Malaysiakini SMS alert at 1:19pm

Ex-DPM Anwar Ibrahim made public the 2nd part of the Lingam tape today consisting 6 mins and said he has more evidence of judicial corruption.

Click here to watch the video with full transcript provided.

In his press release, PKR advisor Anwar Ibrahim announcing the full release of the entire "Lingam tape" recording following the establishment of the Royal Commission to investigate the controversy.

While he is concerned about the inclusion of former chief judge of Malaya Haidar Mohd Noor and former chief judge of Sabah and Sarawak Steve Shim as they’re among the judges who heard his case in the Federal Court, nevertheless he is committed to give full cooperation to the Royal Commission, in which he expects the members will carry out their duties without fear or favour.

Meanwhile, please find the official press release from the office of Anwar Ibrahim.

Read the rest of this entry »

In solidarity with those arrested in various events for exercising their basic human right to assemble such as Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (BERSIH), Hindu Rights Action Force (HINDRAF) and Human Rights march, a candlelight vigil was held last night around the Penang Road and Campbell Street junction.

This objective of the candlelight vigil is to support the right to the freedom of peaceful assembly as promised by Article 20 of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Forget about the police force who always turn up in full force outnumbering the participants, I know for the fact that a few participants from the Penang’s Bangsa Malaysia gathering were there to lend their support.

One of them Kris Khaira was there to witness the event and delight to see a mixed of local crowds and a group of participants from KL.

He explained the real factor of why the candlelight vigil in first place and called upon more Penangites to participate in the next vigil.

It was the lack of recent mass dissent in Penang that encouraged us to organise a candlelight vigil in the first place to stir the masses awake gracefully at a time when the mainstream media along with the FRU’s tear gas and chemical water has put fear into the hearts of the people.

No amount of tear gas, chemical water and propaganda can silence the awakened citizens of Malaysia, and a time will come one day when our influence outweighs the disgusting weapons used by abusive authorities and corrupted politicians.

Right on! If we’re to make a point and stand up for our own rights, we must have faith in what we believe in. Fear and more fear will bring you nowhere, besides being a more prominent armchair pundit if I may put it that way.

To those who are brave enough to turn up for the candlelight vigil, as a Penangite, I’m proud of you guys and keep up the spirit!

By now, I’m sure you’re drowned with news that five leaders of the Hindu Rights Action Force (HINDRAF) were arrested by the police under the notorious detention law - Internal Security Act (ISA) under Section 8(1) for allegedly carrying out activities that threaten national security.

The five arrested are Hindraf legal adviser P Uthayakumar, lawyers M Manoharan, R Kenghadharan and V Ganabatirau and organising secretary T Vasantha Kumar.

Background of ISA

Under normal circumstance, anyone detained under the ISA will be held incommunicado, with no access to the outside world for the first 60 days, no exception for either lawyers or family members.

After 60 days, one may be further detained for a period of two years each without submitting any evidence for review by the courts, to be approved by the Minister of Home Affairs, thus making indefinite detention without trial where detention order is renewable indefinitely!

On top of that, bear in mind that when the Act was first adopted, it did allow for judicial review, but since then, the ISA has been amended over 20 times and finally, the provision was remove, absolute power is given to the Minister of Home Affairs to arbitrarily detain anyone, without reference to the courts!

Over the years, the Malaysian government has consistently used the Act for its own political purposes to detain thousands of citizens, including political opposition leaders, academicians, trade unionists, religious, social, environmental, and women’s rights activists.

HINDRAF arrest

Surprisingly in this case, they were sent to the Kamunting detention camp in Taiping, Perak to be detained for 2 years, without this being preceded by the 60-day investigation period!

Earlier, the Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who is also the Minister of Home Affairs who signed signed the detention orders said HINDRAF is attempting to destroy the country and calls them traitors.

"Actually they don’t love the country, they only hunger for power and don’t care about what happens to the country."  […]

"We are the ones who have to face everything. We have to defend the peace and well-being of the people."

Various groups from political parties and NGOs condemned the use of ISA and believe that they should face trial in open court if they’ve committed a crime, giving them a chance to defend themselves.

By looking at this latest development, it’s very apparent the detention is yet another obvious human rights violation and further proved that the Government is desperate yet clueless in handling political criticism towards the current administration on various critical matters such as economic policy, corruption and other social challenges which  brought the rakyat onto the streets recently, demanding for a total reform and greater accountability in the Government policies implemented over the past few decades.

My questions are, what would be the mostly likely and immediate impact towards the people led initiatives and movements? Is this going to dampen the mass spirit and suppress the rakyat in pushing the Government beyond the limit like what we’ve demonstrated so far? Will this instill fear, or more strength in us?

Keeping in view of this latest development, I urge everyone to keep the flame alive, for we must have faith in the journey fighting to make real change for the betterment of the society and nation.

Rumors are swirling that blogs which published information with related to Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (BERSIH) will face police action?

Rumors or for real, a few hours after rare ISA ruling by the current administration? You gotta watch your back for ISA v2.0.

2 days ago, one of the darkest day in Malaysia’s history took place - the invasion of the least basic human rights.

For the record, I concluded that’s how we celebrated the International Human Rights Day, which falls on Dec 10.

Yesterday, another unfortunate event took place right in front of the Parliament - the legislature body of Malaysia, which I’m sure is going to imply the country already badly damaged reputation and the real way of how we actually exercising democracy rights.

Thanks to the digital evolution, let’s welcome the world to Malaysia’s version of democracy.

When a crab wanting to teach its kids to walk straight, is the crab that matters or it’s purely - crap?

Big words!

"If the choice is between public safety and public freedom, I do not hesitate to say here that public safety will always win. […] Fairness, responsibility and self-belief were the values that guaranteed sustained unity and continued progress. So let us begin with fairness, responsibility and self-belief. Let us understand and appreciate the meaning of these values and start upholding them together. Everyone — leaders, political parties, companies, NGOs, people from all walks of life. Let us start building our hearts and minds as we enter into our next 50 years as a nation."

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said at the Khazanah Global Lecture Series at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC)

Pak Lah talked about public safety and public freedom.

Wow!

Then, Pak Lah talked about fairness, responsibility and self-belief.

Great!

And finally, Pak Lah urged everyone to start building our hearts and minds to prepare for the next 50 years!

He dreams about next 50 years when he can’t even solve the current pressing issues (you don’t need me to elaborate, do you?).

Absolutely fantastic!

Today, December 10, the day where the world celebrates the International Human Rights Day.

While human right is a worthy cause for worldwide celebration, however in Malaysia, today is the day that will go down the road as one of the nation’s darkest day in history - the day when human rights lawyers and activists who fight for human rights are charged.

Basically, I can safely conclude that this country is f**ked, to the extent that the least rights that we’re fighting so hard to preserve, is now gone too and yet, the Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was generous enough to suggest that this is a land of democracy?

If we’re not going to save this country, who will?

If we’re not going to do the right thing in the next election, who will?

At least, try lah ….

Given the continuous negative publicities worldwide on his administration, once again, the Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was trying to live up the expectation of being a "Mr. Nice Guy", the slogan that won him a landslide victory in last general election.

Hence, he delivered one of the most controversial statement (I feel), which I believe was meant to cover up his incompetence in handling certain pressing issues, such as freedom of assembly and freedom of speech in Malaysia, just to name a few of them.

"[…] The right to protest is fundamental in all democracies but stressed that it is also a right that must be matched by a responsibility to respect general public safety," he said.

Well said, Mr. Prime Minister!

Since you agree and publicly declares that the right to protest is fundamental in all democracies, probably you might want to enlighten many of us, who otherwise would not have understood why the police force refused to issue a permit in first place, given the fact that BERSIH had set a good precedence of how a peaceful rally and demonstration can be carried out in this country?

Not only other democracies in this world allow peaceful assembly without permit application (even if there is, permits would be granted to the organizers, with the existence of police force to take care of the public safety as well as to ensure that rallies are carried out in peaceful manner!)

Besides, to be fair, if ever there was the slightest hint of how the event would have affected general public safety, by all means, please throw the accusations against the FRU and the police force, who worked diligently to thrash the participants, in which, for the record, they (the participants) didn’t retaliate!

So, in the end of the day, we the rakyat, the people who voted you in can’t help but to ask, where is the cakap serupa bikin as what you promised in the last general election?

You told us to work with you, not for you, remember? We gladly oblige, however to our disappointment, you didn’t.

Then recently, you told us that you’ve a pair of big ears, in which we’re more than happy to tell you how we feel, but …

But really, dear Prime Minister, when is the right time for you to do the right thing if it’s not right now? Prove to us that you’ve the right ingredients and the right integrity to remain as the Prime Minister for all Malaysians, otherwise cease being one immediately, we’re indeed tired of this antics.

Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang was fuming as the appointment of Umno closely related Zaki Azmi to be the next chief justice is imminent when the newly appointed Abdul Hamid Mohamad retires for good in the next 10 months.

Speaking at press conference in the parliament, he called Zaki as the first Umno CJ in the 50 years of Malaysia’s history and shows deep concern of his close relationship with Umno.

"Only few months ago, from without (Zaki) having to be High Court judge, Court of Appeal Judge, straightaway (he was appointed) as a Federal Court judge, is seen as paving the way for his promotion as the new CJ."

"Now, he’s a clear Umno appointee on the judicial hierarchy. Is he going to be the first Umno CJ in the 50 years history of Malaysia? An Umno CJ and not a Malaysian CJ,"

Now, let’s take a look at Zaki’s biodata as compiled by Malaysiakini.

(SOURCE: Malaysiakini, 5 December 2007)

For someone with such high profile Umno links and extensive corporate links, when many of us are wondering to what extent is the supremacy, integrity and independence of judiciary in Malaysia, yet the "pondan" minister said Zaki is a man of integrity and appointed based on this past performance and character?

Let us take a few seconds to ponder the importance of "judicial impartiality" as the principal quality in which a judiciary must possess, as told by a respected constitutional law expert and former Lord President Sultan Azlan Shah during the 14th Malaysian Law Conference.