From bum2009.wordpress.com:
May 14, 2009...2:43 pm
NEWS FLASH: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad will hold a Dialogue at BUM2009!
Mystery Guest - Tun M
KUALA LUMPUR, May 14, 2009:
Yes,that “surprise speaker” we listed in the tentative Programme Outline – Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad — has confirmed his participation at BUM2009 to be held at the Lake View Club, Subang Jaya on Saturday, 16 May 2009.
BUM Organising Committee Co-chair Sdr Ahirudin Attan aka Rockybru just confirmed that the former Prime Minister, who has established himself a “leading Blogger’s place” with the launch of chedet.com on May Day (May 1 LABOUR DAY) last year (coinciding with BUM2008), will hold an hour-long Dialogue, most likely preceding or just after the originally planned Afternoon Session.
BUM2009, flagged off as the Bloggers Event of the Year to mark World Press Freedom Day (which falls on May 3rd), focuses on both the old and new media, with special reference to the role of blogs and bloggers. The organisers have gotten a bit more ambitious and want editors from the mainstream media (Fourth Estate) to sit at the same table with their new media (Fifth Estate) brothers and sisters and discuss common issues.
Online journalists Steven Gan and Fathi Aris Omar and MSM newshounds Citizen R Nadeswaran of theSun, a regular at BUM, have also confirmed their participation, so also MP-Blogger YB Jeff Ooi and YB State Assemblyman-Blogger Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, along with civil society activists like Dr KJ John and lawyers Art Harun and Philip Koh.
“Have they failed us?” is a question that can be asked of the mainstream media as well as the new media, said Rockybru, Interim President of the National Alliance of Bloggers (All-Blogs).
For the first time in three BUM outings, a session to be conducted wholly in Bahasa Malaysia to be chaired by Sdri Helen Ang, and will feature several leading Bloggers, including Berita Publishing’s Datuk A Kadir Jasin, and former Suara Keadilan editor, Faisal Mustaffa.
The Chairman of BUM2009 (YL Chong) says for this year, there is room for only 200 bloggers and Bloggers-to-be! That’s going to be a problem, especially now that we have confirmed that the “Surprise Blogger” is helicopter-ing in for the Event!
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Today I reproduce an important article from malaysia-today.net
ABOUT BLOGGERS.
I uge all Bloggers of whatever huesor inclinations or predilections to raed RPK's article with rumination, and if possible, follow up with a response/discussion as I plan to do tomorrow.
YES, Tomorrow, Godwilling/insyaAllah, I shall give my PERSPECTIVES as a Blogger on the issue/issues raised by my fellow Blogger I hold in the highest esteemd, Raja Petra Kamarudin aka Pete to those closer to him.
The rise and fall of the Bloggers Union
Posted by admin
Monday, 11 May 2009 22:11
I did say, many times in the past, that an enemy of my enemy could be my friend. But only as long as we still share a common enemy. Once that common enemy has been disposed off, then we would probably revert to what we used to be -- enemies again.
THE CORRIDORS OF POWER
Raja Petra Kamarudin
REMBAU 11th April: “With friends like these, who needs enemies.” That is the general feeling of frustration with some UMNO bloggers who continue to further embitter the Malaysian cyber public, with their constant calls for violence, explicit racism and arrogance which is conveyed in their writings. This message was conveyed to me when I met senior party officials over the weekend. Amongst the worst culprits, were blogs seen to be supportive of the Mahathir faction, blogs such as Bigdogdotcom, Parpu Kari, Barking Magpie and self-styled camel seller, Husin Lempoyang.
"(These) bloggers have let down the party," my source told me. "Every time it’s attack, attack, attack. The people they sell their story to are only a small number. Our research has indicated that most people read, get angry and vow never to vote for UMNO".
Some bloggers deserve praise however. "(The) Rembau Times is example of good blog for the party. People know that there are 2 sides to the story, they want to be presented with an option and if your story is better then people will buy it." He went on to add, "The worst is still Parpu Kari. I have received a lot of reports against him, and personally I think UMNO is not well served if bloggers continue to call people of one race group "beruk", "komunis", "babi" or "juburi". This is not 1Malaysia and I have advised him to tone down. Even (Dato Seri) Zambry does not feel comfortable with him (Parpu)."
I was also asked to try and conduct a bloggers workshop to help educate some of the other UMNO bloggers on how to blog responsibly without pissing people off. I declined. Some people are just beyond salvage and should consider what should take precedence, their duty to the party they profess to support or their loyalty to their paymasters.
The above was a posting by http://wengerkhairy.blogspot.com.
And below is an e-mail that was sent to me this morning by Caleb Quay chskee@gmail.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it :
Hi, I hope you will take time to read this article, I've been following some of your articles and I think many of them are good though some seem to be a little extreme or was it just metaphorically speaking? Take for example the article (It’s all about race, stupid).
That was the opening paragraph of the message. He or she then goes on and lists down his or her unhappiness with me and then it closes with:
It’s usually the children that suffer the most when there is war. As a father, I think you'll want the best for your daughter and keep her away from harm. What better way to keep a person away from harm by not creating it in the first place?
Yes, after calling me names and whatnot, they resort to posting comments such as I should be killed with a bullet in my head. Now, it has come to threatening my daughter’s life. But no, I shall not be making a police report because that is what they would do if I did the same thing. Furthermore, they never layan any of my police reports anyway. So it is a total waste of time.
Anyhow, at least Rocky confirmed my meeting with Rosmah, which I spoke about in the last posting. He even said they knew about the meeting all along but did not want to embarrass me by revealing it. He also admitted that Najib met Saiful, and since I too met Rosmah, this means there is nothing sinister about the whole thing.
Then he goes on to mention how we teamed up or combined forces to oust Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. Then, according to him, I moved on and he enquired into this and Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s people told him that there was no bad blood between Tun and me but that I just sort of moved on somehow.
He of course mistook my association with the pro-Mahathir-anti-Badawi forces as me ‘crossing over’. Then I was supposed to have ‘crossed over’ to Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah and then back to Anwar Ibrahim again.
Actually, what Rocky said was absolutely true and I had myself related this episode many times in the past. But probably the word ‘crossing over’ and ‘crossing back’ may not be the appropriate words to use.
I did say, many times in the past, that an enemy of my enemy could be my friend. But only as long as we still share a common enemy. Once that common enemy has been disposed off, then we would probably revert to what we used to be -- enemies again.
The example I had used was the Taliban or Afghans. For centuries the Afghans had bitterly and violently fought each other. Then, when the Russians invaded Afghanistan, they united to oppose the Russians. But as soon as the Russians went home to Moscow, the Afghans reverted to killing each other, until today.
During the BERSIH march in November 2007, many Umno people participated in it. In fact, some bigwigs in Umno even sponsored our very expensive T-shirts and caps (those with embroidered gold trimmings like the Chief of the Navy, etc., uses). Prior to the march, we held many meetings with Umno people to ensure that the mobilisation was a success and that we got the crowd we were targeting for.
I admit the BERSIH march was a huge success because it was a ‘joint-venture’ with the anti-Abdullah Umno faction.
We of course had no problems working with Tun Dr Mahathir as long as we shared a common objective. In that first dialogue we organised at Kelab Century Paradise, almost every PAS leader except for the President and Secretary-General came. Many DAP and some of the PKR leaders came as well.
PAS even invited Tun Dr Mahathir to a few functions they had lined up. However, Tun Dr Mahathir declined the invitation and said he can’t accept if it is PAS that was organising the event -- after all, he was still an Umno member then -- but if it was a NGO or the Bloggers that were the organisers then he had no problems attending.
In late 2007, before the March 2008 general election, the Bloggers arranged a meeting with Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah. That was during the fasting month. Bloggers and civil society movement members from both sides of the political divide turned up, about 30 or 35 in all.
The purpose of the meeting was simple. Tengku Razaleigh was going to contest the Umno Presidency. The next general election would be called the latest by March 2009. Assuming Tengku Razaleigh wins the Umno Presidency and assuming Barisan Nasional wins the general election with a simple majority but without the two-thirds majority, is there a possibility that Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat can form a unity government?
Tengku Razaleigh was open to that idea. In fact, he thought this would be the only way to end the current political crisis and allow the government to start managing the country without being distracted by excess politicking. Today, the problem with Malaysia is that no one is managing the country. Everyone is too engrossed in trying to topple each other.
There were some in DAP, PAS and PKR who accepted the idea of a unity government. But there were some who were against it. They felt that Umno cannot be trusted and even if Tengku Razaleigh heads Umno it would still be only one man. The rest of Umno would still be a problem. In that sense, Pakatan Rakyat was split on the issue and since Pakatan Rakyat works on consensus then it would be no go.
So yes, what Rocky said was true. He did not lie. But he is not senior enough in the hierarchy to be told what the game plan was. He only knows that we teamed up or combined forces in our effort to bring changes to the Umno leadership. But there was a bigger agenda than that. Sure, we wanted Tun Abdullah out of office. But it was supposed to be Tengku Razaleigh who takes over and then the possibility of a unity government would be looked into.
Tun Dr Mahathir knew this. On Hari Raya Day of 2007, I went to meet the Tun at his home to inform him that Tengku Razaleigh was ready to make his move. After that, a few more meetings were held between Tun and Tengku Razaleigh at the Mines in Sungei Besi.
Unfortunately, Tengku Razaleigh was not prepared to accept the Tun’s terms and conditions. Tun Dr Mahathir wanted to set up an Umno Presidential Council with him as the head. And this Presidential Council would ‘guide’ and ‘advice’ the new Prime Minister.
Tengku Razaleigh rejected the idea outright. He was not prepared to be reduced to a puppet Prime Minister. So Tun Dr Mahathir rejected Tengku Razaleigh in favour of Najib who agreed to the Presidential Council.
And that was when I and some other Barisan Rakyat Bloggers decided that it was a lost cause and we might as well focus on opposing Najib even before he takes over as the new Prime Minister.
And that is the part that Rocky did not or was not able to explain. He confirms my story about the meeting and the teaming up and so on. But he does not reveal the true or hidden agenda behind our alliance.
The alliance broke up, of course, when the objective changed. Our objective was a leadership change in Umno and a probable unity government after the last general election with Tengku Razaleigh as Prime Minister and head of Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat as Deputy Prime Minister. However, their objective was Najib as Prime Minister and head of Barisan Nasional and PAS and the Malays in PKR merging with Umno -- leaving DAP and the Chinese in PKR as the opposition.
That was definitely not on. So we parted company as political allies but remained friends as Bloggers -- until now, it seems. I was not alone in this of course. But I shall not mention any of the names of the other Barisan Rakyat Bloggers and civil society movement members who were also in the alliance and were aware of the game plan. If they wish to come forward and admit that they were part of the ‘conspiracy’ I would leave that to them. But I think you already know who they are and the role they played even without me telling you.
I uge all Bloggers of whatever huesor inclinations or predilections to raed RPK's article with rumination, and if possible, follow up with a response/discussion as I plan to do tomorrow.
YES, Tomorrow, Godwilling/insyaAllah, I shall give my PERSPECTIVES as a Blogger on the issue/issues raised by my fellow Blogger I hold in the highest esteemd, Raja Petra Kamarudin aka Pete to those closer to him.
The rise and fall of the Bloggers Union
Posted by admin
Monday, 11 May 2009 22:11
I did say, many times in the past, that an enemy of my enemy could be my friend. But only as long as we still share a common enemy. Once that common enemy has been disposed off, then we would probably revert to what we used to be -- enemies again.
THE CORRIDORS OF POWER
Raja Petra Kamarudin
REMBAU 11th April: “With friends like these, who needs enemies.” That is the general feeling of frustration with some UMNO bloggers who continue to further embitter the Malaysian cyber public, with their constant calls for violence, explicit racism and arrogance which is conveyed in their writings. This message was conveyed to me when I met senior party officials over the weekend. Amongst the worst culprits, were blogs seen to be supportive of the Mahathir faction, blogs such as Bigdogdotcom, Parpu Kari, Barking Magpie and self-styled camel seller, Husin Lempoyang.
"(These) bloggers have let down the party," my source told me. "Every time it’s attack, attack, attack. The people they sell their story to are only a small number. Our research has indicated that most people read, get angry and vow never to vote for UMNO".
Some bloggers deserve praise however. "(The) Rembau Times is example of good blog for the party. People know that there are 2 sides to the story, they want to be presented with an option and if your story is better then people will buy it." He went on to add, "The worst is still Parpu Kari. I have received a lot of reports against him, and personally I think UMNO is not well served if bloggers continue to call people of one race group "beruk", "komunis", "babi" or "juburi". This is not 1Malaysia and I have advised him to tone down. Even (Dato Seri) Zambry does not feel comfortable with him (Parpu)."
I was also asked to try and conduct a bloggers workshop to help educate some of the other UMNO bloggers on how to blog responsibly without pissing people off. I declined. Some people are just beyond salvage and should consider what should take precedence, their duty to the party they profess to support or their loyalty to their paymasters.
The above was a posting by http://wengerkhairy.blogspot.com.
And below is an e-mail that was sent to me this morning by Caleb Quay chskee@gmail.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it :
Hi, I hope you will take time to read this article, I've been following some of your articles and I think many of them are good though some seem to be a little extreme or was it just metaphorically speaking? Take for example the article (It’s all about race, stupid).
That was the opening paragraph of the message. He or she then goes on and lists down his or her unhappiness with me and then it closes with:
It’s usually the children that suffer the most when there is war. As a father, I think you'll want the best for your daughter and keep her away from harm. What better way to keep a person away from harm by not creating it in the first place?
Yes, after calling me names and whatnot, they resort to posting comments such as I should be killed with a bullet in my head. Now, it has come to threatening my daughter’s life. But no, I shall not be making a police report because that is what they would do if I did the same thing. Furthermore, they never layan any of my police reports anyway. So it is a total waste of time.
Anyhow, at least Rocky confirmed my meeting with Rosmah, which I spoke about in the last posting. He even said they knew about the meeting all along but did not want to embarrass me by revealing it. He also admitted that Najib met Saiful, and since I too met Rosmah, this means there is nothing sinister about the whole thing.
Then he goes on to mention how we teamed up or combined forces to oust Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. Then, according to him, I moved on and he enquired into this and Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s people told him that there was no bad blood between Tun and me but that I just sort of moved on somehow.
He of course mistook my association with the pro-Mahathir-anti-Badawi forces as me ‘crossing over’. Then I was supposed to have ‘crossed over’ to Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah and then back to Anwar Ibrahim again.
Actually, what Rocky said was absolutely true and I had myself related this episode many times in the past. But probably the word ‘crossing over’ and ‘crossing back’ may not be the appropriate words to use.
I did say, many times in the past, that an enemy of my enemy could be my friend. But only as long as we still share a common enemy. Once that common enemy has been disposed off, then we would probably revert to what we used to be -- enemies again.
The example I had used was the Taliban or Afghans. For centuries the Afghans had bitterly and violently fought each other. Then, when the Russians invaded Afghanistan, they united to oppose the Russians. But as soon as the Russians went home to Moscow, the Afghans reverted to killing each other, until today.
During the BERSIH march in November 2007, many Umno people participated in it. In fact, some bigwigs in Umno even sponsored our very expensive T-shirts and caps (those with embroidered gold trimmings like the Chief of the Navy, etc., uses). Prior to the march, we held many meetings with Umno people to ensure that the mobilisation was a success and that we got the crowd we were targeting for.
I admit the BERSIH march was a huge success because it was a ‘joint-venture’ with the anti-Abdullah Umno faction.
We of course had no problems working with Tun Dr Mahathir as long as we shared a common objective. In that first dialogue we organised at Kelab Century Paradise, almost every PAS leader except for the President and Secretary-General came. Many DAP and some of the PKR leaders came as well.
PAS even invited Tun Dr Mahathir to a few functions they had lined up. However, Tun Dr Mahathir declined the invitation and said he can’t accept if it is PAS that was organising the event -- after all, he was still an Umno member then -- but if it was a NGO or the Bloggers that were the organisers then he had no problems attending.
In late 2007, before the March 2008 general election, the Bloggers arranged a meeting with Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah. That was during the fasting month. Bloggers and civil society movement members from both sides of the political divide turned up, about 30 or 35 in all.
The purpose of the meeting was simple. Tengku Razaleigh was going to contest the Umno Presidency. The next general election would be called the latest by March 2009. Assuming Tengku Razaleigh wins the Umno Presidency and assuming Barisan Nasional wins the general election with a simple majority but without the two-thirds majority, is there a possibility that Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat can form a unity government?
Tengku Razaleigh was open to that idea. In fact, he thought this would be the only way to end the current political crisis and allow the government to start managing the country without being distracted by excess politicking. Today, the problem with Malaysia is that no one is managing the country. Everyone is too engrossed in trying to topple each other.
There were some in DAP, PAS and PKR who accepted the idea of a unity government. But there were some who were against it. They felt that Umno cannot be trusted and even if Tengku Razaleigh heads Umno it would still be only one man. The rest of Umno would still be a problem. In that sense, Pakatan Rakyat was split on the issue and since Pakatan Rakyat works on consensus then it would be no go.
So yes, what Rocky said was true. He did not lie. But he is not senior enough in the hierarchy to be told what the game plan was. He only knows that we teamed up or combined forces in our effort to bring changes to the Umno leadership. But there was a bigger agenda than that. Sure, we wanted Tun Abdullah out of office. But it was supposed to be Tengku Razaleigh who takes over and then the possibility of a unity government would be looked into.
Tun Dr Mahathir knew this. On Hari Raya Day of 2007, I went to meet the Tun at his home to inform him that Tengku Razaleigh was ready to make his move. After that, a few more meetings were held between Tun and Tengku Razaleigh at the Mines in Sungei Besi.
Unfortunately, Tengku Razaleigh was not prepared to accept the Tun’s terms and conditions. Tun Dr Mahathir wanted to set up an Umno Presidential Council with him as the head. And this Presidential Council would ‘guide’ and ‘advice’ the new Prime Minister.
Tengku Razaleigh rejected the idea outright. He was not prepared to be reduced to a puppet Prime Minister. So Tun Dr Mahathir rejected Tengku Razaleigh in favour of Najib who agreed to the Presidential Council.
And that was when I and some other Barisan Rakyat Bloggers decided that it was a lost cause and we might as well focus on opposing Najib even before he takes over as the new Prime Minister.
And that is the part that Rocky did not or was not able to explain. He confirms my story about the meeting and the teaming up and so on. But he does not reveal the true or hidden agenda behind our alliance.
The alliance broke up, of course, when the objective changed. Our objective was a leadership change in Umno and a probable unity government after the last general election with Tengku Razaleigh as Prime Minister and head of Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat as Deputy Prime Minister. However, their objective was Najib as Prime Minister and head of Barisan Nasional and PAS and the Malays in PKR merging with Umno -- leaving DAP and the Chinese in PKR as the opposition.
That was definitely not on. So we parted company as political allies but remained friends as Bloggers -- until now, it seems. I was not alone in this of course. But I shall not mention any of the names of the other Barisan Rakyat Bloggers and civil society movement members who were also in the alliance and were aware of the game plan. If they wish to come forward and admit that they were part of the ‘conspiracy’ I would leave that to them. But I think you already know who they are and the role they played even without me telling you.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
HARAPAN BARU...
was my "tag" on to an SMS yesterday from mGf Jacq Ho bearing da GoOD nu'es:
Yahoo
RM0.00
KEPUTUSAN
Mahkamah
Tinggi: Nizar
masih MB sah
Perak. Hakim
Abdul Abdul Aziz
kata Nizar tidakpernah hadapi
undi tak percaya
dalam Dun
11May2009
15:45:50
which I then spread arpoound my network like WILDFIRE!:)
From thestar.com.my, I copied this @11.30AM in a dark and dangy
Internet cafe somewhere in Brickfields, KL, in asnwering a colleague's
concern whether I was wearing "Black"m and could not be sighted within
the neighbourhood of YMCA, scared I would be housed in Black Maria for
a lunch AP an hour from now:( -YL, Desi
***************************
Published: Tuesday May 12, 2009 MYT 11:05:00 AM
Dissolve state assembly, Ku Li urges Sultan
By SYED AZHAR
KOTA BARU: Umno veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah has urged the Sultan of Perak to dissolve the Assembly to prevent the political imbroglio in the state from spiralling out of control.
In a blog posting on Monday, he noted that he had written on Feb 7 that Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Nizar Jamaluddin was still the legal mentri besar despite the takeover by Barisan Nasional.
He had said then that according to the state constitution, Nizar was the mentri besar until he resigned of his own accord or was removed by a vote of no confidence in a formal sitting of the Assembly.
The Perak constitution makes no provision for his removal by any other means, including by petitions or instructions from any other authority, he had written then.
“Today, after three months and yet more shameful scenes, the High Court affirmed the same elementary principle, and held that Nizar has been and remains the mentri besar,” Tengku Razaleigh wrote on Monday,
The High Court also ordered Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir and his executive officers to vacate their offices, and rejected an application from Zambry for a stay of proceedings pending an appeal.
Tengku Razaleigh urged the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Azlan Shah, to dissolve the Assembly.
“This is the decent thing to do, but also the only way out of a crisis which has already spiralled out of Perak, damaged the rule of law, compromised the judiciary, the police and the state civil service, and damaged the monarchy in public opinion,” he said.
He said the Dr Zambry’s administration had been illegitimate all along and all decisions and contracts were made without legal status.
“The cascade of illegalities we warned of must now be unwound painfully. This includes the deplorable events of May 7 in Ipoh. It means the resolution to replace the Speaker was brought by an illegal state government,” he added.
In his no holds barred style, Tengku Razaleigh also said that the monarchy itself has been embarrassed by this episode, as well as by “a systematic programme by some to inflame this issue into one of race and treason.”
“Such attempts only hurt the institutions they claim to protect, and they hurt Umno and Barisan Nasional.
“The real issue has always been the Constitution and the Rule of Law, and the monarchy is protected in its role of upholding the primacy of the Constitution.
“Umno is not well served by leaders who place short-term political objectives above the Constitution,” he added.
___________________________
From theSUN online:
Mon, 11 May 2009
WEB EDITION :: Local News
Nizar rightful Perak MB: Court
S. Tamarai Chelvi and Husna Yusop
KUALA LUMPUR (May 11, 2009): In yet another twist to the Perak political crisis, the High Court today declared Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin the rightful Mentri Besar of Perak.
A triumphant Mohammad Nizar waves to his supporters outsite
the High Court.
The decision comes just four days after the tumultous one-day Perak Assembly sitting on Thursday which saw the Pakatan Rakyat Speaker V. Sivakumar being forcibly removed from the House, to be replaced by Datuk R. Ganesan, as the Barisan Nasional took control of the assembly.
Barisan Nasional, led by Datuk Dr Zambry Abd Kadir, toppled the 10-month-old Pakatan government in Perak in February after three PR assemblymen left their parties to become BN-friendly independents.
On Feb 13, Nizar, 52, filed an application to the court for a declaration that he is at all material times the rightful Mentri Besar of Perak.
In allowing five prayers sought by Nizar in his application for judicial review yesterday, Judge Datuk Abdul Aziz Abdul Rahim said once the Mentri Besar is appointed, he is only answerable to the State Legislative Assembly, and could only be removed by a vote of no confidence.
"Any measure of loss of confidence should be taken on the floor of the State Legislative Assembly by vote of no confidence. Only in this way can a Mentri Besar resign," he said.
He said Nizar never had a vote of no confidence taken against him in the Assembly and he did not request for a dissolution because of loss of confidence by the majority.
"Why did the Barisan Nasional not request Nizar to be summoned to the State Legislative Assembly to have a special sitting for a motion of no confidence to be passed? This would be in accordance with the democratic process," said Abdul Aziz.
Abdul Aziz said a Mentri Besar could not be dismissed by the Sultan of Perak for the reason that he did not hold the office at the sultan's pleasure.
The dismissal of the Mentri Besar by the Sultan was never contemplated by Article 16(6) of the Perak Constitution, he added.
As such, he said he was of the view that the office of the Menteri Besar of Perak had not become vacant or was vacated.
The five prayers sought for declarations were;
> that Nizar is the rightful Mentri Besar
> there was no dissolution of the Perak Assembly, no motion of no-confidence was passed against him in the Assembly and that he did not resign
> a writ of quo warranto is issued against Zambry ordering him to show cause and this information is made under what policy /power/ and authority he allegedly holds office as Mentri Besar, and allegedly acts or exercises or implements responsibility/ functions/ duties of Perak Mentri Besar
> a declaration order that Zambry has no right to act/occupy the office of Mentri Besar and he was not Perak Mentri Besar at any material time
> an injunction order to prevent Zambry and his agents or servants from acting and exercising and implementing the responsibility and functions or duties of Mentri Besar.
(Nizar had asked for punitive, aggravated and exemplery damages, an inquiry into the damages and costs but withdrew them last week)
After the decision, Zambry's lawyer Datuk Cecil Abraham asked for an application for a stay.
However, Abdul Aziz said he was reluctant to grant it as he had to consider legal points for a stay application on declaratory orders.
Nizar's lawyer, Sulaiman Abdullah, said he had been given instruction that Nizar intended to go back to Perak to seek a dissolution of the assembly and that would solve the problem immediately.
Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail also asked the judge to decide immediately as it would be easier for the parties.
However, the judge said he was refusing an oral application for a stay and asked Cecil to put in a formal application (written) along with the authorities (cases).
"I am refusing the oral judgement," said Abdul Aziz.
Yahoo
RM0.00
KEPUTUSAN
Mahkamah
Tinggi: Nizar
masih MB sah
Perak. Hakim
Abdul Abdul Aziz
kata Nizar tidakpernah hadapi
undi tak percaya
dalam Dun
11May2009
15:45:50
which I then spread arpoound my network like WILDFIRE!:)
From thestar.com.my, I copied this @11.30AM in a dark and dangy
Internet cafe somewhere in Brickfields, KL, in asnwering a colleague's
concern whether I was wearing "Black"m and could not be sighted within
the neighbourhood of YMCA, scared I would be housed in Black Maria for
a lunch AP an hour from now:( -YL, Desi
***************************
Published: Tuesday May 12, 2009 MYT 11:05:00 AM
Dissolve state assembly, Ku Li urges Sultan
By SYED AZHAR
KOTA BARU: Umno veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah has urged the Sultan of Perak to dissolve the Assembly to prevent the political imbroglio in the state from spiralling out of control.
In a blog posting on Monday, he noted that he had written on Feb 7 that Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Nizar Jamaluddin was still the legal mentri besar despite the takeover by Barisan Nasional.
He had said then that according to the state constitution, Nizar was the mentri besar until he resigned of his own accord or was removed by a vote of no confidence in a formal sitting of the Assembly.
The Perak constitution makes no provision for his removal by any other means, including by petitions or instructions from any other authority, he had written then.
“Today, after three months and yet more shameful scenes, the High Court affirmed the same elementary principle, and held that Nizar has been and remains the mentri besar,” Tengku Razaleigh wrote on Monday,
The High Court also ordered Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir and his executive officers to vacate their offices, and rejected an application from Zambry for a stay of proceedings pending an appeal.
Tengku Razaleigh urged the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Azlan Shah, to dissolve the Assembly.
“This is the decent thing to do, but also the only way out of a crisis which has already spiralled out of Perak, damaged the rule of law, compromised the judiciary, the police and the state civil service, and damaged the monarchy in public opinion,” he said.
He said the Dr Zambry’s administration had been illegitimate all along and all decisions and contracts were made without legal status.
“The cascade of illegalities we warned of must now be unwound painfully. This includes the deplorable events of May 7 in Ipoh. It means the resolution to replace the Speaker was brought by an illegal state government,” he added.
In his no holds barred style, Tengku Razaleigh also said that the monarchy itself has been embarrassed by this episode, as well as by “a systematic programme by some to inflame this issue into one of race and treason.”
“Such attempts only hurt the institutions they claim to protect, and they hurt Umno and Barisan Nasional.
“The real issue has always been the Constitution and the Rule of Law, and the monarchy is protected in its role of upholding the primacy of the Constitution.
“Umno is not well served by leaders who place short-term political objectives above the Constitution,” he added.
___________________________
From theSUN online:
Mon, 11 May 2009
WEB EDITION :: Local News
Nizar rightful Perak MB: Court
S. Tamarai Chelvi and Husna Yusop
KUALA LUMPUR (May 11, 2009): In yet another twist to the Perak political crisis, the High Court today declared Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin the rightful Mentri Besar of Perak.
A triumphant Mohammad Nizar waves to his supporters outsite
the High Court.
The decision comes just four days after the tumultous one-day Perak Assembly sitting on Thursday which saw the Pakatan Rakyat Speaker V. Sivakumar being forcibly removed from the House, to be replaced by Datuk R. Ganesan, as the Barisan Nasional took control of the assembly.
Barisan Nasional, led by Datuk Dr Zambry Abd Kadir, toppled the 10-month-old Pakatan government in Perak in February after three PR assemblymen left their parties to become BN-friendly independents.
On Feb 13, Nizar, 52, filed an application to the court for a declaration that he is at all material times the rightful Mentri Besar of Perak.
In allowing five prayers sought by Nizar in his application for judicial review yesterday, Judge Datuk Abdul Aziz Abdul Rahim said once the Mentri Besar is appointed, he is only answerable to the State Legislative Assembly, and could only be removed by a vote of no confidence.
"Any measure of loss of confidence should be taken on the floor of the State Legislative Assembly by vote of no confidence. Only in this way can a Mentri Besar resign," he said.
He said Nizar never had a vote of no confidence taken against him in the Assembly and he did not request for a dissolution because of loss of confidence by the majority.
"Why did the Barisan Nasional not request Nizar to be summoned to the State Legislative Assembly to have a special sitting for a motion of no confidence to be passed? This would be in accordance with the democratic process," said Abdul Aziz.
Abdul Aziz said a Mentri Besar could not be dismissed by the Sultan of Perak for the reason that he did not hold the office at the sultan's pleasure.
The dismissal of the Mentri Besar by the Sultan was never contemplated by Article 16(6) of the Perak Constitution, he added.
As such, he said he was of the view that the office of the Menteri Besar of Perak had not become vacant or was vacated.
The five prayers sought for declarations were;
> that Nizar is the rightful Mentri Besar
> there was no dissolution of the Perak Assembly, no motion of no-confidence was passed against him in the Assembly and that he did not resign
> a writ of quo warranto is issued against Zambry ordering him to show cause and this information is made under what policy /power/ and authority he allegedly holds office as Mentri Besar, and allegedly acts or exercises or implements responsibility/ functions/ duties of Perak Mentri Besar
> a declaration order that Zambry has no right to act/occupy the office of Mentri Besar and he was not Perak Mentri Besar at any material time
> an injunction order to prevent Zambry and his agents or servants from acting and exercising and implementing the responsibility and functions or duties of Mentri Besar.
(Nizar had asked for punitive, aggravated and exemplery damages, an inquiry into the damages and costs but withdrew them last week)
After the decision, Zambry's lawyer Datuk Cecil Abraham asked for an application for a stay.
However, Abdul Aziz said he was reluctant to grant it as he had to consider legal points for a stay application on declaratory orders.
Nizar's lawyer, Sulaiman Abdullah, said he had been given instruction that Nizar intended to go back to Perak to seek a dissolution of the assembly and that would solve the problem immediately.
Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail also asked the judge to decide immediately as it would be easier for the parties.
However, the judge said he was refusing an oral application for a stay and asked Cecil to put in a formal application (written) along with the authorities (cases).
"I am refusing the oral judgement," said Abdul Aziz.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Blogswagon -- some interesting times Ahead!
YES, at RM60 a head wit' THREE ROAST LAMBS at Warren Buffet's table!
Here's what to expect:)
1. BUM2009 is Coming! Art Thou Kambing?
Lazy BUMmers, and BUMmers2B or Bloggers2B (B2B), the BUM2009 Organisers have srt up a Dedicated website to lead you there/dare for a FUN-d Bloggers' Event of the Year coming Saturday! Amore at:
REF: bum2009.wordpress.com:):):):):):):)
2. HISTORY to BUMmers gatherings is well recorded and archived by particpants/Bloggers at
(a) Inaugural meeting/gathering to mark World Pres Freedom Day at
bum2007.wordpress.com, thanks to great effort mainly by SOON LiTsin, remember politickus?
(b) Seond meeting's coverage and other information at bum2008-desiderata.blogspot.com, which expanded attendance from BUM2007's 150 to BUM2008's 190.
And for BUM2009, with your gracious presence/PRESENT, we may attain 200+*30 = 230!
Note the *30 comprises a 10-member BUM2009 Organising Committee; Speakers and CPI Guests. CPI is the Centre for Policy Initiatives headed by DR LIM TECK GHEEwho has been supportive of the BUMmers' gallant efforts, coming in as joint organising starting off with last year's BUM2008. Thanks TG! CPI has a one-year-plus-old website at cpiasia.net...DO VISIT and ENJOY some mind excursions! ~~ YL Chong, who also fronts as Editor, CPI while he's knot daydreaming and writHing nonsensical lyrical stuff at his own Blog. It's rumoured he's asking for 20million for his My Blue H'aven, four-year-old, sei-LOL!A Desperado intimation is that the offer at eBoy! in rupiahs, also cun!
Here's what to expect:)
1. BUM2009 is Coming! Art Thou Kambing?
Lazy BUMmers, and BUMmers2B or Bloggers2B (B2B), the BUM2009 Organisers have srt up a Dedicated website to lead you there/dare for a FUN-d Bloggers' Event of the Year coming Saturday! Amore at:
REF: bum2009.wordpress.com:):):):):):):)
2. HISTORY to BUMmers gatherings is well recorded and archived by particpants/Bloggers at
(a) Inaugural meeting/gathering to mark World Pres Freedom Day at
bum2007.wordpress.com, thanks to great effort mainly by SOON LiTsin, remember politickus?
(b) Seond meeting's coverage and other information at bum2008-desiderata.blogspot.com, which expanded attendance from BUM2007's 150 to BUM2008's 190.
And for BUM2009, with your gracious presence/PRESENT, we may attain 200+*30 = 230!
Note the *30 comprises a 10-member BUM2009 Organising Committee; Speakers and CPI Guests. CPI is the Centre for Policy Initiatives headed by DR LIM TECK GHEEwho has been supportive of the BUMmers' gallant efforts, coming in as joint organising starting off with last year's BUM2008. Thanks TG! CPI has a one-year-plus-old website at cpiasia.net...DO VISIT and ENJOY some mind excursions! ~~ YL Chong, who also fronts as Editor, CPI while he's knot daydreaming and writHing nonsensical lyrical stuff at his own Blog. It's rumoured he's asking for 20million for his My Blue H'aven, four-year-old, sei-LOL!A Desperado intimation is that the offer at eBoy! in rupiahs, also cun!
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Going Down with Losers...
Never
tasted a human trait
that gnaws at one's system
more deeply, lastingly,
yeah, more lustily too
Than
a word given
then broken
that leads the receiver
to the edge
It's almost falling over the down staircase
One has been struggling to reach the
Top where a goal post
Is parked
But a word given
then broken
it breaks the human spirit
of a fellow human
And the breaker laughs his way
as he chips at another's spirit
up and down another staircase
Hopefully, one fine day
He slips and falls
And lies hurting at the bottowm of the staircase
Mumbling more words and crying for help
And none is forthcoming
For his victims have tasted the bitterness
Of broken dreams
because of
But a word given by a Loser
that was then shattered
tasted a human trait
that gnaws at one's system
more deeply, lastingly,
yeah, more lustily too
Than
a word given
then broken
that leads the receiver
to the edge
It's almost falling over the down staircase
One has been struggling to reach the
Top where a goal post
Is parked
But a word given
then broken
it breaks the human spirit
of a fellow human
And the breaker laughs his way
as he chips at another's spirit
up and down another staircase
Hopefully, one fine day
He slips and falls
And lies hurting at the bottowm of the staircase
Mumbling more words and crying for help
And none is forthcoming
For his victims have tasted the bitterness
Of broken dreams
because of
But a word given by a Loser
that was then shattered
Saturday, May 09, 2009
One non-MSM and wan from MSM entry on Perak circus
Who says Desi is "not balanced" as a Blogger? I am in that happy position -- like Rockybru, is that a GOoD beneficial association/link ah? -- in that I have one foot in the 4th estate, the other in the 5th estate. ANALOGY: I'm a socialist most weakdays, and a 100% Capitalist on the wickends. Hence I always insist whoever wants to treat YL, please invite Desi only on Saturdays and Sundaes. CON BF also cun!:) ENJOY the lamb at BUM2009! -- YL as Jurassick nu'eshound(in *******MSM capacity), Desi as BUMmer(in non-MSM cappedcity)
Take 1:
From cpiasia.net where it's rumoured/humoured that YL Chong earns to pay for the three layers of Skippy on his french toast (knot capped:(
already layered with Butter and "kaya"!
Perak debacle – an unforgivable violation of the Constitution
Columnists
Written by Kim Quek, CPI
Saturday, 09 May 2009 00:40
8 May 2009
The Barisan Nasional (BN) government has probably scored another first in the world. It has sent its police force to enter a state legislative assembly hall to physically haul the sitting speaker out of the assembly hall and escort another speaker of its choice to take over the empty seat during a melee. Through this act, BN claimed that it has successfully ousted the Pakatan Rakyat speaker S. Sivakumar.
We have seen scuffles between opposing legislators in legislative assemblies in other parts of the world, notably in Taiwan and South Korea . And we have also seen Sergeants-at-arms getting physical in such situations. But I don’t believe there is a precedent anywhere that the police force enters a legislature to take control of events – least of all, physically evicting an incumbent speaker and physically installing a new speaker from the opposing camp, like what happened in the Perak state assembly on May 7, 2009.
Under the doctrine of Separation of Powers, upon which the Malaysian Constitution is founded, neither the Executive, nor the Judiciary can meddle into the affairs of the legislature. As the supreme body of a government and as an independent institution, the legislative assembly enjoys autonomy and has always been meticulously out of bounds to the police force.
Sending a horde of police personnel into the assembly hall to forcibly enforce a decision of one party against another is therefore a heinous and unforgivable act of violation of the fundamental principles of our Constitution. First, the police should never intrude into the sacrosanct grounds of the assembly; and second, the police should never take sides in a political dispute, as it should at all time act as a politically neutral body to enforce law and order.
The pandemonium that broke out in the Perak Assembly is rooted in a tussle for legitimacy to govern the Perak State. The constitutional crisis exploded in early February when the Ruler appointed a new Menteri Besar from BN when the incumbent Pakatan Rakyat Menteri Besar had not resigned, resulting in two parallel governments. The issues that complicate the impasse now are:
a) whether the three defectors from Pakatan Rakyat (PR) did or did not resign as assemblymen
b) whether the suspensions of BN Menteri Besar Zambry Kadir and his six executive councilors for 18 months and 12 months respectively from the assembly are valid
c) which of the two -- BN's Zambry or PR's Nizar Jamaluddin-- is the rightful Menteri Besar
All these three issues are now being legally contested in a web of suits and counter suits in the high courts, the eventual outcomes of which may take years to decide as they wiggle their ways to the higher courts. The obvious, and in fact the only practical solution to the stalemate, is a dissolution of the assembly and return the mandate to the people of Perak. Failing which, the Perak crisis will continue to fester as unbearable political and economic sore to not only Perakians but to all Malaysians.
Meanwhile, BN must not be too quick to celebrate their ‘success’ in physically evicting the incumbent Pakatan speaker Sivakumar, as physical eviction is not necessary the same as legal eviction. As rightly pointed out by Pakatan Menteri Besar Nizar Jamaluddin and speaker Sivakumar, the motion of no confidence in speaker Sivakumar was null and void as he had not even convened the meeting yet when the motion was proposed by Zambry. Besides, Sivakumar had already issued a letter of rejection of the motion a day earlier, in exercise of his right under the standing orders.
As for the police violation of the Constitution, the prime culprits ultimately responsible for this debacle are the Inspector-General of Police Musa Hassan and Home Affairs Minister Hishammuddin Hussein. In any established democracy, they will have to defend their honour by offering to resign. However, short of resignation, the least they should do now is to offer an apology to the nation.
Take 2:
Written by The Star (an *******MSM)
Published by malaysia-today.net (+++non-MSM)
Time to end Perak’s circus
Posted by admin
Friday, 08 May 2009 09:11
Taking steps to let the people decide the government and to stop any attempt to thwart their will is the ultimate solution to the problem.
BY P. GUNASEGARAM (The Star)
FROM whoever’s point of view, the ongoing circus in Perak is a mockery of democracy, its institutions, and the state and federal constitutions as politicians jostle for power over, and control of, the state.
The root of the problem is the infamous three hopping out of Pakatan Rakyat to be Independents friendly to Barisan Nasio-nal.
That does not mean the Pakatan government is blameless. It was, after all, their de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim who famously or infamously – depending on your orientation – declared that he would topple the Federal Barisan Government.
But it turned out to be an empty boast. The Sept 16 deadline last year has expired and the Federal Government still stands strong and firm – with its 58-seat majority, just eight short of a two-thirds majority, intact. Not a single Barisan lawmaker hopped over to the opposition.
The amazing thing about that episode was that while as long as it was thought that Anwar had a chance to pull off that major hop, the criticism against thwarting the people’s will was muted among Pakatan’s leaders.
The one clear exception was the old lion and DAP stalwart Karpal Singh.
And for Pakatan as a whole to acquiesce to the suggestion that the Federal Government be overthrown by party hoppers was nothing short of appalling. And dangerous, too.
Does it not mean that the people’s will was being thwarted? After all, the people voted in Pakatan for only five states – as important as some of the states were, such as Selangor, Perak and Penang. They did NOT vote in Pakatan for the Federal Government.
What that abortive attempt to unseat the Federal Government meant was that Pakatan had lost the moral high ground to protest when its three representatives in Perak hopped out and declared themselves Independents friendly to Barisan.
However we may argue the situation now, the undisputed fact is that Barisan has the majority of seats in the Perak State Assembly. Everything else is procedural. If the state assembly were to sit, who will enjoy the confidence of the majority? The answer is plain.
But just as Barisan has used a legal, if underhand, tactic to get to power, we can expect that Pakatan will exhaust every trick in the book to delay and question the issue by all means legal and politically expedient.
That means the cauldron will continue to simmer for a while yet. It may even overflow occasionally if Pakatan can induce some crossovers and get the pot to boiling again.
Already the circus has descended to the physical level – which has been largely kept out of our legislative assemblies. The public has had to bear ridiculous – even comical, if it were not so serious – scenes such as the assembly under a tree, which gained world headlines. And then there was yesterday which we all could have done without.
The people are restive. They elected somebody else but someone else has come to power by the back door. The process is still not over and there are going to be challenges and counter challenges.
In the meantime it will be the state and the people who suffer while politicians focus on politics and neglect government.
The problem is the politicians have not shown themselves to be responsible. On one side of the divide, they threatened to overthrow the government and on the other side they actually did. Both of them showed complete disdain for the people.
Now it is high time to put these things behind us. If politicians agree that the will of the people has to be respected – anyone who disagrees is not only not a politician but a despot to boot – then they must do what is necessary to actualise that.
At the end of the day, there is only one way to end the circus. Let the people decide. And put in place the laws to stop party-hopping by elected representatives. If they do, they must be made to face the people for a fresh mandate.
It was Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, then a government minister in charge of law, who proposed that party-hopping of elected representatives be discouraged by forcing automatic by-elections.
It came to pass that his proposal was not only rejected by many within Barisan but met with lukewarm reception from the opposition as well.
Realistically, as far as Perak is concerned, we have probably passed the point of no return. That means continuing turmoil to the detriment of the people and state, at least until elections are held again.
But the public itself should not give up hope. It should push for its will to be respected and followed. Accordingly, it should pressure the two main coalitions to publicly declare support for by-elections in the event of party defections.
If one of them declines, we know who to vote for. If both decline, we have a problem – we have to start looking further. If both agree, we don’t have a problem, right?
We just have to work out the mechanics in full public view so that the people can judge who is balking.
That’s the beauty of having choices and alternatives.
_____________________________________
Managing editor of The Star P. Gunasegaram remembers too many disgraceful episodes of party-hopping over the last 25 years. It is high time we put a stop to it, he says.
******* DESIDERATA: If my dear ER has/have to ask what is MSM, you should then get some education at BUM2009! ~~ Desi, knottyaSsusual:)
Surf to bum2009.wordpress.com NOW!
+++ As for non-MSM, hey, it seats OPPOSITE the MSM, off course, you dummy! OOops,delete "dummy", it should read IGNORAmuse,jest as Desi's a muse-d!:)
SEE you at LVC one week from now -- Strong and Steady as a cow, not lamb -- on Saturday May 16, 2009. Especially at Warren Bufet's table from 8.30PM -- please leave wan leg of lamb for Desi, willya!
Take 1:
From cpiasia.net where it's rumoured/humoured that YL Chong earns to pay for the three layers of Skippy on his french toast (knot capped:(
already layered with Butter and "kaya"!
Perak debacle – an unforgivable violation of the Constitution
Columnists
Written by Kim Quek, CPI
Saturday, 09 May 2009 00:40
8 May 2009
The Barisan Nasional (BN) government has probably scored another first in the world. It has sent its police force to enter a state legislative assembly hall to physically haul the sitting speaker out of the assembly hall and escort another speaker of its choice to take over the empty seat during a melee. Through this act, BN claimed that it has successfully ousted the Pakatan Rakyat speaker S. Sivakumar.
We have seen scuffles between opposing legislators in legislative assemblies in other parts of the world, notably in Taiwan and South Korea . And we have also seen Sergeants-at-arms getting physical in such situations. But I don’t believe there is a precedent anywhere that the police force enters a legislature to take control of events – least of all, physically evicting an incumbent speaker and physically installing a new speaker from the opposing camp, like what happened in the Perak state assembly on May 7, 2009.
Under the doctrine of Separation of Powers, upon which the Malaysian Constitution is founded, neither the Executive, nor the Judiciary can meddle into the affairs of the legislature. As the supreme body of a government and as an independent institution, the legislative assembly enjoys autonomy and has always been meticulously out of bounds to the police force.
Sending a horde of police personnel into the assembly hall to forcibly enforce a decision of one party against another is therefore a heinous and unforgivable act of violation of the fundamental principles of our Constitution. First, the police should never intrude into the sacrosanct grounds of the assembly; and second, the police should never take sides in a political dispute, as it should at all time act as a politically neutral body to enforce law and order.
The pandemonium that broke out in the Perak Assembly is rooted in a tussle for legitimacy to govern the Perak State. The constitutional crisis exploded in early February when the Ruler appointed a new Menteri Besar from BN when the incumbent Pakatan Rakyat Menteri Besar had not resigned, resulting in two parallel governments. The issues that complicate the impasse now are:
a) whether the three defectors from Pakatan Rakyat (PR) did or did not resign as assemblymen
b) whether the suspensions of BN Menteri Besar Zambry Kadir and his six executive councilors for 18 months and 12 months respectively from the assembly are valid
c) which of the two -- BN's Zambry or PR's Nizar Jamaluddin-- is the rightful Menteri Besar
All these three issues are now being legally contested in a web of suits and counter suits in the high courts, the eventual outcomes of which may take years to decide as they wiggle their ways to the higher courts. The obvious, and in fact the only practical solution to the stalemate, is a dissolution of the assembly and return the mandate to the people of Perak. Failing which, the Perak crisis will continue to fester as unbearable political and economic sore to not only Perakians but to all Malaysians.
Meanwhile, BN must not be too quick to celebrate their ‘success’ in physically evicting the incumbent Pakatan speaker Sivakumar, as physical eviction is not necessary the same as legal eviction. As rightly pointed out by Pakatan Menteri Besar Nizar Jamaluddin and speaker Sivakumar, the motion of no confidence in speaker Sivakumar was null and void as he had not even convened the meeting yet when the motion was proposed by Zambry. Besides, Sivakumar had already issued a letter of rejection of the motion a day earlier, in exercise of his right under the standing orders.
As for the police violation of the Constitution, the prime culprits ultimately responsible for this debacle are the Inspector-General of Police Musa Hassan and Home Affairs Minister Hishammuddin Hussein. In any established democracy, they will have to defend their honour by offering to resign. However, short of resignation, the least they should do now is to offer an apology to the nation.
Take 2:
Written by The Star (an *******MSM)
Published by malaysia-today.net (+++non-MSM)
Time to end Perak’s circus
Posted by admin
Friday, 08 May 2009 09:11
Taking steps to let the people decide the government and to stop any attempt to thwart their will is the ultimate solution to the problem.
BY P. GUNASEGARAM (The Star)
FROM whoever’s point of view, the ongoing circus in Perak is a mockery of democracy, its institutions, and the state and federal constitutions as politicians jostle for power over, and control of, the state.
The root of the problem is the infamous three hopping out of Pakatan Rakyat to be Independents friendly to Barisan Nasio-nal.
That does not mean the Pakatan government is blameless. It was, after all, their de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim who famously or infamously – depending on your orientation – declared that he would topple the Federal Barisan Government.
But it turned out to be an empty boast. The Sept 16 deadline last year has expired and the Federal Government still stands strong and firm – with its 58-seat majority, just eight short of a two-thirds majority, intact. Not a single Barisan lawmaker hopped over to the opposition.
The amazing thing about that episode was that while as long as it was thought that Anwar had a chance to pull off that major hop, the criticism against thwarting the people’s will was muted among Pakatan’s leaders.
The one clear exception was the old lion and DAP stalwart Karpal Singh.
And for Pakatan as a whole to acquiesce to the suggestion that the Federal Government be overthrown by party hoppers was nothing short of appalling. And dangerous, too.
Does it not mean that the people’s will was being thwarted? After all, the people voted in Pakatan for only five states – as important as some of the states were, such as Selangor, Perak and Penang. They did NOT vote in Pakatan for the Federal Government.
What that abortive attempt to unseat the Federal Government meant was that Pakatan had lost the moral high ground to protest when its three representatives in Perak hopped out and declared themselves Independents friendly to Barisan.
However we may argue the situation now, the undisputed fact is that Barisan has the majority of seats in the Perak State Assembly. Everything else is procedural. If the state assembly were to sit, who will enjoy the confidence of the majority? The answer is plain.
But just as Barisan has used a legal, if underhand, tactic to get to power, we can expect that Pakatan will exhaust every trick in the book to delay and question the issue by all means legal and politically expedient.
That means the cauldron will continue to simmer for a while yet. It may even overflow occasionally if Pakatan can induce some crossovers and get the pot to boiling again.
Already the circus has descended to the physical level – which has been largely kept out of our legislative assemblies. The public has had to bear ridiculous – even comical, if it were not so serious – scenes such as the assembly under a tree, which gained world headlines. And then there was yesterday which we all could have done without.
The people are restive. They elected somebody else but someone else has come to power by the back door. The process is still not over and there are going to be challenges and counter challenges.
In the meantime it will be the state and the people who suffer while politicians focus on politics and neglect government.
The problem is the politicians have not shown themselves to be responsible. On one side of the divide, they threatened to overthrow the government and on the other side they actually did. Both of them showed complete disdain for the people.
Now it is high time to put these things behind us. If politicians agree that the will of the people has to be respected – anyone who disagrees is not only not a politician but a despot to boot – then they must do what is necessary to actualise that.
At the end of the day, there is only one way to end the circus. Let the people decide. And put in place the laws to stop party-hopping by elected representatives. If they do, they must be made to face the people for a fresh mandate.
It was Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, then a government minister in charge of law, who proposed that party-hopping of elected representatives be discouraged by forcing automatic by-elections.
It came to pass that his proposal was not only rejected by many within Barisan but met with lukewarm reception from the opposition as well.
Realistically, as far as Perak is concerned, we have probably passed the point of no return. That means continuing turmoil to the detriment of the people and state, at least until elections are held again.
But the public itself should not give up hope. It should push for its will to be respected and followed. Accordingly, it should pressure the two main coalitions to publicly declare support for by-elections in the event of party defections.
If one of them declines, we know who to vote for. If both decline, we have a problem – we have to start looking further. If both agree, we don’t have a problem, right?
We just have to work out the mechanics in full public view so that the people can judge who is balking.
That’s the beauty of having choices and alternatives.
_____________________________________
Managing editor of The Star P. Gunasegaram remembers too many disgraceful episodes of party-hopping over the last 25 years. It is high time we put a stop to it, he says.
******* DESIDERATA: If my dear ER has/have to ask what is MSM, you should then get some education at BUM2009! ~~ Desi, knottyaSsusual:)
Surf to bum2009.wordpress.com NOW!
+++ As for non-MSM, hey, it seats OPPOSITE the MSM, off course, you dummy! OOops,delete "dummy", it should read IGNORAmuse,jest as Desi's a muse-d!:)
SEE you at LVC one week from now -- Strong and Steady as a cow, not lamb -- on Saturday May 16, 2009. Especially at Warren Bufet's table from 8.30PM -- please leave wan leg of lamb for Desi, willya!
Thursday, May 07, 2009
Perak SA in chaos, and the People think our law-makers have become a circus!
From the Malaysian Insider:
LINK:
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/lite/articles_headlines.php?id=malaysia/25697-shoving-match-in-tussle-for-speakers-chair
Shoving match in tussle for Speaker’s chair
UPDATED 1.10pm
By Adib Zalkapli and Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani
IPOH, May 6 — The Barisan Nasional-installed Speaker Datuk R. Ganesan has announced another “adjournment” of the House for another hour even though the sitting has yet to be opened while Pakatan Rakyat assemblymen try to get him to leave the House.
Earlier, BN and PR state lawmakers were engaged in a shoving match as Ganesan attempted to take the Speaker’s chair while the PR Speaker V. Sivakumar refused to vacate his seat.
Sivakumar attempted to reconvene proceedings but the situation descended into pandemonium with lawmakers on the verge of coming to blows.
While both BN and PR still claim to be the legitimate government, there is now also two assembly Speakers after Ganesan took his oath as the new Speaker in a corner of the hall following Deputy Speaker Hee Yit Foong’s “removal” of Sivakumar.Earlier, Sivakumar had refused to vacate the Speaker’s seat while Ganesan presided over the sitting of BN assemblymen from his corner.
Sivakumar has also announced that he had written a letter dated yesterday rejecting the tabling of all motions, including one to remove him and to install Ganesan as his replacement.
The PR-appointed Speaker also pointed out that Raja Nazrin Shah had not yet declared open the sitting of the assembly.
At 11.30am, the assembly was “adjourned” for an hour by Ganesan, resulting in a respite to the shambolic proceedings with both BN and PR lawmakers taking their respective places.
Earlier, Sivakumar had ordered BN Mentri Besar Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir and other BN lawmakers out of the assembly.
Zambry had also repeatedly tried to table a motion to remove the speaker, which Sivakumar has rejected repeatedly as well.
Sivakumar had refused to convene sitting of the assembly until Zambry and six other BN lawmakers whom he had suspended leave the hall.With the streets outside turned into what the DAP’s Lim Kit Siang has called a “war zone,” the Perak state assembly convened earlier with Sivakumar asking Zambry and six other lawmakers to leave the hall, turning the assembly into a scene of chaos amid shouting and screaming.
Earlier, all other assemblymen arrived, with PR lawmakers seated at the government benches.
Outside, more than 20 people, including at least six lawmakers, were arrested and scores others refused entry into the Perak State Secretariat as police locked down Ipoh city ahead of the controversial state assembly meeting.
Traffic was gridlocked as police rolled out barbed wire and mounted road blocks in a 500-metre radius from the building, allowing in only those with special passes and preventing hundreds of protesters clad in black T-shirts from the sitting to be opened by Raja Muda Raja Nazrin Shah.
"This has become a war zone. This is a national and international disgrace. Even when we have received official invites from the speaker, we are refused entry," Lim told reporters outside the restricted zone after his car was stopped from entry.
"It is most shameful and outrageous," the Ipoh Timur MP added. Beside him was Ipoh Barat MP M. Kulasegaran who was also not allowed into the complex. Kula's political secretary P. Sugumaran was earlier detained by police for refusing to leave the place.
PKR Wanita chief and Ampang MP Zuraida Kamarudin and DAP's Teratai (Selangor) assemblywoman Jenice Lee, Ayer Keroh's Khoo Poay Tiong (Malacca) and Bahau's Tey Kok Seong (Negri Sembilan) were also among those arrested. They were clad in black T-shirts and wore caps that said “Bubarkan DUN” or “Dissolve the State Assembly”, a key demand by the Pakatan Rakyat government toppled by Barisan Nasional in early February.
The electoral reform group Bersih, comprising opposition parties and some activists, urged Malaysians to wear back today, prompting police to arrest its spokesman Wong Chin Huat two days ago for sedition. The media studies lecturer is expected to be released from police remand tomorrow.
It is learnt that police have seized 200 black T-shirts emblazoned with the words “1BlackMalaysia” from a stall near a Kampung Manjoi surau where PAS supporters had earlier performed subuh or dawn prayers. Police had earlier warned against people gathering or wearing black.
They also shut down the roads around the state secretariat, causing traffic congestion in this normally sleepy capital city. Police said the roads will be reopened later in the day.
Ousted Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin and his executive council together with backbenchers, equalling the Barisan Nasional numbers at 28, were taken with police escort to attend the sitting in the 59-seat assembly.
Three other lawmakers are independent after they walked out of Pakatan and precipated the imbroglio.
Sivakumar arrives at the state secretariat at 9.35am and gets a salute from the honour guard as he is escorted by assembly secretary Abdullah Antong Sabri.
He is followed by Zambry who also receives a salute as Sivakumar and Abdullah escort him.
Raja Nazrin Shah arrives at 9.45am and inspects the honour guard. Secretariat officials then allow lawmakers, special guests and journalists into the assembly hall.
Police yesterday set up roadblocks at the Jalan Panglima Bukit Gantang Wahab-Jalan St John junction and near the Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman flyover.
They had obtained a court order to prevent illegal gatherings around the state secretariat and traffic police were on hand to divert traffic around the government sector in Ipoh.
DESIDERATA: It's like a Shakespearean play with comedic nuances but deep social,political consequences, and a democratic system is being manipulated by certain PLAYERS to be more like a demo-crazy court of jesters and circus performers.
IF ONLY THE "KEY PLAYERS" HAD PERFORMED THEIR DUTIES RIGHTFULLY, the Perak State assembly would not have dexcended into CHAOS and is becoming a CIRCUS. Except the laughing time is over-run and the Rakay have become "tired and weary..."
DO THE RIGHT THING -- DISSOLVE THE PERAK STATE ASSEMBLY IMMEDIATELY!
GO BACK TO THE ELECTORATE OF PERAK TO DECIDE THEIR OWN FATE!
ISN'T THIS THE CORE PURPOSE OF DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT WHEN THERE IS A STATE OF IMPASSE/STALEMATE?
LINK:
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/lite/articles_headlines.php?id=malaysia/25697-shoving-match-in-tussle-for-speakers-chair
Shoving match in tussle for Speaker’s chair
UPDATED 1.10pm
By Adib Zalkapli and Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani
IPOH, May 6 — The Barisan Nasional-installed Speaker Datuk R. Ganesan has announced another “adjournment” of the House for another hour even though the sitting has yet to be opened while Pakatan Rakyat assemblymen try to get him to leave the House.
Earlier, BN and PR state lawmakers were engaged in a shoving match as Ganesan attempted to take the Speaker’s chair while the PR Speaker V. Sivakumar refused to vacate his seat.
Sivakumar attempted to reconvene proceedings but the situation descended into pandemonium with lawmakers on the verge of coming to blows.
While both BN and PR still claim to be the legitimate government, there is now also two assembly Speakers after Ganesan took his oath as the new Speaker in a corner of the hall following Deputy Speaker Hee Yit Foong’s “removal” of Sivakumar.Earlier, Sivakumar had refused to vacate the Speaker’s seat while Ganesan presided over the sitting of BN assemblymen from his corner.
Sivakumar has also announced that he had written a letter dated yesterday rejecting the tabling of all motions, including one to remove him and to install Ganesan as his replacement.
The PR-appointed Speaker also pointed out that Raja Nazrin Shah had not yet declared open the sitting of the assembly.
At 11.30am, the assembly was “adjourned” for an hour by Ganesan, resulting in a respite to the shambolic proceedings with both BN and PR lawmakers taking their respective places.
Earlier, Sivakumar had ordered BN Mentri Besar Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir and other BN lawmakers out of the assembly.
Zambry had also repeatedly tried to table a motion to remove the speaker, which Sivakumar has rejected repeatedly as well.
Sivakumar had refused to convene sitting of the assembly until Zambry and six other BN lawmakers whom he had suspended leave the hall.With the streets outside turned into what the DAP’s Lim Kit Siang has called a “war zone,” the Perak state assembly convened earlier with Sivakumar asking Zambry and six other lawmakers to leave the hall, turning the assembly into a scene of chaos amid shouting and screaming.
Earlier, all other assemblymen arrived, with PR lawmakers seated at the government benches.
Outside, more than 20 people, including at least six lawmakers, were arrested and scores others refused entry into the Perak State Secretariat as police locked down Ipoh city ahead of the controversial state assembly meeting.
Traffic was gridlocked as police rolled out barbed wire and mounted road blocks in a 500-metre radius from the building, allowing in only those with special passes and preventing hundreds of protesters clad in black T-shirts from the sitting to be opened by Raja Muda Raja Nazrin Shah.
"This has become a war zone. This is a national and international disgrace. Even when we have received official invites from the speaker, we are refused entry," Lim told reporters outside the restricted zone after his car was stopped from entry.
"It is most shameful and outrageous," the Ipoh Timur MP added. Beside him was Ipoh Barat MP M. Kulasegaran who was also not allowed into the complex. Kula's political secretary P. Sugumaran was earlier detained by police for refusing to leave the place.
PKR Wanita chief and Ampang MP Zuraida Kamarudin and DAP's Teratai (Selangor) assemblywoman Jenice Lee, Ayer Keroh's Khoo Poay Tiong (Malacca) and Bahau's Tey Kok Seong (Negri Sembilan) were also among those arrested. They were clad in black T-shirts and wore caps that said “Bubarkan DUN” or “Dissolve the State Assembly”, a key demand by the Pakatan Rakyat government toppled by Barisan Nasional in early February.
The electoral reform group Bersih, comprising opposition parties and some activists, urged Malaysians to wear back today, prompting police to arrest its spokesman Wong Chin Huat two days ago for sedition. The media studies lecturer is expected to be released from police remand tomorrow.
It is learnt that police have seized 200 black T-shirts emblazoned with the words “1BlackMalaysia” from a stall near a Kampung Manjoi surau where PAS supporters had earlier performed subuh or dawn prayers. Police had earlier warned against people gathering or wearing black.
They also shut down the roads around the state secretariat, causing traffic congestion in this normally sleepy capital city. Police said the roads will be reopened later in the day.
Ousted Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin and his executive council together with backbenchers, equalling the Barisan Nasional numbers at 28, were taken with police escort to attend the sitting in the 59-seat assembly.
Three other lawmakers are independent after they walked out of Pakatan and precipated the imbroglio.
Sivakumar arrives at the state secretariat at 9.35am and gets a salute from the honour guard as he is escorted by assembly secretary Abdullah Antong Sabri.
He is followed by Zambry who also receives a salute as Sivakumar and Abdullah escort him.
Raja Nazrin Shah arrives at 9.45am and inspects the honour guard. Secretariat officials then allow lawmakers, special guests and journalists into the assembly hall.
Police yesterday set up roadblocks at the Jalan Panglima Bukit Gantang Wahab-Jalan St John junction and near the Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman flyover.
They had obtained a court order to prevent illegal gatherings around the state secretariat and traffic police were on hand to divert traffic around the government sector in Ipoh.
DESIDERATA: It's like a Shakespearean play with comedic nuances but deep social,political consequences, and a democratic system is being manipulated by certain PLAYERS to be more like a demo-crazy court of jesters and circus performers.
IF ONLY THE "KEY PLAYERS" HAD PERFORMED THEIR DUTIES RIGHTFULLY, the Perak State assembly would not have dexcended into CHAOS and is becoming a CIRCUS. Except the laughing time is over-run and the Rakay have become "tired and weary..."
DO THE RIGHT THING -- DISSOLVE THE PERAK STATE ASSEMBLY IMMEDIATELY!
GO BACK TO THE ELECTORATE OF PERAK TO DECIDE THEIR OWN FATE!
ISN'T THIS THE CORE PURPOSE OF DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT WHEN THERE IS A STATE OF IMPASSE/STALEMATE?
Wednesday, May 06, 2009
The Najib regime shows its tiger's fangs...
With BERSIH's Sdr Wong Chin Huat's arrest yesterday in moving "1BlackMalaysia: 7 May" forward, the role of Bloggers and NGO activists becomes even more demanding and hazardous as there are recent pointers that the Najib regime would become more and more authoritarian by the day. M2day's chief Raja Petra Kamarudin's self exile and the constant harassment of PKR's newspaper Suara Keadilan by suspension and confiscation are demonstrations that the democratisation process and media scene in Malaysia under UMNO are constantly coming under threat and the situation will not get any better. The Rakyat must rise up to show and/or reclaim their Power as asizeable electorate did in the March 2008 General Elections.
I seek you assistance to gather the Bloggers and supporters for the "annual" Brainstorm Session-social event that BUM (Bloggers Universe Malaysia) has evolved into from its inaugural outing at BUM2007. (REF: bum2007.wordpress.com)
Warm regards, YL Chong, Desi, with this message from the BUM2009 Organising Committee.
***************************************************
""Dear folksy BUMmers, Bloggers and Bloggers2B and friends:
Registration for the Bloggers Event of the Year, BUM2009, has started -- Have you signed up yet?
The BUM Organising Committee hope you -- my dear EsteemedReaders -- will spread the word around and help us meet the target of 200 paying attendees within the next 10 days. BUM2007 and BUM2008 attracted the maximum participation planned, so with your help, we hope BUM2009 will be equally successful.
The Programme Outline and other details can be accessed at the dedicated website at bum2009.wordpress.com.
Hoping to see you soon,
Warm regards,
YL Chong, Desi
012-9702285""
****************************************************
Bersih calls for “1BlackMalaysia” on May 7
By Lee Wei Lian, The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, May 5 — The Coalition for Free and Fair Elections, Bersih, today called on Malaysians to protest the power grab in Perak and put on a show of civil disobedience by wearing black on May 7 in conjunction with the sitting of the state assembly.
In a press conference today, Bersih accused Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak of orchestrating the political coup in Perak and lambasted him for allegedly failing to keep his promise made under his 1Malaysia philosophy which puts people first, saying that putting people first would mean giving the voters of Perak the chance to determine the state government.
Taking a leaf from other civil obedience movements such as those organised by Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King and even Umno’s “berkabung” movement to oppose the Malayan Union, Wong Chin Huat, a spokesman for Bersih, urged Malaysians who oppose the power grab to “let everyone see a sea of black walking into an office, market, mosque, temple, church, college, park, bus... let us be united in one black colour to show the world that the 1Malaysia under Najib Razak is 1BlackMalaysia living in darkness.”
Bersih also criticised the BN for practising “old politics” and trying to clamp down on media coverage and peaceful gatherings.
The Perak government had initially allowed only selected media to cover the assembly sitting. However, the decision was later reversed by Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Zambry Abdul Kadir.
The police have also warned political parties against organising mass gatherings in front of the state secretariat.
Teo Nie Ching, DAP’s federal legislator from Serdang, says that she was queried by the Police Special Branch after she tried to organise a bus to ferry supporters to Ipoh and expressed her disappointment with the Special Branch.
“Why stop us from going to witness the assembly?” she told reporters.
Lim Teck Ghee, who represented the Centre for Policy Initiatives, urged solidarity despite “a propaganda war” to tar dissenting views as unpatriotic and treasonous.
“It is the duty of Malaysians to oppose illegal and unconstitutional acts of power grabbing,” he declared. “We are the patriotic ones.”
Lim was referring to accusations from BN that Nizar was committing treason by going against the Sultan of Perak’s wishes that he resign as mentri besar.
The political crisis in Perak was triggered by the defection of four state representatives from Pakatan Rakyat (PR) to BN earlier this year, giving BN an edge in numbers over PR in the state assembly.
The Perak state assembly speaker however, claimed that three of the representatives who defected had resigned but this was disputed by the latter, who got the backing of the Election Commission.
Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin, who maintains he is the rightful mentri besar, then sought permission from the Sultan of Perak to dissolve the state assembly to pave the way for a state election but his request was rejected and he was told to resign instead.
Nizar refused to resign but at the same time, Zambry was sworn in as the new mentri besar by the Sultan on February 6.
Since then, PR and BN have been locked in a struggle over who is the legitimate government of Perak and whether or not to dissolve the state assembly.
*************
Related article:
UPDATEd @9.29AM:), at thy service ~~ YL
NGOs Call for Public Opposition to Illegal Power Seizure in Perak: Black 7 May 2009
Commentary By Dr. Lim Teck Ghee.
Don't Be Intimidated: Oppose the Perak Power Grab
CPI expresses its strong condemnation of the arrest yesterday evening of Wong Chin Huat for alleged sedition by the police authorities. The police action is clearly aimed at intimidating civil society organizations and the public into passivity and acceptance of the power grab in Perak by the Barisan Nasional.
Earlier on Tuesday morning, a coalition of civil society organizations had conducted a press conference to protest the actions of the BN government. The group which included Wong Chin Huat, Sivarasa Rasiah, Tony Pua, Dr. Dzulfli Ahmad, Teo Nee Ching and myself had called for a peaceful public demonstration of opposition to the takeover through the symbolic act of wearing black on 7 May. More than 20 members of the media were at the press conference. Besides the press release which has been made publicly available, there are tape recordings of the impromptu presentations made by the representatives of the organizations taking part in the event.
All the speeches made at the press conference are easily obtainable. All the speakers spoke responsibly of the right of Malaysians to participate in free and fair elections - a central concern of BERSIH, the coalition of over 70 NGOs initiating the 1BLACK MALAYSIA protest event. There were no inflammatory words used; no attempts at incitement or any other action that can be remotely construed to give even a semblance of legitimacy to the police action.
There is not an iota of evidence to charge Chin Huat or any of the other speakers under the sedition or any other law or regulation in the country. The police action smacks of an unreformed and authoritarian political system, desperate to cling to power by whatever means, and utilizing the police and other agencies of the state to coerce and browbeat the Malaysian public into acceptance of its power grab, and other acts of mis-governance.
In my remarks at the press conference, I reminded that it is the right of every Malaysian to question and to oppose the Barisan Nasional's actions in Perak. I pointed out that there is a massive BN propaganda campaign to legitimize its actions and to paint the opposing groups as guilty of fermenting discord and strife. Charges of being treasonous and of being traitors to the country are being levelled against those questioning and opposing the Perak Government takeover. My message to the media journalists gathered there was that "the media owners may pay your salaries but they do not own your mind and your soul" and I urged them to report fairly on this important struggle of Malaysians to exercise their basic political rights.
Finally I warned that this will not be the last of the dirty tricks by the BN to hold on to power, and noted that the " the real enemies of the state are those who condone and cover up arbitrary or illegal acts." The public should regard the arrest of Chin Huat as another round in the salvo of BN dirty tricks and should show that it is not cowed by wearing black on 7 May.
Non Governmental Organisations
Written by Dr. Lim Teck Ghee, Director, Centre for Policy Initiatives
Tuesday, 05 May 2009 09:12
The following is the press release issued by the coalition of civil society organizations protesting against the illegal seizure of power in Perak state. CPI joins in the call for all Malaysians to join in this symbolic but important demonstration of public repugnance and opposition to the BN-instigated move which strikes at the heart of our democratic system. ~~ Dr. Lim Teck Ghee
******************************
May 7th - 1BLACKMalaysia, Democracy First, Elections Now
We the Coalition for Free and Fair Elections (BERSIH) call upon all Malaysians to wear black to work, to school, in play or at home the coming May 7th (Thursday) to present “1BLACKMalaysia” to Prime Minister Najib Razak as our strongest protest to the on-going Perak coup he has orchestrated.
Despite the court’s scheduled hearing on the legality of Zambry Abdul Kadil’s legality as the Menteri Besar on May 5th and 6th, a sitting for the Perak State Legislature has been scheduled to begin on May 7th bypassing the speaker V. Sivakumar.A motion has also been tabled to replace the speaker, who has vigorously defended the Legislature’s rights and power throughout the coup, with R. Ganesan, a non-lawmaker from the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC).To prevent the public from knowing what would happen in the assembly, a “media curfew” was imposed whereby only 13 selected media outlets are granted access, on top of a general lockdown of the city of Ipoh, where the Legislature is seated. While the Zambry regime had since retracted the "media curfew" under strong public outcry, the initial move reveals a regime that fears public scrutiny. These latest developments show total disregard of Najib Razak on rule of law and constitutional democracy in Malaysia. He has also ignored the voters’ wrath on unconstitutional means of power grab, as showed in the Bukit Gantang by-election where the margin for the ousted MB Mohammad Nizar increased by over 2000 votes.Najib’s slogan: “1Malaysia, people first, performance now” is now a cruel joke on Malaysians. Is this the old “1Authoritarian-and-CorruptMalaysia” getting worse? What “people first” when people are forced to be blind, deaf, mute and immobile with the media curfew and city lockdown? What “performance now” when the “performance” in law-breaking may never be known?In response to all these, we urge all Malaysians to wear black on May 7th. It will be a peaceful but powerful message of civil disobedience that we the people are politicians' bosses and no politicians defiant of public opinion can escape punishment at the next poll. Civil disobedience is a peaceful act that every citizen can participate and make a difference. In history, civil disobedience led by Mahatma Ghandi, Martin Luther King and the Polish people had successfully ended tyranny and injustice without bloodshed or disruption.Let’s paint every state and territory, every town and village black with our clothes, headbands, hats, turbans, veils, armbands, ribbons and stickers on that day. Let everyone see a sea of black walking into an office, a market, a mosque, a temple, a church, a college, a park, a bus, a commuter or LRT car, a ferry or an aeroplane . Let us be united in one BLACK colour and let show the world that the 1Malaysia under Najib Razak is “1BLACKMalaysia” living in darkness. Let’s show the world that Malaysians will stand up against any invasion of democracy, freedom and peace by unscrupulous politicians. We will not allow coup be the way to power in Perak, or anywhere in Malaysia. No one shall take away our democracy, freedom and peace. Najib may hijack our unelected institutions like the judiciary, civil service, police and Election Commission, but he will never win our heart and mind. And he is no reformist until he dares to face elections in Perak. Let us show Najib in one colour - "1BlackMalaysia!". Let us tell him in one voice for Malaysia: "Democracy First!" Let us pose him the one solution for Perak: "Elections now!".Yes, Mr Prime Minister of Malaysia, and the World, listen to us: 1BlackMalaysia! Democracy First! Elections Now!1. Writer Alliance for Media Independence (WAMI)2. Centre for Orang Asli Concerns3. Citizen Think Tank4. Centre for Independent Journalism5. People's Parliament6. Centre for Policy Initiatives7. Persatuan Kesedaran Komuniti, Selangor (Empower)
I seek you assistance to gather the Bloggers and supporters for the "annual" Brainstorm Session-social event that BUM (Bloggers Universe Malaysia) has evolved into from its inaugural outing at BUM2007. (REF: bum2007.wordpress.com)
Warm regards, YL Chong, Desi, with this message from the BUM2009 Organising Committee.
***************************************************
""Dear folksy BUMmers, Bloggers and Bloggers2B and friends:
Registration for the Bloggers Event of the Year, BUM2009, has started -- Have you signed up yet?
The BUM Organising Committee hope you -- my dear EsteemedReaders -- will spread the word around and help us meet the target of 200 paying attendees within the next 10 days. BUM2007 and BUM2008 attracted the maximum participation planned, so with your help, we hope BUM2009 will be equally successful.
The Programme Outline and other details can be accessed at the dedicated website at bum2009.wordpress.com.
Hoping to see you soon,
Warm regards,
YL Chong, Desi
012-9702285""
****************************************************
Bersih calls for “1BlackMalaysia” on May 7
By Lee Wei Lian, The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, May 5 — The Coalition for Free and Fair Elections, Bersih, today called on Malaysians to protest the power grab in Perak and put on a show of civil disobedience by wearing black on May 7 in conjunction with the sitting of the state assembly.
In a press conference today, Bersih accused Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak of orchestrating the political coup in Perak and lambasted him for allegedly failing to keep his promise made under his 1Malaysia philosophy which puts people first, saying that putting people first would mean giving the voters of Perak the chance to determine the state government.
Taking a leaf from other civil obedience movements such as those organised by Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King and even Umno’s “berkabung” movement to oppose the Malayan Union, Wong Chin Huat, a spokesman for Bersih, urged Malaysians who oppose the power grab to “let everyone see a sea of black walking into an office, market, mosque, temple, church, college, park, bus... let us be united in one black colour to show the world that the 1Malaysia under Najib Razak is 1BlackMalaysia living in darkness.”
Bersih also criticised the BN for practising “old politics” and trying to clamp down on media coverage and peaceful gatherings.
The Perak government had initially allowed only selected media to cover the assembly sitting. However, the decision was later reversed by Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Zambry Abdul Kadir.
The police have also warned political parties against organising mass gatherings in front of the state secretariat.
Teo Nie Ching, DAP’s federal legislator from Serdang, says that she was queried by the Police Special Branch after she tried to organise a bus to ferry supporters to Ipoh and expressed her disappointment with the Special Branch.
“Why stop us from going to witness the assembly?” she told reporters.
Lim Teck Ghee, who represented the Centre for Policy Initiatives, urged solidarity despite “a propaganda war” to tar dissenting views as unpatriotic and treasonous.
“It is the duty of Malaysians to oppose illegal and unconstitutional acts of power grabbing,” he declared. “We are the patriotic ones.”
Lim was referring to accusations from BN that Nizar was committing treason by going against the Sultan of Perak’s wishes that he resign as mentri besar.
The political crisis in Perak was triggered by the defection of four state representatives from Pakatan Rakyat (PR) to BN earlier this year, giving BN an edge in numbers over PR in the state assembly.
The Perak state assembly speaker however, claimed that three of the representatives who defected had resigned but this was disputed by the latter, who got the backing of the Election Commission.
Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin, who maintains he is the rightful mentri besar, then sought permission from the Sultan of Perak to dissolve the state assembly to pave the way for a state election but his request was rejected and he was told to resign instead.
Nizar refused to resign but at the same time, Zambry was sworn in as the new mentri besar by the Sultan on February 6.
Since then, PR and BN have been locked in a struggle over who is the legitimate government of Perak and whether or not to dissolve the state assembly.
*************
Related article:
UPDATEd @9.29AM:), at thy service ~~ YL
NGOs Call for Public Opposition to Illegal Power Seizure in Perak: Black 7 May 2009
Commentary By Dr. Lim Teck Ghee.
Don't Be Intimidated: Oppose the Perak Power Grab
CPI expresses its strong condemnation of the arrest yesterday evening of Wong Chin Huat for alleged sedition by the police authorities. The police action is clearly aimed at intimidating civil society organizations and the public into passivity and acceptance of the power grab in Perak by the Barisan Nasional.
Earlier on Tuesday morning, a coalition of civil society organizations had conducted a press conference to protest the actions of the BN government. The group which included Wong Chin Huat, Sivarasa Rasiah, Tony Pua, Dr. Dzulfli Ahmad, Teo Nee Ching and myself had called for a peaceful public demonstration of opposition to the takeover through the symbolic act of wearing black on 7 May. More than 20 members of the media were at the press conference. Besides the press release which has been made publicly available, there are tape recordings of the impromptu presentations made by the representatives of the organizations taking part in the event.
All the speeches made at the press conference are easily obtainable. All the speakers spoke responsibly of the right of Malaysians to participate in free and fair elections - a central concern of BERSIH, the coalition of over 70 NGOs initiating the 1BLACK MALAYSIA protest event. There were no inflammatory words used; no attempts at incitement or any other action that can be remotely construed to give even a semblance of legitimacy to the police action.
There is not an iota of evidence to charge Chin Huat or any of the other speakers under the sedition or any other law or regulation in the country. The police action smacks of an unreformed and authoritarian political system, desperate to cling to power by whatever means, and utilizing the police and other agencies of the state to coerce and browbeat the Malaysian public into acceptance of its power grab, and other acts of mis-governance.
In my remarks at the press conference, I reminded that it is the right of every Malaysian to question and to oppose the Barisan Nasional's actions in Perak. I pointed out that there is a massive BN propaganda campaign to legitimize its actions and to paint the opposing groups as guilty of fermenting discord and strife. Charges of being treasonous and of being traitors to the country are being levelled against those questioning and opposing the Perak Government takeover. My message to the media journalists gathered there was that "the media owners may pay your salaries but they do not own your mind and your soul" and I urged them to report fairly on this important struggle of Malaysians to exercise their basic political rights.
Finally I warned that this will not be the last of the dirty tricks by the BN to hold on to power, and noted that the " the real enemies of the state are those who condone and cover up arbitrary or illegal acts." The public should regard the arrest of Chin Huat as another round in the salvo of BN dirty tricks and should show that it is not cowed by wearing black on 7 May.
Non Governmental Organisations
Written by Dr. Lim Teck Ghee, Director, Centre for Policy Initiatives
Tuesday, 05 May 2009 09:12
The following is the press release issued by the coalition of civil society organizations protesting against the illegal seizure of power in Perak state. CPI joins in the call for all Malaysians to join in this symbolic but important demonstration of public repugnance and opposition to the BN-instigated move which strikes at the heart of our democratic system. ~~ Dr. Lim Teck Ghee
******************************
May 7th - 1BLACKMalaysia, Democracy First, Elections Now
We the Coalition for Free and Fair Elections (BERSIH) call upon all Malaysians to wear black to work, to school, in play or at home the coming May 7th (Thursday) to present “1BLACKMalaysia” to Prime Minister Najib Razak as our strongest protest to the on-going Perak coup he has orchestrated.
Despite the court’s scheduled hearing on the legality of Zambry Abdul Kadil’s legality as the Menteri Besar on May 5th and 6th, a sitting for the Perak State Legislature has been scheduled to begin on May 7th bypassing the speaker V. Sivakumar.A motion has also been tabled to replace the speaker, who has vigorously defended the Legislature’s rights and power throughout the coup, with R. Ganesan, a non-lawmaker from the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC).To prevent the public from knowing what would happen in the assembly, a “media curfew” was imposed whereby only 13 selected media outlets are granted access, on top of a general lockdown of the city of Ipoh, where the Legislature is seated. While the Zambry regime had since retracted the "media curfew" under strong public outcry, the initial move reveals a regime that fears public scrutiny. These latest developments show total disregard of Najib Razak on rule of law and constitutional democracy in Malaysia. He has also ignored the voters’ wrath on unconstitutional means of power grab, as showed in the Bukit Gantang by-election where the margin for the ousted MB Mohammad Nizar increased by over 2000 votes.Najib’s slogan: “1Malaysia, people first, performance now” is now a cruel joke on Malaysians. Is this the old “1Authoritarian-and-CorruptMalaysia” getting worse? What “people first” when people are forced to be blind, deaf, mute and immobile with the media curfew and city lockdown? What “performance now” when the “performance” in law-breaking may never be known?In response to all these, we urge all Malaysians to wear black on May 7th. It will be a peaceful but powerful message of civil disobedience that we the people are politicians' bosses and no politicians defiant of public opinion can escape punishment at the next poll. Civil disobedience is a peaceful act that every citizen can participate and make a difference. In history, civil disobedience led by Mahatma Ghandi, Martin Luther King and the Polish people had successfully ended tyranny and injustice without bloodshed or disruption.Let’s paint every state and territory, every town and village black with our clothes, headbands, hats, turbans, veils, armbands, ribbons and stickers on that day. Let everyone see a sea of black walking into an office, a market, a mosque, a temple, a church, a college, a park, a bus, a commuter or LRT car, a ferry or an aeroplane . Let us be united in one BLACK colour and let show the world that the 1Malaysia under Najib Razak is “1BLACKMalaysia” living in darkness. Let’s show the world that Malaysians will stand up against any invasion of democracy, freedom and peace by unscrupulous politicians. We will not allow coup be the way to power in Perak, or anywhere in Malaysia. No one shall take away our democracy, freedom and peace. Najib may hijack our unelected institutions like the judiciary, civil service, police and Election Commission, but he will never win our heart and mind. And he is no reformist until he dares to face elections in Perak. Let us show Najib in one colour - "1BlackMalaysia!". Let us tell him in one voice for Malaysia: "Democracy First!" Let us pose him the one solution for Perak: "Elections now!".Yes, Mr Prime Minister of Malaysia, and the World, listen to us: 1BlackMalaysia! Democracy First! Elections Now!1. Writer Alliance for Media Independence (WAMI)2. Centre for Orang Asli Concerns3. Citizen Think Tank4. Centre for Independent Journalism5. People's Parliament6. Centre for Policy Initiatives7. Persatuan Kesedaran Komuniti, Selangor (Empower)
Tuesday, May 05, 2009
Desi will join Johnny Cash in wearing BLACK cometh May 7!
If Malaysians want to be led up the garden path, come down to Furong and we will walk serenely at the Lake Gardens -- don't wander off to Najib Tun Razak's lair at Putraya. They welcome you with WORDS, words, words about 1Malaysia being for THE PEOPLE, but do they mean what they say? We've haerd it all before -- ex-PMs Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Mr Nice Guy TUN Pak Lah...Many fellow Malaysians may just respond "F**K-lah!" and Desi won't blame anywan for resorting to proFUNity... God save us from the Iblis, a term I believe one Datuk Seri Adullah Ahmad Badawi once used.
I:
S:
A: men,
YL@11.31PM two days before BlackMalaysia is birthed on May 7.
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Cops flex muscles ahead of May 7
By the Malaysian Insider
UPDATED
KUALA LUMPUR, May 5 — The police have arrested for sedition Wong Chin Huat, a spokesman for The Coalition for Free and Fair Elections, or Bersih, hours after the group called for Malaysians to put on a show of civil disobedience to protest the Barisan Nasional (BN) power grab in Perak.
Wong’s arrest comes amid security concerns over the Perak state assembly sitting two days from now in which Barisan Nasional (BN) hopes will legitimise its controversial takeover of the state government in February.
The authorities are also anticipating a mass gathering in Ipoh of Pakatan Rakyat (PR) supporters on the day, and have issued clear warnings against groups organising any illegal assemblies.
But PR parties have already signaled their intention to challenge till the end BN’s assertion that its takeover of the state government is legitimate.
A court case in which Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin, who maintains he is the rightful MB, is suing the BN MB Datuk Dr Zambry Abd Kadir is continuing this week.
And PR parties are planning to converge for prayers the day after tomorrow, as announced by PAS’s Mohamad Sabu yesterday.
But with Wong’s arrest tonight, the police appear to be signaling their intention to come down hard on any moves to mobilise protests.
The authorities picked up Wong at his home tonight under Section 4 (1) of the Sedition Act 1948.
It is believed that Wong was arrested in connection with Bersih’s press conference this morning.
This morning, Bersih representatives announced their plans to mobilise all Malaysians to wear black two days from now in a symbolic protest against the power grab.
Bersih also accused Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak of orchestrating the political coup in Perak and lambasted him for allegedly failing to keep his promise made under his 1Malaysia philosophy which puts people first, saying that putting people first would mean giving the voters of Perak the chance to determine the state government.
Taking a leaf from other civil obedience movements such as those organised by Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King and even Umno’s “berkabung” movement to oppose the Malayan Union, Wong urged Malaysians who oppose the power grab to “let everyone see a sea of black walking into an office, market, mosque, temple, church, college, park, bus... let us be united in one black colour to show the world that the 1Malaysia under Najib Razak is 1BlackMalaysia living in darkness.”
He also criticised the BN for practising “old politics” and trying to clamp down on media coverage and peaceful gatherings.
The Perak government had initially allowed only selected media to cover the assembly sitting. However, the decision was later reversed by Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Zambry Abdul Kadir.
Besides issuing a warning to political parties against organising mass gatherings in front of the state secretariat, the police also announced today tight security measures in Ipoh two days from now.
Several sections of all major roads leading to the state secretariat will be closed to traffic on May 7.
Ipoh OCPD Azisman Alias added that roadblocks would also be set up at the Jalan Panglima Bukit Gantang Wahab-Jalan St John junction and near the Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman flyover from 9pm tomorrow.
DESIDERATA: Borrowing the wisdom from the recognised greatest sceintist of the world through the centuries:
"The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, butbecause of those who look on and do nothing." -- Albert Einstein
I:
S:
A: men,
YL@11.31PM two days before BlackMalaysia is birthed on May 7.
*****************************************
Cops flex muscles ahead of May 7
By the Malaysian Insider
UPDATED
KUALA LUMPUR, May 5 — The police have arrested for sedition Wong Chin Huat, a spokesman for The Coalition for Free and Fair Elections, or Bersih, hours after the group called for Malaysians to put on a show of civil disobedience to protest the Barisan Nasional (BN) power grab in Perak.
Wong’s arrest comes amid security concerns over the Perak state assembly sitting two days from now in which Barisan Nasional (BN) hopes will legitimise its controversial takeover of the state government in February.
The authorities are also anticipating a mass gathering in Ipoh of Pakatan Rakyat (PR) supporters on the day, and have issued clear warnings against groups organising any illegal assemblies.
But PR parties have already signaled their intention to challenge till the end BN’s assertion that its takeover of the state government is legitimate.
A court case in which Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin, who maintains he is the rightful MB, is suing the BN MB Datuk Dr Zambry Abd Kadir is continuing this week.
And PR parties are planning to converge for prayers the day after tomorrow, as announced by PAS’s Mohamad Sabu yesterday.
But with Wong’s arrest tonight, the police appear to be signaling their intention to come down hard on any moves to mobilise protests.
The authorities picked up Wong at his home tonight under Section 4 (1) of the Sedition Act 1948.
It is believed that Wong was arrested in connection with Bersih’s press conference this morning.
This morning, Bersih representatives announced their plans to mobilise all Malaysians to wear black two days from now in a symbolic protest against the power grab.
Bersih also accused Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak of orchestrating the political coup in Perak and lambasted him for allegedly failing to keep his promise made under his 1Malaysia philosophy which puts people first, saying that putting people first would mean giving the voters of Perak the chance to determine the state government.
Taking a leaf from other civil obedience movements such as those organised by Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King and even Umno’s “berkabung” movement to oppose the Malayan Union, Wong urged Malaysians who oppose the power grab to “let everyone see a sea of black walking into an office, market, mosque, temple, church, college, park, bus... let us be united in one black colour to show the world that the 1Malaysia under Najib Razak is 1BlackMalaysia living in darkness.”
He also criticised the BN for practising “old politics” and trying to clamp down on media coverage and peaceful gatherings.
The Perak government had initially allowed only selected media to cover the assembly sitting. However, the decision was later reversed by Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Zambry Abdul Kadir.
Besides issuing a warning to political parties against organising mass gatherings in front of the state secretariat, the police also announced today tight security measures in Ipoh two days from now.
Several sections of all major roads leading to the state secretariat will be closed to traffic on May 7.
Ipoh OCPD Azisman Alias added that roadblocks would also be set up at the Jalan Panglima Bukit Gantang Wahab-Jalan St John junction and near the Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman flyover from 9pm tomorrow.
DESIDERATA: Borrowing the wisdom from the recognised greatest sceintist of the world through the centuries:
"The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, butbecause of those who look on and do nothing." -- Albert Einstein
Innovative Thinking Is the Key to Breakthroughs
In making quantum leaps or small progressive steps in scientific endeavours, especially in the quest for medical cures. Researchers have still not found a definitive remedy for the common cold. Desi drinks lots of HALIA! It helps, especially on a cold and rainy night, and mGf the Liew bros and siss are paying, at Temiang Korner. Join us -- bring the Pt card just in case we need to adjourn to the Allson Kelana, is it 4-starred? I'm. Ms Sunthi is inmy purse too,I bring along to add some Ooomph to whatever beverage my Host buys Desi -- never know when I make that breakthrough drink that will elevate my status to RM-millionaire. Every time I visit Jakarta, I feel like a billio'aire Gates2. Entry and Exit at KLIA and JackaltaIA.
The INTERNET must rank as one of the defining inventions of the lnternet Age -- am I being redundant here, stating the obvious? WellA, giving credit where credit is due, Bill Gates would have gotten thus far, and my dear esteemed readers wouldn't either receive this news breal so fast (almost instantly or simultaneously throughout the world if the recipient countries are www-enabled like blardy lucky Malaysia!...:)
81 unusual projects get $100K in Gates grants
Buzz Up
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090504/ap_on_re_us/us_gates_foundation_challenge_grants;_ylt=Av5X.3Av7rmhorX8T1oTf6934T0D
By DONNA BLANKINSHIP, Associated Press Writer Writer – 1 hr 9 mins ago (even as I C&P about 7.30AM Tuesday May 5, 2009 Msian time/dime...)
SEATTLE – Can tomatoes be taught to make antiviral drugs for people who eat them? Would zapping your skin with a laser make your vaccination work better? Could malaria-carrying mosquitoes be given a teensy head cold that would prevent them from sniffing out a human snack bar? These are among 81 projects awarded $100,000 grants Monday by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in a bid to support innovative, unconventional global health research.
The five-year health research grants are designed to encourage scientists to pursue bold ideas that could lead to breakthroughs, focusing on ways to prevent and treat infectious diseases, such as HIV, malaria, tuberculosis, pneumonia and diarrheal diseases.
The foundation said grant recipient Eric Lam at Rutgers University in New Jersey is exploring tomatoes as a antiviral drug delivery system.
Researchers at the University of Exeter in Devon, England, will seek to build an inexpensive instrument to diagnose malaria by using magnets to detect the waste products of the malaria parasite in human blood.
Mei Wu at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School will be getting a grant to see if shooting a laser at a person's skin before administering a vaccine can enhance immune response.
And Thomas Baker at Pennsylvania State University wants to see if malaria-carrying mosquitoes can be infected with a fungus that would act like a cold, suppressing the sense of smell that they use to find people as sources of blood.
The foundation also announced plans Monday to spend $73 million over the next five years to help small farmers in impoverished countries. That program was outlined by foundation CEO Jeff Raikes at a water conference held at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Raikes, a former Microsoft Corp. executive, said spending on agriculture in sub-Saharan African countries, where the foundation focuses much of its poverty-fighting efforts, accounts for less than 5 percent of their total government budgets. And from 1985 to 2005, spending as a percentage of government budgets decreased in donor countries, he said, including the U.S.
The agriculture grants include $40 million over five years to develop drought-tolerant corn, $13 million over four for more efficient irrigation, and $10 million over four years to help women develop education and training programs related to agriculture.
The largest philanthropic foundation in the world, the Gates Foundation gave out $2.8 billion last year. It has said payouts this year would grow by about 10 percent, less than previously planned, because of the troubled economy.
The foundation was started in 1994 by Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and his wife and has the international goals of overcoming hunger, poverty and disease. In this country, its focus is on education, which receives about a quarter of its grant dollars.
___
Associated Press writer Nate Jenkins in Lincoln, Neb., contributed to this report.
DESIDERATA: I'm now adjourning to the Pasar Besar, Furong, to test the famous Hor Fun-d again to see what it's in it that gives it that Ooomph -- drawing back crowds of consumers who gulp down the white strands of flour like wolves just let into the chicken pen, or inmates just out of Temiang Prison, and today I'm wearing my fave Blue T-with horizontal stripes. RRRECALLL "Three-way Stretch" anywan?
The INTERNET must rank as one of the defining inventions of the lnternet Age -- am I being redundant here, stating the obvious? WellA, giving credit where credit is due, Bill Gates would have gotten thus far, and my dear esteemed readers wouldn't either receive this news breal so fast (almost instantly or simultaneously throughout the world if the recipient countries are www-enabled like blardy lucky Malaysia!...:)
81 unusual projects get $100K in Gates grants
Buzz Up
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090504/ap_on_re_us/us_gates_foundation_challenge_grants;_ylt=Av5X.3Av7rmhorX8T1oTf6934T0D
By DONNA BLANKINSHIP, Associated Press Writer Writer – 1 hr 9 mins ago (even as I C&P about 7.30AM Tuesday May 5, 2009 Msian time/dime...)
SEATTLE – Can tomatoes be taught to make antiviral drugs for people who eat them? Would zapping your skin with a laser make your vaccination work better? Could malaria-carrying mosquitoes be given a teensy head cold that would prevent them from sniffing out a human snack bar? These are among 81 projects awarded $100,000 grants Monday by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in a bid to support innovative, unconventional global health research.
The five-year health research grants are designed to encourage scientists to pursue bold ideas that could lead to breakthroughs, focusing on ways to prevent and treat infectious diseases, such as HIV, malaria, tuberculosis, pneumonia and diarrheal diseases.
The foundation said grant recipient Eric Lam at Rutgers University in New Jersey is exploring tomatoes as a antiviral drug delivery system.
Researchers at the University of Exeter in Devon, England, will seek to build an inexpensive instrument to diagnose malaria by using magnets to detect the waste products of the malaria parasite in human blood.
Mei Wu at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School will be getting a grant to see if shooting a laser at a person's skin before administering a vaccine can enhance immune response.
And Thomas Baker at Pennsylvania State University wants to see if malaria-carrying mosquitoes can be infected with a fungus that would act like a cold, suppressing the sense of smell that they use to find people as sources of blood.
The foundation also announced plans Monday to spend $73 million over the next five years to help small farmers in impoverished countries. That program was outlined by foundation CEO Jeff Raikes at a water conference held at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Raikes, a former Microsoft Corp. executive, said spending on agriculture in sub-Saharan African countries, where the foundation focuses much of its poverty-fighting efforts, accounts for less than 5 percent of their total government budgets. And from 1985 to 2005, spending as a percentage of government budgets decreased in donor countries, he said, including the U.S.
The agriculture grants include $40 million over five years to develop drought-tolerant corn, $13 million over four for more efficient irrigation, and $10 million over four years to help women develop education and training programs related to agriculture.
The largest philanthropic foundation in the world, the Gates Foundation gave out $2.8 billion last year. It has said payouts this year would grow by about 10 percent, less than previously planned, because of the troubled economy.
The foundation was started in 1994 by Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and his wife and has the international goals of overcoming hunger, poverty and disease. In this country, its focus is on education, which receives about a quarter of its grant dollars.
___
Associated Press writer Nate Jenkins in Lincoln, Neb., contributed to this report.
DESIDERATA: I'm now adjourning to the Pasar Besar, Furong, to test the famous Hor Fun-d again to see what it's in it that gives it that Ooomph -- drawing back crowds of consumers who gulp down the white strands of flour like wolves just let into the chicken pen, or inmates just out of Temiang Prison, and today I'm wearing my fave Blue T-with horizontal stripes. RRRECALLL "Three-way Stretch" anywan?
Monday, May 04, 2009
XXcitement in the nu'esroom, and some say Mahathirism is back...
The question is: Kambing wit' a "V"engeance?
1st: The newsbreak from theedgemalaysia.com:
Flash NSTP gets new editorial advisor
http://www.theedgemalaysia.com/business-news/13221-flashnstp-gets-new-editorial-advisor.html
Tags: Ahmad Talib Hishamuddin Aun Johan Jaffar NSTP
Written by Edge Malaysia
Saturday, 02 May 2009 11:54
KUALA LUMPUR: A former top editor of the New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd (NSTP) is set to return to the Umno-linked newspaper group, as the new party president continues with moves to put his trusted people in key media posts. Sources say Datuk Ahmad Talib will be appointed group editorial advisor and have effective control over all newsroom matters in NSTP, which publishes the New Straits Times, Berita Harian and Harian Metro.
Ahmad last served as NSTP Group Editor (the No 2 editorial post) but left in 2005 under a voluntary separation scheme shortly after Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi took over as Umno president and put his own people in charge. Sources say current NSTP Group Editor in Chief Datuk Hishamuddin Aun, an Abdullah appointee, will report to Ahmad who had a few weeks ago started a weekly column in the NST. His impending appointment will follow that of Datuk Johan Jaffar as executive chairman of Media Prima Bhd, the parent company of NSTP.
Sources say it now looks clear that Johan and Ahmad will be Datuk Seri Najib Razak's point men in the Media Prima/NSTP group. Media Prima also owns all of Malaysia's private free-to-air tv stations.
Umno's control of Media Prima/NSTP is through a nominee company. The party also controls the Malay language newspaper group Utusan Malaysia through a direct stake of nearly 50%. So far there has been no indication of changes at Utusan. Johan was editor-in-chief at Utusan until he was removed by then Umno President Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad a few months before the latter sacked his Deputy Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in September, 1998. Johan was at the time deemed as an Anwar supporter. Now more than 10 years later, he has re-emerged as a confidante of Najib.
A former Bernama journalist, Ahmad had served in the NSTP group since the early 1980s starting as a reporter in Business Times before rising rapidly to be editor of Berita Harian and then group editor. After leaving Balai Berita (the name of NSTP's head office) in 2005, he worked for two years at Maxis Communications as advisor to then CEO Datuk Jamaluddin Ibrahim.
Ahmad is seen as a Mahathir loyalist in the media and is a protege of former NSTP Group Editor-in-Chief Datuk A. Kadir Jasin. Sources say his return to NSTP could see him taking back several top news executives close to him who left together with him after Mahathir retired.
2nd, from rockybru.com.my:
Saturday, May 02, 2009
Tsunami at NSTP?
with updates ...
Editorial Adviser. An Italian-backed online news portal has the story that everyone in the media has been talking about. Is Ahmad A. Talib going back to NSTP? He will be better than Kalimullah Hassan but will he be good enough for the paper? Why are they turning to him to bring back the New Straits Times, especially?Read my piece in my new blog 84 Jalan Tangsi on journalism and other press-ing matters, h e r e.updated 3/5 2am: Read seasoned journo Aziz Hassan's posting Umno unlikely to reign in its media.
DESIDERATA: Some of the MSM editors have also truned Bloggers. So expect some of the bolder ones to make an AP-pearance at BUM2009 (surf to bum2009.wordpress.com hear!) to surprise the participants, and BUMmers like Desi, wit' their views, and also expect brickbats from the audience too?
Keep a date at the LVC on Saturday, May 16, 2009.
Have You Signed Up for BUM2009 Yet?
You don't want to miss da Bloggers' Event of da Year!
The rumour of "Three roast lambs making their way to the Warren Buffet's table"
is now confirmed by OC chair YL to be true! ~~ Desi
1st: The newsbreak from theedgemalaysia.com:
Flash NSTP gets new editorial advisor
http://www.theedgemalaysia.com/business-news/13221-flashnstp-gets-new-editorial-advisor.html
Tags: Ahmad Talib Hishamuddin Aun Johan Jaffar NSTP
Written by Edge Malaysia
Saturday, 02 May 2009 11:54
KUALA LUMPUR: A former top editor of the New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd (NSTP) is set to return to the Umno-linked newspaper group, as the new party president continues with moves to put his trusted people in key media posts. Sources say Datuk Ahmad Talib will be appointed group editorial advisor and have effective control over all newsroom matters in NSTP, which publishes the New Straits Times, Berita Harian and Harian Metro.
Ahmad last served as NSTP Group Editor (the No 2 editorial post) but left in 2005 under a voluntary separation scheme shortly after Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi took over as Umno president and put his own people in charge. Sources say current NSTP Group Editor in Chief Datuk Hishamuddin Aun, an Abdullah appointee, will report to Ahmad who had a few weeks ago started a weekly column in the NST. His impending appointment will follow that of Datuk Johan Jaffar as executive chairman of Media Prima Bhd, the parent company of NSTP.
Sources say it now looks clear that Johan and Ahmad will be Datuk Seri Najib Razak's point men in the Media Prima/NSTP group. Media Prima also owns all of Malaysia's private free-to-air tv stations.
Umno's control of Media Prima/NSTP is through a nominee company. The party also controls the Malay language newspaper group Utusan Malaysia through a direct stake of nearly 50%. So far there has been no indication of changes at Utusan. Johan was editor-in-chief at Utusan until he was removed by then Umno President Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad a few months before the latter sacked his Deputy Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in September, 1998. Johan was at the time deemed as an Anwar supporter. Now more than 10 years later, he has re-emerged as a confidante of Najib.
A former Bernama journalist, Ahmad had served in the NSTP group since the early 1980s starting as a reporter in Business Times before rising rapidly to be editor of Berita Harian and then group editor. After leaving Balai Berita (the name of NSTP's head office) in 2005, he worked for two years at Maxis Communications as advisor to then CEO Datuk Jamaluddin Ibrahim.
Ahmad is seen as a Mahathir loyalist in the media and is a protege of former NSTP Group Editor-in-Chief Datuk A. Kadir Jasin. Sources say his return to NSTP could see him taking back several top news executives close to him who left together with him after Mahathir retired.
2nd, from rockybru.com.my:
Saturday, May 02, 2009
Tsunami at NSTP?
with updates ...
Editorial Adviser. An Italian-backed online news portal has the story that everyone in the media has been talking about. Is Ahmad A. Talib going back to NSTP? He will be better than Kalimullah Hassan but will he be good enough for the paper? Why are they turning to him to bring back the New Straits Times, especially?Read my piece in my new blog 84 Jalan Tangsi on journalism and other press-ing matters, h e r e.updated 3/5 2am: Read seasoned journo Aziz Hassan's posting Umno unlikely to reign in its media.
DESIDERATA: Some of the MSM editors have also truned Bloggers. So expect some of the bolder ones to make an AP-pearance at BUM2009 (surf to bum2009.wordpress.com hear!) to surprise the participants, and BUMmers like Desi, wit' their views, and also expect brickbats from the audience too?
Keep a date at the LVC on Saturday, May 16, 2009.
Have You Signed Up for BUM2009 Yet?
You don't want to miss da Bloggers' Event of da Year!
The rumour of "Three roast lambs making their way to the Warren Buffet's table"
is now confirmed by OC chair YL to be true! ~~ Desi
Sunday, May 03, 2009
Semi nu'eshound fooltime BUMmer Desi marks World Press Freedom Day wit'...
a Flag-off at cpiasia.net wit':
Media Under the Spotlight
CPI Writings
Written by YL Chong, Editor, CPI
Saturday, 02 May 2009 19:21
May 3rd every year marks World Press Freedom day in the democratic world and in Malaysia, there is marked growing consciousness among the people to demand that the Fourth Estate -- prominently mainfested or represented by the printed Press in the form of the daily newspaper at our breakfast table, although other media including electronic and radio fall within this ambit -- come under the spotlight. Often, or at least once a year in a big way, media organisations would organise specal events like forums and discussions to debate whether the "old/traditional" media have fulfilled their role and oblogations.
CPI flags off today an examination of the ("old") media scene dating more than 100 years' history with our own columnist Dr Azly Rahman's thoughts. And of course, to mark World Press Freedom Day in what has obviously become an "annual" fun-outing for Bloggers and Bloggers-to-be, CPI meanwhile is proud to be associated in organising BUM2009 with a band of Bloggers who call themselves "BUMmers" to subject both the old and new media under examination.The new media, especially Internet-enabled ones like Blogging, is relatively "young", like with a mere two decades' history, has given more "voice" to the ordinary citizens many of whom have embraced it fervently, and are promoting what is termed "citizen journalism" with an enthusiasm that will only widen democratic space among the citizenry and contribute towards the development of a more civil society. But the infant stage of this new development would mean that the practitioners and the public or recipients/readers of this rapidly expanding new media reach are still coming to grasp the meaning and implications as to what with the ground rules apply in governing such new media roles and practices. The people in general are still monitoring their development and assessing their role and impact on society, and sometimes one gets the feeling the www -- "worldwide web" -- also appropriately once referred chiefly to the "wild, wild west". So it's early days yet for the jury to come in with a verdict.
Readers here are welcomed to send to us at CPI any Essays, Blog posts pertaining to the Media for publication over the next one month of May. ~~ YL Chong, Editor, CPI at
chongyl2000@yahoo.com
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Background story from worldpressfreedomday.org:
Dear Reader,As they investigate sensitive issues, unveil disturbing truths and question policies, journalists find themselves in the firing line of those directly or indirectly exposed by their reports.Facing harassment, threats of violence and physical retaliation, journalists across the world continue to dig out troubling facts, challenge the status quo and expose those who commit crimes. Day after day, journalists investigate and file reports on issues they know they could be sued or killed for. Many pay the price. On World Press Freedom Day, the World Association of Newspapers will present the story of many journalists whose work upsets and can sometimes undo the powerful. What do they report on, how and at what price?Moussa Kaka, the director of the private radio station Saraouniya Radio talks about his coverage of the Niger Justice Movement that led to a one-year imprisonment. Mohammad Al-Al Abdallah, a 26-year old Syrian blogger, reveals his family hardships that have arisen from the fight for press freedom. In Yemen, Abdel Karim Al-Khaiwani, talks about spending a year behind bars for his reportage on high-level corruption, nepotism, and human rights abuses. Colombian journalist Claudia Julieta Duque discusses the long battle she has faced for her investigative reporting. Barry Bearak of The New York Times describes his arrest, detention and expulsion from Zimbabwe for trying to report from the country during the last elections.You can publish free of charge any editorial and advertising materials available on this site. You may also translate any of the material into another language that we do not currently offer. The World Association of Newspapers annually organises a World Press Freedom Day initiative to draw attention to the role of independent news and information in society, and how it is under attack. A number of individuals and organisations have made this year's campaign possible. We would like to express our sincere thanks to Agence France-Presse, Reuters, Associated Press, Russian Guild of Press Publishers, Reporters Without Borders, the Committee to Protect Journalists, Michel Cambon, Sanjeev Saikia, and Tom Callaghan.
Related: Death of Malaysian media?
***********************************
My heART at Labor at CPI enables me to add some "kaya" to top up french toast -- NO> I DON'T USE THE CAP! -- of just plain bread and butter with three sceneful layers of Skippy. And also pile on Capitalist indulgence on May Day to serenade two sweet ladies with a desisque-imitating-B'Gies Y-el-Ling cowboi versi ofFirst of May at a certain Furong Butterfly Vale. If you must knwo, I served full time some two decades at the much-maligned MSM, but I also underwent some Jurassick transformation at a diplomatic mission and a "reformist" online newspaper ... and ONE thing I've learnt -- AND THOU AT AT LIBERTY TO DISAGREE! -- Homo sapiens at heart remain basically self-centred creatures. It's nurture -- at the right place, and in the right hands and at the right time -- that refines the Self to be redefined to a higher state of humanity. And the odds of this refinement process are stacked against it from happening to the completion or fulfilment of the desidearatum of Humanisation of Self. Because to get all the THREE "rights" -- at the right place, and in the right hands and at the right time -- to come together to a congruent unity is like striking a lottery. Okay, I'll end hear -- hgonna buy some 1+3D to test my theory of getting all the THree numbers right!
Chow!:)
which can mean See you later!
OR
Come join me for a CON BF/Brunch
at Men Keem where all the men are charitable
and the ladies are chirpy and generous2, in more ways than wan!:):)
*****************************************************
I command Thee to help thyself to Jest Desserts and "Surf ***hear for a better look! "-- YL, Desi
***http://english.cpiasia.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1541:death-of-malaysian-media&catid=208:dr-azly-rahman-&Itemid=156
Death of Malaysian media?
Columnists
Written by Dr Azly Rahman
Saturday, 02 May 2009 18:43
April 23, 2009
“All over the place, from the popular culture to the propaganda system, there is constant pressure to make people feel that they are helpless, that the only role they can have is to ratify decisions and to consume.” (Noam Chomsky) “The man who reads nothing at all is better educated than the man who reads nothing but newspapers.” (Thomas Jefferson, 1743-1826)Is the death of distance nearer to us than our jugular vein?Which stream is the mainstream media drowning in? It has forced us to drink too much from the River of Forgetfulness. It has shaped the consciousness of Malaysian citizens - they are now happily indoctrinated, blessed to be alive in a totalitarian state and constantly reminded by the state to count their blessings.
Nicollo Machiavelli once said that, to maintain power, pretend that you are religious and moral, even if you are allowing the Devil within to take charge.That public image must be doctored by the media, the fourth estate. ‘Perception management’ is big business, especially in this age of political makeovers.The business of Asian-despotic style of journalism is to tell doctored, nursed, and massaged truths that mask the ugliness of class and the modern caste system.Perhaps our system of education has helped us become educated at a level enough to consume truth that is produced by the state-owned media companies - to have enough education to believe that what is real is actually an illusion constructed by those who owns the means of constructing reality.Basic literacy means to have enough skills to read the newspapers, never having the skills to question the truth produced by these artifacts of state-propaganda.Death of state propagandaTotalitarian regimes thrives on a seemingly ‘free media’. When the media become conglomerates and giants, gobbling up small alternative media that tells alternative truths, the people will be in danger. The media becomes a King Kong atop the Empire State building, arrogantly pounding its chest after gobbling up production-houses of little truths.When media control becomes interlocked with political parties and business interests, the selling of lies and half-truths become more savvy, sophisticated and salivating. The story of poverty and why people become poor will not be told - the truth will hurt and bring governments down.In the movie ‘Entrapment’, starring Sean Connery and Catherine Zeta-Jones, this point is made clear: we allow Hollywood to promote the Petronas Twin Towers and we make sure that the world does not see the ugliness of our bantusaan/setinggan areas.But the point on the print and broadcast media was mainly relevant before the advent of the Internet - before the birth and proliferation of bloggers. We now have a post-modern condition that threatens the survival of whatever dignity and respect is left of the government-controlled media. Welcome to the age of the imminent death of state propaganda.The story of how we discriminate flood victims and take advantage of the helpless will be told in greater detail. The story of how much we pay our voters in a democracy that is hideously deformed will be narrated, published, and pod-casted.We are all, in our own way, turning into journalists telling our own truth. We will soon no longer need daily newspapers to tell us half-truths. We need our cell-phone cameras, our blogs, and our will to speak truth to power.Gutenberg’s legacyThe Internet is now such a powerful medium that it is threatening the print media - the Gutenberg creation that is being crushed under its own weight. Never underestimate how the Internet will become a powerful tool that will transform nations or even bring down corrupt governments.I recall in the summer of 1998, in a discussion with classmates interested in anthropology at Columbia University. I presented a scenario of the changes in Malaysia as the nation becomes ‘cybernated’.Taking the Laman Reformasi and Free Anwar websites as cases in point, I argued that this will be the next wave of democracy and free speech. It is going to be a war between the Grand and the Subaltern narratives, between Print and Digital Technology, between the elite of the print media and the digital proletariats.Manuel Castells, Lorenzo Simpson, and Robert McClintock - scholars of Internet and social change - have written a great deal on this.The fast rate of Internet penetration in Malaysia will see the proliferation of ‘citizen journalists and commentators’ who will continue to exercise their rights to free speech. Nothing can stop the bloggers from providing alternative truths or truths that matter or even - as of late - truths and nothing the truths.The bedrock of the print media will be shaken as the microbes of voices in the wilderness continue to brew. The screenshots of social change will become a collage of radical social criticism and become a tapestry of voices of conscience that will engulf print media from head to toe. Such is the case of the metaphor of change as embodied in the recent zeroing in on Rocky’s Bru and Screenshots.There is a sense of panic, fear and trembling of the world of Print and Broadcast Literacy that Cyberspace a.k. a. the Internet is threatening the foundation of how knowledge is produced and propaganda crafted.Tools of dominationAll government newspapers are tools of state propaganda. Even a first-year Universiti Sains Malaysia student of journalism can tell us that. Even a padi farmer in Arau can preach that pertinent point to his children. Those who buy and read government-owned newspapers are news junkies subjecting themselves to Official Knowledge crafted to suit the need of the owners of the means of producing propaganda.All government newspapers are used to skillfully silence and kill opposing viewpoints, albeit couched in some proclamation of free speech. It has been used to engineer risings, uprisings and downfalls. It has been bought and sold by those who have the means to buy and sell politicians.The same goes for the government-owned television stations. They are shapers of consciousness. As a professor of media Neil Postman once said about television, "… thanks to television… our children (have) four eyes and no mouth".Look at what is shown on television. What are our children watching? How much are they reading? How much junk is being funneled daily into the heads of our children? Through the television programmes, how much money is spent by advertisers to shape us and our children into consumers; those who buy things they do not need and consequently suffer by having to crave for objects of desire that define the symbols of social class they are in?How many television channels do one need? Who benefits from the selling of mental junk to our children?Can't we Malaysians organise a week of no-newspapers and a week of no-television campaigns to teach us to flush out junk from our consciousness?The print and broadcast media has become tools of mental domination and purveyor of the post-modern totalitarianism. Those who participate in owning, writing, producing, editing and selling the ideology are partners with the regime of totalitarianism. They have become a citizen of the state of ‘Oceania’ as in George Orwell's novel 1984. They are, in the word of media theorist Stuart Hall, decoders and encoders of state propaganda.The Internet is different. It is a protean technology – it is multi-medium and still has the potential for more interactivity. It speaks to us and lets us speak - unlike newspapers, radio and television.The death of distance is near. How much longer will newspapers and television survive?.
Media Under the Spotlight
CPI Writings
Written by YL Chong, Editor, CPI
Saturday, 02 May 2009 19:21
May 3rd every year marks World Press Freedom day in the democratic world and in Malaysia, there is marked growing consciousness among the people to demand that the Fourth Estate -- prominently mainfested or represented by the printed Press in the form of the daily newspaper at our breakfast table, although other media including electronic and radio fall within this ambit -- come under the spotlight. Often, or at least once a year in a big way, media organisations would organise specal events like forums and discussions to debate whether the "old/traditional" media have fulfilled their role and oblogations.
CPI flags off today an examination of the ("old") media scene dating more than 100 years' history with our own columnist Dr Azly Rahman's thoughts. And of course, to mark World Press Freedom Day in what has obviously become an "annual" fun-outing for Bloggers and Bloggers-to-be, CPI meanwhile is proud to be associated in organising BUM2009 with a band of Bloggers who call themselves "BUMmers" to subject both the old and new media under examination.The new media, especially Internet-enabled ones like Blogging, is relatively "young", like with a mere two decades' history, has given more "voice" to the ordinary citizens many of whom have embraced it fervently, and are promoting what is termed "citizen journalism" with an enthusiasm that will only widen democratic space among the citizenry and contribute towards the development of a more civil society. But the infant stage of this new development would mean that the practitioners and the public or recipients/readers of this rapidly expanding new media reach are still coming to grasp the meaning and implications as to what with the ground rules apply in governing such new media roles and practices. The people in general are still monitoring their development and assessing their role and impact on society, and sometimes one gets the feeling the www -- "worldwide web" -- also appropriately once referred chiefly to the "wild, wild west". So it's early days yet for the jury to come in with a verdict.
Readers here are welcomed to send to us at CPI any Essays, Blog posts pertaining to the Media for publication over the next one month of May. ~~ YL Chong, Editor, CPI at
chongyl2000@yahoo.com
**************
Background story from worldpressfreedomday.org:
Dear Reader,As they investigate sensitive issues, unveil disturbing truths and question policies, journalists find themselves in the firing line of those directly or indirectly exposed by their reports.Facing harassment, threats of violence and physical retaliation, journalists across the world continue to dig out troubling facts, challenge the status quo and expose those who commit crimes. Day after day, journalists investigate and file reports on issues they know they could be sued or killed for. Many pay the price. On World Press Freedom Day, the World Association of Newspapers will present the story of many journalists whose work upsets and can sometimes undo the powerful. What do they report on, how and at what price?Moussa Kaka, the director of the private radio station Saraouniya Radio talks about his coverage of the Niger Justice Movement that led to a one-year imprisonment. Mohammad Al-Al Abdallah, a 26-year old Syrian blogger, reveals his family hardships that have arisen from the fight for press freedom. In Yemen, Abdel Karim Al-Khaiwani, talks about spending a year behind bars for his reportage on high-level corruption, nepotism, and human rights abuses. Colombian journalist Claudia Julieta Duque discusses the long battle she has faced for her investigative reporting. Barry Bearak of The New York Times describes his arrest, detention and expulsion from Zimbabwe for trying to report from the country during the last elections.You can publish free of charge any editorial and advertising materials available on this site. You may also translate any of the material into another language that we do not currently offer. The World Association of Newspapers annually organises a World Press Freedom Day initiative to draw attention to the role of independent news and information in society, and how it is under attack. A number of individuals and organisations have made this year's campaign possible. We would like to express our sincere thanks to Agence France-Presse, Reuters, Associated Press, Russian Guild of Press Publishers, Reporters Without Borders, the Committee to Protect Journalists, Michel Cambon, Sanjeev Saikia, and Tom Callaghan.
Related: Death of Malaysian media?
***********************************
My heART at Labor at CPI enables me to add some "kaya" to top up french toast -- NO> I DON'T USE THE CAP! -- of just plain bread and butter with three sceneful layers of Skippy. And also pile on Capitalist indulgence on May Day to serenade two sweet ladies with a desisque-imitating-B'Gies Y-el-Ling cowboi versi ofFirst of May at a certain Furong Butterfly Vale. If you must knwo, I served full time some two decades at the much-maligned MSM, but I also underwent some Jurassick transformation at a diplomatic mission and a "reformist" online newspaper ... and ONE thing I've learnt -- AND THOU AT AT LIBERTY TO DISAGREE! -- Homo sapiens at heart remain basically self-centred creatures. It's nurture -- at the right place, and in the right hands and at the right time -- that refines the Self to be redefined to a higher state of humanity. And the odds of this refinement process are stacked against it from happening to the completion or fulfilment of the desidearatum of Humanisation of Self. Because to get all the THREE "rights" -- at the right place, and in the right hands and at the right time -- to come together to a congruent unity is like striking a lottery. Okay, I'll end hear -- hgonna buy some 1+3D to test my theory of getting all the THree numbers right!
Chow!:)
which can mean See you later!
OR
Come join me for a CON BF/Brunch
at Men Keem where all the men are charitable
and the ladies are chirpy and generous2, in more ways than wan!:):)
*****************************************************
I command Thee to help thyself to Jest Desserts and "Surf ***hear for a better look! "-- YL, Desi
***http://english.cpiasia.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1541:death-of-malaysian-media&catid=208:dr-azly-rahman-&Itemid=156
Death of Malaysian media?
Columnists
Written by Dr Azly Rahman
Saturday, 02 May 2009 18:43
April 23, 2009
“All over the place, from the popular culture to the propaganda system, there is constant pressure to make people feel that they are helpless, that the only role they can have is to ratify decisions and to consume.” (Noam Chomsky) “The man who reads nothing at all is better educated than the man who reads nothing but newspapers.” (Thomas Jefferson, 1743-1826)Is the death of distance nearer to us than our jugular vein?Which stream is the mainstream media drowning in? It has forced us to drink too much from the River of Forgetfulness. It has shaped the consciousness of Malaysian citizens - they are now happily indoctrinated, blessed to be alive in a totalitarian state and constantly reminded by the state to count their blessings.
Nicollo Machiavelli once said that, to maintain power, pretend that you are religious and moral, even if you are allowing the Devil within to take charge.That public image must be doctored by the media, the fourth estate. ‘Perception management’ is big business, especially in this age of political makeovers.The business of Asian-despotic style of journalism is to tell doctored, nursed, and massaged truths that mask the ugliness of class and the modern caste system.Perhaps our system of education has helped us become educated at a level enough to consume truth that is produced by the state-owned media companies - to have enough education to believe that what is real is actually an illusion constructed by those who owns the means of constructing reality.Basic literacy means to have enough skills to read the newspapers, never having the skills to question the truth produced by these artifacts of state-propaganda.Death of state propagandaTotalitarian regimes thrives on a seemingly ‘free media’. When the media become conglomerates and giants, gobbling up small alternative media that tells alternative truths, the people will be in danger. The media becomes a King Kong atop the Empire State building, arrogantly pounding its chest after gobbling up production-houses of little truths.When media control becomes interlocked with political parties and business interests, the selling of lies and half-truths become more savvy, sophisticated and salivating. The story of poverty and why people become poor will not be told - the truth will hurt and bring governments down.In the movie ‘Entrapment’, starring Sean Connery and Catherine Zeta-Jones, this point is made clear: we allow Hollywood to promote the Petronas Twin Towers and we make sure that the world does not see the ugliness of our bantusaan/setinggan areas.But the point on the print and broadcast media was mainly relevant before the advent of the Internet - before the birth and proliferation of bloggers. We now have a post-modern condition that threatens the survival of whatever dignity and respect is left of the government-controlled media. Welcome to the age of the imminent death of state propaganda.The story of how we discriminate flood victims and take advantage of the helpless will be told in greater detail. The story of how much we pay our voters in a democracy that is hideously deformed will be narrated, published, and pod-casted.We are all, in our own way, turning into journalists telling our own truth. We will soon no longer need daily newspapers to tell us half-truths. We need our cell-phone cameras, our blogs, and our will to speak truth to power.Gutenberg’s legacyThe Internet is now such a powerful medium that it is threatening the print media - the Gutenberg creation that is being crushed under its own weight. Never underestimate how the Internet will become a powerful tool that will transform nations or even bring down corrupt governments.I recall in the summer of 1998, in a discussion with classmates interested in anthropology at Columbia University. I presented a scenario of the changes in Malaysia as the nation becomes ‘cybernated’.Taking the Laman Reformasi and Free Anwar websites as cases in point, I argued that this will be the next wave of democracy and free speech. It is going to be a war between the Grand and the Subaltern narratives, between Print and Digital Technology, between the elite of the print media and the digital proletariats.Manuel Castells, Lorenzo Simpson, and Robert McClintock - scholars of Internet and social change - have written a great deal on this.The fast rate of Internet penetration in Malaysia will see the proliferation of ‘citizen journalists and commentators’ who will continue to exercise their rights to free speech. Nothing can stop the bloggers from providing alternative truths or truths that matter or even - as of late - truths and nothing the truths.The bedrock of the print media will be shaken as the microbes of voices in the wilderness continue to brew. The screenshots of social change will become a collage of radical social criticism and become a tapestry of voices of conscience that will engulf print media from head to toe. Such is the case of the metaphor of change as embodied in the recent zeroing in on Rocky’s Bru and Screenshots.There is a sense of panic, fear and trembling of the world of Print and Broadcast Literacy that Cyberspace a.k. a. the Internet is threatening the foundation of how knowledge is produced and propaganda crafted.Tools of dominationAll government newspapers are tools of state propaganda. Even a first-year Universiti Sains Malaysia student of journalism can tell us that. Even a padi farmer in Arau can preach that pertinent point to his children. Those who buy and read government-owned newspapers are news junkies subjecting themselves to Official Knowledge crafted to suit the need of the owners of the means of producing propaganda.All government newspapers are used to skillfully silence and kill opposing viewpoints, albeit couched in some proclamation of free speech. It has been used to engineer risings, uprisings and downfalls. It has been bought and sold by those who have the means to buy and sell politicians.The same goes for the government-owned television stations. They are shapers of consciousness. As a professor of media Neil Postman once said about television, "… thanks to television… our children (have) four eyes and no mouth".Look at what is shown on television. What are our children watching? How much are they reading? How much junk is being funneled daily into the heads of our children? Through the television programmes, how much money is spent by advertisers to shape us and our children into consumers; those who buy things they do not need and consequently suffer by having to crave for objects of desire that define the symbols of social class they are in?How many television channels do one need? Who benefits from the selling of mental junk to our children?Can't we Malaysians organise a week of no-newspapers and a week of no-television campaigns to teach us to flush out junk from our consciousness?The print and broadcast media has become tools of mental domination and purveyor of the post-modern totalitarianism. Those who participate in owning, writing, producing, editing and selling the ideology are partners with the regime of totalitarianism. They have become a citizen of the state of ‘Oceania’ as in George Orwell's novel 1984. They are, in the word of media theorist Stuart Hall, decoders and encoders of state propaganda.The Internet is different. It is a protean technology – it is multi-medium and still has the potential for more interactivity. It speaks to us and lets us speak - unlike newspapers, radio and television.The death of distance is near. How much longer will newspapers and television survive?.
Friday, May 01, 2009
Desi gets sentimental on taking a break from Labour
When you feel the world gets you down on a hot sunny, tropical day
Lay ye down underneath the swaying coconut tree
If thou canst quench thy thirst when the fruit falls your way
Then turn to the apple tree, as Newton did
And he saw the apples falling one by one
And so the law of Gravitas that was long hid
By accident on a hot lazy BUMmers' day was undone
--YL, Desi belting our sentimental lines fired by Bee Gees:
PS: ap AP ap AP ap AP ap AP Labor Dae
From a socialist MouRndae to Frydae:(
CapitaLIST on the wickedend:)
____________________________________
First of May (Bee Gees song)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references (ideally, using inline citations). Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (May 2007)
“First of May”
Single by Bee Geesfrom the album Odessa
B-side
"Lamplight" (Robin Gibb song) (Original issue)"How Deep Is Your Love" (1996 JP reissue)
Released
March 1969
Format
vinyl record 45"
Recorded
1968IBC Studios, London
Genre
Rock
Length
2:49
Label
UK: Polydor 56304, USA/CA: Atco 45-6657
Writer(s)
Barry Gibb/Robin Gibb/Maurice Gibb
Producer
Robert Stigwood
Certification
Gold (Japan)
Bee Gees singles chronology
"I Started a Joke"(1968)
"First of May"(1969)
"Tomorrow Tomorrow"(1969)
"First of May" is a song recorded by the Bee Gees, released as a single from their 1969 double album Odessa. The flip side of a single was a Robin Gibb's composition "Lamplight". Robert Stigwood, the Bee Gees manager chose "First of May" for the A-side. No other singles were released from the Odessa album, as Robin already had left the group.
This song was initially taped in demo form in New York City on August 16, 1968. Later that year in London, "First of May" (a titular reference to the birthday of Barry's dog, Barnaby) was remade at IBC Studios with a majestic orchestral arrangement from maestro Bill Shepherd.
Barry Gibb says in Tales From The Brothers Gibb that the title of the song was inspired by the fact that his dog's birthday was on the 1st of May.
After its release, "First of May" enjoyed a resurgence for several times. In 1971, the song was featured in the soundtrack to Melody, a British motion picture about puppy love.[1] In 1996, the song was used as a theme of the Japanese drama Wakaba no Koro[2]. The song reissued on CD climbed the country's chart again and gained moderate commercial success, selling more than 100,000 copies.[3] This song was also sung by Sarah Brightman in her succesful world tour Symphony.
[edit] Chart positions
************************* Foroldedime'sshakes!:)
"First of May"
When I was small, and Christmas trees were tall,
We used to love while others used to play.
Dont ask me why, but time has passed us by,
Some one else moved in from far away.
(chorus)
Now we are tall, and Christmas trees are small,
And you dont ask the time of day.
But you and iIour love will never die,
But guess who'll cry
Come First of May.
The apple tree that grew for you and me,
I watched the apples falling one by one.
And I recall the moment of them all,
The day I kissed your cheek and you were gone.
(chorus...)
When I was small, and Christmas trees were tall,
Do do do do do do do do do...
Dont ask me why, but time has passed us by,
Some one else moved in from far away.
Lay ye down underneath the swaying coconut tree
If thou canst quench thy thirst when the fruit falls your way
Then turn to the apple tree, as Newton did
And he saw the apples falling one by one
And so the law of Gravitas that was long hid
By accident on a hot lazy BUMmers' day was undone
--YL, Desi belting our sentimental lines fired by Bee Gees:
PS: ap AP ap AP ap AP ap AP Labor Dae
From a socialist MouRndae to Frydae:(
CapitaLIST on the wickedend:)
____________________________________
First of May (Bee Gees song)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references (ideally, using inline citations). Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (May 2007)
“First of May”
Single by Bee Geesfrom the album Odessa
B-side
"Lamplight" (Robin Gibb song) (Original issue)"How Deep Is Your Love" (1996 JP reissue)
Released
March 1969
Format
vinyl record 45"
Recorded
1968IBC Studios, London
Genre
Rock
Length
2:49
Label
UK: Polydor 56304, USA/CA: Atco 45-6657
Writer(s)
Barry Gibb/Robin Gibb/Maurice Gibb
Producer
Robert Stigwood
Certification
Gold (Japan)
Bee Gees singles chronology
"I Started a Joke"(1968)
"First of May"(1969)
"Tomorrow Tomorrow"(1969)
"First of May" is a song recorded by the Bee Gees, released as a single from their 1969 double album Odessa. The flip side of a single was a Robin Gibb's composition "Lamplight". Robert Stigwood, the Bee Gees manager chose "First of May" for the A-side. No other singles were released from the Odessa album, as Robin already had left the group.
This song was initially taped in demo form in New York City on August 16, 1968. Later that year in London, "First of May" (a titular reference to the birthday of Barry's dog, Barnaby) was remade at IBC Studios with a majestic orchestral arrangement from maestro Bill Shepherd.
Barry Gibb says in Tales From The Brothers Gibb that the title of the song was inspired by the fact that his dog's birthday was on the 1st of May.
After its release, "First of May" enjoyed a resurgence for several times. In 1971, the song was featured in the soundtrack to Melody, a British motion picture about puppy love.[1] In 1996, the song was used as a theme of the Japanese drama Wakaba no Koro[2]. The song reissued on CD climbed the country's chart again and gained moderate commercial success, selling more than 100,000 copies.[3] This song was also sung by Sarah Brightman in her succesful world tour Symphony.
[edit] Chart positions
************************* Foroldedime'sshakes!:)
"First of May"
When I was small, and Christmas trees were tall,
We used to love while others used to play.
Dont ask me why, but time has passed us by,
Some one else moved in from far away.
(chorus)
Now we are tall, and Christmas trees are small,
And you dont ask the time of day.
But you and iIour love will never die,
But guess who'll cry
Come First of May.
The apple tree that grew for you and me,
I watched the apples falling one by one.
And I recall the moment of them all,
The day I kissed your cheek and you were gone.
(chorus...)
When I was small, and Christmas trees were tall,
Do do do do do do do do do...
Dont ask me why, but time has passed us by,
Some one else moved in from far away.
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