ARTICLE 1
Paradise lost for Tunku Aziz? — Tay Tian Yan – May 12, 2012
MAY 12 — As widely expected, Tunku Abdul Aziz’s senatorship was not extended by the DAP.
As if that is not enough, he also finds himself coming under scornful assaults and branded a traitor. The disciplinary committee demanded an explanation from him, and some in the party wanted him removed.
Tunku Abdul Aziz joined the DAP three years ago in the midst of widespread cheers, making him the highest positioned and most reputed Malay member the DAP had had since its inception.
He was offered the party’s vice-presidency, and thanks to his popularity, the party experienced unprecedented metamorphosis to become a truly multiracial entity.
The cold treatment accorded to him has stemmed solely from his dissident views on the Berish 3.0 rally.
I have no intention of getting myself embroiled in the rally controversy any more. All that has come to my mind is a story I have read some time ago.
John Milton was a 17th-century English writer, second probably only to William Shakespeare in literary supremacy. His time-honoured epic “Paradise Lost” underscored the fall of humanity in the pursuit of freedom, quoting the chapter in Genesis where Adam and Eve were banished from the Garden of Eden.
In “Paradise Lost” there are the Heaven, the Hades; the Angels, the Satan; the Darkness, the Light; the Exaltation, the Decadence.
Wasn’t the April 28 rally a vivid reflection of “Paradise Lost”?
Milton had his own real-life experiences.
He met, fell for and later married 15-year-old Mary Powell at the age of 32.
After their marriage, he discovered they could not actually get along well. His young wife went back to her mother’s house, not returning for the following three years.
He wanted to put an end to the dysfunctional marriage, but was barred from doing so by the Church then.
Out of desperation he penned the famous Divorce Tracts, declaring true matrimony to be a marriage of body and mind, but if the body and mind have become dissociated, people should no longer be bonded by the covenant of marriage as this would contravene human nature and the will of freedom.
As such, he said, everyone should be entitled to the freedom of divorce.
His doctrine could possibly be accepted by people today, but not three centuries ago.
He was suppressed and locked up for his heretical thinking.
Milton was least subdued, instead his ordeal energised him to think profoundly about the true meaning of freedom. In the “Areopagitica” he later published, he proposed the theory of self-rectification of truth, arguing that only with the freedom of speech would truth become more explicit with arguments. The so-called “truth” that has been erected through oppression would never be able to pass the test of time and become the real truth.
At the same time, Milton also advocated the freedom of thought, declaring that no one — be it a regime, political party or individual — has the privilege of scrutinising a person’s freedom of speech or thought on condition it does not pose any harm to other people.
Milton’s freedom of speech has since become the harbinger of democratic politics.
Like anyone else in this world, Tunku Abdul Aziz is entitled to the freedom of speech, and the DAP’s action against him only attests to the democratic qualities and bearings this party holds. — mysinchew.com
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Look here, Tay Tianyan, ingenuously fetting DAP’s lack of democracy as democracy! No honest political party will dare to fire anyone for speaking freely. I am very sorry that I ever fetted DAP in the past at all, and realise that nepotistic and term limitless DAP is as bad as, if not worse than BN and BN’s lapdogs. Shame on you Tay Tian Yan for being a blind propagandist without ethics! DAP is a political party that shold be wiped off the map of Malaysia and the world. Anywhere there are people who think and behave like the Lim Kit Siang and Karpal SIngh led party need to be barred for politics. They are self serving political animals in human guise and Tay Tianyan as well. Little wonder the apartheid state of the Chinese and Indians in Malaysia. Neither DAP nor MCA nor MIC have ever spoken against apartheid prioritising their own political safety first. I recommend that all voters vote for 3rd Force parties instead/
How about Tunku lead the 3rd Force and drop these bunch of unethical nepotistic and uninclusive Pakatan losers who steal and parrot ideas instead of giving credit where is due. Have at Pakatan! And BN is an apartheid party so corrupt that the Human Rights Council should be shamed for allowing Malaysia to be a member of the Human Rights panel. Idiot politicians! 3rd Force when are you making your move? get together at some stupid venue and start organising yourselves, we had enough of the term limitless, nepotistic family blocs and selfishness of Pakatan and the racism and corruption of BN!
How about this below social contract?
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 Human Rights Charter)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 Human Rights Charter)
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. (Surah An Nisa 4:75)
ARTICLE 2
Hisham lying over parties wanting deaths at Bersih, says Kit Siang – By Shannon Teoh – May 12, 2012
KUALA LUMPUR, May 12 — Lim Kit Siang accused Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein of “spreading lies” after the home minister alleged that some parties wanted serious injuries and deaths to occur at the April 28 Bersih rally.
The DAP parliamentary leader pointed out that the Umno vice president had dismissed on April 19 the planned sit-in for free and fair elections, saying it was not a security threat and had little traction with the public.
“I urge Hishammuddin to stop spreading lies and falsehoods about Bersih 3.0 as his allegation that some parties wanted serious injuries and deaths is most wild, irresponsible and deplorable.
“If Hishamuddin received ‘intelligence’ that there were ‘some parties’ who wanted serious injuries and deaths to occur at Bersih 3.0, he was then seriously remiss and negligent in his duties as home minister when he publicly declared that Bersih 3.0 rally posed no ‘security threat’,” the Ipoh Timor MP said.
Hishammuddin told students earlier today that his biggest fear ahead of the April 28 rally for free and fair elections was the possibility of serious injuries and fatalities. “I was relieved there were none. But there were some parties who wanted that to happen,” he said over lunch at Sunway Hotel here.
Lim (picture) also said in a press statement that Datuk Seri Najib Razak must also be asked if he had received ‘intelligence’ to back the prime minister’s claim that Bersih 3.0 was an attempted coup d’etat to topple the government.
“Or was the ‘intelligence’ about an attempted coup to topple the government, like Hishammudin’s latest allegation, purely political in nature, concocted after April 28 to enable the Barisan Nasional to demonise the Bersih 3.0 organisers and protestors?” he said.
He added that Putrajaya’s probe into violence during the Bersih rally must be in the form of a royal commission of inquiry instead of the proposed panel headed by Tun Hanif Omar as the former police chief had disqualified himself by making anti-Bersih statements.
The April 28 rally, which saw tens of thousands gather at six different locations before heading to Dataran Merdeka, was peaceful until about 2.30pm when Bersih chief Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan asked the crowd to disperse. But her call was not heard by most of the crowd who persisted around the historic square which the court had already barred to the public over the weekend.
Just before 3pm, some protestors breached the barricade surrounding the landmark, leading police to disperse the crowd with tear gas and water cannons.
Police then continued to pursue the rally-goers down several streets amid chaotic scenes which saw violence from both sides over the next four hours.
Several dozen demonstrators have claimed that they were assaulted by groups of over 10 policemen at a time and visual evidence appears to back their claim but police also point to violence from rally-goers who also attacked a police car.
The police car then crashed into a building before some protestors flipped it on its side.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
This looks like a libel lawsuit. Hisham should sue this creep to hell.
ARTICLE 3
Return the favor, Ambiga and Guan Eng: Offer Ibrahim Ali a nice ‘char siew pau’ – by @donplaypuks – Friday, 11 May 2012 19:32
The two demonstrations, one by Perkasa outside Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s house, and the other by Ikhlas oustide Ambiga’s, of Bersih fame, mark a new low in Malaysian politics. The demonstrators, and their yellow backers in the corridors of BUMNO/BN, have appealed to the lowest common denominator among the worst in their ranks – racism, demagoguery and thuggery!
Given also that our law enforcers (not just the police, but also City Hall officials) stood by and did nothing to disperse these illegal gatherings, while at Bersih 3.0 they opened direct fire at crowds with tear gas and pepper-laced water without justifiable provocation, it’s clear what we have is a rogue regime that MUST be booted out at the next general elections, if we wish to preserve the sanctity of our democratic institutions.
Rogue regime
Why rogue regime? Because we have a Prime Minister (PM) who is implicated up to his eyeballs in the $7 billion Scorpene Submarine financial scandal (he was also the Defence Minister who signed the contracts) and who 5 years onwards, has not ordered the Inspector General of Police to investigate, identify and charge the person who gave the orders to murder Altantuya and blow up her body into bits and pieces with C4 plastics, generally available only to the Army, and perhaps, the Terrorist Squad of the Police. PM Najib has not done so despite the convicted murderers of Altantuya confessing to the police that they were offered $100,000 (by whom?) to carry out their heinous act!
This is not mere uncouth behaviour by Perkasa and Ikhlas. Their intention is to instill mafia-type fear through intimidation, thuggery and gangsterism! The gall of it, for Ikhlas to offer a hamburger to Ambiga who is a vegetarian. Imagine if Ambiga or Guan Eng had offered a pork bun to Ibrahim Ali. But that is a minor matter.
What is at issue is whether Perkasa and Ikhlas considered the fear and terror they would have instilled, not in Ambiga’s and Gua Eng’s hearts, for they are made of sterner stuff, but in the hearts of children and the elderly living in those homes and that of their innocent neighbours.
Yes, give Ibrahim Ali a pork bun and see what sort of reaction…
Of course Ikhlas and its petty traders will maintain that the Bersih 3.0 rally on 28th April 2012 caused them huge financial losses and they have their rights. Yes, they have their rights and no one disputes that. However, the courts are the rightful place to take their grievances to, not the homes of their perceived antagonists.
Frankly, I doubt these hamburger patty-mentality lackeys will dare open up their books to be audited independently by the courts to justify any claims.
Similarly, the Opposition in Penang – BUMNO/BN – were defeated in the State Asembly by the very same tactics and open and democratic procedures that they had employed from 1957-2007, when they were in power. Their allegations that Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng had cast slurs on BUMNO/BN by saying that more Hindu temples would be torn down if BUMNO/BN were in power, was not borne out by official Hansard transcripts of the debate in the State Assembly. That calls for an invasion of Guan Eng’s home and incantations of a death wish?
So, how do we read the situation?
It’s obvious they are being stirred up by other cravenly cowards and Nazi and Stalinistic elements within BUMNO/BN. Has the unelected mayor of KL who pontificated to Bersih 3.0 about laws and municipal by-laws or our unelected PM Najib or BUMNO/BN politicians and former IGP’s come out and publicly condemned these blatant and dangerously precedent setting invasions of an individual’s privacy, as they (wrongly) did with Bersih 3.0? They are playing with fire and when it’s they who get burnt, who shall they then lay the blame on?
They silently wish and pray Guan Eng, Ambiga, Bersih and Pakatan would all quietly disappear. Let me assure these pathetic troglodytes that all their pilgrimages and prayers will not deliver them victory because they represent pure, unadulterated evil against the might of Pakatan, Ambiga, Guan Eng et al who stand on the side of the righteous!
BUMNO/BN is also being shown up by the new State governments, in particular, Penang and Selangor, that where the leaders are incorruptible, desirable progress will naturally follow. So, it’s not surprising that the Pakatan states combined have attracted more Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) in four years than all the BUMNO/BN ruled States put together, and praised by the BUMNO/BN appointed Auditor General for that as well as for their transparency and accountability.
Now, that’s what you call real progress and achievement – when your are grudgingly congratulated by independent parties for your successes. BUMNO/BN leaders are too seduced by the bootlicking and scrotum tickling antics of its sycophantic and demanding ‘give me a billion ringgit contract’ supporters.
No second thought – just dump BN!
This is what grates on BUMNO/BN’s behind more than anything else, like sandpaper on rock. The Pakatan States have shown in four years what progress we could have achieved, had we not allowed ourselves to succumb to 32 years of financial mayhem and utter corruption and waste involving hundreds of billions of ringgit under the BUMNO/BN aegis.
And if this is the best they can do, by trying to frighten and intimidate the citizenry, then I say, bring it on. You will scare no one, because it is your own fear that motivates you, not any concern for truth, justice or democracy!
The lowest common denominator you appeal to – racism, demagoguery, religious bigotry and thuggery – will be contemptibly rejected by all right thinking citizens, without a second thought!
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
@dontplaypuks wrote : ‘The lowest common denominator you appeal to – racism, demagoguery, religious bigotry and thuggery – will be contemptibly rejected by all right thinking citizens, without a second thought!’
Hey @dontplaypuks Guan Eng has just lowered himself to that very level by sending a pork bun to a Muslim. If Guan Eng were a gentleman Guan Eng would have prepared a delegation to the UN undeer the CM’s office to challenge APARTHEID. That Guan ENg prefers to send offensive food, makes Guan Eng little more than a sad clown that does not use the CM’s mandate to any good.
We don’t need this sort of leader like Guan Eng. File that lawsuit or send delegations to the UN, NAM or BRICS morons. Why do the Sultans put up with Guan Eng’s cockbaiting of a group like PERKASA? More b.s. that can lead to hegelian eclectic inspired ‘riots’ and then a freeze on social freedoms. Guan Eng is an idiot to play this sort of game. Ibrahim Ali, please take this a man to man insult and give Guan Eng what Guan Eng needs most. A good ass whacking with whatever food item Guan Eng hates.
But since Guan Eng eats sh1t cakes, PERKASA might have a hard time deciding which food item to use against Guan Eng. Serious leaders on all sides, please send that delegation to the UN to end apartheid.
This idiocy involving pork, Guan Eng and PERKASA is just too much of a tragic comedy and a waste of a CM’s mandate. Nepotism and limitless terms breeds char siew bao sending idiocy that does not end the lack of . . .
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 Human Rights Charter)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 Human Rights Charter)
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. (Surah An Nisa 4:75)
GTFO of the Dewan you nepotist! Who voted you CM? Your term limitless father? How many Penangites want Guan Eng as CM? 1% of the DAP CC? If PERKASA kicks Guan Eng’s a$$ literally, none would blink an eyelid. CONTACT UN, CONTACT NAM – END APARTHEID.
What an **IDIOT** CM Guan Eng is!
ARTICLE 4
‘Funeral’ for Guan Eng and burger stall for Ambiga: THIS IS UMNO-BN! – Written by YM CM Lim Guan Eng – Friday, 11 May 2012 12:48
DAP condemns the “burger protest” by pro-BN and anti-Bersih supporters, which set up an illegal burger stall outside Bersih co-chairperson Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan’s house to protest against their claims of purported loss of income suffered due to the Bersih 3.0 rally on 28 April 2012.
Is rule of law in Malaysia now replaced by rule of the jungle?
I fail to understand how DBKL can allow a burger stall to be set up outside a private residence with impunity in Kuala Lumpur?
By failing to act against the “burger protest” set up illegally outside Datuk Ambiga’s house, BN and DBKL is subjecting her to undue harrassment, intimidation and invasion of privacy. Will DBKL allow a similar protest outside the private home of Ministers or the DBKL’s Mayor residence?
Such an act of harrassment, intimidation and invasion of privacy has no place in our peaceful country, where Malaysians live together in mutual harmony and respect.
Moreover, the symbolic act of setting up burger stalls and cooking meat as a protest outside Ambiga’s home is extremely disrespectful considering that the former Bar Council president is a vegetarian.
As Ambiga herself noted yesterday, such acts have “never happened in Malaysia, except to Lim Guan Eng. Now Lim Guan Eng and I have had our homes violated.”
Funeral rite
Yesterday, my own family’s privacy was invaded by a group of Perkasa members who performed a “funeral rite” intruding on my private space, by placing on my gate a garland of flowers over a framed photo of me to signify my “death”.
Clearly this is the first time that such a death “wish” or death “threat” is made against a Chief Minister. What is equally clear is that the police present were indifferent and did not stop the Perkasa members from violating my private space.
It is the right of every Malaysian to be able to protest his or her own issues, but to do so by intruding into personal space and invading the privacy of family homes or wishing for the death of anyone is utterly vile, completely disrespectful and contrary to the basic tenets of democracy.
DAP calls on BN and DBKL to immediately remove the stall outside Datuk Ambiga’s home as a mark of respect towards not only to democracy and rule of law but to establish and uphold civil society.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
I’d say open up underwear shops and a karang guni or shoe repair as well. Throw in a toddy seller and butcher for good measure as well – just for not speaking on APARTHEID as well as for dumping on rightful MB of Perak Nizar when Ambiga was Bar Council President.
Bersih fails, nothing was achieved! All that limelight and all Ambiga does is flounder like an unknown blogger with no friends! We don’t need this sort of leader like Ambiga. File that lawsuit or send delegations to the UN, NAM or BRICS to END APARTHEID moron.
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 Human Rights Charter)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 Human Rights Charter)
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. (Surah An Nisa 4:75)
What the hell is Lim Guan Eng arguing about a burger stall or respect when Lim Guan Eng should be demanding the END OF APARTHEID? People are earning their liveihood and all DAP wants is to destroy their livelihood or fine people who build awnings and write false news. END APARTHEID! Or give over that CM’s post!
CONTACT UN, CONTACT NAM – END APARTHEID. Or Ambiga should relinquish leadership of Bersih to someone who knows how to wield that ‘riot causing power’ properly! Meanwhile Guan Eng should – CONTACT UN, CONTACT NAM, CONTACT BRICS – END APARTHEID.
ARTICLE 5
Lawyers pour scorn on ‘stupid’ Bar – NEWS/COMMENTARIES – Saturday, 12 May 2012 Super Admin
A vocal few criticise the Bar Council for not being apolitical and failing to take note of the violence perpetrated by the protesters during the Bersih 3.0 rally.
(Free Malaysia Today) – Several lawyers have accused the Bar Council of supposedly siding with both Bersih and the opposition.
They argued that the Bar focused only on police brutality and failed to note the violence caused by protesters during the April 28 Bersih 3.0 rally.
Selangor Bar member Abdul Bakar Sidek attacked the Council, calling it a “political group” of the opposition.
“They come here [and] just want to pass a resolution. They just want to talk about police brutality but they never talk about public brutality towards the police!” he told reporters angrily.
This happened minutes after the Bar Council ended its extraordinary general meeting (EGM) on the Bersih 3.0 rally, where they passed a resolution condemning heavy-handed police action on that day.
Abdul Bakar asked why the resolution omitted instances of protester violence.
“I do not agree with police brutality but at the same time we do have to adhere that the police are also victims of the public and the stupid Bersih.
“…I am ashamed to be a member of the Bar, I wish I had an alternative [to the Bar]. I came just to say, ‘Why you need to gather by the roadside like a pariah?’”
“…I wish the government can give us an alternative [to the Bar, because] a lot of my friends do not want to be a member of this stupid Bar!” he shouted.
While he was speaking to reporters, a few lawyers taunted Abdul Bakar, chanting, “Bersih 4!”
In response to this, he said: “You see? Is this a forum of professionals? They want a Bersih 4.0, [but] they are just a bunch of idiots!”
Abdul Bakar later claimed that he had a younger sister, who in her capacity as a policewoman, was attacked by protesters that day.
He also blamed Bersih co-chairperson S Ambiga of shoring up publicity in a bid to “create havoc.”
Of the 1,270 Bar members who attended today’s EGM, 939 voted in favour of today’s resolution, while 16 voted against.
The rest either left the venue before the event ended or did not take part in the vote.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Selangor Bar member Abdul Bakar Sidek attacked the Council, calling it a “political group” of the opposition.
Does Abdul assent to the below 3 items?
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 Human Rights Charter)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 Human Rights Charter)
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. (Surah An Nisa 4:75)
Because if Abdul doesn’t, some Bar Council member might want to demand that foreign University which granted any a degree to have that same degree removed for being a supporter of APARTHEID. But true, marching is stupid. File lawsuits, more so the Bar Council!!!
‘The rest either left the venue before the event ended or did not take part in the vote.’
File lawsuits against the Bar Council committee instead of ‘leaving without voting’! Leaving without voting is irresponsible. In fact a simple 14,000+ letters sent to all members of the Bar Council that will be legally actionable not to respond to should be applied for every single quorum. The 900+ people who voted DO NOT COUNT as they are less than 10% of the Bar! Isn’t there a mailing department the Bar Council could use to send a YES/NO/’Other-pls-state’ form to these 14,000 ‘ponteng’ lawyers or at least ensure 66.6% voted? No need to set up a ‘Bar Academy’ at cost to the Rakyat (more contractor collusion). A simple change in the Bar Council constitution about this sort of mandatory vote (2 week response time at least?) and even mandatory attendance of yearly EGM should be applied. We can’t have this sort of ‘ponteng vote’ or ‘ponteng EGM’ behaviour so that justified waste of tax monies in settying up ‘Bar Academies’ can be tabled in Dewan. Disappointing to know only 900+ out of 14,000 were reacheable! These are the people who write our laws? No wonder Malaysia is getting from bad to worse.
ARTICLE 6
PAS can implement hudud with non-Pakatan parties’ – NEWS/COMMENTARIES – Saturday, 12 May 2012 Super Admin
(Malaysiakini) – PAS Ulama chief Harun Taib has said that amending the federal constitution to implement hudud will be its priority even if it means changing political partners, according to a New Straits Times report today.
“We will implement hudud and amend the constitution even if (it is) not with the current partners we have in Pakatan (Rakyat)… Maybe there will be other pacts that will lend us their support,” he was quoted as saying.
However, he did not name the non-Pakatan political parties, if any, which are in favour of hudud.
Harun added that as a party that champions Islam, it must do what is required by the religion, said the report.
According to the daily, Harun added that the implementation of hudud was inevitable should PAS win more seats than its Pakatan Rakyat partners.
“(PAS president) Hadi’s statement on hudud implementation and amending the constitution were done in his capacity as PAS president and they reflected PAS’ aspiration if the opposition wins the general election.”
The comments was in reaction to DAP chairperson Karpal Singh’s criticism of Hadi Awang who had allegedly said the party intends to incorporate hudud as a way of life in the federal constitution.
“I think whether it is against the constitution or not is just his (Karpal’s) personal opinion,” he said.
However, Hadi has denied making the statement.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Hudud is apartheid against fellow Malays USING Islam. PAS surely cannot be insisting on COMPULSION which is illegal in Islam! Case by case assent via signed agreements is reaqsonable but by the UNHCR no imposition of Hudud even on Malays is legal. PAS cannot do that without breaking some international treaties which Malaysia is a signmatory of. What IS PAS doing? Why is DAP silent like the grave (no pun intended, though 750K for a single PM and 120K for the same CM’s wife, is not worth selling out the entire minority to ignore ending APARTHEID for.)? Pakatan is a rubbish political party whenever this sort of thing happens. Is PAS trying to get Malaysia kicked out of the Human Rights Council? 3rd Force is the best choice!
As mentioned elsewhere, Hudud can only be applied on a case by case person by person acceptance. This is illegal and should be challenged by democratic Islamic scholars as ‘there can be no compulsion in religion‘ (Quran verse, Al Bakara 2:16). Such fatwas will be issued in a manner that compels. Islam if used as a political tool of control will damn any who do not follow the spirit of the Quran.
ARTICLE 7
Bar Council: Ex-IGP unfit to lead panel – NEWS/COMMENTARIES – Saturday, 12 May 2012 Super Admin
The Bar Council president Lim Chee Wee says the former IGP disqualified himself by calling some of the Bersih 3.0 protesters communists.
(Free Malaysia Today) – The Bar Council said former Inspector General of Police Hanif Omar is not suitable to head the independent panel to probe the violence that took place during the Bersih 3.0 rally.
Speaking at a press conference after chairing the Bar Council’s extraordinary general meeting (EGM) today, its president Lim Chee Wee said Hanif had disqualified himself by taking a stand against Bersih 3.0 earlier.
“It’s unfortunate that the former IGP had referred to some of the protesters as communists,” he added.
On April 28, tens of thousands marched in the nation’s capital but the rally was marred with reports of police assaulting scores of protesters and journalists.
Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein announced the formation of the six-member panel on Wednesday with Hanif heading the investigation team.
However, Hanif had reportedly told the media earlier that some of the demonstrators were communists as he claimed to recognise their faces.
Meanwhile, Lim said he was disappointed when Hanif had alleged that the rally was aimed at overthrowing the government.
“In my view, panel member Steve Sim (former Sabah and Sarawak chief justice) is more qualified to head the panel,” he added.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
What does attacking Hanif Omar do? NOTHING. Attacking a mere Hanif Omar is a sign of pettiness (also a Freudian slip of sorts, cult of prsonality vs. cult of personality indicating prioritsation of ego rather than actual democratic issues) when Bar Council Presidemt Lim Chee Wee could attack the lack of :
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 Human Rights Charter)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 Human Rights Charter)
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. (Surah An Nisa 4:75)
;via a formal delegation to UN, NAM, BRICS or even Sunnite Islam’s highest authority, the Al-Azhar Uni at Cairo. The above piece is a sure sign that Lim Chee Wee is NOT Bar Council President material at all, lack of logos but probably quite political minded () rther than impartial. Any blogger full of pathos could attack Hanif Omar or any VIP. Use that undeserved Bar Council Presidnet’s ethos or GTFO of the Bar Council Committee! Bar Council fails with sheer inability to even comprehend rhetoric, much less address DEMOCRACY to at least know the APARTHEID Bar Council President Lim Chee Wee being a minority now lives in! Pitiful and a waste of Bar Council’s mandate! No ‘Justice Baos‘ here, just ‘Char Siew Bao‘ level lawyers unable to address APARTHEID as above suggested but well able to argue about Burger Stalls and defending people like Ambiga who took out rightful MB of Pahang Nizar while in power as former President of Bar Council !
What kind of legal training did these characters receive? ‘Kopi’ degree is it? CONTACT UN, CONTACT NAM – END APARTHEID. One more word about Burger Stalls or Ambiga by the Bar Council and all Malaysians should recommend that the Bar Council’s degrees should be withdrawn for ignoring APARTHEID but making lots of noise about Burgers and Ambiga. Prepare that delegation to END APARTHEID and stop arguing about the ‘of secondary importance’ riots!
ARTICLE 8
The most dangerous drug in the world: ‘Devil’s Breath’ chemical from Colombia can block free will, wipe memory and even kill – By Beth Stebner – PUBLISHED: 22:44 GMT, 12 May 2012 | UPDATED: 13:43 GMT, 13 May 2012
Scopolamine often blown into faces of victims or added to drinks
Within minutes, victims are like ‘zombies’ – coherent, but with no free will
Some victims report emptying bank accounts to robbers or helping them pillage own house
Drug is made from borrachero tree, which is common in Colombia
A hazardous drug that eliminates free will and can wipe the memory of its victims is currently being dealt on the streets of Colombia.
The drug is called scopolamine, but is colloquially known as ‘The Devil’s Breath,’ and is derived from a particular type of tree common to South America.
Stories surrounding the drug are the stuff of urban legends, with some telling horror stories of how people were raped, forced to empty their bank accounts, and even coerced into giving up an organ.
Danger: ‘The Devil’s Breath’ is such a powerful drug that it can remove the capacity for free will
Deadly drug: Scopolamine is made from the Borrachero tree, which blooms with deceptively beautiful white and yellow flowers
VICE’s Ryan Duffy travelled to the country to find out more about the powerful drug. In two segments, he revealed the shocking culture of another Colombian drug world, interviewing those who deal the drug and those who have fallen victim to it.
Demencia Black, a drug dealer in the capital of Bogota, said the drug is frightening for the simplicity in which it can be administered.
He told Vice that Scopolamine can be blown in the face of a passer-by on the street, and within minutes, that person is under the drug’s effect – scopolamine is odourless and tasteless.
‘You can guide them wherever you want,’ he explained. ‘It’s like they’re a child.’
Black said that one gram of Scopolamine is similar to a gram of cocaine, but later called it ‘worse than anthrax.’
In high doses, it is lethal.
It only takes a moment: One drug dealer in Bogota explained how victims are drugged within minutes of exposure
Victims: One Colombian woman said that under the influence of scopolamine, she led a man to her house and helped him ransack it
The drug, he said, turns people into complete zombies and blocks memories from forming. So even after the drug wears off, victims have no recollection as to what happened.
One victim told Vice that a man approached her on the street asking her for directions. Since it was close by, she helped take the man to his destination, and they drank juice together.
‘You can guide them wherever you want. It’s like they’re a child.’
She took the man to her house and helped him gather all of her belongings, including her boyfriend’s cameras and savings.
‘It is painful to have lost money,’ the woman said,’ but I was actually quite lucky.’
According to the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, the drug – also known as hyoscine – causes the same level of memory loss as diazepam.
In ancient times, the drug was given to the mistresses of dead Colombian leaders – they were told to enter their master’s grave, where they were buried alive.
Devil’s Breath: The drug is odourless and tasteless and can simply be blown in the face of someone on the street; their free will vanishes after being exposed to it
Dangerous: Vice’s Ryan Duffy traveled to the capital of Bogota to find out more about the drug
In modern times, the CIA used the drug as part of Cold War interrogations, with the hope of using it like a truth serum.
However, because of the drug’s chemical makeup, it also induces powerful hallucinations.
The tree common around Colombia, and is called the ‘borrachero’ tree – loosely translated as the ‘get-you-drunk’ tree.
It is said that Colombian mothers warn their children not to fall asleep under the tree, though the leafy green canopies and large yellow and white flowers seem appealing.
Experts are baffled as to why Colombia is riddled with scopolamine-related crimes, but wager much of it has to do with the country’s torn drug-culture past, and on-going civil war.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Unpleasant Postulations about Hyocine use in Airlines or planes (also how terrorists, Korean cults of personality, or Columbine murderers or even Mack the Knife, an early example, mass mindless voters who SOMEHOW vote wrongly instead on on issues, might be trained and brainwashed) :
Airline introduces scopolamine or hyocine into air inside the enclosed plane, as expected who knows most flight stewardesses have been raped no end, with any customers haing theor souls harvested for use (resulting in jet lag). This medical abuse in collusion with airelines (timed release devices installed within air conditioners in homes in hotels, in cars, introduced through office air vents etc..) . . .
‘You can guide them wherever you want,’ he explained. ‘It’s like they’re a child.’
This fact can be applied alongside hidden audio devices that can be turned on or time released to play ‘instructions’. I strongly believe that in certain states this is routinely done against political dissenters, also in apartheid states with access to the technology or chemicals.
Travel in enclosed spaces makes scopolamine poisoning or time released terrorism based on poisoning very easy. While the pilots space out, the plane goes down or the bus or train crashes.
Someone who apparently dabbled alot in spiritual practices that seemed to be I spoke to before once said :
‘I travel seldom and was well rested. One time I did travel by plane years ago, my soul was stolen by this woman . . . I had a nosebleed later . . . and it took sometime to extract the soul portion I lost.’
This is why people respect (fear) medical people in Asia including nurses. Probably this is also how medical people brainwash their ‘followers’ and become ‘politicians’ via access to the chemicals. Or on a longshot who knows even ‘Maid Agencies’ give employers the same drug to ‘control’ their ‘disobedient’ maids with (doubtless more abuse and rapes are never recorded if these classes of drugs are being used, the underground scene among youth for synthetics btw is out of control in some parts so the ‘legitimate’ use to control maids probably is even more rampant . . . )? I again repost the below postulation on what happened in DAP :
Here’s a spiritual theory. Karpal was set up by DAP via spiritual poison or use of scopolamine, and due to injuries and inability to recall chakras Karpal succumbed to manipulation by DAP. Without access to the lower chakras due to paralysis, Karpal was taken over by LKS and LGE not being able to fight back. The occult or medical technique probably is known to PAP, and now is mployed by DAP, most Penangites are under attack and attacking each other, the high density development paradigm of cities does not help, making people into hivelike drones. Hence the possible hero worship of the term limitless nepotists.
The medical professionals especially 3rd world based, are not always on the right path, greed, murder, and selfishness can be seen . . . Try http://peopleagainstopposition.blogspot.com/2011/04/tragedy-at-sekolah-agama-rakyat-al.html and get an idea of how Islam and the medical establishment are possibly at war in Malaysia, some of us neutrals just want to have non-Muslim rights to entertainment, human rights to equality, not be poisoned and ‘prayered’ to ill health by the ‘pious’ . . .
Penang has become a spiritually ill place that will see many of this generation go down as the a$$holes who caused Fukushima (extracted spirits tend to congregate near Nuke plants thinking their flesh body owners are dead, but they are NOT dead so they mistake Nuke plants as the ‘Light’ and gathered together to free the lost with the tsunami and other natural disasters, you see the spirits of the Earth far outnumber Man, and Man when led by plutocrats, term limitless, medical-psyche poisoners tend to offend the entire planet.).
Keep tormenting, nature knows where you live and who you all are . . . the abusers in the medical profession (why do they work housemen so hard and at such long shifts, is that to catch them unawares so that brainwashing can occur in the confines of the hospital, are there ‘black ops’ people in such places indoctrinating?), many temples and ‘places of worship’ are doomed and peopled by evil cultists in Asia. Any country that has national service or even enforces religion without freedom of choice (i.e. Buddhism, Islam) could well be responsible of these human rights abuses.
Superpower nations everywhere with MI6 departments that study this sort of thing, if this postulation is true, please do colonize in the name of Human Rights, there is no life without freedom as the Human Rights Charter does not clearly state the above as an abuse or easily proves this. To be liberated we of conscience are all ready to turn against those who oppress us.
The refusal to do the bidding of evil minded creeps is clear, this is but a symptom of the sickness of society, this is not created by normal citizens, this is exhibit the symptoms of the ill treatment. Fukushima says so. The 100K+ deaths in Acheh attest, 6 generations for beheading, for this spiritual subjudice! That energy is NOT to be used by the profane and greedy who love money from funeral funds or who sell and spiritually murder fellow citizens in the name of religion. All spiritualists involved are DAMNED. The temples that fell, fell of their own neglect of apartheid against the minorities (the spirits LEFT the temple and the temples were forfeit) interference and presumption to disrupt the course of rightful history. Finally, it would seem that organic psychedelics could counter the effects of the above synthetic medications or even heal the effects of synthetics and should not only be considered for entertainment but more so healing as well.
A warning (no guesses to who), man’s spirituality is far beyond that of three 2700. 2000, 1400 year old egregores fueled by the wickedness of ‘pious’ society there are forces Eons old that are watching . . . the world can choose to be blighted by deserts or relinquish the souls stolen from innocent children, innocent people.
If incorrect, please feel free to debunk. We’d be very happy to know that this is not happening! Finally organic psychedelics appear to be able to counter the synthetic poisons or fortify against. We cannot ‘just trust society’ there must be an independent audit of the medical and psyche establishment, the government itself as well.
ARTICLE 9
BN can win GE battle with money splash, says Dr Ling by Ida Lim May 14, 2012
KUALA LUMPUR, May 14 — Barisan Nasional (BN) could win the general elections because of unprecedented spending on the public, Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik told
Chinese newspaper Sin Chew Daily in an interview published today.
“I think BN can still win, because the government is spending money non-stop under different names, and this has never happened before,” he told Sin Chew in an exclusive interview.
Recently, the government has been spending heavily on various schemes to aid the public, including book vouchers for students and Bantuan Rakyat 1 Malaysia (BR1M).
A recent poll showed that the prime minister’s approval rating has surged by 10 per centage points to 69 per cent on the back of an improving economy and the cash handouts of RM500 to low-income households under BR1M.
Pollsters Merdeka Centre found that the prime minister’s support was highest among households earning less than RM1,500 a month at 78 per cent, with four-fifths of Indians and 74 per cent of Malays also giving Najib the thumbs up.
However Dr Ling (picture) thinks that the effect of the BR1M aid on voters has “long faded”.
The former MCA president acknowledged the perception that Chinese voters did not view BN favourably.
“Generally speaking, Chinese are not good towards BN, but in Perlis there is no other choice (besides BN), (BN) may also lack support in Johor, but not to the point of losing,” he was quoted as saying by Sin Chew.
Dr Ling said, however, that a failure to keep a supermajority in Parliament would not be a big problem, as he found nothing wrong with the public’s desire for change.
“A lot of things will change, the past example (March 2008) proved that things improved when there was a change, what’s the problem (with change)?”
“I think BN knows what kind of results they will face, they know this is a very hard battle,” he said, stressing that “this time the general elections is very hard and
difficult for BN.”
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Not unless the voters identify BN’s trick first. Tax money musical chairs. Pass to the voter the money they took from the voter via taxes to make themselves look good, then tax more after they win! Thanks for the idea and warning Dr.Ling, but I think the voters are cleverer than what you think now (and lower those election deposits so that the poorest sweeper can be an MP, we look forward to 99%ter policies, not shameless MPs who ask for 750K funerals (at the Rakyat’s expense) from the same people who put their fathers in Kamunting and not address ENDING APARTHEID . . . ) . . .
Tax Money Supervillian . . .
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 Human Rights Charter)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 Human Rights Charter)
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. (Surah An Nisa 4:75)
ARTICLE 10
Reflections of a world long gone – CERITALAH by Karim Raslan – Tuesday May 15, 2012 – newsdesk@thestar.com.my
Lawyer and diplomat PG Lim shows us she is very much the original lady activist through her colourful memoirs, Kaleidoscope.
WE are not a nation of writers. Malaysians aren’t great diarists or memoirists. Indeed, our collective Malaysian story – our national narrative – has tended to lose out in terms of subtlety, intimacy and diversity precisely because of this weakness.
However, the lawyer and diplomat PG Lim’s memoirs Kaleidoscope provides us with a superb addition to the dominant and at times tiresome, national narrative.
The book also reminds us that history is an accumulation of different stories, perspectives and experiences and that we are diminished as a people if we disregard the diversity at the very core of what it is to be Malaysian.
PG’s account is elegantly written, insightful and deeply felt. In Kaleidoscope, PG reveals a hitherto unknown talent as a story-teller as she weaves the great events of the 20th Century with her own personal triumphs and failures.
It’s also been an eye-opening read for someone such as myself, who’s known PG for nearly 30 years. The book has made me realise that she’s very much the original lady activist – a forerunner to Irene Fernandes, Zainah Anwar and even Teresa Kok – principled, unflinching and always, always on the side of the dispossessed and down-trodden.
Moreover, PG’s shift from activism and opposition politics to national service (she was to be an Ambassador for over nine years in New York, Vienna and Bruxelles) underlines both the high regard with which the establishment viewed her as well as the less divisive nature of politics back in the 60s and 70s.
Indeed PG (along with Tan Sri Dr Aishah Ghani) was one of only two women on the National Consultative Council which was set up by the National Operations Council in the wake of the May 13 riots and the suspension of the Malaysian Parliament.
Born in 1915 in London, the daughter of a prominent Penang-based lawyer, Lim Cheng Ean, and a British Guyana medical student, Rosaline Hoalim, PG grew up amidst great wealth and an enormously supportive family.
She studied at the famous Light Street Convent School before pursuing a law degree in Girton College, Cambridge, in the late 1930s.
PG was to be shaped by both her mother’s independent, strong-willed nature as well as her father’s well-known civic-mindedness (he served on the Straits Settlement Legislative Council alongside Tan Cheng Lok and H.H. Abdoolcader).
Indeed PG’s large posse of over-achieving and good-looking brothers and sisters have left an inedible stamp on Malaysian public life.
Entering legal practice after the Second World War, PG went on to carve a name for herself as a fearless lawyer and a champion for labour rights, at a time when plantation workers in particular were very poorly treated.
These earlier sections of the memoirs are the most illuminating and exciting. PG conjures up the rich, culturally intriguing milieu of Baba Nonya life in pre-War Penang, the uncertainty of the Japanese Occupation (not to mention the gutlessness and perfidy of the retreating British forces), as well as the exuberance of post-Independence life in Kuala Lumpur.
Along with the magisterial roll-out of history, PG also touches on her own personal disappointments. She’s unflinching in this regard as she recounts her two failed marriages: proof that successful women face multiple challenges.
PG never shied away from controversial or difficult cases, from Confrontation-era insurgents being threatened with the death penalty to trade unionists seeking better conditions for workers – there was no cause too big or too small for her.
Indeed, it’s interesting to compare the current trade union activism with the events of the 50s and 60s.
PG’s interests extended way beyond activism. She was a major stalwart of the Art’s Council which, in turn, became the nucleus of Malaysia’s National Art Gallery.
The book reflects her varied interests. She was a voracious reader, she fenced and punted in Cambridge, while also being an active supporter of the arts.
Kaleidoscope provides us with a view of a world that has long disappeared, of a Malaysia that was and could have been.
It reminds us of a time when it was still possible to learn French and Latin in a Malaysian school. Of a time when Malaysia had a Labour Party and when the various races mingled without resentment or reserve.
This was a time when politicians behaved like gentlemen and honest debate was not seen as a form of treason.
Her life and writings are a firm rebuke to the gutter politics that Malaysian public life has descended to. As she writes at the conclusion of Kaleidoscope:
“I remember my father telling me, if you are right in the causes you champion, you should be fearless in pursuing them. I sometimes feel Malaysians are too timid to champion worthy causes. Technology now provides us all with greater opportunities to get our voices heard.”
PG Lim is a great Malaysian: bold, brilliant, principled and utterly human. Her story is an integral part of our national narrative. Read it.
Self promotionary exercises in cynicism, and a glaring neglect of Malaysia’s institutionalized APARTHEID . . .
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Fore-runner to the floundering Tenagania President Irene Fernandez? Little wonder. PG Lim is no activist and had remained silent about apartheid for DECADES (shying away from the very most important and controversial or difficult case of – APARTHEID). She sat cynically by as real activists were sabotaged over the last decade by the fundo and psychiatric establishment, had their reputation sabotaged or their privacy invaded and who knows had access to and watched so many illegally obtained clips of these people in their private homes which now still plague the reputations of those sabotaged. Instead of reporting the abuses, sat by quietly and ‘enjoyed the show’ alongside the abusers.
PG Lim however has gotten The Star Paper to fette herself as an activist, and The Star Paper being your typical ‘business minded’ plutocrat favouring main stream paper likely brought up on fear of bankruptcy, decided to do what The Star Paper does best, fette whoever pays. Meanwhile REAL activists continue to suffer while struggling to end apartheid. This is the sickness of society and a glaring exanple of what is wrong with Malaysia’s so-called philanthropists and activists. Selfish and self glorifying.
PG Lim is no activist but would like to appear so. Not a word on apartheid and a plutocrat with cpacity to fund dozens of campaigns for neutral parties to boot but with no real stomach for politics either, having NEVER EVER spoken about APARTHEID. We will not blame PG Lim as the company PG Lim keeps has doubtless coloured PG Lim’s nature. Again as a REAL activist we remind on Malaysia’s lack of :
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 Human Rights Charter)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 Human Rights Charter)
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. (Surah An Nisa 4:75)
;and would not sit by silently as PG Lim has, spare no platititudes in asking voters to not vote for term-limitless, undeomcratic, nepotists, racists and corrupted or plutocrats in BOTH coalitions BN and PR, instead fetting the real grassroots people like 3rd Force political parties or any independent candidates.
Proposed 3rd Force Coalition
PG Lim is a Malaysian ex-Barrister who somehow managed (I’d say INTENTIONALLY, most cynically so as well . . . ) to neglect APARTHEID and live apart from the ‘masses’ : timid, unprincipled and utterly sheep-like. Her non-story is an integral part of our national neglect (of apartheid).
Know this ! The National Consultative Council introduced the much hated and very apartheid New Economic Policy which PG Lim indirectly oversaw the penning of, so guess what that makes an unelected advisory ‘councillor’ PG Lim complicit in? Thats right, (at least after the 15 year period of Special Malay Privileges after thhe Race Riots, in 1976 for not speaking up when the earlier confirmed Reid Commission review was not made) Complicit in enabling APARTHEID. PG Lim could well be charged if the Malaysian Judiciary were not so beholden to racists and UNHCR unaware ( . . . can someone withdraw their degrees already, their apartheid ignoring presence is a legal profession insulting travesty!) with abetting torts in violation of UNHCR Article 1 in Intenational law and here we have Karim praising PG to the sky. Damn propagandists and their MSM approved straw-women ‘activists’!
Much like Ambiga ex-Bar Council President (and looking increasingly so current Bar President Lim Chee Wee) does not have the intelligence or guts to contact the UN, NAM, BRICS or Al-Azhar University at Cairo to END APARTHEID, a Barrister who ignored APARTHEID to her reputation’s demise confirms the pathetic and selfish true nature of the supposedly trained legal professionals in Malaysia who somehow cannot address APARTHEID (and in general the lack of ‘Exceptionalism’ of female activists in Malaysia who would fight for everything except ENDING APARTHEID).
Read PG’s book with a pinch of salt. This text is a hyped up grayscale ‘whitewash’ (or ‘brownwash’), and is not kaleidoscopic at all. I could think of more ‘colourful’ memoirs to read than this cynical MSM faux-‘Malaysiana’ inspired drivel . . . and ask PG Lim on her views on LGBT, you might actually see more rainbows fade . . . finally, I just lost respect for one more Star reporter.
ARTICLE 11
A free press is essential to democracy — Dennis Ignatius
May 16, 2012
MAY 16 — Marina Mahathir, one of our nation’s most inspiring figures, recently wrote how her article in The Star was spiked for fear of incurring the wrath of the powers that be.
As a columnist for the same newspaper myself, I understand Marina’s angst.
Recently, I submitted an article about democracy in Myanmar. It ran on Monday, May 7. One line was, however, deleted. In referring to Prime Minister Najib Razak’s promise to support the transformation process in that country, I said, “We may not have much to teach them about democracy but we can help in other ways.”
It seemed such a small thing but even such references are now deemed too sensitive.
I thought it was really ironic that here I was writing about democracy in Myanmar, long considered a dictatorship, while being censored in a country that is assumed to be a democracy.
The last article I wrote in response to bizarre allegations in the national press that American and Zionist groups were plotting regime change in Malaysia was spiked with no explanations given.
It seems newspaper editors in Malaysia, at least the ones who don’t behave as government servants, have to constantly play by ear, shutting down criticism when the government is nervous and allowing some measure of it at other times.
Commentators, for their part, quickly learn that it is prudent to write about developments in faraway places than to touch on the issues that really matter at home. And so we wax eloquent on why Nicolas Sarkozy lost the elections or why Barack Obama supports gay marriage instead of the beaten and bloodied demonstrators on the streets of our capital. It’s the journalistic equivalent of Nero fiddling while Rome burns.
Having been brought up on the notion that some issues, particularly those relating to race and religion, are “sensitive” issues, we came to accept a measure of state censorship. There are signs, however, that things are changing. People are less willing to accept such censorship today, particularly as the so-called “sensitive” list has been expanded to include other national issues.
Furthermore, it is quite obvious that the mainstream media has become far too one-sided for the liking of most Malaysians. Perhaps that may account for the gradual decline of newspaper sales in the country.
Our prime minister recently introduced legislation amending the Printing Presses and Publications Act and other repressive laws. He promised that it would lead to greater freedom, including press freedom.
However, it appears that while Parliament may have changed the letter of the law, the spirit of control behind it has survived intact. In quiet and hidden ways, the press continues to be subjected to manipulation and harassment in an effort to drown out dissenting opinions and differing views.
A culture of self-censorship has also emerged where the press learns to anticipate the reaction of the powers that be and acts accordingly. When the press ceases to write “without fear or favour,” to use the title of the late Tan Sri Dr Tan Chee Khoon’s column in The Star, we have truly lost one of the essentials of our democracy.
History tells us that without a free press, truth dies and the lie prevails while mismanagement, corruption and the abuse of power fester in the dark with terrible consequences. As well, it creates an unhealthy environment where rumours and gossip quickly become fact.
Just these past few weeks we have seen how one of the most significant events in our country’s history has been reframed and recast as a communist-inspired coup attempt, as nothing more than mass hooliganism, as something contrary to our religious values.
What about the other side of the story or the personal narratives and firsthand accounts of hundreds of ordinary citizens who were there that day? Is there no space in our national newspapers for their story?
Journalists have a responsibility to capture such events in all its dimensions to help the public understand what took place. If they do not, they will soon find themselves irrelevant to the national conversation on these issues.
History also teaches us that to sustain itself, repression and control, by its very nature, must keep on expanding to be effective. Already we are seeing signs of censorship creep and manipulation — BBC and al Jazeera newscasts edited and an Australian senator’s remarks blatantly distorted.
And then there’re the shocking remarks by our minister of Home Affairs that it is standard operating procedure for the police to smash cameras and harass journalists who cover such public gatherings!
How long will it be before all criticism of government becomes illegal and treasonous?
It is tempting, of course, to blame the editors and journalists for not standing up to censorship but that misses the point.
I have met a number of journalists and editors, including from The Star, and I know them to be honourable men and women who have dedicated their lives to their profession. You cannot be committed to journalism, as they are, and not yearn for the freedom to write, to explore issues, to investigate a lead no matter where it goes. My sense is that they deeply resent the censorship and the constant harassment.
They are forced to make choices that they shouldn’t have to make: To yield in some areas in order to keep at least a modicum of free expression alive in other areas and to compromise or close, to give up or somehow keep hope alive.
The real focus of our indignation should instead be the system of control and manipulation that makes good men and women bow their knee to what their hearts deny, that forces them to choose between their principles and their livelihood, between what they know to be right and the wrong they are often compelled to accept.
It is no secret that our nation now faces many critical challenges; press freedom is one of them. I hope that the voices clamouring for this fundamental right will grow louder in the days ahead. The future of our democracy depends upon it.
“If a nation expects to be ignorant and free… it expects what never was and never will be. The People cannot be safe without information. When the press is free… all is safe.” ~ Thomas Jefferson
* Dennis Ignatius is a retired Malaysian diplomat
* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Dennis Ignatius wrote : Commentators, for their part, quickly learn that it is prudent to write about developments in faraway places than to touch on the issues that really matter at home. And so we wax eloquent on why Nicolas Sarkozy lost the elections or why Barack Obama supports gay marriage instead of the beaten and bloodied demonstrators on the streets of our capital. It’s the journalistic equivalent of Nero fiddling while Rome burns.
Here we go again with the ‘diversionary tactic’, manipulative MSM. Ignoring apartheid, (more so than ignoring beaten and bloodied demonstrators), IS no less ‘the journalistic equivalent of Nero fiddling while Rome burns’, ‘Diplomatic Corps Dennis’.
Apartheid is the basis of the Malaysian problem, NOT the riots which are a symptom that will keep occuring until Apartheid for the minorities, and religious fascism (lack of religious freedom of choice) for Malays or Muslims, ends. Address the apartheid, extreme religion, corruption, cronyism and nepotism, and all riots will end. Men who are able to write eloquently and at least able to think, should not obfuscate real issues for cynical and self serving ‘people in power’.
malaysiandemocracy 