Ku Li backs Bersih’s demands

Umno veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah backed Bersih 2.0′s call for electoral reforms, describing them as “fair demands”.

This puts him on collision course with the party’s official line, which deems the polls watchdog as illegal and insisting that the country’s election system is clean.

While many of his party members including Prime Minister Najib Razak are hellbent on demonising Bersih, the Kelantan prince said the demands made by the loose coalition of 62 NGOs should be heeded if the present administration genuinely advocates justice and fairness.

“I don’t know what their intentions are. I don’t know them personally but as a democrat… given that Umno itself had vowed to protect democracy in this country, it is a must to consider all their demands,” he told a press conference in Gua Musang on Sunday.

“It is not like they are looking to topple the government,” he added, referring to the repeated accusation by government leaders that Bersih’s planned rally was a masked coup d’etat attempt.

The Najib administration also accused Bersih 2.0 of being an opposition stooge while Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia had gone as far as accusing the NGO of being “foreign agent” in a Western conspiracy to wrest federal power.

Razaleigh, affectionately known as Ku Li, suggested that it was normal for the opposition to support the group’s demands.

“They want to put in their candidates and contest too so let the voters decide. If they decide to vote for the opposition, what can we do? That is the democratic right of the voters.”

‘How are we developed?’Razaleigh, the Gua Musang MP, said one of Bersih’s demands – a 21-day campaign period to replace the current seven to eight day period – is reasonable.
He cited Sarawak whose interiors are hard to access making campaigning extremely difficult for the opposition given its limited election machinery compared to Umno and Barisan Nasional’s powerful resources.
He also said that it is rightful for the opposition to be given a level playing field in media coverage, which is also one of Bersih 2.0′s demands.
The government is forced to be on the defensive over its handling of the Bersih rally. The “heavy- handed” response to the July 9 peaceful gathering has compelled the authorities to go into damage control mode, with Najib himself having to deflect international criticism.
The clampdown on Bersih and opposition leaders received widespread coverage in the foreign media and brought negative international attention. Authorities used what Bersih leaders called “draconian” laws to arrest more than 1,700 Bersih supporters.
While most have been freed and some still being detained, Razaleigh criticised the use of such laws to quell dissent, saying it was a violation of human rights.
“How can we say we are developed when our mentality is not developed? Control here and control there… we can’t do this. It is against human rights,” he said.

Malaysia’s post-colonial history began with optimism and a grand hope in 1957. When Tunku Abdul Rahman, the first Prime Minister of Malaysia, proclaimed our Independence at the Merdeka Stadium in the unforgettable words that “Malaysia is a parliamentary democracy with an independent judiciary,” he had a vision of a happy people in spite of the formidable economic problems we needed to solve. After that dawn of independence, there was a search of how we could achieve this happy society, fulfilling the needs and aspirations of all Malaysians which was to continue for the generations to come. He symbolized the concept and conviction of generational responsibility in his vision. 2. Tunku Abdul Rahman and his generation were dedicated leaders, not for power but a sense of duty to the present and the future. They were not in politics for the money or for themselves. Indeed, even after they had assumed power, they never used their position to benefit themselves or their families, nor did they build loyal cronies who would act as their financiers or hold any wealth unlawfully earned at the expense of the people. 3. The guiding philosophy was responsibility of public office. Public office was seen as a duty, not as an opportunity. The public office was also part of their sense of political commitment to create a Malaysia that was fair, just, cohesive, and balanced. This was combined by a deep conviction of generational responsibility for those who would come after them. 4. One of the greatest losses in public life and in politics today in Malaysia is that loss of generational responsibility. Everything seems to be surrounded by greed and the desire to be billionaires. This had led to a pyramid of cronies within the incumbent political parties and their associates in business. It is this combination of the hierarchy of political cronies and business cronies that led to the centralization of power in the incumbent political leadership and in the office of the Prime Minister. 5. This power in one individual allowed the manipulation of the political system; I mean by this the institutions of power including the media. In exchange for the centralization of power greed and self-interest was encouraged by example and in the guise of racial loyalty deserving rewards. This is the case in all the parties within the power structure. This state of affairs is one of the most dangerous and difficult to dismantle because there has been three decades of centralized power. 6. The political style that has dominated in these lost three decades has been “double-think” and “double-talk”. One of the features which is alarming in this plan to maintain status quo is the encouragement covertly of racial and religious obscurantism. The underlying theme was a policy of using a balance of racialism and religion on the one hand and talks of unity on the other hand in order to make the people hostage to the status quo of power. As a result, racialism and racial concerns seem to have a grip on all aspects of our lives, in politics, economics, education and employment, irrespective of the present reality which has got nothing to do with race or religion. We are deliberately made to feel that we are hostage to these forces. 7. Freedom of speech and expression of our political concerns to change the atmosphere are restrained by how it will be interpreted by those who want to deny us the right to differ. Article 10 of the Constitution which guarantees this freedom is almost non-existence or subject to fear of retaliation or defamation. Legal suits intended to silence legitimate concerns of public responsibility are increasingly used. Unfortunately, our judicial system has forgotten the fundamental importance of Article 10 to the democratic life of Malaysia. Common sense seems to have been taken out of the law. 8. On the economic front, income inequality in Malaysia has widened. Some studies suggest that Malaysia’s inequality is wider than Thailand’s or Indonesia’s. Historically, the concern was about ownership and control of the economy. It was the view of some that if ownership was de-racialized or balanced at the top, economic justice would follow. It is no longer a valid premise for the future. Income inequality is no longer a problem between races; it crosses the racial divide and it is a problem of the majority of Malaysians who feel the pressure of inflation in almost every essential aspects of their lives, challenging their well being of themselves, their families, and their future. Today and the in the near future, this is the most serious challenge we face. It is not an easy challenge to overcome. It is a time when Malaysia needs leadership of the highest quality and of those who have the moral courage to change and re-think our economic policies. 9. It is in these circumstances that we face the serious problem of rising food prices, inflation in price of houses compounded by shortage in housing for the vast majority of young Malaysians. Lack of economic expansion to give all levels an opportunity to use their talents to seek work that is commensurate with their contribution, their needs of daily life, and to narrow the inequality gap, is the threat of the future. Therefore, we should be concerned about the justification of the removal of subsidies that affects the low income because that will further widen the inequality and open the society to social disorder and disintegration, and increase social in cohesion. It is in this context that I raise the issue about Independent Power Production Companies (IPP). The privatization contracts are today protected by the Official Secrets Act, and therefore we are unable to really know whether or not the public and Petronas, as trustees of the public, are directly or indirectly subsidizing these companies and the tycoons who are benefitting at the expense of the public. 10. Related to the question of the withdrawal of subsidies is the deficit that the Government suffers from in managing the economy. This question cannot be separated from the way that the Government has managed the nation’s finances. If the deficit is as a result of wastage, corruption and extravagance in the use of public funds, then the solution to the problem should not be passed on to the public. What is needed is a reexamination of the management of the country’s finances before taking any drastic steps that would affect the well being of the people. We need to know the reality behind the apparent subsidies that are given to the public and its relationship in the totality of the management of the public finance. Only after we know the truth – and the whole truth – should any change in the policy of subsidies be implemented, as the consequences would have life-changing impact on the livelihood of the people. In the circumstances of rising inflation in food, stagnation of the economy and income, we should not do anything that would widen the disparity of income which would cause social instability. 11. The challenge today is for the return to generational responsibility in politics and public office. This can only be achieved if we have democracy and parliamentary power which is responsible. Democracy was the basis of the founding of the state of Malaysia by the Constitution in 1957. When it was briefly suspended in 1969, the leaders of that generation were uneasy, and they restored democracy as soon as possible. 12. That is because they realized that democracy has an intrinsic value in creating a citizenship that is not made up of sheep but of responsible citizens. Only responsible citizenship that understands democracy can bring about stability, cohesion and economic prosperity. During those days, it was ingrained in that generation of leaders that democracy was not only a form but a value system that respected the essential institutions of democracy like the independence of judiciary, the supremacy of parliament subject to the Constitution, the respect for fundamental rights, and free speech. They also understood the meaning and primacy of the rule of law and not of men. They also knew that democracy is the common heritage of humanity that we inherited and have a duty to continue. The law that they understood was also from the common heritage of all civilized nations. 13. And one of our inheritances is the common law system of the rule of law which is enshrined in our constitution. They knew that the phrase “common law” meant the wisdom that is passed to us in the progress of law and the values that are encapsulated in the law governing public office and responsibility to society. That laws are meant to enhance democracy and freedom but not to maintain and continue political power that is inconsistent with the rule of law and the constitution. 14. Independence did not come with peace but with very difficult problems, particularly the management of the economy and transforming it to bring about a balance between all the racial groups. They realize that some of their problems had roots in the history of Malaysia. There was a serious imbalance between the countryside and the urban sector with racial dimensions which were too sharp. Indeed, poverty was also quite prevalent. There were open discussions and experiments. 15. Some of you may remember that one of the highlights of public debate was organized at the University of Malaya under the title, “The Great Economic Debate” every year. That disappeared with the changes in the University & Colleges Act and the decline of Universities’ autonomy. The search was to eradicate a sense of inequality between the various peoples of Malaysia, whether because of one’s identity and social origins, or for other reasons. 16. It was as part of this search that during Tun Abdul Razak’s time, the Second Malaysia Plan was launched in 1971. We need to be reminded of the objective of that plan: “National unity is the over-riding objective of the country. A stage has been reached in the nation’s economic and social development where greater emphasis must be placed on social integration and more equitable distribution of income and opportunities for national unity.” 17. That dream was slowly eroded from the mid-1980. The hope that we had at that time is now challenged in the most serious way. 18. Recently, Petronas announced that it had made a 90.5 billion pre-tax profit. If we accumulate the profit of Petronas over the years, it would come to a mind-boggling figure of billions and billions. Yet, the greatest poverty is found in the petroleum producing states of Kelantan, Terengganu, Sarawak, and Sabah. This moral inconsistency in a way exemplifies how the nation’s economy is mismanaged and how the institutions set up in the 1970’s have lost their objective and commitment to solving the immediate and pressing problems of the nation. 19. Petronas was set up with the objective of serving the nation’s interest as a priority. It was never intended to give Petronas a life of its own as an incorporated company for selected individuals to profit at the expense of the national interest, nor was it the objective to allow Petronas a cooperate existence independent of national interest. 20. What is needed is for institutions like Petronas is to have a national focus rather than maintain a multinational status. The aim of making Petronas a multinational cooperation at the expense of national interest is contrary to the Petroleum Development Act. Petronas should have a Petroleum Advisory Council to advise the Prime Minister on the operation of the law as well as the managemend and utilization of its resources as spelt out in the Petroleum Development Act. 21. Another example of the abuse of power is the privatization of certain government institutions which were set up as a public service to serve the people. Bernas is one example of a privatization of an essential commodity as a monopoly for a group of people and owned partially by two companies in Hong Kong. An essential commodity such as rice should not have been privatized for business purposes. We are the only rice producing country that has privatized and given as a monopoly to one company the importation and distribution of all rice products. 22. The reality today is Thailand and Indonesia are self sufficient in rice and we are dependant on 30% of imported rice. But because it is a monopoly, imported rice is cheaper in Singapore than Malaysia. Privatization for the benefit of private individuals to profit from such an essential commodity is a clear abuse of power. It would not have happened in those days. But with the centralization of power in the office of the prime Minister who had the party under his absolute control, anything was possible! 23. I will suggest to you that there was a deliberate plan to centralize power in the leadership in a surreptitious manner. Unfortunately the nature of racial politics blinded us of the reality behind certain policies and conduct of leaders at that time. The decline of democracy, the abuse of power, and the mismanagement of our economy and the nation’s finances, the economic waste, the lack of national cohesion in our economic policies led to the flight of capital in the region of RM880 billion over the years from the 1980s. That was the beginning the lost decades and the full impact of the consequences of the economic policies which has continued since then, is yet to have its full impact on our national lives. And when it does the consequences are unpredictable. 24. The centralization of power in the office of the Prime Minister and the Attorney general had a major role in this state of affairs. The challenge today is to reverse the centralization of power and restore the check and balance of a genuine democracy. 25. We need to reclaim as citizens of Malaysia our rights in a democracy; that power and authority are positions of trust and responsibility, not to serve personal interest or as an opportunity for personal enrichment. We need to reassert as politically active and responsible citizens the concept of social obligation and public service in those who seek political office. Power is duty, NOT a prize. 26. We need to rethink our economic policies. Particularly in the focusing on the national objectives that are urgent; economic policies is not only about wealth creation but needs to have a moral dimension which takes into account the well being of all citizens as the ultimate priority over profits. 27. I have given you a broad sweep of the past and a bird’s eye view of the looming problems of managing our economy as it is today. I hope this will open a dialogue which benefits all of us. “THOSE WERE THE DAYS by YBM Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, at Perak Lectures in Taiping on Saturday 18th June 2011 at 8:45PM at the New Club, Main Hall, Taiping, Perak.

Hilangnya Sebutir Permata (Lo’lo’ dalam bahasa arab bermaksud Permata) Allahyarhamah Dr. Lo' Lo’ Binti Datuk Mohd Ghazali. ~2 Ogos 1957 - 17 Julai 2011~.

Pada pukul 11.05 malam 17 Julai 2011, saya mendapat panggilan talipon dari seorang sahabat SIS memaklumkan pengesahan Allahyarhamah meninggal dunia di Hospital Selayang jam 10.13 malam tadi setelah beberapa tahun mengidap barah paru-paru. Saya memaklumkan pada kawan-kawan saya di wall-wall group fb dan wall fb saya berita tersebut. Setelah desas-desus tersebar di internet beberapa hari sebelumnya tentang konon Dr. Lo’lo’ telah meninggal dunia walhal beliau masih belum meninggal, sedangkan ketika itu Allahyarhamah masih boleh berbual dengan ahli keluarganya dan sehingga ke saat-saat akhir dikhabarkan beliau sering bertanya mengenai kawasan Parlimen beliau terutamanya isu Kampung Baru, Kuala Lumpur yang diperjuangkan beliau. Allahyarharmah sempat berpesan kepada petugas-petugas pejabat khidmat masyarakat Parlimen Titiwangsa agar terus menjalankan tugas melibatkan kepentingan penduduk. Allahyarhamah meninggal dunia di Hopital Selayang jam 10.13 malam tadi setelah beberapa tahun mengidap barah paru-paru.

Ketika saya tiba di Datuk Keramat pukul 1.35 pagi, suasana sedih dan suram menyelubungi dimana jenazah telah dibawa ke Masjid Al-Akram Datuk Keramat tengah malam tadi. Anggota keluarga termasuk suami Allahyarharmah, Dr Aminuddin Abdul Hamid Karim dan anak-anak allahyarahamah berada di samping jenazah Allahyarhamah, sempat saya menyampaikan salam takziah dan simpati dari pihak saya dan warga Alumni SISTA. Sejak tengah malam tadi, orang ramai tidak putus-putus mengunjugi jenazah Allahyarhamah yang disifatkan sebagai seorang yang sangat berdedikasi dalam menjalankan amanah sebagai wakil rakyat. Sukarelawan Pemuda Pas bertungkus lumus menjaga lalu lintas dan kawasan sekitar sejak tengah malam tadi bagi mengelakkan kesesakan di kawasan sekitar.

Suasana terus sedih dan suram menyelubungi ketika saya tiba sekali lagi pagi ini ketika sebelum solat jenazah di Masjid Al-Akram. Jenazah disolatkan di masjid tersebut jam 10.20 pagi tadi dengan dipimpin Presiden PAS, Datuk Seri Tuan Guru Abdul Hadi Awang sebelum dibawa ke tanah perkuburan, diiringi ribuan yang hadir untuk memberikan penghormatan terakhir terdiri daripada ahli keluarga, rakyat dan pemimpin parti politik menghadiri pengebumian ahli Parlimen Titiwangsa, Allahyarhamah Dr. Lo’lo’ Binti Mohd Ghazali di Tanah Perkuburan Islam Kampung Datuk Keramat pagi tadi. Ribuan rakyat mengiringi jenazah Allahyarhamah Dr Lo’lo’ ke Tanah Perkuburan Islam Datuk Keramat. Rata-rata mereka yang hadir tidak dapat menahan sebak setelah jenazah selamat dikebumikan jam 11.10 pagi.

Berbagai komen dan persepsi yang menziarahi meluahkan pandangan mereka yang saya dengar terhadap Allahyarhamah termasuklah didada blog dan akbar diantaranya Allahyarhamah Dr. Lo’lo’ diibaratkan sebagai permata yang cukup berharga dan seorang pejuang rakyat, seorang pemimpin yang baik selain berpidato secara berhemah di Dewan Rakyat dan bertanggungjawab, kematian beliau adalah satu kehilangan yang cukup besar kepada PAS terutamanya Dewan Muslimat kerana beliau diibaratkan sebagai permata yang cukup berharga dan seorang pejuang yang cukup tegas, gigih dan merupakan antara individu yang memainkan peranan besar untuk membolehkan wanita bertanding dalam pilihan raya mewakili PAS, Allahyarhamah adalah satu kehilangan besar dan jasa beliau kepada parti dan masyarakat akan terus dikenang, malah perjuangan beliau dalam isu tanah Kampung Baru akan terus kami perjuangkan, beliau adalah pemimpin yang sentiasa memperjuangkan hak rakyat, menjaga kebajikan rakyat, pemergian Dr Lo’ Lo’ akan terus dikenang, bukan sahaja pengorbanannya, malah leterannya diibarat sebagai seorang ibu dalam menjalankan tugasnya akan terus dirindui bukan hanya penduduk Parlimen Titiwangsa tetapi ahli dan penyokong PAS dan gagasan Pakatan Rakyat yang terasa kehilangan satu permata kerana masih terasa kata-kata rangsangan, nasihat dan motivasi yang disampaikan arwah dalam bentuk leteran dan beliau seperti sebutir permata yang berharga, beliau juga seorang pemimpin yang tegas, berpegang kepada prinsip dan sentiasa kental dalam memperjuangkan nasib rakyat walaupun berada dalam keadaan tidak sihat. 

Pada saya Allahyarhamah Dr Lo’lo yang saya temui semasa saya di alam persekolahan ketika adik beliau Mohsien Negara Bin Datuk Mohd Ghazali yang merupakan rakan sekolah saya di Sekolah Izzuddin Shah, Ipoh yang membawa saya pulang ke rumah beliau semasa cuti sekolah di Kg. Dato’ Ahmad Said, Manjoi, Ipoh terserlah ciri2 seorang kakak yang tegas dan perihatin dengan usia beliau dengan saya jarak 8 tahun, Allahyarhamah Dr Lo’lo yang merupakan anak perempuan bekas mufti Perak, Allahyarham Datuk Mohd Ghazali Bin Abdullah, yang dilahirkan di Kuala Kangsar pada 2 Ogos 1957, Mendapat pendidikan awal di Sekolah Kebangsaan Jalan Conolly Ipoh, Sekolah Raja Perempuan Taayah Ipoh  pada tahun 1970-1972, Kolej Islam Kelang 1973-1976, Melanjutkan pengajian ke Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia – Ijazah Pertama (Kedoktoran) , Adelaidea Alternative Medicine & Surgery – Acupunturist. Beliau giat aktif dalam Dewan Muslimat PAS tetapi sejak 8 Mac 2008 dan  banyak menumpukan perhatiannya ke atas kawasan Parlimen Tititwangsa yang dimenanginya, dengan menewaskan calon BN, Aziz Jamaluddin Mohd Tahir dengan majoriti 1,972 undi, memegang jawatan AJK Dewan Muslimat PAS Pusat, Ketua Dewan Muslimat Titiwangsa, Ketua Pengarah Al-Nisa’, AJK Kerja Pas Pusat, Exco Asian Federation Of Muslimyouth. beliau adalah Pengarah Eksekutif Pusat Perubatan Kohilal, aktif dengan pertubuhan NGO: KHIM, Yayasan Amal Malaysia, PPIM, PAPISMA, Persatuan Allergy & Aesthetic, Persatuan Hypertension, AFMY, ABIM, Al Khadeem, JIM, Alumni FPUKM, Alumni ALKIS, Alumni SISTA. Kali terakhir saya bertemu dengan beliau ketika pertemuan dengan penduduk  penjawat awam di Cochrane, sebelum pertemuan isu Kg. Baru, bila diajukan komen kepada beliau sikap beliau yang sering berleter, jawapan yang sama kita sering terdengar dari beliau ialah kalau kita tak berleter, dia orang tak buat kerja yang bermaksud leteran itu sangat bermakna untuk kita bekerja lebih kuat. Bagi saya Allahyarhamah Dr. Lo’lo merupakan satu kehilangan besar sebutir permata yang sangat bernilai dan sukar dicari ganti. Beliau adalah seorang pemimpin yang berprinsip, beliau bukan pemimpin yang hanya tahu bercakap, tapi beliau adalah pemimpin yang bercakap atas dasar fakta dan apa yang beliau mahu katakan akan dikaji terlebih dahulu. Seorang pejuang yang berilmu, apa yang beliau lakukan adalah demi rakyat bahkan semasa sakit pun beliau tetap gagahkan diri untuk bersama dengan rakyat, seorang pemimpin yang baik, tegas, berdisiplin dan sentiasa menghadapi cabaran dengan hati terbuka. Ibarat nama beliau Lo’lo yang bermaksud dalam bahasa arab ‘Permata’, beliau seperti sebutir permata yang berharga. Beliau telah pun berjaya menyambung perjuangan ayahnya Datuk Mohd Ghazali Abdullah, Pengerusi Muzakarah Ulama yang menubuhkan PAS pada tahun 1951.

“THOSE WERE THE DAYS"

Malaysia’s post-colonial history began with optimism and a grand hope in 1957.  When Tunku Abdul Rahman, the first Prime Minister of Malaysia, proclaimed our Independence at the Merdeka Stadium in the unforgettable words that “Malaysia is a parliamentary democracy with an independent judiciary,” he had a vision of a happy people in spite of the formidable economic problems we needed to solve.  After that dawn of independence, there was a search of how we could achieve this happy society, fulfilling the needs and aspirations of all Malaysians which was to continue for the generations to come.  He symbolized the concept and conviction of generational responsibility in his vision.

2.       Tunku Abdul Rahman and his generation were dedicated leaders, not for power but a sense of duty to the present and the future. They were not in politics for the money or for themselves.  Indeed, even after they had assumed power, they never used their position to benefit themselves or their families, nor did they build loyal cronies who would act as their financiers or hold any wealth unlawfully earned at the expense of the people.

3.       The guiding philosophy was responsibility of public office.  Public office was seen as a duty, not as an opportunity.  The public office was also part of their sense of political commitment to create a Malaysia that was fair, just, cohesive, and balanced.  This was combined by a deep conviction of generational responsibility for those who would come after them.

4.       One of the greatest losses in public life and in politics today in Malaysia is that loss of generational responsibility.  Everything seems to be surrounded by greed and the desire to be billionaires.  This had led to a pyramid of cronies within the incumbent political parties and their associates in business.  It is this combination of the hierarchy of political cronies and business cronies that led to the centralization of power in the incumbent political leadership and in the office of the Prime Minister.

5.       This power in one individual allowed the manipulation of the political system; I mean by this the   institutions of power including the media. In exchange for the centralization of power greed and self-interest was encouraged by example and in the guise of racial loyalty deserving rewards. This is the case in all the parties within the power structure.  This state of affairs is one of the most dangerous and difficult to dismantle because there has been three decades of centralized power.

6.       The political style that has dominated in these lost three decades has been “double-think” and “double-talk”.  One of the features which is alarming in this plan to maintain status quo is the encouragement covertly of racial and religious obscurantism.  The underlying theme was a policy of using a balance of racialism and religion on the one hand and talks of unity on the other hand in order to make the people hostage to the status quo of power.  As a result, racialism and racial concerns seem to have a grip on all aspects of our lives, in politics, economics, education and employment, irrespective of the present reality which has got nothing to do with race or religion.  We are deliberately made to feel that we are hostage to these forces.

7.       Freedom of speech and expression of our political concerns to change the atmosphere are restrained by how it will be interpreted by those who want to deny us the right to differ.  Article 10 of the Constitution which guarantees this freedom is almost non-existence or subject to fear of retaliation or defamation.  Legal suits intended to silence legitimate concerns of public responsibility are increasingly used.  Unfortunately, our judicial system has forgotten the fundamental importance of Article 10 to the democratic life of Malaysia.  Common sense seems to have been taken out of the law.

8.       On the economic front, income inequality in Malaysia has widened.  Some studies suggest that Malaysia’s inequality is wider than Thailand’s or Indonesia’s.  Historically, the concern was about ownership and control of the economy.  It was the view of some that if ownership was de-racialized or balanced at the top, economic justice would follow.  It is no longer a valid premise for the future.  Income inequality is no longer a problem between races; it crosses the racial divide and it is a problem of the majority of Malaysians who feel the pressure of inflation in almost every essential aspects of their lives, challenging their well being of themselves, their families, and their future.  Today and the in the near future, this is the most serious challenge we face.  It is not an easy challenge to overcome.  It is a time when Malaysia needs leadership of the highest quality and of those who have the moral courage to change and re-think our economic policies.

9.       It is in these circumstances that we face the serious problem of rising food prices, inflation in price of houses compounded by shortage in housing for the vast majority of young Malaysians.  Lack of economic expansion to give all levels an opportunity to use their talents to seek work that is commensurate with their contribution, their needs of daily life, and to narrow the inequality gap, is the threat of the future.  Therefore, we should be concerned about the justification of the removal of subsidies that affects the low income because that will further widen the inequality and open the society to social disorder and disintegration, and increase social in cohesion.  It is in this context that I raise the issue about Independent Power Production Companies (IPP).  The privatization contracts are today protected by the Official Secrets Act, and therefore we are unable to really know whether or not the public and Petronas, as trustees of the public, are directly or indirectly subsidizing these companies and the tycoons who are benefitting at the expense of the public.

10.     Related to the question of the withdrawal of subsidies is the deficit that the Government suffers from in managing the economy.  This question cannot be separated from the way that the Government has managed the nation’s finances.  If the deficit is as a result of wastage, corruption and extravagance in the use of public funds, then the solution to the problem should not be passed on to the public.  What is needed is a reexamination of the management of the country’s finances before taking any drastic steps that would affect the well being of the people.  We need to know the reality behind the apparent subsidies that are given to the public and its relationship in the totality of the management of the public finance.  Only after we know the truth – and the whole truth – should any change in the policy of subsidies be implemented, as the consequences would have life-changing impact on the livelihood of the people.   In the circumstances of rising inflation in food, stagnation of the economy and income, we should not do anything that would widen the disparity of income which would cause social instability.

11.     The challenge today is for the return to generational responsibility in politics and public office.  This can only be achieved if we have democracy and parliamentary power which is responsible.  Democracy was the basis of the founding of the state of Malaysia by the Constitution in 1957.  When it was briefly suspended in 1969, the leaders of that generation were uneasy, and they restored democracy as soon as possible.

12.     That is because they realized that democracy has an intrinsic value in creating a citizenship that is not made up of sheep but of responsible citizens.  Only responsible citizenship that understands democracy can bring about stability, cohesion and economic prosperity.  During those days, it was ingrained in that generation of leaders that democracy was not only a form but a value system that respected the essential institutions of democracy like the independence of judiciary, the supremacy of parliament subject to the Constitution, the respect for fundamental rights, and free speech.  They also understood the meaning and primacy of the rule of law and not of men.  They also knew that democracy is the common heritage of humanity that we inherited and have a duty to continue.  The law that they understood was also from the common heritage of all civilized nations.

13.     And one of our inheritances is the common law system of the rule of law which is enshrined in our constitution.  They knew that the phrase “common law” meant the wisdom that is passed to us in the progress of law and the values that are encapsulated in the law governing public office and responsibility to society. That laws are meant to enhance democracy and freedom but not to maintain and continue political power that is inconsistent with the rule of law and the constitution.

14.     Independence did not come with peace but with very difficult problems, particularly the management of the economy and transforming it to bring about a balance between all the racial groups.  They realize that some of their problems had roots in the history of Malaysia.  There was a serious imbalance between the countryside and the urban sector with racial dimensions which were too sharp.  Indeed, poverty was also quite prevalent.  There were open discussions and experiments.

15.     Some of you may remember that one of the highlights of public debate was organized at the University of Malaya under the title, “The Great Economic Debate” every year.  That disappeared with the changes in the University & Colleges Act and the decline of Universities’ autonomy.  The search was to eradicate a sense of inequality between the various peoples of Malaysia, whether because of one’s identity and social origins, or for other reasons.

16.     It was as part of this search that during Tun Abdul Razak’s time, the Second Malaysia Plan was launched in 1971.  We need to be reminded of the objective of that plan:

“National unity is the over-riding objective of the country.  A stage has been reached in the nation’s economic and social development where greater emphasis must be placed on social integration and more equitable distribution of income and opportunities for national unity.”

17.     That dream was slowly eroded from the mid-1980.  The hope that we had at that time is now challenged in the most serious way.

18.     Recently, Petronas announced that it had made a 90.5 billion pre-tax profit.  If we accumulate the profit of Petronas over the years, it would come to a mind-boggling figure of billions and billions.  Yet, the greatest poverty is found in the petroleum producing states of Kelantan, Terengganu, Sarawak, and Sabah.  This moral inconsistency in a way exemplifies how the nation’s economy is mismanaged and how the institutions set up in the 1970’s have lost their objective and commitment to solving the immediate and pressing problems of the nation.

19.     Petronas was set up with the objective of serving the nation’s interest as a priority. It was never intended to give Petronas a life of its own as an incorporated company for selected individuals to profit at the expense of the national interest, nor was it the objective to allow Petronas a cooperate existence independent of national interest.

20.     What is needed is for institutions like Petronas is to have a national focus rather than maintain a multinational status. The aim of making Petronas a multinational cooperation at the expense of national interest is contrary to the Petroleum Development Act.  Petronas should have a Petroleum Advisory Council to advise the Prime Minister on the operation of the law as well as the managemend and utilization of its resources as spelt out in the Petroleum Development Act.

21.     Another example of the abuse of power is the privatization of certain government institutions which were set up as a public service to serve the people.  Bernas is one example of a privatization of an essential commodity as a monopoly for a group of people and owned partially by two companies in Hong Kong. An essential commodity such as rice should not have been privatized for business purposes.   We are the only rice producing country that has privatized and given as a monopoly to one company the importation and distribution of all rice products.

22.     The reality today is Thailand and Indonesia are self sufficient in rice and we are dependant on 30% of imported rice. But because it is a monopoly, imported rice is cheaper in Singapore than Malaysia.  Privatization for the benefit of private individuals to profit from such an essential commodity is a clear abuse of power.  It would not have happened in those days. But with the centralization of power in the office of the prime Minister who had the party under his absolute control, anything was possible!

23.     I will suggest to you that there was a deliberate plan to centralize power in the leadership in a surreptitious manner. Unfortunately the nature of racial politics blinded us of the reality behind certain policies and conduct of leaders at that time. The decline of democracy, the abuse of power, and the mismanagement of our economy and the nation’s finances, the economic waste, the lack of national cohesion in our economic policies led to the flight of capital in the region of RM880 billion over the years from the 1980s. That was the beginning the lost decades and the full impact of the consequences of the economic policies which has continued since then, is yet to have its full impact on our national lives. And when it does the consequences are unpredictable.

24.     The centralization of power in the office of the Prime Minister and the Attorney general had a major role in this state of affairs.  The challenge today is to reverse the centralization of power and restore the check and balance of a genuine democracy.

25.     We need to reclaim as citizens of Malaysia our rights in a democracy; that power and authority are positions of trust and responsibility, not to serve personal interest or as an opportunity for personal enrichment. We need to reassert as politically active and responsible citizens the concept of social obligation and public service in those who seek political office. Power is duty, NOT a prize.

26.     We need to rethink our economic policies. Particularly in the focusing on the national objectives that are urgent; economic policies is not only about wealth creation but needs to have a moral dimension which takes into account the well being of all citizens as the ultimate priority over profits.

27.     I have given you a broad sweep of the past and a bird’s eye view of the looming problems of managing our economy as it is today.  I hope this will open a dialogue which benefits all of us.


“THOSE WERE THE DAYS
by YBM Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, at Perak Lectures in Taiping on Saturday 18th June 2011 at 8:45PM at the New Club, Main Hall, Taiping, Perak.

Siapa itu Ambiga...???

Orang Melayu telitilah siapa sebenarnya Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan sebelum mengikut telunjuknya yang meminta rakyat supaya mengadakan perhimpunan haram pada 9 Julai hari ini. Orang Melayu harus melihat kembali sejarah tindak-tanduk Ambiga yang pernah menimbulkan kemarahan umat Islam, terutama orang Melayu di negara ini sebelum secara membuta tuli mengikut kehendak dan telunjuknya. Bekas Presiden Majlis Peguam itu adalah orang yang bertanggungjawab menerima memorandum menuntut pelaksanaan Suruhanjaya Antara Agama (IFC) pada 21 Ogos 2001. Majlis Peguam menerima memorandum untuk menuntut pelaksanaan 14 tuntutan IFC yang jelas sekali bertentangan dengan Perlembagaan Persekutuan. Dalam kes Lina Joy yang murtad, Ambiga mempertikaikan pelaksanaan hukum syariah di bawah Perkara 121(1A) Perlembagaan Persekutuan dengan menyatakan kebebasan beragama turut termaktub kepada semua penganut agama Islam. Beliau turut mengadakan forum mengenai memeluk agama Islam pada 9 Ogos 2008 yang membincang dan mempertikaikan secara terbuka Perkara 121 (1A). Biarpun mendapat bantahan orang Islam, Majlis Peguam yang diterajui Ambiga tetap meneruskan forum itu. Tindak tanduk Ambiga memperlihatkan diri beliau sebagai seorang yang tidak menghormati undang-undang dan Perlembagaan walaupun merupakan Pengamal undang2 dan dengan itu orang Melayu terutamanya harus memikirkan dahulu siapa Ambiga semula sebelum berhasrat untuk menyertai perhimpunan haram 9 Julai hari ini yang diketuainya.