Mitos Kebebasan di Tanahair

It is ironic that I should return to blogging during these times. This September, being my tenth year in online writing. But, here I am again. The prodigal daughter. On to business.

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Two things disturb me today.

1. Raja Petra.

We all know what’s happened, the ridiculous charges against him and Syed Akbar Ali (chose to make a point, and to look like they weren’t out to get Pete, obviously) are baseless and vague, just like the ridiculous act itself, whereby anything that the powers-that-be chose to say is seditious, is seditious.

What’s funny is that his article didn’t incite anyone against the government, but I choose to think, his arrest probably has. What’s even funnier (I have a very dry sense of humour) is the fact that, while reading the simple, paternally-felt piece, I noticed in parenthesis RPK’s suggestion of jail (repeatedly), and even hunger strike. To which of course the idiots in power never will notice, and take on hook, line, and sinker. Because they’re just dumb. I’m sorry for being so crass, but they are. Here’s why in context of investigations and how they work.

Marina Lee’s heartfelt letter to the readers of Malaysia- Today goes to show you what sort of behavior these people are capable of. I, quite frankly, have been sick of it for some time now. I am tired of them being able to dictate the terms of liberty and freedom in this country, that is their gross misinterpretation of what is enshrined in the Constitution. I am tired of being sad, angry and shedding tears over each impingement of someone’s freedom. I am tired that they continue to define one of the most important faiths in the history of this world, as one big monolith, that is archaic and incapable of evolving, I am tired of seeing friends sent to jail, I am tired of assuring my family that all these sacrifices will amount to something, someday.

I hear, RPK has agreed to post bail, and will start eating/drinking again. I hope so. My thoughts and prayers have been with their family since this blew last Friday. I hope yours are too.

2. I just got the link for this video from People’s Parliament.  It’s on the Sky Kingdom, and Haris Ibrahim of People’s Parliament as well was interviewed in his capacity as counsel for Kamariah Ali.

Now, my last memory of having the Sky Kingdom discussed took place in a posh establishment somewhere in Damansara Heights. At this dinner, middle-class bankers, writers and professionals congregated to spend an evening out when the light conversation inevitable turned to the story of those “Teapot People.” Insert properly condescending tone, made to sound funny.

A lawyer friend, who was also involved in the case lost it. The gist of the conversation was that of the “Other.” The Teapot People were these weird religious group that went astray and were to be made fun of in the safety of middle-class KL. I don’t blame my friend for losing it at all.

Kamariah Ali, one of the people featured in the video is an unbelievably strong woman, and a Malaysian. I don’t necessarily subscribe to her views, or the worship of Ayah Pin, but that is my own personal belief. Let’s look instead at the facts.

She didn’t believe in the Islam practiced here anymore, and wanted out. So she opted out. Which according to some Malaysians, is illegal. The arrests followed. However, the worst had to be (in the video), the arrival of these “hooded” men to come and destroy the “Kingdom.” A scene from the Confederate South, circa 1940s? No, East Coast Malaysia.

To have that happen to my countrymen, to not know, to hear one woman, and a multitude of other Malaysian’s being belittled like that in public, is disgusting, to say the least. Kamariah, has resisted all attempts, four to be exact, to be rehabilitated. They send you off to pray and recite holy verses, until you are properly “Muslim” again apparently. In the case of Revathi, she was forced to eat beef, to get her to renounce her faith. It’s available on the Al-Jazeera, Everywoman website, if I’m not mistaken. Kamariah continues to believe in Ayah Pin and to be a follower, openly and at times of oppression, in her deepest heart of hearts.

If there is one thing to be said about her, is that she stuck to her guns. She stuck to her principles, how many of us can say the same for ourselves when faced with adversity and strife?

Today, the Syariah court in Penang allowed a Muslim convert to return to Buddhism. As it is almost Malaysian now to jump for joy at these sort of “landmark” rulings, I had to stop myself mid-jump to think for a moment.

Is this really a good thing? Is this a victory for human rights? Is this a victory for Malaysians? And is this a victory for Tan Ean Hung, who had to prove she didn’t practice Islam, and instead she continued to pray to deities like Kuan Yin?

I read this post and I must agree with Haris.

Who are these people to tell any one of us, what we can or cannot do? Freedom of religion is guaranteed to us in Article 11, is it not? Why are there people still telling us what to do, and when and if we can, and dictating the circumstances around all these events. I see individuals, NGOs, and some lawyers out there trying to explain and educate to people, that this is NOT normal. No one should be extinguishing these very important liberties, and yet I see them being slammed as different, dissidents, brain washers, traitors to race and religion etc.

But my biggest question for today is, why do we still allow them to do it?

Do we sit back and see the members of JI still languishing in Kamunting, because they chose to be different from what is practiced by the majority? Do we let Kamariah Ali keep going into religious rehabilitation? Do just sit and watch when a Hindu is forced to eat a meat she cannot consumer for religious beliefs, in the name of pushing forth a perverse agenda of “rehabilitation?” Do we grovel for the little pieces of “justice” that float our way, which actually strengthen my belief, our belief that, in actuality, we have given away all our rights to purported moral guardians of the state?

I think it’s time we take it back.

Take it back.

Take it back.

Take it back.

Take it back.

Taking it all back.

An Apology, Of Sorts

I was at Mee Rebus Tuesday this week, with Wahti, my boss and the rest of the gang, when Captain and Rocky asked me about the lack of updates on my blog. And I told them the truth, “I’ve been uninspired.” And that I have been. Since New Year’s - I have had the time to rethink made decisions, a potentially huge job offer, what I plan to do with the resources available to me, and whether or not I will be able to continue what I have started with blogging, Bolehland, votED, my socio-political activism activities (:P), and I had to think about it seriously.

It was taking a toll on my entire being. Someone once told me, the job of a journalist, the job of an activist, and those who are the ‘ma chais’ working the trenches, is a tiring, thankless job that takes a lot out of you - and you are required to no it with no expectations. It is love unconditional, that you try everyday, failure or not, brick wall or not, pain and hurt or not… you keep on keeping on - with the hope that someday things might actually change.

This year, I stopped reading the papers. And I found new dignity in my profession, amongst the lies, amongst the corruption, amongst the notoriety. I am staying to finish what I started with TELL. This year too, I will embark on many deeply personal journeys to making myself better for the cause in which I am fighting for. With the right people behind me, supporting me, I think I can do it. This year I apply for scholarships to do my Masters in Human Rights and Public Policy. It was a tough decision to make, due to a variety of personal reasons - but it’s something I have to do for my own sake.

My Paps, Haris Ibrahim has been a guiding light in showing the Man that civil society can rise up above it’s apathy and take charge again. And living life with dignity and compassion - that, is the measure of a man.  The enormous support we get, in the simplest of ways, if often what keeps us going. Through votED, I’ve met some of the best Malaysians there are, and most importantly, I have received approval for my work from the people that matter the most - my family and friends.

My mom cancelled her subscription the the MSM papers and over Christmas, my family sealed their approval with regards to the work and decisions I have made. So now, it is up to me to move in the right direction, and insyAllah, I will.

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One step forward - Vote With Dignity

Happy New Year Malaysia

This is it. I’ve had a completely fabulous year this year. Sure, somethings weren’t so nice. Burma, ISA, HINDRAF, Zakaria Mat Deros, the AG’s Report, the continuous oppression and marginalization, the decline of proper journalism, blatant rewriting of the Constitution, the disrespect for citizens of this country and their right to their freedoms, the arrests of friends… I could go on and on.

Despite everything though, the friends, the family, the colleagues that have stayed through thick and thin, and all the love and care that I’ve found this year, that, is what I am most grateful for. Wahti, thank you for being there for me all this while and being such an amazing boss and friend. Adam, what could I have done without you this year? You know we survived because we all stuck together, you folks at TELL are my family.

To all the amazing people I’ve met, who have brought positivity and camaraderie to a cause that will be a long, hard fight, thank you. You have reignited my faith in mankind. The bloggers, you’ve been so supportive of my re-entry into the fray and I love you for that! Paps/Haris, Imtiaz, Granpawpaw, Rocky, Kak Ena, Captain, Shar, Tony, Stephen, Wee, Eric, props to all of you!

My friends! You know who you are! Petra, Azmi and Janice, the Finnegan’s posse, the Lawyah posse, Richard and gang, wassup! The Veronica’s Apartment posse, Alene, Sam, the blasts from the past, Ying darling, Sarah Chan, the TAG/ZOUK misfits, who’ve taught me that in life, you need good music and deviance.

Thank you all for a great year. I love you!

Here’s to the next year and possible victories and fleeting moments of goodness. Muah!

Too Long

I spent all day reading about the Subashini case today. I knew about it when it came out and followed it early this year. Then lapsed, and have been told it will inevitably be brought up again very soon. I think the two days I spent concentrating on work and chilling out were short lived I am now back to thinking about ’stuff.’ Today, at IKEA I almost, just almost, had a breakdown/epiphany of sorts (in the curtain section, no less). And I thank God for not letting me walk this path alone. Then I checked my Facebook, and saw this for my zodiac:

Michelle,
The burdens of proof and enforcement fall squarely on you these days. Try to fall into the arms of someone who can support you. You have been going alone for too long and it is starting to wear you down. Working as a team will help you achieve what you are striving for.

Hahaha. Had to laugh at that one.

For those of you out there this holiday season feeling less than cheery, take some time off for yourselves. The fight is and long and hard one.

Selamat Hari Raya.

votED - Exercise Your Rights

I’ve been a very busy busy bee. But, with something new and something helpful I hope.

For too long, the youth of my generation have been called apathetic, accused and berated for being apolitical, and said to be driven by pop culture and mass consumerism, materialism - instead of wanting to be educated and informed about politics and the government.

Sometimes, I don’t blame us for being this way, I’m not saying it’s okay to be apathetic, but it is a whole lot easier. With all the emotions I have been feeling in the past week - let me tell you having a real job and trying to be useful to the ’cause’ (to push for good, responsible, just governance and accountability) at the same time - it’s emotionally draining and extremely tiring.

As a first time voter this year, my friends and I knew hardly anything about the electoral process, let alone what a ballot paper looks like. Yes, we are what you call - voting virgins. We asked a few friends, and found out that most of us, media savvy, tech savvy, young, urban and educated fared rather poorly when it came to our knowledge of the voting process and exercising our rights as young Malaysians.

So we came up with votED. What is votED?

It’s Voter Ed(ucation) and exercising your rights as Malaysians. The core team consists of 5 girls, various multi-ethnic backgrounds, with no political affiliation or backing. Just young, Malaysian women with heart. We started our Facebook group about 3 days ago and as of now, have 475 members. We’re extremely proud to have such caring, responsive, and interested Malaysians as our members.

We plan to follow this group with discussions, debates all centered around educating young voters about candidate information, the electoral process and exercising our democratic rights. Soon, we continue with talks/parties/events on the topics aforementioned. We will inform you of the dates as soon as possible.

If you support the cause of educating young Malaysian voters on the importance of elections and votes, feel free to stick this logo on your blog. The team behind votED thanks you for your encouragement and support.

Emergency Public Consultation on fake IPCMC Bill

 From Lim Kit Siang:

Will anybody come for the Emergency Public Consultation on the Special Complaints Commission Bill - the fake Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) Bill – at the Kuala Lumpur-Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall auditorium tonight, December 17, 2007 at 7.30 pm?

Or will there be an empty hall?

Half of me was telling me that it was foolhardy to convene such a Public Consultation at such short notice, with only two days’ notice – and a weekend to boot –with minimal or non-existent mainstream media publicity and that one possibility is a virtual empty auditorium.

This will be grist in the mill of those who will claim that there is no public concern or support for IPCMC and that Malaysians are quite happy with SSB proposal.

The other half of me felt that there is no choice and the risks must be taken to convene a Public Consultation at such short notice because of the great importance to provide an opportunity for the public and civil society to express their views on the SCC Bill – not only because the IPCMC proposal is the most critical of the 125 recommendations of the Royal Police Commission for police reform to create an efficient, accountable, incorruptible, professional world-class police service but also because of the endemic crime which has haunted Malaysians and the country since publication of the Royal Police Commission Report 19 months ago.

Two-day notice falling during a weekend is not the only problem in making a success of the Emergency Public Consultation on the SCC Bill – it is also the end-of-the-year with many taking or preparing their year-end holidays.

I tried to phone Tun Musa Hitam to invite him to do the honours of opening the Public Consultation and found great difficulties in getting his contact number during the weekend, only to be told that he has just gone overseas and would not be back until next year.

Many members of the Royal Police Commission are either overseas or will be outstation and these include Datuk Dr. Michael Yeoh and Dr. Denis Jayasooria. Several others whom I have invited as panelists to the Public Consultation will be outstation and they include Tan Sri Raman Navaratnam and Yeo Yang Poh.

I have spoken to former Inspector-General of Police who was Deputy Chairman of the Royal Police Commission, Tun Hanif Omar, and Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, who have kept the possibility of their attendance open. I (and I believe Malaysians) hope to see them at the Public Consultation tonight.

I have not been able to contact all the Royal Police Commission members as I do not have their contact, like Tun Dzaiddin and Tun Salleh Abas.

You can give me their contact numbers, or invite them on behalf of Malaysians. There is an Open Invitation to all members of the Royal Commission and to all NGOs and NGIs, and I say: Come One Come All to give your views on the fake IPCMC Bill.

Lets see whether there is going to be an empty auditorium tonight.

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I am sick as a dog. But, God willing I will try and make it. This is an extremely important matter that should be addressed, by everyone, especially civil society.

The Man Behind The Cause

I think this was probably the most uplifting thing I’ve read in days:

http://tonypua.blogspot.com/2007/12/v-ganabathirau.html

I hope to see justice served for these Malaysians.

Have a good weekend folks. Spend time with your loved ones, and cherish our freedoms, and be safe.

Screwed.

 As much as I like to start my mornings with pomp and happiness, these past weeks, it has been rather difficult. Day after day, blow by blow, I get even more saddened. But, do not mistake this sadness for inaction. These dark days have been to me, a light that is growing brighter as the days go by.

Today, the full VK Lingam video clip was released. I will leave you to watch it, and read the transcript. If the Royal Commission of Inquiry With The Really Long Ass Name doesn’t do something about this, and the people in it are not brought to justice. There will be consequences. This is not a threat, this is a promise from civil society. Mark my words.

http://www.suarakeadilan.com/isi/

Watch it, and weep. Then, arise.

* Update*

Wee Choo Keong, the lawyer mentioned in the VK Lingam tapes, knows all too well how it feels when the scourge that is the ISA is used. History thus repeats itself.  Read his press release.

Media statement by Wee Choo Keong, Secretary-General of the Malaysian Democratic Party (MDP) on 14-12-2007 in Kuala Lumpur.

ABDULLAH BADAWI ABUSED THE ISA TO DETAIN THE 5 HINDRAF LEADERS

Abdullah Badawi won a landslide victory in the 2004 General Election and he promises more freedoms, greater transparency and open government and he also pledged to fight graft as one of his priorities.  Almost 4 years have elapsed; none of the pledges have been carried out.  In fact, Abdullah Badawi was only paying lip service to his pledges.

Detention of 5 Hindraf Leaders Under ISA

Whilst we may not agree with certain aspect of Hindraf’s campaign but we must defend the Hindraf and its supporters’ rights to freedom of assembly and expression.  Such rights have been enshrined in the United Nation’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948 (UDHR), of which the Malaysian government is one of the signatories.

It is meaningless for the government to sign the UDHR and at the same time ignore its spirits altogether by detaining the 5 Hindraf’s leaders without trial. If the Hindraf leaders have committed offences under Malaysian laws then they should be charged in court and not detained without trial under the most draconian law, the Internal Security Act (ISA), which was originally enacted to combat communists.

Several years ago the government and the Communist Party of Malaysia (CPM) had signed the peace treaty in Thailand which meant that there were no more threats from the communists.  Therefore, to be consistent with the said peace treaty, the ISA should not be abused to detain Malaysians for exercising their freedoms to expression and assembly as enshrined under the UDHR.  In fact, the ISA have been abolished the minutes the said peace treaty was signed by the government and the CPM.

As a former ISA detainee under Operation Lalang, I strongly feel that it was very cruel of the government to deny its citizen of their civil liberty by detaining them without trial and it was a gross violation of human rights.

The MDP calls upon the government to immediately charge the 5 Hindraf leaders in court for whatever offences otherwise to immediately release them unconditionally.

Wee Choo Keong

/end  press release.

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Speechless

My Gchat, Yahoo, and phone has been going off the hook. Malaysiakini.com is down. The Star isn’t. How ironic.

Ladies and gents,

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/12/13/nation/20071213144228&sec=nation

Five Hindraf leaders detained under ISA (updated)

PETALING JAYA: Police said they have detained all five leaders of the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) under Section 8 (1) of the Internal Security Act.

The five are P. Uthayakumar, M. Manoharan, R. Kenghadharan, V. Ganabatirau and T. Vasanthakumar. They were picked up at various locations in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Seremban.

They will be detained for two years, Inspector-General Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan said in a statement.

On Wednesday Uthayakumar was released on police bail after having been arrested on Tuesday for a second sedition charge.

He was among three Hindraf leaders who were charged at the Klang Sessions Court on Nov 23 for allegedly making speeches to incite hatred at a gathering in Batang Berjuntai, Selangor, on Nov 16.

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Nation

Thursday December 13, 2007
MYT 3:59:19 PM

Five Hindraf leaders detained under ISA (2nd update)

PETALING JAYA: Five Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leaders have been arrested and detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA).

The five are P. Uthayakumar, M. Manoharan, R. Kenghadharan, V. Ganabatirau and T. Vasanthakumar. They were picked up at various locations in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Seremban.

It is learnt they were detained under Section 8 (1) of the ISA after Internal Security Minister Datuk Seri Abdulah Ahmad Badawi signed their detention order.

Their detention is for two years.

Uthayakumar and two others namely Ganabatirau and P. Waythamoorthy were charged under the Sedition Act on Nov 23 in Klang 23 for allegedly making speeches to incite hatred at a gathering in Batang Berjuntai, Selangor, on Nov 16. Waythamoorthy is currently overseas.

Under Section 73 (1) of the ISA, the police can detain any individual for up to 60 days without a warrant, trial and without access to legal counsel if he was suspected to have “acted or is about to act or is likely to act in any manner prejudicial to the security of Malaysia or any part thereof or to maintenance of essential services therein or to the economic life thereof.”

After 60 days, the Minister of Home Affairs can extend the period of detention without trial for up to two years, without submitting any evidence for review by the courts, by issuing a detention order, which is renewable indefinitely.

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To their families and friends and to all Malaysians, it is indeed a dark day when a law like the ISA is used on our Malaysian brothers. From the bottom of my heart, I weep for all of you and for this country. I was hoping in every way possible, that this, would not happen.

I am sorry.

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Nat has the story .

I echo his anger and his sadness, and the song that popped out in iTunes as the messages were pouring in! Ah, how I love little ironies:

THE END OF THE WORLD
Skeeter Davis   -  1964

Why does the sun go on shining
Why does the sea rush to shore
Don’t they know it’s the end of the world
‘Cause you don’t love me any more

Why do the birds go on singing
Why do the stars glow above
Don’t they know it’s the end of the world
It ended when I lost your love

I wake up in the morning and I wonder
Why everything’s the same as it was
I can’t understand, no, I can’t understand
How life goes on the way it does

Why does my heart go on beating
Why do these eyes of mine cry
Don’t they know it’s the end of the world
It ended when you said goodbye

Why does my heart go on beating
Why do these eyes of mine cry
Don’t they know it’s the end of the world
It ended when you said goodbye

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I am so very, very, very, very, sad.

Lost and Found

 

 

The words
and the phosphorescence
they tell me secret things
and so,

 

I sit night after night
with words for company

engulfing the self

in the power of the truth.

 

in front
of a screen
blurred with
salty tears

there are moving images
there are ones that are
still.

of beatings and water laced
with chemicals.
gasses that blind
and freedoms that are

lost.

the fan whirs silent,
and the leaves fall
while,
the city burns.
and the lot
are asleep.

 

my skin prickles and shivers.

but,

not from
the cold
or rain,
or thunder.

these are the days,
of grey,
wayward,
clouds. deviant. and unfaithful.

promiscuous and adulterous.

 

have you noticed the sun,
the sun, has left?
instead,
a prison of embrace
from a nice man
veiled in hubris and cruelty.

the thirty one,
ten-eleven, the twenty fifth, the ninth
december and november
(these were the darkest months)
numbers, just as much as the
words
they make you
remember remember.

 

they ignite, they scream
they make up
the blood
on your hands.

 

chills
down my spine
in this thin cotton shirt.

 

for these words
in the phosphorescence
have power.
these ideas
of men
of brotherhood
and of unity
are made flesh.

 

they live
in the darkest of nights
in the streets of concrete and men

and in the heart of
the children of
this soil.

silent dissent
has stopped.

and these chills,
oh these chills,

 

they have awoken us.

 

 

 

 

-poem and picture by Michelle Gunaselan.