MIC president Datuk Seri Samy Vellu is calling for the release of the five Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leaders under ISA detention, saying two of them should be freed sooner because one is ill and the other is now an elected representative. [Bernama]
It’s funny reading how many times Samy Vellu had to stress that it’s not a political stunt; I doubt many would agree with him in this sense. He should have make the call much earlier, but it’s better late than never… political stunt or not, I don’t really mind as long as it makes a change at the end.
This raise the same old issue again… what’s the point of having ISA at the first place? It’s probably the most barbaric act we have in Malaysia. I can understand the need for certain laws to protect the nation against terrorism or racial crash, but locking up people without trial for months and years is just not right.
I would have support an act to detain a suspicious terrorist for prolonged period, say for 14 or 28 days… but if there is no solid proofs to file any charges, the suspect have to be let go. It’s one of the basic fundamentals of our constitution… that we would rather let a criminal off the hook than to put an innocent man into wrong justice.
I am not saying that the Hindraf 5 are innocent; the Hindraf memorandum still rings in my mind occasionally… truth or not it’s seditious nonetheless. However, it’s just not right to detain anyone without giving them a fair trial.
It’s not just about releasing the Hindraf 5… ISA should be abolished.
Quoted from Nuraina A Samad…
“If the government was so sure that the 5 Hindraf leaders had breached any law of the land, then the 5 should have been subjected to the processes of law. Detention under the ISA is not a due process of law. It is unjust.”
Datuk Ahmad Said has sworn in as the new Menteri Besar of Terengganu on Sunday (Mar 30) with the support of all 23 state assemblymen, thus putting an end to the mini-crisis over the appointment.
For those who are cheering that the Palace has won the tug-of-war between the Umno central leadership… please think twice of the complications involved.
There are flaws when it comes to appointment of a new MB… it’s a regret that the people would have no final saying of who should be the MB.
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Former Selangor MB, Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo, has launched his own blog.
I have read some sarcastic comments on other blogs about Khir’s motive. The fact that he is going to moderate the comments at the blog is not going to be welcomed by the public…
I don’t blame him for that though; some Malaysians are immaturely abusing the freedom of speech… and considering his dent reputation among anti-BN supporters, his blog would be flooded with pointless verbal abuse, which probably deserves some moderation.
I hope that he won’t be stupid enough to block proper comments which share different point of views, and that he would share his real thoughts instead of making it solely for propaganda purpose.
Set the agendas and motives aside… it should be a welcome move to see political leaders expressing their thoughts directly to the public and to receive feedback. Give him a chance shall we?
Domestic consumers in Selangor who are using individual meters will start enjoying free usage of water for the first 20 cubic metres from June 1, 2008.
Those whose supply is linked to bulk meters – including flat, apartment and condominium dwellers – will not enjoy the free water just yet. [Thestar]
The state government and the water distribution concessionaire Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas) are working on replacing the bulk meters (with individual meters)… but seems like it might take a while because of some complications.
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The 10th edition of the Petronas Malaysian F1 Grand Prix was successfully held over the weekend, which marks a decade of success of the event. It has been a wonderful decade for the Sepang race, as it has managed to put Malaysia on international map for good reasons.
Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen claimed this 2008 title, which also saw BMW Sauber’s Robert Kubica finished on the podium… the first podium for the Petronas sponsored team at the ‘home race’.
The 2008 Malaysian F1 might be the last daytime race in Sepang, as race organisers Sepang International Circuit (SIC) is eager to stage their first ever night race as early as 2009, two years ahead of schedule… another kiasu rivalry against Singapore that are going to run the night race in September 2008.
Police shot dead a man who was wanted for gunning down two policemen during a drug raid that went awry in October 2007. The man, identified as Soh Kee Seng, 35, was killed during a shoot-out after a 10-minute car chase on March 8 (2008). [Thestar]
This news didn’t get much attention during the election peak… just felt that it’s worth sharing here despite a bit late.
DAP secretary-general and Air Putih state assemblyman Lim Guan Eng was sworn as Penang’s fourth Chief Minister yesterday (March 12, 2008).
Contrary to the possible chaos that Perak is facing, Lim sworn in with relative ease. PKR’s Mohd Fairus Khairuddin and DAP’s P Ramasamy have been appointed as his deputies to “ensure all the communities in Penang are represented and this government is for all”.
Various promises and plans have been announced… some good, some stupid. Talk is always easy though, we’ll see how it actually works out in future for this new government.
On side note, I would give ex-CM Koh Tsu Koon some props for the democratic attitude he showed since the General Election results were known. He has showed that he is a good man, but a good man doesn’t mean that he could be a good politician, or a good Chief Minister.
DAP will boycott the swearing-in event of PAS’s Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin as the new Perak Menteri Besar at Istana Iskandariah, Kuala Kangsar on March 13.
According to Lim Kit Siang, the appointment has caused shock and consternation to DAP leaders, members and supporters; and that the appointment has not received the mandate of DAP Central Executive Committee.
The decision to appoint a PAS MB is not going to be popular among the Chinese, despite the fact that a PAS MB is not equivalent of a PAS state government. I believe the younger generation would have little problem with it, but it’s not an easy task to convince the older generation to ease their prejudice on PAS.
The rumours that PAS is ready to implement Islamic law in Kedah must have raised further concern, and DAP is obviously trying to please the majority Chinese supporters by drawing a line here. It’s irony that most Chinese are hoping for a fair Malaysia for all Malaysians regardless of race and religion, and here they are… being discriminative after all.
The main question is however… why voicing it now DAP? Why NOW?
Like it or not, the whole nation was already anticipating the appointment of Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin for the past few days… if DAP has any problems with it, they should have strongly objected it before the appointment is made. DAP should have made it clear to the Sultan (or Regent) and the public that they would not tolerate a PAS MB… and not like what they did with the whole “all decisions would be respected” hoo-haa.
BN’s arrogance and ignorance has cost them clearly in the election… is DAP falling into the trap so soon? I mean, how stupid or ignorant could DAP be for not anticipating the appointment prior to the official announcement? And exactly how arrogant is DAP to defy the Sultan’s decision and to make such an immature fuss.
It’s a shame DAP, it’s a shame.
