Civil society enters election fray

by Baradan Kuppusamy     Published 15 Feb 2008    Source : Malaysiakini

Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi had parliament dissolved Wednesday, paving the way for snap elections that political analysts say will see the opposition gain ground thanks to voter discontent over rising prices, crime and ethnic tension.

The government held over 90 percent of seats in the just dissolved 222-member parliament.
While the ruling 14-party Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition government led by Abdullah is in no danger of losing power, the results are expected to reflect unhappiness over a multiplicity of issues by sensitised voters.

Abdullah's popularity had soared to over 90 percent in 2004, the year he won his first mandate on a populist platform of curbing corruption and ensuring government transparency and accountability. But that popularity has taken a beating in recent months.
According to recent opinion polls, his popularity has slid down to about 60 percent, low by Malaysian standards, analysts said.

Researcher: Indian M'sians dominate lowest-paid jobs

by Syed Jaymal Zahiid     Published 6 Dec 2007     Source : Malaysiakini

The Indian community in this country is ailing and no argument by any Barisan Nasional (BN) leader can rebut this fact, according to one researcher.

Monitoring Sustainability of Globalisation director and researcher Charles Santiago said the recent remark by a deputy minister that the Indians were doing better than the Malays, gave the wrong impression.

Deputy Rural and Regional Development Minister Zainal Abidin Osman told the Dewan Rakyat that the household income for Indians in 2004 was RM3,456, while it was RM2,711 for the 'Malays' and RM4,437 for the Chinese.

'Two wrongs don't make Asean charter right'

by  Fauwaz Abdul Aziz     Published 21 Nov 2007    Source : Malaysiakini

The signing of the Asean charter by military-ruled Burma and Thailand makes a mockery of the charter's goal of promoting rule of law, good governance, democracy and constitutional government, said an activist.

Monitoring the Sustainability of Globalisation (MSN) director Charles Santiago described the governments of the two countries as "unlawful" until duly elected by the people.

"What is the 'bigger picture' if this very charter they are talking about has been signed by countries whose legal standing as members of Asean are under question?" he asked, referring to a statement by Malaysian premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

2008 Budget not for all

by Bede Hong     Published 7 Sep 2007     Source : Malaysiakini

The 2008 Budget, while helpful to the rural poor and civil servants, was silent on a variety of other issues, including economic competitiveness and workers rights.

MTUC president Syed Shahir Syed Muhamud, Monitoring Sustainability of Globalisation director Charles Santiago and academician Khoo Kay Peng felt there was little initiative to improve Malaysia's competitiveness.

"I don't see the Budget is doing enough for the private sector," said Khoo in a panel discussion organised by malaysiakini today. Also on the panel were Syed Shahir and Santiago.

Suhakam: Cops were unprofessional

by Fauwaz Abdul Aziz     Published 7 Aug 2007    Source : Malaysiakini

The Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) agrees that the police acted unprofessionally in preventing an inter-religious seminar on water from being held at the National Mosque in Kuala Lumpur.

Commissioner N Siva Subramaniam said the opportunity for inter-religious dialogue and understanding - even on an issue as innocuous as water - may have suffered a setback and even led to further confusion.

"Such a gathering (at the National Mosque) would have united everyone... and (allowed them to) talk about things (that they have) in common," he said at a meeting this morning with the seminar organisers.

Water is God's gift, say religious groups

by Fauwaz Abdul Aziz     Published 6 Aug 2007     Source : Malaysiakini

Despite the authorities' refusal to permit the seminar from being held at the National Mosque in Kuala Lumpur, six religious groups declared over the weekend their united stand on the human right to water.

At a Saturday forum in Kuala Lumpur, they inked their endorsement of a 'Merdeka Water Declaration' on the sacred right of access for all peoples' to water.

The groups included the Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia (Abim), the Archdiocesan Office for Human Development (AOHD), the Buddhist Missionary Society of Malaysia (BMSM) and the Council of Churches of Malaysia (CCM).

Religious forum on water 'forced' to switch venue

by Fauwaz Abdul Aziz     Published 4 Aug 2007    Source : Malaysiakini

Organisers of an inter-religious seminar on water privatisation have been forced to make last-minute changes to their plans, as certain quarters have withheld permission to hold it at the National Mosque in Kuala Lumpur, its original venue.

The half-day seminar, entitled 'United for Water: Religions Speak on the Right to Water' and scheduled for today, has the backing of eight religious organisations and a number of civil society organisations.

National Mosque officials were said to have been supportive of the event and had extended their cooperation and its facilities to the seminar organisers.