Just got news that Irene Fernandez has been finally acquitted after a 13-year court battle on a charge of publishing false news about the ill-treatment and poor living conditions of migrant workers in a detention centre. The High Court judge who made the decision is Mohamad Apandi Ali.
Some background here:
Fernandez is a staunch human rights activist and is the director and co-founder of Tenaganita, a Malaysian NGO that promotes the rights and welfare of migrant and agricultural workers.
No charges pressed!: Outside the PJ main police station this morning Photo by Rakyat@work
Rakyat@work at the PJ main police station tells me at 9.26am that the Investigating Officer there has told all those arrested during the 9 November Abolish ISA vigil in PJ that no charges will be preferred against them – though their details will be on file in case they commit future “offences”.
About half of those concerned are now going off to celebrate. Others have gone straight away to check out the Raja Petra criminal defamation trial, which begins today!
Says one of them, blogger Arif Abdull:
Yes, we weren’t charged today.
Just back to work from Duta Court to lend support to RPK. The RPK case (has been) adjourned to tomorrow morning at Level 3 court room no 5.
Check out Mustafa K Anuar’s response to the Malay-Muslim “NGOs” that have called on the government to take action against those opposing the ISA (photo of their demonstration from NST):
Wait a sec! Did they imply that the so-called ’Muslim and Malay unity’ hinged on detention without trial aka ISA? (Are they) associating this kind of unity with a piece of legislation that has long been considered unjust and therefore going against the very teachings of Islam that prioritise justice and compassion, among other important things in life?
Meanwhile, Rakyat@work gives us a more detailed report of the Abolish ISA vigil last night:
Senior newspaper editor Bob Teoh giving a humourous speech Video courtesy of Sivin Kit
Braving the rain once again at last night’s vigil in PJ
Anak bangsa rakyat yearning for a land of justice and peace Photos by Rakyat@work
Rain, rain, and more rain. Refreshing throughout the evening.
The latest issue of Aliran Monthly is now out. Meanwhile, the Aliran annual general meeting today has unanimously resolved to call upon the government of Malaysia to abrogate the Internal Security Act and thereby restore justice and establish the rule of law. The AGM also urged all Malaysians to rally together to oppose the ISA and other oppressive laws.
Updates with Rakyat@work reporting ‘live’ from PJ:
2152: Malaysiakini reports that nine people, including three Pas leaders, have been arrested for failing to disperse when police moved into a group gathered at another location – a field in Ampang Jaya – since 8.00pm. The Abolish ISA Movement (GMI) had organised the event to launch an anti-ISA rally, expected to be held next year.
2143: “Did you guys catch the news of those … who paraded in the pro-ISA demo?” – SEOAdsenseThemes
News report say a couple of hundred people linked to Malay-based “NGOs” had gathered outside Wisma Sejarah, close to the Jalan Tun Razak police station, to lodge police reports against other NGOs such as Sisters in Islam and those campaigning against the ISA.
2130: The crowd is singing the national anthem now before dispersing.
2112: About 200 people are here now.
2109: More sharings from the ‘anak bangsa rakyat‘.
Eco-stream or eco-tampering? (The view looking towards Coronation Camp)
Thanks to the blog reader who sent me the above pics.
In case you are wondering what’s going on at the Penang Botanic Gardens, the pictures above show the “Eco-Stream Walk” under construction.
The is one of four new “attractions” in the pipeline, the others being a bambusetum (a bamboo park), a garden mall and a water garden. (What’s a ‘garden mall’ and a ‘water garden’? These will be just outside the present entrance.) Work is due to finish in 2010.
The “Eco-Stream Walk” will be 300 metres long, following the stream from the nursery in the Gardens to a parking area near Waterfall Road.
They are also building a ‘Tourist Pavilion’ opposite the Horticulture Centre – gallery, souvenir shops and information booths. (More concrete in the gardens?) Wouldn’t one information booth suffice?
In a future phase, a bamboo village will be added.
Why not, when you have RM7 million funding from the Tourism Ministry under the Ninth Malaysia Plan? Let’s build some “attractions”. After all, we can’t stand seeing open green recreational spaces around. We must “develop” them.
On 17 June, the Penang Chief Minister was asked why the Penang state exco members had not yet declared their assets. He said they were waiting for the right forms from KL to ensure “uniformity” and “maintain good federal relations”.
I said back then that there was no need to wait for KL. The BN federal government is not interested in a public declaration of assets. The PR governments are supposed to show us they are different.
The crude oil price has dipped below US$50/barrel. Similarly the prices of other commodities have plunged. Steel prices, for instance, have crashed from $1,200/ton in June to below $300 – and it is likely to fall even further with demand from China expected to weaken.
Now the question is how low can these commodity prices go?
The speculative boom run in commodity prices began in 2001-2002, when oil broke the $30 barrier.
Certain analysts are now suggesting that we are now only half way down the road back to that trough. So commodity prices still have room to fall further and they could continue sliding until the end of 2009. But it is hard to say if oil will approach the $30 region given that it is getting harder and more expensive to find new global oil reserves.
Anyway, I heard on the radio that the government is intending to further cut oil prices.
The more immediate issues are:
In the light of Razak Baginda’s press statement, this appears to be his version of the current state of play (if I read what he is saying correctly):
Baginda is not involved.
Najib and Rosmah had never met Altantuya.
It had nothing to do with an arms deal. Baginda only met Altantuya later.
Bloggers have been spreading lies.
Two men are now in court in the Altantuya case; so he can’t say much in the interests of “legal ethics”.
That leaves at least two simple but unanswered questions:
They knew that an application had been submitted to Unesco a few years ago for George Town to be listed as a World Heritage site. An updated dossier was submitted on 23 August 2007. At the very least, they knew the area is an historical site.
So why did they, how could the previous administration (three approvals) and the current adminstration (one approval) approve high-rise buildings in the heritage zone? That’s why I found it hard to celebrate the World Heritage listing.
In the heritage core zone (guidelines: max 5-storey/18-metre height restriction; tighter restrictions in certain areas):
In the heritage buffer zone (guidelines: 5-storey/18-metre height restriction):
Collective prayer: Justice and love will prevail over the ISA
About a hundred people turned up for the Mass to pray for ISA detainees this evening at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Pulau Tikus, Penang. It is the latest in a series of Wednesday ISA services that is likely to continue until the ISA is repealed.
Parish priest Fr Marshall Fernandez pointed out that prayer is a powerful means of advancing the kingdom of love and justice and peace. It was also important to have hope, he said.
So all the toll concessionaires except for one are ready to reveal their toll concession agreements.
While almost everyone is blaming the hawkers and roti-canai vendors for not lowering their prices, the big guys escape public scrutiny and pressure to cut their toll rates.