Blogger Nathaniel Tan: The FIRST Victim of the Johari Baharom-Musa Hassan Power Play In Progress ?

Related Articles:

By Husam Musa, Vice President of PAS

By Malik Imtiaz Sarwar to understand better the infamous "Official Secrets Act (OSA)"

"Memorandum on the Malaysian Official Secrets Act 1972 " by Article 19 Global Campaign for Free Expression, London, 2004 (.pdf format)

Is Nathaniel Tan being made the first victim in the high-stake power play between the Deputy Minister for Internal Security and the Inspector-General of Police ?

1. On March 4, Malaysiakini quoted the Star that the ACA was investigating a ‘senior politician’ for allegedly accepting money to assist in freeing several suspects held under the draconian Emergency Ordinance, which allows detention without trial. Read here for more
   
   
2. Inspector-General of Police Musa Hassan also told Malaysiakini in March 2007 that the Police is assisting the ACA in its investigation. Calling for a fair probe, he said the matter also involved the integrity of the Police Force. Read here for more
   
   (The Police Force is under the Internal Security Ministry)
   
   
3. Deputy Internal Security Minister Mohd Johari Bahrum strongly denied he had taken bribes amounting to more than RM5 million to free detainees held under the Emergency Ordinance (EO), which allows detention without trial.
   
   
4. In defending himself, Johari Baharom also took a swipe at the Police, accusing the Police Force of not taking action involving similar allegations made against other leaders. Read here for more
   
   
5. Johari Bahrom also accused the Police of NOT following standard operating procedure (SOP) when carrying out investigations on EO cases, thus forcing him to release the detainees. Read here for more
   
   
6. On March 5, Malaysiakini reported that Federal CID director Christopher Wan Soo Kee "appeared to be taken aback" by the claim made by Johari Baharom that poor Police investigations had led to the release of criminal suspects held under the Emergency Ordinance (EO). Wan said: “If there is anything (weaknesses), the (Internal Security) Ministry will get back to us [...] We (the police) are under the ministry, so if there is anything, we shall wait for the ministry to inform us”. Read here for more Read here for more
   
   
7. Federal CID Director Wan said the commercial crime division is looking into the origins of the website and the persons responsible for it. Read here for more
   
   
8. After Johari Baharom was cleared by ACA of the charges, he instructed the Police Commercial Crimes Investigation Department (CCID) to trace authors that spread “lies” through websites. Read here for more
   
   
9. Johari Bahrom then filed a report with the ACA against the Police Chief, Musa Hassan. Johari said he made the ACA report after failing to receive an explanation about the Internet reports from police. The internet was abuzz alleging Musa Hassan received a bribe of RM2.1 million to release a group of gangsters, according to Bernama. Read here for more.
   
   
10. The Police then arrested Nathaniel Tan and questioned him at Bukit Aman. Tan was later remanded for 4 days under Section 8 of the Official Secret Act (OSA) over allegation of possession of documents pertaining to Johari Baharum's alleged involvement in corruption.
    

COMMENTARY

From "Kickdefella": Read here for more

".... After 50 years of independent we became a very confused nation.

We have lost our mind and fail to recognise who is a gangster and who is a freedom fighter.

Should we take an innocent young man into custody for having a document that might prove someone big is guilty?

In THOSE days, the police were formed to protect the people from the bad guys.

Perhaps NOWADAYS, the police are form to protect bad politician from the masses that voted them into power and in order to do so, the bad politician will go sleeping on the police so-called friendship with the gangster.

Well, maybe this is the deal between the police force with Malaysia Prime Minister for sleeping on the IPCMC proposal.

IPCMC? How I am not surprised that it is all but forgotten.

Did anyone still remember how the police representatives politely told The Prime Minister that they will not have ‘power’ to ‘help’ the (BN) politician if IPCMC is implemented?

Remember that they ‘whisper’ that they will not vote for BN if PM carry on with the IPCMC?

No. Because we are very forgetful lot....."

From "Disquiet" Malik Imtiaz Sarwar : Read here for more

"... I am concerned about the arrest and remand of Nathaniel Tan. Media reports suggest that he has been arrested in connection with an offence under section 8 of the Official Secrets Act, or the OSA.

If this is true, then the Government must take immediate steps to ensure that Nathaniel Tan is immediately released.

The OSA is unconstitutional. In its current form, it violates a range of fundamental liberties guaranteed by the Federal Constitution. The OSA violates the equal protection and equal access to the law guarantees as well as undermining the fair and free elections underpinnings of our system of government.

The OSA in its current form allows for a government to administer this country covertly and in defiance of the accountability and transparency that is crucial to democratic process.

This impacts on all our lives in more ways that we can begin to understand as the government is given a means to thwart legitimate public interest by the forced suppression of material and relevant information. The position taken by the government in connection with the disclosure of toll concession agreements illustrates this worrying trend.

The OSA as it is also violates international human rights norms and runs counter to representations made by our government at the international level about the state of play in this country where civil and political rights are concerned.

Malaysia is a current member of the United Nations Human Rights Council. It must act in a manner consistent with its membership.

These are not my views alone. The OSA has been widely condemned (see here for a comprehensive analysis of the Act by Human Rights Watch).

From Zainol Abideen, "Mahaguru58" Blog: Read here for more

"....It is a sad day for this nation now when we see folks like Brother Nathaniel Tan being incarcerated for the crimes of so many others.

I for one think that our Royal Malaysian Police Force are capable of doing so much more better if only they pay heed to the Kalimah of 'ALLAH' and 'Muhammad' emblazoned atop their logo and crest.

Islam does not punish someone because of another's mistake or crime.

I ask: "Is Nathaniel Tan guilty of setting up that website that accuses Dato' Johari Baharom of corruption or is he a sacrificial 'test the waters' victim of the powers that be to gauge the reactions and responses of the Malaysian socio-political-religious bloggers?"

How come those 'shit spewers' get no action taken against them or as challenged by the blog owner himself, Raja Petra Kamaruddin so that the justice system can dissect the information rightfully in court and see who's right and who's wrong?

Is Raja Petra too big a fish for the boys to haul in? Most of us Malaysians wonder?

Why does the Inspector General of the Royal Malaysian Police who has been accused point blank in Malaysia-Today.net so reluctant to seek legal redress against the nation's # 1 Alternative News Portal? Is he so forgiving? What gives?

Why only Nathaniel Tan and not those Malaysia Today commentors who so blatantly accuse and lambast our nation's # 1 Police Officer of corrupt practices? This is what many of us wonder?

I am sure that the Cyber Crimes Division of our learned Special Branch of the Royal Malaysian Police Force at Bukit Aman are well equipped and professional enough to trace the IP address of the libelous website and get to the root address of whoever set up the 'offending' website.

So, please be just and do what's right for Brother Nathaniel.

May Almighty Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala guide all our PDRM SB officers at Bukit Aman to be just, transparent and fair to Nat and all Malaysian Bloggers to be responsible when blogging and do the right thing by exercising caution before saying anything that is baseless and criminal for there is a saying that ' Thou shall reap what thou sows!' Ameen Ya Allah Ya Adil!..."

From "The Malay Male", Amir Hafizi: Read here for more and here

"...Who is Nat Tan? A lot of people have asked me this question. They want to know about who this guy whom the powers-that-be decided was enough of a threat to put him behind bars in orange shirts and shit. And possibly a kopiah.

Nat Tan went to Harvard, one of America's Top Universities. Best in their Law and Business schools. Then he came back to Malaysia and joined KeADILan. Why would someone smart enough and rich enough to go to Harvard would bother with a lame-o political party like PKR?

Funnily enough, around two months ago, I told Nat to get out of the country and take Li Tsin with him. "They will throw you in jail and cut your balls off, man," I wrote.

Malaysia is not a country for all this shit. Only a war which kills millions would ever have any impact on its people.I mean, if you want to change the country, it's really a battle to change people. To win over the hearts and minds of the kingmakers in the rural areas.

Folks like my parents and my villagers. I grew up with them and I can say that they are more fucked up than I am. They WILL cut your balls off, man. Or burn your parents' house. The Opposition likes to play hero in the urban areas, but they can never, ever penetrate the rural areas effectively with the bullshit politics they practice.

Honestly, I think Nat Tan is a better person than Anwar. When Anwar finally croaks, I was hoping that people like Nat or better yet, Nat himself would head PKR.

Just give me my f**** RM300,000 and I'll get the fuck out of this country. I'm not selling out cause that would cost you f****ers US$400 million. To just get me out of the country, I just need RM300,000.

I've been following Nat Tan's hot sister's blog for updates on his detainment by people disguised as trees (Special Branch).

The charges are all still fuzzy. Especially after the powers-that-be quite possibly decided to sneak him through court past his lawyers and shit. Yeah. The thing was supposed to be at 4.30pm, but they tried to pull a fast one without telling any of Nat's lawyers that their client was there.

The charge apparently has something to do with this Dato' Johari fella, or rather accusations directed at Dato' Johari at this site. The guy who wrote that pasted information on his site in Nat's Jelas.info here.

OSA - Official Secrets Act - has been bandied about, suggesting that Nat has been exposing Government secrets to all and sundry. Even though he probably did not write the Dato' Johari site at all.

So what big secret is this all about? Most probably the secret is that Dato' Johari got millions of ringgit pay-off from Chinese gangsters to release them.

I mean, if that was not true, Dato' Johari would simply sue for libel and make a million from Nat's family as well as the anonymous whistleblower of the Freeweb site.

If it IS true and the facts could damage the country, THEN the powers that be would have grounds to arrest Nat under the OSA.

This, my friends, is how justice is carried out in Malaysia. And if you have a problem with that, you can GETTT OUTTT!!!

I'm trying to gather just RM300,000 cash so that I could go away to another country and leave the poor defenseless politicians alone. Cause if I stay here, in 10 years time, either they would shoot me or I would shoot them. AND their family.

And then, outside the country, I will use my genius to start a hydrogen fuel-cell revolution. And be the world's first trillionaire.

And THEN I'll get a Datuk Seri-ship which I will turn down in favour of a Lordship.

They'd ask me to come back to Malaysia but when I do set foot here, they will arrest me and try to take all my money, even though my company then would be a foreign one.

International pressure would mount because I have bought an English Premier League club, Seattle Supersonics as well as the Boston Red Sox. And they would have to free me. Not to mention McClaren-Mercedes and the Cleveland Browns.

Malaysia's economy would then be on a decline and a year later, I would have bought the entire country for a little under a billion USD.

And then I will come in with flying aircraft carriers and giant robots and set up a dictatorship in Malaysia which will last a thousand years.

And THEN, all you f***** who ever pissed me off gets a red hot poker. In the ass...."

Internal Security Deputy Minister Johari Baharom's High Stake Power Play with IGP Musa Hassan: Where is Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi ?

by

Datuk Paduka Haji Husam Bin Haji Musa
PAS Vice President

Read here full article in Bahasa on Husam Musa's Blog

Quote:

".... The question now is , how is PM Abdullah Badawi going to position himself in determining who is the wrongdoer, Johari Baharom or Musa Hassan?

This is not about the reputation of Musa Hassan (as IGP ) or Johari Baharom as (Deputy Ministry for Internal Security ).

This is about the reputation of Abdullah Badawi and the BN government.

This is a crisis. Musa Hassan or Johari Baharom should be sacked or resign. "
- Datuk Paduka Haji Husam Bin Haji Musa

Excerpts (translated) : Read here in Husam Musa's Blog

As the days go by, the credibility of PM Abdullah Ahmad Badawi decreases.

An investigation was carried out on the Deputy Minister for Internal Security Johari Baharom who was accused of receiving RM5 million corruption for releasing 3 triad leaders. (Read HERE and Here for more)

But there is NO directive from PM Abdullah Badawi to investigate the corruption case of Musa Hassan, the IGP, when it was reported in the internet.

(Malaysiakini reported that Johari Bahrom filed a report with the ACA against the IGP Musa Hassan, almost immediately after the Attorney General Abdul Gani closed the investigation against Johari Bahrom and cleared him of graft charges. Johari Baharom said he made the ACA report against the IGP Musa Hassan after failing to receive an explanation about the Internet reports from police. Reports were circulating on the Internet alleging Musa Hassan received a bribe of RM2.1 million to release a group of gangsters, according to Bernama. - Malaysian Unplug)

To make it worst, Abdullah has renewed the IGP's contract with the justification for combating crime.

This is similar to the case of the renewals of the ACA Chief's contract by PM Abdullah Badawi even after having received 3 corruption reports from senior ACA officers.

(Former ACA Chief,Zulkipli Mat Noor contract was not renewed after he was investigated by the national police over allegations that he had illegally amassed substantial property and assets, and misused government vehicles. Read here for more

When PM Abdullah Badawi was asked about the 600 pages report on the corruption of a Minister, Abdullah shamelessly said that he has not read the report.

The question now, how is PM Abdullah Badawi going to position himself in determining who is the wrongdoer, Johari Baharom and/or Musa Hassan ?

The ACA report which Johari Baharom had initiated on IGP Musa Hassan, is considered an official act.

The question is: Has Johari Bahrom obtained permission from PM Abdullah Badawi, who is also the Interal Security Minister, before issuing the ACA Report, given the fact that IGP's contract has just being renewed recently?

Shouldn't IGP Musa Hassan resign then since the Internal Security Ministry officers have lodged a report to ACA against him? It is an indication of no confidence and lack of trust by the Internal Security Ministry on IGP Musa Hassan.

What should PM Abdullah Badawi do if Johari Baharom did not inform him prior to Johari lodging the report on the IGP? Does it not mean that Johari Bahrom did not trust PM Abdullah Badawi?

It would appear that Johari Baharom 's action showed that he does not respect the PM Abdullah Badawi's decision in renewing Musa Hassan's contract as IGP.

If this is so, will Abdullah sack his Deputy Minister for Internal Security?

On the other hand, if PM Abdullah Badawi was informed about the lodged report against IGP Musa Hassan, what is the basis for him to renew Musa's contract, knowing that a report against IGP MUSA has been lodged?

Shouldn't the contract of IGP Musa Hassan be withheld temporarily so that an investigation on corruption charges against IGP Musa Hassan in the report can be conducted?

This is not about the reputation of Musa Hassan or Johari. This is case of the reputation of PM Abdullah Badawi and the BN government.

This is a crisis. Musa Hassan or Johari Baharom should be sacked or ask to resign.
-Datuk Paduka Haji Husam Bin Haji Musa

Blogger Nathaniel Tan's Detention Linked to Accusations of Deputy Minister for Internal Security, Johari Baharom, of Bribery on the Internet

From Malaysiakini: Read Here and HERE and Here and Here and Here and Here and Here

The Deputy Internal Security Minister Johari Baharom said today he had instructed the police to trace authors that spread “lies” through websites.

Investigating officer DSP Victor Sanjos, from the police's Cyber Crimes Unit, confirmed that Tan was being investigated under Section 8 of the Official Secrets Act 1972.

According to police sources, Nathaniel Tan was detained in connection to an Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) investigation against Deputy Internal Security Minister Johari Baharom.

Tan’s lawyer Latheefa Koya said the police were investigating a comment posted by an individual on Tan's blog. It is believed that the offending material in his blog refers to allegations of corruption against Johari which appeared in an anonymous website.

The individual had re-published three paragraphs found in the anonymous website which implicated Johari and was the subject of the ACA investigation against him.

It is believed that the police are hunting down the individual who posted the original comment. Read here for more on Malaysiakini

BACKGROUND (read here for more on Malaysiakini)

The Posting on Nathaniel Tan's Blog

The following was posted by an individual on Tan's blog:

"... Dato' Johari // Feb 10, 2007 at 3:36 pm
The Most Powerful But Corrupted Deputy Minister

YB Dato Johari Bin Baharom, Deputy Minister of Internal Security.

This Deputy Minister is the most powerful Deputy Minister because firstly he works under a very busy minister so all power has to be delegated to him. Secondly, he has got prerogative executive power to order a person to be detained without trail or to be released on his own fancy.

Here are 3 classic cases we can see how YB Dato Johari Bin Baharom, the Deputy Minister of Internal Security had abuse his power and breach the trust from his boss. ie. The Prime Minister. His abuse of power must be seen to have interfering police investigation and a larger extent had also jeoperdise police effort to maintain peace as well as law and order in the country.

The abuse of power by YB Dato Johari must be tantamounted to a corrupt practice and must be stop immediately.

Anti Corruption Agency should be called upon to investigate on both money transaction and also abuse of power that amounting to corrupt practice.

In response to the above comment, Nathaniel Tan replied in his blog to the comment as follows:

(note from nat: I’m afraid I can’t publish the rest of the comment because the sources were unattributed and the information as of yet unverified. However, you can visit the author’s site, where the exact same information is posted. Apologies and thanks!)

The Corruption Case Against Deputy Internal Security Minister Johari Baharom
Deputy Internal Security Minister Johari Baharum was accused of taking bribes.

He has always denied taking bribes.


(Courtesy of Malaysiakini)

The 'freedom for sale' allegation against Johari first surfaced on the Internet - in a page hosted by free website, Freewebs.com . It accused Johari of freeing suspects linked to gangsterism and vice activities after receiving the payment. One of those released is said to be the younger brother of another deputy minister.

Johari denied the allegation and also accused the police of inaction and not following the ‘standard operating procedure’.

The case was investigated by the ACA while the police conducted an internal probe to ascertain if the release of the detainees was due to incompetency on their part.

The three criminal suspects mentioned in the allegation were named in the website. Two of them were said to be triad bosses from Perak while the other was detained in connection with illegal gaming and book-keeping in Sabah.

Police chief Musa Hassan had confirmed that the three were released. He also said the police are investigating if there were more suspects freed from detention under suspicious circumstances.

However, following a lengthy probe of the claims, Johari Baharom was cleared of graft allegations . The probe found no evidence linking Johari to corruption after allegations he received RM5 million to free dangerous criminals, state media quoted Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail as saying.

"... the attorney-general ordered ACA investigations... against Johari Baharum to be closed," according to a statement made to Bernama news agency. Attorney-General Abdul Gani also said that key witnesses in the investigations could NOT be located.

According to DAP Secretary-General, Lim Guan Eng, the premature closure of the investigation "gives the unfortunate impression of a cover-up".

Abdul Gani's statement that the probe had closed, came as Johari Bahrom filed a counter report with the ACA against the Police Chief, Musa Hassan.

Reports circulating on the Internet allege Musa Hassan received a bribe of RM2.1 million to release a group of gangsters, according to Bernama. Johari said he made the ACA report after failing to receive an explanation about the Internet reports from police.

COMMENTARY

From Captain Yusof Ahmad: Read here for more on Ancient Mariner Blog

".. Blogger Nathaniel Tan of jelas.info seemed a bright and personable young man when I met him at a gathering of bloggers in Subang Jaya a couple of months ago. I was shocked when I found out this morning that he has been detained by the police.

It must be noted that Harvard graduate Nat Tan is also a Parti Keadilan Rakyat man and Anwar Ibrahim's secretary for work related to the Foundation of the Future, an international NGO of which the PKR chief is president of.

What gives? Is this country becoming a police state? Or is this is just a plot to strong arm and intimidate opposition politicians?

Well, I'm pissed off enough to know who I am going to vote for in the next GE.

No two ways about this."

From Nuraina A. Samad. Read here for more on 3540 Jalan Sudin Blog

".. Fifty years of nationhood. We have to be proud of that.

Nabbing Nat the way they did?

That's how we still deal with opposition party members. Or whoever else?

Today Nat. Tomorrow?"

POLICE INTIMIDATION TACTICS: Malaysian Police Detains Blogger Nathaniel Tan Without Confirmation of His Whereabouts for Nearly SIX Hours

Nathaniel Tan Detained by Police

Former UN Secretary-General and Nobel laureate Kofi Annan GOT IT IGNORANTLY WRONG on MALAYSIA when he said (on 12th July, 2007 at the Khazanah Global Lectures) that Malaysia is a role model to be emulated by other societies in the world, especially in the racial co-existence aspect.
The Reason? Read HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE
-"Malaysian Unplug"

UPDATE on detention of Nathaniel Tan : 14th July

The Kuala Lumpur magistrate court today ordered that Nathaniel Tan be remanded for 4 days under Section 8 of the Official Secret Act (OSA) over allegation of possession of documents pertaining to Johari Baharum's alleged involvement in corruption.
Read here for more on Screenshots

Statement from former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim:

To:
President of the Foundation for the Future
July 13, 2007
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Today, Nathaniel Tan, who is my secretary as Chairman of the Foundation for the Future, was detained by three plain-clothes individuals. The officers did not identify themselves or their designation but merely mentioned that they were part of the Special Branch and requested Nathaniel to follow them and bring along his laptop.

I strongly condemn the detention of Nathaniel by the Malaysian police. Nathaniel, 27, a graduate of Harvard and resident of Kuala Lumpur, has been actively involved in humanitarian and volunteer efforts in Aceh, Indonesia and Sierra Leone as well as with human rights groups in Malaysia.

I want the Inspector General of Police, Tan Sri Musa Hassan to take this matter to his immediate attention and confirm where and on what grounds is Nathaniel being detained. I request that his lawyers and family members obtain immediate access to Nathaniel to ensure his well-being and safety.

ANWAR IBRAHIM
Chairman
Foundation for the Future

--- end of update --

Read here updates by Tan's sister on her blog.

Read here UPDATES on the detention of Nathaniel Tan

• John Lee , who works with Nathaniel Tan
• Elizabeth Wong
• "Mob's Crib"

From Malaysiakini:

Excerpts: Read here for more on Malaysiakini

At 4.45pm (13th July, 2007) three plainclothes police officers came to Yayasan Aman ( an NGO) in Petaling Jaya and took away Nathaniel Tan, saying he should follow them to Bukit Aman Police Hq. No reason was given by the three policemen. Tan was asked to bring along his notebook computer.

Nathaniel Tan, 26, is the staff of PKR (Parti Keadilan Rakyat) Information Bureau and who helps maintain the opposition pary's website.He is also a prominent Malaysian Blogger.

Tan also works in the Foundation for the Future as the Secretary to PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim, who chairs the foundation. He is a graduate from Harvard University.

It is believed that he is being questioned on matters relating to certain postings on the Internet.

There was no news given by Bukit Aman Police about the whereabouts of Tan and whether he was indeed detained by the police.

It was only at 10 pm, some 6 hours later, that the police confirmed Tan was held in Bukit Aman Police Hq.

According to the police, Tan will be held for 24 hours by Bukit Aman's Cyber Crime Unit to facilitate investigation under the Official Secrets Act (OSA).

Tan is expected to be brought before a magistrate for further remand at 4.30pm tomorrow.

It is not known exactly what OSA offence Tan is being investigated for. The police have also earlier gone to Tan's house to seize his desktop computer.

Anyone found guilty of committing an offence under the Act is punished with a mandatory jail sentence of at least one year.

COMMENTARY

From John Lee: Read here for more

"... What we are working for is a better Malaysia, a CHANGED Malaysia.

A Malaysia where the schools are not nothing more than propaganda outlets.

A Malaysia where the economy is not propped up by a government dependent on oil, and entrepreneurs are stifled by corruption and an interventionist state.

A Malaysia where every Malaysian citizen, regardless of their class, race, or religion, knows they have the same opportunity as anyone else to head a world-class Malaysian corporation, or to be Prime Minister.

That is the goal we work towards. And if these are the objectives you share, then for Nat's (Nathaniel Tan) sake, please join the cause in some way.

Don't vote for the corrupt regime heading this country.

Assert your rights AS A CITIZEN

Do more than just talk, and TAKE ACTION in some way.

Even if it is only at the ballot box, word is that an election may be around the corner.

Please, make your vote count — make it so that the Malaysia of tomorrow is a Malaysia where we do not live in fear of the secret police knocking on the door, where every Malaysian has the same opportunities to be the best they can be, where Malaysia is truly a free and democratic society, instead of the horrid sham it is now."

VOTE FOR CHANGE ! BEFORE THEY Bring the Country Down and to the Dogs.

From People's Parliament Blog. Read here article by Haris Ibrahim
(Haris Ibrahim is a trained lawyer)

Quote:

"... It is an arrogant notion that NO matter what BN does or does not do, WE , the voters continue to give them the mandate to rule.

They can make pre-election promises, yet NOT deliver.

And the suckers that WE are, WILL CONTINUE TO VOTE THEM (Barisan Nasional) IN.

If like me, YOU too are tired of this, the answer stares you in the face.
VOTE FOR CHANGE.
- Haris Ibrahim

ELECTION FACT/REALITY :
"A Vote for MCA, is a Vote for UMNO to remain the dominant party in Government. (Read Here and Here)

A Vote for MIC, is a Vote for UMNO to remain the dominant party in Government" (Read Here and Here)

Related article on "Kickdefella" Blog" :

"...August 3rd, Prime Minister Abdullah Haji Ahmad will advise the YDP Agong to dissolve the Parliament.

Saturday, 25th August and Sunday 26th August will be the Election Day.

A week later, Barisan Nasional will organise the mother of all celebration for BN as the government for Malaysia of the last 50 years. That day will be 31st August 2007.

So, election in August? If you ask me, I will not say no and I will not say maybe. I will say YES. Read here for more
- "Kickdefella"

Excerpts: Read here article by Haris Ibrahim for more on "People's Parliament' Blog

"... I was at a discussion yesterday afternoon. It was a discussion which proceeded on the basis of confidentiality. I shall honour this.

Let me share with you the sense I had, when I left the discussion.

Listening to the views of some of those present and looking at all that has been happening around, left me with a sense that those who are pushing their ‘Islam-as I say-tion’ agenda are going into overdrive mode.

What does this mean, for you and I and every Malaysian, who cherishes the right to choose how we live?

You haven’t a clue? Where have YOU been?

1. Look at what has happened to Revathi and her family.
   
   
2. Look at Lina and the family that she does not have.
   
   
3. Look at how a proposal to improve the election process by the introduction of the use of indelible ink must first be approved by the Fatwa Council.
   
   
4. Look at the raid and seizure at the restaurants in Bangsar recently.
   
   
5. Look at Siti Idayu, the singer detained in Ipoh.
   
   
6. Look at the demolished church in Gua Musang.
   
   
7. Look at the temple demolitions (and here) that have occurred.
   
   
8. Look at the constant push to set up religious vigilante groups.
   
   
9. Look at the increasing surrender of our civil courts to the Syariah courts.

I am NOT prepared to accept THIS HIJACKING of our nation by a SMALL group who would hoodwink us into believing that THEY represent the MAJORITY in this country.

If you, Muslim or not, are also NOT ready to put up with these hijackers, you CANNOT choose to remain SILENT anymore.

Silence is NO longer an option. You MUST speak up.

You MUST make this an election issue.

Did NOT Pak Lah promise us that he would be a PM for all Malaysians? Has he? Has he been a PM to Revathi and Lina?

Did he NOT promise us a tougher stance on corruption? Has he delivered?

Did he NOT promise us an environment conducive for constructive discussion and criticism, creativity and openness, and to create a platform for society’s participation in the debate on national issues? Has he delivered?

Did he NOT direct the formation of the IPCMC (Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission) ? Does he think we have forgotten?

Pak Lah has been urged to suspend the IGP pending investigations by the ACA over allegations of corruption. Do you think he will? And if you think not, why do you suppose that?

Let me reproduce here (the Minister in the Prime Minister s Department,) Nazri Aziz ’s (arrogant) response (on) the lack of independence of the Election Commission (EC).

“The EC has to pass through Parliament. This is the reality of the political system in this country. Anything that needs to be done, has to go through Parliament.

And amendments will have to go through majority vote in Parliament.

And BN has 92 percent of the seats in Parliament. That’s the reality.

It is not what I or what Sri Gading or Mambong wants.

It is the will of the people, because the people place BN to take charge of the country.If you are upset, please go and scold them now.

In the next election, go to the ground and tell the people not to vote for BN. We make decisions based on the mandate that was given to us by the people."

In a ‘Repeal the ISA’ debate with Lim Kit Siang some years back, Nazri repeated the same.

In the ‘Review the Salleh Abas’ sacking’ forum early this year and, more recently, the ‘Nazri-Zaid’ debate on the judiciary organised by the Bar Council, Nazri took the SAME, ARROGANT stance.

This is Nazri’s challenge to us:

‘In the next election, go to the ground and tell the people NOT to vote for BN’.

It is borne of an arrogant notion that no matter what BN does or does not do, we, the voters continue to give them the mandate to rule.

They can make pre-election promises, yet not deliver. And the suckers that we are will continue to vote them in.

If Musa is still IGP and Pak Lah no longer speaks of the IPCMC (Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission), you now know why.

If like me, you too are tired of this, the answer stares you in the face.

VOTE FOR CHANGE.

Malaysia's SHAME Caused by the Country's ISLAMIC Authorities

by

Dr. Farish A. Noor
(Dr. Farish A. Noor is currently visiting Professor at Sunan Kalijaga Islamic University of Jogjakarta, Indonesia)

Quote:

"..Malaysia’s RELIGIOUS AUTHORITIES have proven to be a MENACE to themselves, and some would argue, the country as well .

At a time when religious issues have become ultra-sensitive in Malaysia, cases such as Revathi’s points to the growing intransigence and belligerence of the country’s RELIGIOUS AUTHORITIES, who increasingly behave like a law unto themselves.
-Farish A. Noor

Read here related article from Reuters, "Rise of Islam rankles Malaysia's minority faiths"

Night-Club Singer Siti Noor Idayu Abd Moin
is facing the Islamic Syariah Court for wearing THIS DRESS

The Charge: For "Revealing her body"
and "Promoting vice" under the Perak Syariah Penal Code.
(Read HERE for more and HERE)


Excerpts: Read here Farish A. Noor's article for more

Over the past few years the country’s religious authorities in particular have been at the forefront of the effort to show Malaysia and Islam in the WORST light imaginable:

Religious Morality-Police Raid on a Night Club in Kuala Lumpur

A few years ago Malaysia made the international headlines when members of the religious morality-police vice squad raided a nightclub in the capital, arresting and detaining all the young Malaysians there who happened to be Muslims, while allowing their non-Muslim friends and companions to party the night away.

Those arrested later complained to the media that they were harassed and abused, locked in cages and humiliated by the morality police themselves.

Religious Morality-Police Raid on an Elderly American Couple in Langkawi

Then came the spate of other raids of peoples’ homes, including a rather embarrassing raid on the flat of an elderly American couple who were woken up in the middle of the night on the grounds that they were suspected of having Malaysian Muslims in their flat and presumably up to no good.

The fact that the raid took place on the resort island of Langkawi further dampened Malaysia’s efforts to promote the country as a holiday paradise and second home for retiring couples from abroad.

Freedom of Religion

Lina Joy's Case: Over the past three years the country has witnessed angry public demonstrations by conservative Muslims over the issue of freedom of religion; sparked off by the case of Lina Joy, a Malay-Muslim who had converted to Christianity only to be told that her conversion would not be recognised unless she put herself through the religious court system first, thereby incriminating herself in the process. (Read Here for more, and Here and Here)

Massosai Revathi' Case: (Read here for more and Here) The latest case involves Massosai Revathi, a Malaysian citizen whose parents had converted to Islam but who was brought up by her Hindu grandmother and who had lived most of her life as a Hindu.


Revathi with her daughter and husband
(Photo courtesy of Malaysiakini)
Revathi is therefore one of the unfortunate cases of Malaysian citizens whose complex identity was bound to get her into trouble with the religious authorities in Malaysia, and it finally did.

Following her marriage to her Hindu husband according to Hindu rites, they had a child who was also brought up a Hindu. Revathi was later called in by the religious authorities and told in no uncertain terms that she was legally a Muslim and had therefore committed a crime in the eyes of Islamic law and Muslim jurists:

She was then sent to one of the country’s ‘Faith Rehabilitation Centres’ (see video clip by Al-Jazeera TV) so that she could be ‘persuaded’ to return to Islam.

The plight of Revathi and others like her has brought to the public’s attention the existence of the so-called ‘faith rehabilitation centres’ that were created as part of the Islamisation programme of Malaysia since the 1980s.

Though little is known about these state-funded institutions and what happens in them, Revathi’s case has brought certain facts to light. According to her husband’s affidavit statement made to the court, his wife was kept in the rehab centre and lectured on Islam for weeks on end.

As part of her re-indoctrination into Islam, she was made to eat beef – which as many people know, is not allowed for Hindus. Revathi was kept away from her husband and child for six months, until media pressure and constant lobbying by both Hindu and secular NGO groups led to her release this week.

Upon her release Revathi has spoken of her ordeal to the Malaysian and international press, revealing the conditions of the camp and the fact that many who were there had chosen to escape.

Furthermore she has been told that she CANNOT renounce Islam, despite the fact that she was brought up by her Hindu grandmother and had lived as a Hindu most of her life.
This also puts into jeopardy her marriage to her Hindu husband and the custody of her child.

Needless to say, NONE of this bodes well for Malaysia, Islam or the image of Muslims in the country.

At a time when religious issues have become ultra-sensitive in Malaysia, cases such as Revathi’s points to the growing intransigence and belligerence of the country’s religious authorities who increasingly behave like a law unto themselves.

Furthermore one wonders how many more cases exist out there, of people like Revathi or Lina Joy who have been forced into a life of secrecy and hiding for fear of the wrath of the morality police and shariah enforcers.

Of course, all of this is taking place against the backdrop of a Malaysia that is about to celebrate its 50th anniversary and which is currently celebrating ‘Visit Malaysia Year 2007’.

Tourists who come to the country will undoubtedly be bedazzled by the pastiche of post-modern consumerism run amok in the capital, where shopping and capitalism seem to be the real credo of the land.

The Malaysian government under Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi prides itself with the claim of being a moderate Muslim state where a ‘civilised Islam’ is being promoted under the vague banner of ‘Islam Hadari’.

But WHERE , pray tell, is the ‘civilised’ aspect of religious moral policing that locks people in cages, verbally abuses female Muslims accused of indecent dressing, breaks into the homes of citizens in the dead of night?

Underneath the glitz and glamour of Malaysia’s polished façade, the unfettered religious bureaucracy of the country points to a growing tide of Malay-Muslim communitarianism that is increasingly intolerant and demanding a greater slice of public space.

Some Malaysians living in multiracial neighbourhoods have even been told that they cannot keep dogs as pets, for fear of upsetting their Muslim neighbours.

The victims of this politicised religious politics, like Revathi, are left to fend for themselves with only the help of the country’s small NGO community and the international media to highlight their cases.

Yet the verdict is clear: After being detained for six months, Revathi confesses that she ‘HATES Islam even more now’. Hardly surprising when one considers what she has been put through in the name of ‘saving her soul’.

The question is, what is the current government of Malaysia going to do about the current state of affairs?

Malaysia’s religious authorities have proven to be a menace to themselves, and some would argue the country as well .


COMMENTARY:

By Neil Khor (Cambridge): Read here for more

".. In recent months, Malaysia has made the headlines in the UK for all the wrong reasons. The latest case involves a Malay singer arrested in Ipoh and allegedly ill-treated by religious officials for dressing ‘indecently’.

The religious intolerance of these religious officials springs from entrenched power.

That Malay power and Islam has fused into an exclusive and intolerant body is leaving Hindu temples in ruins,(and) banana leaf restaurants empty of its religious symbols.

And a Hindu, raised as one and married to one, (was) forced to ‘rehabilitate’ herself. To make her, a Malaysian citizen protected by a secular constitution, subject to the religious (Syariah) court that was created to ‘defend’ the religion she was NEVER part of, is mind-boggling.

That she was then separated from her children and husband is the height of cruelty.

That none of the mainstream newspapers have had the courage to do a special report on this problem,(and) NOBODY in the Government has had the tenacity to stop this type of prosecution in its tracks reveals how deeply cowed Malaysians are about religion.

But the real victim of the actions of these few religious zealots is the religion itself.

NO religion can survive such assaults.

That Malaysians are witness to the smearing of Islam, its good name, its philosophy of tolerance and kindness and remain totally unaffected is quite amazing.

Identity Crisis of Malays in Multi-Religious Malaysian Society

From "The Other Malaysia". Read here article by Dr. Farish A. Noor
(Dr. Farish A. Noor is currently visiting Professor at Sunan Kalijaga Islamic University of Jogjakarta, Indonesia)

Quote:

"Lina(Joy)is a Malaysian like the rest of us.

That she has been forced into hiding is a SHAME that ALL of us will now be forced to carry on our collective shoulders.

I happen to be a Muslim NOT because it is stated so on some piece of paper, but because that happens to be my current existential status. The same certainly applies to Lina, our fellow citizen.

I am writing this without the benefit of ever having met Lina herself. Perhaps one day I shall finally come face to face with this fellow citizen whose choice of belief proves my point that identities are crafted and decided by agency, rather than the dictates of history and the circumstances of politics.

When that day comes, I shall be quite happy indeed – for citizen Lina is proof that Malaysia is still capable of defining itself according to the will and agency of its citizens, and it is we, after all, who define what Malaysia is.
-Farish A. Noor

Excerpts: Read here full article by Dr. Farish A. Noor

Identities are funny things.

The conflation of Malay and Muslim identity is ARTIFICIAL. It has NO basis in history is embarrassingly evident for all to see.

(Just) hop on the first AirAsia flight to Indonesia next door to see for ourselves that the SAME rule does NOT apply for them.



Our Indonesian Neighbours

Indonesians seem more comfortable with the idea that in the SAME family there can be Muslims, Christians and Hindus living under ONE roof.

Unlike us, they don't go around crafting slogans and jingles for the ad campaign to sell Indonesia as some multi-culti happy land of harmony that is ‘Truly Asia’.

Moreover, it proves that our Indonesian friends are quite capable of living with Pluralism that doesn't have to be imported from the liberal capitals of the West.

But try taking that road to multiculturalism in Malaysia and see what happens... well, in fact one among our number has done just that, though at a rather hefty cost to her well-being. I am, of course talking about our fellow Malaysian citizen Lina Joy.

Malaysia and Citizen Lina Joy

Though I’ve never met her and have no idea what she looks like, I am disturbed by the fact that right now, as we stand precariously on the brink of our big fiftieth anniversary, the Malaysian nation has lost – some would say ejected – one of our own.

At fifty Malaysia as a nation should be mature enough, wise enough, and gutsy enough to live with the realities of a complex plural society. Yet Lina’s decision to leave Islam and to convert to another religion has irked many among her former faith community.

Legal technicalities aside, what surprised me the most was the reaction of some quarters who immediately pounced upon citizen Lina and denounced her as a traitor to her race and religion.

Death threats ensued, with hatemail and slander aplenty. (Something Malaysians seem particularly fond of and good at.) Mobs took to the streets demanding their brand of small town justice, and warnings were issued to latte-drinking liberals not to stir the hornets’ nest or revise the constitutional set up of the country.

It doesn’t take much intelligence to see that behind this wayang kulit of inflated egos and boiling tempers were some other political motives at work.

First and foremost one is struck by how citizen Lina was accused of being both a race traitor and an apostate at the same time, underscoring the fact that here in our quirky little tropical paradise, being Malay is inextricably bound to being a Muslim.

Of course any historian worth his or her salt would be the first to tell you that this notion raises a plethora of unanswered questions, such as ‘if being a Malay means being Muslim, then what the heck were our ancestors who built all those temples like Borobudur and Prambanan, and their humbler cousins here in Lembah Bujang?’ Swedish??

Such are the commonsensical fictions that guide our understanding of identity in this benighted country of ours that till today conversion to Islam is referred to as ‘masuk Melayu’ (becoming Malay).

Following the same skewered logic that got us into this mess in the first place, leaving Islam is tantamount to abandoning the Malay community as well.

Thus it hardly comes as a surprise if the groups who were most vocal in demonising our fellow citizen Lina happened to be the gung-ho rempit-types who are more than happy to harp on and on about preserving the agenda of Ketuanan Melayu as well.

Citizen Lina was accused of breaking the law, causing trouble, upsetting the neighbours and keeping hundreds of conservative die-hards awake night after night.

Yet in the midst of this brouhaha we forget that this story involves the plight of a fellow Malaysian citizen whose only fault – if we can even call it that – was to ask to be recognised for what she is today.

She is living proof that someone can be Malay and Christian at the same time, a fact rooted in our collective past which recurs again and again to spook the simplistic worldview of some today.

For all intents and purposes, Lina is a Malaysian like the rest of us.

That she has been forced into hiding is a shame that all of us will now be forced to carry on our collective shoulders.

Furthermore she also happens to be a Christian, and no legal hassling, soap-box dramatics, verbal pyrotechnics and rabble-rousing will alter that simple fact.

I happen to be a Muslim not because it is stated so on some piece of paper, but because that happens to be my current existential status. The same applies to the rest of us, whatever our beliefs may be; and the same certainly applies to Lina, our fellow citizen.

I regret the fact that I am writing this without the benefit of ever having met Lina herself.

Perhaps one day our paths may cross and I shall finally come face to face with this fellow citizen whose choice of belief proves my point that identities are crafted and decided by agency rather than the dictates of history and the circumstances of politics.

When that day comes, I shall be quite happy indeed – for citizen Lina is proof that Malaysia is still capable of defining itself according to the will and agency of its citizens, and it is we, after all, who define what Malaysia is.

To Lina, my fellow Malaysian, I wish a Happy Merdeka and all the best.

UMNO Youth Hurt by Tian Chua's Botched Photo? How Stupid Can UMNO Youth Get for Political Mileage

From Malaysiakini: Read here for more

Quote:

"We as Umno Youth and citizens of Malaysia are HURT by Chua’s actions”
-Khairy Jamaluddin, Deputy Chief, UMNO YOUTH

Let's get this straight: HURT? UMNO YOUTH?
A very long shot. Almost impossible for anyone in this country to believe, for an organisation that itself practises variations of verbal and street gangsterism in dealing with others, especially members from other political parties !

UMNO Youth does NOT have ANY high moral ground at all on THIS issue.

Excerpts: Read here for more

Khairy Jamaluddin, Deputy Chief, UMNO YOuth said (Tian) Chua had insulted the Umno deputy president and also touched on the trial into the murder of Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu.

“We as Umno Youth and citizens of Malaysia are hurt by Chua’s actions,” said Khairy, who was accompanied by Tangga Batu MP Idris Harun and Putera Umno chief Abdul Azeez Abd Rahim.

“It (the picture) was fake and unsubstantiated. (And) Chua has admitted this himself. We take it as something that was done in bad faith.”

Umno Youth's deputy chief Khairy Jamaluddin lodged a complaint today with the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), seeking “speedy action” against Chua who is PKR information chief.

UMNO YOUTH's HYPOCRISY

Khairy refused to be drawn into commenting on a digital composition posted on the Umno Youth website in 2005 which had offended the DAP. Read HERE for more, and HERE and HERE


The Above Picture Posted on UMNO Youth's Official Website,
on September 9, 2005 (courtesy of Malaysiakini)
The picture on the UMNO Youth website contained the superimposed faces of opposition leaders on the cover of the book, Alias Chin Peng: My Side of History - the autobiography of the former Communist Party of Malaya (CPM) secretary-general, who now lives in exile in Thailand.

The super-imposed faces of Opposition Leaders on the cover of the book, ‘Alias Chin Peng: My Side of History’ were that of former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim, Parliamentary Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang, PAS leaders Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat and Abdul Hadi Awang as well as DAP chairperson Karpal Singh and the party’s international secretary Ronnie Liu.

Khairy said, “This has nothing to do with our report today. (They) did not lodge a report."

Tian Chua, As KeADILan's Information Chief, What Were You Thinking?

by

"Malaysian Unplug"

Mr. Tian Chua, you are a public figure, a political leader in every respect, and someone responsible for information management on behalf of KeADILan, a Malaysian political party with representation in Parliament.

What were YOU thinking, doctoring a photo in an attempt to embarrass the Deputy Prime Minister of the country?

Faking a photo in the midst of a court trial and posting it on the website is simply NOT ON.

Whatever your political leanings are, Datuk Seri Najib IS STILL the Deputy Prime Minister of the country.

What you have done is NOT funny.

It is definitely UNACCEPTABLE to decent and fair-minded Malaysians for someone with your public standing to engage in such a media fraud.

The decent thing you should do now is to apologise to Datuk Seri Najib, and immediately RESIGN from your post as Information Chief of your political party, for the sake of keeping your personal integrity and credibility intact.

You should now go and do the right thing.



The Photo Faked by Tian Chua (Photo reproduced courtesy of Kickdefella Blog )


Enlarged Version of the Faked Photo (Photo courtesy of Kickdefella Blog)

The Real Photo of Datuk Seri Najib (Photo reproduced courtesy of Kickdefella Blog )

Excerpt from Bernama

"... Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) information head Tian Chua has refused to apologise for publishing the fake photograph linking Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to Altantuya Shaaribuu in his web blog.

He admitted that the photograph which he had created personally was merely fantasy and a work of art but insisted that he would not retract the photograph nor apologise to anyone.

"I did it myself and it was not done professionally. If there had been such a dinner, that is how it will be perceived. The woman in the photograph was not the real Altantuya," he told reporters at the PKR office, here.

Commentary

From Kickdefella Blog

"Read the comment below posted by Tian’s reader: Why Tian indulges himself so stupidly is a mystery. Now when the real picture comes out - I’m sure Tian Chua’s doctored pix will be used to cause confusion and will get airtime in order to show that it was the work of the enemy and blur what might actually be the truth.

Stupid Boy Tian Chua ! Don’t be so amateurish. You once ran for parliament with good intentions !..."

Altantuya's Murder Trial: Time Magazine Calls It "Malaysia's Trial of the Century"

From Time.com

Quote:

"Welcome to what may be the MOST sensational case in an Asian courtroom today.

Malaysia is often held up as a model of a Muslim-majority democracy, doesn't usually play host to a murder trial that seems better suited to an episode of The Sopranos. "
-Hannah Beech

Excerpts: Read here for more article by Hannah Beech

A Mongolian part-time model whose naked body was allegedly blown up by military-grade explosives.

A former political adviser to Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister charged with abetting the murder of his ex-lover.

Two government security agents whom the prosecution alleges carried out the killing of the 28-year-old Mongolian woman.

A loyal wife who, despite allegations of her husband's involvement in the plot, has worn a T shirt to the murder trial that says MRS. RAZAK BAGINDA on the front, AND PROUD OF IT on the back.

Welcome to what may be the most sensational case in an Asian courtroom today.

Malaysia, a tidy Southeast Asian nation that is often held up as a model of a Muslim-majority democracy, doesn't usually play host to a murder trial that seems better suited to an episode of The Sopranos.

Indeed, the killing of model turned interpreter Altantuya Shaariibuu last October has riveted this country of 25 million.

First, there is the sheer luridness of the case.

Then, there are the political implications: some Malaysians think it might hurt the succession hopes of Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak.

For others, the trial, which opened last month, serves as a bellwether of the integrity of Malaysia's legal system and its burgeoning press. Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has vowed to make protecting such institutions a cornerstone of his administration.

Yet the legitimacy of the Shaariibuu case was already questioned last month when the original chief prosecutor was removed just hours before the trial was to begin.

Before that, several local journalists were briefly detained after covering the case. Although Malaysian newspapers have reported extensively on the trial since then, certain scandalous details emerging from the past week's testimony have been omitted from many local press reports.

What the Trial is About

The story begins in 2004 when a polished Malaysian think-tank director named Abdul Razak Baginda met the comely Shaariibuu at a party in Hong Kong.

A married father, Abdul Razak, now 47, had been educated in Britain, had written several books on Malaysia's political economy, and was known to be close to Deputy PM Najib.

Abdul Razak and Shaariibuu began a romantic relationship, meeting up for secret liaisons across Asia.

Eight months later, Abdul Razak broke off the affair, according to the prosecution and a court affidavit filed by him. Abdul Razak alleges that Shaariibuu then began blackmailing him, presumably threatening to make their relationship public if he did not pay up.

By the spring of 2006, however, Abdul Razak says he stopped sending money.

In October, Shaariibuu traveled to the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur.

In his affidavit, Abdul Razak says that after Shaariibuu showed up in town, he confided about her to a high-ranking security officer who worked for Najib. Then, on Oct. 19, according to Abdul Razak's affidavit, the think-tank head called a police officer associated with a high-level unit that provided security for top Malaysian leaders to tell him Shaariibuu was outside his house.

Soon after, a car with three police agents pulled up and took the Mongolian woman away. That was the last Abdul Razak says he saw of his former paramour.

On Nov. 6, Shaariibuu's burned remains were found in a jungle outside Kuala Lumpur. Abdul Razak has pleaded not guilty to abetting murder; the two policemen charged with carrying out the killing have pleaded not guilty, too. If convicted, all three could face the death penalty.

Just how the case will affect the Deputy Prime Minister is not yet clear.

Najib, the heir apparent to PM Abdullah, has denied any involvement, stating that he never even met Shaariibuu. But on June 29 a court witness claimed she had seen a photo of Abdul Razak, Shaariibuu and a man she named as "Najib Razak" dining at a Paris restaurant.

Najib has refused to comment on this specific testimony. "The longer he tries to avoid the issue, the more wild the rumors will be," says Lim Guan Eng, secretary-general of the opposition Democratic Action Party. "The government wants to be known as serious about transparency and justice, but this case damages those efforts."

This isn't the first time Malaysia's court system has faced scrutiny.

Nearly a decade ago, then Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim was jailed for sodomy and abuse of power—a ruling condemned as political by human-rights groups.

Now, Anwar is leading the charge against high-ranking members of his former political party. "Any hint that the integrity of the system has been compromised during the investigation and trial will further erode the public's faith in the institutions of governance," Anwar said in a press statement.

For his part, Najib's boss, PM Abdullah, has promised that politics will not influence the outcome of the trial. But any link to such a high-profile murder can't be good news for Malaysia's leaders.

The case will likely continue over the next month, just as the Southeast Asian nation gears up to celebrate a half-century of freedom from British rule.

With so many salacious details emerging from court testimony, Malaysia can only hope that its trial of the century does not overshadow 50 years of independence.

Mongolian Woman's ( Altantuya) Murder Trial: Owner of the Suzuki Vitara Car No: CAC 1883 Identified

During the trial, Prosecution’s star witness, Lans Koperal Rohaniza Roslan, said that a dark green four-wheel drive Suzuki Vitara bearing registration number plate CAC 1883, and driven by a man in a green cap, drove murder victim, Altantuya Shaariibuu away and that was the last she was seen alive.

Who is the owner of the Suzuki Vitara Registration No: CAC 1883?

Why is the identity of the owner and/or driver of this vehicle still not being made known to the public by the police? Information could easily be obtained from Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan Malaysia.

Malaysia-Today under its "No Holds Bar" Blog has published the identity of the owner of the Suzuki Vitara Registration No: CA 1883.

Vehicle registration number: CAC 1883, Type: 4WD

Registered owner: Tomiran Bin H. Abdul Sukur
Age: 67 years
NRIC No: 3955351
Address: 131, Rizab 3, Jalan Masjid,
Batu 8, Ijok, Batang Berjuntai, Selangor
.

Ali Baba Lecturers in Malaysian Universities

From Malaysiakini: Read here for more

Excerpts from a letter to editor of Malaysiakini:

" I am an enrolled post-graduate student at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas).

I was shocked when my supervisor told me that I CANNOT publish journal articles based on my thesis if I do NOT include him as co-author.

In fact he demanded that HE be the MAIN author although I did ALL the work.

I have asked around and was told that this is STANDARD practice in Malaysia.

However, when I checked with universities in Singapore, Australia and United Kingdom, I was told there is no such thing. Supervisors CANNOT take credit for their student's work.

I believe Malaysian (academic) supervisors do this because they are NOT capable of doing ORIGINAL research so they want a FREE ride in academic publishing.

I hope this matter is exposed and the Higher Education Minister will do something.

This is nothing more than legalise blackmail."

Barisan Nasional Govt is Running Scared: State-owned and Private Radio & TV Stations Instructed NOT to Broadcast Opposition Leaders' Speeches

UPDATE: 3rd July

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has been ordered by Energy, Water and Communications Minister Dr Lim Keng Yaik to WITHDRAW its directive barring privately owned television stations from airing speeches by opposition leaders.

“I wrote a letter to MCMC on Tuesday instructing the commission to withdraw its directive with immediate effect,” Energy, Water and Communications Minister Dr Lim Keng Yaik told reporters in the Parliament lobby today.

Lim said he did not know of the directive as he was overseas and found out about it after reading it in the newspapers. Read here for more

End of update

From Malaysiakini: Read here for more

Quote:

“The Government has noted that several private TV and radio stations have been airing speeches by Opposition Party leaders.

Your station is requested NOT to broadcast such speeches in future.”
- Dr Halim Shafie, MCMC chairman

Letter from Secretary-General, Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC)to Privately-Owned Radio and TV Stations
Excerpts from article in Malaysiakini: Read here for more

Malaysiakini has obtained a copy of the letter from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) ordering ALL PRIVATE TV and radio stations to STOP airing speeches by Opposition Party leaders. [See original letter]

“The government has noted that several private TV and radio stations have been airing speeches by opposition party leaders,” wrote MCMC chairman Dr Halim Shafie in the June 7 letter.

“Your station is requested not to broadcast such speeches in future.”

The one-page letter added that the directive should be implemented IMMEDIATELY.

The letter was carbon-copied to Energy, Water and Communications Ministry’s secretary general Dr Halim Man.

It’s an open secret that the government issues directives to state-owned television and radio stations to black out the opposition.

But it now appears that private stations also receive similar directives.

MCMC, a government agency under the Energy, Water and Communications Ministry, is empowered to regulate matters relating to communications and multimedia activities, including private TV and radio stations as well as Internet websites.

The licencing of private TV and radio stations comes under its purview. (Read here the legislation on licencing)

79 Hindu Temples in Malaysia Being Demolished, Relocated Next to Sewage Tanks, Being Served Notice for Demolishment, or Burnt to the Ground

From Bangkit.Net Blog: Read here for more

From 22.2.2006 TO 13.6.2007 (one year and four months), 79 HINDU TEMPLES in MALAYSIA were faced with:

1. BEING DEMOLISHED,
   
   
2. GIVEN NOTICE TO BE DEMOLISHED
   
   
3. RELOCATED NEXT TO SEWERAGE TANKS,
   
   
4. BURNT TO THE GROUND, or
   
   
5. DEITIES FORCIBLY REMOVED
   

Over the last 15 years, Hindu temples in Malaysia are being demolished at the rate of ONE temple in every THREE weeks.

According Mr. P. Waytha Moorthy, Chairman HINDRAF (Hindu Rights Action Force):

From 22.2.2006 to 13.6.2007 (about one year and four months) HINDRAF have recorded 79 Hindu temples to have been unlawfully unconstitutionally and with impunity demolished, given notice to be demolished, burnt down, relocated next to sewerage tanks deities removed etc.

From 22.2.2006 to 26.6.2006, 99 police reports have been lodged in respect of the said Hindu temple demolishments. Not a single criminal has been prosecuted as of date.

From 22.2.2006 to 26.6.2006, HINDRAF have written 74 letters and memorandums to the Attorney-General and the relevant state authorities, but are yet to receive a single response.

For more details, contact:

P. Waytha Moorthy, Chairman HINDRAF (Hindu Rights Action Force)
No. 135-3-A, Jalan Toman 7,Kemayan Square,70200 Seremban, Negeri Sembilan. Tel : 06-7672995/6 , Fax: 06-7672997
Email: waytha@hotmail.com

1. FIFTEEN (15) HINDU TEMPLES DEMOLISHED IN THE KLANG VALLEY
   
   1. The Sri Ayyanar Sathiswary Alayam Temple (more than 65 years) Jalan Davies was demolished on 22.2.2006 and the statues buried at site.
   
   2. The Malaimel Sri Selva Kaliamman Temple Pantai(more than 100 years) was demolished on 17.4.2006 by the Kuala Lumpur City Hall.
   
   3. The Vaalmuniswarar Rajaamman Kovil(more than 60 years) at Lady Templer Hospital demolished on the 3.05.2006 by City Hall Kuala Lumpur.
   
   4. Sri Kaliamman temple at Midlands Estate, Seksyen 7, Shah Alam (more than 100 years) was demolished by the Shah Alam City Hall on 9.5.2006.
   
   5. The Sri Balakrishan Muniswarer temple in Setapak (more than 60 years) was partly demolished on 11.05.2006 by the Kuala Lumpur City Hall.
   
   6. The Sri Balakrishan Muniswarer temple in Setapak was completely demolished and deities broken up on 8.6.2006.
   
   7. The demolished Sri Kaliamman temple at Midlands Estate, Seksyen 7, Shah Alam was demolished for a second time on the 12.06.2006 wherein 3 main Hindu deities were hammered and smashed up to pieces with a sledge hammer by the Shah Alam City Council enforcement officers.
   
   8. On 1.08.2006 the Om Sri Sakti Nagamma Allaya Hindu Temple in Taman Sri Manja, PJS 3/30 Petaling Jaya, Selangor was demolished by the Petaling Jaya City Council.
   
   9. Demolishment of the Sri Subramaniam temple in Country Homes, Rawang, Selangor, Malaysia on 29.09.2006.
   
   10. On 31.10.2006 Sri Muniswarar Temple (more than a 100 years old) which was built on private land in Bandar Rinching, Semenyih Selangor was demolished.
   
   11. The demolishment of the Devi Sri Karumaniamman Hindu Temple, Petaling Jaya Utara, Section 21, Kampung Taman Aman on 30.11.2006.
   
   12. On 29.12.2006 Sri Muniswarar Temple (more than a 100 years old) which was built on private land in Bandar Rinching, Semenyih Selangor was demolished.
   
   13. On 22/2/2007 the Sri Maha Nageswari Hindu Temple in Taman Cahaya 7, Ampang, Selangor Darul Ehsan was demolished.
   
   14. On 15.5.2007, the JKR Sri Muniswarar Hindu Temple, Jalan Kapar, Klang was demolished.
   
   15. On 13.6.2007 the Sri Kaliaman Hindu temple in Midlands estate Shah Alam was demolished.
   
   

2. FOUR (4) OTHER DEMOLISHED HINDU TEMPLES LOCATED OUTSIDE KLANG VALLEY BUT WITHIN PENINSULAR MALAYSIA:-
   
   16. The Demolishment of the Sri Maha Sivalingaeswarrar Hindu Temple, Batu 7,
   Gemas Tampin 10/04/2002.
   
   17. The 80 year old Sri Muthumariamman Alayam Hindu Temple in Skudai Johor
   Bahru was demolished in August 2006.
   
   18. Statutes from Sungai Wangi Mathurai Veeran Temple (60 years old) in Sitiawan, Kampung Tirali, 9th Mile Jalan Air Tawar, Sungai Wangi Estate, Perak were hammered, smashed up and thrown into a drain and temple demolished on 17.10.2006 by the Manjung District Council.
   
   19. The 55 year old Kaliaman Alayam Hindu Temple in Taman Impiana Mengelembu
   in Ipoh was demolished on 27/11/2006.
   
   
3. THIRTY ONE (31) HINDU TEMPLES WITHIN THE KLANG VALLEY THAT HAS BEEN THREATENED WITH DEMOLISHMENT NOTICE:-
   
   20. Kuil Hindu Sri Mariaman di Seksyen 11, Shah Alam has been given notice to the demolished on 26.4.2006 from the Shah Alam Municipal Council.
   
   21. The Sri Maha Mariamman Temple Taman Intan Baiduri Selayang has been given notice to be demolished recently (Nanban June 2006)
   
   22. The Sri Subramaniam Temple Kg.Jawa Klang(107 years old) has been given notice to be demolished (June 2006).
   
   23. The Mariamman Temple Jalan Meru Bandar Setia Alam, Shah Alam (101 years old) has been given notice to be demolished (June 2006)
   
   24. The Kg.Jawa Mariamman Temple (more than 120 years) has been given notice to be demolish (June 2006).
   
   25. The Sri Maha Laxhsmi temple in Sunway has been given notice to be demolished by the Petalaing Jaya City Council in June 2006.
   
   26. The Sri Angineer Temple in Taman Tun Dr. Ismail, Kuala Lumpur built on a private land has been given notice to be demolished by the Kuala Lumpur City Manager(June 2006).
   
   27. Sri Mahamariaman Hindu Temple in Kg Semarak, Old Klang Road has been threatened with demolishment five (5) times before on TOL Land-Nanban(6/7/06) pg. 12
   
   28. Sri Sai Bala Raman Hindu Temple in Klang Jaya is being threatened with demolishment - Nesan (7/7/06)
   
   29. 101 year old Dewi Sri Karumari Aman Temple in 4 1/2 Mile Jalan Meru, Klang was ordered closed by Selangor State Government on 10.07.2006 and thereafter the said temple is threatened to be demolished to make way for housing development.
   
   30. The 101 year old Thevy Sri Karumariamman temple’s Bandar Setia Alam, Shah Alam access road to be closed on 10.7.2006 by the Selangor State Government and later to be demolished to make way for a private housing development.
   
   31. Arun Estate Temple in Shah Alam- Nesan (12/7/06) pg. 6
   
   32. In July 2006 the 110 year old Tepi Sungai JKR Mariaman Temple was given notice to be demolished.
   
   33. In July 2006 the Sri Muniswarar temple in Jalan Air Panas Baru Setapak was given notice to be demolished.
   
   34. In July 2006, the Sri Jada Muniswarar Hindu Temple in Danau Kota, Kuala Lumpur was given notice to be demolished.
   
   35. Jedda Manismanar Hindu Temple in Jalan Setapak was informed to vacate is being threatened with demolishment - Nesan(17/8/06)
   
   36. Sri Maha Megeswari Hindu Temple in Lembah Jaya, Ampang is being threatened with demolishment -Nesan(20/8/06)
   
   37. Muniswarar Hindu Temple in Bandar Baru Ampang is being threatened with demolishment -Nesan(20/8/06)
   
   38. Sri Sakti Vinayar Hindu Temple in Kampung Ampang Indah is being threatened with demolishment -Nesan(20/8/06)
   
   39. Mariaman Hindu Temple in Kg Tasik Permai, Ampang is being threatened with demolishment -Nesan(20/8/06)
   
   40. Siti Subramariam Hindu Temple in Kg Tasik Permai, Ampang is being threatened with demolishment -Nesan(20/8/06)
   
   41. Sri Mariaman Temple (60 years old) in Section 18 given notice to relocate on 18/10/2006.
   
   42. Sri Kaliaman Temple (80 years old) in Section 18 given notice to relocate on 18/10/2006.
   
   43. Sri Vinayagar Temple (80 years old) in Section 18 given notice to relocate on 18/10/2006.
   
   44. Sri Mariaman Temple (109 years old) in Section 19 which has a sacred 100 year old tree given notice to relocate on 18/10/2006.
   
   45. Sri Mariaman Temple (100 years old) in Section 15 given notice to relocate on 18/10/2006.
   
   46. Sri Maha Mariaman Hindu Temple in Section 11 given notice to relocate on 18/10/2006.
   
   47. The 80 year old Sri Athi Muniswara Temple in Jalan Semarak, off Jalan Gurney in Kuala Lumpur was given notice to be demolished on 19.10.2006.
   
   48. On 21.11.2006 the Sivaksakthi Linggeswara Hindu Temple in Kampung Tropikana, Jalan Padang Tembak, Subang Jaya given notice to be demolished.
   
   49. The Sri Kamatchie Amman Telecoms Temple Cheras (more than 100 years) is being threatened with demolishment.
   
   50. Despite receiving recognition from UNESCO, Nageswari Hindu Temple in Bangsar is being threatened with demolishment.
   
   
4. SEVENTEEN (17) OTHER HINDU TEMPLES LOCATED OUTSIDE THE KLANG VALLEY BUT WITHIN PENINSULA MALAYSIA THAT HAS BEEN THREATENED WITH DEMOLISHMENT:-
   
   51. The Sri Muniswarar Aalayam Seremban (150 years) and a 150 year old Raintree have been threatened with demolishment since March 2006 by the District and Land Office .
   
   52. On 26.6.2006 the 110 year old the Sri Chinna Karuppan Temple in Masai Johor was given notice to be demolished.
   
   53. The 60 year old Saiva Muniswarar Temple Temple in Sg.Petani Kedah given notice to be demolished (Nanban 29.6.2006 pg 4)
   
   54. Sri Muthumariaman Aman Skudai Hindu Temple (70 years old) in Lindon Estate risks being demolished- Nesan (3/7/06) pg. 7
   
   55. Sri Muniswarar Temple in Slim River- Nesan (14/7/06)
   
   56. On 15.7.2006 the Muniswarar Temple in Sitiawan was given notice to be demolished- Nanban(15/7/06)
   
   57. Hindu Temple is being threatened with demolishment - Nesan (19/7/06) pg. 6
   
   58. Sri Nageswari Amman Alayam Hindu Temple is being threatened with demolishment - Nesan (19/7/06) pg. 6
   
   59. Muniswarar Hindu Temple is being threatened with demolishment - Nesan (19/7/06) pg. 6
   
   60. Sri Sakti Viyanayagar Hindu Temple is being threatened with demolishment - Nesan (19/7/06) pg. 6
   
   61. Sri Maha Mariaman Hindu Temple is being threatened with demolishment - Nesan (19/7/06) pg. 6
   
   62. Sri Subramaniam Hindu Temple is being threatened with demolishment -Nesan (19/7/06) pg. 6
   
   63. Muthu Mariaman Hindu Temple in Liutan Estate Skudai threatened to be demolished on 13.08.06.
   
   64. Sri Subramaniam Hindu Temple in Kampar is being threatened with demolishment -Nesan(21/8/06)
   
   65. Bangi Mariaman Hindu Temple is being threatened with demolishment -Nesan(23/8/06)
   
   66. Taman U Hindu Temple in Skudai, Johor Bahru was on the verge of being demolished when about 600 Hindu devotees protested on 23.08.06.
   
   67. Sri Mathuraimeeran Hindu Temple in Kampar Taman, Sri Wangi is being threatened with demolishment -Nanban(25/8/06).
   
   
5. THREE (3) HINDU TEMPLES THAT HAVE BEEN BURNT TO THE GROUND:-
   
   68. The Ganggai Muthu Karumariaman temple in PMR Batu Buntung Estate Kulim,
   Kedah on 15.5.2006 was torched by unknown / mysterious criminals.
   
   69. The Sri Kalikambul Kamadeswarar temple in Ebor Estate Batu Tiga, Shah Alam Selangor.
   
   70. The Sri Kalkattha Kaliamman temple in Kampung Sungai Kayu Ara, 47400 Petaling Jaya.
   
   
6. SIX (6) TEMPLES FORCED TO BE RELOCATED NEXT TO SEWERAGE TANKS:-
   
   71. The Sri Muneeswarar JKR Temple, Batu 5/12, Jalan Kapar, 42100 Klang, Selangor (73 years old) was given notice to be demolished forced to be relocated next to a severage tank (June 2006). (Hindraf)
   
   72. Sri Kumaravel Hindu Temple in Kampung Medan, Petaling Jaya, Selangor was forcibly relocated next to a sewarage tank, electric station (TNB) and high voltage cable on 14.07.2006 . (Makkal Osai 15.7.06)
   
   73. Mariaman Hindu Temple in Bukit Beonang, Taman Bukit Melaka forced to relocate next to sewerage tank.(Nanban 25/8/2006)
   
   74. Sri Raja Rajeswarar Hindu Temple in Taman Tunku Jaafar, Senawang, Seremban. (Hindraf)
   
   75. Mariaman and Perumal Hindu Temple in Puchong Perdana, Selangor. (DAP sources)
   
   76. Mariaman Temple in Desa Mewah, Sunway Semenyih forcibly relocated next to a septic tank. (Bandar Rincing, Semenyih Temple Chairman)
   
   
7. THREE (3) HINDU TEMPLES WHERE DEITIES FORCIBLY REMOVED:-
   
   77. Statues from 73 year old JKR Sri Muniswarar Temple, Jalan Kapar Klang Temple was forcibly removed and taken away under mysterious circumstances in July 2006.
   
   78. Deities from the Devi Sri Karumariaman Hindu Temple, Petaling Jaya Utara, Section 21, Kampung Taman Aman forcibly removed and left in a construction site.
   
   79. Kaliamman Hindu Temple, Jalan Matin Batu 5 Seremban (more than 28 years) deities and temple bell was removed. (Nanban - 3.9.2006)