Archive for the 'Human Rights' Category

Dato’ Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil Should Be Pro-active And Courageous In Upholding The Child Act 2001 And United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child To Ensure Them A Safe Physical, Emotional And Mental Environment.(en/cn)

Published on October 22, 2011, 11:58 am in Human Rights. 0 Comments

On the occasion of Malaysia Children’s Day, Minister of Women, Family and Community Development. Dato’ Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil should fulfil her Ministerial duty to be pro-active and courageous in upholding the Child Act 2001 and the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child to ensure them a safe physical, emotional and mental environment.

In the past she has paid lip service in opposing child brides but refused to act to take corrective measures. However lately she has even failed to condemn those who lie about innocent children or use innocent children as their object of fun to score political points.

Sharizat’s failure to reproach or condemn UMNO Youth President Khairy Jamaluddin for perpetuating a lie that my 16 year old son had sexually outraged the modesty of his classmate shows that Sharizat has failed in her Ministerial duty to protect the basic fundamental rights of a child to live with dignity and safety.

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Human Rights and Transparency in Malaysia

Published on September 19, 2011, 5:56 pm in Human Rights. 0 Comments

Ladies and gentlemen, thank you very much for inviting me to speak at the Monash Asia Institute, an important research center at my alma mater. I would like to especially thank Professor Greg Barton and my dear friend Dr Wendy Smith as well as send my thanks to the Monash University’s leadership. As you know, Monash University has a sister campus in Kuala Lumpur and although it is sadly not in my state, the university plays an important role in educating future leaders of our country.

As a Malaysian, I am very grateful for this collaboration and hope we can strengthen ties between Monash and Malaysia further. On a personal level, as many of your know I received my economics and accounting degree here and was quite active in student politics. I was never an outstanding student but what little I gleaned has helped me to formulate new economic and industrial policies in Penang that is now acknowledged as the best run state in Malaysia with strong growth, record budget surpluses and record FDIs coupled with a labour shortage.

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An Equal Opportunity Act and And Equal Opportunity Commission(EOC) Would Stop The Flow Of 2 Million Human Talents That Have Left Malaysia Since Merdeka In 1957.

Published on February 10, 2011, 3:40 pm in Human Rights. 0 Comments

DAP supports the suggestion of not only retaining the EOC in the New Economic Model(NEM) as suggested by National Economic Advisory Council member Datuk Dr Zainal Aznam Mohd Yusof but also an Equal Opportunity Act to allow us to maximize human talents and stop the flow of 2 million Malayisan who have left the country since Merdeka in 1957.

Malaysian Institute of Corporate Governance President Tan Sri Megat Najmuddin Megat Khas said that such a law would allow equal chances to all and develop sustainable economic policies. Increasingly many Malays are also leaving, just look at Dubai. The terrible cost we are paying can be seen by the failure to realize our full economic potential causing Malaysia to lose out to other countries that were far behind us previously.
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Celebration of Human Rights Day 2010

Published on December 12, 2010, 4:05 pm in Human Rights. 0 Comments

Human Rights Day 2010 on 10 December recognizes the work of human rights defenders worldwide who act to end discrimination of race, gender, religion or any other basis inconsistent with basic principles or values of humanity, freedom and justice.

Welcome to Penang, the state of free speech with the first Speaker’s Square in the country where in the immortal words of Voltaire, “We may disagree with you but we will defend to the death your right to disagree with me”. It gives me great honour to be invited to celebrate this day with all you heroes and heroines of those who were deprived, dispossessed and denied of their basic human rights.

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1Malaysia and BN’s Consensus Spirit Are Irrelevant As Long As UMNO And BN Supports Perkasa.

Published on September 21, 2010, 1:12 pm in Human Rights. 0 Comments

The statement by Tan Sri Adam Kadir, the President of the Organisation of Former Umno Elected Representatives (Penawar) urging UMNO to continue its co-operation with Perkasa and all Malay NGOs that champion Malay and Bumiputera rights as enshrined Federal constitution reinforces UMNO’s role of backing the racist Perkasa. 1Malaysia and BN’s consensus spirit are irrelevant as long as UMNO and BN fully support the racist Perkasa.

How can Perkasa claim not to be racist and only fighting to uphold Article 153 of the Federal Constitution when they support racist statements that Chinese should go back to China and their women sell their bodies whereas Indians are beggars and dogs. I have checked and rechecked through Article 153 of the Federal Constitution and there is nothing stated in Article 153 that gives any one special rights to describe Chinese whose women sell their bodies and should go back to China, Indians as beggars or are dogs.
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Launching of the First Speakers’ Corner in Malaysia

Published on May 4, 2010, 4:22 pm in Human Rights. 0 Comments

Speech by YAB Lim Guan Eng, Chief Minister of Penang at Speakers’ Corner Opening Ceremony on 04 May 2010

1. I wish to thank all of you for being here to witness the historic launching ceremony of the first Speakers’ Corner in Malaysia today. This auspicious day marks an important history in George Town’s colorful chapter of political change since March 2008 where the Speakers’ Corner represents the platform of democracy for all Malaysians, the aspirations to enjoy the right to freedom of expression and the hopes of all Malaysians for a civil society.

2. With the Speakers’ Corner, the rakyat will have the opportunity to express their views and opinions freely whilst ensuring that their rights are being protected. Speakers’ Corner should be an avenue to allow the citizens and individuals to have gatherings and candle vigil peaceful demonstrations, press conference, various other forms of peaceful and artistic forms of expression and to demonstrate their citizens’ rights.
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Proposed amendments to Major Labour Laws Could Affect the Rights and Livelihood of Our Workers

Published on May 1, 2010, 12:27 am in Human Rights. 0 Comments

May Day Message by the Chief Minister of Penang, Lim Guan Eng in Komtar, George Town on Saturday 1.5.2010

I would like to express concern over the federal government’s proposed amendments to Malaysia’s major labour laws that could affect the rights and livelihood of our workers.

The proposed amendments to the Industrial Relations Act 1967, Trade Union Act 1959 and Employment Act 1955 have been described by the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) as the worst plan conceived against Malaysian workers.

According to MTUC, if the amendment to the Industrial Relations Act is approved, it could take away employees’ right to bring up any case of wrongful dismissal to the Industrial Court.
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BN Must Disassociate Itself From IGP Tan Sri Musa Hasan’s Excessive, Unwarranted And Inhumane Actions

Published on August 2, 2009, 5:08 pm in Human Rights. 0 Comments

BN Must Disassociate Itself From IGP Tan Sri Musa Hasan’s Excessive, Unwarranted And Inhumane Actions Against Those Participating In The Peaceful “Abolish ISA Gathering” By Unconditionally And Immediately Releasing Without Charges The 589 People Arrested.

DAP salutes the courage of more than 50,000 people who gathered peacefully in Kuala Lumpur to demand the abolition of the ISA which allows detention without trial and is abused as a political weapon against opponents of BN. The arrests of 589 people by police yesterday constitute a Malaysian historic record for the largest number of arrests for one single event.

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Let Us Clean Up The Police Force And MACC To Make Malaysia Safe For Our Children

Published on July 19, 2009, 10:43 am in Federal government and Human Rights. 4 Comments

I do not know Teoh Beng Hock.

But now every Malaysian who reads will know who is Teoh Beng Hock – his open pleasant face, his distraught fiancé and his twisted body lying grotesquely on the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) building imprinted indelibly in our minds.

tbh

I vaguely remembered meeting him once. He was one of the many idealistic, bright and young Malaysians who joined the DAP after the political tsunami on 8 March 2008 that transformed our political landscape.

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Hindraf Must Wake Up And Realise That Kampung Buah Pala Is Still Standing Today Because The Penang PR State Government Had Successfully Prevented Them From Been Evicted In The Middle Of Last Year.

Published on June 30, 2009, 12:46 pm in Human Rights and Penang. 2 Comments

The Penang Pakatan Rakyat state government has never consented nor approved any demolition of Kampung Buah Pala. Any action taken is by the private developer via a court order issued by the relevant courts.

Up to RM 200,000 per family was offered by the developer to the residents which was accepted by many families but not by those remaining in Kampung Buah Pala. The state government respected the decision of those remaining in Kampung Buah Pala to reject any compensation offer and to fight it out in courts.

If the state government had not been sympathetic to the plight of the residents, then the developer would have evicted the residents in the middle of last year when a court order was obtained. Only the determined preventive efforts by Penang DCM2 Professor P Ramasamy and Penang State EXCO Abdul Malik stopped the developer from entering the village with bulldozers several times last year.

All parties must therefore realise that it is only because of the efforts of the present Pakatan Rakyat state government that the Kampung Buah Pala residents are still living there.

Koh Tsu Koon Owes The Public A Full Explanation Why He Sold The Kampung Buah Pala At A Cheap Price Of Only RM 10 Per Square Feet In 2007 And Without consulting the residents.
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The NEP Should Be Replaced By A Malaysian First Economic Policy

Published on May 23, 2009, 11:01 am in Economy and Human Rights. 0 Comments

The NEP Should Be Replaced By A Malaysian First Economic Policy That Guarantees Equal Economic Opportunity And Socio-Economic Justice Based On Merit And Needs.

DAP welcomes the comments made by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak during an interview with Singapore’s Straits Times on his intention to dismantle the National Economic Policy (NEP) because ethnic quotas had damaged Malaysia’s competitiveness and ran counter to global trends. Najib had clearly come around to DAP’s contention over the past 40 years that the long-term benefits of ending the scheme would outweigh the “pain” involved.

Even though such comments had come 40 years too late, it is a case of better late than never. This clearly shows the impact and effectiveness of people’s power during the political tsunami of the 2008 general elections that can force the spring and bring about change towards democratic and good governance.

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Police must not become BN bodyguards, Zambry cannot become Menteri Besar

Published on May 14, 2009, 2:07 pm in Human Rights. 2 Comments

The Inspector-General of Police must investigate immediately on a report lodged by Perak Speaker V. Sivakumar over the issue of a gun being brought into the Perak state assembly sitting on May 7.

If the person who brought in the gun was found of to be a policeman, stern action must be taken immediately. No one is allowed to bring firearms in any state assembly or the Parliament.

Barisan Nasional Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir was given full protection by the police when he returned to the Perak state secretariat yesterday. But when the legitimate Menteri Besar Datuk Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin were back at work after the High Court on May 11 declared him the rightful Menteri Besar, according to Malaysikini.com, there were “a large contingent of riot police. At least five Federal Reserve Unit trucks, one water cannon and about 50 uniformed policemen were seen milling around the compound.”

I want to remind the IGP that the police are the servants of the people. Their salaries are paid by the taxpayers, not Barisan Nasional. Therefore I would like to see a more professional approach from the police in handling the Perak issue.

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BN and Selangor Police Should Stop Practicing Vindictive and Vengeance Politics

Published on January 24, 2009, 12:56 pm in Federal government and Human Rights. 0 Comments

DAP urges BN and the police the heed the voice of the voters in the Kuala Terengganu by-election on 17 January 2009 that threw out the UMNO candidate who was a Deputy Home Affairs Minister, in favour of the Pakatan Rakyat candidate PAS Mohamed Abdul Wahid Endut. The voters were unmoved by BN’s money politics of pouring in tens of millions of ringgit to try to distract attention from BN’s abuses of power, corruption and violation of human rights and failure to address poverty. Instead the voters chose PR’s version of a democratic, people-centric government with ethical leadership based on the principles of freedom, justice, truth, welfare and moral values.

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The Penang State Government condemns Israeli aggression on Palestinians

Published on January 16, 2009, 12:31 pm in Human Rights and International. 0 Comments

The Penang State Government condemns the barbaric bombing and attack of UN compounds, offices and destruction of food and medical relief supplies by the Israeli government. Such naked aggression has highlighted the nature of the Israeli’s army as no different from the very terrorists they condemn.

The Penang State Government wishes to reaffirm our state’s policy of maintaining our investor friendly policies and sound relationship with all the Multinational Companies (MNCs) in the state, especially those from USA. We value such investments which have benefited both parties in the form of profits and employment opportunities.

The recent presence of the Penang Chief Minister of Penang at the demonstration at Kapitan Keling Mosque is to reaffirm the state government’s stand against the Israeli aggression on the Palestinian in Gaza. Also, the state government hopes that the American government will not continue to give blind support to the Israeli Government to oppress the Palestinians and will use its influence to get Israel to comply the UN Security Council resolution of a immediate ceasefire and withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza.

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Human Rights Day Message

Published on December 10, 2008, 3:17 pm in Human Rights. 0 Comments

Today is a special occasion where the global community celebrates the 60th anniversary of the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Unfortunately for us in Malaysia, despite claiming to be a progressive and advanced society, we are still lagging behind in protecting and upholding human rights. After more than 50 years of independence, human rights are mere lip service offered by the Barisan Nasional government.

Recent events, particularly after the historic political tsunami of March 8, have shown that the authorities lack of respect for human rights. Selective prosecutions and persecutions are still being enforced despite the end of Mahathir era.

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