What is happening here?

This inhumane, barbaric and cowardice act definitely reaffirms popular insinuation that Malaysia has been turned into a police state.

What puzzles many is the fact that RPK was supposed to have his herbeas corpus application heard this morning. But fearing an embarrassing decision of the court, Syed Hamid "The Kodomo Lion" of UMNO - by virtue of him being the Home Minister, signed the detention order at the 11th hour - thus banishing RPK to Kamunting for up to two years and blatantly denying him of a judicial review by the court.

Being detained under Section 8 of the ISA, RPK now has no ground to get the court to review if his detention is lawful or otherwise.

What a gross miscarriage of justice. Wonder no more why public confidence of the Government is fast eroding day after day.

Hamid, Oh! Hamid

Syed Hamid: Kok not a threat to public order
The Star, Sat 20-Sep

Here he's at it again, with his statements not befitting a person of high public standing, let alone a Minister, or the Home Minister, to be precise.

This is our very own Syed Hamid, making a mockery of himself and the Government, with such stupid statements:

• Police released Seputeh MP Teresa Kok from the Internal Security Act (ISA) detention as they were satisfied she was not a threat to public order.
  

and this

• ...........her release from detention was not because police could not build up a case against her but because they were satisfied that she did not threaten national security.............. That was the principle behind her arrest and I believe that is also the reason why policy have decided to release Kok.

That's a lame excuse, Pak Hamid!!! Nobody in his right frame of mind could accept such an explanation, not even my 5-year old dog, Sissy.

If she's not, why detain her in the first place? And released her after finding out that she was not.

Nevertheless, at long last I now have a clear understanding how ISA works.

• First, a person is suspected as a threat to national security.
• Detain her.
• Police intelligence investigates
• Found to be "clean"
• Release her.

Or

• First, a person's life is being threatened
• Detain her
• Her life is no longer under threat (barely 20 hours later)
• Release her.

No wonder the resentment towards the BN Government is getting stronger each passing day if this is how you people in power invoke these draconian laws to silence off your political foes.

No wonder the call for a change in Government grows bigger and bigger, as the rakyat no longer trusts this BN Government.

No wonder more than 31 BN MPs are prepared to jump ship as they no longer have faith in this BN Government.

No wonder the rakyat is prepared to risk their future by accepting the Pakatan Rakyat, without knowing that the Pakatan Rakyat would fare better or worst, so long as the government of the day is not BN's.

No wonder the political tsunami hit the country as the rakyat couldn't bear another day under this absurd BN Government.

Raja Petra

Sheikh was out on Saturday. Teresa Kok on Friday. Earlier, it was Tan Hoon Cheng.

 

What about RPK?

 

He's languishing somewhere. God knows where.

 

Come on people, do your bit for a "real fighter".

 

 

If you haven't signed the petition, click below:

 

http://www.petitiononline.com:80/isa1234/petition.html

 

 

To Love Malaysia is to Know Malaysia – Part 13

Sudah lah tu, Lah.

Enough is enough, Lah.

Your time's up. Let go of it, while you can, while it's not forcibly taken away from you.

The longer you hang on it, the more damages will be done.

What is there to hang on?

Money? You (and your son plus son-in-law) would have made enough to last a minimum of 20 generations, wouldn't you?

Power? With your money, power would come easily.

Face saving? What is there to save? It's not important anymore. Your "face" value has long gone.

Fear of prosecution? Follow the footstep of Mussyarraf. Negotiate an agreement for non-prosecution with them after you step down.

All are pointing to your end. Turn around and see for yourself.

Take heed of the advice of the UMNO MT. They asked you to let go voluntarily, didn't they? OR you're prepared face the risk of being dumped out in UMNO general assembly in December 2008.

Take heed of the opposition from your Ministers in opposing the use of ISA?

Take heed of the "voices of dissappointment" of MCA, Gerakan.

Take heed of the pullout of SAPP.

Take heed of the resignation of Zaid Ibrahim.

Take heed of the voices of the grassroots?

Take heed of the political impasse the country is facing.

Take heed of the financial turmoil the country is facing.

It's time you put your feet on firm ground and face reality. Get out of your denial mode.

Do us a favour, will you?

- abROcadabRO -

To Love Malaysia is to Know Malaysia – Part 12

Star, Friday, September 19, 2008

Teresa Kok released from ISA detention (Update 2)

Seputeh MP Teresa Kok was released from detention under the Internal Security Act at about 1pm on Friday, her lawyer Sankara Nair said.

He said she had called him and he was now on the way to the Jalan Travers police station here to meet her.

Kok, 44, is expected to give a press conference at the DAP headquarters in Petaling Jaya at 3pm.

Deputy Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar said that she had been released at 1.30pm after investigations showed there was no reason to detain her any further.

• Yes, Tan Sri. There is no reason to detain her any further. In the first place, is there any reason to detain her?

• Now that she has been released, it won't be fair if you don't rope in Khir Toyo as well. In fact, he should go in first, as he was the one who started the whole thing. Are you not going to do that because he's an UMNOputra?

• What about Sheikh? What is the reason to detain him? Is it because he hung the Jalur Gemilang upside-down? If YES, is hanging the Jalur Gemilang seditious?

• Malaysians, by and large, can't comprehend the reason; and they are expecting you to give a rationale answer this time around. Don't be a bloody fool once more. You can do better than your Minister.

- abROcadabRO -

To Love Malaysia is to Know Malaysia – Part 11

Tuesday September 16, 2008
Zaid sticking to his decision to resign (updated)

PUTRAJAYA: Datul Zaid Ibrahim has set his mind on resigning from the Cabinet, citing his disappointment with “meeting a brick wall” from his own colleagues and party members on many of his suggestions for reform.

The former de facto Law Minister also said he did not want many of the problems arising from his proposals earlier to be a burden on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi at a time when the latter had to grapple with party conflict and other challenges.

At least in UMNO there is one sensible leader who is prepared stick his neck out – a righteous, principled-man.

But the dungu PM is not taking heed from Zaid’s decision. But Zaid is not alone. Many other leaders are also against the ISA. It’s time to repeal it.

Some may sound tough, whilst some may sound like an advice; but it is clear that the voices are against ISA. It's not only them. It's the whole nation.

The 3 Ongs in MCA - Ka Ting, Ka Chuan and Tee Keat have all spoken out against it. Fong Chan Onn has lamblasted Syed Hamid “Kodomo Lion” Albar on his stupid explanation on invoking the ISA.

Softie Koh Tsu Koon has also spoken out.

So have MIC’s Samy Vellu and S. Subramaniam.

Shahril Samad had also voiced out.

Many many more.

So now how Pak Lah? They speak out for the entire nation.

Or you just want to leave it to Anwar to act on RPK and Teresa? Anwar claimed he already has the number. Read here for more.


abROcadabRO

To Love Malaysia is to Know Malaysia – Part 10

Show them the number, Anwar!

Show them the number, Anwar, if you have. What is holding you back? Get it done once and for all now. The sooner the better. Many Malaysians, like me, are getting impatient already. We have been yearning for the change since Dr. M handed over power.

Of late, they have done so many crazy and ridiculous things. Even my 5 year-old dog also can't comprehend. I'm not saying they did fantastic jobs before this but the latest incident diminished the last drop of confidence I had for them.

You see, they scooped up Raja Petra, a day after they lifted the ban on his blog, Malaysia Today. They claimed that he was a threat to national security. What national security can RPK threaten? Is he propogating insurgency? Communism? Is is propogating automonous rule or self-rule for any part of Malaysia? Is he assemblying a batallion of armed insurgents and arsenal of weapons to overthrow the government? No. What he did was to give his differing or dissenting views on issues that he thought was of national interest. Was it wrong to differ in views and to criticize?

You see, besides RPK, Teresa Kok was also in. Syed Hamid "Kodomo Lion" Albar, the most absurd Home Minister Malaysia ever had in its 51 history, said it was her role in the escalation of insensitive racial issues. What did she do? She rigorously defended the accusation levelled against her by another sour grape in Umno, Dr Khir "Tempe" Toyo that she demanded that a mosque in Puchong stopped using the loud speaker during "azan" time. That's all. And because of that, she was taken in.

They then picked up Tan Hoon Cheng, claiming that her life was under threat, for reporting the racist remarks made by the ever-recalcitrant Bukit Bendera Umno chief, Ahmad Ismail, only to release her 20 hours later (probably upon learning that how absurb they were).

Tan Hoon Cheng was a reporter; and she reported what Ahmad Ismail blurted out from his big mouth. An she was blamed to have incited the racial tension. Had she reported differently, she might have been accused of misrepresenting or twisting the facts.

What happened to the other perpetrators? Don't you think Ahmad Ismail, Azhar Ibrahim and Khir Toyo should be ISAed as well? Ahmad Ismail even had the cheek to proudly say he was going for roadshows nation-wide to explain the cause he was fighting for. Azhar Ibrahim, Penang UMNO secretary said that the reporter who reported Ahmad Ismail's remarks should be shot. Khir Toyo stirred up the racial sentiment by accusing Teresa.

Hairan bin ajaib. But the person who incited all these baseless allegations were not even ticked off, let alone ISAed

The sooner you take over, the better for us Malaysians. Nobody can bear even a minute longer. If you were to take over, at least I can be rest assured that this bloody devil is gone.

abROcadabRO

To Love Malaysia is to Know Malaysia – Part 9

Practise the Politics of Restraint

Sensing that the Ahmad Ismail Saga may get out of hand, I tried to refrain from commenting further, so as not to "add salt to the wound", as I thought "time will heal all ills" but it's obvious that this old saying is not always right.

But Ahmad Ismail's continued arrogance and his personal attack on Koh Tsu Koon during his press conference and the support given to him by Penang Umno leaders "forces" me out from my hibernation just to say a word or two - hoping that that small bit of mine may make a difference.

It's universally observed that nations deeply embroiled in racial conflict always end up either in extinction, broken up into smaller sovereign states or could never recover economically. The former Yugoslavia completely disappeared from the world map - broke up into Slovenia, Georgia, Croatia and others. The former great USSR disintegrated partly due to racial conflict. South Africa suffered a great deal due to racial conflict. Sudan has been plagued by famine due to racial conflict. Many others suffered the same fate due to racial intolerances.

No one in his right frame of mind would like to see this happening to Malaysia. That being the case, all of us Malaysians of all races and ethnicity, especially high office politicians must go all out - at all cost to Practise the Politics of Restraint.

Malaysia comprises of many races and ethnicity; they co-exist for centuries, they work together with each other and they need and depend on each other. One could never imagine how would Malaysia be without the Malays, or Chinese, or Indians, or Ibans, or Dayaks, Sikhs etc. It would not be Malaysia anymore. So, why would anybody wants to diminish this beautiful identity.

Living in a plural society like Malaysia requires lots of tolerance, restraint and understanding.

Let's be more tolerance with each other. Let's forgive and forget each other's mistakes.

Let's restraint from hurting and offending each other.

Let's be more understanding of each other's beliefs and practices.

Let's respect each other regardless of race and ethnicity.

Let's bear in mind and be always wary about the sensitivity of each other's race and religion.

Let's avoid condenming each other race and ethnic. If needs to, let's critisize each other's actions, not because one is a Malay, Indian, Chinese or Sikh.

Let's eliminate the politics of hate. Let's avoid racial tension at all cost.

In so doing, whenever and wherever we say unintentionally something wrong or hurting, apologize right away. Let's not wait for the PM or DPM to instruct us to do so. Let's not wait for the DPM to apologize on our behalf. Let's not allow our top leaders to stoop so low to diffuse the tension.

Let's not be so stubborn, defiant, stone-headed, arrogant and recalcitrant in our conduct. If you are in the wrong, just admit it. The world would not chastisized you for admitting your wrongdoing. The public despise stubborn, stone-headed and arrogant people. Furthermore, when you're in the wrong, stop giving lame excuses that even a 5-year old child couldn't accept. Everyone knows about "the historical facts". No need to remind them. It irks people more. They can also present you many other "historical facts" which you may not like.

Let's assume full responsibility for our actions. Whoever you're or whatever happens to you, you're 100% responsible. Don't blame your grandfather for being fat. Don't blame your father for being uneducated. Don't blame Koh Tsu Koon for the political upheaval in Penang. Don't blame Koh Tsu Koon for the routing of BN by the PR in the March general election. Stop the blame game. You're what you're. You're who you're. Blame yourself. Assume 100% responsibility.

Let's not aggreviate the matter by issuing threats. Let's not say "expel Gerakan from BN" or "don't push the Malays too far" or "don't steal the Malays' special privileges" or "a possible May 13 version 2" or "a lesson for the Malays to be united". All these are unnecessary. All these are not helping to diffuse the situation but worsen it instead. Let's not take it from individual wanting to become "heroes". Let's bear in mind that threat doesn't work. Threats only work on children.

Let's have some cow sense in dealing with people of different races, ethnicity and religions. Don't follow the footstep of the Penang Umno strongmen who gave their undivided but blind support to their colleague, knowing jolly well that he had erred. Support the right cause, not the person. If a Chinese made a mistake, other Chinese shouldn't support him just because he's a Chinese. Similarly, if an Indian did something right, all Malaysians, regardless of race, must come out to support him.

Let's work hard and strife further. Let's bring this country to the next level, regardless of who you are - whether Malays, Chinese, Indians, Sikhs, Dayaks, Ibans, Melanaus etc. Let's create wealth for the nation. If the Malays are rich, Malaysia is also rich. If the Chinese are rich, Malaysia is also rich. But at the same time, let's not forget the poor and the unfortunate ones.

Let's discard any ill-feeling, greed, envious, anger, hatred and dissatisfaction we have for each other, as these are the "evils" that are contagious in us that are telling us to go heads-on at each other's throats.

Let's do all these for our beloved Malaysia for our children to inherit.

- abROcadabRO -

To Love Malaysia is to Know Malaysia – Part 8

The Ahmad Ismail Saga – Enough is Enough

Ahmad Ismail, Bukit Bendera UMNO Chief -

The face smacks with arrogance or the please-forgive-me face?

Datuk Ahmad Ismail, the Bukit Bendera UMNO chief should be severely reprimanded and censured for calling the:

Many Chinese political leaders demanded that he apologized, some even wanted his “head” but he remained elusive and unreachable. He is nowhere to be found or seen - probably hibernating somewhere - doing some soul-searchings or finding answers for his brainless and insensitive one-minute remarks. He even skipped the scheduled interview with the police.

But where the heck is Ahmad Ismail? By keeping mum, it shows either he has no “balls” to own up to his mistake OR that is the real Ahmad Ismail – he is who he is – a recalcitrant, arrogance and insensitive person – a hallmark of UMNO.

Lessons learnt from the Ahmad Ismail Saga

1st

Ahmad Ismail’s remarks reflect Umno’s inner stand on the “kaum pendatang". Otherwise, why would Najib say, "We will apologize. Umno apologizes", when it could have compelled Ahmad to apologize for his action. Umno's apology is very different from Ahmad's. Umno's apology makes no meaning, whereareas Ahmad's apology would make a world of difference.

Many may not accept this, many may dispute this, but a fact will always remain as one.

While it's good that Umno assumes accountability for the actions of its members, it also means that Ahmad is let off the hook. By saying, "I will tell him (Ahmad) not to do it again. You know in a campaign all sorts of things can come up. I don’t think he meant it. I’ll make sure to tell him not to use it again", Pak Lah is treating this issue very lightly; and only stopped short of saying, "Well done, Ahmad but "do (don't" do) that again".

Umno's apology is akin to a Malay saying, baling batu, sorok tangan (unleash a stone at someone, then hiding the hand).

Najib had this to say, but knowing him, he did not really mean it:

Najib and other Umno leaders are all lip-servicing politicians who say what they don't mean and mean what they don't say. Their words can't be taken as per se.

2nd

Unprecedented apology by Umno. UMNO has never apologized before for remarks, statements of the same nature. The heat must be really building up on UMNO until it made this unprecedented apology.

Known for its arrogance, Umno leadership had never apologized for its mistakes, let alone the mistakes of others. But this time around, it stooped so low in apologizing for the mistake of a small-time division chief. There were instances where junior ministers (from Umno la) ticked off senior ministers (from MCA, Gerakan and MIC la, where else) - without saving the laters' faces. The senior ministers had no choice but practiced self-restraint, as these junior ministers were from Umno and could one day became their bosses.

Probably Umno is revamping and rebranding itself. It may want to shed off its' arrogance-tag. It may have swallowed a very bitter pill in the March 2008 general election.

3rd

Ahmad Ismail’s hibernation is Pak Lah's ploy to save his neck. By apologizing, Umno assumes accountability. By not apologizing, Ahmad is absolved from shouldering responsibility for his action. By not apologizing, he is refuting the allegation and admits no guilt. So no action shall be taken any him.

Pak Lah's support is fast dwindling, after the March general election; and even faster after the Permatang Pauh by-election. More and more Umno leaders are distancing themselves from Pak Lah. Obviously, he doesn't want to offend or hurt more leaders, especially division chief like Ahmad Ismail.

4th

Umno is more racist that any other race-based political parties. Umno could say anything racist but others can't. As the big brother in BN, it calls the shots. Others only follow. While its leadership forbids racist or seditious overtones, quietly and privately it's OK.

To the public, UMNO is not racist but Ahmad Ismail is. But in Umno, Ahmad Ismail is not alone. There are probably thousands more Umno leaders who are as racist as Ahmad Ismail, if not worse. Najib himself wanted to spill Chinese blood before. Hishamuddin and Khairy also wanted to soak the “keris” with Chinese blood. Many others have made even more seditious remarks or hair-standing threats before.

5th

No action would be taken against Ahmad Ismail, if Umno still lives up to its reputation of being the “big brother”. Otherwise it would not be fair to Ahmad Ismail. Najib got away. Hishamuddin got away. Khairy got away. Nazri Aziz got away. Everybody got away. At worst, Ahmad Ismail would get is a severe reprimand.

Prior to March 2008 GE, Umno can do and say no wrong. “Small brothers” (MCA, Gerakan and MIC) can do no right. Yet when Hishamuddin and Khairy wanted to soak the “keris” with the Chinese blood, they did “right”. When Liow Tiong Lai protested, he was censured and severely reprimanded.

But now, fresh from the thrashing it received from the PR in the GE, big brother's treatment towards the small brothers may have changed. They may not be as arrogant anymore. The small brothers are now daring to speak out. Look at Lim Keng Yaik, Samy Vellu, Koh Tsu Koon, Ong Tee Kiat. They have all grown up or rediscovered their long lost "balls" - at last.

6th

Ahmad Ismail is not the only racist in the saga. So are Dr. Thor Teong Gee, the Penang Gerakan Youth and Lau Chiek Tuan, Penang MCA deputy chairman and all those who relentlessly pursued racial divide by insisting that Ahmad Ismail to apologize.

Aren’t they racists as well if their persistent pursuit of Ahmad Ismail causes more racial disharmony?

Aren’t they racists as well if their persistent pursuit of Ahmad Ismail causes public disorder?

Would they be equally persistent had the culprit been one Lee Syai Tan or Ong Kam Beng? No, they won’t. Doesn’t that make them equally racist as Ahmad Ismail.

All of us, Malaysians, are racists at varying degree. Anybody, of any race, would be fighting for or come to the defense of his race when faced with tough decision-making. This can be attributed to our British colonial masters who succeeded in their divide and rule policy; and reinforced by Umno, our present political masters, who used "do-as-I-say, not do-as-I-do" approach in their master-servant relationship with other minor coalition partners.

But what differentiate all of us from people like Teong Gee, Chiek Tuan, Wee Aik and the likes is our ability to practice the “politics of restraint”, our ability to avoid the extremes, our higher tolerance level, our higher degree of receptiveness; and our higher degree of acceptance of the existence of differences.

Having said this, enough is enough la, Thor Teong Gee, Lau Chiek Tuan, Ng Wee Aik and others persistent pursuers of Ahmad Ismail. Our friend has suffered also la. Maybe he has been punished already. In fact, it was reported that his bungalow was torn down. Here.

Let the matter rest. Najib has apologized already, whether right or wrong. The more persistent you are, the deeper the racial divide will be. The more outspoken you are, the deeper the racial divide will be. The more racist you are, the deeper the racial divide will be. This is not the society you want your children to inherit from you.

And Ahmad Ismail. Are you not man enough to own up to your own words? What is wrong with just saying “I’m sorry”? Is it too difficult to say? Haven't you learnt your lesson already? Remember who you are? You’re an Umno Division Chief. You’re a former senator. You’re not a kuci rat. See before you leap. Think before you say. All well ends up well.