身的目的。莱纳斯是上亿令吉的工程,彭亨政府不能就此让莱纳斯撤离。”
 
傅芝雅将在明天召开记者会,驳斥第三电视台新闻报导,预料回教党及行动党将派代表出席。

莱纳斯目前是在关丹格宾工业区兴建中国以外最大稀土提炼厂,预订将在今年底完工。

由于担心稀土厂将产生辐射影响健康,因此当地民众一直强烈反对这项计划,同时也组成“拯救大马委员会”向政府施压。

政府之前在压力之下曾设立一个国际专家组成的小组来检讨稀土厂的安全,不过这份报告最终却指出,稀土厂已经符合国际标准。

不过,该工厂仍需要符合11项条件,才能获得前期营运准证。

Malaysiakini - Lynas row: Fuziah unfazed by hostile PAS MP

Joseph Sipalan
Aug 25, 11
1:58pm

Kuantan MP Fuziah Salleh remains undeterred despite being accused by a fellow Pakatan Rakyat parliamentarian of misleading the public on the dangers of the Lynas Advanced Material Plant (Lamp).


NONEContacted today, Fuziah said that the televised stinging criticism by Hulu Langat MP Che Rosli Che Mat, a nuclear scientist, did not represent his party PAS, whose Pahang branch had joined her campaign against Lynas.

"His analysis of the whole thing is very simplistic.

"He mentioned that he already measured (the radioactivity), but that is just the ore.

"This is typical of nuclear scientists who only look at the ore.

"We're talking about Lamp, which is not just the ore. It's also the processing, the whole waste management, and so on.

"I've done my research, and it wasn't a Google search. To accuse us of not knowing the difference between a nuclear facility and rare earth plant... I think it is the people saying this who don't know what they're talking about," she said.

Yesterday, TV3 ran a news piece quoting radiology safety and health expert Dr Ahmad Termizi Ramli and Che Rosli claiming that Fuziah had been misleading the public by comparing Lamp with nuclear facilities.

Che Rosli went on to accused PKR of spinning the issue for their own benefit, and that he was "ashamed" that they would resort to arguments that have no scientific or academic basis.

Overly simplistic arguments

It is rare for Pakatan leaders to openly condemn each other, particularly on media organisations which are linked the ruling coalition such as Media Prima, which owns TV3.

Fuziah has been at the forefront of a campaign against the Lynas plant in Gebeng, arguing that the rare earth ore that will be processed there would expose those within the vicinity to radioactive materials.

Meanwhile, Fuziah criticised TV3 for airing the news piece which insinuated that she had lied about the RM700 million Lynas plant, located in Gebeng a short drive north of Kuantan.

Fuziah said that the arguments postulated by the two nuclear experts in rebutting her arguments against the plant was “too simplistic” a take on a complex and multi-faceted issue.

"Using TV3 and (its environmental journalist) Karam Singh Walia is a desperate attempt by BN. The Pahang government has been going on a roadshow to say I am lying.

"This is what they are telling the public... This is all to fulfil their end objective. Lynas is a multi-million ringgit project, and the Pahang government cannot afford to let it go,” she told Malaysiakini.

Will PAS reps show up?

She will be holding a press conference in Kuantan tomorrow to rebut the news piece. Representatives from Pakatan allies PAS and DAP are expected to be present.

Fuziah was among the first few opponents of the Lynas plant. The campaign to stop the plant, which was initially scheduled to begin operation in next month, has snowballed into a grassroots-led campaign known as the Save Malaysia Stop Lynas (SMSL) movement.

Opposition to the Lynas plant had led to the federal government to call for a review by the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA), which eventually said that the plant fulfils international safety requirements.

However, the government has yet to issue Lynas a pre-operation licence pending the fulfilment of 11 conditions set by the IAEA in its report, therefore delaying plans to get the plant running.

Monday, August 22, 2011

Malaysia Chronicle - The garbage politicians in BN and Pakatan

Written by Sebastian Loon
Monday, 22 August 2011 09:09

LETTER There are garbage politicians in the Barisan Nasional as well as in the Pakatan Rakyat. However, clearly there is more garbage in the BN, especially in the MCA.

MCA leaders are so rotten to the core that they will not hesitate to sell their mother to realise their personal agenda which is always about material benefits that come with political power.

In the Wikileak report quoted in a US diplomatic cable in 2006 and attributed to US Embassy’s political officer Mark Clark, the then MCA vice-president was one of the few ministerial level Chinese politicians who refused to deny publicly or privately the fact that Chinese Malaysians are marginalised.

Clark reported that Ong acknowledged “of course we are marginalised, big business to small stall owners know that – but MCA cannot admit it”.

So, when pressed by reporters for a public response to Singapore leader Lee Kuan Yew’s accusation that Malaysia marginalises the Chinese community, Ong responded with a Chinese proverb: “Whether the water in the tea cup is hot or cold, he who drinks it knows best.”

Tung Shin disaster

This is in contrast with the bumbling responses of MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek and his deputy Liow Tiong Lai with regards to the shameful police attack on innocent citizens during the peaceful Bersih 2.0 protest in Tung Shin Hospital.

Chua and Liow are now not only exposed as liars when they tried to side the brutal police by denying there was no attack in the hospital, they are confirmed garbage politicians who cannot be trusted as community leaders.

The MCA duo is only willing to lick the feet of Umno to consolidate their political positions. To them, there is no such thing as protecting the interests of the Chinese community or the Malaysian community in general.

Flotsam and jetsam

Likewise, there are many such garbage politicians in Umno, Gerakan, MIC and also in the PR, especially the katak (frog) politicians and those who have yet to make their move.

For the future of our children and country, the next general election is crucial – it is akin to a make or break situation.

Malaysians must cast their ballot wisely to ensure that only credible and reasonably reliable politicians be elected to Parliament to stop the cancerous rot inflicting Malaysians and Malaysia.

Malaysians must only vote in dependable politicians, be it from the PR or BN. This is because there are good and bad politicians on both the divide.

It will surely be too late and tragic for the general well-being of the people and country if the corrupt and unreliable politicians are allowed to continue to abuse their power by exploiting the law for their personal and party gains. It only means we are giving up our rights.

- Sebastian Loon is a reader of Malaysia Chronicle

Friday, August 19, 2011

The Nut Graph - Kuantan MP YB Fuziah Salleh


By Deborah Loh | 08 March 2010 | *Updated 4 April 2011 | **Updated 19 August 2011

KUANTAN Member of Parliament (MP) Fuziah Salleh’s response to the MP Watch: Eye on Parliament project, which asks all 222 MPs six questions.











**

Name: Fuziah Salleh
Constituency: Kuantan

Party: PKR (Opposition)
Years as MP: Since 2008

Government position: None
Party position:
PKR Vice-president* (since 28 Nov 2011)

PKR Kuantan Chief**

Membership in parliamentary committee or caucus:
House committee
Asean Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus
Asean Inter-Parliamentary Assembly
Women’s Parliamentary Caucus

Blog/website: http://fuziahsalleh.my/



1

Would you support the abolition/review of the Internal Security Act, in particular the provision that allows for detention without trial? Why or why not?

I support a review and, in the long run, abolition of the Act. Detention without trial is against human rights. I don’t deny the need to take care of national security, which is the argument always used by the Barisan Nasional (BN). However, if there is a need to detain a person, he or she must be brought to trial within a certain period of time. A detainee cannot be at the mercy of one person’s signature, the home minister’s, and be detained further every two years indefinitely.

2Do you think Malaysia should be a secular or an Islamic state? Why?

I think the country should remain as it is. We are a constitutional monarchy, where the constitution says Islam is the religion of federation. In that way, the issue of an Islamic state does not arise because if Muslims want implementation of Islamic law, the constitution allows for that.

We have the syariah courts. We can empower the syariah courts further and expand them by giving them more provisions and [a bigger] budget so they can give better services. And even expand syariah jurisdiction to cover criminal law, apart from marriage and family. We are able to do so under the Federal Constitution as it is.

3How do you define your role as an elected MP? Does Parliament provide you with the necessary infrastructure and support to fulfill your role?

As an MP, there are a few areas in our scope of work. Number one is our performance in Parliament. We must participate in debates, we have to pass the law, and bring up issues our constituency faces.

Secondly, constituency outreach work is very important. We must know the issues and problems of the various stakeholders in the constituency. This involves many facets: making sure our service centre performs well; working with the various government departments; working with non-governmental agencies; problem solving; being a community leader; even instilling good values and nurturing civil society.

Thirdly, we must constantly communicate with our constituents as they need to know what we stand for, our values, and what we are promoting. We do this by various means, whether it’s through leaflets, through Facebook, blogs, or appearing in the media.

Parliament has a responsibility to support MPs in terms of research, but it doesn’t. Our parliamentary research unit has only 16 research assistants to serve 222 MPs. Compared to the United States, the 200-plus Congress members are served by 700 staff in the Congress research unit. Even in Indonesia, each MP has two staff paid for by Parliament. One is the personal assistant of the MP who will continue the MP’s work in the constituency while Parliament is in session. The other is the research assistant.

In Malaysia, we are still a long way off. We receive no assistance, and yet we are expected to perform. As lawmakers, we should also be having select committees, but Parliament doesn’t provide for this. Our parliamentary role is very superficial, and it’s a concerted effort by the present BN government to ensure that our parliamentary roles are minimised.

4Would you support a Freedom of Information Act? Why or why not?

Yes, I would certainly support such an act because the public has the right to access information. Transparency must be part and parcel of good governance. But I’m not saying that everything must be open. There will still be some things that should be kept secret.

However, when things affect the public, for example the Bukit Antarabangsa landslide, the public has the right to know the outcome of the inquiry, and the report should not be classified as secret. There must be respect for things like national security matters, but there must be public accessibility if the people are affected.

5If there was one thing you could do to strengthen parliamentary democracy in Malaysia, what would it be?

There is no real parliamentary democracy here. If we look at the way laws are made here, they are promulgated under the Attorney-General (AG)’s Chambers. The AG’s office is directly under the prime minister. This is wrong because Parliament should be independently formulating laws through special committees, and then debating them in chambers.

Here, we don’t have a parliamentary procedure on the formulation of laws. Laws are tabled by the executive, when it should be Parliament that is responsible for formulating laws. It should be the legislative telling the executive what to do, not the other way around.

In the US, any representative can formulate a law and bring it to Congress and the rules committee will decide. For example, as an individual MP, I would be able to table a law myself to protect [the fishing community] in my constituency. And then the fishing community can see how I am acting in their interest.

As it is now, MPs just endorse and rubber-stamp laws. Whatever we say in debates is not listened to.

6Do you believe in separation of powers between the government, Parliament and judiciary? Why or why not?

Definitely. The separation of powers must be very clear, not only in practice but also symbolically. For example, the fact that we have a cabinet minister in charge of Parliament is rubbish. It practically says that there is interference by the executive. The executive cannot be responsible for Parliament. This is contrary to the separation of powers. For the sake of democracy in our country, it is best that those in power and the rakyat understand that the separation of powers is very important to ensure we can promote democracy. favicon

http://www.thenutgraph.com/mp-watch-fuziah-salleh/

7.30 ABC - Race for rare earths



Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Broadcast: 18/08/2011

Reporter: Greg Hoy

Australia is aiming to become a producer of rare earths, a group of elements or metal oxides in high demand.

Transcript

LEIGH SALES, PRESENTER: Australia prides itself in being a world leader in mining, but it's late in joining the international race to produce valuable rare earths.

Rare earths are a group of elements or metal oxides that are crucial in technology and Defence manufacturing. As you'd imagine, the demand and price for them is skyrocketing.

Australia's hoping to break China's dominance of rare earth production, but as Greg Hoy reports, the stakes are high.

GREG HOY, REPORTER: Rare earth, widely scattered across the globe, but rarely in commercial quantities. Rare earths are a group of 17 metal oxides with sci-fi names like europium and neodymium, all highly prized and priced for their wondrous powers.

NICHOLAS CURTIS, CHAIRMAN, LYNAS CORP: The modern world as we know it wouldn't exist without rare earths.

GREG HOY: Their rare qualities can create powerful phosphors to light up smartphones, iPads, TVs, computers, energy efficient light globes, even stadiums, or stronger batteries and powerful magnets to drive hybrid and electric vehicles, wind turbines to make speakers smaller but louder, computer hard drives smaller but faster, more powerful X-ray and MRI scanning systems. And no modern war can be fought without rare earth-enhanced night vision goggles, spy radar, missile guidance and tank navigation systems, lasers, even satellites.

NICHOLAS CURTIS: There are so many applications that are relevant to our life today that are going to be critical in the future that depend on rare earths.

GREG HOY: But there is a big problem: the China syndrome. Now controlling 97 per cent of global supply of rare earths, China has exploited its cheaper labour and lower environmental standards to undercut international rivals and drive them out of business.

MIKE HARROWELL, RESOUCES RESEARCH ANALYST, BBY: They have built themselves a very powerful strategic niche.

GREG HOY: "Rare earths will be to China," vowed the Premier Deng Xiaoping in 1992, "what oil was to the Middle East." His words resonating loudly last year when China suddenly slashed its exports by 72 per cent, boosting export prices and its own plentiful supplies and unveiling China's master plan.

MIKE HARROWELL: China would like the West to continue to move manufacturing capability for rare earth specialty technologies back into China.

GREG HOY: But the China syndrome is fuelling powerful geopolitical tensions. For starters in Washington, where a Government report 'Rare Earths Materials in the Defence Supply Chain' last year stated, "The Department of Defence has not yet identified ... national security risks due to rare earth material dependencies and is in the process of identifying such risks."

MIKE HARROWELL: The military obviously are very concerned because rare earth magnets provide the guidance for their weapons systems on tanks, the tail fins on their smart rockets and bombs. Presently they all come from China.

GREG HOY: But international concern soared higher on September 22nd when China stopped all exports to Japan following the arrest of a Chinese fisherman in disputed territorial waters. Amidst rising tensions the fisherman was quickly released by the Japanese, the world's biggest consumers of rare earths for their high-tech manufacturing sector, who soon pleaded for help from Australia.

SEIJI MAEHARA, JAPAN FOREIGN MINISTER (voiceover translation, Nov. 2010): We're very pleased that Australia is also able to give us a long-term commitment in relation to rare earths.

KEVIN RUDD, FOREIGN MINISTER: The Australian Government understands the strategic significance of rare earths globally.

GREG HOY: But such a big commitment is easier pledged than delivered. Ramping up rare earth production requires a decade of high-tech planning and a mountain of money.

STEVE WARD, CEO, ARAFURA RESOURCES: We believe it will cost about a billion Australian dollars to create the mine and the rare earth complex.

NICHOLAS CURTIS: It will cost about $700 to $800 million in terms of the total journey.

GREG HOY: And that's before facing strong environmental sensitivities.

MIKE HARROWELL: That a by-product of making rare earths generally is thorium, or uranium, and that obviously has disposal issues.

GREG HOY: Leading the race locally to challenge China is Australia's Lynas Corporation, which is facing strong protests in Malaysia, where with the help of a 12-year tax exemption by the Malaysian Government, Lynas plans to process rare earths mined in Western Australia. Public protests triggered an inquiry by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

NICHOLAS CURTIS: The review said that we were safe and that this had no hazard to community.

GREG HOY: Back in Australia meantime, Arafura Resources is gathering a billion-dollar war chest to mine rare earths in the Northern Territory and plans to process in Whyalla, South Australia, in hope of supplying 10 per cent of the global market.

STEVE WARD: Australia is viewed as a country which has very demanding regulations, and they actually give us, we believe, certain credibility in global markets.

GREG HOY: And the potential of Australian companies now entering the fray has aroused powerful international interest.

NICHOLAS CURTIS: We've also recently had the Japanese Government lend us $225 million to double our plant capacity and we have very strong interest from the US, Europe, Japan and other jurisdictions from an investment point of view.

GREG HOY: And the biggest interest of all in Australian companies has come from, you guessed it, China.

NICHOLAS CURTIS: A Chinese Government group wanted to take 51 per cent of the company and the Foreign Investment Review Board declined.

STEVE WARD: We do have a Chinese shareholder who owns 17 per cent of our company. They are one of our largest single shareholders.

GREG HOY: China of course bans all foreign investment in its own rare earths industry, though it does now encourage foreign manufacturers to set up in China if they use Chinese rare earths in joint ventures with Chinese interests. It's a salutary lesson for sleepy governments in shrewd strategic planning. Outside China, the road to rare earth riches remains long and hazardous, particularly given the Middle Kingdom's determination to stay ahead of all competition.

DUDLEY KINGSNORTH, RARE EARTHS EXPERT: China's been processing rare earths now for well over 40, 50 years. By all accounts they have over 5,000 PhDs working in industry, developing new applications, refining their processes. We don't have that expertise here outside China.

LEIGH SALES: Greg Hoy there.

http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2011/s3296991.htm

Malaysiakini - Pakatan: BN will 'run over us' in polls panel

Aidila Razak
Aug 18, 11
1:24pm

Pakatan Rakyat MPs today decried the proposed composition of the parliamentary select committee on electoral reform, saying it would make Pakatan committee members lame ducks.

Speaking to Malaysiakini, they said this was especially so with the inclusion of a member of the BN-friendly Independent bloc.

"How is Pakatan supposed to vote in this committee?

"With five BN MPs, a BN minister as chairperson and an independent MP, who we know will be pro-BN, Pakatan will be outnumbered seven to three," said PKR-Kuantan MP Fuziah Salleh.

NONEFuziah (left) said the composition announced yesterday by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Abdul Aziz did not adhere to the provisions for the formation of a select committee.

"The provision states that the members must be proportionate to the composition of Parliament.

"Independent MPs make up nine of the 222 members.

"They should not be on the select committee," the PKR vice-president added.

Agreeing with her, DAP-Rasah MP Anthony Loke said Independent MPs have no space on the committee as none of them had been voted in as Independents.

"They were all voted in on Pakatan tickets and have since formed an independent bloc, so in fact, there is no real Independent MP," Loke said.

The DAP Youth chief added that the inclusion of an independent MP was a "political move" by BN "so that it will have more say in deciding certain agenda... knowing the MPs' inclination".

'Talk to us first'


The manner in which the composition and terms of reference of the select committee have been decided also suggest that the BN was trying to run over the opposition on the matter, noted PAS-Kubang Kerian MP Salahuddin Ayub.

"I am disappointed that it has been one-way communication from the minister, without consultation with other political parties on the terms of reference and composition...what can we hope to achieve if this is how they plan to run it?" Salahuddin (below) asked.

NONEHe said there was still time for Prime Minister najib Abdul Razak to invite political parties for a consultation before the committee was formed in Parliament on Oct 3.

"Most importantly, we would like him to give a guarantee that he will not call snap polls before the committee's work is completed," Salahuddin said.

The PAS vice-president also said that a government with strong political will to carry out electoral reforms would have formed a Royal Commission of Inquiry instead, as it had "more weight and credibility" in dealing with such a serious issue, compared with a parliamentary select committee.

Pakatan unlikely to boycott


However, the MPs said it was unlikely Pakatan would boycott the parliamentary select committee as such a move will only backfire.

"If we don't participate, (BN) will say that we are sore (losers), so we have to participate... but we will also have to make a lot of noise about it," said Fuziah.

Meanwhile, deputy prime minister advised Pakatan leaders not to be prejudiced towards the proposed select committee, especially in terms of its composition.

According to Bernama, Muhyiddin Yassin said they should regard the formation of the committee as a bold effort by the government.

"Its composition will be raised and tabled during the coming Parliament session. What's important to us is the prime minister's sincerity in accepting the proposal.

"Stop making assumptions and use this opportunity as a platform to discuss matters," he told reporters after attending a Royal Malaysia Police appreciation function at the RMP College in Cheras.

Malaysiakini - Pakatan: JK khas berat sebelah, helah politik BN

Ogos 18, 11 5:40pm
Ahli parlimen Pakatan Rakyat hari membantah pembentukan jawatankuasa khas Parlimen untuk meminda undang-undang dan peraturan berkaitan pilihan raya di negara ini yang yang majoritinya dibarisi wakil rakyat daripada parti pemerintah.

Presiden PKR, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail berkata jawatankuasa yang diumumkan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Razak itu bertujuan sekadar untuk mengaburi mata rakyat.

NONEKatanya, ini kerana penubuhan jawatankuasa itu untuk menambah baik proses pilihan raya, tidak dirunding bersama ahli parlimen Pakatan Rakyat dan bersifat berat sebelah.

“Kalau dikatakan ada jawatankuasa khas yang ditubuh, itu hanyalah untuk mengaburi mata kita sebab ini tidak dibincangkan dengan pihak pembangkang di parlimen. Sistem ini juga berat sebelah,” katanya dalam tulisan di blognya.

Menurut Wan Azizah, penubuhan jawatankuasa itu juga membuktikan kerajaan BN mengakui wujud kepincangan pilihan raya.

Bagi ketua parlimen DAP Lim Kit Siang, perkara yang paling mengecewakan ialah keengganan BN untuk berunding dengan Pakatan Rakyat sebelum membuat keputusan tentang pembentukan jawatankuasa khas parlimen itu.

Helah dan taktik

Ini katanya, termasuk keanggotaan, bidang tugas, tempoh masa, peranan BERSIH 2.0 dan perkara-perkara berkaitan. Menurut Lim yang juga ahli parlimen Ipoh Timur, pembentukan panel itu hanya helah dan taktik mengalih pandangan rakyat.

Beliau menjelaskan bahawa tanpa sasaran tempoh dan jaminan penuh daripada Perdana Menteri, segala kajian dan keputusan panel parlimen itu akan sia-sia jika Parlimen dibubarkan lebih awal.

NONE“Malah, jawatankuasa pemilih Parlimen itu akan terbubar secara automatik apabila Parlimen yang ada sekarang dibubarkan,” katanya dalam satu kenyataan.

Lim berharap rakyat tidak mudah terpengaruh dengan janji-janji BN yang selama ini jarang dikotakan, selain dipergunakan sebagai helah politik dan taktik mengalih pandangan rakyat daripada masalah yang dihadapi parti pemerintah.

Turut membidas pembentukan jawatankuasa dengan majoriti ahlinya daripada pihak kerajaan adalah naib presiden PKR, Fuziah Salleh.

Katanya, amalan bermain wayang ini sering menjadi pilihan kerajaan Umno-BN dalam memberi gambaran baik kepada dunia bahawa mereka dalam cerdik mentadbir sesebuah negara.

“Pengumuman itu hanyalah wayang, nak tunjuk pada satu dunia yang kononnya (Umno-BN) akan melaksanakannya tapi apa pula dengan kenyataan Nazri yang tidak menjamin pembersihan daftar pengundi sebelum pilihanraya?

Tidak bersungguh-sungguh

“Mereka juga tidak bersungguh-sungguh dan tidak memberikan komitmen dengan betul,” katanya.

NONEMengulas lanjut, Fuziah yang juga ahli parlimen Kuantan, sama sekali tidak bersetuju dengan pembahagian Jawatankuasa Khas Parlimen (PSC) yang diumumkan Nazri Aziz semalam berikutan pembahagian kerusi yang tidak adil.

Menurut Fuziah, jawatankuasa yang dicadangakn itu jelas berat sebelah dimana ia dianggotai sembilan wakil - lima daripada parti kerajaan, tiga pembangkang dan satu Bebas.

Tambahnya lagi, ahli parlimen dari bebas tidak berhak mendapat pembahagian walaupun seorang, berdasarkan jumlah kesuluruhan ahli parlimen.

“Jika kita lihat pada peratus kerusi di Parlimen, ahli parlimen bebas yang memiliki 8 kerusi dari 222 kerusi keseluruhan tidak mewakili satu peratus dari lapan ahli jawatan kuasa,”

Tiada keseimbangan

“Kita boleh lihat ketidakseimbangan pembahagian jawatan kuasa ini kerana bebas tidak sampai 0.5 peratus pun untuk dilantik menjadi jawatankuasa. Satu wakil bebas dan hanya tiga wakil dari Pakatan tidak mengikut pembahagian,”

Semalam, Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz berkata kabinet bersetuju supaya usul mengenai cadangan penubuhan jawatankuasa itu dibentangkan dalam persidangan Parlimen Oktober ini.

NONEJemaah menteri juga bersetuju untuk mengadakan pertemuan dengan Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya (SPR) dalam masa terdekat bagi membincang mengenai rangka kerja jawatankuasa itu yang akan diketuai oleh seorang menteri, katanya dalam sidang akhbar di bangunan Parlimen hari ini.

Nazri berkata jawatankuasa itu akan dianggotai sembilan wakil rakyat terdiri lima daripada parti kerajaan, tiga pembangkang dan satu bebas.

Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Razak pada Isnin lalu mengumumkan penubuhan jawatankuasa itu dalam usaha menambah baik proses pilihan raya di negara ini.

当今大马 - 国阵加上独立议员构成宰制 民联领袖抨特委会沦跛脚鸭

2011年8月18日
下午 2点47分

首相署部长纳兹里昨天公布选举改革国会特委会成员的细节后,在野党领袖纷纷反对,认为它将导致选举改革国会特委会沦为跛脚鸭。

他们认为,特委会还要包含一名亲国阵独立议员的做法,更是雪上加霜。

正当在野党和民间针对特委会的设立提出各项要求之际,纳兹里昨天宣布,内阁昨天早上已议决,特委会将由9名议员组成,其中包括5名国阵议员、3名反对党议员,以及1名独立议员。

设立过程不咨询民联
NONE

公正党主席旺阿兹莎炮轰特委会设立过程偏颇,不曾咨询民联国会议员。

如此一来,她认为特委会不过是一个混淆人民视线的做法。

她指出,首相纳吉建议成立特委会的做法,形同承认选举出现弊端。

“这就是为什么我们需要选举的改革和清理,非政府组织已多次抗议和讨论。净选盟已不是第一次抗议了,但事情却毫无变化。”

有违组织特选会规定


公正党关丹区国会议员傅芝雅质问,“民联在这个委员会里要如何投票呢?”

“其中有5名国阵国会议员,加上由国阵部长担任主席,再加上一个我们都知道是亲国阵的独立议员,民联会以7比3之势被压倒。”

如此一来,傅芝雅批评纳兹里违反组织特选会的规定。

比例应反映议席分配


“相关规定阐明,特委会成员比例应该近似于国会议席分配。”

傅芝雅强调,在222个国会议席当中,独立议员只占9人,因此他们不应该纳入特委会。

根本没真正独立议员
NONE

另一方面,社青团长陆兆福认为,独立议员不应该被纳入特委会,因为他们当初并并未以独立人士身份当选。

“他们都在民联的旗帜下当选,之后才组成独立议员集团,实际上,根本没有真正的独立议员。”

陆兆福补充,容纳独立议员是国阵的“政治手段”,以便掌握特委会的议程决定权,“他们很清楚这些独立议员的亲向”。

遗憾政府只单向沟通


回教党古邦阁亮区国会议员沙拉胡丁(Salahuddin Ayub)表示,特委会成员的组成显示国阵企图在选举改革课题上压倒在野党。

“我感到失望,因为首相署部长只做单向沟通,没有就特委会的职权范围和组成课题,咨询其他政党的意见。”

“如果他们的计划是如此,那么我们又能期待特委会达致些什么呢?”

倡议设立皇家委员会

NONE沙拉胡丁(左图)促请首相纳吉向邀请各政党坐下来协商,才到正式设立这个选举改革国会特委会。

不过他也强调,若政府真有改革选举制度的政治意志,则它应该设立皇家委员会,因为皇委会有更重大的权威和信誉。

无论如何,沙拉胡丁表示,民联杯葛国会特委会的机会不大,因为如此做将带来后患。

“若我们不参加,国阵会说我们输不起,所以我们必须参与……但我们必须大声提出我们的意见。”