[April 2, 2008] Forum on Interventionist Monarchs – A Complement or a Challenge to Democracy?

Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM) & The Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH) cordially invite you to

Forum on Interventionist Monarchs – A Complement or a Challenge to Democracy?

Date: 2nd April 2008 (Wednesday)
Time: 8.00pm
Venue: MCPA, 2nt Floor, KLSCAH
(1, Jalan Maharajalela, 50150 Kuala Lumpur. Next to the Monorail Maharajalela station)
Road map: http://www.scah.org.my/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=261&forum=16&jump=1

Speakers:
Dr. Syed Hussin Ali (Deputy President, PKR)
Mr. Gobind Singh Deo MP (DAP)
Dr. Dzulkifli Ahmad MP (PAS)
Mr. Malik Imtiaz (President, HAKAM)
Datuk Zaid Ibrahim MP (Minister in Prime Minister's Department) (to be confirm)

Chairperson:
Mr. Wong Chin Huat (vice chairman, CRC-KLSCAH)

The Civil Rights Committee of the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (CRC-KLSCAH) and Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM) will be holding a forum discussion on the role of constitutional monarch in a democratizing Malaysia.

Constitutional monarchs are seen by some quarters as the guardian of democracy against the wrongdoing of elected politicians. Free from electoral pressure, the sovereign may act in the real interest of the nation better than politicians. From this perspective, many see their Royal Highnesses the Sultan and Crown Prince of Perak as the model national leaders for their stances on judiciary independence and an inclusive nationhood.

The March 8 elections ushered in new political reality which changes the operational setting for "interventionist monarchs".
Alongside the Opposition parties, the palaces have been empowered. This does not only happen in Perak and Selangor where new parties have come into power with slim majority in the legislature, but also in Perlis and Terengganu where the incumbent BN secured two-thirds of the legislature. In the standoff in Terengganu, the palace and the legislative majority have had completely opposite preferences.

Is such royal intervention in government formation constitutional according to the letters of the law? Beyond legality, is it in line with the norm of constitutional monarchies where the monarchs are only the figurehead? Can the palace, an unelected institution, dictate who should head the government and who sit in the cabinet? In the context of democratization, is the ascendance of royal power at the expense of the declining hegemonic party desirable?

For the details, please contact with assistant secretary of CRC, Mr. Chan 03-22746645.



The Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH) is the umbrella organization of over 400 various Chinese community-based organizations in Klang Valley. The Civil Rights Committee (CRC) is a subsidiary committee of the KLSCAH specially tasked with the advocacy of civil rights.

Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM) is a non-governmental Malaysian human rights organization working for a free, equal, just and sustainable society.

[April 1, 2008 @ KL] 讲座："皇室干政？——谈民主转型及其挑战"

马来西亚人民之声 与 吉隆坡暨雪兰莪中华大会堂

敬邀公众出席

讲座："皇室干政？——谈民主转型及其挑战"

日期：2008年4月1日（星期二）
时间：傍晚七时三十分入场、晚上八时正开始
地点：隆雪华堂楼上讲堂
地图：http://www.scah.org.my/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=261&forum=16&jump=1

主讲人：
邓章钦（雪州巴生双溪槟榔区州议员）
饶仁毅（董教总法律顾问、独立新闻在线行政总裁）
叶瑞生（大马人民之声执行总监）

主持人：
廖国华（民权委员会委员）


全国大选过后，玻璃市、霹雳、雪兰莪及登嘉楼各州相继出现皇权抬头，介入州务大臣与行政议员委任等事务，而以登嘉楼州务大臣人选问题引发最大争议。为此，隆雪华堂民权委员会与大马人民之声联办"皇室干政？——谈民主转型及其挑战"讲座，希望以此剖析新政局的发展，反思我国的宪政架构，丰富公众对民主政治的认识。

法律界人士认为，大选后政治版图发生巨变，而主流政党实力消褪之余，发生皇权抬头，对民主转型之影响值得省思。有论者以为这是破坏宪政精神的先声，应该制止皇权扩张；而有论者则以为这些州统治者并未逾越州宪法的限制，并且理应维持族群社会稳定以及摒弃涉嫌贪腐之人选。

主办单位希望讨论以下三个问题：
一、宪政结构：分析联邦宪法以及州宪法有关君权的规定，并从历史的角度反思宪政架构的草创及其意涵，这样的架构是否可欲，值得延续至未来。而80年代起至今数次的宪政危机又意味什么？
二、政局形势发展：不同的政党对此连串事件反应不一，其影响与意涵是什么？
三、民主转型的挑战：反思民主进程，除了政党政治、民间议政，究竟皇权抬头对民主转型的意义是什么，希望就此探索民主国家的转型过程及其挑战。

任何问题，请联络隆雪华堂助理秘书曾先生，电话03-22746645 。谢谢！
敬请与您与朋友分享这个讯息，踊跃参与此项活动。

A ban has been ordered by the state authority on SUARAM election talks!

Analysis of General Election:

“Where is Democratization of Malaysia Heading Towards?”

Press statement

A ban has been ordered by the state authority on SUARAM election talks!

SUARAM Penang has received a last-minute call from the Caring Society Complex person-in-charge last night (26/3/08), who claimed that the Penang state Secretariat has ordered a ban on the coming Friday and Saturday’s democracy talks.

The ban has been ordered by the vice state secretary Muhammad Yusoff bin Wazir who commented ‘the talks look and smell political’, thus it contradicts with the ‘caring and harmony’ image of Caring Society Complex. Despite the ban, the talks will remain on Friday and Saturday nights. The venue has been switched to Penang Chinese Town Hall in Jalan Kapitan Keling (or known as Pitt street).

The analysis of general election talk titled “To Where Democratization of Malaysia” has proudly invited speakers like Datuk Dr. Toh Kin Woon, Mr. Wong Chin Huat, Jeff Ooi and Ani Netto. All press is welcomed to do coverage on the two-day event.

Date: 28 March 2008

Time: 8pm

Venue: Penang Chinese Town Hall

Speakers: Datuk Dr Toh Kin Woo, Mr. Wong Chin Huat and Jeff Ooi.

Moderator: Yeo Siew Yean

Language: Mandarin

Date: 29 March 2008

Time: 8pm

Venue: Penang Chinese Town Hall

Speakers: Mr. Wong Chin Huat and Anil Netto

Moderator: Ng Eng Kiat

Language: English

Mr. Wong Chin Huat is a journalism lecturer of the School of Arts and Sciences in Arts Discipline, Monash University, Sunway campus (Malaysia).He completed/He obtained his PhD in the University of Essex in electoral system and party politics in West Malaysia, 1982-2004. Before joining the academia, he had been working as a political columnist and lobbyist. He co-initiated the “People Are the Boss” declaration in 1999 and is currently the chairperson of the Writers Alliance for Media Independence (WAMI)

Mr. Anil Netto, an Exco member of ALIRAN, is a famous blogger that also writes for Aliran Monthly, Inter Press Service, Asia Times and The Herald

We first saw denying the BN two-thirds majority as an insurmountable task, but have been pleasantly shocked and surprised. This time around, BN has been denied a two-third majority in parliament for the first time.

Apart from discussing why the results were the way they were, it is also important for us to discuss what the next is for people.

For those who interested in better understanding of political develepment in Malaysia, all are welcome to the talk, free admission.

Any inquiry please contacts Lau Shu Shi 012-8756179 or 04-6582285.

Lau Shu Shi

Coordinator of SUARAM Penang branch

012-8756179/04-6582285

槟州秘书署不批准租用场地

槟州秘书署不批准租用场地
人民之声大选讲座易地举行

人民之声强烈抗议州秘书处（JABATAN SETIAUSAHA NEGERI）的副秘书穆哈玛约瑟夫(Muhammad Yusoff Bin Wazir)强行取消由人民之声主办的讲座，讲座题目为第十二届大选分析- 《马来西亚民主路在何方？》

这个讲座原定于3月28日（华文）及29日（英文）于爱心大厦举办。28日（华文）的主讲人包括了家喻户晓的华教护航者杜乾焕博士，英国艾塞客思比较民主化博士候选人黄进发及著名部落客日落洞国会议员黄泉安。29日（英文）的主讲人同样是博士候选人黄进发先生及撰写多个国际媒体专栏的阿尼尔涅多(Anil Netto)，阿尼尔涅多同时也是槟城著名的学术研究团体 - 激流(ALIRAN)的执委。

然而，在26日晚间近十点，讲座负责人接到爱心大厦的电话，说接到指示取消人民之声的讲座。人民之声强烈谴责州秘书处（JABATAN SETIAUSAHA NEGERI）强行取消由人民之声主办的讲座，这是有违民主法则，同时也是毁约的行为。身为州秘书处却可以如此地树立不良的典范并通过爱心大厦的工作人员表示他们有权力随时取消任何一场活动。州秘书处不应该禁止人民讨论大选的课题，更何况关心国家政治是每个市民都应尽的责任。

在各界人士的落力帮助下人民之声的活动才能顺利进行。特此作出更正

日期：28/3/08

时间：晚上8点

地点：槟州华人大会堂

主讲人：杜乾焕博士（前行政议员），黄进发（著名学者），黄泉安（国会议员）

媒介：华文

日期：29/3/08

时间：晚上8点

地点：槟州华人大会堂

主讲人：黄进发（著名学者），阿尼尔涅多（ALIRAN）

媒介：英文

任何疑问请联络刘素希012-8756179/046582285

人民之声槟城支部协调员

刘素希

012-8756179

Updated: [March 29, 2008] Analysis of General Election: To Where Democratization of Malaysia

Analysis of General Election:
To Where Democratization of Malaysia

Date: 29/3/2008 (Saturday)
Time: 8pm
Venue (Updated): Penang Chinese Town Hall (Why?)
Language: English
Panels: Wong Chin Huat (WAMI), Anil Netto (Aliran)
Moderator: Ng Eng Kiat

Sponsor: SUARAM Penang Branch
For any inquiry please contact Lau Shu Shi 012-8756179 / 04-6582285

更正启示： [March 28, 2008] 第十二届大选分析 - 《马来西亚民主路在何妨?》

第十二届大选分析 - 《马来西亚民主路在何妨?》

日期：三月廿八日(星期五）28/3/2008
时间：晚上八点8pm
更正地点：槟州华人大会堂（原因）
媒介语：华文
主讲人：杜乾焕博士（前行政议员），黄进发（著名学者），黄泉安（Jeff Ooi, 国会议员兼著名部落客）

主办单位：人民之声（SUARAM）槟城支部
任何疑问请联络人民之声槟城支部协调员刘素希 012-8756179 / 04-6582285

Dr. Andrew Aeria presenting a talk on the “Significant but Unknown Malaysians”. Date: 21 March 2008

Dear Friends,

There will be a 2-hour talk that will uncover some of the facts that must have missed our history textbooks with regard to the heroes who were responsible in shaping the path towards Merdeka.

If you are keen to know our ‘real’ history and to seek the truth of the struggles that really too place, please do come and listen to Dr. Andrew Aeria presenting a talk on the “Significant but Unknown Malaysians” organised by SUARAM Penang.

Dr. Aeria is no stranger to many of us and has been a role model in Human Rights activism. He is in the board of Aliran and just recently relinquished his position as Chairman of Amnesty International after serving for two full terms in its Board of Governors. More details of his work will follow.

He is presently a politicalscience lecturer at Unimas, Sarawak .

The details of the talk are as follows:

Date: 21 March 2008

Time: 8pm

Venue: Suaram Office, Sungai Dua(opposite USM’s Sungai Dua entrance), map attached .

Note: the office is on the first floor above S&J

For details call Shu Shi at : 012-8756179

Please go though before you VOTE

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