September 13, 2008
I’m glad. The Sin Chew reporter who was detained under the ISA yesterday has now been released, after 16 hours in custody. From the mouth of Syed Hamid Albar, our Home Minister, it was indicated that Tan Hoon Cheng would probably be released today.
However, I think there is a special Malaysian lesson to learn today. Let’s look at Syed Hamid’s words for some inspiration:
Speaking from Johor Baru this morning, Syed Hamid justified Tan’s detention under the ISA with a rare reason that it was as part of the government’s preventive measure ‘to ensure her safety’.
The minister claimed police intelligence have indicated that the journalist’s life came under threat after she reported an Umno division leader’s allegedly racist remarks.
“We have no intention of holding a reporter as after all she was just taking notes of the comments made by a certain party that led to a public debate.
“She maybe released as soon as today after police have obtained all information needed,” Syed Hamid was quoted as saying by Star Online.
The lesson to be learned is clear. The next time you feel that your life is in danger, don’t file a police report, as that will not get you the protection you might need. They might just decide to throw you into the ISA for your protection.
Smart hoh.
Syed Hamid Albar says the darndest things hoh?
September 13, 2008
Newsflash, according to TheStar.
Teresa Kok just arrested under ISA. I believe this might be due to the allegation that she had submitted a petition to a mosque in Puchong to lower down the volume of the ‘azan’. However, the petition was not submitted by her, and it was not calling for the lowering of the volume of the ‘azan’, but calling for the lowering of the speaker during the ceramah.
Click here for a copy of the actual petition.
Fuck. They. Just. Arrested. My. Favorite. Politician.
Sassy MP, we will stand by you.
And people, I think this is the gambit. They are trying to get people out onto the streets. Then they will crackdown. Don’t fall into that trap.
September 12, 2008
Sorry for the lack of updates the entire week, I was in Penang for work. My apologies for not making the time to post my thoughts.
As I settled down after the long drive home, I decided to pop the laptop open to read some news before heading to bed. Unfortunately, the news I read is causing my blood to boil, and in this current state of mind, I cannot sleep. (In fact, I debated whether I should be blogging with the emotional maelstrom I am facing, but I elect not to keep silent.)
Personally, I think Ahmad Ismail got off lucky. 3 years suspension from UMNO for putting the country at the mercy of Malay and Chinese racists? Fuck that. Gerakan and MCA might claim some sort of victory for this, but once again, they do not have the necessary courage (read: balls) to stand up when it REALLY matters. What is the use of filing police reports and calling Ahmad Ismail a racist, when in the end, they decided to let UMNO handle it instead of the collective ‘wisdom’ of the BN? It’s idiotic to think what Ahmad Ismail did is an ‘internal UMNO matter’. What he did was create a minor issue that got blown up to national proportions because he refused to keep his fucking trap shut.
Ahmad Ismail then held a press conference and still insisted he was right. Talk about fucking remorseless. To show how ’serious’ UMNO was in their ‘punishment’, they even had their secretary-general Tengku Adnan as part of the press conference. What kind of message does that send?
There have been calls by many, especially the voices from within BN (non-UMNO obviously) to put Ahmad Ismail in Kamunting Prison under the Internal Security Act. That is something that I will not agree on. For someone who blogs about hypocritical politicians, I cannot follow their footsteps by opposing ISA for the Hindraf leaders, while supporting ISA for Ahmad Ismail.
I want to make it clear that I think ISA is an evil law, in fact, there is no other law as evil as this in the country. A law that does not require one to be proven guilty to be jailed indefinitely violates the basic human right of the freedom to move and the freedom of a fair trial. And to be subject to detention under the whims of one person is just too much. How can a single person deny the freedom of another person, with the stroke of a pen? Is that person playing God?
Detaining Raja Petra for 60 days under the ISA is just pure tyranny. If he is guilty, then charge him. Don’t deny him his rights. Sometimes I wonder why our country keeps on producing politicians who are drunk with power, and will do ANYTHING, no matter how disgusting, to stay in power. Mahathir is a tyrant, and will always be remembered as a tyrant, amongst other things. Abdullah will be remembered not only as a weak leader, but a tyrant as well for using the ISA. Syed Hamid Albar will now join the ranks of these ‘distinguished’ leaders.
The straw that broke the camel’s back really came in the form of the following Malaysiakini news flash:
Sin Chew Daily journalist Tan Hoon Cheng has been arrested today under the Internal Security Act at 8.30pm at her home in Bukit Mertajam, Penang.
She is the second person to be arrested today under the tough security law which allows for detention without trial.
It is learnt that she has been taken by the police to the Penang police headquarters.
Tan (right) had reported that local Umno chieftain Ahmad Ismail had allegedly said that Chinese Malaysians are “squatters” in the country.
Her report sparked a nationwide outcry, resulting in Ahmad being suspended by Umno for three years after an emergency meeting on Wednesday.
Sin Chew had three days ago came out strongly to defend Tan, who was accused by Ahmad for misreporting his comments.
Tan, who holds a mass communications degree from Universiti Sains Malaysia, has been a journalist for nine years.
It is unclear whether Ahmad, who remained defiant despite being slapped with the suspension, has also been detained.
The asshole that said the words is not arrested. The asshole that asked for the journalist to be shot is not arrested. The journalist that reported what she heard, and whose version of events were corroborated by 2 other journalists, is now arrested.
A case of shooting the messenger, while the person who wrote the message gets of scot-free.
This is what Pak Lah calls judicial reforms for our country. How the hell are we going to fix our corrupt justice system when the police are applying the law selectively?
I am sick. I am seriously sick to the stomach with how our country is being run. This is a country that is being abused to the core. Will we start to see more mass arrests? Will there be unrest on the streets? I wish the answers to those questions were no. Unfortunately, I don’t know.
However, I do know one thing. If there is something that I learned about Malaysians since I started blogging, is that since March 8th, more and more people are speaking up. I hope that continues. The price for keeping quiet is to give the government of the day your silent approval. If the Internet goes silent, then there goes our final bastion of free speech. Fellow netizens, I urge you to speak up, and speak up loud. We must not tolerate tyranny.
By the way, on the rumors that there will be unrest on the streets soon, I urge you to take precautions. Don’t spread these rumors. You will be arrested. However, please take care of yourselves. Look after your neighbors. Don’t think our government is not capable. If the Sodomy 2 case can be used to prevent Anwar from taking power, the pre-conditions for May 13th Number 2 could be created as well to prevent Anwar from taking power.
Peace, and stay safe.
September 12, 2008
Newsflash! The evil law has been used again. Malaysiakini reports that Raja Petra Kamaruddin has been detained under the Internal Security Act at 1.10pm today.
I wouldn’t wish the ISA on anyone, but I would certainly think there’s a certain candidate in Bukit Bendera that deserves to be in there more.
I guess the only one who is capable of releasing him now is Anwar Ibrahim. So when will that be, I wonder…
September 7, 2008
Ahmad Ismail refusal to be taken down by anyone is pretty impressive. Like a wounded animal beaten and cornered, he has come out with drawn claws and attacked all his detractors. Among those that came under the fire of Ahmad Ismail is the reporter of Sin Chew Jit Poh who reported that Ahmad had said Chinese are just squatters in this country, and therefore will never have equal rights in this country.
Ahmad is insisting that his comments were taken out of context, and the statement that Chinese were squatters was based on historical fact, because he was referring to the pre-Merdeka period. This ‘historical fact’ has been given much more credibility after our country’s Pussy Mi….I mean, PM, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi agreed with Ahmad’s explanation, and defended Ahmad Ismail.
PM: Don’t create tension among races
KEPALA BATAS: Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi reminded all quarters, including the media, not to blow out of proportion or sensationalise issues to the extent of creating uneasiness or tension among the races in this country.
The Prime Minister said all parties needed to know their responsibilities to avoid doing things that could hurt racial sensitivities.
“It is important for us to control ourselves. I am saying this to the non-governmental organisations, associations, media, bloggers and SMS (short messaging service) users, that they must not create news which can arouse anger. This will not bring good to anybody,” he told reporters Saturday after chairing the Penang Umno Liaison Committee meeting, here. (Klaw: Apparently, when he refers to ‘all parties’, he left out politicians. Very sneaky, Abdullah. Very sneaky.)
Abdullah was referring to the alleged racist statement made by Bukit Bendera Umno division chief Datuk Ahmad Ismail at a ceramah (talk) during the recent Permatang Pauh by-election.
He said Ahmad had explained that he had made a statement based on historical facts and that it was not a racist statement as reported by a local newspaper.
“He (Ahmad) regrets that it has come to this and is upset that what he had said were historical facts, but were misinterpreted by the particular newspaper while the other newspapers did not do so.”
Abdullah, who is also Umno president, said of late the raising of racial issues had caused uneasiness to the various races in the country.
“People should not be raising issues that touch on racial sensitivities like religion and the social contract that can cause anger and disquiet. Unfortunately, this has happened.
“There are those who feel that their rights and sensitivities are not being considered, ignored or sidelined,” he said. - Bernama
So was Ahmad Ismail misquoted, and comments taken out of context? Two other reporters have came out and defended the Sin Chew reporter, because they had heard the same thing in the ceramah. The reporters agreed that he said it.
So what do other people think about Ahmad Ismail? I leave you with our good friend, Nazri Aziz’s viewpoint:
“There is no harm in saying sorry. Even if anyone from the other communities (Chinese or Indians) had in the past gone overboard, two wrongs do not make one right,” he said Saturday when referring to Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s statement in his blog www.chedet.com titled Pohon Maaf and Pohon Maaf (2) over the last two days.
Nazri, however, agreed with Dr Mahathir that Datuk Ahmad Ismail must be responsible for the racial remarks he made in public when canvassing votes during the Permatang Pauh by-election and should face the Umno disciplinary board if he refused to do so.
“It is sad that he had dragged the whole Penang Umno into his own personal problem.
“Ahmad is not a history teacher and yet he says in the country’s history the non-Malays were squatters?” he questioned, adding that he would be bringing up the matter with the Umno Supreme Council.
Wow. Funny how Nazri Aziz sounds more like Prime Minister material than Dollah. Sometimes, I wonder if I can take another 2 years of weak leadership under Abdullah.
September 6, 2008
“Give me 10 reasons why I should apologize?” - Pic credit TheStar.com.my
Really? Do you really want an apology from Ahmad Ismail? After so many weeks, don’t you think ANY apology from him will be too late (unless the apology comes with mandatory harakiri)? There are so many quarters making such a big deal out of Ahmad Ismail not apologizing, that it’s beginning to look like an apology witch-hunt.
“Apologize or we shall burn you at the stake” seems to be the general feeling of the pitchfork holders.
Actually, as an unelected spokesperson of the group of pitchfork holders, I just want him to burn at the stake, apology or not. So to all pitchfork holders out there, don’t hide your true intentions behind a chorus call of “we want an apology”. Let’s start a new mantra: We want him to be punished!
But the only people qualified to punish him will be those in UMNO. With 13 UMNO divisions in Penang backing Ahmad Ismail, surely no UMNO leader will incur their wrath and punish Ahmad Ismail? That’s the problem with the party with a keris on its flag. It has the image of a warrior party, but it’s being led by a pussy. A pussy with evil henchmen, but nevertheless, still a pussy, unable to rein in the negative elements.
With that in mind, how on earth are we pitchfork holders to do to satisfy our bloodlust? Most of us are not in UMNO, and certainly not in a position to punish Ahmad Ismail. Simple. We keep our bloodlust in check. We harness all that negative energy into positive qi, and let our votes decide the future of the country (and if you’re not registered to vote even if you are of age, shame on you). Unfortunately, the pussyfooting of UMNO will lead to the further demise of MCA and Gerakan, who despite putting up vigorous objections unseen and unheard before March 8th, are still unable to effect any meaningful change from within.
Let’s all remember this episode, and store it in our mental databases under the “BN Misdeed” catalogs. When the next election comes along, you cast away your pitchfork, pick up a pen, and cast your votes for the right one.
The people have the power, and the pen is mightier than the pitchfork.
** Since it is the weekend, let’s end this post with a lame joke I thought of just now. When Ahmad Ismail says that historically, Chinese and Indians were indeed squatters, he is absolutely right. In fact, I would say 99% of the population in Malaya were squatters, as toilet bowls weren’t popular yet. (see, I told you it was a lame joke)
*** I haven’t done this in a long time (discover new blogs to read, let’s trade links), but since I have a freer weekend than usual, I will include some links I found on PPS that blogged about Ahmad Ismail, or about the squatter issue in general:
(Dear Ahmad Ismail), I am a Malaysian (nicster)
Umno’s tradition of insults, threats (Politics 101)
Alright already~ All also PENDATANG~! (Bullets Of Quills And Ink)
I’m Not Malaysian Meh? (Aeroplane1234’s Vomit Bag)
Ahmad Ismail: UMNO’s racist thug and poster child for the dangers of inbreeding. (ghostline)
Ahmad: I was referring to history (Orang Cina)
umno penang confirmed (again!) they are racist (Lucia Lai, who doesn’t visit my blog anymore 
)
Morons Of Malaysia: Bukit Bendera Umno division head Part Deux (MunY - TangTangTang)
The full Datuk Ahmad Ismail’s speech ‘explaining’ his racist remarks (Penang’s Views and Stories)
