Blessed Christmas n Happy New Year

Rumah Terbuka Deepavali

AHAD, 9hb November 2014

di Padang Bola, Jalan Nuri,
Seksyen 7, Kota Damansara

Jam 12 tghari - 4:00 ptg

Semua dijemput hadir

Kenyataan Akhbar

PENDIRIAN PEGUAM NEGARA BAHAWA BELIAU BERTINDAK SECARA PROFESIONAL DI DALAM TUDUHAN-TUDUHAN HASUTAN ADALAH SANGAT MERAGUKAN

31 Oktober 2014

Saya merujuk kepada kenyataan Peguam Negara Tan Sri Gani Patail pada 30 Oktober  2014 bahawa beliau tidak mendakwa dengan "sesuka hati" beliau. Ini adalah sebagai jawapan kepada kritikan meluas tentang tuduhan-tuduhan hasutan bertubi-tubi baru-baru ini.

Pendirian Peguam Negara bahawa beliau telah menjalankan kuasa pendakwaannya dengan betul adalah sukar dipercayai. Lebih 30 orang telah didakwa atau disiasat di dalam tindakan keras ala Ops Lalang baru-baru ini -  yang kebanyakannya adalah berdasarkan kepada laporan polis yang dibuat oleh ahli-ahli Umno atau kumpulan ekstremis pro-BN.

Pada 14 Ogos, hanya beberapa hari sebelum tindakan keras hasutan bermula, Peguam Negara telah mengadakan pertemuan tertutup dengan 60 ketua-ketua bahagian Umno. Walaupun terdapat desakan orang awam untuk beliau mendedahkan kebenaran mengenai mesyuarat tersebut, Peguam Negara hanya mendiamkan diri.

Selain itu, pada 10 September, kerana kritikan awam, Peguam Negara telah mengeluarkan kenyataan yang berjanji untuk mengkaji semula tuduhan-tuduhan hasutan baru-baru ini. Tetapi tidak ada tindakan lebih lanjut sama sekali. Sebaliknya lebih ramai orang didakwa di mahkamah untuk disiasat atau didakwa di bawah Akta Hasutan yang zalim.

Peguam Negara mendakwa ada 'konteks' semasa Ibrahim Ali membuat ‘kenyataan membakar bible’ beliau yang kontroversial, dan oleh itu beliau tidak didakwa. Namun Gani Patail jelas tidak peduli dengan 'konteks' apabila beliau mendakwa Ahli Parlimen Khalid Samad bagi pendapat beliau mengenai kuasa MAIS atau peguam dan Ahli Parlimen N Surendran bagi kenyataannya yang mempertahankan anak guam beliau Anwar Ibrahim di dalam kes Liwat II atau Profesor Azmi Shahrom bagi pendapat undang-undang beliau.

Tuduhan-tuduhan tersebut dilakukan di dalam tempoh masa yang singkat dan, kami percaya, sebagai tindak balas kepada tekanan langsung dari pimpinan Umno lapisan atas, menunjukkan tidak ada apa-apa yang profesional tentang cara di mana Peguam Negara telah memutuskan untuk memulakannya.

Tuduhan-tuduhan hasutan tersebut adalah perkara yang sangat membimbangkan untuk rakyat Malaysia dan telah dikutuk di peringkat antarabangsa. Kami mendesak Peguam Negara untuk melakukan perkara yang sewajarnya dengan segera mengkaji dan menggugurkan semua tuduhan-tuduhan hasutan yang telah dibawa ke mahkamah.

Dikeluarkan oleh,

Sivarasa Rasiah
KETUA BIRO UNDANG-UNDANG & HAK ASASI MANUSIA, KEADILAN
AHLI PARLIMEN SUBANG

Press Statement

A-G‘S CLAIM OF ACTING PROFESSIONALLY IN SEDITION CHARGES IS HIGHLY QUESTIONABLE

31 October 2014

I refer to A-G Tan Sri Gani Patail’s  statement on 30 Oct 2014 that he does not prosecute at his “whims and fancies”.  This was in response to widespread criticism over the recent blitz of sedition charges.

The A-G’s claim that he had exercised prosecution powers properly is unbelievable.  Over 30  persons were charged or investigated in the Ops-Lallang style crackdown – most of which were based on police reports made by Umno members or pro-BN right-wing groups.

On 14th August, just days before the sedition crackdown began, the A-G had a closed-door  meeting with 60 Umno division leaders.  Despite public calls for him to disclose the truth about the meeting , the A-G has remained silent. 

Also, on September 10, due to public criticism, the A-G issued a statement promising to review the recent sedition charges. But there was no further action at all. Instead more persons were hauled up to be investigated or prosecuted under the draconian Sedition  Act.

The  A-G claimed that there was a ‘context’ when Ibrahim Ali made his controversial ‘bible-burning statement”, and therefore he was not prosecuted.  However Gani Patail clearly  did not bother with the ‘context’  when he charged MP Khalid Samad for his opinion on the powers of MAIS or  lawyer and MP N Surendran for his statement defending his client Anwar Ibrahim in the Sodomy II case or Professor Azmi  Shahrom for his legal opinion.

These charges done in a short span of time and, we believe, in response to direct pressure from UMNO upper echelon leaders, show there was nothing professional about the manner in which the A-G had decided to initiate them.

These sedition charges are a matter of grave concern for Malaysians and have been internationally condemned. We urge the A-G to do the right thing by urgently reviewing and dropping all the sedition charges now pending in the courts.  

Issued by,

SIVARASA RASIAH
HEAD OF LEGAL & HUMAN RIGHTS BUREAU, KEADILAN
MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT, SUBANG

Sedition charges against N Surendran

> The Government and the Attorney General (AG) must break silence on intimidation of Anwar Ibrahim's legal team by sedition charges

> I refer to the sedition charges brought against N Surendran, who is a counsel for Anwar Ibrahim in the Fitnah 2 appeal in the Federal Court on 28 and 29th October 2014.
>
> On 7th October, Anwar's legal team had called for an end to the intimidation of the legal team, which amounts to an outright denial of a fair trial for Anwar. Any interference with legal counsel  puts in jeopardy the entire appeal, and is grossly unfair to Anwar as the accused person. The legal team had therefore called for the withdrawal of the sedition charges before the hearing of the appeal on 28th October.
>
> However there has been no response or action today by the government or A-G to the call of the legal team. Their silence and failure to act reinforces the public perception that Anwar is being denied a fair hearing in his final appeal. How can the legal team be expected to prepare and argue their case, with sedition charges hanging over the head of counsel merely for repeating Anwar's legal defence?

> Further, on 10th Sept,  the AG himself had promised a review of the sedition charges, in reaction to public outrage at the sedition blitz.
>
> With only days to go before the appeal, we demand that the Government and A-G do the right thing by allowing Anwar to have a fair hearing in his appeal. The pending sedition charges against lawyer Surendran must be withdrawn, and there must be no further interference or intimidation against Anwar's defence counsels.
>
> Issued by,
> SIVARASA RASIAH
> HEAD, KEADILAN LEGAL BUREAU
> MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT (SUBANG)
>
>

Deepavali 2014

Program Santai Bersama

Semua dijemput bersama YB Sivarasa dan Sdr Razlan, Penyelaras DUN Kota Dmsara di Kpg Melayu Subang Tambahan
AHAD 12hb Okt jam 4:00ptg.
Jumpa di sana!

Press Statement by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's lawyers

7 October 2014

We refer to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's appeal against conviction in the Fitnah 2 case, which is fixed for hearing in the Federal Court on 28th and 29th October 2014. 

As members of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's legal defence team, we are very concerned by recent developments in relation to the appeal. 

Two sedition charges have been recently brought against N Surendran who is a member of the legal team. 

Shockingly, the charges are on statements made by Surendran directly on our client Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's appeal. 

The subject-matter of both the sedition charges include matters which form part of our client Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's defence which we will be raising in arguments before the Federal Court during his appeal.

In the first case, Surendran is alleged to have merely criticised the Court of Appeal's judgment convicting Datuk Seri Anwar. In the second, he is alleged to have repeated Datuk Seri Anwar's defence to the press after attending a case management session in respect of the appeal.

We believe it is unprecedented for legal counsel to be charged for sedition merely for repeating his client's legal defence. These charges are a form of pressure upon the entire legal defence team of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. 

Under our justice system, every person has a right to a fair trial. Interference or intimidation of legal counsel would amount to a serious denial of Anwar Ibrahim's right to a fair trial. 

We must be allowed to prepare for and argue the appeal without any undue pressure. We therefore call for the immediate withdrawal of the sedition charges against Surendran. 

Anything short of this may have very serious repercussions on the propriety of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's appeal and may even render the entire proceedings tainted form the very beginning itself. 

Issued by,

Gobind Singh Deo
Sangeet Deo 
Sivarasa Rasiah
Eric Paulsen
Latheefa Koya

Kenyataan Media Isu Pengubahan RTPJ

KENYATAAN AKHBAR

Ahli majlis MBPJ adalah betul untuk menangguhkan dan mengkaji semula cadangan pindaan kepada RTPJ1 dan RTPJ2

Kami sebagai Ahli-Ahli Parlimen dan Ahli-Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri di kawasan-kawasan yang berada di dalam bandaraya Petaling Jaya menyokong keputusan ahli majlis MBPJ yang diambil oleh undi majoriti di mesyuarat khas mereka semalam untuk menangguhkan cadangan pindaan kepada rancangan-rancangan tempatan RTPJ1 dan RTPJ 2 sementara menunggu kajian semula sepenuhnya oleh MBPJ.  Kajian semula ini akan dilakukan melalui perundingan dengan kerajaan negeri dan mengambil kira maklum balas yang diberikan setakat ini dalam publisiti yang diterima setakat ini di bawah seksyen 13 Akta Perancangan Bandar dan Desa 1976.

Beberapa pindaan yang dicadangkan telah menjadi sangat kontroversi untuk mengatakannya yang paling kurang.

Kami terkejut melihat cadangan untuk mengeluarkan semua garis panduan terperinci yang sedia ada untuk kawalan merancang dari kedua-dua RTPJ1 dan 2. Ini adalah amat susah dipersetujui.

Syarat-syarat kawalan perancangan terperinci tersebut telah diusahakan selama bertahun-tahun dengan input terperinci daripada orang ramai dan memberikan kestabilan kepada perancangan bandar di Petaling Jaya.

Jika MBPJ berpendapat bahawa beberapa garis panduan kawalan perancangan perlu pembaikan, maka peningkatan khusus boleh dikemukakan untuk input awam, bukan penyingkiran keseluruhan seperti yang disyorkan pada masa ini.

Cadangan-cadangan untuk meningkatkan nisbah plot maksimum daripada 4 kepada 6 dalam tujuh kawasan "pembangunan berorientasikan transit" atau TOD di sekitar stesen-stesen MRT dan LRT memerluan pemikiran semula memandangkan kesan kepada keadaan trafik semasa, kemudahan awam dan kualiti hidup di PJ. Syarat-syarat sedia ada di dalam cadangan kelihatan tidak mencukupi untuk memastikan bahawa pembangunan kepadatan tinggi seperti itu akan disepadukan sepenuhnya ke dalam stesen-stesen pengangkutan awam dan tidak mewujudkan beban lanjut dan kemerosotan persekitaran kehidupan di PJ.

Cadangan untuk menjalankan lebuh raya DASH melalui kawasan-kawasan perumahan yang padat dengan penduduk dan kawasan-kawasan komersial di Mutiara Damansara dan Damansara Perdana telah menimbulkan lebih seribu bantahan bertulis. Jajaran lebuh raya yang dicadangkan ini melalui kawasan-kawasan tersebut memerlukan kajian.

Kita perhatikan bahawa keseluruhan tanah RRI di PJ yang terdiri daripada kira-kira 1600 ekar kini yang dicadangkan sebagai "pembangunan bercampur" tanpa sebarang susun atur yang terperinci. Ini tidak boleh diterima dalam mengformulasikan suatu rancangan tempatan di mana orang ramai mengharapkan untuk melihat cadangan terperinci pihak berkuasa perancangan tempatan mengenai penggunaan tanah, nisbah plot, kepadatan, kemudahan awam dan lain-lain untuk memberi pandangan mereka. Kami berpendapat bahawa keseluruhan cadangan RRI perlu dikeluarkan dan satu rancangan kawasan khas disediakan untuk tanah RRI di bawah seksyen 16B Akta tersebut yang telah dilakukan sebelum ini untuk bahagian seksyen 13 di PJ. Rancangan untuk RRI perlu proses yang berasingan dengan sendirinya memandangkan saiz tanah untuk dibangunkan adalah besar dengan kesan yang setanding.

Kita juga perhatikan bahawa terdapat cadangan untuk menukar syarat guna tanah di tapak Filem Negara di seksyen 12 (yang merupakan tanah kerajaan Persekutuan) daripada penggunaan institusi awam untuk komersial dengan kemungkinan nisbah plot enam (6). Jikapun kerajaan Persekutuan memutuskan untuk memindahkan Filem Negara ke tempat yang lain, tanah tersebut harus dikembalikan kepada kerajaan negeri atau pihak berkuasa tempatan untuk kegunaan awam yang berterusan. Kemudahan awam yang berguna boleh dibina di atas tanah tersebut daripada membangunkannya sebagai satu lagi tapak komersil kepadatan tinggi.

Oleh itu, kami bersetuju bahawa pindaan yang dicadangkan dibatalkan. Seperti yang dicadangkan oleh ahli-ahli majlis MBPJ, satu jawatankuasa khas perlu ditubuhkan untuk mengkaji semua cadangan dengan mengambil kira semua maklum balas dan mengemukakannya sekali lagi dengan mengambil kira kepentingan awam sebagai pertimbangan utama.

Hee Loy Sian  Ahli  Parlimen  Petaling Jaya Selatan
Tony Pua Ahli  Parlimen Petaling Jaya Utara
Sivarasa Rasiah Ahli  Parlimen  Subang
Wong Chen Ahli  Parlimen Kelana Jaya
Rajiv Rishyakaran Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri Bukit Gasing
Haniza Talha Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri Taman Medan
Lau Weng San Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri  Kampung Tunku
Yeo Bee Yin Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri  Damansara Utama
Elizabeth Wong Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri  Bukit Lanjan
Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri  Seri Setia

1 Oktober 2014

Untuk sebarang penjelasan, sila hubungi Peter Chong  (pembantu peribadi kepada Sivarasa Rasiah) di 012 905 9948.

Press Statement re RTPJ ammendments

PRESS STATEMENT

MBPJ councilors are correct to put on hold and review the proposed amendments to RTPJ1 and RTPJ2

We the undersigned Members of Parliament and State Assemblypersons whose constituencies include areas within the city of Petaling Jaya support and endorse the decision of councilors of MBPJ  taken by majority vote at their special meeting yesterday to put on hold  the proposed amendments to the local plans RTPJ1 and RTPJ 2 pending a full review by MBPJ. The review will be done in consultation with the state government and taking into account the feedback given so far in the publicity conducted so far under section 13 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1976.

Some of the proposed amendments have turned out to be very controversial to say the least.

We were surprised to see proposals to remove wholesale all the existing detailed guidelines for planning control from both RTPJ1 and 2.  This is wholly unacceptable. These detailed planning control conditions have been worked out over the years with detailed input from the public and are provide stability to town planning in Petaling Jaya.  If MBPJ is of the view that some of these planning control guidelines need improvement, then specific improvements can be presented for public input, not a wholesale removal as currently suggested.

The proposals to increase maximum plot ratios from 4 to 6 in seven “transit oriented development” areas around MRT and LRT stations needs rethinking given the impact on current traffic conditions, public amenities and quality of life in PJ. The current conditions in the proposals appear inadequate to ensure that such high-density developments will be fully integrated into the mass transit stations and not create further burdens and deterioration to the living environment in PJ.

The proposal to run the DASH highway through densely populated housing and commercial areas in Mutiara Damansara and Damansara Perdana  has evoked over a thousand written objections. The alignment of this proposed highway through those areas needs review.
We note that the entire RRI land in PJ consisting of about 1600 acres is now being proposed as “mixed development” with no detailed lay-outs whatsoever. This is simply not acceptable in the formulation of a local plan where the public expect to see the local planning authority’s detailed proposals on land use, plot ratios, densities, public amenities etc in order to give their views.  We are of the view that the entire RRI proposal should be removed and a special area plan prepared for the RRI land under section 16B of the Act as was done previously for the section 13 part of PJ.  The plan for RRI should be a separate process in itself considering the huge size of land to be developed with its corresponding impacts.

We note also that there is a proposal to convert the land use of the current Filem Negara site in section 12 ( which is Federal government land ) from public institutional use to commercial at a possible plot ratio of 6. Even if the Federal government decides to move Filem Negara to another site, that plot should be returned to the state government or the local authority for continued public use. Useful public amenities can be built on that land rather than develop it as another high density commercial site.

We therefore agree that the proposed amendments be revoked.  As proposed by the MBPJ councilors, a special committee should be set up to review all the proposals taking into account all the public feedback and present them again taking into account the public interest as the prime consideration.

Hee Loy Sian  Member of Parliament for Petaling Jaya Selatan
Tony PuaMember of Parliament for Petaling Jaya Utara
Sivarasa RasiahMember of Parliament for Subang
Wong ChenMember of Parliament for  Kelana Jaya
Rajiv RishyakaranState Assemblyman for DUN Bukit Gasing
Haniza TalhaState Assemblywoman for DUN Taman Medan
Lau Weng SanState Assemblyman for  DUN Kampung Tunku
Yeo Bee YinState Assembly woman for DUN Damansara Utama
Elizabeth WongState Assemblywoman for  DUN Bukit Lanjan
Nik Nazmi Nik AhmadState Assemblyman for  DUN Seri Setia

1st October 2014

For any further clarifications, please contact Peter Chong  ( pa to Sivarasa Rasiah ) at 012 905 9948.

ISU MB Sgor - Resolusi MPP PKR

RESOLUSI MAJLIS PIMPINAN PUSAT KEADILAN BERHUBUNG PERLANTIKAN MENTERI BESAR SELANGOR

Majlis Pimpinan Pusat KEADILAN (MPP) telah mengadakan satu mesyuarat tergempar pada hari ini, 22 September 2014 berikutan perkembangan terbaru perlantikan Menteri Besar Selangor.

Berikut adalah resolusi yang telah diluluskan sebulat suara di dalam mesyuarat tersebut:

MPP mengambil maklum bahawa pada 22 September 2014, pihak Istana telah mengutuskan satu surat memaklumkan kepada Saudara Azmin Ali, Timbalan Presiden KEADILAN akan perkenan Duli Yang Maha Mulia Tuanku Sultan ke atas perlantikan beliau sebagai Menteri Besar Selangor. Beliau telah juga dijemput untuk upacara angkat sumpah pada 23 September 2014.

MPP melahirkan rasa yang amat kesal dengan layanan yang telah diberikan oleh pihak Istana terhadap pencalonan Dato’ Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail yang telah memenuhi kehendak Undang-undang Tubuh Negeri Selangor dengan sokongan majoriti 30 ahli Dewan Negeri. MPP juga tidak bersetuju dengan cara pihak Istana menangani proses pencalonan yang melibatkan Dato’ Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail sehingga beliau langsung tidak dipanggil mengadap walaupun mempunyai sokongan majoriti yang jelas.

Oleh itu, MPP berpendapat bahawa proses memperkenan lantikan Menteri Besar Selangor yang baru ini tidak mengikut kehendak Undang-undang Tubuh Negeri Selangor dan bertentangan dengan amalan prinsip demokrasi berparlimen. Ia juga menjejaskan kemuliaan institusi raja berpelembagaan.

Walau bagaimana pun, MPP juga mengambil kira keperluan menyelesaikan isu perlantikan Menteri Besar Selangor ini secepat mungkin demi menjaga kepentingan rakyat.

Makanya, MPP telah memutuskan untuk menghormati permintaan Dato’ Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail untuk beliau menarik diri dari dicalonkan agar isu ini dapat diselesaikan segera. Berikutan itu, MPP juga bersetuju dengan cadangan yang dibawa oleh Dato’ Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail agar Saudara Azmin Ali dikemukakan sebagai calon Menteri Besar supaya pencalonan Saudara Azmin Ali itu adalah dari parti mengikut tuntutan amalan demokrasi. 

Ini selaras dengan pendirian MPP bahawa kemuliaan perlembagaan dan keluhuran undang-undang perlulah dipertahankan sepanjang masa. MPP menegaskan juga bahawa proses yang tidak menepati kehendak undang-undang ini tidak boleh dijadikan satu duluan (precedent) di masa hadapan.

MAJLIS PIMPINAN PUSAT KEADILAN

22 September 2014

Isu perlantikan MB Selangor

Adakah nasihat DYMM Sultan Nazrin bahawa raja-raja secara rasmi melantik (dan tidak memilih) perdana menteri-perdana menteri, menteri besar-menteri besar dan ketua menteri-ketua menteri difahami dengan betul di Selangor?

Dalam syarahan umum di Hotel Raffles di Singapura pada 27 Julai 2004 anjuran Institut Pengajian Asia Tenggara (Institute of South-East Asian Studies), Raja Nazrin Shah (sekarang DYMM Sultan Nazrin Shah Perak) dalam penjelasan terperinci mengenai sistem raja berperlembagaan Malaysia dengan jelas berkata seperti berikut (dalam Bahasa Inggeris):

“The Agong formally appoints ( but does not select) the Prime Minister…. Correspondingly, the Rulers at State level appoint the Chief Ministers.”

Kata-kata DYMM ialah pernyataan mudah difaham mengenai prinsip utama bahawa sokongan majoriti di dewan undangan adalah pra-syarat asas bagi pelantikan Menteri Besar sebagaimana yang diperuntukkan dalam Perkara 53 (2) (a) Perlembagaan Negeri Selangor. Dalam mentafsirkan peruntukan yang sama dalam perlembagaan negeri Perak dalam kes Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin v Zambry Abdul Kadir [2010] 2 CLJ 925, Ketua Hakim Negara Ariffin Zakaria memetik dengan kelulusan penyataan berikut yang dibuat oleh Presiden Mahkamah Rayuan Raus Sharif seperti berikut (dalam Bahasa Inggeris):

“The DYMM Sultan of Perak in exercise of His Royal Prerogative under Article XVI(2)(a) of the Perak State Constitution is at liberty to appoint another Menteri Besar to replace Nizar. But His Royal Highness must appoint someone who has the command and the confidence of the majority of the members of the Legislative Assembly” (penekanan kami)

Kenyataan undang-undang ini merangkumi prinsip asas politik - bahawa rakyat yang memilih pemimpin yang dipilih mereka dan dalam sistem raja berperlembagaan Malaysia, bahawa ia adalah majoriti wakil rakyat yang kemudiannya memilih perdana menteri mereka, menteri besar atau ketua menteri sebagai mana yang berkenaan. Dan, secara konvension atau amalan, di Malaysia dan di negara-negara lain dengan sistem yang sama, ia adalah parti-parti politik yang menguasai majoriti di dewan undangan yang dipilih yang memilih nama baru perdana menteri, atau menteri Besar atau ketua menteri untuk negeri-negeri.

Ia juga jelas dalam pernyataan undang-undang ini bahawa sokongan majoriti mesti ditunjukkan pada masa pelantikan itu.

Laporan media mencadangkan bahawa tiga ADUN, Iskandar Samad, Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi (kedua-duanya dari PAS) dan Azmin Ali (Timbalan Presiden PKR) baru-baru ini “ditemuduga" di Istana berhubung dengan pelantikan sebagai bakal Menteri Besar Selangor. Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Presiden PKR yang telah secara terbuka menunjukkan sokongan majoriti 30 ADUN-ADUN bagaimanapun masih menunggu dengan sabar untuk mengadap DYMM Sultan Selangor.

DYMM Sultan Selangor sudah tentu akan menerima nasihat undang-undang mengenai tugas- tugas dan kuasa-kuasa beliau di bawah Perlembagaan Negeri.
Sebagai penasihat undang-undang kepada PKR, saya kata sekali lagi sebagaimana ramai yang lain telah menyatakan, kedudukan undang-undang adalah jelas. Saya berbuat demikian kerana, dengan anggapan ia adalah benar bahawa ketiga-tiga ADUN-ADUN telah sesungguhnya telah "ditemuduga" untuk jawatan Menteri Besar, maka soalan yang serius timbul sama ada DYMM Sultan Selangor sedang dinasihatkan dengan betul mengenai kedudukan perlembagaan yang benar.

Dalam kes Perak pada 5 Februari 2009, calon Barisan Nasional bagi Menteri Besar Zambry dapat menunjukkan kepada DYMM Sultan Perak selepas mengadap dengan kehadiran 30 ADUN-ADUN lain bahawa dia mempunyai sokongan majoriti 31 ADUN-ADUN dan Nizar, yang penyandang Menteri Besar, telah kehilangan majoriti dengan sokongan hanya 28 ADUN- ADUN selepas tiga ADUN-ADUN PR mengalih sokongan kepada BN. Mahkamah Persekutuan dengan itu memutuskan bahawa DYMM Perak telah melantik Zambry dengan betul mengikut Perlembagaan Negeri dan undang-undang.

Adalah jelas kepada fakta yang tidak disangkalkan di ruang awam untuk keadaan Selangor yang tiada di kalangan tiga calon-calon yang kononnya setakat ini telah mengadap DYMM Sultan Selangor telah memenuhi syarat asas sokongan majoriti. Calon-calon PAS yang namanya telah dikemukakan hanya oleh parti mereka hanya boleh yang terbaik menuntut sokongan daripada 13 ADUN-ADUN.

Azmin adalah dalam keadaan yang luar biasa kerana namanya tidak dicadangkan secara rasmi oleh mana-mana pihak dan beliau sendiri telah secara terbuka menyatakan sokongan untuk Wan Azizah dan menyokongnya dalam bentuk suatu akuan berkanun bersumpah. Pada masa ini, Azmin juga, tidak dapat secara terbuka menunjukkan sokongan majoriti.

Saya merayu kepada DYMM dan penasihat-penasihat undang-undangnya untuk mengambil kira tafsiran yang jelas yang diletakkan di atas peruntukan yang sama di dalam Perlembagaan Perak oleh Mahkamah Persekutuan dalam memutuskan siapa yang dilantik Menteri Besar Selangor yang baru.

Jika Wan Azizah dinafikan pelantikan beliau sebagai Menteri Besar yang baru, ia sepatutnya perlu ada sekurang-kurangnya penjelasan mengenai peruntukan Perlembagaan Negeri yang mana sedang digunakan untuk menghalang beliau daripada dipertimbangkan untuk dilantik dan mengapa.

Sivarasa Rasiah
Ahli Parlimen PKR untuk Subang
21 September 2014

Appointment of the Mentri Besar

Is HRH Sultan Nazrin’s advice that the rulers formally appoint ( and do not select ) prime ministers, menteri besars and chief ministers properly understood in Selangor?

In a public lecture at the Raffles Hotel in Singapore on 27.7.2004 organised by the Institute of South-East  Asian Studies, Raja Nazrin Shah ( now HRH Sultan Nazrin Shah of Perak ) in his exposition on the Malaysian monarchy lucidly said as follows:

“The Agong formally appoints ( but does not select) the Prime Minister…. Correspondingly, the Rulers at State level appoint the Chief Ministers.” 

HRH’s words were a simple restatement of the key principle that majority support of the state legislative assembly is a fundamental precondition for the appointment of the Menteri  Besar as provided for in Article 53(2)(a) of the Selangor State Constitution.  In interpreting the identical provision in the Perak state constitution in the case of  Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin  v Zambry Abdul Kadir [2010] 2 CLJ 925, Chief Justice Ariffin Zakaria  quoted with approval the following statements made by the President of the Court of Appeal Raus Sharif as follows:

“The DYMM Sultan of Perak in exercise of His Royal Prerogative under Article XVI(2)(a) of the Perak State Constitution is at liberty to appoint another Menteri Besar to replace Nizar.  But His Royal Highness must appoint someone who has the command and the confidence of the majority of the members of the Legislative Assembly” ( our emphasis)

This legal statement encapsulates a fundamental political principle – that it is the people who elect their elected leaders and in the Malaysian system of constitutional monarchy, that it is the majority of the elected representatives who then select their prime minster, menteri  besar or chief minister as the case may be.  And, conventionally,  in Malaysia and in other countries with a similar system, it is the political parties who command the majority in the elected legislative assembly who select  the name of the next prime minister, or menteri besar or chief minister for the states.

It is also clear in this statement of the law that majority support must be demonstrated at the time of the appointment.

Media reports suggest that three ADUNs, Iskandar Samad, Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi ( both from PAS)  and Azmin Ali ( Deputy President of PKR ) were recently ‘interviewed” at the Istana in relation to a prospective appointment as Menteri Besar of Selangor.  Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, President of PKR who has publicly demonstrated a majority of 30 ADUNs however still waits patiently for an audience.

HRH the Sultan of Selangor will of course be receiving legal advice as to his duties and powers under the State Constitution. 
As a legal advisor to PKR, I point out again as many others have done, the settled  legal position. I do so because, assuming it is true that all the three ADUNs have indeed been “interviewed” for the Menteri  Besar  position,  then serious questions arise as to whether  HRH Sultan of Selangor is being properly advised as to the proper constitutional position.

In the Perak case on 5th February 2009, the Barisan Nasional candidate for Menteri Besar Zambry was able to demonstrate to HRH Sultan of Perak in an audience with the presence of 30 other ADUNs  that he had majority support of 31 ADUNs  and that Nizar, the incumbent  Menteri  Besar, had lost the majority with support of only 28 ADUNs after three PR ADUNs crossed over to BN. The Federal Court therefore ruled that HRH of Perak had properly appointed Zambry in accordance with the State Constitution and the law.

It is obvious on the undisputable facts in the public domain for the Selangor situation that none of these three candidates purportedly granted audiences so far by HRH Sultan of Selangor have fulfilled the fundamental condition of majority support.  The PAS candidates whose names were submitted only by their party can at best claim the support of 13 ADUNs.   Azmin is in an unusual situation as his name was not even formally proposed by any party and he himself has publicly declared support for Wan Azizah and affirmed it in the form of a sworn statutory declaration.  At this point in time,  Azmin too, is not able to publicly demonstrate majority support.  
I appeal to HRH and his legal advisers to take into account the clear interpretation placed upon the identical provision in the Perak Constitution by the Federal Court in deciding who to appoint as the next Selangor Menteri Besar.

If Wan Azizah is to be refused her appointment as the next Menteri  Besar, there ought to be at the very least an explanation of which  provision of the State Constitution is being invoked to prevent her  from being considered for the appointment and why.

Sivarasa Rasiah, PKR Member of Parliament for Subang

21st September 2014

 

Press Statement re: DASH

I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN READY TO MEET RESIDENTS REGARDING DASH

I refer to the news report in the Malaysian Insider yesterday and the Malay Mail ( print version ) today 3rd November about residents raising their objections to the proposed DASH, Damansara Shah Alam Highway.

I fully support residents rights to voice their objections and to raise their concerns. 

However, I would like to stress that in our enthusiasm to raise our objections, we must remain rational and not misstate facts.

I wish to correct a statement made in the Malaysian Insider quoting one Joanne Ting ( as a representative for the Say No to DASH group)  as follows: " since early August they have all been uncontactable in their offices, service centres and contact numbers - calls, email and sms-es to them have all been unanswered. "

I have not received any emails or sms's from Ms Ting or others claiming to represent the DASH group since early August. Every Thursday night  from 8 pm weekly is my service centre night in Kota Damansara where anyone can walk in - my staff and I have not seen seen Ms Ting arrive in the last few weeks.

I have had a meeting with representatives of the group including Owen Chen sometime in June in Parliament House.

I was also asked about developments on DASH at a town hall meeting at the PJ library in June. I said then that nothing was happening yet as the process under the Town and Country Planning for the necessary amendments had not even started. 

Later in August, when the proposed RTPJ 2 amendments were first put on display was when I found out about DASH being included. I was concerned. Even MBPJ councillors were surprised at that development. 

As the MP of the area most affected, my staff and I will be preparing our comments and reservations on the proposal to MBPJ.

I stand by the residents on their objections. I firmly believe that building highways is not the only or ideal solution to traffic problems. If indeed highways need to be built as part of an overall masterplan, it must have minimal impact on residents and residential areas. The allignments must be carefully studied.

I echo the call by residents' spokesperson Mr Owen Chen,  that residents must also take the initiative to submit their objections and comments to MBPJ on the draft RTPJ 2 proposal. 

The public display is to inform residents of the proposals and is not an end nor the final draft. Therefore residents are urged to submit their objections and comments as provided for in the Town and Country Planning Act.

I have also written to the Mayor of MBPJ to consider extending the period for objections for a further month from 5th Sept 2014. I understand that an announcement will be made soon.

Sivarasa Rasiah

Member of Parliament for Subang

3rd September 2014

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy smartphone.

Insiden kecelakaan MRT Kota Damansara

Kenyataan Media 19hb Ogos 2014

Saya ingin merakamkan ucapan takziah saya kepada keluarga mangsa kecelakaan projek MRT di Kota Damansara semalam.

Saya sempat melawat tapak tersebut pada jam 1:30 pagi untuk memantau sendiri kejadian tersebut.

Saya ingin juga merakamkan penghargaan saya kepada semua pegawai-pegawai agensi terlibat yang telah berkhidmat sepanjang malam. Begitu juga kepada semua rakan-rakan media yang berkhidmat membawa berita terkini kepada pihak awam.

Saya menyambut baik tindakan pihak MRT untuk serta merta menghentikan kerja tapak di keseluruhan pakej yang terlibat. Pihak MRT bersama pihak-pihak berkuasa juga telah mulakan siasatan mereka.

Sambil siasatan sedang dijalankan untuk mengenal pasti punca kemalangan, saya mendesak agar kerja-kerja diberhentikan untuk seluruh projek MRT ini, bukan hanya untuk kawasan kerja pakej ini sahaja.

Kita tidak boleh pandang ringan terhadap isu keselamatan dan kesihatan tapak kerja. Insiden ini merupakan yang kedua dalam tempuh masa dua bulan sahaja. Kedua-dua insiden berlaku dalam kawasan Parlimen Subang.

Pengguna jalanraya yang melalui kawasan tapak kerja MRT harus ada keyakinan keselamatan mereka. Kedua-dua insiden ini malangnya tidak memberikan sebarang keyakinan tersebut.

Maka sehingga keyakinan ini dapat dikembalikan melalui lapuran terperinci, saya desak agar kerja-kerja diberhentikan serta merta.

Saya juga mendesak agar MRT terima penyelidik-penyelidik professional lantikan PBT untuk turut menjalankan siasatan atas ciri-ciri keselamatan di tapak-tapak kerja MRT.

Saya juga mendesak agar siasatan terperinci dilakukan keatas syarikat-syarikat sub-kontraktor yang terlibat termasuk pengalaman dan kepakaran mereka mengendalikan projek ini.
Saya bersyukur insiden semalam tidak berlaku di tapak jalanraya besar.

Walaupun saya terima ini adalah satu insiden kecelakaan namun segala ciri-ciri keselamatan tapak kerja harus dihormati.
Begitu juga, keselamatan semua pekerja termasuk warga asing harus diutamakan.
Sekali lagi saya ucapkan takziah kepada keluarga mangsa terlibat.

Terima kasih.

R. Sivarasa
Ahli Parlimen SUBANG

Isu MB Selangor

Dengar pendapat dan analisa isu Mentri Besar Selangor oleh YB Sivarasa

http://www.mobtv.my/talkshow-5717.html

Antara tugasan seorang Ahli Parlimen

Temuramah dengan media mengenai isu-isu semasa.

Hadiri jamuan bersama masyarakat tempatan.

Bersama menyokong aktiviti NGO seperti BERSIH 2.0

Kenyataan Media berhubung TanSri Khalid Ibrahim

KENYATAAN MEDIA

1hb Ogos 2014

KAMI INGATKAN TAN SRI KHALID IBRAHIM BAHAWA KEPUTUSAN PARTI KEADILAN ADALAH DATUK SERI DR WAN AZIZAH SEBAGAI MB SELANGOR BARU - HORMATILAH KEPUTUSAN PARTI!

Kami, Ketua-Ketua Cabang dan Ranting KEADILAN  ingin mengumumkan kesetiaan yang tidak berbelah bahagi terhadap Presiden KEADILAN, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail. Sebagai Presiden parti yang juga ADUN Kajang, beliau adalah calon yang paling kanan dan paling layak di kalangan ADUN-ADUN KEADILAN di negeri Selangor untuk menjadi Menteri Besar. 

Oleh yang demikian, kami menggesa agar semua anggota KEADILAN termasuklah ADUN dan Exco dalam pentadbiran Selangor pada waktu ini untuk mengenepikan perbezaan pendapat serta bersatu hati dalam menyokong ketetapan Majlis Pimpinan Pusat pada 21hb Julai yang lalu, iaitu untuk menamakan Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail sebagai calon Menteri Besar Selangor.

Pada masa yang sama, akar umbi berpendapat peralihan kuasa perlu dibuat secara tertib, baik, dan bermaruah. Oleh yang demikian, ingin kami menasihatkan Tan Sri Abdul Khalid bin Ibrahim menghormati keputusan parti dan melepaskan jawatan dengan baik dan penuh rela hati, demi kesinambungan pentadbiran negeri Selangor dan kemaslahatan rakyat Selangor khususnya. 

Tan Sri Khalid perlu ingat, jika beliau terus enggan melepaskan jawatan tersebut, ini hanya akan merosakkan imej beliau. Akar umbi akan mempersoalkan apakah motif sebenar beliau mengambil sikap sedemikian yang hanya boleh menguntungkan musuh politik Pakatan Rakyat. Akar umbi masih menaruh harapan yang cukup besar ke atas Pakatan Rakyat untuk membawa reformasi dan perubahan yang lebih baik di negeri Selangor. 

Sivarasa Rasiah

Ketua Cabang Subang dan Ahli Parlimen Subang.

William Leong

Ketua Cabang Selayang dan Ahli Parlimen Selayang

Yew Boon Lye

Ketua Cabang Kelang

David Cheong

Ketua Ranting Sg. Jarom, Cabang Kuala Langat yang mewakili 25 Ranting di Kuala Langat

Sekiranya penjelasan lanjut diperlukan, sila hubungi Sivarasa di no 012 213 8613 atau setiausaha politik beliau, Peter Chong 012 9059948

MRT Lay by at Mutiara Dmsara

YB Sivarasa had organised a dialogue between MRT and residents of Mutiara Damansara over a lay by that was proposed to be built in their area.

Read it here:

http://www.nst.com.my/node/8535?m=1

Soalan SIVARASA di Parlimen 11hb June 2014

39. PR-1322-L61934
Tuan R. Sivarasa [ Subang ] minta MENTERI KEWANGAN
menyatakan kenapa USD3 bilion yang dipinjam oleh IMDB Global
Investments Ltd. (1MGIL) untuk pembangunan TRX diletak dengan
institusi yang tidak dinamakan dalam akaun berkanun 1MDB untuk
tahun 2013; berikan nama insitutusi tersebut dan juga nyatakan
kenapa perjanjian untuk pelaburan itu tidak benarkan faedah, dividen
atau edaran kepada 1MDB.

Soalan SIVARASA di Parlimen 10hb June 2014

28. PR-1322-L61922
Tuan R. Sivarasa [ Subang ] minta MENTERI PENDIDIKAN
menyatakan status terkini enam buah sekolah Tamil yang pada 22
Januari 2012 diumum oleh YAB. Perdana Menteri akan dibina di Sg.
Petani, Sg. Siput, Klang, Petaling Jaya, Kajang dan Masai di mana
juga diumumkan lesen untuk 6 sekolah tersebut telah diluluskan oleh
Jemaah Menteri.

Soalan SIVARASA di Parlimen 9hb June 2014

38. PR-1322-L61932
Tuan R. Sivarasa [ Subang ] minta MENTERI PENGANGKUTAN
menyatakan siapakah Kapten yang disebut dalam laporan Kementerian
Pengangkutan 03/2014 yang memohon maklumat tentang pesawat MH370
pada jam 5.20 pagi pada 8 Mac 2014 dan beritahu MH370 never left
Malaysian airspace.


40. PR-1322-L61924
Tuan R. Sivarasa [ Subang ] minta MENTERI PENDIDIKAN menyatakan
sama ada Kerajaan Barisan Nasional sedia meluluskan satu lesen baru untuk
Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Tamil Seaport di lokasi asalnya di SS7 Kelana
Jaya dan kekalkan lesen lamanya di sekolah baru yang sekarang berada di
Kampung Lindungan.

Soalan SIVARASA di Parlimen Khamis 12hb June 2014

118. PR-1322-L61933
Tuan R. Sivarasa [ Subang ] minta MENTERI KEWANGAN menyatakan
kenapa USD2.3 bilion yang diperoleh oleh 1Malaysia Development Berhad
(1MDB) daripada Petrosaudi International Ltd. apabila pelaburan 1MDB
ditamatkan di September 2012 tidak dikembalikan ke Malaysia dan
dimasukkan dalam satu syarikat SPC (segregated portfolio company) di
Cayman Islands dengan pengurus dana yang tidak dinamakan dan dalam
keadaan pengarah-pengarah 1MDB telah berkata mereka tidak ada kawalan
terhadap SPC tersebut.

Sivarasa peguam untuk 5 peguam muda yang ditahan

http://keadilandaily.com/mobile/?post=61698

Terence Netto gets it wrong regarding Anwar and PKR

I write this in response to Terence Netto's comment in Mkini on Saturday 10th May titled "Anwar under attack in PKR".  

Terence,quite oddly, did not speak to any of us named in the meeting as present in Anwar's house ( myself, Nurul Izzah, Tian Chua, Dr Syed Husin) despite his 40 years of experience as a journalist, before he wrote his article.

Clearly he preferred to rely solely on secondhand and possible third-hand accounts of what allegedly took place to base his account rather than to also talk directly to those he had named.

As a consequence of swallowing wholesale the version of his sources, he got some very basic facts wrong.

Terence stated that Saifuddin and Elisabeth Wong were there - that is false.

He also stated incorrectly that subsequently Dr Syed met Saifuddin to discuss whether he would withdraw. This is also not true. 

After reading Terence's article, Dr Syed Husin sent him an sms saying he had never met Saifuddin to discuss such a matter.

Terence, very oddly again, continues to leave in his article the statement saying Dr Syed had never denied meeting Saifuddin, or even publish Dr Syed's response to him.

He also does not publish Dr Syed's statement in his sms saying that Terence's allegation that Tan Sri Khalid had left in a "huff" was not true.

Dr Syed had told Terence that Tan Sri had simply left at the time he had said he would leave for another engagement.  In fact, Tan Sri Khalid shook everyone's hand, including mine, cordially in his customary style before leaving.

However the key sting of his story was that this was a meeting orchestrated by Anwar since it took place at his home, and it was Anwar's agenda to get Tan Sri Khalid to withdraw.

Terence ought to understand a simple matter - Anwar is not responsible for the agenda and content of discussion of every meeting of groups of party leaders at his home or office or anywhere else for that matter. Many of these meetings happen at the behest of some or all of those who are present. To assert otherwise is simply being disingenous.

Finally the suggestion made by Terence that the meeting discussed the continuation of Tan Sri Khalid as MB of Selangor as a quid pro quo of his withdrawal is false. It was improper and unfair to assert this as a fact when none of those said to have been present at the discussion were even asked by Terence for a response. 

Finally I need to place on record that Anwar said in that discussion he will not be asking anyone to withdraw. This is the only part of a private discussion amongst individuals which I will disclose because it relates directly to the spin in Terence's article that this is an Anwar orchestrated agenda.

Sivarasa Rasiah

Political Bureau member

Parti Keadilan Rakyat

Sri Lanka - United Nations Human Rights Council

PRESS STATEMENT BY MALAYSIAN PARLIAMENT CAUCUS ON SRI LANKA dated 27.3.2014

Members of the Caucus wish to inform the press and public that yesterday we have issued letters to the member states of the United Nations Human Rights Council ( UNHRC ), currently in session in Geneva, Switzerland, calling upon them to support a resolution on Sri Lanka which will be voted on by the UNHRC tomorrow Friday 28^th March 2014.

We have sent the letter to the following countries:

Algeria, Argentina, Austria, Brazil

Chile, China, Cuba, Chez Republic,

France, Germany, India, Indonesia,

Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya,

Kuwait, Mexico, Morocco, Namibia, Pakistan,

Peru, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Romania,

Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, South Africa,

United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America,

Venezuela, Vietnam

A copy of the said letter which is self explanatory is attached herewith.

The members of the Malaysian Parliament Caucus on Sri Lanka are as follows:

Chairman: Johari bin Abdul

Secretary: Kasthuri Patto

Members: Sivarasa Rasiah (SUBANG) Kulasegaran (IPOH BARAT) V Sivakumar (BATU GAJAH)

                   Dr Siti Mariah (KOTA RAJA) Hanipa Maidin (SEPANG) Charles Santiago (KLANG)

                   Kamaruddin Jaffar (TUMPAT) Takiyuddin Hassan (KOTA BAHRU)

                        Dr Nik Mazian (PASIR PUTEH) Dr Jeyakumar (Sg SIPUT)

             Laksamana Mohd Imran (LUMUT) Gooi Hsiao Leung (ALOR SETAR)

             Gobind Singh (PUCHONG) Manivanan (KAPAR) Raja Kamarul (K TERENGGANU)

             Jimmy Wong (KOTA KINABALU) Er Tech Hwa (BAKRI) Md Idris Jusi (BATU PAHAT)

            Alice Lau (LANANG) Azman Ismail (KUALA KEDAH)

Your Excellency

Ambassador of

Member of the 25^th Session of the UNHR Council                                                 23 March 2014

Dear Excellency,

INVESTIGATING HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN SRI LANKA

Greetings from Malaysia,

The undersigned are all members of the Malaysian Parliament and are also members of the Caucus on Sri Lanka in the Malaysian House of Representatives (Dewan Rakyat).

The Caucus was set up about two years ago and has been monitoring the situation in Sri Lanka. We observe that Sri Lanka has failed to implement the resolutions from their own Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission, including the two resolutions passed by the UNHR Council in March 2012 and in 2013. We are also aware that a third resolution for an independent international investigation is expected to be voted on this coming Friday 28^th March 2014 at the UNHRC 25^th Session in Geneva.

We note with much regret and concern that serious violations of international law, widespread allegations of extra-judicial killings, sexual violence, enforced disappearances, continued militarization of the North East of Sri Lanka, land grabbing, failure to reach political solution, torture and violations of freedoms of expression, association and peaceful assembly all continue to be inflicted against Tamils particularly in the north and north east Sri Lanka. All these contravene the recommendations of both the UNHRC resolutions.

We are informed that the plights of the Tamils are getting from bad to worse. People are living in fear of rape, torture, abduction and many are leaving by boat as refugees. Even elected Tamil representatives are harassed.

The international community has the right, and carries also the responsibility, to establish responsibility for the war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in the Mullaivakkal War of May 2009, resulting in huge numbers of widows, orphans, tens of thousands still unaccounted for, and investigate why still tens of thousands are prevented from returning to their own homes and lands. In this context, credible allegations of a planned genocide of the Tamil community by the government of Sri Lanka persist and need investigation and clarification.

/2

-2-

INVESTIGATING HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN SRI LANKA

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

In the light of the above, we call upon your government as a member of the UNHRC to support the UNHRC resolution on Sri Lanka to be voted on Friday 28^th March 2014 which calls for,

inter alia, a comprehensive independent investigation into serious violations and abuses of human rights and related crimes in Sri Lanka during the period covered by the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission with a view to establishing the facts and ensuring accountability for such crimes and avoiding impunity.

Yours sincerely,

...............................................

Kasthuri Patto

Secretary

Caucus on Sri Lanka

Parliament of Malaysia

Sivarasa's Statement

PRESS STATEMENT

Why is the Court of Appeal railroading the appeal by the Attorney-General against the acquittal of Anwar Ibrahim for the second sodomy prosecution to commence on 6th April today?

Certain facts have come to light with regard to the scheduling of this case.  

About two weeks ago, a registrar from the registry of the Court of Appeal had communicated to Mr Karpal Singh's office and informed to block the proposed hearing dates of 7-10 April 2014.

Mr Karpal' office confirmed that the dates were suitable and would be blocked.

However, things then took a different turn when the case management of the appeal took place last week on 27.2.2014. The first unusual feature was that Justice Aziah Ali, one of the presiding bench appointed to hear the appeal, actually presided over the case management. Usually Deputy Registrars or Senior Assistant Registrars preside over case managements.

Secondly, counsel Karpal Singh who was present was told that the appeal would now proceed on Thurs 6 and Fri 7 March 2014.  When he said he was not available because he was involved in other cases, he was informed that Justice Aziah that those cases would be directed to be vacated so that this appeal would proceed.

Questions arise in the mind of the public why the Court of Appeal is suddenly rushing this appeal to be heard now when the original dates were envisaged to be in early April.

The entire nation and the world know that Anwar will be nominated by Parti Keadilan Rakyat to run in the Kajang by-election on Tuesday 11 March.  

Are these reshuffling of dates being done to hand down a conviction and sentence  before Tuesday so that Anwar will be prevented from running? It is public knowledge that Anwar's plan to run has caused much turmoil in the UMNO ranks. 

The Court of Appeal needs to provide an explanation as to why the appeal is being rushed.  Merely saying that the appeal has been pending since last year will not be sufficient since the early April dates were already communicated to Karpal Singh.

These are serious questions of public interest.  Anwar has consistently maintained that all his prosecutions since 1998 have been politically motivated.  The judiciary must not be seen to be manipulated by vested political interests who are bent on using the court system to stop Anwar's political career, and by extension,  his leadership of PKR and Pakatan Rakyat who continue to present today the biggest threat to UMNO's continued rule. 

Sivarasa Rasiah
Member, Political Bureau member, Parti Keadilan Rakyat
6th March 2014

Happy New Year

Gong Xi Fa Cai

Sempena perayaan Tahun Baru Cina Sivarasa turun bertemu warga kota kawasan Parlimen Subang untuk mengucapkan Gong Xi Fa Cai.

Sambil bersalaman, Ahli Parlimen Subang juga turut memberikan limau, simbolik budaya China untuk rezeki dan kekayaan untuk semua.

Kos sara hidup yang meningkat

YB Sivarasa sebagai wakil rakyat yang prihatin turun pasaraya untuk memantau sendiri kos makanan harian.

JOM SHOPPING CNY

Sivarasa telah bersama warga China untuk nembeli belah sempena Tahun Baru Cina dalam program Jom Shopping: satu projek kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat Selangor.

Ponggal 2014

YB Sivarasa bersama meraikan perayaan Ponggol 2014 di sekitar kawasan Parlimen Subang.

Sempena perayaan ini, Pejabat Ahli Parlimen Subang telah memberi sumbangan 1500 pasang batang tebu kepada keluarga warga Hindu.

Tebu adalah antara simbolik perayaan ini melambangkan kemanisan dan kesejahteraan.

Thaipusam 2014

YB Sivarasa bersama pasukan KEADILAN Subang telah bersama meraikan Thaipusam 2014.

Pasukan KEADILAN telah mengagihkan air kepada penganut dan orang ramai yang mengiringi perarakan Dewa pada 16hb Jan.

Terima kasih kepada semua yang hadir.