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.

I blogged about the Chinese honcho, now let’s talk about the Indian honcho - S Samy Vellu.

A few days after the rally organised by Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) which was cracked down by the FRU and police force, Samy Vellu said he is sad but not angry, defending the Government under the leadership of PM Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as the most open country he has ever seen.

"They must follow the law. In this country, we are very open … I have never seen a government which is more open. The Prime Minister has never shut his eyes or ears to their plight … but they should have abided by the law," he said.

Not long afterwards, under the directive of the PM who claimed to have "big ears" to listen to all complains and grievances, Samy Vellu was asked to asked to setup a special committee to look into demands by the Indian community.

Immediately, the next day, he announced a new hotline for Indian community and making more promises of various policies and programmes aimed at improving the economic standing of the Indian community included in the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP) spanning from 2006 till 2010.

As the 9MP is effective from 2006, where does the buck stop? The cronies or the Indian community at large?

If it’s the cronies, that explains why the Indian community only controls 1.2 percent of equity compared to over 20 percent by the Malays and nearly 40 percent by the Chinese, where one percent is controlled by tycoon Tatparanandam Ananda Krishnan and leaves nearly two million Indians owning less than 0.2 percent equity?

If it’s the Indian community who benefit from it, why large number of Indians took things into their own hands by participating in the rally and claimed they’re facing discrimination and marginalization in this country to this day?

Either way, the ball is in Samy Vellu’s court. Besides the fact he owes Indian community an explanation as he has been the MIC president for the past few decades, he must get his hands dirty, fostering more effective programmes delivery and helping to ensure the benefits of regeneration is sustained over the long-term for the sake of our Indian friends.

Or afterall, Samy knows that no matter how bad his performance is, he will remain as a minister, being the only Indian representative in the cabinet, so probably the only thing he has really done in his capacity as MIC president is to ensure there is no alternative power to replace him in the party?

Coincidentally, Singapore’s free paper Today delivered a few caveats to the unbecoming honcho and implied his imminent exit from Malaysia political landscape if he continues his sluggish performance with empty promises.

Numerous shoddy public works, such as burst water pipes in the Immigration Office and a major mudslide along a part of the North-South Expressway, may have hurt Mr Samy Vellu’s name and led to calls for his head, but they have never resulted in his resignation or sacking.

Could the upcoming polls, which must take place by May 2009, seal his fate? […]

At MIC’s 51st annual general meeting a decade ago, Mr Samy Vellu delivered his usual presidential speech about taking Indian Malaysians forward, saying "we will never get to the future if we wait for someone else to blaze the trail".

Ten years on, his fellow men have heeded his call to seize the day. But will he still have their ear or have they walked away for good?

Sad, not angry? Either way, I’d say it’s not the right emotions to have at this stage, especially as the election approaches.

Indeed, if I’m in his shoes, I should be feeling afraid, very afraid and plans what’s the next immediate step rather than making more empty promises like what he’s doing.

The story goes like this.

In this country, we need Chinese tycoon to finance the development of Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan.

Nevertheless, the Chinese tycoon said he is happy to be setup by the Chinese honcho and a Keris honcho for a good cause.

Then, the Chinese honcho went on to praise the honcho of all honchos as the saviour of Chinese schools.

Shame on us.