“I will seek a meeting with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to have a frank discussion about this issue to seek his views as soon as possible,” he told reporters. “I know I am breaking rank here … I am prepared to face the consequences. If I am told to resign, I will do so.
Zaid Ibrahim ready to quit over use of ISA on civilians
Two more days to go … and another sign of restlessness in the ranks.
De facto Law Minister Zaid Ibrahim has come out openly to say he is willing to resign for his principles. He believes that the ISA should not be used on civilians, according to a report in The Star online. He says the ISA should only be used against terrorists and those out to topple the government by force.
PM concerned over attempts to change transition plan
Something is up.
While most of us were focused on the ISA arrests, we could have missed this.
We are seeing differences between Abdullah and Najib or Muhyiddin or both over the transition plan – which was supposed to be a done deal, under which the PM would hand over the reins to Najib in 2010. But now we see Najib saying that it should be left to Umno delegates to decide. And Muhyiddin saying that 2010 is too far away.
And Abdullah is expressing concern. The Bernama report below says Abdullah has reiterated that the decision on the transfer of power had already been agreed upon by him and Najib, and endorsed by the other party leaders and the cabinet.
Meanwhile, Anwar is due wants to meet Abdullah tonight as soon as possible ostensibly to discuss the ISA arrests.
Pray for justice and peace in our land
The next few days are likely to be filled with uncertainty.
But do not fear. All people of goodwill in this land – sisters and brothers of the Muslim, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu and Sikh faiths and of other spiritual traditions – need to pray for justice and peace.
Or else send out positive thoughts and energy for good things to happen to Malaysia and for evil plans to be thwarted.
Typhoon hits Taiwan as BN MPs due to leave
This must be a memorable trip for the BN MPs in Taiwan.
They departed for Taiwan on 8 September and as they reached Taiwan, a 6.1 earthquake struck off the coast on 9 September.
Sin Chew reporter released
Just received word that the Sin Chew Daily reporter, Tan Hoon Cheng, has been released by Bukit Aman.
A vigil had earlier been scheduled outside the Sin Chew office in Penang from 2.00pm to 6.00pm.
Tan may be released soon; “no more arrests expected”?
So Tan Hoon Cheng was detained for her own safety! Interesting sort of protection scheme, I must say.
Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar says the Sin Chew Daily reporter may be released as early as today, according to The Star online.
He said Tan was detained to ensure her safety as police intelligence indicated that there were threats to her life after she reported on Ahmad Ismail’s allegedly racist remarks.
Updates on ISA arrests
Check out the Aliran website for updates on the ISA arrests.
Teresa Kok detained under ISA as well
She was detained at 11.18pm in the KL area.
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng speaking at a press conference described her arrest as a “travesty of justice” and “a mockery of democracy”. There appears to be a massive crackdown to prevent 916 from happening, he observed.
Sin Chew journalist detained under ISA
Update at 11.43pm: Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng is now giving a press conference.
Sin Chew journalist Tan Hoon Cheng has been detained in Penang. She is the journalist who reported on the Ahmad Ismail statements.
Aliran, Kin Woon slam RPK’s arrest, show-cause letters
Here are a couple of quick reactions.
A statement from the Aliran exco:
RPK’s detention is unjust as it denies him his democratic right to defend himself. He should have been charged in open court in relation to the earlier charges made against him under the Sedition Act. By resorting to the ISA, his innocence can no longer be proven. This is indeed undemocratic, unjust and un-Islamic. Full statement: Release Raja Petra and retract show-cause lettersAliran member Toh Kin Woon has also come out strongly:
Raja Petra detained under ISA as 16 Sept nears
As I mentioned in the earlier posting, the show-cause letters to three newspapers were reminscent of Operasi Lalang in 1987. And now a couple of hours later, we hear Raja Petra has been detained under the ISA.
So they lift the block on Malaysia Today one day, and then detain Raja Petra the next day. What kind of warped thinking is this? Are they trying to silence him as he has threatened to expose everything in court?
Deja vu as 3 newspapers receive show-cause letters
Barely a day after the Cabinet order the lifting of a block on certain websites, theSun, Sin Chew Jit Poh and Suara Keadilan have been issued show-cause letters, reports Malaysiakini.
Just when you felt that they had done something right by lifting the block on websites, they now do this.
Anwar’s credibility on the line as 16 Sept draws near
But is he alone? Many Malaysians – incredibly, even those who not-so-long-ago were not the least bit interested in politics – are practically willing him on.
Check out this SBS video documentary, looking ahead from the Permatang Pauh by-election.
916 possibly delayed: Pakatan
It looks like the 16 Sept target has been officially delayed. This excerpt from a Pakatan statement in Kit Siang’s blog.
Kepimpinan Pakatan Rakyat yang bertemu hari ini yakin proses pembentukan kerajaan baru yang berlandasan Agenda Reformasi sedang berjalan secara lancar. Kami percaya kerajaan Barisan Nasional akan diganti dalam masa terdekat. Pakatan Rakyat yakin mendapat bilangan ahli Parlimen yang mencukupi untuk mempunyai majoriti dalam Parlimen yang membolehkan penubuhan kerajaan baru. Bagaimanapun tarikh sebenar penubuhan kerajaan mungkin terpaksa dilewatkan dari 16 September sebagaimana rancangan awal akibat beberapa ahli Parlimen telah dipaksa ke Taiwan.
Cabinet lifts ban on Malaysia Today
The Cabinet has ordered the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (SKMM) to reinstate access to all blocked websites including Malaysia Today, according to The Star online. It quoted Energy, Water and Communications Minister Shaziman Abu Mansor.
SKMM had instructed ISPs to block Malaysia Today in August.
Remember how Khairy later came out openly to oppose the ban?
The diversity that is Malaysia
Check out these links provided by Marina Mahathir. Something to think about:
I’ve been looking for a voice of reason somewhere in these awful turbulent times when people seem to spout off whatever they want off the top of their heads, and then defend it no matter how stupid. Then a friend alerted me to this from a fellow blogger, Syed Imran. Another fellow blogger Walski wrote something similar here. So who says bloggers are unthinking people only up to no good? And this lovely and wistful article makes you long for a different time when people were civilised.
Disturbing rape in Penang
This is a close-up of what’s happening in “Miami Bay” (why can’t they be more original in their names?) (Photo credit: Y C Sin)
Anyone know who the developer is?
Yes, the rape of the hill-slopes continues along the northern coast of Penang Island…
A sad Clearwater mourns the loss of the Penang he once knew:
I worked in Penang and stayed at Tg Bungah from 1980-83. Those were care-free times, Penang was still a paradise on earth and over-development an unimaginable event in this idyllic island. Yes, good jobs were scarce then but life was laid back and cost of living decent. My friends and I used to wind-surf weekends at Batu Ferringhi, where tourists sunbathed and waded in the sea; no problems with water quality.
Flash forward to 2008. I don’t want to return to see what greed and uncontrolled development has done to the environment on Penang Island. Each time I return, I am more appalled at the destruction that short-term policies have wrought in the name of progress on the Pearl of the Orient. It is heart-breaking. It is a complete turn-off. It is time to say good-bye.
and look at the damage done…
Umno suspends Ahmad Ismail for three years
The Umno Supreme Council has suspended its Bukit Bendera chief Ahmad Ismail for three years over his alleged racist remarks, the Star Online has reported. The meeting chaired by Abdullah Badawi has also stripped him of all party posts.
I know a few people would have liked the ISA to be used against Ahmad. But if we are consistent about our position that the ISA is an immoral law, then to call for its use against Ahmad Ismail is not right.
Still, the party could have sacked Ahmad, but did not. (Remember Penang is Abdullah Badawi’s home-state.) Which raises the question: has the top Umno leadership lost control of its divisions – paving the way for, gulp, Mahathir and his allies to make their move? And you thought he would be contented passing his time with his carpentry hobby and looking after grandchildren, eh? He probably feels he has to save the country from Anwar!