This is something I wrote for Asia Times:An air of nervousness has hung over Malaysia in sight of a potential confrontation between civil society organizers and pro-government opponents. A ”walk for democracy” planned for July 9 by a coalition of civil society groups known as Bersih 2.0 to campaign for clean and fair elections sparked a government crackdown reminiscent of the country’s old authoritarian ways.
The Save Malaysia Committee with the assistance of Australian NGOs staged a protest outside Lynas Corporation’s headquarters in Sydney over the construction of a rare earth refinery in Gebeng near Kuantan.
1900: After a long day, the 24 PSM activists including two teenagers are to be charged under the Societies Act (involvement in an illegal organisation) and the ISA (possession of subversive documents). They have been released on bail of RM8000 each.
After an afternoon of bad news – six political activists freed only to be re-arrested under emergency era laws – a ray of hope as dusk fell: two teens to be released tonight, a woman freed and the remaining 22 to be remanded only until Monday. "Hidup rakyat!" they chant as trucks carrying the detainees emerge from the Butterworth Magistrates Court at sunset - Photo: Anil
An IAEA panel has concluded that there is no instance of any non-compliance with international radiation safety standards at the Lynas plant under construction in Gebeng near Kuantan.
Penang High Court Judge Datuk Zamani Abdul Rahim is hearing an urgent application for a revision of the seven-day remand order on 30 detained PSM activists.
1350: Police still at the Bersih office and they want to question the seven staff in the office.1230pm: Police are raiding the Bersih secretariat in Petaling Jaya now.
Malaysian-born Michelle Yeoh who plays democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi in the upcoming movie ‘The Lady’ has been deported by Burma’s military dictators.Michelle Yeoh as Aung San Suu Kyi in 'The Lady' - Photograph: Vincent Perez /2010 EuropaCorp/Left Bank Pictures/France 2 Cinéma/Guardian
Battling fatigue, legal aid lawyers have secured a court hearing on their urgent application for a revision of a seven-day remand order on 30 PSM activists.
Some RM350m of public funds will be spent to dredge the Penang channel once again to allow large ships to pass through; so it is all the more important for us to know what is causing the siltation.
Two DAP politicians have been hauled up, one for allegedly speaking about the Bersih event and the other for allegedly sporting a Bersih T-shirt.Senator S Ramakrishnan was hauled up for speaking on the Bersih rally during a Kuala Langat DAP dinner earlier tonight. His statement was recorded at the Banting Police Station in Kuala Langat.An accountant by training, Ramakrishnan lectures at the Metropolitan College, Subang Jaya, Selangor.