Caught in the Middle IV & 2 debuts of JuneWow.com :) - Nathaniel Tan

A warm welcome to the columnsphere to June Low, whose column (a great parody of rempits and cops) makes its first appearance today :) That’s the brilliant talent behind…

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A warm welcome to the columnsphere to June Low, whose column (a great parody of rempits and cops) makes its first appearance today :) That’s the brilliant talent behind Lady Baba and JuneWow.com, who as it happens, had her stage debut just last night :)
My own article also ran today on that very debut :) I rushed it out late at night and tak sempat mention Elaine Wong, who was also quite good – great flattening scene! :)
The show runs this weekend and next (at PJLA all May: 19th-22nd 25th-29th at 8.30pm, 22nd/29th at 3pm 23rd/30th at 5pm. Call 03 7960 0439), and the review is reproduced below :)
No one delivers crap like Mano
Comedy is a great tool to help us bear our nation’s many trials and tribulations. The problems with politics, government and everyday annoyances that would otherwise make us tear our hair out in frustration and make us clamour for the first boat out of Malaysia suddenly seem that much more bearable after a few laughs.
“Caught in the Middle IV” — a comedy in exactly that vein — premiered last night, and the title of this article is taken from one of the hilarious lines therein (you’ll have to watch it for the context).
Directed by Thor Kah Hoong, the play runs till May 30 and features such luminaries of Malaysian comedy as Mano Maniam, Zaibo, Nell Ng, Chew Kin Wah and Sandra Sodhy as well as a brilliant supporting cast.
A loose storyline based on Petaling Jaya residents and the aftermath of a landslide intercut with random sketches provide the canvas on which the creative team takes a fun-filled swing at government inefficiencies, corrupt politics, crime, local eccentricities, and everything else under the Malaysian sun.
The material seemed to shine particularly when dealing with headaches that seem to beset all of us — cab drivers, lousy Internet, the constant peddlers that come with working-class eateries, and so on.
Among the locations are an apartment, a hospital and a mall that bear no resemblance whatsoever to Gasing Heights, Pantai Hospital or Pertama Complex whatsoever. Also, Jalan 5/53B in PJ, but there is no chance I will reveal the secrets submerged in that particular scene.
The actors remind us that Malaysians want for nothing when it comes to comedic talent. Most of the headliners proved their mettle, with Mano taking by far most of the stage time, Zaibo his usual lovable self, and Nell Ng shining in the game show sketch towards the end.
Of the supporting cast, Nicole Thomas’ wheelchair-bound granny proved quite memorable; June Low plays a very young daughter, and I think her height and size caused an amusing conversation I overheard later, discussing whether she was an adult or child actor (the former, for the record — last seen as Lady Baba in Hulu Selangor).
The crew certainly didn’t hold back, and worked to earn their 18PL rating — letting loose on shamelessly dirty jokes, poking fun at the powers that be (if Rosmah decides to make a few phone calls, they could be in trouble), and so on. Don’t be surprised if you see a porn star make an “appearance.”
The play did drag on a bit at times, and the Shakespeare bit — while scoring some points for imagery and originality — really felt out of place, especially after the first minute and definitely after the first three. Scenes featuring a flurry of action, actors and excitement were also immeasurably more enjoyable than some of the two-person conversations that kept on going without much else happening. Perhaps we could have done with a little less a******s (watch to understand!).
An enjoyable aspect of the performance, however, was that the material seems to be developed to evolve over time and adjust to audience response — which means it just gets better and better with time.
One of my favourite aspects of the play were these radio interludes, featuring well-chosen music and brilliant parodies of Malaysian DJs. Done by Chew Kin Wah and outrageously funny at the beginning, they had, by the middle and end of the play, a warm and fuzzy feeling to them, providing a calming glue to the varied show and making us feel somehow connected to a wider Malaysia out there.
This showed as much as anything in this very enjoyable play that although we were clearly caught in the middle of a Malaysia gone mad, we were at least in it together, and able to find relief via sharing a laugh or two along the mad ride.

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Samy invokes his powers, sacks Mugilan

By RK Anand - Free Malaysia Today

KUALA LUMPUR: MIC president S Samy Vellu has expelled the party's Youth deputy chief V Mugilan for allegedly working against MIC and Barisan…

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By RK Anand - Free Malaysia Today

KUALA LUMPUR: MIC president S Samy Vellu has expelled the party's Youth deputy chief V Mugilan for allegedly working against MIC and Barisan Nasional.

According to a source, the president had invoked his powers as provided for by the party constitution and fired Mugilan after consulting his deputy, G Palanivel.

The constitution requires the president to consult his number two before making such decisions.

“Samy Vellu and Palanivel met this morning and had a lengthy discussion on the matter,” said the source, adding that the president felt that Mugilan had crossed the line with his scathing remarks.

“The letter (of expulsion) is expected to be sent to him soon,” said the source.

Yesterday, Samy Vellu said Mugilan would be referred to the MIC disciplinary board after accusing him of working against BN and MIC during the Hulu Selangor by-election.

Just hours before, Mugilan had demanded that Samy Vellu resign with immediate effect, saying that the longer he stays, the worse it would be for MIC and BN.

He was responding to Samy Vellu's statement a day earlier that he would relinquish his post “eight to nine months” before his presidential term expires in May 2012.

Mugilan claimed that the 74-year-old president had overstayed his welcome and the Indian community wanted change.

Blaming Samy Vellu for MIC's dismal performance in the 2008 general election, Mugilan believes that his departure would help the ruling coalition win back at least 80% of the Indian votes.

'Hidden hands' behind Mugilan

Mugilan's attack came as a surprise since during the April 25 Hulu Selangor by-election, it was reported that Samy Vellu and Mugilan had agreed to bury the hatchet.

Mugilan was the preferred choice of Umno, while Samy Vellu had insisted that BN field Palanivel.

After much haggling, a compromise was reached and MIC information chief P Kamalanathan was named as the candidate.

Meanwhile, another source questioned if there were “hidden hands” behind Mugilan's caustic remarks.

“We know that he is close to Umno, especially its leaders, including (Deputy Prime Minister) Muhyiddin Yassin. Did the instruction come from Umno?” he asked.

It is an open secret that Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and Umno are pressuring Samy Vellu to step down as soon as possible.

The source said Mugilan's sacking would only anger them further.

“Samy Vellu is playing a dangerous game, but he is no stranger to such situations. Mugilan's sacking is bound to ruffle feathers both in MIC and Umno.They would see this as dictatorship,” he added.

Despite numerous attempts, Mugilan could not be reached for comment.

Yesterday, the Youth leader expressed confidence that the party would not act against him, because he was only calling for change.

He said Samy Vellu had done the same when he had asked previous MIC president VT Sambanthan to step down.

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Still mired in poverty – 52 years later

By Patrick Lee - Free Malaysia Today,

FMT FOCUS BUKIT BERUNTUNG: Time in Kampung Kandang Lembu, near here, seems to stand still. Step into the village, and life there is…

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By Patrick Lee - Free Malaysia Today,

FMT FOCUS BUKIT BERUNTUNG: Time in Kampung Kandang Lembu, near here, seems to stand still. Step into the village, and life there is still mired in poverty.
Ask Vasugi Singaram. She has lived in the village for more than 52 years and she never had access to even the most basic of amenities like electricity. She only gets intermittent supply of water.
"I have raised the matter [to the government] since 1982, but to this day I have never been given any electricity," said Vasugi, who has been forced to rely on coconut oil and candles for her lighting.
The only way in or out of Kampung Kandang Lembu is through a rusty bridge, located just behind the Taman Bukit Teratai housing estate.
Many of the houses in the village are abandoned and are in danger of collapse. Only three of them are occupied. It is a far cry from a nearby housing estate, which not only has regular access to water and electricity, but also satellite television.
As if to add insult to injury, two fire hydrants in the vicinity are open, pumping out a steady stream of water.
"There was a pipe installed here about a month ago, connected to a nearby river," said Perumal
Empty tap
Govindasamy, the village head of nearby Kampung Koskan. "A few days ago, however, that too has been cut," pointing to an empty tap near Vasugi's house.
In the past, Vasugi was advised by the local authorities to vacate her home and move elsewhere. However, she was not given any assistance when it came to relocation.
Although Vasugi has children who work in nearby towns, she laments that none of them have given her any help. She is forced to rely on merloh, banana and coconut trees around her house as her only source of income. Earning about RM150 a month, it is a hard life, especially when she has a few grandchildren to feed.
"During the [Hulu Selangor] by-election, we received a visit from [MP] P Kamalanathan, who told us that our needs would be met, and that everything would be taken care of," said Vasugi. Since then, there has been no word from the MP. "I used to have water, but now I don't."
"We love the BN government, but how can we keep on loving it when they treat us like this?"
Attempts to contact Kamalanathan yesterday have been unsuccessful due to the MP's busy schedule.

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Formal application needed for video testimony

By Ken Vin Lek - Free Malaysia Today,

FULL REPORT SHAH ALAM: The Shah Alam Coroner's Court today ordered the Selangor government to make a formal application to allow Thai…

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By Ken Vin Lek - Free Malaysia Today,

FULL REPORT SHAH ALAM: The Shah Alam Coroner's Court today ordered the Selangor government to make a formal application to allow Thai pathologist Dr Pornthip Rojanasunand to testify via video conferencing in the Teoh Beng Hock inquest.
“The court needs a reason as to why Pornthip could not make it and to see whether there are any objections to the manner of a testimony via video conference,” said coroner Azmil Muntapha Abas.

He then fixed June 11 for the application to be heard in court.
Earlier Teoh's family lawyer Gobind Singh told the coroner that the Criminal Procedure Code allowed a witness, with the permission of the court, to testify via video.

“This is important especially if it is expedient in the interest of justice to do so,” he said.

MACC's counsel Tan Hock Chuan however said that the court must decide if the method of testifying, if allowed, would be fair to the other parties.
Pornthip was originally scheduled to testify today but was not present following "security issues" surrounding her safety. The hearing was then adjourned for the application to be made.
She had reportedly said to have received "political pressure" from the Malaysian government not to testify at the inquest, failing which her work in Southern Thailand and her safety would be affected.

Yesterday the Selangor government, who was responsible for requesting Pornthip's expertise for the inquest, revealed that it was prepared to provide video conferencing facility for the expert to testify from Bangkok.

"We are prepared to have the video conferencing for her to testify live from Bangkok and this has been given approval from the Thai Ministry of Justice," said Selangor MB Khalid Ibrahim.
No clearance to come
Talking to reporters after the case was adjourned, Gobind said the application, if allowed, would set a precedent.

“It will be the first time it becomes possible for a witness to testify from outside Malaysia if this application is accepted,” he said.

“Dr Pornthip is prepared to testify by video conference for the inquest and the Selangor government is prepared to provide video conferencing facility for the expert to testify from Bangkok” he added.

When asked why Pornthip could not make it today, he said: “It was because Thailand’s Ministry of Justice did not give her the clearance to leave the country and testify in Malaysia”.
Thirty-year-old Teoh was found dead on the fifth floor of Plaza Masalam in Shah Alam on July 16, last year, after being interrogated overnight at the MACC office, located on the 14th floor of the same building, as part of investigations into alleged irregular disbursement of state funds.

The inquest had previously heard testimony from British forensics expert Prof Dr Peter Vanezis, who appeared for the MACC, on April 26 and 27.

Azmil has also set May 21 to announce his decision whether or not to grant leave to Teoh's brother, Meng Kee, to cite Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz for contempt for calling Pornthip a liar.

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Ibrahim Ali returns Chua’s fire

By Stephanie Sta Maria - Free Malaysia Today,

KUALA LUMPUR: Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali has shot back at MCA president Chua Soi Lek, calling him “a leader with no morals”…

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By Stephanie Sta Maria - Free Malaysia Today,

KUALA LUMPUR: Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali has shot back at MCA president Chua Soi Lek, calling him “a leader with no morals” and accusing him of practising double standards.
Ibrahim's latest tirade was in response to Chua's statement that MCA would not be trapped into making him feel important by responding to his statements.
Chua had also said that it was Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and “not Ibrahim Ali” that Malaysians should support as leader of the nation.
Ibrahim acknowledged this but returned fire by saying that Chua was not a national leader either as had “only has 35% support”.
“I remind Chua not to touch the 30%-Bumiputera quota,” he said. “He should understand Article 153 (on Malay privileges) of the Federal Constitution before he can count himself among Malaysian leaders.”
Ibrahim went on to blast Chua for allegedly having two standards when it came to fighting for community rights. He said Chua saw nothing wrong with meeting non-Malay NGOs and issuing demands contradicting national policies.
“But when Perkasa fights for Malay rights, you condemn us and call us racist,” he said.
Ibrahim also took aim at Loh Seng Kok, MCA’s deputy publicity chief.
Earlier this week, Loh challenged him to come up with constructive suggestions to make 1Malaysia a reality instead of questioning Chinese support for BN.
“My answer to Loh is that MCA needs to learn how to uphold the country's basic constitution and stop falling into DAP's trap,” he said. “Malaysian Malaysia is not 1Malaysia.
“MCA should mind its language unless it wants to deprive BN of Malay votes in the next general election.”

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Utusan must change ways, says Najib

Najib urged Utusan to be more than just Umno’s mouthpiece. — file pic

KUALA LUMPUR, May 20 — Controversial Umno mouthpiece, Utusan Malaysia, must transform itself if it wishes…

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Najib urged Utusan to be more than just Umno’s mouthpiece. — file pic

KUALA LUMPUR, May 20 — Controversial Umno mouthpiece, Utusan Malaysia, must transform itself if it wishes to stay relevant, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said today.
The Malay-language daily pushes Umno’s agenda — often through racially-tinged articles against the party’s rivals — but Najib urged the 72-year-old newspaper to be more than just the party’s mouthpiece.
“I understand that sensational news sells... especially with that ‘one person,’” he said in a veiled reference to Utusan Malaysia’s constant attacks on Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
“But you must also be a medium to build an intellectual culture, a critical society,” the Umno president added.
Najib’s call for change was made at the company’s ground-breaking ceremony for a new headquarters in its Jalan Chan Sow Lin plant here.
The prime minister said that the ceremony must coincide in a shift of paradigm for the newspaper.
While it may continue to fight for its so-called agenda to protect the nation’s majority “race, Islam and country”, Utusan must play a pivotal role in helping the government achieve its transformation plan.
“In the development of the new building, Utusan must also work towards handling changes,” he said.
Najib has embarked to re-brand the Barisan Nasional-led federal government’s image as an administration that stands on the all inclusive 1 Malaysia platform.
The New Economic Model has become the nation’s sixth prime minister’s map to drive the ruling coalition away from its Malay-centric path which has polarised the nation and crippled the economy.
But Utusan has not been doing Najib the much needed favours. It continues to draw blood through opinion pieces that have drawn the ire of the non-Malay population.
Though the prime minister did not touch on this in his speech before Utusan’s big guns, he made subtle hints that the newspaper must be quick to adapt to the current political and economic climate.
“Yes we can lean on history but what is the use of history if our survival is threatened,” stressed Najib.
And while urging Utusan to step up to the plate given the fierce competition in the news industry, Najib warned on the need for the Malay daily to safeguard its integrity.
“The integrity of our news reports is important. There is if we keep having to apologise. It must be fast, accurate and verified,” said Najib who is the son of the nation’s second premier, Tun Abdul Razak.
Echoing his past call to all media, Najib also urged Utusan to be partners to the government.
“Utusan must play its role as a partner to the government because we are heading towards change”.

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Water politics evaporating

By Maxwell Coopers - Free Malaysia Today,

COMMENT Before Malaysia even realizes it Singapore will be looking lesser and lesser towards her for water.
Under the Republic’s ambitious self-sufficiency programme…

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By Maxwell Coopers - Free Malaysia Today,

COMMENT Before Malaysia even realizes it Singapore will be looking lesser and lesser towards her for water.
Under the Republic’s ambitious self-sufficiency programme the city-state is gearing up to ramp supplies for domestic consumption.
That assurance is not only to assuage anxieties in Singapore but what former prime minister called “to stop the leveraging from Malaysian politicians”
There is no doubt the issue of continued water supplies to the Republic have long hung like the proverbial Sword of Damocles over the city-state’s head.
If past incidences are any clue, that became characteristically vivid in the aftermath of the Israeli state president Chaim Herzog’s visit in 1986 when angry Malaysian politicians continually harped on the use of water ‘gunboat’ diplomacy to level with Singapore.
Another 50 years remain before Singapore’s last and final treaty with Malaysia lapses in 2011.
And from the looks of all the bile that have creased and periodically strained ties, the self-sufficiency programme is just that bit to give ‘meaning to sovereignty’. As after the entire rational behind desalination plants and NEWATER was to tug the Republic away from the pulls that political expediency manifests through the issue of continued water supplies.
It also amounts to what a Republic keen in wanting to call its own soul just has to do. To not do is perhaps to place her at the continued mercy of nations who after clearly understanding her vulnerability just know what to expect through the use of the ‘water weapon’.
So it has to be. As with Israel and Turkey, Mexico and the United States or Hong Kong and China - the other nations in the world engaged in the water trade – the time has come for Singapore to strike a compromise.
And that ‘compromise’, accordingly, is no more than to achieve complete sufficiency.
It is true the Republic lacks what Malaysia has in abundance.
And it is also true that, that dependency though mutually beneficial to both parties in the beginning, will like a tempestuous love affair swing from exuberance to despondency or even sometimes to outright slanging matches.
A real strategic challenge
Just how much a ‘sacred commodity’ water is, is never graphically illustrated than what the Japanese in their quest to conquer Singapore did in 1942.
By turning off the taps they achieved a rather unique method in modern-day warfare: starve a local population enough to make these hapless people lose the will to fight.
It is unsurprising to the power and ‘influence’ water wields as a weapon.
And there is also no naysaying that Singapore is constantly vexed by threats and sometimes even of hints, such as that made by former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad in the late 1990s of raising the price of water sold to Singapore despite an existing agreement that it only be retailed for 3 sen per ton.
And so it is to be.
Feelers are already out that Singapore will not renew the remaining water agreement with Malaysia when it expires in 2061.
The city-state has not just built new water desalination and treatment plants. (There are five to date.) Complementing the plants are plans to increase raise water catchments (or reservoirs) to gargantuan scales such that total self-sufficiency is achieved over the next 50 years.
It is not just Malaysia and the need to be self-sufficient that is at the heart of the problem.
Climate change and its attendant effects on water production are causing such a premium that sufficient availability of water resources will over the years pose a real strategic challenge to the nation.
Yet there is no denying that the fervour with which the nation proceeds with developing alternative supplies may possibly turn the entire engineering process to emerge as a new industry by itself!
In other words, the invention born out of the necessity in Singapore may just be what the rest of the world wrestling with scant water resources adopt, perhaps one day even by Malaysia!

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PI BALA AWAITS OFFICIAL RESPONSE FROM MACC

It has been over a month since Nazri Abdul Aziz announced in Parliament that the MACC had recorded statements from various relevant witnesses in their investigations into the allegations made…

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It has been over a month since Nazri Abdul Aziz announced in Parliament that the MACC had recorded statements from various relevant witnesses in their investigations into the allegations made by PI Bala in the press releases he made in November last year.

By Manjeet Singh Dhillon, Americk Sidhu


Bala, through his lawyers, has unequivocally offered his cooperation in the investigations being conducted by the MACC and these sentiments have been formally related to them in writing setting out various conditions for the proposed interview. Bala remains ready, willing and able to do so.

The MACC has formally responded by disagreeing to most of the conditions set by Bala and instead insisting that the interview be conducted at the Malaysian High Commission (ostensibly still on Malaysian soil), in Singapore, that Bala would not be given a copy of the recorded statement and that all communications were to be designated ‘secret’ under the Official Secrets Act.

(Bala is understandably apprehensive about remaining anywhere resembling Malaysian sovereign territory due to past bad experiences.)

We did not agree to those conditions imposed by the MACC and made this known to the MACC in a letter dated 22 January 2010, to which we have yet to receive a response.

It was therefore somewhat of a pleasant surprise to read that the ‘Timbalan Ketua Pesuruhjaya (Operasi)’, one Datuk Shukri Abdull, in his statement to the press reported by Bernama on the 19 April 2010, has categorically said that the MACC were willing to record Bala’s statement ‘not only in a Malaysian High Commission overseas but anywhere Bala felt appropriate’. This is indeed rather reassuring.

Datuk Shukri went on further to state that the MACC had no objections to Bala’s lawyers being present when his statement was being recorded, which is even more reassuring.

We had anticipated that this announcement would have been presented to us in the form of a written response to our letter dated 22 January but unfortunately this has not happened. We appreciate the fact that there have been two rather important by-elections in the intervening period and that the MACC must have had their hands full as a result.

However, these have now been resolved and instead of waiting for a letter to arrive from the MACC we felt it appropriate to use the same mode of communication chosen by Nazri and the MACC in issuing our response as this appears to be a more effective method in the present circumstances.

Please therefore be informed that Bala would like the interview conducted in London (Icelandic volcano permitting) sometime in July this year. He would also appreciate reimbursement of air fares and hotel accommodation for himself and his lawyers, with a set daily stipend to cover costs of food and subsistence, payable beforehand.

The interview will be audio-visually recorded and Bala is to be given a copy of anything the MACC officers ask him to sign. That is only reasonable.

These conditions are no different from those originally proposed and we see no reason why the MACC should not be able to accept them in the spirit they are offered, especially as it appears sentiments have somewhat mellowed in the past few months.

Early confirmation will ensure all travel and accommodation arrangements can be made in good time.

We look forward to the MACC’s immediate response so that this long outstanding matter can be resolved expeditiously.

We are forwarding this letter for publication in the mainstream media as well as in some of the more popular alternative media sites, as shown below.

Thank you.

Manjeet Singh Dhillon

Americk Sidhu

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Understand cops, IGP tells public

The IGP said the police would reveal their SOP to the public. — file pic

KUALA LUMPUR, May 20 — The people must understand the role, duties and responsibilities of…

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The IGP said the police would reveal their SOP to the public. — file pic

KUALA LUMPUR, May 20 — The people must understand the role, duties and responsibilities of the police to avoid misconception between the authorities and individual said Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan.
“The people must understand that when facing the police, they must adhere to police instructions and directive,” said Musa during a question and answer session on TV3 last night.
He said police would reveal their Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to the public so that they would be able to understand the role, duties and responsibilities of the police.
“The people must understand that if there was a police road-block, they must stop and not ram into a road-block. By doing so, police will become suspicious, because they might be criminals or drug traffickers or they just want to run away from the law,” he said.
Musa said police would act according to the law when handling such situations, including using deadly force, when trying to defend themselves (police) or others.
“We will take action based on our justification. If there was justification for action and for the use of force when carrying out our duties, we will do it. But during investigations, if we come across an individual using excessive powers, we may recommend such individuals to be charged in court,” he said.
Meanwhile, he urged those with influence, especially politicians to refrain from taking action outside the confines of law, as it would hamper the police from carrying out their duties. — Bernama

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Understanding ethical journalism

thenutgraph.com

Bob Woodward (left) and Carl Bernstein
(Woodward pic © Kat Walsh;  Bernstein pic 
© Larry D Moore | Wiki…

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thenutgraph.com

Bob Woodward (left) and Carl Bernstein
(Woodward pic © Kat Walsh;  Bernstein pic 
© Larry D Moore | Wiki Commons)

JOSHUA Wong Ngee Choong, 42, quit his job as a producer at ntv7 on principle — he is opposed to self-censorship and political interference in the media. No wonder, then, that one of his favourite movies is All the President's Men. The movie tells the story of how Washington Post journalists Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein employed good investigative journalism to expose US President Richard Nixon's Watergate scandal.
Wong talks to The Nut Graph about placing ethical journalism within the context of Malaysia in this, the second and final part of a 17 May 2010 exclusive interview.

Wong was part of this flashmob in Penang campaigning against political interference in
journalism (pic courtesy of Wong | 528 Tak Nak Potong)

TNG: Do you think it is possible to work from within the system if someone wants to be a good journalist that serves the public's interest?
Joshua Wong Ngee Choong: It's possible, but it's very difficult. (Laughs) Actually, journalists are victims of a system of monopolistic media ownership. So, if a journalist quits (a station such as) ntv7, where would he or she go? There is a general lack of journalistic platforms and job opportunities for journalists.
I also understand that not everybody can be like me. I am single and have no dependants. I can't impose my standards on everyone. This is my own moral calling. What if another journalist had a family to support?
But within this scenario, we also have to understand that Media Prima (ntv7's owner)'s top management are politically appointed, so they would not support us as journalists anyway. The system itself does not encourage journalists to resist interference in the newsroom.

And so, we have to go back to the fundamental principles of journalism. Why do we want to be journalists? Who gives us the power and authority to be journalists? Our first loyalty is actually to citizens. They are our boss, and our rights and power as journalists comes from them. So in any ethical dilemma, for example censorship or political interference, we must always ask ourselves our purpose as journalists. We must minimise harm and act independently. After fighting, if we fail, that's okay. At least we've done our best as journalists.
What would you say to criticisms that journalists who work in the government-controlled media are biased and unreliable by default?

Truth, holding a mirror and a serpent
(© Carol Highsmith | public domain)I think it's unfair to blame everyone who works in the traditional media. I worked with the traditional media, and outsiders probably don't know what we actually do.
If we view the situation comprehensively, we will be able to understand traditional journalists a bit better. But all journalists should always go back to the principles of journalism. For example, in the case of minimising harm, what if my decision to resign as a journalist causes the entire network to shut down, and all its employees to lose their jobs and income? To minimise harm in that case, it would mean finding alternatives, or seeking support from other colleagues in the profession. Resigning should be the last resort. Whether online or in the traditional media, we need to think about these principles.
But above all, our job is to tell the truth and be loyal to citizens (instead of corporate, network or political bosses). We must put this moral compass in our hearts. We must always be able to practise our conscience, and this is a personal conscience to be accountable, honest, fair and responsible.
In your statements to the media in 2008 and 2010, you mentioned the need for "balanced" journalism. What does the term "balanced journalism" mean to you? How would you differentiate "balance" from concepts such as "fairness", "accuracy", and "responsibility" in reporting?
I think my use of "balanced journalism" relates to "fairness", as in we must be fair to those who lodge complaints and so on. Being "balanced" is not about giving equal time, for example 30 minutes to a rape survivor and then another 30 minutes to the rapist. But it's actually about speaking to the perpetrator or the alleged abuser to give them a right of response.
Do you think aspects such as "fairness", "accuracy" and "responsibility" are more reliable markers of good journalism?
Yes, because these relate more to the overall objective of journalism, which is to tell the truth.
What do you think the public should expect from journalists, whether in the government-controlled, party-controlled or independent media?

The public should be made aware of the nine principles of journalism outlined by Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel (authors of the The Elements of Journalism). The public should also expect to be able to request for news to be accurate, verified, and independent, especially as a monitor of power. It might be very difficult for journalists in the traditional media, but we can try our best to fulfil these expectations.
If the public sees that the traditional newspapers are not reporting the same things as the online independent media, they can call up the television or radio station, or the newspaper's editorial desk to voice their dissatisfaction. This principle also applies to the online media. The responsibility of upholding freedom of expression and information does not rest squarely on journalists. The public also needs to participate actively.
The public must understand that they will be seriously affected if the traditional media downplay or black out important issues. For example, if [journalists] are told we cannot report on by-elections, then there will be no serious analysis or critical discussion on the matter. This will result in a lack of knowledge among the public on the issues at stake. The public will become poorly informed, and when we are poorly informed, how are we then to make good decisions?
The public can actually do many things to support good journalism, from signing petitions to simply praying for journalists.
Given the nature of racial politics in Malaysia, do you think it's problematic that the press operates in so many languages in Malaysia? For example, your shows Edisi Siasat and Editor's Time probably targeted Chinese-speaking Malaysians. Do journalists have the responsibility to transcend linguistic and racial boundaries through our reporting? How do we do this?
In my case, the team I worked with was mainly Chinese-educated, so we did not have the capacity to produce Editor's Time in English or Malay. But we can still transcend the language barrier, for example the network could make sure to always put up accurate English or Malay subtitles. In online journalism, a website like Malaysiakini now offers news in English, Malay, Tamil and Chinese.

Wong documenting the situation of Orang Asli (pic courtesy of Wong)

The important thing is that on Editor's Time and Siasat Mandarin, we did not choose topics based on race. We did public interest shows — on public health, the situation of Orang Asli, human trafficking, marginalised groups, and so on.
Do you think journalists are suffering a crisis of credibility in Malaysia?
Yes, and there are two different problems: the overall system, and our values. The systemic problem is that we have restrictive laws and monopolistic political ownership of media outfits. This breeds more political interference and encourages self-censorship.
But there is also a crisis of values, which comes from both journalists and the top management of media outfits. It comes from the question of how we see ourselves as journalists. Are we just workers who are duty-bound to our management's instructions, or are we loyal firstly to citizens?
To restore credibility, journalists themselves must go back to upholding principles of journalism, which can happen bit by bit. Then we can restore good values in journalism. The other thing to do of course is to tackle the issue of political ownership. We must also work to remove laws that restrict freedom of expression and information.

But we must also understand that we are a capitalist society, and so the media operates within a capitalist environment. In other words, the media will always be subject to either commercial or political pressures, or a combination of both. The media is also a business in this environment, and must survive as such. [So we must also think of alternatives to sustaining a free and independent media in this situation.]
Describe the kind of journalists and journalism you'd like to see in Malaysia.
I think having a moral compass is important. As professionals, we are not the same as doctors or lawyers, for example. They become professionals after they are assessed on whether they have acquired the appropriate expertise or skills in their fields. [We don't actually have that sort of assessment, because instead] our professional recognition relies on our daily application of journalistic morals and ethics.

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Appeal On Dismissal Of Stay On High Court Dismissal Of DSAI’s Application Of Section 112-Statements Of Saiful Bukhari Azlan

MEDIA RELEASE:
DSAI v PP; Appeal on dismissal of stay on high court dismissal of DSAI’s application of section 112-statements of saiful bukhari azlan. Re Zabidin J.
The Court of…

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MEDIA RELEASE:
DSAI v PP; Appeal on dismissal of stay on high court dismissal of DSAI’s application of section 112-statements of saiful bukhari azlan. Re Zabidin J.
The Court of Appeal, Putrajaya has fixed tomorrow; 21st May 2010, at 9am for hearing. Karpal Singh & Co was informed by court registry yesterday.
Office of Anwar Ibrahim

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Thailand: Coup, Betrayal, Disarray

(Asia Sentinel) The wellsprings of disaster stem from 2006

Whatever drives the Red Shirt movement in Thailand – ideals, anger, money or all three – the worst civil unrest in…

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(Asia Sentinel) The wellsprings of disaster stem from 2006

Whatever drives the Red Shirt movement in Thailand – ideals, anger, money or all three – the worst civil unrest in a generation has made the folly of the 2006 coup to bring down Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's government all the more evident. The blood of the last weeks is on the hands of the many cheerleaders for that coup, the royalist supporters of it and the military itself.

Make no mistake here. I firmly believe that Thaksin is a venal and corrupt figure. His manipulation of the system for his own political ends and his cynical use of the poor to fuel his ambitions had little to do with altruism and everything to do with power. But the cure, if the coup could any longer be called a cure, was far worse than the disease.

Thailand's continuing mayhem might have been temporarily stalled by the actions of the military this week to finally clear the streets of red-shirt protesters, but nothing has been resolved. Thaksin is still stirring the pot from abroad, doubtless using his millions in a bid to bend the movement he created to his advantage. The military's reputation for brutality is again ensured as it often has been in the past. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, a good and decent man by most accounts, is likely irretrievably wounded by the government's inept handling of a crisis that it allowed to spiral out of control before it finally moved. The red-shirt leaders themselves failed to accept compromise when it was within reach.

And there is King Bhumibol Adulyadej. If the 82-year-old monarch is awake and functioning – or even alive – his inaction is unforgivable. The fact that he did not move to sort out this mess before the burning and sacking of central Bangkok by angry mobs and combat troops, has shamed the monarchy – perhaps beyond repair. Is he held captive by his privy council? Are medieval forces at work in darkened halls trying to control a world they can no longer comprehend? Of what use is a monarch who cannot help his people?

And what of those people? Surely most people in Bangkok are furious that these northeastern activists disrupted their lives, trashed their gleaming metropolis, burned their neighborhoods and caused an enormous burden.

Then there are the followers of the red-shirt movement, many of them no doubt sincere in their rage. They have seen the governments they vote for dismissed and overthrown by forces they no longer trust. Fed by the propaganda of the Thaksin machine and betrayed by the violent provocateurs in their own midst, their disaffection will only grow.

Whatever threat Thaksin posed to the royalist satraps of Thailand in 2006, their move against him has brought the country into far more peril than one can imagine his government causing. With Bangkok continuing to burn and the unrest spreading north, Thailand finds itself with no institution around which public trust could rally. The prime minister, police, military and the monarchy are all tarnished and in disrepute. This is what the elites did by manipulating the system to their ends in 2006.

Obviously nobody can know where this will end. That Thailand's suffering and disarray may be only just starting seems all too likely.

A. Lin Neumann is one of the founders of Asia Sentinel. He is the editor of the Jakarta Globe.

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Will IGP try to understand the public and agree to a public inquiry into police shootings now that there is another police report lodged by port worker Sharil Azlan?

By Lim KIt Siang,

The Malaysian Insider headline “Understand cops, IGP tells public” sums up what the Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Musa Hassan has to say on TV3 last…

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By Lim KIt Siang,

The Malaysian Insider headline “Understand cops, IGP tells public” sums up what the Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Musa Hassan has to say on TV3 last night.

I would be the first to agree with him, and this is the reason why I had consistently advocated and supported improvement in the wages and working conditions of the Malaysian police force in my four decades in Parliament.

But can the IGP fathom that the Police must understand the public who want to have an efficient, incorruptible, professional world-class police service singled-mindedly focused on three core functions: to keep crime low, to eradicate corruption and to uphold human rights – the very words used by the Dzaiddin Police Royal Commission in its report released in May 2005?

Musa said: “The people must understand that if there was a police road-block, they must stop and not ram into a road-block. By doing so, police will become suspicious, because they might be criminals or drug traffickers or they just want to run away from the law.”

Musa said police would act according to the law when handling such situations, including using deadly force, when trying to defend themselves (police) or others.

He said: “We will take action based on our justification. If there was justification for action and for the use of force when carrying out our duties, we will do it. But during investigations, if we come across an individual using excessive powers, we may recommend such individuals to be charged in court.”

Musa has completely avoided the question uppermost in the minds of all Malaysians, i.e. how the police could shoot-to-kill a fleeing 14 year-old Form III student Aminulrasyid Amzah some 100 metres near his Shah Alam home in the early hours of April 26 though driving his sister’s car without licence and underaged?

The standard response that the police couldn’t know whether the driver of the car was teen or thug is not acceptable because the police were not under any form of threat to life, as whether visible or not, Aminulrasyid was “fleeing” and not endangering the life of any policeman.

Furthermore, can Musa explain why, despite possessing all the full facts, he publicly asked for an inquest into the killing of Aimulrasyid and had to be overruled by the Attorney-General who decided to initiate prosecution against one police officer?

Yesterday, a police report was lodged by Port Klang operator, 25-year-old Sharil Azlan Ahmad Kamil, who was shot at a roadblock in Shah Alam in April last year.

The Port Klang Northport worker said the bullet slug, which hit his arm and penetrated his ribcage, remains lodged close to his spine. He said doctors told him there was a high risk of him being paralysed if surgery is performed to remove the slug.

Sharil, who lodged the report at the Shah Alam district police headquarters yesterday, said he was driving back home to Kapar with a friend after a drink at a restaurant in Section 7, Shah Alam at about 12.30am on April 16, 2009 when he came across a police roadblock.

Realising his road tax had expired, he said he panicked and pulled over to evade the police.

Sharil alleged that two plainclothes policemen armed with sticks approached them and on seeing this he turned off at a lane. He said he then heard at least three gunshots fired and he and his friend ducked inside the car to avoid the shots.

However, the last gunshot which went through his car door hit him.

He said the policemen approached them and ordered them to step out of the car at gunpoint. Sharil said a policeman also smashed the front passenger’s window. He then dragged his friend out through the window.

“I asked them who they are and they did not answer but asked me why I was trying to run. I told them my road tax had expired. I begged him to call an ambulance as I had been shot and was in terrible pain.

“Another police officer in uniform told me to be patient and an ambulance only arrived an hour later. I was also accused of carrying drugs, ” he said.

He said he was taken to the Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital where he was warded in the intensive care unit and the following day transferred to the Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL).

“A policeman turned up at the HKL and offered me RM200 for my medical bills but my mother turned it down. The next day two officers came over and recorded my statement and asked me if a parang found in my car was mine. I denied it. The officers also assured me that they will take action against the policemen involved if it is found that they were trying to ‘fix’ me”, he said.

Sharil said his father had also lodged a police report on the same day of the incident but to date, no action has been taken against the policemen.

Sharil’s account sounds very familiar in cases of police abuses of firearms and reminds Malaysians of Aminulrasyid’s case.

Why was no action taken by the police for more than a year on the police report lodged by Sharil’s father ?

How can cases of police reports about police shootings in (i) Shah Alam and (ii) the country had been lodged and how percentage of these reports had been investigated and what is their outcome?

Can Musa provide answers to these questions?

Can Musa explain why in the four years he was IGP, public confidence in the police have reached such a low ebb that instead of being the protector of the public, Malaysians have come to fear policemen as never before in the history of the police force?

Or as one twitter-visitor on my twitter put it:
“Who will understand the civilian? When we civilian c Police we r supposed to feel safe but all this time we feel the other way!”
Will the IGP try to understand the public and agree to a public inquiry into all police shootings, fatal as well as those which did not lead to deaths, from 2005 now that there is another police report lodged by port worker Sharil Azlan?

Furthermore, as a parting contribution to the restoration of public confidence in the police and the establishment of a new chapter in police-public relations, will he spearhead a movement for the establishment of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC), as proposed by the Police Royal Commission headed by a former Chief Justice and a former Inspector-General of Police?

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Media Must Play Role As A Partner Of The Government - Najib

KUALA LUMPUR, May 20 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said he would like to see the media play the role of the government's partner in…

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KUALA LUMPUR, May 20 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said he would like to see the media play the role of the government's partner in efforts to bring changes and greater transformation to the country.

The Prime Minister said that in this context, there were already positive signs lately including the convincing economic recovery and the significant improvement in the country's position from being number 18 to number 10 among the most competitive nations in the world according to the report "World Competitiveness Yearbook 2010".

In addition, Malaysia was able to attract foreign investment including Qatar's recent commitment to invest US5 billion, the announcement by Western Digital recently to invest US1.2 billion and the positive indication from the Gulf states to invest more in this country.

"All this is our success...that's why I invite the media to become a partner in the journey to transform the country," he said in his speech at the ground breaking ceremony for Utusan Melayu (M) Berhad's new headquarters building at Jalan Chan Sow Lin, on Thursday.

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Petikan email : JKR menipu dalam menamal jalan ?

Thursday, May 20, 2010-70 Modern Wonders of Malaysia - Jalan Tampal
Aku cukup tak paham dengan teknik penampalan jalan di Malaysia ni. Kenapa bila ada lobang muncul seperti herpes dipermukaan…

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Thursday, May 20, 2010-70 Modern Wonders of Malaysia - Jalan Tampal
Aku cukup tak paham dengan teknik penampalan jalan di Malaysia ni. Kenapa bila ada lobang muncul seperti herpes dipermukaan jalan, hasil tampalan majlis perbandaran mesti tak rata. 90% of the time hasil tambalan tadi akan terbonjol keluar macam jerawat baru nak tumbuh.

Why? Timkai?

Aku pernah tengok mamat tampal jalan ni buat kerja. Ada mini steamroller atau earth compactor. . Kalau dua alatan asas untuk menampal jalan diorang ada apsal hasil tampalan still membengkak? Akibatnya bila aku drive atas tampalan kereta aku rasa macam langgar anak kucing. Oh yes I ran over a few kitten in my lifetime. I thank god that I was listening to some hard rock that day because it drowned the death yelp of kitten.

"MEOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWRRRR WELP..."

I also once ran over a turtle and a biawak. The biawak one was the best because it died instantaneously after I ran over its head. For the next 7 days the the rotting carcass can be seen drying on the road. On day 5 I saw another biawak eating the carcass. CANNIBALISM WINS

Apa obsesi penampal jalan di Malaysia dengan hasil tampalan yang benjol? Adakah sebelum ditauliahkan menjadi seorang penampal jalan profesional, dia bekerja sebagai seorang penggali kubur? I came to this conclusion because the only place where you can fill up a hole and left a bulge afterward is in cemeteries. This is understandable pasal lepas dah sumbat mayat orang dalam lubang, kita ada lebihan isipadu tanah dari isipadu lubang asal. Nak tak nak kena lambakkan tanah yang terlebih tadi diatas kubur.

Didalam kes penampal jalan, lubang yang perlu ditampal tidak digali oleh diorang. Derang perlu datang tampal lubang aje. By right dia boleh agak jumlah isipadu McAdam yang diperlukan bagi menampal lubang yang sedia ada. Macamana boleh terover budget? Mata kero kah? Kalau mata kero takkan semua penampal jalan Malaysia kero matanya? Tengok dari jauh pun boleh nampak hasil tampalan tak sama rata dengan aras asal jalan.

Masa aku dekat UK dulu aku impressed gila dengan cara orang sana tampal jalan. Jalan yang ditampal is smooth and level. Lepas tu parameter lubang yang ditampal tadi dia line up with waterproof sealant (I reckon it was rubber based but I'm not quite sure) . It looked like black paint and works as a selant between the original road surface and the newly laid McAdam. Hasilnya jalan yang ditampal jarang rosak kembali dalam jangka masa terdekat. Lepas tu pulak setiap tampalan di UK cantik potongannya.

sumber : obefiend.blogspot.com

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Rock blasting worries Tg Bunga residents

Rock blasting at the Bolton Surin project site in Tanjung Bunga is unnerving residents in nearby Chee Seng Gardens.

One of the rocks from the blasts and a damaged roof-tile…

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Rock blasting at the Bolton Surin project site in Tanjung Bunga is unnerving residents in nearby Chee Seng Gardens.

One of the rocks from the blasts and a damaged roof-tile
This has prompted Tanjung Bunga Residents Association president George Aeria to once again write to leaders of the Penang state government and Penang Municipal Council:

Today (19 May 2010) again, Bolton Surin carried out their usual blasting and this time a large rock flew further than my house i.e. a full 500 feet, (my house is @ 400 feet from the blast site) hit the roof of my neighbour and broke it….
My Brother (David) has since lodge a Police Report (as attached), accompanying by a CD which has: -
a. 3 video clips of the blasting dated 12th, 17th and 19th May 2010. I have several more earlier dated clips of similar blasting
b. 5 photographs of the broken roof tiles and the piece of rock that flew the distance to hit the roof
My affected neighbour (my house is nearer to the hill) will be lodging a Police Report tomorrow morning as she is old and is awaiting the return of her son to assist.
These flying rocks are not something new. It has been happening for months but it has been quite serious in the last few weeks. I attach a copy of the Police Report as lodged by my brother and that he submitting to the police at the Tg Tokong Police station.
In each video clip as provided to the Police (copies will come to your office very shortly) especially the one dated 17 and 19 May, you will hear many stones and rocks (and a large one in the 19 May clip – i.e. the rock that hit the neighbour’s roof) hitting the road & roofs. This happens practically everyday at 3.30pm when they blast and we are at our wits end suffering the rock pieces falling everywhere. In fact the contractor’s workers run all along the road to pick up rock pieces that fall on the road after every blast.
As the TBRA Chairman and a resident directly affected by the current blasting, I appeal, beg, cajoul, insist and demand that you take Bolton Surin to book and do your utmost to bring them under control. Sadly MPPP nor the Police nor the Geotech department are monitoring and controlling the Developer, Bolton Surin to undertake the blasting in a proper, controlled and safe manner. Do we REALLY Have to wait until someone dies BEFORE our State Government and Federal Government (i.e. Police and Geotech Dept in Kedah) Departments act. PLEASE HELP. YOU ARE IN A POSITION TO HELP AND I AM APPEALING.
We sent a similar video of a huge flying rock in Feb 2010 but as usual the Police (after some drama by coming to the site in a large convoy – just like MPPP in Sep 2008) replied that we were mistaken. How outrageous a statement.
So I appeal to you and your state government to put out a permanent STOP WORK order so that your Government may review the measures that MUST be taken by the Developer on a daily basis to arrest the dangerous manner in which the blasting is being carried out. PLEASE just issue the stop work order to force the developer into RESPONSIBLE ACTIONS. (They are now doing totally exposed blasting on the vertical hill slope.) We are not asking much, JUST asking you to help us residents be safe and out of HARM’S WAY which they, the Irresponsible Developers, are PUTTING ON US in their greed to finish fast and with no regard to the safety of residents
I await your reply on the matter.
George Aeria
TBRA Chairman

The state assembly member for Tanjung Bunga, Teh Yee Cheu, has also written in to same state leaders, echoing the residents’ concerns:

” Bukit Antarabangsa ” is the good case study for Penang to seriously look into…
Please bear in mind that the rainy season is fast approaching and that the volume rainfall is unpredictable due the effect of global warming…
Very stringent measures must be imposed on these hill slope developers to make sure the finished goods are safe to the public and precautionary procedures must be taken.
One of the best strategies at this moment is to apply “stop work order” to those developers who do not take care of public interests.

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Bangkok ablaze as offensive ignites protesters' fury

Bangkok, Thailand (CNN) -- The deadly standoff between the Thai government and protesters reached a boiling point Wednesday as security forces surged into Lumpini Park, with at least five people…

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Bangkok, Thailand (CNN) -- The deadly standoff between the Thai government and protesters reached a boiling point Wednesday as security forces surged into Lumpini Park, with at least five people dead in the largest offensive on protesters since demonstrations began.
Bangkok looked and sounded like a war zone as protesters disbursed and smaller riots erupted throughout the Thai capital. Witnesses reported a dozen buildings -- including a bank, a police station, a shopping mall and a local television station -- had been set ablaze.
Hours after the large military operation got underway, a government spokesman said soldiers had retaken control of the park area -- and several Red Shirt leaders called off their protests.
iReport: Are you there? Send your images, video
"I would like to give moral support to officers who are doing their duties now, and would like to reassure you [the Thai public]," said Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva in his first televised address following the operation.

"And I am confident that we can overcome all the problems and bring the country to a long-lasting peace," he said.
The leaders could be seen on television telling a crowd at the park that they wanted to avoid further bloodshed and wanted to turn themselves in. But it seemed as though the large group of protesters were not heeding that call.
Sniper fire and explosions could still be heard in the area, George McCleod, a witness and freelance journalist, told CNN.
"It is a live ammunition situation and I expect a heavy death toll by the end of the day," McCleod said.
The government instituted a curfew Wednesday, barring people from coming outside between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m.
At least five people, including an Italian journalist, were listed as killed by the Police Hospital in Bangkok. Another 64 -- two journalists among them -- were wounded.
Security forces would continue to surge into the park to root out the remaining protesters, a government spokesman said.
Seven anti-government protest leaders had been taken into custody while several others fled, authorities said. Officials asked protesters, residents and foreigners to head to a nearby stadium if they want to leave.
Still, about 1,000 protesters remained in the park.
"We Thai people never experienced this kind of situation before," said Sirinun Siripanich, the assistant secretary to the Bangkok governor. "This is like a mini-civil war."
The fear for some in the area was that there would soon be a violent showdown when security forces confronted the resolute protesters gathered there.
"I cannot see the operation coming to a successful end without further violence and without further losses," said Sukhumbhand Paribatra, Bangkok's governor. "I was hoping to have a more optimistic message but I cannot."
iReport: Video sparks discussion
Army Col. Sansern Kaewkumnerd confirmed to CNN that soldiers were given the all-clear to fire if they faced a clear threat.
Video footage submitted to CNN by iReporter Mikel Ravizza in Bangkok's Pratanum area appeared to show soldiers running after coming under fire themselves.
"They haven't taken over this side of the street yet... they're just sitting waiting. Every 15 minutes there's gun fire but right now it's quiet. I can see snipers in the building below me," said Ravizza, who said he could also see snipers positioned on rooftops. "I have a feeling that tonight they're going to move in. They tried to earlier and they ran away.
"I happen to be on the border and watching them fight. They certainly haven't taken part of the city yet -- the Red Shirts are definitely here... There's running and tire fires and shooting... they ran in and started moving around and they're hiding in buildings and there's been a bunch of fires around here all night."
iReport: Army running away
The military operation is the government's response to protests that have paralyzed parts of Bangkok for months, Thai officials said. At least 40 people have been killed since clashes intensified Thursday.
Timeline of Thailand's political crisis
On Wednesday, armored personnel carriers smashed into bamboo and tire barricades lining Lumpini Park. Soldiers shot sporadically as they entered the northwest edge of the park.
The prime minister's office issued a statement blaming the crackdown on failed talks between the two sides.
"Negotiations failed because core (opposition) leaders are not to be able to make decisions by themselves," the statement said, alluding to an outside force influencing the protesters. "(We) ask core leaders to stop the rally and surrender."
The Red Shirt opposition members support former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a 2006 bloodless military coup. They have been protesting for weeks, demanding that current Prime Minister Abhisit dissolve parliament and call new elections.
What are the protests about?

"We Thai people never experienced this kind of situation before."
--Sirinun Siripanich, assistant secretary to Bangkok governor

RELATED TOPICS

• Thailand
• Bangkok
• Protests and Demonstrations

From his self-imposed exile abroad to avoid a trial on corruption charges, Thaksin released a statement Wednesday saying he was not the leader of the United Front for Democracy, the formal name of the Red Shirt opposition, and that their movement calling for new elections is not on his behalf.
"They did not demand anything for me or on my behalf. I am not UDD," he said.
Thaksin also accused the Thaigovernment of defaming him when it said he was the mastermind behind the violence in the country's ongoing political crisis.
"I never approve nor agree to any use of violence," he said. "I believe in peace. I love my country as much as any member of this government. I believe in peaceful and non-violent means to end conflict and reject any use of force.
"If there is any act of terrorism, it is the duty of this government to find the wrongdoer and prosecute them in the court of law."
The violence has prompted the United Nations' top human rights official to implore anti-government protesters and government officials to resume talks.
But on Wednesday in Bangkok, as bullets rang out, black plumes of smoke rose and soldiers crept forward toward a showdown, some expressed fears that authorities had lost control of the situation.
Bangkok residents: This is a mini-civil war'
"I don't want to see any injuries. I don't want to see anybody hurt," said Prajya Aura-ek, who runs a hotel in the area. "We have this nervousness on our minds. We wonder if we this is going to get completely out of control."
Other Thais trapped in their homes by the unrest expressed support for the security forces' efforts to end the protests.
Trapped in Bangkok's protest zone: Hunkering down
Somsong Chareonsuk, a 46-year-old housekeeper trapped in a home inside an area affected by the protests, said she was glad Thai soldiers had pushed the protesters further up the street.
"Even though things are calmer outside, I still can't leave -- the road is still blocked," she said.
iReporter Shaun Phan, a 25-year-old Vietnamese-American living in the Sukhumvit area of the city, said that even areas away from the main protests had been affected by violence. A local supermarket had been bombed and gunfire had been reported, he said.

iReport: 7-11 at OnNut Looted/Bombed

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EC gets complaint on Sibu postal vote delay

Memo handed over to RTM

Polygamy: Bung Moktar jailed 1 month, fined RM1,000

Indian poor “abandoned” dead body key indicator of height of Indian poor

It was just yesterday that we had done a posting that some Indians are so poor that they even cannot afford the cost of a funeral that cost only about…

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It was just yesterday that we had done a posting that some Indians are so poor that they even cannot afford the cost of a funeral that cost only about as low as RM 500.
This is their one to two months earnings in UMNO Prime Minister Najib Razak’s One Malay-sia. These Indians may be earning daily wages and living hand to mouth.
The latest and the tip of the iceberg case is involving the “abandoned” body of Rajendran of Klang, who is only 33 but looks twenty years older. We believe poverty has taken a toll on him (see photo below). His family does not claim his body as they may not be able to afford the RM 500 in funeral expenses. His ‘orphaned’ body has been lying the Klang Mortuary for over two months now (MO 19/5/10 at page 10).
How come this level poverty does not happen to the Malays, Orang Asli, Kadazan, Iban or Chinese? Even for a poor foreign worker in Malaysia his embassy would take charge.
So who speaks for Indians? PKR? DAP? PAS? Indian Elite? NGOs? Bloggers?
Or not speak at all? Racism by omission!
But when we lend voice for these levels of neglect and poverty we instead are accused of being racist, ethnocentric or having a racist agenda even by the PKR Supremo Anwar Ibrahim.
P. Uthayakumar
Related Articles
3 orphaned Indian dead bodies in Klang. Poverty related & unclaimed.
Narayanan’s (dead) body at the Segamat General Hospital.Makkal Osai

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P. Uthayakumar speaking at Bloggers Universe Malaysia, BUM 2010

P.Uthayakumar speaking at Bloggers Universe Malaysia, BUM 2010
On 22/5/2010 at 6.00pm to 7.30p.m
Venue : Lake View Club, Subang
Organiser : bum4msia.wordpress.com
(MM 18/5/2010 at page 7)

S’gor PKR Indian Exco mandore’s RM 50,000 kosong pledge

This Selangor Indian Exco mandore’s days are now numbered as HRP had on 16/5/2010 launched the Orange Revolution to end UMNOs’ 53 year rule of Malaysia and to also end…

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This Selangor Indian Exco mandore’s days are now numbered as HRP had on 16/5/2010 launched the Orange Revolution to end UMNOs’ 53 year rule of Malaysia and to also end PKR, DAP and PAS’ mandore politics.
This RM 50,000 will most likely never reach the Jenjarom Tamil school in full. This school will never complain even if they get 10% or a mere RM 5,000, and never get the balance of the RM 45,000.
Karunai Nithi @ Compassionate Justice

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Murder probe for odd Malay youth shot dead by police, criminal tag for hundreds of Indian youths killed by police!

 
(See The Star 18/5/2010 at page N3)
This is the racist reality in One Malay-sia under UMNO Prime Minister’s One Malay-sia and the Malay-sian police force by commission, and the omission to speak up by even PKR, DAP, PAS, NGOs’, etc.
P. Uthayakumar

Indian poor denied piped water for 100 years cost only RM 10,000, but UMNO MB Perak refuses to act, previous DAP Perak govt didn’t act or care either!

Some 10 Indian families in Labu Kutchi, Kampar, Perak have been denied even piped water for over the last 100 years. While Malay-sia boasts of the world’s tallest twin towers…

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Some 10 Indian families in Labu Kutchi, Kampar, Perak have been denied even piped water for over the last 100 years. While Malay-sia boasts of the world’s tallest twin towers even RM 10,000 allocation has been denied by the Perak Menteri Besar. Even for this basic necessity the IPF Indian mandores have to beg the UMNO Perak Menteri Besar.
Even the previous DAP, PAS and PKR led Perak State government had refused to address even this very basic necessity during their one over year rule of Perak.
But DAP, PKR and PAS were very quick to within the first month of their rule in Perak perform miracles for the Malays, Chinese and Orang Asli in Perak, and for just about every body other community in Perak except for the Indians.
Utusan Malaysia on 1/1/2009 which reported that “349 Rancangan Perkampungan Tersusun (RPT) and 134 New Villages in Perak with 110,000 and 102,000 (60,000) titles respectively to be given out irrespective of the National Land Councils orders involving almost all Malay and Chinese owners and land recipients. Freehold titles for just RM63.00 for 110,000 planned villages (almost 99% Malay) and 102,000 (60,000) (estimated at almost 99% Chinese) Chinese New Villagers in Perak.
“The value of these properties will then go up and they can apply for bank loans to rebuilt their houses” says Datuk Ngae Koo Ham, the Senior DAP EXCO Member for Perak (NST 10/10/2008 at page 23). The PKR, DAP and PAS Perak State government also allocated 1,000 hectares (about 2,500 acres) of land to nine Chinese schools “for them to generate revenue to pay for their operational expenses” says PAS Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Nizar Jamaluddin (NST 31/8/2008 at page 38). The schools were urged to form a company to work the land and share the profits among themselves.
The Pakatan Rakyat Menteri Besar also donated RM30,000 for each of the nine schools. Even after UMNO/BN taking over power in Perak in February 2009, the new UMNO Menteri Besar Zambry Kadir in about one month’s time confirms “State BN to carry on with (permanent) land title plan to the said 132 Chinese New Villages and in the 349 (Malay) planned villages (NST 7/3/2009) and “The BN Government in Perak will give due consideration to the 1,000 hectre piece of land meant to help the nine Chinese independent schools in the state to be financially self reliant, said BN Menteri Besar Zambry after flagging off a cross country run involving representatives of the independent Chinese schools (The Star 8/3/2009).
The Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Zambry Kadir said a solution would be worked out to safeguard the interests of the orang asli community and customary rights to their ancestral land. It is a state priority. (NST 9/3/2009 at page 8).
But what about land for the landless indians, Tamil schools, Hindu temples and crematoriums? Why is this not a state priority by both UMNO and PR? Because we are Indians?
This the clearest ever and latest example of how both UMNO/BN and PAS, PKR, DAP/PR does not care for the Indians. It is race discrimination!
Then the 3.3 hectares of land for every orang asli family was approved. 18,000 hectares of forest land have been gazetted as orang asli reserve and another 30,000 hectares more are waiting to be gazetted, says Perak Senior EXCO Member Datuk Ngae Koo Ham (NST 20/9/2008 at page 20).
The PR Perak State government then again granted a 99 year lease for 101 hectares of land to the proposed RM450 Million and private profit motivated Premier International University and with the possibility of an additional 20 hectares (NST 18/9/2008 at page 20).
But 110 out of 138 or about 80% of the Tamil schools in Perak are still not fully aided because the land these schools are sitting on does not belong to these schools and on this grounds the UMNO Federal government has refused to grant full financial assistance to these schools. (UM 3/9/2008 at page 27). http://www.humanrightspartymalaysia.com/books/TheWayForwardEnglishversion.pdf
Malaysian Indian Political Empowerment Strategy – The Way Forward (By P.Uthayakumar).
Even private entities are granted land for their business but not for Indian public purposes!
Will PR make the difference vis a vis the Indian poor when they accent to Putrajaya?
When raise these height of racism and injustice we in turn are branded as racist and ethnocentric even by the PKR Supremo.
P. Uthayakumar
Related Articles
10 Indians families still denied piped water after 53 years of Independence
UMNO: 32 Indians in N.Sembilan denied even tap water for more than 30 years.

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Happy teachers day from the world’s only upstairs shophouse (Tamil) school.

(See M.O 165/2010 at page 16).
Compliments to UMNO racism, and ably and silently watched by PKR, DAP, PAS, and NGOs.

Dr M: Punish all in Sime Darby fiasco

KUALA LUMPUR, May 19 — Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad today said action should be taken against all those involved in Sime Darby Berhad’s cost overruns for the Bakun project and…

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KUALA LUMPUR, May 19 — Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad today said action should be taken against all those involved in Sime Darby Berhad’s cost overruns for the Bakun project and not just chief executive Datuk Seri Ahmad Zubir Murshid.

Last Tuesday, Ahmad Zubir was asked by the board to take a leave of absence prior to the expiry of his contract in Nov 26, 2010 after the discovery of RM964 million in cost overruns from four energy and utilities projects, including the Bakun dam project, racked up by the company during his tenure.

“Is it only the CEO who was responsible? Who are the others who were involved with the project and failed to see that the cost overrun was very high and the project has been delayed by almost 3 years.

“I think responsibility should be shared. I was told of this cost overrun and delay three years ago,” the former prime minister wrote in his weblog today.

Sime Darby chairman Tun Musa Hitam said he will resign if necessary following the conglomerate’s huge losses of nearly RM1 billion for this quarter arising from cost overruns in four projects.

“Resignation is no big deal... When I have made my own assessment, if necessary. Yes, I am prepared. Needs to be sacked? Yes. Needs to be suspended? Yes. The whole board or anything,” he said when responding to concerns about the board of directors’ failure in supervision.

However, Musa, who resigned as Dr Mahathir’s deputy in 1986, said he would leave it to the shareholders to decide whether or not members of the board should be made to resign.

Dr Mahathir said the government’s response to the debacle brought up the question whether the government conglomerate had learnt lessons and begun to look at the other major projects it was handling?

“I think the people are entitled to know when a public company loses over a billion ringgit. Proton lost only RM500 million so that is acceptable. Is losing RM1 billion also acceptable?” he asked.

He noted that Zubir has been dismissed as group president and chief executive officer because of cost overrun in the Bakun project amounting to RM900 million although government compensation of RM700 million meant the overruns are bigger.

“So total cost overrun would be almost equal to the bidded (sic) price of RM1.8 billion. The price has been doubled. How come the bid is so low? I would think the engineers would know that they would not be able to build at RM1.8 billion.

“Who are the consultants in Sime Darby? How come they okayed such a low cost for the project?” the country’s longest-serving prime minister asked.

Dr Mahathir pointed out that the Sarawak government had promised the Bakun hydroelectric project would be the biggest power project with the cheapest electricity price. It was planned to produce 2,400MW of power, of which 1000MW was for Sabah and Sarawak.

He said the excess power could be transmitted to the Malay peninsula but required 600 miles of undersea cables, which was unprecedented as the longest cables were just 200 miles, leading the government to look for other solutions.

Dr Mahathir then explained the rationale for bringing an aluminium smelter from Dubai which had agreed to take a 30 per cent stake in the hydro power plant and a major share in a 300,000 tonne aluminium smelter, which paid RM90 million as a 10 per cent deposit and 30 per cent share in the power plant.

“It was a win-win investment for them. When power price goes up they may make less money from the smelter but the profit from power generation would be greater. If the power price goes down they would profit less from power sales but more from smelting,” he said, lamenting that his successor returned the deposit after he stepped down in October 2003.

He said the project was then handed over to Sime Darby with a mainland Chinese partner at bid so low that it astounded even a Malaysian bidder who said it was impossible at that price.

“I could not intervene for fear of being accused of cronyism as I knew the Malaysian contractor very well. In fact he built the first phase of the project, the coffer dam and the spillway and had completed it without cost overrun as far as I am aware.

“Sometimes, and I am not saying this of the contractor for the main project; sometimes very low price would be proposed so as to win the contract. Then as the construction is in progress there would be cost overruns and eventually the total cost would be far higher than the price of the bid.

“The owner of the project would be asked to pay for the new cost,” Dr Mahathir added

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It's disciplinary board for you Mugilan, says Samy

By FMT Staff
KUALA LUMPUR: MIC Youth deputy chief V Mugilan will be referred to the disciplinary board for working against the interest of the party and Barisan Nasional, said…

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By FMT Staff
KUALA LUMPUR: MIC Youth deputy chief V Mugilan will be referred to the disciplinary board for working against the interest of the party and Barisan Nasional, said MIC president S Samy Vellu today.
The president's comments come hot on the heels of Mugilan's scathing attack against Samy Vellu, telling the veteran to vacate his post with immediate effect or by year-end.
Samy Vellu said Mugilan would be hauled up before the disciplinary board for what he did during the Hulu Selangor by-election last month.
“He (Mugilan) actually jumped the gun and pre-empted the party’s decision to take action against him for working against BN in Hulu Selangor.
“Mugilan was one of those people who had worked against BN in the by-election because he failed in his attempt to be fielded as a candidate,” Samy Vellu said.
He added that the party had actually wanted to take action against Mugilan after the April 25 by-election but deferred it.
Samy Vellu said Mugilan acted as a stooge for “certain people”, and had prevented deputy president G Palanivel from re-contesting the Hulu Selangor seat.
Mugilan’s candidacy for the by-election was reportedly favoured by the BN leadership but it was was objected by MIC. BN then fielded MIC information chief P Kamalanathan who eventually won the seat.
'Nothing will change my mind'
Meanwhile, Samy Vellu said he will stick to his decision to step down “eight or nine months” before the expiry of his term in May 2012.
“Nothing will change my mind. I will stick to my decision,” he said when asked on Mugilan’s response.
He explained that his decision to vacate the president’s post much earlier than May 2012 was “made on my own accord, and I was not pressured by anyone or groups”.
“I will continue to ensure MIC is free from people who are bent on destroying it. We do not want people who are mere stooge of others,” he said, referring to Mugilan.
Samy Vellu said the Indian community knew what were his contributions to them and the party. “Let them be the judge,” he added.
Don't destablise MIC
In a related development, MIC vice-president and Human Resources Minister Dr S Subramaniam said it was inappropriate for Mugilan to question Samy Vellu's decision.

He said the president's decision, with regard to his retirement, must be respected by all.

“The president has already made a decision and he has also informed the BN leadership. Everyone should respect his decision to allow him to go through that plan.

“Any move to question his decision would only destabilise MIC and disrupt our focus on
more pressing issues for the Indian community,” he added.

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