A new version of Lingam video has been released; the extra 10 seconds at the end of the video shows that Ahmad Fairuz’s name was mentioned… it’s difficult to determine if it was VK Lingam who mentioned AF’s name though.
Keris can’t kill; a person with the keris can.
I accept that keris is a cultural symbol for Malays, for Malaysia in fact. Some people might not be aware, but we are seeing the keris almost everyday everywhere… with our Yang di-Pertuan Agong carrying it in his photo. There is nothing wrong with keris.
The issue lies in the person who carries the keris, and the agenda behind it.
UMNO youth chief Hishammuddin Hussein has made a decent statement at the 2007 general assembly that the kissing and hoisting of the keris symbolises the protection given to not only the Malays but also to other races in the country. [Bernama]
It could be a genuine statement, or probably just a PR stunt… but it doesn’t erase the fact that the ‘keris protect all Malaysians” ideology was not what he managed to portray when he played with his keris for the past couple of years.
I can’t blame too much on Hishammuddin though; it was a trend for UMNO youth to raise racial sentiment. Mahathir, Najib, Anwar etc. had all been criticized for their radical gimmick when they were in their early political days.
All these people need to build their network and support to move up the political rank… Hishammuddin won’t be the last person to play with sensitive issues in UMNO assembly.
Some Malaysians might not be happy about what Hishammuddin did, but there is nothing much to do against it besides ranting online or in coffee shops. Hishammuddin will march forward in his political career regardless of how we feel… we have to move on as well regardless of how he feels.
PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim is received an ACA notice today compelling him to reveal the source behind the Lingam video or risk going to jail. [Malaysiakini]
ACA’s request is not unreasonable, but I am kinda pissed with the one sided investigation so far. The independent panel is failing miserably in determining the authenticity of the video; while ACA is busy chasing after the whistleblower instead of investigating people alleged in the judiciary scandal.
What would you do, if…?
These lead to a question that has always been mingling in my mind… If I have somehow obtained a file (or video) that could prove that some VIPs are involved in some national scandal, what would I do? What would you do in this situation?
Would you just throw all the stuff in the public or would you go to someone like Anwar or Lim Kit Siang and passed on the responsibility to them? ACA is always asking people to give this proof to them instead of political parties… but frankly I don’t have much fate with ACA these days. I have a feeling that if the proof is true, they might close the case prematurely, or to a worse extent… going after me instead.
It would be logical to just past the buck to people like Anwar and then stayed behind the scene… the source of the Lingam tape was probably thinking the same way.
Now, what would Anwar do… would he risk going to jail or risk the safety of the person that entrust him with the video? As the situation has been greatly publicise, it would be unthinkable if the ACA would do any physical harm to the whistleblower… but then, who can guarantee that the whistleblower would not be harassed mentally, or ordered to keep quiet?
Former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has released a video that was recorded in 2002, showing senior lawyer VK Lingam in a phone conversation, purportedly with current Chief Justice Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim, allegedly fixing the appointment of ‘friendly’ senior judges.
I am not surprised with the scandal, but am surprised that something like that was caught on tape (or video, whatever). Our judiciary system is losing faith among Malaysians since former PM Mahathir Mohamad fired the chief judge in 1988. Since then Malaysia no longer have a judiciary that is independent from government administration.
It is therefore no surprise that money and relationship play a greater part in determining the position of senior judges rather than based on pure merit.
The main media has been extremely quiet on this saga; the news is not completely blackout, but the scale of the reports is pathetic.
Meanwhile DPM Najib Abdul Razak has said that the government will first confirm the authenticity of the ‘VK Lingam’ video before deciding on the next course of action. [Malaysiakini]
You can read the draft transcript via PKR’s website or Malaysiakini.
Political commentator and author Kim Quek (real name Yong Thye Chong) has joined Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), expressing hope that “truth and goodness will eventually triumph over deceit and evil.” [Malaysiakini]
Kim Quek is the author of “Where to, Malaysia? – A Future with Anwar’s Reformasi or Back to Mahathirism?” He has been active in political writings since 1998 after Anwar Ibrahim’s saga and his articles are often featured at Malaysiakini and foreign media like Asia Times and Asia Sentinel etc.
I don’t like socio-political writers that object to government policies just for the sake of objecting. Although Kim Quek’s writing is mostly against the Malaysia government, he usually backs his criticism with good points and reasoning… I often find his articles a very good read.
I don’t think Kim Quek would provide a great impact to PKR campaign at the following election. On the other hand, I don’t wish to see his writings becoming overly biased after joining a political party.
