This article on The Star Online, i feel, is published as a directive from "the top" to threathen Anwar Ibrahim on an ISA arrest and to deflect the public's attention. Shame on the publisher, shame on you.
Let's all just think about all the unlawful arrests under the draconian ISA. The racist speeches by Ismail. Khir Toyo's misleading & racists remarks. Dont you think this is what's causing instability in the country?
The Star Online:
GEORGE TOWN: A trader lodged a police report against Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for causing alarm in the country after claiming that he has enough MPs to topple the Federal Government.
Wan Abidin Zain, 45, said Anwar’s claim on Tuesday alarmed Malaysians to the extent that many were scared to go out or even send their children to school.
“What Anwar is doing now is causing instability in the country.
“The people have given their verdict in the March 8 general election. He should wait for the next general election if he wants to form the Federal Government.
“He is not the country’s saviour but instead a traitor,” he told reporters after lodging the report at the Patani Road police station here yesterday.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Friday, September 19, 2008
Will Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim be the next victim under the draconian ISA
I do not practise law and have always missed by business law classes (the closest in relevancy) in uni and i am not anyhow associated to any law associations. So what im about to write is pure bullshit and has no credibility at all.
The minister hints the public, the police makes the arrest.
And the minister will say "it was part of the lawenforcement process"
Let me elaborate on this.
On Sep 6th, Syed Hamid released statements to a govt owned media denouncing RPK as a "blasphemous Muslim of the worst kind" and that ISA can be used on RPK.
Now if ISA was established to detain people who pose a threat to national security, how does a "blasphemous Muslim" of the whatever kind pose a threat to national security? I've seen Christians swearing and using God's name in vain in the worst kind but they never got arrested.
Nevermind.
Obviously to justify Syed's allegations, and without considering (should they have such an ability) the police made an arrest bout a week after.
And with such coincidence, Syed Hamid received a letter from RPK's lawyer 3 days before the ISA arrest was made on RPK. RPK wanted Syed Hamid to publish an apology (in 3 days) and on terms to be agreed upon RPK. I can very clearly see how this letter can be an insult to Syed Hamid and to very clearly keep his face (n botak head) nice and shiny, he did the contrary - RPK got arrested.
And yet, Syed Hamid says its a decision by the police and if he interferes, the public will see it as politically motivated. Well Mr Syed Hamid, you do not have to say that and the public can already see its politically motivated.
And how coincidential. The police made the arrest on the deadline that was given to Syed Hamid before RPK commences on legal proceedings.
Nevermind, that's just the beggining.
Just today, Syed Hamid has again hinted the public that Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim can be a threat to the country's peace and security. - Because he wants to reduce the oil price? Because he wants to abolish the cronny favoured NEP? Because he wants to have a multi-racial governing administration? Because he wants to abolish ISA? Because he wants to improve the economy in the current decline? For what?????
To drive more credibility to Syed's hint, Badawi has also made such a statement to the press.
That Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim might brainwash thousands of people, instigate hate, tie backpacks filled with explosives to thousands of those people and motivate them to run into the PM's office - this statement is false and an exageration. Badawi just merely mentioned that DSAI might be a threat to national security from his lies.
Now the GOLDEN QUESTION IS: WILL DSAI BE DETAINED UNDER ISA?
Maybe on September 23rd he will, a date which is also Badawi's deadline to reconvene parliament so the opposition can submit a vote of no confidence. Very predictable move. Maybe on Sept 20th, DSAI will ask his lawyers to write a letter to Syed Hamid and Abdullah Badawi demanding them to publish a public appology for the lebelious remarks made against him, and give them a 3 days deadline.
But i know for sure DSAI got more balls than worry about an ISA detention. Not that he's never been detained - TWICE.
And if he does catch the fish with his bait (ask for the ISA detention and get it). The BN will lose ALL their credibility with the use of ISA.
And worse, it is a build up from the unjustified Sinchew reporter detention - Syed Hamid claimed that it was to issue security to the reporter after hearing from intelligence that she was under threat. So now ISA also provides security? So if a teenage girl is walking home on a dark alley and is being followed by 3 unidentified people with weapons, can she call ISA?
Best is, the police issued a press statement a day after saying something totally different. That intelligence said the sinchew reported might posses a threat to national peace by instigating racial tensions........ Man....... For reporting something a politician (who is now roaming free) said??? You must be fucking kidding.... What nonscence
And Teresa Kok, who represented the people's will and who was wrongly accused by Utusan Malaysia, and who was arrested under ISA because she was a threat to national security for the above reasons
Furthermore, Najib is hoping that Teresa's release will abate furore over the use of ISA. Now dude, why was it used at the very first place with no clear substance?? And why isnt the Utusan journalist arrested under the ISA for instigating racial tensions?? and for wrongly accusing Teresa and as a cause she was detained under ISA?
So lets see if the BN administration will fall into the trap.
At least they have their last and most lethal card left. The card which was made out of the switch between Badawi's and Najib's portfolio. At least this time, they did make some preperation. A lethal and a deadly one.
God save the country.
The minister hints the public, the police makes the arrest.
And the minister will say "it was part of the lawenforcement process"
Let me elaborate on this.
On Sep 6th, Syed Hamid released statements to a govt owned media denouncing RPK as a "blasphemous Muslim of the worst kind" and that ISA can be used on RPK.
Now if ISA was established to detain people who pose a threat to national security, how does a "blasphemous Muslim" of the whatever kind pose a threat to national security? I've seen Christians swearing and using God's name in vain in the worst kind but they never got arrested.
Nevermind.
Obviously to justify Syed's allegations, and without considering (should they have such an ability) the police made an arrest bout a week after.
And with such coincidence, Syed Hamid received a letter from RPK's lawyer 3 days before the ISA arrest was made on RPK. RPK wanted Syed Hamid to publish an apology (in 3 days) and on terms to be agreed upon RPK. I can very clearly see how this letter can be an insult to Syed Hamid and to very clearly keep his face (n botak head) nice and shiny, he did the contrary - RPK got arrested.
And yet, Syed Hamid says its a decision by the police and if he interferes, the public will see it as politically motivated. Well Mr Syed Hamid, you do not have to say that and the public can already see its politically motivated.
And how coincidential. The police made the arrest on the deadline that was given to Syed Hamid before RPK commences on legal proceedings.
Nevermind, that's just the beggining.
Just today, Syed Hamid has again hinted the public that Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim can be a threat to the country's peace and security. - Because he wants to reduce the oil price? Because he wants to abolish the cronny favoured NEP? Because he wants to have a multi-racial governing administration? Because he wants to abolish ISA? Because he wants to improve the economy in the current decline? For what?????
To drive more credibility to Syed's hint, Badawi has also made such a statement to the press.
That Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim might brainwash thousands of people, instigate hate, tie backpacks filled with explosives to thousands of those people and motivate them to run into the PM's office - this statement is false and an exageration. Badawi just merely mentioned that DSAI might be a threat to national security from his lies.
Now the GOLDEN QUESTION IS: WILL DSAI BE DETAINED UNDER ISA?
Maybe on September 23rd he will, a date which is also Badawi's deadline to reconvene parliament so the opposition can submit a vote of no confidence. Very predictable move. Maybe on Sept 20th, DSAI will ask his lawyers to write a letter to Syed Hamid and Abdullah Badawi demanding them to publish a public appology for the lebelious remarks made against him, and give them a 3 days deadline.
But i know for sure DSAI got more balls than worry about an ISA detention. Not that he's never been detained - TWICE.
And if he does catch the fish with his bait (ask for the ISA detention and get it). The BN will lose ALL their credibility with the use of ISA.
And worse, it is a build up from the unjustified Sinchew reporter detention - Syed Hamid claimed that it was to issue security to the reporter after hearing from intelligence that she was under threat. So now ISA also provides security? So if a teenage girl is walking home on a dark alley and is being followed by 3 unidentified people with weapons, can she call ISA?
Best is, the police issued a press statement a day after saying something totally different. That intelligence said the sinchew reported might posses a threat to national peace by instigating racial tensions........ Man....... For reporting something a politician (who is now roaming free) said??? You must be fucking kidding.... What nonscence
And Teresa Kok, who represented the people's will and who was wrongly accused by Utusan Malaysia, and who was arrested under ISA because she was a threat to national security for the above reasons
Furthermore, Najib is hoping that Teresa's release will abate furore over the use of ISA. Now dude, why was it used at the very first place with no clear substance?? And why isnt the Utusan journalist arrested under the ISA for instigating racial tensions?? and for wrongly accusing Teresa and as a cause she was detained under ISA?
So lets see if the BN administration will fall into the trap.
At least they have their last and most lethal card left. The card which was made out of the switch between Badawi's and Najib's portfolio. At least this time, they did make some preperation. A lethal and a deadly one.
God save the country.
RPK writes from ISA detention
Raja Petra Kamarudin
Today is my eighth day of detention under the Internal Security Act (“ISA”). When I was detailed on Friday, 12th September 2008, it was supposed to be in respect of articles I wrote in Malaysia Today about our leaders, which was supposed to have confused the public and articles which insult Islam.
It was since Wednesday afternoon, that the Special Branch officers (“SB”) produced the articles and went through all those articles with me. They found that none of the articles insulted Islam.
The SB officers told me that it is not so much that my articles insult Islam but, that my style of writing is too sophisticated and thereby Malaysians who might not be of the same intellectual level as myself, could possibly misinterpret what I was trying to say and mistook which I wrote as an attempt to insult Islam. This morning, I had another session with the SB officers, and pointed out, what they told me yesterday, which is, ISA detention is about intention to commit chaos which would then be detrimental to public order. I argued that if the SB is of the opinion that the problem lies in my style of writing and how it can be misinterpreted by the public, then this would rule out any possibility of mala fide on my part when I wrote those articles.
I also told the SB officers that it appears that they are looking for something to pin on me, but thus far they have not found anything.
The Monday before my detention, my lawyers sent Syed Hamid Albar a letter of demand, demanding that he apologise for alleging that I insulted Islam. He was given three days to apologise and on Friday, the 12th of September 2008, instead of apologising, they detained me under the ISA.
I believe they are trying to buttress Syed Hamid Albar’s case by “proving” I have insulted Islam thereby justifying Syed Hamid Albar’s allegations against me as well as justifying him not apologising but ordering my detention under the ISA.
Further to that, the Government appears to be trying to get a second bite of the cherry. I am already facing one sedition charge for the article, “lets send the Altanthuya murderers to hell” plus three charges of criminal defamation. My interrogation in the hands of the SB officers is also about that article and the statutory declaration.
Assuming I win my cases in October and November, they can still hold me under the ISA. Either way I will still remain under detention; heads they win, tails I lose.
This has happened before in 2001, in the case of Ezam Mohd Noor, where he was serving both ISA detention as well as a jail sentence in the Kajang Prison for a crime under the Officials Secrets Act. If Ezam had won his habeas corpus application, he will remain in Kajang Prison and if instead he won his OSA case, he would have remained in Kamunting. Both ways, he will not see freedom.
From the way my interrogation is going, they are trying to kill two birds with one stone. First Syed Hamid would have a strong defence against the suit that I am to file against him plus they can ensure how good my lawyers may be in defending me in the sedition and criminal defamation charges, I will never see freedom anyway.
As I said, heads they win, tails I lose.
Today is my eighth day of detention under the Internal Security Act (“ISA”). When I was detailed on Friday, 12th September 2008, it was supposed to be in respect of articles I wrote in Malaysia Today about our leaders, which was supposed to have confused the public and articles which insult Islam.
It was since Wednesday afternoon, that the Special Branch officers (“SB”) produced the articles and went through all those articles with me. They found that none of the articles insulted Islam.
The SB officers told me that it is not so much that my articles insult Islam but, that my style of writing is too sophisticated and thereby Malaysians who might not be of the same intellectual level as myself, could possibly misinterpret what I was trying to say and mistook which I wrote as an attempt to insult Islam. This morning, I had another session with the SB officers, and pointed out, what they told me yesterday, which is, ISA detention is about intention to commit chaos which would then be detrimental to public order. I argued that if the SB is of the opinion that the problem lies in my style of writing and how it can be misinterpreted by the public, then this would rule out any possibility of mala fide on my part when I wrote those articles.
I also told the SB officers that it appears that they are looking for something to pin on me, but thus far they have not found anything.
The Monday before my detention, my lawyers sent Syed Hamid Albar a letter of demand, demanding that he apologise for alleging that I insulted Islam. He was given three days to apologise and on Friday, the 12th of September 2008, instead of apologising, they detained me under the ISA.
I believe they are trying to buttress Syed Hamid Albar’s case by “proving” I have insulted Islam thereby justifying Syed Hamid Albar’s allegations against me as well as justifying him not apologising but ordering my detention under the ISA.
Further to that, the Government appears to be trying to get a second bite of the cherry. I am already facing one sedition charge for the article, “lets send the Altanthuya murderers to hell” plus three charges of criminal defamation. My interrogation in the hands of the SB officers is also about that article and the statutory declaration.
Assuming I win my cases in October and November, they can still hold me under the ISA. Either way I will still remain under detention; heads they win, tails I lose.
This has happened before in 2001, in the case of Ezam Mohd Noor, where he was serving both ISA detention as well as a jail sentence in the Kajang Prison for a crime under the Officials Secrets Act. If Ezam had won his habeas corpus application, he will remain in Kajang Prison and if instead he won his OSA case, he would have remained in Kamunting. Both ways, he will not see freedom.
From the way my interrogation is going, they are trying to kill two birds with one stone. First Syed Hamid would have a strong defence against the suit that I am to file against him plus they can ensure how good my lawyers may be in defending me in the sedition and criminal defamation charges, I will never see freedom anyway.
As I said, heads they win, tails I lose.
Anwar Moves Closer to the Endgame
JED YOONG, ASIA SENTINEL
Malaysia's 50-year-old political infrastructure is in danger of coming completely apart, with opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim amping up the pressure to replace Prime Minister Ahmad Abdullah Badawi unless the government goes after him with the draconian Internal Security Act, which provides for indefinite detention without trial.
Anwar, who leads the Pakatan Rakyat, or People's Alliance, demanded Thursday that Prime Minister Ahmad Abdullah Badawi convene by Tuesday an emergency session of parliament, which is now in recess for the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, to allow a no-confidence vote against the premier.
Abdullah Badawi was weakened further Thursday when the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP), which has two lawmakers in parliament, said it would quit the Barisan Nasional, or national ruling coalition. SAPP president Yong Teck Lee said the party would become independent, but attacked the government, saying that "the Barisan Nasional has lost its moral authority to rule." Yong is said to be close to Anwar ever since the latter enticed him to switch sides in Sabah state elections in 1994. The party has split with two federal lawmakers and two state legislators sticking to Yong, and another two state legislators moving to a splinter party. Yong’s Deputy disagreed with SAPP's move and resigned from SAPP
The Barisan itself has been on a downward spiral since March 8, when it lost its two-thirds majority in parliament for the first time since Malaysia became an independent country 50 years ago. Abdullah Badawi has largely been made the scapegoat, partly because he is perceived as weak leader, partly because of implacable attacks by the former prime minister, Mahathir Mohamad, and partly because of deteriorating economic fundamentals as the global economy goes into decline.
With Anwar breathing down their necks, senior leaders, including cabinet ministers, of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), the largest ethnic party that helms the Barisan Nasional, held an emergency meeting of the Supreme Council at the party headquarters in Kuala Lumpur last night to openly call for Badawi's resignation as party president and the country's prime minister. Such a move is rare among the usually-complaisant politicians. But the editor of a popular Malay-language weekly says UMNO may be united in "hatred" for Anwar.
Within UMNO itself, said a Kuala Lumpur political observer with ties to the party, the concern about Anwar taking over could trigger the use of the ISA against him. Abdullah Badawi threatened to use the law against Anwar on Tuesday. There is considerable concern among UmNO stalwarts that if Anwar takes over, he will seek to prosecute some top officials for corruption, along with law enforcement officials who engineered his imprisonment in 1999 on sexual deviation and corruption charges.
Concern about Anwar could also cause UMNO's leaders to hold their noses and select Najib Tun Razak, the scandal-scarred deputy prime minister, to replace him although Najib is saddled by numerous allegations of corruption as well as complicity in the October 2006 death of a 28-year-old Mongolian translator who is widely believed to have been his lover before he handed her on to his best friend, Abdul Razak Baginda.
Badawi tried to neutralize his possible forcible ejection from the leadership by swapping portfolios with Najib on Wednesday. Najib is the now finance minister while Badawi is also defense minister, a position held by Najib for 14 years. Badawi told a press conference Wednesday that he could leave earlier than 2010 under his announced plan to hand the premiership to Najib.
"I will decide when I want to go. I will not be staying more than 2010," he told reporters. "If I should want to go earlier, that is flexible. That is the flexibility we have arranged. It depends on the progress of the role I am giving to Najib. Let's see what he can do."
Mahathir, who has carried on a three-year vendetta to rid the leadership of Abdullah Badawi, has issued an ultimatum to Najib to take over or be taken out along with the prime minister. If Najib takes over, however, that will be handing the leadership of UMNO back to the same people who raised popular disgust over corruption and nepotism in the party.
In addition to the possibility of being jailed under the ISA, Anwar also faces charges that he sodomized a 23-year-old aide, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan. Despite the fact that the doctor who examined Saiful found no evidence of sodomy, the government appears to be going ahead with plans to charge Anwar via a bill rushed through parliament to compel the opposition leader to give a fresh DNA sample. Anwar was a rising star in UMNO until Mahathir sacked him as deputy prime minister and finance minister purportedly over policy disputes to contain the financial crisis in 1997/98. He was then convicted and jailed for sodomy and abuse of power. However, the sodomy conviction was overturned and he was released in 2004 after serving his sentence for abuse of power. Anwar and his supporters have always claimed that the charges in 1998 were trumped-up
Anwar originally said he would overthrow the government on September 16. When that didn't happen, the non-event was derided by members of the Barisan Nasional, with the loudest voices coming from within UMNO. Anwar initially set Sept 16, the day that Malaysia was formed when Sabah and Sarawak on Borneo merged with Malaya in the peninsula, as the date that he will take over federal government, The criticisms ranged from calling Anwar an outright liar to mobile text messages joking that Anwar really meant "chairs" -- kerusi in Malay also means "seat" -- from Ikea and that the "chairs" will be delivered once parliament reconvenes.
Malaysia's 50-year-old political infrastructure is in danger of coming completely apart, with opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim amping up the pressure to replace Prime Minister Ahmad Abdullah Badawi unless the government goes after him with the draconian Internal Security Act, which provides for indefinite detention without trial.
Anwar, who leads the Pakatan Rakyat, or People's Alliance, demanded Thursday that Prime Minister Ahmad Abdullah Badawi convene by Tuesday an emergency session of parliament, which is now in recess for the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, to allow a no-confidence vote against the premier.
Abdullah Badawi was weakened further Thursday when the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP), which has two lawmakers in parliament, said it would quit the Barisan Nasional, or national ruling coalition. SAPP president Yong Teck Lee said the party would become independent, but attacked the government, saying that "the Barisan Nasional has lost its moral authority to rule." Yong is said to be close to Anwar ever since the latter enticed him to switch sides in Sabah state elections in 1994. The party has split with two federal lawmakers and two state legislators sticking to Yong, and another two state legislators moving to a splinter party. Yong’s Deputy disagreed with SAPP's move and resigned from SAPP
The Barisan itself has been on a downward spiral since March 8, when it lost its two-thirds majority in parliament for the first time since Malaysia became an independent country 50 years ago. Abdullah Badawi has largely been made the scapegoat, partly because he is perceived as weak leader, partly because of implacable attacks by the former prime minister, Mahathir Mohamad, and partly because of deteriorating economic fundamentals as the global economy goes into decline.
With Anwar breathing down their necks, senior leaders, including cabinet ministers, of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), the largest ethnic party that helms the Barisan Nasional, held an emergency meeting of the Supreme Council at the party headquarters in Kuala Lumpur last night to openly call for Badawi's resignation as party president and the country's prime minister. Such a move is rare among the usually-complaisant politicians. But the editor of a popular Malay-language weekly says UMNO may be united in "hatred" for Anwar.
Within UMNO itself, said a Kuala Lumpur political observer with ties to the party, the concern about Anwar taking over could trigger the use of the ISA against him. Abdullah Badawi threatened to use the law against Anwar on Tuesday. There is considerable concern among UmNO stalwarts that if Anwar takes over, he will seek to prosecute some top officials for corruption, along with law enforcement officials who engineered his imprisonment in 1999 on sexual deviation and corruption charges.
Concern about Anwar could also cause UMNO's leaders to hold their noses and select Najib Tun Razak, the scandal-scarred deputy prime minister, to replace him although Najib is saddled by numerous allegations of corruption as well as complicity in the October 2006 death of a 28-year-old Mongolian translator who is widely believed to have been his lover before he handed her on to his best friend, Abdul Razak Baginda.
Badawi tried to neutralize his possible forcible ejection from the leadership by swapping portfolios with Najib on Wednesday. Najib is the now finance minister while Badawi is also defense minister, a position held by Najib for 14 years. Badawi told a press conference Wednesday that he could leave earlier than 2010 under his announced plan to hand the premiership to Najib.
"I will decide when I want to go. I will not be staying more than 2010," he told reporters. "If I should want to go earlier, that is flexible. That is the flexibility we have arranged. It depends on the progress of the role I am giving to Najib. Let's see what he can do."
Mahathir, who has carried on a three-year vendetta to rid the leadership of Abdullah Badawi, has issued an ultimatum to Najib to take over or be taken out along with the prime minister. If Najib takes over, however, that will be handing the leadership of UMNO back to the same people who raised popular disgust over corruption and nepotism in the party.
In addition to the possibility of being jailed under the ISA, Anwar also faces charges that he sodomized a 23-year-old aide, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan. Despite the fact that the doctor who examined Saiful found no evidence of sodomy, the government appears to be going ahead with plans to charge Anwar via a bill rushed through parliament to compel the opposition leader to give a fresh DNA sample. Anwar was a rising star in UMNO until Mahathir sacked him as deputy prime minister and finance minister purportedly over policy disputes to contain the financial crisis in 1997/98. He was then convicted and jailed for sodomy and abuse of power. However, the sodomy conviction was overturned and he was released in 2004 after serving his sentence for abuse of power. Anwar and his supporters have always claimed that the charges in 1998 were trumped-up
Anwar originally said he would overthrow the government on September 16. When that didn't happen, the non-event was derided by members of the Barisan Nasional, with the loudest voices coming from within UMNO. Anwar initially set Sept 16, the day that Malaysia was formed when Sabah and Sarawak on Borneo merged with Malaya in the peninsula, as the date that he will take over federal government, The criticisms ranged from calling Anwar an outright liar to mobile text messages joking that Anwar really meant "chairs" -- kerusi in Malay also means "seat" -- from Ikea and that the "chairs" will be delivered once parliament reconvenes.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Anwar Ibrahim claims takeover bid has begun
(The Earth Times) Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia's opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim on Monday told a crowd of more than 20,000 that his promises of toppling the government would very soon be a reality, claiming that Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has already been given evidence of the impending takeover. Anwar was speaking to the throng of demonstrators who had gathered at a stadium in the central Selangor state to call for the abolishment of a draconian security law.
The crowds erupted into thunderous applause when Anwar, 61, said that his three-party opposition alliance had secured a sufficient number of parliamentary crossovers to give them a majority to form the new government.
However, Anwar said the opposition wanted a "peaceful transition" of power and would hope to work closely with embattled premier Abdullah on the handing over of the government.
September 16 would mark a "clear and concrete movement" towards a change in the government, Anwar said, but declined to elaborate further, while a party official would only say Anwar would make "some major announcements" on Tuesday.
The charismatic leader led the opposition to major gains in the country's March 8 general elections, denying the ruling coalition of a two-thirds majority in parliament and taking control of five states.
The opposition, which currently holds 82 out of the 222 parliamentary seats, claims that at least 30 government lawmakers have agreed to defect.
Monday's rally was originally held to protest the detention of an opposition lawmaker and a popular blogger under a security law which allows for indefinite detention without trial.
Police on Friday detained opposition politician Teresa Kok and anti-government blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin under the Internal Security Act (ISA), a law drafted almost 60 years ago under British colonial rule to fight a communist insurgency.
Despite the heavy evening downpour, protestors began gathering at the stadium hours before the rally was scheduled to begin.
The rally, which obtained a police permit, kicked off with prayers, marking the breaking of a day-long fast for Muslim during the holy month of Ramadan.
Under Malaysian law, any public gathering of more than five people must obtain a police permit, or be deemed an illegal gathering. Opposition gatherings and rallies have rarely, if ever, managed to get police approval.
The crowds erupted into thunderous applause when Anwar, 61, said that his three-party opposition alliance had secured a sufficient number of parliamentary crossovers to give them a majority to form the new government.
However, Anwar said the opposition wanted a "peaceful transition" of power and would hope to work closely with embattled premier Abdullah on the handing over of the government.
September 16 would mark a "clear and concrete movement" towards a change in the government, Anwar said, but declined to elaborate further, while a party official would only say Anwar would make "some major announcements" on Tuesday.
The charismatic leader led the opposition to major gains in the country's March 8 general elections, denying the ruling coalition of a two-thirds majority in parliament and taking control of five states.
The opposition, which currently holds 82 out of the 222 parliamentary seats, claims that at least 30 government lawmakers have agreed to defect.
Monday's rally was originally held to protest the detention of an opposition lawmaker and a popular blogger under a security law which allows for indefinite detention without trial.
Police on Friday detained opposition politician Teresa Kok and anti-government blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin under the Internal Security Act (ISA), a law drafted almost 60 years ago under British colonial rule to fight a communist insurgency.
Despite the heavy evening downpour, protestors began gathering at the stadium hours before the rally was scheduled to begin.
The rally, which obtained a police permit, kicked off with prayers, marking the breaking of a day-long fast for Muslim during the holy month of Ramadan.
Under Malaysian law, any public gathering of more than five people must obtain a police permit, or be deemed an illegal gathering. Opposition gatherings and rallies have rarely, if ever, managed to get police approval.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Is Anwar about to finally enjoy the fruits of his hard labour?
We only have a few more days to see the answer to this question.
According to Malaysia Today:
Anwar already has 34 Barisan Nasional Members of Parliament ‘in the bag’. The government knows this so they have sent these Members of Parliament to Taiwan for a ‘study tour’. They are supposed to all go study agriculture but they have taken their golf bags with them. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to know what they are going to do in Taiwan.
While in Taiwan, the government will work on these Members of Parliament to try to persuade them to remain in Barisan Nasional and to not cross over to the opposition. The government knows that these Members of Parliament have already signed their letters and that these letters are now with Anwar. All Anwar needs to do is to present these letters to His Majesty the Agong to prove to the Agong that Abdullah Ahmad Badawi no longer commands the majority confidence in Parliament. So now they are also planning to send the Agong to Saudi Arabia to perform his Umrah. With the Agong out of the way, Anwar will not be able to present these letters to His Majesty.
Umno says there is no way Anwar can form the government on 16 September 2008, which is Malaysia Day. Never mind, they will all come home on 20 September 2008. If Anwar misses the 16 September 2008 deadline because the Members of Parliament and the Agong have all been sent away, there is still 20 September 2008. On 20 September 2008, everyone, the Agong included, will be home to see the new government being formed.
In fact, 20 September 2008 may be a better day than 16 September 2008. 20 September is Reformasi Day. 20 September is the day, in 1998, when the Reformasi Movement was born. 20 September was the day they arrested Anwar and kept him in jail for six years. 20 September was the day Malaysians decided enough is enough and a change is necessary. 20 September was the day that saw the beginning of the end for Umno and Barisan Nasional. So what more apt day to choose to form the new government than on 20 September 2008, Reformasi Day?
According to Malaysia Today:
Anwar already has 34 Barisan Nasional Members of Parliament ‘in the bag’. The government knows this so they have sent these Members of Parliament to Taiwan for a ‘study tour’. They are supposed to all go study agriculture but they have taken their golf bags with them. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to know what they are going to do in Taiwan.
While in Taiwan, the government will work on these Members of Parliament to try to persuade them to remain in Barisan Nasional and to not cross over to the opposition. The government knows that these Members of Parliament have already signed their letters and that these letters are now with Anwar. All Anwar needs to do is to present these letters to His Majesty the Agong to prove to the Agong that Abdullah Ahmad Badawi no longer commands the majority confidence in Parliament. So now they are also planning to send the Agong to Saudi Arabia to perform his Umrah. With the Agong out of the way, Anwar will not be able to present these letters to His Majesty.
Umno says there is no way Anwar can form the government on 16 September 2008, which is Malaysia Day. Never mind, they will all come home on 20 September 2008. If Anwar misses the 16 September 2008 deadline because the Members of Parliament and the Agong have all been sent away, there is still 20 September 2008. On 20 September 2008, everyone, the Agong included, will be home to see the new government being formed.
In fact, 20 September 2008 may be a better day than 16 September 2008. 20 September is Reformasi Day. 20 September is the day, in 1998, when the Reformasi Movement was born. 20 September was the day they arrested Anwar and kept him in jail for six years. 20 September was the day Malaysians decided enough is enough and a change is necessary. 20 September was the day that saw the beginning of the end for Umno and Barisan Nasional. So what more apt day to choose to form the new government than on 20 September 2008, Reformasi Day?
Hold strongly to the principle of truth
By Dr Mahathir Mohamad:
1. "Hold strongly to the principle of truth as the credibility of an institution depends on it" said Dato Seri Abdullah Badawi, the PM.
2. Does he really believe in reporting the truth or in spinning the truth?
3. When reporters met me during press conferences, I asked them why they are interviewing me when they know very well that anything I said would either be blacked out or spun so that I seem to say just the opposite of what I said.
4. The explanation they gave was that they had no control over what is printed from their reports. Privately they tell of how Kalimullah would telephone editors what to print and how to print.
5. And so when I was asked to comment on the lowering of the oil price and I said "Good for the people. We should have more by-elections so that the oil price would be lowered some more".
6. They knew I was referring to the Permatang Pauh election, which was, then in progress. The lowered price was supposed to win votes. I don't think it did.
7. But the papers only reported that I said the lowering of the oil price was good for the people. Where is the truth?
8. I know for a fact that criticisms of the Government or of Dato Seri Abdullah, his state of denial, which I commented often enough, had never been printed. But many others complained that if they say anything against Dato Seri Abdullah or something that may sound like supporting me it would not be printed.
9. I called a press conference to speak about Blair, the war criminal's visit, and nothing appeared in the media. I had to put my statement on my blog.
10. Announcements made by UMNO members who had resigned from the party are also not printed. Any adverse comments against the Government would never see daylight.
11. When he assumed the office of Prime Minister in 2003, Abdullah promised to be transparent. But immediately editors were removed and Abdullah's own editors from Singapore were installed in the New Straits Times.
12. Kalimullah controls all the papers including those owned by the MCA.
13. Many senior journalists of the New Straits Times and Utusan have been retired or have left. The papers and the TV have become propaganda machines for the Government of Abdullah Badawi. During the March 2008 Elections the Government-owned TV openly campaigned for the Barisan Nasional.
14. What is the result? The circulation of the NST has decreased and so have the viewers of Government TV stations. Even the non-Government stations have no freedom to report the truth except when they put the Abdullah Government in good light.
15. People are turning to the blogs to learn about what is happening to the country. The Government, as admitted by the Minister of Home Affairs and denied by another Minister, has blocked one blogger. All the undertakings of the Government not to censor the internet have been disregarded.
16. And yet the PM has the audacity to ask the media to "hold strongly to the principle of truth". What truth?
1. "Hold strongly to the principle of truth as the credibility of an institution depends on it" said Dato Seri Abdullah Badawi, the PM.
2. Does he really believe in reporting the truth or in spinning the truth?
3. When reporters met me during press conferences, I asked them why they are interviewing me when they know very well that anything I said would either be blacked out or spun so that I seem to say just the opposite of what I said.
4. The explanation they gave was that they had no control over what is printed from their reports. Privately they tell of how Kalimullah would telephone editors what to print and how to print.
5. And so when I was asked to comment on the lowering of the oil price and I said "Good for the people. We should have more by-elections so that the oil price would be lowered some more".
6. They knew I was referring to the Permatang Pauh election, which was, then in progress. The lowered price was supposed to win votes. I don't think it did.
7. But the papers only reported that I said the lowering of the oil price was good for the people. Where is the truth?
8. I know for a fact that criticisms of the Government or of Dato Seri Abdullah, his state of denial, which I commented often enough, had never been printed. But many others complained that if they say anything against Dato Seri Abdullah or something that may sound like supporting me it would not be printed.
9. I called a press conference to speak about Blair, the war criminal's visit, and nothing appeared in the media. I had to put my statement on my blog.
10. Announcements made by UMNO members who had resigned from the party are also not printed. Any adverse comments against the Government would never see daylight.
11. When he assumed the office of Prime Minister in 2003, Abdullah promised to be transparent. But immediately editors were removed and Abdullah's own editors from Singapore were installed in the New Straits Times.
12. Kalimullah controls all the papers including those owned by the MCA.
13. Many senior journalists of the New Straits Times and Utusan have been retired or have left. The papers and the TV have become propaganda machines for the Government of Abdullah Badawi. During the March 2008 Elections the Government-owned TV openly campaigned for the Barisan Nasional.
14. What is the result? The circulation of the NST has decreased and so have the viewers of Government TV stations. Even the non-Government stations have no freedom to report the truth except when they put the Abdullah Government in good light.
15. People are turning to the blogs to learn about what is happening to the country. The Government, as admitted by the Minister of Home Affairs and denied by another Minister, has blocked one blogger. All the undertakings of the Government not to censor the internet have been disregarded.
16. And yet the PM has the audacity to ask the media to "hold strongly to the principle of truth". What truth?
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