Reformasi kaki abused during remand
Posted: 13:15 Nov-28-2005 In Categories: General

We held another press conference on police abuse scandal this morning.

Reformasi activisit Nora, a Muslim woman, was asked to strip in front of
police woman and squat ten times at the women's police lock-up at Kapar
Police Station.

She was arrested by police on 4 November 2000 while looking for a place to
set up her stall to hawk food to those attending a Keadilan-organisd event..
Not long after she arrived, she saw Klang Municipal Council officers arrive
with FRU, police and General Operations Force Officers in tow.

She and others who were arrested were brought to the Kapar Police Station.
Nora was released on November 10 and no charges without charges beinmg laid.

Nora has complaint to that joke named Suhakam but nothing came out after the
report. This is another incident which proves cops do not discriminate as
they abuse and bullly citizens and tourists from every community

Before we have our press conference, Wan Azizah and I brought Nora to meet
with Noh Omar at the Parliament lobby.

Noh Omar was not very friendly, he asked why did the police only mistreated
Nora in that manner but not to all her other friends? Kak Wan refuted him by
saying that he should not ask this question that implied Nora was doing
something very wrong.

Noh Omar also questioned me about the Chinese girls who were mistreated in
the Squatgate scandal.

He said some 500,000 Chinese nationals came in as tourists and went missing
in Malaysia. He was trying to defend the abuses that are happening in the
police station. When he was meeting us, the journalists and TV crew came
surrounding us, Noh Omar then told us that he prepared to answer all our
allegations in the Dewan Rakyat tomorrow if the Speaker allows my emergency
motion to be debated tomorrow.

Judge from the way he answered and his attitude which seemed a bit
unfriendly, and from the racial tone that he expressed, I was thinking in my
heart, if this is the attitude and line he is going to take, then all the
statements and efforts made by Pak Lah and the cabinet ministers that
pressurising the police will be spoilt by his statement tomorrow.

I have told the media that I welcomed the statement made by Pak Lah to
establish an independent committee to investigate the allegations by the 4
Chinese nationals earlier, but the issue now is, it should not end here, the
Cabinet should form the independent commission that handle the complaints
and misconduct of police as a long term solution.

When i was about to end my writing on the blog, I received a call from the
Malay Mail reporter who asked me to comment on the statement made by Noh
Omar on the allegation of Nora. He said Nora can sue the government if she
is unhappy with the government.

I told the reporter that this is a very unfriendly attitude. He as the
Deputy Minister of Internal Security, he should express concern and deal
with various allegations made by members of public. His attitude is entirely
against the stand of cabinet ministers and Pak Lah himself who are looking
into the complaints seriously.

I said I appreciate the stand taken by Pak Lah on the allegations made by
the 4 Chinese nationals, when he came back from overseas, he immediately
ordered an investigation to be carried out and said no over-up over the
case. This is what wanted by the people and international community, and not
the attitude that shown by Noh Omar.
____

http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v3/news.php?id=167390

Noh To Reveal Nude Ear Squats Incident Inquiry Result Tuesday
November 28, 2005 19:12 PM [extract]

[...]
On the allegation by a Malaysian woman, Norazimah Nor, that she was forced
to strip and do 10 push-ups in the Klang police lockup five years ago, Noh
said anyone with a grouse could lodge a report.

"We will investigate to establish the truth of the allegation," he said.

Norazimah, who came to the Parliament lobby to make her allegation, said the
incident happened on Nov 5, 2000 after she was detained for attending an
assembly organised by the opposition Barisan Alternatif. -- BERNAMA
____

http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/43713

Noh clears police over video-clip scandal
Pauline Puah  Nov 28, 05 5:24pm [extract]

[...]
Norazimah Mohd Nor, who had experienced similar trauma five years ago,
turned up today, accompanied by Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) president Dr Wan
Azizah Wan Ismail, Lim, Kok and other Opposition MPs.

Still emotional over the incident, she reiterated how she had been abused
after being arrested on Nov 4, 2000. While held at the Kapar police lock-up,
she claimed she had been forced to strip naked and to do push-ups.

Norazimah was detained while setting up a stall to sell reformasi
merchandise a day before the scheduled '100,000 People's Gathering;
organised by PKR at Jalan Kebun, Shah Alam.

Gerakan deputy secretary-general and parliamentary secretary of the Health
Ministry Lee Kah Choon said the party would print pamphlets to educate the
public and police personnel on their rights.

"The public generally don't know their rights when they encounter police
personnel. Lower-ranking police personnel sometimes don't know what they can
or cannot do with detainees," he said.

He added that the pamphlets would also be distributed to embassies to advise
their nationals about the laws in Malaysia.
____

http://www.amnestyusa.org/racial_profiling/document.do?
id=948CD022B9F716D980256F630047E8EB ?
[extract]

[...]
Golam Mawla, a Bangladeshi former detainee, described repeated beatings:
"the police always beat us with a police stick. They beat us on our heads,
bodies and legs (...) if they found us talking, not sleeping at night or for
no reason at all".

Another Bangladeshi witness, Mohd Shahabuddin, testified in court how a
police guard had broken his fingers with a "wooden rod", while Moron
Mozumber described how he was assaulted by police guards, including being
kicked and caned on the soles of his feet. He described how guards
humiliated and punished detainees by forcing them to strip and to
masturbate.
[...]
____

Stay hungry for your story, Tony Emannuel!
http://www.jeffooi.com/archives/2005/11/stay_hungry_for.php

First it was the Indians, now the Chinese
http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/43703

Targeted
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Monday/Letters/
20051128083713/Article/indexb_html

PM Says No Policy Targeting Chinese Visitors To Malaysia
http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v3/news.php?id=167276

Layan tahanan menurut prinsip Islam Hadhari
http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/43704
____

http://www.brandmalaysia.com/movabletype/archives/2005/11/to_serve_and_pr.html

To serve and protect
Posted by Mack Zulkifli at November 28, 2005 03:20 AM

You know, I never was much impressed by a political party as much as I am by
the people in it. The thing I always try to remind myself is that they are
not perfect, unless you start believing their die-hard fans, whom make them
out to be second to God at times.

And then there's Teresa Kok, a person whom I quite like as a politician, and
one that is best placed in DAP. I mean have you seen the women of MCA?
Goodness gracious me! Let's not even talk about Gerakan, where some men are
better off as women. Nope, the ladies at DAP beats them hands down.

She's in the limelight again, after showing the 'hottest' video clip of the
moment to fellow parliamentarians. You have to give this lady credit. She
incidentally happens to be one of the hardest working MPs in DAP, nay across
any party for that matter. Sure beats the socks of that slouch Ronnie.

So when I read her blog, I felt a little disturbed. She thinks she must be
careful. Bollocks.

This underscores the reputation of the Royal Malaysian Police. I mean,
here's a person that actually did them a favour. With controversy normally
comes a golden opportunity to excel. That is if you take criticisms
contructively and build on the opportunity to show genuine improvement. Out
of crisis, when well handled, will come some form of success.

Teresa need not be scared. What she needs is an assurance from no less the
IGP that she is safe, and that the police are obligated to protect the
people in Malaysia from harms way, even when they expose some of the more
misguided elements within the force. Especially so.

Does that not sound right to you, instead of having her writing about being
careful?

[Link: Teresa Kok's blog - I must be careful I think. ]
http://teresakok.blogsome.com/2005/11/27/i-must-be-careful-i-think/
------------------------------------------------------------------

From The Star
27 November 2005

Potty parity

Singapore recently passed a law that will require all new buildings to
have potty parity, whereby the number of loos for women in each toilet
must be equal to, if not more than for the men. We decided to send out
FOONG PEK YEE to unveil the bathroom secrets that may soon enter the
realm of public debate.

DATUK Lee Hwa Beng knows best when it comes to the need for more
female toilets.

“I always have to wait for my wife when she goes to a public toilet,”
said the Subang Jaya assemblyman.

And the waiting time gets even longer when it is a family outing, for
Lee also has three daughters. 

His “plight” can be statistically proven through the joint study
undertaken by Sirim and government and private concerns. According to
the study done early this year, females take 150 seconds to complete
each toilet visit (90 seconds for “use time” and 60 seconds for “hand
basin time”) compared to 100 seconds for males (60 seconds for “use
time” and 40 seconds for “hand basin time”).

While there is no medical proof to show that the female anatomy and
body system – barring other health conditions – renders her to take a
longer time to pee the same volume of urine compared to males, it is
no secret that women spend more time in the toilet for a variety of
reasons.

And this is more so in public toilets because they often have to clean
the toilet seat first, and even line it with tissue paper for hygienic
reasons. Furthermore, they do take a longer time to adjust their
clothing before and after. 

Lee said the ideal ratio for male to female toilets (referring to the
cubicles available) should be 1:2. He also feels that there should be
more squat toilets than the seated ones.

“After all, many prefer squat toilets which are relatively more
hygienic as there is less contact with the body,” he said, adding that
seated ones should be made available for others, especially the
elderly, pregnant women or those who have knee or leg problems.

The Subang Jaya councillor’s call certainly has the support of other
males and females. 

Housing and Local Government Deputy Minister Datuk Robert Lau Hoi Chew
said the government is looking at a ratio of between 1:3 and 1:5. The
ratio in Korea and Singapore is 1:3. 

“Studies show that the time taken by females to use a public toilet is
1.3 times longer than males,” Lau said, adding that the duration
probably would be longer, depending on the cultural and religious
practices of the individuals. 

He advised planners to consider all aspects to cut the waiting time
for women toilet users pending the government’s decision to come up
with a law on the ratio. 

Malaysia Institute of Architects (PAM) president Dr Tan Loke Mun said
the ratio should be 1:2 for places like shopping centres where people
do not go to the toilet at one go, and 1:3 for places like theatres or
hotel ballrooms where there will be a rush for the toilet at specific
times. 

He said each local authority has its own set of guidelines on the
number of public toilets in public places.

Joining the chorus in support of more toilets for females is a group
of MPs led by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri
Nazri Aziz.

Talking candidly about public toilets over his breakfast of nasi lemak
at the MPs lounge last week, Nazri said: “Women are always seen
queuing for their turn while the men’s turnover is very fast.”

Nazri said the ratio should be 1:3 and regulated by local by-laws. 

Parliament Deputy Speaker and Senai MP Datuk Lim Si Cheng, who
supported a 1:2 ratio, said this would be in tandem with the 50:50
male to female population in the country. 

“I think one extra cubicle will help to make up for the longer time
women take in the toilet,” he said, adding that he too has had to wait
for his wife who was stuck in the queue to use the toilet. 

Federal Territories Parliamentary Secretary Yew Teong Look, who felt a
1:2 ratio is adequate, said: “Long queues of women at public toilets
is common and I really pity them.”

“Kuala LumpurCity Hall is very serious in upgrading public toilets
with some costing between a few hundred thousands of ringgit to a
million ringgit each. 

“The new generation of toilets, especially those for females, will
also be bigger in size, for better convenience and comfort,” said the
Wangsa Maju MP.

Information Deputy Minister Datuk Donald Lim Siang Chai said the
problem of long queues for women at public toilets, especially at
tourist spots, has to be resolved. 

“The Government should be more firm in its implementation, be it 1:3
or 1:5,” said Lim, who is also the Petaling Jaya Selatan MP. 

Tanjong Malim MP Datuk Loke Yuen Yow who agreed on the 1:2 ratio said:
Women must learn to be faster (in using the toilet) or else they can
also cause a delay at home.” 

Females indeed have shown that they can increase their “speed” under
certain circumstances. 

According to Sirim’s findings, the usual 150 seconds had gone down to
130 seconds (70 seconds for “use time” and 60 seconds for “hand basin
time”) in places like theatres, stadiums and swimming pools.

Nevertheless, it has also been pointed out that the shorter duration
was due to a greater proportion using the toilets just for urination.

The same goes for the males where duration in toilets went down to 90
seconds (50 seconds for “use time” and 40 seconds for “hand basin
time”) against the usual 100 seconds. 

Medical professionals who supported calls to ease long queues at
female public toilets, however, advised on the need for more in-depth
studies before making any ratio into a law. 

They called for a holistic and pragmatic approach in order to provide
enough clean toilets that are easily accessible to the public in the
long run. 

“There must be optimisation in the usage of available resources or
funds for public toilets right from planning, design and construction
to proper and regular maintenance in the long run,” said obstetrician
and gynaecologist Dr Milton Lum.

Health Ministry disease control division director Dr Ramlee Rahmat
said: “To me, toilets for males or females should be easily
accessible, always clean, usable and functional.”

“The government has to conduct studies and learn from overseas
experience before making any ratio mandatory,” he said.

Well, it looks like the males and females have to exercise more
patience as the debate for the ratio for gender-specific toilets is
set to take some time.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Need to ease the waiting time

BY FOONG PEK YEE

”YOU do not need a doctor to tell you that females take a longer time
to use the public toilets. It is common sense,” said Wanita MCA
chairman Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen (pic).

The well-attired and outspoken medical doctor – who loves to wear the
kebaya and modern baju kurung – candidly pointed out that it took time
to remove and put back the attire whenever she visited the toilet. 

 
“It is the whole process and not just easing ourselves,” she said.

Also Raub MP and Deputy Finance Minister, Dr Ng said cutting the
waiting time for women using public toilets would not only result in
higher efficiency in our daily lives but would also be a reflection of
progress. 

“It is not just the women waiting in the queue but also their husbands
and children waiting outside the toilets,” said Dr Ng, who has three
sons. 

She said many advanced nations have already set and implemented their
toilet ratio of between 1:2 and 1:3.

“Females use the toilet more often. The ratio must be at least one
toilet cubicle for males to three for females,” said Women, Family and
Community Development Parliamentary Secretary Chew Mei Fun. 

“I first brought up this matter a few years ago, especially with
regard to toilets in markets, shopping centres and along highways. I
even requested the authorities to build one more female toilet in the
Kampung Cempaka market in my constituency,” said Chew who is also the
Petaling Jaya Utara MP and Wanita MCA deputy chairman. 

Padang Serai MP Lim Bee Kau said that apart from having more cubicles,
it is also important to ensure that they are bigger in size.

She said an integrated and holistic approach in ensuring adequate
number of good and clean public toilets was important and that the
usual ad hoc approach undertaken all this while had contributed to the
pathetic conditions of this public facility.

Female DAP MPs – Teresa Kok (Seputeh) and Fong Po Kuan (Batu Gajah) –
also fully supported the call for more toilet cubicles for females. 

“I had brought it up before in Parliament and during press
conferences. There must be more toilet cubicles for females,
especially along the highways,” said Kok.

She said women preferred squat toilets because it was more hygienic as
seated ones were “quite dirty”. She has even noticed, for example,
shoe marks on the seats. 

Fong said the authorities should be sensitive to the needs of the
female toilet users and there was definitely the need to have more
cubicles for females.

“We always see long queues along highway rest areas during the
weekends, for instance,” she added. 

Penang Municipal councillor Geeta Suresh Chand said the ratio should
be between 1:3 and 1:5.

“Males still end up not having to wait at all because they also have
several urinals in addition to the toilet cubicles,” said Geeta,
adding that the new and upgraded public toilets in Penang have at
least a ratio of 1:2. 

She said the design and floor space could also help to ease the
waiting time for female toilet users. 

Having the washbasin area too near the entrance to toilets, for
instance, could result in a “bottleneck” for female users entering and
leaving the toilets, she said.

And this is not surprising as females not only take a longer time to
wash their hands but some also spend time in front of the mirror.

http://thestar.com.my

From The New Straits Times
11 November 2005

Orang utan report slammed
By Sulok Tawie

The Sarawak Forestry Corporation chief today blasted Western
non-governmental organisations (NGOs) on their claims of orang utan
habitats being destroyed by oil palm plantations in the State.

"They do not know what they are talking about," managing director
Datuk Cheong Ek Choon said.

"In the first place, we do not have orang utans in Tubau or Tatau (in
Bintulu Division) or Baram (Miri) where we have large areas of oil
palm plantations.

"Our orang utans are found in the totally protected forests at the
Meludam wetland national park in Ulu Sebuyau and the Batang Ai-Lanjak
Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary (in Sri Aman and Betong Divisions) and in
Ulu Song (Sarikei)," he said after opening the AppliedForest Science
and Industry Development seminar here.

Cheong said there were no oil palm plantations near forest areas where
orang utans were found.

"So, how could these NGOs claim that we have destroyed the habitats of
orang utans?" he asked.

Cheong said based on the latest figures, there were about 2,000 orang
utans in Meludam, Batang Ai-Lanjak Entimau and Ulu Song. There are no
orang utans in other parts of Sarawak.

He said the animal was totally protected and anyone killing them was
liable to a fine of up to RM30,000 or two years' jail.

He said there were no records of the primate being killed by poachers
in Sarawak but if they crossed into West Kalimantan, it could be a
different story.

Cheong said officials from the forestry and other government agencies
would answer questions from NGOs at the International Media and
Environment Summit to be held here from Nov 30 to Dec 2.

The Friends of the Earth, a British environmental campaign group, is
expected to attend the summit. It has been vocal in its claims that
oil palm plantations are the culprits in the destruction of orang utan
habitats and thus are threatening their very existence.

The group recently published a report entitled "Oil For Ape Scandal",
claiming that continued conversion of jungle into oil palm plantations
in Indonesia and Malaysia would make the orang utan extinct within 12
years.

Cheong also refuted allegations that smuggled logs from West
Kalimantan were stamped as Sarawak logs.

"There is no truth in the allegations." The claims made in West
Kalimantan newspapers were that logs felled in West Kalimantan were
stamped as logs from Sarawak after they were smuggled into the State.
The reports said

the logs were smuggled mostly from Badau in West Kalimantan to Lubok
Antu in Sarawak.

The Indonesian officials had also brought up the log smuggling issue
at the Sarawak-West Kalimantan border technical committee meeting in
Kuching on March 29.

They had asked their Malaysian counterparts to help curb the smuggling
of logs along the border areas.

Cheong said there was no need to resort to stamping smuggled logs as
Sarawak logs as "we have enough supply of logs for our mills to
process".

Sarawak currently harvests 12 million cubic metres of timber annually
from its

http://www.nst.com.my/