As we go into regression over (Sunday) night’s pandemonium, many would have formed new impressions and new experiences and witnessed the new rakyat thinking as we move forward into a new Malaysia. Change is inevitable; it’s happening right here, right now! Whatever course the rakyat choose to take next will determine if we remain stagnant or progress as one human race. While my travelling mates and I were covering the Ipoh vigil, our hearts were beating for the PJ vigil as early as 7.30pm. Our handphones were literary filled with breaking news every 5 to 10 mins. SMSes were exchanged at a furious pace, back and forth. (All the 4 Ws were put to use: Who? Where? When? Why? and now trying to anwwer the What? What’s all this about? What is going to come out of it? What was it the police were trying to prove? What is the rakyat all about? We can only answer within ourselves. Something was brewing all right but never in my wildest imagination could I have comprehended what was to follow (which is history now): “I WILL NOT BE COWED!” I would just like to share with you these SMSes:
Where to from here?
Rakyat@work who was on his way to Ipoh to cover the Sunday vigil there reflects:
Did the FRU move in during the Negaraku?
This was the first rendition of Negaraku at Amcorp Mall last night. Video courtesy of Sivin Kit’s blog. It was the second rendition at the Civic Centre that was disrupted by the FRU. (see videos below) Just a parting thought for tonight, having thought about it further this evening: I guess the title of this post “Did the FRU move in during the Negaraku?” is irrelevant. It does not matter when the FRU moved in – whether it was before, during or after the Negaraku (though of course moving around when the song is being sung is disrespectful). That merely diverts attention from the real question, which is why were the police charging at peace-loving, justice-loving rakyat in the first place?
In contrast, the Ipoh vigil last night passed without incident as police kept a low profile.
No FRU presence was visible in Ipoh; instead some police arrived in what appeared to be a Kancil! Photos by Rakyat@work
1722: The Star (at least its northern region edition) carried the news of the arrests last night at the bottom of page 31 in today’s paper! Obviously, the editors of the “People’s Paper” have got a different set of editorial priorities and criteria for news-worthiness. The report of the arrests appeared below a picture of police displaying drugs seized during a raid. “I was wondering what the arrested MP and Aduns had to do with drugs seized,” a confused reader of the paper told me.
1531: Malaysiakini reports that Home Minister Syed Hamid insists he was in the dark about the police action against the candelight vigil until this morning, adding that he had not received any reports:
“Let me check (first) because police work is police work. Their responsibility is to maintain law and order, (but so far) I have not got any report,” he said. “If you have done something against law and order, the police will take action. But if you are not happy with it, bring specific details to me and let me check.”And here’s another video from the folks at Malaysiakini. 1442: Antares points us to a video which indicates that the police moved in before the end of the Negara Ku:
I just viewed an incriminating video on YouTube … as the video UNDENIABLY shows, the FRU moved in BEFORE the conclusion of ‘Negara Ku’ thereby showing utter disrespect for the national anthem. I trust the Selangor CPO will take a look for himself and issue a sincere apology to all those who were rudely interrupted in the midst of singing the national anthem. His men clobbered a few for singing offkey and arrested others for wearing bright yellow & red T-shirts (the colours on the Selangor flag) without a police permit.1249: MP Tony Pua confirms that he is now out of the station on a personal bond and due to report back to the station on 24 Nov. He is now in Parliament. Recalling his nightmare, he writes in his blog:
I was arrested while seeking out Ronnie Liu and the senior police officers in charge to make sure that everyone was ok. The CPO Selangor issued the call to arrest me, and two guys came over to grab one arm each and pushed me towards the Black Maria. I stated that I will walk, don’t be rough but they tore my shirt instead. I repeated my call and three other police officers came at me, one with the knees into my belly while another attempted to kick my shin. They then chucked me against the back of the Black Maria truck and shoved me up despite me stating that I can climb myself. Apparently after waiting some two hours plus, it appears that they are going to keep us for the night here, and charge us tomorrow. Weng San was also assaulted and had major bruises and some bleeding on the face. He saw the police who assaulted him here at the station, and Ronnie confronted him for his name. He appeared shaken by the demand and he refused to give his name and gave instead some very rude retorts.1244: Malaysiakini reports that Selangor police chief Khalid Abu Bakar has denied that the police moved in on participants at a candle-light vigil last night while they were singing the national anthem.
That is what they (participants) are claiming,” Khalid told reporters at the Petaling Jaya police district headquarters about midnight. When told that there was a video recording of the police action, Khalid replied: “I am denying it.”
More eye-witness accounts
Blogger Antares recalls a dramatic night near Amcorp Mall:
Had a brand new pack of six candles ready and an improvised windproof holder, but arriving at Amcorp Mall around 9:15pm, I saw no activity on the padang. People were gathered in front of the Mall and it was great to be greeted immediately by a few fellow bloggers who recognised me. That’s the nicest feature of physically attending these community events – every face you see, even if you haven’t been introduced, is already a friend. Then Haris Ibrahim suddenly appeared and, this being our very first physical meeting, I just had to give him a big hug for inspiring so many with his gigantic spirit and outstanding mind. I got a call from a friend who said the cops forced her to turn back, so she decided to go home. But she had been informed that a few other buddies were with RPK at a club further down the street – so I decided it would make my 3-hour commute to PJ worthwhile if I at least got to say hello to the national superhero in person. There he was, being interviewed by a couple of people with videocams and when he finished I gave him a very heartfelt hug. (I’ve only met RPK once before, briefly, in 1999 when he was coordinating the Keadilan website, but after I dropped a hint he did remember our meeting.)
LIVE: Pandemonium erupts as police charge into crowd
My wife and I were there tonight, the FRU charged at us as the Negara Ku was being sung. They were waving their batons threateningly and shouting for us to disperse. I think they were itching to start beating people up. We had no choice but to run although some did not. After scattering, we went back into the park and were shouted at by the FRU to disperse. That was when we saw some plainclothes cops chasing a few of the people in yellow Bersih and black and red “Free RPK” T-shirts.Blog reader Ben reports:
RPK and Marina are safe. I saw them walking towards Shah Motel at about 10.20pm. The commotion was at the MBPJ park.The Centre for Independent Journalism has issued a press statement condemning the police action:
CIJ calls on the Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan to free those arrested and explain the use of the riot police in controlling the crowd, which had planned for a peaceful gathering. The continuous use of force against people expressing their views on issues such as the need for free and fair elections and abolishing the ISA is a demonstration of the intolerance for public criticism of the status quo.2349: Eaglewings reflects on the recent vigils:
For the past four weeks, we had such peaceful vigils. With no police presence, everyone left peacefully and took back a little something with them in their hearts. We made new friends, sang songs together but we were there for only one reason: “Give those detained under the ISA their rights back”. Today, with police presence, just look at the commotion. Isn’t it obvious? Have they forgotten that they have to protect the rakyat and not attack the rakyat? Until we get rid of this Home Minister, the story continues….
As chairs fly, Umno could be lurching towards implosion
It used to be that flying chairs were associated with MIC meetings. No longer.
The big news today should have been Mat Taib emerging as a surprise contender for the Umno deputy president’s post, joining Ali Rustam and Muhyiddin.
But flying chairs at the Seremban Umno meeting, which left two people injured, have added to the litany of serious troubles facing Umno.
It is not just one incident that suggests that Umno is going through a testing time. Serious money politics, factionalism, the return of the old guard and Mahathirism, bitter leadership struggles and protests at divisional meetings are all evidence of a party in crisis. The big question now is can the party pull through unscathed at a time of economic turbulence or will the fissures that are now evident lead to a final implosion?
Najib is reported as saying that 900 complaints of money politcs had been received by the party’s disciplinary board. 900?! We have heard top Umno politicians complaining about attempts at vote-buying and money politics.
At the Rembau meeting yesterday, a commotion broke out when a number of delegates complained that nominations were closed prematurely.
RPK boards the Abolish ISA caravan
Thank you everyone who came for our second vigil. We, Seremban folks, could not believe our luck having our beloved RPK spend time with us almost piping hot from his Kamunting cell. Earlier, I had asked Marina what message she had for the Seremban vigil. She replied, “No message except I will bring Pete to them when he is free.”
LIVE: Candlelight vigil in Seremban with RPK
Updates by anilnetto.com with live reporting from Rakyat@Work, now at the Dataran Seremban Park:
2139: “Come again, people, same time, same place” is the message that goes out as the vigil draws to a close. What a day… Good night and God bless Malaysia!
2137: RPK thanks the crowd for their support. “Now I am going back to rest, cos I’m a bit tired. Thank you for coming and rest well.” The crowd responds with similar words.
2124: Y L Chong leads the crowd in singing “We are the World”.
2122: The crowd chants, “No, no, ISA! We want change! No, no, ISA!”
2114: RPK joins the crowd in singing “Blowing in the Wind”.
2110: RPK has been addressing the crowd, says Rakyat@Work. Speaking on behalf of the other ISA detainees, RPK says that the remaining detainees had actually asked him to send a message to the rakyat to ask us to support them in their ordeal. Under the ISA, the first thing they take away is your hope, explains RPK. That’s why the ISA is so detrimental. Even the Hindraf detainees, who have been there for only 11 months so far, are saying that that the world doesn’t care whether they live or die. “We can only depend on ourselves,” they lament.
LIVE: RPK goes home in a Roll Royce “fit for a king”
“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!
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.
RPK to be freed this afternoon!
Total bill for 1988 judicial crisis: >RM10.5m
RM10.5 million. That’s what it cost to compensate the judges unjustly sacked or dismissed from the judiciary in 1988 under the Mahathir administration.
The breakdown is as follows:
Lord President Tun Salleh Abas – RM5 million
Supreme Court judges:
- Wan Suleiman Pawanteh (deceased) – RM2 million
- George Seah – RM2 million
- Azmi Kamaruddin – RM500,000
- Eusoffe Abdoolcadeer (deceased) – RM500,000
- Wan Hamzah Mohamed Salleh – RM500,000
Wi-fi forum in Penang on Saturday
The state government is holding a forum tomorrow (Saturday) to try and allay some of the concerns that have arisen from its plan to introduce free state-wide wi-fi and Wimax.
2.00-5.00pm – Forum: Wireless@Penang
Venue: Komtar Dome
Organisers: Penang state government and MCMC
Meanwhile, the group calling itself the Penang Wireless Campaign Group is expected to hold a press conference next week.
150 attend Abolish ISA Mass in Pulau Tikus
Some 150 people turned up at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Pulau Tikus for an Abolish ISA Mass, which could be the first in a series of Wednesday night Masses in Penang to express solidarity with and pray for ISA detainees.
The main celebrant tonight was parish priest Fr Marshall Fernandez, looking almost like an Old Testament figure with his flowing white beard and long white hair tied neatly in a pony-tail. The Mass was concelebrated with Archbishop Emeritus Soter Fernandez, College General Rector Fr Edwin Paul and College General acting Dean of Studies Fr Simon Labrooy.
More Abolish ISA events in Penang
I am surprised. I thought that the Abolish ISA campaign’s momentum in Penang would fizzle out after six weekly vigils. But no – there are more events coming up.
Today (Wednesday), there will be a Mass for ISA detainees at 8.00pm at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Pulau Tikus (next to Convent Pulau Tikus).
Why not do away with everything…
Now here’s another worrying development. The Penang government has implemented a “build first, approve building plans later” policy in a bid to draw more investors to the state, according to a news report.
The approval process for detailed building plans are there for good reasons. They are to ensure that various requirements are met: engineering, safety, environmental, fire precautions, a hearing for neighbouring residents’ objections, etc. The approval process allows local authorities to ask developers to amend their detailed plans if these requirements are not met.
If we allow construction of a factory building to commence before a detailed building plan can be approved, what happens when the plan doesn’t meet minimum standards but the building is already nearing completion? What do you do with the building then? Will the state government order its demolition? Or close one eye? This makes a mockery of the whole building plan approval process and renders it a farce. It also creates double standards – why should investors be exempted from the building plan approval process while the rest of us, mere mortals, have to comply with such regulations?
Since the Penang state government is so afraid of exposing the state to claims of compensation, then it should chew on these provisions from the Town and Country Planning Act 1976. Provisions under the Act state that the authorities will be exposing themselves to compensation claims for revoking permission or ordering a demolition if requirements are not met.
Section 25 (3) says an order revoking a planning permission or building plan shall state the period within which the person to whom the permission or approval was granted is required to demolish any building erected pursuant to the permission or approval and the maximum amount that the local planning authority is prepared to reimburse the person in respect of costs incurred by him in carrying out the demolition.
Section 25 (7) states that if planning permission or approval of a buidling plan is revoked, and if the person claims compensation from the local authority for expenses incurred, the planning authority shall offer compensation that is adequate.
Another section says the developer can appeal to the Appeals Board to assess the amount of reimbursement or compensation to be paid.
I have a better idea: why not go the distance and do away with all requirements. No need for planning permissions, building plan submissions, engineering department approval, PBA approval, bomba approval, EIAs, OCs, licences – oh, what a hassle! – then sit back and we will see a terrific influx of foreign investors into Penang. Only thing is we will probably succeed in drawing the worst kind of investors: those with little regard for regulatory requirements, safety, the environment – in short, those investors who are unable or unwilling to comply with the minimum standards and requirements set by developed nations. Hey, come to Penang, you don’t need to worry about all these things.
RM5b + RM5b = RM10b worth of questions
The first 5 billion ringgit question is of course related to state investment company Valuecap. That’s the RM5 billion taken from our EPF money to be used by Valuecap to “invest” in the stock market.
But Malaysian Insider raises a new question. It claims that Valuecap owes its three shareholders RM5.1 billion, which is due to be repaid in February 2009.
This debt, in the form of interest-bearing unsecured bonds, raises questions over plans for the Employees Provident Fund to lend RM5 billion to Valuecap to invest in the stock market. In March 2003, Valuecap borrowed RM5.1 billion from shareholders Khazanah, Kumpulan Wang Amanah Pencen and Permodalan Nasional Bhd to invest in the stock market. At the time, world stock markets were bracing for a looming war in Iraq which followed on the September 2001 attacks on the US. Valuecap’s bonds were due to be repaid in February 2006, but the company was given another three years to this coming February. At the end of 2006, the three shareholders each held RM1.7 billion in these bonds, according to documents obtained by The Malaysian Insider. Since these debt instruments were not listed and are not tradeable, the three shareholders are probably still holding these bonds today. Recently, the government proposed that EPF lend Valuecap RM5 billion to invest in the stock market. In view of its impending obligation to repay its shareholders, however, questions arise over whether the loaned funds will be used to redeem the bonds. As at the end of 2006, Valuecap’s investments were valued at RM4.8 billion. Since then, the stock market has lost 21 per cent of its value. If Valuecap’s investments have tracked the stock market, these could be worth RM3.8 billion currently.Then there is Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua’s call on the Finance Ministry and Khazanah to explain their involvement in Silterra Malaysia Sdn Bhd, which lost RM1 billion last year. This is compounded by the alleged loss of RM5.17 billion that Khazanah Nasional is said to have invested in the semiconductor wafer manufacturer since 1994, reports Malaysiakini.
CVLB blocks transfer of 30 RapidKL buses to Penang
Rapid Penang is blocked in its bid to expand its bus service on the mainland
The Commercial Vehicles Licensing Board (CVLB) has rejected an application by Rapid Penang to transfer 30 buses from RapidKL for use in the mainland, reports The Star today. This is the same CVLB that is largely responsible for the sorry state of public transport in Penang. CVLB chairman Markiman Kobiran said the board had to reject the application because Seberang Perai currently had adequate bus services provided by Rapid Penang and other bus companies. Oh yeah, everyone is satisfied with the bus service on the mainland? Between the CVLB and Rapid Penang, I think I would trust the latter’s judgement more. Get this, CVLB is blocking the transfer because they are afraid of “unhealthy competition” among the bus companies:“If Rapid Penang brings in more buses, it will jeopardise the original intention of improving public transport, and create unhealthy competition among these bus companies,” he said via a telephone interview from Kuala Lumpur yesterday.Unhealthy for whom? Rapid Penang is a federal government-owned entity based in Penang. And if they feel that mainland Penang needs additional buses – and I am sure the public will be delighted to have more buses on the mainland – why is the CVLB blocking the move? Surely a little more competition would help to improve the bus service and benefit long-suffering ordinary passengers. Why is the CVLB so concerned about the effect it will have on the other private bus companies? Who owns or has interests in these private bus companies anyway? I think we can guess. So we have to ask, whose interests is the CVLB protecting – the private bus companies’ or the public interest?
Let them eat golf balls
These days, those who go to the market often complain about the high prices of foodstuff including vegetables. It’s the stuff that many household heads talk about, especially the working class. How on earth to make ends meet…
We are now forced to rely on vegetables from Cameron Highlands, transported by lorries to various markets in towns and cities in the peninsula.
But it wasn’t always like this. In Penang for instance, until the 1980s, large quantities of vegetables were grown on the island. Vegetable farms in Thean Teik supplied close to eight tonnes of vegetables daily and lots of fruit to meet a huge portion of the needs of Penangites. There were other vegetable farms, notably in the Tanjong Tokong area.
But then, our city planners and the BN-led administration, in their wisdom, allowed developers and land trustees to kick out these farmers to make way for “development”. In the Thean Teik case, it led to a bitter confrontation, which the farmers lost.
Some development. Now, we have to get our vegetables from elsewhere. Factor in higher transport cost, higher demand, the rising cost of chemical pesticides and fertilisers and fewer urban vegetable farms, and it’s no wonder vegetable prices are rising.
The argument was that land in Penang was scarce and the farmers had to make way for development.
So looking at the issue from this perspective, I am bewildered that the Pakatan state government is rejoicing because Korean “investors” are planning a US$100 million golf course in Batu Kawan in Penang – a state which cannot find land to grow enough vegetables to feed its population.
Over 100 brave rain to attend PJ vigil
Photos by Rakyat@Work
Eye-witness report by Rakyat@Work:
The night when colours fade: “Where are all the Indians?” “Where are all the Malays?” “Where are all the Chinese?” Haris: Are we all blind or what? Who cares about skin colours? It doesn’t matter any more! We are Bangsa SATU! We are Bangsa Rakyat! Yes! I feel a surge of adrenaline overflowing within me, a sudden sense of brother- and sisterhood with my fellow Malaysians. It’s a celebration of Life. I feel good, I really do. So do the rest. Towards the end of the event, someone discovers a wallet that had been dropped. Marina immediately hands it over to a guy and asks that it be returned ASAP. Someone else whips out his handphone and asks if there are any contact details in the wallet. It is sorted out in no time. That’s the kind of spirit when we say Bangsa Rakyat Bangsa Satu.