The Arrest of the Lawyers @ Balai Polis Birckfields

“certain quarters who are out to create trouble” - that is the quote from the IGP in his media interview on arrival at the KLIA. ( Errr, this IGP seems more like a politician; giving press interviews even on arrival from an overseas trip. Is he not a civil servant too and are they not subjected to certain do's and don't with regards to these kind of publicity??)

Anyway, the IGP was quoted as calling the 5 Lawyers as people who were out to create trouble - what trouble may I ask? These 5 YOUNG LAWYERS were there to carry out their professional duties; upholding basic human rights and the rule of law. They were standing and waiting patiently by the gate of the station for at least half an hour waiting for permission to enter the premises.

They were denied entry into the police station with the excuse that the Investigating Officer and the OCPD were at a meeting. I would have thought that at the very least these lawyers should have been invited in to the station, given a place to sit while waiting for the officers to finish their meeting. Instead they were made to stand by the road outside the police station. For this action alone, I think the PDRM owes the lawyers an apology!

Infact I would urge the National Union of Journalists to also lodge a formal complaint and protest that a Jounalist, carrying out his duty was also arrested that night. He has there to do his professional duty but was arrested. This was despite the fact that he had on his MEDIA tag on.

I witness all these as I WAS THERE that night. Infact I was there right up to 3:15am!

This whole incident could have been avoided right from the beginning. The group of around 30 young people sat down peacefully and quietly with their lighted candles in support of a friend who was arrested much earlier.

If the police and the OCPD in particular, had been more professional, all these arrests could have been easily avoided. The young people could have been allowed to carry-on the vigil and if they were properly informed and advised to end their vigil, they would have done so.

Instead, the OCPD chose to come out in full force (and infact not even in uniform) and told them to disperse immediately giving the vigilist no chance at all to even move away. The OCPD himself manhandled a female vigilists (which I also believe is not right) before handing the female vigilist to a female uniformed officer.

So when the OCPD did not respect the PDRM's own standard operating procedures in carryig out his duties - all kinds of problems started surfacing ending with the arrest of the lawyers. Now, in order to safe face and protect their A##%$s they start fire-fighting. We now see all kinds of remarks and quotes which just makes the whole issue worst.

The PDRM should just carry out their internal investigation; and based on eye witnesses accounts, suspend the OCPD - make a public apology and move on. Instead by prolonging the issue, we now have even calls for the Minister and IGP to resign;

Being there that night and following through all the events the eventually unfolded, I support the call to suspend the OCPD and the resignation of the IGP. Their action and words are nothing short of a disgrace to the already tarnished image of the Police DiRaja Malaysia.

May13th...40years on

Today, the 40th Anniversary of that black day in Malaysia's history. The day that "Unity in Diversity" actually died in Malaysia.

I was only 6 years old at that time and was living in Penang where Dad was in the Special Branch. What do I remember of it? Absolutely nothing.......except for what I later learnt as I grew up.

This evening I attended the 513 to 1Malaysia Forum at the Civic Center in MBPJ. I was interviewed by the ANTARA News Agency - on why I was there. I was there to learn more about 513 from the people who were in the thick of it than.

I was also asked what I thought would be a lesson to be learnt. I said that the lesson we must learn is that Unity is the only way forward - One Nation, One People: ANAK BANGSA MALAYSIA.

This evening at the Civic Center which was filled to capacity and with many more outside - the message was clear: We want to move forward - leaving behind the shadows of 513. That BNs (and UMNOs) politicis of FEAR is no longer LAKU.

My wish and prayer now is that all those present this evening, would put into action what they agreed to and applauded. If only each can share this thought and idea with two others.....and each one willing to stand up and be counted (and risk being put in the lock-up) than and only than can we see the light at the end of the tunnel.

If most of us still continue to be complacent and keep talking with no action and waiting for others, especially for the politicians to bring about change, than nothing will happen. the Tsunami of 8march08 would be nothing is we the rakyat are not prepared to take that second step.

.."for evil to succeed, it is enough that the good do nothing.." Bangkit la ANAK BANGSA MALAYSIA demi masa hadapan Malaysia. HARAPAN NEGARA ada ditangan anda - Anak Bangsa Malaysia

A Community Servant's Lamentation

I have committed myself to serving my community. I want to leave this country a better place, A Better Malaysia for my son and all those coming after me. I see things that are wrong and I want to correct them.

However, serving the community is a very expensive hobby. One needs strong financial support and most of all strong emotional support from those closest to you. Their understanding is most important to keep one moving forward.

In serving the community, there will be lots and lots of obstacles from all angles. There will be people who will discourage you and throwing a wet-blanket. There will be those out to frustrate your attempts and efforts to make things better.

There will be those whom we are helping that will show no appreciation but instead mock you. There will be those whom we are helping and who turns around and instead of being thankful, will treat you like a servant, as if we owe it to them to serve them.

All these are external challenges that we can easily overcome or just simply to ignore. Afterall, in committing to do volunteer community services, we do not seek to be appreciated nor to gain any personal favours. We just want to see a better community.

However, emotional support, love and care from our close ones are important elements that every volunteer needs. That encouragement from family and close ones are pillars of support. Therefore, for those who are not committed enough to go out there and serve, it is most important and necessary for you to give moral and emotional support plus encouragements to those who are out there.

Even if you cannot give the support, one should not send out negative vibes to these volunteers. Just being there would be good enough. However, sometimes in frustration we may make negative comments that can be demotivating.

I have personally come across many instances of negative comments.
“You are a failure, you have no right to talk to me!” .
“You are so stupid – helping others for what? What do you get?”
Coming from strangers is ok, but from love ones, it hurts right at the heart!

Nevertheless, I press on, putting full faith in GOD that he has plans for me. I did not give up a senior corporate position for nothing; I did it because I believe that I can make a difference. I choose to take the road less travelled because I believe that once I journey on this road, others will join me. Together we can make a difference though there may be struggles along the way.

Glory be to GOD from whom my strength comes.

1Black Malaysia - Join me in wearing BLACK!

The Coalition for Free and Fair Elections (BERSIH) held a press conference this morning in relation to the ongoing Perak constitutional crisis and the much anticipated sitting of the Perak state legislative assembly on 7th May, 2009.
I reproduce below the full text of the press release issued by BERSIH this morning.
___________________________________________________________
We the Coalition for Free and Fair Elections (BERSIH) call upon all Malaysians to wear black to work, to school, in play or at home the coming May 7th (Thursday) to present “1BLACKMalaysia” to Prime Minister Najib Razak as our strongest protest to the on-going Perak coup he has orchestrated.
Despite the court’s scheduled hearing on the legality of Zambry Abdul Kadil’s legality as the Menteri Besar on May 5th and 6th, a sitting for the Perak State Legislature has been scheduled to begin on May 7th bypassing the speaker V. Sivakumar.
A motion has also been tabled to replace the speaker, who has vigorously defended the Legislature’s rights and power throughout the coup, with R. Ganesan, a non-lawmaker from the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC).
To prevent the public from knowing what would happen in the assembly, a “media curfew” was imposed whereby only 13 selected media outlets are granted access, on top of a general lockdown of the city of Ipoh, where the Legislature is seated. While the Zambry regime had since retracted the “media curfew” under strong public outcry, the initial move reveals a regime that fears public scrutiny.
These latest developments show total disregard of Najib Razak on rule of law and constitutional democracy in Malaysia. He has also ignored the voters’ wrath on unconstitutional means of power grab, as showed in the Bukit Gantang by-election where the margin for the ousted MB Mohammad Nizar increased by over 2000 votes.
Najib’s slogan: “1Malaysia, people first, performance now” is now a cruel joke on Malaysians. Is this the old “1Authoritarian-and-CorruptMalaysia” getting worse? What “people first” when people are forced to be blind, deaf, mute and immobile with the media curfew and city lockdown? What “performance now” when the “performance” in law-breaking may never be known?
In response to all these, we urge all Malaysians to wear black on May 7 th. It will be a peaceful but powerful message of civil disobedience that we the people are politicians’ bosses and no politicians defiant of public opinion can escape punishment at the next poll. Civil disobedience is a peaceful act that every citizen can participate and make a difference. In history, civil disobedience led by Mahatma Ghandi, Martin Luther King and the Polish people had successfully ended tyranny and injustice without bloodshed or disruption.
Let’s paint every state and territory, every town and village black with our clothes, headbands, hats, turbans, veils, armbands, ribbons and stickers on that day. Let everyone see a sea of black walking into an office, a market, a mosque, a temple, a church, a college, a park, a bus, a commuter or LRT car, a ferry or an aeroplane .
Let us be united in one BLACK colour and let show the world that the 1Malaysia under Najib Razak is “1BLACKMalaysia” living in darkness.
Let’s show the world that Malaysians will stand up against any invasion of democracy, freedom and peace by unscrupulous politicians. We will not allow coup be the way to power in Perak, or anywhere in Malaysia. No one shall take away our democracy, freedom and peace. Najib may hijack our unelected institutions like the judiciary, civil service, police and Election Commission, but he will never win our heart and mind. And he is no reformist until he dares to face elections in Perak.
Let us show Najib in one colour - “1BlackMalaysia!“. Let us tell him in one voice for Malaysia: “Democracy First!” Let us pose him the one solution for Perak: “Elections now!“
Yes, Mr Prime Minister of Malaysia, and the World, listen to us: 1BlackMalaysia! Democracy First! Elections Now!

Walk with us......

I find the letter by Meng Yee in Malaysiakini ; his thoughts most refreshing and I reproduce it here in full.

Yes, The Change that came on 08/03/2008 must also come with a change in our mindset, otherwise it would come to nothing. We must walk that talk - and be willing to "soil our hands" to effect the changes that we want.

Indeed, "For eveil to succeed, it is enough that the good do nothing...."

Come, lets walk together...hand in hand, side by side.....

We're the shareholders, not bosses

Meng Yee Apr 20, 09 4:59pm

I refer to the letter YB, don't forget who the real bosses are.I understand the writer's trend of thought and idea and in principle he is right. Those in public service serve the rakyat and govern the country for the good of the nation as a whole. They are like he said the general managers or CEOs and we are the board of directors, the stakeholders. They are accountable to us, the rakyat. However, I caution against the use of the ‘boss' analogy simply because if you spend anytime on the ground, you will understand what the state assembly person goes through. Members of the rakyat, truly act like bosses and insist on calling their state representatives at all times of the day. They give instructions to do this and to do that and threaten like the assembly person owes them a big favour. You may say, that's part of the job and who in the first place asked them to run for office? Let me tell you as one who was involved with an opposition party prior to March 8, 2008. Let me remind many what the sentiments were like then. Whenever there was any call for support or anything to do with the opposition, most would run away as if the opposition were lepers. Few were willing to sacrifice. Many lived in fear, tremendous fear. There was blatant injustice then as there is now. There was corruption and daylight robbery from our national coffers but as long as there was rice on the table, many closed an eye or even both eyes. The judiciary and the constitution were raped and abused as if the ends justified the means. Even the royalty were snubbed. Many, however, were to afraid to speak up. The opposition workers were many who had nothing to lose. Either they were young and idealistic or old and poor and not much to lose to the BN gestapo. Some of the leaders today are from this pool of people who joined the opposition parties then. They are the ones with guts, who are farsighted and visionary. They were prepared to face the consequences of BN's gestapo. Many are young and adapt well to the new politics. So I hope that many will understand that these YBs serve the country and have sacrificed much. We are the stakeholders and we should support them rather than lord over them. Malaysians are very good at complaining but when it comes to rolling up our sleeves, we shy away. How will our young respect us when we are afraid to get our hands soiled? Stakeholders must be involved and interested to work to ensure the CEO succeeds. Was it not Kennedy who said ‘Ask not what your nation can do for you but rather what you can do for the nation'? And Bush Sr who dreamed of the ‘thousand points of light' in relation to volunteerism. It is time Malaysians show commitment by joining a political party and show outright open support for what they believe is right and true. Every decision made in Parliament and in the state assemblies affects us and if we remain armchair critics and finger-pointing directors than we will progress nowhere. We appreciate those who work feverishly for the good of the rakyat because we are not willing to stand in place for what they have done. We appreciate their day and night service as many have loss their personal space and freedom. Having said this, we will kick out those who are self-serving as we have seen many of them in the last 50 years. So perhaps a better analogy is ‘stakeholders' in a company and not bosses.

Woman...Ladies...where is your voice!!!

This report from STAR following the appointment of the New Cabinet is such a sexist report. It made me puke! - The sad part is that nobody has actually raised an issue about it..so here I am with my two cents worth................!

Women's appointment .. so few of them is an issue to pick up...not their dressing or lack of it ...please get our perspective right!

Women...STAND UP for GENDER EQUALITY....!!!!

Senator Heng caught off-guard
KUALA LUMPUR: Senator Heng Seai Kie had planned to look her best at the swearing-in of Wanita MCA chief Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun as a senator yesterday but she ended up “less dressed” than she intended.
This is because the Perak Wanita MCA chief, who is usually immaculately dressed, was too stunned to make herself up after hearing of her appointment as the new Deputy Information, Culture, Arts and Communications Minister.
A senator since November 2006, Heng, the Wanita MCA secretary-general, never expected to be included in Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s new Cabinet line-up when she received a call yesterday.
“It was quite unexpected for me,” said Heng, who showed up at the Senate wearing a simple long-sleeved blouse and pants.
The senator was looking plain without make-up although she managed to complete her hairdo at a salon.

The Death of Democracy and The sinking of our Judiciary?

"I don’t have to tell you how to judge the judge. You must know by now how to do it if you have read my articles in the Internet. You will know he is a bad judge if he behaves unfairly to one side as against the other. It is your perception as a member of the public that matters and not what the judge thinks of himself.
A judge who does not appear to be fair is useless to the judicial process. As such he is a bad judge and is therefore unfit to sit on the bench. The other essential qualification of a judge is to administer justice according to law. That said, we can now judge this judge.
Article 72, Clause (1) of the Federal Constitution clearly states:
72. (1) The validity of any proceedings in the Legislative Assembly of any State shall not be questioned in any court.
Yet Mr Justice Balia Yusuf Wahi, who knew that the Speaker’s order which was made in the Legislative Assembly was a proceeding in the Legislative Assembly, dismissed the Speaker’s application to strike out the summons of the three turncoat assemblymen who were asking the court to question the validity of what the Speaker had done in the Assembly. As you know what the Speaker did in the Assembly, rightly or wrongly, is not to be questioned in any court. Isn’t what the judge had done by dismissing the Speaker’s application to strike out the turncoats’ summons, not administering justice according to law? The judge had gone against the Constitution of Malaysia which is the supreme law of the land. What do you call a judge who has defied the law of the land? A renegade judge? - The Malaysian Insider