Teresa Kok

An open letter to Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad: Not going gentle into that good night09 Jun 2006
By Rehman Rashid

WHY, Tun?
That’s what we — the products, inhabitants, stewards and legatees of the country you designed and built — need to know. Why have you become so harsh a critic of your successor’s administration?

You made them, too. They have cleaved to your vision of what this country needs to be, and they are moving forward — or at least attempting to, as best they can, given the way forward as they see it.

It wasn’t necessarily their way forward; it was yours. No one has argued with the road map you drafted for this country, nor the direction you determined, nor even with the pace you set to get where you wanted us to go.

Nothing of your legacy as prime minister has been dismantled. Such restructuring as is happening in the corporate Malaysia Inc you established — Proton and MAS in particular — is for companies in desperate trouble, needing to be re-engineered to new and more businesslike specifications. Whether this will turn them around remains to be seen, but it needed to be done.

On the fuel price hike, your suggestion that fuel subsidies could have been maintained by allowing the exchange rate to float was, well, radical. Certainly, so was your decision to peg the ringgit to the US dollar during the Asian financial meltdown in 1998. By that time the claws of the crisis had sunk deep, and there was no lack of popular and political support for your soon-to-be famously successful move.

But the present administration, in reducing fuel subsidies, was responding to imperatives of long-term prudence, and that too has been by-and-large accepted and supported by the people. Times have changed, Tun. You should know: You changed them.

In the case of the Tebrau bridge, you seemed beside yourself with irritation. But it was precisely with respect to national sovereignty that the idea was scrapped; it’s hard to understand how you could have implied otherwise.

We know it’s a gamble, but for this term at least, the electorate have fallen behind the present administration with a greater mandate than you received even at the record-breaking height of your popularity.

But that was in 1982. For the ensuing 21 years, you charged forward with stupendous resolve, damning the torpedoes, brooking scant dissent, building this city on rock and roll.

Your successor is more graceful at the waltz, it seems — and so far the people have responded fondly enough to that, too.

How has Malaysia changed in the first half-term of Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s administration? It’s quieter. More circumspect. There’s more introspection at the top; a need, as much as a willingness, to listen, perhaps even more than to speak.

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Below is the reply to my intervention during Zam’s reply to MPs’ speeches on RMK-9

Zam: No ‘live’ for racist Malaysians
Beh Lih Yi
Apr 27, 06 3:55pm

Racist Malaysian viewers are not ready for live parliamentary proceedings, said Information Minister Zainuddin Maidin today.

According to him, local viewers were not up to the mark of their British counterparts.

This is because most Malaysians still think from a racial point of view, he added during his ministerial winding-up on the 9th Malaysia Plan in the Dewan Rakyat.

He was replying to Teresa Kok (DAP-Seputeh) who reiterated the opposition’s long-time demand for live telecast of the proceedings.

Earlier, Zainuddin said the coverage by the state-owned RTM station – which he oversees – is sufficient at present.

“The latest news of the proceedings are broadcasted hourly on (RTM) news (programmes) on television and radio, apart from live reporting from Parliament during the afternoon news,” he said

He added that the Tamil and Mandarin news sessions also gave focus to Parliamentary proceedings while the ministry has introduced a programme called ‘Parliament Today’.

The 30-minute programme shows a compilation of edited Parliamentary proceedings.

Third-world mentality

At this point, Kok interjected. She said the programme hardly featured speeches or views raised by opposition MPs.

She also claimed that many people have chosen not to watch RTM because the station is biased.

“RTM should learn from the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) which practices impartiality and allows the views from both sides to be heard,” she added.

It was to this remark that Zainuddin said Malaysian viewers were not up to the standard of BBC viewers.

The minister reaffirmed this at a press conference later by saying that it was not time yet to have live broadcasts because Malaysians still have a ‘third world mentality’.

“We have not reached an intellectual stage where Malaysians can carry the wisdom of being able to agree to disagree,” he added.

Previously, the government cited high cost, audience rating and racial sensitivity as reasons for rejecting the proposal.

The Nude Squat Commission findings may have vindicated Seputeh MP Teresa Kok in some ways but there are some questions which only the police can answer.

Kok said police have yet to disclose what had become of the claims made by the four China nationals against the police at the Petaling Jaya police station.

“I have been accused of damaging the relationship between Malaysia and China over the nude squat issue. But what became of the reports lodged against the police officers by the four women?” she asked.

“They made police reports twice, and spent a whole day at the police station identifying the police officers whom they accused of having ill-treated them,” she said.

Kok hopes the Attorney-General can shed light on the action being taken based on the reports.—Malay Mail

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 23 (Bernama)—The Umno Overseas Clubs Alumni Organisation Monday lodged a police report against Seputeh Member of Parliament Teresa Kok for storing, distributing and disseminating at the Parliament lobby on Nov 25 last year pornographic material of a nude woman doing squats.

The report was made by a member of the organisation, Abd Razak Mohd Ghazali, at the Sentul District Police Headquarters at 5 pm.

He had claimed in the report that Kok had by intention, words and deed distributed the video clip by way of a laptop computer to several members of parliament and journalists.

Time out with… TERESA KOK

Life in politics is no bed of roses but DAP’s Teresa Kok takes it all in her stride. Loshini Catherine John steals some precious time off her hectic schedule.

It’s not easy being a politician. More so if you happen to be a woman and a member of the Opposition. However, Member of Parliament Teresa Kok seems to be managing quite well.

Kok was very much in the limelight lately after bringing the recent controversial case of the nude squatting woman to public attention. (more…)

From left, Tan Seng Giaw (Kepong), Fong Kui Lun (Bukit Bintang), party SG Lim Guan Eng, Tan Kok Wai (Cheras) and I with party members after Kok Wai lodged a police report against toll concessionaire Metramac Corporation Sdn Bhd (Metramac) at the Cheras district police headquarters at about 1pm today. Kok Wai also wants action to be taken against Daim Zainuddin and Umno-linked businessmen Halim Saad and Anuar Othman.

KUALA LUMPUR: City police recorded a statement from Seputeh MP Teresa Kok yesterday over the complaints made by a single mother and her two daughters that a policewoman had called them names in Petaling Street on Dec 23.

Kok and Wan Nurizan Shaikh Mohamad, 49, spent nearly an hour being interviewed by a policewoman at the anti-vice, gaming and secret society division.

Kok told reporters that she should not have been asked to give a statement for holding a news conference for Wan Nurizan Shaikh Mohamad and her daughters at her office in Jalan Klang Lama on Jan 6 as she was just doing her duty as the people’s representative.

“I cannot simply turn away people who come to me for help because it’s my job as an MP to help them. I think it was very unnecessary to call me down here (for that reason),” she told reporters.

http://www.mmail.com.my/Current_News/MM/Friday/National/20060113095043/Article/index_html

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by Martin Jalleh
29 December 2005

One does not need to be a seasoned or sharp politician to spot the naked reality that little has changed in this country in spite of the PM’s constant chant of change. The charade of change can be easily seen by the naked eye.

Since the last general elections Pak Lah has been ‘squatting” rather contentedly on his laurels. On several occasions he has been caught exposing his glaring political impotence when decisive and daring action was demanded.

With each passing day, the veneer of a government supposedly different from the last is slowly stripped away. Even the blind can see the facade. The Squatgate scandal reveals in dramatic fashion the naked truth that its time for Pak Lah to stop talking and start baring his teeth. (more…)

by Andrew Ong, malaysiakini, Dec 28.

The parliamentarian who shook the nation when she exposed a video of alleged police abuse is under fire for her efforts again. This time she is accused of encouraging voyeurism.

Umno Kemaman MP Ahmad Shabery Cheek ticked off Seputeh MP Teresa Kok for revealing in Parliament the controversial video clip of a naked women forced to perform squats in the nude by the police.

The 71-second video footage was taken through a grilled window of a police locker room allegedly by a cop using a mobile phone. (more…)

I’m sorry for the lack of updates to my blog. You see, I am in China on holiday. I’ve been here since Christmas and will be back to defend the fort next week.

If I thought I could have a good break, I was wrong. One day after my arrival, I was informed about Ahmad Shabery potshot.

Just a few hours ago I was told Sin Chew reported Radzi said the Squatgate victim could sue me if she wanted.

Why sue me? Give me a break. I am broke from all the shopping.

Finally, I thank Shahrir for linking to my blog. (more…)

Utusan Malaysia

KEMAMAN 25 Dis. – Ketua Penerangan UMNO Terengganu, Ahmad Shabery Cheek berkata, Ahli Parlimen Seputeh, Teresa Kok perlu bertanggungjawab sepenuhnya terhadap aib besar yang terpaksa ditanggung oleh wanita yang gambar bogelnya ketika ketuk-ketampi dirakam dalam lokap polis apabila ia kini menjadi tontonan umum.

Menurutnya, walau apapun motif ahli Parlimen DAP itu, pendedahan rakaman aksi yang memalukan wanita itu di Parlimen sehingga ia mendapat liputan meluas media tempatan dan antarabangsa, tidak wajar dilakukan.

``Saya sendiri tidak dapat membayangkan bagaimana perasaan wanita Melayu itu dan keluarganya setelah diaib sebegitu rupa oleh Teresa apabila gambar bogelnya menjadi tontonan umum. (more…)

Letter to Editor, malaysiakini

Umran Kadir

Dec 19, 05 4:27pm

With the revelation that the ethnicity of the victim at the centre of the ‘Squatgate’ controversy is Malay, certain members of Umno have chosen to lash out against the opposition whistle-blowers, accusing them of putting Malaysia in a bad light.

As we all know, it was not the act of whistle-blowing that caused the media furore but the fact that damning evidence of humiliating Malaysian police procedure was presented to the world. (more…)

15-12-2005 03:04:20

KUALA LUMPUR: Tindakan Anggota Parlimen Seputeh Teresa Kok Suh Sim yang mendedahkan rakaman video seorang wanita diarah ketuk ketampi dalam keadaan bogel sewaktu dalam tahanan disifatkan seolaholah mempertikaikan kredibiliti pasukan polis ketika menjalankan tugas.

Senator Datuk Dayang Mahani Tun Panglima Ahmad Raffae berkata, bermula dari insiden itu juga pasukan polis telah menerima ‘hukuman’ lebih awal, walaupun apa yang dilakukan merupakan prosedur biasa terutama bagi kes yang melibatkan penyalahgunaan dadah. (more…)

I am quite shock to read about the remarks made by UMNO politicians against me on the Squatgate Scandal today in Utusan Malaysia and Berita Harian. Well, this is not totally unexpected, below is my rebutal:

Press Statement by Teresa Kok, MP for Seputeh on 15th December 2005 at Kuala Lumpur

Syed Alhabshee And Certain UMNO MPs Are Urged To Emulate Shahrizat Abdul Jalil And Learn To Make Sensible Statements On Issue Related To The Squatgate Scandal

I am very disappointed with the statements by Senator Datuk Syed Alhabshee and other UMNO politicians in Utusan Malaysia and Berita Harian criticising me for making public the existence of the MMS clips of a naked woman doing ear squats in a police lock-up. I am being blamed for misleading Parliament and the governments of Malaysia and China, which resulted in Azmi Khalid having to go to China to mend strained ties between the two countries. Syed Alhabshee went as far as to say I should be charged for circulating pornography in Parliament. (more…)

By Santha Oorjitham

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 12 (Bernama)—It’s time to review Asean’s policy of non-intervention in member countries and constructive engagement with Myanmar, say Asean legislators.

“The coup d’etat last year which replaced then Prime Minister General Khin Nyunt with Lieutenant-General Soe Win, the Nov 27 extension of the confinement of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi for another six months and moving the capital from Yangon to the remote jungle centre of Pyinmana are all indications the military regime in Myanmar is in a state of withdrawal,” Thai senator Jon Ungphakorn told Bernama in a phone interview from Bangkok. (more…)

The case of four Chinese nationals who claimed they were ill-treated by the police, followed by a video-clip of a naked woman asked to perform ear-squats in front of a policewoman in a police station propelled DAP publicity secretary Teresa Kok, 41, into the limelight. It has brought her more publicity than she could ever bargain for from her quiet work with her constituency.

The two-term Seputeh MP told HUSNA YUSOP she did not expect to create such an impact, taking pains to stress that she is not a police basher; just a person who fights for human rights, whoever it may be.

theSun: How have the past two weeks been since you showed the ear-squat video clip to MPs in Parliament on Nov 25? Has it affected your life?

I have become very, very busy. I never expected this to turn into an international issue that even had some impact on China-Malaysia relations. When I helped the women, I thought it was just one of the issues involving lock-ups. I was just trying to help them. I did not know them beforehand. So it was a bit unexpected. (more…)