Kongress PRM ke-45 - 17/11/2013

The People's Party of Malaysia (PRM) held 45th Party Congress today at the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall in Kuala Lumpur

Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) mengadakan Kongres ke-45 di Dewan Perhimpunan Cina Selangor Kuala Lumpur pada 17/11/2013. 

Dari kanan Koh Swe Yong (naib presiden), S.K. Song (Timbalan Presiden), Dr Rohana Ariffin (Presiden), Al Jafree ( Setiausaha Agung) dan Tan Chin Hong (Naib Presiden)

马来西亚人民党在吉隆坡雪兰莪中华大会堂举行了第45届全国大会。右起副主席辜瑞荣、署理主席宋新辉、主席罗哈娜博士、总秘书杰非里和副主席陈进丰。在巫统--国阵玩弄分裂人民的种族和宗教政治氛围里，人民党的要走的未来路仍然崎岖和遥远。
 
With UMNO-BN wiping up the divide and rule religio-racial politik the future of PRM is still tortuous dan distant.

Youth support for socialism growing, says PRM's Rohana Ariffin (Star)

 Sunday November 17, 2013 MYT 6:21:26 PM

Youth support for socialism growing, says PRM's Rohana Ariffin

by t avineshwaran

KUALA LUMPUR: There is growing youth support for socialist ideology but still not many young people are keen to get involved in political parties and elections, says Parti Rakyat Malaysia chairman Dr Rohana Ariffin.

“This seems to be the general trend throughout the world where youths would support popular movement and demonstrations over pertinent issues but they are reluctant to be a member of a political party,” she said at the 45th PRM national congress on Sunday.

On PRM, Dr Rohana said although the party was small, it's presence was essential for the betterment of the people and in helping to solidify the progressive movement in the country.

“Being one of the oldest political parties since its inception in 1955, it has been and shall continue to play a very important role in trying to bring about unity of all the races in this diverse society," she said.
 
In the party's manifesto, PRM had urged for a proportional representation system (PR) instead of first-past-the post that gives advantage to bigger and financially-stronger parties.
 
"PRM's basic principle is that all voters deserve representation in the legislature. In other words everyone should have the right to fair representation.
 
"First-past-the-post system is akin to gambling. It has affected smaller parties. For PRM, it's due to it's inability to sponsor candidates and spread its campaign objectives," Dr Rohana said.
 
Dr Rohana said it was still a long and winding road for PRM and urged members to work harder especially in other states to rebuild some of PRM's past glories.
 
"Although PRM is now visible in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, it's existence in other states is still lacking.
 
"We have to soldier on. As the Malay proverb goes 'Biar putih tulang, jangan putih mata' (it is better to die fighting than to live crying in regret till the eyes becomes blind)," she added.
 
The congress was also attended by Parti Sosialis Malaysia leader Dr Nasir Hashim and its secretary-general S.Arutchelvan. - The Star Online, 17/11/2013, Youth support for socialism growing, says PRM's Rohana Ariffin

PRM, a third political force in the making? (FMT News)

PRM, a third political force in the making?

Priscilla Prasena | November 9, 2013 

 

Ex_DAP man's move on Parti Rakyat Malaysia is to prepare the party to take on the two political heavyweight, which he claimed are failing the rakyat.

 

PETALING JAYA: Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) is being revamped and would appear as a third force in the Malaysian politics with an ex-DAP veteran driving it in Selangor.

Deliganu Alagan, 66, said he will be focusing on Klang and other regions in Selangor while reinventing the party to a true socialist concept, which was being championed by its president Dr Rohana Ariffin.

Commenting on the need for a third force in the Malaysian politics he said both Pakatan Rakyat (PR) and the ruling coalition (BN) had failed to look into the welfare of the people and each of them were protecting their interest.

“It is because both the political parties have failed that we need a third force to protect the interest of the people,” Deliganu told FMT.

Deliganu said it was time for the country to have a third political force and about 25 ex-DAP members would now join him in this party to serve the public better.

He added that the main agenda of the party would be looking into building low-cost houses for the low to middle income people as well as to serve the interest of the poverty stricken residents of Malaysia.

“We would want to see poverty eradicated and the wealth of the country equally distributed to every citizen of the country,” he added.

Deliganu said the party would be also looking into the homeless issues of the people especially with the rising homeless issues, recently.

Speaking to FMT, he said as a socialist, PRM had been fighting for all issues affecting all races, however Indians in the country were the worst affected by poverty.

Ahmad Boestamam, an activist with the leftist Kesatuan Melayu Muda (KMM) movement, founded PRM in 1955. The party was renamed Malaysian People’s Socialist Party (PRM) and it officially adopted scientific socialism as its ideology. Despite the re-orientation of the party, the post-1969 political scenario meant that the party remained in the sideline.

Following the 1999 general elections, PKR began to explore the possibility of a merger between the two parties. However, the merger was delayed by the lengthy negotiations between the two parties. The two parties only officially merged on Aug 3, 2003, while PRM contested in the 2004 general election as PKR as the merger had yet to be approved by the authorities.

It was believed that due to the growing tension between some former PRM members, who were now in PKR, with the party’s leadership was due to an alleged growing influence of neo-conservatism.

These members were not comfortable with the merger and found a rallying point to express their dissent, particularly towards the former leadership who negotiated the merger.

Despite its de-registration on April 17, 2005, former PRM youth leader Hassan Karim elected a new executive committee to resume its political activities.

Being sacked by DAP was his turning point

The grassroot DAP leader said his sacking from DAP was the turning point in his fight against the party.

The real estate consultant was a founder member of DAP in Port Klang and Pandamaran and was an active member in DAP until 1995. He was sacked from the party in 2010 three years after Bank Negara had declared him a bankrupt.

“I joined DAP when I was 21. I contested in 1990 for the Pandamaran constituency but lost. I even contested in Sementa, Kapar in 1995 but lost there as well,” Deliganu said.

He said Bank Negara lifted his bankruptcy in 2011, making him eligible to contest in the general elections.

“I was a victim. Somebody stole my identity card and used it and I only knew that I had been declared a bankrupt when I received a letter informing me of the same,” he said.

Deliganu subsequently appealed to Bank Negara to review his case and was cleared as a bankrupt in 2011.

In the 13th General Election, Deliganu contested in Pandamaran as an independent candidate and only obtained 62 votes compared to Tan Pok Shyiong, the DAP candidate who won the seat with 9,176 majority. - FMT News, 8/11/2013,PRM, a third political force in the making?

Hj Suhaimi Said (bekas pemimpin PRM) akan dikenangi - 6/11/2013

Perginya seorang pejuang rakyat. moga ALLAH meredhai usaha arwah

Allahyarham yang juga Ahli Majlis Pimpinan Pusat PKR dan Ketua Cabang PKR Kuala Krau ialah bekas calon PKR Dun Jenderak dalam pilihan raya umum lalu.

Sekitar tahun 1980an, nama Suhaimi Said yang sinonim dengan Parti Sosialis Rakyat Malaysia (PSRM) begitu popular. Sebagai peguam yang aktif dalam parti pembangkang, beliau mudah diminta sebarang komen untuk mana-mana akhbar tabloid.

Beliau memulakan karier politiknya dalam PSRM kemudiannya menyertai PAS, UMNO dan berakhir dengan PKR. Beliau menyertai Umno bersama Naib Presiden PAS, Nakhaie Ahmad yang keluar dari PAS.

Semalam Pengerusi Biro Felda dan Orang Asal PKR itu kembali ke rahmatullah di Hospital Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah, Temerloh.

Allahyarham yang juga Ahli Majlis Pimpinan Pusat  PKR dan Ketua Cabang PKR Kuala Krau ialah bekas calon PKR Dun Jenderak dalam pilihan raya umum lalu.
Allahyarham dimasukkan ke wad sejak 29 Julai lalu kerana disyaki terkena jangkitan kuman pada tulang belakang.

Sebagai seorang peguam, Suhaimi banyak membantu memperjuangkan nasib warga Felda sejak tahun 1980-an dan terlibat dalam tragedi berdarah semasa Pilihan Raya Kecil (PRK) Lubuk Merbau, Kedah ketika bergerak aktif dalam PAS.

Beliau pernah ditahan dua kali di bawah Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (ISA) ketika bergiat di dalam PAS.

Anak kelahiran Kampung Lubok Kawah, Temerloh,  beliau dilahirkan pada 8 Disember 1944.

Beliau adalah anak kepada pejuang Angkatan Pemuda Insaf (API), sayap pemuda Parti Kebangsaan Melayu Malaya (PKMM),Allahyarham memulakan karier politik dengan Parti Sosialis Rakyat Malaysia (PSRM)  sebelum menyertai PAS.

Ketika bergiat aktif dalam PAS, Suhaimi memperjuangkan hak pemilikan individu untuk peneroka Felda yang dibelenggu Akta Penempatan Berkelompok (GSA) .

Oleh kerana kesungguhan beliau untuk mengadakan Konvensyen Felda, akhirnya beliau ditahan dibawah ISA dan dibebaskan pada 1986 serta dibuang daerah ke Melaka.

Di Melaka beliau menubuhkan banyak cawangan PAS dan mewujudkan Gagasan Selatan-Selatan membabitkan PAS Melaka, Negeri Sembilan dan Johor.  Keadaan ini amat merunsing pemimpin Umno Melaka yang ketika itu diterajui Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Tamby Chik.

Beliau sekali lagi ditahan di bawah ISA dalam Operasi Lalang bersama 120 pemimpin parti pembangkang. Selepas 6 bulan kemudian beliau telah dibebaskan.

Konflik dalaman PAS ekoran tindakan bekas Naib Yang Dipertua PAS Pusat, Ustaz Nakhaei meninggalkan PAS dan menyertai Umno turut mengheret Suhaimi.

Allahyarham menyertai Umno dan bergiat aktif di peringkat bahagian tetapi kemudian menyepikan diri.

Menyifatkan penyertaannya dalam Umno sebagai satu kesilapan besar dalam kerjaya politiknya, Suhaimi kemudian meninggalkan Umno dan menyertai PKR pada 27 November 2007 atas pelawaan Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Nizam Hamid dan Dr Syed Husin Ali.  

Takziah kepada keluarga Allahyarham Suhaimi Said. - SediaSejahtera Blog

PRM joins 111 groups in calling for charges against Lena Hendry to be dropped

Joint Statement – 2/10/2013

DROP THE CHARGES AGAINST MALAYSIAN HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER LENA HENDRY

NO TO PRE-CENSORSHIP OR PRIOR APPROVAL FOR USAGE OF FILM/VIDEOS

We, the  112  undersigned  civil society groups, trade unions and organizations are shocked that the Malaysian government, after the recent General Election has resorted to charging human rights defender Lena Hendry on 19 September 2013 for being involved in the screening of a documentary "No Fire Zone: The Killing Fields of Sri Lanka" at a human rights event in Kuala Lumpur on  9 July 2013.

Lena Hendry was charged for an offence under the Film Censorship Act 2002, in connection with the screening of a video  which  was not  vetted and approved by the Film Censorship Board of Malaysia. If convicted, she faces the sentence of a ‘…fine of not less than five thousand ringgit and not more than thirty thousand ringgit or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or to both…’ She is charged under Section 6 of the Act that makes it an offence to, amongst others, to produce, manufacture, have in one’s possession, circulate, distribute and display such film or film-publicity material which has not been approved by the Board. This may include video material ranging from family videos, videos of political and human rights material including recordings of forums and speeches, videos about citizen rights including the right to free and fair elections or worker rights, and even videos about rights violations in other countries including Palestine.

A ‘…videotape, diskette, laser disc, compact disc, hard disc and other record of a sequence of visual images, being a record capable of being used as a means of showing that sequence as a moving picture, whether or not accompanied by sound…”, is also included in the definition of ‘film’ as provided for in Section 3 of the Film Censorship Act. It is absurd that in Malaysia, the law requires one to get approval of the Malaysia’s Film Censorship Board for all such material.

The Act is also discriminatory as it does not apply, amongst others, to “...any film sponsored by the Federal Government or the Government of any State...”. The government does not need to obtain approval from the Censorship Board, but everyone else is expected to do so.

At present, the practice of getting approval from the Film Censorship Board usually applies to films screened in cinemas and cineplexes to a paying audience. Even when it comes to television, it is believed that there may be no pre-requirement for getting approval from the Censorship Board for all that is shown except for feature movies.

The charging of Lena Hendry in September 2013 by the Malaysia government is seen as an effort to limit access to information and alternative views particularly those highlighting human rights violations and alternative perspectives. This violates individual and civil society and public rights to information, freedom of expression and opinion.

If the screening and usage of such material incites a criminal act, or violates another person’s rights, there are existing laws to address this. There is no requirement for any prior government approval or ‘censorship’.

In Reporters Without Borders’ 2013 World Press Freedom Index, Malaysia has fallen to its lowest-ever position because of the decreasing access to information. Malaysia embarrassingly dropped 23 places, and now ranks 145 out of 179.

Article 1 of the Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms states clearly that “Everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to promote and to strive for the protection and realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms at  national and international levels.” 

Lena Hendry, has the right to ‘…freely  publish, impart or disseminate to others views, information and knowledge on all human rights and fundamental freedoms…’, and that should include the right to use films, documentaries and other video materials.

To advocate a policy or a law that says that film or video material must be pre-approved by the government before it can be used is in itself a violation of principles of human rights and the UN Human Rights Defender Declaration.

Therefore, we

a)      Call on the Malaysian Government to immediately and unconditionally drop the criminal charges against Lena Hendry;

b)    Call for the repeal of provisions in the Film Censorship Act 2002 that obligates persons to seek approval of the government vis-à-vis the Film Censorship Board before a film, videotape, diskette, laser disc, compact disc, hard disc and other record of a sequence of visual images can be used;

c)    Call on the Malaysian government to recognize, promote and respect human rights, including those contained in the UN Human Rights Defenders Declaration

Charles Hector

Pranom Somwong

For and on behalf the 112 organisations listed below

ALIRAN

All Women’s Action Society (AWAM), Malaysia

Angkatan Rakyat Muda (ARM), Malaysia

Aksi  For Gender, Social And Ecological Justice, Indonesia

ASEAN Youth Assembly

Asia Pacific Forum on Women, law and Development (APWLD)

Academy of Tamil Studies, Malaysia

Boat People SOS

Burma Partnership

Cambodian Human Rights Association ( ADHOC )

Campaign for a Life of Dignity for All (KAMP), Philippines

Civil Right Committee of Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall, Malaysia

Center for Orang  Asli Concerns (COAC), Malaysia

Centre of Education. Research and Development (CEDAR) Malaysia

Centre for Independent Journalism, Malaysia

Child Development Initiative Malaysia

Committee for a Workers' International (CWI), Malaysia

Community Action Network, Malaysia

Community Resource Centre

Council of Temples Malaysia

Dapur Jalanan Kuala Lumpur

Dignity International

Empower Foundation, Thailand

ENGAGE

Federation of Indian Non-Governmental Organisations

Foundation for Women, Thailand

Friends of Burma, Chiang Mai

Gabungan Pertubuhan-pertubuhan Masyarakat India Selangor

Gender and Development Advocates (GANDA) Filipinas

Group of Concerned Citizens Malaysia

Human Rights Ambassador for Salem-News.com, UK

Human Rights Working Group (HRWG) Indonesia

Indian Malaysian Active Generation (IMAGE) Malaysia

Islamic Renaissance Front (IRF) , Malaysia

JERIT, Malaysia

Kelab Bangsar Utama, Malaysia

Kesatuan Kebangsaan Pekerja Pekerja Perusahaan Alat Alat Pengangkutan Dan Sekutu(NUTEAIW)

Kesatuan Sekerja Industri Elektronik Wilayah Selatan Semenanjung Malaysia (KSIEWSSM)

Kuala Lumpur Indian Entrepreneurs and Professionals

Law and Society Trust, Colombo Sri Lanka

LLG Cultural Development Centre, Malaysia

MADPET (Malaysians Against Death Penalty and Torture)

Malaysian Association of Indian University Graduates

Malaysian Dravidian Association

Malaysians for Beng Hock

Malaysian Hindu Youth Council

Malaysian Indian Business Association

Malaysian Indian Development & Unity Association

Malaysian Indian Entrepreneurs and Professionals

Malaysian Indian Historical Association

Malaysia Indian Progressive Educational Society

Malaysian Indian Youth Development Foundation

Malaysian Physicians for Social Responsibility

Malaysia Youth & Students Democratic Movement

Malaysia Tamil Artiste Association

MAP Foundation, Thailand

MARUAH, Singapore

Migrant CARE

MTUC(Malaysian Trade Union Congress) Pahang

National Union of Bank Employees, Malaysia (NUBE)

Nationwide Human Development And Research Centre Malaysia

Network of Action for Migrants in Malaysia ( NAMM)

Network for Democracy and Development

Parti Rakyat Malaysia(PRM)

Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM)

Pax Romana ICMICA

Peace Institute of Cambodia

Peace Women Across the Globe Indonesia

Peoples' Empowerment Foundation (PEF), Thailand

Peoples Service Organisation (PSO) , Malaysia

PERGERAKAN Indonesia

Perkumpulan Tafena Tabua, Kupang - Indonesia

Persahabatan Semparuthi Johore, Malaysia 

Persatuan Alumni PBTUSM KL & Selangor

Persatuan Kesedaran Komuniti Selangor (EMPOWER)

Persatuan Masyarakat Selangor & Wilayah Persekutuan (PERMAS)

Persatuan Sahabat Wanita, Selangor (PSWS), Malaysia

Projek Dialog, Malaysia

SABM Melbourne, Australia

Sahabat Rakyat Working Committee, Malaysia

SALT(School of Acting Justly Loving Tenderly and Treading Humbly), Malaysia

Sarawak Dayak Iban Association

Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia (SABM)

Selangor Indian Entrepreneurs and Professionals

Semparuthi Iyakkam Malaysia

Sisters In Islam, Malaysia

SUARAM (Suara Rakyat Malaysia)

Tenaganita, Malaysia

The Asian Muslim Action Network (Aman) Indonesia

The Association of Women Lawyers, Malaysia

The Filipino Women's Organization in Quebec, Canada

VIVAT International-Indonesia

WH4C (Workers Hub For Change)

Women's Centre for Change (WCC) Penang

Women's Network for the Advancement and Peace, Thailand

Women's Rehabilitation Center (WOREC) Nepal

World Tamil Federation – Malaysian Chapter

Writer Alliance for Media Independence (WAMI), Malaysia

Yaung Chi Oo Workers Association, Thailand

Yayasan LINTAS NUSA Batam - Indonesia

Youth for Peace Cambodia

Advocacy and Policy Institute (API), Cambodia

Labour Behind the Lablel, United Kingdom

ARTICLE 19

Forum for Democracy in Burma

Bersihkan Malaysia Perth, Australia

Women's Aid Organisation, Malaysia

WAC, Phillipines

Housing Rights Task Force, Cambodia.

NLD LA Malaysia

Tourism Employees Association of Maldives" (TEAM)

CEREAL (Centro de Reflexión y Acción Laboral)