More Arrests under Malaysia's Draconian ISA

Gerakan Mansuhkan ISA (GMI) [The Abolish ISA Movement] has said three people, including an Indonesian citizen, were arrested recently under Section 73 (1) of Internal Security Act 1960 (ISA) and have been detained for an initial 60 days for investigations.

GMI president Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh handed two memorandum to Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) Commissioner S.Siva Subramaniam today, he said the three recent detainees are Agus Salim, aged 32, Abdul Matin Anol Rahmat, aged 60, and Indonesian Johar Hassan.

Syed Ibrahim said with the three latest arrests, there are now 30 people under ISA detention without trail, four of them have been detained without trail for more than six years.

ABOLISH THE EVIL, OPPRESSIVE & DRACONIAN ISA!

Read the full news report in the Sun Daily Malaysia HERE

These detentions under the Internal Security Act(ISA) are confirmed by Malaysia's Inspector General of Police (IGP)

"Inspector General of Police Musa Hassan confirmed the three men were being held but declined to elaborate. Home Ministry officials who could comment were not immediately available."

read the full news report HERE

Homo homini lupus


Man is a wolf to man

Iustitia omnibus

Justice for all

Pure Unadulterated Talent

Maybe you haven't seen and heard this lady sing yet?

I am certain you will enjoy listening to this wonderful lady Susan Boyle from Scotland, singing "I Dreamed A Dream' in "Britain's Got Talent" which was broadcast from Glasgow recently.

It proves that to be a success and to have something really special, anyone's age, good looks and wealth are not important.

Enjoy the heart moving experience.

It is pure, divine and a joy to behold, unadulterated by anything.
The world would be a far better place with more wonderful people like the honest, humble and selfless Susan Boyle.

Click HERE to listen for yourself, you will be glad you did so.


Sing on Susan! Your dream has come true at long last!


O diem praeclarum!


Oh, what a beautiful day!

Another World Record for Malaysia

"Malaysia Boleh" once again!!


The International Shipping Press, including Lloyds List, reports this:

Alphaliner estimated that 9% of capacity operated by the world’s top 24 lines is currently unemployed, equivalent to almost 1m teu.

Data from Alphaliner also shows that Malaysia’s MISC has the largest volume of container vessels out of action, with 32% of capacity being idle.

MISC is not even in the top ten of container ship companies, yet it has made this world record.

Those top ten are here:

IDLE CAPACITY OF WORLD TOP TEN CONTAINER LINES

CARRIER % OF CAPACITY IDLE

1 Maersk 8%

2 MSC 1%

3 CMA / CGM 2%

4 Evergreen 0%

5 COSCO 10%

6 Hapag-Lloyd 2%

7 APL 23%

8 CSCL 16%

9 NYK 11%

10 Hanjin 14%

and way down the list somewhere

MISC

with a world record of 32% idle!

How shameful that is!

Ab actu ad posse valet illatio

From what has happened we may infer what will happen

Aut disce aut discede

Either learn or leave

1Malaysia m' Arse!!

Utusan Malaysia the best selling Malay Language daily newspaper in Malaysia, which by the way is contolled by UMNO of which Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak is the head, has quoted several Malay politicians and activists as saying:

'Malays should put aside their political differences so that they can jointly resist pressure from the Chinese and Indian minorities'.

“The Malays must rise and unite in facing the demands of other races that are now seen as increasingly excessive,” said a paragraph in the article.

To link to Utusan Malaysia click HERE

To see what was reported in the Singapore Straits Times click HERE

and Taiwan News HERE

Najib has been talking about a '1Malaysia policy', that seems to be just that hypocritical talk, is it yet another case of no action, talk only?

UMNO it seems will never reform, lessons apparently still haven't been learned, and the complaisant 'head in the sand' attitude remains.

Does UMNO stand for: Unrepentant Moronic Nincompoops Over-and -over-again

So it is now quite apparent (as visible as the balls of a dog in fact) which race in Malaysia is the most self-centred and overtly racial.

Whither Malaysia?

Who knows, but the good news will hopefully be the demise of UMNO and all race based political parties.

Politics should aim to be secular and racially neutral, otherwise the future looks quite bleak.

Rais Yatim

Meanwhile the Minister of Information, Communication and Culture (also affectionalely known as 'Ministry of Propaganda Propagation'), Rais Yatim was reported thus:

Rais Yatim said the ministry played an important role in establishing only the right kind of information* reached the masses.

Click HERE for the report in the Star

“The government is not looking to find fault with bloggers and other Internet users but would like them to follow the law to ensure they did not misuse it.”

"It is not that we are looking for faults all the time. But we would like the right of the people to be guarded by the relevant authorities and the law. "Our aim is to see the 1Malaysia concept succeed. However, in order to succeed, the facts must not be twisted or misinterpreted by some until it raises racial sentiments.”

"If the right information* does not reach the people how can there be success”?

“So, I want everyone to understand and respect the law."

*(= propaganda)

This guy really talks and talks, did you see him prattle on yet again during the BBC 'HARDtalk' programme, if not the link is HERE

Intelligenti pauca

Few words suffice for he who understands

In alio pediculum, in te ricinum non vides

You see a louse on someone else, but not a tick on yourself

Malaysian Police Seize Opposition DVDs

Are the Malaysian police playing politics again?


It sure looks like it, judge for yourselves by reading the report in the Straits Times HERE

Malaysian police seized DVDs used by the opposition to campaign for upcoming special elections, party officials said on Monday 30th March 2009, this is another example of an ongong crackdown on any political opposition or dissent.

Police seized 30 DVDs at an opposition campaign rally and detained an opposition official late on Sunday 29th March 2009 in northern Perak state, Ngeh Koo Ham, a Perak opposition legislator said.

An opposition leader Lim Kit Siang said the action was 'the latest example of the increasing intolerance toward fundamental liberties like freedom of speech, thought and expression in Najib's Malaysia'.

The DVD showed clips of opposition state assemblymen being barred by the police from holding a meeting at the Perak state legislature after Barisan Nasional gained control of the state administration from the Pakatan Rakyat.

The district police chief Azisman Alias has reportedly denied the police had any political motivation, saying the government's film censorship board has not approved the DVDs for public distribution.

Ab actu ad posse valet illatio

From what has happened we may infer what will happen

Graviora manent

Greater dangers await

The Pope condemned on condoms

In the Lancet - The Pope versus the Condom

One of the most prestigious medical journals in the world, the Lancet, has accused Pope Benedict XVI of distorting science in remarks he made during a recent visit to Africa regarding the use of condoms to prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS.

The BBC has a story on the subject HERE

It appears that the Pope has lost touch with the reality of the situation, his remarks that the "cruel epidemic" should be tackled through abstinence and fidelity rather than condom use, will have the effect of a cruel long and painful lead up to inevitable death.

The Pope has in effect served a death sentence on many Roman Catholic believers worldwide.

The Pope reportedly said:-

"the traditional teaching of the Church has proven to be the only fail safe way to prevent the spread of HIV/Aids."

One can understand the Pope's sentiments, but he needs to be realistic.

This utter idealistic rubbish is the opinion of someone, who is obviously out of touch and looking through rose-coloured glasses from a high vantage point in Cloud Cuckoo-land.

Dum inter homines sumus, colamus humanitatem

As long as we are among humans, let us be humane

Primum non nocere

The first thing is to do no harm

Rosmah? Rosmah who?

UMNO delegates have clearly showed that they want change and they want leaders who can speak and listen to the aspirations of the people, according to Rosmah.

Evidently Rosmah, has been attending the UMNO assembly from day one and will stay to the end, said she was not only here to lend moral support but also to listen to grievances from the delegates.

It was reported she said, “If I were not here, I would be at home to sort of (sic) my house first before coming to listen to the speakers."

The irrelevant and biased views of Rosmah should not be featured in an article by a nation newspaper, dedicated to the UMNO assembly should they? She is just there as a visitor is she not?

Click

A re decedunt


They wander from the point



Crescit amor nummi, quantum ipsa pecunia crevit


The love of wealth grows as the wealth itself grew.

Is UMNO in terminal decline?

The message to UMNO is clear, in a nutshell it is:
"Reform or Die".

Abdullah Badawi reportedly said UMNO would perish if it continued to silence critics, jail opponents and discriminate against minority Chinese and Indian races.

This is the true picture, after all it is just a bit of common sense, but will Najib heed it?

I fear not, as many UMNO members are, as they have proved to be, far to aloof, arrogant and self-centred. UMNO may soon die by commiting collective suicide.

They do not have the guts and the etiquette to commit honourable seppuku, which is also known as harakiri (腹切り

The BBC's Robin Brant in Kuala Lumpur says it (UMNO) is an organisation that permeates every level of society; that is certainly the honest truth.

Click HERE to read the full BBC news report from Kuala Lumpur.


Multi famam, conscientiam pauci verentur



Many fear their reputation, few their conscience




Mens regnum bona possidet



An honest heart is a kingdom in itself

Worldwide: 2,400 people were executed in 2008

2,390 people worldwide were executed last year, but most countries moved a step closer toward abolishing the death penalty.

Amnesty International- http://www.amnesty.org/ - said in a report issued on Monday 23rd March 2009, click HERE

Of 25 nations using the death penalty in 2008 [including Malaysia], China was the most prolific.

The report said P. R. of China used lethal injection and shooting to execute at least 1,718 people.

However P. R. C.does not publish data on the death penalty.

Of the top-six execution countries in Amnesty's list, only the USA (37 executions) publishes statistics on the penalty's use.

The figures for the others are estimates based on what Amnesty International had verified through media reports, information from rights groups and official statements.

Other groups frequently give much higher figures than those stated by Amnesty International.

The other leading executioner nations on the list are:

Iran (346 executions)

Saudi Arabia (102 executions)

Pakistan (36 executions) and

Iraq (34 executions).

To link to the full Amnesty International Report please click HERE

Lex talionis

The law of revenge

In Malaysia: 2,571 people died in detention the nine years 1999 to 2008

That is a average of about 4 persons every 5 days, that is a shameful and most damning statistic.

Do prisoners not get any health care and are they denied proper medical treatment in Malaysia? Going by these statistics, it certainly looks like that is the case!

A total of 2,571 prisoners died while being held in Malaysia's prisons, rehabilitation centres and illegal immigrant detention depots during the nine years between 1999 and 2008, Malaysia's Home Affairs Minister Syed Hamid Albar said in an answer he gave in parliament recently.

The causes of death included HIV/AIDS, septicaemia, tuberculosis, cancer, heart and blood diseases and asthma.

He said some detainees also died due to suicides and fights.

A total of 153 persoms died while in police custody during the same period, he told opposition MP Liew Chin Tong (DAP – Bukit Bendera) in a written reply. (It is unclear if these 153 are in addition to, or included in the figure of 2,571 people given earlier.

Is is also a reported fact that some detainees died as a result of assaults by the police whilst in custody, but presumably the minister conveniently omitted this information.

Diligite justitiam, o judices terrae

Cherish justice, o judges of the earth

More Oppression of the Opposition in Malaysia

Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) [The Malaysian Police Riot Squad] fired tear gas and used water cannons tonight on thousands gathered at a political event in Bukit Selambau, near Sungai Petani in the northern Malaysian state of Kedah, just as Anwar Ibrahim was beginning his speech.

See the full story at The Malaysian Insider HERE



Audiatur et altera pars!


Let us hear the opposite side!

Nonsensical, Egoistical, Righteous, Demented, Sanctimonious Authorities in Malaysia

Firstly: Malaysia Immigration Department denies detaining N.E.R.D

The Malaysian Immigration Department has denied detaining members of American hip hop group N.E.R.D after the Sunburst concert at Bukit Kiara in Kuala Lumpur on 22^nd March 2009.

"Following investigations, we found that the group did not receive permission from the Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Ministry to perform at the concert," Immigration Director-General Mahmood Adam reportedly said here today:

"After their statements were recorded, they were released with assurance from the concert organiser."

He added that the immigration would summon the organiser tomorrow for questioning while the group had flown to Indonesia.

Secondly: N.E.R.D cancel their concert in Jakarta Indonesian

In Jakarta, the American hip-hop group N.E.R.D. decided to cancel its weekend show in Indonesia after the authorities in neighbouring Malaysia briefly the detained members of the group, the event's organiser said on Monday 23rd March 2009.

The trio had been scheduled to perform on Sunday 22nd March 2009 in Indonesia, which is the the world's most populous Muslim nation.

Nirmala, a spokesman for the Jakarta event, said N.E.R.D decided to go straight home after experiencing problems following the Sunburst KL International Music Festival in Malaysia, hours earlier.

The group were briefly detained in Malaysia, aparently for failing to get a permit from the Malaysian Arts, Culture and Heritage Ministry, [which has strict requirements about clothing and behaviour on stage], something that in fact turned out to be the concert promoter's fault.

The earlier incident in Malaysia clearly made the artists nervous about continuing their tour.

The sanctimonious, narrow minded, shallow and blinkered authorities in Malaysia have once again excelled themselves.

What a bunch of Nonsensical, Egoistical, Righteous, Demented, Sanctimonious Authorities there evidently are in Malaysia!!!

Memento vivere !

Remember that you have to live !

The Ongoing Suppression of Free Speech and Freedom of the Press in Malaysia

Malaysian government suspends their political opponents PKR and PAS's newsletters

The fractured and somewhat unstable BN / UMNO government of Malaysia must be shit scared of the opposition so they conveniently try yet another way to silence them.

The Malaysia government has suspended the two main opposition party newsletters for a period of three months, PKR’s newsletter 'Suara Keadilan' and PAS’s newsletter 'Harakah' , effective immediately, home affairs minister Syed Hamid Albar confirmed this on Monday 23^rd March 2009.

"Its true we suspended the two newsletters from today. We do not wish to restrict press freedom in this country but they were still publishing untrue stories after they were given warnings," Hamid was reported to have said.

He alleged that the two newsletters had run stories that questioned the position of the Rulers and a number of other stories that were sensational and likely to confuse people in a multi-racial country.

Due to this suspension, both newsletter can only again be published and distributed at the end of June, missing a number of key political events and developments including the three by-elections on 7th April 2009.

Meanwhile, Tian Chua, PKR's information chief, said that 'Suara Keadilan' received notice of the suspension on Monday evening.

"However, no reason was stated," he said.

Suara Keadilan editor Zulkiflee Anwar Al-Haq also reportedly said the suspension notice signed by an officer on behalf of the secretary-general of the Home Ministry, was faxed to his office in Brickfields at 5pm on Monday 23^rd March 2009

He also said no reason was stated for the suspension which took effect immediately.

"This is purely a political decision. We are becoming popular and with the new regime moving into UMNO, they are worried about alternative news sources." he said, adding the on-line version of 'Suara Keadilan' will however continue publishing news.

He added that 'Harakah' had also suffered the same fate.

'Harakah' chief editor Lufti Othman was reported as being not reachable for comment.

To see what the BBC has reported click HERE

So folks catch up with all the news, that UMNO / BN deems unfit to be printed, on-line at:

Malaysia Today,

Malaysiakini,

Suara Keadilan on-line and

Harakah on-line

Click their respective links to read them.


Emitte lucem et veritatem


Send out light and truth

AL Jazeera Videos about Malaysia

To see all the videos, up to date, by Al Jazeera English, please click HERE to get to the source.

You will find hours of documentaries, interviews [including some infamous ones] and lots more besides.


Vide et credere



See and believe

Dam Sarawak

Does Sarawak still have an all powerful White [Haired] Raja?


These videos of 101 East from Al Jazeera English are candid and revealing, judge for yourself, here they are.

PART ONE




and is PART TWO, an interview with James Masing, listen and learn!!!!



You can see the original sources and all the comments about the videos: HERE & HERE

Quid novi?


What's new?



O praeclarum custodem ovium lupum!


An excellent protector of sheep, the wolf!

Malaysia's Industrial Output Plunges over 20%

"MALAYSIA'S manufacturing sales, which are a key driver of the economy, sank 22.7 per cent in January from a year earlier, according to official data released on Thursday.

The government's statistics department attributed the sharp fall to the poor performance of the computer industry and the iron and steel sector."

To read the full story as reported in The Straits Times, click HERE


Eventus stultorum magister


Events are the teacher of the stupid

The Latest Malaysian Government Economic Stimulus Pakage

Here are some opinions from the medical fraternity.

I think you will all like this!
Well maybe not ALL!


The Malaysian Economic Stimulus Package

The medical fraternity in Malaysia has plenty to say about the RM60bil new economic stimulus package.

The Allergists voted to scratch it, but the Dermatologists advised not to make any rash moves.

The Gastroenterologists had sort of a gut feeling about it but the Neurologists thought the Administration had a lot of nerve.

The Obstetricians felt they were all labouring under a misconception. Ophthalmologists considered the idea shortsighted.

Pathologists yelled, "Over my dead body!" while the Pediatricians said, 'Oh, Grow up!'

The Psychiatrists thought the whole idea was madness, while the Radiologists could see right through it.

Surgeons decided to wash their hands of the whole thing.

The Internists thought it was a bitter pill to swallow, and the Plastic Surgeons said, "This puts a whole new face on the matter."

The Podiatrists thought it was a step forward, but the Urologists were pissed off at the whole idea.

The Anaesthesiologists thought the whole idea was a gas and the Cardiologists didn't have the heart to say no.

In the end, the Proctologists won out, leaving the entire decision up to the arseholes in Putrajaya.


Monstra mihi pecuniam!


Show me the money!

A Malaysian Muslim convert allowed to renounce Islam

A ray of hope for Human Rights, Democracy and Freedom in Malaysia.


GEORGETOWN, Malaysia (Reuters) - A Malaysian religious appeal court in the northern state of Penang granted a woman's wish to formally renounce Islam on Monday, in a rare case where Muslims are allowed to leave the faith.

To read the full story from Reuters India, please click HERE



Libertas inaestimabilis res est


Liberty is a thing beyond all price

Rosmah: Attacks have made us stronger

Now something from the mild mannered Malaysian Press, in this instance 'The Star', please see the link to the story below:


Star article 16th March 2009


Destiny, Strength, what next? The mind boggles!

Regnat populus


Let the People rule

Najib's destiny is to lead: wife

This media report (this link:

http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/SE%2BAsia/Story/STIStory_349710.html

will take you to The Straits Times of Black Friday, 13th March 2009) makes very interesting reading, what do you think?

As far as I am aware it never saw the light of day in any Malaysian newspaper, I wonder why?

Was it the perhaps the text or the photograph which was unacceptable.

Sequens mirabitur aetas

The following age will be amazed

HAPPY LUNAR NEW YEAR

Gong Xi Fa Chai, to one and all.

May your Year of the Ox
be healthy, full of happiness,
prosperity, luck,
and harmony.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2009

I have been long adrift from my blogging ploy, no excuses, was just suffering from malaise.


Am still away in colder climes but will be plotting courses back in a moon or two.


I see there is still a lot a stinky foot, in our NS backyard, the Labu largess will enrich a few crony's, but such disgraceful plots are nothing new in BN suppressed, oppressed, depressed and distressed Bolehland.

We need change, unless the people want more of the same.


PS New Years greetings to all, I have had a unwanted new year present of pneumonia!!!
So am sailing a dead slow ahead.
Will try to blog as & when,
But am laptopless, which makes it harder,
Bye for now folks.

AN OPEN INVITATION TO ATTEND

TO ATTEND A

Forum and Book Launch on "New Media and Democratization in Malaysia"

to be held in Kuala Lumpur on Friday, December 5, 2008, from 8pm.

A Forum on "New Media and Democratization in Malaysia" will be held on Friday, December 5, 2008 from 8.00-10.00pm at the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall [KLSCAH] Auditorium, 1,Jalan Maharajalela,Kuala Lumpur.

The forum will feature as keynote speaker Yang Berhormat NIK NAZMI NIK AHMAD, a Selangor State Assemblyman, and Political Secretary to the Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim.

The occasion will also witness the launch of a book titled:

"Blogging and Democratization in Malaysia", and its co-authors Prof. Wan Zawawi Ibrahim, and Sdri Jun-E Tan, will be present to speak about their work.

Other speakers include representatives from the organizations collaborating in the programme.

Members of the public are invited to attend the forum which is jointly organized by the Centre for Policy Initiatives (CPI), SIRD-Gerak Budaya, the National Alliance of Bloggers (All-Blogs) and the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH).

The Forum was initiated mainly by the CPI YouthSpeak Section which has the objective of promoting discourse through writings and discussion at the CPI website coordinated by Wan Fadzrul and John Lee, and via public forums such as this current one, to encourage the youth of Malaysia to take part actively in the democratization process in the country.

____________________________

The Forum Programme is as follows:

THEME: "New Media and Democratization in Malaysia".

*** Date/time of Forum: Friday, December 5, 8.00pm-10.00pm, with Tea to follow

*** Venue: KL and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall auditorium,1 ,Jalan Maharajalela, Kuala Lumpur

**** (1) Welcome speech by Sdr YL Chong, Editor, CPI

**** (2) Keynote speaker: YB Sdr Nik Nazmi, PKR SA and Political Secretary to Selangor MB

**** (3) Sdr Wan Fadzrul Wan Bahrum, CPI YouthSpeak Coordinator

**** (4) Sdr Yeoh Lee Hin, CPI (Chinese) Web administrator

**** (5) Sdri Jun-E Tan, co-author of "Blogging and Democratization in Malaysia"

**** (6) Prof. Wan Zawawi, co-author of “Blogging and Democratization in Malaysia”

**** (7) Sdr Teh Yee Keong, KLSCAH Representative

***** (8) Sdr Ahirudin Attan aka Rockybru, Interim President, National Alliance of Bloggers

***** Q and A session

____________________________________

NOTE: For further information, please contact

YL Chong: 012-9702285

Helen Ang: 013-2240985

Bonum commune communitatis

General welfare. Literally, common good of the community

Please attend 3rd ANTI-ISA CANDLELIGHT VIGIL AT SEREMBAN TOMORROW 14 November 2008

THIRD ANTI-ISA Seremban Candlelight Vigil

on

Friday November 14, 2008, beginning 8.00pm.

{Some voluntary PR work at request of the Gr8 Desi}

from Desi's blog:


"I ***bum-ped into a Furongknight this morning at Temiang and he came up to greAt Des, asked about how angelA was after her arrest at PJ Anti-ISA Candlelight Vigil last week. I smiled and replied that all is well that ends well.

He then asked now that RPK aka Pete has been released from ISA detention, would the Candlelight Vigils in Seremban gon on ... I said with a caital Y and a s-mile seen by my Blogger matey Bernard Khoo aka zorro 40miles away -- YES!:)


SO...
Third Consecutive Friday, ie TOMORROW -- Please come. Alone. With family. With friends. To show that wit' PEOPLE'S POWER, VVVVVVVe can do anything!

BECAUSE VVVVVVVe, the people, believe

In the power of united vision and concerted efforts

BECAUSE VVVVVVVe, the people, hope

The spirit moves, hills, valleys and mountains.

BECAUSE VVVVVVVe, the people, care

And will continue to care, and dare

_____________________

ANTI-ISA CANDLELIGHT VIGIL IN SEREMBAN

Written by YL Chong
in cahoots with angelA and zorro

Following two successful *Anti-ISA Candlelight Vigils last Friday and the Friday preceding in Seremban, the same group of concerned citizens in the capital city of Negri Sembilan are organising the Third Vigil aimed at gathering a larger crowd than the first Vigil's 150 and the second's 200+.

THIRD ANTI-ISA CANDLELIGHT VIGIL IN SEREMBAN


In Solidarity with All ISA Detainees, numbering 60-plus

Venue: DATARAN SEREMBAN PARK [very near to Terminal 1 bus station & short walk from / to Seremban Railway Station]

Date/Time: Friday, November 14, 2008 at 8.00PM – 10.00PM

Contact:

ANGELA OOI 019-3628367
&/or
YL Chong 012-9702285 (Ref: desiderata2000.blogspot.com)

ALL MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE INVITED TO TAKE PART:)

PLEASE BRING YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS ALONG!

EXCERPT from "Midnight Voices and Other Poems" (see July 7, 2007 Post at desiderata2000.blogspot.com:) by Desiderata-YL Chong + Companion Essay POETRY as a Special Medium of Communication; published April 2007; pages 89 and 90:

In April/ May 2003 at the height of the US-led war on Iraq, my thoughts went back to the ‘60s, when the Vietnam War took a heavy toll on both Americans and Vietnamese, and the rumination inspired the following poem:

Warfront Faraway

The United States and allies have been

Raining missiles on Iraq for eight days now

Targetting a tyrant called Saddam Hussein"

Vox populi, vox Dei



The voice of the people is the voice of God



Lux et veritas



Light and Truth

Editors want media laws reveiwed before setting up of proposed National Media Council in Malaysia

"Editors want media laws reviewed first

11 Nov 08 : 7.46PM

By Elizabeth Looi
elizabethlooi@thenutgraph.com

PETALING JAYA, 11 Nov 2008: Editors and media stakeholders have called for the government to review media restrictive laws before setting up the proposed national media council.

Most of them feel that the proposed council would only end up as another regulatory body if laws such as the Printing Presses and Publications Act (PPPA) and the Official Secrets Act (OSA) are not amended first. They also said the council should be independent and must not be governed by the ministry.

The issues were raised in a two-hour meeting with home ministry secretary-general Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof today, which was attended by about 40 editors, media stakeholders and representatives of the Malaysian Press Institute.

Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) executive director V Gayathry said almost everyone at the meeting agreed for the laws to first be reviewed or amended together with the setting up of the proposed council.

"I think it has to go in tandem because it will show the public that the government is serious about amending the laws," she said in a phone interview today.

Most of the editors also emphasised the need for an independent self-regulatory body, she said.

"The public is not going to have confidence in the council if it is under the government, because they know that the government is already controlling the mainstream media," said Gayathry.

A senior editor who did not want to be named for fear of government action said it would be a mockery if the council was placed under the ministry.

"If the national press council [had been] set up in 1973 (as was proposed then), it would have been good because the council would be self-regulatory. It was meant to pre-empt the government from putting in more laws to regulate the press.

"But the proposal was postponed for so many years and the government has meanwhile put in so many laws. So, to establish a media council now will seem like another level of control," he told The Nut Graph.

He added that media stakeholders would probably support the setting up of the council if the government repealed the PPPA, or draft laws to repeal or amend the act. The PPPA gives the home minister the absolute discretion to grant, suspend or revoke the publishing permit of newspapers.

However, The Star's group chief editor, Datuk Wong Chun Wai, said some of the editors kept an open mind about the media council and did not totally reject the proposal.

"But we want to look at the council's functions and structure, and we feel that the laws must be reviewed first," he said.

Wong said for example, part of the OSA and the requirement for the annual renewal of publishing permits must be reviewed.

He also agreed that the council should be independent so that it doesn't create another layer of regulation for the media.

National Alliance of Bloggers pro-tem chairperson Ahirudin Atan said he was opposed to the council. "I don't see how they can set up a single council to regulate print, broadcast and online media. I think the government is being overambitious."

Ahirudin — who has a blog, Rocky's Bru — said any council should be independent. "The government must not be involved, especially the home ministry which regulates the (press) licence." "

These are very good proposals, I must agree with Rocky's view, and the opinion of all those who agree that should a council be set up, it must be fully independent, self regulating and free from any form government interference.

If it is not, then it will be to all intents and purposes just another arm of the all grasping BN federal government of Malaysia.


Verba volant, (littera) scripta manet


Words fly away, the written (letter) remains

RPK is a free man, video

A video from Malaysiakini / YouTube

RPK's release from unlawful detention under the ISA




Straits Times, Singapore, report HERE


FREE ALL THOSE DETAINED WITHOUT TRIAL


Iustitia omnibus


Justice for all

RKP to be freed later today, what about all the others detained without trial in Malaysia

It is indeed very good that RPK is to be released from unlawful detention under the ISA, but there are many more people under detention without trial in Malaysia, under the ISA, Emergency Ordinance, and other oppressive, draconian and undemocratic laws.


Until such laws are repealed, and unless all those detained without trial are released, the candlelight vigils, and the peaceful gatherings to protest against them should continue.


The US has new new President Barak Obama who heralds a new beginning and a change for the better for the United States and even the whole world.


In Malaysia, change is long overdue, now is the time for this change.



All those who are eligible to vote, but have not yet registered to vote, please do so as a matter of utmost urgency.


At the next general election, you can make a difference.



Those who do not vote, or who have not registered as a voter and thus cannot vote, may make all the difference between a victory for Pakatan Rakyat and change, or more of the same BN style oppression.


INSIST ON JUSTICE AND DEMOCRACY IN MALAYSIA

RPK TO BE FREED TODAY

WONDERFUL NEWS

Malaysia Today editor Raja Petra Kamaruddin is to be freed today 7th November 2008.

Raja Petra Kamarudin was successful in his bid to obtain a release order from detention under the Internal Security Act (ISA) via a habeas corpus application.

The judge ruled that the Home Minister (Hamid Albar) had acted outside his jurisdiction when he issued the two-year detention order under Section 8(1) of the ISA.

The High Court in Shah Alam also allowed Raja Petra to be brought to court to be released today.

He was detained under the archaic and draconian ISA for a second time on 12th September 2008.

One small step for justice, one small step for democracy in Malaysia.

The Home Affairs minister Hamid Albar should be sacked immediately.