Malaysia’s football team disgraceful exit has realism, is the question, which needs explanation.

But before that, conceding 12 goals in 3 matches (5 goals to China, 5 goals to Uzbekistan and 2 goals to Iran), that’s how we fare in the AFC Asian Cup 2007.

And way before the final humiliation by Iran, the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) deputy president Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah has resigned, putting the blame on coach Norizan Bakar. FAM secretary general Ibrahim Saad resigned. The same goes to the SIL Khairy Jamaluddin, who apparently loves EPL outfit Manchester United more than Malaysia football. Subsequently, the coach is being sacked too.

The one who has the real guts to stay is none other than the president Sultan Ahmad Shah, vowed to carry out a massive "overhaul" of the beleaguered association and also conducts an inquiry on the national team’s performance.

Now, let’s forget about the cheap advice. Forget about what minister and deputy minister have to say.

What are the possible factors that might contribute to the dismal performance. Players lack of fighting spirit? Poor management? Lack of meritocracy (favoritism) in selection of players? Lack of government support?

But really, Malaysian football has sunk so low that fans would rather watch European football on television than turn up for our own national team.

With such deep-seated problems, it requires an overhaul of the whole machinery, and also public understanding. It’s a monumental task ahead and as average joe, we must keep our fingers crossed that taxpayers money will be well spent once again on world class training centres, sports science and etc.

Oh by the way, I strongly urge the politicians to get out of the sport and let the professionals run the show. Stick to what you do best, it’s as simple as the theory where oil and water just can’t mix.

Got it?

Talk about the future prime minister, he has shown the paw all the way up to the helm and this time, he pushed his luck too far.

Tell me, what’s the point of celebrating 50 years of nationhood with half-naked brain?

"Principles have little, if at all, to do with it," blogger Aisehman said.

Welcome back, Nat!

[UPDATED VERSION] How successful do you think National Economy Policy (NEP) is?

March 2007, former deputy prime minister Tun Musa Hitam said it’s time to give up NEP.

"Contract awards will have to be on merit, the Malays will have to face competition. There needs to be a revision, updating, of the way we approach it," he said.

Last month, EU’s Ambassador to Malaysia Thierry Rommel openly criticized the NEP in which he described the NEP as discriminatory and amounts to protectionism.

"The government is using the NEP as an excuse to practice "significant protectionism of its own market," including the automotive sector, steel, consumer goods, agricultural products, services and government contracts," he said.

Strangely, according to our information Minister Zainuddin Maidin, one of the success key of NEP is in producing a big number of Malay professionals, many of whom have made a name for themselves in major cities in the world like London and Dubai.

"It is said that some of them earn as much as RM50,000 a month in big cities like London and this has made them decide not to return to Malaysia but to continue with their careers in those places because of the lucrative income."

This is the problem in Malaysia, especially with minister like ZAM.

Doesn’t he feel shameful of boasting about the fact how successful NEP can be and at the same time, most of those successful Malay professionals are earning big money elsewhere but do not even think of coming back to Malaysia?

Correct me if I’m wrong, but is that what we mean by successful? Successful of being able to produce but incapable of retaining top Malay professionals?

Nathaniel Tan, a 26 year old dedicated blogger, a Harvard University alumnus and an aide to PKR advisor Anwar Ibrahim has been arrested under the Section 8 of the Official Secrets Act (OSA) over allegations that he had documents linked to Deputy Internal Security Minister Johari Baharom’s alleged involvement in corruption.

To demonstrate solidarity with Nat who has been dealt with great injustice, to show steadfast refusal to let the Government curb the democratisation impact of blogs and the Internet, and to voice our displeasure at the OSA, DAP is organising a forum with invited speakers from across the civil society with details as follows:

Venue: KL & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall
Date: 19th July 2007 (Thursday)
Time: 7.30 pm
Admission is Free; Bring Friends

The panel of Distinguished Speakers include:

• Nathaniel Tan, Blogger & Aide to PKR Advisor*
• Jeff Ooi, Protem Vice-President, All Blogs Malaysia
• Harris Ibrahim, Lawyer & Founder of The People’s Parliament
• Nurul Izzah Anwar, Special Assistant to PKR Advisor
• Lim Guan Eng, Secretary-General of DAP
• Tony Pua, Economic Advisor to DAP Secretary-General

Chairperson: Soon Li Tsin, Journalist & Blogger

* We will be inviting Nathaniel to speak to us and relay his experiences at the Forum should he be released from remand on Tuesday, 17th July or before. We’ll also be trying to leave as much time to the floor as possible, so as to enable greater interaction at the forum.

Laywer cum blogger Harris Ibrahim urges everyone to drop the self-pitying, look around and see how you can help to right a wrong.

Be there or be square.

I’ve just got words from Li Tsin that vigil is on tonight at 8pm, IPD Dang Wangi.

(SOURCE: mob1900)

Lawyer cum blogger Malik Imtiaz is concerned about the detention of Nathaniel Tan, who is remanded for 4 days under Section 8 of the Official Secret Act (OSA) over allegations of possession of documents pertaining to Johari’s alleged involvement in corruption.

"The OSA is unconstitutional. It violates a range of fundamental liberties guaranteed by the Federal Constitution," he said.

Seen from the perspective of allowing arbitrary government, the OSA violates the equal protection and equal access to the law guarantees as well as undermining the fair and free elections underpinnings of our system of government.

The OSA in its current form allows for a government to administer this country covertly and in defiance of the accountability and transparency that is crucial to democratic process. This impacts on all our lives in more ways that we can begin to understand as the government is given a means to thwart legitimate public interest by the forced suppression of material and relevant information. The position taken by the government in connection with the disclosure of toll concession agreements illustrates this worrying trend.

The OSA as it is also violates international human rights norms and runs counter to representations made by our government at the international level about the state of play in this country where civil and political rights are concerned. Malaysia is a current member of the United Nations Human Rights Council. It must act in a manner consistent with its membership.

Malik is not the only one who is really concerned.

"Today OSA. Tomorrow?" blogger Nuraina A Samad asked.

That’s not about it. Even the usually not-so-serious blogger Amir Hafizi put up a very serious tone too.

If it IS true and the facts could damage the country, THEN the powers that be would have grounds to arrest Nat under the OSA.

This, my friends, is how justice is carried out in Malaysia. And if you have a problem with that, you can GETTT OUTTT!!!

Up to this extent, it’s not about the detention of Nathaniel Tan anymore. It’s about the liberty of you and me to write the truth and simultaneously being damned too.

Like it or not, you’ve got to it a thought. Think about it, seriously.

The Star SMS alert at 4:09pm.

FAM deputy president Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah resigns with immediate effect, after humiliating defeats by Malaysian in Asian Cup.

More update soon, on the dismal performance by Malaysia’s football team for the past decade.

"We lost again in the Asia Cup. After 50 years, we are becoming too old to play football. In merely two games, we conceded 10 goals," blogger Sheih said.

2 days after Deputy Internal Security Minister Mohd Johari Baharum said he is thankful to God that truth is on his side, he starts the detention spree.

Johari […] wants the Police to initiate investigations to trace writers spreading lies through websites.

He said that he had instructed the Police’s Commercial Crimes Investigation Department (CCID) to undertake the investigations and bring the culprits to book. […]

"Now all kinds of slander about the nation’s leaders are being spread through the Internet. The Police must act to prevent them from tarnishing the image of the country."

The first victim is blogger Nathaniel Tan, who is to be remanded for 4 days under Section 8 of the Official Secret Act (OSA) over allegations of possession of documents pertaining to Johari’s alleged involvement in corruption.

Meanwhile, Tan’s lawyer Latheefa Koya told Malaysiakini that the police were investigating a comment posted by an individual on Nat’s blog.

The individual who posted the comment, re-published three paragraphs found in the anonymous website which implicated Johari and was the subject of the ACA investigation against him.

That lead to a few questions:

1) Who instructed the detention? The police or Johari?

2) Why charged Nat under OSA? Does that mean the allegation posted as a comment on his blog holds water?

Meanwhile, it’s also interesting to note that Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) is now on a hot radar, with Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak said PKR is facing a crisis of confidence in its leadership with the jobless SIL Khairy Jamaluddin said it’s time to crush PKR.

Oh, the game has just started?

[UPDATED VERSION] Blogger Nathaniel Tan was detained at Bukit Aman.

The reason? Police needs some tutorial on what’s internet all about.

(SOURCE: mob1900, 14 July 2007)

Meanwhile, according to a report by Malaysiakini, Nat will be held for 24 hours by Bukit Aman’s Cyber Crime Unit to facilite investigation under the Official Secrets Act (OSA).

Click here to check the latest update from blogger thetrialofcheryl, who is Nat’s sis as well as latest update from blogger Bob, who is Nat’s colleague. Blogger Li Tsin went to see Nat at IPD Dang Dangi and said Nat is in high spirit.

Politics anyone?