Remember when Najib promised on 11 July 2012 to repeal the repressive Sedition Act, a relic from the colonial era? The repeal was part of a slew of reforms he had pledged ahead of GE13.
“(The) Sedition Act represents a bygone era in our country and with today’s announcement we mark another step forward in Malaysia’s development,” Najib had said (See Sin Chew report).
Two years since Najib’s landmark announcement, opposition MPs and Aduns continue to be probed or charged under the Sedition Act.
This is a petition by the Penang Heritage Trust (PHT) to save Soonstead:
The heritage of Soonstead is threatened by a proposed 13-storey tower block which would necessitate the demolition of the house’s dining room wing and annexe buildings.
A few news items caught my attention recently.
The first one is datelined Bukit Mertajam, the link for which I put up recently:
Trafficking abuse of Myanmar Rohingya spreads to Malaysia
The United States recently downgraded Malaysia and three other countries to Tier 3 – the lowest possible ranking – in its annual Trafficking of Persons (TIP) Report due to insufficient action taken to prevent human trafficking and forced labour. We are in the same group as Zimbabwe, North Korea and Saudi Arabia! See this Guardian report: ‘US penalises Malaysia for shameful human trafficking record’.
And the second revelation is about dead bodies, some of them reportedly foreigners, found dumped in and around the Bukit Mertajam area:
Penang fast becoming a state where there is no peace for the dead!
Locally, we are used to hearing the term ‘cyber-trooper’. But that term does not seem to be widely used outside Malaysia. Instead, the closest term seems to be ‘internet shill’.
Uh-oh, the news that an incumbent Umno prime minister dreads – Mahathir is withdrawing support. Deja vu.
Let’s look at some of the reasons he gave (in bold), with my comments next to them.
Mahathir didn’t like it when:
Najib repealed the ISA – Of course, Mahathir wouldn’t be happy with this. But other oppressive laws such as the Sedition Act (which Najib had pledged to repeal) remain in place, and this really should keep Mahathir contented – though not many of the rakyat.
Here’s a good example of why racism stinks. I believe ordinary people know racism when they see it and that explains the reaction of patrons of this cafe in Sydney to racist hiring policies.
This is what happens when you do things upside down. Zenith PMC Sdn Bhd has terminated its joint venture agreement with Astral Supreme Construction Bhd to conduct a feasibility study for the controversial tunnel after the latter failed to secure consultants to carry out the study.
Tanjung Bunga Adun Teh Yee Cheu is scheduled to appear at the High Court tomorrow in connection with a defamation suit filed against him over his protest and comments on the environmental degradation at Bukit Relau.
Some thoughts on what could happen tomorrow:
– the Pas central committee appears to be split 50:50 between the conservatives and those who are more forward looking.
– the unhappiness over not being consulted over the Kajang Move runs deep. So there is some dissatisfaction with Anwar’s unilateral moves and Pas having to make one concession too many.
Could dying mid-market shopping malls be a global phenomenon? In the US, it seems such malls are dying simply because the middle class have been squeezed and don’t have enough money to spend.
Pas has learned from its bitter experience with Umno, says Pas vice-president Husam Musa, and Khalid should not drag Pas into his crisis. Husam’s full statement is reproduced below. Worth a read.
Should migrant workers be allowed to cook Penang street food? Anwar Fazal answers this question beautifully and expresses so eloquently my own gut feelings on the subject.
No need to talk so much. These photographs should tell us why the Middle Bank sea-grass in Penang is priceless for its biodiversity and as a breeding ground for marine life.
From Middle Bank to Gazumbo – Photographs: Hong Jing/Facebook
