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Zunar released! Long live cartoonists…

Anil Netto
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1914: What better way to end this post than with a cartoon, this one from Hisham Rais’ blog about Zunar’s six stops at various police stations within seven hours yesterday. Go here.

1836: On the line with Zunar. Yes, indeed he is in high spirits, especially when he hears about the tremendous support he has received. “Please say thank you to all my supporters,” he says, truly humbled. He breaks out in that trademark hearty infectious laugh of his when I mention that someone has suggested over Twitter that he should come up with a lock-up cartoon series! “Now, that’s an idea.”

1630: Zunar will know in two weeks if the authorities want to press charges, says his other lawyer Fadiah. For now, it’s celebration time! 

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Court hearing without Zunar’s lawyers

Anil Netto
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First, a book launch last night without the author, cartoonist Zunar, who was arrested. Now a remand hearing without his lawyers.

Zunar’s lawyer Latheefa Koya lamented that the remand hearing this morning at the Sepang Magistrate’s Court was held despite the magistrate having been informed that the lawyers were on their way to the court, according to Malaysiakini. She later tweeted: “io informed Fadiah will only take stmt frm zunar after bringing him around 2 “crimescenes” etc -too funnylah! when no one disputing d comic.” He is expected to be taken to the Malaysiakini office early this evening.

Zunar has been remanded for one day, even as Malaysians continue to express shock and outrage over the popular cartoonist’s detention: “Free Zunar now!”

Read Aliran Monthly’s interview with ‘Zunar, the multifaceted cartoonist’ and Charter 2000-Aliran’s statement ‘Zunar’s arrest no laughing matter’.

Live – Book launch without Zunar

Anil Netto
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Zunar’s book launch gets underway – even as the cartoonist is in detention.

2035: Special guest Nizar Jamaluddin has just arrived.

2030: “First time author not present at his own book launch!” tweets Malaysiakini CEO Premesh Chandran.

2020: About 70 people plus media personnel are now at SCAH for the book launch.

2000: People are arriving for the launch of Zunar’s ‘Cartoon-o-phobia’ book at the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall. Special guest Nizar Jamaluddin is expected to turn up.

Cartoon books on cartoon phobia seized

Anil Netto
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Update: Zunar arrested. But his book launch tonight will proceed as planned, according to Malaysiakini editor Steven Gan. See CartoonKafe.

A couple of days ago, I thought that would make a strange and ‘arresting’ headline.

Sad to say, reality can be real strange. Malaysiakini reports that half a dozen police personnel raided Zunar’s business premises and confiscated 66 copies of his latest cartoon book ‘Cartoon-o-phobia’, due to be launched tonight. 

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Play your part in Local Plan process

Anil Netto
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Remember how 8 March 2008 was seen as a watershed of sorts and people were said to be feeling more empowered after that? Now’s the real test. The Penang Local Plan will soon be put on public display for public comments.

The plan will show the detailed conditions for land use, planning and development in microscopic detail. This means you will be able to tell precisely what is allowed and not allowed in your neighbourhood.

But for the process to work, you need to take a good look at the draft when it is displayed and then submit your objections or views to the local government. Little point complaining later. So look out for the display soon.

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Public declaration of assets?

Anil Netto
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I do wish the Penang state government leaders would declare their assets as a fine example of accountability and transparency for the federal government and other state governments to emulate.

This is yet another reminder.

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Another blow for Big Pharma

Anil Netto
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The diabetes drug Avandia, which generated US$1.2 billion for GlaxoSmithKline last year, has been banned in Europe and restricted in the US.

It is yet another blow for Big Pharma. AFP reports that in the United States, the Food and Drug Administration has severely restricted the drug after data suggested “an elevated risk of cardiovascular events, such as heart attack and stroke, in patients treated”.

Concern has been mounting over the drug’s active substance rosiglitazone. Sales of Glaxo’s other diabetes drugs Avandamet and Avaglim, which contain the substance, have also been halted in Europe.

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GM mosquitoes plan squashed for now

Anil Netto
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The plan to introduce GM mosquitoes in Malaysia will not be implemented “at the moment”.

“Seemingly it is quite an interesting (solution) to deal with such a problem but I think… not until and unless every aspect of research being carried out is clinically tested and… environmental issues have been addressed,” AFP reported Muhyiddin as saying.

That is of course welcome news; good sense has prevailed. Now can we look into eliminating the breeding sites of the aedes mosquito? It was shocking to hear that a spot check for dengue breeding grounds by the authorities found the Penang Hospital compound teeming with aedes mosquitoes and larvae, as reported in theSun.

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Your mission: Do the impossible

Anil Netto
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Are progressive reforms – real change – and social justice possible in Malaysia? Who says ‘No’? Your mission: Achieve the impossible.

That’s Korean acoustic fingerstyle guitarist Sungha Jung.

Khairy says min wage “a moral obligation”

Anil Netto
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Along with Nazri’s straight talking to Utusan comes another pleasant surprise: Khairy Jamaluddin has called on the government to implement a minimum wage.

Khairy Jamaluddin
Image via Wikipedia

In an opinion piece in The Edge (20 September), the Umno Youth leader said a minimum wage has become a moral obligation that the government must fulfil immediately.

Khairy rightly pointed out that a third of the workers in the country earn less than RM700 a month – which is below the poverty line. And the average annual increase in wages was only 2.6 per cent over the last decade – below the global average of 3.2 per cent.

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