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Ban on ceramah in “public places” in Kedah

Anil Netto
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10

Another day, another restriction ahead of the by-elections. This time  no outdoor rallies will be allowed in Kedah in a move likely to hurt the Pakatan the most in its attempts to reach out to voters.

On 23 March, police fired tear gas and chemically laced water to disperse a crowd of several thousand attending an Anwar ceramah on an open field in Sungai Petani. On 7 March, a large crowd of 15,000-20,000 attended another Anwar rally in Bukit Selambau.

Police will now only allow indoor ceramah in Kedah. This excerpt from a Bernama report carried in NST:

All political parties are prohibited from holding ceramah or gatherings at public places in Kedah to maintain public order.

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No rest for Najib and his men

Anil Netto
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8

With Najib and his men basking in the glow of victory, the real test for them begins now as they confront the challenges that lie ahead.

When you think of it, he has been getting plenty of free advice from a host of personalities associated or previously associated with Umno: Abdullah, Mahathir, Razaleigh, Zaid…

He has the power, but there is one thing even Power will find hard to manage and that is public perception.

Here’s something I wrote for Asia Times after the Umno elections:

Challenges mount for Malaysia’s Najib
By Anil Netto

PENANG – Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak took a big step towards taking over the premiership when he was returned unopposed this week as president of the United Malays National Organization (UMNO), the dominant party in Malaysia’s ruling coalition. His men also bagged most of the leadership posts in the recently concluded party elections. As head of the UMNO, Najib automatically becomes premier, although a formal handover date has yet to be announced.

Najib has been hammering home a message of change and reform, but many Malaysians wonder what his vision might entail.

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When politicians and the press chase the homeless…

Anil Netto
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25

It is totally weird, bewildering and disturbing that certain politicians and members of the press see it as their patriotic duty to chase homeless people on the streets of George Town…

Is it any wonder why these street people fear these rough “rescue operations” so much? Do those who are “rounding up” these people know where these street people are being sent to and what conditions are like there? The Social Welfare Department should ask itself why these people are so afraid of being “rescued”. Has anyone stopped and thought about the root causes of such homelessness and what kind of social safety nets we have?

The press were there to cover the operations but that did not stop one press member from going on his motorbike in hot pursuit of a homeless person, already being pursued by the political secretary to the CM no less.  Reminds me of journalists “embedded” with US troops in Iraq and how they like to don army flak jackets and pretend they are part of the war too, while reporting from the US military’s perspective.

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It’s official: Muhyiddin it is…

Anil Netto
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10

2240: It’s official Muhyiddin has just been elected to the No. 2 post in Umno.

Muhyiddin now being mobbed by supporters. Zahid Hamidi (1,592), Hishammuddin Hussein (1,515) and Shafie Apdal (1,445) are the VPs.

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Will Najib become PM now?

Anil Netto
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41

By now, many are thinking – and worried that – it’s a foregone conclusion that Najib will become the next PM.

But Tengku Razaleigh reminds us the Agong and Parliament have a crucial constitutional role to play:

Let us understand very clearly the transitional situation we are in.

1. The incumbent Prime Minister is about to resign as he has solemnly promised to by the end of this month.

2. On the appointed day (which like so many things in this administration remains a mystery) the Prime Minister will tender his resignation and that of his cabinet to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. With this the government of the day comes to an end.

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Another ceramah stopped

Anil Netto
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22

While Najib is talking about change etc, another Pakatan ceramah in Sg Tinggi in the Bukit Gantang area is stopped. This from Wong Kah Woh’s blog:

There were at least 4 FRU trucks standby even before the Ceramah started. I couldn’t understand if they don’t have any other better things to do. After the speech by MB and YB Kesavan, the Police started to interfere and asked the crowd and the loud speakers to be confined into the Hall. Yes, we complied with.

Yet, after 10 mins, the FRU trucks starting coming forward and warning to disperse was given. I went to argue with them that we have complied with every order of the police with regards to the conduct of the ceramah, yet, they have failed to keep their promise.

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Let me lead you through the streets of George Town…

Anil Netto
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25

An eye-opening video produced by a team of citizen journalists in Penang. Courtesy of Obnoxious 5xMom’s blog.

Great work by these citizen journalists in putting a human face to the street people, who are often “invisible” to passers-by. The scary thing is that more people could be forced on to the streets as retrenchments soar and people are unable to pay rentals or housing loan repayments.

It should prompt us to ask what kind of social welfare or security system we have in place and whether it is enough. These street people are periodically rounded up by the authorities – but where are they sent to?

The video reminds me of the haunting lyrics of Ralph McTell’s ballad ‘Streets of London’:

Have you seen the old man
In the closed-down market
Kicking up the paper,
with his worn out shoes?
In his eyes you see no pride
And held loosely at his side
Yesterday’s paper telling yesterday’s news

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Latest game in town: Restricting the media

Anil Netto
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22

Imposing restrictions on the media seems to be the flavour of the week.

Spot the difference – if any:

New media denied passes by Umno

Banning NST won’t solve anything

Harakah, Suara Keadilan banned 3 months

You see, once politicians start restricting the media because they think certain media have been “unfriendly” or “biased” or whatever, there’s no end to it…

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Retrenched migrant workers must be fairly compensated

Anil Netto
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6

The federal government says it has no choice but to approve highway toll hikes because the concession agreements stipulate that compensation would have to be paid to the concessionaires if the hikes are not approved.  (We won’t discuss here how they drew up such lopsided agreements in the first place.)

So is it fair to retrench foreign workers who have valid employment agreements without paying them adequate compensation?

LABOUR-MALAYSIA: Hit Foreign Workers First Govt Tells Employers
By Anil Netto

PENANG, Mar 23 (IPS) – An official guideline for employers to retrench their foreign workers ahead of local employees has alarmed civil society society groups who fear that indebted migrant workers could be sent home with inadequate compensation.

Worries about retrenchment and unemployment have been mounting as Malaysia sinks into a recession, its export-oriented economy taking a hit from a slump in global consumer demand.

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Chaos as tear gas, water cannon fired at ceramah in SP

Anil Netto
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53

2342: Just off the line with Selangor state exco member Xavier Jayakumar. He told me that the speakers on stage in Sungai Petani tonight did not hear any police warnings to disperse.

Police fired water cannon and tear gas into the crowd, including women and children, as they moved in.

Children coming out of a neaby tuition centre were also doused by the spray from the water cannon; so were patrons in a nearby Chinese restaurant, according to Xavier.

Even the usual small itinerant traders selling Pakatan memorabilia were not spared the action. Police could be heard warning of even more aggressive action as they chased the people away. “The police action was aggressive,” observed Xavier.

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