Politics 101 Malaysia

Former MCA vice-president Chua Jui Meng made a plea to current party president Ong Ka Ting to do the right thing and step down.

Chua said the Chinese community has already “rejected Ong in the clearest possible manner.”– mkini

Video details: ”Continued”

Updates soon… ======= Updated Lim Kit Siang’s immediate response to Parliament dissolution

Tunku Abdul Aziz, a member of the Royal Commission to Enhance the Operation and Management of the Royal Malaysian Police (Royal Police Commission) which was setup in 2005, expressed his utter disappointment at the Special Complaints Commission (SCC) Bill that will be tabled for a second reading in Parliament today.

The SCC, which was tabled for first reading in the Dewan Rakyat last Thursday, has been panned by its critics as being a fraudulent version of the much-anticipated Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC).

The setting up of the IPCMC was a major proposal made by the Royal Police Commission.

(malaysiakini report, Dec 17.)

Anwar Ibrahim today released the full 14-minute recording of the scandalous VK Lingam videotape, and disclosed that he has more evidence to back up claims of judicial impropriety. — malaysiakini

National Human Rights Society (Hakam) president Malik Imtiaz Sawar told a press conference that he hopes Abdullah would grant the meeting as a sign that he is concerned about the issues brought up by civil society. — malaysiakini.

Lim Kit Siang and Karpal Singh today condemned the use of ISA by the government and the police to arrest P. Uthayakumar, M. Manoharan, R. Kenghadharan, V. Ganabatirau and T. Vasanthakumar without trial.

Anwar Ibrahim and a coalition(*) representing political parties and NGOs to are seeking a face-to-face meeting with the Prime Minister to discuss the escalation of police rule in the country.

Recent events have rattled both the government and opposition and it’s time the PM is man enough to meet the opposition to find a solution to worsening race-religion relations.

It is understood the DAP is disappointed with the way public opinion is swinging because of the almost weekly marches in large numbers.

As a result, the DAP has decided not to be represented at any marches until further notice. The party was not represented at yesterday’s Bersih gathering at Parliament House. ”Continued”

The Straits Times, Dec 12.

MALAYSIA’S opposition parties on Wednesday demanded crisis talks with Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi over a crackdown on dissent triggered by mass protests.

Dozens of protesters, including opposition figures, have been arrested and slapped with charges including attempted murder and sedition after a series of banned street rallies that have infuriated the government.

Anwar Ibrahim, a former deputy premier who was sacked and jailed in 1998, said PM Abdullah must face issues including mounting racial tensions in the multicultural country dominated by Muslim Malays.

‘The main issues we want to raise are the racial and religious tensions affecting this country, protesting the high-handedness of breaking up protests and public assemblies, and the need for free and fair elections,’ he said. ”Continued”