Over the last 2 years, my colleagues and I have been on a concerted campaign to highlight the political persecution of Malaysia’s champion and advocate of freedom, democracy and justice, Mr Anwar Ibrahim, who is also Leader of the Opposition in our Parliament on charges of sodomy for the second time since the first charge (in 1998) was overturned by the courts in 2004. As a result of our efforts, there is increasing support from the Malaysian people that this humiliation and violation of a fellow citizen’s fundamental rights should be cease forthwith. It is a blemish on Malaysia’s international image.
The present case against Mr. Anwar which is before the courts should be dropped forthwith. This is because there is no foundation in fact for this case to proceed at the expense of taxpayers’ money and the conscience of the peace loving and decent Malaysians. Four accredited doctors including a panel of three doctors from a Malaysian government hospital concluded there was no sign of sexual assault on the accuser, Mr. Saiful Bukhari. The Malaysian government has persistently refused to heed the voices of its citizenry and, therefore, we have little choice but to take this tragic episode in our history before the international community.
We, therefore, urge you and your colleagues to endorse our call to the Malaysian Government for an end to the political persecution of Mr. Anwar Ibrahim. We are confident that with your support the Malaysian people will be further encouraged to persuade their representatives in our Parliament to do what is right in the name of justice to end our Government’s political vendetta against our leader who has done so much in so short a time to promote fundamental human rights and democracy in Malaysia.
(In the event you wish to join me for this call, please email me indicating your name, organization/affiliation and country) .
Hari Penamaan Calon PRU-12
Hari Penamaan Calon Piliharan Raya Ke-12 Kawasan Parlimen P-53 Balik Pulau, Pulau Pinang telah berjalan lancar pada pagi Ahad 24 Februari 2008.
Yusmadi melambaikan tangan kepada penyokong-penyokongnya selepas selesai penamaan calon
LATEST@YUSMADI.COM
Yusmadi ketika menghadiri mesyuarat di Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu (PBB) New York semasa mendapat anugerah berprestij sebagai Hubert H. Humphrey Fellow (Undang-Undang & Hak Asasi Manusia) 2006-2007
A Hollywood Film featuring Anwar Ibrahim, Wan Azizah, Nurul Izzah and ..... Balik Pulau Kampung Boy!
This documentary began as an idea on the part of writer/producer/director Ben Moses to bring the incredible work of democracy advocate and expert Larry Diamond into the public eye. Moses was deeply impressed with Diamond’s moving book, “The Spirit of Democracy,” and sought a way to dramatize the ideas it and Diamond’s other work presented. Diamond was supportive of the idea, and introduced Moses to his former student and distinguished democracy advocate in his own right, Prince Moulay Hicham ben Abdallah of Morocco. Together, the three decided to launch a documentary film project. Moses and his production company, Appleseed Entertainment, would develop the film, Larry Diamond would serve as Executive Producer and head advisor and Moulay Hicham would provide development funding and a commitment to participate in any way he could best support the project.
In the summer of 2008, Diamond invited Moses to attend Stanford’s Center for Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law’s annual Draper Hills Summer Fellowship on Democracy and Development Program, where democracy activists around the world gather to received training and support for their work. There, Moses was able to meet and film brief interviews with many fascinating activists. This footage was soon edited into a promotional video to help raise funds for the full-length documentary.
However, the economic crisis that arose in 2008 made fundraising difficult, and ultimately Moulay Hicham committed to making sure the important work of the film went on, with or without outside funding. With financing secured by the Prince, filming began at the 2009 Draper Hills summer program. Producer Amy Martinez and Line Producer Christopher Pavlick were hired in early 2010, and Lynne Moses, Moses’ partner in Appleseed Entertainment, joined the team as an Executive Producer.
Under Diamond’s guidance, five countries were chosen as the primary subjects of the film: Egypt, Malaysia, Ukraine, Venezuela and Zimbabwe. Given that the target audience included many people in non-Western countries, it was determined that the message would be best received if the exploration of democracy did not include the U.S. or other Western democracies. The core message of the work is that the thirst for freedom and accountable government is universal and that democracy is not just a Western concept.
Another factor that went into the country selection was the desire to focus on activists in various stages of the process: The Student Organizer – Roberto Patiño of Venezuela; Professionals cum Protest Organizers – Esraa Ahmed Fattah and Ahmed Maher of Egypt; The Jailed Dissident cum Opposition Candidate – Anwar Ibrahim of Malaysia; The Elected, but Thwarted, Challenger – Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangerai in Zimbabwe; and the Victorious Opposition Leader – Former President Viktor Yushchenko of Ukraine.
Along the way, it was determined that Moulay Hicham himself should interview the various heads of state interviewed for the film, when possible. As a result, the filmmakers have a treasure trove of interviews conducted by the Prince, some of which have been included in the documentary. As time did not allow for full exploitation of this rich material, a separate project is being developed around those interviews.
After the filmmakers’ “last” filming trip in November 2010, where they covered the rigged parliamentary elections in Egypt, editing began in earnest – and the Arab Spring broke out. A return trip to Egypt in April 2011 was scheduled, as well as a return to Malaysia to interview former Prime Minister Mahthir Mohamad.
Editing proved to be an enormous undertaking, whittling down enormous amounts of fantastic material on five countries into one, 105 minute film. The Herculean task was finally completed in February 2012.
Speaking at the EducationUSA East Asia & Pacific Triennial Conference
I was invited to be a speaker at the EducationUSA East Asia & Pacific Triennial Conference to be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 1-2 April 2012. I am scheduled to speak at 9am on 2nd April 2012 (Paper entitled - Courage, Conviction & Knowledge: A Personal Sequence of Wisdom). The Conference will bring together over 70 advisers from 25 countries, as well as over 100 U.S. higher education representatives. This three day event is designed to strengthen the EducationUSA advising team and enhance the quality and portfolio of services provided to prospective international students and the U.S. higher education community. The event will also include a U.S. Higher Education Fair for prospective students from Malaysia.
MPs from both sides show support for repealing of Acts (the Star, Oct 4, 2011)
KUALA LUMPUR: MPs from across the divide have welcomed the tabling of two Bills to repeal two of the oldest security laws in Malaysia the Banishment Act and Restricted Residence Act.
This is one of the rare occasions where both sides are together in agreement.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak tabled the two-page Restricted Residence (Repeal) Bill, which dates back to 1933, and the Banishment (Repeal) Bill (from 1959) for first reading in the Dewan Rakyat.
Backbencher Sibuti MP Ahmad Lai Bujang said the Bills to repeal both these laws were in line with the people's wishes.
“The feeling among the rakyat is that these laws are not fair as there is no court process involved in the decision to impose these Acts. This is what they wanted,” he said.
Balik Pulau MP Yusmadi Yusoff of PKR urged the Government to also consider repealing other laws such as the Sedition Act and the Printing Presses and Publications Act, which were considered archaic.
“I welcome the move to repeal both the Banishment and the Restricted Residence Acts because they are irrelevant. However, there are so many laws of the same category which can also be easily repealed.
“The world is moving very fast and the people are looking for parties that can offer an attractive political environment. Even countries like Turkey are movoing towards liberalisation. We should not be left behind,” he said.
PAS' Kota Raja MP Siti Mariah Mahmud said she agreed that the Bills should not be made retrospective as these were initially enacted in good faith.
If the Bills are passed, all detainees under the two Acts will be freed but none of those currently or previously detained can seek legal redress over their detention.
“Making the Bills retrospective would have given rise to lots of legal implications. It would make things very difficult unless there is a clear case of victimisation.
“We welcome the repeal but whatever alternative effective mechanism put into place should be fair. I think we already have sufficient laws to deal with every area in crime,” she said, adding that there was no point in restricting a criminal's residence in the age of Internet and mobile phones.
Deputy Information, Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum said as the country became more liberalised, Malaysia should align itself with standard legal practices.
Next election is a Game of Talents, Not a game of Race
BALIK PULAU: PKR has urged the Election Commission (EC) to omit race statistics from all the electoral seats.
This would show Malaysia’s strength as a unified and progressive nation instead of categorising each other by race or religion, PKR supreme council member Yusmadi Yusoff said.
Yusmadi, who is the Balik Pulau MP, said the omission of race in the demographic statistics of each seat, either state or parliament, would also effectively eradicate the politics of using race or religion in this country.
He said he would lobby for Pakatan Rakyat – of which PKR is a partner – to take up the campaign to remove race figures in the electoral seats.
Currently, the EC inserts race demographics in each seat.
Although they are not openly distributed, such figures are readily available to all political parties, which naturally planned their strategies and field their candidates along ethnic lines.
Yusmadi said once the definition of race and religion is removed, voters can witness the birth of more competent candidates, whose abilities are defined by their track record, qualifications and capabilities.
“One day, we want to see a Chinese leader elected in a predominantly Malay constituency or vice-versa. That leader is elected based on his or her capabilities and not, on his or her race.”
Perhaps one day DAP leaders Karpal Singh, Lim Kit Siang and Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng can contest in Malay seats unlike now where in their entire careers as politicians, they had only contested in Chinese seats, he said.
Shoring up support
Yusmadi said it would be too late for the EC to initiate any changes now but his proposal can be adopted as a Pakatan centrepiece in future elections.
“If the United States took centuries to elect a black man (Barack Obama) as its president, I can see that one day, Malaysia would be a nation governed on socio-economic needs of the people and not on the needs of races or religions.”
Yusmadi said this when responding to a call by a NGO – Penang Malay Congress – for DAP to field at least five Malay candidates in the next election because it fears that the Malay political voice would be diluted if both PKR and Umno leaders are defeated in the next polls in Penang.
Yusmadi said Penang – a highly diversified state in terms of race, culture and historical significance – should do away with race politics and focus on the capabilities of its leaders.
Meanwhile, the state would witness a hectic weekend with PKR, DAP and PAS holding major events to shore up support ahead of a perceived snap election.
PKR is hosting a development seminar for the Malay community in Balik Pulau, where its supremo Anwar Ibrahim would attend.
DAP is holding a fundraising dinner at the Straits Quay where Anwar’s daughter Nurul Izzah, Karpal’s son Gobind Singh and many others will speak.
All of PAS top leaders would gather at Kepala Batas to mark the 60th anniversary celebrations of the Islamist party.
Issues such as hudud and Guan Eng’s apology to the Sultan of Johor are expected to take centre stage.
JOM PI BALIK PULAU HARI MINGGU NI
Pejabat Ahli Parlimen Balik Pulau mempersembahkan
INTERAKSI BALIK PULAU 2011
Program-program 'Interaksi Balik Pulau 2011'
1hb Oktober 2011, Sabtu
PAMERAN AGENSI KERAJAAN
9 pagi – 5 petang
Antara agensi kerajaan yang terlibat adalah Jabatan Kesihatan Negeri,
Jabatan Alam Sekitar, Jabatan Bomba & Penyelamat, Perbadanan
Perpustakaan Awam Pulau Pinang, Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat, Jabatan
Perikanan Negeri dan banyak lagi
KEMPEN DERMA DARAH
9 pagi – 5 petang
PERTANDINGAN MEWARNA DAN BENGKEL MELUKIS
9 pagi – 10.30 pagi
PERTANDINGAN GUBAHAN HANTARAN
9 pagi – 10.30 pagi
SENAMROBIK
9 pagi – 10 pagi
MAJLIS PERASMIAN INTERAKSI BALIK PULAU & PELANCARAN DATARAN MUAFAKAT
9.30 pagi – 10.15 pagi
PIDATO PEMBANGUNAN OLEH DATUK SERI ANWAR IBRAHIM
10.15 pagi – 11 pagi
Mantan Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Menteri Kewangan dan Profesor di
universiti terkemuka dunia ini akan memberikan pidato bertajuk, “Ada
Apa Dengan Pembangunan?”
KENDURI RAKYAT
11 pagi – 1 petang
Jamuan makan yang ditaja oleh Ahli Parlimen Balik Pulau, YB Yusmadi
Yusoff sempena maraikan program Interaksi Balik Pulau
PASAR SENI BALIK PULAU
10 pagi – 12 tengah malam
Nama pasar seni diambil sempena nama lokasi acara diadakan dan juga
bertujuan untuk merakyatkan seni ke tempat awam seperti contohnya di
Kompleks Pasar Awam ini. Pelbagai aktiviti akan diadakan di bawah
program PASAR SENI BALIK PULAU iaitu;
• Konsert hari pertama menampilkan sensasi baru dunia nyanyian Najwa
Latif, Azhan Atan dari Akademi Nasyid, band asal Balik Pulau, Marble
Band dan banyak lagi band muzik dari seluruh Pulau Pinang.
• Persembahan kesenian tradisional
• Pembacaan puisi dari pengkarya muda
• Bazar jualan produk seni dan kraftangan
• Wayang pacak atau lebih dikenali dengan nama wayang milo
• Pameran foto Balik Pulau
PAMERAN MOTOSIKAL
12 tengah hari – 4 petang
Anak-anak muda dengan motosikal mereka akan bertarung untuk menjadi
pemenang pertandingan motor berhias tercantik.
BENGKEL UNDI MALAYSIA
2 petang – 5 petang
Bengkel ini bertujuan untuk memperkasa anak-anak muda dengan isu yang
dekat dan penting bagi mereka seterusnya dapat dilahirkan dalam bentuk
tindakan seperti bagaimana nantinya isu tersebut cuba ditangani
bersama wakil rakyat di kawasan mereka.
MALAM ANUGERAH BALIK PULAU TERBAIK
8 malam – 9 malam
Penerima anugerah terdiri daripada anak-anak kelahiran Balik Pulau
yang telah mengharumkan nama Balik Pulau dan mendapat pengiktirafan di
peringkat kebangsaan dan antarabangsa.. Program diserikan lagi dengan
persembahan istimewa dari Sasterawan Negara, Datuk A. Samad Said.
WAYANG MILO
9 malam
Tayangan filem
2hb Oktober 2011, Ahad
PAMERAN AGENSI KERAJAAN
9 pagi – 5 petang
Antara agensi kerajaan yang terlibat adalah Jabatan Kesihatan Negeri,
Jabatan Alam Sekitar, Jabatan Bomba & Penyelamat, Perbadanan
Perpustakaan Awam Pulau Pinang, Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat, Jabatan
Perikanan Negeri dan banyak lagi
FORUM INTERAKSI PEMBANGUNAN BALIK PULAU
9 pagi – 5 petang
Program ini akan menggunakan pendekatan baru berbeza dengan
forum-forum lain iaitu dengan mengambil pendekatan Interaksi &
koloborasi kunci falsafah 'Muafakat'. Panitia mengalu-alukan warga
Balik Pulau untuk mengambil peluang sebagai pembentang kertas kerja,
pendiskusi dan lain-lain. Terbahagi kepada 4 sesi iaitu;
Interaksi 1 - Balik Pulau sebagai Hub Pendidikan
Interaksi 2 - Balik Pulau Kampung Lestari
Interaksi 3 - Balik Pulau Dan Pembangunan Masyarakat
Interaksi 4 - Agenda Muafakat Balik Pulau
BENGKEL HAK ASASI & TATA KELOLA OLEH SUHAKAM
9.00 pagi – 1 petang
Bengkel tentang hak asasi manusia dikendalikan oleh Suhakam
PASAR SENI BALIK PULAU
9 pagi – 5 petang
• Konsert hari kedua menampilkan kumpulan-kumpulan muzik independen baru
• Persembahan kesenian tradisional
• Pembacaan puisi dari pengkarya muda
• Bazar jualan produk seni dan kraftangan
• Pameran foto Balik Pulau
Terima kasih kepada kerajaan negeri Pulau Pinang, Majlis Perbandaran
Pulau Pinang, JKKK seluruh Balik Pulau, Komuniti Frinjan, Little
Penang Street Market dan semua pihak atas sokongan yang diberikan
Anwar hints at election comeback in Penang
Terence Netto | Feb 5, 08 4:11pm
PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim has dropped tantalising hints to voters that he may contest a by-election in Balik Pulau, on Penang island, in May.
TEMURAMAH DI ASTRO AWANI - Sudut Pandang
Lebih kurang jam 9.30 pagi hari Selasa 8 Januari 2008, saya telah dijemput sebagai tetamu bagi membincangkan topik "Kebangkitan Obama di Iowa".
Lebih kurang jam 9.30 pagi hari Selasa 8 Januari 2008, saya telah dijemput sebagai tetamu bagi membincangkan topik "Kebangkitan Obama di Iowa".