Menteri, Jamil Khir tidak faham gender mainstreaming

Kenyataan Media
Wanita KEADILAN
10 November 2009

Menteri di JPM, Jamil Khir Baharom  tidak tahu terminologi yang tepat dan tidak faham tentang pengarus utamaan gender (gender mainstreaming). Bagaimanakah pengarus utamaan gender boleh berlaku dalam sistem pentadbiran kerajaan, khususnya sistem Mahkamah Syariah, sekiranya Menteri sendiri tidak faham terminologi yang dianggap umum oleh dunia seluruhnya?   Ia membuktikan bahawa pengrus utamaan gender adalah jauh dari sasaran dan masih gagal.   Tidak menghairankan jika kedudukan Global Gender Gap Index Malaysia merudum sejak tahun 2006 di tangga ke 72 jatuh ke tangga 101 tahun ini, 2009.   Hanya dalam masa tiga tahun.

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The Diplomat interviews Anwar Ibrahim

1 Nov 2009

ANWAR IBRAHIM INTERVIEW
The Diplomat

Let’s start by talking about the current situation in Malaysia. In a recent interview you described it as being almost a failed state, particularly in the context of its neighbours. What makes you say that and what in your opinion has caused that situation?

The issue of governance and in terms of failing to deal with the issue of endemic corruption, the judiciary is still questionable, so their decisions and independence and the absence of control; the media is so pervasive. For example, in the latest campaign there is a resurgence of the communist party. These are signs, you know, that [Malaysia] is becoming so authoritarian and so repressive. Why is there a need now to have a massive campaign in the government-controlled media – which is entirely, fully controlled by them – to suggest that there is a resurgence of communism?

There has also been a great deal of talk in Australia in particular about this being the Asia-Pacific Century. Do you agree with that? How do you see Malaysia benefiting from any possible shift in global economic and political power?

Well, I don’t have an issue against that, in terms of there’s a need to fortify and even strengthen the economic cooperation within the region. I think we should be all-encompassing in the region. So I think that now there has been eagerness, particularly in the light of the latest financial and economic crisis. But we have to move on first by putting our own house in order. Yes the impact is felt by all countries and the countries have to take measures with these stimulus packages, but the way it is being done is questionable. It must be transparent. And [in Malaysia] we have to look at how it’s being done in Malaysia compared to China. China focussed 40 per cent [of its stimulus] on infrastructure in the earthquake-affected areas; another 30 per cent on rural infrastructure…

I am no great friend of China, but still there are issues that I think we have to look [at] and study. Now compare this to Malaysia. Out of the $70 billion so-called package, the funds allocated for infrastructure per-say is only $15bn. But I charge there are embellishments to push the figure upwards: $10bn for the stockmarket; another $15-20bn for bank guarantees in case there are problems. So you are not talking about a proper stimulus package; we do not know where it is spent or how it is going. Even at a time of crisis, I would use this creative destruction because you can use this to improve and build anew, not to fortify and strengthen the auxiliary and corrupt practices.

So is there a real danger in your eyes of Malaysia slipping behind its neighbours, particularly in light of the current global financial crisis?

In terms of the fundamentals, I must admit that Malaysia is on a much stronger footing, partly because of better infrastructure and the financial services. In light of the last crisis of 1997-98, I think some of the measures have been adopted to strengthen the position of the financial institutions, including the banking sector. That I concede, and I think is something positive that will help us. Similarly there are a lot of reserves, which are quite strong, although, I think, slipping really fast.

Our concern is more with the issue of governance. If you fail to improve the institution of governance, including the casting of an economic policy and preparedness to move so that Malaysia becomes more competitive, then we will certainly lose out. In some sectors we have lost out even to Indonesia and Thailand, to China, of course, and even Vietnam now. So I think that we have to depart from the obsolete economic policies. Now I think some positives measures have been implemented – in the services sector, for example. But liberalising and bringing in foreign investors [counts for nothing when you] fail to deal with the more substantive issues, like the need for affirmative action. Then these policies can never be fully endorsed by the general public.

I am for the market economy and for liberalisation, but we cannot ignore the grinding poverty and we cannot ignore the importance for affirmative action based on need, not on race. And more important still, the need to strengthen the system of government; the judiciary mustbe independent. The media must be free. How do you then evaluate and assess the success of policies if the statistics are all questionable. The government says ‘Our growth is two per cent, inflation is 2.5 per cent.’ [But those figures are] generally not well accepted. The people still have doubts and questions and are cynical, and this is dangerous in a modern government.

So is a fundamental overhaul needed in Malaysia? Not just a change of political party being in power, but in terms of overhauling the judiciary, overhauling the bureaucracy in order to eliminate an endemic culture of nepotism and corruption and cronyism?

Yes. But what has this result been instead? Racism – the problem of the Chinese and the Hindus. And then there is this new threat, including communism. Some rural sectors remember what it was like to suffer under militant communist activities in the ’50s and ’60s.

Last year you set a number of deadlines for the transfer of power. That was when Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi was there. Now that there is a new, or relatively new, prime minister in Najib Razak, are you still confident that transfer will happen in the next year or two?

We have to hope it will happen. We have won every single by-election [since the general election], despite the fact that we have to struggle without any exposure in the media. In the mainstream media in this country – TV, newspapers – you cannot see any photograph of myself or my wife or my daughter at all. To win under those trying circumstances, with questionable conduct of the election commission and the judiciary is extraordinary. So I’m still optimistic that given the chance, we would prove ourselves.

Quite clearly your opponents aren’t going to give in without a fight. You’re currently facing renewed allegations – similar allegations to the ones that were eventually dismissed after you spent six years in solitary confinement. It must take an enormous personal, physical and emotional stress on you and your family.

Yes, this isn’t an easy thing, particularly when it becomes so vicious and scurrilous a personal attack and dealing with exactly the same players. It is tough, but I am confident enough that it will be a very good fight inside and outside the court. But I’m not too optimistic about the issue of the conduct and independence of the court based on the previous decision and the influence the executive has on the courts.

What is of course is disconcerting to us and other opposition leaders is that the personal attacks on me and others have increased, using all agencies. The media has always been controlled, but the manner is different. We thought things might change with the new prime minister and his pronouncements of change and the separation of powers, but the media has become a sort of propaganda tool for the ruling party.

You’ve clearly got the ruling party and the prime minister rattled at the minute, because as you say, you’re winning by-election after by-election and clearly the general sense in the country is of the desire for change from all the people; from the native Malays, and also the Chinese, Indian elements of the population as well. Which must give you confidence and a degree of strength as you’re going through this?

 

Yes, it does. But it’s also becoming a joke – all this time and resources being spent to deflect from the central issue of poor governance. It’s strengthening our opposition forces.

 

 

If your worst-case scenario eventuates and you’re found guilty and sent to prison, what will that mean for those opposition forces? Will they be able to survive, to progress, without your unifying presence?

I have been told by very reliable sources that close to the ruling clique that one way out for that clique is to send me back to prison. I don’t know whether that involves Najib himself; I just hope that sanity prevails. But the fact that they proceed with charges so frivolous is shocking to say the least. But, of course, they’ve done it before. This is clearly a politically machination by a desperate group, so I have to be very prepared to fight.
But assuming the worst does happen – and I don’t believe it will happen because now I am even better prepared [with medical reports from government doctors] – we have made preparations to ensure the opposition coalition survives.

KEADILAN RESHUFFLE

Rahmah Ghazali
Oct 25, 09
8:13pm   Malaysiakini.com

In a move to end the disgruntlement in Sabah, PKR today chose local leader Ahmad Thamrin Jaini as the party’s new state chief.

Ahmad Thamrin, who heads the Libaran division, would replace Azmin Ali who “quit” last week.

Speaking to reporters after a four-hour national leadership meeting in Petaling Jaya this evening, PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail also announced a nationwide reshuffle of state chiefs.
This includes vice-president Azmin, who is also Gombak MP and Bukit Antarabangsa assemblyperson, being selected to head the Federal Territory instead.

Both Ahmad Thamrin and Azmin were not present at the meeting.

Meanwhile, party supremo Anwar Ibrahim brushed aside a question on whether Ahmad Thamrin’s appointment would be well received by the PKR Sabah division chiefs who ‘rejected’ Azmin.

He said the “issue does not arise” because Azmin did not quit his post as reported but “his mandate is over by the end of this month.”

Changes in other states

The leadership crisis in Sabah started when 18 division chiefs inked a memorandum dated Sept 20 which was critical of Azmin and sent it to Wan Azizah.

Following this, 16 division chiefs held an informal meeting on Oct 7 in Kota Kinabalu and expressed no confidence in Azmin’s leadership.

Despite a strong denial issued by the PKR national leadership that there was no memorandum forwarded with regards to Azmin, the latter however dropped a bombshell by quitting his post on Oct 23.

The other new state chiefs announced by Wan Azizah are – Penang’s Zahrain Mohd Hashim to be replaced by Penang Deputy Chief Minister I Dr Mansor Othman, Perak’s Osman Abdul Rahman to be replaced by vice-president Mustaffa Kamil Ayub and Malacca’s Khalid Jaafar to be replaced by PKR Youth chief Syamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin.

Terengganu also saw a new face when Abd Rahman Yusof was selected to head the state while Saifuddin Nasution (PKR election director) would spearhead PKR in neighbouring Kelantan.

In Sarawak, the national leadership had decided to appoint lawyer and land rights activist Baru Bian as the new state chief, replacing Mustaffa Kamil Ayub who was appointed last May.

Wan Azizah also revealed that the party has set up a National Integration Council headed by PKR vice-president Dr Jeffrey Kitingan to sort out issues of integration in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak.

Anwar confident PAS will settle its problems

In another development, Anwar said he was confident that PAS would be able to settle its internal problems.

The opposition leader was asked to comment on PAS spiritual leader Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat’s call for a special meeting to deal with ‘problematic’ leaders.

In a blog posting, the Kelantan menteri besar had named three leaders – deputy president Nasharuddin Mat Isa, secretary-general Mustafa Ali and Selangor PAS commissioner Dr Hasan Ali.

“I believe PAS including Nik Aziz and (president) Abdul Hadi Awang will handle this as best they can because we take this matter seriously,” said Anwar.

“PAS is important to Pakatan Rakyat and we are confident that they will they settle this properly,” he added.

What do the Penans really want?

Hornbill Unleashed

September 24, 2009

Penans with cars and big houses?

By Sim Kwang Yang

The Sarawak Environmental advisor Dr. James Davos Mammit has parroted Alfred Jabu’s attack against NGOs, by blaming the Penan problem on the NGO, who he said manipulated them.

James has a PH D I think.  He is also an old schoolmate from St. Joseph’s in Kuching.  I think he was a few years my junior.

But too many years of politics in BN must have dulled his intellect.  His attack against the NGOs is really a bad reflection of the standard of his political narrative.  Surely, he can have something more original to say, like “I feel sorry for the Penans, and will seek way to get to the truth of the rape of Penan girls.”

But then, as the state environmental advisor, James would probably be fired by his boss the termite, if he shows any sign of support for the Penans.

I wrote an article entitled Will the Penans with cars and big house stand up and it was published on the Malaysian Mirror.  It was on the comment made by Shahrizat, the Minister for Women, Family and Community Development.  The next day, the ministry Director General replied to my article.  I reproduce below both articles for your entertainment.

Will the Penans with cars and big houses stand up!

The Women, Family, and Community Development Minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil was clearly wrong to slam the 27 NGOs who demonstrated in front of the prime Minister’s Department Wednesday morning.

Her Ministry was a few months late in releasing the report of the task force set up to investigate police reports of logging workers raping the Penan girls lodged in October last year.  She failed to release the report promptly, and did so only when the Keadilan Wanita Chief Hajjah Zuraidah Kamaruddin and her gang demonstrated in front of her office over the matter.

So far, no authority in both Putrajaya and Kuching has announced any plan to act on the task force report, as if they are in denial still even when the facts of the rape have been established.

In Kuching, the Deputy Chief Minister and the state Minister in Charge of Penan affairs Alfred Jabu was even more ludicrous when he suggested that the task force report might have been influenced by NGOs.  He is obviously more interested in demonising the NGOs than in protecting and preventing Penan girls from being raped.

The 27 NGOs were just exercising their constitutionally guaranteed rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly when they demonstrated on the issue of the Penan girls.  They were just doing their job in highlighting this burning issue to ensure the raped Penan girls will not be forgotten.  They have shown themselves to be concerned engaged citizens and good civil society groups.

Whether the Minister Shahrizat was ready to meet them any time or not is totally beside the point. She should shed the negative ministerial attitude that every demonstration is an affront to the government and her ministry.  Demonstrations like that one can actually give her leverage to use in pushing her programme through foot-dragging by other ministries and departments to help the Penans.

She should drive out to Putrajaya to the demonstration site and treated the protestors to tea and cake!

She also showed her mandarin facade when she questioned the presence of the Executive Director of Women’s Aid Organisation Ivy Josiah at the protest.  She clearly does not understand Ivy can wear two hats, one as head of a special committee set by Shahrizat’s ministry, and the other as the head of an NGO.

Obviously, The Minister has yet to understand the fiercely independent stance of the best NGOs in our country.  By mumbling about Ivy’s “hidden agenda”, she has betrayed her lack of understanding of our home-grown NGOs, and insulted Ivy in the process.  The Minister owes Ivy an open apology.

Just because an NGO leader has been appointed to a committee to help any government to do any work does not mean the appointee has sold her entire soul to the government.

The following two paragraphs on the Bernama story quoting the Minister are mind-boggling:

“The Minister has rejected a claim by the NGOs that Penan women and children had been marginalised by the mainstream development as a lot of development programmes had been implemented

“’The claim is baseless as it only refers to those left behind. There are others who have big houses and cars with successful children, she said.”

Penans with big houses, cars and successful children?

There must be the odd ones I am sure out of their total population of about 12,000.  But the Minister needs badly a lesson or two about the indigenous people of Sarawak for her to do her job well.

Perhaps the NGOs can take her on a trip to the 3000 Penans in Bakun in upper Rejang who need food relief from the outside world to stave off starvation.  Then they can guide her through the forests of Upper Baram to search for those Penans with cars and big houses and successful children!

At least she has rapid transportation in a helicopter.  The Penans have to walk for hours or days plus a long ride in a boat or a logging truck over punishing terrain to reach the nearest clinic!

Perhaps after such a trip, the Minister for Women, Family, and Community Development will make some allocation of money to buy special buses to help ferry the Penan girls to school, so that the girls will not be raped by logging worker who are worse than the worst of wild beasts.

Perhaps then, the Minister will allocate funds for general hospitals in Miri and Sibu to have a few helicopters to stand by, to fly those Penan and Orang Ulu patients who need urgent medical attention for prompt treatment.

Then, Shahrizat can be said to have worked for women, family, and community development for those remote rural communities in Sarawak!

Shahrizat didn’t say it: DG clarifies

This is the full statement from Dato’ Dr Noorul Ainur Mohd. Nur, Director General, Women Development Department, Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development
I wish to clarify on the article “Will the Penans with cars and big houses stand up!” by Sim Kwang Yang posted on the Malaysian Mirror on 18 September 2009.

I also wish to inform that I was heading and directly involved with the Penan Taskforce.

During the press conference which was held on 16 September 2009, I was with the Minister of Women, Family and Community Development, YB Senator Dato’ Sri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil. During the interview session, YB Senator Dato’ Sri Shahrizat did not say the Penans have “big houses and cars with successful children.”

However, I personally made comments that there are some developments among the Penan community as reflected in the Penan Taskforce Report, but there must be more efforts geared towards assisting the Penans to benefit from development.

In this context, I have been invited by Pejabat Ketua Menteri Sarawak on 6 October 2009 to make a special presentation on the Penan Taskforce Report. The objective of the meeting is to establish an integrated approach with all government agencies and NGOs to strategise the holistic development of Penans.

With this explanation, I hope that this has clarified what actually was said by YB Senator Dato’ Sri Shahrizat during the said interview.

Thank you and Selamat Hari Raya to the management and staff of the Malaysian Mirror.

KEADILAN ENDORSES JOINT NGO STATEMENT – REJECT POLITICAL VIOLENCE & CELEBRATE MALAYSIA’S DIVERSITY

KENYATAAN MEDIA
UNTUK EDARAN SEGERA

Tarikh: 18 September 2009

KEADILAN SOKONG KENYATAAN BERSAMA NGO – TOLAK KEGANASAN POLITIK & RAIKAN PERBEZAAN MALAYSIA

Parti Keadilan Rakyat menyokong penuh kenyataan dibuat gabungan pertubuhan bukan kerajaan yang dikeluarkan sempena Hari Malaysia, dan kami sependapat dengan gesaan menjadikan nilai keamanan kukuh sebagai asas hidup masyarakat di negara ini agar semua kita dapat menikmati harga kebebasan sebenar.

Negara kita kini berada di persimpangan. Rakyat sekarang boleh memilih untuk mendapatkan keamanan melalui persefahaman atau keamanan melalui kekerasan. Warga Malaysia kini boleh memilih kebebasan sebenar yang membolehkan negara ini berkembang atau memilih kebebasan palsu pemberian rejim politik yang sanggup melakukan apa sahaja demi mengekalkan kuasa.

Sejak 8 Mac pada tahun lalu, kita telah menyaksikan satu bentuk gerakan penentangan bersifat luahan politik dan aktivisme, yang jelas memberikan petanda baik kepada pembangunan demokrasi kita. Namun malangnya, kita juga menyaksikan beberapa cubaan terdesak dan ganas yang dilakukan oleh Kerajaan Persekutuan untuk mengganggu sesuatu isu, tidak perlu diperjelaskan lagi bagaimana isu perkauman dimainkan oleh pelbagai pihak demi mencapai matlamat politik.

KEADILAN teguh dengan komitmen untuk menyuburkan hak kebebasan bersuara. Bagaimanapun, kami menolak sebarang cubaan untuk mencabuli kebebasan ini demi menyalakan sentimen perkauman dalam kalangan rakyat. Sebagai sebuah negara bertamadun, kita sepatutnya menerima dengan baik prinsip keamanan tanpa keganasan, sama ada secara fizikal atau politik, dan mengamalkan prinsip tanggungjawab dalam kebebasan yang dimiliki.

Kita juga harus beringat, daripada menjadikan perbezaan dalam kalangan rakyat Malaysia sebagai sebab untuk mencetuskan pertelagahan, lebih baik kita melakukan sesuatu untuk memahami dan menghormati perbezaan itu. Kita juga seharusnya perlu meraikan dan menggunakan perbezaan yang wujud dalam kalangan rakyat bagi memenuhi hasrat serta potensi negara untuk menjadi sebuah negara hebat.

JONSON CHONG
Pengarah Komunikasi

###

BIRO KOMUNIKASI
PARTI KEADILAN RAKYAT
A-1-09, Merchant Square
No. 1, Jalan Tropicana Selatan 1
47410 Petaling Jaya

Tel: +603 7885 0530
Fax: +603 7885 0531
E-mail: komunikasi@keadilanrakyat.org
Web: www.keadilanrakyat.org

———————————————————————————————————
MEDIA STATEMENT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: 18 September 2009

KEADILAN ENDORSES JOINT NGO STATEMENT – REJECT POLITICAL VIOLENCE & CELEBRATE MALAYSIA’S DIVERSITY

Parti Keadilan Rakyat endorses the statement by the coalition of non-governmental organisations that was released on Malaysia Day, and we adopt the “vow to make empowering peace the basis of public life of our nation so that all of us may enjoy real freedom.”

Our nation is at crossroads. The people can now choose peace through understanding or peace through force. Indeed, Malaysians can now choose real freedom that enables our nation to flourish or choose pseudo freedom ‘given’ by a political regime that is bent on holding on to power at all cost.

Since March 8 last year, we have witnessed a resurgence of political expression and activism, which bodes well for our developing democracy. Unfortunately, we also witnessed the desperate and brutal attempts by the Federal Government to distort the issues, not to mention the incitement of racial tensions by various quarters for political gain.

KEADILAN affirms its commitment to freedom of expression. However, we denounce the abuse of this freedom to fan racial sentiments of the people. As a civilised nation, we should be embracing the principle of non-violence, be it physical or political, and exercising our freedoms responsibly.

Further, instead of making the differences between Malaysians a point of contention, we should be making inroads to understand and respect those differences. Indeed, we should be celebrating and capitalising on the diversity of Malaysia to fulfil our nation’s potential to become a great nation.

JONSON CHONG
Communications Director