Waving the Constitution

It has been an extremely busy few weeks, but I did manage to put up a couple more blog posts recently, relative to earlier weeks. But I'll probably be easing off a bit for the next week or so as I have to help complete a big writing project for the Party. (Writing can be really tiring! ;))

But before I go into a mini-hiatus, I thought I'd highlight again, this time, our Prime Minister's reiteration that Malaysia is indeed an Islamic State.

Seperti yang telah saya nyatakan sebelum ini, Malaysia bukanlah sebuah negara sekular ataupun negara teokratik. Malaysia adalah sebuah negara Islam, yang ditadbir berlandaskan prinsip-prinsip Islam, dan pada masa yang sama, berpegang teguh kepada prinsip-prinsip demokrasi berparlimen yang berpandukan kepada undang-undang tertinggi negara, iaitu Perlembagaan Persekutuan.

Prinsip Islam yang saya maksudkan di sini dapat dilihat melalui pendekatan Islam Hadhari yang telah saya perkenalkan.

I assume Pak Lah meant to say in English that "“Malaysia is an Islamic state which is administered based on the principles of Islam and at the same time adheres to the principles of parliamentary democracy guided by the highest law of the land - the Federal Constitution. The principles of Islam mentioned here is the Islam Hadhari philosophy which has been introduced by him."

The billion ringgit question then is, in the event of contradiction between Islam Hadhari as defined by the Prime Minister, and the Federal Constitution, which one comes first? If it is the former, then by definition, we are a theocratic state. If it is the latter, why is it that we are seeing clear cut evidence to the contrary? It is especially obvious when the Prime Minister states that we are "not a secular state", contrary to the spirit and objectives of the Federal Constitution. Either that, or he doesn't know what he is talking about.

Now, given that the MCA Youth leaders led by Datuk Liow Tiong Lai who had tried to defend Najib's initial proclamation that Malaysia is an Islamic State, and who so patrioticly waved the Federal Constitution during the MCA Youth Assembly, the question is will he lead the MCA leaders both in the cabinet as well as the Parliament to wave the Federal Constitution in Parliament?

The apex of Liow’s speech was in the closing when he said that it was never MCA Youth’s culture to brandish the keris.

“If we want to brandish something, why not let us wave the Federal Constitution?” he said as all of the Youth wing committee members on the stage rose in unison with copies of the constitution in their hands to loud applause from the floor.

Or was the waving of the constitution just for MCA's internal consumption and a photo taking publicity opportunity, or will he act as big as he talks?

Read more!

政治马戏笑死国际

Thankfully, I managed to get my Chinese column in Oriental Daily printed on Monday last week for I was discussing the issue of Wee Meng Chee, which as become a "political circus", while Malaysia became the butt of jokes by the international community. For on the very next day, the all powerful Internal Security Ministry headed by none other than the Prime Minister himself, issued an instruction to stop all further discussions and reports on the issue, well, except when its raised by the all-knowing Prime Minister himself, and his deputy.

Once again, I'll reiterate that I do not wholly agree with the content of Wee's songs, particularly in his use of coarse language as well as when he touches on religion. However, it becomes absolutely ridiculous when senior ministers of the Malaysian cabinet all took turns to jump on to the bandwagon to take potshots at the 24 year old student, threatening him with anything from detention under the ISA, withdrawing his citizenship and even charging him for treason!

The funniest of it all, must be Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz's highly thought provoking remark, when he wanted to take action against YouTube.com. If only our Ministers could act against all the other ills plaguing the country with equal seriousness and gusto.

(And Wee's back, now with his debut album to be released on 2nd Sept)

政治马戏笑死国际
潘俭伟

马来西亚内阁全然变成了一束国际笑话：一位24岁、年轻有为又潇洒的旅台生--黄明志只是唱了一首歌上载到YouTube.com网站，就足以使整个内阁直跳脚。

雪州前任州务大臣、巫统宣传主任莫哈末泰益及马六甲州首席部长阿里鲁斯旦建议政府撤销黄明志的公民权。首相署部长纳兹里要援引煽动法令控告黄明志。外交部长赛哈密提出把黄明志从台湾引渡回国的问题。。。。。。

还有，青年及体育部长阿莎丽娜威胁要援引内部安全法令扣留黄明志。教育部长希山慕丁及副首相纳吉把黄明志标签为“叛徒”。这可不是开玩笑的！叛国罪唯一的惩罚就是死刑。

马华的卫生部长蔡细历医生还特别代表黄明志向国人及政府道歉。然而，蔡细历在代表黄明志道歉时，却当着黄明志父亲即黄安熙面前通过电视及平面媒体再痛骂一顿，甚至批评黄明志是个“天真”、“幼稚”及“不成熟”的年轻人。

我们的内阁部长好像个个都特别空闲，以致没有其它更重要的事情急须处理。

过去3年来，马来西亚的犯罪指数飙升45%。我国外来直接投资额在过去10年内降低45%，反观城市的生活消费越来越高。耗资46亿令吉设立的巴生港口自由贸易区，引发涉嫌贪污及滥权的大问号。

根据最新公布的上海交通大学“世界500所最佳大学”排行榜，我国没有任何高等学府列在榜上。然而，我们亲爱的部长从来不认为这些属于国家大事，似乎不比黄明志所撰写的歌词来得严重。

即使黄明志道歉之后，内阁经过商议后还是决定要把黄明志提控上庭。如果我是黄明志，我很自然地反问：若是这样，我为何要先道歉呢？至于那些通过互联网发表威胁我及家人安全的人，为何没有面对同样的待遇呢？

最有趣的是，纳兹里竟然说除了援引法律对付黄明志之外，政府还要对付YouTube。纳兹里这番言论是否有点太“天真”、“幼稚”及“不成熟”？

YouTube是美国网络巨人Google的子公司。Google市值高达1千560亿美元（5千460亿令吉），或相等于占马来西亚国内生产总值的一半。最根本的问题还是Google的电脑伺服器未设在马来西亚。那么，政府又有什么权力“对付”Google呢？

要是这些内阁部长能够以同样程度的激情、热心与关心，去面对并解决其它领域包括经济、罪案、教育等方面的问题，我国人民肯定受惠无穷。只可惜，这些国阵领袖不仅成了马戏团的小丑，他们还成了国际社会见笑的卡通政治人物。

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Bursa Malaysia: Bull or Bear?

I'm no stock market guru, but I've been invited to speak at a Mandarin forum organised by Oriental Daily with regards to the above issue.

Date: 28th August 2007 (Tue)
Time: 7.30pm
Venue: KL-Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall

In recent weeks, the global equity and money markets can safely be regarded as undergoing a fair bit of turmoil, to a large extent caused by the subprime mortgage market crisis in the United States.

Therefore, the billion ringgit question, and I think analysts are split on this, is whether the current correction to the global stock market of between 8-10% is merely a healthy correction or is it a sign of more depressing things to come?

The stock market is without a doubt one of the hottest buttons to press, when it comes to generating public interest. Even when I travel to different parts of the country giving talks with regards to the Malaysian economy, in my position as the Economic Advisor to DAP's Secretary General, the audience tends to only wake up whenever the stock market is discussed. ;)

Even the last time I spoke at the Oriental Daily Forum on the 10th Year Anniversary of the Asian Financial Crisis, together with Dr Ho Kee Peng (who will also be there tonight), it was a "sold out" crowd.

So see you there! ;)

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Malaysian Venture Capital Association Talk

I've been invited to give a talk around the topic of entrepreneurship at Malaysian Venture Capital Association's (MVCA) Networking Breakfast. ;) Hence for those who are interested in me discussing non-political issues for a change, you may join the event.

The details are as follows:

Date: Wednesday, 29 August 2007
Time: 8.30am – 10.30am
Venue: Coffee Pavilion, Securities Commission, Persiaran Mont Kiara, Kuala Lumpur

For those interested in attending, please contact Pn. Maizatul Ain at (+603)20962094 or via email @ admin(at)mvca.org.my to confirm your seats. The Breakfast session will cost RM30 for MVCA members, and RM50 for non-members.

The programme for the event is as follows:

0830: Registration & Buffet Breakfast
0850: Welcome Remarks by Azam Azman, Chairman MVCA
0900: Presentation by David Fong, CEO, iSpring Venture Management Sdn Bhd
0930: Presentation by Tony Pua, former CEO and founder of SESDAQ-Listed IT company
1000: Q&A & Networking Session
1030: Ends

So for those interested in business and meeting potential venture capitalists, feel free to drop by! See you there! ;)

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Alor Gajah: World Biotechnology Hub?

I read with extreme interest, an article in the New Straits Times which proclaimed that Alor Gajah (in Melaka, by the way), will soon become the "next biotechnology hub of the world". Undertaking this "massive project costing RM1.36 billion" at the 113ha site is "California-based Actis Biologics Inc, a bio-pharmaceutical company which has set up a Malaysian-registered company Actis Biologics Malaysia Sdn Bhd."

Now, don't get me wrong, I welcome such investments into Malaysia, and certainly if indeed Malaysia can become a global biotechnology hub, it will be excellent news for the country. However, having experienced plenty of disastrous mega-projects in Malaysia with supposed foreign investment or participation, you will forgive me if I am a little apprehensive (understatement?) when it comes to such mega-announcements. I can't help but to suspect if there's anything fishy going on.

I'll just name a few examples here. Datuk Keramat Holdings Berhad was supposed to deliver the first phase of a US$60 million studio and entertainment complex is planned on a 480-hectare piece of land in Cyberjaya. It was to form an integral part of MSC's most prestigious project: the creation of a $790-million high-tech film studio and a Disneyesque theme park complex called the Entertainment Village. Unfortunately, the grand launch during the 2001 International Advisory Panel, complete with Jacky Chan in a shimmering white outfit, proved to be the only highlight of that initiative. Instead of sharing the blame, Multimedia Development Corporation laid the blame squarely on the developer after millions of ringgit was burnt.

And, what about another of Dr Mahathir Mohammad's favourite projects - InventQjaya?
A Dr Sadeg of Reveo Inc (USA), a Libyan-American, told CNN's TalkAsia host Lorraine Hahn in a programme aired in November 2002 that former premier Mahathir Mohamad had invited him to invest in Malaysia's Multimedia Super Corridor after a meeting in New York. The project is funded by a government loan of RM437 million, of which RM228 million has been paid out. Now, with practically nothing to show besides the ownership of several commercially useless patents, the Malaysian government is charging Reveo of money laundering and absconding with the loan. Disaster? You tell me.

Of course, lets not forget the latest mega-project scandal the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ), a RM1.3 billion project which ballooned to RM4.6 billion, which in turn now requires government bailout with a soft loan which will probably never see the light of day.

So, back to our very own "RM1.36 billion bio-technology hub". Who is this Actis Biologics Inc, and are they sufficiently competent to manage such mega projects? With the project suffer the same fate as InventQjaya and require the same bailout like PKFZ?

I've done some very simple preliminary checks, something that you and me can all do with Google. Here are some initial and not necessarily conclusive findings, which nevertheless, raises some interesting questions for the authorities to follow up on:

1. Based on a free summary report by Dun & Bradstreet, a premier provider of international and US business credit information and credit reports, Actis Biologics is an unlisted company which started in 2004. It has annual sales of US$530,000 and 7 employees.
   
   Um.. a 3 year old company with 7 employees and revenue of about half a million US Dollars, taking on a RM1.3 billion "world biotechnology hub" project?
   
   
2. Now, if the above data is sufficiently intriguing, there's a more detailed business information report available for US$110.00, which may contain further juicy information. The report studies key performance information, including sales figures, net worth, financial condition, legal suits etc. I'm sure the relevant Malaysian government authorities in-charge of the project will find the US$110 money well spent. There are of course, other reports on the company which can be purchased.
   
   
3. It will of course be useful to see other projects which Actis have undertaken, and in particular, one in India which was launched at the end of 2005. Despite many press statements then sounding overwhelmingly similar to the NST article, no further news is available as to the progress of the project in Mumbai. As reported in the Economic Times, India, Actis planned a US$3 million investment in a R&D lab in India. Also, check out the report in Hindu Business Line or the one at Rediff.com:
   

   US-based biopharmaceutical company Actis Biologics Inc is setting up its wholly owned subsidiary in India in a move to make the country a hub for its clinical research and developmental activities.
   
   Having recently licensed the angiozyme technology, jointly developed by Sirna Therapeutics and Chiron, Actis expects this technology platform to power drug development in different segments. This technology helps block blood supply to cancer cells and the same method can be used for fat cells too, he said.
   

4. Which brings me to this "angiozyme" technology. A 1-pager introduction on the enzyme is available here. Actis bought the rights to Angiozyme from the owners, Sirna and Chiron for worldwide distribution i.e., Actis isn't the inventor of the product. As reported here in the November 2005 edition of the Business World, India:
   

   Actis does not do any drug discovery. Instead, it licences promising drugs that have cleared early stages of human trials from either universities or biopharmaceutical firms in the US after a due diligence by its own scientific team. What Actis wants are partners in India that would be interested in helping it take these products through clinical trials in exchange for marketing rights in emerging markets and global manufacturing rights.
   
   Actis expects that the capital will be put up by the Indian partner while Actis brings the clinical and manufacturing expertise needed for a completely new biotech product.

The question then is, and I assume the situation is relatively similar for Alor Gajah, if Actis is not bringing in the much needed capital, then who is forking out the RM1.3 billion investment? The Malaysian Government? You and me?

Let me reiterate, I have every wish that the project announced by Actis will be wildly successful, for then it'll prove to the world that Malaysia is a worthwhile country to invest in. However, our past experiences, particularly with incompetent and guillible government officials, it certainly necessitate that stringent due diligence be conducted to ensure that we don't dig another hole for ourselves.

Read more!

Record Mega-Scandal

Have you been following the RM4.6 billion Port Klang Free Trade Zone mega-bailout scandal? If not, it's time you look into it. Malaysiakini has extensive set of reports on this issue, and The Sun has written a fair bit about it in recent weeks as well. Jeff Ooi has also given a decent summary of the extensive details here.

I won't bother repeating the details here, except to emphasize the fact that our previous largest financial scandal which necessitated a Royal Commission of Enquiry and a White Paper was for the RM2.4 billion BMF scandal involving Bumiputra Finance. Will we see a similar transparency and integrity in the Pak Lah-led administration?

Ronnie Liu, who first discovered the scandal, filed the 4th police report on the above issue, after unsatisfactory responses provided by the authorities which failed to address many key issues relating to the scandal. In particular, the Minister in-charge, Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy has taken a leaf off Pak Lah's elegant silence. Here's the short list of the many critical unanswered questions, awaiting the reply of Pak Lah's clean and efficient government:

• Why build so many units of warehouses and leased office blocks when there were no takers?
  
  
• Why was there no effort to find investors before we lodged police reports this year?
  
  
• Why build a 4-star hotel with 215 rooms here? Why build a dedicated highway here?
  
  
• Why buy 1,000 acres when you only need 500 acres?
  
  
• Why appoint the same lawyer for the seller (Kuala Dimensi) and buyer (PKA)?
  
  
• Why appoint Chor Chee Heong as the chairman of PKA when he is already the deputy chairman of Wijaya Baru/ Wijaya International (owner of Kuala Dimensi)?
  
  
• Why extend O C Phang’s service as the GM for PKA for 5 times?
  
  
• Why appoint O C Phang as the CEO of PKFZ when she is already the GM of PKA?
  
  
• Why Chan Kong Choy, the Transport Minister, still keeping quite when the PM has already asked him to explain to the public about two weeks ago?
  
  
• Who were responsible for changing the minutes of meetings as alleged by Jafza?
  
  
• Was it true that there were attempts to evade tax as alleged by Ernst & Young?
  
  
• Was it true that there was a plan to demolish all the 512 units of warehouses because they were of wrong design and not practical?
  
  
• Was it true that the accumulated loss of PKA has exceeded RM 3 billion?
  
  
• Was it true that PKFZ needs to pay more than RM500 million for the loan beginning from this year for 15 years?
  
  
• Wouldn’t these will add up to more than RM7.5 billion in 15 years down the road.
  
  
• What were the roles played by the two former PKA chairperson, Ting Chew Peh and Yap Pian Hon?
  
  
• Was there a breach of trust both by the former and current Transport Minister?

So many questions, so many promises to fulfil and yet, so little time... but some people can still find time to doze off during meetings.

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Utusan Malaysia: Breeding Extremism?

In my little verbal scuffle with Khairy Jamaluddin a few months back with regards to the civil service being overly unwieldy, there were many letters and articles published in Utusan Malaysia which essentially asked for my head to be checked (well, to put it lightly ;)).

It is however clear to me now that Utusan Malaysia serves critically as a mouthpiece to agitate racial sensitivities as well as promoting the concept of racial supremacy, instead of a "Bangsa Malaysia", or in DAP's terms, "Malaysian First".

Take for example, the recent protest note sent to the Prime Minister's office by Hindu Rights Action Force (HINDRAF). Some of the demands by the group include calls on the government to maintain Malaysia’s status as a secular state, full revamp of National Integration Policy, preservation places of worship as well as affirmative-action plans for the Indian community.

Certainly, the demands aren't earth shattering or by no means "extreme". However, the editors of Utusan Malaysia responded angrily in their column "Bisik-Bisik Awang Selamat". Here's one on 21st August on the demolition of Hindu temples around the country:

Isu tersebut ialah tentang kuil. NGO itu mendakwa banyak kuil telah dirobohkan. Tetapi HINDRAF tidak pula menyebut bahawa kuil-kuil itu dibina secara haram.

[...]

Walaupun kaum India cuma minoriti, terdapat begitu banyak kuil di Malaysia terutama yang dibina secara haram. Membina kuil haram cukup mudah seolah-olah negara ini tiada undang-undang.

Awang harap isu ini menjadi pengajaran kepada kerajaan khususnya PBT. Inilah akibatnya jika kita berlembut dari awal lagi. Akhirnya kerajaan yang ditekan dan menjadi mangsa manipulasi.

[...]

Maka bertindaklah ke atas pihak yang sesuka hati membina dan menyelia kuil haram. Bertindaklah sebelum keadaan menjadi lebih buruk dan membawa mudarat.

Awang – Beralah ada batas.

On the previous day, "Awang" was even fiercer.

AWANG terkejut dengan tuntutan Hindu Rights Action Force (HINDRAF), sebuah NGO kaum India yang mahu hak istimewa orang Melayu dihapuskan dan mendakwa kaum India dipinggirkan oleh kerajaan BN.

[...]

Tindakan HINDRAF hanya akan mengundang gelombang kemarahan masyarakat bumiputera yang sudah begitu banyak beralah untuk kaum minoriti atas nama kontrak sosial.

Sedarkah bahawa masih ramai orang Melayu dan bumiputera yang miskin terutama di luar bandar. Mereka setia menyokong kerajaan sejak merdeka lagi. Kalau diikutkan, mereka lagi berhak membuat pelbagai tuntutan.

Ingatan Awang, jangan sampai orang Melayu hilang sabar dan akhirnya memudaratkan semua pihak.

Dakwaan HINDRAF tentang isu kuil juga, sama sekali salah. Di negara inilah, terdapat begitu banyak kuil seolah-olah orang India merupakan kaum induk. Mahu apa lagi?

Awang – Membara dalam diam.

It is hence not surprising that UMNO possesses a stranglehold over an overwhelming majority of the Malays in Malaysia. Daily perpetuation of half-truths and untruths, presented in an inflammatory manner to the Malay public has resulted in a skewed view towards Malaysia, as a society.

Where then, is the voice of moderation, tolerance and compassion in the Malay vernacular media? Can things change?

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Free Press? (II)

Overwhelming support for Wee Meng Chee

The forum "In Solidarity with Wee Meng Chee" held on Sunday evening was an absolute success. The 400-strong standing-room-only crowd was literally roaring and we had to move to a larger seminar room to accommodate the incredible turnout. The turnout is even more amazing in the light of less than 2 days' notice when we decided to hold the forum on Friday.

Needless to say, everyone was unanimous in their anger towards the Cabinet for the absurd high-handedness in dealing with the issue over a controversial song, which created a political circus. You really had to be there to feel the pulse of the audience. It was quite unbelievable.

Similarly, on Monday evening, our forum in Melaka attracted a 200-strong crowd, again, equally upset with clowns who were in-charge.

The powers that be clearly heard our voices loud and clear, for the all-powerful Publications Control and Al-Quran Texts Unit senior officer Che Din Yusof of the Ministry of Internal Security, once again flexed their muscles to ban all discussion of Wee Meng Chee in the print media. He did the exact same thing on Najib's proclamation that Malaysia is an "Islamic state... and never, never a secular state."

“Yes, the directive was issued today,” he said when contacted. “What more is there for the papers to write? Enough is enough.

However, Che Din said the media can still report on comments made by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his deputy Najib Abdul Razak on the issue.

This directive also follows an internal directive within MCA-owned The Star which had blacked out news on Wee Meng Chee earlier last week.

Sdr Lim Kit Siang rightly lamented that:

The Internal Security Ministry ban on mainstream media from reporting the Wee Meng Chee Negarakuku rap controversy marks a quantum jump into the abyss of media control, censorship and blackout completely unthinkable when Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi became Prime Minister 45 months ago.

Referring to the MCA Youth executive committee's public relations act of waving the Federal Constitution during the MCA General Assembly, the Parliamentary Opposition leader rightly asked:

Where are the MCA and MCA Youth wavers of the Malaysian Constitution only a few days ago to stand up for the fundamental rights of Malaysians, including freedom of speech and expression to protest at the latest denial of the basic human rights of Malaysians?

Or is this all a plot by MCA to "silence" the damaging leaks in the Malay press which are detrimental to MCA's political fortunes? For example, it appears that the very minister who eeked an apology out of Wee Meng Chee, who at the same time gave him a public nationwide reprimand, was actually in agreement with the cabinet decision to proceed to refer the matter to the Attorney General for possible prosecution!

MCA bersetuju dengan gesaan pelbagai pihak supaya tindakan undang-undang dikenakan terhadap Wee Meng Chee kerana mencipta klip video menghina lagu Negaraku dengan menggunakan bahasa kasar dan lucah.

Naib Presiden parti itu, Datuk Seri Dr. Chua Soi Lek berkata, persetujuan itu selaras dengan prinsip parti berkenaan bahawa perkataan lucah dan yang menyentuh sensitiviti kaum dan agama tidak boleh digunakan semata-mata atas nama kebebasan.

"Kita berharap kerajaan mengambil tindakan tegas kepada sesiapa yang melanggar prinsip ini dan kita serahkan kepada kebijaksanaan Peguam Negara untuk menyiasat dengan lebih terperinci mengenai apa tindakan yang seharusnya dikenakan," katanya.

Why did the Minister of Health pressure Wee's family to make the apology, when he believes that Wee should be prosecuted even if he has apologised? MP for Jasin, Mohd Said "Close-One-Eye" Yusof and MP for Kinabatangan Bung "Bocor" Mokhtar were both allowed to get away from punishment scott free after a qualified and contrived apology.

Why is a 24-year old student treated like he was serial rapist cum murderer?

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No Action Against UMNO Supporters' Website?

I wrote in an earlier post with regards to the police report that I made 2 weeks ago with regards to a highly inflammatory article posted on Kelab Penyokong Maya UMNO website, which was particularly offensive to Christians. This was also reported in Malaysiakini.

I've just followed up with the investigating officer for the case, and the only response I obtained was "masih dalam siasat". It has been two weeks, much more than the time taken for the police to take Raja Petra in for questioning with regards to a police report made by UMNO which alleged that the former insulted the Agung and Islam. That's double standards for you.

Also, some additional quick words to add - there as been 2 negative comments made on other websites with regards to the action which I have been taken.

Firstly, someone suggested that the remarks was purely targeted at Raja Petra, and had nothing to do with Christianity. I beg to strongly differ. To quote Raja Petra himself, its quite one thing to insult him with all the names you can think of, but it's quite another of accusing him of being a closet Christian, and hence believing in a false God.

Secondly, someone else suggested that by lodging a police report, I'm supporting the authoritarian Sedition Act. Again, I beg to differ. I don't support the sedition act, particularly not in its current overbearing and limitless form. However, I support the principle that the law applies to everybody and selective prosecution in itself, is a crime of the Government.

It is necessary to show that the Government's action in cracking down on bloggers has nothing to do with "sedition", and everything to do with illegal crackdown on dissent, and attempts to expose the relevant scandals and misdeeds of the Government.

The fact that the article has not been taken down, and no apologies have been made to date, demonstrates the clear intent of the Government to stifle the truth. It didn't matter that the article on KPMU wasn't telling outright lies, as they were told in support of the UMNO-led Barisan Nasional Government. However, if bloggers and other writers publish articles which exposes the truth which are unfavourable to UMNO and Barisan Nasional, the might of the Government machinery will fall upon the person, just as in the case of Wee Meng Chee.

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A Monkey's Last Stand

A picture essay by TV Smith.

Bukit Melawati, 22nd August 2007: Despite his patriotic stand, he will soon be stripped of his citizenship and banished to another country. Perhaps, our monkeys were already doomed when people in authority likened bloggers to them. The Cabinet has literally signed their death warrant by withdrawing protection for the so-called urban monkeys under the Wildlife Protection Act. How can we stand tall as a nation, when we so casually shrugged-off our responsibility to protect the weak and defenseless? Continue reading the monkey's plight here.

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聪明反被聪明误

Given that we are not suppose to discuss our Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's declaration that "we are an Islamic state... we were never, never a secular state", I thought that Farish Noor's flat earth analogy was an excellent way to get through the "censorship" in the mainstream media.

Hence it inspired my little fairy tale on the Land of Aisyalam (check out the brief English version here), published in my column in Oriental Daily last week.

聪明反被聪明误
潘俭伟

从前，离这儿不远有个国家名叫亚西来马。亚西来马独立初期，人民是通过民主方式来推选国王。

那时候的国王总会向民众承诺，捍卫国家宪法所阐明的科技化理念。虽然国家宪法承认这个世界是圆的，但是民众包括平地社团在内，可以自由表达他们的想法和信念。凡是平地社团的信徒都认定地球是扁的。

50年来，国王利用其手上的权力，背叛了人民对他的信任，不断修改宪法来巩固其本身的权力。有鉴于此，国王变得越来越专制。尽管如此，国王却一直担心本身的地位是否巩固。

在皇宫里，还有个野心勃勃的王储正等待机会登基成为国王。有一天，王储为了增加本身的民望，决定登高一呼感召影响力逐年增加的平地信徒。

尽管王储宣布曾经周游列国，而且不曾从地球边沿掉了下去，但是他坚持宣布：“这个世界是扁的。这个世界从来都不是圆的！”

平地社团领导人高兴到跳了起来。他们不只是认同王储的说法，还抨击所有支持圆地球说法者根本不尊重平地信徒，甚至没有考虑到他们的感受。

相信科技化的人民听了王储难以置信的说法后相当不高兴。他们坚持认为科技及历史凭据足以证明这个世界是圆的。

为了避免整个情况闹得不可开交，和平与和谐部官员命令所有关于地球是扁或圆的问题，不能在主流的平面媒体提出讨论或评论。不受此命令影响者就是万能又独裁的国王及王储。只有他们俩才能继续宣称世界是扁的。

为了捉住机会飞黄腾达，年轻有为的洗脑部长更是要尽显个人威风。他警告皇宫的所有太监，如果要平安无事、保住个人地位，那么就不要插手这件事。虽然太监都相信世界不是扁的，但他们都只好当着没有那么一回事。

尽管政令发了下去，但官员还是担心民众会酝酿不满甚至引发骚动。为了防止国家动荡不安，亚西来马万能又仁慈的独裁者又发出了另一个政令。于是，国王把双方的意见结合起来，并统一命名为“这个世界不是圆的，也不是扁的”。

这道政令又再一次让亚西来马的国民高兴极了。他们对国王的睿智赞赏不已。从此，聪明的国王和人民过着幸福快乐的日子，并坚信这个世界不圆，也不扁。

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MCA: UMNO "Best Partner"

The coverage of the MCA General Assembly yesterday in today's papers in kinda nauseating. Thank goodness for The Sun for giving coverage to the RM4.6 billion scandal at the Port Klang Free Trade Zone. (Yes, you can build nearly 2 new Penang bridges with that amount of money.)

Pak Lah proudly proclaimed that "I want to be fair. I am fair and I will always be fair."

Mohd Said Yusof and Bung Mokhtar gets away with insincere apologies without further action from the Parliament for using unparliamentary language and insulting women. Wee Meng Chee gets threatened with the Sedition, the Internal Security Act, revocation of citizenship, forced extradition, public reprimand and unjust scolding by Ministers. And yet, after the 24 year old student apologised, the Cabinet decides to proceed for legal action. Where's the fairness?

Nathaniel Tan gets detained under remand for 4 days for alleged Official Secrets Act documents which never had, and "official secrets" which had already been published in mainstream newspapers. Raja Petra Kamaruddin gets call in by the police and grilled for 8 hours for allegedly insulting Agung and Islam. Even his wife wasn't spared. But when UMNO supporters websites threaten non-Malays and non-Muslims with blood and murder, when they public published articles which insults other religions, no action is taken. Where's the fairness?

The above are just some simple examples. We can all cite plenty more, and we are seeing it everyday. Just what type of fairness the Prime Minister, Pak Lah is preaching, I have absolutely no clue. The rakyat believed him the last elections. Will they believe him again this time? Is Pak Lah still credible?

Well, MCA thinks he is. In fact, the MCA president, who not too long ago was publicly reprimanded by the Prime Minister on the frontpage of the New Straits Times, asked "party members to stop criticising some statemnents made during hte UMNO general assembly last year". (The Sun)

He said they [MCA members] must accept this reality because there were no other Malay-dominated political parties the MCA could cooperate with.

"We must not lie to ourselves and think that one day UMNO may just disappear. Many Malays still believe that only through UMNO that their rights can be protected and this is the reality."

And as reported in NST:

"Umno is a true ally and our co-builder in the nation’s development, why should we end such a beautiful friendship?"

Yes, birds of the same feather certainly flocks together. A beautiful friendship indeed.

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The Battle Begins...

I'm at the DAP National Election Preparatory Conference this morning at Crystal Crown Hotel to kick off the DAP campaign. I'm assisting Jeff Ooi, who's heading the General Elections E-Campaign Strategy Team in our presentation this morning. Yes, work has to begin in earnest to ensure that we can come up with a good show on behalf of all Malaysians.

At the same time, as I'll also be standing for elections, I'll have to commence my own preparations as well. My own branch, DAP Damansara will be having a meeting on Tuesday evening to discuss the next steps which need to be taken.

Once again, I'll like to call upon those who will like to be part of the campaign team, who will like to volunteer in helping out with our various activities, e.g., dinners, fund-raising, internet etc., please come forward to join me at the meeting, with details below:

Date: 21 August 2007
Time: 7.30pm
Venue: DAP Damansara (55M Jalan SS21/1A, Damansara Utama, 47400 Petaling Jaya)

Anyone with any queries, feel free to email me at tonypua(at)yahoo.com. See you! ;)

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In Solidarity with Wee Meng Chee

Thanks to the hapless MCA and Barisan Nasional Government, my schedule this weekend and next week will turn upside down. We had already planned a general election pre-preparatory committee meeting in the morning tomorrow. We have the Merdeka Dialogue in the afternoon at Crystal Crown Hotel, Petaling Jaya.

And yesterday (Friday), my boss who works us really really hard (for a good cause), called for a Mandarin forum "In Solidarity with Wee Meng Chee" in the same Sunday evening at the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall. Being part of the organising committee for the above, plus having to speak in the evening as well, will pretty much drive one nutty ;)

(And I'm supposed to finish my weekly column for Oriental Daily tonight!)

For those living in Melaka, the same forum will be held on Monday evening as well at the DAP Melaka State Headquarters.

Anyway, here are the details of the forum, for those who found time to read my blog, as well as those who can make it:

1. Klang Valley

Date: 19 August 2007 (Sunday)
Time: 7.30pm
Venue: KL & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (No. 1, Jalan Maharajalela, Kuala Lumpur)

2. Melaka

Date: 20 August 2007 (Monday)
Time: 7.30pm
Venue: Dewan Rakyat, DAP Malacca State Headquarters (Jalan Pandan, Malacca)

The distinguished panel of speakers includes:

* Lim Guan Eng, DAP Secretary-General
* Lim Kit Siang, Parliamentary Opposition Leader
* Josh Hong, Political Analyst
* Yeo Yang Poh, Former Bar Council Chairman*
* Tony Pua, Economic Advisor to DAP Sec-Gen
* Jeff Ooi, DAP General Election E-Campaign Director

Hope to see you there! Below is the forum write up in Chinese.

民主行动党周日举办“明智爱国，声援明志”讲座会

为了表达关注黄明志改编国歌即将被政府对付的下场，民主行动党将在8月19日（星期日）晚上7时30分在吉隆坡与雪兰莪中华大会堂一楼会议室，举办主题为“明智爱国，声援明志”的讲座会。

当晚主讲者包括国会反对党领袖林吉祥、律师公会前任主席杨映波、民主行动党秘书长林冠英、民主行动党全国大选电子选战主任黄泉安、时事评论人唐南发、民主行动党秘书长经济顾问潘俭伟等。

他们将从各个角度谈论黄明志的创作《我爱我的国家》，同时分析这首歌曲所要表达的含意，还有政府及执政党领袖为何要大肆炒作这个课题，包括为何要援引煽动法令或国歌法令来对付黄明志。

由于黄明志所创作的《我爱我的国家》一曲，道尽了许多国人的心声而引起执政当局关注，其目前上载Youtube的录影短片，在互联网上的浏览人次高达100万，甚至名列Youtube十大最受欢迎的录影短片。

随着黄明志通过卫生部长兼马华副总会长蔡细历医生向政府及国人道歉后，政府为何还要采取法律行动对付黄明志，确实令人百思不得其解。因此，民主行动党准备通过各种声援行动，捍卫黄明志的创作自由权。

正值国家庆祝独立50周年之际，国人原本兴高采烈要庆祝这个极具纪念性的重要日子。然而，面对政府采取高压行动抑制异议，包括一方面要黄明志道歉，另一方面又要对黄明志采取法律行动，让人开始怀疑这个国家是否变质了？

民主行动党诚邀所有关心黄明志命运的爱国人士，通过出席上述讲座实际声援黄明志，并表达你们对这个事件的各种看法。让我们以另类的方式来欢庆及反思庆祝马来西亚独立50周年的意义。

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Campaign Video for Jeff

Thanks to Malaysia's Top Blogger, Kenny Sia, we now have a Election Campaign video for Jeff Ooi ;)

Thank you Kenny! ;) And check out his post on Clampdown on Bloggers as well ;)

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