tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20779108488542007932024-02-19T17:52:58.053+08:00Pantheon of ArgusA Paragon of ProbityArgus Eyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10321678407791371530noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2077910848854200793.post-12273126308889365992008-12-11T21:34:00.016+08:002008-12-13T18:29:39.660+08:00The Tale of PPP’s Supra Maniam s/o Kolanda Velu And His Ultimatums.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixuRsl7LcZAz0wsBslDHetIvYtUivA0lzPiQUVYZopUsZX1YEmaEF0U_u_nC6f-kjAm98JHq5A7HURbRRTIUx8H1I45NyBTLbiCacxI8KFh4141bY97hU-aED89It6UjcCt5vJNMmZsEJq/s1600-h/kvs.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278534260974006786" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 166px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixuRsl7LcZAz0wsBslDHetIvYtUivA0lzPiQUVYZopUsZX1YEmaEF0U_u_nC6f-kjAm98JHq5A7HURbRRTIUx8H1I45NyBTLbiCacxI8KFh4141bY97hU-aED89It6UjcCt5vJNMmZsEJq/s320/kvs.bmp" border="0" /></a> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Supra Maniam s/o Kolanda Velu, later known as K.V.S Maniam and now Datuk M. Kayveas has issued an ultimatum to Barisan Nasional, threatening to withdraw from the coalition if Barisan Nasional fails to amend the Internal Security Act. Many have applauded this move. The rest associate him with a faulty radio, which often fails to strike the right frequency and has a volume that can reach the highest level at one point, and turn mute the very next. Truth to be spoken, I too, fail to understand this Supra Maniam.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Political analysts have formed a near consensus, claiming Kayveas’ controversial antics are driven by the motive of keeping the People’s Progressive Party within sight in the political radar. They believe that without these occasional outbursts, or rather mere sparks, Kayveas and his party may face the prospect of being wiped out from Barisan Nasional. Well, maybe not literally, but their voices may soon be insignificant.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">In 2007, in the eve of the People’s Progressive Party’s 54<sup>th</sup> anniversary, Kayveas was quoted as saying that his party would leave the Barisan Nasional coalition if they are not allowed to contest the number of seats they held prior to joining Barisan Nasional in 1972. This did not go down well with members of other Barisan Nasional component parties, and he was gunned down by the likes of Muhyiddin Yassin, Ali Rustam and Chua Soi Lek, amongst others. What transpired next was his change of tune, much to the dismay of even most People’s Progressive Party’s members. He claimed that it was only a request, and not a threat.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 102); text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 102);">"All I did was make a request that the party be allowed to contest for seats it used to hold. It was a friendly request, short of begging. Never at any time did I issue an ultimatum to the Barisan Nasional.”</span>- Datuk M. Kayveas as reported in the New Straits Times on 30 July 2007.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 102);">“I just said we would have to think about our future in the BN if we are not going anywhere. I don't think that is an ultimatum. Come on, we are in no position to give ultimatums to anyone."</span>- Datuk M. Kayveas as reported in the Sun on 30 July 2007.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">However, on the 30<sup>th</sup> of November 2008, Kayveas issued an ultimatum to Barisan Nasional. </p><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 102); text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 102);">PPP president M Kayveas today warned that his party will pull out of the Barisan Nasional coalition if the Internal Security Act (ISA) is not amended before the next elections.</span>- Malaysiakini, 30 November 2008.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Kayveas’ statements appear to be constantly volatile. The merit of the case does not favor him either. He seems to be losing ground on both ends. His claim last year that the People’s Progressive Party should be allowed to contest seven parliamentary seats and twelve state seats in the 2008 General Elections simply because these were the numbers held by them before joining Barisan Nasional is far from justifiable. He conveniently ignored the situational and time-frame elements when making that claim.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">At that point of time, People’s Progressive Party was a much respected party under the leadership of prominent figures such as the Seenivasagam brothers. Ipoh Municipality Council, under the People’s Progressive Party in the 1960s, was an exemplary model of local administration which was even highly regarded by Barisan Nasional leaders back then. Kayveas has certainly failed to live up to the legacy of the party’s past leaders. Yes, he may argue that it is a struggle to work under an oppressive system, and that had contributed to the downfall of People’s Progressive Party. But if that was the case, why didn’t he stand firm and make a stand when bullied by other Barisan Nasional component party leaders? In fact, what he did was change tunes to re-establish his ties with them. His flip-flops have been the cause of the public’s confidence in him to decline. </p><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Back to his recent ultimatum to Barisan Nasional, in which he threatened to leave the coalition if the Internal Security Act is not amended by the next General Election. If the party feels that the Internal Security Act is an unjust law, they should push for an immediate amendment or repeal. The next General Election would only be in 2012/2013. Here we have a political leader, who is supposed to represent the people, suggesting that Barisan Nasional has about 4 years to consider the Act, despite acknowledging that those who had been unfairly detained would have to continue serving detention for at least as long as that, unless of course, Syed Hamid chooses to releases them. </p><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">It surprises me when people consider Kayveas a bold leader. He may be controversial, if compared with most other Barisan Nasional leaders but he has yet to prove that he is bold. If anything, he is more of a coward who often plays the safe game. For example, threatening to quit Barisan Nasional if the Internal Security Act is not amended, and at the same time, give them an unreasonable time span to consider their decision.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Abdullah Badawi has now made it clear that the Internal Security Act would not be amended, burying any ‘hopes’ left of Kayveas. Abdullah Badawi also said that the People’s Progressive Party was free to leave the coalition. This was decided at the Barisan Nasional Supreme Council Meeting on the 9<sup>th</sup> of December 2008. In an immediate reaction, T. Murugiah expressed shock over the statement made by the premier, but went on to say that <span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">“But I don't think Pak Lah meant what he said that we can leave because he's a nice man... but sometimes, what to do?”</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 102);"><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);">- Malaysiakini, 9th of December 2008.</span><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">How do we comprehend this? The Prime Minister has made his stand clear, but the People’s Progressive Party Youth Chairman tries to reinterpret it. Today, the Deputy President of People’s Progressive Party chaired an emergency meeting to discuss their future in their coalition following Abdullah Badawi’s statement. Many who are aligned with them were hoping for the party to leave the coalition and consolidate their position as a formidable party. The outcome of the meeting was that the party would stand by Kayveas. To be fair to them, they may not have opted for a critical decision due to Kayveas’ absence in the meeting.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Let’s watch and see what transpires when Kayveas is back from the States in a couple of weeks. Supra Maniam s/o Kolanda Velu, the party has backed you, and you now have the chance of taking the People’s Progressive Party back to the heights of its glorious heyday. The ball, I’m afraid, is now in your court.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p><br /></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p>by Argus Eye.<br /></o:p></p><div style="text-align: left; color: rgb(102, 102, 0);font-family:lucida grande;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">also published in </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >Malaysia Today</span><span style="font-size:100%;">- http://mt.m2day.org/2008/content/view/15955/84/</span></span></div>Argus Eyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10321678407791371530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2077910848854200793.post-79918058905668650792008-12-09T23:28:00.011+08:002008-12-11T21:34:21.524+08:00Update: Taiping OCPD Replies SMS, Kuala Kangsar OCPD Still 'On The Loose'.<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">The OCPD of Taiping has responded to the SMS I sent him, clarifying that both the activists who were arrested in IPD Taiping, have been released on bail.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Below are the SMSes I sent to the OCPDs of Kuala Kangsar.(012-7132719) and Taiping(019-6000240) at 9.17pm and 9.18pm respectively. The SMS, in full, is as follows: <span style="font-style: italic;">“Tuan OCPD, with your kind consideration, please release the JERIT activists. You may be bound by instructions from the top, but we, the rakyat, hope that you would carry out your task accordingly and allow concern citizens to practice their democratic rights.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWYZmGoWbkAQGX29DNLeyBXp5cnGGCF3kZgQssPNSfGQxfvdygHNRze-e_9ka2h8KZWy4teT-rVqiTDopLObz2QoIZkpu3SLvJfSvEW6OnUlCkwX1HrLryszJ7L_WvgCYykum8vK_C_4DL/s1600-h/Image018.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWYZmGoWbkAQGX29DNLeyBXp5cnGGCF3kZgQssPNSfGQxfvdygHNRze-e_9ka2h8KZWy4teT-rVqiTDopLObz2QoIZkpu3SLvJfSvEW6OnUlCkwX1HrLryszJ7L_WvgCYykum8vK_C_4DL/s320/Image018.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277812809464511090" border="0" /></a><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal">At 10.28 pm, the OCPD of Taiping replies the SMS, saying<span style="font-style: italic;"> “Already release(d) on bail”.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9miVWS2eTTK3aPHQbhA6nGW-QcqYUdvWnDV87FbnGyb7E1uXbBz73IchLpaMWvh9XdOYtkb4-gy0qpXllDMe-9xiUscX8PVHTxJJvrjw6c9jf_iklldbbKr9X_HAhvTJKmciZ_oUHq0TK/s1600-h/Image016.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9miVWS2eTTK3aPHQbhA6nGW-QcqYUdvWnDV87FbnGyb7E1uXbBz73IchLpaMWvh9XdOYtkb4-gy0qpXllDMe-9xiUscX8PVHTxJJvrjw6c9jf_iklldbbKr9X_HAhvTJKmciZ_oUHq0TK/s320/Image016.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277813185709922674" border="0" /></a><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal">I sent him another message, asking him if all of them had been released. This was at 10.29 pm.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">To that, he replied:</p><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigYJXC0ZXdjMxjG-K5wUkloVZbvdRHFZ9VtDtDjR6uGJ7S5a_tt100v1JpYrtSxWe03KHhdwQ5x4OkloS4H5k74KBYwpFC8sVeqetVaarwwyU8cnrEm_Q-bYprVvFS8m_voPmcIKISQjmt/s1600-h/Image017.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigYJXC0ZXdjMxjG-K5wUkloVZbvdRHFZ9VtDtDjR6uGJ7S5a_tt100v1JpYrtSxWe03KHhdwQ5x4OkloS4H5k74KBYwpFC8sVeqetVaarwwyU8cnrEm_Q-bYprVvFS8m_voPmcIKISQjmt/s320/Image017.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277813470977377602" border="0" /></a><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Based on this, it looks like all those still detained are the ones held in IPD Kuala Kangsar. It is important for us to continue sending letters, SMSes and even calling them up to convey our dissent on the way this issue is being handled. Only if we continue to do so, we’d be able to keep them on guard. They should know that we, the public, are aware of the happenings and we would not take assaults and molests committed by officers lightly.We will take them to task.</p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">p/s- <span style=""> </span>The OCPD of Kuala Kangsar still cannot be reached. Keep the messages flowing in for him to retrieve once he switches on his phone.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">by Argus Eye.<br /></p>Argus Eyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10321678407791371530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2077910848854200793.post-51939511747664345772008-12-09T21:52:00.009+08:002008-12-10T00:54:52.869+08:00URGENT: JERIT Activists Arrested, Public Appealed To Convey Dissent.<!--[if !mso]> <style> v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} .shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);} </style> <![endif]--><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="country-region"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} p {mso-margin-top-alt:auto; margin-right:0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; margin-left:0in; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} span.skypetbinnertext {mso-style-name:skype_tb_innertext;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Today, the 7<sup>th</sup> day of the<span style=""> </span>JERIT cycling campaign, witnessed the arrest of more activists. At this point of time, eight JERIT activists are still held by the police. One of the female activists, Helen Mary Johnson, had been molested and assaulted. The authorities apparently grabbed her breast and been punched on the face while she was taking photographs of the event. Another activist, Lee Huat Seng, also fell victim to police brutality.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Those arrested are:</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">1. Ooi Choon <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Nam</st1:country-region></st1:place> (IPD Taiping)</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">2. Yong Chat Wah (IPD Taiping)</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">3. Dr. Jayakumar Devaraj (IPD Kuala Kangsar)- Sg. Siput MP<br /></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">4. Rani Rasiah (IPD Kuala Kangsar)</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">5. Jothi (IPD Kuala Kangsar)</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">6. Sugumaran (IPD Kuala Kangsar)</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">7. Karthik (IPD Kuala Kangsar)</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">8. S Vasu Rao, 49.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">These activists have been denied from executing their constitutional rights. Suara Rakyat Malaysia(SUARAM) has also come out strong in defence of the activists, condemning the arrests that took place hours ago. For more information, contact SUARAM Coordinator, Nalini. <span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 102);">Tel:</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 102);">019-3758912</span>.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">The public is also urged to express their condemnation of the arrests. Send in the protest calls and letters to:</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-weight: bold;">1. IPD Taiping</span><br />Ibu Pejabat Polis Daerah Taiping,<br />Jln Taming Sari,<br />34000 Taiping,<br />Perak.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Tel: 05-8291222</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Fax: 05-8077169</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(51, 102, 102); text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">OCPD Taiping: 019 6000240</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="font-weight: bold; text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">2. IPD Kuala Kangsar </p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Jalan Raja Chulan,<br />33000 Kuala Kangsar,<br />Perak</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Tel: 05 7762222 </p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Fax: 05-7772741</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 102);">OCPD Gaafar: 012 7132719</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">3. Inspector-General of Police</span><br />Tan Sri Musa Hassan<br />Ibu Pejabat Polis Diraja <st1:country-region st="on">Malaysia</st1:country-region>,<br />50560 Bukit Aman,<br /><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Kuala Lumpur</st1:city>, <st1:country-region st="on">Malaysia</st1:country-region></st1:place>.<br />Tel: +603 2262 6015<!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_i1032" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" style="'width:8.25pt;height:8.25pt'/"><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><span style="" lang="SV"><br />Fax: +603 2272 5613<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="SV"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="SV"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="SV">The calls I made to OCPD Gaafar proved to be futile, as his phone appears to have been switched off. I managed to get in touch with the OCPD of Taiping though, and he says that they’re still in the process of investigation.<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="SV"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="SV"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="SV">Lawyer Haris Ibrahim has just come up with a sample letter for those intending to send in their protest letters:<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="SV"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="" lang="SV">SAMPLE LETTER</span></strong><o:p></o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(102, 204, 204); text-align: justify;">[Letterhead of your Organisation]<o:p></o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(102, 204, 204); text-align: justify;">Inspector-General of Police<br />Tan Sri Musa Hassan<br />Ibu Pejabat Polis Diraja <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Malaysia</st1:place></st1:country-region>,<o:p></o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(102, 204, 204); text-align: justify;">50560 Bukit Aman,<br /><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Kuala Lumpur</st1:city>, <st1:country-region st="on">Malaysia</st1:country-region></st1:place>.<br />Tel: +603 2262 6015 <span isdynflag="1" info="Call +60322626015;2;+60322626015;0;" onmouseup="SkypeSetCallButtonPressed(this, 0,0,0)" onmousedown="SkypeSetCallButtonPressed(this, 1,0,0)" onmouseover="SkypeSetCallButton(this, 1,0,0);skype_active=SkypeCheckCallButton(this);" onmouseout="SkypeSetCallButton(this, 0,0,0);HideSkypeMenu();" context="+603 2262 6015" fax="0" rtl="false" id="__skype_highlight_id"><span title="Skype actions" onmouseout="SkypeSetCallButtonPart(this, 0);" onmouseover="SkypeSetCallButtonPart(this, 1);" id="__skype_highlight_id_left"><span id="__skype_highlight_id_right_adge"><br /></span></span></span>Fax: +603 2272 5613<o:p></o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(102, 204, 204); text-align: justify;">Dear Sir,<o:p></o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(102, 204, 204); text-align: justify;"><strong>Re: Release 8 JERIT Activists Immediately</strong><o:p></o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(102, 204, 204); text-align: justify;">We are writing to you, once again, to express our outrage and our strongest condemnation over your government’s ongoing crackdown on freedom of expression.<o:p></o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(102, 204, 204); text-align: justify;">We are appalled by your government and the police’s latest actions and view this as yet another attempt by your government to intimidate Malaysian citizens from participating in any form of public assembly and exercising their freedom to express their views.<o:p></o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(102, 204, 204); text-align: justify;">We demand that the eight activists to be released immediately and unconditionally and allow cyclists to continue their campaign in Johor. We further demand that your government stops the assault on freedom of expression.<o:p></o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(102, 204, 204); text-align: justify;">We strongly urge you, once again, to stop bringing shame to <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Malaysia</st1:place></st1:country-region>, a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council. We would like to remind you that freedom of expression is guaranteed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as well as the Federal Constitution of Malaysia.<o:p></o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(102, 204, 204); text-align: justify;">Yours sincerely,<o:p></o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 204, 204);">[Name]</span><o:p></o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">I think this is as convenient as it gets. All the details have been posted above. Now, let’s get moving. Pass it around.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">by Argus Eye.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><o:p></o:p></p>Argus Eyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10321678407791371530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2077910848854200793.post-64649067245449397122008-12-07T23:29:00.016+08:002008-12-13T18:31:00.767+08:00Tribute to RPK- One Month Following His Release.<div style="text-align: justify;"><br />Today, the 7th of December 2008, marks exactly a month since the Shah Alam High Court ordered the release of Raja Petra Kamarudin. Those present there on that very day witnessed a rare occasion in which Malaysians came forward and gave no recognition to age, sex and colour. It was a spirit that preceded self-made boundaries that have been in existence for a long time.<br /><br />Below, is a video I created as a tribute for the Prince who so often stood his ground as the People's Champ. YM Raja Petra Kamarudin, this is for you.<br /></div><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwqOGDKwgdfYyX9nAM4UkmZUzs3y50pQJqClgxobtFtr3ojWdF7RQrUHeC0vuh-XnsbFnbRflq-RupNsTLong' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />For those who are unable to load this video, I've also uploaded it on You Tube.<br />You Tube Link: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKOC182BJnQ">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKOC182BJnQ</a><br /><br /><br />by Argus Eye.<br /><span style=";font-family:webdings;font-size:85%;" ><br /></span><div style="text-align: left; font-family: lucida grande;font-family:webdings;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0);font-size:85%;" >Also published in <span style="font-style: italic;">Malaysia Today</span>- http://mt.m2day.org/2008/content/view/15846/84/</span></div>Argus Eyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10321678407791371530noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2077910848854200793.post-13031056096054338912008-12-04T21:46:00.019+08:002008-12-05T16:42:06.253+08:00Mahathir and Ku Li Gives A New Name for "The Mind Game".<o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} p {mso-margin-top-alt:auto; margin-right:0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; margin-left:0in; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFatNg42vAhu_BakkgqlbsS7pG81_mVedrj7Q7HdnmvxojeI8Hh3rNjDCxGg-34uJ5hlOfJqDQe5tWRE5e7C2xAbxZyo-qY68sUFD-cKIluNZGbVEu4ylL36PWxJOQ1JUt8bin81CcA7kB/s1600-h/mahathir+kuli.bmp"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 137px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFatNg42vAhu_BakkgqlbsS7pG81_mVedrj7Q7HdnmvxojeI8Hh3rNjDCxGg-34uJ5hlOfJqDQe5tWRE5e7C2xAbxZyo-qY68sUFD-cKIluNZGbVEu4ylL36PWxJOQ1JUt8bin81CcA7kB/s320/mahathir+kuli.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275945518659163522" border="0" /></a><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Mahathir Mohamad has come out yet again, this time suggesting that Abdullah Badawi may not step down as Prime Minister in March 2009 when Najib Razak takes over the UMNO leadership.</p><p style="color: rgb(51, 102, 102); font-weight: bold; text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(51, 102, 102); font-weight: bold; text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 102); font-weight: bold;">"There is talk that even if Najib becomes Umno president, he may not be the Prime Minister. I hear news that Abdullah is still interested to continue serving as Prime Minister"</span>- The Malaysian Insider.</p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Is Mahathir Mohamad merely pointing out a possible outcome with no card underneath his sleeves, or is he dropping a hint to Abdullah Badawi indicating that the latter still holds the Ace?</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Echoing Mahathir Mohamad, is the evergreen Ku Li. </p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(51, 102, 102); font-weight: bold; text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">KUALA LUMPUR</st1:city></st1:place>, Dec 3 — Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah said Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi does not need to step down as the Prime Minister after Datuk Seri </p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(51, 102, 102); font-weight: bold; text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Najib Razak takes over as party president in March.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(51, 102, 102); font-weight: bold; text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(51, 102, 102); font-weight: bold; text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="color: rgb(51, 102, 102); font-weight: bold; text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">“That is his prerogative, he has received the mandate for five years,” said Razaleigh in response to Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s contention that Abdullah was still interested to remain in power after the party polls.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(51, 102, 102); font-weight: bold; text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 102); font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 102); font-weight: bold;">“He commands the confidence of the majority of the MPs. And the Prime Minister is appointed by the King and not by the Umno General Assembly”</span>- The Malaysian Insider.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Tengku Razeleigh went as far as even stating that he would support Abdullah Badawi, should the latter choose to remain in power. </p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">The statement made my Mahathir Mohamad, and the immediate response by Tengku Razaleigh seems pre-meditated. After withdrawing his support for Najib Razak, it was quite obvious that Mahathir Mohamad had endorsed Tengku Razaleigh’s bid to challenge for UMNO’s top post. Many political observers back then speculated that they had gotten over their past bitter rivalry. Well, they may have been right.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Have Mahathir Mohamad and Tengku Razaleigh drawn themselves into playing their own version of the 'Mind Game' to set up the spark that would eventually see the destruction of UMNO, before they pick up the bits and pieces to re-launch it again?</p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Although an unpopular figure in the eye of most Malaysians to lead the nation, Najib Razak has what it takes to consolidate UMNO. Mahathir Mohamad had lost his trust in Najib Razak when Najib chose to stand by Abdullah Badawi, even when Mahathir had openly supported him. He saw Najib as an ally, but Najib stuck with Abdullah Badawi instead. Looking at this, the prospect of Najib coming into power does not appeal to Mahathir Mohamad anymore as it does not necessarily guarantee his well-being amongst those in power. Besides, Mahathir’s ego is too high to allow a personality that turned his back on him to be the Prime Minister of Malaysia.</p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">It is a known fact that Mahathir Mohamad, is a shrewd politician. The Anwar Ibrahim saga was testimony to the character of this man. Today, those in UMNO who once worshipped him, have turned into his very own assailants. Is Mahathir prepared to allow these UMNO figures sit at the helm and continue to rule, while he continues to be at the sidelines?<span style=""> </span>The answer is no. However, it is likely that this is how the scenario would turn out to be should Najib Razak become Prime Minister. I do not agree with the notion that Najib’s return would mean the return of Mahathir. However, it would surely mean the return of Mahathirism. We are set to see the same autocratic style of politics. And for once, ironically, this would be horrific even for Mahathir Mohamad.</p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Tengku Razaleigh, on the other, got a thrashing in his bid to require the minimum nominations needed to challenge Najib Razak. Any hope he had of moving up the ranks in UMNO is as good as gone. Yes, Tengku Razaleigh has been buried although he had far less controversies hanging over his head compared to Najib Razak. He had been buried on the day the official nomination counting ended in the same land that he donated to UMNO to house their Head Quarters.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Now, Mahathir Mohamad and Tengku Razaleigh share a common ground; both feel betrayed by UMNO, and both know they have nothing to lose. Driven by frustration, they wouldn’t mind seeing the destruction of UMNO. To be fair to Ku Li, undoubtedly being the kinder of the two and one who has shown much love towards the party, this is not the same UMNO that it once used to be.</p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">However, as mentioned earlier, with Najib at the forefront, UMNO would only grow stronger. They need Abdullah Badawi to remain in power for as long as possible to enable the already existing cracks in UMNO to widen up. This would turn out to be an advantage for Mahathir Mohamad and Tengku Razaleigh. They would be able to exploit on these cracks, and even possibly exert their influence on some prominent figures within the party.</p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Therefore, it does make sense for Mahathir to indicate out of the blues, that Abdullah Badawi may not step down. Actually, it was a twisted way of saying that Abdullah Badawi need not step down. And almost immediately, this was exactly what Tengku Razaleigh reiterated. Tengku Razaleigh also mentioned that the Prime Minister is one who commands the confidence of majority of the Parliament, and not UMNO General Assembly. He is well aware, that should this scenario occur, most of the Pakatan MPs would root for Abdullah Badawi. Pakatan Rakyat, particularly Anwar Ibrahim and Lim Kit Siang, have continuously condemned the prospect of Najib Razak becoming Prime Minister, due to unanswered questions surrounding his credibility. Besides, Pakatan Rakyat also holds the view that UMNO would continue to wane under Abdullah Badawi. Yes, once again, the pieces are in place.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">But, there is a staggering question that remains unanswered. Is Mahathir Mohamad taking it for granted that Anwar Ibrahim does not have the numbers to cross-over? If Anwar Ibrahim is on the verge of a takeover, as he continues to claim even today, this entire game plan by Mahathir would backfire as Pakatan Rakyat would surely capitalize on UMNO’s downfall.</p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Or could it be a plan that Mahathir Mohamad is prepared to gamble on, even after taking into consideration the possibility of some MPs waiting to shift sides? He doesn’t seem to have many options to pick from, and this risk looks inevitable if he were to attempt to even be a pale shadow of the Big Charlie he once used to be.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Furthermore, even if Anwar Ibrahim takes over the Government, it does not exactly affect Mahathir Mohammad’s ego nor does it reflect his failure. Mahathir Mohamad had played his cards very well. He left UMNO, and in recent months, he had mentioned one too many times that if Anwar Ibrahim takes over, it is only because UMNO is weak and not because Anwar Ibrahim is a great leader. On the face of it, it appears that he has orchestrated these remarks in the past to be used as his defense should Anwar Ibrahim become the Prime Minister. In the end, Mahathir Mohamad would still have the last laugh at the very party he once guided.</p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">by Argus Eye.</p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:78%;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0);font-family:lucida grande;font-size:78%;" >also published in <span style="font-style: italic;">Malaysia Today</span>- http://mt.m2day.org/2008/content/view/15714/84/</span><br /></p>Argus Eyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10321678407791371530noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2077910848854200793.post-33551542430995869692008-12-03T07:14:00.022+08:002008-12-04T18:50:01.480+08:00If Mukhriz Was Wrong, So Was Kit Siang's Ideology.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_X2g5_MuTp1IijGJ0zNSox7Le0tufOiwUkf-AtSzcXco7bi_Rfr043xTpSRWQJC36LNQdiQj1zifT3fheGiI70-wBLN7aEf4bWYWtz4INI-ZNnCt-Ow9kOcJ3dV5_37e4J8_qHduFDeDc/s1600-h/tobedel.bmp"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 166px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_X2g5_MuTp1IijGJ0zNSox7Le0tufOiwUkf-AtSzcXco7bi_Rfr043xTpSRWQJC36LNQdiQj1zifT3fheGiI70-wBLN7aEf4bWYWtz4INI-ZNnCt-Ow9kOcJ3dV5_37e4J8_qHduFDeDc/s320/tobedel.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275349575152028146" border="0" /></a><br /><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="country-region"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} p.abstract, li.abstract, div.abstract {mso-style-name:abstract; mso-margin-top-alt:auto; margin-right:0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; margin-left:0in; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Let us get the basics straight. Have we acted in a manner whereby we are seen as breaching the Federal Constitution? No. In fact, we often use the term ‘constitutional rights’ as our sword to attack those who claim that demonstrations and candlelight vigils do not conform to the frameworks that shape the ‘Malaysian Culture’. When speaking of the New Economic Policy, we say that we are against it because it is long overdue and the correlation between the length of its existence and the level of discrimination involved suggest that it is positive in nature. The most of us would also say that we, at all times, have abided by the Federal Constitution and we have never questioned the position of Islam as the official religion and Bahasa <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Malaysia</st1:place></st1:country-region> as the national language. We are only opposing the policies implemented by the Government which infringes our constitutional rights, such as the New Economic Policy. Well, if we agree that these are the things we often say, we will also have to agree that today, we are all nothing but plain hypocrites.<br /><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> </p><p style="color: rgb(51, 102, 102); font-weight: bold; text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="color: rgb(51, 102, 102); font-weight: bold; text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">“<st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">KUALA LUMPUR</st1:place></st1:city>: Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir, the MP for Jerlun, wants vernacular schools in its current format to be closed. </p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 102); font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 102); font-weight: bold;">He said the schools should be integrated into the national school system so that pupils would be able to integrate and interact better.”</span> –NST Online</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">What was so wrong with the suggestion made by Mukhriz that earned him condemnation from almost of all us? Was it the essence of the suggestion itself or was it because he is an UMNO man? Or could it be because he carried the eighth cardinal sin of being the son of Mahathir Mohamad?</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">On a personal level, I feel the story was carried with much bias. The focal point of the story was the shutting down of all vernacular schools, but if read in detail, the reasoning given was one that we have all been championing for. He went on to say that while Bahasa Malaysia would be the main medium of communication, the Tamil and Mandarin languages should be made compulsory for all Indians and Chinese respectively, and Malays would also have the option of learning these subjects.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Now, in what way are we deprived of our constitutional rights? Are we prevented from learning our own languages? Clearly, the answer is no. If so, why are we whining over it? If the Indians and Chinese feel that we want a school of our own, wouldn’t the only possible reason be for the purpose of mixing around with those of the same colour? And it is amusing that it is the same people who speak highly about the Bangsa Malaysia spirit, who are now advocating a race-based segregation system for young Malaysians. Furthermore, why shouldn’t Bahasa <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Malaysia</st1:place></st1:country-region> be the main medium of communication when it is clearly stipulated in the Federal Constitution that Bahasa Malaysia is the National Language of the country.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">The Bangsa Malaysia concept that we all aspire for would require instruments that would help us bridge the racial divides that are seen among us, Malaysians. One important tool would surely be the National Language itself. Undoubtedly, even with the slightest of stereotyping, it can be concluded that the command of the National Language possessed by those in vernacular schools are relatively low compared to those of the national school system. Arguably, this itself contributes to the widening of the racial gap.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Hours ago, the Democratic Action Party lodged a report against Mukhriz for his alleged seditious comments. However, this appears more of a political vendetta considering the fact that Barisan Nasional has often used sedition as an excuse to charge pro-opposition figures. How could the Indians and Chinese be worse of when the suggestion made by Mukhriz would only mean that it is compulsory for them to take up their own languages? Note that in the current system, it is not a compulsion. How could Malaysians be worse of when a system that gathers all Malaysians under one roof regardless of race, comes into play? In the first place, doesn’t this system fit into the Democratic Action Party’s ideology of a Malaysian Malaysia? Yet, they are against it simply because it was a proposal from an UMNO member. Hypocrisy at it’s best, once again.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Lim Kit Siang was quoted as saying:</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(51, 102, 102); font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>‘My purpose now is not to discuss the merit or demerit of Mukhriz proposal for a single education system, the validity of his contention blaming the vernacular school system for the polarised society which allegedly caused the poor understanding of the “Ketuanan Melayu” or Malay supremacy concept among the non-Malays and his view that the disunity in Malaysia arose from the different education system.’</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">From the statement above, it can be construed that Kit Siang refrained from discussing the merit or demerit of the proposal knowing that it would be difficult for him to counter a suggestion that is very much in line with his party’s beliefs. However, since Mukhriz is from the opposite side of the political block, he was not prepared to even admit that the proposal could potentially benefit all Malaysians. Instead, he focused his energy into explaining how Mukhriz has violated Section 3(f) of the Sedition Act by proposing the closure of Tamil and Chinese schools. It appears that the basis for him scrutinizing Mukhriz lies more on a technical ground.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style=""> </span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">This is the politics that we are seeing today, in which there is not much room for independent-thinking intellectuals like Zaid Ibrahim. Barisan Nasional sees nothing positive in what the Pakatan Rakyat does, vice versa. But they can be forgiven, for they are politicians and this is exactly how their game is played. It is the survival of the fittest, and exploitations know no mercy.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">But we cannot be forgiven for being drowned into this game. We often forget that we are the Kingmakers. We place who we want to place in the Parliament, and we kick who we want to kick out of the Parliament. Just like the most of you reading this, I am more inclined towards Anwar Ibrahim’s Pakatan Rakyat. But does that mean that we, the Kingmakers, would have to justify every action taken by them? Does that mean that we, the Kingmakers, should ridicule every move taken by Barisan Nasional? Let us act on principles, along the line of righteousness.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Whilst acknowledging that Mukhriz’s suggestion is positive, he should not be let off the hook too easily. This exact standard should apply to all education levels, be it primary, secondary and even tertiary. Remove vernacular schools, place the students in national schools, and at the same time, open up institutions like UiTM and MRSM for students of all races. It is easy to gain political momentum in UMNO by suggesting the change of system in vernacular schools but if it was indeed a genuine statement with no political bearing attached to it, be bold enough to explicitly state that the same approach has to be applied for all institutions.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">by Argus Eye.</p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 0);font-family:lucida grande;font-size:78%;" ><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0);">also published in <span style="font-style: italic;">Malaysia Today</span></span>- <span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0);"> http://mt.m2day.org/2008/content/view/15616/84/</span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0);font-size:78%;" ><span style="font-family: lucida grande;">and <span style="font-style: italic;">Malaysiakini</span>- http://malaysiakini.com/letters/94336</span></span><br /></p>Argus Eyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10321678407791371530noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2077910848854200793.post-41312718624235059572008-12-01T02:50:00.010+08:002008-12-01T03:17:56.158+08:00Re-Drawing the Obvious and Existing Line Between Religion and Language.<o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="country-region"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">In November 2007, the Malaysian Government claimed Muslims hold exclusive rights to the word Allah, and Catholic weekly newspaper Herald was told to remove the word Allah from their publications. The word ‘Allah’ can only be used in the context of Islam and not any other religion, said Deputy Internal Security Minister Johari Baharum. Asked why a new condition will be imposed on Catholic weekly newspaper Herald when its annual publishing permit is next renewed, the deputy minister said this is to prevent confusion.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 102); font-weight: bold;">“Only Muslims can use ‘Allah’. It’s a Muslim word, you see. It’s from (the Arabic (language). We cannot let other religions use it because it will confuse people,”</span> he said when contacted today.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 102); font-weight: bold;">“We cannot allow this use of ‘Allah’ in non-Muslim publications, nobody except Muslims. The word ‘Allah’ is published by the Catholics. It’s not right.”</span>- Malaysiakini.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Now, in November 2008, the authorities have kept up to their trademark act of sheer stupidity.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 102); font-weight: bold;">“Customs authorities in this Muslim-majority country confiscated eight CDs from Jill Ireland when she flew back to </span><st1:city style="color: rgb(51, 102, 102); font-weight: bold;" st="on">Kuala Lumpur</st1:city><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 102); font-weight: bold;"> after a trip to </span><st1:city style="color: rgb(51, 102, 102); font-weight: bold;" st="on"><st1:place st="on">Jakarta</st1:place></st1:city><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 102); font-weight: bold;">"</span>, her lawyer, Annou Xavier, said late Thursday.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 102); font-weight: bold;">"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. </span><st1:country-region style="color: rgb(51, 102, 102); font-weight: bold;" st="on"><st1:place st="on">Ireland</st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 102); font-weight: bold;"> wants the Kuala Lumpur High Court to issue a declaration allowing her to transport any religious material for her own personal use"</span>, Xavier said.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 102); font-weight: bold;">"Government officials have expressed concerns that using “Allah” in Christian literature could confuse </span><st1:country-region style="color: rgb(51, 102, 102); font-weight: bold;" st="on"><st1:place st="on">Malaysia</st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 102); font-weight: bold;">’s Muslims and draw them to Christianity”</span>- AP.</p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">The Malaysian Government has the audacity to suggest that only Muslims can use the word Allah. Alright, I am sure no one is expecting an academic response to this for even a layman would acknowledge that “Allah” is an Arabic word, and although Arabic was the origin language of Islam, Arabic does not mean Islam. The religion did not create the language, but it simply adopted the language to spread its teaching.</p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Many would find the above justifiable enough to refute the ludicrous claim made by the authorities, but as always, the authorities remain constantly in denial-mode. For their sake, let us get a little deeper into this.</p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Islam believes that God Almighty has many attributes, and that every “Name” associated with him has a meaning. There are 99 Divine Attributes for God Almighty in Islam, and Allah is one of them. “Elaw” in Aramaic is “Allah” in Arabic. Even before the arrival of Islam in the <st1:place st="on">Middle East</st1:place>, the Jews and Christians referred to God Almighty as “Allah”(expectedly so, noting that they spoke in Arabic and God means “Allah” in Arabic). It is important to comprehend the significance of the word “Almighty” as it reflects upon the Supreme God that is above all other gods, be it in the form of idols or even human. “Allah” is both Arabic and Aramaic. On the other hand, the Hebrew speaking ones called Him “Yahweh”, which a Hebrew-language word, or “Jehovah”, which also means God.</p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Epigraphic and inscription evidence tell us that the religion of <st1:place st="on">Arabia</st1:place>(before the arrival of Islam) dates back to 500 BC, or 1000 years before Muhammad. This was revealed by renowned Islamic Sheikh, Ibrahim al-Qattan, during the International Progress Association function in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Vienna</st1:place></st1:city>. He went on to say that the gods they believed in include Baal Shamin, Dhu-Samawi, Allah and Rahman. Among all these deities, Allah was said to be at the helm of the ‘hierarchy’ that existed and it was common back then for the word “Allah” to be inscribed by Jewish traders on stones along the Arabian trade routes. According to Sheikh Ibrahim, Islamic concepts and rituals got their traits from ancient paganism in the Arab land. He cited examples such as pacing around the Kaaba seven times, the climbing of Mount Arafat and the stoning of Satan, to name a few.</p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">There were three main religions in Madinah(today known as <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Saudi Arabia</st1:place></st1:country-region>); Judaism, Christianity and Idol worshipping, although technically, idol worshipping may not fit the definition of a religion. The Arabs were mentioned about in the Bible hundreds of years before the arrival of Prophet Muhammad. Arabian kingdoms such as Muntherites in <st1:country-region st="on">Iraq</st1:country-region> and Gassanids in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Syria</st1:place></st1:country-region> were Christian kingdoms that existed during the third to the eight century, and the language used was Arabic. These kingdoms were representations of the Byzantine and Roman Empires.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">“Encyclopedia de Islam” stated that the Christian Missionaries of Hira were the ones who created the Arabic Northern characters that are used in the Quran(Leyde et Paris, 1960, pp. 579a-622b). This claim is also supported by Jawad Ali, in his book “The history of Arabs before Islam”(Vol. 8, pp. 178-179). The church doors of Zabad on the South East of Allepo in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Syria</st1:place></st1:country-region> holds witness to this as the Northern Arabic letters were found inscribed on them. Church doors in Ir. Haran had similar letters on them too, and it was dated back to 568 A.D. The use of Arabic was also rampant in schools, ranging from subjects such as poetry to commerce. </p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Christians, even of that age, had Eparchies (dioceses and bishops) all across Arabia, including <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Mecca</st1:place></st1:city> itself. Churches, Christian schools and convents were discovered in many countries, including <st1:country-region st="on">Egypt</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region st="on">Algeria</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region st="on">Tunisia</st1:country-region>, <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Palestine</st1:place></st1:city> and Lybia. A convent recently discovered in <st1:city st="on">Karbala</st1:city> (<st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Iraq</st1:place></st1:country-region>) indicated that it was established in the first century of Christianity.</p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">A famous Franciscan Archeologist, Father Pecerillo, come across tens of churches and houses dating back to the Forth Century in Madaba, which is located at the south of <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Jordan</st1:place></st1:country-region>. The Arabic inscription “Bism El-Ellah al Rahman al Rahim” was observed on them, and this proves that the Christians were the first to use this phrase.<span style=""> </span>Some religious scholars suggest that Christians may have used it to indicate their belief in the Holy Trinity. Whatever the reason may have been, it would still coherently act as a piece of evidence to confirm that “Bism El-Ellah al Rahman al Rahim” was in use more than two hundred years before Islam.</p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">And despite all these, the Malaysian authorities go as far as saying <span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 102); font-weight: bold;">“We cannot allow this use of ‘Allah’ in non-Muslim publications, nobody except Muslims. The word ‘Allah’ is published by the Catholics. It’s not right.”</span>- Malaysiakini.</p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">By fearing that Muslims would be drawn towards Christianity simply because the word Allah is used in Catholic publications(rightly so), it does nothing but reflect the sense of insecurity on the part of the Malaysian authorities. I am sure even Muslims are perplexed by the manner in which the authorities are handling this issue. Islam is 1400 years old, and a statement of this sort is indeed an insult to all Muslims with strong faith in their religion.</p><p style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" class="MsoNormal">To the Malaysian authorities, if you are still oblivious to all the facts above, you may want to ponder the below.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Muhammad’s father was named Abd Allah, which means ‘Servant of God’ in Arabic. And my friend, it wouldn’t take a genius to tell you that this was years before his son was born or Islam was even founded.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">by Argus Eye<br /></p>Argus Eyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10321678407791371530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2077910848854200793.post-83212531718263769002008-11-18T01:19:00.015+08:002008-11-21T00:52:05.271+08:00Are We Forgetting the 'Natural Eunuchs'? Or Did I Get It All Wrong?<o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="country-region"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} p {mso-margin-top-alt:auto; margin-right:0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; margin-left:0in; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p style="text-align: justify; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 102);">"One of <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Malaysia</st1:place></st1:country-region>'s highest Islamic bodies has banned females from dressing or behaving like men and engaging in lesbian sex, saying it is forbidden by the religion."</p><div style="text-align: justify; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 102);"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 102);">"The National Fatwa Council issued its ruling following a two-day meeting that discussed recent cases of young women apparently behaving like men and exhibiting homosexual tendencies, state news agency Bernama reported."</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">The above is an extracted statement made by the spokesperson of the National Fatwa Council. To begin with, let us determine the key elements of the text, which arguably, could be disputed. The statement released by the National Fatwa Council seems to suggest that females who dress and behave like men, also engage in lesbianism. If interpreted on a looser tone, it would suggest that female who dress and behave like men, are inclined to resort to lesbian sex. Whilst acknowledging the instances whereby some females that dress and behave like men may fit the above bill, it is not convincing enough to rid the effect of a perceptual error. </p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">I am not a Muslim, and yes, I did read the stern warnings issued by various quarters, particularly Tan Sri Musa Hassan and YB Zulkifli Nordin, cautioning non-Muslims not to interfere as the ban does not affect them. Tan Sri Musa Hassan confined his warning to non-Muslim demonstrators from several non-government organizations who staged a demonstration against the fatwa ruling. As an exerciser of constitutional rights, I view demonstrations as part of democracy. However, I believe that we have to be reasonable in doing so. The non-Muslims, mostly I would say, do not understand the teachings of Islam well enough. Therefore, to opt to take this cause to the streets does not seem apprehensible to me. The purpose of a demonstration is not only to vent out dissatisfaction, but also to send a strong, cohesive message across the various layers of public. But how do we do that when we ourselves aren’t equipped with the fundamental knowledge surrounding it? Let us not get carried away. While fighting a lost cause may still reflect glimpses of sheer determination, fighting an unknown cause reflects nothing but sheer ignorance. Some may point out that I am starting to practice guided democracy, but let me assert that I am merely showing respect to my Muslim brothers. Guided democracy prohibits certain lawful actions, and I do not subscribe to that system. I am in favor of ethical values to set in and complement democracy.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">YB Zulkifli Nordin took a stronger approach in attempting to steer away the non-Muslims. He was quoted as saying that non-Muslims have got no rights whatsoever to interfere with matters pertaining to Islam. He went on to say that he wouldn’t have a problem with non-Muslims wanting their daughters to resort to lesbianism, for as long as they do not drag Muslims into this social wrack. To wind up his statement, he mentioned that if the non-Muslims continue to meddle with the affairs of Islam, some of them will have to rise to defend their religion.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">This is the tale of a man who is not willing to allow anything to come between him and his religion. I understand his sentiments, but being an elected representative in a multiracial country, he could have constructed his thoughts in a more appropriate context. Although I indicated earlier that it is not reasonable for the non-Muslims to go as far as organizing demonstrations to voice out their opinion regarding the fatwa, that does not mean that they can’t even discuss it. Zulkifli Nordin’s remark seemingly suggests otherwise. The time has now come for us to crush the notion that religious openness would lead to untoward incidents. This is an age where we should seek enlightenment or renaissance of a sort, to say the very least. Sadly, just like in most other areas, our nation is backpedaling here too. </p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">I will continue to raise my doubts on Islam, and I urge my fellow Muslim brothers to do the same with other religions. But let us do it with a clear conscience; let us do it for the sake of enhancing our knowledge and not as a smearing tool, for we have passed that barbaric period. <span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">As a non-Muslim, I never have, and never will, insult another religion. In fact, in my very first post, I even called on everyone to stop the attack on Islam, which I consider to be a beautiful religion.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">The Quran itself says that one should go as far as <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">China</st1:place></st1:country-region> to acquire knowledge. There are many theories on this, with some believing that it was <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">China</st1:place></st1:country-region>’s civilization that prompted the Prophet to cite it as an example. Others went to say that it could be because at that point of time, the Arabs knew about <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">China</st1:place></st1:country-region> as the limit of the world. However, that doesn’t really matter. The point to note is that the Quran implies the importance in pursuing knowledge.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">And this is the reason why no one, including YB Zulkifli Nordin, should prevent us from seeking the truth.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">So, let's get back to the fatwa ruling; does Islam really prohibit homosexuality?</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p face="lucida grande" style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p face="lucida grande" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(51, 102, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span>“And lo! thy Lord, He is indeed the Mighty, the Merciful.”-</span> <span>Surah 26:175</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(51, 102, 102);"> </div><p face="lucida grande" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(51, 102, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(51, 102, 102);"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: lucida grande; color: rgb(51, 102, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span>“Messengers of good cheer and off warning, in order that mankind might have no argument against Allah after the messengers. Allah was ever Mighty, Wise.”- </span><span>Qur’an 4:165</span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-weight: normal;">On the other hand,</span><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(51, 102, 102);" class="MsoNormal">Scientific research has provided sufficient evidence to prove that homosexuality is genetic. This may not apply to all homosexuals, but it certainly does to a considerable number of them.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Looking at some of the characteristics of God as defined in Islam above, would the merciful Supreme Being ‘create’ homosexuals by birth(genetics), and at the same time, forbid it?</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 102);" class="MsoNormal">Did He forbit it?</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">I came across an article by <span style="font-weight: bold;">Faris Malik</span> that may have answered the question. Below is a compilation of quotes from his writing, which I tried to rearrange and post accordingly for the benefit of the readers. </p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Qur'an recognizes that some men are "without the defining skill of males" (24:31: "<i>ghair oolaa il-irbati min ar-rijaali</i>")</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">These are the ones referred to as 'natural eunuchs' in ancient years(now, referred to as gay). Here, references made to eunuchs are with regards to those who are born eunuchs. Hence, different from castrated eunuchs.<br /></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;">The Qur'an also says that some people are in fact "ineffectual" ['<i>aqeem</i>]. In other words, there are neither male nor female:<br /></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">42:49</span> <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 102);">"To Allah belongs the dominion over the heavens and the earth. It creates what It wills. It prepares for whom It wills females, and It prepares for whom It wills males. <span style="color: rgb(192, 192, 192);">50</span> Or It marries together the males and the females, and It makes those whom It wills to be ineffectual. Indeed It is the Knowing, the Powerful."</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 102);">Arabic: "</span><i style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 102);">Lillahi mulku us-samaawaati wal'ardhi. Yakhluqu ma yashaa'u. Yahabu liman yashaa'u inaathan wa yahabu liman yashaa'u adh-dhukura. Aw yuzawwijuhum dhukraanan wa inaathan; wa yaj'alu man yashaa'u 'aqeeman: innahu 'Aleemun Qadeerun.</i><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 102);">"</span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal">Muslim, Collection of Authentic Traditions, Book of Greetings, Chapter 912:</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(51, 102, 102); font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal">(5415) Umm Salama reported that she had a eunuch [<i>mukhannath</i>] (as a slave) in her house. Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) was once in the house that he (the eunuch) said to the brother of Umm Salama: 'Abdullah b. Abu Umayya, if Allah grants you victory in Ta'if on the next day, I will show you the daughter of Ghailan, for she has four folds (upon her body) on the front side of her stomach and eight folds on the back. Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) heard this and he said: Such (people) should not visit you. </p><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(51, 102, 102); font-weight: bold;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(51, 102, 102); font-weight: bold;">(5416) 'A'isha reported that a eunuch [<i>mukhannath</i>] used to come to the wives of Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) and they did not find anything objectionable in his visit, considering him to be a male without any sexual desire [<i>fakaanoo ya'doonahu min ghair oolaa il-irbah</i>]. Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) one day came as he was sitting with some of his wives and he was busy in describing the bodily characteristics of a lady and saying: As she comes in front four folds appear on her front side and as she turns her back eight folds apear on the back side. Thereupon Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) said: I see that he knows these things; do not, therefore, allow him to enter. She ('A'isha) said: Then they began to observe veil from him. </p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} p {mso-margin-top-alt:auto; margin-right:0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; margin-left:0in; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Bear in mind that in ‘A’isha’s telling of the account, she mentions that he was allowed into their private rooms because the women saw him as someone who “lacked the defining skill”. She actually quoted the Qur’anic verse stating about men who “lack the defining skill of males”, signifying that if he had really “lacked the defining skill”, his presence in the room would have been proper. In this context, hearing how he spoke about the daughter of Ghailan, Muhammad sensed that he did not lack the defining skill of males. The fact that he had sexual appreciation for women disqualified him as an intimate domestic servant, according to the Qur’an as well as the standards of the day. Since the system required household servants to be heterosexually indifferent, there is room for abuse, whereby a heterosexual male may pretend to be otherwise, solely to gain entry into the private space of women.</p> <p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;">There is a hadith in which the Prophet's companions asked whether they were allowed to use men (presumably prisoners of war) as "eunuchs" to fulfill their sexual urges, since they were far from their wives.<br /></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal">Bukhari LXII 6:9 [Narrated by ibn Mas'ud:] <span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 102);">"We used to fight [in battle] together with the Prophet, peace be upon him. There were no women with us. We said: O Messenger, may we treat some as eunuchs [</span><i style="color: rgb(51, 102, 102);">a laa nastakhsii</i><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 102);">]? He forbade us to do so."</span></p><p style="text-align: justify; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 102);"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} p {mso-margin-top-alt:auto; margin-right:0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; margin-left:0in; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal">Yes, the Prophet did forbid his followers from designating men as eunuchs, but that was because one cannot just resort into ‘treating’ a straight man as a eunuch simply to satisfy his lust. In fact, that was essentially the sin of the people of Lut. The question is, could a eunuch (i.e. one who permanently lacks arousal with women) be used as a eunuch? Ibn Mas’ud did make a reference about eunuchs being used for sexual gratification, and the Prophet understood what he meant. It was in fact common in the Arabic society, and was considered a use that was appropriate to eunuchs. Since they weren’t regarded as males, there was no prohibition against it, not even in the Qur’an.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">According to David Ayalon in <b><i>Eunuchs, Caliphs, and Sultans: A Study in Power Relationships</i> (</b><st1:city style="font-weight: bold;" st="on"><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Jerusalem</st1:place></st1:city></st1:place></st1:city><b>, 1999)</b>, eunuchs were still used as sex objects for straight men in the Mamluk dynasty. Part of their roles was to avert older Mamluks from having sexual contact to younger trainees:<o:p></o:p></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">The eunuchs seem to have served as a shield against homosexual lust in yet another way. They themselves formed the target of that lust, thus diverting it from the youngsters. They are described as being womanly and docile in bed at night and manly and warlike by day in a campaign and in similar circumstances <span style="font-weight: bold;">(</span><i style="font-weight: bold;">hum nisaa' li-mutmainn muqeem wa rijaal in kaanat al-asfaar; li-annahum bin-nahaar fawaaris wa bil-lail 'araa'is</i><span style="font-weight: bold;">). [Arabic quoted by Ayalon from Abu Mansur al-Tha'alibi, Al-Latâ'if wal-Zarâ'if, Cairo 1324/1906-7, p. 79, lines 1-7; and the same quote from Tha'alibi in his Tamthîl wal-Muhâdara, Cairo 1381/1961, p. 224.]</span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: times new roman;" class="MsoNormal">If this is the case, Islam does not forbid homosexuality among those who were born eunuchs. Therefore, wouldn’t it be unjust for all gay men to be prosecuted under Islamic laws? What if they were in fact eunuchs, who actually lacked the ‘defining skills of a male’? Does this qualify to lead us to a whole new perspective regarding lesbianism in Islam? What if they were actually "ineffectual", as acknowledged by the Qur'an itself?<br /></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">I hope my fellow Muslim friends would be able to provide me more information on this topic.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">by Argus Eye.<br /></p>Argus Eyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10321678407791371530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2077910848854200793.post-56360610678369786762008-11-14T21:49:00.013+08:002008-11-15T18:57:21.793+08:00The Need to Eliminate the Grey Area Surrounding the Social Contract.<o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="country-region"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {color:blue; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {color:purple; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLydfeM1ZHgtqSXvHv4AG6J-PhbtXTXcdzXGRA5fIDPxipTqy8sA2tWraVOeLQdQ_aeomp7wJ8w-V_WVJiitiurq8tAo2H44S_rgiyfMa1YUYjbTk-BSPGK6NNFxLcncZwbUcghWopQtmh/s1600-h/MIc.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 298px; height: 123px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLydfeM1ZHgtqSXvHv4AG6J-PhbtXTXcdzXGRA5fIDPxipTqy8sA2tWraVOeLQdQ_aeomp7wJ8w-V_WVJiitiurq8tAo2H44S_rgiyfMa1YUYjbTk-BSPGK6NNFxLcncZwbUcghWopQtmh/s320/MIc.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268514916523115506" border="0" /></a><br /><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">There have been many articles showered with numerous viewpoints with regards to the Social Contract, and it would be an act of repetition for me to indulge into it again. With my limited knowledge on this agreement, allow me to share, what I consider would be in the minds of most laymen in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Malaysia</st1:place></st1:country-region>. With exception to the tenet and the basic, underlying-fundamental concepts of the Social Contract, we may not be able to seize the entire framework of the contract. We, however, are not spared from feeling the effects brought about by what was said to be an agreement between our founding fathers.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">The Social Contract has surely been one of the most debated agreements concerning Malaysians and yet, almost surprisingly, none have even come close towards drawing the curtain on it. Disputes vary in many forms of opinionated ideologies and thoughts; the only consistent element being the fact that it remains a barrier to racial unity. Different parties, have their own defined interpretation, all of which conveniently fit into their pre-established theories. Their motives, although some seemingly intellectual from the outset, masquerade in different shapes. Some use it as a trump card for political mileage, and the rest merely use it to suck up to the ones at the summit. I am not in a position to say whether there are flaws in its structure, but I can say, for certain, that the various forms of interpretations surrounding it does not help our course towards achieving the Bangsa Malaysia agenda. </p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">For us to even consider moving pass this stalemate that we’ve gotten ourselves into, there is an urgent need for us to acknowledge that the Social Contract has to be reviewed. In the first place, does the Social Contract even exist? If it does, is it relevant today? It is time for various groups, particularly the law makers, to work together to ensure that a proper understanding of the Social Contract is crafted out. It wouldn’t take long for a non-Malay to point out, almost instantly, that the Social Contract is a fantasy; one that never existed to begin with. But again, are we being biased? Are we basing it on historical facts, or are we jumping into this conclusion simply because, we too, are inclined to structure our thoughts in line with what conforms to our own assembled set of beliefs. This is the sad state, we Malaysians are living in today. Consciously, or perhaps even subconsciously, we tend to judge from a racial perspective. And this is exactly the reason why we have yet to reach a consensus on this issue.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Could we, for once, act as Malaysians and resolve this issue? From a personal point of view, I believe that once this is done, it would set up a solid ground for us to think, act, and behave like Malaysians. But how do we do that? Firstly, as stated on the title head of my post, would be the need to eliminate the grey area surrounding the Social Contract, which is undeniably, ambiguous. The very existence of the Social Contract has been a question that many have failed to answer, as it was not explicitly stated in the Federal Constitution. However, the proponents of the Social Contract believe that it was an implied term agreed upon by our founding fathers, in return of citizenships being offered to the Non-Malays. </p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Some have since argued that, even if it was implied to be part of the Federal Constitution, it is not relevant for it be applied at a time when our nation had progressed through half a century of <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Independence</st1:place></st1:city>. Tunku Abdul Rahman, was quoted as saying:-</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">"...when we (the Malays) fought against <span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malayan_Union" title="Malayan Union"><span style="text-decoration: none;"></span></a>the Malayan Union (which upset the position of the Malays' rights) the others took no part in it because they said this is purely a Malay concern, and not theirs. They also indicate that they owe their loyalty to their countries of origin, and for that reason they oppose the Barnes Report<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barnes_Report" title="Barnes Report"><span style="text-decoration: none;"></span></a> to make Malay<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malay_language" title="Malay language"><span style="text-decoration: none;"></span></a> the national language. If we were to hand over the Malays to these so-called Malayans when their nationality has not been defined there will be a lot of problems ahead of us."</span><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">However, he continued to say that<span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 102); font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">"For those who love and feel they owe undivided loyalty to this country, we will welcome them as Malayans. They must truly be Malayans, and they will have the same rights and privileges as the Malays."</span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">As mentioned earlier, advocates of the Social Contract have often claimed that the founding fathers of our nation have agreed to adhere by the contract, and it would not be appropriate for it to be disputed now. However, if that was the case, why would Tunku Abdul Rahman, who could surely be considered the leader of the founding fathers, himself, explicitly say that the Non-Malays will have the same rights and privileges as the Malays, should they remain loyal to the country? Today, we have non-Malays who are of second, third and even fourth generation Malaysians living here, in this country. On that ground, arguably, it could be implied that the Social Contract, even if it was once accepted as an implied agreement, is no longer relevant today. Apart from that, the act of those who have, in recent times, attempted to equate the Social Contract with the New Economic Policy, and use it as a discriminatory tool, as some may opt to believe, have also been a subject of debate.</p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">In contrast, there are many other basis used by those in favor of the Social Contract to believe that the agreement should be still upheld; among others, as a vital agreement to ensure racial unity. It is impossible for all the areas of this contract to be covered, unless an in-depth discussion is done to evaluate it. I think, most of us Malaysians, want a clearer picture of the Social Contract and its relevance to our nation today. But for us to even sniff this desired outcome, all relevant parties, including us, should move beyond our racially encircled mindset, and start carrying ourselves as a true Anak Bangsa <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Malaysia</st1:place></st1:country-region>.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Daring to hope,</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Argus Eye.</p>Argus Eyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10321678407791371530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2077910848854200793.post-73520311162019753412008-11-12T23:18:00.038+08:002008-11-18T17:35:18.654+08:00A Copy of My Reply to Datuk Saravanan.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkLPel7iGszW8buqWNLaUiT8TojuuOSbsqI2eou3xb5g4USPCNLccF4TyGfFnfbznYqRtsI65Ugfkv6HVAqEk721YppK46qlCwmLEnxqOrT9y4tzP5izhvNXMnoY-mnGEmf26gcY2jn5Zn/s1600-h/sara.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 183px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkLPel7iGszW8buqWNLaUiT8TojuuOSbsqI2eou3xb5g4USPCNLccF4TyGfFnfbznYqRtsI65Ugfkv6HVAqEk721YppK46qlCwmLEnxqOrT9y4tzP5izhvNXMnoY-mnGEmf26gcY2jn5Zn/s320/sara.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268204850521631762" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="country-region"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {color:blue; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {color:purple; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p style="text-align: justify;font-family:times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">I came across an article posted by Datuk M. Saravanan, who is the Deputy Federal Territory Minister and also Malaysian Indian Congress(MIC) Information Chief, </span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">titled ‘Indians need a sense of belonging’. My immediate impression was positive in nature, and it got me wondering if this chap had just received a stunning revelation from Abraham Maslow. But it was not to be. I had merely hoped against hope.<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;font-family:times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;font-family:times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Below are some extracted paragraphs from his post, which could be accessed at http://msaravanan68.blogspot.com/2008/10/indians-need-sense-of-belonging.html.<br /></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: times new roman;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;font-family:times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: times new roman;"> </div><br /><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: times new roman; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-weight: bold;"> </div><p style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-weight: bold;"> </div><p style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify; color: rgb(51, 102, 102); font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal">“From my observation over the last eight months since taking office as deputy minister, I realise that Malaysian Indians do not have a sense of belonging towards the government of the day, in this case the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN). We used to feel that we belonged to the BN, but this is not the case anymore.”</p><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(51, 102, 102); font-weight: bold;"> </div><p style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify; color: rgb(51, 102, 102); font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(51, 102, 102); font-weight: bold;"> </div><p style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify; color: rgb(51, 102, 102); font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify; color: rgb(51, 102, 102); font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal">“It has more to do in the way in which the BN has operated in the last decade or so. BN leaders at their meetings do not sense this because the comradeship is strong. The feeling of belonging is even stronger at this level. Meetings are conducted in an open manner. Leaders are more open-minded when issues are discussed. There is no Indian, Malay or Chinese distinction. That is good and well. But if one is to go down further, the spirit of togetherness deteriorates. The case in point is the civil sector. When an Indian walks into a government office, immediately he or she gets hostile based on the surroundings. Whatever the leaders are promoting gets lost down the line. The spirit of togetherness, that we are all Malaysian regardless of race and religion, is lost at government offices.”</p><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(51, 102, 102); font-weight: bold;"> </div><p style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify; color: rgb(51, 102, 102); font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(51, 102, 102); font-weight: bold;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(51, 102, 102); font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 102, 102); font-weight: bold;">“As a first step to remedy the situation, I suggest that each government department has a director or deputy director who is an Indian. This way, even if the lower rung staff are unable to offer sincere help, Indians can always look up to the said director or deputy director to solve their woes. These directors or deputy directors would be able to bring-up problems and issues confronting Indians at the department level and higher-up.”</span> –Datuk M. Saravanan.</p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Basically, he is trying to signal that leadership crisis, with regards to racism, does not exist in UMNO. In fact, it probably remains a jargon to those who walk along the corridors of power. He believes that all is well and fine as far as the leaders are concerned, and that the problem lies with the lower rungs, particularly the civil sector and government offices. To address this, he suggests that each government department has a director or deputy director who is an Indian, so that Indians can look up to them to solve their issues.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 204, 204);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 0);"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(255, 255, 204); font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Note: I have just sent an e-mail of my response below, to Deputy Minister Datuk Saravanan. For those who share my view and find his piece of article insulting, do send him your thoughts at msaravanan68@hotmail.com.</span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Datuk Saravanan,</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">I would start with touching on your claim that the comradeship is strong among the leaders, and that there is no distinction among the various races, before moving on to lambast you on your almost ignorant and equally silly suggestion. I would not go back as far as Mahathir’s premiership, but instead cite instances during Abdullah Badawi’s tenure as Prime Minister. Hishamuddin’s antics at the 2006 UMNO General Assembly which irked the Chinese, alone, are sufficient to contradict your statement about the existence of a strong sense of belonging at the top level. What about the youth wing of UMNO exerting pressure upon Gerakan by issuing them an ultimatum to clarify the issue surrounding S.Paranjothy’s statement, in which he claimed that Indians were being treated as 4<sup>th</sup> class citizens? Dr. Koh himself was quoted as saying that UMNO should not threaten Gerakan. Is this the type of comradeship you are talking about? Datuk, I understand that by painting a rosy picture of UMNO, it would surely elevate your chances of climbing up the ministerial ladder, and subsequently be promoted to the rank of a Minister. But as much as you would like to believe, we Indians, aren’t that much a bunch of fools.</p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Now, moving on to your classic suggestion of appointing an Indian director, or deputy director, at each government department to resolve this issue. I am an Indian, and I am proud of my roots, but I find your suggestion downright ridiculous. I would like you, Datuk Saravanan, to read up a quote from one whom I consider a true Malaysian at heart and hopefully, with God’s grace, learn a thing or two from him.</p><p style="text-align: justify; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-weight: bold;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-weight: bold;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-style: italic;font-family:lucida grande;" >“My name is Haris Ibrahim. Trained in the law. Late father was Malay and my mum is Ceylonese. I am Malaysian. My ethnic background is relevant in helping me to understand my cultural make-up but is irrelevant in defining my status as a citizen of </span><st1:country-region style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-family: times new roman; font-style: italic;" st="on"><st1:place st="on">Malaysia</st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-style: italic;font-family:lucida grande;" >.”</span>- <span style="font-weight: bold;">Haris Ibrahim</span> as stated in his blog, The People’s Parliament.</p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">The very act of appointing an Indian director at every government department is an act of racism, and this is exactly what MIC is promoting. Why must an Indian turn towards another Indian for help? Divide and rule is the tenet of Barisan Nasional’s strategy, and this surely, has to be buried. We, the Indians, and I’m sure the others too, want a <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Malaysia</st1:country-region></st1:place> for all Malaysians. Elect the best candidates for each position, without giving room for racial criteria to set in. We want a <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Malaysia</st1:place></st1:country-region> whereby all Malaysians, irrespective of race and religion, would stand tall together as one and come to each others’ defense when the need arises. We, the Anak-Anak Bangsa <st1:country-region st="on">Malaysia</st1:country-region>, do not want a <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Malaysia</st1:country-region></st1:place> in which the spirit of racism precedes the spirit of nationalism, and this, my friend, is the reason why irrelevant leaders like you earn no respect from us.</p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Signing off, </p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: times new roman; text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Argus Eye.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">http://pantheon-of-argus.blogspot.com/</span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">by Argus Eye.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:lucida grande;font-size:85%;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0);font-size:100%;" ><br /></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0); font-family: webdings;font-family:lucida grande;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0);">also published in</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0);"> </span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 0); font-family: webdings;">Malaysiakini</span> <span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0);">at http://malaysiakini.com/letters/93310</span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;"></span></div>Argus Eyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10321678407791371530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2077910848854200793.post-75842179461486629462008-11-11T21:27:00.021+08:002008-11-13T21:51:56.451+08:00Tan Sri Zaki Azmi- The Unsolved Jigsaw Puzzle.<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFL2O2lQWouzScWVxG2fsGiYSf7xi96m-4xSkoKXrP_WVodeDomik66vIIcfFlIoy0fnkhyphenhyphenMGGTj1A5qgObt-swz8Kaydncndgii2IOB7PWfuyjwt5uTdzCDp8yJvmgBecSAkVchdUQcJk/s1600-h/all5o.bmp"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 78px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFL2O2lQWouzScWVxG2fsGiYSf7xi96m-4xSkoKXrP_WVodeDomik66vIIcfFlIoy0fnkhyphenhyphenMGGTj1A5qgObt-swz8Kaydncndgii2IOB7PWfuyjwt5uTdzCDp8yJvmgBecSAkVchdUQcJk/s320/all5o.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267394783387100562" border="0" /></a><br /><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="country-region"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} p {mso-margin-top-alt:auto; margin-right:0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; margin-left:0in; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">After an almost comical ride to the top post in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Malaysia</st1:place></st1:country-region>’s judicial hierarchy, Tan Sri Zaki Azmi keeps us guessing on what he has left to offer. Let us start by briefly looking into his controversial journey towards becoming the 12<sup>th</sup> Chief Justice of Malaysia. As a lawyer, he created history in September 2007, becoming the first lawyer to be appointed directly to the highest court. The controversy of his appointment was fueled by his close ties with UMNO, in which he was their legal advisor. He also held several posts in UMNO, including the Chairman of Disciplinary Committee. Following his appointment, the public openly expressed their doubt over his integrity with regards to the highly held separation of powers notion, given his previous links with the country’s largest and most dominant party. Three months on, more eyebrows were raised when Zaki Azmi was appointed the Court of Appeal President, thus, occupying the No. 2 position in the judiciary. Today, Tan Sri Zaki Azmi is our Honorable Chief Justice of Malaysia. His credibility was also clouded by the infamous divorce case with his second wife, with whom he got married to in a ceremony conducted by a Thai kadi in a textile shop in Perlis three years ago. He allegedly burned the marriage certificate to hide the marriage from his first wife, as reported by The New Straits Times. Now, he may argue that this is a personal issue and has no bearing on his conduct as a professional, but being a Chief Justice, Yang Arif, I’m afraid some of the acts that you have resorted to, including burning the marriage certificate, in one way or another, gives us the right to question your integrity. You are no ordinary man, and your actions do reflect the image of our country in the eyes of the world. </p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">In less than two weeks after occupying the country’s top judiciary position, in his first speech in his capacity as Chief Justice, he vowed to get tough of errant judges who destroy the reputation of the institution. </p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 102); text-align: justify;">“And for those in the practice of toadying, I say ‘stop it’. This small group have failed to fulfill their responsibilities and have affected the image of our institution. If they are being dishonest, they are also being irresponsible.”</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;">The above is a few extracted lines from his speech, in which, he appeared to have acknowledged the rot in the institution, caused by certain corrupt judges. He did not mince his words, and neither did he attempt to deny the true color of the judiciary system. Although it was a promising speech, many of us Malaysians were still very much skeptical about it. To us, he was merely playing to the gallery. History did not favor him either.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;">Two major judgments were delivered last Friday, one in Raja Petra’s habeas corpus application, and the other in the prosecutors’ application to have the Anwar Ibrahim sodomy trial be transferred to the High Court. Both cases were politically motivated, and surprisingly, both cases handed the Government knock-outs. In previous times, we rarely witnessed the Government been given a blow in judgments, but on the 7<sup>th</sup> of November 2008, many of us pictured the Government on their knees giving out blow j***. Yes, it was a double blow to them.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;">Now, how does this fit in? We practically have an UMNO man as the Chief Justice, but the courts did not rule in favor of them. While it is understandable that it is not possible for all judgments to go in favor of UMNO even if their very own man occupies the seat, the vital and highly critical ones would’ve surely swung towards their side. Raja <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Petra</st1:place></st1:city> would continue to bash UMNO and implicate their leaders, particularly Najib, for his alleged misconducts and Anwar, even if some may disagree, still poses a great threat in soon forming the Federal Government. Therefore, the stakes are too high for the government to slip up.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;">Should the credit for these court verdicts, which most of us consider just, go solely to the judges? Did they stand strong and weather the pressure and threats that came in their way for the sake of justice? If they did so, well done and thank you.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;">Did Tan Sri Zaki Azmi really practice what he preached in his opening speech by ensuring a free trial for all without exerting any pressure upon the judges? We wouldn’t really know, would we? If he did so, well done and thank you too.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;">However, the million dollar question would arise if Tan Sri Zaki Azmi did conduct himself professionally to ensure a free trial; why on earth did he do that? Well, it could be because of all the negative remarks that have been piled on him, and he sees this as an opportunity to clear his name even if it is at the expense of irking the wrath of those in UMNO.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;">But, there is an alternative answer to it, which is probably the one we are looking for. Ironically, it is the spicier answer. If we go back to the drawing pad, we would see the answer at the very beginning. It lies with Zaki Azmi’s history of being an UMNO man. It is no secret that Najib, along with Muhyiddin, have been the crafters that planned Abdullah Badawi’s early exit. Abdullah Badawi had no choice but to concede as the tides were moving strongly against him. Now, in his final few months, he has got nothing to lose. Until March 2009, power is something that he can still execute. Vendetta, perhaps? Tan Sri Zaki Azmi was appointed as the Chief Justice during Abdullah Badawi’s tenure as a premier, which only establishes the fact that they have good ties between them. Through Zaki Azmi, Abdullah Badawi has a chance to get back at Najib and give him a beating of his life for being ‘disloyal’. Raja <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Petra</st1:place></st1:city>’s release would surely help. As for Anwar’s claim to take-over the government, the pressure is on Najib and Muhyiddin, not Abdullah Badawi. He is stepping out, with nothing more to gain or lose. The only thing he can do within his capacity now, is to create a platform for the battle, and enjoy the show with a cigar when it erupts.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;">But then again, is that who Zaki Azmi really is?</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Whoever he may be, let us hope that during his term as Chief Justice, judgments would be delivered without fear and favor. Good judgments are not defined by the degree in which it favors us; it is defined by the ability of the court to interpret laws in a fair manner without any interference. For that purpose, and also for the sake of justice, I hope that these decisions favored Anwar and Raja Petra because the courts were acting impartially on the grounds of evidences presented before them, and not because they simply happened to be part of a political ploy.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">by Argus Eye.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0);font-size:78%;" >also published in <span style="font-style: italic;">Malaysia Today</span>- http://mt.m2day.org/2008/content/view/14787/84/</span><br /></p>Argus Eyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10321678407791371530noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2077910848854200793.post-10505034078947882642008-11-11T16:17:00.015+08:002008-11-11T16:52:03.374+08:00The Malaysian Bar, Hats Off to You.<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUGYvSKAT_oaogFPGwtkFkdLNTsjyfv2HLZvNbgG0CCqVg39mdkZ8W-5yNJvwsiDFqTYtstaXza-9VR3ElDzZ5uSV7-pg4hR7OlJQoZQ2GTqq2gMbKSv36elnHInNP80XTWXfEkvNbn0oJ/s1600-h/bar_logo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 127px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUGYvSKAT_oaogFPGwtkFkdLNTsjyfv2HLZvNbgG0CCqVg39mdkZ8W-5yNJvwsiDFqTYtstaXza-9VR3ElDzZ5uSV7-pg4hR7OlJQoZQ2GTqq2gMbKSv36elnHInNP80XTWXfEkvNbn0oJ/s320/bar_logo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267313067817474722" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"> Just as I was about to leave for court at lunchtime today for RPK's Sedition Trial, i received a call from a friend saying the proceedings had ended for the day and would continue tomorrow morning. In a way, this has created some room for me to blog. In the light of the recent arrests of the Bersih/Anti ISA vigilors, the Malaysian Bar have come out strong again, reiterating the need to respect democratic rights of citizens. The Bar have also, in a verry consistent manner, condemned any action that compromises democracy. Below is the Press Release by Ragunath Kesavan, Vice-President of the Malaysian Bar.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-weight: bold; font-family: lucida grande; text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="font-weight: bold; font-family: lucida grande; text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Malaysian Bar's Press Release: Respect the Right to Peaceful Assembly</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;font-family:lucida grande;">Freedom of assembly and freedom of expression were again dealt a severe blow yesterday with the arrest of 23 citizens – including journalists and activists, a Member of Parliament, State Assemblypersons and a City Councillor – who were participants in a peaceful gathering to commemorate the first anniversary of last year's BERSIH rally. <span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style=";font-family:";font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">The Bar Council is alarmed at the disproportionate and heavy-handed approach adopted by the police, who purportedly began dispersing people as early as an hour before the start of the vigil. </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-family:lucida grande;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">Needless physical force was allegedly used during the arrests, causing injuries to a number of participants. Such unprovoked intimidation and oppression is unjustifiable as the group was reportedly calm, did not pose any threat to public order and was merely exercising its democratic rights.</span><br /><br /></span></span><span style=";font-family:";font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">While the Bar Council disagrees with the laws curtailing the right to assemble and express dissent, we are concerned that the authorities seem to use these laws selectively to disperse and arrest demonstrators.<span style="font-style: italic;"> </span></span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;font-family:lucida grande;" >Several demonstrations against the Pakatan Rakyat government's policies in </span><st1:place style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: lucida grande; font-style: italic;" st="on">Penang</st1:place><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;font-family:lucida grande;" > and Selangor have proceeded without much harassment nor arrests by the police. </span></span> <span style="font-style: italic;font-family:";font-size:100%;" > </span> <span style=";font-family:";font-size:100%;" > <span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-family:lucida grande;" ><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">This gives rise to the perception that police actions are not based on any objective criteria relating to preservation of public order.</span> </span><span style="font-style: italic;">Such subjectivity breeds the notion that the authorities act in a biased, or even arbitrary, manner.</span><br /><br /></span></span><span style=";font-family:";font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">We call on the police to protect the rights of speech, expression and assembly of all those who legitimately engage in expressing dissent, fairly and without bias.</span></span> <span style=";font-family:";font-size:100%;" > </span><br /><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12;" ><span style=";font-family:lucida grande;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Ragunath Kesavan</span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Vice-President</span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Malaysian Bar</span></span></span></span><br /><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12;" ><span style=";font-family:lucida grande;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></span></span> <span style=";font-family:";font-size:12;" ><span style=";font-family:lucida grande;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> <span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" ><br />We should also note a special thank you to the Bar Council for their swift action in sending some members of the Bar to the PJ Police Headquarters immediately after the arrests of the vigilors, to assist them through the police procedures. You have shown that you indeed walk the talk. To Ambiga & Co, hats off!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><br />by Argus Eye.<br /><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12;" ><span style=";font-family:lucida grande;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></span></span></div>Argus Eyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10321678407791371530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2077910848854200793.post-13425483469672683032008-11-11T00:38:00.017+08:002008-11-15T02:17:32.141+08:00RPK Sedition Trial 10/11/08: Court rejects application by prosecutors to amend charge.<div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;"><br />It was a positive day in the PJ Sessions Court today when judge Rozina Ayub rejected the application submitted by the prosecution team to amend the sedition charge leveled against Raja Petra Kamarudin. The additional </span><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;">elements that the prosecutors wanted to include were the website address and the title of the allegedly seditious article. The defense council argued that the original charge was not published by the accused and claimed that the prosecutors are attempting to substitute the appendix to seek new alternatives. Well, I guess this only goes to show that the prosecutors are running out of options and it now appears possible for this charge to be thrown out. Well, let’s hope. After the judge ruled out the application, the prosecution team proceeded to question their witnesses, forensic analyst S.Sivanathan, and ASP Wa’ie. The absence of Supt. Gan, who did not appear in court today supposedly because he was on medical leave, irked the defense team and they urged for a medical certificate to be produced in court as a document of verification.</span><br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;" >Scene at 8.35a.m</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuFn0sF4CpFUSRAKjQG-O6jn8AALIQUtxj6mNYl0G5uYGiZChVF7UaVaP195HlenM7bgaVucM-75Jv_xpsrl5IzvAOQEuHXjl67iHj99AXPALdKi3drSzu1aF7xxkA7Ms59VJgG7KeV9_u/s1600-h/10112007.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuFn0sF4CpFUSRAKjQG-O6jn8AALIQUtxj6mNYl0G5uYGiZChVF7UaVaP195HlenM7bgaVucM-75Jv_xpsrl5IzvAOQEuHXjl67iHj99AXPALdKi3drSzu1aF7xxkA7Ms59VJgG7KeV9_u/s320/10112007.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267069516683120002" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:times new roman;" >I arrived late at the PJ Sessions Court at about 8.35a.m. Didn't get much of a sleep yesterday, thanks to the hide-and-seek experience with the cops. Previously, the court would be crowded by this time. The scenario has changed a little now that RPK is out of ISA.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;" ></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;" >Scenes in the Courtroom</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEVSvC3vAkC-dNymbR_5OFO-12QKLH0OUFERAcEvRRapY3eQyvj5qIJWovWI8pJZaoqWIY0ujB9LVm_e7KLZIbyfM7seMyU9izr7uPDnD3xxUWsXZMuoFrc_ifZ2qDDV4qiHGWdwd0PSc0/s1600-h/10112004.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEVSvC3vAkC-dNymbR_5OFO-12QKLH0OUFERAcEvRRapY3eQyvj5qIJWovWI8pJZaoqWIY0ujB9LVm_e7KLZIbyfM7seMyU9izr7uPDnD3xxUWsXZMuoFrc_ifZ2qDDV4qiHGWdwd0PSc0/s320/10112004.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267071352214207570" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:times new roman;" >There weren't many people in the courtroom when I got in. Despite my previous encounter with the court security, I continued riding my luck by secretly snapping pictures. The court was full about 9a.m.</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYSlvq3kaxcNp2Aw6A0wLl9uDEffsHpJ7xsqi1Y-4EQjYKsT6GOI2jpMhmTf1mKK_ewULudnhs-Dz_eumJ07a0BBCCs-VnyZQArmcK45jAmLQMmESb2J9pmhqqjT4GYw1jrgKMzbpScc5W/s1600-h/10112005.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYSlvq3kaxcNp2Aw6A0wLl9uDEffsHpJ7xsqi1Y-4EQjYKsT6GOI2jpMhmTf1mKK_ewULudnhs-Dz_eumJ07a0BBCCs-VnyZQArmcK45jAmLQMmESb2J9pmhqqjT4GYw1jrgKMzbpScc5W/s320/10112005.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267073499893125010" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1TFqZoACQFJ50NedbpD6TplyKalBF1c-pZFTkwR0C6BRXOMIL_q71f5fwdRmV8pO8kSq9nK1FkubGYlU02N-PvEFB5RrZQJwqlQUj2vE0RETgQs5ISiw6hJd4qEfFOyU1azLctDA8yHoY/s1600-h/10112006.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1TFqZoACQFJ50NedbpD6TplyKalBF1c-pZFTkwR0C6BRXOMIL_q71f5fwdRmV8pO8kSq9nK1FkubGYlU02N-PvEFB5RrZQJwqlQUj2vE0RETgQs5ISiw6hJd4qEfFOyU1azLctDA8yHoY/s320/10112006.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267072787695317138" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlyYThaBs_QoguQwWCglH8MiyR5Pr-JSMMExTf3vY-r6Qm2zWkF4atpyvjVMH9PcQEpkayjDO1GYTJbdOTACTnIj56oN1ZalHHAINvow74rGO9dQyOFlkWMPEC78V4bxJH2nhotbdjZ9E_/s1600-h/10112003.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlyYThaBs_QoguQwWCglH8MiyR5Pr-JSMMExTf3vY-r6Qm2zWkF4atpyvjVMH9PcQEpkayjDO1GYTJbdOTACTnIj56oN1ZalHHAINvow74rGO9dQyOFlkWMPEC78V4bxJH2nhotbdjZ9E_/s320/10112003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267072683801843682" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:times new roman;" > Image stills in the courtroom before the proceedings began.</span> <span style="font-style: italic;font-family:times new roman;" >Again, without authority.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;" >Scene at 10.45a.m</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbg3YBe5KjU_ShJmdjQ7dLORBfy6oe4bnL9dRZiTpBcfYiKTF0L_LbqxYKrH4FaE-OA7YTmBM_aGzsSmvXz3UOaHNZMLRTLnf1Nbnp1wGYsEu3pZrNWWuHMa2d4CIeAxt2eaERXYkRL20x/s1600-h/10112002.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbg3YBe5KjU_ShJmdjQ7dLORBfy6oe4bnL9dRZiTpBcfYiKTF0L_LbqxYKrH4FaE-OA7YTmBM_aGzsSmvXz3UOaHNZMLRTLnf1Nbnp1wGYsEu3pZrNWWuHMa2d4CIeAxt2eaERXYkRL20x/s320/10112002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267074324360951314" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:times new roman;" >Taken at the entrance of the court, during a short adjournment shortly before 11a.m. With RPK are his defence councils, Gobind Singh(extreme left) and Chandra(right). An interesting occurance took place here, as the European journalist came up to RPK to tell him that he's working on a documentary on the Altantuya murder. RPK and Gobind Singh agrees to give their cooperation. <span style="font-weight: bold;">God Bless You, Najib Razak.</span></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;" >Scene at 1.00p.m</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiooeRpbUw21PADdXYkFJnulHeRDPq3jjJ5fCC-fAQhcuT3d3mO4CqEYkN1Q4i1QawKpRWJjmHF_1WSyZ_HLlb8aqcUeKumWSGnEVYVQSVcWpVIMkH8VsANytFvhlr7dHRLYdq6e7c_8chg/s1600-h/10112008.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiooeRpbUw21PADdXYkFJnulHeRDPq3jjJ5fCC-fAQhcuT3d3mO4CqEYkN1Q4i1QawKpRWJjmHF_1WSyZ_HLlb8aqcUeKumWSGnEVYVQSVcWpVIMkH8VsANytFvhlr7dHRLYdq6e7c_8chg/s320/10112008.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267076465799513218" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:times new roman;" > In the court compound during lunch break. RPK is partially hidden, and Zorro is in red.</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik6fPaw2JJ2C0Jer2rBrWV_7EKbthueSbwPSujhilyINjnyCej_tVxXcLYJIjnnpaSNZSsuhSDo_5z3TfK-5BmxbcOXqap5Jp3-jzSRHlAYFGnMwgfxFHauBQS8LSq6SUHR3ENzSSgZZyW/s1600-h/10112001.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik6fPaw2JJ2C0Jer2rBrWV_7EKbthueSbwPSujhilyINjnyCej_tVxXcLYJIjnnpaSNZSsuhSDo_5z3TfK-5BmxbcOXqap5Jp3-jzSRHlAYFGnMwgfxFHauBQS8LSq6SUHR3ENzSSgZZyW/s320/10112001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267076958069301186" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:times new roman;" > Moments before making way for Nasi Kandar, at a restaurant opposite the court.</span><br /><br />by Argus Eye.<br /></div>Argus Eyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10321678407791371530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2077910848854200793.post-21540454070603549352008-11-10T16:27:00.009+08:002008-11-11T16:54:27.001+08:00Update on the BERSIH Candlelight Vigil: Selangor CPO, a man with Zero integrity.<o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="Street"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="address"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">The police force has come under fire again, this time by the blatant lie made by the Chief Police of Selangor, Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar stating that the police did not storm into the crowd while the National Anthem was sung. Below are some excerpts from Malaysiakini:-</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="font-weight: bold; text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Excerpt 1- </p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><strong style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Selangor police chief Khalid Abu Bakar has denied that the police moved in on participants at a candle-light vigil last night while they were singing the national anthem.</span></span></strong><o:p style="font-weight: bold;"></o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><strong style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">That is what they (participants) are claiming,” Khalid told reporters at the Petaling Jaya police district headquarters about midnight.</span></span></strong><b style=""><o:p></o:p></b></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">When told that there was a video recording of the police action, Khalid replied: “I am denying it.”</span></span></strong></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></strong></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;"><o:p> </o:p></span></strong></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">Well, my friend, I was among the hundreds who had to flee away from the bunch of uncivilized, armor-protected personnel. It is downright stupidity to deny the obvious, and it takes a real fool to attempt deceiving the public when footages of the event are already being circulated online. It saddens us, Malaysians, to have an incompetent figure like you to head a state police force. Above all, it worries us. My friendly advice to you would be to re-enroll into Pulapol(Pusat Latihan Polis) in Jalan Semarak.<o:p></o:p></span></strong></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="font-weight: bold; text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Excerpt 2-</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Asked why Syukri had detained when he was on duty, Khalid said “He was part of the illegal organisation.”</span> </span><span style="font-size:85%;">–This was in reference to the arrest of a Malaysiakini videographer, Syukri Mohamad.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">It is the duty of a journalist to be present wherever there is a matter of interest to the public. Whether or not the event was legal, is secondary. Even if it was an illegal gathering, the journalist is duty bound to be present and report the event. These are the fundamental roles of the media understood even by fishermen at the shores of Tumpat district in Kelantan. Yet, the Chief Police Officer of Selangor fails to grasp it.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="font-weight: bold; text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Excerpt 3-</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Asked if the group had posed a danger to the public, Khalid replied “That doesn’t matter. The law says that a permit must be obtained.”</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Asked if this amounted to double standards, since no action had been taken against pro-government groups such as those protesting against the appointment of a non-Malay to head PKNS (Selangor government investment arm).<o:p></o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">Khalid denied this, and reiterated that the group had failed to heed demands to obtain a police permit for four weeks.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">A typical UMNO response; a no-response. He did not even answer the question directed at him. Instead, he maneuvered his way around and kept on harping on the fact that a permit has to be obtained. Why doesn’t the same rule apply to UMNO. Maybe it does, but only theoretically. Never before has the police force rejected a permit by UMNO applicants, and never before has an UMNO event been disrupted by the police. That speaks for itself. </p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">The press should bombard him with questions and push him for an answer. As RPK fondly says, <span style="font-style: italic;">“Let’s milk the cows till their tits run dry!”</span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">The videos that contradict the statement by the Chief Police Officer of Selangor:-</p><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/qJgtmdWSlX4&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/qJgtmdWSlX4&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/n-PT298_7dU&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/n-PT298_7dU&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /></div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">The list of those who were arrested:</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">1. <span style=""> </span>Tony Pua Tiam Wee<br />2. <span style=""> </span>Ronnie Liu Tian Khiew<br />3. <span style=""> </span>Lau Weng San<br />4. <span style=""> </span><st1:street st="on"><st1:address st="on">Teoh Way</st1:address></st1:street> Keng<br />5. <span style=""> </span>Ashok Kandiah<br />6. <span style=""> </span>Ong Boon Keong<br />7.<span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span>Father Paulino Miranda<br />8.<span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span>Ambrose Goh<br />9. <span style=""> </span>Shukri Mohamad<br />10. Sunny Lim<br />11. Andrew<br />12. Angelia Ooi<br />13. Arrif Abdul<br />14. Augustine<br />15. Goh Chien Li<br />16. Johny Andrew<br />17. Kenny Goh<br />18. Khairul<br />19. Mohd Faizal<br />20. Rahman<br />21. Ramesh<br />22. Syed Ahmad<br />23. Tinggaran</p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">by Argus Eye.<br /></p>Argus Eyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10321678407791371530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2077910848854200793.post-51073692655500463412008-11-10T03:33:00.046+08:002008-11-12T18:36:31.254+08:00BERSIH Candlelight Vigil: Police charge into crowd midway through Negaraku.<div style="text-align: justify;"><br />In an unwarranted display of sheer arrogance today, the police charged into a crowd of about 400 Malaysians while the National Anthem was sung. The timing of the storm alone is testimony to the quality of the Malaysian Police Force. I just got back from the Petaling Jaya Police Station, where the 24 detainees would most likely be kept overnight before being charged tomorrow. It is 4.10am now and I'm certainly not within the right scope of physical capacity to blog, especially after having to endure a hide-and-seek game with the police around PJ State. I shall allow the pictures below to do the talking. Sorry for the quality of the images, as it was taken using my faulty camera phone.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;" ><br />Early images: Scenes at the field opposite Amcorp Mall at about 7.30pm.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7b2z6AfJFkbXErfsn4fooFr7wr-jpWvUVicr52sSa94-19B231hUKKPhpf3LcuNfrGtL7AxFNnwsj0gP2SugX0CEntojuVm77yJcrt6Nmro68GPqbvwfrZQMRithdAb5vRBJbv2vLRxTs/s1600-h/early.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7b2z6AfJFkbXErfsn4fooFr7wr-jpWvUVicr52sSa94-19B231hUKKPhpf3LcuNfrGtL7AxFNnwsj0gP2SugX0CEntojuVm77yJcrt6Nmro68GPqbvwfrZQMRithdAb5vRBJbv2vLRxTs/s320/early.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266749468399678418" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzjR6qJzh9bhKDr9BbYJ-AQPxx8nUcHvgEXkW9ob27fFaqOvqaB4CGxGoRb8OsDPKXzHJjzFGMPN6eHjBQjSS7IEaj8kQrhxnx6CNeT8dqdnTRutwQ0kfSKln9tbehltzcwZ_KpHy7tM_r/s1600-h/early+corwd.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzjR6qJzh9bhKDr9BbYJ-AQPxx8nUcHvgEXkW9ob27fFaqOvqaB4CGxGoRb8OsDPKXzHJjzFGMPN6eHjBQjSS7IEaj8kQrhxnx6CNeT8dqdnTRutwQ0kfSKln9tbehltzcwZ_KpHy7tM_r/s320/early+corwd.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266749966109827586" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrH3dgHPRiFxHi-ZVDEFjXb7GXrxra7wW3nU7PGILSQS5rDTFTG6nztXhpvK5ok-jT4cUVoF74bJS9x2OQD3xWWrzqwkEjerl5D3dqjtbOEZ8RJMz0HgWL4PCF_iIq3JQpcZTkj5bViE6W/s1600-h/early+police+car.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrH3dgHPRiFxHi-ZVDEFjXb7GXrxra7wW3nU7PGILSQS5rDTFTG6nztXhpvK5ok-jT4cUVoF74bJS9x2OQD3xWWrzqwkEjerl5D3dqjtbOEZ8RJMz0HgWL4PCF_iIq3JQpcZTkj5bViE6W/s320/early+police+car.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266750492364194114" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw8M1xesGxF_wSlIoMNFLsH0FXUBCDofYA-AmxdQuZrSreQYCid_WUeXdp-hUCqNrLDApPI5iLUGxJBN5Ebd5yUSANYPWO91BplOfbgRvfeQ_P2uCBdSPb1RmINm7iMk8XA-wPmot0Wimb/s1600-h/earlier+crowd.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw8M1xesGxF_wSlIoMNFLsH0FXUBCDofYA-AmxdQuZrSreQYCid_WUeXdp-hUCqNrLDApPI5iLUGxJBN5Ebd5yUSANYPWO91BplOfbgRvfeQ_P2uCBdSPb1RmINm7iMk8XA-wPmot0Wimb/s320/earlier+crowd.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266750819281937410" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdUbwgCuubvamT1ZfmvBgERUCRLdawAtDbaN4_GqtgwpPJEELzTDG1FzouOHQ_t_TWPyCVY8gMKEz434xQ4x3Gj6MB7_k7iWgtmSj7Ri7P-3lRzsyyx8HUyKWRDOr4VtoysPVQFycg8_Lh/s1600-h/police+carr.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdUbwgCuubvamT1ZfmvBgERUCRLdawAtDbaN4_GqtgwpPJEELzTDG1FzouOHQ_t_TWPyCVY8gMKEz434xQ4x3Gj6MB7_k7iWgtmSj7Ri7P-3lRzsyyx8HUyKWRDOr4VtoysPVQFycg8_Lh/s320/police+carr.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266751074630507234" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUHsU0YsJ_OF-W-n9iPI8o-t9Y1bm83ANWtz6a-o174oURlAJydrVS5fDlEvWTY5kJiJLkNhOofSDd8ycbq-2zdi9-NUEXbLKpdDCZ3jfSsca0rzqPRFVl0J6djBAfHUTtqR44MXz0ZhFD/s1600-h/ppolicce+car.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUHsU0YsJ_OF-W-n9iPI8o-t9Y1bm83ANWtz6a-o174oURlAJydrVS5fDlEvWTY5kJiJLkNhOofSDd8ycbq-2zdi9-NUEXbLKpdDCZ3jfSsca0rzqPRFVl0J6djBAfHUTtqR44MXz0ZhFD/s320/ppolicce+car.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266751233627237874" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvYgygK13NyiYep_cfiSbRf7R_fW4843YkYtn7upI-XS6MZPnbD_GfjivKuqJFYYf0PjS9w-tYeuGNwlL5-J4H9RWUVGjOATvtgK2HnY_43GCGUxRlv2jNccpJNSw7mcXuiwzpTsusIqC_/s1600-h/parking.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvYgygK13NyiYep_cfiSbRf7R_fW4843YkYtn7upI-XS6MZPnbD_GfjivKuqJFYYf0PjS9w-tYeuGNwlL5-J4H9RWUVGjOATvtgK2HnY_43GCGUxRlv2jNccpJNSw7mcXuiwzpTsusIqC_/s320/parking.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266751436291340434" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">The normally packed Amcorp Mall parking zone appears empty as most vehicles couldn't make it through. Police blocks were set up at various points leading to Amcorp Mall, forcing people to park hundreds of metres away. I received the news of the road blocks through Anil Netto's blog, and opted to park at the Taman Bahagia LRT Station and commute the train to Taman Jaya, which is right opposite Amcorp Mall. As seen, there were several police vihicles and the personnels were all on stand-by mode.</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5wiCP7ppYbSqEk4vyd3PJRmjcMd6dPOws7WJmI0on5JjwXLaagFvlTCNcpj_HC7vMC-rjnTNrfW5kKsgj8RCVy9BbKxJ1SKQ4aKQ1KVEl-RWBVgGjCMg_rjHhKjwgfdQGAZMqgmvBiROL/s1600-h/girl+1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5wiCP7ppYbSqEk4vyd3PJRmjcMd6dPOws7WJmI0on5JjwXLaagFvlTCNcpj_HC7vMC-rjnTNrfW5kKsgj8RCVy9BbKxJ1SKQ4aKQ1KVEl-RWBVgGjCMg_rjHhKjwgfdQGAZMqgmvBiROL/s320/girl+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266753188483480386" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4pgaAJmtIBeORnj0I1OU_3x7oiJE0hV1y0N33qAraD_NXYnBkdjIaXOMuG37J-Hu4W0CIGAS7NO4Gduf3tKoSwxjFi1GrEXguDrDo1IafuZ2ZHyZVGQW-5TcxRThsT3CQbSMiNFbz2MP9/s1600-h/girl.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4pgaAJmtIBeORnj0I1OU_3x7oiJE0hV1y0N33qAraD_NXYnBkdjIaXOMuG37J-Hu4W0CIGAS7NO4Gduf3tKoSwxjFi1GrEXguDrDo1IafuZ2ZHyZVGQW-5TcxRThsT3CQbSMiNFbz2MP9/s320/girl.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266753438110827602" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >The little girl with her huge RPK T-shirt on. Our hopes for tomorrow.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;" ></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;" >Scenes at about 8.30pm</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs5jkNTVIpxnOLAVUJrwsrpnckKjpOWu8YDYiSa9Gv-urGpJ7PvxzCtcmfHYSIS23kjH9f6lZ-YxIfsZm0v17uC0ybWGwc061i3etf493jA1Ml38qDDVXCjMxBtqgEFoQztIoMLpXIH5zq/s1600-h/negotiate+with+polcie-+before+amcorp+crowd.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs5jkNTVIpxnOLAVUJrwsrpnckKjpOWu8YDYiSa9Gv-urGpJ7PvxzCtcmfHYSIS23kjH9f6lZ-YxIfsZm0v17uC0ybWGwc061i3etf493jA1Ml38qDDVXCjMxBtqgEFoQztIoMLpXIH5zq/s320/negotiate+with+polcie-+before+amcorp+crowd.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266755340528161058" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh46HtB8Prjw6L8t9k3Y0IdYiIEm_CL_qFlEFzMTD5p6HBDIE-OjxutDV-eJr-gnFpsLPPuwHWTxYYOb1vUwmgJpVkAhNq-IvuoeLLz29LqDzTOAch88wBjlPVrpdcSqD_nd0_Neqme0KYc/s1600-h/police+afterr.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh46HtB8Prjw6L8t9k3Y0IdYiIEm_CL_qFlEFzMTD5p6HBDIE-OjxutDV-eJr-gnFpsLPPuwHWTxYYOb1vUwmgJpVkAhNq-IvuoeLLz29LqDzTOAch88wBjlPVrpdcSqD_nd0_Neqme0KYc/s320/police+afterr.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266758457072084722" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDi7ixa5Cnur4B_38tZg-8bDZg5HooW7S6X_RW7tLRGoHaUPY94w2hNZpGfdMJhpHwnNXTGnkSovOUjmRsXWek33tj8UlKx4ZID6KoJ6ljm5UKxePtApNSteuwSEJw11-V74Qu8_SIpob8/s1600-h/police+after+crowd.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDi7ixa5Cnur4B_38tZg-8bDZg5HooW7S6X_RW7tLRGoHaUPY94w2hNZpGfdMJhpHwnNXTGnkSovOUjmRsXWek33tj8UlKx4ZID6KoJ6ljm5UKxePtApNSteuwSEJw11-V74Qu8_SIpob8/s320/police+after+crowd.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266758235779164050" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">The crowd picks up steam and the police tries to disperse the crowd. A minor stand-off takes place but everything was under control. Some policemen were seen beating their baton against the trees, probably as a sign of intimidation. The crowd stays, but many seemed confused.</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPPg9UiJ5Gh1wX0ADL-iHkC2lZA4bsniOMoDO5yUKRNNZSdRvS8h72EdFH-ikOqvQi_6dSU8afKM3uk4oedSdZwcXRhUiuoRPPn_Mv2yrcscc_beogMS-cygQ5GDGamd5hyUHL7wGvIv6i/s1600-h/haris-+amcorp+crowd.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPPg9UiJ5Gh1wX0ADL-iHkC2lZA4bsniOMoDO5yUKRNNZSdRvS8h72EdFH-ikOqvQi_6dSU8afKM3uk4oedSdZwcXRhUiuoRPPn_Mv2yrcscc_beogMS-cygQ5GDGamd5hyUHL7wGvIv6i/s320/haris-+amcorp+crowd.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266756304028569330" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >Haris arrives shortly after, and the crowd gathers in front of him at the Amcorp car park.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhplgonpuwlKHhFpros3Wh1hyphenhyphenYHMKkmcINZx0ZXM-mco5H1N6fXrIPhJiXAJes_iUcdYMUH1zKL805KCbRnBsybmbG4uw8Ceke-rPWeyIzCMKqrVQwMN5ErfAg7njToWiL31cfLRr4wnrEK/s1600-h/amcorip+crowd.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhplgonpuwlKHhFpros3Wh1hyphenhyphenYHMKkmcINZx0ZXM-mco5H1N6fXrIPhJiXAJes_iUcdYMUH1zKL805KCbRnBsybmbG4uw8Ceke-rPWeyIzCMKqrVQwMN5ErfAg7njToWiL31cfLRr4wnrEK/s320/amcorip+crowd.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266757300998064706" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpxb89XrkfsMW2lM8nhCvJn_XdV5JJzzekEEaPLyyFIKN2D_YXZG5Rr7sgYJFM0yKYYho8QQoVYTUpa0LjhRaDBD74xpr4EXVeA9ViElhUeVUz-DSjv1gZSc00Zpef1DBgNaghFe3Q86HH/s1600-h/tony+pua+and+haris.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpxb89XrkfsMW2lM8nhCvJn_XdV5JJzzekEEaPLyyFIKN2D_YXZG5Rr7sgYJFM0yKYYho8QQoVYTUpa0LjhRaDBD74xpr4EXVeA9ViElhUeVUz-DSjv1gZSc00Zpef1DBgNaghFe3Q86HH/s320/tony+pua+and+haris.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266756832380690674" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"> Tony Pua joins in.</span></span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOQBK9RBomSmrIyONG5fqA1fPWvyDuP-4Ug53hI2G9fgAy730yrd2jMZb7qufwvBpTVCCkRGIdnN-gS1q661AxPikkM5M32QB505rfk9qQQ3isKQa9_YpeV231ajjorBqBH-PeilSrqXpt/s1600-h/police-+after+crowd.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOQBK9RBomSmrIyONG5fqA1fPWvyDuP-4Ug53hI2G9fgAy730yrd2jMZb7qufwvBpTVCCkRGIdnN-gS1q661AxPikkM5M32QB505rfk9qQQ3isKQa9_YpeV231ajjorBqBH-PeilSrqXpt/s320/police-+after+crowd.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266758382001250978" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmcwIfmIgasAFRM3OIbmQW-BKVxJ6WFsTjkOQSkNbWEqfMdrMR4xd3Jg9x1qUc-2OASJ162niadAJ2GpTy7WRtlLlyOwSGqAbzTdikTeVm7kzQL985v0xHWPCpqMrUOtLvTSfDvAyIBVTE/s1600-h/police+after.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmcwIfmIgasAFRM3OIbmQW-BKVxJ6WFsTjkOQSkNbWEqfMdrMR4xd3Jg9x1qUc-2OASJ162niadAJ2GpTy7WRtlLlyOwSGqAbzTdikTeVm7kzQL985v0xHWPCpqMrUOtLvTSfDvAyIBVTE/s320/police+after.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266758084809891186" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPzvpSmpBFkC-lGCdGwE_UDPifIASSyMQmkD5hntbS0FO2l1_x2Q9cFBkCAZvIev8lMqpYglN6uEVSsyLPeqwgeJ3HMZXwQJ02PXRKSHYl1hWFxipHVnEZudF2HnKJ62BFkQ2fTx0OsCUo/s1600-h/police-+chief+police-+after.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPzvpSmpBFkC-lGCdGwE_UDPifIASSyMQmkD5hntbS0FO2l1_x2Q9cFBkCAZvIev8lMqpYglN6uEVSsyLPeqwgeJ3HMZXwQJ02PXRKSHYl1hWFxipHVnEZudF2HnKJ62BFkQ2fTx0OsCUo/s320/police-+chief+police-+after.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266758634508253058" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >The police interrupts the gathering again, this time along with the Chief Police of Selangor, Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar(in white). He warned that does who do not disperse will face the risk of an arrest as no permit was applied for the vigil. *Any sane citizen of Malaysia in the right frame of mind would know that the police permit would not have been approved even if it was rightly applied for.</span><br /><br /><br />The crowd then moves towards Amcorp Mall again, and conduct a short candlelight vigil. It ends with Haris leading them all to the tune of Negaraku. I met with 2 cops at the junction of the LRT Station, Sarjan Azizon and Sarjan Taufik. These men expressed their dissatisfaction over the course of events taking place in Malaysia, and conceded that they have no choice but to work under instructions of their higher ranking officials. They also suggested to me to wear my "I Am With RPK" T-Shirt upside down for if there were an order for an arrest-spree, those wearing this shirt and also the BERSIH ones would be arrested first.<br /><br />At about 9.45pm, the crowd headed towards PJ Civic Centre, which is about 2 kilometres away. We marched there without any police intimidations. In fact, it appeared to many that the police have decided to call it a day. How they wish..<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;" >Scenes at about 10.00pm</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbXhTe2UmJRcjvK0ByGOH8PT8oLoyMoOhpGbD_lR3vxNZ6ueS_kbWUxWEDCZOw6cAZ-lCEQg_rLmIdhpO2wnvXU6srNNRipl4XvVBgnQFF4JSboiSFUykWMYrIUkVdI3q_mfpGxFOH5sEF/s1600-h/civic+centre-before+park+early.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbXhTe2UmJRcjvK0ByGOH8PT8oLoyMoOhpGbD_lR3vxNZ6ueS_kbWUxWEDCZOw6cAZ-lCEQg_rLmIdhpO2wnvXU6srNNRipl4XvVBgnQFF4JSboiSFUykWMYrIUkVdI3q_mfpGxFOH5sEF/s320/civic+centre-before+park+early.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266765914599147010" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">At the entrance of PJ Civic Centre. There weren't many there yet when i reached. Most of them were still on their way.</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjpfDw_T-pNzT5il3YEkp7GAsYDt647p9-HqyR_6Rgf8LT1OtSkIBLNWy2heVs-Ksc29zEctJ0qHgwNprqROnB3D94K8GK4WzJoy8XqrfIeZU3856QoN0evo0euFq9s6FeQWLJYw3-6K1V/s1600-h/park-+early.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjpfDw_T-pNzT5il3YEkp7GAsYDt647p9-HqyR_6Rgf8LT1OtSkIBLNWy2heVs-Ksc29zEctJ0qHgwNprqROnB3D94K8GK4WzJoy8XqrfIeZU3856QoN0evo0euFq9s6FeQWLJYw3-6K1V/s320/park-+early.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266766548446417586" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">The small crowd make their way from the entrance of PJ Civic Centre to the park which is about 30 metres aways.</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieOov6bpmby5WDzozLpbBSKwe4zeGkJNe3i9BWgbizEYJA_98zFmTvntxL0UyugVNimIhlxr8r4593a3OpBjgJ9Jd0iH2f0BW6ii7arXEUPbmyNqKOCk2RBBYPZXNqz_qOYxZVOplzlgRl/s1600-h/park-+pete.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieOov6bpmby5WDzozLpbBSKwe4zeGkJNe3i9BWgbizEYJA_98zFmTvntxL0UyugVNimIhlxr8r4593a3OpBjgJ9Jd0iH2f0BW6ii7arXEUPbmyNqKOCk2RBBYPZXNqz_qOYxZVOplzlgRl/s320/park-+pete.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266767299650595266" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">The man himself, Raja Petra Kamarudin arrives, much to the joy of the crowd and gives a short speech. He asserts the importance of our continuous struggle against the abolishment of ISA.</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtSrsKVBhpheRxuA7cpn9lFR6dfG5v1xD-1zxfKcGKk6S8LLkXwSz1JCWmlrKv_9y4lHNN5Hhoo-9iqKVcE5IurerBzmEVsThlUUJjjnPXXFYg69D8180a-s1xQr2uYy94VjCWIt2Qh8h2/s1600-h/park.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtSrsKVBhpheRxuA7cpn9lFR6dfG5v1xD-1zxfKcGKk6S8LLkXwSz1JCWmlrKv_9y4lHNN5Hhoo-9iqKVcE5IurerBzmEVsThlUUJjjnPXXFYg69D8180a-s1xQr2uYy94VjCWIt2Qh8h2/s320/park.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266767920226178962" border="0" /></a><br />Someone from the crowd proposed that we sang the Negaraku before releasing the balloons to mark the 1st anniversary of the BERSIH Rally. At this point, I was having a conversation with Hishamuddin Rais somewhere behind the main crowd. Midway through the National Anthem, the FRU charged in and started nabbing individuals. One seemingly plain-clothed FRU/Police personnel chased us as we ran towards the main entrance. We split at the entrance, with me moving towards the main road and Hishamuddin running into the PJ Civic Centre Building. Well, now that the cop did not trail me from there on, I can only assume that he had followed Hishamuddin into the building. Let's just hope he's safe.<br /><br />I made my way across the road to meet up with my cousin, who also had a share of sprinting moments. The police were lurking around there as well, and we witnessed people being chased even into the Lotus Restaurant opposite the park. I wasnt able to take pictures of these events. It takes time for my faulty camera phone to start up, and time was something that wasn't on my side. We knew that we could be arrested any moment, and continued to flee the place. When we reached the HSBC Building, we noticed Raja Petra running too. That was surely a sight to remember.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;" >Scene at 11.00pm</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP9asJRYtl7sqam8sJeRXLU8IFiiapHaZYQBBGX7jiU_cMSlgfcb9XE_mwXsJKd1ZYe7ehM-WIrL366SWbiQbeLvGxoE-barVVHl4mhHE6LtuE1GpVM0HFZVqdla7s7xQnMysjcg7tdR9y/s1600-h/police.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP9asJRYtl7sqam8sJeRXLU8IFiiapHaZYQBBGX7jiU_cMSlgfcb9XE_mwXsJKd1ZYe7ehM-WIrL366SWbiQbeLvGxoE-barVVHl4mhHE6LtuE1GpVM0HFZVqdla7s7xQnMysjcg7tdR9y/s320/police.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266773257737837826" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">This is how it looked like outside the Petaling Jaya Police Headquarters. YB Charles Santiago was present(in picture, on the handphone). Others who were there include YB Lim Kit Siang, YB Gobind Singh Deo, YB Gwo Burne and YB Dr.Jeyakumar. </span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-family:courier new;" >It is learnt that Tony Pua and Lau Weng San are among the 24 who had been arrested. Tony Pua was practically dragged and pulled into the Black Maria, while Weng San suffered major bruises as a result of being punched twice on his face.</span><br /><br />The Malaysia Police Force never fails to amuse us with their constant act of stupidity. Well, if Syed Azidi was arrested for placing the Malaysian Flag upside down in his blog, what action should be take against the force who brutally stormed and physically assaulted the people of our country who were singing the National Anthem?<br /><br />Im off to bed to catch an hour of sleep before attending Raja Petra's trial shortly at the PJ Sessions Court. Will keep you posted on that.<br /><br />by Argus Eye.<br /></div>Argus Eyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10321678407791371530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2077910848854200793.post-19808874259381991032008-11-09T18:38:00.003+08:002008-11-18T21:02:04.548+08:00Recap: Blame the People, Not the Religion.<div style="text-align: justify;"><br />After a span of more than a year, I have decided to blog again. I would kick-start this blog with my last post, dated May 13, 2007. During these trying times, I find this post relevant in helping us, Malaysians, understand that race and religion should not be the stumbling blocks from helping us achieve the much sought after Anak Bangsa Malaysia status.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Sunday, May 13, 2007</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Blame the People, Not the Religion.</span><br /><br />I was in a Golf Club House in Selangor downing whiskey with my pals Rocky and Sarj earlier in the evening when a professional looking middle-aged Indian chap walked in with a guy whom I assume is his son. From what it looked like, they were coming in for drinks after their golfing session. However, that didn't matter. Moments after they took their seats hardly a metre or two away from us at the bar, the Maghrib prayers were heard. Within seconds, their conversation topic diverted to Islam. They began to condemn the religion, and blamed it for the massacre around the world. Now, this did matter. As much as I would've loved to be part of them and engage in their conversation, I decided not to after seeing all the bottles stacked up in the bar. I knew that the presence of alcohol could trigger a potential brawl or a hardcore argument, especially with that middle-aged guy whom I had just lost respect for. I chose to keep mum, leaned back and whispered to Sarj that I've just decided to post my second blog. He shrugged it off.<br /><br />So here I am, half drunk, doing it in his house.<br /><br />Be wise and stop the attack on Islam, for it is a beautiful religion, just like all other religions. I often say this and I would like to say it again. The problem lies with the people, not the religion, be it Islam, Hinduism, Christianity, Buddhism, Sikhism, Judaism etc etc. The problem lies with the oblivious ones who translate and comprehend religious scriptures into something that gets them into an advantageous position. This has been the pinnacle of all problems. All religion teach their disciples that there's only one God. Hindus know Him as Brahman(*different from Brahma), Muslims call Him Allah, Sikhs use the term Waheguru and other religions have their own ways to call Him. However, they are all referring to the same God, the one and only. Only the names differ, but the Truth remains One. If you were to check the definition of all the terms above in the various scriptures, you would see just how well they tally. That's if you choose to be tolerant and read them all.<br /><br />I am a non-Muslim, and I've come across many non-Muslims harping on a verse in the Quran that says "Tiada tuhan lain melainkan Allah" or "There are no other gods other than Allah" if translated into English. These non-Muslims have been misled. In fact, Islam never said those of other religions do not have a God. What they mean by the term "Allah" is in fact God Himself, the same God everyone prays to. One should not ignore the environmental and situational factors when reading or understanding a particular religion. Islam arrived at a time when Arab was in a state of social illness known as Jahiliyyah, where the community was ignorant of the divine guidance. The verse "There are no other gods other than Allah", if put into proper context, actually means "believe in God, and nothing else..not spirits, not supernatural powers, not paganism". It has to be noted that the society at that point of time were inclined towards paganism. Islam brought them all to the right path with the teachings of the Quran. Sadly, many non-Muslims fail to grasp this concept AND many Muslims actually believe that only they pray to the 'right' God. Lesson to be learnt: The Muslims and the non-Muslims are getting it wrong, not Islam. The religion is perfect, but the people chose to fit ambiguous verses in the Quran into something that conforms to their own assembled beliefs. Therefore, blame the people, NOT the religion.<br /><br />Now that I've spoken about the misconception of Islam, let me speak about a significant misconception of Hinduism. Many believe that Hindus pray to many Gods. Hindus pray to one God, the Brahman. The Vedas refer to Him as the formless and the infinite, just like how other religions describe God. The idols that are associated with Hinduism are the attributes of God, and not God Himself. It can be said that Hinduism speaks in a language of symbols. Every idol symbolizes Hinduism and aspects of life. Many of you would have heard of the elephant god known as Ganesha. Do bear in mind that this is just symbolic. The trunk of an elephant can bring down a huge tree and yet, pick up something as tiny as a needle. Thus far, I'm not aware of any machines that are capable of performing both these functions. The trunk of an elephant can also extract water from a muddy pond and yet, leave the mud behind. The message is solely about discriminating the bad from the good; man may live in a corrupt-society, but he should be able to distinguish the good from the bad and leave the bad aside. If one were to have a glance at statues or drawings of Ganesha, one would notice a mouse at its feet surrounded by sweet delicacies. Now, Hindus do NOT pray to rats. If you were to look properly and pay attention to it, you would notice that the mouse always has its head up facing Ganesha and not at all tempted by the sweet delicacies. The point? That is how mankind should be; devoted towards God and not towards materialistic desires. All these convey messages on good deeds and the teachings of the religion. Many would notice the presence of spears in Hindu idols. A spear is of a shape where it gets broader when in penetrates into an object. It sends a message stating the more you learn or enquire the broader your mind gets. The shape of the spear which is broad, sharp and deep also indicates broadness of mind, sharpness of intellect and depth of knowledge. Lotus is also a fairly significant flower associated with Hinduism in drawings. Although it exists in a dirty pool of mud, it emerges white, pure and untouched. Again, an example of how man should be. Others that can often be noticed are snakes and demons. Snakes move in a crooked path, just like the path man takes when he is consumed by desire. If one were to look at the idol of Lord Vishnu, it can be seen that the snakes bow to Him. In other words, it portrays a message where one should have complete mastery over desires. There is also Goddess Kali, who appears to be blood-thirsty and ferocious. Again, these are just symbolic meanings. Goddess Kali is seen killing demons. The demons represent ego, jealousy and wickedness. The image of the idol in fact carries the concept that one should get rid of negativity within them. These are basics of Hinduism. Hinduism is not a religion of idol worshipping but sadly today, many Hindus have become idol worshippers simply because they fail to grasp these concepts of symbolism in their religion. Again, blame the people, NOT the religion.<br /><br />Another misconception of Hinduism is the caste system. Hinduism never once stated that castes are linked with an individual by family lineage or birth in a certain family. In fact, it even states clearly that one can only be a Brahmin by conduct, and not birth. The Upanishads and Vedas have classified the caste system as a well organised and efficient human society. This was significantly practiced during civilisation in ancient <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region>. The castes were the Brahmins, the Kshatriyas, the Vaishyas, and the Shudras. Vedic scriptures would tell you that the pillar and strength of any organisation would depend on a knowledgeable system. That's where the Brahmins come in. It would then depend on security, which include military and defence; this are the Kshastriyas. Next would be the business and economic system; the Vaishyas and finally the productive working force which are the Shudras. It refers to an efficient society structure. Probably it would be clearer if I were to apply it into a more understandable context. Take a country as an example. It has the Government, Military Defence, Investors and Labor Force. If any of these functions fail, it would no longer be an efficient structure. This was the tenet of the caste system in Hinduism. However, many Hindus themselves have exploited this system for their own well being and used it as a stepping stone to leap ahead of others when they should in fact be working hand-in-hand in all departments. They operate no differently from those in a cabal. Need I say it again? Blame the people, not the religion.<br /><br />I find it odd that religion has become the cause of aggression. Has a Hindu not read the Al-Fatihah before? Has a Muslim not read the Gayatri Mantra before?<br /><br />GAYATRI MANTRA:-<br /><br />Aum Bhoor Bhuwah Swaha,<br />Tat Savitur Varenyam,<br />Bhargo Devasaya Dheemahi,<br />Dhiyo Yo <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Naha</st1:place></st1:city> Prachodayat.<br /><br />translated into English:-<br /><br />Oh God! Thou art the Giver of Life,<br />Remover of pain and sorrow,<br />The Bestower of happiness,<br />Oh! Creator of the Universe,<br />May we receive thy supreme sin-destroying light,<br />May Thou guide our intellect in the right direction.<br /><br />SURA AL-FATIHAH:-<br /><br />bismillâh ir-rahmân ir-rahîm<br />al-hamdulillâhi rabb il-âlamîn<br />ar-rahmân ir-rahîm<br />mâliki yawm id-dîn<br />iyyâka na`budu wa iyyâka nasta`în<br />ihdinâ s-sirât al-mustaqîm<br />sirât al-ladhîna an`amta `alayhim<br />ghayr il-maghdûbi `alayhim wa la d-dâlîn<br /><br />translated into English:-<br /><br />In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful,<br />Praise be to Allah, the Cherisher and Sustainer of the worlds,<br />Most Gracious, Most Merciful,<br />Master of the Day of Judgment,<br />Thee do we worship, and Thine aid we seek,<br />Guide us on the right path,<br />The way of those on whom Thou hast bestowed Thy Grace,<br />Those whose (portion) is not wrath, and who go not astray.<br /><br /><br />If people chose to read, they would've noticed similarities and known that ALL religions guide their disciples through the right path. Compare the Gayatri Mantra and Al-Fatihah above with Lord's Prayer of Christianity[The New Testament, King James Version] and one could see greater similarities.<br /><br />When comparing Islam to Sikhism, we can look at the case where the Muslim King Akbar went to Guru Ji to check if there were anything against Islam in Guru Granth Sahib Ji. As he flipped the pages, he wanted Guru Ji to read them to him, and below was the Shabad that Guruji read:-<br /><br />"Raamkalee, Fifth Mehl:<br />Some call Him, 'Raam, Raam', and some call Him, 'Khudaa-i'. Some serve Him as 'Gusain', others as 'Allaah'. ||1|| He is the Cause of causes, the Generous Lord. He showers His Grace and Mercy upon us. ||1||Pause|| Some bathe at sacred shrines of pilgrimage, and some make the pilgrimage to Mecca.| Some perform devotional worship services, and some bow their heads in prayer. ||2|| Some read the Vedas, and some the Koran. Some wear blue robes, and some wear white. ||3|| Some call themselves Muslim, and some call themselves Hindu. Some yearn for paradise, and others long for heaven. ||4|| Says Nanak, one who realizes the Hukam of God's Will, knows the secrets of his Lord and Master. ||5||9|| (Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, page 885)"<br /><br />Being shocked and extremely pleased that there were nothing against Islam and their acceptance of other religions, the King bowed at the feet of Guru Ji before leaving.<br /><br />From what I am aware of, misconceptions of Christianity is slightly different from other religions as it normally revolves around the Gospels. For instance, many question the differences among Gospels themselves when mentioning about the sign thats incorporated on Jesus' cross[New Testament]. Mark 15:26 states "The King of the Jews", Matthew 27:37 states "This is Jesus, the King of the Jews", Luke 23:38 states "This is the King of the Jews" and John 19:19 states "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews". Now, different they may be, but it has to be understood that there were four languages that were being used in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Palestine</st1:place></st1:city> at that time; Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek and Latin. Slight differences are bound to occur, but the Gospels are still accurate, without a doubt.<br /><br />Religion is a topic too wide too mention about in a blog. Thousands of pages would still be deemed insufficient. However, a rough idea on different religions and a proper understanding of them all could change the peoples' perception of other religions.<br /><br />By pointing out the similarities between religions, let me make it absolutely clear that I am not saying all religions are the same. They are NOT the same. However, many similarities exist. And the similarities that exist are in fact, the vital ones. For example, believing in one God and righteousness in deeds.<br /><br />Differences do exist. Islam and Christianity believe in Heaven and Hell; Hinduism believes in karma and reincarnation. However, these differences do not create much of an impact on mankind as both teachings share the same point, which is be righteous and one shall be rewarded with a better life in Heaven(according to Islam and Christianity), or probably a blessed life in the next birth(according to Hinduism and Buddhism). Whichever it may be, we are still better of. I believe that no religions have teachings that contradict another religion in terms of righteousness.<br /><br />Despite some differences in concepts and theories, each and every religion teaches their disciples to be tolerant towards religions of others.<br /><br />The Quran has stated that " Those who believe (in the Quran ), and those who follow the Jewish (scriptures), and the Christians and the Sabians ,- any who believe in God and the Last Day, and work righteousness, shall have their reward with their Lord; on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve"[Quran 2:62]. It went on stating "We believe in God, and that which has been sent down to us, and sent down on Abraham and Ishmael, Isaac and Jacob, and the Tribes, and in that which was given to Moses and Jesus, and the Prophets, of their Lord; we make no distinction between any of them, and to Him we surrender ( Muslimun )"[Quran 3:83-84]. This is evident that Islam is a tolerant religion, and not a religion of aggresion.<br /><br />Sikhism believes that there should be "Respect and tolerance for other religions"[Guru Grant Sahib Ji]<br /><br />Swami Vivekananda came up with a classic parable when he addressed the crowd in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Chicago</st1:place></st1:city> at the Parliament of the World's Religions in 1893:-<br />"A frog lived in a well. It had lived there for a long time. It was born there and brought up there, and yet was a little, small frog. Of course, the evolutionists were not there then to tell us whether the frog lost its eyes or not, but, for our story’s sake, we must take it for granted that it had its eyes, and that it every day cleansed the water of all the worms and bacilli that lived in it with an energy that would do credit to our modern bacteriologists. In this way it went on and became a little sleek and fat. Well, one day another flog that lived in the sea came and fell into the well.<br />“Where are you from?”<br />“I am from the sea.”<br />“The sea?! How big is that? Is it as big as my well?” and he took a leap from one side of the well to the other.<br />“My friend,” said the frog of the sea, “how do you compare the sea with your little well?”<br />Then the frog took another leap and asked, “Is your sea so big?”<br />“What nonsense you speak, to compare the sea with your well!”<br />“Well, then,” said the frog of the well, “nothing can be bigger than my well; there can be nothing bigger than this; this fellow is a liar, so turn him out.”<br /><br />That has been the difficulty all the while. I am a Hindu. I am sitting in my own little well and thinking that the whole world is my little well. The Christian sits in his little well and thinks the whole world is his well. The Mohammedan sits in his little well and thinks that is the whole world. l have to thank you of America for the great attempt you are making to break down the barriers of this little world of ours, and hope that, in the future, the Lord will help you to accomplish your purpose." [Swami Vivekananda, 1893]<br /><br />Religion should never be exploited for personal gains. And I personally believe that while one should practice his own religion whole-heartedly, he should also understand and appreciate other heavenly religions that do exist. Respect and venerate other religions and never once condemn them, for God is One.<br /><br />Blame the People, Not the Religion.<br /><br />Ekam Sat, Vipra Bahudha Vadanti (Truth Is One; the wise know Him by Many Names)<br /><br />by Argus Eye.</div>Argus Eyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10321678407791371530noreply@blogger.com1