The folks at Aliran have been busy putting together the latest issue of Aliran Monthly in time for the by-election. And it has just been mailed out to subscribers. If you are not a subscriber, what are you waiting for? 
To subscribe, just click here. Or you can get a copy from leading book-shops and selected news vendors.
This month, because of the forthcoming Permatang Pauh by-election, the cover story is immediately available online! Khoo Boo Teik discusses the significance of three recent elections involving small towns and goes on to the suggest that Permatang Pauh will be a major political battleground whose outcome will have national significance. For many Malaysians, Permatang Pauh’s mission, come 26 August, is more than about returning Anwar to Parliament. This town has a national choice to make.
Anwar addressing a large crowd in Permatang Pauh
Barring massive electoral fraud, Anwar is one by-election and two weeks short of returning to Parliament. When he does, he’d be the Opposition Leader of a second coalition. After that people would want to know if he’d really form a new Federal government in mid-September as he has declared, promised, or threatened. Full story in Aliran Monthly
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This is the time in our nation’s history we are going to see a real change in the political landscape. The ongoing fight against abuse of power by The BN and the massive corruption in the government machinery, rising gas prices, the effects of racist policies by the BN government, access to fair and quality and affordable education for our childrens children, are just some of the real life problems we all face in our nation today.
With the right leadership, and a change of attitude and focus, Anwar Ibrahim brings a new viewpoint to discover solutions to the problems at hand.
It’s about time…It’s about change.
A New Malaysia on September 16th, 2008
This BN drink already expired. Don’t drink.
What printed is future-dated. Can we believe in what BN-Umno says?
BN has resorted to all sorts of dirty tacts; but it will
not work. People to know their colour.
The time is too short and Brother Anwar will come out a winner
with Allah’s grace.
We all pray for him.
Looks like we have to keep promoting awareness of what Good Governance is all about until it becomes a reality in our beloved Malaysia.
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Universal principles of good governance and rule of law …..
Can we learn from the Iraqi experience???
A global consensus recognizing that good governance is vital for economic development and poverty alleviation has emerged. Good governance provides an enabling environment for general economic development, human resources development, ensuring the prevention and resolution of conflict. All these elements are essential to build a firm common ground for Iraqi national reconciliation. Good governance, as we know, is a pillar of democracy. Finding a consensus on a definition of the concept of good government has not been easy. Does it apply to just sound administration and management or does it also refer to the political domain and political leadership? Is it a universal principle or does it vary according to context? This vagueness raises the risks associated with applying a concept, which may not be rooted in the particular socio-cultural and political environment of Iraq. It is generally accepted that in the context of a political and constitutional environment that upholds human rights, democratic principles and the rule of law, good governance is the transparent and accountable management of human, natural, economic and financial resources for the purpose of equitable and sustainable development. Citizens expect the government to respond to their needs through a systematic process of accountability, transparency, and checks and balances. Good governance ensures that political, social, and economic priorities reflect broad consensus, that decision-makers represent the voices of the poorest and the most vulnerable in allocating development resources, and that the rights of the people are respected. It entails clear decision-making procedures at the level of public authorities, transparent and accountable institutions, the primacy of law in the management and distribution of resources and capacity building for elaborating and implementing measures aimed in particular at preventing and combating corruption. Essentials of Good Governance, The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) defines good governance as “the responsible exercise of political, economic and administrative authority in the management of a country’s affairs at all levels”. Good governance, among other things, is participatory, transparent, accountable, effective, equitable, and fair. It promotes the rule of law. Participation ensures an open, inclusive, participatory political system. It involves citizens in the decision-making process and in implementing public projects orother government activity. Participation goes beyond mere consultation and implies the existence of opportunities to contribute through gainful employment; opportunities to move in the mainstream of political, economic, and cultural processes and the eradication of the marginalization of groups and discrimination, poverty, and deprivation; and freedom from vulnerability through a guaranteed system of social safety nets and social security systems. To this end, good governance embraces the concept of devolution of power to local authorities and communities. The right of citizens to participate in the conduct of public affairs is more directly exercised at local levels. The existence of local authorities that are given real responsibilities can provide an administrative system that is both effective and close to the citizen. Transparency involves establishing appropriate lines or forms of accountability between the government and the public, which should include access to information through suchmeasures as freedom of information legislation, open decision-making, and rules ofsubstantive and procedural fairness. The rule of law assumes the existence of inalienable rights and liberties for every citizen, which governments should not touch or violate. To some extent the essence of the rule of law lies in its juxtaposition to “the rule of men or women”. This aphorism seeks to state the following basic principles: that all state power ought to be exercised under the authority of law; and rules of law should govern the election and appointment of those who make and execute policy, as well as the manner in which such policies are made and executed to ensure rationality and fairness in the decision-making process. In addition, good governance must assure the equal participation of women with men in all processes of governance. Only complete equality between men and women in all legal, political, and social arrangements can create the proper conditions for human freedom and good governance. Establishment and protection of good governance whatever the case, it is agreed that good governance is above all a domestic issue and inadequate domestic policies have played a role in widening the gap between rich and poor and achieving good governance is a process which must come from within andsteps must be taken to support and recognize genuine initiatives to attain it. Transparency, good governance and development are closely linked and together they become a vehicle to improve the human condition. The promotion of good governance requires a determined campaign against corruption, which is one of the most concrete expressions of misadministration. The quality of the administration of a country’s resources is an essential factor that explains its development performances — good or bad. Good governance is the true test of democracy. A government, which administers scarce resources in accordance with the real needs of the population, must be fundamentally democratic.
The political, judicial and intellectual elite must be benchmark and models of integrity. The political leadership must be genuinely determined to attack the problem of corruption and must demonstrate that determination. Good governance like democracy must not be allowed to become just another slogan – a false front to placate the providers of funds. Experience shows that it is unrealistic to hope to change things at the instigation of civil society alone. The essential first step is to influence public opinion and make decision-makers and the public at large aware of the devastating effects of misadministration. Underemployment, inadequate or sporadic employment and low wages continue to contribute to a high level of poverty in Iraq which in turn feed the militias and terrorists groups. We have to extricate ourselves from our backwardness by building a strong and democratic Iraq. Debates on national issues are healthy and should continue even after the national reconciliation. Different point of views should be respected. After all, “in a democracy dissent is an act of faith, like medicine, the taste of its value is not in its taste, but in its effects.”
Conclusion
The success of efforts to improve governance, the respect of human rights and the rule of the law throughout Iraq will depend on the development and strengthening of institutions that underpin good governance, democracy and the rule of law. With respect to the current political process, these efforts cannot succeed unless economic conditions in Iraq improve and develop to a level where Iraq is able to develop and sustain the institutions necessary to promote governance, the protection of human rights and the rule of law. Good governance cannot flourish along side grinding poverty and weak state institutions.
Dr. Widad Al-Ali,
Executive Director
Al-Yaqeen Centre for Training, Studies and Development
ILLEGAL EXPENSES BY THE BN DURING GENERAL ELECTIONS 2008
Kuala Lumpur High Court judgment ordering UMNO to pay RM 218 million for 2004 general elections campaign materials exceeds the 2004 general election spending limit of RM 94.3 million at the maximum RM 200,000 per parliamentary constituency and RM 100,000 per state constituency
KL High Court judgment ordering UMNO to pay RM 218 Million for 2004 general elections campaign materials exceeds the 2004 general election spending limit of RM 94.3 Million at the maximum of RM 200,000 per parliamentary constituency and RM 100,000 per state constituency.
Under section 19 of the Election Offences Act 1954, a candidate for every Parliamentary and state constituency can not spend more than RM 200,000 and RM 100,000 respectively.
UMNO had claimed that the campaign materials were for BN and had nothing to do with UMNO. With 219 parliamentary seats and 505 state seats contested in the 2004 general elections, this means that a party like BN that contested all seats can not spend more than RM 94.3 million or else BN’s victories are illegal.
With RM 218 million spent whether by BN or UMNO on campaign materials alone, this is more than double the legally permitted amount.
Spending above limits imposed by the Elections Offences Act 1954 is an illegal practice under Section 27 and is subject to a fine of RM 5,000 by the Sessions Court, disqualification as a wakil rakyat and removal of rights as a voter. However such laws are marked more by its breach than its compliance.
PERMATANG PAU BY ELECTION
Rakyat do not know the exhobitant sum of money spend in the
Permatang Pau bye election. The BPR should investe and bring
bn to book.
RAKYAT
22nd Aug 2008
Bravo DSAI. Malaysian badly needed DSAI to be in the Parliment ASAP, and thus be our next PM to lead the country toward Malaysian Malaysia.A NEW DAWN FOR MALAYSIAN. Inshaallah…
To The Winner, YAB Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim,
“CONGRATULATIONS” on behalf of the Malaysian people in Australia.
May God continue to Bless, Protect & Prosper you in all your undertakings for the Country of Malaysia. We believe in you & also know without a shabow of doubt that you & the people you choose will lead well & take Malaysia to another level of Harmony, Prosperity, Power & International Signigicance.
To The Loser, namely BN,
GET OVER IT & FACE THE TRUTH THAT YOU HAVE BEEN DEFEATED “NATIONALLY”. DON’T BE A SORE LOSER!!!
Quote: In this age of “credit”, if you do wrong, rob, steal, rape, kill, make false accusations & tell lies, you may get away now but when you get caught later(which you will), you will pay dearly with interest & you will lose everything including your soul!