The Meek Inherit The Earth? No Lah...The Youth Shall

I was wondering what our conscientious or at the very least, conscious youth are up to. After all the statistics are staggering that come 2013 (at the very latest), their voting power will decide who will decide their future.

The stats:

1) In the tsunami of GE12, 2008, out of a total registered voter base of about 10.9 million, there were a total of 8,109,134 votes for 214 parliament seats at stake on Election Day. Eligible voters according to the Election Commission stood at 10,516,256. Assuming partisan voters voted as they should, the massive shift of popular support indicated overall dissatisfaction and cry for change. Malaysians are generally aware of the whys, given the number of after the fact, analyses after analyses.
2) The opposition would have had an outright win if it won another 30 seats (to form a majority in parliament) and all they needed was just another 56,000 votes.
3) There will be about 29 million Malaysians come 2010 as indicated by the following stats from the EPU and Statistics Department:

What is important to note is the median age of the populace will be 24.2 years, with 63.60% within the 15-64 age band.
4) 4 million eligible voters (mostly aged under 30) did not register in time for the 2008 elections.
5) By the next general elections another estimated 2 million young Malaysians will be eligible to vote, making the total number of eligible voters 16.9 million. Given the population census, it would be safe to assume most are under 40 years of age, which also happens to be the age limit of political party youth wings.
6) Analysis of the March 2008 elections showed that the majority of newly-registered voters and those below 30 supported the Opposition.
It is obvious that Malaysian youth no longer wallow in political apathy. They tend to be aware of what is happening around them. More crucially, they have varied reasons to vote for the opposition. They are connected not only insofar as issues are concerned but also in terms of cyber-networking; the key reason being that young Internet-savvy voters obtain their news chiefly from the pro-opposition alternative media, which they perceive as more credible than the mainstream media.
The writing on the wall for BN is obvious; connect with the young voters or become the Opposition coalition after the next general elections. Fielding younger 30s and 40s candidates alone will not do, just as trying to get old BN dogs to learn new tricks is near impossible.

The next GE appears only for PR to lose mainly through the youth. The reality is that the more politically conscious amongst the youth are likely to be conscientious enough to register for voting and being young, they can afford the time and the space to experiment with change! With this said, at 10.00 am today I Googled "PAS UMNO Youth" and this is what I got:

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News results for UMNO PAS Youth

MedIndia
Umno Youth may join Pas in rally‎ - 21 hours ago
Tengku Azman said he had discussed the matter with Umno Youth head Khairy Jamaluddin and had obtained his approval. On Tuesday, Selangor Pas commissioner ...New Straits Times - 153 related articles »

Pas Youth Challenged To Team Up With Umno Youth Against Dap‎ -Bernama - 3 related articles »

NST Online Umno Youth may join Pas in rally
6 Aug 2009 ... KUALA LUMPUR: Umno Youth may walk together with Selangor Pas ... The planned Umno Youth and Selangor Pas Youth walk is the latest ...nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/articles/.../index_html - Cached - Similar -

BERNAMA - Pas Youth Challenged To Team Up With Umno Youth Against Dap
7 Aug 2009 ... MARANG, Aug 7 (Bernama)-- The Umno Youth movement Friday invited itsPAS counterpart to be together with the movement in a ceramah to be ...bernama.com/bernama/v5/newspolitic.php?id=431158 - Cached - Similar -

The Nut Graph Umno Youth lauds PAS Youth's “courage” (Updated)
At the moment, neither PAS Youth nor Umno Youth have given a suggested date or ... [PAS Youth and Umno Youth] have not even gone out on our first date yet. ...thenutgraph.com/umno-youth-lauds-pas-youths-courage - Cached - Similar -

Khairy to PAS youth: Come join us to defend Islam
7 Aug 2009 ... MARANG, Aug 7 — The Umno Youth movement today invited its PAS ... Well, if PAS Youth does join up with UMNO Youth, it will confirm their ...www.themalaysianinsider.com/.../34552-khairy-to-pas-youth-come-join-us-to-defend-islam -Similar -

PAS Youth rejects call for beer demo by Umno Youth
7 Aug 2009 ... “We will not entertain any overtures by Umno,” said state PAS deputy youthchief Ahmad Zaidy Abdul Mutalib who added they were aware Umno ...themalaysianinsider.com/.../34515-pas-youth-rejects-call-for-beer-demo-by-umno-youth -Cached - Similar -

Show more results from themalaysianinsider.com
PAS Youth invites Umno Youth for academic discourse
1 Jul 2009 ... KUALA LUMPUR: Pas Youth has invited Umno Youth to an academic discourse on current issues, just after unity talks between PAS and Umno ...thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/7/1/nation/... - Cached - Similar -

WILL SELANGOR PAS SUCK UP TO UMNO YOUTH AND LEAVE THE PAKATAN ...
Umno Youth executive council member Azman Zainol Abidin, however, set a condition thatPas Youth must first obtain a police permit for the demonstration. ...sjsandteam.wordpress.com/.../will-selangor-pas-suck-up-to-umno-youth-and-leave-the-pakatan/ - Cached - Similar -

Political Islam - Pas Youth Deny Pas-Umno Cooperation
KUALA LUMPUR, July 1 (Bernama) -- Pas Youth Wednesday denied reports by several media organisations about cooperation between the movement and Umno Youth ...wfol.tv/index.php?option=com_content&task...id... - Cached - Similar -

MAHAGURU58: PAS Youth invites UMNO Youth for an 'intellectual ...
Congratulations to Ustaz Nasarudin Hassan Tantawi, the PAS Youth Chief for being gentleman enough to invite UMNO Youth to an intellectual discourse between ...mahaguru58.blogspot.com/.../pas-youth-invites-umno-youth-for.html -Cached - Similar -

PAS Youth defends overtures to Umno - Malaysiakini
PAS had no intention of intimidating Pakatan Rakyat partner PKR with a statement about a recent meeting with Umno, said Youth chief Salahuddin Ayub. ...www.malaysiakini.com/news/86152 - Cached - Similar -

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It looks like more of the same old, same old; the jingoism that is synonymous with the kind of seige mentality which is more reflective of containing the barbarians within the gates than keeping barbarians at the gates. Come the next GE, PAS Youth members are likely to still vote PAS but the same may not hold true for UMNO Youth. Compare all this to PoPTeeVee and a new movement that was launched recently: Youth For A Better Malaysia.

The latter is organizing a forum on the 16th of this month and in their own words:

"This dual-language forum, for youth and by youth, intends to showcase young Malaysians who are making Malaysia a better place to younger Malaysians who are looking to do the same.

Accomplished Malaysian youth from various sectors will provide insight, guidance and networking opportunities to Malaysians only a few years younger than them, in the hope of building relationships and bonds that will result in a stronger, more united group of young people empowered to continuously improve Malaysia.

The forum also hopes to bridge the widening gap between Malaysians who study in different countries overseas and local students by providing a shared opportunity to exchange views and better understand diverse perspectives.

Venue: Sunway University College, Main hall – Auditorium 7 – Level 2, South East Building
Date: Sunday, August 16th
Time: 8.30am – 6.30pm

Program:

8.30am: Opening ceremony.

9.00am: Civil Service / Political Work
Tricia Yeoh, Wan Firdaus, Lee Khai Loon, Dr. Marzuki

10.45am: Civil Society
Ong Jing Cheng, Faisal Abdul Aziz, N. Surendran, Yati Kaprawi

12.30pm: Lunch

1.30pm:

2 panels will be held simultaneously -

Business and Entrepreneurship
Intan Hashim, Roshan Thiran

Professions
Edmund Bon, Fadiah Fikri

3.00pm:

2 panels will be held simultaneously -

Education / Academics
Wong Chin Huat, Pn. Rosmaria, Wan Ahmad Faysal

Arts /Activism
Fahmi Fadzil, Mark Teh, Mien Lor

4.30pm:

Electoral Politics
Nik Nazmi, Hannah Yeoh, Lim Si Pin, Rahman Dahlan"

Check out the speaker profiles and see what you think. I personally think there is hope yet for tomorrow's Malaysia because of today's youth!

Smoke On The Water - A Sobering Thought

The Hassan Ali beer debacle is the latest "tak masuk akal" issue by this PAS megalomaniac wannabe. He is full of crap and blows hot air. Since beer is essentially water (more than 95% by volume) and hot air also is a by-product of smoking, therefore the title of this post.

"Smoke on the water" is a Deep Purple 70s hit that seems to be a drug song (but is not). Well, not everything is what it seems (I am inclined to think Hassan Ali too) but speaking of drugs, has anyone looked at this nationwide scourge lately? Judging by 2006 UNICEF statistics (reported cases only), Hassan Ali better give up (on the) beer and turn his attention to this largely Malay problem (70% of reported drug abuse cases) rather than behave punched drunk in public. While he is at it he might as well start a jihad against smoking too. I wonder whether Hassan Ali smokes because the following blogpost by Dr Rafick is not only sobering and makes absolute sense; it should be savoured by all:

Hassan Ali – between cigarette and alcohol

1. It has been nearly two months since I went to Ulu Langat to visit my small fruits orchard. In Pekan Batu 14, I saw a big cloth banner near the mosque where it says “PAS menyokong tindakan MBSA” or in English “PAS supports MBSA Action” I supposed it has something to do with Hassan Ali latest caricature act where it attack Ronnie Liu action of interfering in MBSA action in confiscating some beer from some shops.

2. There are several sides of the issue that should be examined. Firstly, in my mind Hassan Ali action has embarrassed us Muslims with his shallow and narrow way of doing things.

3. Indirectly he had portrays that the Muslims are in this country are weak and has poor religious and health knowledge when it comes to alcohol consumption. His actions implied that Muslims especially in Shah Alam has no brains and cannot think for themselves and the only solution left is that to implement open banning.

4. Hassan Ali wanted alcohol to be banned in Muslim majority areas. How do we define a Muslim majority area and its boundaries? As a whole, on average 55% of the population are Muslims by birth. If we go by electoral boundaries or by geographical boundaries in Selangor, all areas are Malay (indirectly Muslims) dominated areas. But then many Malays are not strict and pious Muslims, hence I suspect there are not many Muslims dominated areas.

5. Does it mean that we have to deprive the interest of the 45% of the populations? Many Muslims and non Muslims do not consume alcohol because of health reasons. What we need to do is not banning the sales but to improved self discipline among the Muslim community. We need to do “more marketing” on why people should not consume alcohol instead of banning them.

6. Even in Kelantan where PAS holds its fort, alcohol is being sold. Liquor outlets are licensed. There has been no issue all along in Kelantan. Why is that? Hassan Ali motive is certainly questionable. If the Muslims in Kelantan can controlled themselves, there is no reason why Muslims elsewhere cannot do the same. The non Muslims there do not sell alcohol to Muslim as they know the impact of the law.

7. I am a Muslim by birth. I do not drink alcohol. The only beer I drink is A&W Root beer and F&N Ginger beer! I teach my children the reason why they cannot drink alcohol is because of its health impact first and next that it was also mention in the Quran. I told them that before beer existed, Allah already forbid the consumption of alcohol because it destroys the human body. It is the same with cigarette smoking.

8. If Hassan Ali is so concerned about the “Halal and Haram”, he should focus on a larger issue that is facing the Muslims in Selangor today. In Selangor, smoking cigarette is Haram but Muslims are puffing away like chimneys. I dare even say that they contribute to the haze that we are facing currently. Many PAS members and mosque committee members smokes openly but no one wants to do anything about this. I am not sure whether Hassan Ali is a smoker himself.

9. Smoking is major problem in Selangor and in Malaysia. It has a social and health impact and many studies have shown that it is predominantly high among the middle and lower income Muslims. It is a problem among Malay students in schools. In fact, if one goes to any mosque and analyze how many of the mosque office bearers are actually smokers; we will come out with a shocking discovery.

10. So, why is that MBSA is not confiscating cigarettes from 7-11 stores in Shah Alam? The religious laws are there and yet those with enforcing powers are not doing anything about it. Trade related laws are clear enough that selling cigarette and alcohol is allowed in this country and that is why cigarettes are not being confiscated. If that is the case, why discriminate against alcohol.

11. In my assessment, the interim decision by Khalid is certainly a wise one. In reality there are plenty of laws out there and MBSA officers must act within the boundaries of its law. There isn’t any need to create new laws. Whatever actions that we take we must show the superiority of our ability to think. A community irrespective of religion will be respected for its foresight and ability to think wisely. I hope the next time Hassan Ali open its mouth, he will not embarrassed us Muslims any further.

Al Jazeera ISA Debate - The Moderator Won

Al Jazeera current affairs programme, 101 East that aired last night focused on the ISA. The 3 participants were Khairi Jamaludin, Zaid Ibrahim and some academic (Denison Jayasooria) who should not have been there and just took up time.

KJ is sounding hollow in his new kiss-ass role, trying to toady a PM who he probably thinks he should instead be condescending to. Zaid Ibrahim did well and ensured the cause stayed the course in this debate but moderator, Fauziah Ibrahim won hands down! Perhaps there is hope for Ibrahim Ali yet...his kids may turn out well!

Watch for yourself...

Defense Of The Realm? Nation Before Self!!!

I noticed a post in BigDogDotCom's blog which is to me as rabid as they come. It only proves Malaysians are less educated in the nation's history today because the schools are doing less in teaching the truth and the cinemas and mainstream media are allowed to shape perceptions that are not the whole truth about our nation's formative years.

I am no DAP member but read this BigDog number, "What Is DAP's Contribution To The Defense Of The Realm?" and you will realize it is not really about the DAP. The shallowness indicated by the few examples the dog dug up seems to reflect naivete and movieland style knowledge of history.

I sought an opinion, and some true stories and testimonies that ALL races sacrificed are indicated in an exchange of correspondences I had with Dato Seri Yuen Yuet Leng about what's real.

"What Is DAP's Contribution To The Defense Of The Realm?"

Yesterday, was the national level celebrations to honour our warriors. It is to commemorate those who bear arms to defend the sovereignity of this tanahair and ibu pertiwi.

Since 1933, Malaya has had military units. The oldest is the Royal Malay Regiment even though the Police has then around since 1807. Men have lost lives, been wounded and their families suffered for the sake of this nation ever since. To date, they have accumulated so much victories and success stories. Equally, they have made sacrifices. Like the Royal Malaysian Police in Bukit Kepong , Johor (during Emergency), Royal Malay Regiment in Kalabakan, Sabah (during Confrotation) and Royal Malaysian Navy lost a ship KD Seri Perak in a South China Sea storm, 1984. These dead and surviving warriors are honoured.

DAP claim that they are a multiracial Malaysian political party, which promotes equality amongst Malaysians. Their tagline is “Malaysian, Malaysia”. ‘Equality’ should transcend beyond rights and privileges but should also include responsibility. DAP should promote that all Malaysians bear the responsibility to take care this nation, which include risking their lives to defend the sovereignty of tanahair and ibu pertiwi.

Yet, so far we fail to see that. What we only see is that DAP will politicize and capitalise to the maximum every opportunity to bash enforcement agencies, especially the Police. DAP Leaders in private even supported the idea and attempt to bring back Former CPM Secretary General Chin “Butcher of Malaya” Peng.

Hence, for this year’s warriors day celebrations, we here at BigDogDotCom demand that DAP play their role to constructively promote human capital initiatives for the defense of the realm. Enough is enough on the Police and enforcement agency bashing.We hereby challenge DAP bring out the Non Malays, particularly the Chinese to the very least make up 35% of the application into all positions within essential services, especially the military and Police.

Before anyone argues that the Non Malays, especially the Chinese would be marginalised and even alienated if they join the any of the essential service forces, think again. Malaysia is not like Singapore. In Malaysia we will allow Non Malays to have a career in all the military services and Police Force.

Failure, especially with excuses will only demonstrate DAP being a true blue chauvinist party.

In the time being, lets sing the patriotic song for the warriors:

BARISAN KITA

Inilah barisan kita,
Yang ikhlas berjuang.
Siap sedia berkorban,
Untuk ibu pertiwi!
Sebelum kita berjaya,
Jangan harap kami pulang!
Inilah sumpah pendekar kita,
Menuju medan bakti!
Andai kata kami gugur semua,
Taburlah bunga di atas pusara.
Kami mohon doa,
Malaysia berjaya!
Semboyan telah berbunyi,
Menuju medan bakti!

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An E-Mail Exchange with Dato' Seri Yuen Yuet Leng:

From: Cheahs
To: DSYuen
Sent: Sunday, August 02, 2009 8:50 AM
Subject: Defense of the realm?
Dear DS Yuen,

This post was by blogger BigDog and shows typical Malay chauvinism when it comes to the defense of the country. It is because our schools teach only about Malay armed forces sacrificing their lives, that our Malay brethren think the other races did nothing but supported communism. You know it is rubbish. How would you answer such idiocy?

Regards.

KS

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Dear KS,

School history books and nationally and politically enlightened teachers and of course, balanced politicians have to correct the bigoted eyes and minds of the past. Maybe if more Malaysians, both Malay, Chinese and Indians read my book, Nation Before Self then the BigDog types will think better and realise that race is even a bigger threat to a wholesome nation. I reproduce something I saw on the internet some time ago:

25-04-09
NOBISHA BLOG
bin mulau said...

"tuan nobisha,

saya ingin ulas pasal komen oleh umno johor berkenaan melawan komunis. saya berbangga dgn umno johor kerana beliau adalah veteran menentang komunis.ini berkenaan sejarah. seolah2 umno johor ingin mengatakan hanya melayu berperang dgn komunis di hutan dan komunis itu semuanya cina.

saya amat terharu dan bangga bila membaca buku tulisan yuen yuet leng "nation before self"dari buku itu baru saya nampak sejarah sebenar perjuangan mementang komunis yg tidak akan dipelajari dari sekolah. dari itu saya tahu di pekan ipoh sehingga awal tahun 80an komunis masih menjalankan aktiviti terrorist di dalam pekan.banyak juga jasanya yuen yuet leng dan rakan2nya baik melayu cina india dan org putih sendiri dalam melawan komunis. terus terang saya katakan kementerian pelajaran tidak ikhlas dalam menyatakan sejarah negara.sbb itu sampai hari ini kita masih memandang yg bukan bangsa kita dgn pandangan yg agak meragukan. tambah pulak jika bangsa lain itu bukan kawan baik kita."

Niza Haniz Mustaffa March 1st, 2009 at 9:11 am

Greetings!

I wish to congratulate Dato Seri for sharing his thoughts and experiences. Most importantly he shared himself in this book. He is still the officer and the fighter he has always been.

I shared his book in my programs (I’m a trainer) to indicate to the participants the sacrifces made by those who put their lives on line for the sake of our country. Its not ‘Are you willing to sacrifice for your country’; its ‘Are you willing to DIE for your country’. I am most touched about the loss of your daughter and will always share this with my participants.

I agree with Dato Sri that the present government and people has conveniently forgotten the heroes of yesterday. These are the heroes that put the country above themselves and their families.

I wish every department in all government agencies, all schools, all teachers colleges, and all police stations have at least five copies of this book to be read and discussed. I also wish the PM and all ministers have and read this book diligently and talk about its contents to their staff during their monthly gatherings. If they can talk about a particular book (e.g. The Blue Ocean), I’m sure they can also talk in depth about this and other books produced by a true Malaysian.

I also wish the government will take up on some of the suggestions made by Dato Sri especially on appreciating the sacrifices made by those who had died for the country. The Police Force and the government owe it to those who sacrificed their lives to ensure the families left behind are taken cared of.

To Dato Sri and his family, I wish them all good health and may they always find the comfort that the sacrifices they made are not in vain. God Bless."

Find comfort and hope in the reality in nation that there are more and more better enlightened Malaysians in every community who together who remove the racial chains around our feet but it is those in the Malay community who can decisively make the crucial difference but we must ensure that the needful Malays do continue to be aided as the same of other communities must also now be helped in better substance and justice.

DSyuen

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Dear DS Yuen,

Thank you for your precise reply. I felt it should be shared with more Malaysians so I blogged it. Please check out:

http://nocturnal-mind.blogspot.com/2009/08/defense-of-realm-nation-before-self.html

KS

Remember When...

I am touched by Roland Rayang who sent me this message:

Name: Roland Rayang

Subject In Loving Memory of Jeannie

Your Permission To Reproduce Message? YES

MESSAGE Hello Cheah, greetings from us in Sarawak. I like to dedicate a song entitled "Remember When" by Allan Jackson (Pls check on youtube) in loving memory of your dearest Jeannie. We've never met, but what you wrote of her welled my eyes in tears.. wishing you and your children God's bountiful blessings in your journey ahead.

Date/Time: 2009-08-02 02:45:43 PDT

Thank you Roland, Jeannie would have loved the song and the movie, The Notebook.

Alan Jackson's, Remember When:



LYRICS:

Remember when I was young and so were you
and time stood still and love was all we knew
You were the first, so was I
We made love and then you cried
Remember when

Remember when we vowed the vows
and walked the walk
Gave our hearts, made the start, it was hard
We lived and learned, life threw curves
There was joy, there was hurt
Remember when

Remember when old ones died and new were born
And life was changed, disassembled, rearranged
We came together, fell apart
And broke each other's hearts
Remember when

Remember when the sound of little feet was the music
We danced to week to week
Brought back the love, we found trust
Vowed we'd never give it up
Remember when

Remember when thirty seemed so old
Now lookn' back it's just a steppin' stone
To where we are,
Where we've been
Said we'd do it all again
Remember when

Remember when we said when we turned gray
When the children grow up and move away
We won't be sad, we'll be glad
For all the life we've had
And we'll remember when

Lawyer! Lawyer! Pants On Fire!!!

I was waiting for Rocky's take on the 1st August Anti-ISA rally and he did not disappoint. Please read:

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So who's liable for the RM100 million?
A question for Lawyers. Before anyone attempts to answer the Q, know the background: Raja Nong Chik told a press conference yesterday that the City could have lost RM100 m - RM200 m as a result of Saturday's anti-ISA demo.


The FT Minister's estimate is bound to raise eyebrows and draw scoffs. But what if it's true? [Read here]. Can anyone then be held responsible/accountable for the losses and damages?


In this age of transparency and good governance, shouldn't someone claim responsibility?
A lawyer friend of a friend of a friend said the Gerak Mansuh ISA, as the organiser of the demo, is liable. Meaning, I was told, that those who claim to have suffered losses and damages (which may include Sogo and Semua House, which had to close for business on that day; traders and hawkers; the LRT and bus operators; restaurants, etc) could actually sue the NGO.


Really?

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On 1st August, the medical clinics around Kuala Lumpur and Selangor enjoyed a sudden upsurge in business. Men and women young and old, children of all ages were being treated for sore eyes and itchy skin conditions. Some had open wounds that needed stitching but the medical profession is most excited about the future increase in revenue of psychiatrists who will be treating emotional and mental scars that are expected to be suffered by thousands.


Departmental stores and pasar malams throughout the region also reported tremendous increase in business as thousands thronged to replace torn and tettered clothes and water damaged shoes.


Hundreds of food outlets throughout the late evening and night regretted they did not expect the sudden surge in business and many of them were sold out by 9.00 pm. This caused the hungry hordes to patronize even the less popular eateries.
This unexplained phenomenon resulted in an estimated increase of RM101 million in extra business on the day.


A lawyer friend, of a friend, of another friend of my friend says that perhaps the ISA should stay and remain a reason for the masses to take peaceful walkabouts through our fair city and also visit our King while they are at it. That lawyer also said that when he was practising in the Olde West, them darn Injuns who spooked the cattle and caused a stampede were liable. The organizers of the cattle drive sued the loin cloth off the Injun arses.


Come on Rocky! Certainly you can do better than that can't you ;o)

Abused By Your Own Protectors; Minding The Minders

Yesterday was the 1st August Anti-ISA street rally. After being at the scene for the BERSIH and other rallies, I was rather ambivalent about taking a first hand look this time around. This time BN was trying another counter-strategy; a parallel counter-rally at the same day, time and venues. Quoting the Star Paper:

"The anti-ISA movement, Gerakan Mansuhkan ISA (GMI) or the “Abolish the ISA Movement,” plans to have 100,000 people march to the Istana Negara to hand over a memorandum urging the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong to dissolve the Act.

Meanwhile, the pro-ISA group known as Pembela Negara Federation of Non-Governmental Organisations Council (Magaran), which claims it comprises 56 NGOs with over 100,000 members, plans a counter-rally to hand the Agong a memorandum supporting the ISA.

Other pro-ISA groups that have threatened similar action are Majlis Pemuafakatan Ummah (Pewaris) and Persatuan Pribumi Perkasa (Perkasa)."

My decision was made by my doubt about the Pro-ISA guys; they would not be able to gather in any significant numbers. How true it proved to be.

I also decided that JJ was old enough to accompany me and see for himself events that are shaping the destiny of his country.

We started out at 12.45 pm and parked at Bukit Jalil Star LRT station knowing the roads in KL would be jammed pack till late evening. One of our intentions was also to have lunch at Pudu's famous roast pork place, Restoran Wong Kee.

Normally the roast pork which is sold from 12.30 pm onwards would be sold out by about 1.30 pm. I was sure this time it would not be because I know the Chinese, especially typical Malaysian Chinese who will not be in KL in great numbers because of fear and inherent self-centered nature. There was still lots of "siew yoke" left at almost 2.00 pm!

Having great experience of rather dubious distinction in street rallies, I knew there would be time a plenty to catch the "action". Also, I had planned to not start at the beginning of the rally but to wait around the usual convergence area in the vicinity of Jalan Sultan Sulaiman (Kampung Attap area).

After lunch we took a monorail to Maharajalela Station and ended up at the Takaful Malaysia building. There was heavy FRU presence but the area was quiet; too early. We then made our way to Dayabumi by cutting through Chinatown knowing that the crowd would likely march along Jalan Kinabalu if the Selangor Club route was blocked.

At the Pasar Seni area we followed a group of obviously PAS supporters to Dayabumi. We managed a nice chat while hanging around the "Globe" at Dayabumi when the FRU who had taken up position nearby on Jalan Kinabalu, began lobbing tear gas at us! There were not even that many of us gathered there.

JJ who was taking photos (our photos do not show the vast crowds because we were overly optimistic the crowds would reach where we were) was emotionally affected by the sight of two very young Malay boys crying because of the tear gas. They had obviously accompanied their parents sightseeing at Dayabumi! The police were too aggressive this time around and used tear gas at the sight of even small pockets of people. If only their anticipation is as sharp when it comes to catching real criminals!

Chased away from Dayabumi, we did not want to move away from that area so we walked towards the Federal Highway via the Pos Malaysia podium block at Dayabumi. On the way we met another observer; a woman in high-heels! Must have planned to use her stilts as a weapon. I forgot her name but she followed us; said she was enroute to LA to become an actress...

We ended up "behind enemy lines" surrounded by police units guarding the Kampung Attap area. We also met up with some PAS supporters at Jalan Kampung Attap near the famous fish head curry place and had a good chat about Manek Urai and PAS religious convictions as opposed to UMNO greed and decadence.

Before long the FRU arrived and marched towards us. Most of those gathered there began to move away. JJ was dressed in a dark colored T-shirt (rally organizers had told participants to wear red or black) and I did not want to risk him being hauled up so we did the opposite and stood our ground. When the FRU squad came near I asked the officer for permission to be there; he ignored me but did not bother us too. We probably did not look like active participants because they did arrest a few there.

We decided to move away from Kampung Attap as the area was almost deserted apart from the police and we met blogger D'Nightcaller who told us that a bunch of bloggers were holed up at the Selangor Club. We proceeded with Nightcaller to the RSC which was quite a walk away and met up with Bernard, Gus, Boom and some of the other Fishermen's Wharf gang. They told us the police had fired tear gas into the RSC premises too and that the main body of protesters comprising thousands were being contained by the police who blocked both ends of TAR road and were firing tear gas and using water canons on the "trapped" masses near Sogo.

Hats off to our wonderful men in blue...as our protectors you make yourselves proud!

Eeeerieee!!! Is There A Divine Message Here?

Al-Fatihah En Mohd Hamdan Abdul Rahman

Permatang Pauh again??!!?? Will there be a contest this time? Malaysiakini has this latest:

Permatang Pasir state rep dies

Permatang Pasir state assemblyperson Mohd Hamdan Abdul Rahman from PAS has passed away at the National Heart Institute in Kuala Lumpur from heart failure at about 6.30am.

Mohd Hamdan had been an elected representative of Permatang Pasir for three terms since 1999. He was also a former state PAS chief for 14 years.His remains are expected to be brought to his home in Permatang Pasir from Kuala Lumpur at about 2pm and later buried at the Permatang Pasir Muslim cemetery after evening prayers.He leaves behind wife Siti Khariah Ismail and six children.

With the seat vacant, the Election Commission will have to call for another by-election within 60 days - the eight of such polls since March 2008 general election.Permatang Pasir, which is one of three state seats in PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim's Permatang Pauh parliamentary constituency, is the sole PAS seat in Penang.In the last general election Mohd Hamdan, who bagged 11,004 votes, defeated Ahmad Sahar Shuib from Umno (5,571) by a majority of 5,433 votes.

His younger brother Mohd Shukran told Bernama that Mohd Hamdan was admitted at the IJN after complaining of chest pains.The PAS representative had undergone a heart surgery a few years ago, added Mohd Shukran.

Mohd Hamdan was born in Kedah and had just three weeks ago received 'Datukship' from the Penang government.He was a former language teacher at the Kolej Sultan Abdul Hamid, Kedah and had serviced the Kedah state government as an administrative officer from 1966 to 1977.He went on to join the Customs Department in 1977 and remained there until 1983.

Only two months ago, Penanti - a state seat next to Permatang Pasir - had a by-election following the resignation of then PKR state representative Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin.

The by-election, which was won by PKR's Dr Mansor Othman, saw one of the lowest voter turnout when rival Umno opted not to contest the polls.

The upcoming by-election will be the third by-election in the Permatang Puah constituency in less than one year - the first being Anwar's victory in August last year after his wife, PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, quit the seat.

I Love This! Sanctimonious Journo(s) In The Mirror

This blogger Sincerely, Malaysian Heart is a gem. I reproduced his/her article in a previous post, Depressing Yet Pressing Issue; Using The Press To Oppress? but this latest one takes the cake. No need for narration:

In Response to Rocky's Bru: Journo to Journo: How Low Can You Go?

Rocky's Bru: Journo to Journo: How Low Can You Go?

(Graphic of letter taken from Rocky's Bru)

I'm encouraged by the news (from Rocky's Bru) that a group of practising and former Malaysian journalists are writing to the Executive Chairman of Kumpulan Utusan, Tan Sri Mohamed Hashim Ahmad Makaruddin, to express their anger and disgust at the story on the late Yasmin Ahmad that the tabloid Kosmo! ran on July 27th, 2009. As they write in their email seeking fellow journalists' support for their letter: "Let's uphold the kind of journalism that this country so desperately needs."

Regardless of whether it is based on the truth or not, the article, headlined "Takdir Yasmin", breached not only the journalist's code of ethics, but standards of human decency as well.

Since a journalist's first obligation is to seek truth and report it, why is this article in Kosmo! a breach of journalistic ethics? Because even if it is true, it violates another principle that journalists are obliged to uphold:

Minimize Harm - Ethical journalists treat sources, subjects and colleagues as human beings deserving of respect.

According to this principle, journalists should:

• Show compassion for those who may be affected adversely by news coverage. Use special sensitivity when dealing with children and inexperienced sources or subjects.
• Be sensitive when seeking or using interviews or photographs of those affected by tragedy or grief.
• Recognize that gathering and reporting information may cause harm or discomfort. Pursuit of the news is not a license for arrogance.
• Recognize that private people have a greater right to control information about themselves than do public officials and others who seek power, influence or attention. Only an overriding public need can justify intrusion into anyone’s privacy.
• Show good taste. Avoid pandering to lurid curiosity.
• Be cautious about identifying juvenile suspects or victims of sex crimes.
• Be judicious about naming criminal suspects before the formal filing of charges.
• Balance a criminal suspect’s fair trial rights with the public’s right to be informed.

(From the Society of Professional Journalists' Code of Ethics)

In the case of Kosmo's article, the people behind it have violated this principle in at least four ways:

1. They have treated the memory of their subject, a recently deceased person no longer able to tell her side of the story, with disrespect, making allegations that may (given prevailing societal attitudes, prejudiced though they may be) diminish how she is remembered by Malaysians, and expose her family to odium.
2. They showed little compassion to her family and scant regard for the potential harm to her aged and frail mother.
3. They did not demonstrate any overriding public need that could have justified such an intrusion into their grief and privacy.
4. The mode in which they presented their report suggests that they have pandered to lurid curiosity, perhaps motivated by the need to sell newspapers.

It is therefore fitting that the journalists' letter rebukes Tan Sri so: "...if your objective is to practice ethical journalistic conduct and act with humanity, you have failed - miserably." They go on to ask him, "How much of your personal honour are you willing to part with in order to increase your circulation?"

All of us will be held to account for everything we write, before the One who reads and edits us all. In the meantime, Kosmo and its journalists involved with this article are accountable to us, their readers and colleagues. Let us make it clear to them that we will not stand by to see ethics breached.

Is their story true or false? I wholeheartedly second blogger Kama's wise words, words worthy of repeating and remembering (from here):

"...Yasmin has gone to meet her Maker. Our time will come soon. Seharusnya kita sadaqah Al-fatihah untuk arwah Yasmin and not go into this silly polemic about her gender. May her soul be placed among the blessed. Amin."

Now, may I pose this question, not to Kosmo!, but to all of us who are outraged by Kosmo's article:

Do any of us believe that Kosmo has a monopoly on unethical journalism in Malaysia?

First let's see what the principles of ethical journalism that we are bound to uphold are (adapted from theSociety of Professional Journalists' Code of Ethics):

The duty of the journalist is to further public enlightenment as the forerunner of justice and the foundation of democracy, by seeking truth and providing a fair and comprehensive account of events and issues. Conscientious journalists from all media and specialties strive to serve the public with thoroughness and honesty. Professional integrity is the cornerstone of a journalist's credibility. Journalists should:

1. Seek Truth and Report It - Journalists should be honest, fair and courageous in gathering, reporting and interpreting information.
2. Minimize Harm - Ethical journalists treat sources, subjects and colleagues as human beings deserving of respect.
3. Act Independently - Journalists should be free of obligation to any interest other than the public's right to know. [Advocacy journalists may of course intentionally and transparently adopt a non-objective viewpoint.]
4. Be Accountable - Journalists are accountable to their readers, listeners, viewers and each other.

The letter to Tan Sri Hashim begins "July 27th, 2009 marked the darkest day in Malaysian journalistic history yet." In the light of the above, haven't there been days in Malaysian journalistic history just as dark as 27/7/09?

How about in the days just before the 1990 general elections, when "then opposition politician Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah was depicted as selling out Muslim interests to Christians merely because he was photographed wearing ethnic Kadazan cultural headgear on which was a symbol resembling a cross. The photograph was splashed in the media and Razaleigh had little chance to counter the allegations".

Utusan Melayu published the picture for three days, and Berita Harian's headline on May 19, 1990 was "Ku Li Junjung Salib".

How about something more recent, just eight days ago (22/07/09), when Pakatan Rakyat's position regarding the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the death of Teoh Beng Hock was grossly misrepresented in the pages of the New Straits Times?

Why do we not speak up and act against journalistic misconduct by all news outlets (including our own)? Why are we being selective? Surely our professional ethics apply equally to all, no matter what the victims' (and perpetrators') station in life is? Or is it just a case of double standards and whose ox is being gored?

So, let me put the question back to all the journalists who are rightly outraged at Kosmo: How much of our personal honour are we willing to part with in order to increase our circulation (prospects, promotions, popularity, etc.)?

In other words, when our Editor reads us, will He find us fit to print, or fit to spike?

Lest we be found wanting, we must be mindful of what we ourselves and our colleagues write. For the sake of our integrity, we must speak and act whenever and wherever we see journalistic ethics being compromised, and we must do so in spite of our political beliefs and personal interests. Let's uphold the kind of journalism that this country so desperately needs.

Sincerely,

Malaysian Heart

You can download a printable copy of the Society of Professional Journalists' Code of Ethics in full here (in PDF format).

(I am a member of Hartal MSM, a mediawatch group which had its beginnings in December 2007 in The People's Parliament, an initiative convened by civil rights lawyer Haris Ibrahim. The group seeks to promote a free and fair media as an impetus to Malaysia's stalled nation-building process. The views expressed here are solely my own)

An Abridged And Adapted Bhagavad Gita

Why do you worry without cause?
Whom do you fear without reason?
Who can kill you?
The soul is neither born, nor does it die.
Whatever happened,
happened for the good;
whatever is happening,
is happening for the good;
whatever will happen,
will also happen for the good only.


You need not have any regrets for the past.
You need not worry for the future.
The present is happening...
What did you lose that you cry about?
What did you bring with you,
which you think you have lost?


What did you produce,
which you think got destroyed?
You did not bring anything,
whatever you have, you received from here.
Whatever you have given, you have given only here.
Whatever you took, you took from The Universe.
Whatever you gave, you gave to It.
You came empty handed,
you will leave empty handed.


What is yours today,
belonged to someone else yesterday, and
will belong to someone else the
day after tomorrow.
You are mistakenly enjoying the thought
that this is yours.
It is this false happiness that is
the cause of your sorrows.


Change is the law of The Universe.
What you think of as death,
is indeed life.
In one instance you can be
a millionaire, and
in the other instance you can
be steeped
in poverty.


Yours and mine, big & small
erase these ideas from your mind.
Then everything is yours and
you belong to everyone.
This body is not yours,
neither are you of the body.
The body is made of fire, water, air, earth and
ether, and will disappear into these elements.
But the soul is permanent - so who are you?


Dedicate your being to The Journey.
He is the one to be ultimately relied upon.
Those who know of his support are forever
free from fear, worry and sorrow.
Whatever you do,
do it as a dedication to The Journey.
This will bring you the
tremendous experience of
joy and life-freedom forever.

Depressing Yet Pressing Issue; Using The Press To Oppress?

Years ago, a veteran told me that Malaysian politics is mainly about the politics of issues. It was because the rakyat mentality was immature politically that issues could be created or blown out of proportion to rally the masses in whichever direction the propaganda machinery deemed fit.

With the advent of Mahathirism, issues were created and publicized only when Mahathir dictated so; major cases in point being the 1988 Constitutional Crisis that resulted in the emasculation of the Judiciary and the 1993 Monarchy crisis that did the Royals in.

The rakyat was still willing to vote Barisan Nasional in with more than 2/3 majority, GE in and GE out because the economy was thriving; the NEP was in full bloom and no one was going without. The non-Malays were resigned to the effects of affirmative action and had all but given up at the ballot box.

I suppose abuses were not as blatant then although corruption and cronyism were already big concerns...the massive privatization and corporatizing exercises of government institutions, the IPPs, the toll hikes, the prime land conversions, the Daim machinations, etc. all affected our pockets without commensurating increase in service levels nor benefits. But we could at least see signs of development as in the Twin Towers, KLIA, Putrajaya, and other monuments. While most people dared only whisper about their displeasure, none had the guts nor to be fair, the platform to shout too loud and long.

There was a pervading fear of litigation and the partiality of the judiciary. As organizations go, Aliran led by Chandra Muzzafar seemed to be the only one which dared to voice out and it had its publishing permit yanked a few times. The Aliran Monthly was a sort of Malaysiakini in the way that no issue was too hot for it to report.

Two individuals stood out and both were journalists; the late K. Das and that forerunner of our Raja Petra Kamarudin, the late MGG Pillai. Yes! RPK had a predecessor! Neither lawsuit nor harassment could stop MGG Pillai and in the aftermath of the Correct! Correct! Correct! fiasco we now know he had no chance with the defamation suits he faced. I am glad MGG Pillai discovered the Internet before he passed away in 2006. His blog mggpillai.com was the Malaysia Today of its day!

There were plenty of issues too in those days but apart from being fearful, the Malaysian public was naive, amnesiac and blindsided by the mainstream media. There was a perpetual news brown-out and when the Government faced any major controversy, there were total news blackouts or the media would spin to sway the rakyat. Back in those days, no Opposition politician ever appeared on TV or radio let alone was quoted or reported in the newspapers. Conversely, all we ever got to hear or read were that things were dandy and as they should be (and therefore fine). Each successive PM had his own Goebbels, starting with Mahathir who had Kadir Jasin and Dollah Ahmad; the infamous Kalimullah was there for the Preacher Man while Kamal Khalid did the hatchet work; now Najib has Johan Jaafar and his very own publicist in Azmi Anshar.

The nature of media control had perceptible difference from one PM to another. In the case of Mahathir, it was more of misinformation and lack of information; this was extenuated by the fact that Mahathir made no bones about his dogmatic nature or his policies.


Though his successor, Badawi was less Machiavellian he was in many ways worse. He took over on a media fanfare of promises; liberalization, tranparency, meritocracy and accountability. The very media tools that were deployed to blow his trumpet soon became tools to gloss over his abject incompetency. When his outright bumbling and the abuses by his coterie became too obvious, his propaganda team resorted to plain disinformation. Ultimately, his spinmeisters could not prevent his self-proclaimed nice, clean and pious guy image from rotting into plain "nasty, corrupt" and stupid. His “Cemerlang, Gemilang, Terbilang" quickly became "Cemarkan, Gemar-wang, Terbayang"...Temberang.


Why did it take 22 years to expose Mahathir's transgressions and only 5 for Badawi? Was it because Badawi was more liberal? Apparently not; it was because he could not stop the information communication juggernaut called the Internet. He was caught by his own "K-Economy" bull and could not rein in the bloggers and internet news portals until it was too late. He did however try at the end though.


In the last decade, the proliferation of internet users coupled with the intrinsic need to boost bandwith enabled the Internet to power the "Fifth Estate" in Malaysia as with the rest of the developed/developing world. Mainstream media (MSM) began to have an alternative and I dare say now during Najib's watch, the MSM is fast becoming THE alternative media to most educated Malaysians. The difference has been about censorship or lack of.


Najib has his work cut out for him. It is now coming to his 4th month in the hot seat and he has not only to hit the ground running (after years of Badawi "slumber") but also be seen to do the right things. He has after all come onboard with considerable baggage.


How will he make the rakyat see? Will he try to make us blind? Or will he turn out to be the ultimate magician dealing with illusory perceptions? Will it be misinformation or disinformation or both? Or can he surprise us all with absolute transparency? After his first 100 days, the latter seems a bridge too far or far fetched bridge whichever way one looks at it. After GE12, whatever the spin there is only one way for him and that is to deliver what is deemed good for the nation. Brickbats can turn to bouquets...and vice versa.


But what can we expect? Well, for one, Najib or his handlers have obviously learnt about the power of the Internet judging from the increased number of pro-establishment blogs and cyber commentators. Many Barisan politicians are also setting up their own blogs/websites but because most are not self-administered, they do not attract traffic. While Badawi and Barisan were caught with their pants down pre-GE12, now more than a year later, things in the Malaysian cyberspace have indeed changed. Established pro-government bloggers and "information" portals now routinely rebut anything they feel worth rebutting.


The following are a few generally pro-establishment blogs; Another Brick In The Wall, Barking Magpie, Demi Negara, OutSyedTheBox. Rocky's Bru, Mat Cendana, CanYouSeeIt...etc. Socio-political bloggers seem to fall exclusively only into 3 categories: pro-establishment, anti-establishment and middle-of-the-road observers. When a particular blogger shifts his loyalties or stance (as it is known to happen), it is all too obvious. One thing is clear though, not much can be kept hidden in the ultimate battle for voters and no matter what the spin, the Barisan government has to deliver or perish.


The MSM still retains relevance amongst large numbers of Malaysians and one only has to turn on the TV or flip the newspapers to know what the MSM is trying to sell these days (as in the previous days?). Perhaps we shouldn't buy.
The Teoh Beng Hock death is the latest controversial issue and it has seen unprecedented thrusts and counter-thrusts in both the MSM and cyberspace. After Utusan's infamous article which reeked of racism, in the TBH case it was Berita Harian's turn with the lead but if the following article by Azmi Anshar is any indication, we are in for very long ride. That is why it is a must read because the rebuttles by steadyaku47 and sincerely, malaysian heart are even more interesting. You be the judge:


They got their Royal Commission of Inquiry but will they stop their lynching? Online Exclusive 2009/07/22 by Azmi Anshar


IN ordering the formation of a Royal Commission of Inquiry today to probe the chary death of Teoh Boon Hock, the young DAP cadre whose body was found sprawled outside Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Shah Alam headquarters last week, the Cabinet committed the most pragmatic decision it could make in light of the over-the-top outrage generated, mostly by Pakatan Rakyat leaders and its band of noxious supporters.


The MACC wobbled daily from the toxic Pakatan demonstrations, from the defiant rants at the MACC’s office immediately after the death was discovered to Teoh’s funeral that literally accused the agency of murder, negligence or brutality, whichever contention was convenient, when police have NOT concluded their investigations as to how and why Teoh died. No other plausible causes of death and motive were entertained by this mob. It fact, they emphatically dismissed alternative speculations, no matter how reasonable it sounded.


To cap the week of rage and antagonism that literally criminalised the MACC, Pakatan launched an online petition calling for the RCI’s formation. They were almost certain of getting a favourable Cabinet response but the hyperboles and sly pre-emption that senior Pakatan leaders discharged seemed to have given the appearance that the goading provoked the Cabinet into agreeing to the RCI.


The Cabinet would surely have gone ahead with the RCI initiative without the Pakatan’s instigation, seeing that senior coalition leaders within the Barisan Nasional ranks had strongly endorsed the setting up of the RCI, some even before DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang could parrot his all-time favourite bellowing. But let’s not be surprised that Pakatan would claim credit for their RCI ingenuity.


But the Pakatan leaders’ pressing for a RCI had a disingenuous purpose: several of their Selangor assemblymen, one of whom was accused of maintaining links with gangsters, were under scrutiny for alleged misuse of public funds, in which Teoh was sought by the MACC to provide helpful insights and vital documents as to how the abuse was being put into action. Now that the RCI on Teoh’s death is going to be institutionalised, how will this affect the investigations into the misuse of public funds?


Here’s how the script might flow: the Pakatan people will be nudged aside from the glare of suspicion by the elephantine centre of attention that steamrolls with a RCI examination. And there is no guarantee that investigations will resume once the RCI completes its business.
The only way to hold the momentum of the investigations into the Pakatan Rakyat assemblymen is that the RCI, in establishing its terms and references, embraces the MACC-Teoh element. This means all interview files, documents, statements, and that includes audio and video recordings, will be possessed and scrutinised by the RCI to surmise whether the misuse of funds had anything to do with Teoh’s death.


Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak had just announced that this element will be present. Now anticipate the howls of protest, even if it makes sense to expand the scope of the RCI’s inquiry to include all possibilities. An inquest headed by a magistrate is also imminent to establish the forensics of his death.


The next phase of the RCI’s formation will assure a major disputation: the composition of RCI members. There are already demands that representatives from the Opposition be included. A name with a sagacious reputation cropped up - Tunku Abdul Aziz, the 75-year-old ex-Transparency International Malaysia’s founder. Too bad he can’t be in the RCI let alone chair it, simply because he is now a partisan party sycophant like any other party man or woman.
Again, sly pre-empts had been deployed. Then there’s the call that the composition of the RCI must consult Pakatan Rakyat. Another sly pre-empting ploy. All the Government need to do is put together a neutral team that has the consent of the King. That’s all.


Even before Najib had a chance to weigh in his options before today’s Cabinet meeting, he was already handed a “lost cause”, primarily from Lim Kit Siang who claimed the PM will lose credibility and wipe out his 65 percent approval rating if he does not authorise a RCI.


Fine. Now that Najib has announced the RCI’s formation, will Kit re-stamp the credibility factor back into Najib? Probably not. The last thing Kit wants to do is further inflate Najib’s approval rating. Kit will find other specious means to further pile the burden of attestation on Najib to prove that the RCI is “absolutely independent” and will do their job fearlessly.


This new RCI will be the third this decade, breaking a precedence of sorts when RCIs had been limited to two the most every 10 years since its advent in 1965. When it was first conceptualised, a RCI is supposed to look into issues of governance and administration - the 1965 RCI in reviewed public services salaries and conditions of service, then it looked into workings of local authorities in 1968 and explored the teaching services in 1971. But in 1988, the RCI’s character transformed as it began probing “unsavoury” aspects of life - accidents, deaths, catastrophe and tragedy, from the collapse of the Pengkalan Sultan Abdul Halim ferry terminal in Butterworth (1988) to the religious school blaze that killed students in Yan, Kedah (1989) and Sungai Buloh’s Bright Sparklers factory explosion (1991).


Then the RCI went up close and personal in 1999, investigating the black eye suffered by Anwar Ibrahim while in police custody, which then Inspector-General of Police Rahim Noor took the rap for unleashing a blow on Anwar’s eye that triggered a profound consequence for the nation to last a generation.


The RCI returned to governance in 2004, the study of police reforms that invited a string of determined protests by the police themselves that seemed to scuttle the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission promised by the Abdullah administration in 2006.
Then the RCI opted for a form of “surrealism”: the infamous Lingam Video Clip commission in 2007 that became one of the many impetuses that tore down the fabric of Barisan Nasional state governments and bore a hole into the coalition’s ability to govern federally in March 2008.
What was that old cliché about being careful on what you wish for because it might come true? Pakatan Rakyat, the DAP especially, might be feeling too euphoric at the moment to think of this RCI’s implications but let’s play the devil’s advocate here: will Kit Siang and Co accept the verdict of the RCI no matter what kinds of findings surface?


If you are to base last week’s rampage of putting the blame solely on the MACC and implicating senior Government leaders, Pakatan Rakyat minions will insist no less than a guilty verdict, that some MACC perp pushed Teoh Beng Hock out of the 14th floor to his death for no reason other than wanting to torture the young man. But what if the RCI finds a less gruesome result, that Teoh died other than all the claims of murder and brutality put together? Will the Opposition swallow their brutish smugness and leave it at that?


The portentous inference to come out of Teoh’s RCI is that the inquiry serves to be an overkill that trivialises the institution and the causes it was constructed to oversee, primarily because it drags down the pride of law enforcement, making it harder for them to patrol the streets and maintain law and order. This, however, is not to excuse the law enforcement agencies, whose reputation has taken a severe flagellation in the past years over perceived incompetence so terrible that confidence in their ability to do their job is a hard sell.


What is entrenched now is the disturbing culture of being declared guilty first, more so for law enforcement agencies caught in the wrong side of public perception, before innocence has to be strenuously proven. And this crushes every basic principle of human rights in the face of mob fury. It gives a new meaning to lynching, Malaysian-style.

**********************************************


The following is Steadyaku47's rebuttal:


Online exclusive - NST


It is now 9.49pm and as is my habit - after the day is almost done – and with ‘Desperate Housewife’ on TV that means that I will have to go to my PC for alternative entertainment. After having a look through The Vision – Uganda’s leading website – I then went to NSTP online just so that I will not miss any earth shattering news and happenings that UMNO wants me to know. An online exclusive caught my eye.


DAILY DISPATCHES: They got their Royal Commission of Inquiry but will they stop their lynching?

IN ordering the formation of a Royal Commission of Inquiry today to probe the chary death of Teoh Boon Hock, the young DAP cadre whose body was found sprawled outside Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Shah Alam headquarters last week, the Cabinet committed the most pragmatic decision it could make in light of the over-the-top outrage generated, mostly by Pakatan Rakyat leaders and its band of noxious supporters.

Immedietly I had to go to the dictionary when I came across ‘chary’ in the very first paragraph. It meant ‘sorrowful’. Impressed I press on – this reporter can almost be mistaken for a writer!


The next sentence contained another ambigious word (to me) ‘cadre’ which according to Webster means ‘Cadre (pronounced /'kaːdre/, from the French) is the backbone of an organization, usually a political or military organization. Generally it is applied to a small core of committed and experienced people who are capable of providing leadership and of training newer members’
Again I am impressed. This reporter must be worth his weight in gold to his Editor. He has used ‘chary’ and ‘cadre’ in the very first paragraph of this online inclusive. Must have gone to the same learning instituition as that Ketua Pemuda fellow – aisehman I mean during his primary years lah.


Next came ‘pragmatic’ which I was quite familiar with having had to salute many a PDRM mata mata with a ‘boleh selesai encik’ – not because I want to but I had to be pragmatic.
A few seconds later I came across another hard one ‘noxious’ – morally harmful; corrupting; pernicious:


Morally harmful and corrupting being the operative word – words that this reporter should be familiar with when working for Political Masters who are not from Pakatan Rakyat.
Suffice to say that at this juncture I said enough. Who is he trying to impress? Chary, cadre, pragmatic and noxious ..and we are not even past the first paragraph. Sheesh (as my late fellow blogger The Ancient Mariner would say)…I have other things to do then go on reading this pretentious idiot piece. I rather go torture myself and watch ‘Desperate Housewife’ ….with one eye open and one eye close of course.


**********************************************


...and perhaps a more eloquent response from sincerely, malaysian heart which does make for a sort of "ABC of Journalism" and left the NST rather naked by tearing Azmi Anshar's "exclusive" to shreds:
Is This the Standard of Journalism Practiced by the New Straits Times?
(Disclosure: I am a member of Hartal MSM*, an advocacy group that calls for a Paper-free Tuesday -- "No buy, No lies")

• Journalism's first obligation is to the truth.
• Its first loyalty is to citizens.
• Its essence is a discipline of verification.
• Its practitioners must maintain an independence from those they cover.
• It must serve as an independent monitor of power.
• It must provide a forum for public criticism and compromise.
• It must strive to make the significant interesting and relevant.
• It must keep the news comprehensive and proportional.
• Its practitioners must be allowed to exercise their personal conscience.

From "The Elements of Journalism": What Newspeople Should Know and the Public Should Expect


When a news organization's editorial policy is dictated by its owners, the quality of its journalism is often the first thing to go out the window (followed closely by its credibility, reputation and circulation figures). The general level of integrity and professionalism in our news media notwithstanding, I have to say that this "online exclusive" op-ed piece from the New Straits Times (22/7/09), entitled "They got their Royal Commission of Inquiry but will they stop their lynching?", is as egregious a case of journalistic misconduct as I have ever come across. Lest I be accused of making that claim just because I disagree with the article in question, please allow me share with you my reasons for saying so: