Res Ipsa Loquitur

I was not at the Amcorp Mall last night since my opinion of those candlelight vigils is they are at most a "shiok sendiri" thingy, though at the very least they are a minor show of solidarity. I was at another mall (IOI Mall) watching "Quantum of Solace" with JJ before going down to Bukit Bintang for a meeting at 12.30 am. When we drove past the PJ Police HQ at 3.30 am on our way home, there were still about 20 people at the entrance waiting...and waiting.

The powers that be probably snigger at the thought of some 100 to 150 (majority the same) people sacrificing their Sunday nights to risk burning their fingers. The MSM hardly reports anything on these vigils and net citizens mostly take them for granted as being reduced to social gatherings. Uniformed cops are not even there on most occasions.

Notwithstanding the above, I did not contend on those vigils being used by the authorities as opportunity to send their own message, on their own terms and timing; using probably "illegal assembly" as the justification. Last night's police action is already well reported on the Net so I do not have to repeat here. I think the police has again been used to convey a message which is intended to resonate amongst ordinary folk (the vigil attendees) that this is the risk they face. It is a deterrence.

It is the "we don't give a shit" kind of arrogance that gets to me. The blatant denial of facts after the fact, shows utter disregard for public opinion. The following speaks for itself:

Compare this Malaysiakini report,

























...to



and




Res ipsa loquitur