"Halt PKR 2010 Election Immediately"

Zaid Ibrahim's political aide, Christopher, sent me this e-mail (circulated to other press as well) to be revealed.

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We are gravely concerned about the manner in which the Parti Keadilan Rakyat election is being conducted by the Central Election Committee (JPP) and the party secretariat.

Today is the first day of polling where thousands of party members are eligible to vote at the polling centres in several Kedah and Kelantan divisions, which should have begun at 10:00 am. However, we have received numerous reports that members were unable to vote at several divisions this morning and many have left in frustration.

From the information we have received, the following problems were faced by local members at the respective divisions:

1. Kota Bharu, Kelantan: Although the ballot papers for the other positions were available, the polling did not proceed because the ballot papers for the position of Vice Chief of the Women’s Wing were not available.
2. Tumpat, Kelantan: The ballot papers have not arrived as at 12:00 noon and the ballot boxes were also not ready. Thus, many members left for Friday prayers.
3. Langkawi, Kedah: The ballot papers arrived very late and registration of new members is taking place whilst the polls are ongoing, and it seems that some of these new members are being allowed to vote.
4. Alor Setar, Kedah: The ballot papers have not arrived as at 12:00 noon and many members left for Friday prayers without voting.

Three out of the four divisions mentioned above nominated Datuk Zaid Ibrahim for the position of Deputy President, and a sizeable number of members were mobilised to vote for him at the fourth division in Langkawi.

In light of these alarming logistical problems on the very first day of polling, we expect more serious problems ahead; especially considering that there are only 10 divisions polling today and there will be 79 more divisions polling during this weekend.

Although the JPP and party secretariat assured us that the election will be conducted professionally to ensure a free and fair election, the above problems have cast serious doubts on the entire election process.

After discussing these problems with Dr Molly Cheah (the Chairperson of the JPP) this morning, we are now even more disturbed as she claims that she is no longer involved in the management of the election process. Indeed, she said that she has no knowledge of the briefing of the candidates and/or their election agents that was conducted at the eleventh hour last night by the party secretariat. She also said that she regrets the problems faced by voters at the divisions mentioned above but she is unable to do anything about it.

In light of these serious concerns, the party election should be halted immediately and resumed only after all these logistical problems have been remedied. If the JPP and/or the secretariat proceeds without resolving these basic but fundamental issues, the party will lose the trust of its members and also damage its reputation as a party that fights for democracy and justice for all Malaysians.

Moreover, if the Chairperson of the JPP claims that she is no longer in control of the election process, then she should no longer hold on to the position and resign immediately. Similarly, if the party secretariat, which is under the responsibility of the Secretary General, is unable to perform their duties properly, then the responsibility for the conduct of the party election should be entrusted to others who can do the job.

Rashid Azad Khan
Election Agent, Zaid Ibrahim
Candidate for Deputy President

Muhammad Firdaus Christopher
Political Aide, Zaid Ibrahim
Candidate for Deputy President

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Update: As of this time, neither MSMs like The Star / NST carried this news. All other online media, FMT, MI, Malaysiakini carried them.

Update 2: According to Jonson via his Tweeter post, the unofficial tally for the contest between Zaid vs Azmin vs Mustaffa stands at 575 vs 386 vs 64.

Long on Brutality, Short on Foresight

I can have a good guess that the police will do everything under the orders of the UMNO thugs to stop this Saturday's rally from going on. I wondered whether is it really because of the fear of the cronies on the above that prompted them to act. What good is a policeman if he is ordered to behave like a terrorist?

Malaysiakini and Bernama reported that IGP Musa Hassan has shot off a warning and threat of arrest to anybody including the public if found to be at the place. As of a few hours ago, there were roadblocks placed around Gombak, Jalan Pahang, Jalan Kuching and roads from the east coast leading towards the capital, as the police will anticipate tons of opposition followers from the east coast, especially the PAS people will be coming down in readiness for Saturday's march.

In most occasions nowadays, the police seems to foment troubles instead of ensuring order and security to the nation. Crime rate still remains at high, and there are cases of splinter cell wars between the CID and CCID, Special Branch is accused of starting the ruckus at Batu Buruk. The police reputation has taken another severe setback, resulting in tarnish of public relations, when they were judged responsible for the abuse of ISA detainee Malik Hussain and this has resulted the government having to pay $2.5 million in damages to Malik. What more are they going to push for what they know that they cannot win?

According to some reports, some 4000 police personnel will be deployed around Merdeka Square ready to pounce on anybody. Now the question is, suppose if there is a total of 100 thousand people against 4000 policemen, how are they going to arrest all of them, unless if they have the balls to shoot every innocent unarmed person including women and children on the street. Like the march of Lawyers in September, the FRU and the police are likely to come with those big trucks, shields, batons, and those tear gas, water hoses ready.... The police think they are able to repeat the formula in stopping the Indian forum but what if things turn the other way round? Should the police decides to make things personal by hitting an unarmed person who has nothing to hide, this means it's a grudge of the citizens against the police for they are provoked and threatened of their lives. And that means massive damages. Do they really want a April 1992 LA Riots here, K.L style?

Let's face it, the RFS index is at 124 compared to 92 in 2006. What more can it be worse with such brutality taken into consideration. The police are just like the gangs fighting for the Five Corners of New York from the 19th century until to the late 70s. They are short of foresight but long on brutality. Don't forget that each police personnel are citizens of Malaysia too, not robots. They too have the right to take part in a general election. If they are not aware of the current situation now, including the judiciary crisis, why do they call themselves policemen if they don't use their common sense and their conscience to wake themselves up from the slumber and ignorance? You see, they should let them go, because if they do not do so, a greater comes in the form of hegemony by iron-fist, politicians who may strip us the freedom as Malaysians in the not so distant future. It might not be now, it will happen someday though. This is the foresight that sadly the policemen did not take into account.

I would like the authorities to step into the shoes of being a normal Malaysian citizen being in that scenario as to understand the other perspective of being a part of the assembly. This sad thing here is that many accusations are made from one side of view, without looking at the other, just as what Puteri UMNO does now, repeating the Wee saga and seeing from only one side.

I will repeat again, no more. This week marks the 90th anniversary of the Russian Revolution. And we are likely to see the Yellow Revolution this Saturday. If the people particularly those who could not make it on that day realize how brutal the police are, then this is likely a sign that the support of BN is likely to erode badly, considering how they are done. There are some who has to do the job of telling world what is happening here. Unless, the King, being the Supreme Military Commander of Malaysia decides to overrule the police and let the soldiers help the country-loving citizens in marching peacefully...something that I wish it would be tomorrow.

I also would like readers here to take a look at some video clips on Youtube of Warren Beatty's Russian Revolution epic, Reds which has the similar context to what is likely to be expected this Saturday. As for me, I am unlikely to attend this due to an appointment elsewhere, but my spirit will be together with this march - unless by stroke of luck I am available.

After all, it's time for citizens to learn how powerful you are in deciding the government of choice.

Cell War: ISM and CCID vs ACA and CID

CCID chief Ramli Yusof today broke silence revealing that he was the man that the ACA is investigating over the allegation that he had assets of $27 million undeclared. Today, he produced a three page statement made to the press declaring that the police and the ACA had failed to give solid protection to whistle-blowers who provide information in beating the numbers and gambling scandal in Johor which led to the current banishment and arrest of the kingpin of Johor, Goh Cheng Poh @ The Tengku.

Yes, this news was already out with the report by RPK saying that there is a connection between the underworld and the police department months before the event arrives at last here. And it is in this case inside that setups the close attempt whereby deputy Internal Security Minister Joe Baharom was allegedly offered a $5 million bribe and cleared by the AG. So it is true, Joe and CCID are trying to figure out the connection between a police cell echelon and underworld, and in the end, Ramli and his subordinates ended up as the victim of the beat.

A check on the dailies on this scope shows that the mainstream media has a blackout on this, except for the Sun (the only one that covers it) and of course the independent online daily Malaysiakini.

One part of the three page statement released by Ramli confirms our suspicions from the beginning. The ACA had gone probing for the identities of whistle blowers who provide information on the underworld activities. The confidentiality has been blown off, when they tracked them and obtained their statements. This is done by circumventing the standard standing orders of the Inspector General. Who would order for the location and targeting of witnesses? According to the rank of protocols, the rank of director of ACA, is higher than the IGP, meaning that Ahmad Said Hamdan can overrule certain decisions made by Musa Hassan. Does that mean that this was the factor?

Which leads to several arrests of CCID officers last week.

The confirmation is there: ACA has flouted the law to obtain identities of those who had sworn to secrecy. So this explains why the other CID department and possibly, those who are arrested knew who are those people who provided the information and who is digging around for information for capture. Which is why, nobody right now would want to co-operate with them including those whistle-blowers of the Lingam tape scandal. Because of one reason: no protection. The admittance by Ramli is that the police had failed to protect them and his officers.

When the identities got out, some quarters who invert statements and used against the officers investigating them, which of course I would say our three men, ASP Hong, DSP Bahrain and Inspector Nordin Ahmad. And according to Ramli, his lawyer, Rosli Dahlan was also arrested by the other police cell and the ACA for CBT before Raya.

You see, The Tengku is first, according to the knowledge of some informants and profiling by the CCID / ISM, the kingpin of Johor; he owns several Magnum 4D shops in Johor and secondly, he is one of the right hand men of the "Godfather". If this man is captured, everything would be done, to finding the right person to secure the release of the man out. And "Godfather" has many connections...well known connections. When the word gets out that the names of people trying to put him down, he would hit back, and false accusations against the three officers is one of the retribution acts executed.

In the statement, Ramli is acting on orders by the Internal Security Ministry, which is run by Joe Baharom and Abdullah Badawi but these two men never meet each other to face. The three officers are acting under him. Now, the CID and the ACA are acting under the allegations by the Tengku that CCID misused their powers. Now, it's kind of a tag team match between these two cells. Seems like a rift to me, but Musa Hassan, claims there isn't.

So this is indeed matches what I'm been repeat quoting over the last few days: if you squeal at the high and mighty, you will pay for it.

Strangely, Malaysiakini and Malaysia Today were barred from the press conference. Maybe they knew too much and wanted the mainstream media to have the share of the coverage, which they hadn't.

Another reason why Bolehland government is still rotting now. AAB still isn't doing his job!

The Truth As A Ploy?

The Bolehland government still continues to deny things although there are some things out there that is indeed the truth as if wants to keep things under a carpet and hush hoping that nobody will notice.

The first thing is the judiciary crisis right now. Former Lord President and Perak Sultan Azlan Shah has today admitted that the current crisis has triggered erosion of public confidence in the system. This indeed concurs with Tun Suffian's statement that if given the current situation, he will not go to a trial even though there is a strong conviction that a person is innocent. It is merely because the trial has been rigged according to political pressure.

Unfortunately, this admission was shot down by de facto Law Minister Nazri Aziz himself, with the line from the news: We are looking from the summit of a mountain but they are looking from their eye point of view. Hahaha....you are still blind. You better quit. That's strike two.

On the other hand, yes, as what Malaysiakini reported, the probe by the 3 man panel has been completed, but frankly, nobody feels that they will accept the report because of the constraints that are placed on the panel including witness security, something that fell short.

Secondly, I still cannot understand whether if the ACA is playing games with Anwar Ibrahim over the handing over of the Lingam tape. Anwar personally waited for the three men to come and collect it only to receive a call that the meet got cancelled. The next day, ACA said that Anwar did hand over the video as demanded. Is Ahmad Said Hamdan playing a game of chicken with Anwar? There is a report by Jeffrey Kitingan that Hamdan is paid money by Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman over hush hush with the state police head in title reward, which means that it is likely a game of chicken. The ACA is looking at the wrong end of the investigation, which is looking for exposers rather than the guilty one. Fool. How will the public co-operate over this matter?

Let's recall the recent arrests of the officers, ASP Hong, DSP Bahrain, Inspector Nordin Ahmad, etc.. All three of them worked under CCID headed by Ramli Yusuff. What they have uncovered is the shocking truth that involves the higher echelons and those who walked the corridors of power. They have figured out the puzzle and instead they are charged by false statements by witnesses, victims of a something they intend to expose. To them they are being told of the message: if you squeal about the high and mighty, you will pay. Those responsible are desperate to cover the truth, which is why I've mentioned that Ramli Yusuff is in deep trouble over this frame-up. Truth as a ploy by opposition? Not for me.

Is everything that is the truth all the time points to the opposition? Not all of them. Some are discovered by truth, some are spoken out by those who cannot tolerate injustices anymore. And yet, the opposition is constantly accused for saying that. When will ZAM learn of knowing the right person who says that? The media is playing spin-doctors, meaning certain words will present the wrong identity and sending the wrong message to the people. Now at least I understand why the Star never uses V.K Lingam instead using "prominent lawyer". Mainly to avoid a repeat of the October 29 1987 thing, post Ops-Lalang.

They can't hide the truth sooner or later. They are now facing public anger over the possible prospect of price hikes and this together with the current problems that they are facing mean that the election will have to be put on hold until middle next year at least. By that time, they might not be able to stop Anwar from competing, if he gets the chance unless they figure out various dirty tricks in their sleeves.

Ramli The Partisan Speaker

Former Perak chief minister Ramli Ngah Talib, currently the Dewan Rakyat speaker seems to be a person tilting to the BN alignment.

Last week, he had rejected twice the motion by the opposition to discuss the Lingam tape that currently affects the judiciary system in Malaysia. The decision by Ramli too was slammed by the human rights watchdog SUARAM as well.

Saying not urgent or technical reason as an excuse is actually unacceptable. As a Speaker, you must give allowances to both sides, opposition and pro-government to discuss their points. By doing so, this shows that Ramli is a partisan of the pro-alliance. Let's consider the fact that he too was an pro-alliance MB during the 90s. Secondly, it shows that the pro-alliance is monopolizing the parliament as well.

During the ear-squat scandal that hit the police force, Ramli also rejected calls to have the motion discussed in the Parliament. And the recent PKFZ scandal motion to be discussed in the parliament was also rejected by him. Why? Why? The 4.6 billion bill, which ballooned is public tax-payer money. Not ministers money, not politicians money, not government money.

There are countless of rejections of motions to be discussed, motions that could affect the integrity of the nation, and Ramli chose to turn a blind eye of it? Is he politcally pressured by his ex-BN men there? If he is put in that scenario, it seems that the BN wants to keep those things hush hush.

There has been a call shown in a Malaysiakini letter, in which I concur that Ramli should quit.
But I feel a bit strange from the kind of reaction that Ramli posed when he noticed that not many MPs showing up today, and berating the absentees for not showing up for debates or so.

Nazri - Still In Denial Mode

The Sunday Times has published a three-part interview with the de facto Law Minister Nazri Aziz that covers the current judiciary scandal, the Lingam tape, the BAR Council and especially the most important part...bloggers.

The first part literally covers of the bloggers, but given the kind of explanation that he provides, it seems that he does not have more points to support it or he refuses to elaborate more on the questions posed by the reporter.

And know, I would like to cover the interview segment on bloggers; the following are the direct replies by Nazri on the blogging issue. Note: so far there hasn't been a review or a similar analysis by Malaysiakini or so:

1. If there are no newspapers, no blogs, then it is chit-chat at the coffee shop that's all.
2. But because of these technological developments, they are able to chit-chat. To me, it's just chit-chat.
3. Why do you put much importance on these bloggers? You know what rubbish has been written on the blogs?
4. Our bloggers are really not up to the standard. When they put up something, it's not something that they want to discuss in the very much intellectual way.
5. Bloggers don't need to be helped. They are merely throwing rubbish into the blog.

The remarks above shows that Malaysia is in the second option of the three options that the government can act against the online community: suppression, denial and acceptance. By saying that, it means the Bedol government is denying the truth that is spoken out.

The main reason why people blog is that the main stream media is politically controlled and censored heavily. They find it an embarassment to tell the truth to the public, fearing erosion of confidence if there is a report of government misconduct and scandal that could plunge the nation. With that in mind, where else can they go when one of the options is blogging. After all, whatever they pose is does not have to go through government channels.

The more significant point in the first part of the interview is Nazri's boasting that the appeal for the revamp of the judiciary by the people and the BAR Council will fall into deaf ears. This is something that is remarked by a person that doesn't know the law extensively.

Indonesia, a nation that is lacking severely behind Malaysia in all-round aspects is somewhat better on two fronts, which is flexibility, not like those Muslim groups hounding Beyonce. The even declared 27 October as the National Bloggers Day, an event to show appreciation and respect to local bloggers that they believe to contribute much to the nation in decision making process. But when we have these two idiots, Nazri and ZAM running the show, it is no wonder why Malaysia is still lacking behind because of one reason: level of education among the ruling elite is lower than the minority.

I Expect An Apology!

Hari Raya is one of the days in Muslim culture where a person seeks forgiveness of all his sins from the father and mother. It does coincide with one of the Ten Commandments - Honor Thy Mother and Father.

On 22nd October, a pro-government MP by the name of Badruddin Amiruldin has called Karpal Singh, an opposition MP - "Now you sitting on a wheelchair. God has punished you."

I really find that this remark covers every disabled Malaysian in Malaysia as if they are being punished for their sins. But I imagine of what about those who got struck by polio by their young age. Take Dr. Chandra Muzaffar an example. A successful analyst who holds a Ph.d despite bound to wheelchair due to polio. How about Roosevelt, who became one of the most successful US Presidents in history despite being struck by polio?

The world has witnessed successful people despite being handicapped. Ray Charles is an example of a successful musician despite being blind. My office colleague Shafiri is a first-degree holder and holds a job despite being blind. Why did this man make that remark so offending to disabled citizens in Malaysia?

One of the traditional Malay culture principals that the elders impart to the young is to respect the elderly and the disabled. It seems that this man has forgotten or old habits die hard, after all, Maaf Zahir Batin is being used already during Raya.


I wonder what happens to my 85-year old man who was to rely on a wheelchair at times when he goes out. I appreciated that there are some good Samaritans that are willing to give space for the disabled to go without left behind for an extended period of time. At the Hari Raya open house, there are some elderly are given preference because of their disabilities and age.

Like many out there who have disabled friends or family members, Badaruddin Amirluddin will have to show his face and apologize to every disabled person. Because, if he doesn't, expect people not to vote for him or jeer him everytime we hear him in the news.

Is Anwar Ibrahim Behind The 8-Ball?

Former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim has only until tomorrow to hand over the complete 14 minute video that features the whistle-blowers of the Lingamtape to the ACA men. Despite clear cut assurance earlier from the month stating the edited 8-minute footage is deemed authentic by forensic experts brought in for authentication purposes, the ACA still believes that the copy is not convincing enough to say that the guy in the video is VK Lingam and the person he is talking to is Chief Justice Ahmad Fairuz.

Now who the hell actually says that the edited video is insufficient? ACA Director Ahmad Said Hamdan? Special officer Chua Lay Choo? Or even Sazali Salbi, the chief men who visited Anwar yesterday? Let's rule Sazali out for he was acting on orders from the above. Above, who would that be?

As of just now, at 4.45 p.m, as according to a Malaysiakini article, Anwar has declared that he will not give that copy to the guys. A posting at his blog has requested people to show up at his office tomorrow morning at 10.30 a.m. to show protest and solidarity at the ACA men. The thing is that he is threatened of arrest under Section 22 of the ACA act 1997.

So now, Anwar is actually behind the 8-ball. There is a dilemma right now. The reasoning for refusing to hand over the video is simplified to a few factors:

1. The assurance of protection of whistle-blowers of the Lingam tape by Nazri and the government is insufficient. Currently, there is no Witness Protection Act gazetted in the Constituition.
2. The panel assigned to investigate the video is not trustworthy because Haidar Mohd. Noor is directly involved in the Salleh Abas sacking in 1988.
3. There is a chance where the AG and the ACA and the ISM might dismiss the case immediately after viewing the footage, deeming it a forge. Then they might destroy the footage.

On the other hand, if Anwar doesn't hand it, he is risking a 2-year jail term and possibly being barred for another 5 years from politics. If he hands it though, he can contest in elections should there is a possibility that the election might possibly be postponed to say June 2008. This is taken to account to the fact that the at that time, the buzz and reaction of people from the price hikes would take about six months before it dies down.

I want to point the third point significantly mentioned just now.

That is what the ACA is likely to do behind our backs, without our attention. If that doesn't seem to be convincing, remember what happened to the three police offers who were charged for falsifying the reports / statements / framing the IGP. To some who knows about this, the ACA cannot be trusted right now because of that. Inspector Nordin Ahmad is the example of a victim of retribution by certain people who were angered by the fact that he figured the connection between higher authorities and the underworld.

Image by Mob's Crib

The catch line for them now is that if you squeal at the high and mighty, you will pay for it.

The Sun today reports another two more officers were charged for false statements. In truth, it is the other way round, sending the wrong message to the people, the public, and the readers. As you might be aware of, one of the two officers charged, ASP Hong is also involved together with Nordin in compiling information, testimonials and proofs that the top men including deputy ISM Joe Baharom and IGP Musa Hassan were paid by the underworld. An obviously, the businessman that is mentioned is the kingpin of Johor, running rackets and others known by some as the "Tengku".

The reason above is that the ACA turned the information of the profilers over to the higher authorities and the parties involve, which involves the people arrested. To keep a hush and sweep under the carpet, the turned the charges around them.

Now many people know that the independent panel and the ACA cannot be trusted right now, which is why the BAR and certain NGOs are pushing for a Royal Commission. Indirectly, this shows that the people are losing confidence of the Abdullah Badawi administration. At this time, it is unlikely there will be a snap election given of this situation.

Oil Price Hike: Where Will We Be?

DCA Minister Shafie Apdal said on Thursday that an oil price hike is imminent given the fact that the latest crude oil prices has spiked up to $90 per barrel, given of the demand by the U.S in facing its winter season and the current face off between the Turks and the renegade Kurds at the border town of Turkey-Iraq.

This will be the fourth time in four years in the Abdullah Badawi administration that the government has raised the price of oil given the fact that the amount of subsidies forked out by Petronas and the government themselves ballooned according to the latest price of crude oil. To most of us, it means more money has to be forked out for food and transportation, the core two needs that a working man will have to pay out for. There is also a possibility, according to Petronas CEO Hassan Merican that Malaysia could be a net importer of oil by 2010 if the demand of oil increases 4 percent each year until 2010.

A Malaysiakini comment has clearly spelt out of what is to be expected in the next six months. Just be prepared for the worst has come. Secondly, with this scenario, the possibility of throwing general elections to stop Anwar Ibrahim, particularly cannot be done by this year itself.

A question is borne out of this scenario: with the price of oil going up, which are path we going to pick? The path of the common man, or the path towards better quality of living?

The Common Man's Path

To a common working-class man working in Malaysia, fuel hike means had to squeeze some more of necessity usage for use of food and transportation. And this can be a domino effect to their daily routine. Eventually it would builds up to creating more stress and tension to a person so much, if uncontrolled, it could destroy what is inside of a human being.

Just imagine, had the price of fuel remain at the price of before 2002, people do not have to pay that much to enjoy a bowl of noodles, regardless of anywhere we stay in Malaysia. Let's say back in 1999, the price of a bowl of noodles is at $2.80, in 2008, the price could be at $3.80 or so. The inflation rate is $1.00 per 10 years. Right now, just imagine what can you do if you can save $1.00 out of the price above? You can use it for other purposes such as accumulated savings for future use or something else you can name for yourself.

Some may blame the price hike of oil at oil players like those at Haliburton, NYME and investors for being greedy and speculative. You can say that those big fat rich men enjoyed the riches after playing the mercantile market, reaping the big profits while the others suffer. Are we going to result to being Mr. Payback, a vigilante fighting for a common man or calling for Michael Moore to save the day? Elite capitalism?

Back to the Malaysian context, the ex-journalist whom I met at Hari Raya Open House the other day pointed fingers at Mohamad Yackop for the problems of limited growth of Malaysia economy. He accused the government for not being proactive in improving the economy, saying that the progress was hampered by some ridiculous policies especially the NEP. He also poked a question at Yackop himself: The Sing dollar value is 2.3 times more than the ringgit, which is about 22% undervalued than the value before the pre-Asian financial crisis but worth 1.5 against the dollar. Why has no effort be done to strengthened the ringgit? The ringgit should be at $2.92 against the dollar right now (in his words) And Yackop's answer was just one line: Let the market decide.

To him, it was an answer that he could not accept. A common man would be convinced that having a strong ringgit would reduce the cost of imports of various products, including oil. Coupled with reduced tariffs - sure, I would be spending $263 against $302 to buy a barrel of oil. Imagine the amount of savings per barrel, $40! I can use $40 for other things....!

The next person he poked at is Shafie Apdal with another question, why all things go up but nothing has gone down? Shouldn't there be a review of price for people to enjoy? Shafie never answered the question..to his disappointment.

Well, looking at the common man's perspective has many points, and the conclusion is that the government's failure to go more proactive approach in improving the economy, not relying on FDI and Economic Corridors and other things is dragging the people's feet down.

But have you look at the other side of the coin?

The Path of Better Quality of Living

I had a dinner chat with a schoolmate of mine during my secondary school days yesterday over this matter, and he seems to prove a point, with an aim to help people going towards a better quality of life, in terms of how society progresses into a better one, in context of reaching the Vision 2020 goal.

Have we look at how Singapore people had a higher quality of living than we do? If yes, the answer is because that the government is constantly encouraging them to stand on both of their feet. Sadly, this is what many people are unaware of: the government is trying to get them not to rely on them any much longer. The truth is subsidies, when viewed at a long run can be a crutch, shortcut that people would cling on. Imagine the amount of subsidies, if taken off can be used to other things for development. For example, according to my friend who stayed in UK for four months, the card machine there still uses a magnetic stripe card, whereas in Malaysia, we have the privilege of using a chip-based card. At least a billion ringgit has been spent for the financial sector as to improve productivity in financial services...with unused subsidies!

Perhaps this also encourages people to be more aggressive in achieving success in business without assistance. You see that almost every Singaporean at least owns a high-end level of a car and at least an apartment on their own, without government assistance to help them. This is because of that methodology that their government introduced...self-sufficient, self-reliance to achieve better good.

Inevitably, prices go up and up and it never goes down at all. Let's take a look comparing the price in 1993 and as of now. Sure, it went up, but what is the probability or a better question, how many occasions do we see prices going down? I mean, we are talking of consumerism here!

Now, in the current situation, is Malaysia prepared to take better path of living or merely sticking back to the common man's path? It seems that given the population status and average of amount they earn, we are still clinging onto the common man's path.

Nazri Isn't Capable. He Should Quit

When it was learned that the Bar Council had marched to the PM's office to hand over the memorandum, the de facto Law Minister, the Nazi from Padang Rengas was making kinds of various statements and *denials* that people, comprising of lawyers, socio-political community and the opposition party find it unconvincing and crap.

The first denial, according to Malaysiakini quotes that Nazri says there was no crisis at all. That's the first mistake he made. He thinks the judiciary crisis as no crisis. Just go through this line a few times saying it out loud:

There's no need for such a judicial commission as there is no crisis in our judiciary.
No crisis, no problems. I don't see any scandal.
This are all efforts by the opposition to create distrust and erode public confidence in the judiciary.

You idiot! Are you trying to ignore this thing that is plunging the country into abyss? Nobody has the confidence as before to trust the law system of Malaysia already. And you try to make that statement as an excuse? The hell with it! And you blame the opposition for the problems that arise in this country? The opposition did it? You did it first, pal! That's your mistake.

You are supposed to clean up the mess and shows us that you did fix the problem. It's not leaving the pile of mess and blaming the others for the problem. That is the problem with mentality of idiots of the Bolehland. If Wee makes a video that makes people think and points out the mistakes that Malaysia did, you should understand the criticism and not shooting back like a troll! You are exactly like Chuck Austen! Period! Lame trolls, assholes, call whatever you want, but we have the knowledge and confidence that it's not our fault to point out.

The claim was then refuted by people. Second mistake is to call lawyers as opposition parties. Hey, lawyers are there to work base on the law, not politics. It seems that this idiot Nazri cannot differentiate the meaning of talking law and politics. He doesn't know the line well. Law and politics have different meanings. This is not election. OMG!

This is not the only occasion that he makes mistakes. The famous video footage of that Gestapo man calling people stupid and asshole in the Parliament on 21 June is still the main highlight that shows his arrogance as the de facto Law Minister. This guy at times can find the use of law to be manipulated on folks. Remember the day where he said that the Child Act could be used against Nurin's parents for negligence?

Is he playing the hero so that everyone thinks of how great this El Balachi is?

NO!!!!!!

This guy should quit. He's not doing what he's supposed to do as a Law Minister. A loudmouth and then make noises, making mistakes, pointing fingers at people for the mess...that's it! People had enough of this guy. The guy tries to hide mistakes by denying this. The guy blaming the Bar Council for not calling him over for the memorandum...his reputation spells it out to the people which is why they don't hand it to him.

The antics is enough for me to say in the face that he is not capable to be the Law Minister. Instead he should quit and give the post to a better person who knows the Malaysian law better. Hey they are a few great people who is good in the Malaysian law. And some of them are bloggers too. Why not give to our Raja Nazrin?

Should I stop here? I would love too, but then who knows, El Balachi might go bashing against bloggers for "why you write about me....point to Jeff, ask the question...point to Zorro...ask him the same thing..., point to June...why you bash me!?...point to others....you stupid bloggers..."

This is one sucker punch from Uncle Lim, saying Nazri is unbecoming. Beautiful punch!

Another problem here is that ISM guys are just issuing directives to the paper editors of not turning that to the front news page. I think it's scary for them to see it in front. The ISM is telling them first step this second step that...that's not freedom of the press! That's subversion! I have no opinion on this ISM rep Che Din Yusof who issues directives but I think it is insensible and wrong mentality to issue a directive against the press instincts. You might blame it on the idiots like FAK or Joe Baharom (a S.I.L crony).

Just give that thing to new batch of people who are subject experts and can able to run the country well. I remembered Anwar Ibrahim said in his MEA paper that Malaysia is still run by old dinosaurs who know nothing about new improvements to the world. As Susan's tagline says: May the truth save us all.

The March of The Lawyers

As of 11 a.m. today, the lawyers of the Bar Council are marching from the Palace of Justice to the Prime Minister's office in Putrajaya. They left Merdeka square since 9 in the morning.

The march began at around 11 a.m with bloggers and members of the public follow behind the lawyers at there.

The sequence of events as from 11 a.m. onwards, as according to Malaysiakini are:

10:44 a.m:

There were seven bus loads of lawyers reaching the Palace of Justice. However from there, the road to the PM's office was barricaded by the police with the assistance of the FRUs. And so there begins the march towards the office. Quite a long walk really, in my opinion.

11:51 a.m:

The police threatened to stop them from going further into the office of the PM. But the participants of the protest defied the police directive and instead marched on. They were assuring that they are marching peacefully with no harm.

12:03 p.m.

4 people representing the group met an official from the PM's department and handed it over the memorandum.

12:15 p.m

Rocky's account of the march at his blog.

As of this time at Petaling Jaya it is raining while rain was spotted earlier at Putrajaya

Alright, they've handed the memorandum. But the Bar Council is right in demanding for a royal commission to investigate this scandal. The Bar Council has total disagreement over the decision of the government to have a special independent panel to look into the matter, calling it unacceptable. According to fellow blogger Haris Ibrahim:

For those who may have forgotten, Haidar was the Registrar of the Supreme Court who, on the instructions of Hamid Omar, squirreled away the seal of the Supreme Court so that the order of the 5 Supreme Court judges prohibiting the tribunal hearing the case against Salleh Abas from submitting their recomendations to the Agung could not be sealed.

Given Haidar’s implication in the Salleh Abas sacking, he is unacceptable.

Now, another concern is this. At this time, AAB is not at the office, currently attending the annual UN summit in New York. According to a book that I've read, any correspondence reaching AAB even in the form of memorandum has to go through the Son-In-Law or his personal assistants supervised by him and vetted before it goes to AAB himself.

Talk about eyes only to Abdullah, that is what some would see through it. The royal commission is more appropriate in handling the matter as stressed by DSAI. The people especially the minority is losing patience and trust of the ruling coalition in dealing with this matter.

The generation X people, minus those lazy and menaces possess much more of awareness and understanding than the older generation are. Hence that they much awareness and insight into what is running the country right now. Let's count: how many bloggers in Malaysia are from Generation X and Millennial ones?

Update: The picture gallery for the march can be see in this link:

A Homage To Il' Maestro

Well, everyone in the world is in mourning over the passing of The Maestro himself, Big Luciano Pavarotti.

You can't miss him for his trademark big frame, cheery face and a big black beard, always on stage with his trademark big frame tuxedo.

When I was a kid I remembered him visiting Pangkor Island twice in '94 and 2002. And I read his recollections in an article of Reader's Digest - prominently speaking of the time getting stuck at the Milan airport in 1972. Of course everyone finds that he's the most outstanding of the Three Tenors beside Jose Carreras (who performed the 1992 Barcelona Olympics theme song with Sarah Brightman) and Placido Domingo.

But the one difference between the him and the other tenors in my mind that shows the line clearly is that he participates together with current generation artists say U2, Ricky Martin and hey..even Spice Girls shows that even an old horse do tries to reach out to the younger generation. Maybe the fear that latest generation might not understand opera or classical music in the next thirty years or so.

Another thing...he's the only one so far to hit 9 high-C notes in succession...wow!

I did have a few tracks of him performing from the Grand Theft Auto III CD, but unfortunately I've lost the CDs back a few years ago. I can't even remember the track titles but I can easily recognize some of the rhythms. It is very hard for me now to recall which track is my favorite until I've played some tracks back home.

No doubt that my personal Pavarotti track is indeed the La Donna E Mobile from Verdi's Rigoletto. I think that's how I want to say ADIO to the Maestro.

Wanton Punishment Part I

I still really got nothing to do today. I kept reminding myself that I only one more week left minus Thursday before the JIRA evaluation period expires. And then my P.A. did nothing serious to pay attention to this work. Please, come on. We got to finish this, then I want to do something else. I've seen other colleagues at work with tasks in hand. What about me? Are you leaving me behind?

One thing that annoys me is that my Indian colleague sitting next to me kept crying at certain times. She must have been hit hard since her father passed away last December, sometime before my grandmother does. But it's already four months already and she's still mourning? Maybe it's the Indian folk music that she played and listening through her earphones makes her something like that. But she's still staying back in that circle of mourning. The truth is that you can't stay in there forever. You need to move on. Can't she get this to her senses?

Anyhow, since today marks the official release of The Punisher Vol 7: Man of Stone, I will be writing three parts of wanton punishment in retrospective about one of comics finest and popular vigilante: The Punisher. In case you do not know, here is the TPB cover of Man of Stone.

Most fans agree as I do that Irishman Garth Ennis, who writes The Preacher is the only man who can write The Punisher at its best compared to anyone else. The Punisher is the modern day incarnation of Josey Wales as modeled by Forrest Carter (1925-1979) in its Wales duology titled Gone To Texas and The Outlaw Josey Wales respectively, with the latter being made into a film starring Clint Eastwood. Like Wales, Frank Castle is a man who lost his family to evil and resolved to wage a one-man war against crime. His modus operandi is not on revenge -to him revenge is a dark emotion -, but punishment where there are circumstances where law cannot punish the guilty. His rules are somewhat similar to the Hammurrabi Code concept: "an eye for an eye." The Punisher is the best selling title in Marvel's MAX line - aimed for adult, matured readers only. Full of violence, profanity, uncensored stuff all intact. That's where The Punisher should be.

In each of the story arcs, Ennis has placed a common theme and sometimes Bond references (He's a James Bond fan BTW) in the storyline and setting. If you go through the arcs, you will notice that these themes represent the crimes that are committed by the USA - which is part of its hegemony - the quest for Global Domination. Famed critic Noam Chomsky, in his book Hegemony or Survival outlines the sins of America in its greedy quest to become the undisputed superpower on the planet.

The first story arc In the Beginning marks the return of Frank's associate Microchip, but this time working with a team led by a rogue CIA agent Robert Bethell. In 1989, Francis Fukuyama declared that greatest moment in world history is the fall of Communism and the Cold War. In here, Frank was questioned of his role in the new millennium - just as in GoldenEye, Bond is questioned of his role in the post Cold-War era. For both men, they were the past. Whatever he did was during the post Vietnam War is now under question, and maybe no longer be accepted. To Microchip, Frank is a direct relic of the Vietnam War. He thinks that Frank never has enough of what he did, ever since the moment he became the Punisher back in Vietnam. Some of the scenes were referred to in the prequel to the series, Born. In the world where we live in fear of Al-Qaeda and the post-911, the CIA thinks that they can erased his past criminal records clean and give him a clean slate by making hunting the terrorists including Osama Bin Laden.

Castle always work alone. At times, trust is something that gets a person killed. He had encountered double-crosses. The latest double-crossing by Microchip is something that he'd never forgive. He gave Microchip a chance to run while he is alive but in the end...was punished for squandering the opportunity before Frank changed his mind. James Bond is described as a blunt instrument for the government - an extension of its dirty work. Frank saw through this and immediately said no - knowing that he'd be manipulated - something evident later on in Mother Russia.

Bethell is a corrupt agent who would smuggle drugs for weapons and money. His crossing with New York mobs coupled with Nicky Cavella and his gang made him an easy target. He's a CIA agent - he can do anything - good or bad - and maybe things tilting to your favour. And while Frank is held captive by Bethell, the gangs think they can eliminate two birds in one stroke. Lewis Larossa modeled Cavella after actor David Strathairn but in the later arc, it's different since it was drawn by Leandro Fernandez. A common cliche in stories is the recurrence of a female damsel-in-distress character that most people seem to be tired with. Thankfully, it was avoided. Kathryn O'Brien is the partial flipside of Castle - an instrument of the corrupt bureaucracy, an unlucky woman who had to do the worst to save her image and sanity. Wisely, she was written as a all-round character with her own independence and the ability to take care of her reputation.


The second story line, Kitchen Irish was mainly about Irish gangs in New York fighting for the will left by an old man Nesbitt worth 10 million dollars. The premise is somewhat the famous Gangs of New York, fighting for control in the turbulent period of 1847-1863. The questioning here is of some people are still stuck back in the past. The past actually serves as lessons for us, to remind us while we move on, taking care to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past. Many of Irish people are still scarred over the fighting between the Irish Republican Army and the pro-British faction during the 30 year civil war of Northern Ireland, the worst being the Bloody Sunday in 1972. Ennis, being a Irishman himself suffered during those times there. In the later point, Michael Morrison lamented:

"What are we like anyway? All that misery and bloodshed back home and we come to the States and the best we can do is just fucking carry on with it? Did you not even hear what Maginty was saying? We don't have to slaughter each other! We can get what we want without that! We're free now...free of the frigging past!"

In GoldenEye, Bond's ex-partner turned villain, Alec Trevelyan's motives was purely blaming on the past: the British sending his ancestors, the Cossacks of Lienz to their deaths in World War II. In Harry Potter series, Voldemort turned bad because of the past where his Muggle father, Riddle Sr. abandoned her mother, Merope. See the coincidence? It's like letting the past shaping you into a pervert and succumbing to the evils conjured from it. What about the River Rats? They are still kids inside...playing pirates!

The Continuity IRA is also a political example of the syndrome. To that cell, anything short of a total victory is like capitulating to the British. People are sick of fighting already. They want to go on and rebuild their lives rather than destroying because of a group of perverts. In this context, there is no Kingdom of Heaven. A kingdom of heaven is a place where there is no fighting, everyone living together in harmony, each respecting one another, work together. Some don't like it...take the Nazi Germany for example. Purity of race?

Here's one of Tyler Durden's quotes in Fight Club:

"The people that you're after are the people you depend on. We cook your meals, we haul your trash, we connect your calls, we drive your ambulances, we guard you while you sleep. DO NOT FUCK WITH US."

There was a saying that once you are a baddie, forever you are a baddie. This would be the case for old Napper French. He had enough of doing the past job and retired to a happy life until the Dublin nigger Maginty dragged him back into the gang fight. The past haunted him and it showed clearly to the little boy. The question is no matter how hard you try to forget the past, why does it come back to haunt us?

A problem with the arc is that there lacks the opposite sex relationship between a man and a woman. Ennis attempted to address one by putting it here, but it is not until when we reach the later story arcs, that we have somewhat a complete working relationship between man and woman later on. However, though it worth to point this out, Frank ended up being the supporting character of the story. Kitchen Irish remains the least cohesive story arc of all. Maybe it is full of black comedy as the MAXI series and it is not serious enough. The arc is pretty independent of the others. In the next few storylines, neither one is associated with Kitchen Irish. But perhaps you should take the inspiration from The Devil's Own or Gangs of New York as the source of reference when reading this. Or maybe read Frank McCourt's memoirs such as Angela's Ashes or The Teacher Man.

An interesting side note about Kitchen Irish is the locations used. For example, Pier 86, The Intrepid Museum is Frank's setup point for The Westies and the gangs fighting here. For those who do not really know which part is it in New York, it is located on 46th Street below the Joe DiMaggio highway. That's Pier 86. Secondly, the fictional O'Malleys bar used in the shootout is actually the McSorley's Old Ale House, located at 15, East 7th Street, near St. Mark's Square.

Next: Mother Russia and Up Is Down, Black Is White