Anti-Kleptokrasi

I confess it's all getting very confusing for me.

From the very beginning, Dr Mahathir was never an ally to any protest that I have ever attended. In fact, most of the draconian measures for crowd control that were employed by the government, had been put into place by Dr M himself.

Even the Internal Security Act (ISA) was frequently used by the Mahathir administration, and was handed down to the Badawi administration. Check out how the FRU dealt with anti-ISA protesters.

Back then we easily achieved over 100,000 protesters. There was one event that even had a tally of 200,000; however, these days, they struggle to achieve a tenth of that. Even the organisers admit to only 25,000; Malaysiakini is more truthful in admitting it was only 8,000 at its peak. Naturally the police claim it was much less.

They do that everywhere, by the way. They always claim there were fewer people than there actually were.

I confess it is hard work trying to count the people as they seem tiny in a sea of human bodies, but it irritates me when they attempt to belittle a movement just to please their political masters.

But what is behind the decrease in number of people attending these rallies and demonstrations? Have people grown weary of protest?

There hasn't been much news coverage on it yet, save Malaysiakini (of course!) and intriguingly, Sinar Harian.

I suspect they are throwing their weight behind Dr M as he has teamed up with the Opposition (Pakatan Harapan as it is called now) who supports this rally. Clearly, he has been a key ally in the attempt to bring Najib down, with some rather interesting promises to make: "First thing we do when we're in power," he said in the closing speech, "is to arrest MO1 and try him."

This is far more fiery than anything we have ever seen in the past. The Opposition has always been very tame in front of the media, inexperienced but anxious to sell their brand of politics to all walks of life, from rich to poor, urban to kampung, Chinese, Indian, Malay, East Malaysian. Everyone.

Dr M clearly has an agenda, be it for nationalistic reasons (he is in his 90s after all), or to achieve a personal vendetta (you'd think he'd have mellowed by now). Back in those days, I used to call him the Loony Tun.

Though, somehow I do get the impression that in those 20+ years of power, the shenanigans he's been up to was well-intentioned but misplaced, from firing the judiciary who ruled against his wishes, to urging the administration of the day not to be soft on protesters.

He saw himself as a benevolent dictator, and that seems to be an equation that works for Singapore.

I am not so sure how I feel about his calling Ambiga's datukship to be stripped; it just seemed extraordinarily malicious.

Well, there you have it. Zaid Ibrahim seems to be throwing his weight behind him, and implies that he is the solution to "a country gone mad".

I am not sure I can forgive Dr M for the draconian laws that he employed, and the way he screwed up our democratic system. But he's here, and we need Najib to be gone. And we are going into this strange political relationship with our eyes open.

I don't know if protests are any indicator of election votes, but I am hopeful. Perhaps we may see some change in GE14.

Rethinking The Strategy

I have read some of Shaun Tan's previous jottings on LoyarBurok.

Some of them made me roll my eyes before swiftly moving on.

I suspect he is a young man with ideals about how things should be, and it appears that he takes a lot of his cues from Western nations. I am not going to criticise him for that - as I myself used to be exactly as I describe him to be (and they say people in glasshouses shouldn't throw stones).

But in a move that probably would surprise the people who know me best, I am going to say that this time, he does make some good points.

Referring to the scandals that have plagued Malaysia, and the liberal Malaysian's response to it, he says:

The most tangible response is Bersih 4.0, a rally planned for the end of the month. Although it aims to gather hundreds of thousands of Malaysians together to protest in three of the country’s cities, its organizers intend to disperse it after two days, even if its demands for Najib to step down and for the implementation of institutional safeguards against corruption are ignored, which they probably will be. It is not expected to change anything.

Though suggestions have been made to expand the two-day rally into a mass civil disobedience movement – one that provokes confrontation with the authorities and occupies key areas in the major cities until its demands are met (probably the only strategy under the circumstances with a chance of success) – Bersih’s organizers seem to have rejected them, asserting instead that the purpose of the rally is to “send the government a message.” That the ruling party has ignored the message of previous Bersih rallies with impunity has not prompted a strategy rethink.

I can see where Shaun is coming from.

We are talking about scandals, that in many other countries (and not necessarily just developed ones), could have heads rolling. The French, I believe, sent dear ole Louis and his missus, Marie Antoinette, to the guillotine for carelessness of that very magnitude.

As Shaun has articulated:

Over the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB – a state investment fund) corruption scandal alone, for example, Prime Minister Najib Razak has sacked the attorney general who was meant to be investigating him, had the offices of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission raided to hide evidence of his crimes, suspended The Edge (a local paper) and blocked The Sarawak Report (a whistleblowing website) for reporting on it, and claimed that the $700 million transferred to his personal bank account was a donation. How, many ask, could someone who has so blatantly betrayed the public’s trust remain in power?

How indeed, does he have the gumption to remain as PM?

Now I am not suggesting that we emulate the French. It is not remotely in our culture to be as confrontational or as aggressive as the Europeans (or Americans, for that matter) are. We have been tear-gassed, but we barely retaliate by at best, returning a tear-gas cannister at the FRU. Often, we just grin and bear it (for lack of a better description).



To begin with, only today, I read someone on my Facebook feed stating that the organisers of Bersih 4 restrict their rally to a stadium - behind closed doors - to avoid inconveniencing the public and avoid skirmishes with the government and their band of entitled running dogs, aka the police.



It reminds me why I left Malaysia. I can't decide if it's apathy or well-meant concern for the well-being of fellow Malaysians.



But that sort of attitude is what empowers criminals to remain in power despite the evidence of their wrongdoings.

I support Bersih 4, because it is part of the process that helps us to decide what further we must do, but we also need to discover better ways of dealing with the corruption and misbehaviour of the people who hold the power.

Turn Out At Stadium Protesting Election Fraud

Do you still think it was all fake??

The numbers were massive. See for yourself. Don't be fooled by the mainstream media.

End State-Sponsored Violence!

Malaysia paints an image of being a wealthy, developed and advanced nation to the rest of the world.

But behind that facade lies a sick, convoluted sense of authority. One that has no sense of right and wrong. A self-imposed authority to treat its citizens brutally, to the extent of killing them.

The good people of this nation have finally decided that this must stop.

Thirty NGOs have now formed a coalition called the Gerakan Hentikan Keganasan Kerajaan or also known as the End State Violence coalition and they are going to organise a huge rally in December to make their point.

The launch of this rally will be held as follows:

Time: 8pm
Date: Nov 6, 2012 (Tuesday)
Place: Auditorium Bar Council KL

Go HERE for more details.

The Muzzled Media Appeared Completely Ludicrous

I meant to get online and blog about recent events a lot earlier than this. However, I have been following up on the shenanigans of the ruling coalition UMNO, and its pathetically sorry machinery.

First up, I have to apologise for my incorrect assessment of the goons who call themselves the Malaysian government in assuming they would be less brutal in dealing with the public.

Seriously, I thought that they would have learned from past experience, but really, these guys are beyond teaching. Someone ought to send them out to green pastures and put a big sign out in the animal farm (or National Feedlot, if it hasn't been closed down yet) to warn against mad cow disease and foot & mouth.

Or in this case, foot IN mouth -- a phenomenon that they have single-handedly elevated into an artform.

You think I'm being unkind? Overly harsh? Mean?

Let's examine the evidence.

1. Nick Xenophon is an Australian senator. Against his better judgement, he decided to observe the BERSIH 3.0 rally in person. He had no idea what he was in for -- he got tear-gassed and witnessed rampant human rights abuses. Consequently, he spoke out against it. So the government-owned mainstream media was tasked to vilify him. Sorely lacking in ideas, they wrote blatant lies about him by switching words -- effectively putting his life in danger.

We hope he takes them to task (he has mentioned suing them). They offered a weak and insincere apology, but this is what puts him and consequently BERSIH 3.0 and the Malaysian protestors squarely on higher moral ground, in that they had to be falsely vilified to be seen as wrong.

2. BBC was outraged that its news reports were doctored and censored by Astro. The agreement between BBC and any broadcaster is that the full report should be aired in its entirety. Astro, the Malaysian satellite broadcaster, firmly breached this agreement when they removed certain sections. Instead of hanging their heads in shame, Astro claimed to be disappointed that BBC failed to understand their 'situation' as they were 'merely complying with local regulations'. Oh really?

3. BBC wasn't the only news channel to be offended. AlJazeera is appalled to discover news reports were also similarly doctored and censored by Astro, particularly because it showed excessive use of force by the police against demonstrators and damage of equipment belonging to sympathetic journalists.

And Malaysia calls itself a democracy? How could the government expect to be taken seriously when they resort to outright lies and manipulative attempts to spin the truth?

I do take exception to that, but not as much as to the Malaysians who are still bleating in weak protest against the mainstream media, saying that they have the right to speak out against tyranny.

I cannot understand why one would waste one's breath. The government-owned mainstream media deserve neither the time of the day nor any rebuttals. They are a waste of paper, airtime and energy. Heck, they are parasites; pimping oxygen.

So if you find yourself compelled to explain why you went out to protest on the 28th of April 2012, please do me a favour: DON'T.

Just do the right thing and ignore the mainstream media.

Related: Astro, give some respect to your customers please!

Didn't Quite Himpun After All

Target: 1 million
Achievement: 5000

A bit off the mark, I'd say -- I guess Harussani Zakaria (who eventually didn't show up, according to some quarters), Ibrahim Ali and Hasan Ali aren't exactly crowd-pullers.

I've been hearing conflicting reports about the purpose of HIMPUN. The overriding sentiment is that it was to protest the proselytisation of Muslims by the Christians, and it was consequently branded as being anti-Christian.

According to a report in FMT, "Many of the younger crowd [] emphasised that they were not out to start a fight with anyone and only wanted to play a part in strengthening their faith."

I personally can't gauge how, but assume we take their words at face value.

Does that mean that this rally had no element of protest at all? Was it the Muslim equivalent of an evangelical revival?

What A Rally!!!

Hello folks,

I'm back home and safe and sound, though extremely tired from the day's adventures.

I got tear-gassed about 3 times and it ain't the best feeling in the world.

It was good to see such a good turn-out though. None of the organisers were expecting such a huge crowd.

If you look at the crowd in this picture:

you'd be amazed to find that it is only a small portion of this huge mass of people!

And this in turn is only part of the group demonstrating in that region. It's mind-boggling when you realise that there were a number of splinter groups there.

It is very evident that people want change.

Crank

BERSIH 2.0 International Rally

In Malaysia, the BERSIH 2.0 rally wouldn't last even 2 hours before the heavy-handed authorities clamp down on the participants.


However, there are Malaysians living abroad in countries that do not have a fascist government. And these Malaysians have decided to rally as well in certain cities.

These are the 24 participating cities around the world.

UTC + 12 - New Zealand
UTC + 10 - Canberra, Australia
UTC + 10 - Sydney, Australia
UTC + 10 - Melbourne, Australia
UTC + 10 - Adelaide, Australia
UTC + 10 - Hobart, Australia
UTC + 09 - Osaka, Japan
UTC + 09 - Seoul, Korea
UTC + 08 - Manila, Philippines
UTC + 08 - Perth, Australia
UTC + 08 - Taipei, Taiwan
UTC + 08 - Hong Kong
UTC + 08 - Singapore
UTC + 07 - Bangkok, Thailand
UTC + 09 - Jakarta, Indonesia
UTC + 01 - Austria (FB event for the moment)
UTC + 01 - Zurich or Bern, Switzerland
UTC + 01 - Paris, France
UTC + 00 - Edinburgh or Glasgow, Scotland
UTC + 00 - United Kingdom
UTC - 04 - Ottawa, Canada
UTC - 04 - New York City
UTC - 04 - Washington DC, USA
UTC - 07 - San Francisco, USA
UTC - 07 - Los Angeles, USA

Go to this Wiki-Bersih page for more information.

Don't Walk Away From Democracy

More than a week to go and Blitzkrieg* has already been employed.

It started off with the arrests of Parti Sosialis members. Then the roadshows organised by the BERSIH 2.0 steering committee were stormed and closed off to public.

Now, they are proceeding with the arrests of the committee members.

The news on the ground is that Haris Ibrahim is the next on the hit-list. The info I have received is that he will be detained either today or in the coming days.

Please pray for Haris. I have never really been religious, but these are tough times and those who have put more effort in making this country a better place deserve all the support they can get.

This rally has garnered the most amount of attention from the authorities. I suspect this is going to be the biggest event we have ever had politically.

Probably the most important as well.

This is why it it even more important for the rest of us to continue the fight for justice.

*The classic interpretation of blitzkrieg is that of German tactical and operational methodology in the first half of the Second World War that was often hailed as a new method of warfare. The word, meaning "lightning war", in its strategic means is associated with a series of quick and decisive short battles to deliver a knockout blow to an enemy state before it could fully mobilize.

Why You And I Need To Drag Our Asses Out There On The 9th Of July

Simply put: we can never have a change of government EVER, if there is no electoral reform.

Based on the present system (of gerry-mandering), the opposition will NEVER form the federal government because it will NEVER win more than 50% of the seats in Parliament (unless it can win more than 60% of the votes, which is quite impossible with that many phantom and postal votes floating around).

If you don't quite understand what all this is about, check THIS out.

That's the technical reason, by the way. For a more philosophical one, let's just say it's a matter of dignity.

Egypt Solidarity Rally In KL

A bunch of Malaysians held a solidarity rally outside the US embassy today and also demanded that Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak do as most of Egypt says: resign.

As with all public rallies and protests in Malaysia, a police helicopter hovered inconspicuously over the rally participants.

But the helicopter was the mildest thing there. The despotic BN regime, wishing to quell any form of democracy, sent in the heavily armed FRU complete with batons, shields and tear gas rifles.

The whole shebang.

It didn't intimidate the rally though. Apparently there was the obligatory memo to hand over to Washington to tell Mubarak to quit immediately, which they did.

"The Egyptian people deserve a regime change. Egyptians deserve their freedom, the right to self-determination and the right to build their own future."

So do Malaysians, actually.

True to Malaysian form, it was a peaceful protest. But for good measure, the riot squad sprayed their Chinese New Year blessings of chemical-laced water from the water cannon on the rally participants just as the crowd was breaking up.

The Star, being the political slave that it is, had to claim, of course, that the seven men were arrested for unruly behaviour - apparently they had thrown bottles and hard objects.

What lies. Eye-witnesses like PSM's Arul have reiterated that the police violence was unnecessary. "The people were going home after a peaceful rally when police fired the water cannon."

I also wonder what The Star is trying to imply with the "bottles" comment. It has not escaped my notice that there are very few bottles in Malaysia. Soft drinks come in cans and plastic bottles these days.

Only liquor tends to come in bottles. Is The Star trying to imply that the PAS-organised rally was full of drunkards? Is The Star stooping so low by attempting to tarnish the conservative Muslim image?

"TAKE BEER" (a mockery of "takbir") is such a UMNO-BN trademark.

Oh yes. Malaysians deserve a regime change and everything else the Egyptians deserve.

Public Rally In Selangor

Hormati Suara Rakyat Selangor

Civil Societies and Selangorians to hold a public rally to pressure the Chief Secretary to declare Khusrin’s appointment null and void

Civil society groups and Selangorians have come together to form a Rakyat initiated effort called Hormati Suara Rakyat Selangor (HSRS) to demonstrate their disappointment and anger over the appointment of Datuk Mohd Khusrin Munawi as the new Selangor State Secretary.

This group, formed on January 11, 2011, will soon hold a public rally to pressure the Chief Secretary to the Barisan Nasional federal government, Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Haji Hassan, to declare Khusrin’s appointment null and void. At least 10,000 people are expected to participate in this public rally.

The Hormati Suara Rakyat Selangor public rally details are as follows:

Date: January 23, 2011 (Sunday)
Time: 4pm to 7pm
Venue: Kelana Jaya Stadium

Khusrin’s appointment is a culmination of the relentless attempts by the BN federal government to frustrate the Selangor Administration in carrying out their policies and programmes.

The fact is Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim did not receive the recommended list from the Public Services Department. Since this have been revealed, it is only imperative that Sidek declare the appointment of Khusrin as null and void, as due process and convention was not followed.

The Rakyat in Selangor deserves the right to expect their elected Pakatan Rakyat Selangor State Government to provide the best services. By denying the MB the choice of the top civil servant, the Rakyat in Selangor are also denied their rights.

HSRS’s maiden effort in organising this rally is to get the Rakyat to come together to voice their dissatisfaction on the current state of affairs and to show the many instances where the Pakatan Selangor Government policy implementation has been sabotaged by civil servants still loyal to their previous political masters.

At the rally, we will highlight the many instances where local issues for residents could not be resolved due the non-cooperation of the BN federal agencies such as Public Works Department (JKR), police, SYABAS, Social Welfare Department (Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarat) and the Housing and Local Government Ministry.

The issues that will be raised include:

* Deserving individuals and groups not receiving welfare / aids services and allocations;
* Ignoring measures to relief traffic congestion proposed by civil societies;
* Abandoned housing projects;
* Rejection of local government proposal to provide auxiliary police personnel to provide security for Selangorians and reduce crime;
* Water coupons meant for low-cost flats and high-rise housing not reaching their intended residents; and
* Arbitrary demolition of traders and hawkers stalls and place of business.


The groups that form Hormati Suara Rakyat Selangor are:

* BERSIH 2.0 – a coalition comprising civil society organisations with the objective of campaigning for clean and fair elections in Malaysia.
* JERIT (Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas) – Oppressed People's Network
* SABM (Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia) – a group committed to actualising the spirit and substance of Anak Bangsa Malaysia – "One People, One Nation"
* CONPAC – Coalition of NGO and Professional Councillors comprising councillors from all 12 local authorities in Selangor who are not members of any political parties and make up 25% of councillors.
* CGG - The Coalition for Good Governance comprises 55 NGOs involved in a wide spectrum of social justice issues.
* Malaysians for Teoh Beng Hock – a coalition of 52 groups echoing the call by Teoh’s family for a Royal Commission of Inquiry
* HAKAM – national human rights organisation
* GEL – Growing Emerging Leaders consists of a group of young people who study ways to apply leadership and faith-based principles in day-to-day living
* JIM (Pertubuhan Jamaah Islah Malaysia) – an Muslim-based group promoting development and peace
* Civil Right Committee, Kuala Lumpur & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall
* LLG Cultural Development Centre Bhd - A non-profit organisation dedicated to uphold the principles of democracy, human rights and respect for individualities and ethnic diversities
* Malaysian Civil Liberties Movement – a group taking the lead role in realising our forefathers’ aspirations and encouraging the wider participation of civil society in shaping the future of our nation.

Launch Of BERSIH 2.0

INVITATION TO THE LAUNCH OF BERSIH 2.0
UNITE AND ADVANCE ELECTORAL REFORM

We, the BERSIH 2.0 steering committee, invite your organisation to join and unite with us to advance clean and fair elections in Malaysia. Much still needs to be done and BERSIH 2.0 needs your support and help to make the mission come true for a democratic Malaysia.

BERSIH 2.0 believes that it is only when elections are clean and fair, can citizens determine their own destiny and expect holders of public office to act accountably and effectively. The road to electoral reform is part and parcel of the democratic process to put into place the rule of law, human rights protection, good governance and sustainable development in Malaysia. As citizens, we can make this our reality.

The key issues of electoral reform include
1. A complete revision of the electoral roll to ensure that the existing irregularities are removed and a roll with full integrity is in place.
2. The use of indelible ink (as is done in Indonesia and India) to prevent multiple voting.
3. The reform of postal voting to abolish the existing separate electoral roll for postal voters and to make it flexible for all voters, at home or abroad, with valid reasons to opt for postal voting.
4. Free and fair media access for all contesting parties, which should include: (a) free access to state-owned media especially television and radio; (b) fair paid access (political advertisement) to private media; and (c) provision of the right of reply for all contesting parties and personalities who are covered negatively in news reports.
5. A meaningful minimum campaign period of 21 days.
6. Fair and professional practices in constituency redelineation exercises to minimise mal-apportionment, gerrymandering and consequent disproportionality in seats and votes.
7. Automatic registration of all eligible voters.
8. Reduction of the voting eligibility age from 21 to 18 years old.9. Reform in electoral financing to ensure transparency and limit the influence of money politics.
10. Administrative neutrality of all levels of governments before, during and after general and by-elections for the federal and state legislatures.
11. Affirming the right of all students of 18 years and above, to participate in politics inside and outside campus.

Bersih 2.0, whilst acknowledging the importance of the reform agenda of Bersih, is now relaunched as a fully non-partisan coalition of civil society groups. It is a movement of ordinary citizens asserting the right of all, to clean and fair elections as guaranteed by law. We must ensure our votes and voices count.

We, therefore, warmly invite you and your organisations to join us and extend your full support to ensure that the next election and future ones will be clean, fair and democratic.

The details of the launch are as follows:

Date: 10 November 2010 (Wednesday)
Time: 8.30 p.m. – 10.30 p.m.
Venue: PJ Civic Hall, Jalan Yong Shook Lin, Petaling Jaya.

Please bring your members and friends to the launch. You can contact Nurul at 03-77844977 for more information. I

Yours sincerely,
Dato’ Ambiga Sreenevasan
Chairperson

The Steering Committee of BERSIH 2.0 comprises:

Dato’ Ambiga Sreenevasan, (Chairperson), Andrew Khoo, Arumugam K., Dr Farouk Musa, Haris Ibrahim, Liau Koh Fah, Maria Chin Abdullah, Richard Y W Yeoh, Dr Toh Kin Woon, Dr Wong Chin Huat, Yeoh Yang Poh and Zaid Kamaruddin.

Remember the first BERSIH rally in 2007?

If You Still Wonder Why

I tried so hard to read 'Because they did not care?' without rolling my eyes. I failed.

The writer comes off sounding so shallow and simple-minded after I read the original piece by Yeo Yang Poh which eloquently summed up the essence of what mobilises people to face-off with authorities who possess water cannons and tear-gas.

The points put forward by his/her detractor fell flat.

Are we not able to run errands, shop and hang out with friends every day except for the First of August??

Do we not have horrible traffic congestion every day after work, to the point that ambulances take ages to maneuver through traffic?

Bear in mind, that bad traffic everyday is due to poor town planning by the government.

The especially horrendous traffic on that particular day was caused by police roadblocks, not even by protestors.

I'm not going to dignify the rest of his opinions with a response. I think they speak for themselves and the man/woman who wrote them.

No wonder the writer didn't leave a name. I'd be ashamed to do so, too.

It is disturbing that people could be so stupid.

Of All Ethnic And Religious Backgrounds

In the midst of all the agitation and confrontation with the authorities during the anti-ISA protest, I had this warm, fuzzy feeling.

I caught sight of this banner that decries the murder of Teoh Beng Hock by the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission or Suruhanjaya Pencegah Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM).

On the banner it is written "SIAPA BUNUH BENG HOCK??? SPRM, JANGAN JADI SURUHANJAYA PEMBUNUH RAKYAT MALAYSIA".


Teoh was Chinese, but these demonstrators are Malays. At that point, his death no longer became a racial issue. People just came together as Malaysians and spoke out against what was obviously wrong.

A commenter named Eric left a note on my blog:

Yesterday Malaysians of all ethnic and religious backgrounds, both genders and all skin colours, walked together on a matter of national policy. This was simply beautiful.

I was there. I saw black-clad Malaysian Chinese who shared light moments with tudung-clad Malaysian Malay ladies, brave Unit Amal members giving salt (against tear gas) to Hindraf supporters.

That's why BN is so enraged. Malaysians built history together yesterday, as they did in the Hartal and the PUTERA-AMCJA people's constitution days. Malaysians have a history together, though it has been hidden to them for decades. They just proved they will build a future together!

Yes, there is hope yet.

Happy Hour

FT Minister: Protest cost RM100mil in damage

KUALA LUMPUR: The anti-Internal Security Act (ISA) illegal rally has caused business losses and damage to property estimated to run into millions of ringgit, said Federal Territories Minister Senator Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin.

Damage worth millions eh? How charming.


Now this dude with the "Happy Hour" banner was not exactly devastated at the presence of the protestors. I'm guessing his business wasn't doing too badly, and his shop wasn't exactly empty.

In fact, he was quite obliging when it came to posing for photographs with errr... dodgy protestors. :)

Now I'll tell you why there may indeed have been plenty of damage on the 1st of August 2009 in the city of Kuala Lumpur.

When a huge truck with gallons and gallons of acid chemicals sprays its contents onto buildings, trees, street lamps, garbage cans and roads, there is bound to be corrosive damage. There wasn't just one truck, there were many.

When canister after canister of tear gas is released into the environment, the air is undoubtedly polluted. And the FRU was rather generous with its poisonous gases.

This polluted air isn't going to go away. It will return as acid rain the next time it pours. Cars will be corroded, and even drainage systems will corrode and collapse. Trust me, I'm an engineer - I know.

But none of this damage was caused by the protestors. It was caused by the authorities, the government.

So it's highly dubious and inconsistent for the FT minister (who, of course hails from the BN party) to blame the protestors for damage that was essentially caused by the government themselves.

But you and I know that there's nothing consistent about BN except the corruption.

Malaysian Evasion

The Prime Minister should abolish the ISA

From the Wall Street Journal

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak promised in April that his government would conduct a “comprehensive review” of the Internal Security Act, a colonial-era law that allows indefinite detention without trial. On Saturday, 10,000 Malaysians marched in the streets of Kuala Lumpur to hold him to his word, asking him to abolish the act. They were soon dispersed with tear gas and water cannons, and 589 people were arrested.


The confrontation marks a turning point for Mr. Najib’s administration, which until now has refrained from employing roughshod tactics against political opponents. Earlier he won praise for releasing 26 ISA detainees and using that law to detain terrorists, not politicians or journalists as his predecessor did.

But even given that restraint, Malaysians increasingly want a more transparent and freer society. Saturday’s protest was nominally about the ISA, and it was organized by Abolish the ISA Movement, a human-rights group, along with other NGOs. But it was also a larger vote of dissatisfaction with the government’s decision to press ahead with a show trial of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim and the unexplained death last month of a young opposition political aide following several hours of interrogation by anti-corruption officials. Politicians from all three opposition parties were present at the protest, including Mr. Anwar.

Malaysia’s constitution guarantees the right to free speech and assembly. But police set up barricades and checkpoints on Friday to prevent crowds from gathering, and launched teargas Saturday before the march began. Under Malaysian law, street gatherings of more than five people are automatically illegal because they require a permit—which in practice is almost never granted. The prime minister’s office and the home office declined to comment to us yesterday, and the police didn’t return our calls.

Mr. Najib would be better served by embracing the protestors’ cause. Abolishing the ISA would not only benefit Malaysians—who would still be protected from terrorists by a host of other detention laws—but would also deny Mr. Anwar’s opposition coalition one of its key rallying points. Arresting opposition leaders, as police did Saturday, only augments their popularity.

Mr. Najib has so far proved to be a savvy leader and boosted his popularity ratings by introducing a series of reforms that begin to tackle Malaysia’s affirmative action polices. If he wants to demonstrate his reform bona fides he could start by listening to those protesters instead of chasing them away.

Quote Of The Day

I stumbled across this spectacular quote in Al-Jazeera, whose journalists evidently have a sardonic sense of humour.

The demonstrators had gathered in the Malaysian capital to protest against a security law that allows detention without trial, but were dispersed by police using water cannons and tear gas.

Omar denied that police action had been heavy handed, saying the authorities had used the "minimum amount of force".

"It was a standard procedure ... to disperse this crowd in Kuala Lumpur," he told Al Jazeera.

If this is "minimum amount of force", I would really hate to witness the "maximum" amount.

Arrests At Anti-ISA Demonstration

At last count it was 589.

Those who are arrested should have rights to a lawyer. The government is currently denying them this right.

Watching From Above

This helicopter hovered over us the whole day during the Anti-ISA protest yesterday.


This was probably how the authorities pinned down the location of where people were gathered.