Sunday, February 14, 2010

The peace we want is true peace - when there is already justice, democracy and rights...

Happy New Year to all...and this Year of the Tiger increase our resolve and actions towards greater justice, human rights, democracy, equality and peace.

I hope that we will truly become a truly democratic Malaysia soon - and that the people get back the power, that has been usurped by those that call themselves the 'people's representatives' and 'government'. What difference is Malaysia from other authoritarian dictatorship - the only time the people of Malaysia becomes important and gets a chance to 'express' themselves, and exert the 'people's power' is once every 5 years when we get a chance to vote for our Member of Parliament...and State Assemblyperson.

We sadly do not even the right to democratically elect our own kampung/kampung baru/taman/kampung orang asli/kawasan perumahan/condominium/flat representatives and leaders - in fact, the people are not even consulted - the State Government chooses the leaders/reps at this level. Why can't the rakyat democratically elect their local community leaders? [Only Perak , during the reign of PR, had kampung leaders democratically elected. Hopefully, this right to choose my own community leaders becomes a reality in this year of the Tiger.

Local Council Elections - Hopefully, this right to democratically choose my own Local Council  members becomes a reality in this year of the Tiger.

Senators -  Hopefully, this right to democratically choose my own Senators becomes a reality in this year of the Tiger.

Transparency 
- Hopefully minutes/decisions of Cabinet/State Exco (and Local Councils) are made available to the public, at the very least on the net.
- Hopefully Agenda & Minutes of the State Assemblies are  made available to the public through their respective website (This is not yet available in the Pakatan Rakyat States as well.) Look at the Parliament Website, and follow the same for the State Assemblies. All laws/enactments of the State should be available online (at least) so that the people know the laws.... [some Federal Laws can be bought in bookshops - but you cannot easily find State Laws...Local Council Rulings, etc...anywhere] So, just make this all available online. 

Death Penalty 
- Well, the Sultans have the power to pardon - and maybe all death sentences should be commuted to life imprisonment ...or natural life imprisonment. So many 'mules' get cheated into carrying drugs, and they do not deserve death by hanging See:- Star, 1/11/2009, Malaysian girls easily duped
See also earlier posts:-

Sultans/YDPs in Pakatan Rakyat States can lead the way by commuting death sentence to imprisonment

 MANDATORY DEATH PENALTY PROVISIONS IN LAW SHOULD BE REPEALED

Is Pakatan for the abolition of the death penalty? Malaysian girls easily duped (Star)

It is a NEW YEAR - and let it re-ignite our HOPE ... and drive us to action to struggle for justice, human rights, democracy and peace in Malaysia

We are not talking about the peace - brought about by fear, by silence, by 'not standing up for rights', etc..

The peace we want is true peace - when there is already justice, democracy and rights...

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