Klik sini untuk membeli Buku dan VCD Keadilan terbaru !
Bangkitlah Kaum Buruh & Petani
Menentang Ekstremis & Hipokrits!
~ faisal mustaffa online ~
Thursday, May 27, 2004
Nirmala - it is about human rights, not image
Josh Hong
3:08pm Tue May 25th, 2004
Amidst the widespread anger and condemnation of the inhuman abuse of Nirmala, some of the vital issues involved need to be clarified in order for us to understand the severe implications of this shocking case.
First and foremost, Malaysians must indeed feel ashamed of a horrible crime. This has clearly shaken the myth that Malaysia is a model for the developing world. Having said that, we must also be careful enough not pass undue
judgment throw the first stone on the alleged perpetrator.
On this, I disagree strongly with Rais Yatim, the minister of culture, arts and heritage, who remarked that the adage of 'innocent until proven guilty' did not apply here. A golden rule is a golden rule, and there should be no two ways about it simply because of the horrible scale in this particular case.
In my view, the adage must be applicable to all suspects in all circumstances, including Osama bin Laden, who is said to have orchestrated the Sept 11 attacks on the United States. Yes, we are outraged and shocked,
but our righteous wrath must never be allowed to supplant judicial law, failing which a floodgate of miscarriage of justice will be opened.
Secondly, I cannot agree with the view of the many ministers, media professionals and members of the general public that this incident has damaged the 'image' of Malaysia.
More than a decade of the ?Malaysia boleh? brainwashing has instilled in the minds of many Malaysians a fallacy that there are certain special and superior qualities in being Malaysian. Because we are 'special', it is difficult for us to believe that such beastly crimes could have been perpetrated by a fellow citizen, while forgetting that we are all human, too and prone to evil.
So long as this myth and pride exists, a proper safeguarding of the rights of foreign maids will remain a tough battle. We must recognise the fact that our law, as it stands today, is ill-equipped to deal the abuse of foreign workers.
It is incumbent upon each and every one of us to fight for the welfare and protection of foreign workers and maids in our midst. The fact is, with the exception of a handful of non- governmental organisations, nearly all our political parties, groups and NGOs focus solely on their own interests and causes.
When was the last time we heard of Malaysian workers' unions speaking up for foreign workers? Have the DAP and the Parti Rakyat Malaysia, ever actively campaign for the rights of foreign workers and maids?
The first step towards the safeguarding the rights of foreign workers and maids is for Malaysians to search deep within ourselves. It could very well be that we are all influenced, knowingly or unknowingly, by the prejudice of our media, friends and relatives and that we tended to regard minor physical abuse of foreign maids as 'understandable and acceptable'.
We must also ponder hard on whether our anger right now is driven by the damage to our country's image, or because we are truly convinced that institutional and legal protection for foreign workers and maids is long overdue.
The latter will determine if another crime of this magnitude will be avoided for good.
Josh Hong
3:08pm Tue May 25th, 2004
Amidst the widespread anger and condemnation of the inhuman abuse of Nirmala, some of the vital issues involved need to be clarified in order for us to understand the severe implications of this shocking case.
First and foremost, Malaysians must indeed feel ashamed of a horrible crime. This has clearly shaken the myth that Malaysia is a model for the developing world. Having said that, we must also be careful enough not pass undue
judgment throw the first stone on the alleged perpetrator.
On this, I disagree strongly with Rais Yatim, the minister of culture, arts and heritage, who remarked that the adage of 'innocent until proven guilty' did not apply here. A golden rule is a golden rule, and there should be no two ways about it simply because of the horrible scale in this particular case.
In my view, the adage must be applicable to all suspects in all circumstances, including Osama bin Laden, who is said to have orchestrated the Sept 11 attacks on the United States. Yes, we are outraged and shocked,
but our righteous wrath must never be allowed to supplant judicial law, failing which a floodgate of miscarriage of justice will be opened.
Secondly, I cannot agree with the view of the many ministers, media professionals and members of the general public that this incident has damaged the 'image' of Malaysia.
More than a decade of the ?Malaysia boleh? brainwashing has instilled in the minds of many Malaysians a fallacy that there are certain special and superior qualities in being Malaysian. Because we are 'special', it is difficult for us to believe that such beastly crimes could have been perpetrated by a fellow citizen, while forgetting that we are all human, too and prone to evil.
So long as this myth and pride exists, a proper safeguarding of the rights of foreign maids will remain a tough battle. We must recognise the fact that our law, as it stands today, is ill-equipped to deal the abuse of foreign workers.
It is incumbent upon each and every one of us to fight for the welfare and protection of foreign workers and maids in our midst. The fact is, with the exception of a handful of non- governmental organisations, nearly all our political parties, groups and NGOs focus solely on their own interests and causes.
When was the last time we heard of Malaysian workers' unions speaking up for foreign workers? Have the DAP and the Parti Rakyat Malaysia, ever actively campaign for the rights of foreign workers and maids?
The first step towards the safeguarding the rights of foreign workers and maids is for Malaysians to search deep within ourselves. It could very well be that we are all influenced, knowingly or unknowingly, by the prejudice of our media, friends and relatives and that we tended to regard minor physical abuse of foreign maids as 'understandable and acceptable'.
We must also ponder hard on whether our anger right now is driven by the damage to our country's image, or because we are truly convinced that institutional and legal protection for foreign workers and maids is long overdue.
The latter will determine if another crime of this magnitude will be avoided for good.
Thursday, May 06, 2004
Aku hari ini nak minta maaf kepada beberapa pihak yang aku rasa telah terkecil hati dengan kenyataan yang aku keluarkan.
Buat beberapa hari ini, aku berasa sungguh tertekan atas masalah kewangan. Bil-bil yang datang satu persatu; premium insurans tahunan yang telah luput bulan lepas, cukai kereta yang akan luput bulan depan, kereta yang tidak berada dalam kondisi yang memuaskan.....sungguh menekan aku.
Appointment yang aku buat sebelah petang pula tidak dapat ditumpukan sepenuhnya. Aku harap mereka-mereka ini faham keadaan aku dan beri beberapa hari untuk aku kawal keadaan.
Maaf sekali lagi.
Buat beberapa hari ini, aku berasa sungguh tertekan atas masalah kewangan. Bil-bil yang datang satu persatu; premium insurans tahunan yang telah luput bulan lepas, cukai kereta yang akan luput bulan depan, kereta yang tidak berada dalam kondisi yang memuaskan.....sungguh menekan aku.
Appointment yang aku buat sebelah petang pula tidak dapat ditumpukan sepenuhnya. Aku harap mereka-mereka ini faham keadaan aku dan beri beberapa hari untuk aku kawal keadaan.
Maaf sekali lagi.
DEKLARASI 1 MEI
1. DEMOKRASI DALAM RUMAH TANGGA
´ Penghapusan segala bentuk undang –undang dan amalan yang berbentuk diskriminasi dan membeza-bezakan pekerja mengikut jantina dan umur
2. DEMOKRASI DI TEMPAT KERJA
´ Demokrasi yang memastikan pekerja tidak hanya sekadar menjadi suatu mesin produksi tetapi sebagai manusia yang mempunyai maruah dan harga diri
´ Menjamin hak penubuhan kesatuan sekerja. Kembalikan hak menubuhkan kesatuan kebangsaan pekerja elektronik .
´ Gubal akta gaji minima untuk semua pekerja malaysia yang selaras dengan taraf kehidupan, inflasi semasa dan pendapatan per capita negara .
´ Mansuhkan segala undang-undang yang mencabul hak asasi pekerja /rakyat, seperti ISA, OSA, Akta Petubuhan, Akta Mesin Cetak dan Penerbitan dan lain-lain.
´ Hak saksama pekerja asing tanpa penganiyaan oleh majikan, polis dan imigresen.
3. DEMOKRASI KERAJAAN TEMPATAN
´ Pembangunan Batu-bata tidak bererti pembangunan rakyat. Sejak tahun 1964, rakyat Malaysia ditegah daripada memilih kerajaan tempatan mereka. Ini adalah satu penafian hak demokrasi yang paling serius dimana pemimpin peringkat tempatan dan kerajaan tempatan adalah dilantik, dan tidak dipilih orang setempat .
´ Apabila hak asasi ini dinafikan, maka segala pembangunan yang cuba dibawa biasanya tidak menguntungkan masyarakat setempat.
´ Kami menuntut suatu model pembangunan yang saksama yang memberi kepentingan kepada rakyat setempat. Segala rancangan pembangunan mestilah dibincang dan dirancang bersama orang setempat dan dipersetujui oleh semua.
´ Kami menuntut diperkenalkan semula pilihanraya Kerajaan tempatan.
4. DEMOKRASI PERINGKAT NASIONAL – NEGARA
´ Implementasikan suatu sistem kerajaan yang benar –benar telus, bersih dan kredible
´ Rombak semula tatacara fungsi dan polisi-polisi jentera kerajaan supaya ianya bebas dari segala bentuk rasuah , kronisme dan pemyelewengan .
´ Hak perumahan yang selesa untuk golongan berpendapatan rendah
´ Kepentingan kepada sektor pertanian, dengan peruntukkan tanah dan subsidi yang cukup, demi menjamin produktiviti dalam negara yang mampu menampung keperluan makanan asas rakyat .Elakkan pengkopratan sektor pertanian, galakan sistem koperasi petani .
´ Pastikan pemuliharaan sistem alam sekitar yang menyeluruh. Kami membantah apajua usaha menswastakan sumber alam semula jadi. Sistem ekologi mestilah dipelihara tanpa motif keuntungan dan komersial.
´ Kepentingan rakyat dan pekerja mesti dipelihara daripada ditindas oleh kesan –kesan globalisasi yang sedang menular dalam segala bidang dan urusan negara
1. DEMOKRASI DALAM RUMAH TANGGA
´ Penghapusan segala bentuk undang –undang dan amalan yang berbentuk diskriminasi dan membeza-bezakan pekerja mengikut jantina dan umur
2. DEMOKRASI DI TEMPAT KERJA
´ Demokrasi yang memastikan pekerja tidak hanya sekadar menjadi suatu mesin produksi tetapi sebagai manusia yang mempunyai maruah dan harga diri
´ Menjamin hak penubuhan kesatuan sekerja. Kembalikan hak menubuhkan kesatuan kebangsaan pekerja elektronik .
´ Gubal akta gaji minima untuk semua pekerja malaysia yang selaras dengan taraf kehidupan, inflasi semasa dan pendapatan per capita negara .
´ Mansuhkan segala undang-undang yang mencabul hak asasi pekerja /rakyat, seperti ISA, OSA, Akta Petubuhan, Akta Mesin Cetak dan Penerbitan dan lain-lain.
´ Hak saksama pekerja asing tanpa penganiyaan oleh majikan, polis dan imigresen.
3. DEMOKRASI KERAJAAN TEMPATAN
´ Pembangunan Batu-bata tidak bererti pembangunan rakyat. Sejak tahun 1964, rakyat Malaysia ditegah daripada memilih kerajaan tempatan mereka. Ini adalah satu penafian hak demokrasi yang paling serius dimana pemimpin peringkat tempatan dan kerajaan tempatan adalah dilantik, dan tidak dipilih orang setempat .
´ Apabila hak asasi ini dinafikan, maka segala pembangunan yang cuba dibawa biasanya tidak menguntungkan masyarakat setempat.
´ Kami menuntut suatu model pembangunan yang saksama yang memberi kepentingan kepada rakyat setempat. Segala rancangan pembangunan mestilah dibincang dan dirancang bersama orang setempat dan dipersetujui oleh semua.
´ Kami menuntut diperkenalkan semula pilihanraya Kerajaan tempatan.
4. DEMOKRASI PERINGKAT NASIONAL – NEGARA
´ Implementasikan suatu sistem kerajaan yang benar –benar telus, bersih dan kredible
´ Rombak semula tatacara fungsi dan polisi-polisi jentera kerajaan supaya ianya bebas dari segala bentuk rasuah , kronisme dan pemyelewengan .
´ Hak perumahan yang selesa untuk golongan berpendapatan rendah
´ Kepentingan kepada sektor pertanian, dengan peruntukkan tanah dan subsidi yang cukup, demi menjamin produktiviti dalam negara yang mampu menampung keperluan makanan asas rakyat .Elakkan pengkopratan sektor pertanian, galakan sistem koperasi petani .
´ Pastikan pemuliharaan sistem alam sekitar yang menyeluruh. Kami membantah apajua usaha menswastakan sumber alam semula jadi. Sistem ekologi mestilah dipelihara tanpa motif keuntungan dan komersial.
´ Kepentingan rakyat dan pekerja mesti dipelihara daripada ditindas oleh kesan –kesan globalisasi yang sedang menular dalam segala bidang dan urusan negara
Wednesday, May 05, 2004
HARI KEBEBASAN MEDIA 2004
Tanggal 3 Mei setiap tahun, dunia menyambut Hari Kebebasan Media. Di peringkat Malaysia, organisasi yang membuat perangkaan bahawa prestasi media negara ini bertambah baik.
Perangkaan tersebut dirasakan kurangnya penangkapan yang dilakukan oleh pihak berkuasa kepada media alternatif berbanding dengan tahun lalu. Faktor Abdullah Badawi ternyata berkesan.
Namun, pokoknya, media di negara ini sebenarnya tidak berubah. Terlalu banyak pemotongan media dilakukan. Isu-isu penting tidak dipaparkan pada media arus perdana sungguhpun wartawan berada pada tempat kejadian tertentu untuk membuat liputan.
Sekiranya salah kenyataan ini, mengapa merdeka.com mendapati daripada hasil kajian mereka bahawa kaum Cina didapati lebih mengetahui dengan konsep negara Islam berbanding dengan kaum Melayu yang majoritinya beragama Islam? Bukankah ini hasil daripada pengaruh media?
Semasa pilihanraya umum ke 11 yang baru lalu juga, media menjadi salah satu penyebab kekalahan pembangkang, selain daripada wang dan jentera (dan Mahathir).
Selamat menyambut Hari Kebebasan Media 2004
Tanggal 3 Mei setiap tahun, dunia menyambut Hari Kebebasan Media. Di peringkat Malaysia, organisasi yang membuat perangkaan bahawa prestasi media negara ini bertambah baik.
Perangkaan tersebut dirasakan kurangnya penangkapan yang dilakukan oleh pihak berkuasa kepada media alternatif berbanding dengan tahun lalu. Faktor Abdullah Badawi ternyata berkesan.
Namun, pokoknya, media di negara ini sebenarnya tidak berubah. Terlalu banyak pemotongan media dilakukan. Isu-isu penting tidak dipaparkan pada media arus perdana sungguhpun wartawan berada pada tempat kejadian tertentu untuk membuat liputan.
Sekiranya salah kenyataan ini, mengapa merdeka.com mendapati daripada hasil kajian mereka bahawa kaum Cina didapati lebih mengetahui dengan konsep negara Islam berbanding dengan kaum Melayu yang majoritinya beragama Islam? Bukankah ini hasil daripada pengaruh media?
Semasa pilihanraya umum ke 11 yang baru lalu juga, media menjadi salah satu penyebab kekalahan pembangkang, selain daripada wang dan jentera (dan Mahathir).
Selamat menyambut Hari Kebebasan Media 2004
Tuesday, May 04, 2004
PMs STATEMENT ON TREATMENT OF IRAQI PRISONERS WELCOME
PLEASE ACT IMMEDIATELY ON BRUTALITY IN OUR OWN BACKYARD
Parti Keadilan Rakyat (Peoples Justice Party) is pleased to note that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad has appropriately criticized the United States and Britain over the inhumane and brutal treatment of Iraqi prisoners. Abdullah is reported in the media today as having said yesterday that, There is no excuse for what happened. We cannot accept it and there is no justification at all .
Abdullah is also reported to have urged, The US and Britain must act immediately to stop such treatment. They must identify those responsible and take action against them.
Well said Mr. Prime Minister! But are you going to do anything about the brutal and inhuman treatment of Malaysian prisoners by the Malaysian police under your own ministry? Your criticisms of the US and Britain will sound hollow if you do not follow them up with appropriate actions on happenings behind our own backyard.
This year two persons have died while under police custody. One person, Francis G Udayappan disappeared after being arrested and questioned by the police. The police claimed he had escaped from custody, but his family members are convinced that he has died and that the police are trying to cover up the truth on the circumstances of his death.
Last year 18 persons were reported to have died while in prison or under police custody. There is an estimate that the number of prisoners who have died while in custody over the last few years is roughly one in every two weeks. Neither the police nor the Home Security Ministry has denied these figures.
Of course we are not enumerating here cases of police violence during peaceful demonstrations and during interrogations of all types of detainees.
I wish to echo strongly what Abdullah has correctly urged the US and Britain to do, by similarly urging strongly that the government he leads must act immediately to stop such treatment (and) identify those responsible and take
action against them.
To repeat his advise to the US and Britain, Abdullah must not wash off (his) guilt and that he must show (his) commitment in holding human rights of . prisoners.
Please walk your talk Datuk Seri!
Dr Syed Husin Ali
Deputy President
Parti Keadilan Rakyat
PLEASE ACT IMMEDIATELY ON BRUTALITY IN OUR OWN BACKYARD
Parti Keadilan Rakyat (Peoples Justice Party) is pleased to note that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad has appropriately criticized the United States and Britain over the inhumane and brutal treatment of Iraqi prisoners. Abdullah is reported in the media today as having said yesterday that, There is no excuse for what happened. We cannot accept it and there is no justification at all .
Abdullah is also reported to have urged, The US and Britain must act immediately to stop such treatment. They must identify those responsible and take action against them.
Well said Mr. Prime Minister! But are you going to do anything about the brutal and inhuman treatment of Malaysian prisoners by the Malaysian police under your own ministry? Your criticisms of the US and Britain will sound hollow if you do not follow them up with appropriate actions on happenings behind our own backyard.
This year two persons have died while under police custody. One person, Francis G Udayappan disappeared after being arrested and questioned by the police. The police claimed he had escaped from custody, but his family members are convinced that he has died and that the police are trying to cover up the truth on the circumstances of his death.
Last year 18 persons were reported to have died while in prison or under police custody. There is an estimate that the number of prisoners who have died while in custody over the last few years is roughly one in every two weeks. Neither the police nor the Home Security Ministry has denied these figures.
Of course we are not enumerating here cases of police violence during peaceful demonstrations and during interrogations of all types of detainees.
I wish to echo strongly what Abdullah has correctly urged the US and Britain to do, by similarly urging strongly that the government he leads must act immediately to stop such treatment (and) identify those responsible and take
action against them.
To repeat his advise to the US and Britain, Abdullah must not wash off (his) guilt and that he must show (his) commitment in holding human rights of . prisoners.
Please walk your talk Datuk Seri!
Dr Syed Husin Ali
Deputy President
Parti Keadilan Rakyat
