CIJ (Center of Independent Journalism) is organizing the
CIJ' DeepaRaya Dinner and Movie Night Date: Wednesday 21 November 2007 Tine: 7 pm Place: CIJ's Office No 27c Jalan Sarikei, Off Jalan Pahang, Kuala Lumpur (Behind Tawakal Hospital)
You are encouraged to bring your friends along.
Directions: Take the RapidKL LRT or KL Monorail to the Titiwangsa station. Follow the pedestrian pavement under the LRT track, go past Wisma Koperasi Tentera and Celcom on your right and a construction site on your left. We're on the row of shops across the lot.
For further details, please call CIJ's office at 03-40230772 to let them know how many are coming as they are preparing snacks for guests.
Highlight of the night will be the screening of the Award-winning documentary
"10 TAHUN SEBELUM MERDEKA (10 YEARS BEFORE MERDEKA)"
by a first time film-maker, Fahmi Reza has skillfully pieced together interviews with the surviving individuals of the left from that era, archival footage, and whatever supporting visuals that could be captured from present-day locations.
The movie showed Malaya’s left-wing groups like Parti Kebangsaan Melayu Malaya, Angkatan Pemuda Insaf, Angkatan Wanita Sedar, the Malayan Indian Congress? and the trade unions of the time, fighting not only the Malayan Union but also the Federation of Malaya.
This will be followed by a discussion: "From HARTAL to BERSIH - The need for Freedom of Expression in Malaysia"
UPDATE 4 December 2007: People's Freedom Walk has been cancelled. The FESTIVITIES AT CENTRAL MARKET ANNEX WILL PROCEED
People's Freedom Walk
There will be another walk (march?) called the People's Freedom Walk in conjunction with the Human Rights Day which will actually be celebrated worldwide on 10 December. This time it will be organized by the Malaysian Bar Council. They plan to start the People's Freedom Walk from
Sogo (a Japanese department store) 190, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, (previously known as Batu Road) 50100 Kuala Lumpur. Date: Sunday 9 December 2007 Time: 7.00am
They plan to walk through Dataran Merdeka and finish at Pasar Seni (Art Market, formerly Central Market) near the Klang Bus Terminal and opposite the Klang River from Daya Bumi).
(If I remember KL correctly, this will be diagonally near Pertama Complex and opposite Cathy cinema. Someone please correct me if I got the name of the cinema wrong)
FESTIVITIES AT CENTRAL MARKET ANNEX
The time for the event at Pasar Seni (Art Market which was previously Central Market) has been announced as 9.00 am onward. Events include poetry reading, Orang Asli cultural dance, performances by Dr Wan Zawawi, plus lawyers including Fahri Azzat, Syamsuriatina Ishak, Dipendra Harshad Rai and Lai Chee Hoe. There will also be guest appearances.
The highlight of the Day will be the “When Faith Meets Law” multi-religious panel session discussing conscience rights. At this session, the Bar Council will give religious groups the opportunity to discuss issues and concerns on faith, law and human rights. Prominent figures from the various religious groups in Malaysia have been invited as speakers.
The Bar council have also planned a session called "I wish that…" where the various NGOs and groups will present their particular demands on issues affecting them. It will be a fun day out. I will be there as a NGI (non-Government Individual) hoping to get legal opinion on the legality of the Police Act that require a Police permit for assembly of 5 or more.
Organizers are only targeting 1,000 participants. Wondering how the authorities will react.
I have read the Constitution and it clearly says any law or regulation which is contrary to the spirit of the Constitution shall be invalid. I have asked my daughter to bring that copy of the Malaysian Constitution to confirm that there are clauses allowing free expressions and free assembly.
Has the Bar Council came to the conclusion that the Police Act which requires a Police Permit runs contrary to the spirit of the Malaysian Constitution and is therefore not valid? Hoping someone from Bar Council or a lawyer will respond. I am no lawyer or Constitutional expert.
It has been reported that 3 ministers had been tasked with the duty to give legal inputs regarding the reports of the Independent Panel to investigate the VK Lingam tape(click BACK button to get back to this page). They are Home Minister Datuk Mohd Radzi Sheikh Ahmad, Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Datuk Seri Utama Dr. Rais Yatim and the de facto Law Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz.
May I be allowed to indulge in a little bit of fortune telling which some of Malaysia's lawyers had been doing - predicting outcome of various cases that goes before some Malaysian judges. May I predict that the de facto Law Minister will come out with a legal opinion - no case because authenticiy not verified and whistle blower did not come forward to testify.
Of course he would not be concerned with the fact that the authenticity of can easily be done by an expert within a very short period of time without knowing who filmed the tape. After all, I don't think he read about CIA experts who can verify if broadcasts of Osama bin Laden without having to trace who filmed the tape used for the broadcast. They can use techniques like voice analysis, etc.
Let us wait and see. However, we don't know if the individual legal opinions will be made known, so I may not be able to tell if I have any chance of becoming a successful fortune teller.
The Rally for a Clean and Fair Election is a BIG SUCCESS!!! And this was despite repeated and very serious warnings from the police and the Prime Minister himself. This showed that a large population is fed-up with trying to bring changes via the formal channels but seeing no action. BERSIH did a fine job. When they failed to get a police permit and repeated very serious warnings about participants getting arrested were broadcasted via the main stream mass media, they figured that no one will likely be able to get into Dataran Merdeka (Independence Square) and provided 4 alternative assembly points.
I had hoped to put this up immediately after returning home from the highly successful rally despite repeated warnings and threats of arrests, police road blocks and forcing LRT coaches to bypass relevant stations. There were massive traffic jams and the authorities blamed it on the rally. But as an eye witness, I can report that the rally itself did not cause the traffic jam. BERSIH organized the rally really well, with volunteers plus uniformed security guards (I asked one if he is paid, but he replied it is voluntary) to make sure there is no violence and marchers kept to the side to the roads to avoid disrupting traffic flow.
I had to put this post off because there were too many things waiting for me to do, but some remarks by an editor of a mainstream media that he is very wary of opposition hijacking any gathering. He said politicians showed up to hand memo, then they disappeared. The poor fellas get tear-gassed. He related about one famous blogger was enjoying himself at Selangor Club, having his drinks and meals, posed for a pic, retreated to the comfort of the club and blogged from there. He said another blogger was at a TV station through out, projecting his image for the elections. He also said the marchers were tools of the opposition. I felt I had to respond to his remarks.
I took his remarks about the marchers being tools of the opposition as an insult and I think I will respond to his comments here. Most of the rally organizers had spend time in detention while we, including the editor himself, were ensconced comfortably in our home going on with our daily life. As organizers, they rather than us humble participants, were at highest risks of being arrested. They did not just appear to hand over the memorandum and disappeared, but were in the midst of the march (at least quite a number of them, I don't know about one). Just in case he thinks I am one of those who blogged from the comfort of the Selangor Club, this post will contain photographs which were taken by myself personally. They had been resized for the Internet for faster downloading, but I am keeping the original large format photos in my computer in case anyone says they were scrapped from other websites.
My eldest sister received a call from my niece who is a journalist saying there are lots of policemen crawling all over Kuala Lumpur and ordered me not to go. I am a Dato (to a small bundle of joy) now and am in no position to take orders from anyone when the future of my future generations are at stake. I promised my family to be cautious and proceed with care. I stopped at the Pasar Seni (former Central Market converted to "Art" Market) LRT station, a station further away from the focus of action. It is a good thing I went early for I heard passengers in the later coaches were not allowed to disembark. I proceeded carefully towards Pasar Seni, one of the 4 alternative assembly points announced after the organizers realised we most likely will not be able to assemble at Dataran Merdeka. On the way I saw the police trucks waiting:
The last one is a "lock-up truck" designed to transport those arrested. There were policemen in front of the entrance nearest to the car park and the LRT station plus 2 reporters from Malaysiakini as well as policemen with revolvers inside Pasar Seni:
Someone inside Pasar Seni were passing out leaflets instructing what one can do if arrested. Not long after that, I saw marchers in yellow T-shirts shouting slogans and marching towards Medan Pasar, I supposed, on their way to Dataran Merdeka. I went out the sidedoor and took some photographs:
A policeman ordered us back into Pasar Seni. I went to the exit at the other end of Pasar Seni near the Annex. The door was locked, but we could see a crowd of marchers in the open space between Pasar Seni and the Annex:
I went out through the sidedoor and followed the marchers towards Medan Pasar. We were stopped by police at the Standard Chartered Bank just before Medan Pasar. The marchers were far ahead and were backed by the riot squad with shields, helments, rifles and batons:
We were again asked to disperse by the policeman you see in front of the photo. I turned back to get to the other side of the block of shoplots at the other end of Standard Chartered Bank. Here we were again stopped from proceeding by policemen and we can see the Riot Squad (FRU or Federal Reserve Unit) near the Loke Yew Building. We are now very near Dataran Merdeka, the original assembly point.
We did (I had promised my family I will), but turned back, went over the bridge behind Pasar Seni across the Klang River, went through Daya Bumi and joined other marchers there heading towards Masjid Negara (National Mosque). Masjid Negara was sealed off by the riot squad:
We marched on towards the Istana (Palace). As we passed the KL Railway station and the KTM (Kereta Tanah Melayu), I could see riot squad with their vans plus police patrol cars parked in front of the railway station:
Some of BERSIH's marchers even brought along the Jalur Gemilang (Malaysian flag) to show their patriotism to the country, here seen unfurling the flags:
We heard news that the representatives had succeeded in handing over the memorandum requesting the Yang di-Peruan Agong (Supreme Ruler) to intervene to ensure a clean and fair election. We later heard that the Agong had ordered that the gates be opened to receive the representatives to hand over the memorandum despite the police and the Prime Minister ruling the rally as illegal. After the handover, we dispersed to proceed back to Masjid Negara (National Mosque) for the final assembly. Here we are in front of the KTM headquater and the Kuala Lumpur central railway station:
Notw the second line of marchers on the flyover which you can see faintly. To get a cleear look, click on the photo or the caption to enlarge the photo.
We had a final assembly at Masjid Negara (National Mosque) where a few leaders gave speeches and an announcement was made that another assembly will be at Taman Melewar, graced by Anwar Ibrahim who will be making a speech. We then dispersed.
On the way, this is what I saw, FRU (Federal Reserve Units holding sub-machine guns in front of Daya Bumi and the Central Post Office, looking very menacing:
After passing those menacing looking FRU, this time we could approach Dataran Merdeka, the original planned assembly point for the Rally for a Clean and Fair Election by BERSIH. We could see the riot squad still barricading Dataran Merdeka. As I got nearer, I saw a TV cameraman filming another man and took a photo:
This is a large format photo cropped from the original, so if you want to enlarge the photo to see things more clearly, click on the photo or the caption. Otherwise, here is a close-up of the AlJazeera TV crew:
Here are some of the actions I missed. They are Youtube videos from Al Jazeera and Malaysiakini showing participants being tear gassed and water cannoned with chemical laced water:
Gathering in Kuala Lumpur 10 Nov 2007 - al Jazeera version
(Malaysiakini video no longer available. Don't know why)
I published a post Sultan Azlan Shah calls for Judiciary reforms(click BACK button to get back to this page), complaining about the Star not putting Sultan Azlan Shah's speech at the Law Conference on its front page, and instead chose to put a full page on Malaysia's Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi smiling away and officially opening the Eastern Corridor. I understand that Petronas, our national oil company is involved in this corridor. Our Prime Minister had said that the savings from increasing the petrol and diesel prices will be used for improving the public transport, which is in urgent need to improve if Malaysia is to wean our residents from using their own transport. Have the public transport improved? I don't know. You judge for yourself. Perhaps you may even do a little digging to see where the savings went to. Will the savings from the next inevitable petrol price increase be used to fund the Eastern Corridor? Time will tell, but I do not know if I would be privy to the information.
Back to the Star. I said I will copy-paste the post Sultan Azlan Shah calls for Judiciary reforms(click BACK button to get back to this page) and send it to the editors of the Star and MCA, the owner of this newspaper. The email to MCA bounced. To my surprise, I got a response from the editor of the Star, saying that it was an editorial judgment mistake, and they will try to rectify it, plus put the full speech of Sultan Azlan Shah online. I decided to do a little checking.
The article was titled "Rulers to discuss CJ’s position" by Dato WONG CHUN WAI. I dare not put the URL as an active (clickable) link to that page because I think online articles in thestar.com.my get shoved into the archives eventually, and if I make it an active (clickable) link, one day the link will become a dead link and the search engines will get sore at me. Also, if I just paste the long URL into the post, it will become a long unbroken line and can cause problems. That is why I put it into a scroll box.
If you want to read the article, you got to click on the inside of the scroll box, press the ctrl+A keys to highlight the whole URL and then press ctrl+C to copy it into clipboard. Then, preferably, using a browser like FireFox with tabbed browsing, open a new tab, and paste the URL from the clipboard into the address bar and press ENTER.
Judging the judges (COMMENT BY DATO WONG CHUN WAI)
There are others. If you want, you can search for them yourself. There is a site seach box at thestar.com.my and then make your own mind if theStar have done enough to redeem themselves from their horrible oversight at our best hope for bringing positive changes to Malaysia.
I just got the newspapers from the newspager vendor and Seven-Eleven this morning. The headlines that stared at me in the whole of front page the Sun was "Sultan Azlan speaks out". This place is normally reserved for a full page advertisement which theSun sacrificed to put this very significant speech and thus lost advertising revenue. The Sun is a free paper which depend only on advertising revenue to survive, and perhaps to thrive.
In the front page of New Straits Times was "Sultan Azlan Shah calls for Judiciary Reform" sharing half of the front page with a report of our Prime Minister opening what I think is the Eastern Corridor.
In In the Star? I think it was something about the Eastern Corridor" or something taking up the whole front page. No sign of that very significant speech by a highly respected former Lord President, former Agong, and current Sultan of Perak.
Why only "I think"? From habits of old, I have been buying the Star, and also some of my children wants to read the printed newspapers. I have resisted the temptation to boycott the Star for a long time and have resisted it because of my children, but this morning was the tipping point. Here is the most important issue of our country today and the Star chose not to put it on its front page. Is it inside? I don't know. I didn't buy the Star as usual. I bought New Straits Times instead. I hope someone who reads the Star tells me if it is there inside relegated to a tiny obscure column or not there at all.
I would like to know so that I can update this post, but I don't want to do that by buying the Star. I want to try to make this my small contribution to making my unhappiness with the Star known to the editors and/or the owners. In fact, I am going to copy-paste this and send it to the editors of the Star and probably MCA as well if I can find the proper email address to send it to.
The Star started out like the Sun these days. It has changed tremendously since. The New Straits Times lost its readers leadership by doing about the same thing as the Star today, and I look forward to seeing the advertising revenue of the Star and its readership falls. Here is my small contribution goes towards that end.
Now on to my other tasks as I am not really a political blogger.
Update 1.01pm 30 October 2007: Someone did respond saying now the speech by Sultan Azlan is neither in http://thestar.com.my (the Star online) http://www.nst.com.my (New Straits Times online)
See comments.
Looks like a cat and mouse game and someone using some strategy to boost the readership of the New Straits Times. Now got to decide what I should do
Here is a short report of the gathering in front of the National Mosque of Malaysia to show support to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (Supreme Ruler) of Malaysia not to renew the term of service of the current Chief Justice Ahmad Fairuz when he retire.
Here is the photo of Malaysia's National Mosque:
The gathering was a little bit further inside, after the staircase. Here is Lau Tek Hai of PKR (Parti Keadilan Rakyat or Peoples' Justice Party), Information Head, giving a speech using a loud hailer with others holding the banner imploring our Yang di-Pertuan Agong to act in the interest of the Rakyat (citizens) and not extend the term of the retiring Chief Justice Ahmad Fairuz:
I had published a last minute announcement about a gathering Support PKR (Parti Keadilan Rakyat or Peoples' Justice Party) which mentioned that Officers of the ACA (Anti-corruption Agency) is expected to be present in the DSAI (don't know what this stand for) in regard to the directive of ACA to surrender the original copy of the (VK Lingam) video in FULL or face jail. Malaysians are requested to assemble at DSAI (Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim) HQ? at 10.30am
I was there this morning and if you have no time to look at the photos, etc., just scroll down to the bottom to the post and read the good news. Round 2 (actually don't know how many rounds are there) to PKR. We don't know how many rounds there will be and who the victors will be. But let it be on the side of Justice.
OK, here are the photos:
Assembly in front of Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim's headquater
"Siasat VK Lingam dan Siasat Ahmad Fairuz" or "Investigate VK Lingam and Investigate Ahmad Fairuz"
Here are some Malaysians holding up posters demanding that instead of harassing PKR, the ACA (Anti-corruption Agency) should focus on the main issues and investigate VK Lingam and Chief Justice Ahmad Fairuz instead. I suppose these posters are prepared in anticipation of the arrival of the ACA officers.
The actual poster at close range
Anwar Ibrahim press conference announcing the good news
What good news? Anwar Ibrahim told the press that at 11:05am, the Anti Corruption Agency officer contacted him to cancel today’s appointment with him until further notice. He said that VK Lingam confirmed Ahmed Fairuz is the man he was speaking to and the “Anwar case” was mentioned.
He told the press that on Monday 22nd October 2007, he was served a notice under section 22(1)(b) of the Anti Corruption Act 1997 demanding that he deliver to the ACA the original full 14 minute version of the video recording of the VK Lingam – Fairuz conversation. This is in spite of him telling them that he did not have the tape in his possession.
He claimed that it is clear the issuance of the notice was politically motivated to create a basis for a potential prosecution for an offence under the Act and to intimidate him, Sivarasa, Vice-President of KeADILan and Sim, his special assistant from pressing the authorities to conduct the investigation properly.
He claimed that a reading of Part IV of the Act would clearly shows that it was intended to provide such powers as given in section 22 to investigating officers to allow them to obtain evidence from persons suspected of being INVOLVED in corruption so that suspects could not hide the evidence and prevent prosecution.
The powers were never intended to be used, as the ACA was then doing, to harass and threaten persons who have voluntarily, and in the public interest, DISCLOSED offences of corruption.
By doing this, Anwar Ibrahim said that the ACA is losing its credibility and in the future no one will feel confident to lodge a report with the ACA for fear of such unjust retribution.
His lawyers have advised Anwar Ibrahim to file a legal challenge to set aside the notice so that such abuses of power be exposed.
After the press conference, holding up the thumb drive which contain the video file, announced that if the ACA officers don't turn up within 5 minutes, the thumb drive will disappear. Here is Anwar Ibrahim holding up the thumb drive:
Anwar Ibrahim holding the thumb drive containing the VK Lingam tape which he said will disappear if the ACA officers do not turn up within 5 minutes
Well, the ACA officers did not turn up even after 5 minutes. So we will not know where the thumb drive will disappear to now.
A further announcement was made asking concerned Malaysians to assemble outside the National Mosque in Kuala Lumpur after the Friday prayers at 1.45pm 26th October, 2007. Hope to see you there.
Got this message only this morning, same day as the assembly is scheduled to be held so don't know if it is going to be of any help to PKR (Parti Keadilan Rakyat or Peoples' Justice Party) Pegawai-pegawai BPR dijangka akan hadir ke pejabat DSAI berkenaan arahan BPR untuk menyerahkan salinan video asal yang sepenuhnya atau menghadapi penjara.
Orang ramai dijemput menunjukkan solidariti dengan DSAI di pejabatnya pada masa dan waktu berikut. Tolong sebarkan.
Tempat: Pejabat DSAI, 17, Jalan 16/2, Section 16, PJ.
Masa: Khamis, 25 Oktober, 10.30am. Translation:
Officers of the ACA (Anti-corruption Agency) is expected to be present in the DSAI (don't know what this stand for) in regard to the directive of ACA to surrender the original copy of the (VK Lingam) video in FULL or face jail.
If Anwar Ibrahim hands over the original tape, the Attorney-General may rule that there is no case and NFA (no further action) is required. They can then destroy it like they did the DP Vijenderan porno videotapes on some excuse. If he do not hand it over, this would be grounds to prosecute him, get find him guilty, jail him and he will be barred five more years from contesting the general election.
Currently, Anwar will be eligible to contest the general election if it is held after 14 April 2008, If Anwar Ibrahim is jailed, he will not be eligible for the election again untill 2013 or 2014. He will then either be forgotten and/or to old to be of any significance. I guess this is what the powers want.
Unless the Monarchy step in with their limited power, things look bleak for Malaysia unless Malaysians wake up, be proactive and not wait for them or their loved ones to be affected to take action.
Haris Ibrahim, Human Rights lawyer, prime mover of The People's Parliament and PELITAR plus fellow blogger has asked me to help spread this message:
Event: Malam Bangsa Malaysia "One People, One Nation" What: Informational Meeting Host: PELITAR - Penyayang Legasi & Inspirasi Tunku Abdul Rahman When: Saturday, November 3 at 5:00pm Where: Dewan Sri Pinang
If you have problem getting through to Haris Ibrahim for further information (don't want to sign up for Facebook, for example) make a comment, make your Blogger profile public or leave your email address in the form of
myemailname at yahoo dot com
or something like that and I will forward the message to Haris Ibrahim.
Place: Dataran Merdeka Date: 10 Nov 2007 [Sat] Time: 3pm
The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih) will hold a mass rally at Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur on Nov 10, Saturday at 3 pm to press for electoral reform. Representatives will be submitting a memorandum to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong at the Palace nearby to seek much needed reform. The memorandum to be submitted to the King will outline both the immediate and long-term reforms needed in the Malaysian election including the adherence of a one-person, one-vote principle. Bersih will be demanding for a thorough clean up of the electoral roll, the abolition of postal voting for military and police personnel and fair access to the mass media for all political parties to the mainstream mass media.
Friends, please join this rally to help right our OUR ELECTION PROCESS. You may read more about it at BERSIH
Many suspicious things have happened. Ipoh Timur had 8,000 over voters transferred to the Constituency suddenly.
3,000 plus new postal voters were added to the Ipoh Timur electoral list, but there are no new army barracks or police stations in the constituency.
We don't know how many more 'Ipoh Timurs' are there?
Who knows how many 'new' voters have suddenly found their way into your constituency?
The Election Commission isn't going to care if they think you don't care enough to get up and do something.
Please join me at the rally as we don't want the next elections to be rigged, and if we just sit at home and do nothing, things will not change.
We can't just leave other fellow Malaysians to take on this struggle to reclaim our democratic rights and do nothing our self. Think of the future of Malaysia. Think of your children, your grandchildren, your great-grandchildren.....
Our oil money is running out and our country cannot continue to squander public funds and still expect to be as prosperous and peaceful as it is now. There will be many people struggling to survive, forced into a corner if our country is not managed properly without the luxury of the oil money cushioning the siphoning off of public funds. What will people do when forced into a corner? We may end up like Myamar (Burma) one day if we are not careful.
Please join us at the rally and help to try to make this country we and our children will to live in. Please don't let Malaysia down.
Retired NASA astronaut Robert "Hoot" Gibson, somehow was persuaded to come to Malaysia to share his experience and make statements about Malaysia Space Program.
In the Star, Nation, page 8, Thursday 18 October, 2007, he was reported as saying "Malaysia made a sound move in sending a man into space although millions of ringgit were spend on it". Makes Malaysians feel good about the program despite many negative comments and people poking fun of it, especially when the tasks for our spaceman should do are stuff like pulling teh tarik (boiling hot tea cooled by successive pouring the tea from a pot held high to another pot held lower), etc.
However, I used that example to explain to my son about reading between the lines, for further down the report, Gibson was reported as saying "Although there are smart ways to send people to space without spending RM100 million for each mission as there are partnership ways of doing it or one could just walk up to the Russians, offer to pay RM20 million for it, the space program should be continued" (rephrased to make the statements into one and shorter).
What does that say? Essentially, it says the Malaysian public have paid extra RM80 million for sending one Malaysian to space. Where did the extra RM80 went? Wish there are brave investigative journalist willing to follow the money trail.
Please forget about your less important task and be at Dataran Merdeka, 3.00pm on Saturday, 10 November 2007, and show the Agong that you want him to do something for our country.
If you have been following developments, you would know that something is not right with our country Malaysia. I have lots of things to do plus I am not a political blogger, but if you ask for it, I will have to lay down my other tasks, do some research and tell you what is going wrong with Malaysia. Or you can do some searching, subscribe to Berita Malaysia (free), read or subscribe to Malaysia Today (also free), subscribe to Malaysiakini (some news free, some by subscription). They are more concerned with spreading the true message but need subscriptions or donations to survive) and many others. If you want more, request for them in the comments.
But something is brewing at Dataran Merdeka, 3.00pm on Saturday, 10 November 2007 and I am praying that you are concerned enough to be there and lend the Yang di Pertuan Agung your support and help make a Malaysia we would like to call our home. I will be there and fervently hope you will join us. You can read about it at Tuntut pilihan raya adil - Perhimpunan Rakyat 10 November ini di Dataran Merdeka. If you can, wear yellow, or tie a yellow ribbon around your arm to show your support for the Monarchy.
According to Raja Petra (who has Royal blood), there is a battle between the Agong and the Prime Minister. The Agong has refused to sign the Chief Justice's extension and Pak Lah is threatening retaliation. It is now up to us, the Rakyat to show that we will not abandon the Agong and leave His Majesty at the mercy of Pak Lah and gang. Our oil money is running out and we cannot continue to do what we had been doing before and still hope to be comfortable. If we are not careful, we may end up like Myamar (Burma).
Do not wait till something happens to you or your loved one and you need to go to the court to get justice, for by then, it may be too late.
I am going to send the URL of this post to all my contact and request them to forward it to their contacts. I hope you will do the same. Please.
Do not just complain and leave the others to do the dirty job. Do something now or forever be silent.
Malaysia MUST CHANGE, not only for my first grandson and the generations after us (descendants of all citizens of this country, not only me), but also for those who are milking the country. Why?
Malaysia currently have oil money, so irrespective of the squandering of funds, Malaysia can continue as usual. But it is predicted that Malaysia will become a net importer of by 2010. That is a very short time frame, and when that happens, and the squandering continues, what will happen to our country?
Further, other emerging economies are becoming more competitive and will likely overtake us. What will happen to our economy then minus the oil money plus having to face stiffer competitions? Previously, we can afford to squander but with such a new scenario and a globalised world, can the situation continue without problem minus the cushion and luxury of oil money? The influential and the powerful may continue to amass wealth for themselves while the poor gets poorer. But when too many find it impossible to survive, what do you think they will do? Study history and you will find what happened to countries in such a situation.
The Malaysia Bar Council organised a March for Justice for Wednesday, 26 September from the Palace of Justice to the Prime Minister Department in Putrajaya to petition the Prime Minister for a thorough Investigation of the VK Lingkam tape regarding the fixing of judges and to halt (and reverse?) the rot in the Malaysian Judiciary, the third and very important pillar of democracy. This is the video that triggered the March:
The video showed a person which looked remarkably like a senior lawyer, VK Lingam apparently talking to a judge whom many say is the current Chief Justice, Tan Sri Ahmad Fairuz from the context of the conversation. The person in the video which is said to be taken in 2002 mentioned fixing of judges appointments, award of title. The "coincidences" of the appointments of the judges mentioned plus the fact that Tan Sri Ahmad Fairuz never directly denied he was the judge on the other end of the line, but after days of silence, sent a fax "no comments" to the Bar Council and chose to deny it via his "Minister", (apparently neither of them understand the meaning of separation of power and check and balance) and the rich businessman, Vincent Tan mentioned in the post also did not make any denial, cause one to think that the conversation was genuine. Sometimes, action (or non-action) can speak louder than words.
They chartered 7 buses to take Bar members and I found out from an email from Haris Ibrahim on the night before the planned March that the public can join. I immediately decided I will join the march to lend my support. I started from my house at 7am, took the LRT to Masjid Jamek and walked to Dataran Merdeka. I was the first there. We started off at just after 10am.
There is the first obstacle, a road block preventing the buses from entering Putrajaya:
The leaders negotiated with the police and they allowed us to march (on foot) to Putrajaya, so a short 300 meter march became a long 5 km. plus 300m March for Justice. I don't know if the authorities who ordered the buses to be stopped caused the marchers inconveniences for hardship, but I thank them for this excuse for much needed exercise plus the vital Vitamin D from the sunshine.
Here is a photo of the marchers getting their caps, badges, banners, fans and message "Free the Judiciary" printed on A4 paper to get ready for the unplanned 5 km Long March for Justice:
Here are photos of the banner bearers leading the unplanned Long March for Justice and the procession from head to tail:
I only had on a long sleeve white white plus black pants, but the Bar members (lawyers) had on their heavy black coat. It took us an estimated 1 hour to reach the Palace of Justice where the rest of the marchers were waiting. We received a thunderous round of applause from those who drove in their own cars and their passengers when we arrived at at about 11.30am.
Here is a photo of the 2,000 plus strong marchers in front of the Palace of Justice with the majority of Bar members (in black coats) and supporters in front of the Palace of Justice:
The Chairman of the Bar Council Ambiga Sreenevasan started off with a speech: "Lawyers don't walk everyday. Not even every month. But when they walk, then something must be very wrong," said Chairman of the Bar Council Ambiga Sreenevasan when addressing a strong crowd of more than 2,000 members of the Malaysian Bar and some concerned citizens at the Palace of Justice before the commencement of the walk to the Prime Minister's office to hand over the Bar's memorandum urging the government to set up a Royal Commission of Inquiry to probe the state of judiciary and memorandum on the establishment of a judicial appointments and promotion commission."
After the speech, the march started off at about 11.45am. Here is a photo of the beginning of the March of Justice to the Prime Minister Department:
There were chants of "Who are we?" and "What do we want?" led by Amer with a loud hailer and these were answered with roars of "Malaysia Bar" and "Justice". The funny one was "We are doing this for the sake of the country" answered with shouts of "correct, correct, correct", mimicking VK Lingam frequent use of the repetitive response in the now infamous VK Lingam video.
There were FRU (Federal Reserve Unit) trucks along the way and here is a photo of some of them with one taking a video of us while I took a photo of them:
There were also plenty of policemen. We were not intimated.
Finally a row of helmeted FRU (Federal Reserve Unit) policemen at the beginning of the staircase to the Prime Minister Department blocked our way to the building when we arrived at about 12.30pm, and we stopped there.
Photo by Haris Ibrahim, Human Rights lawyer
Bar Concil office bearers, Ambiga, Vice-President Raguanth Kesavan, Secretary Lim Chee Wee and Treasurer George Varughese then proceeded on to the Prime Minister's office to hand over two memoranda to the Prime Minister's Principal Secretary. The first memorandum called for a royal commission of inquiry to be set up to examine the claims made in the video clip, as well as the state of the judiciary while the second memorandum urged the establishment of a judicial appointments commission for the appointment and promotion of judges.
The rest stay behind chanting away in support of the four-man delegation. Here are some banners to declare what the Bar Council are demanding for:
Clean up the Judiciary
No to corruption
Stop the patronage, stop the rot
A short while after, the sky started pouring. But even the heavy rain did not dampened the spirit. This is a day the Malaysians should be proud of the Malaysian Bar and their members who marched under the hot sun and endured the searing heat of the blazing sun in their black suits plus pouring rain.
When the office bearers returned, the Chairman of the Bar Council, Ambiga Sreenevasan started off with another speech saying the government have started an investigation and should be supported as a first step, but I shouted "I don't agree. They are only investigating the authencity of the tape". Anyway, after the end of the speech, we dispersed and I want to the waiting buses which surprisingly were allowed in to the nearby car park. At least the authorities have some heart.
We were dropped off at Dataran Merdeka, and a kind 70 year-old man from Sabah kindly shared an umbrella with me and we and Tan Ban Cheng, a Penang lawyer who came all the way to Kuala Lumpur to join the march, went to the corner coffee shop in front of the Malaysia Bar Council and Medan Pasar for a drink. We had a nice long chat about various matters.
This post is a response to Friday Special: Rights of non-Muslim in an Islamic state which in turn was a post published in response to my comment in the above blog which was reproduced verbatim in that post. First, I would like to thank Malay Women in Malaysia for being willing to engage in discussions about Islam with a non-Muslim unlike many others who would suppress discussions as they say non-Muslim do not know Islam and therefore have no right to talk about Islam. I have followed the links given in that post and now I think I am ready to respond.
It was educational. At least now in addition to knowing the people of the book are referred to as dhimmis in an Islamic state, I now know the rest are called thimmies (also referred to as Ahl Zimmi?) and the the tax paid by non-Muslims is called jizyah. If the site that discussed this issue is accurate, my misconception that non-Muslim cannot serve in the military is wrong for a non-Muslim may opt to serve in the military and is then not obligated to pay jizyah (but see my comment below regarding services in the military). However, I cannot find any reference to what happen in that case. Would that non-Muslim be obliged to pay zakat or escape paying any tax at all?
The second link perhaps answered this question. In a reply to a question about Muslim paying the taxes in the United Kingdom, the response was it is permissible for a government to impose taxes to pay for the public sectors and common welfare. So I would suppose in an Islamic state, in addition to jizyah and zakat, there could also be taxes like Income Tax, sales tax, service tax, etc.
The third link addressed the rights of non-Muslims in an Islamic state: "Muslims and Zimmis have the same rights and are subject to the same obligations in the Muslim country, but there are exceptions. Zimmi is not allowed to be the president of the Muslim state or even to be leaders in army or judges among Muslims (condensed)." In essence, the second part negate the first part as the second part imply that non-Muslim DO NOT have the same right. If anybody do not agree with this statement, please put your arguments in the comments.
Further, serving in the military have many implications. In the military, you are to obey without questions. This mean whoever serve in the military must have full faith in those higher up in the chain of command. There are such a thing as "cannon fodder". But non-Muslims cannot lead in the Islamic military, only follow orders. Not all who professed a religion (I am not just referring to Islam) adhere fully to its noble teachings, and I don't think you can blame a non-Muslim if he is reluctant to serve in such a military. What should he do when ordered to kill someone of his own faith? It would also not be fair as he would have no chance of advancement in the military, and not only military. A non-Muslim will also have no chance to lead the country or to become a judge.
In an Islamic state, the supreme law will not be the Constitution, but the Syariah law. If I remember correctly, someone said that the actual leader of an Islamic state may not be the President but the Supreme Leader elected from an assembly of mujtahid (Islamic scholar). Essentially, all this mean the non-Muslim can have no say in the running of his country. Now you tell me how all that had been discussed above can justify saying non-Muslims shall have the same rights as a Muslim. I am open to comments to rebut all this.
Every person will have their own opinions of things. Some are colored by their bias towards their own religion (and please don't take this as referring to Muslims only), others try to be objective. Let us say we accept that "the whole thing (taxes, rights, governance of the country) would be fair for all Muslims and non-Muslims" is accepted, but let me ask this simple question. Is it right or fair to impose an Islamic state upon citizens of a country which originally was not formed as an Islamic state and the non-Muslims who originally was a part of the group of people who helped form Malaysia were assured that the country being formed will NOT become an Islamic state. Further, is in right that the people of Sabah and Sarawak who were never given an indication of the possibility that Malaysia may become an Islamic state will have such a state imposed on them? May I speculate on the possibility of them agreeing to join Malaysia if they had been told that one day, Malaysia will become an Islamic state? I asked a Sarawakian, and the answer was obvious.
Further, the Reid Commission dated 27/9/1956 at page 19 stated that "The religion of Malaya shall be Islam. The observance of this principle shall not impose any disability on non-Muslim nationals professing and practicing their own religion, and shall not imply the State is not a secular State." This was what was agreed to when the United Kingdom granted independence to Malaya. Is this not saying that Malaya is a secular state? Is this binding?
Do we have a say on this matter? And if the authorities insist on pushing it down our throat, and we do not want to accept, what can we do? I did not chose to be born in this country, but I was, and I grew up here, started a family here and will live the rest of my life here. If an Islamic state is imposed upon me and my family over our objections, where can I go? I can't go to China as I am not a citizen of that country and they may not accept me. By the way, China has more Muslims than Malaysia, but are they hankering for China to become an Islamic state? Will Malaysia allow itself to be divided into two, one an Islamic state, and one a secular state and its citizen given free choice as to which part they want to go to? And even if that is ever allowed to happen, can you imagine the chaos and hardship as homes are not easily portable.
Will a fair-minded Muslim impose the Islamic state upon me and my family over our objections?
Malay Women in Malaysia, if you took the trouble to read up to here, I thank you. I also believe I read "democracy" being discussed in one of your posts. I think you had a negative opinion regarding democracy, and if so, we were of the same mind if I had stuck to what I wrote in an essay for General Paper in the 60's (we had to take HSC or Higher School Certificate then). We were asked to write an essay on democracy. I had opined that democracy is rule by the average (which are not the most intelligent) as there is such a thing as a normal curve - huge majority (average) of average intelligence in the middle, a small fraction of high intelligence and low intelligence on both side of the curve. A democratic government got to go back to the electorate every so many years to get a mandate from the people (majority of average intelligence) to continue to rule. A smart politician who only value power may not dare to implement policies which he or she knows is good for the country but which the majority of average intelligence cannot see the merits and may not accept. He or she may implement policies which are popular but detrimental to the country. I got an A for that essay. I have matured since and have seen many things happened around me. If you did discuss about democracy in your blog, to save me the trouble of searching for it, I hope you will leave a comment and a link to that post because I will like to give my response to that post.
If you only have time to do your duty as a citizen of Malaysia, skip the rest and go straight to the bottom of the post.
As I have said in earlier posts before, I set up this blog for the purpose of helping promote Malaysia, the country in which I was born, of which I am a citizen, and in which I will 99% likely live the rest of my life. This post is not a post I like to publish here, but I as a citizen of Malaysia, is concerned at many developments in my country such as the actions and lack of actions with regard to the Port Klang Free Zone fiasco, the huge burden that the tax payers probably have to bear, the squandering of public funds, the lack of actions or the very light penalties imposed after various wrong doings and scandals have been exposed, etc. Port Klang state assemblyman Datuk Zakaria Md Deros got land meant for the poor alienated to his wife Zizah Ngah for a song and build a mansion (palace) on it without first obtaining planning approval, the withdrawal of 37 charges against Datuk Zakaria Md Deros under the Companies Act 1965 by just payment of a RM1,400 fine to the Companies Commission of Malaysia. Very harsh actions are taken against lesser beings. The law says if you build without planning approval, the building will be demolished. Extensions built by ordinary citizens without first getting planning approval because getting approval takes so long, are demolished without mercy. In Datuk Zakaria Md Deros case, his mansion remained and he was only slapped with a paltry (they say maximum) fine. Clearly a case of unequal treatments for different people under the law in the "most developed state of Malaysia". I think I read somewhere that when informed of the situation, Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo was evasive, saying that he would only comment after reading the report. Anything happened after that? They say "no one is above the law". But maybe they are right in some sense (but I still think many people of influence are protected). Most are subject to the law but different people get treated differently according to who they are or who they know.
More crucial, many lawyers and the Bar Council (Bar president Ambiga Sreenevasan: "We have gone from one crisis to another since the 1988 judicial crisis; it is time to confront fully and completely all the issues that have arisen since then with a view to strengthen the administration of justice.") say that since the former Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir Mohamad interfered with the independence of the judiciary in Malaysia, the previously much respected judiciary independence is now in question. This was recently reinforced by the release of a video showing a prominent lawyer speaking to a person who seem to be a senior judge purportedly fixing judicial appointments. Datuk Seri Anwar who released the video named the lawyer and the senior judge during a press conference and said that a report would be lodged with the government-backed Anti-Corruption Agency. We are now eagerly awaiting the outcome, if any.
Update: Many other things are acted upon without having to be studied thoroughly first, but regarding such a highly crucial issue, statements like we have to see if the video is genuine or not, etc., are made. Anyone said that VK Lingam would be questioned? Any comment on the "coincidences" regarding the dates judges were appointed and the time frame mentioned in the video, plus which judges were appointed? Such a video demand a Full Royal Commission of Inquiry, but the Government turned that down as expected. You can view the video at Malaysia Bar Council website at Video links CJ to 'appointment fixing' scandal You can read the transcript of the video at Transkrip Perbualan Telefon VK Lingam (it is in English. I think Parti Deadilan Rakyat also have one in Bahasa Malaysia.
We can use our vote to try to change things, but with the advantages of incumbency, the monopoly on the mainstream mass media by the ruling coalition while denying access to the oppositions, the selective approval for ceramahs, the removal of the 15% limit bias for the rural constituencies and the redelineation of electoral constituencies making a rural vote worth 10 to 20 times more than that of an urban vote (just a guess but which should not be too far off. Anyone with more accurate estimate please comment, will be highly appreciated), doubts in the independence of the Electoral Commission (the Government poured huge funds to improve infrastructures and others in 2 constituencies involved in recent bye-elections to influence the voters, but the Election Commission ruled that it is not bribery as long as the funds are not disbursed by the candidate) and many other issues that I consider as irregularities, our votes will not likely change things.
There had been many complaints of phantom voters in the electoral roll but Rockybru (Ahirudin bin Attan who suprisingly admitted he never register as a voter before) said he had doubts, but not until he tried to register recently. He found that he was already registered in Perak!!! His address in both his old Identity card as well as the new MyKad is in Puchong. His kampong is in Malacca. So how did he got registered in Perak? If you want to confirm regarding his registration, view a screenshot at Phantom voter?. He said he will go make enquires at SPR (Election Commission of Malaysia) and here are the questions he asked and the answers he obtained:
When was I registered? 1999. How was I registered? Someone filled up the form. How come? Before July 2002, political parties were allowed to register on behalf of constituents who had not been registered.
Some questions they couldn't answer. Was it the BN or the Opposition that registered me? We don't know. Did I "vote" for the 1999 and the 2003 general elections? We have no idea. How did this political party in Taman Rapat Setia register me when I never lived there? We can't tell.
Malaysia's only hopes is the Monarchy and the conscience of the leaders of the ruling coalition, if they have any. Raja Petra has started an online petition to plea for the Monarchy to use whatever power they have left to help change things. I have signed the petition and hope that you will do so too. You can view and sign the petition at Citizens In Solidarity with Raja Petra and Freedom of Speech !. Raja Petra is of Royal lineage and seem to have very good connections and sources of information. You can read about the latest development at Yes, we are embroiled in a Constitutional Crisis.
I hope you will do your duty as a citizen of Malaysia and sign the petition. The outcome we do not know, but at least we would have done our part.
Read a report in the Sun today, now my favorite mainstream media newspaper. It featured our Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister with the heading "Politicians playing up small problems, says Najib'. In the report, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak was reported as saying politicians (by implications I assume, the opposition) are playing up small problems which then end up as big issues because the various races magnify them.
Negarakuku: expression of frustration of a Chinese educated Malaysian via a rap
by Namewee (Wee Meng Chee). Namewee is only an insignificant Malaysian studying in Taiwan who was used by politicians to draw attention away from other more important issues affecting Malaysia
This is clearly what I would call the pot calling the kettle black. Perhaps not even that because I don't think the kettle (the opposition) are "black". Look at the issue of Namewee (Wee Meng Chee) who made parody calling attention to the real problems that exists in our country by making a Negarakuku rap. The whole government machineries plus the mainstream mass media was used against a small insignificant 24 year old undergraduate in a Taiwanese University which drew calls for him to be recalled for retributions and many politicians screamed for his citizenship to be withdrawn. What crime has he committed? Did he siphoned off huge amount of public funds like what many are suspected of doing but against whom no acton are taken? I suspect this is a ploy to draw public attention away from the much bigger problems like the huge Port Klang Free Zone fiasco, the misuse and mismanagement of public funds plus the lack of action to investigate these scandalous abuse, the Alantuya Shaahriibuu murder case, the Islamic state issue and a whole list of others big issues of public importance.
Worst still, the Speaker of the Parliament who controls the debate and is paid from public fund to facilitate debates on issues of critical importance to Malaysia, seem to be acting in the interest of the ruling coalition. Whenever proposals to discuss issues of great importance, such as the Port Klang Free Zone fiasco, is brought up, the Speaker who is supposed to be impartial, invariable rule the proposal as of no importance or not relevant, and disallow them to be debated. How is Malaysia going to achieve this vision of becoming a developed country with situations like this?
The Islamic state issue is not a small issue because from what I know of a real Islamic state, its citizens are not equal. The people of the Book (Christians, Jews) are dhimmis who have to pay a special tax to the Islamic authorities and have less rights than a Muslim. The Christians who have to pay tithes to the Church (which are not deductable from Income Tax while the Muslim who pay zakat get theirs deducted from Income Tax) will end up paying 3 taxes - the Income Tax (which seem to be squandered), the tithes and the special tax to the Islamic authorities. I don't know about the plight of the non-Muslim who are not people of the Book. I would suppose they would have even less rights than a Muslim. These are real issue which rightly the non-Muslim are concerned about and which they will need to rebut, and yet their right to voice out their complaints are suppressed by the directive that only the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister are allowed to make statements in the mainstream mass media.
(Note: The information in this post is not complete. I am going down to Pasar Tani now to get the full program so that I can update this post and give you more accurate information) Here is your chance to learn ways on how to get hidden or hard to get information. There will be a workshop on that included in the event below, which is organised by Center of Independent Journalism (CIJ) Malaysia: http://www.cijmalaysia.org/ The event will be from 6-16th September from 11am till 9pm.
50:44 Malaysia Merdeka
There will be 16 days of activities at the Central Market (Pasar Seni) Annexe. The event is called 50:44 Malaysia Merdeka to take into consideration about the sensitivities of the Sabahans and Sarawakians that Malaysia Day is celebrated on 31 August and this is is referred to as the 50th anniversary of Malaysia's independence from colonial rule, when it is actually Malaya's independence anniversary and not the day of formation of Malaysia, which was September 16, 1963. To get to the Central Market is very easy. Just take the Putra LRT (Light Rail Transit) and get off at Pasar Tani (the stop will be announced before the arrival at the station).
Come, bring family and friends. Visit www.50-44.org for more information about what's happening Sunday, and for the rest of the week from 6-16th September from 11am till 9pm.
Firefly (Gallery A)
A quick basic workshop on how you can shed a light on the hidden or hard to get information that might change the way you make decision. (Contact Sonia soniarandhawa1@ yahoo.com. my for info.)
Day: Sunday 8 September 2007, 11am - 1 pm.
BANned (Gallery A and B) 11am-1pm
Banned
Be entertained by esteemed drama students from around Klang Valley with their short plays on the theme of Banned. (Free entry and seating! Contact Anne rssiva@pc.jaring. my for info)
Location: Pasar Tani Annex Gallery A and B Time: Sunday 9 September, 2pm, 3pm, 4pm and 5pm.
What does KL mean to you?
What does KL mean to you? I asked the musically inclined folks "they sing me pictures of identities". Catch this experimental documentary premiere screening here!! (Free entry and seating! Contact Effa effa.desa@gmail. com for info)
Map to CIJ's office taken from CIJ's website. Will request CIJ's permission for reproducing map here
Police trucks waiting in the car park of Pasar Seni
Policemen armed with revolvers inside Pasar Seni
Beginning of march from Pasar Seni
Marchers at the open space between Pasar Seni and the Anmex
Riot Squad behind marchers at Standard Chartered Bank, Medan Pasar
Riot Squad with rifles, etc., behind marchers near Datarn Merdeka, in front of Loke Yew Building
Policeman who asked us to disperse near Loke Yew Building almost reaching Dataran Merdeka
riot squad guarding Masjid Negara (National Mosque
riot squad and police patrol cars waiting in front of the Kuala Lumpur railway station
BERSIH parcticipants marching towards the Chinese Assembly Hall roundabout
One of the helicopters flying over the marchers
We have to walk over muddy ground as we approach the Palace
FRU and trucks blocking access to Iatana
Huge crowd of BERSIH paricipants of BERSIH's Rally for clean and fair election
BERSIH marchers unfurling Jalur Gemilang (Malaysia flg) to demonstrate their patriotism to the country
Returning to Masjid Negara for final assembly
Al Jazeera TV crew in front of FRU crew barricading Dataran Merdeka
Close-up of Al Jazeera TV crew in front of Dataran Merdeka
