Raja Petra Bailed Out

Just as well no one took me up on my offer of betting for high stakes as to when Raja Petra Kamarudin would walk out of jail after being bailed out.

I'd be significantly poorer.

And I probably owe that ole coot an apology. Because it takes guts to walk into a Malaysian jail under the "watchful" eye of the humane policemen who come under the payroll of Barisan Nasional.

I remember what Anwar Ibrahim looked like. And Lim Guan Eng, Karpal Singh, Lim Kit Siang and the rest who suffered in the hands of our police. Including Nathaniel Tan.

I'm glad he's okay.

And it was good to hear from him though no apologies necessary - he has not let us down one bit and we're utterly proud of him for his courage and moral stand.

Speaking Of Irresponsibility...

Another UMNO baboon attempts to jump on the PKR-failed-to-deliver-promises bandwagon.


I'm bewildered that they don't see the irony of making statements like this:

Muhammad said it was irresponsible to make a promise and then retract it.

Just like it is irresponsible to be covertly smuggling a huge amount of money out of the country, failing to declare it at the Australian customs and then feigning an inability to understand English?

"Some might even construe it as a breach of trust, an abuse of goodwill, because a lot of people might have voted for the opposition based on that promise," he said, adding that Barisan Nasional always made promises based on its ability to deliver them.

"Breach of trust"? Highly amusing, coming from this turnip.

Now I agree with him that Barisan Nasional always made promises based on its ability to deliver them.

Better transportation, less corruption, lower inflation etc..

Unfortunately, those promises were rarely delivered. They were merely substituted with assurances that everything was spiffy in Bolehland.

Charge PM, IGP & EC Chairman For Sedition!

I think someone needs to lodge a police report against the Election Commission for their withdrawal of the indelible ink during the recent elections.

Scrap that.

The Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, along with the Inspector General of Police Musa Hassan and of course, Election Commission Chairman Abdul Rashid Rahman should be charged under the Sedition Act for their role in that fiasco.

Under Section 3(1) Sedition Act those acts defined as having a seditious tendency are acts with a tendency:

(a) to bring into hatred or contempt or to excite disaffection against any Ruler or against any Government;

(b) to excite the subjects of the Ruler or the inhabitants of any territory governed by any government to attempt to procure in the territory of the Ruler or governed by the Government, the alteration, otherwise than by lawful means, of any matter as by law established;

(c) to bring into hatred or contempt or to excite disaffection against the administration of justice in Malaysia or in any State;

(d) to raise discontent or disaffection amongst the subjects of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong or of the Ruler of any State or amongst the inhabitants of Malaysia or of any State;

(e) to promote feelings of ill-will and hostility between different races or classes of the population of Malaysia; or

(f) to question any matter, right, status, position, privilege, sovereignty or prerogative established or protected by the provisions of part III of the Federal constitution or Article 152, 153 or 181 of the Federal Constitution.

Let me explain point-by-point:

(a) Upon hearing that the indelible ink was not going to be used in the elections, half my colleagues and many of my friends swore violently, kicked some tables and spewed profanity against the ruling government, namely Barisan Nasional. There was plenty of anger, contempt and hatred felt and displayed.

(b) The acts mentioned above are evidence of excitation of subjects and inhabitants, many of whom vowed to return to their kampung to vote for the Opposition. Thus, the Opposition were unwittingly assisted in the procurement of their respective territories.

(c) N/A

(d) Currently, there are a great number of people very outraged that the indelible ink had been purchased at the price of RM2.4 million and simply gone to utter waste based on hearsay, unfounded rumours and inconclusive evidence. The objects of our distaste are members of UMNO and BN, who are also subjects of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong or of the Ruler of any State or amongst the inhabitants of Malaysia or of any State. Thus, the PM and Election Commission who were in favour of revoking usage of the indelible ink should be held responsible for this situation.

(e) The above-mentioned parties are also responsible for feelings of ill-will against all BN component parties to the extent of delivering a severe blow during the elections.

(f) N/A. What kind of stupid shit is that?

Therefore, I would strongly recommend investigation of the parties mentioned and consequently the maximum sentence imposed.

Triggering Trouble...

You'd think he'd know better than to pose like this..


It's a Bernama pic, taken during the Defence Services Asia Exhibition and Conference.

A "Lesson" To Voters

I don't usually stray into rabid sites like the NST, but since I was looking for more info on RPK (mistakenly thinking MSM might have more than I did), I decided to make an exception this time.

But I did stumble upon a priceless jewel. I don't know how this fool has the temerity to say this with a straight face. I'd have doubled over and cracked up.


You'd think that with the dumb stunts he's pulled of late, he'd be trying to lay low and hope no one has any memory of him.

But no.

Read the entire article:

Datuk Seri Najib Razak said the failure of Selangor would be an "eye-opener and a lesson" to voters.

He said the Federal government had long predicted that opposition parties would have difficulty fulfilling their promises made in the general election.

Najib was referring to Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim's announcement on Monday that the state government was not in a position to reduce quit rent by 20 per cent as promised in the Parti Keadilan Rakyat election manifesto.

The state government will, instead, be giving incentives so that people settle their arrears.

Khalid had also said that a study was being carried out to determine whether it would be apt to reduce the quit rent since the state's economy was not growing at the desired rate, land prices were high and housing projects were ongoing.

Najib said people were often taken in by promises of lower taxes.

"During the elections, anyone can make promises," he said, adding that he hoped that people would realise that what was important was not the promises but how likely they were to be kept.

"We must have the maturity and the wisdom to decide for ourselves."

Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin also criticised the Selangor government for making promises it could not keep.

He said this was the obvious difference between the Pakatan Rakyat, which took a populist approach to gain popular support, and the ruling Barisan Nasional, which had experience in government and only made responsible promises.

Khaled was speaking after officiating the opening of the International Conference On Educational Innovation, jointly organised by Universiti Malaya and the Malaysian National Commission for Unesco (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) in Kuala Lumpur.

"If they bring down the rates, how can they ensure that quality standards within the jurisdiction of the various local authorities are maintained?" Khaled asked, adding that the opposition's promise of free education for all was unrealistic.

"If funds are channelled towards financing free education, and not enough is allocated to develop the economy, graduates won't be able to get jobs."

I'm not sure how many of you out there have read The Onion.

It claims to be America's Finest News Source (probably is, too) and revolves around the most bizarre of satire. It's often irreverent, sometimes provocative and occasionally profane.

Now I keep getting the feeling that aliens have abducted the original editors of our mainstream media and replaced them with foam-in-the-mouth satirists which could make Onionists pale in comparison.

Because there's no way in hell that NORMAL Malaysians could take the NST seriously.

Najib must be in serious denial about the situation of Barisan Nasional.

As for the Opposition, I did glance through their manifesto briefly. But I don't really care about free education. Nor am I seriously worried about the amount of tax I pay since Malaysia ranks rather low when it comes to taxation.

But I care about what my children are being taught. I don't want the likes of the keris-wielder involved in my child's education. And I'd like my tax money to be spent wisely.

For instance, I'm not too fond of C4 explosives being authorised to eliminate random Mongolian models. C4 explosives are not cheap.

He said this was the obvious difference between the Pakatan Rakyat, which took a populist approach to gain popular support, and the ruling Barisan Nasional, which had experience in government and only made responsible promises.

I'm sick of being lied to by the ruling coalition that the withdrawal of the fuel subsidy is going to fund the improvement of road transportation.

Or that we're forced to pay higher toll prices for better road maintenance.

Or that the price of cooking oil, sugar, flour and now rice have gone up significantly but we should tighten our budget and adjust our lifestyle.

Or that we should adapt to rock bottom minimum wages.

Those are cheap words and empty promises. We have too much maturity and wisdom to put up with it.

Raja Petra Goes To Jail

RPK's arrest has got to be the best advertisement for Malaysia Today, not that it needs any. Most Malaysians pay more heed to it than the local dailies, anyway.

Our silly government doesn't realise that even the apolitical are all agog to find out what the fuss is about the now infamous article, "Let's Send the Altantuya Murderers to Hell".


But Raja Petra Kamarudin (or better known to the rest of us bloggers as RPK) is in his element. He knows he has his following.

There's nothing to stop him from show-boating. And that he certainly is. :)

You think he can't pay the measly RM5000 bail? His refusal is merely to send a message to the government about how much support he has garnered down at the grassroots.

And his day in jail will make a hero out of him. Heck, I'm the eternal cynic and even I am impressed.

But I am willing to bet high stakes that RPK will not spend more than a day in jail. Bloggers and blog readers will be falling over themselves to collect bail.

The fact is, all of us Malaysians (at least those that utilise their brain cells) know that Najib and Rosmah are connected with the murder of this Mongolian model. It's coffee table news.

Heck, it's occasionally even dinner table news. We Malaysians have no qualms about discussing grisly details over a meal, bless our perverted souls.

RPK didn't say anything that the rest of us haven't blurted out at one time or another. But he has credibility, more so than our entire government, and the influence.

Someone out there is scared enough to try silence him and subsequently silence the rest of the blogosphere into submission.

I'm not alone in my opinion. The Tikus, being much smarter than me, has a very succinct and informed post on why a sedition charge for RPK is dodgy.

Go read it.

UPDATE:
Like I'd predicted, the RM5000 was collected even before the dude got charged. Rumours abound that at 7.30pm, the amount collected in Malaysia alone was RM24,500 - almost 5 times more than what was needed.

And if everyone donated RM1 like they were instructed to, it means there are at least 24,500 Malaysians standing behind RPK and his article.

That speaks volumes enough.

Travel Curb On Women

I swear we still need to make some pressing changes in the government as there is a surplus of village idiots still taking up residence within the ministries.

Take this prime fool Rais Yatim, for instance, who has suggested requiring letters from women travelling on their own:

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) — Malaysian women travelling abroad on their own may need letters from their parents or employers in a bid to stop them becoming "mules" for international drug syndicates, reports said Sunday.

The proposal comes as 119 Malaysians, 90 per cent of whom are women, have been imprisoned worldwide on drug-related charges with the majority believed to have been duped into transporting drugs, the New Sunday Times reported.

Duped? Somehow I don't think so. You've gotta be a special kind of stupid not to suspect that favour you're doing has a scent of 'illegality' to it.

And when in doubt, refuse.

"I have submitted this proposal to the Cabinet and both the Foreign and Home Ministries feel this is necessary," foreign minister Rais Yatim told the paper.

"Many of these women (who travel alone) leave the country on the pretext of work or attending courses and seminars," he added.

"With this declaration, we will know for sure where and for what she is travelling overseas."

Oh yeah! And while you're at it, strap a chastity belt on her for good measure..

Malaysians have become prime targets for syndicates wanting to smuggle drugs into the European Union, the paper said, because they do not require visas for short stays of up to 90 days or to transit in those countries.

It said the offences were also committed in various other nations including China, Singapore, India, Spain and Portugal.

Let me tell you something.


I just came back from Spain after a long business trip. I don't appreciate having to carry a letter from my employer stating why exactly I have packed my bags and am clutching on to an air-ticket.

Most of us Malaysian women are smart enough to handle ourselves properly when abroad and not get into trouble.

Unfortunately, we have our dumb sisters who don't use all their grey matter. But I don't see why we should be punished for their actions.

Besides, like many women's groups have already protested, letters like that can be easily forged.

For Professional Journalism...

... and not the rabid spin-doctoring we have come to be accustomed to in Malaysia.


The official launch of BENAR will take place immediately following the CIJ forum on Press Freedom.

Time: 2:00pm

Date: 4th May, 2008

Venue: Central Market Annexe

Both the local and foreign media will attend the launch and the civil action initiative to promote truth in reporting will be elaborated on.

I heard they will also announce the Minggu BENAR from 1st to 7th June, 2008 during which week, everyone will be invited to do what they can to persuade those in control to remove the existing restrictions and allow our journalist community to report without fear or favour.

Don't miss this, folks.

Supporters Of The Opposition

This is how far politics goes in determining who develops the nation.

It's not about competence.

Not experience.

Not even credibility or reputation as a company or individual contractor.

It's about political affiliation.


And with this village idiot mentality, you wonder why we aren't world famous?

UMNO has the nerve to insist the government blacklist them.

So I'm back...

... just like I promised.

And heck, it's really good to be back. :) I've missed blogging and interacting with like-minded people on the internet, and most of all, the political activism.

It's interesting to note that not much has changed since I've been away.

Raja Petra Kamarudin is still being hauled to Bukit Aman for charges of sedition.

Newspapers are still spinning pro-BN news, though I must admit it is of reasonable proportions now, not as bizarrely slanted.

Bad behaviour is also evidently rampant, judging from our politicians' antics in the august house of parliament. I think BN is suffering from shock to see that the larger number of Opposition members are not going to take abuse lying down.

But all is good. I am happy to see that people are taking an active interest in politics. The progress of a nation depends very much on its people, and the desires of the people can only be voiced out by the representatives.

It is Syed Hamid Albar that the world sees on BBC Hardtalk. It is Zainuddin Maidin that the world sees on al-Jazeera. They do not know you and me.

We've got to change that. When I was in Europe, I made Malaysia sound like that best place on the planet! My European colleagues were under the impression all Malaysians speak at least 4 languages fluently, live in harmony with each other, are articulate, smart and friendly.

Many of them went back home and located Malaysia on the world map and came back to me excitedly the next day stating proudly that they now know where Malaysia is.

When I related this to my colleagues in Malaysia when I got back, they were dumbfounded. "You mean they've never heard of Malaysia?" they asked.

Sad but true.

If we have Syed Hamid and Zainuddin as the faces of Malaysian people, why would the rest of the world be bothered about us?

I'm bloody proud to be Malaysian. We have potential, we just never harness it the right way, thinking that subservient behaviour is our culture.

I have not mellowed.

I will not stop hurling brickbats and digging dirt until Malaysia is shaped into something remotely world-class.

Ciao.