Posts Tagged ‘MCA’

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »

PPP creates more problem in BN

July 29th, 2007
|  Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email


PPP gives ultimatum
By : Sheridan Mahavera

JOHOR BARU: The People’s Progressive Party will leave the Barisan Nasional if it is not allowed to contest seats it held three decades ago in the general election.

The ultimatum was given by its president Datuk M. Kayveas on the eve of the party’s 54th anniversary.

Kayveas, who is the Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, was referring to the clutch of seats it had held in its stronghold of Perak in the 1960s before it joined the coalition.

"All that we are asking for is the return of those seats to us.

"They are four parliamentary seats, 12 state assembly seats, 79 local council seats and the post of the Datuk Bandar of Ipoh.
"These were once held by the PPP," he said.

Today, his parliamentary seat of Taiping is the party’s only seat.

In the past, Kayveas had continually appealed to the BN for a bigger allocation of seats as the seats the PPP had once held were taken away during the party’s turbulent period.

Kayveas, who has helmed the party for 14 years and is credited with bringing it back from the brink of de-registration, said on Friday that he had a hard time responding to calls from his 500,000 members for more seats.

"We do not want to be treated like a step-child in the BN. But this is our stand that must be communicated to the BN leadership.

"We are asking for four parliamentary and 12 state seats. We are willing to settle for less as long as there are additional seats."

 
And Najib replies…
 
Don’t fuss over seat allocation, Najib tells BN components
BERNAMA
source
PEKAN, SUN:
Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak today asked BN component parties not to make a fuss over seat distribution for the next general election as the issue will be discussed only at the right time.

The Deputy Prime Minister said the Barisan leadership did not make decisions according to component parties’ demands.
“When it comes to seat allocation, we will negotiate when the time is ripe,” he said when responding to the ultimatum by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) that it would leave the Barisan if it was not allowed to contest seats it held three decades ago in the general election.
PPP president Datuk M. Kayveas, who issued the ultimatum, was referring to the clutch of seats the party had held in its stronghold in Perak in the 1960s before it joined the coalition.
The party is asking for four parliamentary seats, 12 state seats, 79 local council seats and the post of the Batuk Bandar of Ipoh.
Najib said decisions on seat distribution are made based on consensus in the Barisan power-sharing spirit and principle.
“This is not the time to make a big fuss over the issue…we actually decide on seat allocation based on consensus, we don’t have additional seats.
“We have to make do with the existing constituencies. Hence, if there are changes to seats that have been allocated to component parties, it must be negotiated among the parties,” said Najib, who is also Barisan deputy chairman.
“We don’t make decisions according to requests of each component party. We decide based on the Barisan principle and spirit,” he said.
On the ultimatum by Kayveas that PPP would leave the Barisan if its request was not met, Najib said: “I don’t think PPP will leave the Barisan.”
Earlier, Najib opened the Pekan Umno delegates conference.

 
So does Ali Rustam…
 
ALI RUSTAM: PPP's threat to leave Barisan tantamounts to insulting coalition

BERNAMA

PENANG, SUN:

Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam said he had no objection if PPP wants to leave the Barisan. The Melaka Chief Minister said PPP’s ultimatum to leave the Barisan tantamounts to insulting the 14-member coalition.

By issuing the ultimatum, PPP had ignored the spirit and principle of comradeship among Barisan component parties, he said.

“It is akin to an act of sabotage that is unacceptable to the BN.

Component parties can ask for more seats but not by issuing a threat or an ultimatum… you give more seats or not we will leave.

“This is an ultimatum insulting the Barisan. I feel if PPP wants to leave the coalition, I’ve no objection.
“The Taiping seat contested by Kayveas in the last election we can give it to Umno, MCA, Gerakan or any other component party, no problem,” he told reporters after opening the Bayan Baru Umno delegates conference.

 
and  muhyiddin chips in as well…

source

Umno VP asks Kayveas to retract his ultimatum

KUALA LUMPUR: Umno Vice-President Muhyiddin Yassin has told the Peoples' Progress Party (PPP) chief M. Kayveas to retract his ultimatum that the party be allowed to contest its seats or or it will quit the Barisan Nasional.

Comments Off on PPP creates more problem in BN »

Posted in BornInMalaysia

Tags:

Politicians will not be allowed to use the race card under a Code of Ethics

July 24th, 2007
|  Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email


He, however, admitted that it would not be easy to stop politicians from playing the race card, as some parties were race-based. 

Dr Ongkili said a multi-racial party had a better check-and-balance system against racism. On sanctions against those who violated the code, he said it would be difficult to impose penalties but added there were existing laws, such as the Seditions Act, which would be used against those who instigated racial tension.

uhh? come again? difficult to impose penalties? then what for have this code/rule?
 
multiracial party better? Minister support DAP or PKR ke? Or condemn UMNO, MIC, MCA?
 
No race card under code

By JANE RITIKOS

KUALA LUMPUR: Politicians will not be allowed to use the race card under a Code of Ethics being drawn up by a Select Committee. 

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili said the code would cover all leaders of political parties, MPs and state assemblymen, and party leaders.  

“Politicians should air their views with responsibility, with the intention of solving problems rather than to fan racial sentiments and anger. 

“They should adopt good political practices for the good of national racial unity. 

“The intention of the Code is to ensure that politicians promote national unity, rather than to restrict them from giving their views or to impede their effectiveness,” he said. 

Dr Ongkili was speaking to reporters after opening the two-day national seminar on “50 years of Independence and the New Generation: Appreciation and the Future of Multi-Ethnic Relations in Malaysia” yesterday. 

He said the select committee meeting early next month would set up a sub-committee to draft the code.  

“We hope to complete the draft in three months and present it to Parliament before the year's end, or before Parliament is dissolved”. 

“The new generation of leaders should also adopt good political practices.” 

Dr Ongkili said that while Barisan Nasional had a pro-unity protocol and Parliament had a Standing Order prohibiting racist remarks in the House, it was good to have a written Parliamentary rule.  

“The Election Commission also talks about having a guideline but the form of restriction is not very clear,” he said. 

He, however, admitted that it would not be easy to stop politicians from playing the race card, as some parties were race-based. 

Dr Ongkili said a multi-racial party had a better check-and-balance system against racism. On sanctions against those who violated the code, he said it would be difficult to impose penalties but added there were existing laws, such as the Seditions Act, which would be used against those who instigated racial tension.  

Comments Off on Politicians will not be allowed to use the race card under a Code of Ethics »

Posted in BornInMalaysia

Tags:

Stop making statements on secular state, Hishammuddin tells MCA

July 20th, 2007
|  Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email


but NST still managed to print this article, since it does not go against Najib's comments.
 
BERNAMA
 

RANAU, Fri:

Umno Youth chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein today asked MCA to stop making statements on Malaysia being a secular state..

He said though it was nothing new, such claims would not benefit anyone.

“I’m not naive enough to allow this issue to go on,” he told reporters when asked to comment on the issue after opening the Ranau Umno delegates conference.

MCA secretary-general Datuk Ong Ka Chuan had said the party had ample evidence to show that Malaysia was a secular state, including several important events leading to the country’s independence and formation of Malaysia.

He had cited notes prepared by the Colonial Office dated May 23, 1957 at the London Conference Talks.
Various groups have also disagreed with Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s remarks that Malaysia was never a secular state, saying that the deputy Prime Minister had ignored the country’s constitutional history and social contract.

Bar Council Malaysia president Ambiga Sreenevasan had said one only need to look at the Articles in the Federal Constitution, the system of government and administration of justice to show that Malaysia was not an Islamic state.

Najib had said Malaysia is an Islamic state that adheres to the fundamentals of Islam and having a Constitution which states Islam as the official religion.

He said that being an Islamic state did not mean that the rights of non-Muslims were not respected. — BERNAMA

Comments Off on Stop making statements on secular state, Hishammuddin tells MCA »

Posted in BornInMalaysia

Tags:

Ministry bans Islamic state debate in media

July 20th, 2007
|  Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email


no wonder there's nothing in today's papers about najib's opinion or MCA and others' responses.
 
 
From Malaysiakini:

Ministry bans Islamic state debate in media
Ng Ling Fong & Soon Li Tsin
Jul 19, 07 5:43pm

The Internal Security Ministry has confirmed that they have given a directive to all mainstream media not to publish any news on the issue of Malaysia being an Islamic state.

Internal Security Ministry’s Publications Control and Al-Quran Texts Unit senior officer Che Din Yusof told malaysiakini that they are afraid that allowing such discussions would cause “tension”.

“Yes we have given the directive to all mainstream newspapers. Islam is a sensitive issue. They cannot publish any news on whether the country is secular or Islam.

“Stop harping on this. The debate would never end,” he asserted when contacted today.

However, he said newpapers can still publish statements from Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his deputy Najib Abdul Razak on the country being an Islamic state.

On Tuesday, Najib said Malaysia is an Islamic state and not a secular one while carefully assuring members of minority faiths that their rights will be protected.

He said the mainly-Muslim Malaysia has never been a secular nation as the government has always been driven by the fundamentals of Islam.

“Islam is the official religion and we are an Islamic state," Najib told reporters after he opened an international conference on the role of Islamic states.

“But as an Islamic state, it does not mean that we don't respect the non-Muslims. The Muslims and the non-Muslims have their own rights,” he was quoted saying.

No negative reactions

His comments have since drawn protests from the Opposition, civil society groups and MCA.

Che Din pointed out that while the two top leaders of the country can make such statements, any reactions from political parties and the public will not be allowed to be published.

“Reaction from political parties and the public cannot be published especially the negative reactions,” he said.

Several journalists and editors were contacted and they confirmed that they will adhere to the instruction.

Some of the editors also noted that they have already retracted some commentary on this issue from their newspapers.

Deputy Internal Security Minister Fu Ah Kiow could not be reached for further comments and clarification.

Dismal ignorance

Responding to Najib statement, MCA yesterday said that historical facts and documents showed that Malaysia was a secular state.

MCA Secretary General Ong Ka Chuan yesterday issued a statement stating that documents prepared by the British authorities before granting independence to Malaysia in 1957 clearly stipulated that “the members of the Alliance delegation…had no intention of creating a Muslim theocracy and that Malaya would be a secular state”.

“This was the consensus and social contract agreed upon by our forefathers,” he said.

Today PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim also lambasted Najib over his remark, calling it as "exposing his (Najib’s) dismal ignorance" of what an Islamic state was all about.

He said Najib's statement was calculated for political mileage.

2 comments »

Posted in BornInMalaysia

Tags:

more on secular or not – what experts, politicians say

July 19th, 2007
|  Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email


What the legal experts, politicians say
Husna Yusop and Giam Say Khoon

PETALING JAYA (July 17, 2007): Is Malaysia an Islamic or a secular state? Some constitutional law experts and organisations have different views on this.

Bar Council president Ambiga Sreenevasan:

"Malaysia is a secular state, not an Islamic state. The law is clear about this whereby the supreme court in a 1998 case decided by Lord President Tun Salleh Abbas stated clearly: we are a secular state and the civil court administers secular law.

"Certainly, Islam receives special treatment in the Federal Constitution but that does not mean Malaysia is an Islamic state.

"It does not follow from the provision in Article 3(1) of the Federal Constitution that we are an Islamic state in the legal term.

"Going back to the time of our founding fathers and the Reid Commission report, it is clear we were not meant to be an Islamic state. Taking this position today is contrary to our consititutional history.

"We believe there is a misunderstanding that can be resolved by looking closely at the constitution."

International Islamic University Malaysia lecturer Prof Dr Abdul Aziz Bari:

"Malaysia is not a secular state because Islam has been put as the "religion of the Federation" by Article 3(1).

"But, it is acceptable to say Malaysia is "an Islamic nation with its own interpretation." Given the sensitivities and ignorance of both Muslims and non-Muslims, such is understandable.

"Because, even for a country like United Kingdom, with good policies, orderly system and humane laws, it can be Islamic in that sense."

Universiti Teknologi Mara lecturer Prof Dr Shad Saleem Faruqi:

"Malaysia is never secular but at the same time, it is not an Islamic state. We are neither here nor there.

"We walk the middle path. But this is not something we should be ashamed of. Instead, it is a pride.

"Malaysia was always promoting Islam. In line with this, it is clear that Malaysia was never neutral on the issue of religion.

"But we have never emphasised on ideological purity. We are not a theocratic state.

The constitution is the supreme law of the nation. So, it does not permit a conclusion that we are a full-fledged Islamic state.

"To me, there is no need to adopt a black or white agreement. There are shades of grey. We are a hybrid state. Our system are all mixed.

"We are a Muslim nation whereby Muslims are in control, but not in the legal way. "And actually, there is no prototype or ideal model of an Islamic state in the world. Not even Pakistan or Saudi Arabia, as they do have customs which have nothing to do with Islam."

MCA Youth chief Datuk Liow Tiong Lai

The Federal Constitution's tenet has always been that Malaysia is a secular state, and not an Islamic state.

Although the official religion is Islam, the people can practise other religions.

Najib's statement that Malaysia is an Islamic should not be taken literally but in a general sense that it is an Islamic country, where the majority of the population is Muslim.

Malaysia is an Islamic country, which has a Muslim majority population and which is a member of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference; it is not an Islamic state which practises theocracy.

MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy, reported as saying at the MCA general assembly last year

MCA recognises that Malaysia is an 'Islamic country', like Indonesia and Turkey. 'Islamic states' are like Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Sudan, where all the administration is based on the Quran.

MCA would go all out to protect the Federal Constitution and would never be slack about this. Because of this, the Kelantan government could not implement its Hudud laws.

Opposition Leader and DAP member of Parliament for Ipoh Timur Lim Kit Siang

Najib's statement is a unilateral, arbitrary and unconstitutional revision of the fundamental principles of nation-building agreed by the forefathers of the major communities on the founding of the nation.

It is agreed that while Islam is the official religion of the federation, Malaya and later Malaysia is not an Islamic state, whether of the PAS or Umno variety.

Tunku said at his 80th birthday celebration organised by the Barisan Nasional in1983: "The Constitution must be respected and adhered to. There have been attempts by some people who tried to introduce religious laws and morality laws. This cannot be allowed.

"The country has a multi-racial population with various beliefs. Malaysia must continue as a secular state with Islam as the official religion."

Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said Malaysia is an Islamic state on Sept 29, 2001, when Umno did badly in the general election, as a gambit to fend off the PAS challenge to the Malay heartland.

The Merdeka social contract has become a political pawn when political parties or leaders find it expedient to manipulate it to shore up political support.

Comments Off on more on secular or not – what experts, politicians say »

Posted in BornInMalaysia

Tags: