As I mentioned in the earlier posting, the show-cause letters to three newspapers were reminscent of Operasi Lalang in 1987. And now a couple of hours later, we hear Raja Petra has been detained under the ISA.
So they lift the block on Malaysia Today one day, and then detain Raja Petra the next day. What kind of warped thinking is this? Are they trying to silence him as he has threatened to expose everything in court?
Barely a day after the Cabinet order the lifting of a block on certain websites, theSun, Sin Chew Jit Poh and Suara Keadilan have been issued show-cause letters, reports Malaysiakini.
Just when you felt that they had done something right by lifting the block on websites, they now do this.
But is he alone? Many Malaysians – incredibly, even those who not-so-long-ago were not the least bit interested in politics – are practically willing him on.
Check out this SBS video documentary, looking ahead from the Permatang Pauh by-election.
It looks like the 16 Sept target has been officially delayed. This excerpt from a Pakatan statement in Kit Siang’s blog.
Kepimpinan Pakatan Rakyat yang bertemu hari ini yakin proses pembentukan kerajaan baru yang berlandasan Agenda Reformasi sedang berjalan secara lancar. Kami percaya kerajaan Barisan Nasional akan diganti dalam masa terdekat.
Pakatan Rakyat yakin mendapat bilangan ahli Parlimen yang mencukupi untuk mempunyai majoriti dalam Parlimen yang membolehkan penubuhan kerajaan baru. Bagaimanapun tarikh sebenar penubuhan kerajaan mungkin terpaksa dilewatkan dari 16 September sebagaimana rancangan awal akibat beberapa ahli Parlimen telah dipaksa ke Taiwan.
The Cabinet has ordered the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (SKMM) to reinstate access to all blocked websites including Malaysia Today, according to The Star online. It quoted Energy, Water and Communications Minister Shaziman Abu Mansor.
SKMM had instructed ISPs to block Malaysia Today in August.
Remember how Khairy later came out openly to oppose the ban?
Check out these links provided by Marina Mahathir. Something to think about:
I’ve been looking for a voice of reason somewhere in these awful turbulent times when people seem to spout off whatever they want off the top of their heads, and then defend it no matter how stupid.
Then a friend alerted me to this from a fellow blogger, Syed Imran. Another fellow blogger Walski wrote something similar here. So who says bloggers are unthinking people only up to no good?
And this lovely and wistful article makes you long for a different time when people were civilised.
This is a close-up of what’s happening in “Miami Bay” (why can’t they be more original in their names?) (Photo credit: Y C Sin)
Anyone know who the developer is?
Yes, the rape of the hill-slopes continues along the northern coast of Penang Island…
A sad Clearwater mourns the loss of the Penang he once knew:
I worked in Penang and stayed at Tg Bungah from 1980-83. Those were care-free times, Penang was still a paradise on earth and over-development an unimaginable event in this idyllic island. Yes, good jobs were scarce then but life was laid back and cost of living decent. My friends and I used to wind-surf weekends at Batu Ferringhi, where tourists sunbathed and waded in the sea; no problems with water quality.
Flash forward to 2008. I don’t want to return to see what greed and uncontrolled development has done to the environment on Penang Island. Each time I return, I am more appalled at the destruction that short-term policies have wrought in the name of progress on the Pearl of the Orient. It is heart-breaking. It is a complete turn-off. It is time to say good-bye.
and look at the damage done…
The Umno Supreme Council has suspended its Bukit Bendera chief Ahmad Ismail for three years over his alleged racist remarks, the Star Online has reported. The meeting chaired by Abdullah Badawi has also stripped him of all party posts.
I know a few people would have liked the ISA to be used against Ahmad. But if we are consistent about our position that the ISA is an immoral law, then to call for its use against Ahmad Ismail is not right.
Still, the party could have sacked Ahmad, but did not. (Remember Penang is Abdullah Badawi’s home-state.) Which raises the question: has the top Umno leadership lost control of its divisions – paving the way for, gulp, Mahathir and his allies to make their move? And you thought he would be contented passing his time with his carpentry hobby and looking after grandchildren, eh? He probably feels he has to save the country from Anwar!
These are a few images of the northern coast of Penang Island sent to me by a worried Claire with the following message:
I really wish these photos could be added to your site to show all how beautiful Malaysia is and can be and that it is painful to see what it is becoming!
Deforestation near “The Reef”…
...and then you get this
More pictures inside