PRM already has an acting President since 23/11/2009 - so Star's report is wrong.

From my inquiries, PRM has already chosen an acting President. See earlier posting :- PRM melantik pemangku Presiden Baruon  on 23/11/2009.

One wonders whether the error in the Star report is intentional, or they were misled by S.K. Song? Wonder why the Star did not carry the earlier statement issued by the Sec-Gen on or before 23/11/2009. The media must refer to the principal office bearers before putting out reports about any political party, society or organisation. From, the report, it is clear that the person referred to as the source seem to be not aware of recent developments in PRM - for he is still talking as though there is not yet an acting President of PRM, in light of the resignation of Hassan Karim.

PRM to pick new leaders after president's resignation

JOHOR BARU: Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) will undergo a reshuffle in the next four to six weeks in the wake of president Hassan Abdul Karim’s resignation.

Party Central Committee (CC) member S.K. Song said that the reshuffle would also see the appointments of a new president and deputy chairman.

“All state liaison committees have been directed to hold meetings to discuss the appointment of new people for these two posts,” he told The Star yesterday.

“The CC will meet to make a final decision in four to six weeks.” Song said the party needed capable leaders to fill the top two posts but refused to divulge the names of those who had been considered.

On Nov 17, Hassan resigned after 80% of the 100 party delegates who attended the PRM congress in Kuala Lumpur rejected his proposal for the party to join Pakatan Rakyat.

Hassan has since applied to join PKR. He submitted his form to party leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at a convention in Kluang on Nov 22.

Song said he respected Hassan’s decision and his contribution to the party.

“However, he (Hassan) put forth the proposal to join Pakatan without discussing with the CC first,” he said.

“The members were caught by surprise. That’s why it was rejected.”

Hassan, he added, should have discussed the matter thoroughly before proposing such a drastic move.

“The party will survive without him.” Song also clarified that though he pulled out as deputy chairman, he was still the party’s Johor chairman and CC member.

“I pulled out to give way to other leaders about three months ago.” - Star, 28/11/2009, PRM to pick new leaders after president's resignation

PRM melantik pemangku Presiden Baru

PRM melantik pemangku Presiden Baru

Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) mengumumkan hari ini bahawa Naib Presidennya Ariffin Salimon telah dilantik Pemangku Presiden untuk mengisi kekosongan setelah Presiden PRM  Hassan Karim meninggalkan PRM. Pada masa yang sama, Goh Chuin Loon dari ranting PRM Sungai Petani Kedah dilantik sebagai ahli jawatankuasa pusat (AJKP).

Hassan Karim meninggalkan PRM kerana lebih daripada 80% wakil PRM yang menghadiri Kongres Nasional ke-41 yang diadakan pada 15 November 2009 telah menolak  usul Hassan Karim. Usul itu adalah untuk  memohon secara bertulis menyertai Pakatan Rakyat. Oleh sebab ini perkara yang strategik dan serius, sebelum sebarang keputusan dibuat, perkara ini perlu masa untuk berbincang. Wakil berpendapat buat masa ini adalah tidak sesuai memohon, apatah lagi Pakatan Rakyat masih dari segi peraturan belum berdaftar.

Kenyataan PRM juga menjelaskan satu kesilapan yang ada dalam laporan the Star hari ini. S.K. Song telah meletakkan jawatan Timbalan Presiden pada Januari tahun ini dan diterima JKP, tetapi beliau masih AJKP dan Pengerusi PRM Johor.

Parti Rakyat Malaysia ialah parti  politik terbuka kepada warganegara Malaysia, PRM mengalu-alukan  sesiapa untuk berjuang bersama, jika bersetuju dengan cita-cita dan konsep memperjuangkan kepentingan rakyat jelata khususnya mereka daripada golongan pertengahan bawah 

Akan tetapi, sekiranya ada mana-mana anggota PRM mendapati, PRM bukannya wadah yang sesuai lagi untuk bergerak, dan memenuhi kehendaknya,  memilih untuk meninggalkan PRM, pilihannya dihormati dan diterima. Pemimpin boleh datang dan boleh pergi, bagi PRM ini hal biasa.

Walau bagaimanapun PRM mahu mengucapkan ribuan terima kasih kepada Hassan Karim, pada masa beliau memimpin PRM selama 5 tahun , Hassan Karim telah sedaya-upaya dan dengan jujur ikhlasnya mempertahankan hak kewujudan PRM  sebagai satu parti politik berdaftar, serta mengucapkan maju jaya dan good luck kepada Hassan Karim dalam endeavour dengan wadah yang lain.

Yang benar,

(Koh Swe Yong)

Setiausaha Agung

012-2766551

PRM EX-chief joins PKR

PETALING JAYA: Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) president Hassan Abdul Karim has resigned from the party to join PKR.

Hassan submitted his membership application form to PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at the Johor PKR convention in Kluang yesterday.

Hassan had announced his intention to resign as president during the PRM congress in Kuala Lumpur on Nov 15.

“In the policy speech, I proposed that the party join Pakatan Rakyat. But more than 80% of the 100 delegates rejected the idea.

“As my proposal to set new directions for the party was strongly opposed, I had no other option but to announce that I was relinquishing all posts,’’ he said when contacted yesterday.

Hassan submitted his letter of resignation to party secretary-general Koh Swe Yong on Nov 17.

“I have relinquished all my posts in the party and am quitting as a member,’’ he said.

Hassan, 58, was among a few who fought hard to save PRM from being dissolved after former leaders decided to merge the party with Parti Keadilan to form PKR on Aug 3, 2003.

Those who opposed the merger held a congress in Johor on April 17, 2005 and elected Hassan as the new president.

This prompted former PRM president Dr Syed Husin Ali, former vice-president R. Sivarasa and former secretary-general Dr Sanusi Othman to file a petition in court to dissolve the party.

However, the High Court ruled on July 16 that the dissolution of the party could only take place if at least 60% of the members voted for it during a congress.

Hassan said he still loved PRM.

“But if the party operates in isolation, it is difficult to bring about changes. That is why I proposed that the party join the Pakatan Rakyat coalition,’’ he said.

PRM deputy chairman S.K. Song said most of the members rejected the idea because they thought Hassan had wanted to merge the party with PKR.

“We were shocked when Hassan put forward the idea as he was among those who had worked hard to stop the party from being dissolved,” he said. - Star, 23/11/2009, PRM chief joins PKR

Parti Rakyat on road to expansion (Malay Mail)

Parti Rakyat on road to expansion

Submitted by pekwan on Thursday, November 5th, 2009

Thursday, November 5th, 2009 05:44:00

EXPANDING: Hassan speaking at the opening of the PRM Sungai Petani branch. The others are (from left) Koh, Sungai Petani branch chairman Lim Pok Long, Teh Soon Ming and Workers' Organisation chairman Thiagaraja

PARTI Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) is on the move. Established in 1955, PRM has begun to become more active in the political arena and is moving to rebuild its ties with the grassroots, its president Hassan Karim said.

“We will begin to play a wider role, now that the court has legitimised our position,” Hasan said of the July 16 High Court decision that PRM remained a legitimate entity under the Societies Act.

That was the day the High Court sitting at Jalan Duta in Kuala Lumpur ruled against PRM’s dissolution, sought by eight former members of the party who were key players in its merger with Parti Keadilan, which since the merger has become Parti Keadilan Rakyat.

Hassan said there was little opportunity for PRM to work with the Barisan Nasional as the BN considered PRM's socialist stance as completely alien.

However, the party was willing to work with Pakatan Rakyat and all other organisations legitimately struggling for the welfare and rights of the people, he said at the opening of PRM's Sungai Petani branch in Kedah last Sunday.

Hassan also said PRM has received feelers from Pakatan to join the coalition. This, he said, would be discussed at PRM’s 42nd National Congress, which will be held at the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall in KL on Nov 15.

He added the next area of PRM’s expansion in the country would be Johor and that in the years to come, the party would also expand to Sabah and Sarawak.

Also speaking during the launch, PRM secretary-general Koh Swe Yong said the party was in the process of re-registering its members and revamping the party structure and organisation, as the current leadership has not received any party documents from those behind the move to dissolve it. - Malay Mail, 5/11/2009, Parti Rakyat on road to expansion

PRM MINTA KERAJAAN MALAYSIA BEBASKAN PELARIAN POLITIK SRI LANKA

Kenyataan Media PRM

- 20 haribulan Oktober, 2009

PRM MINTA KERAJAAN MALAYSIA BEBASKAN
PELARIAN POLITIK SRI LANKA

Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) minta Kerajaan Malaysia supaya segera membebaskan kesemua 108 pelarian politik Sri Lanka yang kini sedang ditahan di Kem Tahanan Imigresen Pekan Nenas, Pontian, Johor.

Mereka terdiri daripada 88 lelaki, 10 perempuan (seorang sedang mengandung) dan 10 orang kanak-kanak. Kesemua pelarian politik Sri Lanka tersebut mendakwa mereka adalah pemegang kad UNHCR (Suruhanjaya Hak-Hak Asasi Pelarian Politik Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu). Mereka telah ditangkap pada kira-kira pukul 12 malam di Johor Bahru pada 8 haribulan September 2009 dan hingga kini ditahan di Kem Tahanan Imigresen Pekan Nenas.

PRM dimaklumkan bahawa keadaan orang-orang pelarian Sri Lanka itu sangat membimbangkan. Seorang daripada mereka, seorang pelarian perempuan bernama Jayamalar telah melancarkan mogok lapar di dalam Kem Tahanan sejak 6 hari yang lalu. Keadaannya begitu kritikal sehingga terpaksa dihantar ke hospital pada 18 haribulan Oktober 2009. Beliau kini masih meneruskan mogok lapar. Mulai semalam 19 haribulan Oktober 5 orang pelarian lelaki Sri Lanka itu turut menyertai mogok lapar tersebut kerana membantah penahanan mereka.

Pelarian-pelarian politik Sri Lanka membantah penahanan mereka oleh pihak berkuasa Malaysia kerana mendakwa mereka adalah pelaraian politik yang sah yang diiktiraf oleh UNHCR. Mereka tidak sepatutnya ditahan di Kem Tahanan Imigresen di Pekan Nenas. Sudah lebih 40 hari mereka ditahan dan tiada sesiapa yang mengambil berat tentang nasib mereka.

PRM menyeru kerajaan Malaysia atas dasar peri kemanusiaan dan atas prinsip menghormati undang-undang antarabangsa tentang hak-hak pelarian politik supaya membebaskan dengan seberapa segera kesemua pelarian politik Sri Lanka itu dari Kem Tahanan Imigresen Pekan Nenas dan membenarkan mereka mendapat perlindungan di Malaysia yang aman ini.

Hassan Karim
Presiden PRM

Alamat: Bilik 6, Aras 2, Wisma Qaryah, Jalan Pejabat, 82000 Pontian, Johor.
Tel: 07-6881839 H/P: 012-7931148 Email: hakarim2001@yahoo.com

PRM: Undilah calon PR—PAS percepat perubahan social politik di Malaysia

Kenyataan Media - 6/10/2009

Undilah calon PR—PAS percepat perubahan social politik di Malaysia

Mesyuarat Jawatankuasa Pusat baru-baru ini memutuskan untuk menyeru pengundi DUN Bagan Pinang, Negeri Sembilan, mengundi calon PR—PAS Zulkefly Mohamad Omar, menolak calon BN—UMNO.


BN—UMNO dibawah kepimpinan Najib-Muhyuddin mencalonkan bekas Menteri Besar Negeri Sembilan Mohamad Isa, seorang pemimpin yang telah dibuktikan dan dijatuhkan tindakan oleh UMNO sendiri kerana terlibat politik wang untuk mendapatkan jawatan dalam pemilihan kepimpinan UMNO, menunjukkan laungan kepimpinan Najib—Muhyudddin untuk melaksanakan pembaharuan dalam BN—UMNO, serta slogan mendahulukan kepentingan rakyat , jika tidak rakyat akan merubah BN—UMNO, dengan sendirinya mendedah pekung bahawa kesemua kata-kata manis ini tak lain daripada tirai asap dan gimik politik untuk terus menipu rakyat.


Kepimpinan BN—UMNO ini hanya mewarisi dan meneruskan dasar selama 50 tahun memerintah, merampas harta dan sumber rakyat dan negara demi kepentingan diri sendiri.


Menurut laporan media, pada awal tahun 80an semasa Mohamad Isa menjawat Menteri Besar Negeri Sembilan, telah dirangka satu projek untuk memindahkan penternak babi di negeri itu ke satu tapak pembelaan moden dan terkawal dari segi kesihatan dan persekitaran.


Untuk tujuan tersebut, tanah seluas 1520 ekar telah diambilalih, dan tanah berharga RM8500 seekar akan dijual terus kepada pengusaha penternakan berdasarkan konsep bayaran pampasan.


Projek ini untuk menjaga kebajikan dan kepentingan penternak, alam sekitar, pengguna dan penduduk. Tetapi kesudahannya tidak berjalan seperti yang dirancang.


Oleh sebab ketamakan rejim pemerintah yang tidak ada batas, dan dipandang mereka sebagai peluang membuat duit, maka timbullah niat serong dalam hati mereka. Rancangan yang dirangka untuk kebajikan rakyat dan masyarakat ini dirubah dan dijadikan projek cepat kaya.


Tanah tersebut telah dijual kepada sebuah syarikat Melayu yang dikaitkan dengan UMNO Negeri.


Syarikat ini tidak menjual tanah terus kepada pengusaha, tetapi kepada syarikat yang dimiliki orang Cina yang dikaitkan MCA. Ia dikaitkan dengan Senator Dr Yau Chai Thian, pengerusi MCA Negeri Sembilan.


Dalam proses ini, tanah yang berharga RM 8500 seekar jika dijual terus kepada pengusaha, sekarang dijual oleh syarikat yang dikaitkan dengan MCA dengan harga RM 145000 seekar, iaitu melambung naik sebanyak 17 kali ganda. Pengusaha enggan membelinya.


Akhirnya, rancangan untuk memodenkan kaedah memelihara babi terhalang. Apakah yang berlaku kemudian ialah tercetusnya virus Nipah yang bukan sahaja meragut nyawa penternak dan hangusnya harta benda, bahkan mengancam nyawa dan merugikan rakyat keseluruhannya.


Apa yang dicatat di atas adalah salah satu daripada beribu-ribu contoh penyalahgunaan kuasa BN—UMNO demi kepentingan diri dan kroni-kroni dan sakat-sukut mereka.


Oleh itu, Parti Rakyat Malaysia sekali lagi menyeru pengundi DUN Bagan Pinang menolak calon BN—UMNO yang terbukti terlibat dalam politik wang, menyokong calon PAS, memberi peluang kepada perubahan supaya udara Malaysia segar semula, barulah kebajikan rakyat jelata terjamin.


Hassan Abdul Karim,
Presiden (012-7931148)

Koh Swe Yong,
Setiausaha Agung (012-2766551)

Joint Statement :- LEPTOSPIROSIS CAUSES DEATH OF ANOTHER 6 BURMESE IN DETENTION IN MALAYSIA

Joint Statement - 25/9/2009

LEPTOSPIROSIS CAUSES DEATH OF ANOTHER 6 BURMESE IN DETENTION IN MALAYSIA

DENIAL OF HEALTHCARE IS A VIOLATION OF RIGHT TO LIFE

We are shocked and disappointed to hear that another six Burmese migrants have died while in detention in Malaysia because of a suspected waterborne disease. Leptospirosis is caused by exposure to water contaminated by animal urine, like rat urine. (Straits Times, 25/9/2009, Migrants die in detention/ Associated Press, 24/9/2009).

From our investigation, the names of 3 of those who have died are So Thein [Prison Body number 0853, Block B1, Ethnicity: Burman, Age: 36], Min Khaing [Body number 5009, Ethnicity: Karen, Age: 23] and Min Nown [Ethnicity: Arkan, Age: 28]. The other 3 are of Chin ethnicity. It seems that the deaths happened in August.

This time the deaths seem to have occurred at the Detention Centre at the KL International Airport (KLIA) depot. The Straits Times report states that an official had informed them that ‘…the detainees likely contracted the disease in another centre. They were transferred together with some 700 others after a riot there...’. In an earlier report (Star, 24/7/2009), it was stated that ‘…some 700 Myanmar illegal immigrants involved in a ruckus at the Semenyih immigration depot early this month have been moved to the department’s KL International Airport (KLIA) depot…’

It must be noted that this is not the first case of death by reason of Leptospirosis. Sa La Hin, 26, and Thang Hoih Ping, 21, two Burmese migrants, died in the Malaysia’s Juru Immigration Detention Centre from Leptospirosis in May 2009. 127 civil society groups and organizations responded vide a joint statement entitled ‘Death Of 2 Burmese Indicative Of State Of Detention Places In Malaysia - Denial Of Healthcare Is A Violation Of Right To Life’.

Complaints were also lodged with the Malaysia’s Human Rights Commission (SUHAKAM), Malaysian Prime Minister Dato' Sri Mohd Najib Bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak,, Minister of Home Affairs Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, and the Minister of Health Dato' Sri Liow Tiong Lai,

After that Leptospirosis outbreak in the Juru Detention Centre in Penang in May, the Immigration Director-General Abdul Rahman assured us that the cleanliness and hygiene at immigration depots nationwide will be stepped-up to ensure safety of staff and inmates there against contracting infectious diseases (Bernama, 19/5/2009).

SUHAKAM also vide letter dated 16/7/2009 had informed us that they had met with the Director General of Immigration on 4/6/2009, and amongst others, had recommended that ‘… as a measure to control contagious diseases to ensure that all immigration detention centres should have a doctor or medical officer in line with international requirements, and that cleanliness of detention centres should be taken care of.’

It must also be borne in mind that last year SUHAKAM identified medical care as an overriding reason why 1,300 detainees have died over the past six years, and had made recommendations to the government. At present the 22 centres throughout Malaysia do not have a permanent clinical dispensary manned by doctors or a medical assistant to help detainees. (ABC News, 28/5/2009)

In May 2009, it was reported that about 26 were admitted to hospital following a Leptospirosis outbreak in the Juru Detention Centre, and they survived, and this leads us to believe that prompt access to healthcare can avoid death. It is shocking that in this recent case, 6 have died. What is more disturbing is that there seem to have been no reported disclosure by the Malaysian authorities on this. We still do not know the number of detainees that have been affected this time.

This is a disease caused by exposure to water contaminated with the urine of infected animals, and is very rarely propagated through contact with affected persons. Question must be raised as to how detainees in an enclosed detention centre are contracting this disease. Are they being affected through the food and water supplied by the detention centres? Are the detention centres having a rat infestation problem?

After the recent deaths and outbreak in the Juru Detention Centre, one would have expected the Malaysian government to have taken immediate steps to ensure that there are no more cases of Leptospirosis outbreak and deaths. We wonder also whether the authorities took a lackadaisical attitude, and did not even conduct a thorough investigation to determine the source of the contamination that caused that outbreak. Results of such investigations will not only determine liability, but would also ensure that further deaths from Leptospirosis could be avoided.

We, the undersigned, call on the Malaysian Human Rights Commission (SUHAKAM) to immediately commence a public inquiry into these deaths and detention places generally, and come up with concrete recommendations which could be implemented that will improve state of cleanliness, hygiene and healthcare of all detention places in Malaysia. It was sad that SUHAKAM decided not to carry out a public inquiry after the Juru deaths in May.

We are also call upon the Ministry of Health and the government of Malaysia to conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of this Leptospirosis outbreak, which is reported to have already resulted in 6 deaths.

We also call for the resignation of Immigration Director-General Abdul Rahman, considering that this is second reported case of deaths by reason of Leptospirosis at Immigration Detention Centres within the last 4 months.

The Malaysian government must take necessary action to ensure that proper steps be taken so that such disregard for life does not happen again.

With regard to those who have died, their family and/or dependents should be given adequate compensation by the persons responsible, the detaining authority and the Malaysian government.

Officers and persons responsible for the acts or omissions that resulted in death and suffering should be charged and prosecuted for these crimes. They should not be permitted to hide behind safeguards provided to public servants, which unfortunately only promotes culture of impunity with no sense of responsibility and respect for human life.

Charles Hector

Pranom Somwong

Tun Tun

For and on behalf of the 23 organizations/groups listed below:-

Asian Migrant Centre (AMC)

Burma Campaign, Malaysia

Clean Clothes Campaign -International Secretariat

Coordination of Action Research on AIDS & Mobility (CARAM -Asia)

FIDH - International Federation for Human Rights

Khmer Kampuchea Krom Human Rights Organization (Cambodia)

Legal Support for Children and Women (LSCW) Cambodia

MADPET (Malaysians against Death Penalty and Torture)

MAP Foundation, Thailand

Mekong Migration Network (MMN)

Mekong Ecumenical Partnership Program-MEPP

Migrant Forum in Asia (MFA)

National League for Democracy [NLD (LA)], Malaysia

Network of Action for Migrants in Malaysia (NAMM)

Nepal Institute of Development Studies (NIDS) Nepal

Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM)

Persatuan Kesedaran Komuniti Selangor

Persatuan Masyarakat Malaysia & Wilayah Persekutuan (PERMAS)

Pusat Komas

The Shan Refugee Organization (SRO) Malaysia

Thai Action Committees for Democracy in Burma (TACDB)

The Action Network for Migrants (ANM) Thailand

Workers Hub for Change (WH4C)