AHMAD ISMAIL SUSPENDED

Below is the news article of Ahmad Ismail suspended for 3-years by Umno. Does he deserve a stiffer punishment?


KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 10 (Bernama) -- Bukit Bendera Umno division chief Datuk Ahmad Ismail has been suspended from the party for three years with immediate effect for making a disparaging remark at a political ceramah in Permatang Pauh last month, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced Wednesday.
The Umno president said the party's supreme council meeting Wednesday found that Ahmad's statements and actions, which had caused anxiety and drawn protests from the Barisan Nasional component parties, were serious.
As such, a decision was made to suspend his rights in the party under Clause 20.9 of the party constitution, he told reporters after chairing the two-hour meeting here.
Ahmad had caused a polemic with his statement at the ceramah on Aug 23 that the Chinese community are immigrants in the country and are not entitled to equal rights as the bumiputeras.
The statement had drawn anger from Gerakan and MCA leaders who demanded that he make a public apology but he had refused to do so.
"He will be stripped of whatever posts he now holds which are related to the party or the people or in his capacity as a representative of the party," said Abdullah, who is also the Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman.
Asked whether Ahmad could appeal the decision, he said: "Normally, everyone has a right to appeal."
On whether action would be taken against the newspaper which reported Ahmad's statement, he said the decision would be made by the Home Ministry.
"Matters relating to the press, matters relating to the actions of people outside the party, as I've just said, will be decided by the relevant government departments or ministries like the Home Ministry and the Royal Malaysia Police."
He said that if the political parties sensed that something had potential to create a bad situation in the country, they should lodge police reports and the same applied to the people if they felt that something not right had occurred, so that action could be taken under the law.
Abdullah said the Umno supreme council also felt that all the BN components should also be firm and take disciplinary action against any of their members who act or make statements that can cause anger and sour relations among the component parties.
"These are the two decisions made in connection with the matter," he said.
Abdullah said he also informed the meeting that the cabinet this morning discussed the situation on racial ties in the country and expressed the feeling that the signs were not good and the situation could lead to racial tensions.
"So, when many things are raised, when things are spoken about which touch on racial sensitivities in the country... matters that are not normally raised are raised and become an issue. Matters which should not be discussed are brought up and this draws various reactions," Abdullah said.
He said that all this while his government had been able to control the situation so that nothing untoward occurred but "we cannot allow this situation to continue."
The prime minister said he hoped that the people would understand that public order must be maintained through law enforcement.
"This is what we want because with one heart like this... order, peace, racial goodwill have given us the chance to develop our country so that the peole can enjoy progress, peace and security.
He had conveyed all this to the meeting, he said, adding: "We must love our nation. We must do whatever it takes to avoid clashes, things that pose a threat. We must save Malaysia from racial clashes."
Asked whether the government would use the Internal Security Act (ISA) to maintain public order, he said that only the Home Minister could sign the order for the use of the act and this also only if he really believed that the person could threaten national security.
Asked on the freedom of speech, Abdullah said although Malaysia did not restrict the freedom to speak, the laws of the country must be respected and given priority.
"Our laws are formulated in Parliament and our members of Parliament are elected by the people. We are democratic. We must understand that no one can, in the name of freedom, say what he or she likes to the extent of jeopardising public order, hurting others and violating the law," he said.
source: BERNAMA

UMNO APOLOGISES

Late this evening, Deputy Prime Minister and Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak issued a public apology to all Malaysians over the racist statement made by Ahmad Ismail, the Umno Bukit Bendera division head, in the run-up to the Permatang Pauh parliamentary by-election.
This is seen by many as a departure from the "arrogant" Umno, we used to know and is definitely better than "I will tell him not to do it again" statement.
I hope the party, being the backbone of the Barisan Nasional, realises that it does not merely cater for one single race but also is watched by other races in the country.
Umno leaders should realise that they do not just cater for a specific race and should watch what they say.
We in the MIC, MCA or even Gerakan even at our general assemblies are controlled in our words even when we talk about Bumiputera policies and privileges. They too should do the same.
They also need to realise the change in the nation's political landscape and the time has come for them to make sweeping statement, that could hurt the feelings of other races.
We need to bring back the good old days of tolerance, unity with sincerity and not mere words. Let us hope that this mistake would not be repeated and that the Bukit Bendera Umno division head would be dealt with accordingly by the party.

HAPPY 51ST INDEPENDENCE DAY

First and foremost, I would like to wish all Malaysians Selamat Hari Merdeka. It has been 51 years since we gained Independence from the British and yes, we have come a long way.
Although there are many issues, especially those related to race and religion, that needs to be ironed out, we have progressed.

Now to more pressing issues at hand. During the Permatang Pauh by-election, it was reported that the Umno Bukit Bendera division chief Ahmad Ismail at a ceramah said that the Malaysian Chinese were "squatters or temporary residents" of the country, thus they do not qualify to be given equal rights. This statement had prompted a barrage of criticism from the MCA and Gerakan. The MIC Youth too have come out with statements slamming the Umno leader.
This is a typical Umno leader who wants to champion his or her own political cause especially with the looming Umno divisional elections just around the corner, by making provocative statement without thinking of the consequence.
Did he forget that this is Malaysia and this is also my "tanah tumpah darahku". We non-Malays too have put in our efforts, tears, sweat and everything we have for this nation. We are citizens of this country although our ancestors were Indian and Chinese.
Stern action should be taken against him. He should be suspended of his Umno membership and made an example to other Umno leaders who are thinking of using race and religion to further their own political career.
The Barisan Nasional leadership should use this opportunity to take action against this division leader and gain some support from the non-Malays, which was lost pre March 8.
Once again Selamat Merdeka.

ANWAR WINS PERMATANG PAUH

Anwar Ibrahim has made it to Parliament. Yesterday, he won the Permatang Pauh parliamentary seat beating a BN candidate and an independent hopeful. He would be sworn in tomorrow and would make his return to Parliament after a 10-year hiatus on Friday, when Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi tables the 2009 Budget. The proceedings on Friday starts around 4pm and would be telecast live on national TV. The PKR leader has vowed that he would watch the budget with intent. All the best!

Below are results of the by-election.

Anwar Ibrahim (PKR): 31,195 votes
Arif Shah Omar Shah (BN): 15,524 votes
Hanafi Mamat (Ind): 92 votes
Spoilt votes: 447 votes
Turnout: 47,258 or 81% of the total number of registered voters in the constituency.
Majority: 15,671 votes (higher than the 13,388 vote majority obtained by Wan Azizah Wan Ismail at the March 2008 elections)

We Are Doing It Our Way

Below is a news report on the teacher who made racist remarks against Indians. We are working on it, as I have earlier said that we would get the bottom of the issue and send a clear message to the powers that be. This is despite, my own community saying whatever they like about me and the MIC over the handling of the issue. I know some people wanted me to be more vocal on this race based issue but I choose to handle it my way. This is just the start. We in the MIC are not going to take this lying down. We have our way of dealing with these issues. We are not in the opposition to just say whatever we like, throwing words etc.


KUALA LUMPUR: The teacher who allegedly used racial slurs on students in a school in Banting was temporarily transferred to another school pending investigations.
Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said the 35-year-old teacher was moved to a school nearer to her house as the school needed a replacement Mathematics teacher.

Speaking at Parliament lobby yesterday, Hishammuddin said he had directed his deputy, Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong, to handle the matter.

He said he would not tolerate racial abuse in schools, but did not want the teacher to be falsely accused.

MIC secretary-general Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam said there was a misunderstanding among the Indian community that the teacher was "rewarded" as she had been transferred to a school closer to her home.
Subramaniam said: "The Indians feel like the government is not taking any action against the teacher.

"However, I've been told by the education minister that the transfer was made to ensure the teacher's safety.

"The teacher had allegedly told students in a Form Four class that she "wanted to test their patience" and began using derogatory words.
Source NST Online