Hantu Laut
It's sad that PAS had allowed themselves to be used to the fullest in the recent anti-ISA demonstration.Unlike the Bersih demonstration in November 2007 which had a good mix of the races.
The recent one which Anwar Ibrahim claimed a success could hardly be called such, there were serious imbalance in the racial mix, which does not fit well into Pakatan Rakyat's claim of multi-racial cooperation and their concept of Malaysian Malaysia.
The turnout was not impressive and looked more like a PAS election victory march. If I may ask what was the end finished product that Pakatan leaders called a resounding success? Did the government, subsequent to the event, abolished the ISA? How can it be successful if you have not achieved your desired objective but have instead created chaos and public nuisance.
If causing public nuisance and inconveniencing the general public is what Pakatan leaders termed as success than these cabals need to have their heads examined. The supposedly cocktail party was attended mostly by PAS supporters. Have the Chinese and Indians gone back to sitting on the fence?
The Minister of Federal Territories estimated business loss of between RM100 to RM200 million for those affected by the demonstration.Many shops had to close for fear of becoming accidental victims to the unruly mob and the possibility of looting if the situation gets out of hand.Those who suffered loss of income have legal recourse to recover their losses from the organisers and Pakatan leaders who openly participated in the unlawful assembly.
Besides claim for business losses from traders in that area, the police, on the other hand, can also charge Pakatan leaders for illegal assembly and of causing public nuisance. Pakatan leaders should not be allowed to go scot-free for the inconvenience they have caused the general public and loss of business for the traders.
There will be more of this abuse of ill-conceived idea of freedom if the situation is not arrested now. The Prime Minister proposal to allow them designated areas like stadiums or other secured areas where the general public will not be inconvenienced shows that the government do not object to public rally if conducted in a proper manner, in accordance with the law and not endangering human lives and properties.Street rally can get out of hand and would be more difficult to police and control.
One of the most respectable magazines, the Economist, has now called Anwar Ibrahim a chameleon. Is he going to sue them in the English court or Malaysian court? A 100 million pound sterling would be a tidy sum to add to the many law suits that he has pending against others here including RM100 million against former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad.He would become an accidental billionaire if he can win all the legal suits including a new one he is contemplating against Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and Utusan.
For someone who accused the Malaysian judiciary of being corrupt and allegedly controlled by the executive he seems to have great confidence in the judiciary and judicial system that he had grossly ridiculed.He certainly seems to have more faith in them than the leaders in government who have not used the courts as legal recourse for slander against them. That tells you that much what Anwar Ibrahim is all about.He is not what he is all about.
(Updated) Please read below where Anwar Ibrahim stood before in defence of keeping the ISA.Details provided by Eddy, a regular reader of this blog.
Another major blow to Anwar who accused the IGP and AG of fabricating evidence and people like Lim Kit Siang who demanded that the IGP's term should not be extended was the recent award given by the Singapore government to IGP Musa Hassan, a 'Singapore’s Distinguished Service Order' for his outstanding contribution in fostering excellent ties and cooperation between Malaysian police and the republic's police force. That speaks volumes of his credentials as a policeman.
Pakatan's false facade it's trying to sell to Malaysians is now slowly being ripped apart, piece by piece, by events and circumstances beyond their control.
There are two ways to be fooled, one is to believe what isn't so, the other is to refuse to believe what is so.
The gist of the story is one must always have a suspicious mind and learn not to buy a pig in a poke.
This was what Anwar said about the ISA on 24 May 1994 when he was Deputy Prime Minister while officiating a "Mesyuarat Agung Antarabangsa ke 27, Majlis Ekonomi Lembangan Pasifik (PBEC)" in Kuala Lumpur, Anwar Ibrahim said:
“Walaupun keadaan dalam negara sekarang adalah baik, namun tidak dapat dinafikan kemungkinan berlakunya ketegangan. Dalam keadaan seperti itu kebijaksanaan untuk mempertahankan ISA adalah perlu demi keamanan negara. Adalah tidak wajar untuk menghapuskan Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (ISA) yang terbukti berkesan membawa keamanan dan kemakmuran di negara ini.”
On 28th Oktober 1987, Anwar's statement when he was Education Minister on the arrest under ISA of both BN and Opposition members during Operation Lallang:
“The goverment’s decision to ban all public rallies showed that it placed national security above the aspirations of certain politicians and political parties…..The government’s actions were carefully planned and placed priority on national interest not that of any particular group. There can be no compromise on national security in a multiracial country like ours.”
Fast forward to 1st August 2009, this is what Anwar Ibrahim defacto Opposition Leader and wannabe PM said in the anti ISA demonstration:
“We gather today to fight a cruel law under a cruel administration..”
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Monday, August 3, 2009
Malaysia's chameleon
Malaysia's chameleon
Jul 30th 2009
From The Economist print edition
The rise, fall and rise of Anwar Ibrahim, South-East Asia’s most extraordinary politician
Illustration by M. Morgenstern
ONE evening in mid-July Anwar Ibrahim was deep in the rubber-tapping state of Kelantan in northern Malaysia, urging a crowd of rural folk to vote for a devout fishmonger. The candidate was from the conservative Islamic Party (PAS). A tiny by-election for the state assembly PAS already dominates is ordinarily small beer (or would be, if PAS allowed such a beverage, which it does not). But Mr Anwar needs PAS. For the paradox is that without the Islamists, the alliance he leads of Malay modernisers, Indians and secular Chinese has little chance of driving the ruling United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) from power. The coalition that UMNO dominates has ruled Malaysia since independence in 1957. Mr Anwar longs for UMNO’s destruction. The feeling is mutual.
That morning, Mr Anwar had been in Perth where he had met Australia’s foreign minister. What had he been doing with Stephen Smith? “Plotting,” replies Mr Anwar, with a conspiratorial wink. Mr Anwar spends a lot of time abroad with national and religious leaders whose names he drops slightly too easily into an engaging conversational style. He moves like quicksilver from one intriguing subject to the next, but you get the uncanny sense that he is speaking to what interests you.
Mr Anwar thinks he will soon need international support. Two days after stumping in Kelantan, pre-trial hearings began in a case in which Mr Anwar stands accused of sodomising a political aide “against the order of nature”. Mr Anwar vigorously denies the charges. He says he is the victim of a political stitch-up. International outrage might help him. Much is fishy about the case. Photographs of the former aide who brought the accusations show him with UMNO members, including people close to the current prime minister, Najib Razak. The charge has been changed from sexual assault to “consensual sex”, yet his accuser has not been charged. (All homosexuality is illegal in Malaysia.)
Mr Anwar has been here before. In 1998 he was charged with corruption and homosexual acts. In custody, he was beaten up by the chief of police. He spent six years in jail, mostly in solitary confinement, until his conviction was overturned. Upon release, his political career seemed over.
It is easy to forget now but for many years Mr Anwar led a charmed life. He made his name as an Islamist student leader in the 1970s and was even jailed under the draconian Internal Security Act. Then he shocked his former colleagues by joining UMNO, where his rise was spectacular. By 1993 he was deputy prime minister and heir to Mahathir Mohamad, the country’s long-serving leader. Malaysia seemed about to fall into his lap. “Ah,” says Mr Anwar, “the good old days.”
But during the Asian financial crisis of 1997-98, Mr Anwar moved too soon against his mentor, who after 16 years in power was not ready to bow out. Mr Anwar railed against the UMNO cronyism from which he had benefited. Livid, Dr Mahathir threw him out of the cabinet and launched Mr Anwar’s persecution. Mr Anwar’s reformasi movement sputtered out with his jailing.
Yet the hopes which that movement represented surged again after the general election of March 2008, and especially after August 2008 when Mr Anwar won a seat in Penang. In the election the ruling coalition lost its precious two-thirds majority which gave it power to change the constitution. It has since lost five out of six by-elections to Mr Anwar’s forces, which also control four of 13 states. In getting out its message, the opposition has been helped by an explosion of internet opinion that has undermined the influence of the UMNO-controlled mainstream media.Read more.....
Read also:
Anwar to sue Muhyiddin, Utusan for RM100m each
Tony Blair In Sabah
Hantu Laut
I knew of Tony Blair coming to Sabah about two weeks ago.Local newspaper Daily Express got wind of his presence here and broke the news.
Former Britain Prime Minister Tony Blair and his family is in Sabah for holidays.Blair and his family has been in Kota Kinabalu for the past 4 days and expected to stay a few more days.
Yesterday, Blair, wife Cherie and children attended morning mass at the Sacred Heart Cathedral and were seated among parishioners without those among them realizing who they were.Only when mass ended and when they were about to leave the crowd realized the man was Tony Blair and his family and started to throng around him.Blair could only spare a few minutes before being whisked away by security personnel into a waiting car.
Blair, was once, one of the most powerful world leaders and responsible for the invasion of Iraq at the behest of US President George Bush.Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad has labelled both as war criminals and urged the world court to try them for war crimes.Unfortunately, nobody is listening.
Sabah has been and still is favourite destination for celebrities and well-known world figures coming here incognito.
The majestic Mount Kinabalu
Jacques Cousteau was here with his ship Calypso many years ago and did a documentary on Sipadan before he died.Michael Schumacher was here a few years ago.Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi was here last year.Many other stars had come and gone without a squeak.
Sutera Harbour Mariner
Below is a 300- foot yacht picture taken by me that belonged to Paramount Pictures that came last month and stayed for almost a month at Kota Kinabalu.
Paramount Pictures super yacht
Another not so famous name but have a famous son are the parents of Adam Clayton, the bassist of U2, who moved to Sabah and whom I know personally.The most down to earth couple, never talked about their famous son.
Come to Sabah and unwind yourself.The beauty is, even if you are famous nobody really cares. We respect your privacy.
I knew of Tony Blair coming to Sabah about two weeks ago.Local newspaper Daily Express got wind of his presence here and broke the news.
Former Britain Prime Minister Tony Blair and his family is in Sabah for holidays.Blair and his family has been in Kota Kinabalu for the past 4 days and expected to stay a few more days.
Yesterday, Blair, wife Cherie and children attended morning mass at the Sacred Heart Cathedral and were seated among parishioners without those among them realizing who they were.Only when mass ended and when they were about to leave the crowd realized the man was Tony Blair and his family and started to throng around him.Blair could only spare a few minutes before being whisked away by security personnel into a waiting car.
Blair, was once, one of the most powerful world leaders and responsible for the invasion of Iraq at the behest of US President George Bush.Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad has labelled both as war criminals and urged the world court to try them for war crimes.Unfortunately, nobody is listening.
Sabah has been and still is favourite destination for celebrities and well-known world figures coming here incognito.
The majestic Mount Kinabalu
Jacques Cousteau was here with his ship Calypso many years ago and did a documentary on Sipadan before he died.Michael Schumacher was here a few years ago.Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi was here last year.Many other stars had come and gone without a squeak.
Sutera Harbour MarinerBelow is a 300- foot yacht picture taken by me that belonged to Paramount Pictures that came last month and stayed for almost a month at Kota Kinabalu.
Paramount Pictures super yachtAnother not so famous name but have a famous son are the parents of Adam Clayton, the bassist of U2, who moved to Sabah and whom I know personally.The most down to earth couple, never talked about their famous son.
Come to Sabah and unwind yourself.The beauty is, even if you are famous nobody really cares. We respect your privacy.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
ISA It Is Not,Don't Be Fooled
Hantu Laut
The Malaysian police is not as brutal as their Thai counterparts when it comes to quelling demonstrations.
The demonstrations in Thailand which invariably started as peaceful march have, more often than not, turned violent with fatal results.
Before we realise it, ours may be going the same direction if the oppositions do not stop the nonsense, a clear attempt to undermine and destabilise the government and using the ISA as an excuse. A clear message should be sent to Pakatan Rakyat leaders that should there be anymore demonstration in the future with their participation they would have to answer their illegal actions in the court of law.
The demonstration was Anwar's attempt to rouse the people's sentiment against the government relating to his sodomy case which will be heard in court soon. The Prime Minister should not fall into the trap and felt pressured to abolish the ISA. What we see on the streets may not be representative of the majority segment of the population that want the ISA abolish.I am sure there are many ordinary citizens who do not really care or are against the ISA. Those against it were mostly politicians who are in the habit of raising sensitive racial issues and militants who resort to violence to overthrow the government.Even if the ISA was abolished the oppositions will not stop their implacable propaganda and destabilisation of the government.
I would rather have the ISA than another May 13 or senseless bombings killing innocent people.The ISA has it own uniqueness and have to certain extent help the nation maintain peace and stability.We have also been spared from acts of terrorism.Without the ISA there could never be immediate detention of militants to stop them from doing irreparable damage to the security of the nation. Without the ISA and using the slow process of the justice system militants would have ample time and opportunity to escape. They wouldn't be sitting around waiting for their court cases, would they? Sometimes, to save the majority, human rights may have to take a back seat for the individual.
There is no ISA in Indonesia and militants were having jolly good time over there.The bombing in Bali few years ago and recently the bombing of the Marriott and Carlton in Jakarta were reminders of what grievous damage the absence of such law could bring to this nation if the ISA is abolished. Do you think Nordin Top would surrender himself and say he would like to be tried in the court of law to prove that democracy and the rule of law are the best avenue to deal with such problem.
The Indonesian government has identified that the recent bombing in Jakarta was the handiwork of Nordin Top but they don't know where he is.The American with their modern gadgetry and super intelligence network do not know whether Bin Laden is dead or alive.America, previously strong opponent of the ISA has, unashamedly, copied it for their prisoners of war whom they labelled as terrorists and sent them to Guantanamo without trail.
When it comes to doing anything Malaysians are great copycats.Thailand has become a role model for them to follow including copying the use of red T-shirts resembling the Red Shirts of Thailand's pro-Taksin group and whom do you see many among the demonstrators? Though, I am far away from Kuala Lumpur I can see from my TV screen they were mostly Malays.Are the Malays that easily disoriented to fall victims to the opposition's propaganda.
There seems to be very few Chinese and Indians this time.Most were probably PAS supporters.Maybe, PAS is worried about Permatang Pasir after what happened in Manik Urai and needed to show solidarity.
Do not BE FOOLED it is not about the abolishment of ISA, it is about the saving of Anwar Ibrahim and Pakatan Rakyat.
The Malaysian police is not as brutal as their Thai counterparts when it comes to quelling demonstrations.
The demonstrations in Thailand which invariably started as peaceful march have, more often than not, turned violent with fatal results.
Before we realise it, ours may be going the same direction if the oppositions do not stop the nonsense, a clear attempt to undermine and destabilise the government and using the ISA as an excuse. A clear message should be sent to Pakatan Rakyat leaders that should there be anymore demonstration in the future with their participation they would have to answer their illegal actions in the court of law.
The demonstration was Anwar's attempt to rouse the people's sentiment against the government relating to his sodomy case which will be heard in court soon. The Prime Minister should not fall into the trap and felt pressured to abolish the ISA. What we see on the streets may not be representative of the majority segment of the population that want the ISA abolish.I am sure there are many ordinary citizens who do not really care or are against the ISA. Those against it were mostly politicians who are in the habit of raising sensitive racial issues and militants who resort to violence to overthrow the government.Even if the ISA was abolished the oppositions will not stop their implacable propaganda and destabilisation of the government.
I would rather have the ISA than another May 13 or senseless bombings killing innocent people.The ISA has it own uniqueness and have to certain extent help the nation maintain peace and stability.We have also been spared from acts of terrorism.Without the ISA there could never be immediate detention of militants to stop them from doing irreparable damage to the security of the nation. Without the ISA and using the slow process of the justice system militants would have ample time and opportunity to escape. They wouldn't be sitting around waiting for their court cases, would they? Sometimes, to save the majority, human rights may have to take a back seat for the individual.
There is no ISA in Indonesia and militants were having jolly good time over there.The bombing in Bali few years ago and recently the bombing of the Marriott and Carlton in Jakarta were reminders of what grievous damage the absence of such law could bring to this nation if the ISA is abolished. Do you think Nordin Top would surrender himself and say he would like to be tried in the court of law to prove that democracy and the rule of law are the best avenue to deal with such problem.
The Indonesian government has identified that the recent bombing in Jakarta was the handiwork of Nordin Top but they don't know where he is.The American with their modern gadgetry and super intelligence network do not know whether Bin Laden is dead or alive.America, previously strong opponent of the ISA has, unashamedly, copied it for their prisoners of war whom they labelled as terrorists and sent them to Guantanamo without trail.
When it comes to doing anything Malaysians are great copycats.Thailand has become a role model for them to follow including copying the use of red T-shirts resembling the Red Shirts of Thailand's pro-Taksin group and whom do you see many among the demonstrators? Though, I am far away from Kuala Lumpur I can see from my TV screen they were mostly Malays.Are the Malays that easily disoriented to fall victims to the opposition's propaganda.
There seems to be very few Chinese and Indians this time.Most were probably PAS supporters.Maybe, PAS is worried about Permatang Pasir after what happened in Manik Urai and needed to show solidarity.
Do not BE FOOLED it is not about the abolishment of ISA, it is about the saving of Anwar Ibrahim and Pakatan Rakyat.
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