Chain Reaction

A New Beginning for Hindraf. for Malaysiakini

2010-04-26T15:01:00.003+08:00

A slightly isolated party Hindraf might need to join Pakatan Rakyat if the Pakatan Rakyat's Dream is to become a reality of moving into Putrajaya.

Hulu Selangor By-election has shown Pakatan Rakyats weakness. BN threw in 160 million to win with just a majority of 1,700. But it's not the money they had that saved them.

The Indians there were deciding factor since the Malay votes were 50-50 and the chinese were 100% for PR. The Indians this time supported BN 100%. Not because they were lured with money but because Kamalanathan is an Indian, Local and he is part of a new leadership in BN.

Even tough Zaid Ibrahim has the reputation and support to have won this By-Election comfortably against a nobody. He failed purely because BN did it's homework well and choose their candidate knowing Hindraf wouldn't be involved in this by-election. If it was one of the Hindraf party leaders standing against BN with the PR support for the by-election it would have been in favor of PR.

The fall out between PR and Hindraf is very unfortunate. But if Pakatan Rakyat is serious about toppling BN it has to seriously consider working with Hindraf. Because like Hulu Selangor there are many places in Malaysia that Indians are the deciding factor on an election.

It's a real pity that Zaid Ibrahim lost in this By-Election at Hulu Selangor. I would have loved to see him in Parliament. The General Election is not too far away. In another 2 years we will see the final showdown. With the help Hindraf it might be a reality to see a better Malaysia.

Hulu Selangor By Election

2010-04-25T00:39:00.003+08:00

This is a time where Malaysia needs to grow up. We have been repetitively been fed bullshit above bullshit by the present ruling government. When was the last you saw a Government representative come out with a clear announcement about the Countries financial condition.
All the countries around Malaysian has taken preemptive actions to counter the economic slowdown. If we don't have much FDI then who has been feeding our economy. What I've heard is that they have been taking heavy loans to support our economy The Government has not taken any counter productive effort to support our country. The mess up with all the political issues that has been boiling up has not be addressed properly as well.
Do you want to continue with this kind of life? Let's make a change. Vote Zaid Ibrahim. Change Malaysia for the better.

Happy Deepavali

2009-10-13T12:55:00.002+08:00

To All Malaysians HAPPY DEEPAVALI. A celebration to truly celebrate even though tough economic times. With the prospect of a better year ahead, we should rejoice the end of the troubled 2009.
The Bagan Pinang by election loss for Pakatan Rakyat is a good thing. We need accountability and responsibility from Pakatan Rakyat. BN choose the right person for Bagan Pinang and they choose the wrong person. So we will see what comes out of this in the months to come. MCA is big big trouble now that they haven't got a clue what to do now. But i respect their party for making the right decisions. The both of them didn't qualify to lead the party anymore.
Who knows what other parties are going to form and lead a new coalition? oopss....

Malaysia a sinking ship. malaysiakini

2009-10-10T02:41:00.006+08:00

The politic atmosphere in Malaysia has gone from interesting to down right stupid. Ever increasing mud-slinging and cock talks by politician diverts all the public concern issues. Last week i waited 45mins for a train at the KL Sentral KTM station to find the train arriving at train station in snail pace on tow by a KTMB engine train. It was not just embarrassing to see this but disappointing to know the pathetic state of our countries public transport system.

Some criticised Makkal Sakthi party as racially based party as a backwards thinking. But i don't see Malaysia coming out of the ropes of racial politics. Even Pakatan Rakyat does not carry that stand. Having PAS in their coalition defeats the pursuit of abolishing racial based politics. Malaysia will always be ruled by race politics unless they abolish race discrimination. There shouldn't be a race recognition in policies. There shouldn't be an issue of bumiputra or non bumiputra.
This is what that makes us slaves of racial politics. It's time to remove the shackles that deprive us of equal standards.

Malaysian Economic Democratisation – Extract 6

2009-10-08T16:08:00.001+08:00

Malaysian Economic Democratisation – Extract 6

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What happen's behind the screen? malaysiakini

2009-10-08T15:22:00.002+08:00

Is Makkal Sakthi Parties endorsement well timed for the coming by-election? It is sad that an activist organisation being so easily fooled to the folds of UMNO. Najib's ploy is to garner the indian support back to BN by using the famous anti BN slogan "makkal sakthi" as their supporter.

PAS shouldn't stand in Bagan Pinang. Malaysiakini

2009-09-04T16:00:00.002+08:00

Barisan Nasional's Bagan Pinang state assemblyperson Azman Mohd Noor, 55, passed away today from an apparent heart attack. His death will pave way for the ninth by-election since the March 2008 general election.
But in Bagan Pinang there is a 60% non malay voters there. I'm not sure why a PAS candidate stood at N31 for the pass two elections. But with all the on going Islamation issues growing out of hand in malaysia. I do not think a PAS candidate would garner enough support with all the on going issues at hand.
I'm very sure that Hindraf would definately field a candidate for this by-election.

Malaysia's Political Religion

2009-09-04T14:34:00.002+08:00

The show begins. Malaysiakini

2009-07-15T11:04:00.002+08:00

Anwar Ibrahim’s sodomy trial is to be heard from 2pm today, after the Kuala Lumpur High Court.

What happens if Anwar goes back to jail? Malaysiakini

2009-07-08T10:08:00.006+08:00

The biggest Malaysian news hogger for this year would have started this week but got postponed till next week. What do you think of Anwar's trial? A sham, a conspiracy or justice?

If this mole was sent by UMNO into Anwars camp to dig in to his personal life and claim sodomy later. The clever thing to do for whoever who sent him in there was to make sure he had enough evidence to bury Anwar before exposing Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan.

So, do you think they will be successful? We will know soon. But the worrying question here is not just Anwar's fate for coming years but this Nations fate? We all know that Pakatan Rakyat is hold together by Anwar's sticky glue. DAP and PAS is a partner that is definitely not what you call "Opposite attracts". From Ideology to representation they are completely opposite to each other. So PKR has gone all out to recruit as much politically influence people as they can grab. To be the alternative voice in the Pakatan Rakyat formula. Being the youngest and less experienced party in this Pakatan Rakyat Establishment. They needed more qualified and experience people to field for the next general election.

Will Pakatan Rakyat survive if Anwar goes back to prison? I don't think so. If Anwar goes back to Prison. He looses his MP seat. They will need a new opposition leader. His wife will need to stand again at Permatan Pauh. There will definitely be a few massive rallies but that's not going to change anything. We will definitely see Barisan Nasional loose more seat in the next GE. Their days are numbered. But the opposition wont be united. So an opposition state government will probably be still 3 or 4 but never a new federal government.

But there is a possibility that in his absences there might be aspiring new revolutionary leaders rising to unite the opposition or maybe create a single strong opposition. It's not practical for now but a possibility of a Pakatan Rakyat government wasn't realistic not too long ago also. Fingers crossed that the voice of the opposition never dies if this turn bad for Anwar. Who knows maybe Najib might just do what his father did to salvage their power by suppressing the opposition and suspending the Parliament. We can throw bricks made of words at him but a man in his position in Malaysia can't be touched. We could end up as a dictator ruling. Then we all can forget about a place called home.

Our Nations future, our children's future and our country's future is now in the hands of Najib. We will never know what lies ahead of us until the Parliament really runs this country.

Michael Jackson, Rest In Peace.

2009-06-29T14:56:00.006+08:00

You will be missed. Always waited for your latest album to come out. Greatly disappointed you didn't go out in a bang. Like your shows. I grew up trying to dance and sing like you. You inspired me to preform on stages. My first time dancing was to your song. Great inspiration and idol. I hope your children will continue your legacy. God help them grow up without a father. You would have a lot to share with them.

Like any other star, you had to die. Your legacy will carry on. With love i bid you farwell with a peaceful journey to the other world. Your name is HIStory will be left for generations to come. Rest in piece.
Really missing you man.. take care.

What is the difference between Mindraf and Hindraf? Malaysiakini

2009-04-27T13:28:00.008+08:00

Out of all the political parties present in Malaysia now. DAP stands more of de-racialised non-communitarian politics in Malaysia. PKR can be argued as one as well but the whole set up of it was more like justice for one man than justice for a nation. It has been trying to accommodate for all now. But it has more cracks and plastering to do before it is considered genuine.

Hindraf should be part of a political entity because their concerns are political related. How long are they to beg by the doors of parliament? The move to remove political members in Hindraf was definitely called for. Having political friendly politicians makes their movement more legitimate. Hindraf is and should always be only a watch dog for the Indian community and a Hindu movement for spearheading legal actions against wrong doing parties.

The members from Hindraf who want to embark into politics should approach DAP and PKR to create a balance representation or start a genuine multi racial party. With people who believe in Makkal Sakthi and have genuine grouses about the malaysian society. If Mindraf is started than all the principles of their struggle when started, would contradict now. Hindraf was against BN formulation. A party like MIC did not function well under BN regime. Which was controlled by UMNO.

To every struggle there must be a starting point. Hindraf should have started their political pursuit in the beginning. Right after the mammoth rally. It has lost a lot of it's momentum over the year. But on the other hand a lot was promised to Hindraf when Anwar, Kit Siang and all the others jumped into the election frontline in the name of Makkal Sakthi. But not much was seen after that. There are still 3 more guys in ISA and 1 exiled. If these men were masquerading as fighters for the Indians they would have given up or backed down by now. But their spirits are still burning brightly without fail. I respect these men. So Thanedra’s action to start a political party is in a way playing the political game. The government’s action to outlaw Hindraf is reasons for the political action by Hindraf members. I hope they dissolve the party and form a united racial party when the time comes for that.

I was also fighting and persuading my friends of my society to understand Hindraf. Many of them were too accustomed to the good life of Malaysia that they failed to see the balance 80 percent of Indians who live below the average income group. Indians have no savings. We have not much asset or advantage in this country. So even though I agree that injustice and lack of representation of many other communities are also present. But somebody has to do it. So if you aren’t then you shouldn’t stop those who are trying to protect theirs.

Indians should be in politics. It is a must. Good man with good virtues and vision should be leading this community. There must be proper representation of all races in a cabinet. No leader can see what is needed by individual communities if there isn’t someone to represent them.

The rule of law should exist for all.

With respect to Uthaya and his struggle.

2009-04-27T13:21:00.000+08:00

My 500th day under ISA
P Uthayakumar | Apr 26, 09 7:55am
Today April 26, 2009, marks my 500th day under Umno’s captivity without being charged, tried or found guilty in a court of law. I suppose this is ‘justice’ for me, an Indian ethnic minority and human rights lawyer of 18 years.
MCPX

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s continued unilateral decree is that I be made to serve a jail sentence of two years and indefinitely thereafter under his regime. There are prisoners here at Kemta Kamunting, Taiping, serving their eighth year of their ISA sentences.

p uthayakumar sedition trial 030209 01But I have no regrets. I know in my heart that every day of my imprisonment will liberate and open up a thousand new minds against Umno’s atrocities and injustices in their marginalisation, discrimination, suppression, oppression and the exclusion of Indians from the mainstream of national development in Malaysia.

Today, I have grown 500 days older. Today, I have lost 500 days of my precious freedom. Today, it is 500 days since I shaved my beard or combed my hair to protest my ISA detention. Today, it is 500 days since I have been made to wear the very same two pairs of dark blue baggy pants and white restaurant waiter-like prison uniform.

My left foot

On Jan 31, 2009, I had accidently injured the last toe of my left foot, which had gotten worse because of my long standing diabetic condition. From day one of my injury, I had repeatedly asked to be treated at the Gleneagles private hospital as I no longer have confidence in the independence of government-service doctors, which I believe had been compromised by the Home Ministry and its Special Branch police officers.

Under protest, I agreed to be treated at a government hospital on Feb 3, 2009. As I had anticipated, the doctor refused to admit me despite my swollen leg and blackening left foot condition. The doctor told me there were no hospital beds and neither did she want to refer me to an orthopedic surgeon or a consultant physician, as well as a cardiologist to treat my silent heart attack during my ISA detention.

No cast was put on my leg. No medication was prescribed. This doctor told me that my leg would heal on its own. My suspicion was confirmed when the doctor, who had written my medical notes in a police file, gave it back to the police officers accompanying me.

brickfields uthayakumar hindraf 280209 marching to stationBy the second week, my leg got even worse and despite repeated pleas, the prison authorities refused to take me even to a government hospital, which I agreed to go under protest. I had lodged four police reports but again zero action was taken. Even my statement was not recorded.

The worst case scenario ran across my mind. I may lose my left foot. For the first time, I realised that as a lawyer, I could not even save myself. There was nothing I could do, I was a prisoner.

But even then, I had thought to myself that should the worst happen, I would put on a prosthesis (artificial leg) and keep walking. I feel that at the end of the day, it was the prayers held at scores of Hindu temples nationwide by supporters of Makkal Sakthi that had actually saved my leg and ensure my well-being in prison.

Surviving on bread and biscuits

On March 22, 2009, I found pieces of beef in the chicken sambal served to me. Mohamad, a Pakistani national, and Abdul Sarjon, a Sri Lankan national, and fellow detainees who worked at the prison kitchen confirmed that chicken and beef were cooked in the same pot after which the chicken was scooped out and served.

uthayakumar interview 051207 pausedI immediately lodged a police report. But again nothing happened as usual. But had it been the other way round - the victimisation a Malay Muslim - a different set of rules would be applied by Umno.

But I suppose this is all part and parcel of PM Najib’s One Malaysia policy. One Malaysia, two systems. Since that day, I have refused to consume cooked food from the prison kitchen in protest against the violation of my religious rights in contravention of Article 11 of the Federal Constitution. As a Hindu, I do not consume beef. I am now surviving basically on bread and biscuits.

Throughout these 500 days, there was never a single day that I ever regretted starting and spearheading this struggle. I believed in justice, including for the minority ethnic Indians, in Malaysia.

In these 500 days, I have refused to meet any of the Special Branch officers who came to meet detainees once in every two to three months to “plead for my release”. I have done no wrong and I am not prepared to beg for my freedom. I had earlier also refused to meet Umno’s home minister, knowing fully well that my release from prison is in his hands, for the very same reason.

My biggest satisfaction and what keeps me going in prison is the true and sincere spirit of the struggle through Hindraf’s Makkal Sakthi.

brickfields uthayakumar hindraf 280209It moved me to see thousands of Hindraf supporters who had braved FRU’s tear gas and water cannons, who were roughed up and beaten by the police, arrested, handcuffed, thrown into jail, prosecuted in court and bravely standing up in the dock to face possible jail sentences, losing their jobs, and with their wife and children suffering.

All these sacrifices, just for a public cause to put to an end to Umno’s racism, religious extremism and exclusion of the Indians from the mainstream of national development. To all of you, I salute you and I am proud of you. Makkal Sakthi Valga.

I miss my freedom

I am suffering from this imprisonment daily. I miss my freedom. I miss my family, my wife and children.

But I am prepared for the worst, even if it means another 500 days or more of imprisonment. I will do this just for the cause of Hindraf. Umno can imprison me but they cannot imprison the forces of Hindraf’s Makkal Sakthi.

Makkal Sakthi was the tipping point in the March 8, 2008 general elections. It was the triggering factor which resulted in Umno/BN losing two-thirds majority in Parliament as well as political power in four west-coast states.

Makkal Sakthi once again showed its prowess at the Bukit Selambau and Bukit Gantang by-elections. I never, even in my wildest dream, thought I would see Makkal Sakthi forces to this extent in my lifetime.

gantang by election 040409 hindraf candle light vigil kamunting isa detainees09I am no Mahatma Gandhi or Nelson Mandela, but Umno has to understand and accept that it was the genuine grievances of the people - the pent-up pain and suffering, misery and heartache - that brought about the unprecedented 100,000-strong Hindraf rally on Nov 25, 2007.

Please be patient. Umno will not change, but we will change Umno in the 2012/2013 general elections. We will put an end to Umno’s bully tactics and its rule by fear. We have waited 52 long years.

Please be patient. In another three or four years, there would hopefully be a new beginning, a new political structure and a Malaysia with equality and equal opportunities, including for the Indians. A Malaysia where the Indians would be a part of the mainstream in national development.

Every day and every moment of my imprisonment, my thoughts and prayers are with Makkal Sakthi. I have plans for our further struggle. Please pray for my freedom, and for Umno’s end of its rule so that justice will finally prevail.

Umno may have punished me with this 500 days of imprisonment but you, the Makkal Sakthi, will in turn punished Umno/BN where it hurts them most - the ballot box.

God bless.

P Uthayakumar
Kamunting Detention Camp, Perak

Najib playing with his cards well. Malaysiakini

2009-04-06T17:51:00.003+08:00

Najib is playing his cards very well. With Mahathir coming back into the picture. He is providing a vision of Malaysia's Glory days under the Mahathir ruling. But what we fail to see is much has changed from then. We don't have the marketing edge that we use to have. We are to expensive for the cheap labour market and we are not advance enough for the high tech investment. Where do we fit? Nowhere. Many of the problem we face today was because of Mahathir's way of progress. We were in the eyes of the world once but Not always for the right reasons. We are in many ways the same as China. Accelerated growth without substance. We had huge budgets for building stuff but not for maintaining.
Najib made a master stroke by releasing 2 of the Hindraf 5. If he let go all of them then we would think he was scared of the Indian voters. But by releasing 2, he has 3 more to toy with the public. If we fail to support BN then there is a possibility for him to punish the other 3. Not too many and not too little. Just nice. He didn't let go of Vasantha because there was too much speculation of his involvement with BN and Najid surely couldn't let go of the main leader, Uthaya Kumar. He would have gone to on a public hunger strike to get the others out. And he wouldn't want Pakatan Rakyat to have another MP at the Parliement if there were having a crucial vote in the House. So surely Manoharan was not coming out. Najib would had this all planned out much earlier.
Najib might be bad at his work but he is a smart politician. Sadly if Pakatan Rakyat were to win all 3 by election the forces is not going to change so soon. We are stuck with Najib for now.

Arab Woman gives Muslims a Thrashing. Malaysiakini

2009-03-20T13:28:00.003+08:00

Al-Jazeera TV. February 21, 2006. This lady has a price on her head. Not sure how is she now. But surely know how to give a good trashing. No offence to my Muslim brothers and sisters. But she is just expressing her own opinion. We all have the rights to hear and evaluate an argument from any perspective. But please do not be offended.

It is extremely surprising that the Arab financed TV station in Dubai would allow this to air. Be sure and watch this, it is so powerful I have no doubt she now has a very large price on her head. She is one impressive woman.Here is a powerful and amazing statement on Al Jazeera television. The woman is Wafa Sultan, an Arab-American psychologist from Los Angeles.

God save us all, We kept the wrong government in power! Malaysiakini

2009-03-19T01:01:00.002+08:00

I’m furious. Is BN telling that if they catch a few fellas for corruption that means they have gotten rid of money politics in BN.? How do we even know if it’s not all a big conspiracy and they use this opportunity to get rid of a few tough competitions?
Vote buying? You think someone is going to take the money out from his own pocket to pay others so that he can stay in power? Just for argument sake we say they use their own money to buy voters. Then surely he will try to make back that money by dipping his hands into the honey jar. So does this person deserve to remain in an important position?

What is astonishing is Khairy J’s statement.

He said that there was an agenda to stop him from contesting for the Umno Youth chief post.

"I know there is an agenda but I don't know by whom and why they are doing this. I am maintaining my innocence". Said Khairy.

I surely as hell don’t understand what the meaning of maintaining my innocence is. So I’m innocent till you catch me red handed then I’ll confess?

The Parliament is a sanctuary for Democracy. The parliement is so hypocritical of who can be questioned during session. If you can’t be question in parliament then why are you an MP?
Everyone in that position is dutifully responsible to answer for their actions and involvement of anything illegal. And to punish one for questioning is outrages.

Not enough of this the government is charging people for seditious remarks about the royalty including Karpal. What is this all about? What did UMNO do last time? When I was back in England as a student there was debate on the need for Royalties. This is a country that has a Majestic history of Royalties in power. During that time many news channel went around interviewing people about their opinion about the remaining need of a royal family. Obviously the debate started because of the cost of maintaining the Royal Family. Our issue is not even close to that. The TV Station interviewed people from all walks of live, immigrant or not immigrant what they thought and they aired on TV. That is freedom of speech. What Malaysia has is a joke.

People are not even allowed to discuss, debate or even question the matters that govern this country. Is it their country or our country? This is seriously the wrong direction this country is heading. And the Captain of these campaigns is no other than our future PM. God saves us all.

List of Death and Abused Malaysian Indians by police. Malaysiakini

2009-02-19T13:49:00.004+08:00

List of Abuse and Death of Malaysian Indian From 1998-2009

1.S.KuganTortured and Beaten to Death

Name Age Date Circumstance of Death
S.Kugan 22 20 Jan 2009 Jan 15. Kugan Ananthan was detained. Crime : suspected involvement in an international car theft syndicate.
Jan 20th 2009. Kugan a/l Ananthan, 22 year old guy, after being detained for 5days, was found dead. DEAD in a Subang Jaya police station. Selangor police chief immediately claimed that it was a sudden death, and tried linking it with asthma. His family says he has no asthmatic problem. Pictures revealed injuries to his body, fresh wounds

2.Malaysian police poured boiling water on B Prabakar

Name Age Date Circumstance of Torture and Abuse
B Prabakar 27 December 23, 2008 27years old car park attendant has alleged that he was tortured during interrogation by police who beat him with a rubber hose and splashed boiling hot water on his body.
B Prabakar said he was picked up from his work place at Sri Hartamas on Dec 23 and taken for interrogation at the Brickfields police district headquarters where he was repeatedly beaten, kicked and stepped-on by at least 10 police personnel.

3. N. Logeswaran 10-year-old , abused by Malaysian Police in Police station.

Name Age Date Circumstance of Tortured and Abuse
N. Logeswaran 10. August 5, 2008
The ethnic Indian mother of a 10-year-old boy has accused the police of torturing her son, slapping and choking him and scalding his leg while questioning him for allegedly stealing his school teacher's purse. The incident occurred Aug 5 after N. Logeswaran was taken to a police station at Kampar near Ipoh in Perak state, even though the purse, money (containing RM 700 - roughly $200) and other documents were not found on the boy.
Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) deputy chairman M. Sarasvathy, who took up his case, submitted a memorandum to the Perak police Tuesday alleging that the police, in order to get the boy to confess, slapped him on his face while two policemen tried to choke him.
"They even tried to melt some plastic on the boy's private parts," said Sarasvathy, outside the Perak police contingent headquarters, The Star newspaper said Wednesday.
Logeswaran's mother P. Santhi said her son suffered head injuries as a result of the police beating.

"The police also took out a parang (dagger) and a pistol to threaten the boy," Saraswathy said, adding that Logeswaran was also handcuffed and locked up in a dark room.
"He is now traumatised by the incident," said Sarasvathy, adding that he suffered injuries on the back of his head, wrists and leg after the ordeal.
Logeswaran was picked up from his school at 12.30 p.m. last Wednesday and was only released at 10.45 p.m. the same day. His parents were not informed about the incident.
He was taken to the Kampar Hospital at 11 p.m. after complaining of headaches and after he started vomiting, said Sarasvathy.

He was transferred to Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun at midnight for observation and was discharged Monday.

4. 24 years old Mariammah was manhandled by Malaysian Police

Name Age Date Circumstance of Torture and Abuse
Mariammah 24 April 17, 2008 IPOH (17/4) – A young girl launched police report against a Police Officer and other Police Personnel's on the complaint that she was manhandled, usage of vulgar words and sexually harassed while she was under investigation at the Police Station at Ipoh . The 24 years old women stated in her report that the police picked up her from Balai Police Menglembu on the 02/04/08 at 02.00am after she made a Police report stating her motorbike no: AGJ 102 was missing. Mariammah, a mother of 2, was remanded for 2 weeks to help on a murder case on which, usage of the missing motorbike in the murder case.
The Policeman who came with other male officers arrested her and took her with police car with male police officers only. She was remanded till 13/04/08 and the Police officers started to torture her since 05/04/08 till 08/04/08 for no reason. Mariamah also alleged that the Policeman also kicked her back and hips several times and blindfolded her when this beating was taking place. Also she says the police forced her to admit that her husband was involved in the murder case which happens few days earlier before her arrest. The Police arrested and forced her to agree with the accusation. After few hours another policeman came and tortured her verbally and told her she would be striped naked if did not agreed.
Soon after she was released on 13/04/08, she came to Ipoh Barat office to inform the incident and asked Mr.Kulasegaran (DAP - Ipoh Barat) for help. Mr.Kula, with his secretary, took her to lodge a police report and at that time, the computers were all down! After half an hour when a senior police officer came, the system was on again.

5.Indian Youth Tortured In Rawang Police Station

Naame Age Date Circumstance of Torture and Abuse
2 Indian Youth
January 6, 2008 DATED 6FEB08, WHERE 2 MALAYSIAN INDIANS WERE TORTURED WHILE IN CUSTODY AT RAWANG POLICE SATTION. THEY WERE ASKED TO DRINK POLICEMEN'S URINE AND ALSO TOLD TO LICK THE TOILET BOWL IN THE POLICE STATION. HINDRAF ( POLICE WATCH HAVE BEEN HIGHLITING THIS ALL THIS WHILE) NOW IT HAS COME TO OPEN AIR. THE 2 INDIAN SUSPECTS WERE WARNED NOT TO REVEAL WHAT HAPPEN IN CUSTODY.

6.ISA Detainee Sanjeev Kumar Tortured Brutaly by Malaysian Police

Name Age Date Circumstance of Torture and Abuse
Sanjeev Kumar Krishnan 25 March 21, 2008

Sanjeev detained under ISA and physically, sexually and emotionally tortured.

An initial police report had been filed by Sanjeev Kumar at the Taiping Police Station in April 2008, after he was warded at the Taiping Hospital upon receiving such brutal treatment in the camp, which included being forced to drink urine, eat stale food and being subjected to physical abuse such as being sodomized by a broom.

The first report seems to be left unheeded. Sanjeev is now semi-paralysed and wheel chair bound, and has still not received the required medical attention.

7.M Vijaya Varman 19 year old beaten in police custody

Name Age Date Circumstance of Torture and Abuse
M Vijaya Varman 19 January 4, 2007 Factory worker 19 year old M Vijaya Varman was rudely awakened in his home in Kuala Selangor by seven policemen at 2am, the morning of Jan 4. Despite the lack of a warrant, he was arrested in connection with the theft of electrical cables.

The cops handcuffed him, dragged him into the van, drove around and simply put, proceeded to beat the shit out of him over a period of four hours.

Excerpts from his police report:

Tangan saya telah digari dibelakang ibubapa saya telah bertanya kepada mereka sebab saya di tahan tetapi mereka enggan menjawab soalan tersebut. Kemudiannya saya terus dibawa menaiki sebuah van berwarna putih semasa didalam perjalanan keluar daripada kawasan perumahan taman seri Kuantan, saya telah dipukul oleh CID-CID tersebut.

Van tersebut telah berhenti berhampiran dengan sebuah pub/karaoke di pasir panjang. Kemudian mereka terus membelasah saya dan menyoal saya di mana kawan-kawan saya yang lain yang telah dituduh mencuri kabel. Mereka terus mendesak sambil memukul saya supaya mengakui perbuatan tersebut. Selepas itu saya dibawa ke lokasi lain dan mereka terus memukul saya.

8. 19 year old M Vijaya Varman beaten in police custody

Name Age Date Circumstance of Torture and Abuse
M Vijaya Varman 19 January 4, 2007 Factory worker 19 year old M Vijaya Varman was rudely awakened in his home in Kuala Selangor by seven policemen at 2am, the morning of Jan 4. Despite the lack of a warrant, he was arrested in connection with the theft of electrical cables.

The cops handcuffed him, dragged him into the van, drove around and simply put, proceeded to beat the shit out of him over a period of four hours.

Excerpts from his police report:

Tangan saya telah digari dibelakang ibubapa saya telah bertanya kepada mereka sebab saya di tahan tetapi mereka enggan menjawab soalan tersebut. Kemudiannya saya terus dibawa menaiki sebuah van berwarna putih semasa didalam perjalanan keluar daripada kawasan perumahan taman seri Kuantan, saya telah dipukul oleh CID-CID tersebut.

Van tersebut telah berhenti berhampiran dengan sebuah pub/karaoke di pasir panjang. Kemudian mereka terus membelasah saya dan menyoal saya di mana kawan-kawan saya yang lain yang telah dituduh mencuri kabel. Mereka terus mendesak sambil memukul saya supaya mengakui perbuatan tersebut. Selepas itu saya dibawa ke lokasi lain dan mereka terus memukul saya.

9. Disabled Murugan Rajoo, 36 forced to urinate in pants by Selayang Municipal Council Malaysian

Name Age Date Circumstance of Torture and Abuse
Murugan Rajoo 36 January 4, 2007 Murugan Rajoo, 36, was born without legs. On Jan 4, he was detained by the Selayang Municipal Council for over an hour, and forced to urinate in his pants.
Sequence of events: Mr. Murugan (front row in light blue shirt with hands raised) is a petty trader without a license who claims he first applied for one about 3 years ago. On Jan 4, his motorcyle-stall was confiscated by Selayang Municipal Council (MPS) officers, leaving Mr. Murugan stranded by the roadside.
Later that day, he went to reclaim his motorcycle from the MPS Rawang branch. There, he was confined by enforcement officers for an hour, and when he wanted to use the bathroom, the officers allegedly made fun of his lack of legs and refused to show him where the bathroom was, forcing him to urinate in his pants publicly.
The inhumane suffering and humiliation did not end there.
A number of civil society groups representing the differently able organised a group of 30 individuals to protest this cruel insult to even the most basic human dignity at the MPS headquarters, and prepared a memorandum for council president, Yang Dipertua Zainal Abidin Azim.
When they arrive, the group and its wheelchair bound participants were told they could meet the president, but that he refused to come down and see them; they would have to come up to the 9th floor to see him :|

10. Suresh Kunsekaran Found Hanged With Saree In Women Cell, In Bukit Sentosa Police Station
Name Age Date Circumstance of Death
Suresh Kunasekaran 26 October 27, 2006
Suresh was found dead, hanged with a saree from the window of a lock-up in the Bukit Sentosa police station, Serendah, on Friday about 2pm.

He had been picked up by a patrol car and taken to the station about 11.30am after he was confronted by two policemen on motorcycles near his Taman Teratai home.

His mother, Liew Kiew, 47, said police informed them that a post-mortem at Kuala Kubu Baru Hospital showed he had committed suicide.

She was told of her eldest son's death by police about eight hours later, at midnight. When their questions went unanswered, the family lodged a report at the Hulu Selangor police headquarters on Saturday.

Siva Subramaniam and Suresh 's father, R. Kunasekaran, 47, a dispatch rider, visited the lock-up where Suresh was found hanged.

Siva said: " I want the police to answer several questions.

"How did the saree get into the lock-up? Assuming that the deceased managed to bring the saree into the lock-up, what were the police doing? Aren't they supposed to monitor detainees? Secondly, what could have pushed the deceased to commit suicide only a few hours after being detained?

"Thirdly, why the delay in informing the family of his death?"

11.Ravichandran Ramayah died under Malaysian Police custody

Name Age Date Circumstance of Death
Ravichandran Ramayah 38
December , 2004
In October, Ravichandran Ramayah, 38, died a week after being arrested and detained by the Penang North East Police Station. Family members claimed that medical needs were not provided to Ravichandran even though it was clear that his condition was very poor when he appeared in the Magistrate's Court for remand proceedings.

The deceased then could only walk with the help of family members, causing the magistrate to order that he be brought to a hospital for medical attention. However, the police instead took the deceased to the Penang Prison, where he eventually died. State Police Chief Deputy Commissioner Othman Talib said that no wrongdoing had been committed on the part of the police.

He said that a post-mortem showed that Ravichandran died from natural causes and there were no signs of physical abuse or assault.

12. A. Subramaniam died after allegedly being assaulted by prison officials at the Air Molek Prison in Johor

Name Date Circumstance of Death
A. Subramaniam March 2004
In March, A. Subramaniam died after allegedly being assaulted by prison officials at the Air Molek Prison in Johor. Lawyer Uthayakumar lodged a complaint that Subramaniam, his friend S. Sherma Naidu and two other detainees had been assaulted and tortured by prison officials after they went on a hunger strike to protest against filthy conditions in the prison.

Subramaniam then allegedly fell ill and died while being rushed to the hospital. His parents lodged a police report claiming police brutality and lack of care while under incarceration. However, Johor Police Chief Mukhtar Ismail said police investigations ruled out foul play in the detainee's death.

The prisons department also cleared the Ayer Molek authorities of any wrongdoing, as the findings of a post-mortem report and investigations of an inquiry board said that the youth had died of Septicaemia meningitis.

13. L. Yoges Rao died in police custody

Name Age Date Circumstance of Death
L. Yoges Rao, 22 December, 2003
L. Yoges Rao, 22 years old, died in December 2003 in Sitawan police station, Perak. Following arrest
on drug-related charges he was brought to his home where, ccording to his sister, she saw him beingpunched in his stomach by police.

He was then taken into a locked room from where his sister said she
heard sounds of assaults and cries of pain. About half an hour later he was brought out, vomiting blood. He died the next day. Despite evidence of abuse on Yoges' body, the burial permit said he had died of a stomach ulcer. On receipt of complaints, suhakam initiated an investigation.

Responses from the Perak
deputy head of police included that the deceased vomited in the police station (narcotics office) and was sent to Seri Manjung hospital for treatment. The doctor who treated him was subsequently in charge of the post mortem and certified cause of death as "peritonitis with duodenal ulcer."

14.19 year old student, Vikenes Vesvanathan shoot dead by Malaysian Police

Name Age Date Circumstance of Death
Vikenes Vesvanathan.
October 10 , 2003 Vikenes Vesvanathan, a 19 year-old sixth-form student, and two of his friends, Katiravan Tamilchelvam (25) and Puvaneswaran Subramanium (24), were shot dead by police in Nilai, Negri Sembilan on 10 October 2003. Police claimed that the men had been staking out a bank
in preparation for a robbery, and that when their car was followed by police they sped away, crashed, and on alighting refused to surrender and opened fire on the police.

The police stated they returned fire killing all three men, whom they claimed were linked to at least 20 cases of
armed robbery. Police reportedly cordoned off the area where they were shot before the shooting, and reported that guns and bullets were found in the car.
Vikenes' family disputed the police version of events insisting that their son, a high school student, had no criminal record and was not, as alleged, a "marksman and a weapons expert". According to a police report lodged by a friend of Vikenes who saw his body in the mortuary,
there were two gunshot wounds to Vikenes' chest, but his shirt (which the police refused to release) had no bullet holes in it. He also claimed that there were bruise marks on his face, legs and back. In addition, the brother of Puvaneswaran stated "there were about four or five
red bruises on the back of his [brother's] body which looked like cane marks. His lips were also swollen and his nose bleeding."
A post-mortem report found that there were two gunshot wounds to Vikenes' upper chest. In findings that increased his relatives' mistrust of the police version of events, the
report stated that the wounds showed bullets had exited the body, suggesting that the firing may have taken place at close range.

15.Ulaganathan Muniandy 19, died while in detention in Kajang police station, Malaysia

Name Age Date Circumstance of Death
Ulaganathan Muniandy 19 July 21, 2003
Ulaganathan Muniandy (19 year old) an Emergency Ordinance detainee was detained at Kajang Police Station since 12 May 2003 and died on 21 July 2003 at Kajang Police Station. According to the Kajang hospital, the cause of death "cannot be determined", while family members of the deceased suspect foul play.
According to Ulaganathan's mother - Tamil Selwee a/p Ramasamy, she found that there were few bruises on Ulaganathan's body, including swollen eyes, bruises around the region of eyes and swelling on the legs during the visit she made to the Police detention centre.
When the family, with the help of SUARAM, Malaysian Bar Council and volunteer lawyer, filed a civil suit, the Attorney General finally requested for an inquest to be carried out - 4 years after the death.

16. Kannan Kanthan, 45, died in Batu Pahat Police Station in Johor

Name Age Date Circumstance of Death
Kannan Kanthan 45 February 28, 2003
In March, Kannan Kanthan, 45, died in Batu Pahat Police Station in Johor after being arrested three days earlier by the police. The deceased's nephew, Sri Rajesh Kanna Viladan, said that when he saw Kannan in court a few days earlier, he was in good health. At the mortuary, Sri Rajesh identified the body and claimed that he found injuries on the deceased—a swollen neck and injuries on the left eye and right hand. Fourteen persons were arrested in relation to the death including three police personnel. Seven of them were later charged with causing the death of Kannan in Cell 'C' lockup. In addition, a police lance corporal Azmi Harun was charged with abetting the five by transferring the deceased from Cell 'F' to Cell 'C' and allowing him to be assaulted by the detainees. The two other police personnel were subjected disciplinary actions.

17. P. Lingeswaran beaten with rubber hose by Malaysian police
Name Age Date Circumstance of Death
P. Lingeswaran 19 February 20, 2003 In February, police personnel were alleged to have beaten P. Lingeswaran together with another 19-year-old, P. Poobalan, while the two were being detained at the Subang Jaya Police Station in Selangor. According to a police report, the duo was arrested and blindfolded at the police station before they were beaten with rubber hoses. The complainant said: "I saw that Poobalan had red bruises of about 6-inches long on his back and his right hand. There were also swellings on his head, feet and the soles of his feet. As for Lingeswaran, there were (similar) bruises on both his shoulders." The two youths were subsequently released by the Petaling Jaya Magistrate's Court but were re-arrested the same day by the Subang Jaya police. Lawyer Uthayakumar said the two were re-arrested while they were seeking medical treatment for their injuries at the Universiti Hospital . The hospital staff apparently notified the police, who came and removed the two back to the Subang Jaya Police Station. The police later suddenly brought the two youth back to the hospital's police booth and released them at about 2 a.m. Malaysiakini.com reported that when it contacted the Subang Jaya Police Station, a police officer who declined to be named said that there were no records that the two youths were held during the past two days at the station.

18.Mohanan Pillai shot dead by Malaysian Police

Name Age Date Circumstance of Death
Mohanan Pillai
September 6, 2002 The widow Jeyanthi A/P Sinniah (32) who was six (6) month pregnant at that time in her police report said that the deceased telephoned his wife on 6/09/2002 at about 12.00 pm informing her that he was on his. way home. At 3.00 pm received a telephone call from her husband's friend informing her that her husband had been shot dead by the police in bad faith and with mala-fide in the "shoot to kill policy by the police". The widow in her police report Kelana Jaya NO.5203-02 dated.7/09/2002 alleged that the story by the police that her husband shot at the police and the police shot back and her husband was killed as a result as "cerita rekaan polis" (police fictious story).

19.Anthony A/L Ponnusamy is shot dead by Malaysian Police

Name Age Date Circumstance of Death
Anthony A/L Ponnusamy
August 24, 2002 The widow Vasanthi A/P Perumal (25) who was five (5) moths pregnant at that time in her police report No.1211/02 (Mantin) said that her husband bought her breakfast and left for work on 23/08/2002. From 12.00 pm on 23/08/2002 right up to the next day morning she kept calling him persistently on the phone but to no avail. The widow alleges that the newspaper stories about her husband being involved in guns for hire, extortion, gangster isu etc was false news published and was a prelude / justification for killing her husband.

She further alleged that the police pre-planned her husband's murder and does nor believe the police's version that her husband was behaving suspiciously, waiting to hijack a lorry, shot at the police the police returned fire and her husband was killed. She furhter said that her husband would not be stupid to shoot when a group of (armed) policemen supposedly cornered him. Despite a request in the said police reports an Inquest is yet to be.

Legal Issue on Contract Law in Malaysia. Malaysiakini

2009-02-17T18:41:00.000+08:00

Legal Issue on Contract Law in Malaysia - Good for us to know

Do you notice that most of the time, the receipt / invoice you received from the merchant carries this exclusion clause or similarly worded statement: "Goods sold are not returnable" or "No refund once sold".

Please remember that : " As long as your goods is purchased for home use and not for business ( i.e. to be resold), the above exclusion clause is VOID.

That means, as long as the good is defective, regardless of what is worded, you CAN get back all your money spent . You do not have to accept a repair on the good or an exchange. You CAN ask for a refund.. AND you are LEGALLY right and entitled to!

And most of the time the merchant will refuse to return you your money.

You can threaten the merchant with four words: "SEE YOU IN COURT!"

The court here refers to the Small Claims Tribunal Court . Any goods which is worth RM25,000 and below can apply to this Court.

However, you don't have to tell them what court! All you have to pay is RM10 admin fee and the loser (the merchant) will have to refund you the money PLUS the admin fee!

I have seen that most educated people are cowed by such unfair wordings (which includes a few of my friends).

Pls try not to let the merchant fleece you the next time you have defective goods.

You can file this On the 16th floor of Putra Place (The Mall opposite Putra World Trade Centre) . The form cost RM5.00. The Tribunal will settle within 2 months period.

Tribunal Tuntutan Pengguna Malaysia ,
Tingkat 16, Putra Place ,
100, Jalan Putra,
50622 KUALA LUMPUR
Tel: 03 - 40492300 / 40424181 Fax: 03 - 40424259

The man who calls himself Pendekar Ramlee. Malaysiakini

2009-02-14T16:32:00.004+08:00

THE DAY NAJIB KILLED ZAKARIA DEROS . Malaysiakini

2009-02-11T10:31:00.003+08:00

I don't know how true is this or if this piece of information credible. But i received this in my mail today. So i decided to share it with everyone. I wouldn't be surprise with Najib's intention because there is a lot of speculation about his fathers role in May 13th 1969. After March 8th 2008, there were many racial issues stirred up. Some resulting to innocent people being blame and jailed for no reason. So maybe there is some truth to this. Malaysia Boleh!
THE DAY NAJIB KILLED ZAKARIA DEROS

1.On March 8th 2008, Malaysia's opposition parties had won unexpected victories in the states of Kedah, Penang, Perak, Selangor and PAS maintained Kelantan
2.The BN was in serious trouble and could not believe that the economic powerhouses of Penang and especially Selangor had fallen.
3.Zakaria Deros, the assemblyman who was largely faulted for Selangor's fall together with Khir Toyo was informed of an emergency UMNO meeting on the night of March 10th 2008 at Najib's house.
4.However on arrival, Zakaria was surprised to see that there was no one there except for him, Najib and his bodyguards. "Where are the rest?" Zakaria asked. "This is a confidential meeting between the both of us only" Najib replied
5.Najib, then Defence Minister, came straight to the point. Remember 13th May 1969, the incident that my father was involved in? I want you to start a similar incident in Klang. I will call in the army and impose emergency rule afterwards. If you agree, you will be rewarded amply; otherwise you will pay heavily for your corrupt deeds and for the fall of Selangor.
6.Zakaria in his loud and gruff voice not only made it clear that he will not be a party to a riot in Klang but also barked at Najib that he knows well that Rosmah pulled the trigger to kill Altantunya and Najib Oked the C4 of the body.
7.Zakaria further screamed at Najib that he will expose this to the public.
8.The enraged Najib instructed his bodyguards who set upon Zakaria and beat him up till he became unconscious eventually suffocating him by strangling and killing him.
9.The well oiled team covered up the entire incident as Zakaria having a heart attack at just after midnight March 11th 2008.
10.His body was quickly brought back to his mansion in Klang, and sent off for burial in Malacca by late morning March 11th 2008.
11.Corrupted to the core though Zakaria was, he saved the people of Klang from falling for Najib's evil calling although his sons did try to start an incident unsuccessfully in Telok Gong. Zakaria however paid a heavy price. His own death. If his body was excavated, apart from the strangulation, the injuries include multiple rib fractures, punctured lung and a possible a liver tear.
12.The depth of cruelty and evil that both Najib and Rosmah bear is unknown to many Malaysians. The country is really entering a very dangerous period of its history. UMNO's culture since Razak, has been that the end justifies the means. Malaysians will now have to decide how bloody this end is going to be.

Khairy Hitler in the making. Malaysiakini

2009-02-10T01:59:00.004+08:00

The more we let this guy go on the more hatred he sow the hearts of the young Malays.
One day we will regret having kept quiet during all this time when this madman slowly gains control of the easily influenced Malay communities. His hidden intentions have failed to be seen by the common minds. With Pakatan Rakyat loosing their ground in Perak things are starting to get messy.
I have always condemned defection as a way to form a new government. But i don't think Anwar is all to blame for bringing this culture. When BN lost this 5 states they would have already set a strategy to get back this states in any way crooked then to wait for the next GE.
So it was just matter of time. I'm actually surprise it took them so long. When the initial case of the 2 PR MP's getting caught for corruption was the signs of BN at work laying down their ground work for this take over.
The next state they would hit is Kedah with already a state assembly person for Bukit Selambau Mr. V Arumugam quitting after being pressured by BN to crossover.
The blessing behind all this dirty work carried out by BN is that their true nature and culture is coming out. People get to see how corrupted and dirty their entire establishment is.
Malaysia should only have 2 major parties. An alliance can never work. Especially when it is based from different schools of thought. You can never strike a balance, especially when you have religious party involved. I truly hope the Opposition will one day stand only as a singular party with a common goal and policy. With an Alliance there will always be a worry of loosing power and compromise their values to stay in position with their partners in the Alliance.

Dear Reader

2009-01-25T03:31:00.000+08:00

Happy New Year to Everyone.

Alcohol and Babi Protest by Pewaris. Malaysiakini

2009-01-15T22:49:00.003+08:00

So dissapointing to see some of our Malaysian Malays behaving like this. If Malaysia wasn't multicultural. It wouldn't be what it is now. How long do you think you can be like this? All this will come down one day. It's best to look around us and learn that the globe is changing rapidly and we should start changing as well. God Save Malaysia.
Pewaris is backed by BN people thats why it's able to stage such things.

Found this on a Pewaris site as well. not sure what is our government doing about this. Pakatan Rakyat state government should put a stop to this nuts.

Babi Protest by Pewaris Malaysia - Malaysiakini

2009-01-15T17:16:00.005+08:00

So dissapointing to see our Malaysian Malays behaving like this. If Malaysia wasn't multicultural. It wouldn't be what it is now. How long do you think you can be like this? All this will come down one day. It's best to look around us and learn that the globe is changing rapidly and we should start as well. God Save Malaysia.

Manikavasagam the people's man. Malaysiakini

2008-12-31T17:32:00.004+08:00

Why does a Selangor PKR deputy liaison chief needs to resign to gets things resolved?
Is Keadilan just another UMNO or is it selected few individuals Interest? Does Klang town need to transfer their bus station? Can't it be upgraded?

I spoke to my friends from klang. They agree that bus station does need it's upgrade but not move it totally 7-8km away. Imagine all the businessman's around there and it's convenience being in the heart of town. Already Malaysia has one of the worst integrated transportation system compared to it's other economic peers in Asia. It's sometimes just so hopeless to explain to foreigners how to get to a place that you just advice them to take the cab. But wait we have cab driver who haggle prices, chooses their passenger and destination and worst they are sometimes rude. Lets not go into the conditions of the taxi's. Crime rate is shocking.

Manickavasagam thank you for doing this. You prove that if check and balance in Pakatan Rakyat works or not. If PKR wants to be like UMNO then it will only drown as fast as it surfaced. I support Pakatan Rakyat totally but i want it to be a party that serves the people by the people and not by corruption and racial motivation. If it takes 1year or 10 years to be a Federal Government let it be. Build it with quality and not by quantity.

Manickavasagam is a responsible man. He is brave to make a change. Many in his position would have remained quiet to retain their position and popularity. But he choose do what is right. Why have a position that does not have a purpose? Would you want to be used just as a puppet for others to get political mileage? Like MIC? PKR is one party but it's backbone is their racial integration. If what we see is the fake side of PKR than we should not support them further. Hindraf that gave Pakatan Rakyat it's voice is now illegal and hiding. Shouldn't this people brought back into the mainstream to help produce results. What is Pakatan Rakyat doing? It's going to be 1 year since the came to power. 3 to 4 years from now is the next General Election. That's not very far away. We should shake the earth under Barisan Nasional and Build a stronger Foundation for Pakatan Rakyat. PR needs to field quality candidate for all constituency by the next General Election. So start moulding your man and women to bear the responsibility and vision.

Sometimes you read the junk statements from our federal government it's like hanging yourself in shame. There is no quality there. It's so frustrating you feel like punching some of them but patience is virtue. Except for Internet users. We need a sincere and dedicated government till then we shall be patient. I'm against Hudud law, that's for PAS. The government should never use religion to govern it's people of different believes. It will only cause havoc. MCA are just opportunist playing issues to garner back support. Shameless. Samy vellu please step down. I'm glad Devamany is the new Treasurer but MIC is a lost cause. sadly.

This is my 2009 New Years wish. A brighter Malaysia. A lot of mix opinions on Malaysia economy for 2009-2010. Maybe it's a blessing in disguise. Whatever it may produce, let's hope for the best. God Bless you Malaysia. Happy New Year!!

Scandal exposes Islam's weakness. malaysiakini

2008-12-24T11:10:00.004+08:00

By Spengler

"Did you hear about the German Gnostic?"
"He couldn't keep a secret."

Just such a Teutonic mystic is Professor Muhammad Sven Kalisch, a German convert to Islam who teaches Muslim theology at the University of Munster. Kalisch recently laid a Gnostic egg in the nest of Islam, declaring that the Prophet Mohammed never existed, not at least in the way that the received version of Islamic tradition claims he did. Given that Kalisch holds an academic chair specifically funded to instruct teachers of Islam in Germany's school system, a scandal ensued, first reported in the mainstream English-language press by Andrew Higgins in the November 15 edition of the Wall Street Journal.

On closer reading, Kalisch offers a far greater challenge to Islam than the secular critics who reject its claims. The headline that a Muslim academic has doubts over the existence of the Prophet Mohammed is less interesting than why he has such doubts. Kalisch does not want to harm Islam, but rather to expose what he believes to be its true nature. Islam, he argues, really is a Gnostic spiritual teaching masquerading as myth. Kalisch's heretical variant of Islam may be close enough to the religion's original intent as to provoke a re-evaluation of the original sources.
A labor of love from inside the fortress of Islamic theology may accomplish what all the ballistas of the critics never could from outside the walls. Koranic criticism, I have argued for years (here and elsewhere - You say you want a reformation? Asia Times Online, August 5, 2003) is the Achilles' heel of the religion. That argument has been made about Christianity for years by Elaine Pagels and other promoters of "Gnostic Gospels", and it is dead wrong. In the case of Islam, though, it might be dead accurate.

Kalisch is a Gnostic, a believer in secret spiritual truths that undergird the myths manufactured for the edification of the peasantry. But he is a German Gnostic, and therefore feels it necessary to lay out his secrets in thorough academic papers with extensive footnotes and bibliography. It is a strange and indirect way of validating the dictum of the great German-Jewish theologian Franz Rosenzweig: Islam is a parody of Judaism and Christianity.

It is in weird little byways of academia such as Kalisch wanders that the great battles of religion will be fought out, not at academic conferences and photo opportunities with the pope. For example: the Catholic Islamologists who organized the November 4-7 meeting of Catholic and Muslim scholars in Rome envision incremental reforms inside Islam through a more relaxed Turkish version (see A Pyrrhic propaganda victory in Rome Asia Times Online, November 12, 2008 and Tin-opener theology from Turkey Asia Times Online, June 3, 2008). Despite their best efforts at an orderly encounter with Islam, events have a way of overtaking them. Last March, Pope Benedict personally received into the Catholic faith the Egyptian-born Italian journalist Magdi Allam at the Easter Vigil. In September, Kalisch dropped his own bombshell. In a way, it is longer-acting and more deadly.

A small group of Koran scholars, to be sure, has long doubted Mohammed's existence. Their scholarship is sufficiently interesting, though, to question whether it is worthwhile exposing the alleged misdeeds of the Prophet Mohammed, who may not have existed in the first place (The Koranic quotations trap Asia Times Online, May 15, 2007). Earlier this year, I reported on the progress of the critics, as well as belated emergence of a treasure-trove of photocopies of Koranic manuscripts hidden away by Nazi Islamologists (Indiana Jones meets the Da Vinci Code Asia Times Online, January 18, 2008). The Nazis had a Gnostic interest in Islam (call them "Gnazis"). The manuscripts and copies are now under the control of mainstream scholars at the University of Berlin, with deep ties to Arab countries.

Kalisch is the first Muslim scholar to dispute the Prophet's existence, while continuing to profess Muslim. If the Prophet did not exist, or in any case did not dictate the Koran, "then it might be that the Koran was truly inspired by God, a great narration from God, but it was not dictated word for word from Allah to the Prophet", he told a German newspaper. A German Protestant who converted to Islam as a teenager in search of a religion of reason, Kalisch can live with an alternative of reading of Islam. Very few of the world's billion and a half Muslims can.

Islam cannot abide historical criticism of the sort that Judaism and Christianity have sustained for centuries. "Abie, if you're here, then who is that there in my bed?," responds the Jewish wife in the old joke when her husband catches her in delicto flagrante. No one can offer an alternative explanation for the unique persistence of the Jewish people after 30 documented centuries of Jewish life. "If Moses didn't exist," the Jews respond to skeptics, "then who brought us out of Egypt?" Told that perhaps they didn't come out of Egypt, the Jews will respond, "Then what are we doing here today?"

Christians, by the same token, read the writings of numerous individuals who either met Jesus of Nazareth or took down the accounts of people who did, and who believed that he was the only begotten Son of God. Proof of Jesus' divinity, though, is entirely beside the point. If the Christian God wanted to rule by majesty and power, he would not have come to earth as a mortal to die on the cross. The Christian God asks for love and faith, not submission before majesty. The Christian is not asked to prove the unprovable, but to love and believe. Muslims have a different problem: if Mohammed did not receive the Koran from God, then what are they doing there to begin with? Kalisch has the sort of answer that only a German academic could love.

"We hardly have original Islamic sources from the first two centuries of Islam," Kalisch observes in a German-language paper available on the Muenster University (website). It is fascinating reading, and since it is not yet available in English I take the liberty of translating or summarizing a few salient points. Responsibility for any errors of translation of interpretation is my own.

Kalisch continues, "And even when a source appears to come from this period, caution is required. The mere assertion that a source stems from the first or second century of the Islamic calendar means nothing. And even when a source actually was written in the first or second century, the question always remains of later manipulation. We do not tread on firm ground in the sources until the third Islamic century."

This, Kalisch observes, is extremely suspicious: how can a world religion have erupted in a virtual literary vacuum? A great religion, moreover, inevitably throws off heresies: where are the early Islamic heretics and Gnostics? Later Islamic theologians knew the titles of some of their works, but the content itself was lost. "The only explanation for the disappearance is that it had long since become unusable theologically," he alleges of certain Shi'ite sources.

Kalisch draws on the well-known work of Patricia Crone and Martin Hinds, whose criticism of the received version have a distinctly minority position in Koranic scholarship:
It is a striking fact that such documentary evidence as survives from the Sufnayid period makes no mention of the messenger of god at all. The papyri do not refer to him. The Arabic inscriptions of the Arab-Sasanian coins only invoke Allah, not his rasul [messenger]; and the Arab-Byzantine bronze coins on which Muhammad appears as rasul Allah, previously dated to the Sufyanid period, have not been placed in that of the Marwanids. Even the two surviving pre-Marwanid tombstones fail to mention the rasul.

formulations from coins and monuments dating from the its first two centuries, as well as the presence of material obviously incompatible with Islam. "Coins and inscriptions are incompatible with the Islamic writing of history," Kalisch concludes on the strength of older work, including Yehuda Nevo and Jutith Koren's Crossroads to Islam.

The oldest inscription with the formulation "Mohammed Messenger of Allah" is to found in the 66th year of Islamic reckoning, and after that used continuously. But there also exist coins found in Palestine, probably minted in Amman, on which the word "Muhammed" is found in Arabic script on one side, and a picture of a man holding a cross on the other. Kalisch cites this and a dozen other examples. Citing Nevo/Koren and other sources, Kalisch also accepts the evidence that no Islamic conquest occurred as presented in much later Islamic sources, but rather a peaceful transfer of power from the Byzantine empire to its local Arab allies.

"To be sure," Kalisch continues, "various explanations are possible for the lack of mention of the Prophet in the early period, and it is no proof for the non-existence of an historical Mohammed. But it is most astonishing, and begs the question of the significance of Mohammed for the original Muslim congregation in the case that he did exist."

The numismatic, archeological, source-critical and other evidence against acceptance of the received version of Islamic history was well developed by other scholars. But it was never accepted by mainstream Orientalists. Cynics might point to the fact that most Middle Eastern studies programs in the West today are funded by Islamic governments, or depend on the good will of Middle Eastern governments for access to source material. Academia is not only corrupt, however, but credulous: the question arises: if Mohammed never existed, or did not exist as he is portrayed, why was so much effort devoted in later years to manufacturing thousands of pages of phony documentation in the Hadith and elsewhere?

Why, indeed, was the Mohammed story invented, by whom, and to what end? The story of the Hegira, Mohammed's flight from Mecca to Medina allegedly in 622, provides a clue, according to Kalisch. "No prophet is mentioned in the Koran as often as Moses, and Muslim tradition always emphasized the great similarly between Moses and Mohammed," he writes. "The central event in the life of Moses, though, is the Exodus of the oppressed Children of Israel out of Egypt, and the central event in the life of Mohammed is the Exodus of his oppressed congregation out of Mecca to Medina ... The suspicion is great that the Hegira appears only for this reason in the story of the Prophet, because his image should emulate the image of Moses."
Furthermore, "the image of Jesus is also seen as a new Moses. The connection of Mohammed to the figure of Jesus is presented in Islamic tradition through his daughter Fatima, who is identified with Maria ... The Line Fatima-Maria-Isis is well known to research. With the takeover of Mecca, Mohammed at least returns to his point of origin. Thus we have a circular structure typical of myth, in which beginning and end are identical. This Gnostic circular structure represents the concept that the soul returns to its origin. It is separated from its origin, and must return to it for the sake of its salvation."

Kalisch concludes that Islam itself began as a Gnosis, a secret teaching much like the Gnostic Christian sources rejected by the Church Fathers. "The myth of Mohammed ... could be the product of a Gnosis, which wanted to present its theology in a new and original myth with a new protagonist, but actually is the old protagonist (Moses, Jesus). For the Gnostics it always was clear, that the issue was not historical truth, but rather theology. Moses, Jesus and Mohammed were only different characterizations of a mythic hero or son of god, who would depict an old spiritual teaching in mythical form."

He explains,
In the Islamic Gnosis, Muhammed appears along with [his family members] Ali, Fatima, Hasan and Hussein as cosmic forces ... the Gnostic Abu Mansur al Igli claimed that God first created Jesus, and then Ali. Here apparently we still have the Cosmic Christ. If a Christian Gnosis was there are the origin of Islam, then the Cosmic Christ underwent a name change to Mohammed in the Arab world, and this Cosmic Mohammed was presented as a new edition of the Myth of Moses and Joshua (=Jesus) as an Arab prophet.
Thirst for secret wisdom drew Kalisch to Islam as a teenager, and keeps him within the faith despite his devastating critique. As he writes,
The teachings of Islamic mysticism are not specifically Islamic. They are a new minting of the perennial philosophy, which is found everywhere in the world in various traditions ... For me, this perennial philosophy is what the Koran means when it speaks of a teaching that God brought to humankind in all epochs.
My own views on the subject of Islamic mysticism are contained in a recent essay, (Sufism, sodomy and Satan Asia Times Online, August 12, 2008). Kalisch, it should be noted, adheres to a minority sect within the minority Shi'ite current in Islam, the Zaydi variant. His conclusions will convince few in the Islamic mainstream. But his work points to the great vulnerabilities of Islam. As I wrote some months ago, the German Jesuits who advise the Vatican on Islamic matters invested heavily in the supposedly moderate establishment of Sunni Islam in Turkey, and the theology department of the University of Ankara in particular (Tin-opener theology from Turkey Asia Times Online, June 3, 2008).

Of far greater interest may be the wide assortment of variant and quasi-heretical trends within Islam. Something very ancient and entirely genuine long buried within Islam may be struggling to the surface, a cuckoo's egg, as it were, waiting to hatch. It is noteworthy that Germany's Alevi community (immigrants from Turkey's 5-to-15 million strong Alevi population) expressed solidarity with Kalisch when he came under attack from other Muslim organizations.

Coming from a minority within a minority, Kalisch has offered a new and credible explanation of the motive behind the great reshuffling of Islamic sources during the second and third centuries of the religion. I cannot evaluate Kalisch's handling of the sources, but the principle he advances makes sense. It is another crack in the edifice of Islam, but a most dangerous one, because it came from the inside.

Taken from Asia Times Online (Holdings) Ltd.

Rais Yatim praises bush shoe thrower? stupid #$%. Malaysiakini

2008-12-21T02:38:00.002+08:00

AP - Saturday, December 20KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - Malaysia's foreign minister has praised the Iraqi journalist who tossed his shoes at President George W. Bush, saying it was the "best show of retaliation" for the U.S. invasion of Iraq.

Rais Yatim praised "the shoe-throwing act by that remarkable reporter who gave President Bush his final farewell last week."

"That shoe-throwing episode, in my view, is truly the best weapon of mass destruction to the leader who coined the phrase 'axis of evil' to denote Iran, Iraq and North Korea," he said in a speech late Friday at a dinner to commemorate the 63rd anniversary of the United Nations.

Television reporter Muntadar al-Zeidi stunned observers when he threw both his shoes at Bush during a press conference in Baghdad with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki on Dec. 14. Bush deftly ducked out of the way both times.

The reporter also shouted in Arabic, "This is your farewell kiss, you dog!" In Iraqi culture, throwing shoes at someone is a sign of deep contempt.

Al-Zeidi has been handed over to the Iraqi judiciary.

Bush has played down the incident, but the case became a rallying point among opponents of the U.S.-led invasion and occupation of Iraq. Thousands of Iraqis demonstrated Friday for al-Zeidi's release.

A Saudi man reportedly offered $10 million for the shoes, and an Iranian cleric suggested they should become museum pieces. However, authorities said the shoes had been destroyed by investigators.

Predominantly Muslim Malaysia opposes the U.S.-led war in Iraq, but supports Washington in its fight against global terrorism.

New Judges’ Ethics Committee bill tabled. Malaysiakini

2008-12-15T12:43:00.001+08:00

KUALA LUMPUR: The new Judges' Ethics Committee bill, tabled for first reading at the Dewan Rakyat at 10am, paves the way to set up a committee to deal with any judge who has committed a breach of any provisions of the Judges' Code of Ethics.

The bill seeks to establish the committee for matters related to conduct and disciplinary of all others other than the removal of a judge from office under Clause (3) of Article 125 of the Federal Constitution.

Chief Justice of the Federal Court is the chairman of the committee, unless he is the complainant, in which case the next senior judge shall be the chairman.

The committee, to be comprised with odd number of members, is made up of President of Court of Appeal, Chief Judge of Malaya, Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak, judge of Federal Court, Court of Appeal Judge or a High Court as the Chief Justice of the Federal Court deems fit to appoint.

The bill states that the appointment of the committee is on ad hoc basis and members of the committee shall comprise judges who are senior in the order of precedence to the judge who is the subject of a disciplinary proceeding.

It states that the committee is to abide by principles and procedures set out in this act and the Code of Ethics.

The proceedings of the Committee is to be held in camera.

It shall not be a trial but an enquiry as regards to the breach of any provisions of the Code of Ethics committed by a judge referred to its by the Chief Justice of the Federal Court.

The bill also states that the Evidence Act 1950 does not apply to proceedings of the committee.

If the chairman or any member of the committee has a direct or indirect interest in any disciplinary proceeding, he should disclose to the committee the fact of his interest and the nature of his interest.

For the meetings of the committee, the chairman is to decide on its date, place and time.

The chairman and not less than two members of the committee will form the quorum for every proceedings of the committee.

The chairman will maintain and keep the records and minutes of proceedings of the committee in a proper form.

For decision of the committee, the majority is deemed the committee's decision if it is not unanimous.

The decision of the committee is final and not to be challenged, appealed against, reviewed, quashed or called in question in any court on any ground.

No court is to have jurisdiction to entertain or determine any suit, application, question or proceeding on any ground regarding the validity of such decision.

The committee will also ensure that its decision in any disciplinary proceeding is communicated in writing to the judge who is the subject of the disciplinary proceedings.

Published: Monday December 15, 2008 MYT 12:32:00 PM
By Lee Yuk Peng

Local students are intellectually weak. Malaysiakini

2008-12-15T12:33:00.001+08:00

Friday December 12, 2008
Backbencher: Local students are intellectually weak
At the Dewan Rakyat
Reports by LEE YUK PENG, ZULKIFLI ABD RAHMAN AND LOH FOON FONG

LOCAL university students are intellectually weak, not because they get involved in politics but, because they are too lazy to study, says a backbencher.

Datuk Tajuddin Abdul Rahman (BN — Pasir Salak) said the students did not read books but merely relied on notes from lecturers.

“They are lazy to do research and also can’t be bothered to read anything in English,” he said when debating the Universities and University Colleges Bill yesterday.

“This is because it is difficult. A headache for them to do so.”

Meanwhile, amendments to the University and University Colleges Act 1971 were passed after a lengthy debate, despite attempts by Opposition MPs to make their own amendments to the proposed Bill.

Tony Pua (DAP — Petaling Jaya Utara) had earlier submitted 10 proposed amendments to the Speaker.

Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the amendments would give students a wider form for expression of speech.

He said although they were not allowed to join political parties in universities, the Government was making the first progressive step by allowing students to be exposed to the activities of these organisations.

“The only organisation that they cannot join is the Al-Qaeda,” he said in winding-up the debate on the amendments at the committee stage.

Khaled said students would be exposed to the viewpoints and activities of non-governmental organisations and they would not need approval from education authorities.

Khaled said students would be allowed to organise activities with politicians and political parties on issues related to education.

He refuted the assertion by Pakatan Rakyat MPs that the Act itself was against freedom of expression as provisions in the amendments were in line with limits outlined under Article 10 (iii) of the Constitution.

Student leaders, however, rejected amendments to the Act.

Ridzuan Mohammad, 22, an Undergraduate Movement for Abolishing University and Colleges Act secretariat member said Tajuddin should retract his statement, adding that those who were lazy were only a minority.

Indian activists in Malaysia launch protest fast. Malaysiakini

2008-12-15T12:23:00.001+08:00

AP - Sunday, December 14KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - About 20 ethnic Indian Malaysian activists launched a protest fast Sunday to demand the release of their leaders who have been imprisoned without trial for allegedly threatening racial stability.

The protesters began consuming only water outside a Hindu temple in Kuala Lumpur, but there was no consensus about how long they will continue the fast, said S. Jayathas, a member of the Hindu Rights Action Force.

"We want the government to listen to us and look into our legitimate rights," Jayathas said.

The group shot to prominence in November 2007 when it led tens of thousands of Indians in a rare street protest seeking an end to policies benefiting the Malay Muslim majority and to gain better opportunities for Indians, who form the bottom rung of Malaysia's social ladder.

The protest marks the first anniversary of the jailing of five of the group's leaders last December under a tough security law that allows indefinite detention without trial. The government has also since banned the group, accusing it of inciting racial hatred.

Last year's street rally was considered a watershed in the country's politics, emboldening Malaysians unhappy with the government and boosting opposition parties to spectacular gains in general elections in March.

Minority Indians and ethnic Chinese have recently become more vocal in speaking out against the government's decades-old policy that provide privileges in education, jobs and business to Malays, who comprise nearly two-thirds of Malaysia's 27 million people.

Melaka tarik balik larangan lawat Kelantan. Malaysiakini

2008-12-13T17:47:00.003+08:00

Melaka tarik balik larangan lawat Kelantan
KOTA BHARU 12 Dis. - Kerajaan Melaka menarik balik arahan yang melarang semua kakitangan agensi kerajaan negeri itu mengadakan lawatan rasmi ke Kelantan.

Ketua Menteri Melaka, Datuk Seri Mohd. Ali Rustam berkata, larangan tersebut ditarik balik selepas lapan tahun kerana Pas tidak lagi menuduh ahli-ahli UMNO sebagai bukan Islam.

Bermula hari ini, katanya, agensi kerajaan negeri tersebut boleh mengadakan lawatan rasmi di Kelantan tanpa sebarang sekatan.

"Larangan untuk mengadakan lawatan rasmi ke Kelantan ditarik balik sebab saya tengok mereka (kerajaan Pas Kelantan) tidak lagi mengatakan kita tidak Islam.

"Bermula hari ini semua rakyat Melaka bebas untuk mengadakan lawatan ke sini dan bukan itu sahaja Ketua Menteri Melaka telah datang ke sini sendiri hari ini.

"Sebelum ini ada kita datang tetapi bukan atas nama kerajaan negeri tetapi parti," katanya ketika berucap pada majlis pelancaran Promosi Pelancongan Negeri Melaka di sini hari ini.

Program tersebut dirasmikan oleh Pengerusi Majlis Tindakan Pelancongan Negeri Kelantan, Datuk Abdul Aziz Derashid.

Turut hadir Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Pelancongan, Kebudayaan dan Warisan Melaka, Datuk Seet Har Cheow.

Ia diadakan bagi mempromosikan produk pelancongan Melaka di negeri ini.

Arahan

Pada April 2000, Mohd. Ali melarang kakitangan agensi kerajaan negeri Melaka mengadakan lawatan rasmi ke Kelantan kerana tuduhan Pas yang menyifatkan ahli-ahli UMNO kafir.

Arahan itu bukan bertujuan menganiaya kerajaan pimpinan Pas tetapi bagi memastikan dasar-dasar tidak baik yang dilaksanakan oleh negeri ini tidak dicontohi oleh agensi kerajaan di Melaka.

Mohd. Ali yang juga Naib Presiden UMNO berkata, seramai 45,023 rakyat negeri ini melawat Melaka bermula Januari sehingga Oktober tahun ini.

"Jumlah penduduk Kelantan yang melawat Melaka meningkat sebanyak 4,685 orang berbanding hanya 40,338 orang dalam tempoh yang sama tahun lepas.

"Kita berharap pada tahun depan ia akan meningkat sehingga 60,000 orang dengan promosi dan tarikan baru yang disediakan khusus untuk para pelancong lawati," katanya.

Tambahnya, ia sejajar dengan hasrat kerajaan negeri itu untuk mencapai sasaran 8.2 juta pelancong pada 2010 dengan hasil pendapatan sebanyak RM4.2 bilion.

This is so dumb. This is like the page in our passport that says we cant visit Israel. Why is it a health safety issue? I cant imagine why a government needs to do that?
So Malaysia Tak Boleh...

Malaysia upholds ban on student political activity. Malaysiakini

2008-12-13T17:18:00.000+08:00

By JULIA ZAPPEI,Associated Press Writer AP - Friday, December 12KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - Malaysia's Parliament has amended a law to allow university students to join social groups but still bans them from political parties, a restriction slammed by critics Friday.

Lawmakers approved the amendments to the Universities and University College Act late Thursday to allow students to become members of social and other groups outside campus.

But they left untouched a clause that bans students from joining political parties, illegal groups or any other organizations that the government specifies. The law also states that students are not allowed to express support for any political party.

The amendments need to be approved by the Senate and king before taking effect, but these steps are usually formalities.

"In many ways there is more freedom now, except that they cannot join political parties or express support for them. But they can express their views," said Rozaid Abdul Rahman, an aide to Higher Education Minister Khaled Nordin.

Ridzuan Mohammad, coordinator of a coalition of eight student groups that campaigned for the act to be repealed, said the ban on political activities leaves students reluctant to speak up for fear of disciplinary action.

"Those changes are cosmetic," said the 22-year-old Universiti Malaya education student. "We want the UUCA to be abolished."

Government officials have argued that the law _ introduced in 1971 to quell student unrest _ is necessary so students concentrate on their studies and don't get influenced by politicians.

Opposition politicians voted against the amendments to the law, which they say restricts freedom of expression and fundamental human rights.

"It's strange to say this is an improvement," said Tian Chua, a lawmaker with the opposition People's Justice Party.

Rais Yatim doubts if Thailand will be able to host ASEAN summit. Malaysiakini

2008-12-03T15:33:00.002+08:00

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) - - Malaysia raised doubts Wednesday over whether crisis-hit Thailand will be able to host a Southeast Asian summit, which has already been postponed from December to March.

The venue for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit had also been moved from Bangkok to the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai because anti-government protesters were occupying the capital's two airports.

Malaysian Foreign Minister Rais Yatim expressed "sadness" over the turmoil in Thailand , where the ruling party has been dissolved and Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat barred from politics for five years.

"In terms of the next summit, which we were hoping to be held in Chiang Mai, now it is not to be," Rais told a press conference.

"So we'll have to wait (to see) whether Thailand of the future will be able to furnish for us in ASEAN the commitment for the summit," he said.

"Malaysia only hopes that the next government or the next authority in Thailand would be able to foster and germinate the essentials of ASEAN."

Singapore has urged that the ASEAN talks be held as soon as possible, preferably in January, given the urgent need to discuss the impact of the global financial crisis.

It said that the summit could instead be held at the Jakarta-based secretariat of the 10-member ASEAN.

Rais indicated that bilateral relations with neighbouring Thailand had been affected by the turmoil.

"Of course we would like to see relations with Malaysia in particular develop at a level that is more constructive and lasting," he said.

"We truly hope the system of democracy in Thailand would germinate again and foster the kind of relationships we need within ASEAN."

A Malaysian Christian women suing the Malaysian Government. Malaysiakini

2008-12-03T13:29:00.002+08:00

By JULIA ZAPPEI,Associated Press Writer AP - Friday, November 28KUALA LUMPUR,

Malaysia - A Malaysian Christian is suing the government for allegedly violating her religious rights after airport officials seized Christian educational CDs that she brought from Indonesia, the woman's lawyer said.

Customs authorities in this Muslim-majority country confiscated eight CDs from Jill Ireland when she flew back to Kuala Lumpur on May 11 after a trip to Jakarta, her lawyer, Annou Xavier, said late Thursday.

The Home Ministry informed her in a letter that the CDs were seized mainly because their cover titles contained the word "Allah," which is prohibited in non-Muslim religious material, Xavier said.

Ireland wants the Kuala Lumpur High Court to issue a declaration allowing her to transport any religious material for her own personal use, Xavier said.

The court on Thursday scheduled Jan. 30 for a preliminary hearing.

Government lawyer Suzana Atan declined to comment on details of the case, but noted that authorities have barred the use of the word "Allah" except for Muslim publications.

Malaysia's constitution guarantees freedom of worship for non-Muslims, who make up more than one-third of the country's 27 million people.

However, minority Buddhists, Christians and Hindus have increasingly voiced allegations of religious discrimination due to incidents in recent years such as the occasional demolition of Hindu temples by state authorities.

The government last year ruled that non-Muslims cannot use the word "Allah," an Arabic word that is a synonym for "God" in Malaysia's national language.

The ban has sparked criticism by Christians who use it to refer to God in their Malay-language Bible and other publications. A Malaysian church and Christian weekly newspaper have launched court actions to challenge the ban.

Government officials have expressed concerns that using "Allah" in Christian literature could confuse Malaysia's Muslims and draw them to Christianity.

Malaysia Airlines MD Named Orient Aviation Person 2008. Malaysiakini

2008-12-02T13:03:00.004+08:00

Tuesday December 2, 12:24 PM
Malaysia Airlines MD Named Orient Aviation Person 2008
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 2 Asia Pulse - Idris Jala, managing director and chief executive officer of Malaysia Airlines (MAS) (KLSE:3786), has been named Orient Aviation Person 2008 for being the driving force behind the national carrier's amazing comeback.

While many wrote off the airline when it made its biggest losses ever of RM1.3 billion (US$0.37 billion) in nine months in 2005, Idris joined the airline and turned MAS' record losses into record profits and rebuilt confidence and morale among its 20,000 employees, all within two years.

"MAS recorded RM851 million (US$243 million) in the financial year 2007, its highest profit in 60 years of operations, and is only one of the six airlines in the world recognised as a "5-star airline" by Skytrax, United Kingdom, an accolade it has won for three consecutive years from 2006 to 2008," MAS said in a statement Monday.

Idris said he was pleased and honoured to accept the award as he and his team worked hard to turnaround MAS. Now, they are embarking on a business transformation journey in pursuit of their vision to become the World's FIve Star Value carrier.
Idris said he is blessed with a great team of people who are passionate about the airline.

Orient Aviation chief executive Barry Grindrod said Idris acted speedily and decisively. In the last three years, he has slashed US$500 million costs at MAS.

Idris is on target for additional cuts of US$280 million in operational costs this year. Significantly, he has also restored morale in the carrier which was rock bottom when he joined the airline, Grindrod said.

He has quickly become one of the most highly respected chief executive officers in the industry worldwide, he said.

Previous winners of the award, which was established in 1999, include Chew Choong Seng from Singapore Airlines; Geoff Dixon, Qantas Airways; Jaime Bautista, Philippine Airlines; Kanok Abhiradee, Thai Airways International and David Turnbull, Cathay Pacific Airways.

Orient Aviation is a magazine published for distribution to members of the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines, with the majority of members being airlines in the Asia Pacific region and organisation in the airline and tourism industries.

(BERNAMA-OANA

Najib giving Crime Statistic. Malaysiakini

2008-12-02T08:47:00.009+08:00

While the public was increasingly worried by the rise in crime, statistics however showed that the crime rate in Malaysia was far lower than Japan and Hong Kong, said Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak

What the @%!% is Najib talking about. I've been living in Hong Kong for the past 2 months. I've never felt need to worry about pick pocket's or muggers. I never felt the need to worry about snatch thieves or robbers. The cops here walk among the peoples and are not corrupted. The cops here are taller than me and I'm about 6 feet. They look intimidating and having them walk around in crowded places like any other shoppers but in their uniform makes the atmosphere feel really safe.

My Parents came to visit me a few weeks back. They took the public service transport while i was at work. I had no worries at all about their safety. I even see lesser accidents here compared to Singapore. Public transport is efficient. You don't have taxi drivers trying to con you. Same as in Singapore. They are all metered and well maintained. The condition of the taxi's in Malaysia itself is concerning.

Rape and Murder punishment must be taken very seriously in Malaysia. How can one live in a happy environment if we consistently need to worry about our family. Or to come back to a ransacked house. Or to find a mugger just around the corner. Every single person in Malaysia needs to have and Identity card and a finger print record. It's mostly foreign workers who come to Malaysia to earn money but end up loosing their job because of unplanned and un consistent projects in Malaysia. They are not treated properly by their employers. So they flee and join illegal gangs that need men's like this to do all the risky and dangerous jobs. They start small but they quickly catch up. Malaysia is turning into a Hollywood movies like Gangs of New York.

What Najib forgot to include in that statistic were the specific cases. Like Rape, mugging , robbery, corruption and murder is surely much higher in Malaysia compared to Singapore, Japan and Hong Kong. Hong Kong is nothing like how the Chinese Action Gangster movies portray. It is very safe. In Singapore, girls can walk safely to their block at 2am. But in Malaysia it's not safe for a girl after 8pm.

"Based on the statistics given by the police, it indicates that the crime rate in Malaysia is lower than Japan and Hong Kong.

"It is also just slightly higher than Singapore to the basis of per hundred thousand of population... but the perception of the public is not the case," said Najib at a press conference in Parliament after the economic council meeting.

Was May 13 Naturally Orchestrated? Malaysiakini

2008-12-02T08:21:00.001+08:00

Was May 13 naturally orchestrated?
Azly Rahman
May 17, 07 12:24pm

Perhaps it was. That would be the answer to the event that has become embalmed as a semiotic of racial conflict. Perhaps it wasn't planned. We need more interpretations of this event. If we ban more books on this, we are afraid of holding a mirror to our history and ourselves.

If we encourage our youth to explore the roots of the bloody conflict, we will have a better generation of thinkers. No more "Ketuanan Melayu, China, India," or whatsoever notions of self-aggrandisement. Just the simple act of opening the dialogues of peace.

But was May 13 planned? I have some thoughts.

It has to happen when and because the lid of authoritarianism was lifted. It was the British lid that brought some kind of stability to the lowest of the lower class of Chinese, Indians and Malays.

Root of the conflict

May 13 was naturally orchestrated as a rude conclusion to the violence brought about by the system of capitalist exploitation; a system that operated successfully at various levels. At the top of the pyramid is the British ruling class, next came the Malay aristocrats and feudal lords or the sultans who collaborated unwillingly with the British robber-barons, The Sultans played the role of obedient tax collectors and managers of the industrial age capitalist system of production, run on the ideology of Oriental Despotism. At the lowest rung, true to the feudal production system, are the indentured serfs and the local padi cultivators.

The traditional/hereditary rulers were successful in making sure the rakyat in each state produces cheaply and sell their labour at dirt-cheap price in order for the feudal production system to continue to survive - so that the system could continue to fill the coffers of the British Empire and at the same time help enrich the local chieftains.

May 13 was a symbolic breakdown of this system of oppression – a radical protest against a feudalist-turned-aristocrat-prime minister who served the British well, after being educated in the ways and mannerism of the colonialists. British ideology of imperialism and race superiority/white supremacy couched in "scientific language of Oxford and Cambridge and royal academies this and that" were taught to the natives who would be rulers, so that the panopticon-synopticon matrix of colonialism may prevail.

May 13 was not merely a natural occurrence in the matrix of international capitalist production but a phenomena that occurred in many a society that undergo the stages of economic growth on the one hand and the stages of political conflict on the other. Combining these two, the race riots is a semiotic – political economic phenomena of deconstruction of socio-economic illusioned-stability – a contradiction in the capitalist mode of production. It was a coup d'etat of society against its own internal notion of progress.

It has a similar fundamental character of the pre-Roosevelt Socialist revolt of the 1930s, Paris Uprising of the 1960s, Iranian Bloodless Revolt and Revolution of the late 1970s, the Los Angeles Riots of the 1990s, the Jakarta burn-down of 1998, and the Paris Riots of 2005. In all these, the roots lie in the growth of the underclass and the problem of economic injustices and criminalisation brought about by neo-colonialist strategies of the ruling elite. Dehumanization is a fertie ground for inner repression.

May 13 may have the manifestation of a race conflict, but essentially it is one whose underlying force of mass anger lies in the clash of suppressed classes of varied ethnic origin.

Interpretation of the incident has merely been few. Tunku Abdul Rahman wrote about it to explain why it occurred and how he was part of the problem and solution in one. That was an official historical narrative – a government's view of what transpired. Dr Mahathir Mohamad's Malay Dilemma offered another interpretation from his point of view, explaining why it happened and what transpired between the Tunku and him. That was another official explanation.

But again, I reiterate, the more interpretations of the incident the better – so that we may have many explanations and find patterns in the meaning of these explanations. One must however be equipped in the understanding of the complex interplay between technologies of control, the economics of oppression, the sociology of mass anger, and cybernetics of conflicts, the archaeology of mass cultural repression, the genealogy of the feudal-oppressive-matrix, and the ideology and power/knowledge dimension of communicative and propagandistic systems – all these – in order to understand the "Butterfly Effect" of May 13 1969.

May 13, 2009?

Maybe it is too early to predict or too dangerous to be Nostradamus-ising or soothsaying or be playing the numerology game of anticipatory politics. Or maybe there will not be a race riots as we are now glued to our television sets and sucked into the abyss and black hole of the Internet, unable to plan for a revolution nor be ready for any natural occurrence ala May 13, 1969.

Maybe our brain cells have died a natural death out of decades of being fed with the "feel-good" ideology broadcast through radio and television. Or maybe we have been systematically programmed to amuse ourselves to death through a system of mass consciousness and euphoria that has been telling us to be happy with what we have, while the super rich and powerful amongst us continue to rob the nation in broad daylight through a conspiracy with outside forces in the form of investment arms and tentacles.

I still think that the bloody riots of May 13 was an orchestrated natural disaster – something our forefathers of Merdeka/Independence crafted as part of the cultural logic of late capitalism.

We can only know the answers through books we do not ban. Let us stop this pathetic policy of book banning.

Posted by DR. AZLY RAHMAN

PKR has the wrong mind set. Malaysiakini

2008-12-01T23:15:00.000+08:00

PKR please look beyond the horizon

Highly disappointing to hear that PKR wants to replace Mathematics and Science back into Malay. I for one have experienced the difficulty of studying Maths and Science in Malay at Kebangsaan School and then immediately continue my further studies in the UK. I did Engineering so you can imagine the terms and words used were completely different. Even tough i went for tuition's which were taught in English during my secondary schooling life. I still found it hard. Imagine those who were hard core Malays, Indians or Chinese.

I wont say it's impossible to catch up. I did eventually. But i did see my college mates who were Malays struggle because of this. The extent of books which are available in English is far greater and better for studying. To tell you the truth i studied my Accounts, Add Mathematics and Physics syllabus in English to pass those Papers.
Malaysia in a position where the security guard outside the building can converse in English but the Receptionist in The Lobby cant speak anything else except Malay. I'm not criticising the Malays but what I'm emphasising is that our Malaysian Education system doesn't give enough important to English.

Mahathir lately criticised the Chinese and Indians for being stubborn for refusing to let their children mix with the other races and study in a Kebangsaan School. He gave examples of France and Germany for upholding their language. True and i wont deny this. But this countries have a much more older history for their language. Yet they are able to speak English for business and enterprising. I believe all Malaysians can speak and understand Malay. Why even when i meet Malaysians abroad i warmly great and have a pleasant conversation in Malay. Every Malaysian I have meet overseas were always happy and proud to meet another fellow Malaysian and exchange a few words in Malay.

But regrettably my own mother tongue which is Tamil is in a disappointing state. Even tough i still can converse in Tamil. I would badly hurt the ears of a proper Tamil speaking person. Because Tamil was never given importance's in primary or secondary kebangsaan school so i never gave importance to it. I had to go for extra Tamil Classes when my friends were playing outside. So imagine the extent of my concentration in class.

I would highly recommend that Moral class should be scrapped and replaced with mother tongue classes. Why study moral for? All we did to for exams were remember all the moral values before the exam and immediately write down all the moral values onto the back of the question paper, if I'm not mistaken it was like 16 and 36 sub values. Then you read the question and see which were the closest in values required and answered the question. It wasn't a subject that gave me revelation or inspired me to be a better man. That's the truth for me. I cant speak for the others. This purely my experience and many of my friends. So maybe they can structure Mother Tongue subjects that gives importance to moral values.

The Malays can go for their Agama class while the Chinese and Indians can go for their Mother Tongue classes. If the government doesn't provide this then how can they condemn the Chinese and Indians who want to protect their language by sending their children to Chinese and Tamil Schools.

My friends who were educated in Tamil and Chinese School are in par with the kebangsaan students after leaving school. So why should they send their children for Kebangsaan Schools then? Example my cousins who are Eurasian that studied in Tamil Schools. The are part french yet speak beautiful Tamil because they studied in Tamil School. Kebangsaan Schools are good for racial bonding. My best friends till today are my buddies from Kebangsaan School. Who are Chinese, Indians and Malays. But if my culture and heritage is lost in my generation then what will become of my kids. Mother Tongue classes should be integrated into our education system and given importance. Because i believe Kebangsaan School provide a great deal of cultural and racial bonding between students.

I do not agree with Singapore education system at all. Except for their successful implementation of the Mother Tongue Syllabus. We can learn from others success and failures. Malaysian Education system is not up to standard with international education standards. A few good implementation are done to improve this so don't spoil it.

I really disappointed to hear Selangor MB Khalid Ibrahim interest in Building a Muslim Polytechnic college. Why can't it be for all. Why should the non Muslim tax payers pay the bill for such an institution? If it should be done then it should be fully privatised.

Pathmanck

Mukhriz typical like the old man. malaysiakini

2008-12-01T18:58:00.003+08:00

Well now we know how things are going to be if Mukhriz becomes Malaysia's PM. Like father like son. A typical dictator. Mukhriz's call for Vernacular schools to be shut down is not surprising at all. His father Dr. Mahathir has been using that as an excuse for the reasons of disunity in Malaysia.

He blames the vernacular school system for the polarised society which caused the poor understanding of the Malay supremacy concept among the non-Malays.

"I still hear statements are being made about the Ketuanan Melayu concept by BN component party leaders and this have hurt Malay hearts, especially Umno," he told a press conference in Parliament.

He added that the Ketuanan Melayu concept has been widely practiced and accepted as exemplified by the special Malay position enshrined in the federal constitution and other government policies.

When The Party UMNO and it's integrity is being question. I think a potential President of Pemuda UMNO and Member of Parliament should be more careful of his statement. Even tough i did not study in a Vernacular school yet i felt betrayed by his statement. Imagine what will appear in the papers tomorrow.

Unless they can include the Mother Tongue as a compulsory subject in our Malaysian Education System then there isn't the slighest possibility of any race to accept it.
It is not Ketuanan Melayu in the federal constitution which is being questioned but UMNO's version of it. If UMNO didn't behave like some bunch of jackass then i think it wouldn't have reach to a point like this. You have MCA, Gerakan and PPP and senior component party members condemning it. So i think the facts speak for itself.

He also blasted the president of another BN component party, PPP's M Kayveas for issuing a threat to leave the coalition should the Internal Security Act not amended before the next general election.

"What he said is disrespectful towards the spirit of BN and I am very disappointed with his behaviour," said Mukhriz.

Maybe PPP is just using ISA as an issue to come out of BN like heroes. Even MCA is backing this call. But we the malaysian people think it should be amended that is more important. "Makkal Sakthi". The people of Thailand should be saluted for showing the strenght of the peoples power againts their government.

When suggested by reporters that his proposal would most likely invite resistance even from leaders and members of BN, the Umno youth chief aspirant said that he was only proposing in the name of unity.

"My suggestion has no other ulterior motives apart from to unite all races," he said.

Such a liar.

Time for a moratorium on the NEP perhaps? Malaysiakini

2008-12-01T18:57:00.000+08:00

Time for a moratorium on the NEP perhaps?
post info
By Anwar Ibrahim
Categories: Analisis, Anwar, Isu Semasa and Sidenotes From The Malaysian Insider

By Dr Hsu Dar Ren

DEC 1 - Some time back, I wrote an article “From greenback to our economy” where I predicted that the US dollar would appreciate against the Malaysian ringgit. In a little more than two months, It has climbed from around 3.20 to 3.60 now.

Our foreign reserves have gone done a few billions, and now stands at about RM109 billion, still very healthy and able to sustain nine months of imports. But the fact that we need to sell a few billion dollars to prop up our ringgit is really a cause for concern.

Budget 2009 tabled in August this year has a total budget allocation of RM208 billion. The operating expenditure is RM154 billion, leaving only about RM54 billion for development.

The Budget runs a deficit of 4.8%. That was in August when oil and commodity prices were high. Now that the oil price as well as prices of commodities have come down so much, our revenue would decrease substantially, and there would really be little money to spend for development, when we need to spend to stimulate the economy.

Although I have suggested, in one of my earlier blog articles, that operating expenses be cut by RM20 billion in order to have funds for spending as a stimulus package and cushion the loss of revenue from a possible tax cuts, it may not be feasible in the short term, when everyone in the government is so used to their way of doing things.

The priority now should be three-fold: create more jobs, stimulate the economy so as to put money in people’s pockets as well as to provide a safety net for poor people and retrenched workers.

How can we hope to do this when our revenue is coming down due to falling commodity and oil prices, when cutting operating expenses may not be feasible, when borrowing more money may not be workable as we are already running a fairly high deficit, when wastage and corruption are still so rampant and cannot be corrected overnight?

There has been a lot of debate of late whether this crisis is about governments triumphing over the markets or the markets triumphing over governments?

I believe that in Malaysia, if the government is unable to provide a stimulus package without going into deeper debt, then the logical thing is to give incentives to the private sector and hope that it can provide the engine to stimulate the economy.

There are still many cash-rich Malaysian companies and individuals. If these people can invest and be the engine of growth, we can create more jobs as well as stimulate growth to counter the global economic recession.

For the private sector to invest, there must be a few pre-requisites:

1) Cheaper access to funds. Bank interests and interest spread must be lowered.

2) There must be less regulatory interference in order for the companies to invest and grow. In this respect, we may have to do away with the NEP. If that is not immediately acceptable, then perhaps we should have a moratorium to suspend the NEP for a few years to see how our economy can benefit.

If this trial can prove that NEP is in fact a hindrance to the growth of the people, including our Malay brothers, then we can, at the end of the moratorium period, do away with the NEP completely and replace it with a needs-based economy.

3) Tax cut and incentives for investments in certain priority sectors, such as education, healthcare as well as transportation, biotechnology, nanotechnology and so on.

I ask our Malay brothers to accept my suggestion for a moratorium rationally. It is better for everyone to have an expanding cake than to have a cake that is rapidly shrinking. In the latter case, having a fixed proportion of the cake may be meaningless if the cake shrinks to half its former size.

On the part of the non-Malays, they should try to have a real economic partnership with the Malays, genuinely imparting skills and business know-how, and not just form an Ali Baba relationship to beat the loopholes in the NEP.

We need to think out of the box and adopt fast action to counter this economic tsunami. Already we have felt the first wave; subsequent waves will be more devastating and if nothing is done now, we are going to face a really bleak future.

NO to ISA Forum Tonight. Malaysiakini

2008-12-01T11:54:00.000+08:00

HAPUSKAN ISA/NO TO ISA

DI DEWAN MAJLIS PEGUAM
Jalan Lebuh Pasar Kuala Lumpur

JAM : 8.00 malam

PANEL:

TERESA KOK
MUMAHAD SABU
RAJA PETRA
FARIDZUL NASARUDDIN
T.S THENINTARAN
TUKAR TIUB

Sila datang awal kerana tempat duduk amat-amat terhad.

PKR please look beyond the horizon. Malaysiakini

2008-12-01T11:43:00.003+08:00

Highly disappointing to hear that PKR wants to replace Mathematics and Science back into Malay. I for one have experienced the difficulty of studying Maths and Science in Malay at Kebangsaan School and then immediately continue my further studies in the UK. I did Engineering so you can imagine the terms and words used were completely different. Even tough i went for tuition's which were taught in English during my secondary schooling life. I still found it hard. Imagine those who were hard core Malays, Indians or Chinese.

I wont say it's impossible to catch up. I did eventually. But i did see my college mates who were Malays struggle because of this. The extent of books which are available in English is far greater and better for studying. To tell you the truth i studied my Accounts, Add Mathematics and Physics syllabus in English to pass those Papers.
Malaysia in a position where the security guard outside the building can converse in English but the Receptionist in The Lobby cant speak anything else except Malay. I'm not criticising the Malays but what I'm emphasising is that our Malaysian Education system doesn't give enough important to English.

Mahathir lately criticised the Chinese and Indians for being stubborn for refusing to let their children mix with the other races and study in a Kebangsaan School. He gave examples of France and Germany for upholding their language. True and i wont deny this. But this countries have a much more older history for their language. Yet they are able to speak English for business and enterprising. I believe all Malaysians can speak and understand Malay. Why even when i meet Malaysians abroad i warmly great and have a pleasant conversation in Malay. Every Malaysian I have meet overseas were always happy and proud to meet another fellow Malaysian and exchange a few words in Malay.

But regrettably my own mother tongue which is Tamil is in a disappointing state. Even tough i still can converse in Tamil. I would badly hurt the ears of a proper Tamil speaking person. Because Tamil was never given importance's in primary or secondary kebangsaan school so i never gave importance to it. I had to go for extra Tamil Classes when my friends were playing outside. So imagine the extent of my concentration in class.

I would highly recommend that Moral class should be scrapped and replaced with mother tongue classes. Why study moral for? All we did to for exams were remember all the moral values before the exam and immediately write down all the moral values onto the back of the question paper, if I'm not mistaken it was like 16 and 36 sub values. Then you read the question and see which were the closest in values required and answered the question. It wasn't a subject that gave me revelation or inspired me to be a better man. That's the truth for me. I cant speak for the others. This purely my experience and many of my friends. So maybe they can structure Mother Tongue subjects that gives importance to moral values.

The Malays can go for their Agama class while the Chinese and Indians can go for their Mother Tongue classes. If the government doesn't provide this then how can they condemn the Chinese and Indians who want to protect their language by sending their children to Chinese and Tamil Schools.

My friends who were educated in Tamil and Chinese School are in par with the kebangsaan students after leaving school. So why should they send their children for Kebangsaan Schools then? Example my cousins who are Eurasian that studied in Tamil Schools. The are part french yet speak beautiful Tamil because they studied in Tamil School. Kebangsaan Schools are good for racial bonding. My best friends till today are my buddies from Kebangsaan School. Who are Chinese, Indians and Malays. But if my culture and heritage is lost in my generation then what will become of my kids. Mother Tongue classes should be integrated into our education system and given importance. Because i believe Kebangsaan School provide a great deal of cultural and racial bonding between students.

I do not agree with Singapore education system at all. Except for their successful implementation of the Mother Tongue Syllabus. We can learn from others success and failures. Malaysian Education system is not up to standard with international education standards. A few good implementation are done to improve this so don't spoil it.

I really disappointed to hear Selangor MB Khalid Ibrahim interest in Building a Muslim Polytechnic college. Why can't it be for all. Why should the non Muslim tax payers pay the bill for such an institution? If it should be done then it should be fully privatised.

Pathmanck

Men's Single Finals won by China's Chen Jin .Malaysiakini.

2008-11-30T15:26:00.005+08:00

Hong Kong Super series Men's Single Finals just came to an end. One of the best and exciting finals i've seen. Great play between Lin Dan and Chen Jin. Chen Jin won the Men's Finals. So the next would be at YONEX-SUNRISE BWF World Super Series Masters Finals will be held in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, East Malaysia for 18 – 21 December 2008. At Stadium Tertutup Likas, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.

Malaysian womens double lost to China. Malaysiakini

2008-11-29T13:31:00.004+08:00

Malaysian Womens double Chin and Wong lost at semi final just moments ago in Hong Kong Badminton Open. Sadly they were no competition to the China.

Political Cartoons. Malaysiakini

2008-11-28T13:36:00.001+08:00

Pic Source: kertoon and mowadoha

Melaka Tourism wants to attract neighbouring countries. Malaysiakini

2008-11-28T11:35:00.005+08:00

Friday November 28, 9:59 AM
Melaka Plans to Build Tourism Gallery in Singapore
AAP MEDIANET

MELAKA (Malaysia), Nov 28 Asia Pulse - The government of Malaysia's southern state of Melaka plans to build a gallery in Singapore to showcase its tourism products aimed at attracting tourists to the state.
ADVERTISEMENT
Chief Minister Mohd Ali Rustam said the state government was looking for a suitable site and expect construction of the gallery to start in January or February.
"With the uncertain economic situation, I believe Singaporeans will choose to visit nearby destinations. Melaka wants to seize this opportunity," he told reporters at the Istana Kampung Gelam Malay Heritage Centre in Singapore Tuesday.
Mohd Ali, who was leading a tourism promotion delegation to Singapore, said Melaka chose the republic to start the promotion as it was a major contributor of tourists to the state.

Similar tourism promotions would be made in Thailand and Indonesia.
He was confident that Melaka's new tourism product "Duck Tours" which had received a hot reception in Singapore would be a hit among tourists to the state.

"Duck Tours is a mode of transportation that functions in the air, on land and on the water. It will be the first of its kind in Malaysia when operational next month.
Melaka's other new tourism products are Eye On Malaysia at Sungai Melaka and Menara Taming Sari (tower) at Bandar Hilir.

(BERNAMA-OANA)

1,300-year-old Islamic note may solve mystery. Malaysiakini

2008-11-28T10:19:00.004+08:00

Inscription could answer Qur'an question vexing historians for centuries
By Jennifer Viegas
Discovery
updated 1:11 p.m. ET Nov. 18, 2008
An Arabic traveler who engraved his name on a block of red sandstone over 1,300 years ago may help solve a question about the Qur'an that has vexed historians for hundreds of years: Why was the text seemingly written without diacritical marks?

Diacritical marks, which include accent marks, tildes, umlauts and other notations, help to distinguish one letter from another and aid in pronunciation. When added or removed, they can completely change the meaning of a word or sentence.

Analysis of the recently found sandstone inscription, which predates the earliest known copies of the Qur'an, determined that it reads: "In the name of Allah/ I, Zuhayr, wrote (this) at the time 'Umar died/year four/And twenty."

According to researcher Ali ibn Ibrahim Ghabban, who, with his wife, discovered the 644 A.D. inscription northwest of Saudi Arabia, "It is an immensely important find, since it is our earliest dated Arabic inscription."

Ghabban, a member of the Supreme Commission for Tourism, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, added that it also "shows evidence of a fully-fledged system of diacritical marks."

A paper describing the find appears in the latest issue of the journal Arabian Archaeology and Epigraphy.

Robert Hoyland, a professor of Arabic and Middle East Studies at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, explained the significance of Ghabban's determination to Discovery News.

"Whether the Qur'an was originally written in a script that contained diacritical marks is very important because Western Qur'an scholars generally say that it wasn't and therefore feel free to make some amendments to the Qur'anic text by changing the diacritical marks to give it a different meaning, which is, of course, very unpopular with modern Muslim scholars and Muslims in general, who mostly feel that the Qur'anic text they use is the original text revealed to Muhammad by God," he said.

Ali ibn Ibrahim Ghabban and Robert Hoyland
A tracing of the inscription, which reads, "In the name of Allah/ I, Zuhayr, wrote (this) at the time 'Umar died/year four/And twenty."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Although the earliest Islamic inscription, which is also the world's second oldest evidence for written Arabic, does not include punctuation or vowel marks, it does contain markings to distinguish consonants that are identical in shape. This proves such a marking system was already in place before the earliest known copies of the Qur'an, which date to sometime between 652 and 680 A.D., Hoyland indicated.

Ghabban now believes Muhammad's close associates and early followers "stripped Qur'ans of diacritical marks" in order to permit "Muslims to read the Qur'an as it was revealed to Muhammad in the various dialects of the Arabs, and allowing the skeleton of the word to bear all the meanings which appear in it."

Hoyland added that, "this would mean that Western scholars would have less excuse to change the text as we have it now."

Without diacritical marks, for example, a sentence such as, "I took with my whole hands," can also be interpreted as, "I took with my fingertips."

The first known Islamic inscription, whose carver might have made his own mark while walking down a Syrian pilgrimage road, may solve yet another Arabic history mystery: When did noted Islamic leader Umar ibn al-Khattab die?

According to tradition and other historical accounts, a Persian soldier assassin stabbed Umar in public as the caliph was leading prayers in a mosque. Zuhayr, who may have witnessed the violent crime, recorded that Umar died in "four and twenty," which means 644 A.D.

© 2008 Discovery Channel

Obama's Interactive government. Malaysiakini

2008-11-27T14:07:00.004+08:00

Obama steps into Democracy 2.0 future
US President-elect Barack Obama has taken his boldest step yet to usher in a new era of interactive government, opening a public forum for suggestions on the website of his transition team.
Change.gov, Obama's official website until he takes office on January 20, invited users late Tuesday to submit their views on health care, drawing an immediate barrage of hundreds of comments and triggering a lively debate.
The new feature, called "Join the Discussion," asked users to answer the question "What worries you most about the healthcare system in our country?"
To jumpstart the debate, the website displayed a video from two members of Obama's Health Policy Transition Team soliciting suggestions about an issue the Democratic candidate identified as a priority during his presidential campaign.
Users were asked to conduct a "respectful dialogue" and refrain from personal attacks, profanity and aggressive behavior. Unlike on government websites, comments were appearing on the site unfiltered.
Twenty-four hours after the launch, there had been more than 2,000 comments on the forum, which also allows registered users to give a thumb's up or thumb's down to each post, voting it up or down according to popularity.
One of the top-rated comments, with a score of plus 58, is from a user identified as "kllmt" who calls for a shift to more preventative care.
"We're trying out a new feature on our website that will allow us to get instant feedback from you about our top priorities," said a posting on the Change.gov blog announcing the creation of the forum.
"We also hope it will allow you to form communities around these issues -- with the best ideas and most interesting discussions floating to the top."
"Join the Discussion" is the first foray by the transition team into hosting a public forum and an attempt to follow through on a pledge made by Obama to increase the involvement of the public in the political process.
When Change.gov was launched on November 6 following Obama's election victory it included an appeal to users to share their ideas by email.
But the site did not provide a public forum to display the submissions, a move which prompted some criticism among supporters of more transparency.
More grumbling ensued when Obama posted his weekly addresses to the nation on YouTube -- drawing one million and half-a-million views respectively -- but with the comments thread disabled. Comments were enabled on Wednesday.
The "Join the Discussion" forum got a thumb's up on Wednesday from Micah Sifry, co-founder of TechPresident, a blog about politics and the Web.
"This is a terrific start on fulfilling Obama's promise to make government more open and participatory," Sifry wrote on techpresident.com. "This is a big deal.
"When you consider that for the last eight years, the occupant of the White House has essentially told the public 'you get input once every four years, after that I'm the decider,' this is huge.
"Before our eyes, we are witnessing the beginning of a rebooting of the American political system," Sifry said.
In an interview with ABC News to be broadcast Wednesday, Obama spoke about staying in touch with the public.
"One of the things that I'm going to have to work through is how to break through the isolation -- the bubble that exists around the president," he said.
"I'm in the process of negotiating with the Secret Service, with lawyers, with White House staff... to figure out how can I get information from outside of the 10 or 12 people who surround my office in the White House.
"One of the worst things I think that could happen to a president is losing touch with what people are going through day to day," he said.
"I want to make sure that I keep my finger on the pulse of the struggles that people are going through every day."

Pic source:tsevis'
_________________________________________________________________________________
Maybe Pakatan Rakyat should try this while we wait for you to come into power. Atleast we can be part of the developing our nations future. I'm sure this can create alot of interesting ideas and possibilities.
We should stop talking about Multimedia Super Corridor and start working towards a more modern government. Since Malaysia has plenty of bloggers. It's time to use all this brains to your advantage.
My personal experiance, when my younger was in intensive care at Selayang Hospital 2 years ago. It's known as the paper-less hospital. The nurses were to busy to attend the patients because their were busy typing the report. The doctors couldn't update us on his condition because they haven't read the report or waiting for it. Basicly it was a mess. They might have all the equipment in that hospital but it was more for furnishing than anything else.
Pathmanck

Hindraf pictures that started a Revolution. Malaysiakini

2008-11-27T13:12:00.002+08:00

It all started here, 25th Nov 2007. I'm sure every single Indian in this country will never forget how the Government treated the Indians that day. That day left a scar on every Indians soul. If BN thinks the March 8 GE was the worst we could do to them. Then god bless their souls. Hindraf is still very much alive. Nobody has forgotten that day. Nobody can forgive this government for it's atrocities for the past 51 years. For generations to come this story will be told.
Hindraf are Indians. You cannot separate this two anymore. Maybe who knows one day Malaysia will have an Indian PM. Since Mahathir is considered a Malay so he doesn't count.

Pathmanck

pic source:alfred89, horngyih, gilarider and abinesh.com

Kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat needs to be elected. Malaysiakini

2008-11-27T13:07:00.002+08:00

It looks like we wont be seeing a Pakatan Rakyat Federal Government any time soon. Disappointing as it sounds it might be the best for now. We don't really need PR to be in power to destroy BN. Umno is killing itself. Mahathir, Najib and Badawi with Khairy and Mukhriz and Taib lost in the middle. It's all totally messed up.
Najib cant get rid of the money politics in UMNO. How can he when then is so many complaints about himself? None of the members of UMNO are going to buy his story. If Najib doesn't listen to Mahathir then his head is going to roll next. There is no real successor for UMNO. If UMNO and BN are alive today it's only going to be short lived till the next general election. I'm not Anwar but i think he is letting the fire burn deeper. MCA and MIC has lost it's direction totally. This is 50 years of typical mentality. You cant change it overnight.

With Anwar constantly talking about take over of the government has actually had a very bad impact on our economy. For instance with my company. A very big British company that has a stake in everything in Hong Kong have pulled out of a nearly done major joint venture deal with a Malaysian company based in sepang because of our countries uncertain future direction. As well as all the black holes they found in the companies accounts audit. Typical Malaysians unfortunately. This are one of the reasons the BN government has to go. After all it's all a Chain Reaction.

Teagarajan who is vying for the post of deputy president in MIC said that a weak management was to be blamed for the financial woes of Maika. He also proposed that the government pumped in RM150 million to bail out Maika??? Is he Crazy???Put more money into this corrupted organisations hands?
Maika Holdings chief executive officer S Vell Paari today said that Maika board had proposed resolutions to sell off all assets of Maika and distribute the surplus to the shareholders.
They sure do know how to choose the best time to sell their assets. When the economy is at it's lowest. They are so lucky not to be arrested for this MAIKA scandal. So many Indians in Malaysia trusted and invested their life savings in this and never saw a sen after that. I read sometime ago they got something like a RM1,000 after 15 or 20 years.
The Deputy and the President of MCA are having "cold war". PPP wants to leave BN and Sabah and Sarawak wants their share of the pie or they are threatening to walk out.
Anwar doesn't have to do anything. BN is destroying itself. They are in Cruise Control to destruction. Once things get out of hand the King would step in and announce a new General Election. By that time Pakatan Rakyat will already have enough candidate's to stand everywhere. Pakatan Rakyat is slowly growing and opening up branches everywhere.
But the guys who really started the domino effect are still in jail. The 5 Hindraf guys. They were the first guys to brace them self for the first crackdown that started the volcanic eruption that swallowed Malaysia during the 12th General Election.
Some criticised Hindraf for not accomplishing anything for the past one year. I say all this people are wrong. If it wasn't for Hindraf you wont be having Pakatan Rakyat at all. They say you need a tragedy to get the family together. And that is what the indians did. I proud that Hindraf still champions their cause even after so many barriers were put on their path and Their biggest achievement is not that they still put a brave face and challenge the government but to keep to their words and never resorted to violence. I honour your struggle HINDRAF.

I just hope our friends in Pakatan Rakyat hasn't forgotten their pledge to the Indians.

Pathmanck

The Bomb Anwar dropped on Malaysians.

By Shannon Teoh

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 26 – Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim appeared to stop short today of saying his Pakatan Rakyat (PR) alliance will have to wait until the next general election to make a serious bid for power.
He told reporters that he would not explain why the PR alliance has not yet taken power at this weekend’s PKR party congress.
“There is nothing to explain. It will happen,” Anwar said in Parliament. He did not set another deadline.
His self-imposed deadline of Sept 16 for PR to topple the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) government passed without incident and his credibility has taken a knock, while the opposition’s momentum has stalled, since then.
Increasingly, Malaysians are focused on economic worries and many are turning away from an almost obsessive fixation with politics since the March 8 elections.
Anwar had been widely expected to address this point at this weekend’s PKR congress, but he looks to be trying to put Sept 16 behind him.
He said today that it did not matter when the PR alliance takes over the government.
The widely held view that Datuk Seri Najib Razak will take power as prime minister next March under an Umno transition plan hammered out with Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi was also premature, Anwar said.
“What makes you so sure?” he asked reporters.
According to Anwar, his message to party delegates this weekend will include a call for them to continue to be committed and to concentrate on ruling well the five states under PR control.
He said PKR had also recently started a nationwide campaign to hold ceramahs to communicate with the Malay ground across the country in an attempt to make headway into the hearts and minds of the community.
The opposition ranks continue to enjoy good support among non-Malays but rural Malays continue to harbour distrust of the PR coalition.
He said this move was necessary as the mainstream media, especially the Malay media, continues to sideline the coalition to propogate the Barisan Nasional agenda.

Hindraf Pic by malaysiakini and adilphoto

The Origins of the Malays - Malaysiakini

2008-11-26T14:18:00.001+08:00

I read this sometime back. You guys might find this as an interesting read. This piece was prepared By Michael Chick. It appeared in MalaysiaToday early this year.

It's been interesting to read such free-flowing comments on the subject of the Origins of the Malays. While we are on the subject, how many of you have read the book entitled "Contesting Malayness - Malay Identity Across Boundaries" Edited by Timothy P. Barnard published by Singapore University Press?

Written by a Professor of National University of Singapore. It reflects the Anthropologists views that there is no such race as the "Malays" to begin with. If we follow the original migration of the Southern Chinese of 6,000yrs ago, they moved into Taiwan, (now the Alisan), then into the Phillipines (now the Aeta) and moved into Borneo (4,500yrs ago) (Dayak). They also split into Sulawesi and progressed into Jawa, and Sumatera. The final migration was to the Malayan Peninsular 3,000yrs ago. A sub-group from Borneo also moved to Champa in Vietnam at 4,500yrs ago.

Interestingly, the Champa deviant group moved back to present day Kelantan. There are also traces of the Dong Song and HoaBinh migration from Vietnam and Cambodia. To confuse the issue, there was also the Southern Thai migration, from what we know as Pattani today. (see also "Early Kingdoms of the Indonesian Archipelago and the Malay Peninsular")

Of course, we also have the Minangkabau's which come from the descendants of Alexander the Great and a West Indian Princess. (Sejarah Melayu page 1-3)

So the million Dollar Question... Is there really a race called the "Malays"?

All anthropologists DO NOT SEEM TO THINK SO. (strangely, this includes all Malay Malaysian Anthropologists who are of the same opinion.)

Neither do the "Malays" who live on the West Coast of Johor. They'd rather be called Javanese. What about the west coast Kedah inhabitants who prefer to be known as "Achenese"? or the Ibans who simply want to be known as IBANS. Try calling a Kelabit a "Malay" and see what response you get... you’ll be so glad that their Head-Hunting days are over.

In an article in the Star, dated: Dec 3rd 2006

available for on-line viewing at:

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/12/3/focus/16212814&sec=focus

An excerp is reproduced here below:

"The Malays – taken as an aggregation of people of different ethnic backgrounds but who speak the same language or family of languages and share common cultural and traditional ties – are essentially a new race, compared to the Chinese, Indians and the Arabs with their long histories of quests and conquests.

The Malay nation, therefore, covers people of various ethnic stock, including Javanese, Bugis, Bawean, Achehnese, Thai, Orang Asli, the indigenous people of Sabah and Sarawak and descendants of Indian Muslims who had married local women.

Beneath these variations, however, there is a common steely core that is bent on changing the Malay persona from its perceived lethargic character to one that is brave, bold and ready to take on the world. "

The definition of “Malay” is therefore simply a collection of people's who speak a similar type language. With what is meant by a similar type language does not mean that the words are similar. (A native Kelantanese native speaker has no clue whatsoever what his Iban native brother is talking about; if both speak their own dialect) Linguists however, call this the "Lego-Type" language, where words are added on to the root word to make meaning and give tenses and such. Somehow, the Indonesians disagree with this "Malay" classification and insist instead on being called "Indonesians" even though the majority of "Malays" have their roots in parts of Indonesia. They refuse to be called "Malay"…. Anyhow you may define it.

The writer failed to identify (probably didn't know), that the "Malay" definition also includes, the Champa, Dong Song, HoabinHian, The Taiwanese Alisan and the Philippino Aetas. He also did not identify that the "Orang Asli" are (for lack of a better term) ex-Africans. If you try to call any one of our East Malaysian brothers an "Orang Asli", they WILL BEAT YOU UP! I had to repeat this because almost all West Malaysians make the same mistake when we cross the South China Sea. Worse, somehow, they feel even more insulted when you call them “Malay”. Somehow, “kurang ajar” is uttered below their breath as if “Malay” was a really bad word for them. I’m still trying to figure this one out.

Watch “Malays in Africa”; a Museum Negara produced DVD. Also, the “Champa Malays” by the same.

With this classification, they MUST also include the Phillipinos, the Papua New Guineans, the Australian Aboroginies, as well as the Polynesian Aboroginies. These are of the Australo Melanesians who migrated out of Africa 60,000yrs ago.

Getting interesting? Read on...

"Malay" should also include the Taiwanese singer "Ah Mei" who is Alisan as her tribe are the anscestors of the "Malays". And finally, you will need to define the Southern Chinese (Southern Province) as Malay also, since they are from the same stock 6,000yrs ago.

Try calling the Bugis a "Malay". Interestingly, the Bugis, who predominantly live on Sulawesi are not even Indonesians. Neither do they fall into the same group as the migrating Southern Chinese of 6,000yrs ago nor the Australo Melanesian group from Africa.

Ready for this?

The Bugis are the cross-breed between the Mongolian Chinese and the marauding Arab Pirates. Interestingly, the Bugis, (just like their Arabic ancestors) were career Pirates in the Johor-Riau Island areas. Now the nephew of Daeng Kemboja was appointed as the First Sultan of Selangor. That makes the entire Selangor Sultanate part Arab, part Chinese! Try talking to the Bugis Museum curator near Kukup in Johor. Kukup is located near the most south-western tip of Johor. (Due south of Pontian Kechil) He is more than willing to expound on the Bugis heritage. Buy him lunch and he can talk for days on end.

Let's not even get into the Hang Tuah, Hang Jebat, Hang Kasturi, Hang Lekiu, and Hang Lekir, who shared the same family last name as the other super famous "Hang" family member... Hang Li Poh. And who was she? Legend tells us that she is the Princess of a Ming Dynasty Emperor who was sent to marry the Sultan of Malacca. Won't that make the entire Malacca Sultanate downline "Baba"? Since the older son of the collapsed Malaccan Sultanate got killed in Johor, (the current Sultanate is the downline of the then, Bendahara) the only other son became the Sultan of Perak. Do we see any Chinese-ness in Raja Azlan? Is he the descendant of Hang Li Poh? But wait a minute....

That's what legend says. Let's look at the proof. The solid evidence. There is a well next to the Zheng He Temple in Malacca which is supposed to be the well built by the Sultan of Malacca for Hang Li Poh. According to legend, anyone who drinks of it shall re-visit Malacca before they die. Hmmm smells like a romantic fairy tale already. But let's look at who Hang Li Poh actually is. Which Ming Emperor was she a daughter to? So I got into researching the entire list of Ming Emperors. Guess what? Not a single Ming Emperor's last name begins with Hang. In fact, all their last names begin with Tzu (pronounced Choo). So who is Hang Li Poh? An Extra Concubine? A Spare Handmaiden? Who knows? But one thing for certain, is that she was no daughter of any of the Ming Emperors. Gone is the romantic notion of the Sultan of Malacca marrying an exotic Chinese Princess. Sorry guys, the Sultan married an unidentified Chinese commoner.

Next question. If the Baba’s are part Malay, why have they been marginalized by NOT BEING BUMIPUTERA? Which part of “Malay” are they not? Whatever the answer, why then are the Portugese of Malacca BUMIPUTERA? Did they not come 100yrs AFTER the arrival of the first Baba’s? Parameswara founded Malacca in 1411. The Portugese came in 1511, and the Dutch in the 1600’s. Strangely, the Baba’s were in fact once classified a Bumiputera, but some Prime Minister decreed that they were to be strangely “declassified” in the 1960’s. WHY? How can a "native son of the soil" degenerate into an "un-son"? The new classification is "pendatang" meaning a migrant to describe the Baba's and Nyonyas. Wait a minute, isn't EVERYONE on the Peninsular a migrant to begin with? How can the government discriminate? Does the Malaysian Government have amnesia?

The Sultan of Kelantan had similar roots to the Pattani Kingdom making him of Thai origin. And what is this "coffee table book" by the Sultan of Perlis claiming to be the direct descendant of the prophet Muhammed? Somehow we see Prof Khoo Khay Khim’s signature name on the book. I’ll pay good money to own a copy of it myself. Anyone has a spare?

In pursuing this thread, and having looked at the history of Prophet Muhammed (BTW, real name Ahmad) we couldn't figure out which descendant line The Sultan of Perlis was. Perhaps it was by the name Syed, which transcended. Then we tried to locate which downline did the Sultan descend from of the 13 Official Wives of Prophet Muhammad named in the Holy Koran? Or was the Sultan of Perlis a descendant from the other 23 non-wives? Of the 13 Official Wives were (at least known) 3 Israeli women. Then you should come to this instant revelation, isn't Prophet Muhammad an Israeli himself? Yes, the answer is clear. All descendants of Moses are Israeli. In fact, the Holy Koran teaches that Moses was the First Muslim. Thus confirming all the descendants of Moses to be Israeli, including Jesus and Prophet Muhammad. But since this is not a Religious or a Theological discussion, let's move on to a more anthropological approach.

So, how many of you have met with the Orang Asli’s (Malaysian Natives)? The more northern you go, the more African they look. Why are they called Negrito’s? It is a Spanish word, from which directly transalates “mini Negros”. The more southern you go, the more “Indonesian” they look. And the ones who live at Cameron Highlands kinda look 50-50. You can see the Batek at Taman Negara, who really look like Eddie Murphy to a certain degree. Or the Negritos who live at the Thai border near Temenggor Lake (north Perak). The Mah Meri in Carrie Island look almost like the Jakuns in Endau Rompin. Half African, half Indonesian.

Strangely the natives in Borneo all look rather Chinese in terms of features and facial characteristics especially the Kelabits in Bario.

By definition, (this is super eye-opening) there was a Hindu-Malay Empire in Kedah. Yes, I said right… The Malays were Hindu (just like the gentle Balinese of today). It was known by its’ old name, Langkasuka. Today known as Lembah Bujang. This Hindu-Malay Empire was 2,000yrs old. Pre-dating Borrobudor AND Angkor Watt. Who came about around 500-600yrs later. Lembah Bujang was THE mighty trading Empire, and its biggest influence was by the Indians who were here to help start it. By definition, this should make the Indians BUMIPUTERAS too since they were here 2,000yrs ago! Why are they marginalized?

The Malaysian Government now has a serious case of Alzheimer's. Why? Simply because, they would accord the next Indonesian who tomorrow swims across the Straits of Malacca and bestow upon him with the apparently "prestigious title" of the Bumiputra status alongside others who imply have inhabited this land for hundreds of centuries. (prestigious, at least perceived by Malays) They also have a strange saying called "Ketuanan Melayu" which literally transalates into "The Lordship of Malays" The Malays still cannot identify till this day "who" or "what" the Malays have "Lordship" over. And they celebrate it gallantly and triumphantly by waving the Keris (wavy knife which has Hindu origins in Borrobudor. Ganesan is seen brandishing the Keris in a bass-relief sculpture.) during public meetings over National TV much like a Pagan Wicca Ceremony on Steroids. Let's all wait for that official press release to see who the "Malays" have Lordship over, shall we?

Of the 3 books listed, "Contesting Malayness" (about S$32 for soft cover) is "banned” in Malaysia; you will need to "smuggle" it into Malaysia; for very obvious reasons.... :( or read it in Singapore if you don’t feel like breaking the law. Incidentally, the Professor (Author) was invited to speak on this very subject circa 2 yrs ago, in KL, invited by the MBRAS. You can imagine the "chaos" this seminar created... :( Fortunately the FRU was not called in.

The other, "Kingdoms of the Indonesian Archipelago, and the Malay Peninsular" (about RM84) are openly sold at all leading bookshops; Kinokuniya, MPH, Borders, Popular, Times, etc. You should be able to find a fair bit of what I’ve been quoting in this book too, but mind you, it is extremely heavy reading material, and you will find yourself struggling through the initial 200+ pages. It is extremely technical in nature. Maybe that’s why it hasn’t been banned (yet)…coz our authorities couldn’t make head or tail of it? (FYI, if I weren’t doing research for my film, I wouldn’t have read it in its entirety)

The "Sejarah Melayu" (about RM 50) however, is freely available at the University Malaya bookshop. I have both the English and Royal Malay version published by MBRAS. Alternatively, you could try reading the Jawi (Arabic Script) version if you are truly a sucker for unimaginable pain...... (may feel like circumcision)

There are actually many sources for these Origins of Malays findings. Any older Philippino Museum Journal also carries these migration stories. This migration is also on display at the Philippines National Museum in Luzon. However, they end with the Aeta, and only briefly mention that the migration continued to Indonesia and Malaysia, but fully acknowledge that all Philippinos came from Taiwan. And before Taiwan, China. There is another book (part of a series) called the "Archipelago Series" endorsed by Tun Mahatir and Marina Mohammad, which states the very same thing right at the introduction on page one. “… that the Malays migrated out of Southern China some 6,000yrs ago…”. I believe it is called the “Pre-History of Malaysia” Hard Cover, about RM99 found in (mostly) MPH. They also carry “Pre-History of Indonesia” by the same authors for the same price.

It is most interesting to note that the Malaysian Museum officials gallantly invented brand new unheard-of terms such as "Proto-Malay" and "Deutero-Malay", to replace the accepted Scientific Term, Australo-Melanesians (African descent) and Austronesians (Chinese Descent, or Mongoloid to be precise) in keeping in line with creating this new “Malay” term.. They also created the new term called the Melayu-Polynesian. (Which Melayu exists in the Polynesian Islands?) Maybe they were just trying to be “Patriotic” and “Nationalistic”… who knows…? After all, we also invented the term, “Malaysian Time”. While the rest of the world calls it “Tardy” and “Late”. It’s quite an embarrassment actually…. Singaporeans crossing the border are asked to set their watches back by about a 100yrs, to adjust to “Malaysian Time”…

In a nutshell, the British Colonial Masters, who, for lack of a better description, needed a “blanket” category for ease of classification, used the term “Malay”.

The only other logical explanation, which I have heard, was that “Malaya” came as a derivative of “Himalaya”, where at Langkasuka, or Lembah Bujang today was where the Indians were describing the locals as “Malai” which means “Hill People” in Tamil. This made perfect sense as the focal point at that time was at Gunung Jerai, and the entire Peninsular had a “Mountain Range” “Banjaran Titiwangsa”, as we call it.

The Mandarin and Cantonese accurately maintain the accurate pronunciation of “Malai Ren” and “Malai Yun” respectively till this very day. Where “ren” and “yun” both mean “peoples”.

Interestingly, “Kadar” and “Kidara”, Hindi and Sanskrit words accurately describe “Kedah” of today. They both mean “fertile Land for Rice cultivation. Again, a name given by the Indians 2,000yrs ago during the “Golden Hindu Era” for a duration of 1,500yrs.

It was during this “Golden Hindu Era” that the new term which the Hindu Malay leaders also adopted the titles, “Sultan” and “Raja”. The Malay Royalty were Hindu at that time, as all of Southeast Asia was under strong Indian influence, including Borrobudor, and Angkor Watt. Bali today still practices devout Hindu Beliefs. The snake amulet worn by the Sultans of today, The Royal Dias, and even the “Pelamin” for weddings are tell-tale signs of these strong Indian influences. So, it was NOT Parameswara who was the first Sultan in Malaya. Sultanage existed approximately 1,500yrs in Kedah before he set foot on the Peninsular during the "Golden Hindu Era" of Malaysia. And they were all Hindu.

“PreHistory of Malaysia” also talks about the “Lost Kingdom” of the “Chi-Tu” where the local Malay Kingdom were Buddhists. The rest of the “Malays” were Animistic Pagans.

But you may say, "Sejarah Melayu" calls it "Melayu"? Yes, it does. Read it again; is it trying to describe the 200-odd population hamlet near Palembang by the name "Melayu"?(Google Earth will show this village).

By that same definition, then, the Achehnese should be considered a “race”. So should the Bugis and the Bataks, to be fair. Orang Acheh, Orang Bugis, Orang Laut, Orang Melayu now mean the same… descriptions of ethnic tribes, at best. So some apparently Patriotic peron decided to upgrade the Malays from Orang Melayu (Malay People) to Bangsa Melayu (Malay Race) Good job in helping perpetuate the confusion. And since the “Malays” of today are not all descendants of the “Melayu” kampung in Jambi (if I remember correctly), the term Melayu has been wrongly termed. From Day One. Maybe this is why the Johoreans still insist on calling themselves either Bugis, or Javanese til today (except when it comes to receiving Government Handouts). So do the Achehnese on the West coast of Kedah & Perlis and the Kelantanese insist that they came from Champa, Vietnam.

Moreover, the fact that the first 3 pages of "Sejarah Melayu" claim that "Melayu" comes from Alexander the Great and the West Indian Princess doesn't help. More importantly, it was written in 1623. By then, the Indians had been calling the locals “Malai” for 1,500 yrs already. So the name stuck….

And with the Sejarah Melayu (The Malay Annals in page 1-3) naming the grandson of Iskandar Zulkarnain, and the West Indian Princess forming the Minangkabau. Whenever a Malay is asked about it, he usually says it is "Karut" (bullshit), but all Malayan based historians insist on using Sejarah Melayu as THE main reference book for which "Malay" history is based upon. The only other books are “Misa Melayu”, "Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa", "Hikayat Pasai", "Hikayat Raja-Raja Siak" and “Hikayat Hang Tuah” among others; which sometimes brings up long and “heated” discussions.

Interesting to note is one of the great "Malay" writers is called Munsyi Abdullah; who penned "Hikayat Abdullah" He was an Indian Muslim. Let's re-read that little bit. He was an Indian Muslim. How can an Indian change his race to be a Malay? He can change his shirt, his car, his religion and even his underwear, but how can anyone change his race? This must be The New Trick of the Century, which even David Copperfield will pay lots of money to watch (and perhaps learn).

"Mysterious Race Changing Trick"- created by The Malaysian Government.

Still, Malaysians are still only second to the Jews (who by the way, are the only other people in the world who are defined by a religion) So perhaps David Copperfield has yet to learn a few tricks on the mass deception skills of the Malaysian Government?

Malaysia Boleh...

I find this strange.

I also find, that it is strange that the "Chitti's" (Indian+Malay) of Malacca are categorized as Bumiputera, while their Baba brothers are not. Why? Both existed during the Parameswara days. Which part of the “Malay” side of the Baba’s is not good enough for Bumiputera classification? Re-instate them. They used to be Bumiputera pre 1960’s anyway.

Instead of "Malay", I believe that "Maphilindo" (circa 1963) would have been the closest in accurately trying to describe the Malays. However, going by that definition, it should most accurately be "MaphilindoThaiChinDiaVietWanGreekCamfrica". And it is because of this; even our University Malaya Anthropology professors cannot look at you in the eye and truthfully say that the word "Malay" technically and accurately defines a race.

This is most unfortunate.

So, in a nutshell, the “Malays” (anthropologists will disagree with this “race” definition) are TRULY ASIA !!! For once the Tourism Ministry got it right….

We should stop calling this country “Tanah Melayu” instead call it, “Tanah Truly Asia”

You must understand now, why I was "tickled pink" when I found out that the Visit Malaysia slogan for 2007 was "Truly Asia". They are so correct... (even though they missed out Greece, and Africa)

BTW, the name UMNO should be changed to UTANO the new official acronym for “United Truly Asia National Organization” . After all, they started out as a Bugis club in Johor anyway….

I told you all that I hate race classifications…. This is so depressing. Even more depressing is that the "malays" are not even a race; not since day one.

“Truly Asia Boleh”

Why did the issue of Islam and Yoga surfaced. Malaysiakini.

2008-11-26T10:22:00.002+08:00

People,
Why would the non-Muslim argue about something that does not have anything to do with them? I'm a non-Muslim, I studied Yoga for many years and still practice it. It doesn't bothered me if a Muslim can't do Yoga. Yoga is good for the mind, body and soul. Do you think we have millions of Muslims in Malaysia doing Yoga? The numbers are too small to take this issue so seriously but knowing this why should the FATWA make in Haram so the discussion begins.

It is not only the Hindu that are objecting to it but also the christian and Muslims them self. Why? Because, Malaysia is a country compromised of so many races and religion. Many of us have a Malay breakfast, an Indian lunch and a Chinese dinner and maybe a mamak stall supper. We visit each others houses for parties, functions and celebrations. So when you start to segregate certain cultural bonding with other culture's you start to become non Malaysian. My friends in China and Hong Kong cannot believe we cook and eat other races food. I myself can cook many kinds of dishes. Chinese, Malay and English. That is what that makes us unique and proud to be Malaysians.

The possibility for other cultural banding's to segregated the Muslims from the other is what that worries the rest of the Non-Muslim Malaysians. Nobody intends to criticise the FATWA but it's reasoning behind the ban does not stand strongly enough. How can one worry about Yoga being the reason for a Muslim to loose direction or give up his religion. The FATWA should have given a more descriptive guidelines which part of yoga should a Muslim should not practice. Not just banned the whole entire thing.

Nobody telling the Fatwa is wrong. But taking an Indian cultural practice like Yoga which is taught not only in Asia but in Europe and America with a great deal of success and to say it is wrong for a Muslim to practice is questionable. Yoga has many sections to it. But the most commercialised one is the Exercise and Meditation. For a Muslim. It's hard for those who are already practising it and have reaped the benefit of it to just let go of it. Under the Law should not and cannot practice something that is banned by the FATWA. Under Section 9 of the Syariah Criminal Offences ( Federal Territories ) Act, 1997 provides :

Any person who acts in contempt of religious authority or defies, disobeys or disputes the orders or directions of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong as the Head of the religion of Islam, the Majlis or the Mufti, expressed or given by way of fatwa, shall be guilty of an offence and shall on conviction be liable to a fine not exceeding three thousand ringgit or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to both.

section-9-syariah-criminal-offences-ft-act-1997

Section 12 of the same Act provides :

Any person who gives, propagates or disseminates any opinion concerning Islamic teachings, Islamic Law or any issue, contrary to any fatwa for the time being in force in the Federal Territories shall be guilty of an offence and shall on conviction be liable to a fine not exceeding three thousand ringgit or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to both.

section-12-syariah-criminal-offences-ft-act-1997

Modern thinking Malaysian will surely have alot to say about this. That's why we should have a fully functionable Inter Faith Committee that can discuss and correct certain decision before putting it out. It can reduce the wrong perception that it causes for the other religion groups.

By Pathmanck

Pic:grahamking

A Somali letter. Malaysiakini

2008-11-26T08:21:00.004+08:00

An outside view from the inside. Found this by Blogger Godfather. If this letter was for Din Merican i would not know. But felt i should share it with you guys. TC.
PathmanCK

Din,

I’m a Somali living in Malaysia who follows the local scene here very much. I would have to admit that Tun Dr M’s greatest disadvantage is his pure, unadulterated hatred for anyone who disagrees with him. Never have I seen a human being whose sole motivation, drive and engine is pure hatred. Just visit his blog which is read by friends and foes, locals and foreigners and I must tell you it epitomizes him in every way.

Since he started it after complaining of UMNO media strangulation, did you see an article that he has written concerning the poor, the needy, the widows, the orphans, the handicapped, the downtrodden, the wayfarers, compassion, empathy, sharing, sacrifice, charity, morality, accountability, God’s fear and Judgement, forgiveness, patience (etc)? No.

Always it is about some people, blaming others, calling them names, dishing out unvanished, pure hatred. Blaming others for this and that and exonerating himself from all blame? Surely, at this age? You can’t build a society and a nation through hate, vengeance, intense anger and mean spirit. You would have to remind the people the higher purpose of life for them to get motivated and work harder for the less fortunate and for themselves. Finger pointing, blaming others, planting defeatist culture in the Malays, reducing them to mad people (we are sensitive, we will run amok society that makes even foreigners despise the Malays) will not help this society and nation.

My people (the Somalis) suffered from cruel leadership and when the hatred became too much, we turned to each other and till today, we the only nation with no Central govt. The Malays share with us almost every trait, very feudal, manipulated easily, territorial, misuse of Islam for expediency, rigid explanation of Islam and too much interest in outward Islam than inward Islam that strengthens the hearts, our only difference is that the Malays have the Chinese and the Indians around that make them watch out for the “enemies.”

For us, we didn’t have that and that’s why we turned to each other. If God has loved the Malays and Malaysia, it is because He brought other people here. If some Malays regret the presence of the Chinese and Indians, ask us the Somalis and you will know what it means to be an incestous (homogenous) society and you will praise the Almighty day in day out. If it was possible, I would have shipped the Chinese and Indians to Somalia to create diversity in my nation but it is wishful thinking.

The other person who makes me cringe in shame is one Curry[Khairy] Jamaluddin. Never have I seen a more uncouth, uncultured, degenerate, pugancious, ill, nefarious and utterly infantile being than this young man. I have a big heart who tries to understand everyone and put myself in their place, but I don’t think my heart can accommodate one Curry Jamaluddin. He is a primate and deserves the worst treatment (though I hate it because we are Muslims and human beings) but honestly he is too much.

Abubakar
October 25, 2008 at 5:43 pm

Unquote

Heed the warning, folks. Mahathirism must never be allowed to rise again.

HINDRAF REMEMBERING MALAYSIAN UNITY DAY NOVEMBER 25TH. Malaysiakini

2008-11-25T11:16:00.002+08:00

From Malaysia Today.
Hindraf sympathisers warned
Tuesday, 25 November 2008 00:20
Selangor CPO Deputy Comm Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar, said that the police have warned any supporters or sympathizers of Hindraf not to hold any gatherings to mark their first anniversary. He said “The movement has been outlawed by the Government and we hope all parties respect that and not create any trouble. We know some of them planned to gather at Batu Caves for prayers and we hope they are there to pray and not to do anything that is against the law,"

REMEMBERING MALAYSIAN UNITY DAY NOVEMBER 25TH

HINDRAF calls for nationwide prayers to be organised to commemorate the 1st year anniversary of UNITY amongst the marginalized, oppressed and suppressed Malaysian Indians over the last 51 years.

November 25th is a day no ethnic Indian in Malaysia would ever choose to forget for it reminds them of the struggle of these marginalized community against the state which came hard to suppress the legitimate voice of democracy. No Indian would forget the fact that a peaceful gathering correctly exercised under Article 10 of the Malaysian Federal Constitution and Article 20 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948 was met by state violence and aggression.

We call upon all Malaysian Indians to organise prayers in their respective Temples and light up 18 Ghee Lamps each to signify the 18 demands submitted to the Prime Minister on 12th August 2007.

The purpose of this exercise is lessen the evils that is partaking in the current scenario in Malaysia and gain faith and confidence from the almighty to overcome these evils and move forward for the goodwill of the Malaysian people in fairness to all irrespective of their color, race, religion, creed or following.

The burning of these lamps is similar to a candlelight practiced throughout ancient time and it is not sacrilegious to anyone as it seeks the omnipresent power of the almighty to strengthen and boost our faith and confidence for the spiritual and moral path that we have embarked and overcome turbulence time to lessen the evils that are prevailing for the Malaysian society.

Kindly take note that mass prayers would be organised at the Batu Caves Temple for the southern region and Butterworth Mariamman Temple for the Northern Region on the 25th November 2008.

We invite all those who are unable to attend these temples to organise prayers at their respective temples. Though HINDRAF has been unlawfully declared illegal there is nothing the UMNO regime could do to stop us from organising prayers. We welcome our fellow brothers from other faiths to organise similar prayers at their respective places of worships and seek the divine blessings for the continued struggle and success in our endeavour.

Let us unite on this day and show our oppressors we are UNITED MALAYSIAN INDIANS.

We invite all our supporters to send SMS’s to their friends to attend these prayers and be united on this day by wearing orange clothing as a mark of our unity.

P.Waytha Moorthy

Chairman

HINDRAF

14th November 2008

Why Anti- ISA movement has such a strong following. Malaysiakini

2008-11-24T14:37:00.003+08:00

It is not the Malaysian way to risk getting in trouble with the law. So why do this people risk all they have to fight againts this unfair law.

In response to criticism that the ISA was not democratic or was too open to abuse, the first internal security minister, Ismail Abdul Rahman, stated:

“ I maintained then and I maintain now the view that the Internal Security Act is essential to the security of this country especially when democracy is interpreted the way it is interpreted in this country. To those in opposition to the government democracy is interpreted to mean absolute freedom, even the freedom to subvert the nation. When cornered by the argument that democracy in the Western sense means freedom in an ordered society and an ordered society is one in which the rule of law prevails, they seek refuge in the slogan that we should imitate Western democracy one hundred per cent.
I am convinced that the Internal Security Act as practiced in Malaysia is not contrary to the fundamentals of democracy. Abuse of the Act can be prevented by vigilant public opinion via elections, a free Press and above all the Parliament.[2]
”
At the moment:

Several opposition parties such as the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS), the Democratic Action Party (DAP) and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) have spoken out against the ISA. Many of them have leaders or prominent members who were held under the ISA, such as Muhammad Sabu of PAS, Lim Kit Siang, Karpal Singh and Lim Guan Eng of the DAP, and Anwar Ibrahim of the PKR. Previously in the 1960s, the law had been denounced by such opposition leaders as Tan Chee Khoon, who said:

“ This infernal and heinous instrument has been enacted by the Alliance Government at a time when the emergency was supposed to be over. Then it promptly proceeds to embody all the provisions of the Emergency Regulations which during the Emergency had to be re-enacted every year, but now it is written into the statute book ad infinitum...[6] ”

However, several politicians from the Barisan Nasional coalition, including its largest component party, the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO or Umno), that has governed Malaysia since independence have also criticised the ISA. The fifth Prime Minister of Malaysia, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, went on the record in 1988 to state "If we want to save Malaysia and Umno, Dr Mahathir (then Prime Minister) must be removed. He uses draconian laws such as the Internal Security Act to silence his critics." The year before, he had also stated "Laws such as the Internal Security Act have no place in modern Malaysia. It is a draconian and barbaric law." In 2003 when he became Prime Minister, however, Abdullah called the ISA "a necessary law," and argued "We have never misused the Internal Security Act. All those detained under the Internal Security Act are proven threats to society." But opposition parties believe it is a threat to Umno rather than a threat to the country.

Prior to becoming Prime Minister, Mahathir had also adhered to a critical view of the ISA. In 1966, when Mahathir spoke out in support of the Internal Security (Amendment) Bill 1966 as a backbencher, he stated that "no one in his right senses like[s] the ISA. It is in fact a negation of all the principles of democracy."[6] After becoming Prime Minister however the former premier had little if any hesitation using the law to suppress what he termed racialism but was seen by some as a move against his political opponents, the most notable of events being the infamous Operasi Lalang in 1987.

The following list shows known current and former detainees under the Internal Security Act. The list is incomplete.

Year, Name, Detention Period, Role Reason for Detention
1960, 5th November, midnight Koh Pak Ngee Socialist Front (SF) Assistant Secretary General, Chief Editor of NYALA, the SF Chinese language party organ, SF Parliamentary candidate for 1959 General Election
1960, 5th November, midnight Foo Seong Foh Age 24, technician of National Electric Board, Chairman of Labour Party Malaya (LMP) Jinjang branch, elected student councillor in 1957, Chairman of Jinjang local council
1960, 5th November, midnight Chan Pin Kin Age 27, Assistant Secretary of LPM Jinjang branch, elected Jin Jang Local Councillor in April 1960
1960, 5th November, midnight chen po an Treasurer, Parti Rakyat Malaya (PRM) Ampang Branch
1960, 5th November, midnight Li Jian Xing Secretary, PRM Petaling Jaya Branch
1960, 5th November, midnight Tang Bing Ying Secretary, SF Selangor State
1960, 5th November, midnight Chen Hai Chou Exco, PRM Perak State cum Chairman, PRm Ipoh Branch
1960, 5th November, midnight Liu Xiao Houa Age 25, Secretary LPM Jinjang Branch , salesman
1960, 5th November, midnight Hu Rong Shen Treasurer, PRM Perak State cum Chairman, PRM Ipoh Branch
1960, 5th November, midnight Li Wen Qing Member,LPM Jinjang Banch
1960, 5th November, at dawn Gu Tian Fu Age 21, Worker of Serdang Vew Village Local Council, former Jonior 3 student of Chung Huwa High School Kuala Lumpur , detained on 1 October 1985 under the Emergency Ordinace 1948(EO) for almost a year.
1960, 5th November, at dawn Huang Hai Qiu Age 22, Former Junior @ student of Tsun Jin High School Kuala Lumpur, detained on 1 October 1958 for a year plus, released in December 1959, worker of the Serdang New Village Local Council
1960, 5th November, at dawn Yang Nan Xun Worker in the Serdang Vew Village Local Council, foemer Senior @ student of Confucian High School Kuala Lumpur r, detained on 1 october 1958 for a year, relased with conditions.
1960, 5th November, at dawn Liang Wen Hong Age 23,Worker of Serdang Vew Village Local Council, former Junior 2 student of Chung Hwa High School kuala Lumpur , later studied in a private English school, detained on 1 October 1958, released on conditions a year later.
1960, 5th November, midnight Ma Hui Qun Age 24, Female teache, charged in court, detained again upon payment of fine
1960, 5th November, midnight Ma Ming Xin@Ma Jin Age 22
1960, 2th November Shi Song An insurance company staff
1960, 5th November, midnight Jian Hua Yang Age 18, Senior 1 student of Han Chiang High School Penang, Discharged by court but detained again by police.
1960, 12th November, midnight Jin De Sun Age 18,Senior 1 student of Han Chiang High School Penang, Discharged by court but detained again by police.
1960, 10th November, midnight Su Zhu Tai Age 15, Junior student of Chung Hwa High school Kuala Lumpur
1960, 10th November,midnight Chen Zhang Age 15,Junior student of Chung Hwa High School Kuala Lumpur
1960, 10th November, at 5.20am Zhong De Ling (F) age 15,Senior 3 student of Chung Hwa High School Kuala Lumpur
1960, 10th November Qiu An Student
1960, 10th November Kong Me Student
1960, 10th November Kang Zi Kai Student
1960, 10th November Lin Hui Huang Teacher
1960, 10th November He Hui Fang Student
1960, 10th November Tan Xin Jie Student
1960, 10th November Fok Yee Seng Student
1960, 20th November,at 6.15am Chen Ya Xi @ Chen Yu Reng Age 17,Senior student of Hua Kiao High Shool Singapore
1960, 20th November,at 6.15am He Guang Peng St Michael Secondary English Shool
1960, 20th November,at 6.15am Liu Xing Mei (F) Senior student of Hua Kiao High School
1960, 10th November Soo Bing Choon Age 30,Secretary General, the Malayan Federation of Pineapple Workers Unions
1960, 10th November Zhen Zhong Rong Age 19, PRM member.
1961, 14th January, at dawn Chen Xiu Lian Age 21, Female Student
1961, 14th January, at dawn Zhen Shi Sheng Age 18, Rubber tapper Student
1961, 14th January, at dawn Lai Bing Zhang Age 25
1961, 14th January, at dawn Ye Guo Zhong Age 21 Senior Student of Confucian High School Kuala Lumpur
1961, 14th January, at dawn Qiu Yu Jiao (F) Age 19, Rubber tapper
1961, 14th January, at dawn Liu Guo Chang Age 19, Rubber tapper
1961, 14th January, at dawn Chen Si Ting Age 24,Treasurer, PRM Semenyih Branch, rubber tapper.
1961, 14th January, at dawn Jiang Jing Hua Age 22
1974 Anwar Ibrahim 20 months student protester
1987 Lim Kit Siang 2 Years DAP Secretary General Operation Lalang
1987 Chandra Muzaffar released either conditionally or unconditionally ALIRAN President Chandra Muzaffar Operation Lalang
1987 Chan Kit Chee released either conditionally or unconditionally MCA Vice President and Perak Operation Lalang
1987 Karpal Singh 2 Years DAP Deputy Chairman Operation Lalang
1987 Halim Arshat released either conditionally or unconditionally PAS Youth Chief Operation Lalang
1987 Ibrahim Ali released either conditionally or unconditionally UMNO MP for Pasir Mas Operation Lalang
1987 Fahmi Ibrahim released either conditionally or unconditionally UMNO Youth Education Operation Lalang
1987 Dong Jiao Zhong released either conditionally or unconditionally Chinese Education Associations Operation Lalang
1987 Lim Fong Seng released either conditionally or unconditionally Chairman Chinese Education Associations Operation Lalang
1987 Kua Kia Soong released either conditionally or unconditionally Publicity Chief of the Civil Rights Committee Operation Lalang
1987 Irene Xavier released either conditionally or unconditionally WAO Member Operation Lalang
1987 Hilmy Noor released either conditionally or unconditionally accused for "disrupting the Malay culture by being a Christian" Operation Lalang
1990-1991 Abdul Rahman Ahmad Assistant Superintendent of Police, Special Branch arrested during Operation Talkak
1990-1991 Albinus Yudah opposition party member, member of Kadazan Cultural Association arrested during Operation Talkak
1990-1991 Benedict Topin opposition party member, Executive Secretary of Kadazan Cultural Association arrested during Operation Talkak
1990-1991 Damit Undikai retired Special Branch police officer arrested during Operation Talkak
1990-1991 Jeffrey Kitingan opposition politician, director of the Institute for Development Studies arrested during Operation Talkak
1990-1991 Maximus Ongkili deputy chief director of the Institute for Development Studies arrested during Operation Talkak
1990-1991 Vincent Chung administrator, Sabah Foundation arrested during Operation Talkak
1998 Anwar Ibrahim Sodomy and corruption (Deputy Prime Minister)
2001 Yazid Sufaat Jemaah Islamiyah suspected terrorist Not known (Still detained at KDC)
2001 Suhaimi_Mokhtar Jemaah Islamiyah suspected terrorist Not known (Still detained at KDC)
2001 Raja Petra Kamarudin 52 days Blogger of Malaysia Today
2002 Dr Abdullah Daud 6 years Jemaah Islamiyah suspected terrorist Not known (Still detained at KDC)
2002 Shamsuddin Sulaiman 6 years Jemaah Islamiyah suspected terrorist Not known (Still detained at KDC)
2002 Mat Shah Mohd Satray 6 years Jemaah Islamiyah suspected terrorist Not known (Still detained at KDC)
2002 Abdul Murad Sudin 6 years Jemaah Islamiyah suspected terrorist Not known (Still detained at KDC)
2002 Zaini Zakaria 6 years Jemaah Islamiyah suspected terrorist Not known (Still detained at KDC - ATP 2580/03)
2002 Zainun Rashid 6 years Jemaah Islamiyah suspected terrorist Not known (Still detained at KDC)
2003 Wan Amin Wan Hamat 6 years Jemaah Islamiyah suspected terrorist Not known (Still detained at KDC)
2003 Sulaiman Suramin 6 years Jemaah Islamiyah suspected terrorist Not known (Still detained at KDC)
2003 Sufian Salih 6 years Jemaah Islamiyah suspected terrorist Not known (Still detained at KDC)
2003 Mohd Khaider Kadran 6 years Jemaah Islamiyah suspected terrorist (Leader) Not known (Still detained at KDC)
2003 Hasim Talib 6 years Jemaah Islamiyah suspected terrorist Not known (Still detained at KDC)
2004 Zakaria bin Samad 4 years Jemaah Islamiyah suspected terrorist - Indonesian National Not known (Still detained at KDC)
2004 Ahmad Zakaria 4 years Jemaah Islamiyah suspected terrorist - Indonesian National Not known (Still detained at KDC)
2004 Terhamid bin Dahalan 4 years Jemaah Islamiyah suspected terrorist - Indonesian National Not known (Still detained at KDC)
2005 Abdul Rahman Ahmad @ Deraman Koteh 4 years Alleged militant separatist of Thailand Not known (Still detained at KDC)
2005 Mahfudi Saifuddin 4 years Jemaah Islamiyah suspected terrorist - Indonesian National Not known (Still detained at KDC)
2005 Mulyadi 4 years Jemaah Islamiyah suspected terrorist - Indonesian National Not known (Still detained at KDC)
2005 Arifin 4 years Jemaah Islamiyah suspected terrorist - Indonesian National Not known (Still detained at KDC)
2005 Mat Tarmizi Zakaria 4 years Alleged Thai separatist Not known (Still detained at KDC)
2005 Lai Kin Choy 4 years Alleged counterfeiter Not known (Still detained at KDC)
2006 A Artas A Burhanuddin 2 years Alleged member of "Darul Islam Sabah" from Tawau Not known (Still detained at KDC)
2006 Francis Indanan 2 years Alleged member of "Darul Islam Sabah" from Tawau Not known (Still detained at KDC)
2006 Mohd Nazri Dollah 2 years Alleged member of "Darul Islam Sabah" from Tawau Not known (Still detained at KDC)
2006 Mohd Arasad Patangari 2 years Alleged member of "Darul Islam Sabah" from Tawau Not known (Still detained at KDC)
2006 Adzmi Pindatun 2 years Alleged member of "Darul Islam Sabah" from Tawau Not known (Still detained at KDC)
2006 Idris Lanama 2 years Alleged member of "Darul Islam Sabah" from Klang Not known (Still detained at KDC)
2006 Aboud Ghafar Shahril 2 years Indonesian; Alleged member of "Darul Islam Sabah" Not known (Still detained at KDC)
2006 Jeknal Adil 2 years stateless; Alleged member of "Darul Islam Sabah" Not known (Still detained at KDC)
2006 Binsali Omar 2 years Filipino (Malaysian PR); Alleged member of "Darul Islam Sabah" Not known (Still detained at KDC)
2006 Husin Alih 2 years Filipino national; Alleged member of "Darul Islam Sabah" Not known (Still detained at KDC)
2006 Yussof Mohd Salam 2 years Filipino national; Alleged member of "Darul Islam Sabah" Not known (Still detained at KDC)
2006 Abd Jamal Azahari 2 years Filipino national; Alleged member of "Darul Islam Sabah" Not known (Still detained at KDC)
2006 Pakana Selama 2 years PR status; Alleged member of "Darul Islam Sabah" Not known (Still detained at KDC)
2006 Kasem Dayama 2 years Foreign national; Alleged foreign agent Not known (Still detained at KDC)
2006 Shaykinar Guat 2 years stateless; Alleged member of "Darul Islam Sabah" Not known (Still detained at KDC)
2006 Argadi Andoyok 2 years stateless; Alleged member of "Darul Islam Sabah" Not known (Still detained at KDC)
2006 Ng How Chuang 2 years Alleged document falsification Not known (Still detained at KDC)
2006 Ng Keat Seng 2 years Alleged document falsification Not known (Still detained at KDC)
2006 Mohd Azuan b Aniffa 2 years Alleged foreign agent Not known (Still detained at KDC)
2007 Mohd Faizol Shamsudin 2 years Alleged foreign agent Not known (Still detained at KDC)
2007 Zulfikli Abu Bakar]] 2 years Alleged foreign agent Not known (Still detained at KDC)
2007 Zulfikli Marzuki 2 years Alleged JI involvement Not known (Still detained at KDC)
2007 Amir Hussain 2 years Foreign national; Alleged document falsification Not known (Still detained at KDC)
2007 Mohd Nasir Ismail 2 years Alleged JI involvement Not known (Still detained at KDC)
2007 Ahmad Kamil Hanafiah 2 years Alleged JI involvement Not known (Still detained at KDC)
2007 Muh Amir Hanafiah 2 years Alleged JI involvement Not known (Still detained at KDC)
2007 Tan Choon Chin 2 years Alleged document falsification Not known (Still detained at KDC)
2007 Mavalavan 2 years Alleged foreign agent Not known (Still detained at KDC)
2007 Lian Kok Heng 2 years Alleged foreign agent Not known (Still detained at KDC)
2007 Sundaraj Vijay 2 years Foreign national; Alleged document falsification Not known (Still detained at KDC)
2007 San Khaing 2 years Foreign national; Alleged document falsification Not known (Still detained at KDC)
2007 K. Kengadhadran 2 years Hindu Rights Action Force activist (Lawyer) Organize Hindraf mass rally in KL November 2007 (Still detained at KDC)
2007 M. Manoharan 2 years Hindu Rights Action Force activist (Lawyer) Organize Hindraf mass rally in KL November 2007 (Still detained at KDC)
2007 P. Uthayakumar, 2 years Hindu Rights Action Force activist (Lawyer) Organize Hindraf mass rally in KL November 2007 (Still detained at KDC)
2007 T. Vasantha Kumar 2 years Hindu Rights Action Force activist (Lawyer) Organize Hindraf mass rally in KL November 2007 (Still detained at KDC)
2007 K. Ganabathi Rao 2 years Hindu Rights Action Force activist (Lawyer) Organize Hindraf mass rally in KL November 2007 (Still detained at KDC)
2008 Muhammad Zahid Haji Zahir Shah 2 years Not known Not known (Still detained at KDC - ATP 2703/2008)
2008 Shadul Islam 2 years Not known Not known (Still detained at KDC - ATP 2698/2008)
2008 Abdul Sathar Mohammad Sarjoon 2 years Not known Not known (Still detained at KDC - ATP 2699/2008)
2008 Faycal Mamdouh 2 years Not known Not known (Still detained at KDC - ATP 2700/2008)
2008 Mahamad Nakhrakhel 2 years Not known Not known (Still detained at KDC - ATP 2701/2008)
2008 Muhammad Shuaib Hazrat Bilal 2 years Not known Not known (Still detained at KDC - ATP 2702/2008)
2008 Raja Petra Kamarudin 56 days 2 hours 10 mins Blogger of Malaysia Today Accused of insulting islamic religion. Also charged with Sedition Act on an article titled "Let's Send the Altantuya Murderers to Hell" which was published on MalaysiaToday website [[1]]
2008 Tan Hoon Cheng 18 hours Journalist, Sin Chew Jit Poh Accused of writing a fact (on Ahmad Ismail's Incendiary Racist Remarks) that may (not) incite hatred among the (open-minded) Malay and (open-minded) Chinese. The Home Minister later explained she was detained as her security was threatened, which is ironically irrelevant
2008 Teresa Kok Suh Sim 7 days Member of Parliament, Seputeh Accused of insulting islamic religion (This political motivated accusation was made with the absence of evidence)
2008 Cheng Lee Whee 2 days Suaram activist, Johor Accused of insulting police[5] (This political motivated accusation also made with the absence of evidence)

Source: wikipedia and pic by byte.

Malaysia needs better Governance. Malaysiakini

2008-11-20T12:56:00.004+08:00

I'm living in Hong Kong at the moment. So today on the way to work i read in Hong Kong's free newspaper about this article. Where this company Hopewell Holdings has been trying for the past 5 years to get their project approved by the Town Planning Board. If you read the article at the bottom it states how it was rejected after traffic assessment by the Transport Department, got opposed by the resident's organization and the Town Planning Board because of it's height. So the company had to cut down to size. Nearly 40%. I have highlighted the interesting bits. This is what you call good governance. Not like how things are done in Malaysia. Example Jalan Segambut they built an apartment in an already congested 2 lane road called Mandy Villa. There are so many examples to name. You'll know what I'm talking about.
Today in MalaysiaToday there is some changes to happen in Malaysia. We are going to have a Public Land Transport Commission by March 2009. The article is at the bottom. Hope things do change in Malaysia.

Cut down to size by
Timothy Chui and Alfred Liu

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Hopewell Holdings is hoping to go ahead with its long-proposed Wan Chai Mega Tower - but it has been cut down to size.
The tower's height has been cut by a third and the capacity of a planned hotel reduced by half in its proposal. Along with the cuts comes a name change: it will now be called Hopewell Centre II.

Hopewell said it plans to spend at least HK$5 billion on the project, which along with office space and a 1,024-room hotel includes a public park. The company will also spend HK$400 million on a road improvement plan.

Work could begin next year if the plan is approved, Hopewell said, with the project completed by 2014 or 2015.

The cuts in the project, which was first proposed almost 30 years ago, follow more than six months of talks between Hopewell and the government. However, Secretary for Development Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor denied the scale-back was due to government pressure.

"I am not the type of person that pressures people," Lam said. "Of course, all contractors hope to develop more but this time [Hopewell] has implemented social responsibility."

She added: "For many years, I have never seen a developer holding an approved project agreeing to such a large reduction."

Lam said because of the large cuts, the government is seeking legal advice to see if the new proposal is a class-A amendment - meaning it would not need to go before the Town Planning Board.

"The development will help rejuvenate a rather dilapidated area that has been lying i
dle for over 20, 30 years," Lam said.

Under the revised plan, the tower will be reduced from 93 stories to 55, a 40 percent drop, with the 210-meter height slightly lower than the adjacent 66-story Hopewell Centre's 222m.

The project's gross floor area will be reduced by 31 percent from Hopewell's 1994 proposal of 172,731 square meters with the plot ratio lowered from 15 to 10.3. Some 5,880 sq m of open public space will be retained. Hotel capacity will drop from 2,197 guestrooms.

The plan will be forwarded to Wan Chai District Council for approval next month, pending a review by the bureau and updated traffic analysis.

Hopewell co-managing director Thomas Wu Man-san said the project will create about 4,000 jobs with 500 initially, increasing to 1,900 at the peak of construction with another 1,100 jobs during the internal decoration stage.

There will be 900 permanent hotel jobs created and about 300 in shops.He said the company did not have to raise additional funds for the scheme. Wu also denied suggestions Hopewell had come under government pressure and said the cuts would not affect revenue.

Hopewell said 60 percent of the development area is owned by the company with the rest by the government.

However, there are still some concerns about the development.

Civic Party lawmaker Tanya Chan said a three-week public consultation period should be granted for the public to air its views on the changes.
Wan Chai resident Sara Yin Pai-sze, meanwhile, said the project is still 55 stories too high.

While Malaysia: In todays news.
We are far away behind atleast we have started. I think. With BN you can never say. Let's Hope Datuk S K Devamany walks the talk. I knew him before he ventured into politics seriously. That was a long time back. I was his student. He is a good man. Hope he makes some good changes in governing Malaysia.

Thursday, 20 November 2008 00:05
Datuk S K Devamany, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department said that the SPAD (Public Land Transport Commission) is set to be established by March 2009 and the government is currently deciding on the issues like its objectives, organization structure, scope, manpower, implementation and others. He said “SPAD would be responsible for planning and determining the policy and direction, setting the transport rates, drawing up laws and rules, licensing and enforcing the public land transport system. It would include providing an explanation, holding discussions as well getting feedback from state governments, local councils and other interested parties,”

-Zen, MalaysiaToday

That old man again...Mahatir. Malaysiakini

2008-11-18T12:21:00.004+08:00

RACISM AND 2008 ELECTIONS

Posted by Dr. Mahathir Mohamad at November 17, 2008 9:15 AM |

1. When the Barisan Nasional did badly in the March 2008 General Election, foreign observers and many in this country were jubilant because they claim that it marked the demise of racial politics and racial parties in Malaysia.
2. I did not agree with this simplistic view and I had put my thoughts on this blog. I believed that it was rather protest against the failures of the Abdullah Government that caused many Barisan Nasional members and supporters to vote for the opposition. But many still insist that race based politics is no longer relevant in Malaysia. Is it?
3. If it is because the Malaysian electorate had rejected racial politics, why did they vote for such parties as PAS, a very Malay Muslim party, and DAP, a Chinese dominated party. Even the Keadilan is made up of violently racist Hindraf Indians, Chinese dissatisfied with the MCA's representation of the Chinese in BN and self-serving Malays who could not find a place in the other Malay parties.
4. These three parties did not campaign for human rights or open Governments or even against the Internal Security Act. PAS had made no secret of their Islamic State pretensions. DAP talked of Malaysian Malaysia which was the battle cry of its very Chinese PAP antecedents of Singapore (no non-Chinese PM) and Keadilan talked about reforms etc., but the stress was on Hindu Rights and anti-Malay racism.
5. Their accredtied supporters who may really subscribe to their creeds had never been big enough to make them strong opposition parties in the past. They were never able to deny the BN a 2/3rd majority. It should be remembered that Keadilan won only one seat in the 2004 elections. The other two, DAP and PAS did not do much better either.
6. It was the defection by the BN party members which resulted in the opposition parties, regardless of the quality of their candidate getting the large number of votes to win so many more seats than they or anybody else expected.
7. Apart from the voters supporting the essentially race based opposition parties, the claim that it was the rejection of racial politics which led to the poor results by the BN has also not been borne out by the attitudes and debates by Malaysians post 2008 elections.
8. What we are witnessing today is an explosion of racial politics that is more bitter and blatant than ever before. Even the least observant cannot fail to notice how Malaysian politics now is more about racial inequities than about liberalism, human rights, openness etc.
9. True there has been quite a lot of discussion on the ISA. But most of the angry and bitter discussion is about Malay "privileges", about the Social Contract, about the Deputy Prime Minister and Prime Minister being Malays, about UMNO bullying, about being or not being immigrants, about Malay dominance. Even the criticisms regarding the way judges are appointed or promoted have elements of race that is hardly disguised.
10. Truly Malaysian politics have not been decoupled from racial sentiments and loyalties. And it is going to remain so for as long as the different races prefer to be separated and divided, prefer to strongly uphold their languages, cultures and their historical origins and links. All that is said about reforms and liberalism is mere lip service.

Pathmanck:

The reason why BN lost it's 2/3 majority is simple because the Indians realise that the BN was merely using and eliminating them. So 90% of the Indians voted against BN. Indians then became the king makers. It all strted with the slogan "Makkal Sakthi" If you spoke about giving importance to social contract and ketuanan melayu in Early 60's. Yes, people would have agreed. But I'm sure not a single soul would have thought that the world would become so globalised. In 50 years things have changed alot. Many things that was decided then it's relevent now. Internet revolutionized the world with Malaysia in it.

I never learned about this social contract or the ketuanan melayu or anything like that in school. To be frank most of the things I studied in History classes in school was misleaded facts. Made up lies to it's highest degree. Which one day, I'm sure the government will ask forgiveness for their mistakes. Real History will teach you this.

To state some facts and truth. If Hindraf is racist. Umno is much more worse. Most of the problem faced in Malaysia now is because of Mahatirism. And to read the comments of other senile people of his blog was much more worse. So much of racism involve from none other than the race that calls others racist. Why is that? The "non-Malays" to say in the Malaysian way. Are not fighting to destroy the Malays but the live with respect and dignity equal to the Malays. We build this country from the scratch. Before the British occupation there weren't much infrastructure in Malaysia. It was all thick jungles, hill and mountains. There weren't high tech machineries back then. Who did the work? Who help plan and build this country and it's financial institutions? We weren't Expatriates like my old friends and lecturers from UK who came to malaysia in the 50's to build our infrastructure. We work to build our country. To make a better place for them and their children to live.

My reply to one particular Chedet blog commenter. The British brought the Indians and Chinese to Malaysia because the Malays didn't want to do the work. So it was only logical for them go thru the rouble to bring them over. When they left, which they thought they wont obviously they couldn't send back all the Indians and Chinese. Surely they had to make some kind of deal with the Chinese and Indians. The Malay leaders then also understood the situation. If it wasn't the British leaving this place in proper manner. Malaysia could have been a war zone something similar to Africa. With Chinese tribe and Indian tribe and Malay tribe fighting for power. During that time Malays were only 40% of the population of Malaysia. The registration of Indian and Chines as citizen started 10 year before Merdeka. So when Malaysia achieved it's Independence from the British, it was meant for all Malaysians. I myself already the 4Th generation, will be starting the 5Th.

We lived in harmony and with respect with the Malays and the other races for many generations. UMNO is the cause of this racial spitting between each other. Because of abuse of power, corruption and miss use of power for this pass 30 years. Example like our EX, Present and Future Prime Minister of Malaysia.

Pinjaman KWSP Timbul Soal Pembaziran Dana Awam

2008-11-11T12:10:00.002+08:00

Menteri Kewangan Datuk Seri Najib Razak telah mengumumkan dana tambahan sebanyak RM5bilion kepada syarikat pengurusan dana milik kerajaan Valuecap Sdn Bhd dua hari yang lalu kononnya untuk mengelak kegawatan ekonomi. Valuecap Sdn Bhd adalah milikan bersama oleh Kumpulan Wang Amanah Pekerja, Khazanah Nasional Bhd dan Permodalan Nasional Bhd. Semalam Menteri Kewangan mengesahkan dana tambahan tersebut akan diperoleh melalui pinjaman Kumpulan Wang Simpanan Pekerja (KWSP).

Kami melihat tindakan kerajaan ini sebenarnya langkah pelaburan yang tidak memberi kesan besar dalam pertumbuhan ekonomi negara tetapi timbul pula persoalan pembaziran dana awam dan ketidaktelusan dalam proses pelaburan yang hanya membantu segelintir sahaja yang telahpun berkemampuan.

Apakah wajar kerajaan menangani krisis ekonomi dengan menyalurkan RM5bilion kepada Valuecap Sdn Bhd melalui pinjaman KWSP, sehingga rakyat terpaksa menanggung risiko kerugian, sedangkan modal KNB dan PNB adalah jauh lebih kukuh malah bukan merupakan jaringan keselamatan sosial?

Bagaimanakah pula pinjaman RM5bilion tersebut dapat membawa pulangan sepertimana yang dijanjikan oleh Timbalan Perdana Menteri memandangkan dana tersebut semata-matanya untuk melindungi pelaburan oleh syarikat milik kerajaan (GLC)? Siapakah yang harus bertanggungjawab ke atas pinjaman ini jika mengalami kerugian kelak?

Hakikatnya kerajaan tidak seharusnya menggunakan lagi dana awam tersebut sewenang-wenangnya kerana menurut kajian syarikat insuran Prudential pada Ogos 2008, 40 peratus rakyat merasakan wang saraan tidak dapat lagi menanggung kos kehidupan mereka selepas bersara disebabkan oleh kadar inflasi yang melambung tinggi saban hari.

Selain itu, dana tambahan RM5bilion sebenarnya adalah jumlah yang amat sedikit jika dibandingkan dengan jumlah pasaran di Bursa Malaysia iaitu RM689.5bilion, maka suntikan dana tambahan ini tidak akan mempunyai kesan terhadap Bursa Malaysia sepertimana yang diwar-warkan oleh Menteri Kewangan.

Sebaliknya kerajaan harus memberi keutamaan ke atas program yang dapat memberi "multiplyer effect" dengan mengadakan pelan penstabilan ekonomi untuk membantu kumpulan berpendapatan rendah dan sederhana, sepertimana disarankan oleh Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS).(tamat)

SIVARASA RASIAH
Ahli Parlimen Subang
Naib Presiden Parti Keadilan Rakyat
23 Oktober 2008

Ketuanan Melayu means nothing to those who dont bother. malaysiakini

2008-11-10T15:48:00.004+08:00

One is only a King if he is treated with royalty. No one can force me to treat someone like a royal if i dont want to. If i have enough self worth, he will not be able to buy off my respect. So to those who think you a superior than the other. Reality would really suck for you.
Let me be the first person to state my position. I'm a person who respect history. Unfortunately, I am going to make my stand that i will no futher respect the notion of ketuanan Melayu, NEP and the Social contract. All this have no importance to me anyfurther. I shall not respect to the cowards who use this to as a tool to abuse the others from their civil and human rights. When one steal anothers apple to feed for himself and leave the other starving. He is no human, He has no self worth.
pathman

Ahmad Ismail attends divisional meeting with hero's welcome
Sunday, 09 November 2008 23:49
Datuk Ahmad Ismail, the Umno chief of Bukit Bendera who was suspended from all party posts for 3 years after uttering some racial remarks has received a hero’s welcome when he went for the delegate’s conference where he was also presented with a keris for a regalia. When he arrived for the conference, there were cheers and kompang troupe that accompanied him with performance of the silat. He was then given the tengkolokm a yellow selempang and the keris by Azmi Merican, the division advisor, Saakyah Mat Isa and Abdul Rahman Lazim respectively. It was then announced that the items were presented to him as a true pahlawan Melayu.

President Obama's Victory Speech

2008-11-06T21:37:00.003+08:00

Barack Obama was elected the 44th President of the United States on November 4th, 2008 in Chicago. One of the greatest speech of our time. Glad i saw this in my life time.

World changes as we sleep

2008-11-06T20:00:00.002+08:00

Congratulations Obama on your victory. As a Malaysian i have wondered the possibility of such change to happen not just in the United States but in Malaysia as well. Hopefully your success would open the eyes of the Malaysians and give way to those who struggle to change this country for the better because of it's race dissimilarity practices.
Once upon a time. The words of Mahathir use to reach around the globe and create waves. Those times are over. Now even his words fail to attract the attention of news paper readers. Words from people like Anwar, Lim Kit Siang and Karpal Singh hardly scratch the almighty BN. By saying BN i actually mean UMNO. The rest of the component parties in BN have such little role to play in the governance of this country. The fact is when an Opposition MP stands up to argue his case in Parliament or in public, he has more than enough facts to back him but he is put down by the system of partiality. There is no point in shouting and protesting if that is the case. But there are many who still fights and fights this old system of discrimination for example Lim Kit Siang and Karpal Singh. They are true Malaysian who have showed their national sentiments greater than others. This men's could have left Malaysia if they wanted to with the talents they have. 2 million Chinese and 6 hundred thousand Indians have migrated from Malaysia in this past 20 years. Professionals and capable people who could have build a greater Malaysia if it wasn't for Malaysia's race discrimination.
Do you think the divide and rule has done anything good for Malaysia. What has it given to us? Don't you think that if we worked together as purely Malaysians, we would have achieved much greater heights. We could be a global leader. Many think Malaysia is still a respectable country in Asia but the truth is we are growing back into that country which used to be said as between Thailand and Singapore...Malaya or Borneo??
What Malaysia need is not a Indian PM or a Chinese PM but a real true blue Malaysian PM for all. He can be from any race or religion but a true Malaysian. Who can really lead this country thru good times and bad times. There shouldn't be race based politics. Do you think Obama was from the Blacks Division in the Democrats?
While we sleep my friends, the world is changing. Globalisation is happening and has been happening. Time we started to make a change as well.
Even though I'm far away from Malaysia at the moment, my heart is still there. My future is still Malaysia.

Jawapan Parlimen : Ekuiti Bumiputera mengikut kategori Melayu, Orang Asli semenanjung dan M’sia Timur

2008-11-06T13:42:00.000+08:00

Soalan : YB Charles Santiago [klang] minta Perdana Menteri menyatakan ekuiti Bumiputera dalam sektor korporat (19.4%) seperti dalam laporan kajian separuh penggal Rancangan Malaysia Ke-9 mengikut kategori Melayu Semenanjung, Orang Asli Semenanjung dan Orang Asli Sabah dan Sarawak.

Jawapan :

Tuan Yang Dipertua,

Pada masa ini, maklumat mengenai ekuiti mengikut etnik yang diperolehi oleh Kerajaan hanyalah terhad kepada beberapa kategori umum sahaja iaitu Bumiputera, India, Cina dan lain-lain. Maklumat pemilikan oleh pelbagai suku kaum Bumiputera di Sabah dan Sarawak dikelompokkan secara bersama dalam kategori Bumiputera dengan pecahan sub-kategori mengikut jenis pemilikan oleh individu, institusi dan agensi amanah.

Usaha Kerajaan untuk membangunkan masyarakat di Sabah dan Sarawak bukanlah terhad kepada pemilikan ekuiti sahaja. Kerajaan percaya melalui program pendidikan dan peningkatan akses kepada pelbagai bentuk kemudahan serta bantuan akan membolehkan masyarakat berfungsi dengan lebih baik di dalam ekonomi dan seterusnya dapat menjana pendapatan dan mengumpul kekayaan termasuk melalui pemilikan ekuiti. Kerajaan sedar sememangnya banyak lagi usaha perlu diteruskan di Negeri Sabah dan Sarawak. Kerajaan yakin, dengan pendekatan ini yang dilaksanakan secara konsisten akan membawa kepada pembangunan masyarakat Sabah dan Sarawak yang lebih bermakna.

Untuk makluman Yang Berhormat, secara umumnya, dasar pengagihan negara adalah untuk merapatkan lagi jurang ekonomi di antara pelbagai kaum dalam negara khususnya di antara Bumiputera dan bukan Bumiputera. Adalah menjadi hasrat Kerajaan untuk melihat semua suku kaum Bumiputera di Semenanjung, Sabah dan Sawarak menikmati faedah pembangunan secara saksama dan seterusnya membantu merapatkan lagi jurang ekonomi di kalangan pelbagai suku kaum. Bagi memperkemaskan lagi maklumat Kerajaan, satu pangkalan data yang komprehensif bagi memantau kemajuan Bumiputera dalam sektor korporat kan dibangunkan dalam tempoh akhir RMKe-9 yang dijangkakan akan dapat memberikan maklumat struktur hak milik korporat yang lebih terperinci.

Comprehensive Database On Bumiputera Corporate Equity Being Developed

2008-11-06T13:39:00.000+08:00

Source : Bernama

November 05, 2008 15:38 PM

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 5 (Bernama) — A comprehensive database is to be developed at the end of the Ninth Malaysia Plan period to monitor the progress of Bumiputeras in the corporate sector, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said today.

He told the Dewan Rakyat the database, aimed at updating government data, was expected to provide more detailed information on the structure of corporate ownership.

Information garnered by the government on equity ownership along ethnic lines was restricted to several general categories, such as Bumiputeras, Indians, Chinese and others, he said in a written reply to Charles Anthony Santiago (DAP-Klang).

Charles Anthony had wanted to know the status of Bumiputera equity in the corporate sector, similar to that contained in the mid-term review of the ninth plan, according to the categories of Malays in the peninsula, Orang Asli in the peninsula, and Orang Asli in Sabah and Sarawak.

Abdullah said information on equity ownership by Bumiputera ethnic groups in Sabah and Sarawak were lumped together under the category of Bumiputeras, with sub-categories according to ownership by individuals, institutions and trust agencies.

Abdullah said the government’s efforts to bring development to the people in Sabah and Sarawak were not restricted to mere equity ownership.

“The government believes that through education programmes and improving access to various amenities as well as aid will enable the people to function more effectively in the economy and generate income and accumulate wealth, including through equity ownership,” he said.

Abdullah said the government realised that much more had to be done in Sabah and Sarawak and expressed confidence that a consistent approach would bring more meaningful development to the people in the two states.

He said the country’s policy of distribution was generally aimed at bridging the economic gap among the various communities and especially between the Bumiputeras and non-Bumiputeras.

“It is the aspiration of the government to see all Bumiputera ethnic groups in the peninsula, Sabah and Sarawak enjoy the benefits of development fairly, and to help narrow the economic divide among these ethnic communities,” he said.

– BERNAMA

By Lim Kit Siang

2008-11-05T20:57:00.001+08:00

This is the question I posed in Parliament at the beginning of the 16-day committee stage debate of the “wayang kulit” 2009 Budget debate in Parliament today.

I started by congratulating Barack Obama for his historic win as United States President as it was unthinkable even until very recently for anyone to believe that it is possible for a black, who were slaves until some 150 years ago, to be able to become President of US.

I said Parliament should also send its congratulations to Obama.

However, Obama’s historic breakthrough make many Malaysians ask whether it is possible for a Chinese, Indian, Kadazan to become the Prime Minister of Malaysia although the Constitution is very clear that any Malaysian citizen, regardless of race or religion can become Prime Minister.

If such a question is asked 50 years ago, the nation’s founders like Tunku Abdul Rahman, Tun Razak, Tun Dr. Ismail, Tun Hussein Onn, Tun Tan Cheng Lock, Tun Tan Siew Sin and Tun V.T. Sambanthan would unhesitatingly answered in the positive as there is no constitutional bar - separate from the question of whether it was likely to happen.

But if the same question is asked now, there will be strong voices (as heard in Parliament today when this question was posed) who would rise up to say no.

Who is going against the Merdeka Constitution and the social contract reached by the forefathers of the major communities to achieve national independence half a century ago?

Why is Malaysian race relations and nation-building going backwards in the past 50 years as compared to the historic breakthrough in race relations in the United States with Obama’s historic victory in the US presidential elections?

I have a Dream

2008-11-05T20:51:00.000+08:00

Obama has realised King's dream: Rudd
November 5, 2008, 5:29 pm
US president-elect Barack Obama has realised Martin Luther King's dream of 45
years ago, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says.
"Forty-five years ago Martin Luther King had a dream of an America where men
and women would be judged not on the colour of their skin but on the content of
their character.
"Today, what America has done is turn that dream into a reality," Mr Rudd told
reports in Launceston.
Mr Rudd said the US election result was a great testament to the strength and
maturity of the American democratic process.
Senator Obama carries a message of hope not only for America but for the rest
of the world, he said.
"A world which is in many respects fearful for its future," Mr Rudd said.
"The world looks to America for global leadership on the great global
challenges of the 21st century."
Mr Rudd listed these challenges as the global financial crisis, climate change,
and the challenges and opportunities in the Asia-Pacific region this century.
He said he intended to make a telephone call congratulating Senator Obama "as
soon as possible".
Meanwhile, federal Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull has warmly congratulated
Obama.
Senator Obama won the US presidential election, making him the first black
commander-in-chief of the world's only remaining superpower.
"On behalf of the federal opposition in Australia, I congratulate Senator
Barack Obama on his historic election victory and look forward to working
closely and productively with the new administration," Mr Turnbull said in a
statement.
While Mr Turnbull comes from the other side of politics, he declared the
Democrat senator's victory a defining moment in history.
"The idea that an African-American could be president would have been
unthinkable only a few decades ago," he said.
"As president, Barack Obama will have the opportunity to show the world the
strength, resilience and above all the diversity of American democracy," Mr
Turnbull said.
"We remember Martin Luther King's 'I have a dream' speech, when he dreamt of a
time when his children would be judged not by the colour of their skin, but by
the contents of character," he told reporters in Sydney.
"I wonder if Dr King ever dreamt that there would be an African-American
president of the United States."

Kenyataan Menteri Besar Selangor Berkenaan Perlantikan Pengurus Besar Sementara PKNS

2008-11-01T22:34:00.000+08:00

29 Oktober 2008
Pengurus Besar Perbadanan Kemajuan Negeri Selangor (PKNS) Dato' Hj Harun Salim bersara pada hujung Oktober ini dan YAB Menteri Besar Selangor, selaku Pengerusi PKNS, menerima persaraan beliau. Sehubungan itu, Menteri Besar, setelah mengambil kira kepentingan semasa, bersetuju melanjutkan tarikh persaraan Timbalan Pengurus Korporat dan Akaun Puan Low Siew Moi, selama satu tahun dan melantik beliau memangku jawatan Pengurus Besar Sementara PKNS. Puan Low, yang sudah 35 tahun berkhidmat di PKNS, iaitu selama 11 tahun berjawatan Timbalan Pengurus Korporat dan Akaun, yang bertanggungjawab menerajui bahagian korporat, kewangan dan pengurusan aset, dilihat sebagai calon paling sesuai memangku secara sementara waktu jawatan terpenting di PKNS.

Dengan persaraan Dato' Hj Harun, Menteri Besar, yang juga pernah mengetuai syarikat swasta, berpendapat persaraan serentak dua pegawai kanan tersebut tidak boleh menjamin penerusan pentadbiran yang berkesan (effective continuation of the management). Oleh sebab itu, beliau meminta Puan Low agar menangguhkan persaraan dan sebaliknya berkerjasama dengan ahli lembaga pengarah PKNS bagi menerajui urusan pentadbiran PKNS sehingga calon yang sesuai dilantik mengisi jawatan Pengurus Besar.

Kita bersyukur kerana Puan Low, yang berpengalaman dan dedikasi, bersetuju menyatakan kesediaan beliau menjalankan tugas tersebut, dan pada masa sama lembaga pengarah PKNS berusaha mendapatkan Pengurus Besar yang berkaliber, berwibawa, beretika dan berkebolehan untuk membawa perbadanan itu ke era baharu. Dalam hal ini, Puan Low mengakui agar peneraju PKNS yang baharu mestilah seorang Bumiputera yang profesional dan mempunyai pengalaman dalam pembangunan hartanah, pembangunan semula dan disegani oleh komuniti hartanah.

Menteri Besar juga berpendapat yang pengalaman Puan Low amat berguna bagi membantu Kerajaan Negeri melaksanakan penyusunan semula dalam operasi dan aktiviti PKNS yang bukan sahaja beraspirasi untuk menjadi antara organisasi yang terbaik di rantau ini tetapi juga dalam usahanya memulakan projek pembangunan semula perumahan baharu (re-development of new townships) di Petaling Jaya, Kajang dan Kelang.

Perlu ditegaskan, pencarian calon Pengurus Besar PKNS dalam kalangan pegawai kanan yang sedang berkhidmat PKNS sudahpun diusahakan. Namun, ada beberapa sebab tentang perlunya juga kita mencari calon di luar PKNS. Antara sebabnya, PKNS berkehendakan pegawai yang profesional dalam aspek hartanah, di samping mempunyai kelayakan dalam bidang pengurusan hartanah, kejuruteraan, seni bina atau jurunilai untuk mengetuai PKNS memulakan projek pembangunan semula sebagaimana dinyatakan di atas.

Kami juga mendapati terdapat unsur "conflict of interest" dalam struktur PKNS itu sendiri apabila terdapat sekumpulan pegawai kanan memegang saham 30% dalam anak syarikat PKNS, iaitu PKNS Infra Sdn Bhd.

Setelah membuat pemeriksaan terhadap rekod PKNS selama 44 tahun ini, kami amat kesal apabila mendapati pengalaman PKNS dalam usaha memartabatkan kaum Melayu dalam bidang peniagaan, khususnya dalam bidang pembangunan hartanah, amat tidak membanggakan. Ini disebabkan lebih 75% daripada projek yang dilaksanakan diberi kepada syarikat bukan Melayu baik secara langsung mahupun tidak secara langsung.

Perlu ditegaskan, Kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat amat mementingkan pentadbiran secara telus dan bertanggungjawaban (transparency and accountability) dan berpendapat PKNS perlu mengubah corak pentadbiran supaya menghayati dan melaksanakan kepentingan ini.

Kami dapati akaun yang sedia ada tidak mencerminkan gambaran yang betul tentang operasi perbadanan tersebut. Sebagai contoh, mengikut laporan akaun tahun 2007, Pengerusi PKNS mendakwa perbadanan tersebut berjaya dalam perniagaan pembagunan hartanah setelah mengaut untung sebayak RM500 juta. Namun setelah disemak, didapati 50% keuntungan tersebut berbentuk "extra-ordinary items" (hasil pendapatan luar biasa). Berkaitan dengan pengumuman keuntungan tersebut, turut diperlihatkan keputusan yang meragukan apabila PKNS menghadiahkan RM100,000 kepada mantan Pengerusi PKNS, yang juga bekas Menteri Besar Selangor, sebagai bonus terhadap kejayaan PKNS memperoleh "keuntungan" tersebut.

Lebih parah lagi, kami dapati terdapat beberapa aktiviti dan keputusan perniagaan (business decision) yang dibuat bukan berdasarkan keperluan PKNS tetapi keperluan politik kerajaan yang terdahulu! Perkara ini sudahpun diakui oleh Pengurus Besar sekarang dan Puan Low bersedia bekerjasama dengan lembaga pengarah PKNS bagi mengenal pasti perkara yang dibetulkan yang sekali gus membaiki pentadbiran perbadanan itu.

Sesungguhnya, tindakan yang radikal perlu dilakukan bagi "membersihkan" PKNS supaya ia betul-betul mencapai matlamat asal untuk memberi fokus kepada perniagaan pembangunan hartanah yang diceburi, di samping meningkatkan pembangunan sosio-ekonomi masyarakat terutama kalangan masyarakat Melayu yang mahu berkerja keras dan berusaha tanpa ihsan daripada mana-mana pihak.

DATO' MENTERI BESAR SELANGOR

TAN SRI ABDUL KHALID IBRAHIM

I'll be gone for awhile. Happy Deepavali Everyone.

2008-10-22T22:04:00.004+08:00

My dear friends,
I'll be gone for awhile. I might not write for awhile. Happy Deepavali to all Malaysians. Hope this year 2008 festival of lights would bring brightness to all the marginalised Indians and other races of Malaysia. Over this 50 years, Malaysia has become a country for a few powerful and well placed individuals in the Barisan Nasional Party. Many were booted out in the recent 2008 Election but there were many who still managed to hold on to their seats. But let this be a reminder. Hindraf's 2007 massive rally is nearing a year. This country has changed slightly. The Birth of a true opposition party has been realised. But the struggle and fate of the Indians are still as hazy as it has was in the beginning.
Another earth moving struggle will surface and it will crumble BN. Hindraf cannot be killed, tortured, poisoned or destroyed. Because it has no head, tail or body. It's a voice, an awakening. Makkal Sakthi is an conscious.
You cant arrest 2 million people. You cant catch 2 million. But U might be able to catch me and few others who are like me but another one will take my place. And after him another. How long can you keep catching and locking up us? Because we are here to stay and stay we shall. God save the King and Malaysia.

Uthaya's speech for KL Duta Court 20/10/08

2008-10-22T21:24:00.003+08:00

Dear Hindraf Supporters

2008-10-21T14:48:00.001+08:00

Thank you for the concern shown on the recent ban on HINDRAF. Many of you are anxious as to what would happen next. Numerous questions have been posed. What would we do? Have we lost the struggle?

The answer is a simple NO. Yes the Government has declared HINDRAF unlawful. They have taken away our "body" (HINDRAF) but they can never take away our souls for the humanity that will prevail. We belong to a great tradition which believes in the Law of Karma and Reincarnation- the spirit of HINDRAF would soon emerge in a new body, a much energized and energetic force which would lead us to greater democratic heights.

The artificial authority along with the spinmasters of UMNO led by the ruling government continues to chastise us. Let it be.

The history and each person's experience is the hard truth and reality that cannot be killed and what HINDRAF is fighting for is the hard truth and the reality and not what sounds good. The sanctity and dignity is on the truth and the reality is the base of HINDRAF and the Almighty in any form will protect us, as HINDRAF is a humanity struggle in the Almighty's blessing for his children.

Be patient – it would be sooner than later. Oppression intimidation and threats by the Malaysian Government will never derail our struggle. Let us all await the new "Rising Power" of Makkal Sakthi.

THE NEO DEMOCRATISATION REVOLUTION BEGINS.

P.Waytha Moorthy
CHAIRMAN
HINDRAF

Disbanded Hindraf

2008-10-19T04:06:00.001+08:00

Malaysianatheart commented to the ‘Stay calm and stay cunning. Don’t react. For now’ post :
By Haris Ibrahim

Hindraf is caught in a web of its own making. Several months ago I had suggested to Waytha Moorthy in London that he must re-brand Hindraf. Its far too communal. However, it seems that they fear losing the support of the multitudes that made Hindraf possible. And they lack ideas about how they ought to re-brand. In fact, even within the Indian community, there is a sense of unease about Hindraf’s clarion call.

It is now an opprtune time for Waytha and gang to re-brand. They have demonised Hindraf and “declared it illegal”. So if now Hindraf disappears from the face of the earth - and re-emerges almost immediately as something else - what will the desperado UMNO morons have to demonise or declare as illegal? In fact they will be at a complete loss. They will no longer have a whipping boy!

Come on Moorthy - lets show these morons that WE LISTEN to the rakyat. If the Rakyat want Hindraf to change or reform - then we will. Come out with a press statement that due to popular demand, Hindraf has been disbanded! However, Moorthy will be setting up a new front to tackle ethnic marginalization - including the non-malay bumis in East Malaysia??? Something to that effect. No longer marginalization of Indians - but ethnic marginalization.

All in all what we need to do is remove fodder that UMNO now have to keep shifting the Rakyat’s attention. If Waytha Moorthy comes out and declares that Hindraf has been disbanded - well hopefully that will be the end of UMNO being able to whip up racial sentiments. Of course they are going to accuse Moothy and gang of misleading the people, and that they are lying, that they have not in fact disbanded etc - but hey, they will again come out looking quite foolish. And no one is going to buy their rhetoric.

___________________________________________

Hindraf Baru!

2008-10-19T03:28:00.002+08:00

What the government has banned is just a name. You cannot banned consciousness. It's purely ridicule's. The struggle will go on. The idea is far greater than fear. Hindraf is just a name. Banning Hindraf is like banning the Indian community.

Batu Caves true documentary 25th Nov 2007

2008-10-09T23:20:00.004+08:00

I'm obligated to put this clips in my blog. To expose the truth that happened on the 25Th Nov 2007. The events that conspired that night. The speeches that was given that night. This people dare to do the unthinkable. This are people who gave birth to the makkal sakthi movement. Unfortunately they were punished severely for their efforts. Since lately there are alot of talks demonising HINDRAF. I would like to recap the events that led to the birth of the Hindraf's strenght. I am sure that every single person at that place that night will never forget or forgive the puppeteers who hurt them that day. Sadly I couldn't be there that night but i did bald my head in protest for the use of ISA against the 5 hindraf coordinators after that incident. Hope this men's can celebrate Deepavali with their families this year.

Waytha Moorthy Interviewed in London

2008-10-09T19:50:00.002+08:00

Special Interview with Hindraf, Waytha. Moorthy In London a few weeks ago.

Penang to be a Wi-Fi State.

2008-10-05T12:03:00.007+08:00

The idea sounds great. It would be a big leap forward for Penang state government to bring public awareness to the use of technology on a day to day basis. Unfortunately, lately there has been a lot of criticism to this technology possible side effects.

Present official stands in other countries on the same issue: Many advanced countries have adopted a precautionary approach to the use of wireless technology. The Swiss government issued a health alert on electrosmog in 2005.

Germany, Austria and Belgium have all advised schools against installing Wi-Fi networks. In France, five public libraries shut down their Wi-Fi over health concerns. Last year, the German government warned its citizens to avoid using Wi-Fi.

Latest world developments on the matter: Concern over Wi-Fi has been recently raised in the European Parliament. In August 2007, the Bioinitiative Report, endorsed by 14 world experts – the latest scientific opinion on electromagnetic fields (EMFs) – warned that "corrections are needed in the way we accept, test and deploy" wireless technologies "in order to avert public health problems of a global nature".

Countries like South Korea has Wi-fi for nearly all their major cities. Nearly half of UK primary schools and more than 70% of secondary schools are fitted with Wi-Fi networks.

But The World Health Organisation says there are "no adverse health effects from low-level, long-term exposure". Scientists generally believe that Wi-Fi ought to be safer than mobile phone radiation because Wi-Fi devices transmit over shorter distances and so can operate at lower power. The Health Protection Agency says a person sitting within a Wi-Fi hot spot for a year receives the same dose of radio waves as a person using a mobile phone for 20 minutes.

What i would recommend is that all public transport places, libraries and hardcore city areas to have wi-fi for the time being. Have a 3 year expansion plan. So people who wishes not to be in this hotspot can migrate. Wi-fi unfortunately is a technology that cannot be ignored. As fast as the technology of hand phones and computer grow the the use of Wi-fi grows. For instance while i was travelling in Switzerland, I was looking for a place to stay while i was travelling on a train. Since i had a day travel pass, my destination didn't matter. All the train station in Switzerland has free wi-fi. So Everytime the train pulled into a station, I quickly pulled out my laptop and searched for all the hostels and hotels in the next town. Then from my present town to the next town i would call this places to see if there were any vacancy. By the time i reach there i could decide if i needed to get down at that station or not. If they weren't any vacancy then i would do the same for the next town.

Technology is there for us to use. But the responsible thing to do for the state government is to finance their own state university, University Sains Malaysia to carry out a research on this. It would be responsible for a government to have such an approach. What the Pakatan Rakyat Government in Penang does would show a good example to the other states governments to follow. Whatever done with responsibility and precautions is sure to reduce of going wrong.

Pathmanck

Era Ameno Turkish

2008-10-04T13:39:00.002+08:00

This a comedy clip from Turkey. The first time i saw it totally cracked me. Without taking it personal and sensitive religiously. This is a clip worth watching and enjoying. Well planned and executed.
Many have tried to reproduce this act but with no success. This one is still the best.

Hindraf To Visit PM again in Penang today!

2008-10-04T10:55:00.003+08:00

Hindraf has planned to visit Badawi at his open house in Penang today. The ones who went to PWTC on Hari Raya to meet him were the supporters from the south. This ones are from the North. It's Expected to be a thousand of them this time. But i'm sure this time around it wont just be Hindraf making the waves because alot of others have seen it's effectiveness and would like to participate this time. There is a saying no publicity is bad publicity. The reason in carrying out this protest is to show mass public protest againts government actions. It's like playing Black Jack. You reveal just enough to intimidate your opponent to act. Hindraf has done eveything peacefully so far. So the harsh comments to demonise Hindraf is purely lying thru their teeth.

A few of the comments from Malaysiakini and Utusan.

Timo Finian: To aspire to be a politician in the Malaysian sense, one has to be an idealist. To sustain oneself as a politician in the Malaysian sense, one has to be a materialist.

What does Hindraf hope to accomplish going against a battalion of hard-core materialists is anyone's guess. As far as the latter are concerned, the vile ISA, the centre of all the commotion, is to protect their own selfish interests and has nothing to do with ideology.

It wouldn't have moved them even if the whole hall was filled with a sea of black and red t-shirts. They would only find it all the more amusing to the chagrin of the protesters.

A wiser alternative, to make their voices heard, would be to hit them where it hurts. A nationwide boycott of all Petronas stations would be a small start followed by government-owned banks, tabloids etc.

A quick check online could reveal a list of interests owned and operated by Umno fat-cats like hotels and gas-stations. The list could go on.

Bloggers, activists. you need your thinking-caps rather than t-shirts that 'make a lot of noise'.

Malay language daily Utusan Malaysia front-paged several comments by Islamic non- governmental organisations saying Hindraf’s attempt to meet the prime minister at the open house was ‘overboard, discourteous and disrespectful’.

"Their (Hindraf) action was an insult to the Muslims’ celebration, it is uncivilised and irresponsible," said Peninsular Malay Students Federation (GPMS) vice president Syed Anuar Syed Mohamad.
"GPMS requests the government to ignore them as Hindraf is not a legal institution. Action should be taken against them, no matter if it is ISA or other legal action," he added.

Shamsul Anuar Nasarah of the Malaysian Youth Council (MBM) was reported as saying that the Hindraf nove was ‘disrespectful and untimely’.

Sivamani awesome clip

2008-10-02T16:58:00.004+08:00

Sivamani is One of India's finest musician. Well know for his drummings in AR Rahman and Illiaraja songs. I found this clip of him playing music in a very famous Indian Restaurant kitchen in LA.

Persistence led to Victory- "Say NO to ISA"

2008-10-02T10:45:00.004+08:00

Yesterday at PM Badawi's Open House function. Anti-ISA and Hindraf supporters showed their overwhelming support to the PM. 500 Hindraf supporters and 20 bloggers persistently stood their ground till they were given a chance to meet the PM and to convey their cause. Vey proud of them. Wished i could be there to support them. Photo's of their effort and courage.

Zaid Ibrahim writes open letter to PM

2008-09-30T17:33:00.000+08:00

In our proclamation of independence, our first prime minister gave voice to the lofty aspirations and dreams of the people of Malaya: that Malaya was founded on the principles of liberty and justice, and the promise that collectively we would always strive to improve the welfare and happiness of its people.

MCPX
Many years have passed since that momentous occasion and those aspirations and dreams remain true and are as relevant to us today as they were then. This was made possible by a strong grasp of fundamentals in the early period of this nation.

The federal constitution and the laws made pursuant to it were well founded; they embodied the key elements of a democracy built on the rule of law. The Malaysian judiciary once commanded great respect from Malaysians and was hailed as a beacon for other nations.

Our earlier prime ministers, Tunku Abdul Rahman, Tun Razak and Tun Hussein Onn were truly leaders of integrity, patriots in their own right and most importantly, men of humility. They believed in and built this nation on the principles and values enunciated in our constitution.

Even when they had to enact the Internal Security Act (ISA) 1960, they were very cautious and apologetic about it. Tunku stated clearly that the Act was passed to deal with the communist threat.

“My cabinet colleagues and I gave a solemn promise to Parliament and the nation that the immense powers given to the government under the ISA would never be used to stifle legitimate opposition and silent lawful dissent”, was what the Tunku said.

Our third prime minister, Tun Hussein Onn, reinforced this position by saying that the ISA was not intended to repress lawful political opposition and democratic activity on the part of the citizenry.

Gov’t has failed the people

The events of the last three weeks have compelled me to review the way in which the ISA has been used. This exercise has sadly led me to the conclusion that the government has time and time again failed the people of this country in repeatedly reneging on that solemn promise made by Tunku Abdul Rahman.

This has been made possible because the government and the law have mistakenly allowed the minister of home affairs to detain anyone for whatever reason he thinks fit. This subjective discretion has been abused to further certain political interests.

History is the great teacher and speaks volumes in this regard. Even a cursory examination of the manner in which the ISA has been used almost from its inception would reveal the extent to which its intended purpose has been subjugated to the politics of the day.

Regrettably, Tunku Abdul Rahman himself reneged on his promise. In 1965, his administration detained Burhanuddin Helmi, the truly towering Malay intellectual, a nationalist who happened to be a PAS leader. He was kept in detention until his death in 1969. Helmi was a political opponent and could by no stretch of the imagination be considered to have been involved in the armed rebellion or communism that the ISA was designed to deal with.

This detention was an aberration, a regrettable moment where politics had been permitted to trump the rule of law. It unfortunately appears to have set a precedent and many detentions of persons viewed as having been threatening to the incumbent administration followed through the years.

Even our literary giant, ‘sasterawan negara’ the late Tan Sri A Samad Ismail was subjected to the ISA in 1976. How could he have been a threat to national security?

I need not remind you of the terrible impact of the 1987 Operasi Lalang. Its spectre haunts the government as much as it does the peace-loving people of this nation, casting a gloom over all of us. There were and still are many unanswered questions about those dark hours when more than a hundred persons were detained for purportedly being threats to national security. Why they were detained has never been made clear to Malaysians.

Similarly, no explanation has been forthcoming as to why they were never charged in court. Those detainees included amongst their numbers senior opposition members of parliament who are still active in Parliament today.

The only thing that is certain about that period was that Umno was facing a leadership crisis. Isn’t it coincidental that the recent spate of ISA arrests has occurred when Umno is again having a leadership crisis?

‘Militant’ Ezam back in Umno

In 2001, Keadilan ‘reformasi’ activists were detained in an exercise that the Federal Court declared was in bad faith and unlawful. The continued detention of those that were not released earlier in the Kamunting detention facility was made possible only by the fact that the ISA had been questionably amended in 1988 to preclude judicial review of the minister’s order to detain.

Malaysians were told that these detainees had been attempting to overthrow the government via militant means and violent demonstrations. Seven years have gone and yet no evidence in support of this assertion has been presented. Compounding the confusion even further, one of these so-called militants, Ezam Mohamad Noor, recently rejoined Umno to great fanfare, as a prized catch it would seem.

At around the same time, members of PAS were also detained for purportedly being militant and allegedly having links to international terrorist networks. Those detained included Nik Adli, the son of Tuan Guru Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, the menteri besar of Kelantan. Malaysians were made a promise by the government that evidence of the alleged terrorist activities and links of these detainees would be disclosed. To date no such evidence has been produced.

The same formula was used in late 2007 when the Hindraf 5 were detained. Malaysians were told once again that these individuals were involved in efforts to overthrow the government and had links with the militant Liberation Tiger of Tamil Eelam of Sri Lanka. To date no concrete evidence have been presented to support this assertion.

It would seem therefore that the five were detained for their involvement in efforts that led to a mobilisation of Indian Malaysians to express, through peaceful means; their frustration against the way in which their community had been allowed to be marginalised. This cause has since been recognised as a legitimate one. The Hindraf demonstration is nothing extraordinary as such assemblies are universally recognised as being a legitimate means of expression.

In the same vein, the grounds advanced in support of the most recent detentions of Tan Hoon Cheng, Teresa Kok and Raja Petra Kamarudin leave much to be desired. The explanation that Tan Hoon Cheng was detained for her own safety was farcical. The suggestion that Teresa Kok had been inciting religious sentiments was unfounded as was evinced by her subsequent release.

As for Raja Petra Kamarudin, the prominent critic of the government, a perusal of his writings would show that he might have been insulting of the government and certain individuals within it.

However, being critical and insulting could not in any way amount to a threat to national security. If his writings are viewed as being insulting of Islam, Muslims or the Holy Prophet (pbuh), he should instead be charged under the Penal Code and not under the ISA.

In any event, he had already been charged for sedition and criminal defamation in respect of some of his statements. He had claimed trial, indicating as such his readiness and ability to defend himself. Justice would best be served by allowing him his day in court more so where, in the minds of the public, the government is in a position of conflict for having been the target of his strident criticism.

Law used against dissidents

The instances cited above strongly suggest that the government is undemocratic. It is this perspective that has over the last 25 plus years led to the government seemingly arbitrarily detaining political opponents, civil society and consumer advocates, writers, businessmen, students, journalists whose crime, if it could be called that, was to have been critical of the government.

How it is these individuals can be perceived as being threats to national security is beyond my comprehension. The self-evident reality is that legitimate dissent was and is quashed through the heavy-handed use of the ISA.

There are those who support and advocate this carte-blanche reading of the ISA. They will seek to persuade you that the interests of the country demand that such power be retained, that Malaysians owe their peace and stability to laws such as the ISA. This overlooks the simple truth that Malaysians of all races cherish peace. We lived together harmoniously for the last 400 years, not because of these laws but in spite of them.

I believe the people of this country are mature and intelligent enough to distinguish actions that constitute a ‘real’ threat to the country from those that threaten political interests. Malaysians have come know that the ISA is used against political opponents and, it would seem, when the leadership is under challenge either from within the ruling party or from external elements.

Malaysians today want to see a government that is committed to the court process to determine guilt or innocence even for alleged acts of incitement of racial or religious sentiment. They are less willing to believe, as they once did, that a single individual, namely the minister of home affairs; knows best about matters of national security.

They value freedom and the protection of civil liberties and this is true of people of other nations too.

I attempted to push for reform

Mr Prime Minister, the results of the last general election are clear indication that the people of Malaysia are demanding a reinstatement of the rule of law. I was appointed as your, albeit short-lived, minister in charge of legal affairs and judicial reform.

In that capacity, I came to understand more keenly how many of us want reform, not for the sake of it, but for the extent to which our institutions have been undermined by events and the impact this has had on society.

With your blessing, I attempted to push for reform. High on my list of priorities was a reinstatement of the inherent right of judicial review that could be enabled through a reversion of the key constitutional provision to its form prior to the controversial amendment in 1988.

I need not remind you that that constitutional amendment was prompted by the same series of events that led not only to Operasi Lalang but the sacking of the then Lord President and two supreme court justices.

Chief amongst my concerns was the way in which the jurisdiction and the power of the courts to grant remedy against unconstitutional and arbitrary action of the executive had been removed by Parliament and the extent to which this had permitted an erosion of the civil liberties of Malaysians.

It was this constitutional amendment that paved the way for the ouster provision in the ISA that virtually immunises the minister from judicial review, a provision which exemplifies the injustice the constitutional amendment of 1988 has lent itself.

I also sought to introduce means by which steps could be taken to assist the judiciary to regain the reputation for independence and competence it once had. Unfortunately, this was viewed as undesirable by some since an independent judiciary would mean that the executive would be less ‘influential’.

I attempted to do these things and more because of the realisation that Malaysia’s democratic traditions and the rule of law are under siege. Anyway, there is nothing wrong with giving everyone an independent judiciary and the opportunity to a fair trial.

This is consistent with the universal norms of human rights as it is with the tenets of Islam, the religion of the federation. Unchecked power to detain at the whim of one man is oppressiveness at its highest. Even in Israel, a nation that is perpetually at war the power to detain is not vested in one man and detention orders require endorsement from a judge.

If there are national security considerations, then these can be approached without jettisoning the safeguards intended to protect individual citizens from being penalised wrongfully. In other jurisdictions involved in armed conflicts, trials are held in camera to allow for judicial scrutiny of evidence considered too sensitive for public disclosure so as to satisfy the ends of justice.

If this can be done in these jurisdictions, why not here where the last armed struggle we saw, the very one that precipitated the need for the ISA, came to an end in the 1980s?

ISA was never intended to be permanent

Any doubts as to the continued relevance of the ISA in its present form should have been put to rest by the recommendation by the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) that the ISA be repealed and an anti-terror legislation suited to the times enacted in its place. Containing as it did a sunset clause in its original times, the ISA was never intended to be a permanent feature on the Malaysian legal landscape.

Through its continued use in the manner described above and in the face of public sentiment, it is only natural that the ISA has become in the mind of the people an instrument of oppression and the government is one that lends itself to oppressiveness.

Its continued use does not bode well for a society that is struggling to find its place in the global arena. It does not bode well for the democracy that is so vital for us to develop sustainably.

Mr Prime Minister, I remember very clearly what you once said; that if one has the opportunity to do what is good and right for the country, then he must take on the task. I respect you deeply for that and if I were confident that I would have been able to do some good for Malaysia, I would have remained on your team.

Sir, you are still the prime minister and you still have the opportunity to leave your footprint in Malaysian history. I urge you to do so by repealing the ISA once and for all.

Let us attempt to fulfil that solemn promise made by our beloved first prime minister to the people of this country.

Yours sincerely

Zaid Ibrahim

Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Fitri

2008-09-29T14:16:00.004+08:00

Selamat Hari Raya to all my friends and readers. Hari Raya is a festival that is celebrated by all Malaysians. Wishing everyone the best of luck. I'm in the midst of shifting home so wishing you all in advance Selamat Hari Raya.

-PathmanCK-

Gerakan mulls quitting Barisan, may join Pakatan

2008-09-28T23:23:00.002+08:00

Reported in Star by my pal Lisa Goh

KUALA LUMPUR: Gerakan is considering the option of leaving Barisan Nasional and joining the Pakatan Rakyat opposition alliance.

Gerakan acting president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon said this was among three options for the party - the other two being to either stay with the ruling coalition, or leave and become independent.

“We are not ruling out any possibility at this moment. We have to assess the situation, but we are not closing any doors.

“Neither are we saying we will definitely leave. It’s something we need to assess but we cannot do it based on sentiments alone,” he told reporters after launching the KL-Federal Territory (FT) state delegates conference here on Sunday.

Dr Koh said the party was examining how the political scenario in the country would continue to change, and had been getting feedback from the grassroots.

“If you go on sentiments alone, I would say more than 60% (want us to leave), but we are taking a lot of factors into consideration, and a decision cannot be based just on sentiments.

“It’s a very trying time, and there is need for a lot of rational, objective analysis. It cannot be a straightforward simplistic decision,” he said.

In his opening speech, Dr Koh also announced that he would be contesting for the president’s post in the October party elections.

“I am offering myself for the post, but I also set a timeframe for myself, and it is unlikely that I will go beyond two terms. I would like to have younger and newer leaders to continue the process of political commitment,” he said.

Asked if he would name his deputy, he replied: “We will let the delegates decide.”

He was also asked to comment on some 20 FT Gerakan members who had defected to Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), including former FT Gerakan information bureau chief Gan Kok Keng and former Setiawangsa Gerakan chief Li Tiam Chai.

“I feel surprised because it was only last week when Li Tiam Chai was with me in a meeting and there were no signs that he was not happy.

“We were talking about how to strengthen the party. So I am surprised but I will continue with the veterans, and new members are committed,” he said.

Dr Koh also commented on the Umno leadership transition, which he hoped would be “smooth and peaceful.”

“Even though the change in Umno leadership is an internal party matter, but we are also concerned because the Umno leader also becomes the leader of Barisan and the Federal Government,” he said.

Earlier this month, Gerakan became embroiled in the controversy over former Bukit Bendera Umno division chief Datuk Ahmad Ismail’s alleged racist remarks in which he purportedly described Malaysian Chinese as “squatters.”

Gerakan leaders had demanded an apology and for action to be taken against the Umno man, who in turn blamed Gerakan for Barisan’s poor showing in the March 8 general election, which saw the state of Penang fall to to the opposition.

The war of words even saw Ahmad’s supporters tearing down a picture of Dr Koh after a press conference.

Confused HINDRAF spouses plea

2008-09-28T23:16:00.002+08:00

Confused HINDRAF spouses plea does not dampen struggle to repeal ISA
Now, if you are the spouse of an ISA detainee - then your concern generally is for the immediate and unconditional release of your spouse.

After the release, of your spouse you may not even be bothered to campaign further for the release of the others detained under the ISA or other Detention Without Trial laws... let alone continuing to campaign for the repeal of such laws...

We have to ask ourselves the question whether we were even bothered about those under detention without trial laws before this - before our spouse, friend, acquaintance, our 'leader', our fellow fighter for rights, our church member, our ... was arrested and detained under these laws.

In fact for many, after our 'people' are released - the ISA just is no more a priority. For some, it will be worse - they just become indifferent to it.

Now the police or their agents may be telling family and friends of the detainees - stop the campaigning, stop the protest...etc and then your loved one will be released. They will also say that the continuous campaigns, protest... is actually the cause of your 'loved one' continued detention. STOP it all and they will be released...

This tactic of the police is not unique to the ISA arrests - it is also used commonly by the police whenever they arrest persons. They would say that there is no need for a lawyer - just be patient and the arrested will be released soon after investigations.

If you protest...get a lawyer, etc - then it will be long....it will become complicated...difficult.

If not, it will be settled soon --- and that is the reason WHY many persons, when arrested, do not engage a lawyer as soon as the arrest happens... they(and their families) wait believing the police and hoping for a quick release --- and sometime it does not happen.

And within 24 hours after arrest, when the police take the detainee to the Magistrate to get a remand order, the detainee is most of the time not represented -- and in fact, without contest, the police usually get their way most of the time when it comes to remand applications...

I say, it is very important to engage a lawyer when you get arrested - and choose a lawyer, who is not afraid of the police and who will really fight for the rights of the arrested person. Sadly, there are many lawyers who are afraid of the police or are not interested in challenging the police because they are worried that their 'rice bowl' will be affected..

In Malaysia, sadly most people only start looking for a lawyer after they get charged in court - and that delay is sometimes bad for the person charged.

Not knowing the law, he/she may have done things after their arrest and during detention, which they would not have done if they had early legal advice and representation, may in fact be the very things that will ultimately be the things that will cause them to be found guilty...

Why do they do this? Why do they risk it? Why do they prejudice themselves by their ignorance or by reason of not having a lawyer? To save money - for after all, if I am not charged - then the money spend on a lawyer could have been better spent for other important matters...

I read with interest a recent report in Malaysiakini entitled "ISA detainees' wives: Hindraf has changed"

The struggle of the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) is different now compared to when it started some 10 months ago under the leadership of the five who are currently under Internal Security Act (ISA) detention, said the wives of two leaders today.
MCPX
Dr M Kalaivani and B Buvaneswary, the wives of K Kenghadharan and V Ganabatirau, respectively, said they were not comfortable with the direction in which the movement has taken.

Speaking at a press conference in Kelana Jaya, Kalaivani said aside from the goal of obtaining the release of the Hindraf leaders, what is of utmost importance is that the Indian community's problems are alleviated.

Both these goals can be affected without rallies planned by those now coordinating Hindraf activities.

On the contrary, they said the rallies may actually serve to harm the chances of the five's release. - Malaysiakini, 26/9/2008 ISA detainees' wives: Hindraf has changed

They want it all to stop - the rallies, the protest --- and the authorities seem to have convinced them if this happens, then, their spouses will be free..., and so 2 spouses call a press conference (which is not that easy to do) and say things that can be very damaging for the HINDRAF movement and struggle...

Commenting on the anti-ISA vigil planned for tomorrow night, she said as long as the organisers have obtained the required permits to ensure the gathering is legal, she appreciates the effort of all quarters to highlight the plight of her husband and other Hindraf leaders.

"If they are going to do it legally, if they've got a permit, I really appreciate the efforts taken by these individuals. The vigil will be peaceful, so I don't think there is anything wrong with it - as long as they do it legally," she said.

Echoing her statements, Buvaneswary said she too disagreed with the planned gathering at Abdullah's Hari Raya open house as it may be detrimental to her husband’s chances of being released.

Contending that the rallies organised after the detention of the Hindraf five had deviated into becoming 'anti-government' rallies, Buvaneswary said they were defeating the purpose of highlighting the problems of the Indian community.

She said her husband had also told her to call for an end to such rallies.

"Who are these people to call for rallies? If our husbands wanted these rallies, their wish would be conveyed through us because we are their wives. What are the Hindraf coordinators trying to do now?"

"If you want the Hindraf five to be released, there are other methods of seeking this," she added.- Malaysiakini, 26/9/2008 ISA detainees' wives: Hindraf has changed
When it comes to the ISA and the Malaysian police - we really have to re-evaluate our perception of the Malaysian police - many think that they are sub-standard and not very good...but this may be far from the truth..

What have the police (and the authorities) achieved to date? They have got the 5 HINDRAF detainees to already go against each other. Recently, we also heard that one of them may even be a police plant - or agent...How good are they...they are 'breaking' the unity of the struggle...doubts about some 'leaders'..

By arresting the 5, they made them 5 HINDRAF leaders - but are they all really the leaders of HINDRAF?? Or is it what the police (and others) managed to get into our minds - i.e. that these are the 5 main leaders of HINDRAF... [Try to remember the HINDRAF movement before the ISA arrests - and ask yourself who were the 'leaders'. then. Were there even any 'leaders'?]

Remember HINDRAF is not a society - not an association - it is a movement of people...a movement of a long-oppressed people..who finally finds the courage to stand up and say "enough is enough".

HINDRAF rose up from the people because those who were supposed to be looking after the interest/needs/rights of the Indian community were not doing their job - the main culprit being the MIC. Temples demolished - and MIC was silent ( silent also was PPP, IPF, ....). When the so-called leaders and self-proclaimed reps failed, the people arised - The cry was "Makkal Sakti" - "People Power".

The numbers that came forth into the streets - and stood there withstanding the water cannons and tear gas...When this happened, other Malaysians, irrespective of ethnicity/religion again gained courage to fight for rights - for a better Malaysia - for change - and hence the results of the 2008 General Elections...

I go back to the news report about the 2 detainees wives - and note that in their eagerness to get their loved ones released, they even go so far to praise and thank the MIC and Samy Velu...

During the press conference, the wives also recorded their appreciation for MIC president S Samy Vellu and other quarters who are pushing for the five's release.

Commenting on the statements by certain quarters who questioned the "integrity and sincerity" of Samy Vellu in declaring he had met with Abdullah and sought the release of the Hindraf leaders, Kalaivani said her family’s only wish was to see her husband's return.

"I'm sure it’s the same for the other detainees as well and we sincerely hope that no individuals would continue questioning the integrity of any leaders or individuals from any party or question why they are asking for the release of our husbands.

"We appreciate the efforts taken by anybody to secure the release of our husbands, ...." - - Malaysiakini, 26/9/2008 ISA detainees' wives: Hindraf has changed

Now, Zaid Ibrahim has set the standard - will the MIC Cabinet members be resigning now - or did they even threathen to resign?

It is sad that the 2 wives (noting that it was not the family members of all 5 detainees) also goes further to state...that all is well and their husbands are being treated well...

Kalaivani said her husband was being treated well and was provided with the necessary medical attention at the Kamunting Detention Centre.

"We would like to thank the government for having looked after my husband well. He has not had any problems with medication so far, and I’m thankful for that," she added. - Malaysiakini, 26/9/2008 ISA detainees' wives: Hindraf has changed
What she did was very wrong - because she has unconsciously painted a picture that all is great in detention in Kamunting. She has also raised doubts about the assertion by ISA detainees about the bad conditions and even 'torture' that they undergo during detention.

Interestingly, during arrest and detention under the ISA - they treat different people differently. I believe Lim Kit Siang, Karpal Singh and Chandra Muzaffar, the Ops Lallang detainees, were not at all tortured and were treated 'well'. On the other hand, others were tortured...

‘
During the first two weeks of my detention, I was interrogated very vigorously by Special Branch officers about my personal faith and my religious activities. I was not allowed sleep for days at a stretch and was warned that I would not get my food if I did not cooperate. One Inspector threatened to disturb my girlfriend ... On one occasion, I was knocked down to the ground and I injured my back. Since then, I have been passing blood in my urine and have suffered pain in my lower back constantly ... On one occasion, Inspector (name withheld) forced me to strip naked and enact the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. [He] also forced me to crawl on the floor in a naked state ...’.

‘The cell was windowless, the only ventilation being some holes in the upper portion of a wall. It was lit by a single light which was kept on all night ... For a full month ... my entire bedding was a thin plywood sheet on a cement slab. I was beaten with a stick about 1cm x 4cm x 120cm on my legs and the soles of my feet several times ... and was also slapped on the face with the back of my hand …’.

‘A police officer put fear in me ... by saying, ‘If I squeeze your balls, how long can you last?’ ... I was also subjected to the cold treatment during interrogations with very cold air directed through louvers onto my head causing me to shiver ... [i] experienced hallucinations and woke up in cold sweat. For two or three nights, I hallucinated that a big cobra was crawling beside me ... It was under such harsh and oppressive circumstances that I was requested to make statements...’.

‘I was forced to stand on a leg with arms outstretched and head bent backwards for long periods until I collapsed onto the floor ... Immediately I was kicked by the police officer to stand up again on one leg, and this was repeated many times ... I was forced to walk blindfolded towards the wall resulting in knocking myself against the wall and this was repeated many times. The police officers stamped on my toes and fingers causing excruciating and prolonged pains. I was subjected to the ‘cold treatment’ which consisted standing in front of a very cold air conditioner either naked or half naked several times ... and on one occasion the police officer had thrown cold water all over me ... I was forced to strip naked. A police officer ... rolled a bundle of newspapers, lit one end and threatened to burn my genitals [by] bringing the lighted end close to my genitals ... A police officer stated that he would ... make sexual advances to my wife ...’. - Charles Hector, Preventive Detention in Malaysia - A Brief Overview, also Malaysia: ‘Operation Lallang’: Detention Without Trial Under the Internal Security Act – Amnesty International (December 1988), Preventive Detention (Restrictions) Laws In Malaysia – an article that was published in ALIRAN on or about December 1994.

YES - this is what they do. Treat persons differently. They may have treated Dr M Kalaivani's husband well - but we all know that Uthayakumar has alleged that he was not treated well at all.

We may get angry at these 2 women - but remember they are spouses - family members - and they really may not know what they have done - how they may have affected the strugle. But remember, they are also the victims of the police and the authorities..

It was great to see that their 'press conference' has not affected the struggle for the repeal of the ISA and for the immidiate and unconditional release of the HINDRAF 5 and the others detained under the ISA..

About 2,000 people staged a peaceful march through the busy streets of Kuala Lumpur tonight calling for the abolishment of Internal Security Act and freeing detainees under the Act

MCPX
Initially, two separate groups - Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) and coalition of NGOs led by the Writer Alliance For Media Independence (Wami) - had initially planned to hold a candlelight vigil at Dataran Merdeka at about 7.30pm.

When they came across a police cordon at Dataran Merdeka, the Hindraf-led group numbering about 500 decided to march to the temple opposite the Puduraya bus terminal about 1km away.

The crowd marched unhindered towards their destinations and gradually the crowd swelled to about 2,000 people from all walks of life, with many carrying candles.

The other group, which was in a procession holding Chinese lanterns, eventually joined up with the Hindraf group.

The police were caught off-guard by the huge turnout. Many media personnel had also remarked that the large crowd was unanticipated as past vigils had been small in number. - Malaysiakini, 27/9/2008 - Anti-ISA vigil turns into peace march

Let us continue to call for the repeal of the ISA... Let us continue the call for the release of not Raja Petra and the HINDRAF 5 ...but for the release of ALL who are being detained under the ISA and other Detention Without Trial Laws..

Come on -- go get Hari Raya cards and send it to each and every person that you know are being detained under the ISA and other Detention Without Trial laws (My earlier posting/s give the address of the Kamunting Detention Centre and also a list of who were know are being detained under the ISA in Kamunting)

courtesy of charles hector.

Sabah's UPKO to review position in BN

2008-09-28T03:41:00.004+08:00

Malaysia Today reported that Upko threatens to review position in BN if NRD can't rectify Sabah citizen's mistake.
Datuk Wilfred Bumburing the deputy president of Upko said that the party will have to resort to reviewing its position in the Barisan Nasional if the National Registration Department cannot rectify the mistake of changing the status of an elderly bumiptura indivisual into a permanent resident because it would prove a display of incompetence from the department. He said “This action by the NRD infringes the basic rights of Malaysians in Sabah and if it is not rectified, Upko must seriously review its position in Barisan. This to me is the last straw with the mess of NRD that is making locals foreigners and foreigners citizens. There is something really wrong at the NRD. This is not the first case” This was where a Panampang resident, Yong lost her native certifate and her original IC was issued a Red IC for replacement which according to the NRD was standard operating procedure. She then showed her passport and driving licence to prove her citizenship but was told to apply for her citizenship and subsequently froze her bank accounts.

The United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (UPKO) is a political party based in Sabah, east Malaysia. It is an ethnically-based party striving to voice the rights and advance the development of Kadazan-Dusun and Murut population of Sabah.
UPKO has 4MP's. If they were to quite BN like SAPP. There would be 6 independent MP's For Pakatan Rakyat to grab. Hopefully this would start a trend and force BN into a corner. I'm not an Anwar's fan but i am a Pakatan Rakyat fan. I hope the formation of an Pakatan Rakyat Federal Govenment materialises soon.

Peaceful Anti ISA Candle Light Vigil

2008-09-28T03:16:00.003+08:00

About 2,000 people staged a peaceful march through the busy streets of Kuala Lumpur tonight calling for the abolishment of Internal Security Act and freeing detainees under the Act.
Jointly organised by Hindraf And coalition of NGOs led by the Writer Alliance For Media Independence (Wami). The crowd initially started with only 500 slowly grew to 2,000.
Hindraf national coordinator R Thanenthiran said that government should heed the protesters' demands to free ISA detainees. Tonight, we the people, are the judges,” he said.
We malaysians are able to protest peacefully. “If the police follows the law, we can do the same,” he said.
Help the movement to abolish ISA.

The Truth about Malaysia's ISA

2008-09-27T20:34:00.004+08:00

Malaysia's Internal Security Act or ISA has its roots in the 1950s, when the country, then under British colonial rule, was fighting a Communist insurgency.

Almost six decades on and the Communist threat has gone but the law remains.

Opponents say many of the act's original checks and balances have been eroded over the years and the ISA is now being used to stifle political dissent.

But the government says the law is a necessary tool in the pursuit of social stability.

Aloke Devichand reports on those fighting to have the ISA abolished once and for all.

ABOLISH ISA. IT'S DESTROYING OUR COUNTRY.

Revolusi 48' Trailer

2008-09-27T19:28:00.001+08:00

The sequel to Fahmi Reza's cult favourite 10 Tahun Sebelum Merdeka, Revolusi '48 chronicles the largely forgotten armed revolution for national liberation launched against British colonial rule in Malaya 60 years ago.

This documentary tells the untold story of those who struggled in the anti-colonial guerrilla war of independence, during the Malayan Revolution of 1948.

Coming 20th October 2008!

The Chain Reaction

2008-09-24T11:24:00.002+08:00

A commitment to individual and collective dialogue triggers workable solutions for an engaged society.
A positive Chain Reaction that inspires citizen action.
-Like everyone says it "Makkal Sakthi"-

A must watch video of Malaysia's political crisis

2008-09-20T15:09:00.001+08:00

The Malaysian Revolution 2008

2008-09-19T23:34:00.005+08:00

Lincoln repeatedly said that the right of revolution, the "right of any people" to "throw off, to revolutionize, their existing form of government, and to establish such other in it's stead as they may choose" was "a sacred right-a right, which we may hope and believe is to liberate the world"
The people who represent Pakatan Rakyat and the people who support it are the people who are exercising their rights. This special rights. The same rights Gandhi seeked when he was treated with injustice in South Africa.

Free the country and it's people so that they all can live with dignity and pride. The people are the one who bring upon a revolution. This revolution has a name and it's called keadilan.

SAPP has resigned from BN

2008-09-17T18:36:00.003+08:00

SAPP decision today is to resign from Barisan Nasional. They are going to stay independentfor the time being. SAPP has 2 MP ans 4 state reps. Hope the rest of the parties in Sabah and Sarawak follow suit.

Hindraf backing Anwar's take over.

2008-09-17T12:44:00.001+08:00

Hindraf coordinater S.Thanenthiran, Gave an official statement that HINDRAF supports Anwar's take over of the government with the ruling of PAKATAN RAKYAT.
He states self-exiled Hindraf chief P Waythamoorthy is currently in London on a temporary political asylum granted by the British government under the Geneva Convention hopes to return home once the threat of an ISA arrest abates if Anwar becomes prime minister.
As well they are looking forward for the realese of the five hindraf leaders P Uthayakumar, 47, T Vasanthakumar, 35, M Manoharan, 47, R Kenghadharan, 41, and V Ganabatirau, 35 arrested under ISA as well as Raja Petra and Teressa Kok.
Everyone wants good governance without abuse of power, corruption and injustice,” he said.
“Anwar has assured that he will ensure a free and fair country based on equality, justice and democracy for all, something that Barisan Nasional has not given to Malaysians in its unbroken 51-year rule,” said Thanenthiran.

I sincerely hope this becomes a reality. Good luck Pakatan Rakyat and Anwar. Malaysia has been crippled under the ruling of Barisan Nasional for this past 51years. Makkal Sakthi stands by you. Lead this country to stand and start running with our competitions. -pathmanck-

Zaid Ibrahim and SAPP

2008-09-17T10:32:00.000+08:00

Zaid Ibrahim will be attending "Free Teressa Kok" meeting which is hosted by Pakatan Rakyat and today as well SAPP will be having a meeting to decide if they will stay on with Barisan Nasional. So hopefully by tonight we would know the developement from this events.

May 13 Revisited by Raja Petra

2008-09-16T07:14:00.000+08:00

They say those who forget history are doomed to repeat its mistakes. In light of the recent sabre-rattling by those in Umno and the warning by the Armed Forces Chief, Malaysia Today feels compelled to republish an old article by Raja Petra Kamarudin that was published in Harakah on 24 September 1999.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

This is Part One of an article I wrote almost nine years ago, which was published in Harakah, the official media organ of the Islamic Party of Malaysia (PAS). History is not something that should remain buried. History is something that should be a lesson to all or us so that we do not repeat the mistakes made by those before us.

In 1968, Umno fanned racial sentiments in a bid to 'unite' the Malays under its banner. Umno realised that the Malays were abandoning it in droves and it needed an issue to reunite the Malays. Further to that, the Prime Minister was being blamed for what Umno perceived as a loss of Malay support and the Young Turks in Umno wanted to also use this issue to pressure the Prime Minister into resigning.

Twenty years later, in 1988, Umno again went into turmoil with the emergence of Team A and Team B, which eventually split into Umno Baru and Semangat 46. Again, just like twenty years before that, the Malays had become disillusioned with the Umno leadership and there was a danger that Umno would suffer the same fate it did in 1969 if the general election was called.

The Umno leadership very cleverly got the Umno Youth and MCA Youth leaders to raise racial issues and bring the country to the brink of another ‘May 13’. This was when that infamous gathering at the TPCA padang in Kampong Baru was held and when Najib Tun Razak, the Umno Youth Leader, raised the keris and threatened to bathe it in Chinese blood.

Of course, this second ‘May 13’ never happened. What did happen instead was that Operasi Lalang was launched and more than 100 opposition leaders and activists were detained under the Internal Security Act. Najib and the MCA Youth Leader, Lee Kim Sai, however, were spared detention, although they were the two main players in the whole episode.

The ploy did not quite succeed though. In the 1990 general election, half the Malays swung to the opposition and Umno lost most of the Malay heartland to Semangat 46 and PAS.

Twenty years on and history is, again, being repeated. It appears like every twenty years Umno takes the country to the brink of a race riot in its effort to 'unite' the Malays and to ensure that it does not lose Malay support. And the 8 March 2008 general election, as well as the recent Permatang Pauh by-election, is proof that Umno has lost Malay support.

“The current situation is a repeat of 1969,” said Umno in its brainstorming session held at the Umno headquarters to conduct a post-mortem of the election results. “Therefore, a 1969 ‘solution’ will also be required.”

This is very dangerous talk indeed. And Umno has been doing nothing but talking dangerously since March 2008, as evident in the recent episode in Penang. Maybe the culprit has since been punished. Yesterday, Umno’s Supreme Council decided to suspend Ahmad Ismail for a period of three years. But the damage has already been done and the suspension can’t turn back the clock. Racial sentiments have already been fanned and Malaysia, again, is being pushed to the brink of a race riot.

Malays, Chinese and Indians need to know how May 13 started. They must be made aware of what May 13 was really all about. They must be made to realise that the current sabre-rattling is nothing but the same ploy that Umno used back in 1968 and 1988 whenever it felt that it was losing Malay support. May 13 was not about race although it is being touted as so. May 13 was about ‘reuniting’ the Malays and about ousting the Prime Minister from office.

To forget history would be to repeat its mistakes. Let us not be taken in by Umno’s shadow-play (wayang kulit). They know they are rapidly losing power and they want to retain power through foul means by raising the spectre of May 13. Malaysians need to be matured and clever enough to reject this ploy. Umno can try, but whether it can succeed will all depend on whether we get suckered into this very dangerous race game.

Let me take you down memory lane and recap what I wrote nine years ago so that we may learn from this dark history and not repeat what went wrong. As follows is what I wrote in Harakah on 24 September 1999.

*************************************************

A REPORTER’S ACCOUNT OF AN INTERVIEW WITH TUNKU ABDUL RAHMAN ON THE 13 MAY INCIDENT

The following statement is a factual account of the above-mentioned event given to me by the late Tunku Abdul Rahman (first Prime Minister of Malaysia) during an interview at his residence in Penang in 1972. I requested to discuss the above incident and was surprised when the appointment was given within three days.

His Secretary, a Chinese gentleman, allotted me one hour and advised me not to go into too much detail as this would tire the Tunku unnecessarily. In fact, the interview lasted three and a half hours. Because of the very surprising details provided to me, I think it would be best to report in a first-hand manner based on my notes written immediately after the interview.

“It was clear to me as well as the police that in the highly charged political atmosphere after the police were forced to kill a Chinese political party worker on May 4th, 1969, something was bound to happen to threaten law and order because of the resentment towards the Government by the KL Chinese on the eve of the general election. This was confirmed at this man’s funeral on the 9th May when the government faced the most hostile crowd it had ever seen.

Therefore, when the opposition parties applied for a police permit for a procession to celebrate their success in the results of the general election, I was adamant against it because the police were convinced that this would lead to trouble. I informed Tun Razak about this and he seemed to agree.

Now, without my knowledge and actually “behind my back”, there were certain political leaders in high positions who were working to force me to step down as a PM. I don’t want to go into details but if they had come to me and said so I would gladly have retired gracefully.

Unfortunately, they were apparently scheming and trying to decide on the best way to force me to resign. The occasion came when the question of the police permit was to be approved.

Tun Razak and Harun Idris, the MB of the state of Selangor, now felt that permission should be given, knowing fully well that there was a likelihood of trouble. I suppose they felt that when this happened they could then demand my resignation.

To this day I find it very hard to believe that Razak, whom I had known for so many years, would agree to work against me in this way. Actually he was in my house, as I was preparing to return to Kedah, and I overhead him speaking to Harun over the phone saying that he would be willing to approve the permit when I left. I really could not believe what I was hearing and preferred to think it was about some other permit. In any case, as the Deputy Prime Minister, in my absence from KL, he would be the Acting PM and would override my objection.

Accordingly, when I was in my home in Kedah, I heard over the radio that the permit had been approved.

It seems as though the expected trouble was anticipated and planned for by Harun and his UMNO Youth. After the humiliating insults hurled by the non-Malays, especially the Chinese, and after the seeming loss of Malay political power to them, they were clearly ready for some retaliatory action.

After meeting in large numbers at Harun’s official residence in Jalan Raja Muda near Kampong Bahru, and hearing inflammatory speeches by Harun and other leaders, they prepared themselves by tying ribbon strips on their foreheads and set out to kill Chinese. The first hapless victims were two of them in a van opposite Harun’s house who were innocently watching the large gathering. Little did they know that they would be killed on the spot.

The rest is history. I am sorry but I must end this discussion now because it really pains me as the Father of Merdeka to have to relive those terrible moments. I have often wondered why God made me live long enough to have witnessed my beloved Malays and Chinese citizens killing each other.”

This was a conspiracy at the highest level and nothing short of a power struggle, with the ‘Young Turks’ then forming the pressure group. To achieve their ends, they very cleverly used race to make the Malays rise and push the Tengku aside.

Today, they are doing it again. This is dangerous politics. It may backfire and, instead, it may make the Malays rise against the non-Malays, like what happened in 1969 -- a fire raging out of control with no fire extinguisher in sight.

We must never allow our country to be turned into a racial battlefield again. Let politics be issues concerning policies, civil rights, good governance and justice. Let us not allow anyone to bring race and religion into our politics lest we suffer the fate of many countries around us where mass murders of entire families are made in the name of ‘bangsa’ and ‘agama’.