Eligible Malaysians abroad urged to register as voters at Malaysian missions

KUALA LUMPUR: The Foreign Ministry is urging all Malaysians abroad who are eligible to register as voters at the respective Malaysian missions overseas, to ensure their right to vote is guaranteed.

Deputy Foreign Minister Senator A. Kohilan Pillay said his ministry, acting on behalf of the Election Commission (EC), always cooperated in ensuring that adequate Voter Registration Forms (Form A) were supplied to all the embassies, high commissions, consulates general and Malaysian consulates overseas.

He disclosed this at the Dewan Rakyat sitting Tuesday in reply to Nurul Izzah Anwar (PKR-Lembah Pantai), who wanted to know the level of readiness and preparations taken by all the Malaysian embassies, high commissions and consulates worldwide to ensure that Malaysian nationals abroad were given their right to vote.

Kohilan said the Malaysian missions also ensured that all the personal particulars of Malaysian nationals, including those who had registered as absentee voters residing abroad, were updated to include complete information such as their name, address and contact number in the foreign countries they were residing.

Meanwhile, responding to a question from Datuk Bung Moktar Radin (BN-Kinabatangan), Kohillan said the campaigning process overseas was allowed after the nomination process had been implemented.

However, the campaigning must comply with the election regulations stipulated by the EC, he said. - Bernama.

From http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/11/8/nation/20111108150006&sec=nation

Bersih 2.0 Rally Photo #3

Date: 9/7/2011

Time: 2.05pm

Venue: Hentian Puduraya

Photographer: Oh Chin Eng

*All the photos will be uploaded to my Facebook. =p

Bersih 2.0 Rally Photo #2

Date: 9/7/2011

Time: 2.28pm

Venue: Hentian Puduraya

Photographer: Oh Chin Eng

*One more last photo to go.

Bersih 2.0 Rally Photo #1

FRU is reloading canister bullet which contains tear gas in the Besih 2.0 rally that caused 1600 people got arrested.

Date: 9/7/2011 (Saturday)

Time: 12.43pm

Venue: In front of Central Market

Photographer: Oh Chin Eng

*More photos to come.

Democratising the rakyat

Filepic from Himpunan Mansuhkan ISA on 1/8/2009

You stand firm on the principal of democracy. You go against bad government. You speak up and articulate your thoughts. You create social awareness. You create fear to the people holding power. You got arrested. You are not given fair trial. Your voice is being suppressed.

Your image is ruined. Your family and friends are worried. You lost your job. You lost your dignity. You lost your rights.

You become the victim of democratization process for the betterment of the society and generations to come. The cost to pay is high.

But you fight for what you believe in, democracy.

For you people who are going to Bersih 2.0, PERKASA or UMNO Youth demonstration…

Is it worth it?

What kind of country are you living in?

No matter what you do, think of your loved ones.

Be responsible for your action.

For others..

While some people are out there using different ways to make lives better for everyone, what are you doing at home?

Telling the world that Malaysia is a bad country? Planning your future in overseas?

No point you people just sit there and watch. No point you people just criticize. No point you people just complain. No point you people just talk but no action.

The process of democratization won’t happen in a fortnight. It definitely won’t happen if no one ever takes the first step. Now the ball has rolled.

Are you going to take the baton and continue the long run?

If Malaysia is a democratic country, then show it. Behave like one!

You, must be part of it.

Uphold the integrity and sovereignty of Federal Constitution. Uphold the 5 principles of Rukun Negara.

People should stand united for any good cause either it’s against the Government or the Opposition.

Without voters, there’ll be no legitimate government. If now the Government is afraid of its people, are you gona be afraid of your government?

I am neither asking you to join demonstration nor asking you not to join demonstration.

Life is not about you and your future itself, it’s also about the generations to come.

Enough said.

ps: I do not hope to get arrested for this thought sharing. This is what Article 10 of the Federal Constitution offers. I love my country, Malaysia.

Photos of Bersih 2.0 Launching

Hi guys, i went to the launching of Bersih 2.0 at Kuala Lumpur Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall last night. You can view the photos here.

Don’t steal my photos. But if you need to use it for official reasons, please acknowledge me. thank you.

http://www.facebook.com/TeresaKokSuhSim?ref=ts&sk=wall#!/media/set/?set=a.10150211732127877.319634.599962876

'wow' Utusan Malaysia

In lectures, I learn that media must be objective, tell nothing but only the truth, neutral, independent, be responsible on their reports, quote from the credible sources, clarify and verify the information.

Now, it's just a rhetoric from what Utusan Malaysia is doing. Utusan has ruined the professionalism of Journalism and caused more harm than good to the society. It is giving false information as well. For me, there's no more accountability and reliability in Utusan Malaysia's reporting.

The Barisan Nasional Government  is not going take action on them because it's their political tool.

Funny thing is when stupid media make stupid statement; there are stupid people who believe in it. This is Malaysia! No wonder Malaysia is having brain drain because smart people have left the country.

People, let's boycott racist and extremist newspaper for your own sake. And please make a change in the coming General Election. Show them the power you have as the legitimate citizen of the nation.

No (only) in Malaysia

In Malaysia, any rally, protest, demonstration, assembly, gathering and picket that held to demand something from the Government, it’s illegal. Other than Government, it’s legal.

don't question us

Sorry, suddenly I have the urge to say this.

Don’t question why the youngsters leave the country. Don’t question why the non-Malays support the Opposition. Don’t question the patriotism of the non-Malays. Don’t question why there are still so much crimes, accidents and poverty.

Question yourselves!

The answer lies in the government itself. Look at how you treat us. Look at how your policies and decisions which only benefit certain group. Look at how corrupted and incompetent you are. Look at how you labeled us the non-Malays. Look at how racist your people are when you unashamedly talk about 1 Malaysia.  

Let me tell you, before the change of a government, many young people will leave the country. Because I too, has lost hope.

freedom of speech in Malaysia

Freedom of speech is entitled to everyone. It’s the basic liberty of humankind. It simply means you can say whatever you want but you must also know what can and cannot be said. You will have freedom of speech if you are the government or you side them. Just look at Raja Petra and Ahmad Ismail. If your speech is not in favor of government, then ISA will be your home. But if you are pro-Government and your speech is against other people, race n even religion which are not the majority of the country, then you are free to walk on the street. This is Malaysia mah!

so are you free in this country?

Amnesty International Malaysia is Seeking 50 Youth Ambassadors!!!!

Amnesty International Malaysia is on a quest to find 50 Youth Ambassadors. We are looking for young, committed and passionate youth to represent the movement through a six months long road trip campaign to celebrate our 50th Anniversary. The Ambassadors will be introduced during a festival on 28th May 2011, the 50th birthday of Amnesty International and this programme will culminate on Human Rights Day, 10th December 2011.

For more information please contact 03 – 79552680 or email youthnetwork@aimalaysia.org or visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/aimalaysia

suicide or homicide?

AFter more than a year since the death of Teoh Beng Hock on July 1902009, the much anticipated result of the inquest is out.

But to much dissappointment, the result has not solved the case, but make the case even more complicated and leave everyone in limbo and clueless.

"The death of political aide Teoh Beng Hock was not a suicide and it was not a homicide, Coroner Azmil Muntapha Abas ruled on Wednesday. It is, therefore, an open verdict."

This is excerpt from The Star newspaper.
Mr. Judge, what kin of answer is this?? Maybe Teoh Beng Hock is not ur brother, son or husband who passed away, that's y u feel nth. How can u give an open verdict? WHat does it mean? Nothing! It's unfair to the family of Teoh Beng Hock who until this moment don't get any accurate answer of the trial.

Suicide or homicide?

People want to know!

Mr. Judge, you know, your judgement is like cakap kosong or talk air. There's a saying in Hokkien, 'kong siang ka boh kong' which means cakap macam tak cakap or in English, it means you say something but it is as if you never say anything.

faham??

cakap macam tak cakap, lebih baik tak payah cakap!

Kong sai uah.

This verdict has bring negative implications for many parties.

To the judge: You'll be seen as uncapable to handle such a high-profile case. Your good name is tarnished and do you think people will ever count on you again?

To the judiciary: People will be more angry and lost trust on you as you are not able to give justice to the defendant or plaintiff.

To the family of Teoh Beng Hock: They will only feel more trauma, hatred and sad as their son, brother, husband and father died blindly. What they want is just justice but have they got it? At least give them an accurate answer. Open verdict will only brings more complications after this.

The police should re-investigate the case now since the judge can't make up his mind. There are a lot of doubts, allegations and politics in this case. It's time to show your professionalism, PDRM.

If Teoh Beng Hock is not from the Opposition party, i believe the way police, government and judiciary handle this case will be different.

Penang High Court

Penang High Court, Farquhar Street, Penang.

16/10/2010 10.37am

Night club raided, 48 GROs busted

When: Tuesday (5/10/2010) midnight

Where: George Town, Penang

Photos by: Me, Oh Chin Eng

More news at http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2010/10/7/north/7175695&sec=North

Namewee, you BABI ah??

Photo from Malaysiakini.

i just got a news from http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/143878

the news is about Perkasa members calling Namewee BABI and torched his photos which has been edited with his nose replaced with babi's nose.

Babi is pork la. Char Siu.

the Malays (the racist one la) all this while love to call us Chinese as babi. hahah! funny la. you call us Cina Babi just because we eat babi? or because you can't eat babi because it is haram is your religion?

funny. so how should we response? you Melayu Lembu kah because you eat lembu and the Hindus can't and some of the CHinese also can't take lembu?

lembu is beef by the way.

so i wana ask, Namewee, you Babi ah? i don't think you are lo cuz you walk with your back straight and not like babi. Babi can be eaten but you can't.

if you think are not, it's okla. just keep quiet lo. let them do what they want la. human wih brain won't call another human being as an animal ma right. eh maybe they don't have human brain. hahaha. 

aih wasted la. if i knew that Perkasa is so perkasa tonite by calling Namewee BABI and torch his pics, i am for SURE go down to KL! maybe i can get free Char Seow Bak there. eh i tau u people import Babi to Malaysia, gov also get $ ma.. suty import and tax and everything. not meh??

u thought i duno ah??

anyway im impressed with Perkasa la.

waaaa. they are so creative and good in Photoshop. they edit the picture nicely, i like the babi's nose. that Perkasa members also got so much money to print big posters of Namewee hor. then they also have to waste their matches and lighter to torch his photos.

so i'll just wait for the news whether police and FRU will dispersed them or not la. if got, how long they took to decide that Perkasa is holding an illegal assembly.

and i would also love to see whether anyone from the group will be charged la. maybe for illegal assembly, causing public disorder, harming the public, trying to burn down something ke..

haha..

well.. we'll see la what the police will do. alaa.. you know, i know, everyone knows that our police very fair one ma right. just that sometimes a bit abusive and double standard lo.

okla i say no more la. dangerous la.

RELEASE Cartoonist Zunar NOW!

I was so shocked when i read the news just a while ago.

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/9/24/nation/20100924195251&sec=nation


Cartoonist Zunar is arrested under Sedition Act and his latest book Cartoon-o-phobia got seized by the police at 4pm just now.


The blue shirt men got nothing better to do??

this is what i have to say, in a SERIOUS TONE!

yeh! this is my country, i love my Malaysia. people speak, you arrest. people gather peacefully, u arrest. people wana draw also you arrest ah?? 

fuyooo! tax payers money being used so productively and effectively. 

BN! THIS IS NOT FUNNY! RELEASE CARTOONIST ZUNAR NOW! NOW!! 

1Malaysia? hahahah.. yea yea.. whatever la.. you can silent a man, but you can't silent its people. you can banned a book, but you can never stop the growing and dissemination of ideas and voices from the grassroots. 

i guess you will never listen right? up to u la, suka hati hang ye.. as if you'll listen. masuk telinga kanan, keluar telinga kiri.  

kalau tak buat salah, apasai nk takut orang mengata? jgnla kita gajah depan mata tak nmpak, nyamuk seberang laut pula nmpak..  

i had enough.

As a Malaysian..

 

This long write-up is to actually reply a reply from a friend in my post 'what malay rights??!' 

I was having a hard time with the title so i just simply come up with the title. This is a very long post. I talk a lot. Thanks if you agree or even if you don't. it's just my 2 cents. Don't be angry.

Thanks for ur view my friend, Danial. Actually I never want to or feel like questioning what the bumiputera deserved to get compared to the non-Bumiputera. Constitution says hak Bumiputera, its fine for me. In my opinion, if you work hard, then you should deserve a well treatment tak kira bangsa dan agama. Entahla dah more than 50 years kita merdeka, tak cukup lagikah Melayu dibantu? Saya tak kata mereka tak patut dibantu tapi bantuan itu sudah mencukupi. Orang Melayu dah maju, dah berdiri sama tinggi duduk sama rendah dengan kaum lain.

Cuba tengok kat merata ada doctor, engineer, lawyer, accountant orang Melayu. So?? It's time that affirmative action be implemented based on needs and merits and not merely based on ethnic. I rasa affirmative action tu perlu dikurangkan untuk mengurangkan kebergantungan orang Melayu kepada kerajaan. Semakin banyak kita memberi, semakin banyak orang akan meminta.  It’s a human nature to be lazy and not to work hard when they always get help and support by the others.

Adakah bantuan kerajaan yang berterusan ini satu strategi untuk membeli undi orang Melayu kepada BN? Is it a strategy to secure the Malay votes by keep on helping them? Yeala kalau orang bagi you bantuan, you akan rasa terhutang budi kan. Im just asking.

Jika kerajaan kata non-Malays lebih maju, tak betul kerana ada banyak non-Malays yang poor and not educated. Let say you nak kata CIna tu kaya, then fikirlah macam mana mereka boleh kaya sedangkan mereka susah mendapat bantuan kerajaan? Ini kerana orang yang tak dibantu lazimnya akan berusaha lebih kerasa untuk memajukan hidup mereka. Bukan kah begitu??

It’s the government who makes its people not competitive enough by keep saying its people especially the Malays are far more behind than the rest, therefore they need help. It’s about psychology and perception. When people keep calling you stupid, you’ll eventually become stupid although you are not. I feel the Malays should be given moral support and praise them if they are good instead of keep on calling them poor and not developed. This culture has to be changed. It’s hard to be ahead of others when we are fear of ourselves. I strongly believe that the Malays and the Bumiputras never want to be labeled and called as a weak race or bangsa yang lemah anymore.

Apa yang I geram di sini ialah apabila orang bukan Melayu dikatakan menumpang, merampas hak mereka, membolos kekayaan mereka dan dipanggil pulang ke kampong halaman. Mana orang CIna orang India nak pergi?? Ini tanah saya. Asal saya Malaysia. Kalau betul betul ikut sejarah, bukannya orang Melayu yang asalnya dari Malaysia. Saya tidak ingin mempersoalkan asal usul nenek moyang tetapi soalnya di sini ialah soal hormat kepada orang lain. Kalau dah jodoh, pelbagai kaum yang melengkapkan Negara Malaysia, terima ia seadanya, biar kita meneruskan legasi daripada nenek moyang kita, tinggal bersama dengan harmoni di bawah satu bumbung.

I ada kawan India, Melayu, Orang Asli, orang Sabah dan Sarawak. Im ok with them they are fine with me. I understand, accept and learn from them. Is it that hard to be together as a family?? We should learn from the kids. Just look at the photo. They don’t even know what is race. It’s better if they are race blind. They just have to know that they are the same, Malaysian.

I totally against racism be it from the Chinese, Indians or Malays. There should not be double standard in punishing the racists. If the government wishes to use existing laws to silent its citizens, be fair for all. Jangan tutup mata bila penyangak itu sebulu dengan anda. Every single citizen should not be racist. Each and every one of us must not support racism.

Again I langsung tak faham apa itu sebenarnya Malay rights. Apa yang hebat sangat tentang Malay rights sehingga macam ada satu kuasa ghaib yang melarang sesiapa untuk berbincang tentangnya. Saya pun hairan siapa, kenapa dan bagaimana orang bukan Melayu ingin merampas Malay rights. MCMC gona arrest me for this statement. There should be a platform of debate and discussion.

Selalunya masalah ditimbulkan orang politikus. Jangan lah jadi macam tikus. Tikus tu simply makan. Politikus tu simply cakap. Tikus tu lari sana dan sembunyi. Politikus pula lepas cakap, blame orang lain, lepas buang batu disorok tanggannya. Tikus dan politikus share the same characteristic: licik and irresponsible.

Kalaulah suatu hari nanti, untuk sehari kita jangan berkata-kata dalam bahasa politik. How nice if everything is not being politicized and relate to religions or ethnicities. I wish one day we talk in one common language, be as one race, Malaysian. Afterall we breath the same air, our blood are red.

Cuba fikir apa akan jadi kalaulah kesemua bukan Melayu pupus di bumi Malaysia. 

For your information, I am a Chinese Malaysian. I born here. I grown up here. I've been here all this while for 22 years. I'm not an immigrant. I'm not from China. I'll end my life here, Malaysia. This is my home..

Anyway congrats Danial, ur hardwork paid off. =p

MACC "commits suicide"

By Martin Jalleh

18 Aug. 2010 – The Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), very tragically, “committed suicide” today. It killed the very little that was left of its own integrity and credibility.

Its public image plunged to the very depths with the help of its advocate Abdul Razak Musa. He had at first advocated self-strangulation. He even demonstrated how it could be done.

When that failed, the very experienced lawyer of 24 years assisted the Commission to take a wild leap out of the window of logic, common sense and civility.

Depressed

Many have observed that the MACC has been very depressed of late. It has gone through bouts of disappointment, doubts, dejection and denial, all contributing to its sudden self-destruction.

The last (first) MACC chief even jumped ship a few months before his due retirement date. It seems he could no longer handle the daunting (more appropriately read as “haunting”) task.

It appears that the MACC has left behind a suicide note which was supposedly written by its eight-month old new chief Abu Kassim Mohammed. The contents need to be verified of course. It reads:

“Things have been bad for us – bad public perception, bad press, bad publicity, and as though these were not bad enough, we have done badly in the courts with most of the big fish being acquitted!

“I have asked for a year to convince the rakyat of our commitment to combat and curb corruption but the public is still so very critical, cynical and condemning of the MACC.

“The public misunderstands us, press mistreats us, alternative media highlights only our mistakes, Opposition mocks us and Government makes use of us but we are very independent.

“I even told the Cabinet that its members should declare their assets publicly. But they asked me to take my proposal and shelve and shove it…in one of my many cabinets.

“On Teoh Beng Hock’s death anniversary I said we will act without fear, favour and farce. But it has been a flop and many flip-flops. We have lost face even after launching our Facebook page. It is very frustrating!

“It has been a long, lonely and losing battle. And now our learned legal department head has determinedly driven the last nail into our coffin and we have very dutifully dug our own grave!”

It seems that the MACC, due to its synergy with Umno, sent a “Solidarity in Suicide” invitation to the party. They declined, for they have received a similar earlier invitation from Perkasa.

Discredit

The events that led to MACC’s “suicide” began during the cross-examination of the world-renowed Thai forensic pathologist Dr Pornthip Rojanasunand by Abdul Razak in the Teoh Beng Hock’s Inquest.

He first attacked Pornthip on her qualifications and claimed that the MACC’s expert witness, Peter Vanezis, was “far more qualified” than her…as he had “graduated from Bristol University”.

He added that Mahidol University, where she had graduated from, was not recognised in Malaysia. Understandably, he was rather silent on where he graduated from, its ranking and whether it was recognised anywhere on the face of the earth.

Pornthip advised the antagonistic lawyer not to look down on Asians and retorted that Mahidol is ranked the 220th best university in the world and is Thailand’s top-ranked university.

Abdul Razak also accused her of being biased, and as an expert witness engaged by the Selangor State Government, she had come to Bolehland “to attack the MACC”.

She stopped him dead in his tracks: “You have to understand. I work for the rights of the dead, not the Selangor government. My objective is to help the dead!”

It is hoped that the “dead clients” of Pornthip (who has offered her services on a pro bono basis in Teoh’s case) will not take offence and haunt the MACC lawyer who after all appears brain-dead!

It was perhaps the first time in her 25 years as a pathologist that Pornthip was meeting such a pathetic lawyer. She therefore could not resist asking Abdul Razak: “Are you really a lawyer?”

Abdul Razak charged that Pornthip kept changing her position and “the goalpost”. He forgot or got pretty mixed up that such a privileged role and position belonged solely to the Attorney-General with the ball always in his court(s).

He absurdly insisted that her expert opinion was based on her imagination. He would later prove that he was even much more imaginative than her by demonstrating the art of self-strangulation.

Demonstration

When Pornthip maintained that Teoh did not commit suicide – a view which would definitely not sit well with the MACC, Abdul Razak became a spontaneous stand-up comedian!

He suggested that Teoh ‘strangled himself’ and was ‘depressive’. It was a line which he desperately copied from Dr M who had said that Anwar gave himself a black eye when in prison!

The MACC lawyer decided to give a practical demonstration on himself, after being challenged by Gobind Singh Deo, the lawyer for Teoh’s family, to show how one can strangle himself.

Everyone in court was highly entertained, though some may have wished Abdul Razak had succeeded in his demonstration! Pornthip’s “clients” must have surely laughed out loud in their graves!

But the MACC’s prosecutor’s court antics were not over yet. He would provide more ammunition to the MACC to shoot itself. He asked Pornthip if she has any experience jumping off a building!

The cool, calm and composed counsel for the Selangor Government, Malik Imtiaz Sarwar, countered with classic sarcasm: “With questions like these, we would all want to jump off a building!”

Pornthip sensed she had so far seen only the tip of the lawyer’s incompetence. He eventually became so confused that even the Bar Council representatives and coroner had to help clarify and correct him.

Despair

Abdul Razak was in court not to help the coroner determine the real cause of Teoh’s death but to denigrate Pornthip and to distract and divert everyone from the truth. He ended up destroying his own client’s integrity and credibility!

In trying to discredit “the most trusted individual in all of Thailand” (according to a Readers’ Digest Trust survey last year) he has driven the MACC into utter despair in its desperate attempts to restore public confidence!

The law, we are often told. is an ass. But it would be more accurate to say in this context that the lawyer (for the MACC) is an ass and being holed up in the commission, he has turned asinine, arrogant, absurd and abusive.

But why should we be surprised. He is after all the very same lawyer who told wheechair-bound Karpal Singh, the lead lawyer for the Teoh family in the Inquest: “I can sit but you cannot stand”!

But Abdul Razak has the making of a judge in the appellate courts, where, in the words of the very respected retired judge N H Chan, sit a bunch of “ignorant”, “inane”, “incompetent” and “idiotic” judges.

As the hearing ended, Gobind Singh Deo was overheard whispering to himself: “Deo Gratias!” (“Thanks be to God!”). He was indeed grateful to God for Abdul Razak Musa and his sterling role in assisting the MACC “commit suicide”!

(23 August 2010)

From http://blog.limkitsiang.com/2010/08/23/macc-“commits-suicide”/

Memorandum menuntut kebebasan media

Memorandum menuntut kebebasan media:  Hentikan campur tangan politik dan Self-Censorship (3 Mei 2010)

Kebebasan Akhbar: 30% terendah di dunia

Malaysia bukan sahaja terjerat dalam ekonomi pendapatan sederhana, kini juga berada di bawah paras 30% negara yang terendah di dunia dari segi kebebasan akhbarnya.

Menurut laporan Freedom House yang diumumkan setiap tahun menjelang Hari Kebebasan Akhbar Sedunia, kedudukan Malaysia dalam ranking kebebasan akhbar amat mengejutkan;-

Tahun 2003: Kedudukan ke-71 daripada 100 negara
Tahun 2004: Kedudukan ke-154 daripada 193 negara
Tahun 2005: Kedudukan ke-152 daripada 194 negara
Tahun 2006: Kedudukan ke-141 daripada 194 negara
Tahun 2008: Kedudukan ke-150 daripada 195 negara
Tahun 2009: Kedudukan ke-143 daripada 195 negara
Tahun 2010: Kedudukan ke-141 daripada 196 negara

Antara negara ASEAN, kita jauh di belakang Timor Timur, Filipina, Indonesia, Thailand, malah Kemboja.  Kesemua negara ini lebih miskin daripada Malaysia.

8 pencabulan kebebasan akhbar dalam 12 bulan lalu

Kami, individu dan pertubuhan sivil yang berikut, menggesa agar pimpinan Perdana Menteri Najib Razak terutamanya, dan pengamal media menjawab lapan insiden pencabulan kebebasan media yang penting sejak Hari Kebebasan Akhbar tahun lalu.  Pencabulan ini berlaku kerana campur tangan negara, atau institusi bukan negara, dan self-censorship (tapis-diri) oleh institusi media.

Pertama: Pembatalan rancangan dokumentari Empangan Bakun oleh TV2

Pada 28 April 2010, Ketua Pengarah Penyiaran RTM, Ibrahim Yahya memberi arahan terus kepada rancangan Galeri Mandarin Nasional, TV2 untuk menarik dan membatalkan penyiaran siri dokumentari Empangan Bakun, selepas dua episod disiarkan.  Dokumentari ini mendedahkan keadaan hidup lebih 10 ribu orang asli yang berpindah dari Belaga ke Sungai Asap dan Sungai Koyan, untuk memberi laluan kepada pembinaan Empangan Bakun pada tahun 1998. 【Satu lagi campur tangan BN dalam kebebasan media TV, penerbit TV2】

Penerbit rancangan, Chou Z Lam mendakwa pihak atasannya memberi alasan bahawa "unsur sensitif" dalam dokumentari bakal mendatangkan kesan yang tidak baik untuk PRK Sibu yang akan berlangsung pada 16 Mei, dan pilihan raya negeri Sarawak.

Kedua: Campur tangan dan penapisan (Censorship) di ntv7

Pada 20 April 2010, Joshua Wong Ngee Chong yang pernah memenangi anugerah,  juga penerbit Editor's Time meletak jawatan sebagai protes kerana pihak atasan syarikatnya tunduk kepada aduan daripada isteri Perdana Menteri, Rosmah Mansor.  Kononnya Rosmah Mansor telah memanjangkan (forward) satu sms berbau rasis kepada pihak atasan ntv7, melontarkan tuduhan terhadap rancangan forum yang menyaksikan perdebatan antara ahli politik Barisan Nasional, Pakatan Rakyat dan penganalisa politik bebas.

Berikutan aduan tersebut, ntv7 mengambil keputusan untuk tidak membincangkan isu PRK Hulu Selangor yang berlangsung pada 25 April dalam rancangannya, dan mengelakkan isu politik secara umumnya pada ketika itu.  Pemimpin pembangkang juga dilarang untuk hadir ke rancangan sebagai ahli panel.  Bagaimanapun, pihak atasan ntv7 tidak menafikan tuduhan Joshua Wong.

Tuduhan campur tangan daripada Rosmah Mansor juga dilenyapkan dari kesemua media arus perdana.  Pada hakikatnya, daripada media arus perdana, hanya Nanyang Siang Pau dan Oriental Daily yang melaporkan perletakan jawatan Joshua Wong.

Ketiga: "Laporan kurang tepat" China Press

Pada 13 Mac 2010, Kementerian Dalam Negeri telah mengeluarkan surat tunjuk sebab kepada China Press, satu akhbar bahasa Cina, kerana "kesilapan" dalam laporannya berhubung perletakkan jawatan Ketua Polis Negara, Musa Hassan pada 25 Mac.

Di bawah Seksyen 8A, Akta Mesin Cetak dan Penerbitan tahun 1984, perbuatan menyiarkan berita yang tidak benar dengan niat jahat akan mengakibatkan mereka yang bersabit dijatuhkan hukuman penjara tidak melebihi 3 tahun atau denda tidak melebihi RM 20,000 atau kedua-duanya sekali.

Menteri Dalam Negeri, Hishammuddin Hussein yang mana bidang kuasanya mencakupi polis dan akhbar, mengesahkan penamatan perkhidmatan Musa Hassan pada akhir September tahun ini.  Pada 19 Mac 2010, China Press meminta maaf lantaran kesilapannya dalam laporan, dan menggantung Teoh Yong Khoon dari jawatan Ketua Pengarangnya selama dua minggu.

Keeempat: Melenyapkan kritikan hukum sebat terhadap wanita

Pada 24 Februari 2010, lantaran daripada laporan polis oleh beberapa badan bukan kerajaan, The Star, akhbar bahasa Inggeris meminta maaf secara terbuka kerana menyiarkan artikel "Persuasion, not compulsion" (Pujuk, bukan paksa) yang ditulis oleh Pengarangnya, P.Gunasegaran pada 19 Februari.  Artikel ini mengkritik hukuman sebat terhadap tiga wanita yang melakukan kesalahan persetubuhan luar nikah.

Majlis Agama Islam Selangor (MAIS) mendakwa bahawa "mohon maaf" tidak memadai dengan apa yang dilakukan, maka MAIS membuat laporan polis pada 25 Februari terhadap P.Gunasegaran dan Sister in Islam (SIS), kerana "memperlekehkan" Islam dan Hukum Syariah.

Perkembangan yang menyusul menyaksikan bagaimana KDN mengeluarkan surat tunjuk sebab kepada The Star, yang kemudian menarik satu artikel kolum oleh Mariana Mahathir, anak perempuam bekas PM yang menyentuh isu sebat.

Kelima: Panduan baru untuk akhbar

Pada 17 Disember 2009, menurut laporan Malaysiakini, KDN telah memanggil satu mesyuarat bersama editor akhbar, membincangkan panduan baru untuk penerbitan.  Istilah dengan definisi kabur yang digunakan dalam panduan tersebut dirangka untuk "self-regulation" (pengawalan diri).

Menurut laporan, akhbar diarah untuk tidak melaporkan isu seperti bersekedudukan, hubungan seks luar nikah, homoseksual, counter-culture, dan dilarang menyiarkan gambar alat kelamin manusia dan pemakaian G-strings.

Keenam: Gangguan MCMC terhadap Malaysiakini

Pada 3 September 2009, Suruhanjaya Komunikasi dan Multimedia Malaysia (MCMC) menuntut agar Malaysiakini, satu media internet untuk menarik keluar dua klip video berkenaan protes terhadap perpindahan kuil Hindu di Shah Alam.  Salah satu klip  video merakamkan sidang media pada 2 September 2009 yang diadakan Hishammuddin Hussein, Menteri Dalam Negeri yang membela peserta demonstrasi.

Pemangku Pengarah Kanan Bahagian Pemantauan dan Penguatkuasaan MCMC, Abdul Halim Ahmad mendakwa video tersebut mengandungi unsur yang menyinggung dan mencetuskan kemarahan komuniti India.  Pada 8 September, MCMC menyoal siasat 10 orang staf Malaysiakini untuk lebih daripada 8 jam.

Ketujuh: Rampasan buku

Pada 25 Ogos 2009, Pegawai KDN dari Bahagian Kawalan Penerbitan telah merampas 408 naskah majalah kartun, Gedung Kartun ketika menyerbu pejabat penerbitnya di Kuala Lumpur.  Majalah kartun yang dikelolakan oleh kartunis terkenal, Zunar ini berjenaka dengan perhubungan antara kes pembunuhan Altantuya Shaariibuu dengan PM Najib.

Ketua Penolong Setiausaha Bahagian Kawalan Penerbitan dan Teks Al-Quran, Abdul Razak Abdul Latif mendakwa majalah tersebut dirampas kerana tidak mempunyai permit, dan rampasan tersebut bertujuan untuk "siasatan". 【Gedung Kartun】

Pada 24 Disember 2009, buku berjudul "Malaysian Maverick: Mahathir Mohamad in Turbulent Times" telah ditahan di kastam Pelabuhan Klang, menjurus kepada "pengharaman" sehingga April 2010.  Bagaimanapun, tiada penjelasan diberikan lantaran "penahanan" yang lama ini.  Buku yang ditulis oleh Barry Wain, bekas editor Asian Wall Street Journal ini menuduh bekas PM Mahathir Mohamad harus bertanggungjawab kepada kerugian sejumlah RM100 billion semasa beliau menerajui pemerintahan negara.【Malaysian Maverick: "Buku dalam tahanan" laris di Singapura】

Pada 29 Januari 2010, sebanyak 64 naskah buku terbitan Malaysiakini, "Where is Justice" dan "1Funny Malaysia" dirampas di Pulau Pinang dan Melaka.  Buku berjudul "Where is Justice" mempertikaikan pihak polis dan SPRM dalam isu kematian dalam lokap, sementara "1 Funny Malaysia" adalah koleksi kartun Zunar.

Kelapan: Pengacara ntv7 ditukar

Pada 15 Julai 2009, MerdekaReview, media online melaporkan penerimaan surat amaran oleh pengacara rancangan isu semasa ntv7, Point of View, Florence Looi (gambar kanan), selepas beliau meminta ahli panel untuk menilai prestasi pentadbiran Najib 100 hari pertama, dalam rancangannya.【"Tak Wajar Menilai Najib" Pengacara ntv7 diberi amaran】

Rancangan ini menyiarkan episod terakhirnya pada 5 Julai, sementara Florence Looi pula diberikan tugasan baru.

Sungguhpun pencabulan kebebasan media sering dijalankan atas nama untuk memelihara keharmonian di antara kaum dan agama, namun tindakan ini selalunya bersifat selektif.  Akhbar harian Utusan Malaysia dan majalah Al-Islam milikan UMNO telah menyiarkan laporan bersifat hasutan, menyinggung dan tidak profesional, tetapi tidak diambil tindakan oleh kerajaan.

Bahayanya kawalan media

Kebebasan media dijamin di bawah artikel 10(1)(a) Perlembagaan Persekutuan.  Pencabulan kebebasan media akan mengundang kesan:

Pertama, melupuskan media sebagai kuasa keempat, mengakibatkan kegagalan orang awam untuk menyemak negara dan mempromosikan pentadbiran yang baik;

Kedua, menekan perbincangan umum, yang selalunya secara selektif atas nama isu sensitif, bakal menghalang keharmonian yang sebenarnya, iaitu keharmonian yang wujud hasil daripada saling mengenali antara warga Malaysia dari etnik, agama, budaya, bahasa dan sosial ekonomi yang berbeza.

Ketiga, dengan menutup ketidakadilan dan ketidakharmonian, mangsa yang terpinggir akan terus dipinggirkan - wanita, orang asli, golongan miskin dalam dan luar bandar, minoriti seksual, dan kumpulan monoriti yang lain.  Suara dan masalah mereka tidak dapat didengar.  Pembatalan rancangan dokumentari Empangan Bakun oleh Galeri Mandarin Nasional telah melenyapkan masalah kaum asli daripada dipaparkan di depan audien.

Campur tangan dari kerajaan dan bukan kerajaan, penapisan diri telah menjurus kepada situasi yang merbahaya ini.  Sememangnya, ia disempurnakan dengan akta media yang zalim dan anti-persaingan seperti Akta Mesin Cetak dan Penerbitan 1984, Akta Komunikasi dan Multimedia 1998, Akta Rahsia Rasmi 1972 dan Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri 1960.

Tuntutan Kami

Kami, individu dan pertubuhan yang menurunkan tandatangan di bawah, menuntut agar tindakan berikut diambil sebelum Hari Kebebasan Akhbar yang akan datang:

Pertama, Menubuhkan Suruhanjaya Di-Raja atau Jawatankuasa Pemilihan (Select Committee) untuk mengkaji reformasi akta media, supaya:-

a. Memastikan agar wujudnya minimum entry barrier untuk media cetak, penyiaran dan internet untuk menjamin kemajmukan pengamal media.

b. Kesemua mekanisme pemeriksaan politik harus dihapuskan, dan diganti dengan institusi yang ditubuhkan oleh pengamal media dan pertubuhan masyarakat sivill yang bebas.

Kedua, Kerajaan Persekutuan, negeri dan tempatan harus mempertahankan kebebasan dan hak wartawan serta warga negara untuk menyalurkan informasi, dan hak untuk tidak diugut oleh institusi bukan kerajaan.  Sementara mengkaji akta yang sedia ada, kerajaan harus mengelak daripada menggunakan akta yang sedia ada untuk menekan media.

Ketiga, daripada mengamalkan penapisan diri, pengamal media seharusnya mempertahankan profesional dan kebebasan akhbar.

Untuk matlamat jangka pendek, kami menuntut agar perkara di berikut diselesaikan sebelum hujung bulan ini:

Pertama, ntv7 dan TV2 perlu menyiasat dan memberi penjelasan berikutan tuduhan self-censorship baru-baru ini;

Kedua, PM harus menjamin barisan kerajaan atau keluarganya tidak akan mengancam profesional pengamal media dalam pemilihan topik, perspektif dan sumber berita.

Organisasi yang mengambil inisiatif untuk merangka memorandum ini:

1. Writers Alliance for Media Independence (WAMI)
2. Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ)
3. Civil Rights Committee of KL & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (CRC-KLSCAH)
4. Coalition for Clean and Fair Election (BERSIH)
5. Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM)
6. Zunar & ‘Gedung Kartun’ Group
7. Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia (SABM)
8. Centre for Policy Initiatives (CPI)
9. Research for Social Advancement (REFSA)
10. New Era College Progressive Front

Memorandum ini akan terbuka untuk endorsement pertubuhan dan individu sehingga 28 Mei 2010.  Individu digalakkan untuk menandatangani petisyen online di  http://www.petitiononline.com/20100430/petition.html

*Memorandum ini diterjemah daripada edisi bahasa Cina dan Inggeris-nya, ditambah dengan link untuk kemudahan pembaca yang ingin mengetahui lebih lanjut tentang isu berkenaan.

*Sumber http://merdekareview.com/bm/news.php?n=10763