According to Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Shahrir Samad, the Cabinet will review the petrol and diesel prices this Wednesday. It is set to discuss a proposal to reduce retail prices. This from Shahrir’s website in a posting titled ‘Price drop ahead of Raya?’:
JOHOR BAHRU 20 Sept. – Keputusan sama ada kerajaan akan menurun atau mengekalkan harga runcit petrol dan diesel bakal diketahui pada mesyuarat Kabinet Rabu ini.
Meanwhile, something else is happening…
This was reported on Malaysia Today:
RPK’s habeas corpus hearing has been brought forward to Tuesday, 23 September 2008 at 9:00am at Jalan Duta Criminal Court 2. (That’s tomorrow! – Anil.) The judge hearing the application is Yang Arif Puan Suraya binti Othman.
It was originally supposed to be heard this Friday before a different judge.
Just 48 hours to go for the Tuesday deadline to expire.
That’s the deadline given by Anwar for the PM to convene Parliament for an emergency sitting.
I am getting a little “chatter” which suggests that something could be brewing… I can imagine there is probably a lot of behind-the-scenes activity going on in KL.
Earlier, I had been informed that Anwar was expected to be in Permatang Pauh this weekend.
Instead, it was Wan Azizah who showed up for a little constituency work as Anwar was tied up in KL with strategising.
The man himself, blogger Sheih (photo courtesy of his blog)
People power is slowly but surely having an effect. Blogger Sheih Kickdefella has been released and he hasn’t wasted much time in updating his blog with an entry titled Sheih is back:
Hi folks, sorry for all the unreleased messages and comments. As you know, I have been away on holiday in Lokap Balai Polis Kota Bharu and Lokap Dang Wangi. I tried to check in at Pudu Prison but was turned away because not enough qualification.
I wish to thank all for the support and prayers.
The police have treated me well and most of the time, beyond the call of duty. I made lots of friends too.
A PC is arranged for me at 5.30pm today for me to bare all. Hehehe if any….
Till then, rest assured, I have kicked Dollah again as soon as I was released. You can ask the press.
The Malaysian Bar’s EGM, attended by 739 members, has unanimously called for the repeal of the ISA and all preventive detention laws and the release of all ISA detainees. It’s six-point resolution also condemns the show-cause letters issued to several newspapers. The resolution, also supported by the Bar’s four past presidents, will be handed to the Prime Minister on Monday.
Three special guests addressed the EGM: S. Pushpaneela (the wife of Hindraf leader M Manoharan), freed ISA detainee Teresa Kok, and Abolish ISA Movement (GMI) activist Norlaila Othman.
Despite Teresa Kok’s release, some 1,200 concerned Penangites flocked to an Abolish ISA forum organised by the DAP at the Penang Chinese Town Hall last night.
Among the speakers at the forum were MPs Liew Chin Tong and Chow Kon Yeow and Tunku Abdul Aziz Ibrahim.
Says Aliran member Wong Kok Keong:
Yes, it is great that Teresa has been released although her arrest, to begin with, clearly indicates an abuse of power by the authorities. Teresa’s point about why the authorities still have not interrogated others who are linked to the so-called reasons she was arrested for shows they were clearly politically motivated. What a travesty of justice. It is great that Teresa’s statement does not show she is cowed in any way by the cowardly arrest of her. Indeed, she appears to come out even more righteously fiesty in her fight for the rakyat and a better Malaysia. And more power to her – a sassy MP indeed.
Finally, this is yet another strong indication that the ISA simply has to be expunged from Malaysia. Only cowards using it still want to keep it for their own selfishness instead of protecting Malaysians.
And just a couple of hundred metres away, another 50 concerned individuals gathered in front of the Dewan Sri Pinang. (In the background is the Penang High Court building.) They sang songs of freedom and solidarity, read poems and chanted “Mansuhkan ISA” under the watchful eyes of about a dozen police personnel, who to their credit did not try to stop or cut short the event.
Volunteers distributed Raya cards for people to write messages in. These cards will then be sent to the ISA detainees in Kamunting.
Among those who turned up were a few of you blog readers, including regular Andrew, who often leaves comments. Good to meet you, Andrew!
I spotted blogger Amiruddin of the Wartawan Rasmi Laman Reformasi blog, who has more pictures of the event here. Mustafa too has pictures here.
It looks like an RPK posting, it sounds like an RPK posting, it has to be RPK!
Sounds incredible? See the latest posting on Malaysia Today.
Today is my eighth day of detention under the Internal Security Act (“ISA”). When I was detailed on Friday, 12th September 2008, it was supposed to be in respect of articles I wrote in Malaysia Today about our leaders, which was supposed to have confused the public and articles which insult Islam…. Full posting here.
At least, we know his spirit is still intact.
Teresa Kok: “I didn’t do anything wrong” (Photo courtesy of her blog)
Just off the phone with Teresa Kok and she sounds happy to be back.
I asked her if the police had given her a tough time and kept her awake at night with interrogations and all the usual things they tend to do with ISA detainees.
She said, “No, because I hadn’t done anything wrong. They couldn’t find anything.”
Anyway, she was delighted to hear that so many people had been praying for her release.
Blog reader gregwar sends this prayer:
A Prayer for Teresa
The Lord is my shepherd;
I have everything I need.
He lets me see a country of justice and peace
and directs my steps towards his land.He gives me new power.
He guides me in the paths of victory,
as he has promised.Even if a full-scale violent confrontation breaks out
I will not be afraid Lord,
if you are with me.
Your shepherd’s power and love protects me.You prepare for me my freedom,
where all my enemies can see it;
you welcome me as an honoured guest
and fill my cup with righteousness and peace.I know that your goodness and love will
be with me all my life;
and your liberationg love will be my home
as long as I love.By Zephania Kameeta, based on Psalm 25 in “Why O Lord
– Psalms and Sermons” (World Council of Churches)
I was just looking for a photo of ISA detainee Teresa Kok to put on my blog when Aliran president Rama phoned with the good news that she was freed at around 1.00pm. That kinda spooked me – but it’s wonderful news.
This is how Kit Siang described her release in his blog:
At 12.56pm, at lunch in Ipoh, my mobile phone rang. I saw the caller was “Teresa” and wondered who was using her phone.
But it was her on the line and wondered how she wangled the use of her phone while in detention.
But no, she did no such improper thing. She told me that she was being released.
Bravo. The irresistible pressures against her unjust and undemocratic detention had succeeded.
And this is Teresa’s reaction upon her release:
I have been released after being detained in solitary confinement in a 6-by-8 holding cell for seven days under the Internal Security Act (ISA). I was informed by the police that they detained me under section 73(1) of Internal Security Act 1960, which means I have incited racial and religious tension and conflict.
After being detained for seven days under the guise of so-called investigations, the police failed to produce any evidence or proof of me being involved in the activities of causing racial and religious tension. Full statement
Now, who says God does not listen to our prayers. 🙂 How could he not listen to our prayers, some of them found here. This is what happens when Prayer Power meets People Power.
Aliran president Rama has expressed serious concern over Raja Petra’s deteriorating health (Photo credit: Mustafa K Anuar)
1921: The Cabinet has approved a proposed Race Relations Act, reports The Star online.
1904: Blogger Samuel Goh sends this prayer for all ISA detainees:
Indeed let us all pray for all the detainees
Let us all do so on our bended knees
Remember that God wants us all to be free
So from truth and justice let us not flee
1900: Blog reader Harman Amri adds:
Abdullah’s refusal, first to meet Anwar, then to call for the emergency session of Parliament, is solid proof in my mind that Anwar has truly secured the support of the majority in Parliament.
1855: Blog reader Abdullah (not the PM!) has responded to the Malaysian Insider’s analysis:
Anwar holds a constitutional office, Malaysia’s Official Opposition Leader, which represents the other side. What makes Abdullah fail to meet him? What does he fear? And if Anwar meets Abdullah and fails to show the list, wouldn’t that help Abdullah more than Anwar? What makes Abdullah fail in taking up this golden opportunity?
1850: Aliran president P Ramakrishnan has expressed serious concern over Raja Petra’s deteriorating health.
Marina has every right to be worried over his health because “her husband suffers from heart artery blockages and is on medication”. At this point in time nobody can confirm if Raja Petra is taking his medication or whether he is being monitored by a doctor.
What he is being subjected to is absolutely unacceptable and uncalled for. What makes it worse is the fact that Raja Petra’s human rights are being violated with impunity by a country that sits as a member on the United Nations Human Rights Council that is tasked with protecting and preserving human rights. The way he is treated makes a mockery of our position on this Council and renders it untenable.
1840: Responding to a question whether Anwar would be detained under the ISA, the Prime Minister said there was no suggestion from him to use the ISA on anyone, The Star online reports. According to Malaysiakini, Abdullah said that he had no plans to use the Internal Security Act “against Anwar or anyone else”. We will be watching to see if he keeps his word.
1828: The PM has rebuffed Pakatan’s call for an emergency Parliament sitting. He says Parliament would sit as scheduled after Hari Raya, reports the NST. Now what? How is the Pakatan going to respond? Meanwhile, Anwar”s sodomy trial is set for 24 Sept.
Blogger Norlaila Othman, whose husband has been detained for more than six years, and their lawyer Edmund Bon (Picture courtesy of Merah Hitam blog)
I urge all readers of this blog – brother and sister Muslims, Christians, Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs and others – to continuing praying for the immediate release of all ISA detainees.
When we think of ISA detainees, we think of what Raja Petra, Teresa Kok and the Hindraf Five must be going through now. But there are about 60 other detainees; that’s a whole lot of human suffering, including that of their families.
The full list of ISA detainees can be found here.
If you are Muslim, you might like to reflect on what Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh wrote:
The ISA is against Islam for it violates the principles of truth and justice as mentioned in the Holy Book of Al-Qur’an in Chapters An-Nisa’, As-Syura, and An-Nahl, verses 58, 15 and 90 respectively. To arrest and detain a person only and only on the basis of suspicion and without trial, without opportunity to defend oneself is forbidden and considered haram in Islam. Even if the Government wishes to detain a person for preventive purposes, the matter must be decided in an open court. Detention without trial – without the opportunity to defend oneself in an open court – violates the rights and denies the guarantee that Islam provides to all individuals. The guarantee is that everyone has a right to freedom and well-being.
And here’s a verse sent in by Jane Abraham:
And why should ye not fight in the cause of Allah and of those who, being weak, are ill-treated (and oppressed)?- Men, women, and children, whose cry is: “Our Lord! Rescue us from this town, whose people are oppressors; and raise for us from thee one who will protect; and raise for us from thee one who will help!
( سورة النساء , An-Nisa, Chapter #4, Verse #75)
If you are Christian, you might like to meditate on this passage from Luke Chapter 4, which is more or less the “mission statement” of Jesus’ ministry:
16 He came to Nazara, where he had been brought up, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day as he usually did. He stood up to read,
17 and they handed him the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. Unrolling the scroll he found the place where it is written:
18 The spirit of the Lord is on me, for he has anointed me to bring the good news to the afflicted. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives, sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free,
19 to proclaim a year of favour from the Lord.
And here is a Buddhist prayer sent in by blog reader Sabrina:
A Prayer for Freedom From Suffering
May all beings everywhere plagued
with sufferings of body and mind
quickly be freed from their illnesses.
May those frightened cease to be afraid,
and may those bound be free.
May the powerless find power,
and may people think of befriending
one another.
May those who find themselves in trackless,
fearful wilderness — the children, the aged, the unprotected –
be guarded by beneficent celestials,
and may they swiftly attain Buddhahood.
Blog reader Thinesh Rajasingam sends us what he says is one of the most famous and simplest Hindu prayers:
Lead me from untruth to Truth
Lead me from darkness to Light
Lead me from death to Immortality