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Thursday, 14 April 2016

Citizen’s Declaration: Is it a Fantasy or Reality?

By Henry Koh, (PROHAM Volunteer)

On 7 April 2016, Kesatuan Mahasiswa Malaysia organized a Dialog Anak Muda (Youth’s Dialogue) at the UM Alumni Clubhouse to discuss on the tagline of the event; “Citizen’s Declaration: Is it a Fantasy or Reality?”. In March 2016, a movement called the Citizen’s Declaration (named Save Malaysia campaign later on) was led by former Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad; comprising Barisan Nasional (BN) veterans, opposition leaders and human rights activists.

The movement focuses on the deteriorating political, economic and social conditions in the country and calls for the resignation of the premiership of Dato Seri Najib Abdullah.

During this event, Tun Dr Mahathir, Former Bersih Chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan and Bersih 2.0 Chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah were present on the panel of guest speakers.
Among the highlights of the dialogue, the president of Kesatuan Mahasiswa Malaysia, Asheeq Ali questioned on the vagueness of the movement. He opined that there is no existence of a solid structured plan after the removal of the Prime Minister, as stipulated in the movement. This would then cause a huge prejudice in our country.

The suggestions KMM has made in questioning the statements of the declaration includes:

1.    The removal of all those who have acted in concert with the Prime Minister.
Who will be identifying all those who have acted in concert with him? There was no any vote of no confident against the Prime Minister made by any one of the members of the parliament. Thus, everyone in the parliament should be held responsible and accountable for the current condition of Malaysia.

2.    A repeal of all recent laws and agreements that violate the fundamental rights guaranteed by the federal constitution and undermine policy choices.
I am really off the opinion that only old laws are violating human rights. Tun, what happened to the laws enacted during your time? Are we supposed to ignore that? I am dare to say that the people n Malaysia had enough excess to substantial freedom during the British Colonisation era. People were free to express opinions on Malayan Union, Public rallies prior to the first Federal elections held in July 1955 for a new Federal Legislative Council and an independent Commonwealth Constitutional Commission chaired by Lord Reid is appointed in March 1956. Since we got independence, and since UMNO came into power, Malaysians access to human rights has been denied a little by a little.

For example, The Sedition Act, The Official Secrets Act and the Printing Presses and Publications Act. It controls everyone. It controls the media from revealing the true story. It controls an individual from revealing a secret, although the secret is about laundering millions of money. These are not new laws Tun.

Akta University dan kolej university AUKU is another major concern of us, the students. We are not aallowed to express anything in the compound of the university. It can be said that university is a place to learn, but Tun, politics is also a process of learning.

In the period of 2 years, we have 71 cases all  together under AUKU. Ladies and gentleman, we, the students, fought for Wifi supply, we fought for water supply for almost a month. Aren’t these our rights? And yet we are sentenced under AUKU. This is completely violating human rights.

3.    A restoration of the integrity of the institutions that have been undermined, such as the police, the MACC, Bank Negara and the PAC.

Suruhanjaya Pilihanraya, Attorney General chambers and SPRM have to be restored too. Precisely, the institution need to be reformed fully. Removing the Prime Minister is not going to change anything, because another person will be taking over his position and the same cycle will be going on. We need the institution to be reformed fully so that we can have a better future for Malaysia.

So today, as the representative from Kesatuan Mahasiswa Malaysia, I would like to declare few claims from us. This is our stand, this is our vision and we will strongly hold on it.

1.    Establishment of an independent panel to review and audit the entire account of Government of Malaysia. This is to ensure that not only 1MDB skandal is revealed, but also every other money laundering scandal that is happening behind the wall of Putrajaya. This panel must consist of both local and international experienced auditors.

2.    Establishment of an independent panel to review all the laws in Malaysia and this panel must be consist of local representatives such as SUHAKAM and also international representative.

3.    Establishment of a “coalition government after the removal of our PM. This government will consist of representatives from all party and this government will be in power till the next election is being held.

4.    A clean and transparent polls.

5.    Restore all the human rights of the Malaysians by abolishing all the draconian laws that violates human rights.

Let us work together and live the real meaning of “SAVE MALAYSIA”.



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