Where do you stand?

I hear alot of people talking about neutrality, of being un-bias, fair, bla, bla, bla…Journalists and now even bloggers have to deal with this issue sometimes. I have this to say about it, but not my words though:

“If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality.” (Desmond Tutu)

If I think of it like that, it’s sure easy to know where I stand. How about you?

“I’m in the mood to Fcuk the government”

He was brought to court and charged for criminal defamation against the Deputy Prime Minister’s wife Rosmah Mansor, but refused to enter a plea, whether guilty or not. The cops went for him because he claimed that he was reliably informed that Rosmah was at the crime scene when Altantuya Shariibuu was blown to bits by C4 explosives in October 2006.

His arrest and charge came a day following the arrest of Anwar Ibrahim, who has also been challenging the government and making allegations which linked Rosmah’s husband Najib Tun Razak to the murder of Altantuya.

He refused to plead anything as he said the charges against him were both “defective and malafide”. He then posted bail at RM2,000, and was freed.

“I’m in the mood to f*** the government. What more do you want me to say?” That’s what he said when he was released.

That’s Raja Petra Kamaruddin, the people’s hero all the way!

Anwar’s one day nightmare with the cops

He’s free! Only for jail, that is. But don’t know for how long.

Anwar Ibrahim takes the IGP to task for ”abuse of police power”. He accused the IGP for an “act of personal vengeance” against him in retaliation to the reports he had lodged earlier against the IGP (and AG), which are now being investigated by the ACA. 

In the hospital yesterday:

“When I was brought to the hospital, I was stripped naked for tests and had my private parts examined. They also measured the necessary parts” - he told a packed press conference after his release on police bail. (Malaysiakini)

Below is a summary of his own account and brush with the police yesterday.

Saturday, July 12, 2008: Police serve a section 111 Criminal Procedure Code notice, harasses his family and demands Anwar to report at the IPK Kuala Lumpur (Federal Territories Police headquarters) at 2pm on Monday, July 14. 

Sunday, July 13: Police serves ex-parte court order, prohibiting Anwar from physically being within 5km from the Parliament on July 14.

(But Anwar’s house and the IPK KL are within 5km radius from the Parliament building, which means Anwar was put under house arrest on Monday and at the same time prevented him from going to the IPK).
 
Monday, July 14: Police presence outside Anwar’s house. Family suspicions Anwar would be arrested.

(Which order should he compile with? The ex-parte court order or the Section 111 notice from the police?)

Anwar in jail…how many days?

11pm  (Bkk time): The last I heard of him was that he had left the KL Hospital where they wanted his blood sample. But I am uncertain whether he allowed them to take it as his lawyers had advised him not to do so, as his arrest was not according to procedure?  I heard he had been brought back to the police station in KL, where he will stay in remand. Not sure how many days. Around 700 people were still protesting his arrest.

Why was he arrested? - “He was arrested as we had reason to believe he was not going to show up. We wish to point out that Anwar had initially agreed to meet us on Monday but failed to keep his appointment.” Federal CID director Bakri Zinin (STAR online).

6.00pm (Msian time) - Crowd swells to 500++, police gives warning, but yet to take action.

Update 3pm (Bkk time): According to media reports and sms-es, Anwar Ibrahim’s supporters are already gathering outside the police station to protest his arrest. Many, many local and foreign journalists are present, too. Really de ja vu - gostan 1998.

By the way, if the police had arrested Mahathir Mohammad in the same manner, I would also have made a big noise.

Anwar Ibrahim was arrested on his way home after being questioned by the ACA on his report on the IGP and AG, and before he could even go for questioning at the Kuala Lumpur police station. Real foul play. A press statement from his office says:

Silly Shaberry, cheeky Anwar

Being overseas, I missed this so-called “historical debate”.

However, from what I gathered around the blogs and their comments, Anwar Ibrahim had come out stronger after the live debate with Shaberry Cheek. Though it really did not matter who won or lost. The most important point to make is whether one has answered the questions and whether his answers made sense.

According to many observations, Anwar focussed on the issue at hand, hike in fuel prices, and tried to offer practical suggestions to reduce the prices, whether he was right or wrong was immaterial, as this was a debate, where as Shaberry relied on personal attacks against Anwar’s person.

According to some bloggers, Shabbery did not even answer some questions and deflected alot during the debate, saying that the hike in oil prices wasn’t the government’s fault, it was “global”.

Muslim scholars believe in Anwar

On the other hand, his former closest ally Ezam Mohd Nor, who recently jumps over to UMNO, has vowed to reveal “SECRETS” about him. We’d like to see those “treasures” now. Come, bring it on!

The police gives him a warning that he has to appear at the police station tomorrow (to give a statement on the sodomy allegations) or else he faces arrest.

But several Muslim scholars around the world believes that Anwar Ibrahim is:

“…to be of the highest ethical and moral integrity, a devout Muslim and a devoted father and husband. He is universally recognized as an advocate for justice and fairness, and he has a long history of promoting Islam and championing Islamic ethical and charitable causes”.

They said they were ”deeply concerned about the physical safety and freedom” of Anwar and are “ troubled by the unsubstantiated and clearly scurrilous claims made against him and his character”.

They also acknowledge Mahathir Mohammad and Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as having” the formidable political courage in leadership” and has the ”example of personal piety and forbearance” that both has given the Ummah today”.

They are paying “close attention to the way” Anwar is treated.

Malaysian Parliament under seige !

@ 11am (M’sian time) - Massive traffic jam around KL and several journalists barred from entering Parliament.

Photo above - possible scenario at the Parliament house this morning.

Indeed, I can’t read it any other way. Our Parliament, supposedly the highest court in the land,where all decision making and laws are made, is under seiged!

It’s been cordoned off by “state terrorists”, who are all out to prevent the very people who supposedly put them there, from entering and listening to debates.

Yes, today, ordinary folks like you and I, may not be able to enter Parliament and hear the debates going on inside, although we all have the bloody right to do so!

And why are there roadblocks?

A possible debate of no confidence against the Prime Minister might happen in the August House today (monday), and he does not want anyone to witness it.

Beware! The police’s fury

WARNING !!! Action will be taken on SPECULATORS of the two high-profile cases!

Deputy Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar said bloggers, news websites and certain printed media continued to speculate on the two cases (Anwar’s sodomy allegation and Balasubramaniam’s statutory declaration against Najib Tun Razak) although police were still investigating them (Source: New Straits Times).

“Baseless rumours were also being spread among the public regarding these cases. This is very dangerous as it has negative implications on society,” Ismail said at Bukit Aman yesterday.

Looks like the police has to detain like millions of people in the country, coz sorry mate, the whole country is speculating - everywhere - coffee shops, universities, government departments, hospitals…

Wahid detained by ACA?

Only Sin Chew Daily seem to have reported the name of the Immigration department director-general who is reportedly detained by ACA for investigations.

Wahid Mohd Don (image, left) was alleged to have received a RM250 thousand bribe and is currently detained under section 117 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

Sources from ACA told Sin Chew Daily that Wahid was arrested by ACA officials at his home at 8.30pm Thursday (10 July).

He had been reported to have taken bribe from illegal prostitution syndicates and illegal foreign workers.

It seems the ACA is planning to bring Wahid to the Palace of Justice to extend his detention.

Wahid, aged 56, was appointed as Immigration Department Director General in October, 2006.

Police questions lawyer for Bala’s nephew

Why is the police always going after the wrong man?

In their bid to nail PI Balasubaramaniam, who made a stunning statutory declaration last week, and retracted it 24 hours later, only to go missing to “one of the ASEAN countries”, the police now wants to question his nephew’s lawyer N Surendran (image).

Surendran, who helped Kumarasen lodge a police report on his missing uncle, is required to report at the multimedia and cyber crime investigation unit, at 3pm on Saturday, says the Malaysian Anti-Death Penalty and Torture network (MADPET, where Surendran is a member).

What is the justification for questioning Surendran? He is merely the lawyer for the nephew who was worried about the safety of his uncle, especially an uncle who had made revelations, that might bring down the number 2 top leader of the country. That leader happens to be slated now to take over the country’s premiership in 2010 (or so it seems).

Bala’s case is now being classified under section 199 of Penal Code (False statement made in any declaration which is by law receivable evidence).

Is the police trying to harass lawyers?