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(image fr scientificblogging.com)
Malaysiakini reported the formation of a the opposition alliance called People’s Alliance or Pakatan Rakyat:
Top leaders of opposition parties – multiracial PKR, pre-dominantly Chinese DAP and Islamic-based PAS – today announced that they have agreed to form a new coalition called Pakatan Rakyat or People’s Alliance.
Anwar, who was flanked by DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang and PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, said that the People’s Alliance will be organising its maiden conference after the proposal has been endorsed by all three parties.
Also present was the new parliamentary opposition leader, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who is Anwar’s wife and PKR president.
“Pakatan Rakyat pledges to uphold the rights and interests of all Malaysians, regardless of religion or race, as enshrined in the Constitution.” said Anwar.
He said the state governments of Kelantan, Kedah, Penang, Perak and Selangor would now be known as Pakatan Rakyat state governments.
In an earlier news report, Malaysiakini mentioned that:
PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang has suggested a new opposition coalition that will encompass his Islamic party, PKR and DAP at a massive gathering of 25,000 supporters in Shah Alam’s Stadium Melawati last night.
At the ‘thanksgiving’ rally last night organised by PAS, Hadi Awang also spelled out some of the key agenda of Barisan Rakyat, leaving out the party’s Islamic state platform.
Among them are:
1. To amend or abolish all unjust and discriminatory laws, especially the Internal Security Act which allows detention without trial, Universities and University Colleges Act which restricts academic freedom, and the Official Secrets Act which makes government opaque.
2. To implement immediate electoral reforms, in particular relating to the task and operations of the Election Commission.
3. To ensure that the Anti-Corruption Agency be truly independent so that it can be effective in fighting graft and to stop any selective prosecution.
4.To restore public faith in the judiciary and to ensure that it is truly independent.
I hope PAs can really do away its Islamic State thing and fight for these 4 points mentioned, as these are what many urbanites have been pushing for a long time.
If PAS can do away its Islamic State thing, this will really be the beginning of a 2 party system which will gives the Rakyat a real choice of whom to choose to be the government.
With a 2 party system, the people will truly be the boss of the country. Like in the case of Britain, USA or even Taiwan, if one party is not performing, the people will simply throw them out the next election.
There will be a real check and balance. We can expect better governance, lesser corruption and more people orientated policies.
It is worth 50 years’ waiting to see this happening.
Dr. Hsu's forum 
Apr 01, 2008 @ 16:07:53
Amend Internal Security Act (ISA) by confining it solely to terrosits and real drugs masterminds, not a blanket which has been abused to detain politicians unless they are involved in overthrowing the government of the day.
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Apr 01, 2008 @ 16:10:23
I firmly believe that the Internal Security Act (ISA) is still very relevant in both Malaysia and Singapore, to fighting terrosits and real drugs masterminds.
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Apr 01, 2008 @ 16:15:06
This is good news for all Malaysians,without People Alliance,BN would continue to destroy this country through their incompetence and rampant corruption.We the rakyat now are more confident in our country after the political tsunami which transfers the states of Kedah,Penang,Perak and Selangor to the hand of Opposition party.
Now we can talk about Vision 2020,before that we can only dream about Vision 2020.Malaysia is on the way to prosperity and racial harmony .
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Apr 01, 2008 @ 17:14:08
I think ISA is still very much needed in our country. Amend and please do not abolish.
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Apr 01, 2008 @ 17:14:16
CONGRATULATIONS, Pakatan Rakyat / People’s Alliance. This is what many true Malaysians want to see.
As what I commented, hopefully those parties in Sabah and Sarawak will ‘jump ship’ soon. It is not morally wrong to do that now since Pakatan Rakyat / People’s Alliance has make known to all their aims and objectives. Lets make these aims and objectives a reality instead of waiting for another 5 years.
The ball is at your side now, Rakyat in Sabah and Sarawak.
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Apr 01, 2008 @ 17:36:40
The 4 points are in line with islamic state.
Please understand what you want to talk about before insinuating anything. I think there are a alot of misconceptions here.
Thanks.
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Apr 01, 2008 @ 17:52:10
Very good move. Since 08 March, the BN has not change and improve an inch. For BN to win us back, the entire team need to crawl at least a million miles. Till now, they never progress an inch ! They are stuck in vicious cycles – Grade A1 in finger pointing and blame storming
Replace them. Hopeless gang gang
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Apr 01, 2008 @ 23:12:23
Can you give some concrete examples of the ISA being used to fight drugs lords and other real criminals? As I recall we have some of the most severe drug laws in the world already in place.
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Apr 02, 2008 @ 01:10:22
After elections..took so much time to settle down.
Delays were mostly caused by UMNO.
Now opposition parties have got their united name…so let them get down to business of good governing.
First and foremost….find the permanent solution to let everyone feel safe to walk alone….day or night. IGP said….population increase….crime rate increases. I don’t buy that stupid explaination. That’s why police force cannot improve with IGP talking like that….excuses after excuses… to cover up weak police force….people and management. Another IGP needed fast….if police needs to change fast for the better…….and I really hope…one promoted based on real good qualifications ….and not one..mos important..a yes man …to any PM.
And ofcourse………Mahathir has challenged oppositions to prove he sacked Tun Salleh and four others.
“Lets Change It” was mainly corruptions and Mahathir….as Dollah just proved he is a useless PM.
So…..when UMNO keep on protecting their own kind…and now oppositions are so powerful….let them also talk less….and work more…proving Mahathir is the main culprit. Otherwise…..he is daily getting stronger again….since Dollah is no match to TDM… in twisting and turning ….fictions to facts…..and vice versa.
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Apr 02, 2008 @ 01:38:52
I totally agree with you if PAS can do away with it’s Islamic State thing. It’s a good thing as the rakyat has a choice of a 2 party system through Pakatan Rakyat and BN to choose from.
Example
US: Democratic/ Republican
UK : Labour/Conservative
World : Countries which changes government from time to time through the democratic process.
Conclusion: When the one in power gets rotten,
we get to choose the other and vice-versa.It’s will be us,the rakyat who determines our future and not the political parties.
Who/What is a King without subjects,a political party without support and a home without a family?
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Apr 02, 2008 @ 01:40:49
Good news indeed if the 3 parties can overcome their different ideologies and cooperate for the common good of offering an alternative to BN. A real 2 party system would give the people an easier way for the rakyat to have a say in the running of the country.
When either one moves too far away from the center of what the ‘silent majority’ desires, a viable alternative is available and the rakyat does not have to worry about voting in an idealistic but not practical opposite (Note: I didn’t use the word opposition as its increasingly difficult to predict which coalition will be the ‘opposition’, 3 months down the road).
I would now like to touch on something I consider essential if we as voters are to have the ease of choice without worrying about state-federal relations, vis-à-vis, federal funding for states that are not of the ‘same side’ as them.
(Sorry if I divert from the topic at hand)
The present taxation system we have in this country has to change so not as to give the sitting federal government too much of a ‘control’ over an ‘opposition’ state, whichever coalition is the sitting government.
Right now, all income tax paid by Malaysians goes to the coffers of the federal government for them to administer this country and to channel to all or parts of Malaysia where they deem necessary.
Inevitably, this gives the sitting federal government the freedom to channel funding to geographical areas ‘friendly’ to them and can use this financial tool as a means to influence the choice of the rakyat.
In order for democracy to advance further, with the advent of the 2 party system, obstacles to choices without fear should be removed. And the issue of federal-state relationship/funding is one of them.
I would like readers here to consider the idea of a federal/state taxation system. At the present moment, I’ve still not figured out the mechanics of what form this should take but only that the states should have some source of revenue without depending entirely on the federal government.
This is currently practiced in the USA (best example of a 2 party system) where Americans pay 2 forms of taxes, federal and state. If I remember correctly, federal taxes are uniform for all Americans but state taxes vary from state to state. Here we have a much decentralized system which I’m not sure Malaysia is anywhere near yet but providing the states a revenue source not dictated by the federal government would surely be the another step to full democracy.
I’m not saying that the present taxes we pay should be increased, far from it. I’m saying that the present taxes we pay should be apportioned to 2 parts, the part that goes to the federal coffers and the remainder to the state coffers.
Given the present uncertainty of Malaysia’s political outcome, I think it’s the best opportunity to consider this proposal and have the necessary laws amended/tabled in the forthcoming Parliament. Because of the uncertainties from both sides of the aisle, who knows, we may just remove one more obstacle to real ‘freedom of choice’.
I would love to hear from those who can suggest an equitable mechanism as to how this could be done taking into consideration the disparity between urbanized and rural states, industrial and agricultural states, states with natural resources and states without, etc.
My hope is that once the other fundamental issues are addressed, perhaps this suggestion can be considered.
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Apr 02, 2008 @ 10:58:07
The ideal situation is to leave religion out of politics. But, are the Malays willing to do that?
To me, religion is a very personal matter and should not be involved in our day to day functions, be it in office, making friends and so on. For example, if a Christian doctor has a patient who is a Muslim, this doctor will still treat the Muslim patient the best he / she can. He / She doesn’t even ask what is the patient religion.
In many countries, religion is out of the politics and administration of the country. I hope Malaysian politicians have the same thinking of the doctor example that I mentioned above.
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Apr 02, 2008 @ 11:23:38
A true Malaysian, you really live up to your pseudonym. I share the same view as you. In fact, i find that we have similar views in most issues. It is good to know that someone is sharing the same views and aspiration as oneself.
romerz, what you said is correct. I have always been of the view that peruntukan must be given to all seats equally, regardless of whether the seat is BN held or opposition held. The people are the boss of the country and you cannot punish them for voting the other way. It is their democratic right to do so.
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Apr 02, 2008 @ 18:36:35
when someone lost his Batu gajah seat in the 2004 General Election, peruntukan was still channelled to him. This defeated guy had the cheek to go round and announced his peruntukan.
He was later appointed by his president brother Sec-gen of the party and now made a Minister. This is BN government abuse of power.
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Apr 02, 2008 @ 21:45:58
The 3 party race system must go, this is the root to all the problem ,Malaysian are facing. They poisened the mind of the Rkyat.
The Malays, they were most easy going people, they get along well with other race, they never a racist.
When you start segregating them, then you see the whole system became corrupt.
BN is outdated they are beyond repaired.
Looking back 50 years of independent, what happen know?.Malaysia are going backward. They never plan the future of this nation.You have the same people running the country that bogged down the system.
Malaysian today had made the right choice ,they need a changes.
I hope all Malaysian stand together and ignore this man Mahathir. He is responsible for all this misery not Badawi. And I cannot think anyone can clear all the shit in 4 years for all the 22 years shit he has created.
To all Rakyat Malaysia give your full support to BR
the new dawn has come. Anwar,Guan Eng, Husam Musa and all the new generation leader a chance to prove themself ,dont make the same mistake . Dont get carried away by this Mathair.
Gook Luck
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Apr 02, 2008 @ 22:43:20
Dr. Hsu, this is the wonderful thing about internet, where 2 individuals who never meet in person, can share our thought and found similarities in it.
With this in mind, all of us should not ‘abuse’ internet and always keep in mind to put internet into good use.
People come and go, but the thoughts and views that we put in writing in blogs will be forever there for the benefit of our future generation. So, it is worth every single second for me to share my thoughts in your blog.
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Apr 02, 2008 @ 23:19:22
Let us hope this is the start of a 2-party system in Msia. The 2 parties will compete each other to show Msian that they can rule Msia beter than the other one! This is the ONLY way for Msia to progress further ! But pakatan rakyat been new have to prove itself worthy of rakyat support.
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Apr 03, 2008 @ 11:32:32
Mahdzir Khalid and M.Ali Rustam came out (but this time, not with the parangs yet), condemning the formation of PR.
What M Ali Rustam said, was his standard fare (words without substance), he called PR a political ploy and a political gimmick. Wonder how he comes to the conclusion that the PR cannot actually run the states let alone the country. The PR state Governments have only been there a month. If BN had been doing so well why did the rakyat gave it the boots? The rakyat believes the PR cannot do any worse than the BN.
Compared to what the PR is trying to hammer together, is the BN model any better?
The rakyat does not seem to think so. It is precisely because of the coalition that the component parties in the BN suffered such a humilating defeat at the hands of the rakyat.
In the BN set-up, UMNO is seen as the big brother (ever domineering and bullying).
The rakyat perceives UMNO as practising the ‘Animal Farm’ concept of ‘all are equal but some are more equal than others’.
The rakyat also views UMNO as harsh and authortarian in its treatment of its component partners.
The rakyat resents its intimidating atttitude when reprimanding its partners.
The relationship is seen more of a servant-master relationship than that of a equal-partner relationship.
Though Mahdzir Khalid and M. Ali Rustam are proud of the BN model but this is not shared by the rakyat. It is prepared to give the PR a chance.
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Apr 10, 2008 @ 14:10:49
To Muslim,
Do you agree with me that “The ideal situation is to leave religion out of politics. But, are the Malays willing to do that?”
I wish to know more on this from Malay / Muslim friends of this forum.
Dr. Hsu, appreciate if you could have a post on this so as to gauge Malays’ view on this matter. The response will definitely good for the whole political climate in Malaysia.
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Apr 11, 2008 @ 11:23:16
A True malaysian, thanks for the good suggestion.
I will try to do it this weekend.
I think this is a worthwhile topic for further discussion and i agree we should try to get the views of our Muslim brothers.
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Oct 05, 2008 @ 23:51:00
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