NHB : I just love a good fight

Rusdi Mustapha said some nasty things about me. Maybe I should allow you to be the judge as to whether what he said is true or not. My comments to his comments are in brackets/italics. Read on and you decide if what Rusdi said is the gospel or a load of bullshit.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

RPK is now a fugitive and, thus far, still a liar!

This has to be said!

I for once (it should be ‘I for one’, not ‘I for once’) do not believe Raja Petra Kamarudin (RPK) ran away, rather than face the court, because he is afraid his Royal family will punish him for being a treacherous to his royal brethren! I for once (same here) do not believe he skips his court hearings because he is afraid, as he puts it, the police will arrest him and throw him in the dungeon.

(The IGP and Minister BOTH made public announcements that the police do not intend to re-detain Uthayakumar. Why do they refuse to also announce that they do not intend to re-detain me? Furthermore, they appealed against the Shah Alam High Court’s decision to release me from ISA detention while they refuse to appeal the same court’s decision to acquit Razak Baginda of the charge of abetment to murder.)

He took off because he is in a fix for he cannot come out with any shred of evidence on any of his serious allegation he made against Prime Minister Najib Razak and his wife Rosmah Mansor!

(If Superintendent Gan would just reply to all the questions posed by my lawyer, YB Gobind Singh Deo, in my sedition trial, then the evidence that Rusdi seeks would be available. Of course I can’t come out with a shred of evidence when they cover up that evidence and refuse to allow it to surface in the trial. Why not Rusdi suggest instead that Supt. Gan reply to the questions so that this evidence that he seeks would be available?)

However, I would also like to believe this man RPK could be suffering from a psychiatric disorder called "Munchausen Syndrome", a malady which is named after a 16th century German Baron Karl Friedrich von Münchausen. According to a definition, Münchausen Syndrome "is a psychiatric disorder wherein those affected feign disease, illness, or psychological trauma in order to draw attention or sympathy to themselves. It is in a class of disorders known as factitious disorders which involve "illnesses" whose symptoms are either self-induced or falsified by the patient. It is also sometimes known as hospital addiction syndrome or hospital hopper syndrome."

(Would Rusdi like to deny that he came to meet me at the Havana Club at midnight some time in 2007 to offer to pay me off to stop writing about Najib and his link to the Altantuya murder? Would Rusdi like to deny he asked me to name my price? Would Rusdi like to deny he phoned me the next day and scolded me for telling Dr Mahathir about it? Would Rusdi like to deny that he phoned me and scolded me for telling Dr Mahathir because Najib screwed him good and proper after Dr Mahathir gave him a piece of his mind? An Umno man by the name of ‘Man Cowboy’ was there that night. Would Rusdi like to deny that as well?)

For the record, RPK has hurled a lot of serious unfounded accusations against the Prime Minister and his wife for being involved in a death, mind you in a death, of a foreign national. That, to me is a very serious accusation. Thus far he has accused the PM of being involved, and the PM's wife had supervised in the killing of a foreign national.

(The transcript of the exchanges of text messages between Najib and lawyer Shafee Abdullah is re-produced below. This was first published in Malaysia Today when I was under detention in Kamunting. So it could not have been me who published it since I did not have internet access in my jail cell. Najib never denied this. He just said that it is a private matter so he need not explain anything.)

RPK also said he has a witness, a Lieutenant Colonel in the military intelligence, who said this witness saw the whole thing, which led him to write a piece in his website accusing the PM's wife supervise the killing. Serious stuff!

(While under ISA detention and during my interrogation I informed Datuk Zambri Ahmad of the Special Branch that my source was Kol. Azmi Zainal Abidin of Military Intelligence. Zamri said he knows Kol Azmi personally. Why do they refuse to ask Kol. Azmi to openly and publicly deny this? Is it because they did speak to Kol. Azmi and he actually confirmed it? And was this also why they quickly packed me off to Kamunting the next day without allowing me to sign my statement cum confession?)

Well so far this has happened! This Lt Col has since said it was a total hogwash and a fabrication on the assertion on RPK's part that he saw the whole thing where a foreign national was blown up and the wife of the PM was there, and he told RPK! We, Malaysians, were led to believe RPK has a concrete proof to the fact! Well, instead of showing the proof so that the PM and his wife can be charged then if found guilty to be hanged or jailed for being involved in a murder, RPK scoot off and ran away!

(What if I can produce the official and signed records of the security personnel to confirm that TWO senior officers from the military went to Najib’s house the night of Altantuya’s murder and did not leave until the next morning? What happened in those many hours they were in Najib’s house? Does Rusdi really want these records made public? Will Najib be able to explain it if I do make them public?)

Then he has the audacity to tell the whole world, in his website Malaysia Today, that he could not attend his court hearings where he has to answer to some very serious accusation he made to the Prime Minister of this country and his wife, because the police will arrest him and hos (I think he meant ‘his’) Royal brethren will kidnapped (bad grammar) and tortured (also bad grammar) him if he were to appear in court at PJ which is in the state of Selangor?! What an insult to our intelligence eh!

(I never said that. What I did do was I published the two e-mails from my Aunty Fuziah below. Rusdi himself has previously posted an article in his Blog where he said that the Sultan of Selangor called me gila. In fact, Rusdi added, the Selangor Royal Family regards me as a sort of outcast of the family. This is what Rusdi himself posted in his Blog. He said this, not me.)

The sad part is what he wrote for his reason why he ran away to be a fugitive instead of facing the music is that many people still believe in his lies!

(Rusdi had better check whether I am running away from something or running towards something. Read my story about crossing the bridge and tricking the guard into thinking you are coming from one direction whereas you are actually coming from the opposite direction.)

Well, I do not how it works but if he is in London, England, I am sure he can be extradited, and if he is in Segambut hiding at YB BABI's house I am sure he has to come out sooner or later.

(Well, let’s see you try to get me. I plan to be the longest fugitive on the run in Malaysian history. And I am going to conduct this guerrilla warfare and keep hitting Umno till it destructs in a heap.)

When that happens I think the Malaysian government will be firmed (bad grammar again) enough to take stern action and do the necessary in finding him guilty of lying and then booked him with the maximum years allowed by the law for his crime against the natural order of logic! This man RPK, he is one totally illogical sad dude I have ever come across!

(You have to catch me first.)

Enough already!

Rusdi Mustapha

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

Dear Peter,

I am sending you this letter as you have not responded to my telephone calls nor to my telephone message inviting you to the house on Saturday afternoon to talk over family matters particularly in connection with the open letter to Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin which you posted in your blog on 2nd March 2009.

As you already know, I admire your ability to write and express your thoughts, ideas and comments about events in your blog especially your mastery of the English language. I have also often reminded you that truth should always prevail in communicating these things to the public. It is also not for you to decide “what is clearly lawful”.

Had Tok Uda been alive, he would have considered the content and manner of what you wrote in the open letter to Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin, as a betrayal of the code of conduct and values which he had subscribed to, cherished and passed on to us. And for this, to have come from his favourite grandson would certainly have made him collapse in a state of shock.

While Tok Uda, as a true royalist had demanded loyalty and the upholding of family honour, tradition and adat, he had, on many occasions also emphasized that we are entitled to our own personal views, accepted our sense and spirit of adventure, freedom of thought and action as you may well have known from the family history. But “RESPECT FOR THE LAWS OF THE COUNTRY” or “UPHOLDING LAW AND ORDER “ was his cardinal principle, to be dearly valued and respected by the family at all times.

I believe that in the case of the open letter, you have crossed the line. Such writings would appear to be seditious. Therefore, for the sake of Tok Uda, and, in upholding the family honour, I feel that the only discourse open is to diffuse/redeem this and for you to apologize through your blog to the rulers and the public.

We all love you Peter in our own small ways but I have this task to keep the family together, so help me Peter. And so help me too, Ya-Allah.

With my personal good wishes and love to you and Marina and the family,

I remain,

Yours,

Aunty Fuziah
14 March 2009

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

Dear Peter,

Assalamualaikum,

It would appear that you have misinterpreted my letter of 14 March 2009 to you.

In all fairness to your readers, I urge you to post the full text of the letter in your blog.

Thank you and Wassalam,

Yours,

Aunty Fuziah
20 March 2009

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

The text messages were transmitted between Najib's personal mobile phone (+6012 2143177) and Shafee's mobile phone (+6012 3257052).

Wednesday 8/11/2006

Najib to Shafee (S2N)

Date: 8/11/2006 02:59:31

Dato Seri, The Razak Baginda thing is troubling me. Can I help? Salam, Shafee

Najib to Shafee (N2S)

Date: 8/11/2006 03:45:05

I will speak with u later tonight.

S2N

Date: 8/11/2006 03:45:31

Thank you

S2N

Date: 8/11/2006 06:28:56

Met the investigating officer today. Position is serious for RB. The 3 are highly implicated. RB's case can be fought. There are redeeming features for him. But we need to meet Dato Seri as there are other looming issues at large. But not to worry. Salam > Shafee

N2S

Date: 8/11/2006 21:06:11

I have spoken to IGP. U can represent n meet RB in court.

Thursday 9/11/2006

N2S

Date: 9/11/2006 12:45:30

If RB's remand is upto Sunday, does it mean that he has to be charged by Fri or be released? i hope it is looking better for him.

S2N

Date: 9/11/2006 13:11:23

3 things can happen. Firstly, they can ask for more time for detention. We will resist. Second, they have to release him by Friday or thirdly charge him by Friday. Police took him to his office for document search. Nothing incriminating found. Now they are recording stmt from him. Later search in house. Under control so far Dato Seri. Salam, shafee

S2N

Date: 9/11/2006 14:09:03

Dato Seri, Re RB need to meet up with you today. shafee

N2S

Date: 9/11/2006 14:17:47

630 pm at my house in PJaya this evening.

S2N

Date: 9/11/2006 14:18:21

Thank you

Friday 10/11/2006

N2S

Date: 10/11/2006 15:14:3

Any news about RB ?

S2N

Date: 10/11/2006 15:19:40

Dato Seri, Negotiating for conditional release. If not police need 2 or 3 more days extention. I suspect its an exercise in public relation as they do not want public to think a VIP was given an easier time. Being a vip under these conditions is a liability. Otherwise we are on track according to plan. Salam, Shafee

N2S

Date: 10/11/2006 15:27:01

Thanks, he is very stressful according to his wife n would be a huge help if he could get a conditional release latest by sun.

N2S

Date: 10/11/2006 21:35:52

Saw the news on tv. RB was sent for DNA. Not sure it was neccessary.

S2N

Date: 10/11/2006 21:40:19

Unnessasary. But I think its on his lung infection. He has just been sent again to HUKM. Will know more later from inside contacts.

Saturday 11/11/2006

S2N

Date: 11/11/2006 03:17:56

Dato Seri, I was at ghkl ccu 4th floor.RB was admitted due to lung infection:mild pneumonia and asthmatic. This was the pain he was suffering in the chest and unexplained coughing for months. He is under an able physician Dato Dr Jeyaindran Sinnadurai(head of Dept of Medicine)Its good he is resting there than in the lockup. Dna was done to eliminate that he was at scene of crime (paternity can be ruled out as well).Need to see Dato Seri on some concerns. Salam. Shafee

N2S

Date: 11/11/2006 08:54:17

ANy chance of a release by sun ?

S2N

Date: 11/11/2006 08:58:14

Police should release him by then except that I think the police is disturbeb by Media and public pressure. Other factors need be coomunicated to Dato Seri in person. Investigation wise we are on track for release.

S2N

Date: 11/11/2006 09:26:52

It is clear that the Police will ask for extention t'row. I will resist strongly in view of the fact that the last few days investigation on RB have completed investigations that require RB's presence in custody. Secondly, from yesterday the Police has done nothing much with him except to do the dna. Thirdly, I am concerned with the Police carelessness yesterday in allowing the 3 other suspects to be freely mixing and therefore tainting their subsequent stmnts as they could be 'group coached'. But it also show Police no longer need to isolate the suspects. Even RB was handcuffed to the C/I. Salam. Shafee

N2S

Date: 11/11/2006 11:46:48

I Can see u today at my Taman duta hse at 6 pm.

S2N

Date: 11/11/2006 11:59:08

OK Dato Seri. Insyaallah I will be there.

Sunday 12/11/2006

S2N

Date: 12/11/2006 13:53:41

2 days extention to Tuesday. They must release him by then maybe conditionally. Police asked for full 14days.He has message.

S2N

Date: 12/11/2006 14:06:23

Will give Dato Seri in a while

S2N

Date: 12/11/2006 15:10:17

0320949418

Monday 13/11/2006

S2N

Date: 13/11/2006 15:53:36

Am in his office now. Another search. AG will be unwilling to charge and lose a case yet again. It is a good idea to suggest to AG to hood on and let investigtion proceed with Razak Released on Bond.

N2S

Tel: 60122143177

Date: 13/11/2006 16:23:29

How was the search ?

S2N

Date: 13/11/2006 16:25:56

We provided them everything, including old pda and note books and a couple of bills. Nothing incriminating.

Wednesday 15/11/2006

S2N

Date: 15/11/2006 13:21:32

Things going as expected.2 male officer charged for murder in common intention. Razak's name not in. Lady officer released but rearrested under Emergency Ordinance to be used as Crown witness (exactly as predicted). I am expecting RB to be released on Bond. 4 of my lawyers are watching brief the proceedings in the murder case. Rb matter prob t'row. Pl call. Shafee Ps coming back now from Taipei.

N2S

Date: 15/11/2006 23:31:09

So hopefully he will be released tmrw?

S2N

Date: 15/11/2006 23:34:38

Dato Seri, I am driving up from S'pore, no more flight to KL tonight. Hope for th best. Any indication? Shafee

N2S

Date: 15/11/2006 23:36:52

Not heard anything untoward yet.

Thursday 16/11/2006

S2N

Date: 16/11/2006 10:52:43

Anything Dato Seri? I am already in Court.

N2S

Date: 16/11/2006 10:53:50

Pls do not say anything to the press today. i will explain later. RB will have to face a tentative charge but all is not lost.

S2N

Date: 16/11/2006 10:54:30

OK, TQ

Friday 17/11/2006

S2N

Date: 17/11/2006 10:50:30

Dato Seri, Its important you speak to Yusoff Zainal Abidin as he knows the law a lot better in the Chambers. I am confident he is concerned with the negligible evidence agst Razak. The Raja Mahani and Tengku Ariston cases ought to be the guiding critera for AG. They cannot afford another scandallous loss by the Prosecution as in Norita, Ariston, Dato Balwant etc.

N2S

Date: 17/11/2006 11:39:46

OK will try. Meanwhile try to console the wife. She is hysterical.

S2N

Date: 17/11/2006 11:41:29

I know Dato Seri.I will do everything I can.Salam, Shafee

S2N

Date: 17/11/2006 12:57:49

Dato Seri, Razak has not been sent to Hospital. He is clearly not well. He is refusing to take Prison's medicine for fear of sabourtage. The chief Physician of GHKL Dato Dr Jaya Sinnadurai is shocked that they have not brought Razak back to GHKL. I have spoken to Haji Darussalam, Sg Buloh's Prison Director. Can You sound this to Dato Radzi Shek Ahmad? Need to see you of s'thing that I think had happened that led to her death. Utterly shocking if I am right. Shafee

S2N

Date: 17/11/2006 15:45:34

Dato Seri, I am at Sg Buloh Prison. I have organised Razak to be in HUKL, He is on his way there now. The Pengarah Hj Darussallam and deputy Supt Gunasegaran very helpful. Shafee

N2S

Date: 17/11/2006 21:27:02

My regards to him. He Is always in my thought.

S2N

Date: 17/11/2006 21:34:44

Will tell him

Sunday 19/11/2006

S2N

Date: 19/11/2006 16:25:08

Dato Seri, I need Dsp Musa, your ADc to call me to clarify a point. He is not answering Shafee

Monday 20/11/2006

S2N

Date: 20/11/2006 13:02:33

Any developement Dato Seri? Shafee

N2S

Date: 20/11/2006 14:30:20

Not yet.

S2N

Date: 20/11/2006 14:30:38

Thank you

S2N

Date: 20/11/2006 21:05:17

Dato Seri.Razak is being transfered to Sg. Buloh t'row. Can Dr. Jaya do anything?

N2S

Date: 20/11/2006 23:04:50

When is he being transffered?

S2N

Date: 20/11/2006 23:05:48

T'row

N2S

Date: 20/11/2006 23:07:01

What time?

S2N

Date: 20/11/2006 23:08:01

Probably late morning

Thursday 23/11/2006

N2S

Tel: 60122143177

Date: 23/11/2006 13:46:51

Your message read" Najib released on personal bond!".

S2N

Date: 23/11/2006 13:50:00

Razak released on Bail of 1 million. On personal bond undertaking. Shafee?I am terribly sorry for that mistake. Whole night tak tidur preparing. My profuse apologies Sir. salam. shafee

N2S

Date: 23/11/2006 14:00:25

ALhamdullillah , at least he is on bail. Big relief for him n family.

S2N

Date: 23/11/2006 14:02:02

Dato, I need to brief you urgently b4 you speak to him. Shafee

N2S

Date: 23/11/2006 14:12:32

OK but not intending to speak to him as yet.

Saturday 2/12/2006

S2N

Date: 2/12/2006 18:59:15

Dato Seri, Got some info that are troubling. Quite serious. Are you in Taman Duta? Can we meet? Salam, Shafee

Courtesy Of Malaysia Today

Click this link to read more!

Raja Petra does not turn up in court, again

Malaysia Today editor Raja Petra Kamarauddin failed, again, to appear for his sedition trial at the Sessions Court here on Friday.

DPP Shah Rizal Abdul Manan told judge Aslam Zainuddin that the arrest warrant issued on April 23, when he also did not turn up in court, had yet to be executed on him.

He also said a notice for the editor’s wife Marina Lee Abdullah to summon her to explain Raja Petra’s absence at the sedition trial was also not executed.

Raja Petra’s lead counsel J. Chandra applied to the court to adjourn sine die (idefineitely) for the case until the police succeeded in arresting his client.

However, the judge set July 17 for mention saying it would be decided by the trial judge Rozina Ayob.

On April 23, the Petaling Jaya Sessions Court had issued a warrant of arrest against Raja Petra Kamarudin after he failed to turn up for his sedition trial.

Judge Rozina Ayob issued the order after lead prosecutor DPP Shahidani Abd Aziz applied for the arrest warrant against the news portal editor for his absence.

DPP Shahidani had said the prosecution had no choice but to get the order to proceed with the trial.

Rozina also issued a show cause notice for Raja Petra’s wife, Marina Lee Abdullah, as his bailor for failing to inform the court about Raja Petra’s non-attendance.

Raja Petra's lawyer J. Chandra informed judge Rozina Ayob that his client did not turn up in court on the grounds he was on a self-imposed exile from the state for “reasons that are well known.”

Chandra then went out to explain that for over a month now, Raja Petra, 58, has posted articles or comments on issues in relation to the Selangor royal house that have angered some members of his own family who have demanded an apology.

Raja Petra explained why he did not turn up at the court in Malaysia Today, “my family then gave me an ultimatum. I was to either make that public apology or else my family would insert an advertisement in the mainstream newspapers practically distancing itself from me, which could be interpreted as disowning me ....

“I went into exile outside Selangor ... . It has to be noted that this has always been the punishment for any member of the Selangor Royal Family who is considered durhaka (traitorous) since the beginning of the Selangor Sultanate more than 250 years ago.”

He also wrote that another reason why he did not attend court was the he did not expect to get a fair trial.

In court on April 23, his lawyer Chandra added, “You have to bear in mind that he is a member of royalty and this self-imposed exile is a punishment he has handed out to himself.”

Rozina said Raja Petra had never produced a written order over the matter.

To this, Chandra said his client would appear in court “when the times permitted and the matter resolved”.

DPP Shahidani Aziz then asked for a warrant of arrest to be issued against Raja Petra and a showcause notice for his wife and bailor Marina.

The judge granted both and set May 22 for mention.

Speaking to reporters later on April 23, his lawyer Gobind Singh Deo had said the defence had been unable to contact Raja Petra for some time and his last conversation with him was during a habeas corpus appeal against the editor at the Federal Court.

Raja Petra, a former Internal Security Act detainee, had on May 6 2008 claimed trial to publishing a seditious article on his Malaysia Today news portal on April 25 of that same year.

He is accused of publishing the article Let’s send the Altantuya murderers to hell on the website www.malaysia-today.net. The charge under Section 4(1)(c) of the Sedition Act 1948 carries a maximum fine of RM5,000 or three years' jail or both upon conviction. (M2day)

Click this link to read more!

NHB - A Serious Case Of Mental Block - Malaysiakini

You can drag a horse to water but you can’t force it to drink, they say. Well, we not only need to drag the Malays to water, we also need to force their heads into the water and make them drink.

NO HOLDS BARRED
Raja Petra Kamarudin

This is what the Sin Chew Daily reported yesterday:

Change Or Perish, Pak Lah Tells UMNO

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the Malays have changed their old thinking and value system, only that UMNO seems to have "forgotten" that the Malays have indeed changed.

He said the Malays have changed, but if UMNO remains unwilling to change, then the party will eventually head for destruction.

"UMNO has forgotten that the Malays have changed their own thinking and perspectives. It has forgotten that the Malays have changed their value system. The Malays are no longer what they used to be. They unreservedly express themselves. They even wave the DAP flags!"

Abdullah said during an exclusive interview with Sin Chew Daily at his private residence in Kuala Lumpur that during his five-year tenure as the prime minister, he has managed to change the mentality of the Malays.

He said young Malays believe they can stand on their own feet, and this is the major value that has changed the young Malays today.

"Young Malays feel that they need the opportunities, so they begin talking about DAP and PKR. They believe they have better opportunities there."

On the admission by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad that he had failed to change the mentality and attitude of the Malays, Abdullah said decisively, "I can change the Malays!"

On UMNO's reluctance to change in order to check money politics and racism, he said although this is a mounting task, he knows UMNO members are in the midst of changing.

"UMNO is getting more and more powerful, with some three million members. The larger the membership, the more problems will arise. We have all kinds of people among these three million members. I'm very unhappy (with money politics in UMNO), and have told (UMNO disciplinary board chairman Tan Sri Tengku Ahmad) Rithauddeen to take actions as soon as possible."

*******************
99% Malays will not eat pork
98% Malays will not touch a dog
90% Malays will not drink liquor
80% Malays will not eat un-slaughtered meat
70% Malays will not eat in a non-Muslim restaurant
60% Malays will not indulge in homosexual activities
50% Malays will no indulge in extra-marital sex
40% Malays will not take bribes
30% Malays will not wish the non-Muslims on their religious festivals (such as Merry Christmas, Kong Hee Fatt Choy or Happy Deepavali)
25% Malays will not shake hands with a member of the opposite sex
20% Malays will not celebrate the ‘Christian’ Valentine’s Day on 14 February
10% Malays will not celebrate birthdays
5% Malays will not take loans -- to avoid paying interest

Okay, the above is not a real poll. I just made it up. I don’t think anyone has ever conducted a poll to analyse this issue. But the ‘list of priorities’ is not that far off the mark although the percentages are a figment of my imagination. I just wanted to get your attention and demonstrate the priorities of the Malays.

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad once cried during an Umno General Assembly because, he said, he had failed to change the Malays. When asked during an interview soon after he retired as Prime Minister on 1 November 2003 what he would consider as the greatest regret of his 22 years in office, he replied his greatest regret is that he could not change the Malays.

And that was Tun Dr Mahathir, the strongest-minded Prime Minister Malaysia ever had in 51 years of nationhood. Can Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, a ‘softer’ man, achieve what someone regarded as a dictator had failed to do?

Now, before we take the word ‘dictator’ as something negative, let me stress that there are many types of dictators and sometimes we need a dictator to set things right. A benevolent dictator is not so bad for the country and is maybe just the thing the country needs to cure it of its ills. It is when we get a malevolent dictator is when things became very dicey. But then dictators can sometimes change from being benevolent to malevolent when power gets to their heads. That is the problem with having too much power in the hands of a dictator and not enough democracy.

For example, if a dictator heavy-handedly passes laws that make it a crime to perpetuate racism, even if the law is draconian and robs us of our fundamental rights, in the long term it would be good for the country. But then laws tend to get abused and ‘good’ laws eventually get used for what they were not originally intended.

Take the Internal Security Act as one example. It was a ‘good’ law when we needed to solve the problem of massacres, assassinations, bombings and terrorism in the 1960s. But once all the chaos and anarchy ends and the law is not abolished, and then it is used for other purposes, such as for stifling dissent and for curtailing criticism of those who walk in the corridors of power, what used to be ‘good’ gets transformed to bad.

So good can very rapidly become bad when wrongly applied. And good dictators can also become bad dictators when they no longer just want to end racism the ‘undemocratic’ way but start using their vast powers to do things like to put down criticism of their rule.

I suppose this is why the ends can never justify the means. If we accept undemocratic methods to achieve good, these undemocratic methods eventually come back to bite us in our sorry behinds.

Anyway, back to the issue of the day, whether Abdullah can do what Mahathir failed to do: to change the Malays.

When I was under ISA detention in September, I spent days arguing and debating with the six Special Branch officers who had been assigned to ‘take my statement’. These are basically marathon interrogation sessions where they point out to you the error of your ways and try to get you to repent so that you can again be released into society. I suppose they not only discovered they could not change me, but they were also perturbed that I passionately defended my position to the very end. I was ‘unreformable’ and there was no way they could reformat my brain and reinstall a new program.

They should have known that I am an ‘old model’, the first generation ‘hardware’, and new software can’t run on old hardware. Ever try installing Windows XP into an old 386? There is no way it would work. You would need a very old Windows program to run a 386.

So I am old hardware, a 386, and I need the Windows 3.0 to make me tick. Forget about Windows XP. That is what the Special Branch officers did not understand.

The debates we engaged in behind the barbed wire fence of the Police Remand Center (PRC), your first stop for 60 days before they either allow you to go home or you get sent to Kamunting for at least two years, was why I write what I write. I whack the Malays to kingdom come. I show no mercy. I ask for no quarter and offer none as well. Why am I so brutal with the Malays? And even the way the Malays practice Islam is not spared. I am heartless and merciless in my criticism.

My reasoning was simple. And I explained it to the Special Branch officers. The Malays will never change. Even Tun Dr Mahathir said so. (But Abdullah, though he agrees that the Malays need changing, does not share Mahathir’s view that they can’t be changed. Abdullah thinks he is able to change them).

The Malays, I explained, need to be dragged, kicking and screaming, into the new Millennium. You can drag a horse to water but you can’t force it to drink, they say. Well, we not only need to drag the Malays to water, we also need to force their heads into the water and make them drink. So we may end up drowning a few. So what? The end result would be we get them to drink, though against their will.

When someone is a lunatic and no drug can cure him or her, we need to use shock treatment. Sometimes shock treatment is the best cure when reasoning and medication can’t do the job. We have been Merdeka for 51 years. How long more are we going to wait before we declare that drastic times require drastic measures? Another 51 years when it would by then have already been too late?

I am third-generation Malaysian, I told the Special Branch officers. My grandfather fought for Merdeka. I, too, am now a grandfather. I have four grandchildren of my own. So my grandchildren, who in 20 years from now will be inheriting this country, are fifth generation Malaysians. Five generations is long enough. If, by now, we have not changed, then we never will.

So we are in a crisis situation. In 1960, when Malaysia was facing a crisis, we introduced the ISA. The ISA is not only draconian but unconstitutional as well. It is, in short, a downright ‘illegal’ law. But even the opposition agreed that the ends justify the means and they supported the ISA.

I, too, believe that the Malays need to be changed. Tun Dr Mahathir believed the same thing. And so does Abdullah Badawi (though he feels he can rectify what Mahathir couldn’t).

Sure, I whack the Malays, I told the Special Branch officers. I insult them. I vilify them. I make fun of the way they practice Islam. I make some Malays ashamed that they are Malays and would rather be called something else. But no good medicine tastes nice. All medicine is bitter. And I do not want to sugar-coat the medicine to hide its real taste. What you see is what you get.

But the Special Branch officers did not agree with me. They felt I was beyond redemption. They did not need 60 days with me to try to ‘turn me over’. They knew I was beyond salvage. So, after just ten days, they packed me off to Kamunting where I was supposed to spend the rest of my days on earth. And as long as I defended my views and refused to change my position, I would remain in Kamunting, be in ten years if necessary.

But I am now out again, thanks to my lawyers who did a good job getting me released. And I am back at it, whacking the Malays. I can’t help it. If I hated the Malays I would just say, “To hell with them. Why bother to try to change them?” But the English say: spare the rod and spoil the child. And the Malays say: if you love the child, you beat him or her.

Courtesy Of Malaysia Today


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Almost all rumours on Malaysia Today eventually become facts - RPK

KUALA LUMPUR,– Malaysia Today editor Raja Petra Kamarudin said tonight that 99% of the rumours he reports on his website eventually turn out to be true.

Defending himself from a caller on a special interview with Riz Khan on satellite television station Al Jazeera who asked why he persisted in writing about rumours, he said time and time again he had been proven right with his stories.

“I have always been told that two things sell and that is sex and politics. And sex involving politics sells even more,” he quipped.

He also denied the perception that Malaysia Today was an opposition mouthpiece, pointing out that he had been critical of Pakatan Rakyat (PR) as well.

Raja Petra added that he would also not consider playing a role in government if PR succeeded in toppling Barisan Nasional (BN).

“I do not wish to be in government. I wish to be in a pressure group. I have joked that if Pakatan forms the government I will then join Umno,” he said.

Besides Raja Petra, the other guests on the show were playwright Jo Kukathas and journalist Kee Thuan Chye.

All three guests offered their respective views on a gamut of issues from censorship and the media to the use of the Internal Security Act (ISA).

Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar also joined the discussion by telephone and made a stout defence of the ISA.

Offering the government’s condolences to the people of India over the recent Mumbai attacks, he justified the continued existence of the ISA by saying the law was the reason why Malaysia had not suffered any major terrorist attacks.

He also contended that it was only what he described as a vocal minority of Malaysians who were against the ISA while the majority wanted safety and order in society.

Kukathas responded, however, to the minister’s arguments by pointing out that most of those who were ever arrested under the ISA were not terrorists.

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Anti-Najib campaign turns racial

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 16 - The campaign against Datuk Seri Najib Razak has taken racial and religious overtones.
Malaysia Today, the website once alledgely operated by jailed blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin, published today what appeared to be a doctored picture of Najib performing religious rites dressed as a Hindu priest.

Accompanying the photograph was an article accusing Najib of using the services of a "faith healer, spiritual leader and voodoo master," known as Guruji.

This latest attack, posted anonymously, appears to be an attempt to drive a wedge between Najib and his most powerful constituency, the Malays.

By appealing to base racial instincts, the campaign against Najib invites comparisons to a similar strategy used successfully for the benefit of the Barisan Nasional coalition in 1990.

In the 1990 election campaign, with the Opposition apparently making inroads into BN strongholds, a photograph showing Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah wearing an East Malaysian headgear was widely distributed just days before polls.

The photograph of Tengku Razaleigh in the headgear, which bore motif similar to a crucifix, is credited with turning away significant numbers of Muslim votes from Semangat 46.

Now, Najib finds himself the brunt of what appears to be a similar campaign.

In the Malaysia Today article, he is alleged to be using Guruji to "neutralise" his enemies. It also alleges Najib and his wife are taking part in Hindu rituals.

The posting is the latest in what is turning into a campaign against Najib which has intensified since Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced he would not defend his Umno presidency next March.

Abdullah's decision appears to pave the way for Najib to become Umno president, and by convention the prime minister if BN remains in power.

Last week, the website posted a series of text message exchanges between Najib and Datuk Shafee Abdullah, the lawyer who initially represented Abdul Razak Baginda, who was eventually charged for abetment in the murder of Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu.

Razak is a confidante of Najib and the SMS exchange appeared to imply the possibility that the deputy prime minister had interfered in investigations.

Najib has denied any abuse of power despite widespread criticism from Opposition parties who have called for an official investigation.

This week, a separate posting on Malaysia Today also published a letter from a local defence contractor alleging irregularities in the awarding of a contract to Eurocopter by the Defence Ministry while Najib was still the minister in charge.

PM Abdullah, who recently took over the defence portfolio, said yesterday he would be asking for a thorough briefing on the matter from Defence Ministry officials.

But despite the campaign against him, Najib remains the favourite candidate to become the next Umno president. (The Malaysianinsider)

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Pak Lah defended Najib innocent over Altantuya's case

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 13 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today defended his designated successor Datuk Seri Najib Razak against renewed allegations about the latter’s involvement in the murder of a Mongolian woman in 2006.

"I cannot believe Datuk Seri Najib will want to abuse power," said Abdullah when asked to comment on the allegations which surfaced over the weekend on the Malaysia Today website.

Malaysia Today carried a report detailing what it alleged was an exchange of text messages between Najib and Datuk Shafee Abdullah, the prominent lawyer who represented Abdul Razak Baginda, the close associate of Najib who was eventually charged with abetting two police officers in the murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu in 2006.

In one SMS, Najib allegedly tells the lawyer that Razak — his advisor — "will face a tentative charge but all is not lost."

Malaysia Today said that this message raises some questions about Najib's role in the case. "Why did he mention 'tentative' charge and that 'all is not lost' for RB (Razak Baginda)? How would Najib know this before Razak was charged? These are important questions which will have ramifications, not just on this case but far beyond," a posting on the website said.

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the opposition have tried to link Najib and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor with the murder since it happened in October 2006.

Today, Abdullah backed the deputy prime minister against the latest allegations.

"I believe in him, that he would be a good person," said the Prime Minister.

"He will be Prime Minister and provide leadership."

Since Abdullah announce his decision to not defend the Umno presidency, tremendous momentum has built up for Najib to take over as party president next March and also as Prime Minister if the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition remains in power.

But in the past week the political pressures on Najib have mounted.

Besides the allegations surrounding his involvement in the 2006 murder, he is also being linked with a return to "Mahathirism."

His critics have accused him of being a "puppet" of former hardline Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, with some observers expecting a more authoritarian system of government with tighter controls.


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RPK's sedition trial : Police witness accused as lying by counsel

Confusion between the words menyiasat (investigate) and memeriksa (search) in the Sessions Court yesterday momentarily led to a witness being blamed for lying.

A defence counsel in the Raja Petra Kamarudin's sedition trial accused the witness, Superintendent Victor Sanjos as "lying right through his teeth" when Sanjos told the court that he was instructed by his superior to conduct a search in Raja Petra's house immediately.

Sanjos said this in answer to a question by deputy public prosecutor Roslan Mat Nor during re-examination in chief.

However, counsel Gobind Singh Deo said that Sanjos had earlier, during cross-examination, said otherwise.

"Earlier, when I questioned, he said that he did not get any instruction to investigate the case immediately. Now, he says that there were such instructions," said Gobind.

Judge Rozina Ayob, after going through her notes, clarified that the witness had answered Gobind that he was not asked to investigate, but to merely conduct a search.

Roslan explained that his question was on the search, and there was no issue of contradicting answers.

Sanjos, 39, head of cyber security in the Commercial Crime Investigation Department, was the fourth witness to be called in the trial, which entered its third day yesterday.

Raja Petra is charged with posting a seditious article on his Malaysia Today website, www.malaysia-today.net, titled "Let's send the Altantuya murderers to hell".

The article implicated Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor in the murder of Altantunya Shaariibuu, a Mongolian woman.

The offence was alleged to have been committed at his house at No 5, Jalan BRP 5/5, Bukit Rahman Putra, Sungai Buloh, on April 25.

Raja Petra, 58, is being detained under Internal Security Act at the Kamunting prison since Sept 12.

The proceedings yesterday saw the arrival of two unexpected people at the courtroom. Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail walked in at 10.10am and took a seat at the front row of the public gallery. Two bodyguards were seen standing near the courtroom door.

The duo were seen chatting with Raja Petra's wife, Marina Lee Abdullah.

When the court took a short break some 20 minutes later, Anwar spoke to Raja Petra for about five minutes.

He gave Raja Petra a hug and wished him well before leaving the court for the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court for his sodomy case.

When the trial resumed, the defence contended that the search conducted at their client's house was not done according to the law.

Gobind said according to Section 8 of the Sedition Act 1948, a search warrant was required for a police officer to conduct a search.

In reply, Sanjos said he did not require a warrant because he had the power to conduct the search. He also said that Raja Petra was not arrested at that time as there was no reason to do so.

Hearing continues today(NST).

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Raja Petra turns to the written word

Anti-government blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin went on trial yesterday, on sedition charges over an article he allegedly posted on his popular Malaysia Today website.

Raja Petra, 58, who is already detained without trial under the Internal Security Act for allegedly maligning Islam in a more recent posting, was charged with sedition in May this year after he allegedly implied that Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak was involved in the murder of a Mongolian interpreter in an article published in April entitled "Let's Send the Altantuya Murderers to Hell."

Raja Petra, or better known as RPK, arrived in court a good half-hour before proceedings started at 9am.
I almost did not recognise him; he looked a little frail and tired-looking, and he looked as if he had lost some weight, not to mention the fact that he was also sporting a beard now, after about three weeks of detention at Kamunting.

Dressed in jeans and flip-flops, he pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him.

Dozens of his supporters turned up outside the court, wearing red and black T-shirts with slogans such as "I'm with RPK" and "Free RPK".

Also seen were some opposition leaders, led by Democratic Action Party (DAP) stalwart Lim Kit Siang.

Several supporters walked out during the proceedings, however, when it became a little too draggy and technical.

The first witness, an IT expert, was asked to explain details such as websites, URLs, domain names, blogs, wikipedia, and how they work. This technical aspect took up the entire day. Even Judge Rozina Ayob expressed reservations over whether the trial could end by Friday, as prosecutors had hoped.

While the prosecution took its time to establish a prima facie case against the blogger, the defence immediately pointed out a possible hole in their case.

Defence lawyer J. Chandra told the court that a computer forensics report conducted by the police on a computer seized from RPK showed there was no activity to access the Malaysia Today website on April 25, the date he allegedly posted the seditious article on that same website. Government prosecutors will have to convince the judge that they have a case against him. Otherwise she has the option of acquitting him.

But if he is convicted of sedition, he faces up to three years imprisonment. Government prosecutors say the hearing will continue at least until Friday and the court will then decide whether to call for the defence.

In any case, he is already sentenced to two years at the Kamunting detention centre for ISA detainees.

RPK told me that he spends his time reading books whilst currently undergoing three months solitary confinement there.

Since his arrest on Sept 12, he has read nine books, including one written by former de facto law minister Zaid Ibrahim, who quit his post recently over the use of the ISA against RPK, an opposition lawmaker and a journalist last month.

RPK's wife Marina Lee Abdullah replenished his supply today with two more books - "Slovo The Unfinished Autobiography of ANC Leader Joe Slovo" about one of the key figures of anti-apartheid, as well as a copy of the Malaysian Constitution.

The copy was for him to study and think up ways to change the constitution when the opposition Pakatan Rakyat coalition takes over, he quipped.

"I dream of the day the government will be brought down and we abolish all draconian laws," he said.

For someone who has to live in a tiny cell that measures roughly three feet by three feet, he was rather cheerful and cracked jokes with his family and friends in court.

"If (opposition leader) Anwar Ibrahim doesn't form the government and I stay in (under ISA) for (the full sentence of) two years, I'll come back to haunt him. So he better make sure," he said when asked by reporters if the opposition would take over soon as it has threatened to.

RPK, who celebrated his 58th birthday behind bars on Sept 57, also declined to reveal what he was eating whilst in detention. When pressed by reporters, he insisted he was eating good food such as lamb chops, perhaps in reaction to controversial comments made by opposition MP Teresa Kok that she was fed food that was similar to dog food during her brief detention.

Before he was taken away after the proceedings, his wife and daughters tearfully hugged him in the courtroom, prompting supporters to clap as he left. - Straits Times Blog

Meanwhile NST reports that,
It was a sedition trial but all those who attended the proceeding at the Sessions Court here yesterday went back with extra knowledge on information technology and its jargon.

It was a one-day crash course on information technology applications by the first prosecution witness in the trial of Raja Petra Kamarudin.
Harme Mohamed, 39, from the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), gave a lengthy explanation on computer applications -- right from Uniform Resource Locator (URL) and domain to how one registers and manages a website or blog.

Raja Petra, 58, is charged with posting a seditious article on his website, Malaysia Today (www.malaysia-today.net) titled Let's send the Altantuya murderers to hell.

The article implicated Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor in the murder of Altantunya Shaariibuu, a Mongolian woman.

The offence was alleged to have been committed at his house at No 5, Jalan BRP 5/5, Bukit Rahman Putra, Sungai Buloh, on April 25.

The Malaysia Today editor is currently detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) at the Kamunting prison.

He said he spent time reading books in his cell.

"I have finished reading nine books so far."

The trial, which is expected to proceed for the entire week, is prosecuted by deputy public prosecutors Roslan Mat Nor and Farhan Read while Raja Petra was represented by counsel J. Chandra, Amarjit Singh Sidhu and Gobind Singh Deo.

Harme told the court that there was an article on the Malaysia Today website carrying Raja Petra's byline, posted on April 25.

He said the article had the Malaysia Today's URL address on the top.

However, during cross-examination by Chandra, Harme said he could not confirm that the posting was actually done by Raja Petra.

He agreed with Chandra's suggestion that one would not know who had actually posted a particular article.

"It can be done by anyone who has the username and password," said Harme.

He also agreed that a person is able to register for an email address without providing his personal information and he could have more than one email.

Chandra: Do you agree that the Malaysia Today website is accessible all over the world?

Harme: Yes.

Chandra: When a website is accessible all year round, do you agree that the owner or author will not be there physically to monitor the Internet traffic?

Harme: Yes.

Chandra: Are you aware that Raja Petra has been remanded under ISA since Sept 12?

Harme: Yes.

Chandra: Do you know that since Sept 12, there has been posting on the website titled 'No Holds Barred'?

Harme: Yes.

Asked who could have posted the articles since Raja Petra was under detention, Harme said it could have been done by someone else.

Proceedings before judge Rozina Ayob continues.

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Why attack Teresa Kok?

The attacks against Kok and the attempts to portray her as a Chinese chauvinist who is anti-Islam represent a crude attempt at undermining the credibility and viability of the opposition coalition, Pakatan Rakyat, as a viable multiracial alternative to BN.

TODAY

She has been vilified as a Chinese chauvinist and portrayed as anti-Muslim. She was detained one week under the Internal Security Act for allegedly stirring up religious sentiments. And last week, unknown assailants threw a Molotov cocktail into the compound of her family home in Kuala Lumpur.

But ask DAP Member of Parliament Teresa Kok why she has become the target of a smear campaign in recent months and she will probably be hard pressed for an answer.

And those who know her insist she is anything but a chauvinist or an enemy of Islam that her detractors claim she is.

When Kok was detained under the ISA, even Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, who quit the Cabinet as de facto Law Minister partly in protest against the use of the law, said of her: "I know Teresa personally and I cannot see her as anti-Islam."

While Zaid was the only Umno member who spoke out publicly, he was not the only one who viewed the recent ISA detentions of Kok and a female journalist, who was released after 18 hours, as unwarranted.

"Look, everyone who knows her (Kok) knows she is not a bigot or a chauvinist. This makes the government look bad," one MP from Umno said.

In fact, it was some of Kok's political opponents in Parliament — from the ruling Barisan Nasional — who met with government officials in private to plead for her release. Such is Kok's popularity that when she made her first public appearance at a press conference hours after her release on Sept 19, she received a standing ovation from reporters.

It is probable that Kok, who won her Seputeh parliamentary seat in Kuala Lumpur with a 36,492-vote majority — the biggest — in the March elections, could win with an even bigger margin if polls were held today.

To her supporters, she is a hero who has been wronged.

It was alleged that she had abused her position as an MP and a member of the Selangor state government to direct a mosque to reduce the volume of its public address system during prayer times because it was disturbing non-Muslims living nearby.

The allegation, made by former Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Mohd Khir Toyo, and highlighted in the Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia newspaper, was found to be untrue. Even the mosque committee came out to publicly deny the allegation. Still, she was detained by the police.

The attacks have not stopped despite her release. Utusan Malaysia has made her, in her own words, a "cover girl" since her release. After she complained about the allegedly low quality of food served during her detention, comparing it to dog food, she has been chastised repeatedly in the newspaper.

Kok, known for her multiracial stand, has been determined more than ever to flaunt it since her arrest.

Following her release, she has been attending breaking-of-fast functions almost nightly during the just-ended fasting month of Ramadan.

But even that has become the subject of attacks by Utusan Malaysia.

Last week, Kok was criticised in the newspaper for "wearing a skirt to a mosque". The article appeared to suggest that she was wearing something outrageous and that her attire caused serious discomfort among Muslims present at the function.

However, facts suggested otherwise. Kok wore a long-sleeved dress which came down almost to her ankles. She also did not enter the mosque, remaining instead in its compound.

One of Kok's Malay-Muslim supporters said: "I don't understand why she is being targetted. She is usually so sensitive to the religious obligations of Muslims it is almost ridiculous. She usually takes great pains to tell me what I can or cannot eat when we are out that I find it hard to believe she would be anti-Islam."

Ultimately, the smear campaign could be attributed to the fact that Kok and a number of leaders from the Chinese-dominated DAP have taken pains to reach out to Malay-Muslim voters.

As a member of a party who is part of three state governments — along with its Malay partners in the Parti Keadilan Rakyat and Pas — DAP leaders like Kok have been reaching out more than ever, and successfully, to Malay voters.

This is undoubtedly a political threat to the ruling coalition led by Umno.

The attacks against Kok and the attempts to portray her as a Chinese chauvinist who is anti-Islam represent a crude attempt at undermining the credibility and viability of the opposition coalition, Pakatan Rakyat, as a viable multiracial alternative to BN.

But targetting Kok, known for her congeniality as much as anything else, may well backfire.

Excerpt from http://mt.m2day.org/2008/content/view/13398/84/

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Syed Hamid ordered RPK to Kamunting for 2 years

Malaysia Today editor Raja Petra Kamarudin was served with an order last night that would see him detained in Kamunting for two years under the Internal Security Act (ISA).

The detention order was signed by Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar last night.

He will be held without trial under Section 8 of the ISA, reporters were told by his lawyers, who were at the High Court hear to argue their habeas corpus application on Tuesday.

He was detained under the ISA on Sept 12. Two others detained that day, Seputeh MP Teresa Kok and Sin Chew Daily reporter Tan Choon Heng, have since been released.

Raja Petra had filed a notice of motion through Messrs Mathews Hun Kandiah last Tuesday citing the grounds that his detention was unlawful and contravened the Federal Constitution. (TheStar)


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RPK Habeas Corpus Application to be heard by Court next Friday

The High Court here fixed next Friday to hear the habeas corpus application by blogger Raja Petra Raja Kamaruddin who is seeking his release from detention under the Internal Security Act (ISA).

The case will be heard before Justice Datuk Mohamed Apandi Ali.

His counsel, Ashok Kandiah, when contacted said he met Raja Petra at Bukit Aman and the blogger had affirmed his affidavit which would be filed at the High Court crminal registry Friday to facilitate his application.

Raja Petra filed a notice of motion through Messrs Mathews Hun Kandiah on Tuesday citing the grounds that his detention was unlawful and contravened the Federal Constitution.

He was arrested at his home in Sg Buloh last Friday, followed by Sin Chew Daily reporter Tan Hoon Cheng and Seputeh member of parliament Teresa Kok Suh Sim.

Tan was freed la st Saturday after being detained for 18 hours while Kok was released Friday.

-- BERNAMA


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3 detained under ISA

Malaysia Today news portal editor Raja Petra Kamarudin, Seputeh MP Teresa Kok and Sin Chew Daily reporter Tan Hoon Cheng were arrested under the Internal Security Act (ISA) here and in Penang.

The first person to be picked up was Raja Petra, 58, from his house in Sungai Buloh near here, followed by Tan, 32, who was arrested from her house in Bukit Mertajam, Penang. Teresa, 43, was detained at 11.20pm as she was on her way home in a car.

Detained: (From left) Raja Petra, Tan and Kok were picked up under Section 73(1) of the ISA.
All of them were arrested under Section 73(1) of the ISA for allegedly being a threat to security, peace and public order.

A team of police officers from Bukit Aman arrived at Raja Petra’s house at 1.10pm and led him away 40 minutes later.

The team also took some 15 VCDs on ceramah held by Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as well as 16 books.

Last week, the Department of Islamic Development (Jakim) and several Muslim bodies lodged a police report against Raja Petra, who is already facing criminal defamation charges for allegedly insulting the Malays, Muslims and Islam.

In a statement, Deputy Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar said Raja Petra was arrested based on surveillance that showed that he was involved in activities that could cause unrest among the multi-racial and multi-religious society of the country.

Tan, who was picked up at 8.40pm, was taken from her house in Taman Seri Rambai in Bukit Mertajam to the state police headquarters on the island.

Tan, 32, reported former Bukit Bendera Umno division chief Datuk Ahmad Ismail’s racist remarks while campaigning for the Permatang Pauh by-election.

Lee Kelvin from Guang Ming and Tan Ming Xao from Nanyang Siang Pau, who had vouched for the accuracy of Tan’s report had gone into hiding.

Kok, 43, who is also state assemblyman for Kinrara and the senior Selangor state executive councillor, was picked up over an alleged involvement with a resident’s petition over a mosque.

Acting Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar confirmed the arrests of Tan and Kok.

Under the Section, police are empowered to detain the trio for a period of 60 days after which the Home Minister can decide on further detention.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar admitted that the decision to detain people and issue show cause letters would be unpopular and would be criticised but it had to be done.

“While we may want to be popular, freedom without responsibilities has ramifications.

“We have to take action to protect the wishes of the majority,” he said.

Syed Hamid also said Raja Petra had been warned on many occasions in the last two years.

“Now, with so much public uneasiness, we do not want anything that can threaten peace in the country.

“The police looked at all aspects and, under present circumstances, the actions were necessary,” he added.

Excerpt from http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/9/13/nation/2022362&sec=nation


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Raja Petra detained under ISA

Prominent blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin was arrested under the Internal Security Act today.


According to her wife Marina Lee Abdullah, about 10 policemen came to his house and arrested him about 1.10 this afternoon.

Malaysia Today alert also reported :

Today (12 Sep 2008) at 1.10pm the police came to RPK's house and arrested him under Internal Security Act section 73(1). They ransacked RPK's bedroom and took away some documents and CDs.

The arrest comes a day after the government lifted blocks on all websites, including Raja Petra's popular Malaysia Today website.

Three newspapers were also issued show cause letters. They are Suara Keadilan, The Sun and Sin Chew Daily.

The Home Ministry has asked three newspapers to show cause on why action should not be taken against them over their news coverage on a number of political issues.

It is understood that they are given one week to reply, else the Minister can revoke the permit.

Raja Petra was detained under Section 73 (1) of the ISA for being a threat to security, peace and public order.

Under the detention orders, he will be detained for 60 days. The Home Minister can extend the detention order at the end of that period.

Raja Sara, his youngest daughter, told The Malaysian Insider that ten policemen entered the home and took her father away at 1.30pm to the federal police headquarters at Bukit Aman.

She believes he is there still.

"They didn't tell us anything. They didn't tell us why he was arrested; they didn't say because of which article he wrote.

"They raided the house and took away some books and files. They didn't take away any computers because there are none left. They took them all away the last time and it is with them still," said the 20-year-old over the phone, sounding rather dazed about the whole

affair.

She said her father's two lawyers, Amarjit Singh and J. Chandra have been informed of this latest development and that discussions were underway to shed more light on the situation.

Meanwhile, Bernama reports that Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said that the blogger was detained after it was ascertained that he could disrupt and threaten security and public order, he said when contacted.

Syed Hamid said the detention came in the wake of various statements' published by Raja Petra in his blog "Malaysia Today", the latest being a commentary which allegedly ridiculed Islam and Prophet Muhammad.

"We have called and advised him many times following the publishing of his statements but he has continued to write, so much so that they (the statements) could pose a threat (to security and public order)," he said.

Deputy Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar, when contacted, said the police would issue a statement on Raja Petra's detention this evening.

He declined to elaborate.

Raja Petra had been earlier detained under the ISA in April 2001 for his involvement in the reformation movement and was held for 53 days at the Kamunting Detention Centre in Taiping, Perak.

Raja Petra reportedly incited Muslims with a commentary on the article "I promise to be a good, non-hypocritical Muslim" which contained sentences that ridiculed Muslims besides allowing a commentary which ridiculed Islam and Prophet Muhammad with reference to the article "Not all Arabs are descendants of the Prophet" published in the "Malaysia Today" blog.

Syed Hamid issued a warning on Sept 6 that Raja Petra might be detained under the ISA in connection with the articles, and several police reports were made on the matter by several organisations, among them the Islamic Development Department of Malaysia (Jakim), the Federal Territory Islamic Religious Council (Maik), the Federal Territory Islamic Religious Department (Jawi) and the Islamic Missionary Foundation of Malaysia (Yadim).

Section 731 of the ISA permits the detention of an individual for up to 60 days.


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Access to Malaysia Today reinstated by Cabinet

The Cabinet has ordered the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (SKMM) to reinstate access to all blocked websites including Malaysia Today, says Energy, Water and Communications Minister Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor.

On Aug 28 SKMM confirmed that it had instructed ISPs to block Malaysia Today in accordance with Section 263 of the Communications and Multimedia Act.

Since then various parties have slammed the move saying the action went against national commitments spelt out under MSC Malaysia’s Bill of Guarantees.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar had said the site was blocked because it showed no respect for religion. (The Star)

Meanwhile, Bernama also reporting the same. The government is no longer blocking the access to any websites or blogs in the country, says Energy, Water and Communications Minister Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor.

He told reporters here that the decision was reached at the weekly cabinet meeting Wednesday.

Shaziman said that following the decision, the order to restrict access to websites or blogs, including the "Malaysia Today" news portal, has been withdrawn, effective immediately.


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JAKIM lodged a police report against Raja Petra

The Department of Islamic Development (Jakim) and several Muslim bodies lodged a police report here on Friday against Malaysia Today website editor Raja Petra Kamarudin for allegedly insulting the Malays, Muslims and Islam.

Director-general Datuk Wan Mohamad Sheikh Abdul Aziz said the department wanted authorities to take action against the editor, who is already facing charges of criminal defamation.

"There are articles on his website, which are clearly insulting Islam and the Prophet. Such views expressed will affect the good relationship Muslims are trying to build with those from the other religions and the Government's agenda.

"These will also hamper the Prime Minister's efforts to see more inter-religious understanding," he told reporters when met at the police station.

The allegedly offensive articles cited by Jakim were "I promise to be a good, non-hypocritical Muslim" and "Not all Arabs are descendants of the Prophet".

Among others, Raja Petra wrote "only Muslims pretend to be good when they are actually bad" and compared Prophet Mohammad to Osama bin Laden.

Wan Mohamad said the department had been monitoring Raja Petra's activities and blog since it was first established on the Internet.

"Action against Raja Petra is necessary because Jakim may not be able to control the anger of the Muslims, particularly when the articles came so soon after the Bar Council forum on Conversion to Islam," he said.

Besides Jakim, the other Muslim bodies that lodged the report were Yayasan Dakwah Islamiah, Federal Territory Islamic Religious Department, Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia and Federal Territories Ministry and the Federal Territory Islamic Council.

The department, he warned, was also monitoring articles on several blogs and websites, and had identified several others whose writings were offensive.

It was reported that all 21 Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in the country had been ordered by the Communications and Multimedia Commission (SKMM) to block Raja Petra's website. The notices were sent out on Tuesday in accordance with Section 263 of the Communications and Multimedia Act.

The Government had since denied that it issued a directive to SKMM to block the access.

Wan Mohamad denied that the report was "politically motivated".

"It's up to the public to perceive what they want," he said.

Excerpt from http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/9/5/nation/20080905142912&sec=nation

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MCMC : Probe Underway, Malaysia Today block order stands

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission's (SKMM) directive to Internet service providers (ISPs) to block access to the Malaysia Today portal still stands pending an investigation to determine if its editor should be charged.

SKMM chief operating officer Mohamed Sharil Tarmizi, when contacted Wednesday, said an investigation was underway to determine whether or not to charge the portal's editor Raja Petra Kamaruddin under Section 211 or 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act.

Section 211 states that no content applications service provider, or other person using a content applications service, shall provide content which is indecent, obscene, false, menacing, or offensive in character with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any person.


Mohamed Sharil Tarmizi - Filepic
A person who contravenes this is liable to a fine of not more than RM50,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or both, and shall also be liable to a further fine of RM1,000 for every day or part of a day during which the offence is continued after conviction.

Section 233 is on improper use of network facilities or network service and related to communication that is obscene, indecent, false, menacing of offensive with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass another person.

The offender is liable to a fine not more than RM50,000 or not more than one year's jail or both, and shall be liable to a further fine of RM1,000 for every day during which the offence is continued after conviction.

Mohamed Sharil said that access to website was blocked after the Commission deemed the postings had contravened the Act for inciting and being insulting against Islam.

He claimed the commission had received several complaints from the public, adding that the preventive measure was taken under Section 263 of the Act.

On criticisms that blocking access to the website was against freedom of the Internet, he said that SKMM was merely “doing its job."

“We want to promote ethical and responsible blogging. We want to make the online space better still, with fervent debates, but in a civil and responsible manner."

Raja Petra has said that blocking access to his portal was a breach of the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) charter and that he would turn it into "a big issue."

Under MSC Malaysia's 10-Point Bill of Guarantees, it is stated that that Government promised to “ensure no Internet censorship” as part of its commitment to ensuring the success of MSC status companies.

Section 3 of the Act states quite explicitly, "Nothing in this Act shall be construed as permitting the censorship of the Internet.”

It is understood that only TMnet, the No 1 ISP in the country, has complied with SKMM's directive. Malaysia Today meanwhile has set up an alternate site that can still be accessed by TMnet users.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar, while denying that the Government had instructed SKMM to issue the block order, claimed the site was being blocked because it had posted articles deemed insulting to Islam.

Mohamed Sharil meanwhile said that the Commission strongly advised members of the public not to forget that the law also applied in cyberspace.

Excerpt from http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/9/4/nation/20080904112150&sec=nation


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A bitter sweet budget - Tony

The newly announced budget needs to be looked upon from two perspectives – macro and micro. From a micro perspective, the government must at least be given some credit for shifting its emphasis to what concerns rakyat the most today – that is the impact of record levels of inflation on the people's livelihood.

The prime minister spoke of a social safety net, encapsulated by the commendable measure to increase the threshold for welfare eligibility from the current RM400 per household to RM720, which is the poverty line for peninsular Malaysia. This will cost the government RM500 million.

At the same time, he also attempted to address the need for an efficient and convenient public transportation system. In this aspect, the government's effort is lukewarm at best.

Despite an impressive headline figure of RM35 billion allocated for public transportation, it actually only works out to RM5.8 billion a year over the next six years. In fact, if one looks carefully at the budget for the transportation sector, it has declined by RM1 billion to RM11.5 billion.

The education and training sectors are among those which benefited the most, with overall allocation increasing to RM48.8 billion from RM44 billion previously. This makes up a healthy 23.5% of the total budget.

However, while there were quite a few other sweets which were distributed fairly generously in this budget, I'm deeply concerned over certain macro developments on our budget which in the longer term may place our economy in jeopardy.

Firstly, I'm taken aback by the size of the increase in budget expenditure for this year, 2008 as compared to what was actually budgeted last year.

Last year we heard the government announcing a record budget of RM176.9 billion, but based on the latest figures, we will grossly exceed our budget by RM20.3 billion to RM197.2 billion.

This basically means that despite record revenue and a record budget, our government couldn't prudently control its expenditure (well, either that, or they couldn't do a proper budget).

What makes the issue more glaring is the fact that it is the operational expenditure i.e. rental, maintenance, stationery supplies, civil service wages etc, despite being at record levels in the budget announced last year, that busted the original allocation by 17.2%, increasing to RM151 billion.

Next year, the budgeted operational expenditure is another record RM154.2 billion. This figure is both shocking and scary as operational expenditure for the government when Abdullah Badawi first became prime minister in 2004 was only RM80.5 billion.

In just a short period of four to five years, government operational expenditure has increased by 91.5% or RM73.7 billion. This raises the question as to what the government is spending its money on which requires such substantial increase in operational expenses?

Even more worrying is the fact that most of the government's revenue is sourced from the petroleum sector. Last year, the estimated contribution of the sector to our government's coffers was 37%, but for 2009, this is estimated to increase to 46.4%.

Given that the bulk of our revenue is coming from a non-renewal resource, which may last us for only another two to three decades, it would have been better advised for the government to allocate part of this oil "lottery" revenue to future use for coming generations. Or at the very least, these funds should have been placed under development expenditure.

Instead, while development expenditure did increase in this budget, its proportion of the budget continues to drop and from 27.2% in 2008 it will amount to just 25.9% in 2009.

What's more, while the government trumpeted a drop in deficit from 4.8% in 2008 to a budgeted 3.6% in 2009, it fails to state that the initial budget for last year had a target of only 3.1%.

This means that the government has clearly overspent last year and it almost means that the government's budget cannot be relied upon as an accurate measure of government expenditure for the variation was so huge despite the finance ministers having earlier this year defended the target of 3.1%.

Even more importantly, it shows that our government is unable to contain the budget deficit, despite massive inflow of revenue, from RM139.9 billion in 2006 to RM176.2 billion expected in 2009.

Hence, the potent combination of our increasing reliance on oil and gas revenues, together with the government's seeming recklessness in spending it all (and more), I'm very worried about the financial health of the country in the future, especially in the light of greater economic competition coupled with a potential global economic slowdown in the next few years.

(Tony Pua is the MP for PJ Utara and DAP publicity secretary and former CEO of an IT company)

Excerpt from http://mt.m2day.org/2008/content/view/11960/84/

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