Malaysia's opposition figurehead Anwar Ibrahim vowed Tuesday to end race-based discrimination policies, lower fuel prices and fight corruption in a policy manifesto ahead of March 8 polls.
Anwar, who was deputy prime minister until being sacked and jailed in 1998, said long-running policies favouring majority Malays had only benefited cronies of the ruling United Malays National Organisation (UMNO).
"The New Economic Policy has been abused to enrich the family of UMNO leaders and their cronies," said Anwar who is campaigning for the Keadilan formally led by his wife.
"If you really want to deal with the issue of poverty, why can't we just say we have an affirmative action policy helping the poor and the marginalised. It should not be racially based."
Malaysia has pursued an affirmative action program for Malays and indigenous groups known as "bumiputras" since the 1970s to close a wealth gap with the minority Chinese community.
However, it has been criticised for failing to pull a large number of Muslim Malays out of poverty, and of ignoring the minority ethnic Indian community, which is also disadvantaged.
The manifesto entitled "A New Dawn for Malaysia," centred on battling rising inflation, which has triggered public anger and rare public protests as the prices of food and fuel edge higher.
Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has said the government cannot afford to continue spending 43.4 billion ringgit (13.5 billion dollars) annually to subsidise essential items.
Anwar, who was heir apparent in 1998 to then-premier Mahathir Mohamad, spent six years in jail on sex and corruption charges. The sex charge was overturned but the corruption count bars him from taking public office until April.
His wife has said she will stand aside to make way for Anwar to contest her seat in a by-election after the March polls, in a plan that could see him return to parliament within months.
Anwar said Abdullah was "in denial" over the state of the economy.
"Keadilan promises to lower the price of petrol ... as well as manage the prices of basic goods to ensure a consistent supply. Tolls and tariffs will also no longer be raised," he said.
Keadilan has forged a loose alliance with two other opposition parties who have agreed to stand just one candidate against the government in each constituency, avoiding damaging three-cornered contests.
The opposition hopes that gripes over inflation, rising crime rates and mounting ethnic tensions will enable it to reduce the government's thumping majority below two-thirds for the first time in history.
Agence France-Presse - 2/26/2008 11:17 AM
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Malaysian court rejects Hindu activists' freedom bid: lawyer
Malaysian court Tuesday rejected a freedom bid by five Hindu rights activists being detained without trial after mounting an anti-discrimination protest, their lawyer said.
"The High Court rejected their application for freedom," said Karpal Singh who is representing the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) members who were detained under the Internal Security Act last December.
Karpal said the court threw out the defence argument that the detention was unlawful because there had been no 60-day investigation period beforehand.
"I think their detention has far-reaching consequences. You are placing dictatorial powers in the hands of the internal security minister," he told AFP.
Hindraf infuriated the government by mounting a mass rally last November alleging discrimination against minority ethnic Indians in Malaysia, where the population is dominated by Muslim Malays.
They are being held in the Kamunting detention centre in northern Perak state for an initial period of two years.
Police used tear gas, water cannon and baton charges to break up the Hindraf street protest which drew 8,000 people.
Another lawyer S. Sivanesan said the detainees would Wednesday file an appeal with the Federal Court, the highest court in the country.
Hindraf members immediately condemned the decision and vowed to punish the ruling National Front coalition in March 8 general elections.
"We are clearly disappointed with the ruling. On the 100th day of detention (on March 22), Hindraf will organise a worldwide protest," P. Waythamoorthy, a brother of one of the detainees, told AFP from London.
Hindraf coordinator R. Thanenthiran said many Indians would cast protest vote in the polls, which are expected to reduce the government's large majority.
"We will teach the Prime Minister Adullah Ahmad Badawi a lesson in the election. We will reject his government," he said.
Ethnic Indians, who make up eight percent of the country's population, say they are disadvantaged in terms of wealth, opportunities and education.
Muslim Malays, who make up 60 percent, control the government while the ethnic Chinese, at 26 percent, dominate business.
Agence France-Presse - 2/26/2008 5:28 AM
Monday, February 25, 2008
Malaysian govt targets inflation anger in manifesto
Malaysia's ruling coalition touted its economic credentials in a policy manifesto launched Monday ahead of March 8 polls, in a bid to ease public anger over rising prices of food and fuel.
Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, whose leads the Barisan Nasional multi-ethnic coalition, acknowledged unhappiness over the government's plans to dismantle fuel subsidies that are draining state coffers.
"When oil prices go up, we must have an action plan to reduce the burden of the people," he told hundreds of cheering party faithful. "We want to ensure that the people do not suffer."
The manifesto, entitled "Security, peace and prosperity," also dealt with issues including rising crime rates and ethnic tensions, which are expected to reduce the government's thumping majority at the general elections.
Barisan Nasional claimed 90 percent of parliamentary seats in 2004 polls but the opposition is hoping the gripes will take the coalition's majority below two-thirds for the first time in the nation's history.
Abdullah derided a loose pact between the opposition parties, who will field just one candidate against the government in each seat, as an "alliance of convenience".
"They cannot convince the people, they have a sharp divergence in their ideologies. People do not believe they can bring development," he said.
Against charges that Abdullah has failed to eradicate corruption as he promised at the last polls, the manifesto said the government would "continue to enforce anti-corruption measures without fear or favour."
It also touched on complaints from Malaysia's ethnic Indians that the government dominated by Muslim Malays has displayed gross insensitivity by demolishing hundreds of Hindu temples.
The manifesto said the coalition would "ensure provision of reserved land for places of worship" in development areas where many of the shrines and temples have been torn down.
The coalition, which has a formidable election machinery developed over the half-century it has been in power, also Monday launched an advertising campaign to address voter gripes over rising costs.
Full-page newspapers said the government was spending 43.4 billion ringgit (13.5 billion dollars) annually to keep the cost of living low.
Against complaints over the rising cost of food, it said that subsidised staples like flour, sugar, cooking oil and petrol cost less in Malaysia than in other Southeast Asian countries.
Rising costs have triggered rare public protests in recent months, and the government is preparing the ground for an extremely unpopular overhaul of the fuel subsidies, which are costing more as the price of oil spirals.
Petrol prices are particularly sensitive in Malaysia, which has poor public transport and where most people are dependent on their cars to get to work and school.
Agence France-Presse - 2/25/2008 11:54 AM
Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, whose leads the Barisan Nasional multi-ethnic coalition, acknowledged unhappiness over the government's plans to dismantle fuel subsidies that are draining state coffers.
"When oil prices go up, we must have an action plan to reduce the burden of the people," he told hundreds of cheering party faithful. "We want to ensure that the people do not suffer."
The manifesto, entitled "Security, peace and prosperity," also dealt with issues including rising crime rates and ethnic tensions, which are expected to reduce the government's thumping majority at the general elections.
Barisan Nasional claimed 90 percent of parliamentary seats in 2004 polls but the opposition is hoping the gripes will take the coalition's majority below two-thirds for the first time in the nation's history.
Abdullah derided a loose pact between the opposition parties, who will field just one candidate against the government in each seat, as an "alliance of convenience".
"They cannot convince the people, they have a sharp divergence in their ideologies. People do not believe they can bring development," he said.
Against charges that Abdullah has failed to eradicate corruption as he promised at the last polls, the manifesto said the government would "continue to enforce anti-corruption measures without fear or favour."
It also touched on complaints from Malaysia's ethnic Indians that the government dominated by Muslim Malays has displayed gross insensitivity by demolishing hundreds of Hindu temples.
The manifesto said the coalition would "ensure provision of reserved land for places of worship" in development areas where many of the shrines and temples have been torn down.
The coalition, which has a formidable election machinery developed over the half-century it has been in power, also Monday launched an advertising campaign to address voter gripes over rising costs.
Full-page newspapers said the government was spending 43.4 billion ringgit (13.5 billion dollars) annually to keep the cost of living low.
Against complaints over the rising cost of food, it said that subsidised staples like flour, sugar, cooking oil and petrol cost less in Malaysia than in other Southeast Asian countries.
Rising costs have triggered rare public protests in recent months, and the government is preparing the ground for an extremely unpopular overhaul of the fuel subsidies, which are costing more as the price of oil spirals.
Petrol prices are particularly sensitive in Malaysia, which has poor public transport and where most people are dependent on their cars to get to work and school.
Agence France-Presse - 2/25/2008 11:54 AM
Malaysian inflation likely to rise: central bank
Malaysia's inflation rate is likely to rise in the first half of 2008 as the impact of high prices for commodities and food make their mark, the central bank said Monday.
Bank Negara said prices had been on an upward trend, contributing to higher inflation globally.
"Consequently the impact of these developments on inflation in Malaysia is expected to be felt in the first half of 2008," it said in a statement.
The central bank maintained its overnight policy rate at 3.5 percent, where it has stood since April 2006.
"The latest indicators show strong domestic demand will provide the support for the Malaysian economy to perform well in the coming months," it said in a statement.
"The demand for financing by businesses and consumers remain strong, with robust investment activity as corporations expand capacity, and steady consumption growth also being supported by a stable employment environment and growth in incomes."
The risks to the Malaysian economy are primarily from the external sector, it said.
However, Bank Negara said a slowdown in global growth is expected to ease some of the inflationary pressures.
Rising prices are a major headache for the government, which will contest general elections on March 8.
The ruling coalition touted its economic credentials in a policy manifesto launched Monday, in a bid to ease public anger over high inflation and an anticipated shake-up of expensive fuel subsidies.
"When oil prices go up, we must have an action plan to reduce the burden of the people," Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said. "We want to ensure that the people do not suffer."
The consumer price index rose 2.0 percent over 2007.
Agence France-Presse - 2/25/2008 11:36 AM
Bank Negara said prices had been on an upward trend, contributing to higher inflation globally.
"Consequently the impact of these developments on inflation in Malaysia is expected to be felt in the first half of 2008," it said in a statement.
The central bank maintained its overnight policy rate at 3.5 percent, where it has stood since April 2006.
"The latest indicators show strong domestic demand will provide the support for the Malaysian economy to perform well in the coming months," it said in a statement.
"The demand for financing by businesses and consumers remain strong, with robust investment activity as corporations expand capacity, and steady consumption growth also being supported by a stable employment environment and growth in incomes."
The risks to the Malaysian economy are primarily from the external sector, it said.
However, Bank Negara said a slowdown in global growth is expected to ease some of the inflationary pressures.
Rising prices are a major headache for the government, which will contest general elections on March 8.
The ruling coalition touted its economic credentials in a policy manifesto launched Monday, in a bid to ease public anger over high inflation and an anticipated shake-up of expensive fuel subsidies.
"When oil prices go up, we must have an action plan to reduce the burden of the people," Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said. "We want to ensure that the people do not suffer."
The consumer price index rose 2.0 percent over 2007.
Agence France-Presse - 2/25/2008 11:36 AM
Jailed Malaysian Indian activist to run in election
An ethnic Indian activist who is being detained without trial after organising anti-discrimination protests will run in Malaysian's upcoming elections, state media said Sunday.
Manoharan Malayalam will represent the Democratic Action Party (DAP) against the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition incumbent Ching Su Chen, the state Bernama news agency said.
Manoharan is among five leaders of rights group Hindraf who were jailed last December under internal security laws after they organised an unprecedented mass rally claiming discrimination against ethnic Indians here.
The Election Commission has said that detainees under the Internal Security Act (ISA) are eligible to contest in the polls, which are expected to deliver another victory to the coalition dominated by Muslim Malays.
"It is clearly stated in the law. The public should be aware that there is a stark difference between detention and imprisonment," the commission's secretary, Kamaruzaman Mohamad Noor, said recently.
Manoharan and the four other Hindraf leaders are being held at the Kamunting detention centre in northern Perak state, some 300 kilometres (190 miles) from Kuala Lumpur.
The government was criticised after police used tear gas, water cannon and baton charges to break up the November Hindraf street protest which drew at least 8,000 people.
Manoharan, a prominent lawyer, contested the 1999 general elections for the DAP but was not successful.
Agence France-Presse - 2/24/2008 1:22 PM
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Malaysian PM opens election campaign
Malaysian premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi kicked off his election campaign Sunday, vowing to seize a two-thirds majority in polls dominated by ethnic tensions and anger over rising prices.
The Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition, which has ruled for half a century, bagged six of the 222 parliamentary seats on nomination day Sunday, after they went uncontested by the opposition.
Abdullah dismissed as a "marriage of convenience" a pact between the three opposition parties who will field just one candidate in each electorate on March 8, avoiding the three-cornered contests that have hurt them in the past.
"I want it to be a free, fair and democratic election. I want BN to win... with more than a two-thirds majority," he told reporters.
The premier formally submitted his nomination in the Kepala Batas parliamentary seat on the island state of Penang, surrounded by a sea of supporters from the ruling National Front or Barisan Nasional.
There was heavy security at the nomination centre, with police separating about 1,000 government supporters from about 500 activists from the Islamic party PAS who shouted the opposition battlecry of "Reformasi" or "Reform."
Keadilan, the opposition party of former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim, accused the coalition of dirty tricks, saying some Keadilan candidates went "missing" on nomination day, allowing the government uncontested victories.
The government holds 90 percent of seats in the outgoing parliament, and the opposition wants to cut that majority to below two-thirds for the first time, preventing the government from easily amending the constitution.
They are hoping voters will punish the government over spiralling prices of food and fuel, rising crime rates and friction between the majority Malays and minority ethnic Chinese and Indians.
Anwar, who was sacked and jailed in 1998 on charges he said were politically motivated, is barred from standing for office until April but his parliamentarian wife said Sunday she would hand him her seat in a by-election.
His return to parliament would be a sensational event in Malaysian politics, and elevate Anwar's standing as de facto leader of the opposition.
Addressing one of the biggest voter gripes, Abdullah said the government could not afford to continue spending 40 billion ringgit (12.4 billion dollars) a year on fuel subsidies, but pledged to keep the cost of living low.
"The prices of oil has shot up. Even then we are trying our best to make sure it will not affect the people so much," he told reporters.
Abdullah, whose cabinet contains many veterans of the previous administration of Mahathir Mohamad, said his ministers were not assured of keeping their jobs in a new government after the March 8 polls.
Long-serving politicians who were expected to be ousted in the run-up to the polls have so far retained their positions.
"I have made no promises to anyone. I have a free hand (after the election)," he was quoted as saying in an interview with the New Straits Times.
"I did not promise anybody anything; whether a return to the cabinet or any other post," he added.
Abdullah swept to power in a 2004 landslide, but since then has gained a reputation for being weak and unable to carry out promised reforms like eradicating corruption -- at least partly due to his ageing cabinet line-up.
Figures like Samy Vellu, the only ethnic Indian minister in the multi-racial coalition, are standing again despite strong criticism over his handling of recent anti-discrimination protests by Indian activists.
Analysts said Abdullah's popularity, which has already plummeted, would be further damaged if he dashes hopes of rejuvenation in the coalition which has ruled Malaysia since independence a half century ago.
"If things remain as they are with the old guard being retained, then it will be problematic for the future of the party," said political analyst Tricia Yeoh from the Centre for Public Policy Studies.
"If he wants to talk about change he needs to show it rather than just speak about it," she said.
Agence France-Presse - 2/24/2008 11:32 AM
The Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition, which has ruled for half a century, bagged six of the 222 parliamentary seats on nomination day Sunday, after they went uncontested by the opposition.
Abdullah dismissed as a "marriage of convenience" a pact between the three opposition parties who will field just one candidate in each electorate on March 8, avoiding the three-cornered contests that have hurt them in the past.
"I want it to be a free, fair and democratic election. I want BN to win... with more than a two-thirds majority," he told reporters.
The premier formally submitted his nomination in the Kepala Batas parliamentary seat on the island state of Penang, surrounded by a sea of supporters from the ruling National Front or Barisan Nasional.
There was heavy security at the nomination centre, with police separating about 1,000 government supporters from about 500 activists from the Islamic party PAS who shouted the opposition battlecry of "Reformasi" or "Reform."
Keadilan, the opposition party of former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim, accused the coalition of dirty tricks, saying some Keadilan candidates went "missing" on nomination day, allowing the government uncontested victories.
The government holds 90 percent of seats in the outgoing parliament, and the opposition wants to cut that majority to below two-thirds for the first time, preventing the government from easily amending the constitution.
They are hoping voters will punish the government over spiralling prices of food and fuel, rising crime rates and friction between the majority Malays and minority ethnic Chinese and Indians.
Anwar, who was sacked and jailed in 1998 on charges he said were politically motivated, is barred from standing for office until April but his parliamentarian wife said Sunday she would hand him her seat in a by-election.
His return to parliament would be a sensational event in Malaysian politics, and elevate Anwar's standing as de facto leader of the opposition.
Addressing one of the biggest voter gripes, Abdullah said the government could not afford to continue spending 40 billion ringgit (12.4 billion dollars) a year on fuel subsidies, but pledged to keep the cost of living low.
"The prices of oil has shot up. Even then we are trying our best to make sure it will not affect the people so much," he told reporters.
Abdullah, whose cabinet contains many veterans of the previous administration of Mahathir Mohamad, said his ministers were not assured of keeping their jobs in a new government after the March 8 polls.
Long-serving politicians who were expected to be ousted in the run-up to the polls have so far retained their positions.
"I have made no promises to anyone. I have a free hand (after the election)," he was quoted as saying in an interview with the New Straits Times.
"I did not promise anybody anything; whether a return to the cabinet or any other post," he added.
Abdullah swept to power in a 2004 landslide, but since then has gained a reputation for being weak and unable to carry out promised reforms like eradicating corruption -- at least partly due to his ageing cabinet line-up.
Figures like Samy Vellu, the only ethnic Indian minister in the multi-racial coalition, are standing again despite strong criticism over his handling of recent anti-discrimination protests by Indian activists.
Analysts said Abdullah's popularity, which has already plummeted, would be further damaged if he dashes hopes of rejuvenation in the coalition which has ruled Malaysia since independence a half century ago.
"If things remain as they are with the old guard being retained, then it will be problematic for the future of the party," said political analyst Tricia Yeoh from the Centre for Public Policy Studies.
"If he wants to talk about change he needs to show it rather than just speak about it," she said.
Agence France-Presse - 2/24/2008 11:32 AM
Anwar's wife to help him return to office in Malaysia
The wife of Malaysian political dissident Anwar Ibrahim said Sunday she will give up her parliamentary seat to make way for her husband's return to public office, state media reported.
The opposition Keadilan party president, Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, will defend her parliamentary seat in Permatang Pauh in northern Penang state in the upcoming March 8 polls.
Anwar was sacked and jailed for corruption in 1998 and cannot stand for office until April this year, but he could return to parliament by running for any Keadilan-held seat in a by-election after the ban expires.
"If I win, I will make way for my husband to contest for this seat in a by-election after the ban under the law, which bars him from contesting until this April, ends," she was quoted as saying by Bernama.
Wan Azizah has held the Permatang Pauh parliamentary seat in Anwar's homestate of Penang since 1999. Anwar has said he aims to return to parliament by contesting a by-election in a Keadilan-held seat after April.
Wan Azizah is Keadilan's only lawmaker in parliament, after the party, which had previously held five seats, suffered a setback in 2004 polls.
Keadilan will contest about 100 of the 222 parliamentary seats, its strongest effort so far as it aims to deprive the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) government coalition of its two-thirds majority.
Anwar's eldest daughter, 27-year-old Nurul Izzah Anwar, will contest the elections for the first time, going for the seat representing the urban Lembah Pantai constituency in central Selangor state.
Anwar was a highly regarded finance minister and deputy premier before being sacked by then prime minister Mahathir Mohamad in 1998. He was jailed on corruption and sodomy charges, which he said were politically motivated.
The sex charge was overturned but the corruption conviction still stands, and Anwar has accused the government of timing the March polls in order to stall his return to politics.
Agence France-Presse - 2/24/2008 11:17 AM
The opposition Keadilan party president, Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, will defend her parliamentary seat in Permatang Pauh in northern Penang state in the upcoming March 8 polls.
Anwar was sacked and jailed for corruption in 1998 and cannot stand for office until April this year, but he could return to parliament by running for any Keadilan-held seat in a by-election after the ban expires.
"If I win, I will make way for my husband to contest for this seat in a by-election after the ban under the law, which bars him from contesting until this April, ends," she was quoted as saying by Bernama.
Wan Azizah has held the Permatang Pauh parliamentary seat in Anwar's homestate of Penang since 1999. Anwar has said he aims to return to parliament by contesting a by-election in a Keadilan-held seat after April.
Wan Azizah is Keadilan's only lawmaker in parliament, after the party, which had previously held five seats, suffered a setback in 2004 polls.
Keadilan will contest about 100 of the 222 parliamentary seats, its strongest effort so far as it aims to deprive the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) government coalition of its two-thirds majority.
Anwar's eldest daughter, 27-year-old Nurul Izzah Anwar, will contest the elections for the first time, going for the seat representing the urban Lembah Pantai constituency in central Selangor state.
Anwar was a highly regarded finance minister and deputy premier before being sacked by then prime minister Mahathir Mohamad in 1998. He was jailed on corruption and sodomy charges, which he said were politically motivated.
The sex charge was overturned but the corruption conviction still stands, and Anwar has accused the government of timing the March polls in order to stall his return to politics.
Agence France-Presse - 2/24/2008 11:17 AM
Malaysian election reform activists threaten mass rally
Malaysian activists have accused electoral authorities of dirty tricks ahead of March 8 polls and are threatening to hold a mass rally in Kuala Lumpur in protest.
The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih) which last November gathered some 30,000 people in the capital to demand reforms, slammed last-minute changes to electoral rules ahead of nomination day Sunday.
They said that opposition candidates, particularly in northern states where Friday and Saturday are holidays, could be disqualified by a rule announced Thursday that they must pay stamp duty on their applications to contest.
"How are opposition candidates in states like Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu supposed to get the stamps especially when Friday and Saturday is the weekend here?" BERSIH organiser Mohammad Sabu told a crowd of 5,000 supporters.
If opposition candidates are disqualified over the issue, "we will get half a million people in KL for several days," he told a rally in northeastern Terengganu state late Friday.
Government offices selling revenue stamps in the northern states will open at 8am on Sunday, considered a working day here, leaving candidates little time before nominations must be submitted between 9am and 10am Sunday.
"I see this as a gimmick to make things difficult for opposition candidates," said Mustaffa Ali, state election chief for the Islamic opposition party PAS.
Mustaffa also criticised the Election Commission for providing exceptions on the use of indelible ink on voters' fingers, refusing demands to abolish postal votes which Bersih says are manipulated, and not cleaning up electoral rolls.
Since winning independence half a century ago, Malaysia has been ruled by a coalition of race-based parties under the Barisan Nasional (BN) banner, led by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's United Malays National Organisation.
Opposition parties are hoping to deny the BN a two-thirds majority in parliament at this year's polls, with the government under fire over rising prices of food and fuel, and rising racial tension in the multi-ethnic country.
Agence France-Presse - 2/23/2008 2:24 AM
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Malaysia's opposition mounts campaign in cyberspace
Malaysia goes to the polls next month and this time the campaign is going online, as opposition parties turn to blogs, SMS and YouTube to dodge a virtual blackout on mainstream media.
Major newspapers and television stations -- many partly owned by parties in the ruling coalition -- are awash with flattering stories on the government and its achievements ahead of March 8 general elections.
Major newspapers and television stations -- many partly owned by parties in the ruling coalition -- are awash with flattering stories on the government and its achievements ahead of March 8 general elections.
The opposition parties rate barely a mention, but thanks to the Internet they have begun campaigning feverishly in cyberspace with the aim of reaching young, urban, educated voters.
"They control the television but we've got YouTube now," said 31-year-old Lee Sean Li, an accountant who avidly surfs the Net for alternative news and complains there are only negative glimpses of the opposition in the main media.
Lee was delighted to see parliamentary opposition leader Lim Kit Siang post a speech on the upcoming elections, just minutes after Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi dissolved parliament earlier this month.
"I was impressed at how professional he was and it is a clever use of technology," Lee said, adding that 67-year-old Lim is one of the most "wired" politicians in the country.
While many of his generation may struggle to send an email, Lim runs three blogs which are meticulously updated with multiple posts every day, and many of the party's other leaders follow suit.
"Blogging is one way to get word out and an opportunity to circumvent media control," said Lim from the Democratic Action Party (DAP), which is aiming to dent the government's thumping majority in the upcoming vote.
"We cannot neutralise the state-controlled media," he told AFP.
"But Internet pick-up rates will keep getting higher. We will not be blacked out forever."
Media watchdog Reporters Without Borders ranks Malaysia 124 out of 169 on its worldwide press freedom index, and says the main media are "often compelled to ignore or to play down the many events organised by the opposition".
One of the alternative pioneers is Malaysiakini.com, an online news journal which since it began operating in 1999 has been raided by police and denied media passes for its reporters to cover government events.
Co-founder Steven Gan said the use of the Internet as a campaign tool was hampered by penetration rates which remain low in rural areas where the government enjoys strong support.
"But in urban areas, it is significant. They now have this alternative access to news and other views," he said.
The Malaysiakini website receives about 100,000 daily hits and has struggled to cope with the volume since an unprecedented series of public protests against the government broke out in recent months.
"During this election period, I expect it to increase by tenfold and we are preparing for that kind of explosion in the coming weeks. We have upgraded the bandwidth for better access," Gan said.
Malaysia's Islamic opposition party PAS runs its own online journal HarakahDaily.net which features six different online television channels and original reporting on the election.
And political dissident and ex-deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim also writes his own blog which has news links and videos of his Keadilan party's campaign activities.
Anwar last year used the site to release a video clip which allegedly showed a high-profile lawyer brokering top judicial appointments -- a scandal which triggered a full royal commission of inquiry.
Well-known blogger Jeff Ooi, who is standing as a DAP candidate in the elections, said news and views on blogs appealed to a cross-section of people and was not limited to urban youth alone.
"It is not really restricted by age. We are attracting many concerned citizens who are above 45 years old and these are the people who are more interested in politics and the oppositions' viewpoint," he said.
"Our campaign videos will be transmitted through YouTube because it is unlikely for television stations to broadcast them, of course," said Ooi, who is facing a defamation suit by the government-linked New Straits Times Press.
Malaysian bloggers have been heavily criticised by the government which accuses them of spreading lies, and threatened severe punishment and tighter controls on Internet use.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Malaysia offers to help Thai Muslims in restive south
Malaysia has offered to work with Thailand's new government to aid Muslims in the restive south, which has been wracked by an insurgency for more than four years, state media reported Sunday.Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said he looked forward to meeting his new Thai counterpart Samak Sundaravej to discuss how to help locals and restore peace to the area, which he said would benefit both countries.
"We have expressed our willingness to cooperate with Thailand to help the Muslims in the south," along the border with Malaysia, Abdullah was quoted as saying by Bernama news agency.
"I want to discuss this with the new Thai prime minister. I think it is a good thing that we give attention to the situation in southern Thailand."
More than 2,900 people have been killed since the unrest broke out in January 2004 in the south, which was an autonomous Malay Muslim sultanate until mainly Buddhist Thailand annexed it in 1902, provoking decades of tension.
Samak, an ally of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra, officially became Thailand's new prime minister on January 29, after the nation's king endorsed his election by parliament.
Malaysia's defence ministry said Sunday it had stepped up security along its border with Thailand, with a 3,600-strong regiment upgraded to full-time status to patrol the more than 500-kilometre (300-mile) frontier.
Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Najib Razak said Malaysia's rapidly growing economy was becoming increasingly attractive to illegal immigrants and smugglers.
Agence France-Presse - 2/10/2008 11:56 AM
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Malaysia to jail food, fuel smugglers
Malaysia on Wednesday cracked down on smuggling of subsidised food and fuel across its borders, imposing three-year jail terms in an effort to avert critical shortages.
Malaysia's long coastlines and porous borders have enabled smugglers to take large quantities of sugar, cooking oil and fuel into Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines where they are more expensive.
"The government spends millions of dollars to subsidise many of these items... If we allow the goods to be taken out, it is an outflow of national wealth," said domestic trade and consumer affairs minister Shafie Apdal.
The announcement comes as Malaysia prepares for national elections in which the spiralling cost of basic food items will be a major issue.
Agence France-Presse - 2/6/2008 8:15 AM
Earlier this year, consumers were hit with severe shortages of sugar, flour and cooking oil which were stripped bare from supermarket shelves as panic-buying hit, triggering a huge public outcry.
The government was forced to flood the market with thousands of tonnes of cooking oil and flour to end the crisis.
Shafie announced a list of 10 controlled items which must not cross borders: sugar, flour, cooking oil, petrol, diesel and gas -- which are all subsidised -- as well as steel, cement, chicken and fertilizer.
"The aim of the ban is to prevent a disruption in the supply chain of the 10 items for the domestic market. We also want to stop smuggling activities," he said.
Malaysia heavily subsidises 21 food items including milk, salt, wheat flour and rice.
Malaysia's long coastlines and porous borders have enabled smugglers to take large quantities of sugar, cooking oil and fuel into Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines where they are more expensive.
"The government spends millions of dollars to subsidise many of these items... If we allow the goods to be taken out, it is an outflow of national wealth," said domestic trade and consumer affairs minister Shafie Apdal.
The announcement comes as Malaysia prepares for national elections in which the spiralling cost of basic food items will be a major issue.
Agence France-Presse - 2/6/2008 8:15 AM
Earlier this year, consumers were hit with severe shortages of sugar, flour and cooking oil which were stripped bare from supermarket shelves as panic-buying hit, triggering a huge public outcry.
The government was forced to flood the market with thousands of tonnes of cooking oil and flour to end the crisis.
Shafie announced a list of 10 controlled items which must not cross borders: sugar, flour, cooking oil, petrol, diesel and gas -- which are all subsidised -- as well as steel, cement, chicken and fertilizer.
"The aim of the ban is to prevent a disruption in the supply chain of the 10 items for the domestic market. We also want to stop smuggling activities," he said.
Malaysia heavily subsidises 21 food items including milk, salt, wheat flour and rice.
Malaysian PM calls for racial unity in New Year message
Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Wednesday urged the country's multi-ethnic population to be united and tolerant, at a time of worsening racial discord."I urge all Malaysians to promote understanding, tolerance and unity because all these are the key to peace and prosperity," he said in a message to mark Chinese New Year.
"Malaysia does not belong to any one individual or race, but belongs to all Malaysians," he added.
Malaysia has in recent months been shaken by unprecedented protests alleging discrimination against minority ethnic Indians at the hands of the Muslim Malays who dominate the population.
Five ethnic Indian activists who organised a mass rally last November have been jailed under controversial internal security legislation that provides for detention without trial.
Religious and racial issues are extremely sensitive in multi-ethnic Malaysia, which experienced deadly race riots in 1969.
Abdullah said Malaysians should be thankful that they could celebrate various festivals observed by different ethnic groups in a harmonious environment, and vowed to preserve these cultural traditions.
"As the prime minister, I am committed towards creating a Malaysian community that is dynamic, progressive and lives in peace and harmony," he said.
But commentators have sounded alarm over the growing "Islamisation" of the country and the increasing polarisation of the three main ethnic communities, which mix much less than in the past.
In recent months, there have been controversies over a ban on a Catholic newspaper using the word "Allah", the rights of non-Muslim spouses and the destruction of Hindu temples.
Malays make up 60 percent of the population, with ethnic Chinese at 26 percent and Indians at eight percent.
Agence France-Presse - 2/6/2008 9:06 AM
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Malaysian PM says Indians will vote against ruling party: report
Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the number of votes from Indians for the ruling party will likely drop in the coming polls, a report said Sunday, amid increasing ethnic strife in Malaysia.
Ethnic Indians protested against alleged discrimination in Muslim-majority Malaysia in a mass rally in November that led to the indefinite detention of five leaders of the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf).
When asked if the issues raised by Hindraf, which has made national headlines, would influence how Indians would vote in upcoming polls, Abdullah told the Sunday Star newspaper: "Yes, I think votes will be affected somewhat."
Analysts say general elections could be held in March.
Ethnic Indians, who complain of a lack of job and educational opportunities, have been strong supporters of Abdullah's National Front coalition since the country gained independence from Britain in 1957.
Abdullah, who is also the finance minister, said he would address Indian grievances, which include the destruction of Hindu temples.
"I have given instruction that whatever grouses they have should be attended to," he said. "As for the Hindu temples, I have asked the chief minister to let the Hindu organisations decide for themselves how they intend to tackle the number of illegal temples in Selangor," state in central Malaysia.
Ethnic Indians make up 8.0 percent of the country's population. Muslim Malays, who make up 60 percent, control the government while the ethnic Chinese, at 26 percent, dominate business.
Abdullah also said he expected a tough fight in the elections in urban areas, where people were unhappy about price hikes for goods and transport.
Opposition leader, Lim Kit Siang of the Democratic Action Party (DAP), urged voters to deny Abdullah's National Front coalition a two-thirds majority in parliament to allow the "people's rights and genuine democracy the chance to flower and mature."
Lim said two of the five detained Hindraf leaders -- M. Manoharan and B. Ganabathi Rao -- who are DAP members, may contest the upcoming polls.
"It would be a good idea for them to contest. It will help focus on the injustices caused by their detention under the ISA and to highlight the issue of the marginalisation of Indians in Malaysia," he told AFP.
Lim said there was a precedent when in 1978, two DAP lawmakers who were detained under the ISA were nominated and subsequently won in the polls.
Since independence, Malaysia has been ruled by the National Front -- previously known as the Alliance party.
Agence France-Presse - 2/3/2008 6:32 AM
Malaysia nixes plan to export monkeys for meat: report
Malaysia has abandoned a controversial plan to capture and export monkeys found in urban areas after a majority of them were found to be infected with deadly diseases, a report said Saturday.Azmi Khalid, natural resources and environment minister, said the government decided to drop the plan after at least 80 percent of the 250,000 urban monkeys were deemed unfit for export.
The long-tailed macaques were sick with diseases such as tuberculosis, malaria, hepatitis and AIDS, he told the New Straits Times newspaper said.
"After a study was conducted recently, it was found the macaques were not suitable for export because they were infected," he said.
"They were supposed to fulfil the demand for exotic meat in a few countries in Asia and in the West."
Malaysia in August last year lifted a 23-year ban on the export of long-tailed macaques from the peninsular, saying they had become an urban pest and were attacking people and stealing food.
No permits had been issued for the export of the monkeys, the report said.
Malaysia's monkey population is estimated at 700,000. They are mostly macaques or leaf monkeys.
Agence France-Presse - 2/2/2008 5:21 AM
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