High risk of “severe global Depression”
The real cause of the global financial crisis: This may be a comedy clip, but it provides a more accurate analysis – in layperson’s language – of the root causes of the financial meltdown than anything you may read in the mainstream The big ‘D’ word – that’s D for Depression – is now creeping up on the global economy. What really caused the crisis?
Look who’s at the RPK trial
This is the van they use to transport RPK to court (Photos by Rakyat@Work)
20,000 throng Anwar’s open house
Anwar speaks about the political transition in Umno a couple of days ago
Some 20,000 people flocked to Anwar’s Raya open house in Cherok Tokun on mainland Penang this morning.
According to my contact at the scene, reporters pressed Anwar for a timeline for the parliamentary defections from the BN to take place.
“Soon,” he said. “Very soon.”
Guan Eng explains wi-fi/Wimax plan – plus another view
I thought I would give the w-fi issue a rest, but then I received a couple of phone calls from assistants in the office of Penang Chief Minister Guan Eng, followed by an e-mail from his press secretary 🙂
After reading your blog with the posting of “Other concerns about wifi project”, CM have instructed me to send you 2 of his press statement during the launching of Wifi and WiMAX project which issued on 18 Sept and 25 Sept respectively.
So let me share those press statements with you. This one is on w-fi:
PRESS STATEMENT By Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng In Penang On September 18, 2008 PENANG State Government launches Wireless@Penang Which Will Provide STATE-WIDE FREE WIFI BROADBAND Within 2 Years. GEORGE TOWN – Wireless@PENANG is taking shape and Penang is set to become the first in Malaysia to offer free broadband services on WiFi deployed on a state-wide basis.
Downpour fails to stop 150 from showing up at vigil
Aliran president P Ramakrishnan addressing the crowd at the vigil
Music and song lifted the spirits of those present
Regular participant Jennifer with her brother-in-law Dato’ Kam U Tee
Heavy rain last night failed to deter some 150 people from turning up for the Friday candlelight vigil in front of the Dewan Sri Pinang. The downpour, which thankfully cleared up by about 9.10pm, did not dampen the spirits of Penangites who once again turned up to call for the release of all ISA detainees.Turning journalists into corporate media propagandists
Ever wondered what a “professional journalist” needs to do to get promoted or succeed in a mainstream media organisation? (Image courtesy of homepage.mac.com forwarded by Surind. The Asian version is shown below courtesy of bigozine2.com forwarded by Michael.)
Here’s an excerpt of a brillant must-read article about how the corporate media weeds out and sidelines journalists who think independently and differently (i.e. those who don’t subscribe to their corporate values). It’s written by the Nazareth-based freelance journalist Jonathan Cook. 
If they are to survive long, writers must quickly learn what the news desk expects of them. Newcomers are given a small amount of leeway to adopt angles that are “not suitable”. But they are also expected to learn quickly why such articles are unsuitable and not to propose similar reports again. The advantage of this system is that high-profile sackings are a great rarity. Editors hardly ever need to bare their teeth against an established journalist because few make it to senior positions unless they have already learnt how to toe the line.
Abolish ISA candlelight vigil in Penang tonight
The Gabungan Mansuhkan ISA (Abolish ISA Movement) is holding another of its weekly candlelight vigils today at 9.00pm in front of Dewan Sri Pinang. Show your support for the call to abolish the ISA.
End of the road for BN’s reforms?
Was Abdullah’s announcement that he would not be defending the Umno presidency due to the BN’s poor electoral performance? Or did it have more to do with flagging investor sentiment, which sparked a huge outflow of portfolio investments in the second quarter?
That was something I mulled over when writing this article for IPS:
It took exactly seven months after a severe general electoral setback for Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi to announce that he would not be defending the presidency of the dominant party in the ruling coalition in party polls next year.
RPK in high spirits as new faces show up (updated)
Blogger Whisperer sizes up the scene on Day Four of the RPK trial:
The crowd was more than usual this morning with many new faces adding to our undying support for RPK. Say or think what you like… there is something special about this crowd. They are there for one common cause and yeah, they are extremely sentimental about it too. That explains the daily atmosphere around the courthouse. And it is this sentiment that moves many to tears everyday. By all means, it certainly has nothing to do with sympathy here. Those who were present should understand what I mean here. All the gestures (big or small) come purely from the heart…. Nurul Izzah made her appearance with her small entourage today. She took time to mingle with us before she left. Over the past four days, we have had Lim Kit Siang, Ronnie Liu (daily basis), Anwar with Wan Azizah, and Teresa Kok gracing this hearing. I don’t remember meeting so many parliamentarian in such a short span in my entire life. Good change, eh?
Has the Penang govt blundered?
This whole business of converting leasehold land to freehold appears to have been done without considering the long-term implications.
I know the state government, faced with budgetary constraints, is hoping to raise funds from land conversion. But has it considered the impact on the future price of land in Penang, which could put it beyond the reach of the lower-income group, and the future needs of the state for public land to build vital infrastructure and amenities? There is a good reason for some land to be classified as leasehold in the first place – though leasehold property owners may disagree.
Now, the Queensbay project, for which the land conversion was done under the previous administration and defended by the present administration, is embroiled in controversy. Senior conveyancing lawyer Agatha Foo is quoted in theSun as pointing out a provision in the National Land Code which expressly prohibits the state from disposing “any part of the foreshore or sea-bed for a period exceeding 99 years”. Land commentator Prof Salleh Buang agrees: “The law says it very clearly. It is on record that you cannot make such land freehold.”
Abdullah, the biggest casualty of the ‘tsunami’
It’s People Power.
Exactly seven months after the 8 March political tsunami swept the land, Abdullah has announced that he will not be defending his Umno presidency. Consider it a delayed reaction to the stunning setback suffered by the Umno-led ruling coalition in the general election and the further erosion in support evident in the 26 August Permatang Pauh by-election.
Abdullah is the biggest casualty of the ‘tsunami’.
“It’s very disappointing,” said a Penang-based activist. “He was pushed out and he went away like a mouse.”
But before anyone celebrates, mull over this: it leaves the door open for Najib to take over, though he first has to navigate past Razaleigh in the party elections before Abdullah will hand over power. If he does, are we in for another round of repressive rule ala Mahathir?
Anwar drops by at the RPK trial (updated)
kkitsam was in court this morning on Day Three of the RPK trial and sends us this report:
I was there this morning. First time to court. Arrived there very early at 7.45am, wearing the uniform “I am with RPK”. The crowd grew bigger by the minute. From my chat with Marina, she said the cards sent to RPK on which were written “No to ISA” would not be passed to him. So from now on, I’m going to avoid that. Our hero RPK arrived at around 8.30am. The crowd was happy to see him; some even said it’s better for him to be in court rather than in the Kamunting cell. I got to squeeze into the court room, and by 8.40am, the room was full, with many others standing at the back.
RM3 billion of your EPF money in Bakun Dam
RM3 billion of your EPF money has been lent for the Bakun Dam project (Photo credit: Raymond Abin/IPS) One of the interesting things that I discovered when I was doing some research into the Bakun and Murum Dams was that as at December 2007, a total of RM3 billion of EPF money had been lent to the Bakun Dam developer. (The loan is guaranteed by the Federal Government.) The other startling fact is that there are still some affected residents of Bakun who have not yet received compensation after 10 years. One of the firms likely to benefit from the abundant electricity from the Bakun/Murum Dams is CMS. Now CMS, one of the big corporate players in Sarawak, basically belongs to Chief Minister Taib Mahmud’s family: its main shareholders are the chief minister’s daughters Jamilah Hamidah and Hanifah Hajar, son-in-law Syed Ahmad Alwee Alsree, and family concern Majaharta Sdn Bhd, each with a 14 per cent stake. Taib’s wife Lejla has an 11 per cent stake while sons Sulaiman Abdul Rahman and Mahmud Abu Bekir own 9 per cent each.
Other concerns about the wi-fi project
Just Wi-fi sent in this comment, outlining concerns about the free wi-fi project in Penang – this time largely unrelated to health risks – which give us some food for thought:
I work as an engineer with a tech company; installing wi-fi networks is part of my job. To be honest, most of us do discuss how the devices are affecting us. Some of us feel dizziness and some us experience headaches, especially in areas near signal-boosted wi-fi antennas (amplifiers). But again, these powerful devices are to transmit data within building to building and should be ‘away’ from offices, residential areas. What concerns me is that the installation plan and study have been carried out. There are many challenges for this project.
Bangsa Malaysia observing RPK trial
Rakyat@Work shares with us his experience at the RPK trial today. It was the people who were there who caught his attention:
Day Two: arrived at about noon; court hearing began at 12.30pm till 1.30pm; already drizzling then. Met two interesting true supporters. A man told me he left home very early to ensure he gets a seat for he is committed to follow through the entire case. Very early means reaching the court house before 8am? I simply asked him about the jam. He replied, not really a problem ‘cos he came by bus.
Altantuya’s father wants justice for RPK
Susan Loone’s blog carries a message that was emailed to her by Altantuya’s father, Shariibuu Setev.
Prosecution’s bid to transfer case is “baffling”: Anwar
Anwar in court this afternoon
Anwar recalls that PM Abdullah said in no uncertain terms that Attorney General Ghani Patail should not be involved in any way in the case, but “we have seen letters to show that Ghani Patail is involved”.
Meanwhile, at the RPK trial…
Two of the most well-known critics in the land, Anwar and RPK, are involved in legal proceedings today, both facing different charges.
Blog reader Stephen gives us a taste of what it was like in court on Day Two of the RPK sedition trial:
I went to the PJ Sessions Court this morning at 8.15am. It was full house. I went back to work and came back at 1.30pm. The court had a short break for 15 minutes at about 1.30pm, but no one came out to give up their seats. We had to be seated in “transit” outside the court’s front office . As one visitor left, another went in. I went in from 2.15 to 2.26pm when one guy left to answer his phone and he let me ‘borrow’ his ‘seat’. Better than the Mama Mia! blockbuster showing in cinemas in PJ now.
Judge Komathy dismisses preliminary objection
I see Malaysian Insider has since removed that bit where it reported that Sessions Court judge Komathy has ruled against the prosecution’s application to transfer Anwar’s sodomy case to the High Court.
Not quite sure what happened there.
Apparently, it was just a preliminary objection by the prosecution that Komathy dismissed. This is what Malaysiakini is reporting:
Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court judge SM Komathy Suppiah will deliver her decision today on whether the matter can be moved up to the High Court as applied by the prosecution. This morning she dismissed a preliminary objection raised by the prosecution that she had no choice but to transfer the case to a higher court. She said that she had the jurisdiction to hear the defence team’s objections against the transfer notice.
Will Abdullah spring a surprise?
Hmm, I wonder what’s going on… Are we in for a surprise?
Mahathir, for one, suspects that Abdullah has something up his sleeve:
It is said that on 9th October, the day before the divisions are to hold their meetings, he will announce that he will not stand for election as President of UMNO. The question is, will he announce it? I have this suspicion that he will not. If he does not it would not be surprising. He is not a man of his words. There really is no reason for this extension unless it is because of a possibility to influence the divisions into countering the Supreme Council and its demand that Abdullah steps down. In which case the extension may be further extended. Already SMS messages are denouncing Najib.Meanwhile Suara Keadilan, citing sources, has a report predicting that Abdullah will defend his Umno presidency.