Guan Eng told to put money where his mouth is on CM term limits(Malay Mail, 8/3/2018)

Guan Eng told to put money where his mouth is on CM term limits

By Opalyn Mok

Thursday March 8, 2018
03:13 PM GMT+8

Chew Seng Tung (pic) pointed out that Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng was already a two-term CM, having assumed the office in 2008. — Picture by Sayuti Zainudin

GEORGE TOWN, March 8 — Lim Guan Eng should prove Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) sincerity on its two-term limit proposal by disqualifying himself to be chief minister if the pact retains Penang in the general election, Parti Rakyat Malaysia’s (PRM) Chew Seng Tung said today.

The PRM Penang island election campaign director pointed out that Lim was already a two-term CM, having assumed the office in 2008.

“I suggest that he make an announcement that he will no longer be the chief minister after GE14 to prove his sincerity in wanting to implement a two-term limit for the prime minister, chief minister and mentri besar posts,” he said.

He added that Selangor and Penang could both pass laws to formalise this pledge now, even before the general election.

Chew added that doing so would prove that the pact’s pledge was more than rhetoric.

“These two PH states can call a special state legislative assembly to pass a law implementing the two-term limit before the elections,” he said.

He then went on to suggest that the proposal was just an empty promise, noting that DAP’s Tanjung Bungah assemblyman Teh Yee Cheu repeatedly proposed this two-term limit but was ignored.

He said this is why he finds it strange that suddenly PH is proposing a two-term limit now.

Lim yesterday announced that all PH parties have agreed to include the two-term limit in the pact’s manifesto for the 14th general elections.

Read more at http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/guan-eng-told-to-put-money-where-his-mouth-is-on-cm-term-limits#A5YiuhjUL3KQ6x4p.99

Guan Eng challenged to relinquish CM post after GE14(Sun Daily, 8/3/2018)

Guan Eng challenged to relinquish CM post after GE14

Posted on 8 March 2018 - 08:09pm
Last updated on 8 March 2018 - 09:11pm

Edmund Lee
newsdesk@thesundaily.com

GEORGE TOWN: Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has been challenged to show his sincerity by announcing that he will relinquish his position after the next general election in view of the proposed two-term limit for the post of chief minister.

Parti Rakyat Malaysia's (PRM) election campaign chairman Chew Seng Tung (pix) told a press conference that it was necessary for Lim to make the major announcement.

He said this would give people a better idea of Lim's intentions, as he had helmed the position for two terms since the Opposition took over the state administration in 2008.

He also dismissed Pakatan Harapan's (PH) proposal that such a ruling would only come into effect after the 14th general election, adding that previous tenures for all positions should be taken into account as well.

Lim said on Wednesday that the term-limit proposal would be included in the pact's general election manifesto.

Chew also questioned if Lim was truly agreeable with the proposal or if he was merely following PH's strategy to win the elections.

He also questioned if Lim would hold the position if PH wins Penang and not the federal government, adding that he should implement the proposal now.

"All these must be made clear, " Chew stressed. - Sun Daily, 8/3/3018

 

PRM membantah perlanjutan tempoh Tan Sri Md Raus Sharif sebagai Ketua Hakim Negara

2017-08-08

Kepada Pengarang yang dihormati,

Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM)  dengan kerasnya membantah perlanjutan tempoh Tan Sri Md Raus Sharif sebagai Ketua Hakim Negara selama tiga tahun berkuatkuasa mulai 4 Ogos 2017. Tempoh perkhidmatan Tan Sri Md Raus tamat setelah beliau capai umur persaraan 66 tahun, serta lanjutan 6 bulan yang diberikan pada 3 Ogos 2017.

PRM bertekad bahawa tarikh akhir tempoh perkhidmatan hakim iaitu tarikh persaraan mesti pasti dan  mandatori.

Pasti  dan mandatori bererti hakim setelah dilantik sebagai hakim tidak boleh dibuang kerja sehingga umur persaraan,  yang pada masa ini adalah 66 tahun. Ini bermakna juga  tempoh perkhidmatan hakim tidak boleh dilanjutkan melampaui umur persaraan  oleh mana-mana pihak termasuk Perdana Menteri atau Ketua Hakim Negara.

Pendirian PRM adalah bahawa untuk Malaysia  mencapai status negara dan masyarakat maju serta dihormati komuniti antarabangsa, amalan Malaysia harus sejajar dengan amalan  yang diterima oleh Pertubuhan Bangsa-bangsa Bersatu, contohnya dalam isu kehakiman ialah Prinsip Pertubuhan Bangsa-bangsa Bersatu mengenai perlakuan hakim dan badan kehakiman.  

Dalam United Nations Basic Principles on the Independence of the Judiciary, yang dengan jelas menyatakan perlu tarikh akhir tempoh perkhidmatan yang pasti  , ‘Judges, whether appointed or elected, shall have guaranteed tenure until a mandatory retirement age or the expiry of their term of office, where such exists.’(Hakim, sama ada dilantik atau dipilih, harus mempunyai tarikh perkhidmatan yang terjamin sehingga tarikh persaraan mandatori atau kehabisan tempoh perkhidmatan, di mana ia wujud)

Tindakan PM Najib dan juga tindakan bekas Ketua Hakim Negara, Ariffin Zakaria sehari sebelum Ketua Hakim bersara.  Ada kemungkinan kebebasan hakim dicabul.

 Untuk memastikan kebebasan kehakiman, satu perkara yang perlu adalah ketetapan tempoh perkhidmatan.

Jika tidak, hakim mungkin membuat keputusan yang disukai mereka yang ada kuasa melanjutkan tempoh perkhidmatan hakim. Justeru kebebasan kehakiman di Malaysia diragui.

Rakyat Malaysia berhak mempunyai hakim yang bebas membuat keputusan Mahkamah berasaskan keadilan,  tanpa dipengaruhi oleh mana-mana pihak termasuk Perdana Menteri Najib dan UMNO-BN. 

Tindakan PM Najib dan UMNO-BN ini bukan sahaja menonjol amalan dan teladan yang   tidak sihat,  bahkan akan terus menjejaskan kebajikan rakyat dan ekonomi negara.

Tindakan PM Najib dan UMNO-BN ini,  juga seolah-olah mahu memastikan badan kehakiman Malaysia akan berpihak kepada UMNO-BN khususnya apabila PRU14 akan diadakan bila-bila masa. 

Persepsi umum adalah sistem pentadbiran keadilan di Malaysia bertambah keraguannya susulan perlanjutan tempoh Tan Sri Md Raus ini. 

PRM menuntut agar Tan Sri Md Raus segera letak jawatan selaku Ketua Hakim Negara dan juga hakim Mahkamah Persekutuan,  di mana tindakan ini amat penting untuk Malaysia - untuk mengembalikan kebebasan kehakiman di Malaysia. 

PRM juga menuntut PM Najib dan UMNO-BN jangan melakukan perkara yang akan menjejaskan Malaysia dan menyebabkan penderitaan rakyat berterusan atau bertambah teruk. 

Yang benar, 

(Koh Swe Yong)

Setiausaha Agung PRM

012-2766551

No. 7D Jalan PJS 1/48 Petaling Utama, 46000 Petaling Jaya Selangor

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

Kerdau By-Election :- A possible coming out event for the 'new' PRM?

Will PRM consider contesting in Kerdau? Maybe, it should because Temerloh is and was the birthplace of the Malay left, and clearly PAS who contested in the last elections seems not to have the support of the people. Maybe, PRM should start campaigning and run in Kerdau - it could also be a coming-out moment for Parti Rakyat Malaysia.

A by-election also do get the attention of the Malaysian public ...and that is more reason why PRM should really consider fast the possibly of running.

TEMERLOH: Kerdau assemblyman Datuk Zaharuddin Abu Kassim died of a heart attack at his home near here, paving the way for the country’s 16th by-election.

Zaharuddin, 63, had slipped in his bathroom at about 6.45pm yesterday after complaining of being unwell.

He was rushed to the Sultan Ahmad Shah Hospital, but doctors failed to resuscitate him.

The first-term assemblyman was pronounced dead at about 7.15pm at the intensive care unit.

OCPD Asst Comm Mohd Nor Mansor confirmed that Zaharuddin had collapsed in the bathroom of his Kampung Kerdau home.

Kuala Krau MP Datuk Ismail Said said the assemblyman, who was supposed to attend a Chinese New Year event, had felt unwell.

Sultan Ahmad Shah, who was attending a 1Malaysia Chinese New Year gathering in Raub, left the event early to visit Zaharuddin’s family and offer his condolences.

Mentakab assemblyman Datuk Chuah Boon Seong, who was also at the gathering, said: “It is truly sad for all of us in Pahang in the midst of celebrating Chinese New Year.”

In May last year, Zaharuddin was warded in critical condition at the National Heart Institute following complications after an operation to treat intestinal ulcer.

He recovered after two months.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak is expected to attend the burial ceremony, which will be held after afternoon prayers at the Kampung Paya Taram Muslim cemetery.

Zaharuddin won the Kerdau seat in a straight fight against PAS’ Hassanuddin Salim in the 2008 general election, gaining a 1,615-vote majority. - Star, 13/2/2011, Kerdau rep dies, 16th by-election on the cards

 Kerdau assemblyperson Zaharuddin Abu Kassim, 63, from Umno died at Temerloh's Hospital Sultan Ahmad Shah at 7.15pm today.

The Pahang state representative, who had been in and out of hospital over the past one year, had earlier fell in his bathroom at his home in Temerloh.

Zaharuddin had previously been admitted to the hospital twice due to kidney
complication as well as a heart ailment and unstable blood pressure in May and
November last year.

"Datuk Zaharuddin was confirmed as having suffered a heart attack," Temerloh OCPD, ACP Mohd Noor Mansor told Bernama.

His passing sets the stage for the 16th by-election - and the first in Pahang - since the 2008 general elections.

Under the election laws, the Election Commission will have to call a by-election within 60 days.

At present, rival political parties are preparing for the 15th by-election in Merlimau, Malacca on March 6, which has been called due to death of state assemblyperson Mohamad Hidhir Abu Hassan.

Of the 14 by-elections so far, Pakatan Rakyat has won eight, while BN six.

Given that both Merlimau and Kerdau are BN strongholds, the ruling coalition is expected to even the score ahead of the upcoming general elections. 

12 elected reps died since 2008

Since the 2008 general elections, 12 elected representatives had died from various illnesses, including heart problems, cancer, stroke and lung infection.

Of the remaining four, three by-elections were held after incumbent representative quit their seats in the Permatang Pauh parliamentary and Penanti and Bukit Selambau state seats.

One other by-election was held in Batu Sapi, Sabah after its MP Edmund Chong died in a road accident.

The number of by-elections in the past three years is the highest in the country's electoral history.

Kerdau is an overwhelmingly Malay-majority seat with the community comprising 89 percent of the 8,451 voters, while 5.6 percent are Chinese and 3.6 percent Indians.

In the 2008 general elections, Zaharuddin beat PAS candidate hassanudin Salim with a majority of 1,615 votes.

In 2004, Umno's Redzwan Harun won the seat with a much higher majority of 2,565.

He suddenly lost conciousness 

Zaharuddin had also been treated at the National Heart Institute for two months for kidney complication and heart ailment after undergoing surgery for intestinal ulcer at the Hospital Sultan Ahmad Shah Temerloh in May last year.

Meanwhile, Kuala Krau member of parliament Ismail Mohamed Said said Zaharuddin was taken to hospital and admitted to the intensive care unit, but was confirmed dead while receiving treatment.

"According to his aide, Zaharuddin had earlier complained of stomach ache and his aide had taken him to the bathroom, where he suddenly fell and lost consciousness," he said when met at the hospital.

Ismail said Zaharuddin was then preparing to attend a Chinese New Year gathering in Temerloh.

He said Zaharuddin would be laid to rest at the Kampung Paya Taram Muslim Cemetery, Kerdau after the Zohor prayer tomorrow. - Malaysiakini, 12/2/2011, Kerdau state rep dies, 16th by-election beckons

PRM : Mansuh ISA bukan pinda [Abolish the ISA not amend]废除内安法令，不是修改

Media Statement - 31/7/2010 [Bahasa Melayu, English, Chinese]

Mansuh ISA bukan pinda

Akta Keselamatan  Dalam Negeri atau lebih dikenal dengan nama ISA harus hendak dimansuhkan, bukannya dipinda. Inilah pendirian Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) terhadap ISA semenjak ISA diperkenalkan dan dikuatkuasakan pada 1 Ogos 1960. Pada 1 Ogos 2010, ISA  genap dilaksanakan selama 50 tahun. Pelaksanaan ISA sendirinya  sudah memperlihatkan warna sebenar ISA.

Jika seseorang memandang balik ke masa perdebatan dan hujah-hujah perkenalan ISA pada 1960, adalah amat nyata ISA adalah untuk menangani perjuangan bersenjata komunis. Oleh sebab kerajaan Barisan Nasional telah menandatangani perjanjian damai dengan Parti Komunis Malaya pada 1989, dan Parti Komunis Malaya telah menghentikan perjuangan bersenjatanya, ISA sepatutnya sudah hilang sebab musabab dan asas untuk terus wujud.

Akan tetapi, Kerajaan Barisan Nasional tidak ada  niat untuk memansuhkan ISA. Sebaliknya, Kerajaan Barisan mengemukakan pelbagai dalih untuk menjustifikasikan perlunya ISA supaya kewujudannya disambung-pakai walaupun 50 tahun penggunaan ISA oleh kerajaan Barisan telah menceritakan semuanya iaitu undang-undang boleh menahan seseorang tanpa pembicaraan itu sudah tanpa segan-silu dan terang-terangan disalahgunakan dengan sewenang-wenangnya dan ISA adalah bertentangan dengan  semangat pemerintahan undang-undang (rule of law).

PRM adalah satu-satu party  dengan pendirian konsisten atau tidak berubah-ubah  menentang habis-habisan pelaksanaan ISA. Oleh itu, adalah tidak hairanlah dalam masa 50 tahun pelaksanaan  ISA, beribu-ribu anggota PRM daripada presiden nasional ke lapisan akar umbi menjadi mangsa kezaliman  utama ISA.

Pemimpin-pemimpin nasional PRM seperti Allahyarham Ahmad Boestamam (Presiden, Ahli Parlimen), Tajuddin Kahar (Setiausaha Agung), Hasnul Hadi (Presiden Barisan Sosialis, Pengerusi Majlis Perbandaran Melaka yang dipilih oleh pengundi), dan mendiang Karam Singh (ahli Parlimen), Sivasubramaniam (Adun), dan Tan Hock Heng (Adun) meringkuk bertahun-tahun dalam kem-kem tahanan, antara contohnya Tan Hock Heng  telah ditahan selama 16 tahun dan dibebaskan tanpa syarat)  . Bahkan kebanyakan anggota PRM  sekarang  seperti Pemangku Presiden Ariffin Salimon, Naib Presiden S K Song, Setiausaha Agung Koh Swe Yong dan Bendahari  Teh Soon Ming juga  menghabiskan masa hidup yang terbaik dalam kem tahanan.

Oleh itu, PRM mendesak supaya kerajaan Barisan di bawah kepimpinan Najib Razak memansuhkan  dan bukan membuat pindaan kepada ISA, dan juga undang-undang boleh menahan tanpa pembicaraan lain. Dengan berbuat demikian, kerajaan Barisan boleh menunjukkan amalan bikin serupa cakap dan   memperlihatkan kesungguhan dan betul-betul komited  pada usaha  mentransformasi Malaysia kepada  negara  yang maju dan demokratik.

Yong benar,

Koh Swe Yong

Setiausaha Agung  PRM

012-2766551

21B(F) Jalan SJ 6 Taman Selayang Jaya 68100 Batu Caves Selangor Malaysia

31-07-2010

Abolish the ISA not amend

The Internal Security Act or the ISA must be abolished and not amended. This is the  stand of Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) or The People’s Party of Malaysia towards the ISA   since the ISA was introduced and in force on the 1 August 1960. By tomorrow, the 1^st of  August 2010, the ISA will have been in force for 50 years and 50 years of the implementation of the ISA   truly reveal its  colours.

If one were to look back into the debates surrounding the arguments for the introduction of the ISA in 1960, it was very obvious that the ISA were meaned to deal with the communists’ armed sstruggle. Since the Barisan Nasional or National Front government had signed a peace accord with the  Communist Party of Malaya in 1989, and the Communist Party of Malaya  ceased its arms struggle,  the ISA has lost the very pretext and reason for its continued existence.

But, the Barisan Nasional Government has no intention to abolish the ISA. Instead, the Barisan  Government looks for   excuses to justify  the need of the ISA and its continued existence eventhough 50-year of the uses of the ISA by the Barisan Government tells all that this peace of the detention without trial law has been grossly and starkly abused and   against the very spirit of rule of laws..

PRM is the only political party that has consistently opposed the ISA and it is no wonder that in the past 50 years thousands of PRM members right from the top national presidents to the very grass roots were the main victims of the ISA.  

PRM national leadership like the  late Ahmad Boestamam( President, MP), Tajuddin Kahar (Secretary General),  Hasnul Hadi (President Sosialis Front, elected Malacca Municipal Council Chairman) , Karam Singh (MP), Sivasubramaniam ( State Assemblyman), Tan Hock Heng (State Assemblyman) have spent years in the detention camps, some as long as 16 years like Tan Hock Heng who was finally released  unconditionally after spending 16years under the ISA detention. Presently, even many of the present members like acting President Ariffin Salimon, Vice President S.K. Song, Secretary General Koh Swe Yong and  Treasurer  Teh Soon Ming and many others  have spent the best part of  their life in detention camps.

Thus, PRM demands that  the Barisan Nasional Government under Najib Razak leadership to abolish and not amend the ISA together with the other detention without trial laws to show that the Barisan Nasional Government walks the talk, and is seriously and genuinely committed to wanting to transform Malaysia into an advance and developed democratic state.

Yours truly,

Koh Swe Yong

Secretary General PRM

012-2766551

21B(F) Jalan SJ 6 Taman Selayang Jaya 68100 Batu Caves Selangor Malaysia

31-07-2010

废除内安法令，不是修改

“内安法令必须废除，而不是修改。”

这是马来西亚人民党对内安法令的一贯立场。这个法令在1960年由联盟政府提出并于1960年8月1日正式生效。明天即2010年8月1日内安法令的实行已经50年了。50年的内安法令应用本身已经暴露了内安法令的真正颜色。

如果我们回头看看1960年内安法令在国会提出时的辩论，我们可以很明显地看到，内安法令的提出和订立理由和根据是应付共产党人的武装斗争。由于国阵政府已经在1989年和马来亚共产党签署了和平协议，而马来亚共产党已经停止武装斗争，内安法令便已经失去继续存在的理由和根据。

但是，国阵政府没有任何废除内安法令的意愿，反而提出种种理由和借口作为支持内安法令不能废除的论据，内安法令必须继续存在和使用，虽然国阵政府用了内安法令50年本身 已经说明一切，无需审讯扣留的内安法令已经在毫无羞耻和赤裸裸的状况下，随心所欲被滥用，内安法令也完全违反法制精神。

过去和现在，马来西亚人民党反对内安法令的立场始终是一贯的，是现存政党里唯一一个在内安法令被提出开始，就坚决反对内安法令的。因此，并不令人惊奇，在实施内安法令的50年里，数以千计的人民党党员，从全国主席到基层党员都成为内安法令主要的牺牲品。

人民党全国领导人如已故波斯达曼（主席，国会议员）、达祖丁加哈（总秘书）、哈斯奴哈迪（社阵主席，马六甲民选市议会主席）、卡南星（国会议员）、西华苏伯马廉（州议员）和陈福兴（州议员）等都在内安法令下被扣留无数个年头，有些甚至被留了16年，如陈福兴最终在内安法令下扣留了16年后在无条件下释放。

因此，马来西亚人民党强烈要求以纳吉为首的国阵政府废除，而不是修改内安法令，以及其他的无需审讯扣留法令。如果国阵政府这么行动，可以让人们看到，国阵政府言出必行，并且是认真和真正要把马来西亚改变成为一个先进和发达的民主国家。

马来西亚人民党总秘书

辜瑞荣

012-2766551

21B(F) Jalan SJ 6 Taman Selayang Jaya 68100 Batu Caves Selangor Malaysia

Human Rights Party, PRM should join others in the struggle

Human Rights Party, PRM should join others in the struggle

Saturday, 26 June 2010 00:00

In the absence of a proportional representation system, the best strategy for any small party is to work together with other parties under a collective desire to get rid of injustices - and in the process touch the hearts of the long-suffering poor, says Choo Sing Chye.

As the general election looms closer, I would by most humble means try to provide some comments on the Human Rights Party’s (HRP) and Parti Rakyat Malaysia’s (PRM) strategies in the coming elections.

Your party's 15/38 strategy "to create, win in and create politically empowered 15 parliamentary and 38 state Indian majority seats" and Koh Swe Yong, secretary-general of PRM's plan (The Star, 7 June 2010) to contest as many seats as possible in the coming elections will test or better still crack the iron-clad feudal first-past-the-post electoral system to ‘empower’ the minorities – this had never happened before in history, either in Malaysia or in Great Britain.

One of the main factors that makes British politics lag behind other European countries is the first-past-the post electoral system.

Many political scientists had described this first-past-the-post electoral system as faulty. Is this the reason why: in the 1983 British General Election, the Conservatives won only 40 per cent of the votes but obtained 60 per cent of the Commons seats. [1]

The first-past-the-post electoral system is the most undemocratic electoral system ever devised and it is ludicrous that it is still in existence today. It has never given the minority a voice like yours a chance to flourish in our political system. It should have disappeared long ago along with the ending of the feudal system in Great Britain.

Any good electoral system should encompass the principle of ‘one person, one vote, one value', but unfortunately it is not to be in the case of first-past-the-post system. Sadly we are stuck with this deformed electoral system, which we inherited since Merdeka from the British.

In Great Britain, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) - or as most Malaysians might call ‘the third force’ - has been consistently unrepresented, "gaining about 30 per cent of the votes in some elections but no more than just over 1 per cent of the seats (in the region of 20 to 30 seats") [2]

The 1992 British general election saw the LDP securing more than 20 per cent of the votes, winning only a measly 20 seats. Ironically, the Labour Party, which secured only 34.4 per cent of the votes, won 271 seats in the House of Commons. [3]

If the principle of one person, one vote, one value were to be applied to this election, LDP should have got around 130 seats instead of 20. It thus lost out on a whooping 110 seats in the 1992 general election alone. In turn, the Labour Party should have got around 224 seats and not 271.

Apparently it took less than 40,000 votes for one Conservative MP to be voted in, slightly more than 40,000 for a Labour MP but for the Liberal/Alliance (only in 1983) it needed more the 338,000 votes (seven times as many votes) just to get an MP into the House of Commons. [4]

In Pennsylvania, USA, in 1924 the Republican Party won about one million votes and took 36 seats in the state election, while the Democrat Party won over half a million votes and took not even a single seat. [5]

In the case of Malaysia, where the first-past-the-post system is coupled with the lopsided media, the biased Election Commission has kept Barisan Nasional in power for the last 50 over years.

In our country, as it is known that there is not a single Indian majority seat. Not because it has none. It is the product of Barisan Nasional’s gerrymandering.

Here is one example, the Buntong State seat (Perak) has a voters’ population of 21,682 (Malays 6.1 per cent, Chinese 47 per cent, Indians 46.2 per cent). Compare this with the Pengkalan Hulu seat won by Former Menteri Besar, Tajol Rosli which has only 11,717 voters (Malay 72.6 per cent, Chinese 12.1 per cent Indians 9.3 %). In other words, the vote value of Pengkalan Hulu is twice that of Buntong’s.

If the concept of one value is applied, Buntong should be split into two constituencies – one with a Chinese majority and the other with an Indian majority. In the Indian majority seat, there would be at least 50 over per cent of Indian voters.

With the Barisan Nasional’s gerrymandering and the unfair first-past-the-post system what chance have we got? Our voices will always remain unheard. In contrast, this unfairness benefits the super rich Malays, Chinese and Indians.

To replace the first-past-the-post system with a Proportional Voting system is near impossible. Although this system sees a fairer distribution of votes and the votes cast reflect closely with the seats won, nobody in Barisan Nasional wants it for it will spell the end to its monopoly on political power.

The only way out for any party is to evolve into a coercive group and to move forward under one collective desire to get rid of injustices and in the process, similar to Mahatma Gandhi’s direct democracy, touch the hearts of the long-suffering poor Malays, Chinese, Indians and the East Malaysians with compassion, sincerity, openness and fairness, without planting the seeds of hatred along the way.-

PRM - Need for a revival & re-statement of positions

Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) is a party with a long history of having an option for the poor - workers, peasants, agricultural workers, justice and human rights.

What PRM needs to decide now is whether it would be an alternative party, with defined principles, positions and issues...or whether it will just be an Opposition party, against the UMNO-led BN and pro-Pakatan Rakyat? I believe that PRM must stand alone - cooperating with other parties, only when it comes to issues and maybe elections..PRM needs to commence membership drive to attract members from the younger generations, and be a real alternative.

DEMOCRACY - PRM should be for true democracy at all levels, and that will include democratically elected Local Councils, democratically elected Kampung/Kampung Baru/Taman people's leadership.

WORKERS  

PRM should be pro-worker, insisting on greater worker rights including the right to unionize.

PRM should be for basis minimum living wage for all workers

PRM should be for job security - against the current practice of fixed-term contracts, that do not provide workers with job security until a retirement age of 55 (or 60). With short fixed term contracts of 6 months, 1 year or 2 years, it creates a lot of insecurity for the Malaysian worker and their families/dependents. After the contract period expires, workers end up having to find new jobs - and it becomes more and more difficult for the older workers.

Social Security - this scheme need to be extended to all workers, including the self-employed, farmers, fishermen,...and there must be an option of self-contribution...

Healthcare - it should be free universal healthcare for all. 

What else?....Maybe there is a need to work out clearly new positions (which could be a reaffirmation of current positions..)