A few weeks ago, the "pondan" minister said there is press freedom in Malaysia during the interview with Al-Jazeera.

Last week, the Son-in-Law said the opening up of the media space is by a conscious design of the government after the 2004 elections, not by accident.

Opening up the media space is a conscious design, big phrase. Meaningful? It’s, indeed, doubtful if it is necessary.

Anyway, blogger Jeff Ooi and Khoo Kay Peng were there when he said so, after all, it doesn’t matter when those words are uttered straight from the horse’s mouth.

However, to be fair, we did give them the benefits of doubt until the minister with powderful england joined the fray and spoilt the party, what’s more when he appears as one bloody pissed old man, as projected by The Star.

"I have contacted the paper and voiced my dissatisfaction about their propensity to carry reports that do not show respect to the spirit of national unity," […]

"The newspaper gave details like the time to gather and also encouraged the people to bring posters. This is a sinister action, especially when police are facing pressure from certain groups bent on using street demonstrations for political purposes."

Finally, the Mis-Information won the virtual battle when the police rejected the permit application and subsequently, the Bar Council decided to call off its "People’s Freedom Walk", planned as part of the Bar Council’s Festival of Rights on Dec 9, organised in conjunction with International Human Rights Day on Dec 10.

Bar Council president Ambiga Sreenevasan explained the cancellation is in view of the unfortunate and wholly unwarranted" controversy surrounding the event, especially when the walk is regarded as yet-another anti-government walk.

Although I think it’s a rational decision by Ambiga not go ahead with the walk in fear of vilification by the Government, however it’s a shame that the bloody old man went all out to thrash the Bar Council, given that the Bar Council had held events in the past two years to commemorate International Human Rights Day in a peaceful manner.

Come to think of it, we’re living in a country where self-serving politicians potray this country as a liberal, democractic, fair, transparent and whatever s**t you want to call it, however, devoid of rights such as freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, so what are we the rakyat left with? A ballot paper that will come to us once every 5 years?

Apparently, we’re denied of our rights to do many things. However, as much as we’re going to continue talking until the cows come home, the fact is, if the level of ignorance and active denial mode shown by the Government after the 2 major rallies are to be taken as key indicator, by all means, the only way to eliminate this arrogant government is to vote against them and hence deny them a two third majority to prevent any more detrimental amendments to the constitution.

Will you?

On a side note, Malaysia is a member of UN Human Rights Council.

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