Don't be fooled the second time!

Malaysiakini has reported that Pakatan Rakyat believes that the police report made against Anwar Ibrahim is nothing more than a second political conspiracy just like in 1998, to finish off his political career.

I am simply amazed at the sheer desperation that anyone would do to smear the name of Anwar in the height of his political comeback in the aftermath of the March 8 political Tsunami. Which person would say that it is up to the police to investigate the serious allegation made against Anwar? Of course, I won't answer that question, because it's obvious that there are higher ups who would orchestrate such a move at such a time as now, because of Anwar's possibility of contesting in a by-election and thereby forming the new Federal Govt later on. These people are so desperate that they can't think of something more credible and believable. How would you expect a 61 year old man with a bad back holding a young punk who is 23 years old and is fit as a fiddle? It's unbelievable!

Certainly, the credibility of the BN govt has been tarnished in the eyes of the world. I managed to catch CNN this evening and was not surprised that CNN was not able to contact the govt for comment, but were able to contact Anwar and interviewed him over the phone. With much conviction in his voice, he charged that he was a victim of a second conspiracy against him, because of an agent being planted by the BN in PKR.

The process of nation building is interrupted by this shameful event of a political conspiracy to preempt the threat posed by Anwar in capturing the Federal Govt in crossovers. Calls for the police to be fair in its investigation can be a hollow one, what with the memory of Anwar's black eye in 1998 given by the IGP himself. My gut instinct is that I just don't trust the police. They are quick in investigating the opposition but slow in investigating the rich and powerful with connections to the BN.

The demand by Anwar to guarantee the security of him and his family is a reasonable one considering what he has gone through before in 1998. It's total rubbish and irresponsible for anyone to suggest that he should be brave enough and not hide in the embassy for fear of his safety.

My only prayer is that he will be safe. We need to save this country from tyranny and corruption. A sleeping PM with no concern for the poor rakyat by drastically increasing fuel prices overnight is not fit to be the Prime Minister. A PM who detains Hindraf lawyers without being charged in Court is a coward. A PM who shakes hand with the Chief Minister of Penang and assures that mega projects will not be affected is a snake, when he decided to scrap the monorail and PORR projects in the 9th Malaysia Plan review. Whether or not it's a blessing in disguise is not the issue. It only shows that he is a confirmed liar, as he has failed to consult the Chief Minister with regard to this projects.

All this proves that we are living in dangerous times and BN is ever so desperate and might once again control the media and institutions in this country to try to save their political skin.

Malam Himpunan Rakyat Anti-ISA

Salam Sejahtera kepada semua rakyat Malaysia.

Anda dijemput untuk menghadiri satu Malam Himpunan Rakyat Anti-ISA di Stadium Malawati, Shah Alam pada:

Tarikh: 28hb Jun 2008 (Sabtu)
Masa : 8.30 pm - 11.30 pm

Tema ialah "Malaysia bebas dari ISA"

Ada beberapa bekas tahanan ISA seperti YB Saari Sungib, Mohamad Sabu, Sivarasa Rasiah dan Lee Ban Chen akan berpidato pada malam itu.

Saksikanlah juga pelancaran T-Shirt Merah Hitam & Promosi Buku "Dunia Tanpa Suami 2" yang amat menyedihkan. Deklamasi Puisi dan persembahan multimedia juga akan memeriahkan lagi himpunan ini demi menegakkan keadilan dan melaungkan suara rakyat untuk memansuhkan ISA yang zalim ini.

MCA MPs to join Pakatan Rakyat?

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has disclosed that several MCA MP's will join Pakatan Rakyat soon, according to Malaysiakini.

Anwar has kept the public guessing since the general election on March 8, with repeated claims of crossovers by Barisan Nasional (BN) parliamentarians, especially those from Sabah.

He said that discreet meetings have been held in Hong Kong, Manila and Singapore, to avoid scrutiny, and that “even a cabinet minister met me”.

At a rally held last night in City Stadium, George Town, the former deputy premier worked up the crowd with similar promises. “It’s about time that we take over. It’s only a matter of time for us to take over. We are so close to Putrajaya,” he said to roars of approval from some 30,000 people.

He stressed that defecting MPs would have to accept the Pakatan tenets of good governance. Anwar used the rally to obtain a ‘referendum’ on replacing the federal BN government and taking over as premier from Pak Lah.

He and other Pakatan speakers exploited the rising cost of living triggered by the fuel price hike, and lambasted the BN.

Anwar promised to bring down the fuel price if it captures the Federal Govt. He also said that BN is still in a state of denial over the electoral setback and has further betrayed the people’s trust with an unreasonable fuel price hike, and it has contributed to this through economic and financial mismanagement.

Saying that BN has run out of ideas in overcoming inflation, and that only Pakatan could save the country. “Let’s join force to topple this irresponsible government. If enough numbers support us (in Parliament), we will form the next government. The people of Penang must lead others in backing us for change to a better life,” said Anwar.

Hinting that Abdullah could dissolve Parliament in a sudden move to “save his skin”, he cautioned Pakatan leaders and members to be ready for a snap election. “We must fight to win till the end,” Anwar said.

What do you think? Will a snap election be on the cards this year?

Petrol price hike

There is the latest news that there will be a fuel price hike of 78 sen per litre from 5 June onwards. Cars of 2000 cc and below and all motorbikes will get annual rebates according to The Sun.

No wonder Pak Lah says to tighten our belts. But are the govt ministers going to tighten their belts too and declare their personal assets ? It's time to walk the talk, and not tell the people what to do. The price hike will definitely mean a spiralling effect on the economy of the country. So let's do what we can in being transparent and prudent in our spending, especially in travelling on the road.

Can Anwar do anything about increasing the subsidies to reduce petrol prices if he comes to power? Or is this a case of a worldwide oil price effect that we are experiencing now in the region. If fuel prices are increased to market levels, we will head towards inflationary pressures on the economy, and this will burden the consumers, especially the poor.

The fault lies with the Malaysian govt for their shortsightedness in the proper planning of our public transport system, especially in Penang. I think we should encourage Penangites in their island to go cycling like the Dutch!!

Interesting call from Param to arrest Dr M under ISA

From Malaysiakini:

Give former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad a taste of his own medicine by arresting him under the draconian Internal Security Act (ISA), which allows detention without trial.
This was the terse message from former top United Nations official Param Cumaraswamy in response to a speech Mahathir had made last week in Johor Baru.Param, the former UN rapporteur for the independence of judges and lawyers, alleged that Mahathir’s remarks in his May 17 speech “not only bordered on sedition but, applying his own standards, qualifies him for detention under the ISA”.

In his address to about 1,000 people in Johor, Mahathir had reportedly cited the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) group’s list of demands contained in a memorandum and asked if anyone knew the implications of those demands.“What does it say? Malaysia for Malaysians! This is the reality of the present situation. If we do not speak up, if we choose to keep quiet, we will lose our rights and the other races will take over” the Malaysian Insider news portal quoted him as saying.“When that happens, it will be like Singapore. Do you think we will still have control?” said Mahathir in his speech.While stressing that he himself was against the use of the ISA, Param said that “applying the principle of equality before the law” would dictate that the home minister consider invoking the ISA and detain Mahathir for his remarks “before he does further damage”.According to Param, he had written to Mahathir in December 1987 to inquire as to the reasons for the detention of his political opponents under the tough security law during ‘Ops Lalang’ crackdown.He needs ‘rehabilitation’ in KamuntingIn that operation, Mahathir had more than 100 political rivals and social activists detained and three newspapers shut down in the wake of a bitter split within his Umno party and tensions stirred up over the issue of Chinese education.“In December 1987, I wrote to Dr Mahathir when he was prime minister inquiring why he resorted to detention of his political opponents under the ISA.

His response in a letter dated December 2, 1987 was:‘If I have to resort to the ISA it is because I am forced to by the irresponsibility of those who do not appreciate my liberal attitude and seem bent on destabilising this country. My responsibility is towards the vast majority who feel threatened by the race-baiting indulged in by a frustrated minority unable to impose their thinking on this country.’”Recounting this, Param said if those persons were detained under the ISA during ‘Ops Lalang’ because they indulged in ‘race-baiting’ which Mahathir felt threatened the majority of Malaysians, then “the same criteria could now be applied to Mahathir for his speech in Johor”.“No longer able to impose his minority will on the government out of frustration, he appears to have resorted to racial tactics which could destabilise the country,” said Param.“A dose of his own medicine which he administered to the 106 (individuals) in 1987 should be in order to rehabilitate him in Kamunting (camp),” he added.

Time for Sabahans to go for change

Is Sabah ready to join Pakatan Rakyat? Some interesting statements so far with two outstanding examples:

1. “We (Sabah BN MPs) have never jumped. We can move by simply forming a new party. Then we can decide where we want to sit…here or there”, he said, gesturing in the direction of the opposition and backbenchers. – Datuk Seri Ghapur Salleh (MP for Kalabakan).

2. There is no harm in Barisan Nasional MPs in Sabah defecting to the Opposition. What’s the point of moving to a terrace house if one is already living in a bungalow? However, for some of us, there seems to be no pleasure in living in this bungalow. What’s the point of living in a bungalow if one has to sleep beside the toilet? - Datuk Anifah Aman (MP for Kimanis).

The winds of change is moving in the direction of the "Land below the Wind" to end over four decades of discrimination and marginalization of Sabahans in Malaysia.

Go Sabah, Go!!

Guan Eng's Press statement

Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak Convinces No One By Saying That The Government Is Liberal And That Sedition Charges Against Blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin Is Not Politically Motivated When RPK Was Charged After Najib And His Wife Objected Against His Allegations Linking Them To The Altatunya Murder Trial.

Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak convinces no one by saying that the government is liberal and that sedition charges against blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin is not politically motivated when RPK was charged after Najib and his wife objected against his allegations linking them to the Altatunya Shaariibuu murder trial. With RPK being charged so soon after both of them objected to so called slanderous remarks online, the public can not be faulted for thinking that these charges were a directed act of vengeance. On 2 May 2008 the Deputy Prime Minister’s press secretary Datuk Tengku Sariffuddin Tengku Ahmad wrote in a letter to Malaysia Today that Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak will not hesitate to seek legal redress over unfounded and unfair allegations made against him in the case involving murdered Mongolian woman Altantuya. This follows Najib’s wife statement on 1 May against slanderous remarks against her. Despite such warnings of civil action of defamation, Najib has still not sued RPK who instead faced criminal charges of sedition.This latest infringement of rights may be the beginning of Barisan Nasional’s crackdown on media freedom. This will also set a frightening precedent against online expression that will further erode media freedom in this country despite promises by the BN government. DAP condemns the arrest of blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin, the editor of the internet news portal Malaysia Today, under the Sedition Act, and demands for his immediate release as well as withdrawal of charges. DAP hopes that all journalists and media associations can come out in solidarity and support for RPK by condemning RPK’s sedition charges.

We know that Raja Petra - who is charged with implying in a post on April 25 that Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and his wife were involved in the murder of a Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu - has been one of the vocal critics of the BN government and its cronies. On the same day the posting was made (April 25) Information Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek told the press that media freedom should not be feared by anyone, including the ruling party, as it could also be the source of strength for the government and the country. Ahmad Shabery even said that the reform announced by Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi recently such as the setting up of a judicial commission and introducing an Anti-Corruption Commission could be implemented more effectively in a free media environment. Even Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar promised that he would review the country's repressive media laws to boost press freedom. “I have told my officers that I want to have a re-look at the Printing Presses and Publications Act so that we can move with the times,” he said, according to the Star on April 20. Syed Hamid went further when he said, “We need press freedom in order for us to have a check and balance in government. We are not trying to control you but we want everyone to contribute to the nation-building process. Why should we let ourselves (government) become unpopular by having such regulations?”

The sad truth about this deteriorating situation pertaining to our press and other media is due to Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s too many promises which he failed to deliver since he became Prime Minister in late 2003. After the recent political tsunami on 8 March 2008, it is now proven that talk is cheap. Such empty promises also demonstrate that BN is not capable of reform, that BN can never accept criticisms and will always resort to repressive laws against the interest of the people. Another anti-freedom attitude displayed by BN leaders is when Najib yesterday (May 7) inferred that the Attorney-General can decide whether action can taken against DAP chairman Karpal Singh for questioning the transfer and reappointment of the Perak Islamic Religious Affairs Department (JAIP) director. Malaysia is facing international condemnation and widespread public anger for charging RPK.

Najib is strongly advised not to apply the same tactics of sedition used towards RPK on Karpal who is the National Chair of DAP. When criticisms are perceived as threatening stability and public order, this means the BN government will never ever learn from the lesson of the March 8 political tsunami. While the voters are giving BN a second chance, its leaders are more interested in bullying the voice of conscience and the voice of the oppressed. DAP demands that BN government immediately stop harassing bloggers, journalists and federal opposition leaders and supporters who are merely acting as good citizens in exposing wrongdoings of government leaders.