Anwar Approaching Carter Institute for Help

Extracted from Countergrain

From Malaysiakini July 21 2007

PKR’s de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim has called on the public to step pressure on the EC to reform itself.

In reference to several recent announcements by the EC, Anwar said the commission had thus far only shown knee-jerk responses after a series of electoral fraud exposes. For the first time, EC is enduring much pressure that it has to respond,” said Anwar at an Electoral reform rally organised by pressure group BERSIH at the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. He urged the public to show up in full force on Nov 10 at a ‘mass gathering in Putrajaya’ to call for electoral reforms.

Anwar’s comments comes in the wake of the latest announcement by EC Chief Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman yesterday, who strongly hinted that the elections could be called quite soon. Previously, Abdul Rashid had also called for electoral reforms but his bid to improve the electoral process have thus far been limited to providing a transparent ballot box and forcing voters who are still using old IC’s to verify their status.

The EC had also agreed in principle to the use of indelible ink to prevent multiple voting but is awaiting feedback from the National Fatwa Council. The use of the ink is one of the core demands by BERSIH.

International Observers: Anwar, the final speaker among a long list at the rally had vowed to pile on the pressure overseas by speaking about the state of the electoral process at international conferences and meetings. He also announced plans to invite the renowned US-base Carter Centre, to monitor the upcoming Malaysian General Elections. The centre is an NGO that has among others, monitored 68 elections in 26 countries.

On talks that this will tarnish Malaysia’s image, Anwar said the only way to save Malaysia’s image is to expose the problems within the electoral system. ‘Thus, I believe the theme for the 50th National Day should be ‘Selamatkan Negara Malaysia (Save Malaysia),” said Anwar to roaring approval from the 2,000 strong crowd.

In his speec Anwar alleged that UMNO was going to distribute thousands of video discs accusing the opposition of inciting violence and disturbing public order. He claimed the title of the disc would be ‘Evolusi atau Revolusi ‘? (Evolution or Revolution?).

How to Topple BN:

Reiterating claims made last month in Kelantan, Anwar said UMNO was planning to bring 40,000 phantom voters from southern Thailand in a bid to wrest the state from PAS.

“UMNO had identified 70 parliamentary seats in danger of falling into the hands of the opposition, thus they will do whatever it takes to retain it,” he added. In order to topple the government that had been ruling for 50 years, Anwar said the Opposition would have to secure at least 56% of the popular vote. “The highest managed by the opposition was 48%. So if we continue to preach to the converted and maintain our current pace, it is not enough to change the government. We need to attract BN supporters to our cause,” he said.

The rally last was attended by PAS President Abdul hadi Abdul Awang, DAP Secretary-General Lim Guan Eng and MTUC President Syed Shahir Syed Mohamud. BERSIH comprises 26 NGOs and 5 opposition political parties. The rally was the first in a series of planned roadshows to create awareness on the need for electoral reforms.

Blogger Comments:

A lot of BULL by a sick and self aggrandised loser who will cheat himself to stand out.

As food fo thought, how do we know if the Carter Institute is capable of being objective and capable of understanding the history of our country and its cultural sensitivities?

Only 30% of USA’s eligible voters go out to vote, why doesn’t the Carter Institute tackle that first? If the US is democratic, why is its white population and policies discriminating against coloured immigrants? How can we honestly believe that a country that can invade Iraq in violation of UN views and then create Guantanamo Bay horror in the inhuman torture of war prisoners be democratic? Why doesn’t the Carter Institute address that effectively first? Is Anwar blind to all these? Doesn’t he read?

The only explanation possible, perhaps, he has become myopic and diseased in his thinking?

Sila Halusi Teguran Ahli UMNO INI

Saya tertarik dengan luahan kekecewaan dan kekesalan seorang ahli UMNO yang tersiar di laman KMU (Surat Terbuka Kepada Tan Sri Muhamad Muhamad Taib).

Saya amat menghargai keutuhan negara ini selain rasa begitu bertanggung-jawab terhadap kedaulatan agama dan bangsa. Saya seorang ahli biasa UMNO yang tidak pernah mengenali mana-mana 'kroni' pun sebelum ini. Saya tidak meminta apa-apa balasan selain melakukan perjuangan siber ini secara sukarela dari dulu lagi. Saya amat terkilan dan berasa malu dengan apa yang didakwa (dan kononya juga dibuktikan) bahawa pihak UMNO di PWTC telah mengupah penulis "mercenary" untuk membantu menafikan segala tohmahan dan pembohongan yang tersiar di internet.

Usaha itu murni. Sebagaimana pihak pembangkang dan aktivis politik bersayap kiri bergiat di alam siber dengan penuh yakin, begitulah juga hak pihak UMNO mempunyai ruang untuk menggunakan pletform maya bagi mempertahankan diri.

Jika benar wujud pasukan siber itu dan juga benar mereka cuba menyamar di laman-laman blog yang disasarkan, saya rasa telah tiba masanya untuk dikaji semula strategi berkenaan.

Paling penting ialah bagi segala usaha penangkisan terhadap tohmahan dan propaganda ditangani dan jawab secara profesional dan berhemah.

Bukan calang-calang orang yang mampu berdiri teguh berjuang di medan pertempuran siber ini. Saya tabik kepada beberapa suara 'moderate' yang tidak berasa malu mengakui sebagai ahli UMNO dan ketara diterima dalam komuniti blogger pembangkang, termasuk Malaysia-Today.

Bagaimanapun, sejak kebelakangan ini dengan pencerobohan dan suara kasar kebudak-budakan cetek beberapa orang 'counter-blogger', senario keterbukaan telah menjadi kecoh. Kecoh bukan kerana blog-blog pembangkang dan aktivis bersayap kiri tergugat, tetapi kerana langkah sumbang 'pejuang' mentah kita sendiri.

Ini hanyalah pendapat peribadi saya. Diharap pucuk pimpinan parti terimalah secara terbuka kerana misi UMNO sentiasa murni. Kemurniaan inilah yang saya pegang dan bukan disebabkan kerana beberapa pemimpin digugat pelbagai tuduhan di alam siber. Itu semua perlu dijawab dan diperbetul sendiri secara telus.Ia juga tidak bermakna seluruh ahli UMNO yang berhati mulia dan berintegriti akan meninggalkan perjuangan parti dan bangsa disebabkan segelintir pemimpin itu.

Pada kami UMNO tetap UMNO dan segala-galanya perlu diperbetulkan secara dalaman dan terbuka dan dalam pada itu segala perjuangan terhadap ancaman ini tetap diteruskan.

Saya dan beberapa rakan seperjuangan akan sentiasa berjuang untuk mempertahankan kedaulatan agama, bangsa dan negara. Oleh itu saya memohon supaya segala-galanya dilakukan secara berhemah kerana akhirnya yang paling berkuasa ialah rakyat dan ribuan ahli UMNO yang begitu mengharap.

KECANGGIHAN TEKNOLOGI

Era teknologi maklumat menyebabkan masyarakat berlumba-lumba mempelajari komputer. Antara yang paling digemari oleh setiap lapisan masyarakat adalah internet.

Internet juga mempunyai pro dan kontra. Ia juga membolehkan masyarakat mencari apa saja maklumat tanpa sempadan. Internet mempunyai kesan mendalam ke atas ilmu. Internet juga bagaikan kamus dan mungkin juga perpustakaan untuk mencari pelbagai maklumat dan data secara ekstrem.

Kebimbangan masyarakat terhadap kecanggihan teknologi ini berpunca daripada beberapa bahan kontroversi, termasuk pelanggaran hak cipta dan percambahan bahan-bahan lucah tanpa kawalan. Masyarakat mudah terpengaruh dengan setiap paparan di laman web. Antaranya palsu tetapi diterima oleh masyarakat tanpa dipastikan kesahihannya.

Teknik ‘super impose’ adalah antara teknik yang paling efektif untuk menyebarkan fitnah pada individu tertentu. Di bawah adalah contoh gambar 'super impose' yang paling popular pada masa kini.

Gambar ini dipetik dari blog Tian Chua ( http://www.tianchua.net/ )

Inikah gunanya kecanggihan teknologi masa kini? FIKIRKAN...