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The Perak State Assembly’s mysterious “officers”

Anil Netto
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A roll call of  “officers” in the Dewan car-park at the end of the day

Who were all those mysterious personnel wearing “pegawai” (officer) tags at the Perak State Assembly on that infamous 7 May?

Several photos made available to me show them during a roll-call in the Dewan’s car park at the end of the day, just before 5.00pm.

A couple of hours earlier, men in neck-ties and long-sleeves shirts, some of them donning black jackets and songkoks, sporting the same blue-and-yellow “pegawai” tags, were  seen alongside a couple of uniformed police personnel, inside the Dewan proper.

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How not to remove a State Assembly Speaker…

Anil Netto
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Vigils: 14 arrests in KL, 10 in Kuching, one in Penang

Anil Netto
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Police moved in on the vigil in Penang – Photo by Romerz

Fourteen people were arrested in Brickfields tonight at a vigil to express solidarity with activist Wong Chin Huat.

Of the 14, seven of them were from the students’ movement Dema and two from the KL Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall youth section. They are now at a car-park at the Brickfields police stations, though their statements have not yet been recorded. The arrests today come on the heels of 14 arrests last night (though that batch were later released).

Over in Penang, USM masters student Ng Eng Kiat was detained after a “Democracy First” vigil in Penang attended by between 50 and a hundred people outside the Dewan Sri Pinang tonight. He was the emcee of the event.

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Black day: Democracy bruised, lawlessness reigns

Anil Netto
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Siva’s defenders: Simpang Pulai Adun Chan Ming Kai (left) and Teja Adun Chang Lih Kang were among the Speaker’s most forthright “guardians” in the Assembly today – Photo by Anil Netto

It was a dark day for democracy. If the BN thought that its actions in the Perak State Assembly would legitimise its power grab in Perak, it was sadly mistaken. Instead, it has revealed the naked truth to so many Malaysians about how far it would go to strengthen its grip on power, even if it means undermining the very institutions it should defend.

Aliran’s P Ramakrishnan has issued a statement that, among other things, sharply criticises the refusal of the Dewan’s sergeant-at-arms to carry out Speaker Sivakumar’s orders. He also raises the issue of police conduct in helping Umno to install its Speaker:

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Speaker Sivakumar: “I was held in a changing room”

Anil Netto
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A relaxed Speaker Sivakumar safe and sound after a tumultuous day – Photo by Anil Netto

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Blow to democracy: Police enter the Perak State Assembly this afternoon

I ran into Sivakumar a couple of hours after he was literally dragged out from the Speaker’s chair in the Perak State Assembly by police and other officers. He looked relaxed after what must have been the most difficult day of his life.

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LIVE: 7 May in Ipoh

Anil Netto
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19 arrests; those at vigil being gradually released

Anil Netto
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2316: The dragnet widens with 19 arrests since last night.

But two of the 14 at the candlelight vigil for Chin Huat tonight have been released and it appears as if the remaining 12 will be also gradually released tonight after police record their particulars. It doesn’t appear as if their statements are being recorded.

1) Wong Chin Huat in KL last night.

Altantuya birthday cake incident in Putrajaya today

Three activists from Solidariti Anak Muda

2) Sani Md Shah

3) Saufi Mihat

4) Yasir Sheikh Abdul Rahman

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PRM shortlists candidates for Penanti by-election

Anil Netto
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Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) aims to put up a candidate for the Penanti by-election in Penang on 31 May. It has already shortlisted a few candidates, believed to be locals.

These were among the issues discussed at a PRM committee meeting this afternoon at its office in Selayang.

The committee is expected to hold another meeting on 22 May,  a day before Nomination Day, when it would confirm PRM’s candidacy and candidate for the by-election.

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Bakun undersea cables on again; new dam in Pahang?

Anil Netto
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The on-off project to lay undersea cables to transmit electricity from the jinxed RM7 billion Bakun Dam to the peninsula is now on again.

This time we are told the undersea cables will cost RM9 billion and that the cables will transmit electricity to the peninsula as well as Sabah. Brunei is reportedly also interested.

MRCB has been mentioned in a Star news analysis as a leading contender for the land-based transmission network.  The same Star report also notes:

Maybank Investment Bank also observed that among the states, Sarawak had the largest allocation under the second fiscal stimulus. Political analysts noted that Sabah and Sarawak had become politically important states.

The rollout of projects in these two states will provide opportunities for home-grown contractors such as Cahya Mata Sarawak Bhd, Naim Holdings Bhd and Hock Seng Lee Bhd. They have an advantage in being more familiar with the local landscape and people.

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Chin Huat’s arrest: Tell me why…

Anil Netto
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There are many things in life we cannot understand. So many difficult questions, the answers for which me may never discover in our life-time. Why, for instance, is there so much injustice and suffering in this world?

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