How should we judge a government?

In Malaysia, if you don't watch television or read newspapers, you are uninformed; but if you do, you are misinformed!

"If you're not careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed, and loving the people who are doing the oppressing." - Malcolm X

Never argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience - Mark Twain

Why we should be against censorship in a court of law: Publicity is the very soul of justice … it keeps the judge himself, while trying, under trial. - Jeremy Bentham

"Our government is like a baby's alimentary canal, with a happy appetite at one end and no
responsibility at the other. " - Ronald Reagan

Government fed by the people

Government fed by the people

Career options

Career options
I suggest government... because nobody has ever been caught.

Corruption so prevalent it affects English language?

Corruption so prevalent it affects English language?
Corruption is so prevalent it affects English language?

When there's too much dirt...

When there's too much dirt...
We need better tools... to cover up mega corruptions.

Prevent bullying now!

Prevent bullying now!
If you're not going to speak up, how is the world supposed to know you exist? “Orang boleh pandai setinggi langit, tapi selama ia tidak menulis, ia akan hilang di dalam masyarakat dan dari sejarah.” - Ananta Prameodya Toer (Your intellect may soar to the sky but if you do not write, you will be lost from society and to history.)

Wednesday, April 08, 2015

Azmi Sharom: Thanks for passing anti-terror bill, academic tells Pakatan MPs

'Azmi, who was charged under the Sedition Act last year, was in fact fuming at the opposition coalition, who were beaten by a mere 19 votes in the Dewan Rakyat where they were fighting against the new law, which allows for detention without trial.

"Let's give a big round of applause to the Pakatan Rakyat MPs who, God knows where they were, when they should have been voting against Pota. Thank you very much.

"Where on earth were you? You could have defeated this law... because you know where the BN fellows are at 2 o'clock in the morning. You could have been there to defeat it.

"I am so irritated that I am being extremely immoderate," he said to laughter from some 150 people who attended a forum titled "What is a Moderate Malaysia for Malaysians?" in Kuala Lumpur last night.

The Pota bill was passed at the Dewan Rakyat at 2.25am yesterday after almost 14 hours of debate.

The final vote taken favoured the government with 79 from Barisan Nasional supporting it and 60 from the opposition against it.

Pakatan won 89 seats in the last general election but now has 86 members of parliament after the sacking of Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, losing the previously held DAP set in Teluk Intan and Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's conviction.

Azmi, in his heated tirade against both Pakatan and BN lawmakers, said the leadership of the country was "utterly useless".

"The leadership is absolutely, utterly useless. And when I say leadership, I mean all of them... Barisan and Pakatan."

- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/where-were-you-academic-asks-pakatan-mps-after-anti-terror-bill-passed#sthash.mNg7PlAH.dpuf

MP Wong Chen's post in Facebook (shared by Bersih) explains:

'I now have a short breather after the hectic few days. So let me address the many, many comments on the matter of the absent Pakatan MPs on the POTA vote. The view of many is one of anger.

I don't accept excuses nor do I make them. Every MP is responsible and answerable to his constituents and the nation. Some were overseas and one had very serious health issues. Two were Menteri Besars and probably had official duties, but I am not sure what functions they have at 2.30 am. Some just chose not to turn up. Some felt they were not informed, eventhough Pakatan MPs have a dedicated whatsapp group.

All I have to say is let them answer for themselves, I am sure as an MP they can argue and justify their absence.

Could we have defeated BN if all 86 Pakatan MPs turned up? No, simply because UMNO BN will delay the process and call more of their MPs to attend Parliament. This is what they did in the 2012 budget bill. If we got all 86 Pakatan MPs to attend BN would delay the process and bring in 87.

Najib and Muhyiddin will get out of bed to vote. Maybe we should have forced him out of bed to make a point. But ultimately we would have lost.

On the fateful POTA vote night, they had 79 and we had 60. If you are mathematically inclined you will note that the turn up percentage for BN was 59% and Pakatan 70%. Credit where credit is due DAP had an outstanding 92% turnout, PKR 64% and PAS 48%.

The only conceivable way to stop POTA is thru a procedural matter in the standing order (like what we are now attempting for the Sedition Act). Another possibility is to get the BN backbenchers or BN component members such as MCA, MIC and Gerakan to support us against the bill. That will be asking for a miracle.

But in this country you won't get articles and headlines that say UMNO, MCA, MIC and Gerakan betrayed the nation for bringing back detention without trial.'

Before I read the above articles, my comment and some replies in Facebook:

Kok Son Ong: Let's be fair to PR. If there were more PR MPs do you think Speaker would have stopped the clock? BN is in control and they could decide whether or not any law is to be passed. Even if they failed this time they will do it again until successful.
Like · Reply · 13 · 19 hrs

Harriri Mohd Noor: What about solidarity? What happen to united we stand divided we fall?
Like · 16 hrs

Kok Son Ong: Without the numbers how many times can PR unite to stave off BN?
Like · 1 · 16 hrs

Davis Tan : That 86 monkeys should be there since we peoples give them salary to be there.
Like · 1 · 4 hrs

Kok Son Ong: Let them explain themselves for taking it lightly or some might have good personal reasons for their absence. We can certainly fault them for not giving a good fight before accepting defeat.

My comment in Facebook:

ISA was repealed by Najib with pride in projecting a liberal image. Sedition Act too was supposed to be repealed, but instead amended to more or less replace ISA! That's his style of transformation. Without popular votes in GE13, he claims the silent majority is supporting him. Now, with a more potent SA and a new POTA, I realise what he meant was the silenced majority will still support him! The man known for his elegant silence has been quietly strengthening the laws to his advantage. Now he is strong enough to face even Dr M and any opposition leaders who dare to cross him with further exposes. They have to tread very carefully so as not to fall foul under OSA, BAFIA or the amended RFA. It is going to be tested in law on confidentiality against transparency, with the case against Rafizi under BAFIA. The laws seem to favour the powers that be against disclosures of wrongdoings or corruption. Those engaged in exposes will find it hard to do so and risk being jailed in their fight for good governance. It is up to the voters to decide at the next GE whether to let our country continue to be ruled under unfair laws or biased institutions, and without transparency and good governance.

My comment in Facebook under Malaysiakini headline: Sedition Act provision can 'trap' opposition (by Khalid Samad):

It happened before: authorities enforced laws unreasonably and blatantly biased against opposition leaders and dissidents, which baited and elicited outrage, protests and supposedly seditious statements. But with the new laws and amendments, they can be jailed without legal recourse. Just imagine the ease by which BN could put away opposition MPs and ADUNs legally which would make elections meaningless and farcical. Let's hope this could be the tipping point for the voters to vote out BN and help a new government restore our faith in democracy and good governance.
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1 comment:

Unknown said...

all this boils to hadi awang's remarkable words that spoil the cook during moment of critical hours fence sitters made decision inclined towards pakatan rakyat. Because of his big mouth the votes of fence sitters swayed back to Bn. I'm fedup of you hadi and pas and no way anymore PAS for me.