LIVE COVERAGE of the Penang Forum

 Accountability, Civil society, Democracy, Development issues, Environment, Human rights, M'sian politics, Malaysian elections, Marginalised groups  No Responses »
Apr 132008
 
LIVE COVERAGE of the Penang Forum

People in the new Penang now feel more empowered in the struggle for justice 4.30pm – The world is watching civil society in Malaysia, which is blossoming and acting as real agents of change. “I’m enthralled by the response of you participants who have stayed on the whole day,” concludes Ahmad Chik, the moderator for the final session, thumping the table with satisfaction. The participants of various ethnic and religious backgrounds, young and old, adopt a Penang Forum declaration for submission to the state government. Enthusiastic participants are signing up for various working committees, which will work on specific issues and come up with papers within three months. For the first time in years, many feel empowered and think they can make a difference. 4.00pm – Francis Loh points out that without local council elections, there is no mechanism to hold local councils accountable. The Local Govt Elections Act 1960, [Read more]

Big Brother is watching – via CCTV

 Development issues, Marginalised groups, Poverty  6 Responses »
Mar 252008
 

I am not alone in expressing reservations about the proliferation of CCTV cameras as the solution to crime prevention. A couple of friends have just sent me a few links. UK is CCTV capital It is estimated that there are some 4.2 million Closed Circuit TV (CCTV) cameras in Britain, one for every 14 people. An individual might be captured by more than 300 separate cameras on an average day. Such all-pervasive video surveillance, combined with the ability to exploit the information contained in numerous government and private databases, enables the almost seamless monitoring of the population. The list of places monitored by CCTV is endless. Most of Britain’s urban centres are under surveillance, as are motorways, hospitals, schools, banks, museums, shopping malls, sports facilities and travel hubs such as railway stations and airports. CCTV cameras are operated by the police, the security services, various national and local government agencies [Read more]

What now after NEP?

 Corporate agenda, Democracy, Development issues, M'sian politics, Malaysian elections, Marginalised groups, Neo-liberal economics, Poverty  11 Responses »
Mar 192008
 

If the NEP goes, what will replace it? The Malaysian Economic Agenda? Unlike the NEP, the MEA calls for providing assistance to all those who need it, irrespective of ethnicity. Fine, but PKR, DAP and Pas leaders must realise that the people voted for more subsidies and greater government social spending. This is what they were promised. They did not vote for “free market”, “business friendly” policies. Neither did they opt for neoliberal policies (privatisation, corporatisation and policies favouring the corporate elite), which have actually widened the gap between the rich and the poor. Voting for greater democracy does not mean support for “free-market” policies. Actually, what we often have in Malaysia is a situation, as economist Charles Santiago puts it, “where you had subsidies for the rich and a free market economy for the poor. While you subsidise the rich on one side, the debt of the country is [Read more]

Jubilation in Sungai Siput as Samy rides into the sunset

 M'sian politics, Malaysian finance/business, Marginalised groups, Neo-liberal economics, Poverty  27 Responses »
Mar 092008
 
Jubilation in Sungai Siput as Samy rides into the sunset

Photo credit: PSM Operations Room, Sungai Siput So Jeyakumar Devaraj of Parti Sosialis Malaysia has finally triumphed over S Samy Vellu. When I spoke to him early this morning, he sounded tired but happy. It had been a long, long struggle – more than nine years. “I think the victory was largely due to the nationwide swing to the opposition,” he said, modestly. I told him that that alone would not have been enough to unseat Samy Vellu, who once famously defeated the DAP titan P Patto in an epic battle. “It was your dedication, commitment to the cause and perseverance on behalf of the people over the years that saw you through,” I said. “I think that shone through, making it impossible for the people of Sg Siput to ignore you. “Plus you had an incredible team of supporters who gave their all in campaigning for you.” He couldn’t [Read more]

Jeyakumar vs Samy Vellu: Epic battle that’s too close to call

 M'sian politics, Malaysian elections, Marginalised groups  6 Responses »
Mar 042008
 

If there is one electoral contest that epitomises GE 2008, it has got to be the epic battle of Sungai Siput. A titanic contest is taking place between Samy Vellu and Dr Jeyakumar Devaraj of PSM, standing under a Keadilan ticket – and so far, it’s neck-and-neck. The scenario is more akin to 1999, when Kumar lost by a 5,259 majority rather than 2004, when Samy rode on the Pak Lah bandwagon to win by a 10,235-margin as the Chinese opposition votes were split between Kumar and the DAP candidate. If in 1999, Kumar was David against Samy the Goliath – nine years later, Kumar’s stature has risen in Sg Siput and many residents now know the “doctor” as a familiar face. Tonight Anwar is speaking at Karai in the heart of the Malay areas. When I contacted Kumar over the phone just now, he told me some 2,000 people [Read more]

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