Chow Kon Yeow: 曹观友

The Parliamentary Human Rights Caucus acted decisively today by sending a memorandum to the Prime Minister, pledging its support for the IPCMC.

The Caucus also called on the PM to expediete the setting up of the IPCMC.

The memorandum is timely to boost the strength of the PM in the face of widespread objections from UMNO MPs and the Inspector General of Police.

The IGP is reminded that the Police, as with any other agencies, is not the decision-maker and they cannot act like one, for Malaysia is not a Police State.

The Police leadership is guilty of insubordination to the poliitical leadership in this issue.

The PM must act wisely in this matter. This is one great test for his leadership, must more important than the Ninth Malaysia Plan, I think. (more…)

A delegation from Gerakan Mansuhkan ISA (GMI) came to Parliament this afternoon to update Opposition MPs on the latest development at our own Guantanamo? at Kamunting.

According to GMI, 23 ISA detainees have had their third detention order issued and they are now serving their FIFTH year in detention without trial.

Our attention was drawn to a feature at the Amnesty International’s website (http://web.amnesty.org/pages/stoptorture-220306-features-eng) entitled “Another Guantanamo in Malaysia?”

Interestingly, our Prime Minister is demanding that the US shut down Guantanamo. Oh why, when his government is still operating Kamunting for indefinite detention without trial and torturing some detainees with solitarity confinement.

I visited Kamunting last year with the Parliamentary Human Rights Caucus and saw for myself conditions there.

I must say and say it again: Charge them or Release them, but do not detain them indefinately!

Pak Lah can see Guantanamo thousand miles away, what about Kamunting right under his nose?

The proposed new Act for Persons with Disabilties is still disabled. I have asked in Parliament today “why the Act is still not approved” and the Minister gave a written reply as follows:

Rang UndangUndang Orang Kurang Upaya (OKU) masih dalam peringkat penyediaan. Pada masa ini draf pertama Rang Undang-Undang tersebut telah dirangka dan telah dibincang bersama pertubuhan-pertubuhan sukarela OKU dan beberapa agensi yang terbabit pada 23 hingga 25 Februari 2006…..Dasar OKU dijangka akan dimuktamadkan dalam tahun ini bersama dengan Akta OKU.”

Also, as at 31 December 2004, there are 150,617 registered as persons with disabilities with the Welfare Department. This represents 0.6 percent of the population.

According to the United Nations, it is estimated that one percent of a country’s population be classified as persons with disabilities. As such, it is estimated that there are about 260,000 persons with disabilities in Malaysia at the end of 2005.
This means more than 100,000 persons with disabilities are still not registered with the Welfare Department.

I am sure my friends, especially those at the Penang Chinese Society for Disabled Persons and volunteers, would be disappointed again to know that they have to wait much longer for the Act to be approved by Parliament.

I think the Minister should work harder to get the Act approved for all persons with disabilities in the country.

A new bill on Malaysian Health Promotion Board 2006 has been tabled for first reading today.

The purpose is to incorporate the Malaysian Heaith Promotion Board and to establish the Malaysian Health Promotion Fund.

Clause 14 sets out the objectives of the Board which are mainly related to building the capacity and funding health-related, sport, recreational and cultural organizations to promote health. The objectives also include developing and supporting multi-strategy programmes that promote healthy lifestyles and environments and preventing the use of tobacco products.

The Fund is to be disbursed annually to different sectors for health promotion programmes and activities; not less than 50 percent to health organisations, not more than 30 percent to sporting and recreational organizations and not more than 10 percent to cultural organizations.

To keep the Fund running, annual allocation will be given by the Government and also grants, donations, gifts, contributions, bequests or any other sums received by the Board from any sources EXCEPT from those involved or related to tobacco, tobacco products or intoxicating liquor manufacturers, wholesalers, retaiers or their agents.

Hopefully Malaysians will be more healthy, a prerequisite for a better standard of living.

This is an important question and all Malaysians want to know the answer.The IGP’s Police Day speech on the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission is an open defiance of the Prime Minister and the IGP cannot be let off scot-free.This should not have happened at all.

Pak Lah’s “crisis of confidence” is getting real. First, Umno Youth objected, followed by score of UMNO MPs and now Tan Sri Mohd. Bakri Omar.

This is the time for Pak Lah to act before his reputation and moral authority as PM is further eroded.

What is a Royal Commission for if its recommendations are not implemented. It is not only a slap on the face of the PM but also that of His Royal Highness.

Come on, Pak Lah! Show us you are running the country-lah!

Ucapan Ahli Parlimen Tanjong Chow Kon Yeow semasa membahas usul terima kasih atas TitahDiRaja Yang DiPertuan Agong di Dewan Rakyat pada Khamis 23hb. Mac 2006.

Abdullah Badawi menghadapi “political sieze”
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Perdana Manteri pada hari ini menghadapi pelbagai tekanan ke atas ke wibawaannya sebagai pemimpin utama parti pemerintahan dan pentadbiran Negara.

Beliau memenangi pilihanraya umum tahun 2004 dengan sokongan yang begitu kuat kerana beliau mendapat kepercayaan rakyat.

Akan tetapi, selepas dua tahun beliau menerajui kerajaan yang baru, Perdana Menteri kini menghadapi “political seize” daripada pelbagai pihak.

Spanjang perbahasan di Dewan Rakyat ke atas usul terima kasih kepada Titah DiRaja, apa yang diperdengarkan adalah suara-suara lantang daripada Ahli-Ahli dari UMNO menentang hasrat Perdana Menteri untuk menubuhkan Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) dan gelombang suara ini menandakan Perdana Menteri tidak lagi menikmati keyakinan daripada orang sendiri, mungkin hasil pergolakan dalaman.

Apa alasan yang digunakan oleh pihak atasan polis untuk “turn over” para ahli-ahli Parlimen Barisan Nasional sehingga mereka sanggup membelakangkan hasrat dan sokongan Perdana Menteri terhadap penubuhan IPCMC. Mungkinkah perasaan perkauman digunakan memandangkan persepsi rakyat PDRM kebanyakan terdiri dari satu kumpulan etnik dan sebarang usaha menubuhkan IPCMC dianggap sebagai tindakan menentang kepentingan kumpulan etnik itu?

Kalau ini benar, ianya satu kebenaran yang amat menyedihkan dan serius implikasinya. (more…)

There is still no remedy for non-Muslims judging from the reply given by Minister Nazri to my question on the conflict in jurisdiction between the Syariah court and civil court.

Nazri said that “Perkara 121 (1a) tidak mewujudkan percanggahan atau perselisihan antara bidang kuasa kedua-dua makamah ini. Ia menggariskan had kuasa urus tadbir masing-masing yang dikendalikan secara berasingan tetapi setara dari segi taraf.

He added, “ Isu semakan semula penghakiman mahkamah syariah oleh mahkamah sivil juga tidak wajar timbul isu kerana saya sudah menjelaskan bahawa kedua-dua sistem perundangan ini dikendalikan secara berasingan tetapi diberi status setaraf.”

We are still back in the same position. There is still no parliamentary remedy for non-Muslims impacted by the decisions of the syariah court.

Nazri said the question of judicial review does not arise. This is the crux of the problem.