This wasn’t Alvin Tan’s first venomous posting in his Facebook account since arriving in the United States recently, after jumping bail and soon to be classified as a fugitive for scooting away from criminal charges current in the court.
The Malay Mail online:
Fugitive sex blogger Alvin Tan again under sedition scope
SEPTEMBER 29, 2014
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 29 ― Already deemed a fugitive for skipping town and violating his bail terms, Malaysian sex blogger Alvin Tan is now facing yet another probe under the Sedition Act back home ― this time for criticising the country’s leaders on Facebook
According to Astro Awani, Deputy Federal CID chief Deputy Comm Datuk Amar Singh confirmed today that Tan is being investigated under the 1948 law for criticising, among others, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar and Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
“Members of the public have lodged reports against Alvin Tan. Upon this, we initiated an investigation under the Sedition Act,” DCP Amar was quoted saying by the news portal.
Asked how the authorities plan to bring Tan, who is now believed to be in the United States, back to Malaysia to face his charges, DCP Amar said: “Let us complete the investigation first. Then, we will liaise with the Attorney General’s department to decide the next course of action.”
Tan, who is now seeking asylum in the US purportedly to escape Umno, recently took to Facebook to vent his frustrations against the government’s recent sedition crackdown on dissenters.
The controversial sex blogger also referred to IGP Khalid as the German nazi commander Heinrich Himmler and said Zahid was “the closest thing to true evil”.
A Twitter user was charged earlier this month under the Penal Code for “deliberately humiliating and provoking” Khalid when he too likened the IGP to Himmler.
Yesterday, IGP Khalid vowed to search every “wormhole” for Tan until the blogger is found, saying the youth’s repeated insults against the authorities on social media is “unforgivable”.
Tan, the fugitive Malaysian blogger slapped with multiple charges over his now-defunct sex blog and controversial Hari Raya greeting involving pork dish “bak kut teh”, resurfaced in cyberspace recently, saying that he is now seeking political asylum in the US.
Singapore media agency Channel News Asia (CNA) reported Tan as saying he is fleeing from Umno — the mainstay party of Malaysia’s ruling coalition Barisan Nasional (BN), and had applied for asylum in the US in May.
Tan and his ex-girlfriend Vivian Lee May Ling, 25, were hauled to court last July 18 and slapped with three charges, but the couple known as “Alvivi” managed to get the court to struck off a charge under Section 298A of the Penal Code.
Tan and Lee still face a charge under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act for publishing a seditious photograph and the words “Selamat Berbuka Puasa” (dengan Bak Kut Teh…wangi, enak, menyelerakan!) [Happy breaking fast with bak kut teh…fragrant, delicious, appetising]” on their Facebook page last July 11 that also showed a halal logo.
They are also being tried for a second remaining charge under subsection 5(1) of the Film Censorship Act 2002 for displaying pornographic images on their blog, alviviswingers.tumblr.com, between July 6 and July 7 last year.
The court had previously ordered the duo to surrender their passports and allowed them to be released on bail, but allowed them to temporarily take back their travel documents on May 18 this year to travel to Singapore to shoot a documentary.
Only Lee returned the passport on June 3, while Tan failed to show up on the scheduled date and went missing, leading the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court to issue an arrest warrant and forfeit his RM20,000 bail.
Apparently, there are so many Malaysians like this. The come out from the woodworks and antagonise the majority as they like, with all sorts of excuses. When the law is thrown at and against them, they cry foul and as if as the majority is out to oppress and persecute them.
Alvin Tan’s Facebook posting 26 September 2014, which was mentioned by IGP Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar
Aren’t they the sort who consciously and intentionally utilise free-to-use medium for public exposition to make many people anguish and sow hatred?
This is why there is the Sedition Act. It is not mere intellectual irritation. This is an example of continuous irritation that unless dealt with, would compound into hatred.
Alvin Tan’s and Vivian Lee’s ‘Selamat Berbuka Puasa’ message via FB, which landed them facing charges under the Sedition Act
Malaysians lashed against seditiously stupid social media abuser Alvin Tan who sought asylum in the United States after hoodwinking Malaysian immigration authorities for a work excuse in Singapore, who conveniently blamed UMNO and Federal Government for his troubles. He also ditched his current seditious case insulting the Muslims last year’s Ramadhan and former girlfriend Vivian Lee, to face the case alone.
Recently acquired news portal by Anwaristas story:
Malaysians flay sex blogger Alvin Tan for fleeing to US
BY ANISAH SHUKRY
Published: 28 September 2014 | Updated: 28 September 2014 6:35 PM
Alvin Tan (red t-shirt) being led to court following his arres following his alleged offensive post online last year. – The Malaysian Insider pic, September 28, 2014.
Sex blogger Alvin Tan’s decision to seek asylum in the United States has drawn flak from Malaysian social media users, many of whom believe he should face up to his actions rather than flee the country.
Tan and his former partner, Vivian Lee, had been charged under the Sedition Act for uploading a bak kut teh posting during Ramadan last year, but he violated his bail conditions while on a supposed working trip to Singapore.
Tan, 26, had insisted in a recent interview with The Malaysian Insider that leaving Malaysia was “the only rational action” as he was powerless to fight “tyranny and ignorance”.
However, most Facebook users felt otherwise, noting that Tan should have been brave enough to face the consequences of the law after knowingly breaking it.
“The reason he ‘tak suka Malaysia’ is because he’s being prosecuted for a crime under Malaysian law. In my opinion, he deserves to be punished for his puerile acts in the past,” wrote Facebook user Josh Wu.
“He openly admitted to deceiving the courts by fleeing to the United States after Malaysian courts were kind enough to allow him to go to Singapore for some film-shooting.
“The law shouldn’t protect those who misuse the law. He who seeks equity must do equity.”
Another Facebook user, Eugene Leong, said Tan had started the entire episode with his Ramadan wishes, which he said were uncalled for.
“That was indeed a silly and stupid thing to do. Yes, he was punished by the courts. Yes, he fled Malaysia via some excuses.
“But, what I would really like to know is how he feels now, knowing that he got his mum to lose the bond money of 20k when he ran away, instead of defending himself in court!” wrote Leong.
In his interview with The Malaysian Insider, Tan had defended the post, which carried a photo of a pork dish, as political satire.
He said it had highlighted the danger of using Islam “as a basis to govern other people’s life” by legislating personal morals, without making a distinction between what is immoral and what is illegal.
Tan added that he did not believe he was a coward by seeking refuge in the US, but that he was “smart, pragmatic, calculative and mercenary”.
“When the government and its institutions decide to ruin your life and jail you for years just because you hurt their feelings, you do not sit back and try to fight the overwhelming wave of emotional, irrational force coming down on you,” he had said.
But most Facebook users dismissed this, saying his actions were cowardly and idiotic.
“I think he is humiliating himself becoz of his ego! Nothing so smart, also more like childish!” wrote Vivian V. Kulasingham.
“It’s either he is a coward or he is an idiot!!!” wrote Augustin Anthony.
They also warned Tan that he would be extradited back to Malaysia and still have to face the courts.
“Don’t be confident. Soon he will realise that he will be extradited back to Malaysia. But I really pity the girl because he left her,” wrote Mohd Shafian Noordin, referring to Lee.
Anastasia Pertiwi said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was well known for “covert negotiations” and a single phone call to US President Barack Obama would have Tan on the first flight back to Malaysia.
“How long can he stay there? Unless he possess the green card, else it will be deported back. Know yourself first before the enemy,” wrote Chai KL.
However, a handful of Facebook users defended Tan, with one even hailing him a “hero”.
“He is battling the political system not race and religion. Don’t be confused,” wrote Brian Low.
Clement Leong Ern said that while he did not condone Tan’s past actions, the sex blogger was “speaking sense” now.
“Bravo Alvin Tan!” wrote Rosa Rosa.
Tan and Lee are facing criminal charges under Malaysia’s Sedition Act as well as the Film Censorship Act for their controversial online uploads, including a photo deemed insulting to Islam on Facebook.
They were both allowed a total bail of RM30,000 each, with two sureties, by the High Court in Kuala Lumpur in July last year. – September 28, 2014.
***********
The Malaysian Insider published an exchane of e mail interview with Tan, to explain himself:
Sex blogger Alvin Tan says not a coward, but smart to seek asylum
Whatever one thinks about sex blogger Alvin Tan, the controversial Singapore scholar has rather opinionated views of politics, Malaysian society and religion. The 26-year-old is seeking asylum in the United States but told The Malaysian Insider that his decision to flee his homeland was to escape the government’s “tyranny” as well as the…
Malaysia Insider
Whatever one thinks about sex blogger Alvin Tan, the controversial Singapore scholar has rather opinionated views of politics, Malaysian society and religion.
The 26-year-old is seeking asylum in the United States but told The Malaysian Insider that his decision to flee his homeland was to escape the government’s “tyranny” as well as the “ignorance” of ordinary Malaysians.
The butt of criticism by many Malaysians after his offensive and controversial Ramadan greeting on Facebook in July last year, Tan defended the post, which carried a photo of a pork dish, as political satire.
He revealed that this entire episode highlighted the danger of using Islam “as a basis to govern other people’s life” by legislating personal morals, without making a distinction between what is immoral and what is illegal.
The former law student at the National University of Singapore, and his then partner Vivian Lee, first came under the spotlight after uploading raunchy sex postings on their blog.
But it was their bak kut teh posting during Ramadan last year that landed them in hot water, and even in jail briefly – after they were charged under the Sedition Act and the Film Censorship Act.
Tan violated his bail conditions while on a supposed working trip to Singapore and is now on Interpol’s wanted list.
After lying low for a while, he recently emerged on social media to make known his plans for asylum in the US.
In this bare all e-mail interview, Tan admits that he may even have been “young and stupid” once, but is determined now to face the consequences as a man, and in a strange and unexpected way, adds to the debate over Malaysia’s ongoing struggle to define its secular-Islamist identity.
TMI: What are your feelings now compared to when you were charged on July 18 last year, given what you have been through?
Tan: My focus now is to start afresh and pursue my dreams in the greatest country in the world, now that there is no tyrannical government in the way. Upon leaving Malaysia, I felt a huge burden being lifted off my back, and I feel safe enough, because I know that extradition between USA and Malaysia will not be an easy task.
Dr Wan Junaidi (Deputy Home Minister Datuk Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar) himself said that an extraditable offence is an offence that is a crime in both Malaysia and the US, otherwise the extradition request will fail.
Remember how the A-G’s Chambers tried to extradite Raja Petra Kamaruddin in 2009 and the UK government essentially told them to sod off? Either way, just because I am in a better position to speak up now does not mean that I will.
The last thing I want to be is one of those exiled dissidents who is forever attacking his home country from abroad, bitter and jaded and never really settling down and starting a new life overseas.
TMI: What can you say about the Malaysian approach to freedom of speech and expression?
Tan: The underlying problem is that we’re somehow brainwashed into genuinely believing that words are dangerous and can cause riots, killings, etc. With this belief permeating every average Malaysian’s mind, they find themselves supporting laws like the Sedition Act with a straight face “in order to keep the peace.”
With the people’s support of so-called hate speech laws as justification, the government thus keeps the Sedition Act around and uses it whenever it sees fit.
But history has taught us that any hate speech law will eventually be abused by the government for unjust censorship, 100% of the time, which is why the American founding fathers stressed that all forms of speech, ESPECIALLY offensive speech, should be immune to prosecution with Article 1 of the 1791 Bill of Rights.
They understood this idea more than 200 years ago, and look where it has led them politically, economically, culturally, and militarily today. The correct way to deal with a difference in opinion, particularly when it is a moral opinion, is education or, at most, social condemnation in the form of disassociation or boycotts, not jailing people.
TMI: How is your family back home taking all this, in particular the fact that you are seeking asylum, are they supportive? What about your friends?
Tan: My family is trying to live their lives as normally as possible. They have ceased to offer opinions on my life decisions at this stage, because, really, they are ill-equipped to understand and advise on what I am up to, considering the depth of the mess that I have got myself into thus far.
My friends seem to believe that my only and best option, for someone of my temperament, is to get out of Malaysia, and undoubtedly I have taken their advice seriously.
TMI: Why are you seeking asylum, is it because you do not have trust in the local justice system?
Tan: I am seeking asylum not only from the tyranny of Umno, but from the ignorance of ordinary Malaysians. The tyranny of Umno is obvious: they want to jail me to show how much of a stalwart of Islam they are. They control the police force, the A-G’s Chambers, the lower courts, the media, and, via the media and the education system, the minds of the people.
The ignorance of ordinary Malaysians is more stealthy but equally lethal. When people believe that it is okay to jail people just because they are immoral or objectionable or offensive, even though they never harmed anyone, you know that this is a primitive country which does not know that immorality and illegality are two different things.
When they call for Ibrahim Ali to be jailed for saying things, I knew it was time to get out as soon as possible.
It is often said that we deserve the government that we get. In Malaysia, Umno manages to stay in power precisely because many people actually subscribe to the Umno mindset, at least in part, without even realising it.
Put simply, the reason I left to seek asylum is that I am powerless to fight against such tyranny and ignorance. The only rational action for me is to leave, instead of wasting my precious life to fight a Sisyphean battle.
TMI: This might mean that you will be remembered among those who do not know you here in Malaysia as a fugitive. Does this bother you in any way?
Tan: Many Malaysians claim that I was a coward for running away. I do not think so at all. When the government and its institutions decide to ruin your life and jail you for years just because you hurt their feelings, you do not sit back and try to fight the overwhelming wave of emotional, irrational force coming down on you.
That is a very unfair situation to expect me to put up any type of fight. I was alone, and even those heartless mercenaries known as Pakatan Rakyat leaders (Anwar Ibrahim and Lim Guan Eng) called for my imprisonment in Parliament just so that they did not lose the Muslim vote. Imagine fighting literally the entire country just on your own and your lawyer.
The only rational thing to do is to leave in an act of self-preservation. First, I was stupid for inviting Muslims to break fast with pork during Ramadan. Now, I am a coward for running away from a trial that will be anything but fair.
Either way, they will have something to criticise me about. What I know is that I am done being stupid. The current Alvin Tan is smart, pragmatic, calculative and mercenary.
TMI: At what point did you decide to seek asylum?
Tan: I first knew about the concept of political asylum when I was in Sungai Buloh prison in July 2013. My Iranian cellmate urged me to apply to the United Nations High Commission of Refugees (UNHCR) for asylum after hearing about my situation. When I was released on court bail, the court, however, took away my passport.
I waited for the right time for almost a year, slowly cutting off my ties in Malaysia (eg liquidating assets, ending contracts), and, when the court approved my going to Singapore to supposedly film a documentary in Singapore in May this year, I seized the opportunity and fled.
TMI: Is there a possibility that your asylum application to the US will not succeed? What happens then?
Tan: I have two layers of appeals, should my initial asylum claim fail. I am still free to put in similar claims in Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Australia, England, etc, if I happen to fail in my bid in America.
TMI: Your rebuke appears to be targeted at the government and Muslims, can you explain why this is so?
Tan: The reason I target Muslims is that they do not seem to understand the concept of separation of church and state. They seem to want to legislate every single religious principle or rule into the law book, and they seem to be especially blind to the distinction between immorality and illegality. In any country with such a situation, Islam is really a political idea, not merely personal faith.
If they insist on applying Islam in politics and governance, they should also know that criticism to Islam would be inevitable and part and parcel of political discourse. They can no longer say it is something sacred and untouchable and impervious to flak, because Islam is now used as a basis to govern other people’s lives.
This is, in fact, the basis of my political asylum claim. My satirical attempts at ridiculing Muslims is an expression of my political disapproval of Muslims and Islam. Given how pervasive the influence of Islam is in our government institutions, ridiculing Muslims is tantamount to, say, ridiculing conservatives or socialists. It is the same thing.
The American courts know it. Even my San Francisco asylum officer in his independent assessment agrees that my Ramadan pork photograph was political satire, nothing more.
TMI: On hindsight, do you have any regrets over your Ramadan greeting or do you think it all happened for a reason?
Tan: This is too early to say. If my asylum claim succeeds, I am on track to become a US citizen in five years, an awesome dream come true. If not, well, I just have to be content in knowing that I was once young and stupid, and deal with the consequences like a man. My life is now in the hands of the immigration judge hearing my asylum case.
TMI: What about Vivian, are you concerned about her having to face the charges alone now?
Tan: I did convince her to flee, but she did not see the point of it. I already applied to the court to get our passports released using my personal funds, at no expense to her. What more does she want? What I did not do was to fund her escape, because, why should I? We are both independent adults who are supposed to be able to take care of ourselves.
She has a lot of growing up to do if she believes that it is my responsibility to take her along. I mean, hello, she is the university graduate here, not me. She should be more than capable – much more than me – to take care of herself. – September 27, 2014.
***********
Alvin Tan’s and Vivian Lee’s sexual exhibitionism, which video has been deleted from public consumption
The above said video landed Alvin Tan into much trouble. Singapore Minister of Education Heng Swee Keat spoke of the matter in Parliament, “The conduct of the student is reprehensible and unbecoming as a scholar”. National University of Singapore withdrew their ASEAN scholarship which Tan benefitted.
Singaporeans are not shy to criticise Tan, for his conduct which is deemed unacceptable even by the values of modern and dynamic society and western-wannabe Singaporeans.
Vivian Lee, who was Alvin Tan’s girlfriend and co-sexual exhibitionist faced a lot of flak from her family for her private acts with Tan being made explicitly public on purpose via social media network.
Tan has since be called a ‘coward’ in bold letters since he abandoned his former girlfriend and co-conspirator in their sexual exhibitionism and insults against the predominantly Malay-Muslim Malaysia in the most holiest month for Muslims, to face the music all by herself.
Another story by recently acquired news portal by Anwaristas
Alvin Tan’s second act – Hanna TGV
Published: 27 September 2014 | Updated: 28 September 2014 12:11 AM
The fugitive and coward is now thriving in the land of the free and home of the brave.
He has upped his homogeneous firebrand of lashing out against the Malaysian authorities by taunting political leaders and the head of police to come at him.
In the current political atmosphere, Alvin knows that’s a fast track to gain popularity.
He thinks he deserves to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the likes of Adam Adli, Ali Abd Jalil, Edmond Bon and the resilient few who actually mattered in making a change in Malaysia.
But what has he done, besides uploading raunchy sex postings on their blog and not being able to respect the Muslims during their holy fasting month?
When faced with a fight-or-flight situation – Alvin chose the latter, and not without leaving behind collateral damage. His partner, Vivian Lee, continues to face the charges alone.
He has stated before that he created a new personal Facebook account to disassociate himself from Vivian, on the basis to protect her.
If he really wants to be respected – by doing something more concrete and not merely symbolic for Vivian’s well-being – he should immediately make a Statutory Declaration to absolve her from any and all responsibilities that got them into trouble in the first place.
Such gesture, would earn him even more respect from Malaysians – including myself.
Owing to the fact that if he aspires to start afresh and pursue his dreams in the greatest country in the world, he should not leave a trail of mess for the people who still care for him to clean up. – September 27, 2014.
*Hanna TGV reads The Malaysian Insider.
* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.
It is clearly Tan was charged for his seditious posting, intended to hurt the feelings and insult the sensitivities of Muslims in predominantly Malay-Muslim Malaysia in Ramadhan last year. Ramadhan is Muslims’ holiest month.
That makes his charge criminal in nature as his seditious posting Facebook posting had malice intention.
Renown human rights lawyer Edmund Bon opined that escaping criminal charges may not be sufficient grounds for United States or any other countries to grant someone like Tan an asylum.
Rakyat Post story:
‘Political asylum not a way out of a criminal charge’
Human rights lawyer Edmund Bon says the success of applying for political asylum depended entirely on the country where refiuge was sought. — TRP file pic
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 27, 2014:
The grounds for applying for political asylum are important and the success depends on the country where refuge is sought.
Human rights lawyer Edmund Bon said a person could seek asylum when he or she has a well-founded fear of persecution, based on sexual, political, religious or racial orientation, as this is permitted by international law.
He told The Rakyat Post that the success of the application, for instance the one said to have been made by sex blogger Alvin Tan recently, depended on the country he applied to.
Bon said Malaysia had also accepted people under political asylum, saying that a very good example of cases of political asylum in Malaysia were the refugees.
“Refugees who are prosecuted, like the Rohingya community from Myanmar, are given political asylum in Malaysia and are protected by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
“However, this is granted only after a strict assessment of the case.”
Bon said for Tan’s application to be successful. there must be evidence of well-founded fear and truth.
“The application can’t be applied just to run away from a criminal charge.”
When asked if Tan had a strong case, Bon said it depended on the facts of the case which, at this time, he was not familiar with.
Bon said Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail had the right to request the government for Tan to be returned from where he was seeking asylum to stand trial..
It was reported earlier that Tan was currently in the United States and that he was seeking for political asylum.
Speaking to a Singaporean blogger, Tan detailed his journey from Singapore to Mexico, after which he made it to the US-Mexico border and expressed his desire to be granted political asylum there.
Tan had gone missing after he failed to return his passport to the Sessions Court on June 3, which was the date set to enable him and his then girlfriend, Vivian Lee, to be allowed to go to Singapore.
Both were undergoing trial for two charges under the Film Censorship Act and the Sedition Act.
Lee, who returned to Malaysia, was reported to have surrendered her passport. However, Tan failed to do so, following which an arrest warrant was issued for him.
His last known Facebook and Twitter update was in late May before “resurfacing” recently, with Facebook postings indicating he was in Los Angeles, California.
He then began taunting the government, Umno and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar and Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, among others.
Read more: http://www.therakyatpost.com/news/2014/09/27/political-asylum-way-criminal-charge/#ixzz3EdNXpCEW
**************
Tan is not so smart for blaming the Malaysian Government for the troubles that he is currently facing by his own misconducts against the law. Especially, when President Barack H. Obama regarded Malaysia as a progressive Muslim state where “positive change need not come at the expense of tradition and faith”, in his United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) speech on 24 September 2014.
Excerpts of the speech:
And such positive change need not come at the expense of tradition and faith. We see this in Iraq, where a young man started a library for his peers. “We link Iraq’s heritage to their hearts,” he said, and “give them a reason to stay.” We see it in Tunisia, where secular and Islamist parties worked together through a political process to produce a new constitution. We see it in Senegal, where civil society thrives alongside a strong democratic government. We see it in Malaysia, where vibrant entrepreneurship is propelling a former colony into the ranks of advanced economies. And we see it in Indonesia, where what began as a violent transition has evolved into a genuine democracy.
****************
Americans also regard Malaysia as a ‘moderate Muslim nation’ and Islam drives predominantly Malay-Muslim forward and towards progress, on top of being tolerant. Until recent times, Non Muslims are free to carry on with their daily lives without any of the majority predominantly Malay-Muslims encroaching into their belief and cultural system.
It is social rogues like Tan and Lee who are interpreting and taking their opinion on the ‘freedom of speech and expression’ beyond the extreme end, especially at the gross displeasure within the value system of the majority of middle Malaysia.
It is obvious for Alvin Tan was a very stupid young man for attempting to gain attention for his abuses of social media, which include postings of his sexual relationship act and deliberately insulting the Muslims in Ramadhan.
Now, it seems that he is making a bigger fool of himself by seeking asylum instead of being a man and standing by his former girlfriend and face the music, like what a responsible and accountable gentleman should be expected to do.
This is the perfect time for the Sedition Act be used against Semenanjung lieutenants of the Devil, who are actively going around Sabah and instigating the fire of secession call, in the midst of Sabahans being proud of being Malaysians.
Daily Express story:
Sabah DAP launches new movement
Published on: Thursday, September 18, 2014
Kota Kinabalu: Sabah Democratic Action Party (DAP) has initiated the Post Malaysia Generation Movement (PMGM) meant to be the platform for political advocacy especially on issues affecting the natives of Sabah.
The launching ceremony of the new movement was done by DAP Adviser Lim Kit Siang on Aug 31 in Keningau. “Well-known activists Adrian Lasimbang and Kit Siang’s political secretary Dyana Sofya spoke during the event where they expressed their generation’s dreams and aspirations for the country.
“They are well aware that the future of the country depends on the young generation and they must have good, committed and responsible leaders to carry the nation forward,” said DAP Sabah Secretary and Kapayan Assemblyman Edwin Bosi.
At the same time, Bosi added, the young generations must be well informed of the political situation and wellbeing of the country so that they can help steer the country in the right direction.
“This is the right time to take the initiative to fight for the future and for the rights of the young generations,” he added. The objectives of PMGM in Sabah are to build up the leadership capacity as well as to identify and expose the talents of the young people.
It hopes to realise the concept of Malaysians Malaysia, nationalise the native issues and to bring about positive political change in Putrajaya and the country while staying true to its motto of ‘Not Just a Facebook Hero’. Lim (fourth left) during the launching of the PMGM.
Also in the picture are Dyana (third right), Jimmy Wong (third left), Chan Foong Hing (left) and Stephen Wong (second left).
*********
Another is militant and HINDRAF extremist Wathyamoorthy and a long time Sabah secessionist Dr Jeffrey Kittingan, who is the ADUN for Bingkor.
Malaysiakini story:
Monday, June 16, 2014
Borneo nationalists mull Putrajaya protest
A group of Borneo nationalists are mulling a protest in Putrajaya on the federal government’s continued refusal to revisit the Malaysian Agreement over complaints that Sabah and Sarawak are being short-changed.
“Why not (protest)? We should do anything that will advance our cause for a solution.
“It is a choice between doing something or doing nothing,” Bingkor assemblyperson Jeffrey Kitingan said at a forum on The Malaysian Agreement 1963 in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
Jeffrey was responding to a suggestion raised at the forum organised by the Sarawak Association for People’s Aspiration (Sapa) and Borneo Heritage Foundation.
Jeffrey said the forum was deliberately held in Kuala Lumpur to send a signal to the federal government.
“We are trying to send a message to the federal government to open up and respond.
“Don’t leave us hanging and boiling down there (in East Malaysia),” he told journalists later.
He added similar forums were also being held overseas to mobilise support.
Sharing his views on building political momentum, Persatuan Hindraf Malaysia (PHM) chairperson P Waythamoorthy said the group should learn from Hindraf’s massive protest in 2007.
“I told them if you do this in Kuching or Kota Kinabalu, they (Putrajaya) can’t care less.
“But if you do it in Kuala Lumpur, they get worried, so it’s time for them to be worried.
“I was told that there are 120,000 Sarawakians and Sabahans in Johor alone, imagine if you can get 20 percent of them to do a roadshow or whatever,” Waythamoorthy told an audience of some 80 people.
Waytha: Sue the British government
Waythamoorthy, who served a short stint as a deputy minister in Najib’s cabinet, also suggested that Sabah and Sarawak should consider taking the British government to court for the seemingly lopsided Malaysian Agreement.
He said Hindraf is also suing the British government for bringing Indian immigrants to then Malaya without adequate protection for their rights, resulting in today’s marginalised Indian community.
Meanwhile, Sapa president Lina Soo argued that the Malaysian Agreement 1963 was invalid as Sabah and Sarawak were not independent states when they formed the Malaysian Federation.
Soo argued that under the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, only independent states may enter into treaties.
She added that Putrajaya’s failure to comply with the agreement’s terms – such as the Borneo-nisation (hiring locals only) for the civil service in Sabah and Sarawak – and Singapore’s expulsion without consulting the two other partners, also made it void.
Among the other speakers at the forum were Sabah Progressive Party supreme council member Ken Yong, anthropology professor Awang Hasmadi Mois and Angkatan Perubahan Sabah vice-president Kalakau Untol.
Participants at the forum also passed a resolution on the right of self-determination for Sarawak and Sabah.
‘Form reconciliation committee’
The motion reads: “We, the peoples of Sarawak and Sabah in the Convention assembled, do hereby unanimously declare and ordain on this 15th day of June 2014 that it is the peoples’ wishes that the nation-states of Sabah and Sarawak shall seek the right to self-determination as enshrined in international law on human rights and civil liberties by people of independent states.
“And to do so would protect our citizens’ standard of living and re-secure our inalienable rights and freedoms in accordance with the original ideas and beliefs of our founding fathers which have been compromised by the rule of the Malaysian government.”
Jeffrey said if this problem was resolved and power was redistributed to Sabah and Sarawak, it would only serve to strengthen the Federation of Malaysia.
To this end, he called for a “Reconciliation and Reform Committee” comprising East Malaysian stakeholders and the federal government.
Sabah and Sarawak have become more assertive in recent years as BN has become more reliant on the two to retain federal power following declining support in Peninsular Malaysia.
BN has often boasted the two are their ‘fixed deposits’ owing to the large number of parliamentary seats in Borneo.
Umno veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah last year called on Putrajaya to review the 20-point Agreement for Sabah and 18-point Agreement for Sarawak, which are safeguards for the states when forming the Federation of Malaysia.
Tengku Razaleigh, who is the MP for Gua Musang, said the agreements were supposed to have been reviewed 10 years after the formation of Malaysia but this never materialised. However, his call fell on deaf ears.
That, would naturally derive on the more opportunities for Sabahans to better themselves. The state has a lot of potential and they want these potential to be developed, so that more Sabahans would benefit from them.
In short, Sabahans are like the Scots. They want to remain in the union but getting better deals.
They want the sort of deals where more opportunities can be made available to them, from programs being developed as a mid and long term strategy for Sabah to grow.
It is not the kind which did not happen when Tengku Razaleigh was the Bank Bumiputra Chairman, Petronas Chairman and eventually Minister of Finance and Trade and Industry. It was the period where he had the clout and power to invoke changes for more than twenty years.
After all, the political failure Kelantanese prince actually had the first chance to do so in Sabah’s toddler years within the Federation of Malaysia.
Neither it is the sort of radical and hatred politics that Chinese Chauvinist Emperorissimo Lim Kit Siang trying to sow to Sabahans for an anti-Federal sentiment.
It has been a wet dream of Lim in his hard tries to sow hatred sentiments against the BN Sabah leaders. But it is proven to be very unproductive.
It is nothing but simply evil for bankrupt Semenanjung political extremists, radicals and rejects, to waltz around Sabah and instigate the rakyat to rise against the Federal Government and the Sabah State Government, which backs the Federal Government and BN strongly.
This is what the much dreaded Internal Security Act (repealed in 2011 to be replaced with SOSMA and PCA) and Sedition Act designed for. They are the true secessionists and anti-Fedralists.
Something of the past, to remind us what and where our future lies. This is what Santaya taught us and still relevant, then and now.
“Sahabat lama saya, saudara Wee Choo Keong”, Anwar Ibrahim.
“Lawan tetap lawan. Kita nak gulingkan Barisan Nasional. Parti Barang Naik. BN itu Bangkrap Negara!”, Wee Choo Keong. “Kertas (undi) itulah yang puak puak UMNO-Putra takut. Kita akan gulingkan, hancurkan Barisan Nasional pada hari itu!”
It has come to our attention that some of our supposedly more learned blogging brothers have prostituted themselves to be cyber-terrorists.
They do incessant postings despite poor or no response by the target. Definitely, not by other like minded bloggers.
The intention is very clear. They wanted attention, especially when their writings are no longer relevant and became flavourless, without inability to capture the interests or imagination of blog readers.
They also crave for attention from the leadership, be it the political masters or corporate leaders.
This particularly one, even got the attention on the Minister in-charge of overseeing the particular agency where his rabid incessant target reside. He threatened to take his complain to the Parliament when he met the Minister, where as in actually the this pathetic blogger no longer enjoy any clout in that forum.
So the Minister coyly answered “Please do that. Better still, I can give my answer in Parliament”.
That enraged this blogger further, so self-proclaimed to be a ‘mercenary’.
The fact is that, he was a failure where he had been and the tracks he laid. Now that his true colours have bloomed, his integrity is questionable.
Another important point to note that he jumped or being thrown off ships more often than the late Elizabeth Taylor’s marriages.
Probably some point along that line, he earned some moments of glory as the ‘barking mongrel’. Then again, he wasn’t much use to anyone, especially to the Prime Minister except as an occasional ‘barking mongrel’.
He was also banking that he gets a position, probably as the Head of Mission somewhere or Chairmanship, for his stint as an ‘occasional barking mongrel’. He even claimed that it was promised to him.
Probably he did not posses any qualifications nor qualities, for him to be ascended to the much desired posts.
Now, considering almost everyone side lined him for obvious reasons of his usefulness or the very least, effectiveness whatever he thought he was good at, he resorted to prostitute himself as a cyber terrorist.
Today it is a good day to remind that exactly six years ago this time, Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim tried to install himself as the Prime Minister of Malaysia, purely by maneuvres of manipulation and deception in nature. This pathetic man also prostituted himself to be part of that regime.
History also demonstrated that the feat failed.
Lately, the scruffy mongrel allowed himself to be prostituted for another demented scheme. No wonder he was never successful at anything, but taking fights through guerrilla warfare and attempting to stretch it long term.
Just like the Malayan Communist Party. Or so it seemed.
In the wake of the recent public outcry for the support of doing away with the Article 15 of the Federal Constitution, the Sedition Act and equivalent vocal and thundering defence of the same act, Minister of Information, Communication and Multimedia Dato’ Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek assured that the new law would be a better one.
Bernama.com story:
Sedition Act to be replaced with comprehensive law
14 SEPTEMBER 2014 @ 4:13 PM
SUNGAI BESAR: The current Sedition Act 1948 will be replaced with a new act which is more comprehensive, says Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek.
He said the act was needed to monitor writings and publications which could disrupt the harmony and unity among people of various races.
“As such, any seditious writing or words if not nipped in the bud, could lead to more serious problems,” he told reporters when asked to comment on calls by some quarters who wanted the act to be retained, while others wanted it repealed.
Ahmad Shabery said this after opening the Sungai Besar Umno division delegates meeting in Sekinchan here today.–BERNAMA
*************
In theory, the newly enacted laws should be better for the Malaysian society in moving forward and making the nation and her people better. However, that is not true for the Internal Security Act (ISA) which was repealed by the surprised announcement made on this day exactly three years ago.
Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 which came into affect on 22 June 2012 did not have the necessary ‘fangs’ for the security agencies particular the Ministry of Home Affairs, Royal Malaysian Police to ensure the protection of internal and homeland security and prevention of hedious crimes.
This include other law enforcement agencies such as Immigration Department, National Anti-Narcotics Task Force, Royal Malaysian Customs, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Agency, Malaysian Maritime Enfrocement Agency, Military Intelligence coupled with Attorney General’s Chambers powers to prevent hedious crimes.
The Policemen brutally killed in the Lahad Datu and Semporna, March 2013
The February 2013 incursion of Sulu MILF bandits armed with military weapons in Kampung Tanduo near Lahad Datu, the brutal killings and cold blooded murder of Policemen in Kampung Simunul, Semporna, both in East Sabah.
This is on top of the incessant public killings and assassinations and increased activities related to drug processing, manufacturing, importation, exportation and distribution believed to be related to lords of the underworld criminal groups and vices released after the Emergency Ordinance was repealed together with the ISA.
The sudden rise of serious and violent crimes related to the release of more than 2,500 detainees held under ISA and EO was felt across the board by Malaysians in all walks of life.
The Malay Mail Online story:
Former EO detainees involved in 67 violent crime cases
JULY 16, 2013
KUALA LUMPUR, June 16 – Police have detected 67 violent crime cases committed by former detainees under the Emergency Ordinance (EO) 1969 over the first six months this year.
Bukit Aman Anti-Vice, Gambling and Secret Societies Division (D7) principal assistant director Datuk Abdul Jalil Hassan said the number was a 100 per cent increase from the 33 cases detected in the corresponding period last year.
“The number of violent crime cases committed by former EO detainees has increased after 2,473 of them were released in July last year following the abolition of the EO in 2011.
“Among the violent crime committed by the former EO detainees are murder, attempted murder, armed robbery, criminal intimidation and rioting,” he said here today.
He said although the police were aware of the former detainees’ latest addresses, the police had no power to order or ensure that they would stay at the given addresses.
“Following release, some of them have to work and this forced them to move to other places. When opportunity exists like this, some of them may have returned to crime,” he said.
Abdul Jalil said police could only monitor them in terms of job movements, besides asking their families to inform the police of their whereabouts.
Recently, Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was reported as saying that 90 per cent of serious crime were committed by former EO detainees released from Simpang Renggam Detention Centre.
Meanwhile, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said the police had given their input and suggestions to the ministry for the drafting of a new law to replace the EO. – Bernama
Without the ISA, the work to prevent anti-terrorism activities which include Malaysians suddenly became more uphill. Malaysians are being networked by international terrorist organisations such as cells of Al Qaeda to recruit gullible Malaysians for so called ‘Jihad’ fights, in places like Syria and Iraq.
They guised themselves through social media such as Facebook, blogs and Twitter to recruit, sow their ideology and issue instructions for cells to be activated. Pockets of Malaysians leave the country as ‘tourists’ or even some as ‘Umrah pilgrims’, with the intent to join all these terrorist organisations such as ISIL.
Today, it was reported about former PAS Kedah Information Chief Ahmad Lotfi and other members were killed recently in Syria for fighting for the so-called Islamic Jihadists in the rebellion against Bashar Assad’s legitimate government.
The Sun story:
Sacked PAS member Mohd Lofti killed in Syria
Former PAS Kedah Information Chief Mohd. Lotfi Ariffin, killed while fighting in Syria
Posted on 15 September 2014 – 12:32am
Last updated on 15 September 2014 – 02:40am
Charles Ramendran
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
Print
KUALA LUMPUR: Sacked Kedah PAS information chief turned jihadist Mohd Lofti Ariffin (pix), who was seriously wounded in an air raid in Syria last week, died just days after slipping into a coma on Saturday.
The 46-year-old was among a group of Isis militants and other Malaysian jihadist engaged in a gun battle when Syrian military fighter jets bombed their location during the skirmish last Tuesday.
It is learnt that Malaysian authorities are aware of his death following intelligence reports received from their international counterparts.
It was also reported that Mohd Lofti’s older brother had confirmed the death of his sibling when contacted by the media.
It is learnt that another Malaysian, Mohammad Fadhlan Shahidi Mohammad Khir, 21, was killed instantly during the air strike while another, identified only as Abu Afghan, was injured.
Mohammad Fadhlan, who was also from Kedah and the youngest among Malaysian jihadists in Syria, left to join the group in May.
Mohd Lofti, a father of eight children was last seen in Malaysia in January before he left for Syria without informing his family in Kuala Ketil.
He posted several photos of himself in military fatigues with other militants at a Syrian battlefield on Facebook revealing that he had joined a hardline Islamist group called “Ahrar al-Sham” to fight “Allah’s cause”.
PAS distanced itself from Mohd Lofti, condemning his participation in the Syrian civil war, before announcing his sacking from the party in May.
Mohd Lofti, who was the fourth Malaysian to be killed in Syria, had previously been involved in several other holy wars in other countries. He is said to have undergone extensive militant training during that time before heading to Syria where he was tasked to take charge of the Malaysian factions.
There are about 30 Malaysians including a family of four and five former detainees of the repealed Internal Security Act (ISA) who are in Syria fighting the civil war alongside the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isis) militants.
Malaysian police sources said it was highly unlikely the remains of locals killed in Syria will be repatriated here as the process was complicated and the cost of doing so is high.
Police are powerless in acting against those who leave for Syria or planned to do as these individuals leave the country on a “multi-point” air travel to avoid detection, sources told theSun.
******************
This include the first Malaysian suicide bomber. It is unsure how many Malaysians have been recruited to fight as terrorists in these rebellions, which have now become fashionable globally in the skewed guise and excuse for Islam.
The Malaysian Insider story:
More than 100 Malaysians still fighting in Syria and Iraq, say intelligence officers
BY LEE SHI-IAN
Published: 28 June 2014
Shia volunteers, who have joined the Iraqi army to fight against the predominantly Sunni militants from the radical Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), taking part in a parade on a street in Kanaan, Diyala province. There are more than 100 Malaysian jihadists fighting for Isil, say the police. – Reuters pic, June 28, 2014.
Shia volunteers, who have joined the Iraqi army to fight against the predominantly Sunni militants from the radical Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), taking part in a parade on a street in Kanaan, Diyala province. There are more than 100 Malaysian jihadists fighting for Isil, say the police. – Reuters pic, June 28, 2014.
More than 100 Malaysian radicals are in the Middle East fighting for the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Isil), police revealed today.
The number is based on intelligence reports which Special Branch had received, a senior police officer from Bukit Aman told The Malaysian Insider.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, the officer said an accurate figure was difficult to estimate as there were many different routes to troubled Middle East countries.
On Tuesday, Wisma Putra released a statement saying 15 Malaysians had been killed in Syria while allegedly fighting for Isil, a splinter group of al-Qaeda seeking to set up an Islamic caliphate encompassing both Iraq and Syria.
Putrajaya is still waiting for confirmation on the “dead Malaysians” as it was difficult to ascertain the identities of the victims because of a lack of documentation.
“Those who have been detected travelling to Syria and Iraq to wage jihad come from different walks of life,” the police officer told The Malaysian Insider.
“Some are students, some hold regular jobs, some are school dropouts. They are easily influenced by ‘Internet clerics’.”
The police officer said unlike 10 years ago when militant sympathisers conducted their recruitment in religious schools, most of the recruitment now was online.
“Social media has emerged as a powerful tool for these groups to generate support and new manpower. There is also plenty of extremist material on the Internet.”
The police officer revealed there were many videos posted on the Internet which challenged Muslims to rethink their lifestyles.
“Are you willing to sacrifice the fat job you have got, the big car you have, the family you have? Are you willing to sacrifice this, for the sake of Allah?
“Definitely, if you sacrifice something for Allah, Allah will give you 700 times more than this,” the police officer quoted one of the videos.
“These are among the many videos available on the Internet used to influence youths and impressionable Malaysians.”
The police officer warned that Malaysians who participated in jihad abroad posed a threat to national security when they returned home.
“If any Malaysian is found to have participated in a Middle East jihad, they can be charged with promoting acts of terrorism,” the police officer revealed.
“Police have already detained about 16 people over the past two months for planning to participate in jihad in the Middle East.”
Isil, which has seized large swathes of territory in Iraq, is also fighting in Syria and has become a magnet for jihadists from Asia and Europe.
The Sunni insurgent group reportedly seized large amounts of weaponry from the Iraqi army which fled.
On Thursday, PAS revealed that it had sacked cleric Lotfi Ariffin last month after learning the latter had signed up with a militant group fighting in Syria. – June 28, 2014.
****************
It is very damning the problem of more Malaysians getting involved in global terrorism is getting chronic. It is not surprising at all very soon, this so called ‘Jihadist War’ would eventually reach our shores.
Not at the Al Maunah scale but much more lethal and damning proportions. Especially when these battle-hardened fighters with the tight and well networked international terrorist groups come back, as if they are tourists or even pilgrims wandering all over West and Central Asia for convenient excuse of “spiritual journey “of some sort.
The fact is that, ISA was designed for hedious crimes against the His Majesty, the Federation of Malaysia Constitution, His Majesty’s Government and law enforcement and security agencies and the defense of the realm.
Even immigration officers involved in the illegal sales and distribution of MyKads and passports and Royal Customs officers involved in smuggling activities were arrested and detained under ISA and EO.
The law enforcement system is already impaired without both laws and now the Malaysian Government wants to do away with the Sedition Act, the very law inacted and validated by the democratic system via the Parliament to ensure that individuals and pockets of notorious and obnoxious persons do not spew voracious and poisonous opinions that would enrage any groups within the Malaysian society.
These are the provisions as the most important bits of the Sedition Act:
Under section 3(1), those acts defined as having a seditious tendency are acts with a tendency:
“ (a) to bring into hatred or contempt or to excite disaffection against any Ruler or against any Government;
(b) to excite the subjects of the Ruler or the inhabitants of any territory governed by any government to attempt to procure in the territory of the Ruler or governed by the Government, the alteration, otherwise than by lawful means, of any matter as by law established;
(c) to bring into hatred or contempt or to excite disaffection against the administration of justice in Malaysia or in any State;
(d) to raise discontent or disaffection amongst the subjects of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong or of the Ruler of any State or amongst the inhabitants of Malaysia or of any State;
(e) to promote feelings of ill-will and hostility between different races or classes of the population of Malaysia; or
(f) to question any matter, right, status, position, privilege, sovereignty or prerogative established or protected by the provisions of part III of the Federal constitution or Article 152, 153 or 181 of the Federal Constitution.
************
The fact is that sedition is an act of crime against Malaysian society. There are notorious individuals who continuously, systematically and structurally challenge and provoke sentiments and emotions of the majority, the law, Islam as the religion of the Federation of Malaysia and even the position and role of His Royal Highness Rulers and His Majesty Seri Paduka Baginda Yang DiPertuan Agong, with voracious and poisonous opinion and uttering.
In in effort to do away with the Sedition Act now on top of throwing away the necessary laws such as ISA and EO which has been described by too many law enforcement professionals and analysts as “A big mistake”, may come as a compounded mistake. Considering there are growing pockets of notorious Malaysians which include the Bar Council that continuous challenge many sensitive matters and pushing the envelope further to the edge.
The nation lost its powerful tool to prevent and preserve the internal security three years ago today. Malaysians are on the brink of losing another one, where obnoxious individuals and groups could after this freely challenge insult the position and role of HRHs as the Constitutional Head of Islam and protector of the State Constitutions, Islam as the religion of the Federation of Malaysia in the pre-text of ‘Freedom of Speech’ and human rights.
53% of Malaysians are the Malays who proudly want status quo to be maintained and many of them are not shy in reciprocating against any attempts to demean the position and role of HRHs, specific provisions in the Federal Constitution and most of all, whenever Islam as the religion of the Federation of Malaysia is being challenged for what ever excuse or punt intended.
Any challenge against this in any form which include the skewed interpretation by professionals in intellectual discourses would just invite reciprocity by a large number of Malaysians who felt the matter is close to their heart as the role and position of ‘Islam as the religion of the Federation of Malaysia’ is a defining provisions for the nation itself.
Until recent times, there have been little attempt to openly challenge the position and role of Islam as the religion of the Federation of Malaysia and HRHs as the Constitutional Head of Islam in their respective states. Hence the problem is escalating where as the tool to defend this is being threatened to be changed.
Article 3.1 & 3.2 of the Federal Constitution
The challenge is if the Harmony Act which is supposed to be ‘more comprehensive’ compared the Sedition Act is unable to curb the growing challenges and insults against Islam, HRHs and the process to manage and bring matters pertaining to Islam through the Syariah High Court system. This would simply invite ill feeling of the majority and compounded, it could turn into something ugly.
In the complex but compelling reality, all the challenges and insults against the position and role of Islam and HRHs as the Constitution Head and Custodian of Islam could be portrayed and manipulated in the tone and perspective where Islam is being threatened. Compound this with frequency and intensity, then the battled-trained ‘Jihadists’ would eventually come out of the woodworks and network themselves to start a Jihad War here in Malaysia, which has now a major international problem in Syria, Iraq and India.
If it is not clear why Sedition Act needs to be maintained as status quo, then it is only apt to relate the famous quote by philosopher George Santayana, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it” is as relevant today as it ever was.
Let us hope learning from past cock-ups isn’t a defective virtue identifiable to the Malaysian Government under Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Mohd. Najib Tun Razak’s leadership. In the era of vast agenda of transformation, too much hope rest on Shabery’s statement in UMNO Sungai Besar Annual Division meeting.
The communication and multimedia industry grew by a healthy 4.5% with an extra RM2.3 billion into the Malaysian GDP, since a year ago. Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission Chairman Dato’ Mohamed Sharil Tarmizi presented the performance report card on the communication and multimedia industry this morning.
Bernama.com story:
Communication & Multimedia posts 4.5pc growth
Business Times – 6 hours ago KUALA LUMPUR: The communication and multimedia industry’s revenue grew 4.5 per cent to RM53.4 billion last year compared with RM51.1 billion in the previous year. Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) chairman Datuk Mohamed Sharil Tarmizi said telecommunication was the main contributor, accounting for nearly 85 per cent of the revenue, followed by broadcasting (11 per cent), and postal sector and others (four per cent). “Our focus over the past few years was to get more people connected via broadband services. Until 2013, there are 20.3 million broadband subscribers, 88.7 per cent of them were mobile broadband users while the rest were fixed-line users. “In 2014 and beyond, Malaysians will continue to benefit from telecommunication infrastructures provided over past 10 years. “However, we need to build more infrastructures and accelerate the growth of telecommunication in order to move towards a productive digital lifestyle,” he said when presenting the Industry Performance Report 2013, here today. Citing online credit as yet another growth sector, he said the value of internet banking in 2013 was RM3,457 billion with the number subscribers increased to 15.6 million from merely 2.6 million in 2005. Sharil said the MCMC would strive to provide a wider coverage of wireless broadband services through the 4G LTE rollout in 2013 to reach the population coverage of up to 50 per cent by 2017.– Bernama *********************
According to Sharil, there are more opportunities on convergence platforms of communications and multimedia and would be the new engine of growth for the industry, which already saw the telecommunication sector monopolising 85% of the revenue generated within the industry.
MCMC: Converged Platforms Of Communications And Multimedia Will Generate New Economic Opportunities
11/09/2014 KUALA LUMPUR, September 11, 2014 — The Industry Performance Report for 2013 was published by MCMC today. The communications and multimedia (C&M) industry performed respectably, recording a 4.5% growth in revenue to RM53.4 billion from RM51.1 billion in 2012. This steady performance of the C&M industry was contributed mainly by telecommunications with nearly 85% revenue share, broadcasting 11% and the remaining from the postal sector and others. In terms of market capitalisation, the C&M industry performed moderately based on market capitalisation in Bursa Malaysia with a 2.3% growth to RM195.3 billion in 2013. This represents 11.5% of total market capitalisation of RM1,702.2 billion. According to MCMC Chairman, Dato’ Mohamed Sharil Tarmizi, MCMC has been focusing in getting people connected with broadband services over the last few years. This is reflected in the 20.3 million broadband subscribers recorded for 2013; of which 88.7% are on mobile broadband i.e. 3G, and the remaining are on fixed. With the service providers committed to provide wider coverage of wireless broadband services through 4G LTE rollout in 2013 and to reach 50% population coverage by 2017, the mobility aspect is ready to make traditional Internet usage even more ubiquitous. For example, online shopping can reach a bigger number of customers and transactions like billing and payment can be enabled in real time, online. Higher speed internet connection will enable the usage of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) to be further intensified in many areas of business. This will ensure savings on time and operational costs thereby increasing business efficiency. Additionally, the aspect of being ‘connected’ can provide valuable information for business decision-making through availability of dashboards or enable Big Data analytics of customer behaviour to obtain relevant information to enhance a business’s agility to respond to changes in the marketplace. Such converging platforms provide more avenues for diverse range of products and service offerings which are easily available and are becoming more affordable as a result of digitalisation. Applications and services such as, data centre services, connected healthcare, authentication services and e-Commerce services along with improved postal and courier networks are increasingly in demand. Content services incorporating video in many aspects of usage such as online education, workforce collaboration, mobile advertising, social networking aside from online entertainment provide enhanced user engagement and increased competitiveness, but also tests telecommunication network capacities. “In 2014 and beyond, Malaysia is expected to continue to ride on the telecommunications infrastructure built over the last 10 years. We need to accelerate and build more to catch up in order to progress towards a productive digital lifestyle in Malaysia,” said Dato’ Sharil. Moving forward, it is envisaged that the infrastructure and coverage made ready by the C&M industry will be leveraged by other sectors towards improving productivity and value creation, with more innovation and creativity. “MCMC has a key role to help steward Malaysia as a focal point for C&M information and content services. It is timely that MCMC, KKMM and Finas is organising an inaugural KL Converge, from 17 to 19 September to provide a platform for experts, users, developers, producers and entrepreneurs to come together to forge partnerships and expand our content and creative industry’s footprint internationally,” added Dato’ Sharil *************
The regulator for the communication and multimedia industry with specific powers of the Communication and Multimedia Act 1998, also provided the strategic framework for the development and growth in the industry.
An interesting conclusion
In his industry report presentation, the MCMC Chairman gave an emphasis for the improvement of security and quality and service of the communication and multimedia eco-system, as most important for continued growth for the industry.
When contacted, Sharil’s remark “The focus on the continued improvement and service delivery, particularly for the rural areas. This will promote stronger eco-system for e commerce. We also need the capacity building of the eco-system, for e-commerce growth”.
Market capitalisation of the communication and multimedia industry
“Content and creative industry direct contribution to the GNI currently is at RM32 billion. We are targeting at RM57 billion by 2020”.
There are vast opportunities and rooms for all sectors under communication and multimedia industry to work together and capitalise and synergise on the various strength and value added which are available to be realised.
The industry performance report showed the communication and multimedia industry cornered 11.5% of the market capitalisation of Bursa Malaysia. Axiata Group Bhd. and Celcom Axiata Bhd. leads with RM59 billion of market capitalisation where over 27,000 people are employed. Axiata and Celcom revenues are RM18billion and 8billion respectively.
ICT Development Index (IDI) for Malaysia, as compared to the other Asian countries
The past two years also saw the market capitalisation communication and multimedia industry grew from RM138.5 billion to RM195.3 billion.
In the report, MCMC also outlines the ICT Development Index (IDI) for Malaysia is 5.04, which above the global benchmark of 4.35. The broadband penetration rate achieved 67% by end of 2013, which is almost 70% way above the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and Digital Commission target of 40% penetration by 2015.
Broadband penetration rate for Malaysia by end of 2013
One point interesting to note, amidst intense competition and despite declining Average Revenue Per User (ARPU), the communication and multimedia industry continue to grow by 4.5%. Either pricers steadily dropped or more value for money packages already offered.
It is obvious that MCMC is gearing up as a catalyst, if not towards realising Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Mohd. Najib Tun Razak’s agenda for the economy based on creativity and innovation to take more centre position, as part of the economic transformation plan for the nation.
Kemelut politik tahap Menteri Besar yang melanda dalam Selangor hari ini semenjak Januari lalu apabila Ketua Pembangkang Anwar Ibrahim menggerakkan ‘Langkah Kajang’ kunun kunun sebagai persiapan PRU14 untuk kerjasama haram rakan-kongsi-tidur-sebantal-tetapi-mimpi-lain-lain DAP-PKR-PAS untuk mengambil alih Putrajaya, makin kronik. Keingkaran DAP dan PKR untuk memenuhi aspirasi Sultan Idris Shah agar pemimpin yang berwibawa diangkat sebagai MB, mengeruhkan keadaan.
Laporan portal online pro-PKR The Malaysian Insider:
Sultan Selangor murka DAP, PKR derhaka, mungkin pilih Adun Pakatan lain jadi MB
OLEH JAMILAH KAMARUDIN Published: 8 September 2014 Sultan Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah (kanan) murka DAP dan PKR ingkar arahan hantar lebih 2 nama sebagai calon pengganti Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim (kiri). Gambar fail The Malaysian Insider. Sultan Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah (kanan) murka DAP dan PKR ingkar arahan hantar lebih 2 nama sebagai calon pengganti Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim (kiri). Gambar fail The Malaysian Insider. Sultan Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah kecewa dengan tindakan PKR dan DAP yang mengingkari arahannya supaya mengemukakan lebih 2 nama untuk dipertimbangkan sebagai calon menteri besar Selangor bagi menggantikan Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim. Pada masa sama, baginda tidak menolak kemungkinan mempertimbangkan nama Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (Adun) lain daripada parti Pakatan Rakyat (PR) yang berkelayakan untuk dilantik memimpin negeri terkaya itu. “Sultan Selangor a mat merasa dukacita di atas tindakan parti DAP dan PKR yang ingkar terhadap titah baginda bertarikh 27 Ogos 2014. “Tindakan parti DAP dan PKR ini menggambarkan kebiadapan kepada institusi raja dan merupakan satu perbuatan derhaka kepada Sultan Selangor,” kata Sultan Selangor melalui kenyataan yang dikeluarkan Setiausaha Sulitnya Datuk Mohamad Munir Bani, hari ini. Munir berkata, Sultan Selangor akan meneliti senarai calon yang dikemukakan PAS, PKR, dan DAP dan mengambil kira segala aspek sebelum keputusan dibuat. “Dalam masa yang sama memandangkan kuasa melantik menteri besar Selangor terletak pada budi bicara Sultan Selangor, maka baginda juga akan meneliti nama-nama Adun yang lain daripada Pakatan Rakyat yang berkelayakan dan pada fikiran Sultan Selangor mendapat kepercayaan majoriti Ahli Dewan Negeri,” katanya. Katanya, hanya PAS yang akur dengan titah Sultan Selangor dengan menyenaraikan 3 nama calon menteri besar Selangor. Manakala DAP dan PKR masing-masing mengemukakan hanya 1 nama saja, iaitu Presiden PKR Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail. Katanya, titah baginda supaya mengemukakan senarai lebih 2 calon adalah amalan bagi membolehkan baginda membuat pilihan dengan melihat bukan saja sokongan majoriti Adun malah daripada segi kemahiran, pengalaman, integriti dan kebolehan seseorang Adun tersebut. “Ciri ini amat penting bagi menjamin perjalanan pentadbiran negeri agar berjalan dengan baik dan lancar demi keharmonian rakyat negeri Selangor. “Sultan Selangor berkeyakinan terdapat ramai calon dalam parti Pakatan Rakyat yang mempunyai ciri kepimpinan yang tinggi seperti disebutkan tadi bagi menerajui kerajaan negeri Selangor,” katanya. Sultan Selangor pada 27 Ogos lalu menitahkan ketiga-tiga parti dalam PR mencadangkan lebih 2 nama sebagai calon menteri besar sebelum 3 September bagi memudahkannya membuat pilihan, namun DAP dan PKR bertegas mahu menghantar nama Dr Wan Azizah saja. PKR pada 3 September kemudiannya menerima surat amaran daripada istana yang mengingatkan mereka supaya menghantar lebih 2 nama selain Dr Wan Azizah. Presiden PAS Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang dalam penjelasan terbuka di Marang, Terengganu pada Jumaat minggu lalu berkata, keengganannya mengikut kata DAP dan PKR dan menghantar 3 nama adalah kerana tidak mahu ingkar titah Sultan sambil menegaskan parti itu menghormati prinsip Raja Berperlembagaan. – 8 September, 2014. *******************
Jelas Anwar dan gerombolan Pembangkang dikalangan DAP dan PKR tidak langsung menghormati Raja dan sistem Raja BerPerlembagaan, malah mereka memang lebih mengutamakan kepetingan politik sempit mereka.
The "thirteen million plus Ringgit" guy rambles.... 
Healthy growth of industry under MCMC’s watch
The communication and multimedia industry grew by a healthy 4.5% with an extra RM2.3 billion into the Malaysian GDP, since a year ago. Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission Chairman Dato’ Mohamed Sharil Tarmizi presented the performance report card on the communication and multimedia industry this morning.
Bernama.com story:
According to Sharil, there are more opportunities on convergence platforms of communications and multimedia and would be the new engine of growth for the industry, which already saw the telecommunication sector monopolising 85% of the revenue generated within the industry.
The regulator for the communication and multimedia industry with specific powers of the Communication and Multimedia Act 1998, also provided the strategic framework for the development and growth in the industry.
An interesting conclusion
In his industry report presentation, the MCMC Chairman gave an emphasis for the improvement of security and quality and service of the communication and multimedia eco-system, as most important for continued growth for the industry.
When contacted, Sharil’s remark “The focus on the continued improvement and service delivery, particularly for the rural areas. This will promote stronger eco-system for e commerce. We also need the capacity building of the eco-system, for e-commerce growth”.
Market capitalisation of the communication and multimedia industry
“Content and creative industry direct contribution to the GNI currently is at RM32 billion. We are targeting at RM57 billion by 2020”.
There are vast opportunities and rooms for all sectors under communication and multimedia industry to work together and capitalise and synergise on the various strength and value added which are available to be realised.
The industry performance report showed the communication and multimedia industry cornered 11.5% of the market capitalisation of Bursa Malaysia. Axiata Group Bhd. and Celcom Axiata Bhd. leads with RM59 billion of market capitalisation where over 27,000 people are employed. Axiata and Celcom revenues are RM18billion and 8billion respectively.
ICT Development Index (IDI) for Malaysia, as compared to the other Asian countries
The past two years also saw the market capitalisation communication and multimedia industry grew from RM138.5 billion to RM195.3 billion.
In the report, MCMC also outlines the ICT Development Index (IDI) for Malaysia is 5.04, which above the global benchmark of 4.35. The broadband penetration rate achieved 67% by end of 2013, which is almost 70% way above the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and Digital Commission target of 40% penetration by 2015.
Broadband penetration rate for Malaysia by end of 2013
One point interesting to note, amidst intense competition and despite declining Average Revenue Per User (ARPU), the communication and multimedia industry continue to grow by 4.5%. Either pricers steadily dropped or more value for money packages already offered.
It is obvious that MCMC is gearing up as a catalyst, if not towards realising Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Mohd. Najib Tun Razak’s agenda for the economy based on creativity and innovation to take more centre position, as part of the economic transformation plan for the nation.
- Economic analysis and commentary
on September 11, 2014 at 20:00 Comments (3)