From Malaysiakini:
New M'sia still looks like old version, says academic
The purported “new Malaysia” still looks very much like the Malaysia of old, with authoritarianism being very much visible, according to political scientist William Case ahead of the one-year anniversary of the Pakatan Harapan administration.
"I am not so optimistic, I am afraid. To me, the new Malaysia looks rather like the old Malaysia," he said.
"Maybe it is not as new as we hope. Anyway, I am the outsider," he told a forum in Kuala Lumpur today.
“New Malaysia” had become a catchphrase to describe the Harapan-led government after it won the 14th general election, in anticipation of its efforts to transform the country.
"But today, the government is behaving very much like an autocratic government that been replaced," Case said.
He pointed to the use of the Sedition Act 1948 to investigate a forum regarding the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court last weekend.
He pointed out this was a worrying trend and Harapan government was suppose to abolish the Sedition Act as pledged in its election manifesto.
He also said Harapan ministers had been seen making various promises during the by-elections, which had nevertheless not been enough for them to win the polls.
Like its Asean neighbours, Malaysia is still a hybrid regime even after the electoral turnover, according to Case, who is the the head of the school of politics, history and international relations at Nottingham University’s Malaysian campus.
Hybrid regimes refer to governments which combine democratic traits, such as frequent and direct elections, with autocratic ones such as political repression.
A hybrid regime has a strong footing in a plural society and marginalises whichever community it intends to, he said.
By inheriting a hybrid regime, a new government is able to backtrack on promises and strategise using old ways, noted Case, adding that he offered the perspective of a Western observer.
The academic was speaking today at a forum titled "GE14 and the Year Since: Analyses and Perspectives", which was organised by the International Islamic University Malaysia.
Not everything is old (OK Toonsie is long in the tooth I grant you haha)
ReplyDeleteBut soon the old will give way to the new.....
There's three arms of the government: the executive, legislative and the judiciary.
In GE14, Malaysians elected a new executive - The Executive branch of the government consists of the Prime Minister as the head of the government, followed by the various ministers of the Cabinet.
In GE14, we also elected in new legislatures - members of Parliament and state legislatures.
And today we have a new Head of the Judiciary - the first female Chief Justice (after a Christian one mind you, in Richard Manjalum). And who appointed first this Christian CJ from East Malaysia and then female CJ? - well, the old saber-tooth tiger believe it or not. Under the Old Malaysia Toonsie would never have done this.
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The Malaysian Bar has welcomed the appointment of Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat as the new chief justice of Malaysia.
In a statement, its president Abdul Fareed Abdul Gafoor said Tengku Maimun is well-known as a fair-minded judge with a good judicial temperament and sound knowledge of the law.
"It is a defining moment in the nation’s history as this is the first time a female had been appointed to the highest office of one of the three arms of the government, the judiciary, others being the legislative and the executive. This goes on to show that gender should never be a consideration over merits and one’s capabilities.
"The Malaysian Bar has always had a good working relationship with her Ladyship from the days she was the chief registrar of the Federal Court. As an equal partner in the administration of justice, the Malaysian Bar is looking forward to a continued close and good working relationship with her Ladyship and the judiciary," he said.
With Tengku Maimun's appointment, it is time for judicial reforms to be carried out to take the judiciary to greater heights, and erase all past negativities, Abdul Fareed added.
Meanwhile, in a separate statement, the immediate past president of the Bar, George Varughese also welcomed Tengku Maimun's appointment, as she is known for her "sound decisions, impeccable judicial temperament, and most of all, her independence".
Earlier today, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong had assented to Tengku Maimun's appointment based on the advice of Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, and consultations with the Conference of Rulers.
Tengku Maimun replaces Richard Malanjum, the first East Malaysian chief justice, who retired on April 12.
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Under the Old Malaysia, two pawns in the Altantuya murder, Sirul Azhar and Azizul were sentenced to death. No mercy shown, despite the prosecution not being able to establish any credible motive. The real murderer(s) is/are still free.
ReplyDeleteUnder the New Malaysia, two pawns in the Kim Jong-Nam murder, Siti Aisyah and Doan Thi Huong, who were facing mandatory death sentences are released. Opponents to the death penalty are so happy that our new legal and judicial system dispenses mercy with justice.
Hallelujah, PTL. I'm Lovin' It.
motive? Opportunistic lust-fulfilment
Delete"Opportunistic lust-fulfilment"
DeletePure fabrication / fantasy / Dedak
prove it
DeleteStalemate lah!
DeleteWho to prove FIRST about their own take?
So easy to fart with one-liner!
Precisely my point. Despite a lengthy trial at the High Court and appeals nothing could be proven - yet two pawns were sentenced to death. Old Malaysia.
DeleteIt was a convenient sentence no?
Our new CJ Tengku Maimun was part of a three-man panel at the Court of Appeal which in August 2013 unanimously reversed the High Court’s murder conviction of two former police commandos over Mongolian's 2006 death. Brave lady this Tengku, Allah has rewarded her now.
But to close the case somebody must still be found guilty and pay for the murder. So under the Old Malaysia The Federal Court in January 2015 reinstated the murder conviction.
In the Kim Jong-Nam's case it was going to be very difficult to prove both the women were 100% guilty of murder, OK so Ms Doan was not as blur (wink wink) as poor Siti, so under the New Malaysia our AG was brave enough to let them both go free, mercy with justice, rather than allow the possibility of unsafe convictions and death sentences.
William Case - Professor, Faculty of Social Sciences, Nottingham University Malaysia Campus. Alma Mater of Jibby.
ReplyDeleteThis so called expert IS indeed outsider looking in!
ReplyDeleteAs he himself has claimed : "Maybe it is not as new as we hope. Anyway, I am the outsider,"
So, what does he know through his foreign lens & thinking?
Bring to mind the triumphantic chants of these western foreigners (usually the so called sopo experts) about the FAILED Arab Spring!
When the Spring turned into Winter, ALL of them were quiet, as church mice. Suddenly their 'learnt' opinions worth nothing than farts.
How r they going to change their tunes about the current destitutions & sufferings 'bestowed' upon the populaces through their misguided/idealised outsider OPINIONS!
Be gone & stay tongue tied!
My take is that there is no old Malaysia nor will there be a new Malaysia. It is not democracy per se in Malaysia. In Malaysia it is majoritarianism. The 'pure' Malays would not turn their backs on their Sultans or their own race even in the name of democracy. ICERD? Rome Statute? Human Rights? LBGT? No way. It is Malaysia - not old, not new.
ReplyDeleteLook at this rally to "defend Islam" organised by Gerakan Pembela Ummah (Ummah) group kicked off in Kuala Lumpur this afternoon.
DeleteHow?
Mana tu - majoritarianism?
Either there r NOT never melayu ruling around nowadays or u actually meant mahathirism?
Shouldn't the forum titled "GE14 and the Year Since: Analyses and Perspectives" be more objective and inclusive to give a broader perspective of what Malaysians thru their newly elected PH Govt. has managed to achieve or not achieve within 1 year compared to the old BN regime headed by a Kleptocrat under him has achieved or not achieved during his 9 years in office from 2009 - 2018?
ReplyDeleteThe analyses and perspective the Professor in putting forth using terms like :
"New Malaysia look like Old Malaysia",
"But today, the government is behaving very much like an autocratic government that been replaced",
"By inheriting a hybrid regime, a new government is able to backtrack on promises and strategises using old ways"
all looks and sounds more like the political rhetorics/bashings coming out from a western viewed Professor instead of a real perspective of what has been achieved or not achieved since GE 14 by Malaysians and the new PH Govt. towards a New Malaysia.
Does the western viewed Professor forgot about "ROME was not built in a day/year" or has he forgotten about western history and only looking at from his own personal skewed western views.
Has the Professor also forgotten the time frame restriction set upon the Topic of about 1 year and become maybe overtly judgemental in his analysis and perspective or was that the true intention to make it so?
Throughout history, which country has been judged within 1 year of change of reign/Govt. to actually transform into his western viewed ideals of democracy?
Just like an annual job performance review, you can certainly assess the government performance over the last 1 year.
ReplyDeleteBUT 1 Year is not enough to make a definitive judgement on the Government's policies, especially where it is a fresh start.
On the other hand the accountability over what happened 10 years ago should be reviewed much earlier, not now, even the for the same persons, except for Criminal cases.
That is the reason why the elected Government's term is 5 years, and not 1 year or 10 years.
Ms Doan loves the New Malaysia, syabas Tommy Thomas, two lives spared. All proponents for the abolishment of the death penalty can celebrate tonight.
ReplyDeleteAnd she's a Hallelujah Christian too, PTL...
QUOTE
'I love you all,' pens freed Doan in farewell letter to Malaysia
Friday, 3 May 2019
by fatimah zainal
PETALING JAYA: During her last night at the Kajang women's prison, Vietnamese Doan Thi Huong penned a heartfelt letter, thanking those responsible for securing her freedom.
It was a happy ending for Doan, who will be boarding a flight to Hanoi at 7.15pm on Friday (May 3) after spending two years behind bars after being accused of killing Kim Jong-nam, the half brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
"I thank everybody who prayed for me in church and at home as well.
"Thank you Lord Jesus for he loves so much.
Doan thanked the Malaysian government, judge, Deputy Public Prosecutor, Attorney-General and the Kajang women's prison for taking good care of her.
"Thank you so much to the Malaysian government," read the opening line of the brief letter bearing her signature.
The 30-year-old also expressed her gratitude to the Vietnamese Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, the Vietnam Bar Federation (VBF), the Vietnamese government, all her lawyers and the media.
Doan's letter was read by her lawyer Hisyam Teh Poh Teik to members of the media in a special press conference at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) departure hall here on Friday (May 3).
The case is now closed and will not be reopened as there is no appeal by the prosecution against the sentence imposed on Doan by the High Court, said Hisyam.
"The case has come to a complete end as far as Doan is concerned," he said.
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