Malaysia’s fugitive blogger Raja Petra has received a standing ovation at a talk in a packed lecture theatre in London.
Photo courtesy of Danny Lim
That’s according to a tweet by Padraig Reidy, the news editor of Index on Censorship (a British organisation promoting freedom of expression) and former deputy editor of New Humanist. Continue reading »
Malaysia’s polar opposite non-violent answer to Rambo
Photo by Rakyat@work
The Man With D Video Cam tells us why he thinks we have “the real deal” in our midst:
Rambo is a film character, a man with bulging muscles brandishing a serrated knife and creating havoc among his enemies. In the world of make believe, Rambo has drawn quite a following.
Men who walk around, exhibiting a bulky load of muscles with women clinging to either arm are the real men in this fanciful, make-believe world. Driving fast cars with branded sunglasses, they saunter around as if the world is their playground.
In contrast, what I have is a comfortable car that can still provide me with an uninterrupted journey to my destination and a woman who will stand by me – come what may. This is my world and I love it!
But there are still many things missing in my life. I want to live in the real world, which is more interesting and exciting than any imaginary world, which can be so deceiving.
“We have to fight all out and get the ISA abolished,” says RPK before he is driven home. Photos by Rakyat@Work
Updates by anilnetto.com with Rakyat@Work reporting live from the scene.
1800: Correction: The person in the front seat of the Rolls was not Tony Pua but someone else. Sorry, Tony!
1743: Blog reader Andrew tells us not to get too carried away:
Your reader’s comments all TOO OPTIMISTIC about the judiciary. One swallow does not make a summer. One case does not exonerate the judiciary’s discredit nor does it signal any significant change. Only a series of good judgments over a prolonged period of time will do this. If any of the other ISA detainees were to challenge their detention, would they be freed?
1723: The thanksgiving continues, this time from Tommy Man:
Hallelujah…Praise to the Lord God the Creator.
Justice finally prevailed. God is our judge. The aggressor will be punished.
1702: Rakyat@Work is now taking a well-deserved break to freshen up before heading for Seremban, where he expects RPK to turn up for the weekly Friday night Abolish ISA vigil at Dataran Seremban Park at 8.00pm. It should be an exciting night!
Utter delight: His supporters chant “RPK! RPK!”
1700: RPK’s release is a blow for advocates of the ISA, says blog reader Sewel:
Refreshing to see Habeas Corpus was used as a leverage to challenge the ISA. This is common law at its best. Justice Syed Helmy has also (given) a much needed credibility boost to Malaysia’s judiciary. Justice Helmy put to rest the false assumption that nobody could question the ISA.
Together with the judgment passed by Judge Komathy on Anwar’s sodomy trial today to disallow (AG’s request for) Anwar’s hearing to (be transferred to) the high court, we are seeing justice prevail. The Judiciary has in fact today in different sittings questioned the credibility and judgement of both the Attorney-General and the Home Minister.
1639: Haris and Zorro thank everyone for their support. Haris reminds the crowd that there are over 60 detainees who need to be freed as well. Everyone here is taking a “piece of justice” home today.
1600: Blog reader Harbans Kaur heaves a sigh of relief:
Yay! Good news. Thanks for the live up-date. I’ve been on tenterhooks all morning wondering if he was going to be re-arrested outside the courthouse. God Bless RPK! We must continue to pressure the release of all other ISA detainees! The anti-ISA vigils should continue.
1540: He is freed! “RPK is whisked away in a beautiful maroon Rolls Royce fit for a king,” says Rakyat@Work. RPK and Marina are in the back seat while Tony Pua is in the front. Some 150 supporters are chanting, “RPK! RPK!”
