Jimmy Leow

Filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy takes on a terrifying question: How does the Taliban convince children to become suicide bombers? Propaganda footage from a training camp is intercut with her interviews of young camp graduates. A shocking vision

Malaysia-Chronicle (18th Oct 2010)

A Disappointed Civil Servant

It amuses me to note the rapacious back and forth regarding the Kursus Kenegaraan organised by the Biro Tatanegara. However, I notice that remarks defending the program have so far been based on perspectives of certain Government officials, who may or may not have been subjected to the charms of the program. As a serving Government professional of non-Bumiputera descent, I feel it is pertinent that I share my experience of this program, so that some objectivity may be achieved in understanding the isssue at hand.

It is compulsory for all Government servants to attend this course once during service. I attended the program in 2006, in a group of 80-odd Malays and 9 non-Malays. We were a mix of doctors, dentists, pharmacists and teachers. On the first day, we had to listen to a series of 4 lectures, all delivered by lecturers from the local MARA University campus. I vividly remember the 1st lecture on Kerakyatan, for it was delivered with such fervour by an obviously inspired lecturer. At times he seemed to go off his script and made several references to ‘other’ races being ‘pendatangs’ and forgetting their ‘place’ in society, and not being grateful for the citizenship ‘awarded’ to them, and other remarks of a similar vein.

However what shocked me was when this lecturer, in a frenzied fit of rage, asked the audience whether they knew that ALL Indians who migrated here were from the PARIAH caste, and similarly all Chinese who came here were also from the lower classes in their country of origin. I was livid with rage that this supposed university lecturer had the unabashed temerity to tar all Indians and Chinese with the same brush, and make such an unsubstantiated sweeping statement that may have been lapped up by the ill-informed as the gospel truth. From that moment I was mentally tuned off from listening to further garbage being spewed by this obvious racist. After ranting and raving for a good forty minutes more, he mercifully concluded and invited questions from the floor.

I immediately got up and proceeded to enquire on what basis the lecturer made his sweeping statements, and if he was aware that aside from indentured labourers, the British had brought educated Indians and Ceylonese Tamils to serve in the civil service in pre-independence Malaya. I then informed him that I was a 3rd generation civil servant, and the last time I checked, I wasn’t a PARIAH. By this time the lecturer was squirming in discomfort, especially as the crowd assembled there started to cheer me on. I sternly told the lecturer to check his facts before he confuses others with blatant untruths.

The Chinese dentist that stood up after me was in no conciliatory mood however. She blasted the lecturer outright by saying ‘Saya berasa amat tersinggung dengan apa yang dikatakan oleh penceramah tadi (I am offended by the remarks made by the lecturer); ianya sangat tidak adil dan amat mengelirukan para hadirin di sini (it is an unfair statement and can confuse the others assembled here).’ Probably stung by the truth of those comments, the lecturer tried to weasel out of the messy situation by defending his statement which was made in a particular context. But none of us were fooled, and we realised that this course was an attempt to stereotype and racially profile the citizenry for the benefit of a certain group to assert its ‘ketuanan’ on others.

Suffice to say, i was least interested in the ensuing activities, especially the drill parade where we were forced to pray with arms outstretched to maintain ‘conformity’, despite my usual method being the traditional hands clasped in supplication.

Ultimately, the course made me despise the way the non-bumis were treated, and served to reinforce the belief shared by many that it is a brainwashing and indoctrination exercise to target the ill-informed and the gullible. I am sure my Malay friends would (mostly) have cringed in shame at the way their fellow citizens were humiliated and made a mockery of.

Bottom line is, stay away from this course. It does no good and can serve to divide the population.

As an independent Muslim woman who doesn’t appreciate being told what to do, say, wear, read or write, I have a special place in my heart filled with disgust for those who embrace the bigoted ideologies of Islamophobes like Dutch parliamentarian Geert Wilders. But as an outspoken writer and attorney, I also have a special — and much larger — place in my heart filled with respect and adoration for human liberty.

So, when I found out that Mr. Wilders, leader of the Netherlands’ increasingly influential anti-immigration, anti-Islam so-called Freedom Party, was on trial for inciting hatred and discrimination against Muslims, my reaction was mixed. Initially, I was overcome with what could only be described as pure schadenfruede. But then, my delight in what I sincerely hoped was his supreme misery quickly turned into annoyance and then outrage at the prospect of such an attack on free speech.

Granted, Mr. Wilders has compared the Holy Qur’an to Hitler’s Mein Kampf. He has claimed that Islam is not a religion, but rather “an ideology of a retarded culture.” He has stated that Islam is out to destroy all of Western civilization and that “not one more” Muslim ought to be allowed to immigrate into the Netherlands. And most absurd of all, amid all his bombast, he has insisted that he has no problem with “Muslim people,” just their “retarded” fascist ideology that he refuses to acknowledge as a bona-fide religion. In short, it’s not us he hates, but rather, everything about us.

Still, to try someone in a court of law, to threaten him with a sentence of up to 16 months in jail or $10,000 in fines, just for running his mouth, is inherently abhorrent to me. Certainly, I have said and written many things that have offended some, and I too have hate mail and death threats to show for it. Defending the rights of gays, lesbians and the transgendered from an Islamic perspective and speaking out against various domestic and international policies promoted by the U.S. government or the current Iranian regime have all made me particularly unpopular in certain circles. And I thank God and the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution for never having been put on trial for any of my controversial statements.

Under different circumstances, though — say, if I were to return to Iran having written and spoken out as strongly as I have against the regime’s oppressive domestic policies — I could very well find myself in Mr. Wilders’ shoes. As such, I have no choice but to defend his right to speak freely, not just because it’s the right thing to do, but also because in another time or place, it could just as easily be me facing hefty fines or prison time.

So today, for the record, I would like to stand up in defense of Mr. Wilders’ freedom to speak his twisted mind. I do so despite his attacks on my faith and my people. I do so despite his blatant hypocrisy, demanding a personal freedom from censorship while concurrently endorsing a ban on the Qur’an, the veil and pretty much all things he deems “Islamic” in Holland. I do so despite disagreeing with nearly every word that comes out of his vicious mouth. And I do so because my “retarded” ideology refuses to let me sink to his level.

Three of the most revered prophets of Islam — Moses, Christ and Muhammad — taught all of their followers to treat others as they wished to be treated. Thus, as a follower of Islam and the teachings of its great prophets, I am bound to defend Mr. Wilders’ basic human rights as I would my own.

So, even though I have more respect for wild goats than Geert Wilders, my faith, my education and my conscience compel me to defend the bigot’s right to run his mouth, and I pray that others will stand with me here — especially my fellow Muslims, writers and attorneys for whom this is an issue of moral and professional obligation.

by Melody Moezzi

BEIJING — An imprisoned Chinese dissident who won this year’s Nobel Peace Prize was allowed to meet Sunday with his wife and told her in tears that he was dedicating the award to victims of a 1989 military crackdown on pro-democracy protesters, his wife and a close friend said.

Liu Xia, the wife of democracy campaigner Liu Xiaobo, said in a Twitter message that his jailers had informed him a day earlier of his prize.

“Brothers, I have returned,” Liu wrote. “Seen Xiaobo, the prison told him the news about his award on the night of the 9th.”

The Twitter message was verified by a close friend and dissident Wang Jinbo, who wrote in another Twitter message that Liu Xia had told him she was unable to meet the media or friends because of tight security. Wang declined to be interviewed.

Half a dozen men blocked the entrance to Liu’s apartment in Beijing on Sunday night, ordering reporters out of the compound. A U.S. group that serves as Liu Xiaobo’s international counsel, Freedom Now, deplored Liu Xia’s detention in her own home.

In naming him on Friday, the Norwegian-based Nobel committee honored Liu’s more than two decades of advocacy of human rights and peaceful democratic change – from demonstrations for democracy at Beijing’s Tiananmen Square in 1989 to a manifesto for political reform that he co-authored in 2008 and which led to his latest jail term.

Wang said Liu Xiaobo told his wife during the visit that the prize “goes first” to those who died in the June 4, 1989, military crackdown on protesters in Tiananmen. “Xiaobo was in tears,” he wrote.

Liu Xia had sought to meet with her husband after Friday’s Nobel announcement, but authorities refused to let her visit until Sunday.

The delay underscored the difficult predicament the Chinese government faces over the award to a dissident it brands a criminal.

The Huffington Post

Pulau Betong inshore fishermen encountered commercial trawlers encroaching into their fishing grounds and took some photos of the trawlers and its position. They made a police report and related the incident to CJ Jimmy Leow,

Video by Jimmy Leow, Citizen Journalist

Sept 05, 2010, Prai, Penang

On Aug 13, HRP leaders met with NRD officers in Putrajaya, but came home feeling disappointed that the officers gave the impression that the problem was not as serious as they had made it out to be, said the party’s national advisor N. Ganesan.

“But we have proven our point, in just a month, without even a campaign, only word by mouth, we have managed to gather some 40 stateless people in this office,” he said.

“We want the NRD to take ownership of this problem and try to resolve this issue; it cannot deny that this is a big problem,” Ganesan (right) added.

Ganesan, a lawyer by profession, reiterated that what has been constitutionally guaranteed has been systematically and procedurally denied to the poor and vulnerable.

“This has contributed further to their marginalisation and continuing dispossession from mainstream Malaysia,” he added.

Video by Jimmy Leow, Citizen Journalist

Activists protesting what they claim is the government’s long-standing and iron-fisted control over the media has gathered at the Queensbay Mall in Penang to express their displeasure through a little civil disobedience.

Video by Jimmy Leow, Citizen Journalist

The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (better known by its Bahasa Malaysia name “BERSIH”) issued its first joint communiqué on 23 November 2006.

At its formation, BERSIH comprised civil society organisations and political parties with the objective of campaigning for clean and fair elections in Malaysia. BERSIH called for the use of indelible ink to prevent multiple voting, the abolition of postal voting except for diplomats and overseas voters, and a complete revision of the electoral roll to ensure that existing irregularities were removed and a roll with full integrity was in place. In July 2007, BERSIH additionally called for all contesting parties in an election should enjoy fair access to state-owned media, especially television and radio.

BERSIH’s journey thus far has been both monumental and memorable. The public demonstration of November 2007, which saw thousands of ordinary Malaysians take to the streets in support of clean and fair elections, was a critical juncture in our nation’s electoral journey. Never before in our nation’s history have so many rallied in support of a fundamental pre-requisite of any true democracy – a fair vote, free from lopsided political machinations and imbalanced access to people-owned and publicly-funded radio and television. Some point to the events of November 2007 as being the critical inflexion point that led ultimately to the outcome of 8 March 2008 and the results of our country’s 12th General Election.

Almost 3 ½ years later, the aims of BERSIH continue to be relevant as our country experiences yet another Parliamentary by-election in Hulu Selangor, with a further by-election around the corner in Sibu, Sarawak.

Now that there have been changes of government in Kedah, Pulau Pinang and Selangor, and briefly in Perak, the time has come for BERSIH to continue its crusade for clean and fair elections independent of any political party. BERSIH is thus being re-launched as a

coalition of like-minded civil society organisations unaffiliated to any political party. Our aim will be to effectively monitor both sides of the political divide.

However, our immediate attention is being directed at the on-going by-election campaign in Hulu Selangor and the allegations of irregularities concerning the polling stations for voters to cast their votes on Sunday 25 April 2010. We have been given to understand that nearly 14,000 registered voters in the Hulu Selangor constituency have been re-assigned to polling centres different from the ones designated for them in the 2008 general election. The extremely brief campaigning period means that there is

insufficient time to notify each of these nearly 14,000 registered voters of their new polling centres. We anticipate that confusion and chaos will reign on polling day on Sunday 25 April 2010 when voters turn up at their usual polling centres only to discover that they will have to travel elsewhere to cast their vote. Voters will now have to endure a mad scramble to locate their new polling centres. The ensuing confusion will no doubt cause many, especially those who have to rely on public transport, and senior citizens, to simply give up and go home.

More critically, BERSIH is gravely alarmed that some 233 voters, by the Election Commission’s own admission, have been transferred out of the Hulu Selangor constituency and moved into the Selayang constituency. Any electoral delineation can only take place once every 10 years pursuant to Schedule 13 of the Federal Constitution. In between delineation exercises, voters can apply to change their constituencies when they move residence. The Election Commission cannot authorise the transfer of voters from one constituency to another on their own accord. It is not a simple mistake that can be excused by an apology. The action of the Election Commission is a violation of the Federal Constitution. They have usurped the functions of Parliament.

BERSIH roundly condemns this situation caused by the Election Commission whereby ordinary voters are effectively disenfranchised and will have been deprived of their constitutional right to choose their representative to Parliament. This has interfered with the exercise of democracy in this country. Instead of prioritising people, their actions will have caused tremendous hardship and inconvenience. Instead of accentuating achievement, there will have been abysmal failure and great frustration.

11 March 2010

CIVIL SOCIETY PETITION

Support the Right to Freedom of Expression in Malaysia

Y.A.B. DATO’ SRI MOHD. NAJIB BIN TUN ABDUL RAZAK,

We are Malaysians who believe in the freedom of expression as guaranteed by Article 10 of our Federal Constitution.

We are greatly troubled by the alarming trend to investigate civil society activists and journalists under the Penal Code, the Sedition Act, the Printing Presses and Publication Act, or the Syariah Criminal Offences Act for exercising their legitimate and peaceful right to discuss, debate, and comment on matters of public interest.

This sets a bad precedent, one that shall only encourage a further deterioration of public civic culture in a democratizing society such as Malaysia. It undermines freedom of speech, and narrows the public space for legitimate dissent.

This trend of growing intolerance for differing opinions in Malaysia, especially on matters of religion, must be halted if Malaysia wants to remain a democracy and plans to sit as a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council.

We have noted from various media reports that on February 25th 2010, the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (MAIS) has lodged a police report against Sisters in Islam (SIS) because of SIS’ press statement on the caning of three Muslim women that was announced to have taken place on February 9th 2010. This report by MAIS is one of six lodged against SIS and also against P. Gunasegaram, Managing Editor of The Star for his article ‘Persuasion not Compulsion’ on February 19th 2010.

We understand that the police have already begun an investigation of SIS under Section 298(A) of the Penal Code for “causing, etc., disharmony, disunity, or feelings of enmity, hatred or ill-will, or prejudicing, etc., the maintenance of harmony or unity, on grounds of religion”.

The Home Ministry has also issued a show-cause letter to The Star and gave the newspaper 14 days to reply as to why action should not be taken against it.

In a modern democratic nation-state, all citizens are entitled to hold, voice, and promote their own views and the media is free to report and comment on issues of public interest. In this instance, the right cannot be restricted to Muslims alone, nor can it be exclusively exercised on their behalf by a small minority.

Furthermore the act of “questioning” is not legitimately recognised as a criminal offence in any reputable modern Shari’ah Law jurisdiction. Questions about the nature and structure of state, about the character and tone of its legal system and operation of its legal institutions are the LEGITIMATE BUSINESS of all in Malaysia.

The future of democratic Malaysia lies with the expansion of freedom of expression, not further shrinking of the public space for legitimate and peaceful dissent.

SABM

International Women’s Day Message 2010 By Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng In Komtar, George Town On 8 MAC 2010

Progress for women is progress for all. No enduring solutions to society’s most pressing problems can be found without the full empowerment and participation of women.

For Penang, it is the commitment of the Pakatan Rakyat to give equal and ample opportunities to women, especially in the civil service.

The Penang state government does not only provide lip service on this but has given ample opportunities for women in Penang to hold senior positions and lead in the civil service.

In fact, Penang is the first in the peninsula to appoint a woman to head a local council. Our appointment of architect Patahiyah Ismail to helm the Penang Island Municipal Council (MPPP) is based on her capabilities, not based on her race, religion, gender or background.

Other women who hold senior positions in the state under the PR government include:

• Rohani Hassan, who serves as the Seberang Perai Selatan district officer;
• Shamiah Bilal, who is the legal adviser for the MPPP;
• Dr Judy Shoba Naidu, who heads the urban services department of the council;
• Maimunah Mohd Sharif, who is the general manager of the World Heritage office,
• Ms. Salmah Aspari, who is the general manager of Penang International Halal Hub (PIHH) Development Sdn. Bhd, and
• Ooi Geok Ling, who is the managing director of Penang Global Tourism.

They were all appointed by the Pakatan Rakyat government.

As a people-centric government which is committed to enable, empower and enrich the people, we are steadfast on our stand for women to be given equal opportunities to prove their worth and realise their potential.

If they are not given the rightful opportunities commensurate with their qualifications and abilities, they would be most welcome to come and join us in Penang.

Penang will break the glass ceiling for women!

Happy International Women’s Day.

LIM GUAN ENG