Tunku Abdul Aziz

Date: 5 February 2010 ( Friday ), 8.30pm

Venue: Kompleks Masyarakat Penyayang Penang, Jalan Utama, Penang. ( Next to Governor’s Residence)

Speakers:

- YBM Senator Tunku Abdul Aziz Ibrahim

( Vice-Chairman DAP)

- YB Dr HJ. Dzulkefly Ahmad

(Central Committee Member PAS, MP Kuala Selangor)

- YB Sivarasa Rasiah

( Vice-President PKR, MP Subang)

Moderator: Anil Netto ( Independent Journalist )

Introduction

For some time now, Pakatan Rakyat has been talking about their effort to steer the country to genuine democracy, justice, freedom and the rule of law. In December last year, the Opposition Coalition took one decisive, deliberate and historic step to free our country from the consequences of BN misrule via a joint agreement to a Common Policy Framework that was launched at the coalition’s historic inaugural convention on December 19th at Auditorium MBSA, Shah Alam.

The CPF, prepared by Zaid Ibrahim, Pakatan Rakyat’s policy coordinator, will be the compass and guiding light to the coalition in their effort to reach and touch the hearts and minds of Malaysians to convince them that they are sincere in their effort to check the downward spiralling trend of Malaysia if and when they succeed in winning the next election.

The coalition recognizes that many still Malaysians still fall prey to BN’s propaganda to promote a narrow understanding of race, divisive hate politics and authoritarianism. The recessive economy, the loss of moral conscience coupled with the greed of corruption and archaic policies have caused Malaysia to lag behind compared to other vibrant economies in the region. With that, the gap between the haves and have-nots and between the Peninsular and Sabah and Sarawak have widened even further.

Through the Common Policy Framework, Pakatan Rakyat has publicly announced their commitment to fully internalise and carry out an agenda of new politics by mobilizing the people’s power from the various races, religions and cultures as one force.

You can read a summary of the Common Policy Framework at this LINK.

Many Malaysians are still unclear about the Common Policy Framework. As such, Sembang-sembang Forum is organizing a forum to help Malaysians to understand the Common Policy Framework.

Please come early to get a seat. This forum is open to everyone. Admission is free.

This introduction is written by Masterwordsmith.

Since taking my seat in the Senate, I have had an opportunity of watching at close quarters the performance of Datuk Dr. Wee Ka Siong, the Deputy Minister of Education, and I have been enormously impressed by his thoroughly professional approach and attitude to his ministerial duty. He has always struck me as a person of a liberal turn of mind, and I was, therefore, taken by complete surprise to read in the print media that he ” had contacted the Bernama TV producer and the programme host of the ‘live’ show (January to say that he will also take legal action against them.” And all this in an obvious attempt to muzzle the forthright social activist and anti-corruption advocate,Tan Sri Robert Phang, from exercising his citizen’s right to fair and responsible comment on the PKFZ affair, a subject of great public interest. The live talk show was was stopped dead in its tracks
well before time and viewers were short changed.

Not content with using his position to direct and influence the government-linked Bernama TV channel, he again sought to silence
dissenting views by obtaining a court order to force the proceedings of a press conference called by Robert Phang to be halted in
mid-sentence. I have never in my life come across anyting quite like it in any open, democratic society. Wee Ka Siong has every right to sue, but surely he must first listen to what his critics have to say before threatening to go on a suing spree. His actions in these two instances have naturally invited questions about the cause of his behaviour, bordering on the obsessive. He has opened himself to imputaions of improper motives, and abuse of power.And he has only himself to blame in the circumstances.

The PKFZ scandal has rocked this nation, and as he himself has admitted, “his former consultantcy firm, Hijau Sekitar Sdn. Bhd. was engaged by Wijaya Baru Sdn. Bhd. to produce a feasibility study of port expansion in Port Klang.” Robert Phang’s suggestion that given Wee Ka Siong’s familiarity with the project through his firm’s participation in the early stages puts him in a usefu position to come forward as an important witness in the current inquiry into the affair. We should wecome this helpful suggestion because we all have a positive role to play in the fight against corruption.

As a responsible leader, Wee Ka Siong must realise that his behaviour in this case smacks of abuse of influence peddling, and that is being charitable. We live in a society aspiring to democratic principles and behaviour in public life. Let us lead by example.

Tunku Abdul Aziz
Kuala Lumpur.

By Baradan Kuppusamy (Malaysian Insider)

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 16 — The DAP national convention in Ipoh on Sunday will showcase a political party maturing from a Chinese-based, urban centric political organisation into a national political organisation representing Middle Malaysia — that growing clientele of Malaysians, irrespective of race or religion, desiring a merit based, just and fair performance democracy build around a secular constitution and governance by Rule of Law.

That’s the vision the DAP has fought for since its founding in March 1966 and that’s the vision it has offered the electorate in various forms and shape, Malaysian Malaysia included, in the past ten general elections.

The staying power of the DAP was rewarded in the 2008 general election and this Sunday’s convention, to be attended by over 1,200 national delegates, is also about, what is next for the DAP.

“Not only are we concerned about the next general election and how to do well with our Pakatan allies, but we are also focused on our future beyond that,” said DAP leader and Ipoh Barat MP M Kulasegaran (picture).

“How the DAP can lead the transformation of Malaysia into a vibrant and democratic country respecting diversity and human rights are also themes we are debating,” he told The Malaysian Insider.

Not only is the party growing, both in membership, political clout and confidence, it is aiming to transform into a truly multi-racial, national party.

In one sense the DAP is competing with and hoping to eventually outdo ally PKR as the true champion of Middle Malaysia.

Middle Malaysia is a growing constituency held together by common values and desires to see the birth of a prosperous and just Malaysia held together by respect for the constitution and Rule of Law.

“Previously we were seen as just an opposition political party that always raises a hue and cry over issues,” said lawyer and DAP leader A. Sivanesan.

“But now people are beginning to see us as a growing, national political party that is able to rule and able to provide a clean and transparent government,” he said.

“People realise that we can handle responsibilities,” he said.

It is this kind of confidence and maturity that the DAP wants to showcase at its national convention on Sunday.

The PKR is mired in internal squabbles and divergence of views over major issues of governance i.e. over holding local council election, over the role of Islam in a secular society and over the future of Pakatan Rakyat supremo Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

It’s an image the PKR can do without.

The DAP on the other hand appears united and focused while inexperienced at governing but is by most accounts doing a decent job running Penang.

Consolidation and expansion are the main long term themes of the convention but the immediate focus is on preparations for the 13th general election.

DAP sources said party secretary general Lim Guan Eng will touch on various themes in his keynote address including party discipline and the need to toe the line and not go off on a tangent like the case of a Penang state assemblyman who is threatening to resign if parking fees is introduced in his constituency.

He will also repeat what adviser Lim Kit Siang had famously warned last year that PR can end up as a “one term wonder” if it does not end squabbles, buck up and deliver on the numerous promises made to the electorate.

Sunday’s gathering will also see more Malay faces among the delegates, a rare sight because previous DAP conventions, forums and meetings had come and gone without the participation of a single Malay.

But all that is changing. According to DAP leaders more Malays were signing up to join DAP and form branches.

“They are beginning to accept that we are for common values, equality and democratic governance and rule of law,” said DAP Vice-chairman M Kulasegaran.

Appointing former Transparency International Malaysia president Tunku Abdul Aziz Ibrahim as party vice-chairman and nominating him as a senator has also enhanced the DAP’s image among Malaysians and given it a national flavour.

YBM Senator Tunku Abdul Aziz akan memberi ucaptama pada Persidangan ‘Malaysia at Crossroads’ seperti berikut:

Tarikh: 9 Januari 2010 (Sabtu)
Masa: 9 pagi
Tempat: Hotel Holiday Inn, Glenmarie Shah Alam

Persidangan ini dianjurkan oleh Pusat Pengajian Perangsaraf Media & Informasi (PPPMI) UiTM.

Sebarang pertanyaan, sila hubungi penganjur di talian 03-55225568 (Munis Paran) atau emel ke CMIWS@salam.uitm.edu.my

I was interviewed by a group of young energetic people in their project called Paradigm Infinitum early July 2009.

They are (from left) Wai Kiong Chan (kiong@paradigminfinitum.com), Shona Leppanen-Gibson (shona@paradigminfinitum.com) and Vicknaraj Thanarajah (raj@paradigminfinitum.com).

It is a great pleasure to have them.

More information about the project is available at www.paradigminfinitum.com.

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 22 (Bernama) — The indelible ink bought for use in the 12th general election has been disposed of according to procedure set by Government Regulations that is by a burning process.

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Liew Vui Keong, said the ink that could not be used due to security and legal problems was disposed of on Nov 25.

He said this in a written reply to a question by Senator Tunku Abdul Aziz Tunku Ibrahim on the decision made on the indelible ink that was bought and was to be sold but its expiry date had passed.

On another question regarding inquests that had not been carried out or were postponed, Liew said the such inquests mostly had problems related to witnesses not attending or they could not be traced.

“No specific action is taken to speed up the inquests besides issuing arrest warrants for witnesses who fail to attend court although they had been subpoenaed,” he said in a written reply to a question by Tunku Abdul Aziz in the Dewan Negara here on Tuesday.

Ucapan YBM Senator Tunku Abdul Aziz Ibrahim di Dewan Negara pada 22 Disember 2009

Tuan Yang Dipertua

Terima kasih kerana membenarkan saya membahaskan Rang Undang-undang Lembaga Perkhidmatan Kewangan Luar Pesisir Labuan (Pindaan) 2009.

Kerajaan telah mengisytiharkan Labuan sebagai Wilayah Persekutuan pada 1984 yang bertujuan untuk mewujudkan Pusat Kewangan Persisiran Pantai dan bersaing dengan Singapura. Ciri-ciri penting pusat ini untuk urustadbir mudah dan penyeliaan dengan mempunyai kerahsiaan. Pusat kewangan sebegini juga mestilah berada dalam sebuah Negara yang stabil dari segi politiknya dan populasi aman. Selain itu, tenaga kerja berpusat kepada perkhidmatan dan professional dan bercirikan Pelancongan juga amat penting.

Saya ingin mengambil perhatian daripada pihak Dewan yang Mulia ini bahawa Negara Korea Selatan telah pun menetapkan Labuan sebagai pusat perlindungan cukai dalam satu senarai hitam atau pun blacklist, dengan izin. Selain Korea Selatan, Negara-negara Eropah melalui OECD juga telah mengesyaki Labuan sebagai sebuah pusat perlindungan cukai yang boleh mendatangkan keburukan.
Pada 30 Jun 2006, Ministry of Finance and Economy Korea Selatan meletakkan Labuan di dalam senarai hitam dan untuk pengetahuan Tuan Yang Dipertua, hanya Malaysia terletak di dalam senarai hitam.

Bolehkah Kementerian Kewangan menjelaskan perkara ini dan sekiranya ya, apakah punca-punca sehingga kita di senarai hitam kan?

Sekiranya kita menggunakan statistic yang dikeluarkan oleh Labuan Offshore Financial Centre (LOFSA) pada tahun 2006, syarikat-syarikat yang beroperasi di Labuan hanya berjumlah 60% sahaja iaitu sebanyak 4,121 yang mana lainnya tidak beroperasi atau pun berkubur.

Pada tahun 2008, British Virgin Islands sudah pun mempunyai 400,000 syarikat beroperasi dan sekiranya berbanding dengan Malaysia, kita hanya 1% berbanding dengan Negara tersebut. Mengikut maklumat, kita telah membelanjakan RM1 billion untuk 20 tahun dan kita hanya mencapai 1% daripada British Virgin Island dalam tempoh jangkamasa yang sama.

Tuan Yang Dipertua,

Di Labuan, kita mempunyai 300 institusi kewangan bertapak di Labuan tetapi hanya terdapat 4.121 pelanggan. Oleh itu, kita hanyalah memainkan peranan sebgai hartanah. Dan tidak mustahil kita akan menjadi sebuah lagi mini Cyberjaya yang mempunyai bangunan yang tersergam tetapi kosong.

Saya kira, di dalam Rang Undang-undang Lembaga Perkhidmatan Kewangan Luar Pesisir Labuan (Pindaan) 2009, kita perlu menekankan bahawa pindaan yang dibuat haruslah selaras dengan syarat-syarat di dalam OECD. Antaranya, kita haruslah memastikan bahawa aktiviti-aktiviti yang tidak berlandaskan undang-undang perlulah dibendung. Kita juga memastikan bahawa kita mempunyai perkongsian maklumat dengan Negara-negara jiran.

Begitu juga bagi Rang Undang-undang Cukai Aktiviti Perniagaan Luar Pesisir Labuan (Pindaan) juga, kita memastikan dapat menangani kekurangan di dalam syarat cukai berganda atau double tax treaty loophole, dengan izin.

Tuan yang Dipertua,

Kita perlu menerima hakikat bahawa Labuan ialah satu lagi sebuah projek gajah putih yang gagal.

Justeru, saya ingin mendapat komitmen daripada pihak kementerian, sajauh manakah kerajaan sanggup bersikap telus dalam mendedahkan keseluruhan perbelanjaan awam yang telah dikeluarkan di Labuan.

Saya juga ingin pihak kementerian membentangkan kajian mengenai prestasi yang dibuat berhubung dengan Labuan berbanding dengan OFC.

Cuma, harapan kita bagi bersaing dengan Singapura ialah untuk memfokuskan dalam urusan perbbankan Islam seperti yang terkandung di dalam Rang Undang-undang Perkhidmatan Kewangan dan Sekuriti Islam dan mewujudkan Shariah Supervisory Council, dengan izin.

Sekian, terima kasih.

Ucapan Ahli Dewan Negara YBM Senator Tunku Abdul Aziz Ibrahim pada 22 Disember 2009 di Dewan Negara berhubung dengan Rang Undang-undang Jawatankuasa Etika Hakim 2008

Tuan yang Dipertua,
Pertama sekali saya ingin mengucapkan tahniah kepada Kerajaan Persekutuan atas usaha dalam menjalankan reformasi dalam system kehakiman yang tidak menampakkan peningkatannya di Negara ini.

Sudah tiba masanya untuk hakim-hakim di mahkamah kita diterapkan dengan sifat-sifat beretika dengan bermulanya penguatkuasaan rang undang-undang ini.
Hakim sering menggunakan kuasanya dalam menghukum peguam yang kononnya telah menghina mahkamah. Terdapat kes di mana kesalahan peguam yang tidak seberapa juga dikenakan tindakan atas hina mahkamah.

Tuan Yang Dipertua,

Saya ingin mengambil kesempatan ini untuk mengimbas kembali kes pada 5 September 2000 di antara Zainur Zakaria melawan Pendakwaraya. Segalanya bermula dengan perbicaraan kes Anwar Ibrahim (Datuk Seri) pada 2 November 1998. Pada 28 November 1998 Anwar (melalui peguamnya) memohon untuk mengusir dua daripada pendakwaraya.

Hakim telah mempertikaikan di dalam penhujahan peguam di mana di dalam affidavit yang menunjukkan terdapatnya permohonan untuk mengada-adakan bukti.
Setelah beberapa persoalan mengenai perkara yang kecil, Hakim membuat keputusan bahawa Zainur telah menghina mahkamah.

Hakim telah menjatuhkan tiga bulan penjara kepada Zainur Zakaria akibat daripada perdebatan itu.

Di dalam kes seumpama ini, kita mempersoalkan isu etika dalam sikap hakim dalam membicarakan sesuatu kes.

Di dalam kes-kes normal dan seharian, hakim juga boleh sewenang-wenangnya membaling fail yang tidak disukainya di dalam kamar (ketika sedang dalam perbicaraan) dan hakim juga pernah membatalkan sesuatu perbicaraan kes hanya apabila peguam terlamat 10 minit kerana tersekat di dalam kesesakan lalulintas atau kemalamgam tanpa mahu berkompromi.

Yang Dipertua,

Saya ingin memperincikan beberapa perkara di dalam SUruhanjaya Integriti Agensi Penguatkuasaan atau SIAP.

Pertamanya, perlantikan pesuruhjaya di dalam SIAP termasuk Pengerusi dan Timbalan pengerusinya yang dilantik oleh Yang Dipertuan Agong atas nasihat Perdana Menteri. Berlainan dengan IPCMC, pengerusi dan timbalannya mestilah dari kalangan mereka yang mempunyai tempoh perkhidmatan dalam bidang perundangan Persekutuan atau Negeri sekurang-kurangnya 10 tahun.

Saya kira, satu garis panduan perlu diberikan dalam akta ini agar Perdana Menteri mempunyai satu panduan mereka-mereka yang akan dilantik untuk menerajui Suruhanjaya ni dan menasihati Yang Dipertuan Agong.

Perlantikan ini adalah mustahak dalam mengenalpasti pesuruhjaya kerana SIAP ini diberikan kuasa siasatan lebih daripada suruhanjaya-suruhanjaya lain.

Tuan Yang Dipertua,

Saya juga ingin mengambil kesempatan dengan menyatakan di sini bahawa Malaysia mempunyai sebuah sistem perundangan yang ‘mimilih bulu’. Perdana Menteri menyatakankepentingan tentang reformasi sistem kehakiman tetapi tidak berupaya melaksanakannya.

Di dalam satu kes peguam VK Lingam yang dekat dengan saya, Peguam Negara memberitahu bahawa kes tersebut tidak dapat dibuktikan sungguhpun terdapat rakaman video yang jelas menunjukkan terdapat percaturan di dalam hakim-hakim.

Di dalam kes yang sama, bukankah gambar-gambar peguam yang bercuti dengan hakim di luar Negara tidak cukup bukti?

Kerajaan membiarkan ‘ikan-ikan jerung’ berleluasa. Bagi menunjukkan kepada rakyat, ‘ikan-ikan bilis’ dijadikan mangsa.

Bercakap mengenai kuasa siasatan, sungguhpun kuasa diberikan, namun perlu diteliti tahap kuasa pendakwaan yang diberikan kepada SIAP ini.

Seperti Suhakam, SIAP hanya boleh menjalankan inkuri yang kemudiannya, hasil daripada siasatan akan diserahkan dan diberikan cadangan kepada Peguam Negara bagi tujuan pendakwaan. SIAP boleh membentangkan ratusan kes dalam penyalahgunaan dan sikap tidak berintegriti namun sekiranya Peguam Negara tidak melakukan apa-apa terutama sekali sekiranya kita mempunyai Peguam Negara yang mempunyai kepentingan tertentu, maka penjenayah tersebut akan tetap berleluasa.

Kredibiliti SIAP ini akan menjadi tidak ada bezanya dengan MACC yang jelas dalam siasatan yang mereka lakukan amat bersikap berat sebelah.

Seharusnya, SIAP perlu diberi kuasa pendakwaan dan mampu untuk membawa kes pendakwaan ke mahkamah.

Saya juga ingin mencadangkan agar SIAP juga diberi kuasa untuk mengarahkan pegawai-pegawai atau mana-mana yang didapati bersalah untuk dibekukan gaji mereka, dibekukan jawatan atau dipecat sahaja daripada memegang jawatan yang dipegang pada waktu itu.

Ini yang saya katakan kuasa dengan taring. Jadikan SIAP sebuah badan suruhanjaya yang benar-benar bersifat sebagai sebuah badan berwibawa, bersih dan benar-benar menakutkan sesiapa yang cuba melakukan jenayah khususnya badan kepolisian yang ternyata sudah jatuh tahap kehormatan orang ramai.

Jadikan SIAP sebagai contoh sebuah badan yang berintegriti sebelum mereka menjalankan tugas utama mereka. Belajar daripada kesilapan SPRM di mana Pengerusi mereka sendiri didapati melakukan rasuah.

Yang Dipertua,

Saya kira akta yang digubal ini tidak akan berguna sekiranya tidak ada penguatkuasaan dijalankan dengan serius oleh pihak berwajib.

Sekian, terima kasih.

SOALAN:

YBM Tunku Abd Aziz Tunku Ibrahim minta PERDANA MENTERI menyatakan tindakan yang diambil terhadap kes yang mana inkues belum dijalankan atau tertangguh.

JAWAPAN:
YB DATUK LIEW VUI KEONG, TIMBALAN MENTERI DI JABATAN PERDANA MENTERI

Tuan yang Dipertua,

Untuk makluman Ahli Yang Berhormat, kes-kes inkues yang belum dijalankan atau telah ditangguhkan kebanyakannya disebabkan oleh masalah saksi yang tidak dapat hadir perbicaraan ataupun saksi-saksi tidak dapat dikesan, Tiada tindakan spesifik yang dilakukan untuk mempercepatkan kes inkues melainkan mengeluarkan waran tangkap kepada saksi-saksi yang gagal hadir ke Mahkamah walaupun telah disapina.

Sekian, terima kasih.