Abolish ISA Mass prays for police too; RPK defends site
Does RM1.90/litre for petrol sound right?
Let’s update the chart which Ong Eu Soon prepared:
| Petrol price | Global crude | |
| RM/litre | US$/barrel | |
| 01/10/00 | 1.20 | 35 |
| 20/10/01 | 1.30 | 20 |
| 01/05/02 | 1.32 | 26 |
| 31/10/02 | 1.33 | 28 |
| 01/03/03 | 1.35 | 31 |
| 01/05/04 | 1.37 | 38 |
| 01/10/04 | 1.42 | 47 |
| 05/05/05 | 1.52 | 48 |
| 30/07/05 | 1.62 | 57 |
| 26/02/06 | 1.92 | 63 |
| 05/06/08 | 2.70 | 120 |
| 17/11/08 | 2.00 | 55 |
| 2/12/08 | 1.90 | 48 |
Zaid’s OUT; M’sian Anti-Corruption Commission’s IN
I think I spoke too soon. This was what I wrote in my blog posting yesterday:
Anyway, contrast this with how Zaid Ibrahim’s presence at Pakatan events has been greeted by the folks in Umno.And now they go and sack him. Umno’s failure to implement meaningful reforms is complete. Well, you might ask, what about the reforms in the pipeline by March 2009? I fell off my chair laughing when I read a source quoted on the front page of theSun commenting on the proposed Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), which is supposed to be more independent than the Anti-Corruption Agency:
“This means, the commissioner (the director-general of the agency) will enjoy unprecedented independence as enjoyed by the A-G, the auditor general and judges,” said a source.Well, we all know how independent they are, right? If we are lucky, the MACC might even be as ‘independent’ as Suhakam! 🙂
On a lighter note, Guan Eng ventures into the lions’ den
Three possible reasons why someone invited Guan Eng to Gerakan’s Wawasan University for the inauguration of Chong Eu as its first chancellor:
- it’s common courtesy to invite the Chief Minister;
- the person who issued the invitation has a good sense of humour; or
- the person who issued the invitation wanted to watch the ‘fun’; or
- all of the above
Guan Eng in ‘enemy territory’ GEORGE TOWN: After severely criticising his predecessor Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon and Gerakan leaders for the last eight months, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng found himself in “enemy territory” yesterday. He made an unscheduled appearance at the inauguration ceremony of Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu as Wawasan Open University’s (WOU) first chancellor at the university’s campus. His attendance drew surprised stares from guests and newsmen present.
High crime rates? Nah, just change your perception…
First, when the price of petrol was hiked, they told us to “change our life-styles”.
Now, when the crime rate appears to be high, they are telling us to “change our perception” of crime…
… and all will be well.
Najib was saying that our perception of worrying crime rates should be viewed in perspective: apparently Malaysia has lower crime rates than Japan and Hong Kong.
Maybe it was just my perception that my apartment was broken into last year and my personal belongings stolen.
“Otak-tak-centre” approach to heritage conservation?
So the Penang government will consult Unesco to come up with a solution to the scandal of the four proposed high-rise buildings in the George Town world heritage core and buffer zones. In the meantime, the developers concerned have been advised to halt their projects temporarily to placate the public and to avoid risking the world heritage status.
Are they trying to persuade Unesco to agree to those four high-rise buildings? It’s not a question of whether Unesco agrees or disagrees. It’s really a question of whether we value our own priceless heritage, which is unique in this region. Look at how other historical cities in Europe have strict guidelines as to what kind of buildings are allowed and what aren’t in their own heritage areas – even without a world heritage listing. Over here, guidelines are just for show (or to secure world heritage status); nobody cares about enforcing them… as long as quick (short-sighted) profits can be made.
Why is the state bending over backwards to please these developers? You tell me. Oh yes, that familiar line again; repeat after me, all together now, “They will claim compensation from the state if we don’t allow them.” That’s pathetic. Let them try and do that, and we shall see if the people of Penang will be amused.
An irate Penang resident and blog reader, Andrew, sends this comment:
Why does this DAP-PKR govt have to consult Unesco for a win-win solution? The only win-win should be for the people of Penang and for heritage conservation.
Mystery woman shows up at PJ candlelight vigil
Pave paradise to put up 800 parking bays in Youth Park
Canadian song-writer Joni Mitchell felt compelled to write the song “Big Yellow Taxi” when during a visit to Hawaii she took a taxi to a hotel and peered out of the hotel room window the next morning. She described what she saw to journalist Alan McDougall:
… I threw back the curtains and saw these beautiful green mountains in the distance. Then, I looked down and there was a parking lot as far as the eye could see, and it broke my heart… this blight on paradise. That’s when I sat down and wrote the song.The line “Paved paradise to put up a parking lot” could well describe what we are doing to our Pearl of the Orient, which is rapidly turning into one big parking lot. “Don’t it always seem to go, you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone…” Now I have stumbled onto plans to put up 800 parking bays at the Penang Youth Park. 800?! Are they out of their minds? We have such limited recreational areas and parks – and they can think of putting up 800 parking bays? Someone, please tell me it’s all a misunderstanding… I got this information from an official-sounding website Adun PP Net. This is what it says:
Make a date with RPK, Thuan Chye and Jo Kukathas
Raja Petra Kamarudin and playwrights Kee Thuan Chye and Jo Kukhatas will be appearing on the Riz Khan show at 10.00pm on Wednesday, 3 December over Al Jazeera English (Channel 513 Astro). They will be discussing Malaysian politics and culture and touching on the ISA among other things.
RPK’s legal battle continues
RPK lives to fight another day as the Sessions Court has effectively left it to the High Court to decide which court should hear his case – the Sessions Court or the magistrate’s court.
PKR congress, yoga fatwa and sordid politics
Heading to the PKR congress Photo by Amiruddin
Blogger Amiruddin will be covering the PKR congress, which is expected to draw thousands.
Read Farish Noor’s article on the yoga fatwa here.
And check out ABC’s Foreign Correspondent documentary on Malaysia’s sordid and sensational politics here.
The spectre of job losses haunts Malaysia
The global recession is already creeping up on us with the spectre of job losses looming. Already, we hear multinational corporations here slowing down production, asking workers to take annual leave and going for planned shutdowns. No bonus, no increments, etc…
That’s not surprising. US third quarter 2008 economic growth was already in negative territory: – 0.5 per cent (preliminary figure). Personal consumption in the States was down by 3.7 per cent – and that could worsen – while retail sales fell 15 per cent. Housing prices there are expected to slide further. US unemployment could soar to 8.5-9.0 per cent by the end of 2009.
That’s grim reading, isn’t it? It would be foolish to think Malaysia can be spared, especially when traditionally, 20 per cent of Malaysia’s exports have gone to the United States – 12 per cent to the giant US electronic multinationals – while Europe is also sucked into the maelstrom.
Blog reader Drachen mocks the thinking in some circles:
Nah, Anil! Don’t be a Chicken Little! Malaysia’s economy has STRONG FUNDAMENTALS! We are managed by SUPERIOR LEADERSHIP! NOTHING will affect our growth and prosperity! We can take ANYTHING the world can throw at us! We are IMMUNE! Let’s all go back to sleep! HAHAHA!We are talking of a recession in Malaysia that could be worse than that of 1997, which was essentially triggered by a regional financial crisis. In contrast, the coming recession would be more akin to what we experienced in 1986, when exports weakened and commodity prices slumped, sparking job losses.
LA turns to solar energy; why not Malaysia?
“Why solar? L.A. enjoys 276 days of sunshine a year, according to the mayor’s office. Solar would also help cut down on the city’s notorious smog.”Well, why don’t we seriously consider solar? If Los Angeles can move towards solar – the city is aiming for 35 per cent of its energy from renewables – there is no reason Malaysia can’t move in that direction now. If we start now, we can pre-empt any move towards nuclear power plants, which, knowing our maintenance culture, would be a disaster waiting to happen.
..and they keep coming back to pray for ISA detainees
Praying in solidarity with those unjustly detained
They keep coming back, week after week, to pray for the release of the detainees… What drives them to pray for total strangers who have been unjustly detained? It is their belief that God cares deeply about justice for everyone.
The weekly Wednesday Masses continue to be held at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Pulau Tikus, Penang. About a hundred people turned up tonight to pray for the release of ISA detainees and the repeal of the ISA. One senior nun was seen wearing not one, but two ‘Abolish ISA’ badges!
RM1b more needed for flood mitigation in Penang?
The Penang state government has said it needs RM970 million more from KL for flood mitigation projects to prevent flash floods.
It says it has identified seven more areas that require such projects and this would cost RM670 million. Another RM300 million would be needed for 50 water pump stations and five retention ponds.
Areas worst affected by floods are Jalan P Ramlee, Teluk Kumbar and Teluk Bahang on the island and kampongs near rivers on the mainland as well as Kampung Tok Suboh in Bukit Mertajam.
Activist Ong Eu Soon, however, says only a small fraction of that RM1 billion would be needed if the government were to opt for storm water management, which would involve building storm wells with filters in strategic locations. Check out his proposal, which he says uses the latest US technology.
More on the Makkal Sakthi prayers
Pictures by Charles Santiago in Batu Caves here.
Update from blog reader RastamanJB in JB:
The SMSes were flying till late evening asking all Hindus to gather at the nearest temple to commemorate the 1st anniversary of the Great March. I headed to the temple nearest to my abode… and a real surprise awaited me! A huge banner with the faces of the 5 ISAed heroes was strung across the entrance of the temple. Below their pictures was some message that stated special prayers for the 5 would be held at 8.00pm. I was there at about 7.00pm and could see the events unfolding as the clock ticked away. Slowly the crowd swelled and there was equal representation by women folk as well.
Prayers to mark Makkal Sakthi awakening
Bruce Willis sees red over “green rubber”
In case you missed it, here’s the link to the Reuters report:
Irene Fernandez acquitted after 13-year court battle
Just got news that Irene Fernandez has been finally acquitted after a 13-year court battle on a charge of publishing false news about the ill-treatment and poor living conditions of migrant workers in a detention centre. The High Court judge who made the decision is Mohamad Apandi Ali.
Some background here:
Fernandez is a staunch human rights activist and is the director and co-founder of Tenaganita, a Malaysian NGO that promotes the rights and welfare of migrant and agricultural workers.
No charges pressed against vigil participants
No charges pressed!: Outside the PJ main police station this morning Photo by Rakyat@work
Rakyat@work at the PJ main police station tells me at 9.26am that the Investigating Officer there has told all those arrested during the 9 November Abolish ISA vigil in PJ that no charges will be preferred against them – though their details will be on file in case they commit future “offences”.
About half of those concerned are now going off to celebrate. Others have gone straight away to check out the Raja Petra criminal defamation trial, which begins today!
Says one of them, blogger Arif Abdull:
Yes, we weren’t charged today. Just back to work from Duta Court to lend support to RPK. The RPK case (has been) adjourned to tomorrow morning at Level 3 court room no 5.Check out Mustafa K Anuar’s response to the Malay-Muslim “NGOs” that have called on the government to take action against those opposing the ISA (photo of their demonstration from NST):
Wait a sec! Did they imply that the so-called ’Muslim and Malay unity’ hinged on detention without trial aka ISA? (Are they) associating this kind of unity with a piece of legislation that has long been considered unjust and therefore going against the very teachings of Islam that prioritise justice and compassion, among other important things in life?Meanwhile, Rakyat@work gives us a more detailed report of the Abolish ISA vigil last night: Senior newspaper editor Bob Teoh giving a humourous speech Video courtesy of Sivin Kit
Braving the rain once again at last night’s vigil in PJ
