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Press Statement dated 6 June 2016 There is an apparent inertia when it comes to gender equality in Malaysia’s political landscape. No doubt Anwar Ibrahim is the iconic figure most supported as the PM candidate, with the President of Keadilan, Wan Azizah willing to be the interim PM while the process of #BebasAnwar gets sorted out. Still, there is still a void which nobody, especially Muslim women dare to even think about. The gracious, gentle and reluctant politician, as we all come to know fondly as Kak Wan, has been consistently supportive of Keadilan’s ‘Reformasi’ cause, central to the #BebasAnwar movement. Many of the key supporters are loyal to this cause and although it is the main driver behind Keadilan as a party, there should be, a plan B or plan C. Kak Wan's role as the interim PM must be strengthened further to propel our women's agenda into the next millennia. At the very least, Mahathir has offered to be the next reluctant PM, but this is still subject to the...

3rd Penang International Fingerstyle Guitar Competition 2016

Click here for online entry form. Click here to book your tickets. Click here for Facebook page. -**-

Transgender Symposium: Arrest and Detention

From left: Ms Chinta, ASP Riza, YB Lee Khai Loon, YB Teh Yee Cheu, Zulfakri, Ustaz Khairol TG Symposium: Arrest and Detention Transgenders fear harassment during arrest and detention, and a symposium organised by the Transgender Committee set up by the State Assembly of Penang brought both transgenders and the authorities together to discuss the situation. Also involved in the organising of this event was Justice for Sisters, SUARAM Penang and PACA. Documented stories of how transgenders are being mistreated and ostracised by the authorities are plenty, and there should be policies and guidelines to resolve this issue. State Assemblyman for Tanjong Bunga, YB Teh Yee Cheu requested that the authorities invite a transgender to be present during body checks, to which the police replied that the suggestion will be forwarded to her superiors. According to the Assistant Superintendant Rizatulmi Haizaran Binti Samat from the police forces’ sexual harassment department, f...

Bebas Lim Guan Eng

The arrest of Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng is totally shocking as well as heartbreaking to those who have been supporting his administration for the past 8 years. This political persecution is a big blow to the opposition leaders but is even far more damaging to the overall morale of opposition supporters. The rude manner in which the Chief Minister was treated during arrest is not justified, even with the accusations brought against him. Firstly, he was not armed, did not resist arrest and had been cooperative with the MACC all along. Secondly, the Chief Minister should not be treated like a criminal before a guilty conviction has been passed. He faces two counts under Section 23 of the MACC Act and Section 165 of the Penal Code. Nonetheless, the MACC seem to be at the call and beckon of the UMNO chief. While RM2.6 billion transactions may be brushed off as a donation, the accusations against the Chief Minister pale in comparison to what seems to be an obvious play to ‘sav...

Child's Act 2001 discussion by PWDC

The Child Act 2001 is inadequate to protect children’s rights – this was the opinion and outcome of a roundtable discussion hosted by the Penang Women’s Development Corporation under YB Chong Eng, the state executive councilor for Youth and Sports, Women, Family and Community Development. Members of Parliament from Pakatan Harapan such as YB Zuraida Kamaruddin, YB Sim Chee Keong and YB Teo Nie Ching received feedback from notable NGOs such as the Women’s Centre for Change (WCC), Service Civil International; and women advocates like YB Lim Siew Khim, DAP councillors Syerleena Rashid and Chris Lee, Aida Yusof Rawa from Parti Amanah, Lim Kah Cheng, and Priscilla Ho. The objective of this meeting, held last weekend, was to work together towards eliminating sexual crimes against children. Lim Kah Cheng aptly pointed out that although the number of police cases have drastically reduced through the years, the number of cases admitted to hospitals remained the same. She also mentioned that...

Two term tenure for CM a good proposal

Letter by Carolyn Khor, Assistant to YB Teh Yee Cheu and Communications Chief for Wanita Keadilan dated 4 April 2016 The Speaker of the State Assembly wields great powers bestowed upon him through the state constitution which governs the house. The approval or rejection of a motion lies, ultimately, in the hands of the Speaker, who decides whether or not the matter reaches the State Assembly for debate during sittings. Last week, YB Teh Yee Cheu, the state assemblyman for Tanjong Bunga submitted a motion to the Speaker’s office and the State Secretariat’s office to limit the Chief Minister’s tenure to two terms, each being not more than 5 years. He reiterated that he was submitting the motion due to public interest and is ready to face consequences from his party, if any. He also cited Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago as having practise two-term limits. Although the Westminster parliamentary system, which the Malaysian parliament is modeled after, has no fixed-term limit, unlike the...

RM50 million slash for Chinese schools nationwide is discriminatory

Press Statement by Carolyn Khor, Ketua Komunikasi Wanita Keadilan dated 22 December 2015 RM50 million slash for Chinese schools nationwide is discriminatory MCA should be ashamed of themselves for supporting the RM50 million slash for Chinese schools nationwide ever since the 2013 general election. Heng Seai Kie should know that the allocation comes from the taxpayers not BN, and there is no excuse to penalise Chinese voter’s children just because the electorate wanted a clean and fair government. If slashing 50 percent funding to Chinese schools is realistic like she said, then how realistic can it be when only BN voters pay taxes? It is simply low to suggest that it is realistic for Chinese children to suffer just because of incompetent politicians like herself and MCA who support the BN government’s decision to do so. As a BN component party, MCA should have protested against the RM50 million cut. With dwindling support for MCA in the Dewan Rakyat, it is clearly a sig...

If I were Bunya Jalong...

If I were Bunya Jalong... by Carolyn Khor I was acquitted. Thanks to Augustine Liom and the honorable judges. I did not think it would be that easy actually. Besides, the law is on my side and I have nothing to fear. Having fathered a son at 60 years old, I must say that I am rather proud of myself. After all, how many men my age is still as virile? Admittedly, I must say that the DNA tests are actually favourable to me. Since it is proven that I am the father, I believe th at I have rights over my son. Let me see, that includes access and visitation rights, rights to decide on his upbringing and future, rights to decide his religion and education, etc,…How about joint custody? Of course, they will be asking for child maintenance, but hey, how much can you get out of a father who has none or not much to spare? Even if I have any money, I will again, seek Augustine Liom's help. I have also planned out my visitation hours where I will spend time getting acquainted with m...

Choi’s attire should not be blown out of proportion

Link to MSN A 25 year old Muslim convert and primary school teacher lodged a police report against the school board’s director who had requested her to remove her headscarf if she wanted to continue teaching at SJK (C) Nan Ya in Kota Tinggi. Did she feel victimised and was therefore seeking help? And was it necessary for her to make the police report? Choi Yi Shan, a 25 year old Muslim convert and primary school teacher, turned the tables on her colleagues over a remark that was made over her choice of dressing. She lodged a police report against the school board’s director, Phang Ah Ngang, 72, who had requested her to remove her headscarf if she wanted to continue teaching at SJK (C) Nan Ya in Kota Tinggi. Consequently, the news drew flaks amongst the Muslim groups that demanded action to be taken upon the school board’s director remarks. The headscarf remarks uttered by the school board director were neither criminal nor seditious. Today, Choi received a public apology from ...

Speaking out for the people is a Wakil Rakyat’s job

Link to MSN Bukit Relau receives due ‘medical attention’ after ‘Botak Protest’ by Teh Yee Cheu. Pressure by the Tanjong Bunga State Assemblyman resulted in new consultants being engaged by the land owner to restore the illegally cleared hill land. Pakatan Rakyat Penang is exemplary in its execution of democracy in that elected representatives of the people can speak out without fear or favour with regards to the State Government’s actions or inaction. In all aspect, this professionalism to separate party issues and governance is highly beneficial to all. A yes-man would no sooner prove to be detrimental to both the coalition and the public. Teh Yee Cheu recently shaved his head bald as a protest against the developers of Bukit Relau to restore the barren hill to its previous condition. Six months earlier, General Accomplishment Sdn. Bhd. was fined RM30,000 under Section 70A (1) of the Street, Drainage and Building Act for carrying out illegal earthworks at the site. Eve...