There will be more BLOOD, unless ....

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"Today, we can call that statement and the MACC, "old whine in new bottle" as we did seven weeks after it was created when The Malaysian Insider declared MACC dead on arrival."

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Ever since 0308, the administration has been dogged by blood-curdling (and spilling) scandals, involving our "enforcement agencies". Despite plenty of whitewash to improve the image of the BN administration, it appears that they only get worse. Of late, there are allegedly some efforts at undermining the administration of PR led states, which started with the coup d'etat in Perak.

It appears that there are efforts to grab the goldmine of Selangor is well underway, using state sponsored agencies under the guise of "stamping out corruption" - all these, while questions on Police brutality, Underworld involvement in various matters, smuggling, the endemic corruption, MAS, OPV, PKFZ, Kugan, Adi Mansor, Altantuya, Bakun Dam, Proton, timber concessions, and many more remain unanswered, like a disgustingly festering boil on their faces.

After the issues of Altantuya, Kugan, Adi Mansor (and who knows -probably many more), we now have one more death for a 1-Malaysia. One more event that can be used by the administration to claim its prowess at solving crimes, and efficiency by declaring "no foul play" and NFA.

Questions implicating certain quarters abound - but we have the likes of Nazri the Taximan, warning all and sundry, not to "politicize the issue" and accuse the MACC!!! Not one BN MP has come out to ask for an independent investigation. I wonder if the MACC HQ has been barricaded as a Crime Scene - and all employees within premises asked to vacate. It appears that, it is the MACC themselves who might investigate themselves!!! They'll probably be "assisted" in their investigation by none other than our "incorruptible" PDRM.

Through all these, we have an indifferent attitude among our electorate, who are probably more concerned about getting laid or drunk for the weekend!! It is precisely this attitude of apathy among Malaysians that begs for more blood to be spilled by certain quarters- ironically, in the name of "keeping the peace".

Here's a comment from "Bong" on Facebook:-
Poppycock spins over Teoh Beng Hock's death. WTF?

Today at 10:10am

WTF with all this media poppycock spins. I am extremely disgusted and angry with what's happening in this country now. They are treating us like idiots, and let's not go about clueless 'tidak apa' Malaysians..

A lot of things just don't make sense. Strictly looking at the 'official' version of the Teoh Beng Hock's death at MACC. (Yes TV2, keep spinning by conveniently not mentioning it's MACC headquarters but instead mentioned 'Plaza Massalam')

1. Released at 3.45am but stayed around to rest? His car was parked there! Not forgetting, MACC officers working around the clock not following normal office hours? An outsider is allowed to stay in the building after office hour to sleep? !&*(@(!@!__+!)!+!~~!!

2. Look at the body. Too clean and 'perfect' pose for a fall from 14th floor. Why the trouser is torn that way? Somebody hang him upside down from the trouser? What? I'm just saying!

3. Guy is going to get married today. Suicide?

4. He was released after such long hours of interrogation. He didn't bother to call anyone? His lawyers? Family? Boss? He's too 'tired' to make any call?

5. 10 hours interrogation for a WITNESS? I shudder to think what would happen to suspects.

6. Released 3.45am, then checked on him at 6am. Found the body at 1.45pm. In between, what happened? Nobody checked on him? Nobody bothered to make calls to find out what happened to him? How about his mobile phone? No sms? No missed calls? He was 'missing' for more than 20 hours since he was brought in to 'assist' the investigation. I doubt that nobody tried to reach him.

7. We are not making accusation, (KJ and MP Kota Belud lambasted LKS saying he's casting aspersions, making this a political issue in their tweets). We are asking VALID questions. Asking whether MACC did it is not the same with saying MACC did it. (HA HA HA!) Not political my ass. Starting with Perak, then Kedah, then Penang now Selangor. Why not come and investigate warlords in Sarawak? How about MCA bigshots involved in PKFZ? Reports already out, freaking clear the names are there. Where's MACC? Penang government lodged a report against the developer in Kampung Pala, Nusmetro. What happened? Any follow up from MACC? Don't say it not political. IT IS POLITICAL!!! It a ploy to wipe of Pakatan states, that somehow went wrong with Teoh's death.

To those who wouldn't care less about what's happening around you, FU.

Vincent: "Malaysian generally will only move their asses when death occurs."
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NOTE:
How did anybody come to the conclusion that -
he "fell", specifically from the 14th floor?
Did someone see him?
If so, why wasn't it reported immediately?

LKS's Twitter on the 1-Dead Malaysia!!!!

1. An instant peaceful multiracial demonstrations by hundreds against unusual death of TeoBengHock at MACC going on now at Shah Alam MACC hqrs23 minutes ago from web
2. Nazri said don't blame MACC for TeoBengHock's death at MACC. Should blame b directed at Nazri as Minister in charge or PM Najib himself?27 minutes ago from web
3. Will MACC Chief Commissioner Ahmad Said visit TeohLengHwee family 2explain how BengHock died in MACC? Can MACC disclaim responsibility?about 1 hour ago from web
4. Arrogant MACC officer on TV said innocent will be freed n wrongdoers charged. Why not 1 BN Minister Dy Min, MB, CM, Exco treated this way?about 1 hour ago from web
5. Spoke 2 aggrieved father,TeohLeongHwee taxidriver in shock He wants to know what actually happened - like all Malaysians.Blackday 4Malaysiaabout 1 hour ago from web
6. As 1st MACC n unusual death, acid test 4 MACC, Police n PM Najib. Will Najib order public inquiry inline with "People 1st. Performance Now"?about 1 hour ago from web
7. BenHock family/relatives demand justice which is the demand of all justice-loving Malaysians regardless of race/religion. MACC in the dockabout 2 hours ago from web
8. Kerk in Alor Gajah w BengHock's parents. BengHock's mother crying non-stop since told of his death at 5 pm. Family n relatives in shockabout 2 hours ago from web
9. Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo phoned from MACC Shah Alam. Police have brought in second forensic team. We r asking 4independent forensic examabout 2 hours ago from web
10. Ronnie Liu still at Selangor MACC hqrs.4 3 hrs Selangor DAP Excos MPs Speaker SAs n BengHock's brother not allowed 2have sight of body.about 3 hours ago from web
11. Kerk Kim Hock, exDAP SG n MP is related to BengHock. Phoned n expressed his disbelief n shock. Nationwide outrage. How come MACC!about 3 hours ago from web
12. Spoke 2BengHock elder brother BengKee 33 who rushed over from his workplace in ShahAlam. BengHock from Alor Gajah is 2register 4wedding tmrabout 3 hours ago from web
13. Imagine MACC investigating "corruption" over cars n cows n a death in MACC custody takes place! Is this acceptable?Let there be no cover up!about 4 hours ago from web
14. Anwar n other Pakatan Rakyat leaders will also be at Selangor MACC Shah Alam hqrs at 10 am MACC must prove it has not become another monsterabout 4 hours ago from web
15. Will take 1st flight from Penang tmr n be at Selangor MACC Shah Alam hqrs 10 am to find out more about TeoBengHock's death in MACC custodyabout 4 hours ago from web
16. What was MACC investigating 2 take a life? RM12.5b PKFZ scandal?No. Alleged state assembly rep constituency allocations!about 4 hours ago from web
17. How did Sel Exco/Serdang SA Ean Yong Hian Wah’s political secretary Teo Beng Hock in custody at 14th fl Sel MACC Hqrs died from fall?about 4 hours ago from web
18. At Shah Alam MACC now are Sel. Exco Auyong, Ronnie Liu, Speaker Teng Assemblyman Swee Lin. Is MACC acting outside the law?

Death at MACC HQ!!! (1-Dead-Malaysia)

Datuk Mohd Shukri Abdul said Teoh was questioned from 5pm yesterday to 3.45am and was released soon after.
However, Teoh apparently said he was tired and so he rested on a settee in the lobby. He was seen sleeping on the settee at 6am.
At about 1.30pm, Shukri said, they heard that a body had been found on the 5th floor of the adjacent building and when one of the MACC officers went to investigate, he realised it was one of their witnesses.

Teoh (right) with Ean Yong and an MACC officer at the executive councillor's office yesterday.
By Neville Spykerman -MalaysianInsider

SHAH ALAM, July 16 – The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) controversial probe into several DAP assemblymen’s activities was thrown into more turmoil today with the death of political aide Teoh Beng Hock at the anti-graft authority’s Selangor headquarters.

The 30-year-old’s death will put more pressure on the MACC, which has been accused by the opposition of conducting selective investigations.

Teoh, the political secretary of Seri Kembangan assemblyman Ean Yong Hian Wah, was taken in for questioning by the MACC yesterday at its 14th floor office in Plaza Masalam in Shah Alam.

MACC said he was freed but his body was later found sprawled on the roof of a five-storey building next door.

It is unclear if Teoh, a former journalist with Chinese daily Sin Chew Jit Poh, fell or jumped from the MACC office.

Ean Yong and several other DAP lawmakers are at the scene now, including M. Manoharan, Gan Pei Nee and Teresa Kok.

DAP’s Ronnie Liu said the police has confirmed that the body is that of Teoh. He added that he does not understand how this could have happened.

Forensic investigators examine the body of Teoh Boon Hock for clues. Teoh was found dead next to the MACC’s office today, after being taken in for questioning yesterday.

At a press conference, the MACC director of investigations Datuk Mohd Shukri Abdul said Teoh was questioned from 5pm yesterday to 3.45am and was released soon after.

However, Teoh apparently said he was tired and so he rested on a settee in the lobby. He was seen sleeping on the settee at 6am.

At about 1.30pm, Shukri said, they heard that a body had been found on the 5th floor of the adjacent building and when one of the MACC officers went to investigate, he realised it was one of their witnesses.

Shukri said Teoh was not a suspect but was questioned as part of their investigations into the misuse of state allocations.

Selangor police chief Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar said the deceased was found lying in a pool of blood clad in a white shirt, black pants and jacket.

Police have not allowed anyone to view Teoh’s body, which has still not been removed at 6.30pm, when his brother was at the scene.

In an immediate reaction, DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang expressed shock and asked in his twitter account, “Is there now the first case of death in custody, not police but MACC? If so, heads must roll!”

The DAP leader is in Penang and said he was waiting for a full report about the tragedy.

“What has this country come to?” he asked, adding later he and other Pakatan Rakyat leaders will meet the MACC on Friday for an explanation.

According to Kit Siang, Teoh, an Alor Gajah boy, was to register his marriage tomorrow.

Kit Siang also confirmed he and Anwar will meet reporters at the MACC building in Shah Alam at 10am Friday.

Teoh was taken in for questioning yesterday after MACC officers raided Ean Yong’s office in the State Secretariat as they were investigating complaints about the failure of state allocations to reach the people.

Selangor State Assembly Speaker Teng Chang Khim weighed in by saying the MACC is responsible for the incident.

His lawyer M Manoharan, who accompanied Teo to the MACC office yesterday, said the deceased looked normal and showed no signs of being under stress.

“He was happy and looked composed. I had advised him how to handle the interrogation as I was not allowed in during questioning,” he said.

Manoharan, who is the Kota Alam Shah assemblyperson, last saw Teo at around 7pm yesterday.

Ean Yong said it was highly unlikely Teoh took his own life since he was due to register his marriage tomorrow.

"Furthermore, there was no reason for him to linger (after the interrogation) because his car was here," he added.

Selangor executive councillor Elizabeth Wong expressed shock over Teoh’s death and added to the chorus that MACC was responsible for it.

“This tragic incident is another reminder of the recklessness of supposedly public institutions like the MACC in pursuing the goals of their political masters,” she said in a statement.

Wong said MACC investigations director Datuk Mohd Shukri Abdul’s explanation flew in the face of logic, adding that the authority should operate within acceptable guidelines when conducting interrogations.

“Even the police stops interrogating suspects at 6pm. Did the MACC think it holds powers greater than the PDRM when it interrogated Teoh from 5pm to 4am the next day?” she asked.

She said the incident has prompted her not to allow her staff to be questioned by the MACC unless accompanied by legal counsel, adding the police should also seal the office for investigations.

“ Datuk Mohd Shukri … should save whatever honour he and the MACC have left by resigning,” said the Bukit Lanjan assemblywoman.

In a statement, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the MACC must bear full responsibility for this death as Teoh was in their custody at the time.

“MACC should stop its political persecution of PR, especially DAP leaders and members, that does not serve the interest of fighting corruption or justice,” he said. “Such political games have caused the loss of life of a bright young idealistic DAP member.”

“There must be a full investigation on how he died. Unless MACC can clear its name, the public may suspect that Teoh was mistreated and MACC had a hand in his sudden death. There must be full transparency and accountability.

“DAP extends its condolences to Teoh’s family for this tragic loss and assures them that all steps will be taken to ensure that the culprits or those responsible be punished.”

Sekinchan assemblyman Ng Swee Lim, who was weeping openly at the press conference, said he had wanted to take Teoh for seafood yesterday.

Meanwhile, PKR vice president K. Sivarasa calls this a “death in suspicious circumstances.”

PKR assemblyman Xavier Jeyakumar is questioning why a normal young man would want to kill himself over being questioned about state allocations. A vigil is now being organised for Teoh outside the MACC office from 8.30pm tonight.

Beautiful Greenery on MRR2.......

PPSMI- A Pro Choice Argument.

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The people, in whom the supreme power resides,
ought to have the management of everything within their reach:
that which exceeds their abilities must be conducted by their ministers.
-Montesquieu, Spirit of Laws, bk. 2, CH. 2
(Of the Republican Government, and the Laws in relation to Democracy)

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The Govt has once again flip-flopped, so "suffer the children" now. Muhyiddin was conveniently made to be the fall-guy for this predetermined decision to bring about this populist decision - while Mr. PM's cousin, Mr. Chris, sits pretty with the HM and his "reformist" rhetoric.

What I don't understand is why we need to be so rigid in our ways - every aspect of our life seems to be decided by the Govt who insists on a "Nanny State". Why can't they provide us with an option? What have they got against dual streaming in National schools? Is it the same rhetoric that they used against the noble La Salle teaching tradition/schools?
They appear not to recognize the need for the freedom to choose as individuals, and we are dictated to on every matter. They people are regarded as incapable of making decisions for themselves, and treated as such. This allows them to control the masses with great ease, and indoctrinate the masses to their liking. It is this creeping paralysis of thought that the Govt desires, so that they can impose their will upon the people through a dictatorship that masquerades as a democracy.

The Govt conveniently absolves itself of the duty to provide for the quality education for the general public - as that which was accorded to them in their (the politicians) days as students. It in turn transfers that role to the mushrooming private sector, who now cater to only those who can pay premium fees for quality, world-class education (read "International Schools").

What could go so terribly wrong if we had an English-medium as a safety-net, to ascertain that we aren't left behind, together with Malay-medium for those who intend to protect the viability and progress of BM as a language for communication, science and technology? Just as they intend to enhance the teaching of English in the currently Malay-medium schools, they could do the same with the English-medium which we could have.
Nobody loses, and everybody is happy - and market forces will determine that the less competitive schools become less popular, while those obsessed with their cultural heritage have that option to indulge themselves.

The freedom to shoose is an essential component of a democracy.
"Choice", however is a word alien to the ruling powers in Malaysia. They appear to believe that statecraft entails the removal of this element of choice from the books - in all facets of life .... from the area of expression, to clothing, gathering, to entertainment. From religion, to politics, to business, to jobs, to education - the people are denied this element of "Choice" in one way or other. This has led to the malaise that afflicts the nation.

To this demand for "Choice" in the matter of PPSMI - they have my vote. The people have a right to Choice, in deciding their future.
This element of choice is essential if we want to create a progressive civil society.

Yes - I'm PRO-CHOICE!
How about you?

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If you think of yourselves as helpless and ineffectual,
it is certain that you will create a despotic government to be your master.
The wise despot, therefore, maintains among his subjects
a popular sense that they are helpless and ineffectual."
- Frank Herbert

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Clinging to the Cause & Wishing the Results Away.

"Guilt that is concealed seldom stops with the one who harbors that hurt. Sooner or later that pain of fear and guilt is spread to others, particularly to those closest to us. “Victimless” crimes are an illusion, for deceit is a monster that needs constant feeding. It would be foolish for us to think that we can deal with guilt by somehow covering it up.
The moment that we cover our guilt we escalate the tension in our lives by adding the dimension of fear. We may then become people who seem okay on the outside, but inside we are struggling to maintain the facade.......
Carried to a different level, this same tendency underlies all our national preoccupation with one social or economic crisis after another. No one seems willing to admit that at the heart of our malady is a mangled spirituality."
-Ravi Zacharias

For a small nation that should by right be striving for unity in pluralism and held fast by the secular spirit and principles of the constitution of 1957, Malaysia is a nation that is struggling silently through a turbulent time of social reconstruction - albeit in the wrong direction.

Indeed, what Ravi said rings very true if we were to reflect on his words against the backdrop of our woes, at the heart of which lies the greed and sectarian politics practised by our political masters. Here we do not have the luxury of "whacking" the usual bogeyman, the Government or BN (aka UMNO Baru).

No - all of them in the opposition too, practice the very same evil by embracing "race or religion" based politics - this has been the curse that has been handed down to us by those who refused to accept and thus betrayed the the ideals that Dato' Onn Jaafar, the Father of UMNO, stood for.
They instead killed every opportunity to build a nation based on "Values and Principles".
They preferred to play the race game that would be a short cut to power consolidated upon those politically "victorious", ie the Muslim Malay race.
That being the case, all the "others" also joined the bandwagon of the most primitive "race/ religion" political game.
YES - This is the curse that we inherited from certain idolized "leaders", who were actually the perpetrators of cardinal sins that would one day spell the doom of this nation (unless it is undone).

Political parties in Malaysia were never forged out of principles of the democracy that they all swore to protect and nurture - they were there simply to fight for the rights and "interests" of specific races/ religions.

Would it not serve Malaysian interests well if our politicians seek to emulate their selfless struggle against injustice under tyrants and religious extremists?
How I wish I could hear the music of politicians shouting out against the subtle persecutions against the all Malaysians be they Muslim, Christian, Hindu, Buddhists or Animists, be they of BN or the Opposition.

But No - they only do it so long as it serves their greedy, sectarian or racist political agenda. Listen to the sound of silence among members of one "party", when rights of the the other is trampled upon - it is so deafening, that you are tempted to doubt the legitimacy of your rights!
They believe that it isn't their struggle, unless it involves their "own people". Politicians fear "breaking ranks" with party bosses, even if it means betraying fellow Malaysians that they have sworn to speak for - all in the interest of "party unity".
How low can politicians go - they prefer to appeal to the lowest possible denominator, toe the party line and be subservient to "great leaders" and be slaves of the party, rather than stand up for noble values/principles of humanity, truth and righteousness.

Dear friends, it is a grave sin indeed for one to dance to the tune of divisive and sectarian politics that caters to primitive, selfish and narrow interests of only certain communities. We need to change our mindset to support leaders who aren't slaves to the dictatorial party leadership, but to principles of humanity.
For that to happen we need to make a concerted effort to change the mindset of all Malaysians, so as to be able to regard his neighbour as a brother/ sister first - race , religion, beliefs, creed, class and whatever divisive factor shouldn't figure in the equation.
For that to happen, the small-minded "leaders" who bark in Parliament need to realize that all parties need to "overhaul" their constitutions so as to be inclusive, and practice it in word and deed.

G.K Chesterton once said - "What we need is a Leadership that is not only right where we are right, but right where we are wrong". So then, let us make up for the betrayal that our forefathers meted out to the Founding Fathers of the Nation. Break down the walls of our insecurities, pride, prejudice - and embrace instead principles of humanity, so that we may not live in fear, but in hope.
Let us turn not opt for the same fate as Dorian Gray, who chose to destroy the hideousness of the painting (of himself) that he saw, and had stabbed himself in reaction.

Many of you might say that it is just a pipe-dream - maybe so - but we must have hope in this dream.
Until and unless this can be done, Malaysia is headed for further conflict among the various groups/communities.
This may of course be conveniently averted through the use of "Rule by Draconian laws" by a dictator, wherein every citizen has to give up his/ her rights, in the interest of "maintaining law and order", with the interest of society at large - which is incidentally the "Asian Values", sold to us by some "great leaders".
Advocate not denial, and grasp at straws so as to prop up the evil that plagues the nation, for our own selfish interests. Let us take the nation back from the politicians, and make it ours - for once.

"It will not do to cling to the cause and wish the result away.
Reality does not play mind games.
What is more, to anesthetize the mind in order to abort what comes to birth when wrong ideas are conceived and borne in the womb of culture, will only kill the very life-giving force of the nation that nurtures the idea.
We must learn, in the words of one cultural commenter, to live as wise as serpents and as innocent as doves."
-Ravi Zacharias

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NOTE:
The above is an edited version of "A Curse in the Malaysian's Embrace" on CruzinThots (18/2/2008).
It was inspired by Oscar Wilde's "The Picture of Dorian Gray" and Ravi Zacharias's lovely take on it which appears as the preface at
http://cruzinthots.blogspot.com/2008/02/political-racial-profiling-curse.html

MOVES in 100 BLACK DAYS .....

"The poll by the Merdeka Centre shows that his approval rating is 65 per cent, a spike from the tepid 46 per cent in mid-May and 42 per cent just before he became the country’s sixth leader."

"But the bottom line is Malaysians have approved his leadership."
-Wong Chun Wai (The Star)