Happy Birthday, RPK: Do What is Right

My Friend and Brother RPK – Planting the Seed of DISSENT and HOPE

by Din Merican

“But what I can leave them would be a legacy that we must always fight for justice and freedom and rise to the defence of the downtrodden.” - RPK (Raja Petra Kamaruddin)

Portrait of RPK by London Artist, Lina–Fitting Birthday Tribute to a Malaysian Hero

On September 27, 2010, Raja Petra Kamarudin, that Fugitive Blogger, more famous by his initials, RPK, posted a very touching article “Thank you so much”. Many may have read it, but many may also have missed it because of the rather “misleading” title. If RPK had referred to that day or that article as his birthday message, probably thousands if not millions would have jammed his blog. But that is the classic RPK I know, who would not draw attention to his own plight or sorrow, to his own pain or tragedy. The RPK I know is bigger than life, and I don’t mean it in a demeaning way.

Malaysia above Self: RPK is a symbol of “Critical Loyalty”

The RPK I know and respect does not talk about his life, his family or his personal difficulties. If he does, it is for a purpose – to convey a message to all, about all and for all. The RPK I know wants to help foment disobedience, not in the “biadap” or “kurang ajar” way, though it may seem like that to the establishment, but in a civil disobedience sense following the traditions of all great civil rights movements whether of Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, and Nelson Madiba Mandela. RPK wants to provoke critical thinking and make the case for dissent in its most constructive manifestations.

RPK wants to inspire confidence so that one can call a spade a spade and not recoil against the wrong that one sees. Since Malaysia is proud to be a predominantly Muslim country, RPK thus teases Muslims with their own Islamic maxims like “ A mukmin must firstly prevent a wrong with his hands, then with his mouth, then in his heart. And the weakest amongst you is he who disapproves of a wrong in his heart”.

RPK expresses disgust at what he sees as the hypocrisy of Muslims albeit in such strong words. Does the majority of us not feel the same way? And yet how many of us dare say it? He does, and for that he had to suffer the consequences!

Hata Wahari Who?: A Stooge for MACC

I am therefore perplexed when the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) Malaysia President, Hata Wahari, asked the AG Gani Patail to prosecute RPK for exposing the MACC’s hypocrisy in handling big corruption cases including the Khir Toyo investigations. Since Monday, RPK started publishing official MACC documents marked ‘Rahsia’ (classified). RPK claims to have in his possession “hundreds of official MACC documents and said he would publish them in his blog to “punish” MACC for its failure to investigate ex-Malaysia Airlines chairman Tan Sri Tajuddin Ramli for his alleged role resulting in massive losses for the airlines. Quite obviously, the documents were handed to him by frustrated MACC officers, officers of the AG Chambers or politicians from within the establishment who want MACC chief commissioner Datuk Seri Abu Kassim Mohamed to take action or resign. Until now, AG Gani Patail and Abu Kassim have remained mum.

The Attorney-General (with the double-chin in two-tone shirt) and Tajuddin Ramli (white skullcap and hand on his chin) both arriving at Shahidan Shafie’s home

Ramli Yusuff and Lawyer Rosli Dahlan: Their Plight ignored by the Mainstream Media

This is in tandem with my own approach in highlighting the persecutions of Dato’ Ramli Yusuff and his Lawyer Rosli Dahlan. Many have asked why I choose to champion their cases more prominently than say, the murder of Teoh Beng Hock (TBH) or Anwar Ibrahim’s Sodomy II. The answer is simple enough. The attempt to cover up TBH’s case is already covered by the mainstream media in their reports of the Coroner’s Inquiry. It is just a matter of time that Malaysians see the idiocy of the MACC in the form of the suicide note and the ”self strangulation” demonstration by that fat buffoon Razak Musa.

The attempt to cover up TBH’s case is already covered by the mainstream media in their reports of the Coroner’s Inquiry. It is just a matter of time that Malaysians see the idiocy of the MACC in the form of the suicide note and the ”self strangulation” demonstration by that fat buffoon Razak Musa.

As for Sodomy II, Anwar is already a big name and the world media has already descended in Malaysia to report on it. Even Virgin Air billionaire, Richard Branson, would mention the case to the Deputy Prime Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, which prompted Muhyiddin’s widely reported response agreeing that Sodomy II is a waste of time and a mistake.

The founder of the Virgin Group is positive about Malaysia's investment outlook. But he said the ongoing sodomy trial of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim is damaging the country's reputation.

The Dato’ Ramli and Rosli Dahlan’s case is unique and very significant because the mainstream media has refused report on it. The mainstream media wants to bury it. The mainstream media is party to a conspiracy with rogue elements within the government. It is these rogue elements within the government that RPK and I are exposing to give a chance to the government to disavow and distance itself from them. To give the government a chance to purge these rogues if indeed the government is not involved, and a chance to redeem itself. If the government is indeed involved, then we leave it to the masses to decide at the next general elections if these are the leaders that the people want to give their votes to at the ballot box.

Overthrowing a government through the ballot box is legitimate.

The Dato’ Ramli’s case and Rosli Dahlan’s are important because never before has a top ranking Police Commissioner been fixed by his own IGP who conspired with the AG and the MACC to eliminate him just when the trail of the crime syndicate was leading up to the IGP. Never before has an IGP been denounced in court as a liar by a presiding Judge.

Malaysians want the IGP to break PDRM away from being one of the Unholy Trinity that it once was with the AG Gani Patail and the MACC.

Never before has a prominent lawyer like Rosli Dahlan been brutally arrested on a trumped up charge just because he assisted the Police and a Deputy Minister of Home Affairs in the detention of an Emergency Oridinance (EO) detainee and a known underworld operator, Goh Cheng Poh @ Tengku Goh. Never before has the public a chance to see that all that was just a smoke screen to prevent a bigger revelation of the plundering of the national airlines, MAS, for RM 8 billion by the very custodians and people entrusted to protect it.

My heart goes out to the MAS employees! Their innocence was stabbed daily with the way BADAWI and Tajuddin raped MAS like there was no tomorrow. So called father figures running the Country's National Airline were actually economic murderers and thieves.

Former Prime Minister Badawi and MAS: The Hypocrisy of It exposed

The MAS case is a chance to expose ex-PM Abdullah Badawai, touted to be religious and “Mr Clean”, who waxed poetry over Al Shafie and Al Ghazali, for the man that he really is. A chance to ask why Badawi is still made MAS Adviser after being party to its plunder and refusing to take action against Tajudin Ramli and his cohorts despite being briefed by Ramli and Rosli. A chance to ask AG Gani Patail why he is seen consorting with Tajudin and Shahidan Shafie in pictures posted by RPK. A chance to expose the masks that people wear and false oaths that people swear.

A chance to ask AG Gani Patail why he is seen consorting with Tajudin and Shahidan Shafie in pictures posted by RPK. A chance to expose the masks that people wear and false oaths that people swear.

Now, can Malaysians understand why RPK and I will not relent on this? Can Malaysians now see the connection of the Rosli Dahlan’s case and the revelations that RPK is making daily on the failures of the MACC? Can Malaysians see how ridiculous the MACC is by not withdrawing the charge against Rosli whereas the principal suspect, Dato’ Ramli, has been acquitted not once or twice but three times! Yet, the MACC is so unwilling to prosecute the real crooks and rogues and instead skew their investigation recommendations to suit certain evil objectives. WiIl Abu Kassim now resign since his pledge is shown to be a munafiq (hypocrite’s) oath? Or should the whole MACC be disbanded and abolished?

Rosli Dahlan with his wife, Misni Aryani- Behind every strong man is a stronger woman ( look at her arms around his neck ! )

We deserve the Leaders we get: Our Apathy is perplexing

RPK’s courage in making all these revelations is to remind Malaysians that we deserve the leaders that we get. The days of lore where rulers demand obedience by invoking divine right is long gone. The European kings have been deposed with the emergence of new republics. If royalty exists, it is not by divine right but because we the people wills it so. In Japan, even the Meiji emperor recognises that and members of the royal household behave themselves. In Malaysia, if anyone were to question it, we could be charged for sedition or treason. Thus, it is only befitting that when RPK raised it, none could say he is anti royalty or anti kesultanan Melayu. Amongst the ranks of the dissenters, none can have a bluer blood than RPK.

Not Ketuanan Melayu, Ketuanan Rakyat

A Clear and Present Danger: Racist Politics

RPK articulates that if there is no such thing as rulership by divine right, then no politician can demand obedience based on just race or colour rights. Have you noted the subtle shift of PERKASA’s slogan from Raja Melayu to Ketuanan Melayu? Have you wondered why that is so? It is to suit Ibrahim Ali’s political flight of fancy. It is to elevate the politicians to the same level as the hereditary rulers such that disobedience to the politicians can be equated to disobedience to our Sultans.

Police Commisioner Datuk Ramli Yusoff is now a 'free man', after having been suspended from the police force for over two years.

Thus, RPK asked why is he being charged for sedition when all that he had maligned, if he did, was just Rosmah Mansor, the wife of a politician who seeks to elevate herself as the First Lady of Malaysia. Perhaps because Rosmah is from Negeri Sembilan, she thinks her adat pepatih gives her matriarchal rule over Malaysians. That is how frivolous things can be in Malaysia. The illusion of grandeur can never be removed from the Malay psyche. “You can take the Malay out of the kampong but you can never take the kampong out of the Malay” (Bakri Musa).

“You can take the Malay out of the kampong but you can never take the kampong out of the Malay” (Bakri Musa).

It is this critical thinking that RPK attempts to imbue amongst Malaysians. It is this civil courage that RPK wants to inspire. And at what personal cost? RPK suffered personal persecution, disowned by his own royal cousin, the Sultan of Selangor and is now a fugitive. During Musa Hassan’s time, the police fixed his son on trumped up drug charges and petty theft, then beat the boy up in the hope of luring RPK back to Malaysia. The conduct of Musa Hassan as IGP is anything but that of the son of an Ustaz. Even his own Aide De Camp (ADC), ASP Azizul, swore a Statutory Declaration to denounce him as a “Pengkhianat Bangsa”. If that was not true, why wasn’t that ADC hauled up and charged like the other six policemen who were charged for fabricating evidence against Musa?

The courage RPK displayed and the personal retribution inflicted on him by the powers that be is what has turned him into a Malaysian Hero. That is indeed a befitting status. His fight for ideals can be clearly seen in his writings and especially from the following passage of that article:

“But what I can leave them would be a legacy that we must always fight for justice and freedom and rise to the defence of the downtrodden. That, I believe, are virtues which even money cannot buy.”

This is exactly what is the crux of RPK’s – ”Thank you so much” article which touched my heart and made me feel very sad. It is the sincere outpourings of a man in reflection as he considers his birth and unavoidable death away from his home and family. RPK is younger than me and although our styles may differ, our ideals are not. I would quote another passage from RPK’s article :

“ …even if I go tomorrow I would go knowing that I have helped plant the seed of dissent and have been able to teach Malaysians that we must never fear the oppression perpetuated by the government but rise and oppose oppression and make the government fear us instead.”

Truly, that is not inconsistent with the Malay peribahasa “ Raja adil raja disembah , Raja zalim raja disanggah”. That was how Hang Jebat understood it and thus duelled Hang Tuah to uphold those values. That was also why in the 1970’s former DPM Musa Hitam suggested that the Malays “ harus belajar menjadi kurang ajar”.

“ Raja adil raja disembah , Raja zalim raja disanggah”.

Just replace the word “Raja” with “Kerajaan” and it would aptly apply to our modern day government of the day, which is how that peribahasa is meant to be understood. Those in the establishment and holding the reins of power, should not look at dissenters as enemies of the state. Dissenters are a check and balance to excesses and abuses. Dissenters are the voices of the masses.

Happy belated birthday ,RPK and thank you so much for helping us to learn to dissent and to do it in a democratic way! Let there be peace, justice and prosperity. We deserve none more liberating than that. Here is to you, Marina and Malaysians: be of good cheer as there is light at the end of tunnel.

Happy 6oth Birthday, RPK, from all of us in Malaysia

Technorati Tags: RPK, Civil Society, Disobedience

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3rd Force? Now? Gimme a break .... and get real!!

If you're just talking about "creating a foundation for civil society" to voice out & be a viable pressure group in future, I'm in favour of that.
But to have them “make an electoral pact with any of the 20 or so political parties from both Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat that may be prepared to make an electoral pact with us”.....
errr ... ROTFLOL!!!!
YOU GOTTA BE Frickin' KIDDING!!!!!

By the looks of it, there are some people who dream utopian dreams, pushing for a lobby group which can shake the foundations of PR politics – simply because they don't like to hear about the mud-slinging which goes on in an election campaign. Okay la- let's give them the benefit of doubt- maybe they have their KPI, NKRA, ETP, and whatever else acronym to support their contention ...
Effectively, what they're proposing is a “different kind of Perkasa” as a “pressure group” (or NGO or whatever you may call-it). What the 3rd force might end up achieving is – unwittingly creating animosity between the PR parties & only weakening what has been built thus far.

Let's get one thing clear- from India, to USA, to UK, to Sweden - no intra-party politics is as clean as one might think it should be. No Sir – it is just that they are more “civilized” in their ways .... while our boys “are just learning to walk”!
In India, they'd probably send someone with a "thalwar" to pay a "courtesy visit" to their competition. In Sweden or UK or USA they probably have the media on stand-by to reveal juicy stories (remember Chappaquidick?) of their competition.
To all those who think otherwise, don't come around saying, "Malaysian voters are matured" & shouting out a “Malaysia Boleh” crap now, okay .... just step outside your house/office and talk to 5 people, for 5 minutes, and you'll see what I mean!!

The UMNO/BN oligarchs will never hesitate to politically slaughter an opposition perceived by the public to be demoralized & weakened by apparent internal conflict/strife.
In order to achieve that, they'll support & promote (maybe even provide funding through 3rd parties) any well-meaning 3rd force which can challenge PR- just so that PR (especially PKR- becos it is the glue that binds under DSAI) gets bad media coverage.
Make no mistake about that.

I really don't see any good reason why so much focus should be on the PKR elections, when UMNO is busy plundering the coffers, while Idris Jala talks "berjela-jela" like a snake-oil salesman in Lorong Haji Taib/ Chow Kit selling dreams of instant economic cures & castles in the air.

The thing is this – Malaysian politics is about UMNO, and Umno needs reform ...
For this reform, it needs to be out of power so that it can purge itself of the oligarchs who plunder and rape the economy. With a plundered economy, all the 3rd force in the world isn't gonna help if it doesn't have a decent political hierarchy.

All the revelations of corruption and the slightly more open media is there becos of all the vibrant political atmosphere which is there simply becos of the current balance of power. The media highlights about PR problems is simply becos of the available info, aided by their masters.
Do you think all is fine & dandy in all the other parties?
Not a chance in hell!

UMNO (more than other BN allies) are quite experienced at hiding the strife that they go through - in fact, I think there is a “political battle royale” going on between Jibby & Mr Moo even as we speak. Moo has chickened out of the coming by-elections & put Ku Li there- just in case UMNO loses- so that his leadership qualities will not be questioned. If Umno wins - it would've been his shrewd political decision that won it!!

Does anyone talk about how Krismudin aspires for Umno Presidency? Of course not .... the media isn't permitted to discuss these things.
So please don't read too much into the PKR Zaid-Azmin rivalry (which has triggered all these “3rd force” debate).
This can only cast a cloud & break the hope that the people have in the lifeline for a democracy- which we have in PR.

Someone asked- “What do you think about the “Azmin-Zaid issue”?
What is there to “think'?
They're in a contest, and they're campaigning democratically (well, I concede- maybe not totally clean, but when is it ever anyways) – may the best man win!!
Period.
Then they ask - “whom do you support?”
Let me put it this way – for lack of a better choice, if I were in PKR, (with all due respect to Zaid) I'd root for the tried & tested political-streetfighter Azmin (whom we need, to bring down UMNO), rather than the newbie ideologue-gentleman Zaid ( but he definitely does have his role in PKR- so don't come around trying to convince him to quit, okay!!).

Y'see, where the “Zaid issue” is concerned, as true as Zaid may have been in his intention, and as much as he may have been sincere in his work for PKR - I seriously believe that it was definitely not his time to contest such a high post.
As much as many dislike him for his style, I'm really with Azmin on this. He deserves the post.
For Zaid to challenge the status quo after being with the PKR struggle for a mere 1 yr - it is totally not worthy of him. I really don't like his hypocrisy (for lack of a better word) - he said that he isn't interested in a political post, but he challenges a very senior party member with strong grassroots support with his newfound allies in Sabah/Sarawak. That's mean la....

Not that I'm a diehard Azmin supporter or anything, but Zaid should have more magnanimity & humility than that, if he was sincere. I donno- but sometimes, I think Zaid knew what was coming, and is standing for the sake of democracy, and nothing else .... it cannot be that he is so politically naive.
PKR is making an attempt at democratization of intra-party politics, and teething problems would include old bad habits. Don't tell me that DAP/PAS have such a democratic process - they're also plagued by patronage politics.
The only difference is, PKR is making an attempt at discarding it and is having problems at that. So what's the big deal?

Now about RPK ....
(With all due respect to RPK) Don't take him too seriously at all times, guys.
Don't be too enthusiastic about all of RPK's propositions - sometimes, he doesn't really mean what he says, (and sometimes, doesn't say what he means). Sometimes he's just throwing a cat among the pigeons ....
As important and relevant the truths revealed by MT/RPK may be, RPK sometimes does talk some high-flying cock when he talks realpolitik – at times, he thinks solely like an activist without considering the political ramification of the actions he proposes.

The more I think about it, the more I think this 3rd force thingie would be dangerous. We should give them (PR/PKR) a chance to fulfill their promises en route to Putrajaya, before taking potshots at them.
No matter what Haris Ibrahim or RPK says about its role & viability in the face of a "lousy opposition"- now, I think, I can safely say that I'm 75% against the idea of it at all!!

Malaysians just aren't politically mature enough for it ...
To all those who wish to shout “Malaysia Boleh” for the 3rd force- despite the hiccups that PR faces, which is thus far just an electoral pact (and not even a formally registered political alliance) - we should be more supportive instead of throwing a spanner in the works.
We should stop being to utopian in our hopes .... stop the potshots at PKR and concentrate on breaking UMNO's political muscle.
Old habits die hard ..... give them a break lah - it's their (PKR's) first time, for gottsakes!!
Right now, a 3rd force of a prescription for the death of the strong opposition as we know it - and
You can bet your last penny on it!

Come on, MPS - get real here!!

Lately Majlis Perbandaran Selayang seems to be working very hard at "upholding the law" - apparently they're simply "enforcing".
I must say that they're quite enthusiastic about it - so much so, that they brought some clueless Policemen (who of course are the "Saya yang Menurut Perintah" variety, lah) to help them along in catching dogs on private property.

Actually, I'm all for MPS enforcing the law, which I intend to abide by.
In this post, I don't wish to bring up the contentions of residents on the attitude or actions of the enforcement officers (which may be controversial or debatable). In this post, let us just dwell on the legal aspect of their action in "pounding" the dogs which were never a nuisance in the first place and were on private property.

Their contention is this - they're enforcing Seksyen 6(d), Akta Hakmilik Strata 1985 (Akta 318).

Now, This is how the Section 6(d) goes:-

Larangan-larangan bagi pemilik petak

6. Seseorang pemilik petak tidaklah boleh-

• (d) memelihara apa-apa binatang dalam petaknya atau atas harta bersama yang boleh menyebabkan gangguan kepada man-mana pemilik lain.

Okay ...... basically what the law is saying here is -
"you cannot keep your dogs on shared property" - and that's fine by me.
This statement would cover all Condominiums/Apartments/Flats etc which do not have anything like an accesory plot ("petak aksesori")- and therein lies the catch!!

Here are some FAQs (Soalan Lazim) on the local bylaws at the Pejabat Tanah Dan Galian website:

S :Apakah yang dimaksudkan Hakmilik Strata?
J : Hakmilik yang dikeluarkan untuk setiap unit (petak) bagi sesebuah bangunan yang mempunyai dua tingkat atau lebih atas tanah berimilik yang dipegang sebagai satu lot dimana kelulusan bagi memecah bahagi bangunan tersebut telah diluluskan (Seksyen 6 AHS). Contohnya, Rumah Pangsa, Pangsapuri, Kondominium, Penthouse, Kompleks Komersial dan Rumah Kedai.

**(Please note that landed properties aren't included in examples)

S:Apakah yang dimaksudkan dengan Petak?
J:Di dalam skim strata, unit strata dikenali sebagai ‘petak’.

S:Apakah yang dimaksudkan dengan Petak Aksesori?

J:Petak aksesori adalah petak lain yang digunakan secara eksklusif oleh tuan punya petak hakmilik strata. Contohnya, tempat letak kereta yang hanya boleh digunakan secara eksklusif oleh pemilik petak.

S:Apakah yang dimaksudkan dengan Perbadanan Pengurusan?
J:Terdiri daripada pemilik-pemilik petak di dalam skim strata. Ia terbentuk secara automatik bila hakmilik strata didaftarkan melalui Buku Daftar Strata.

S:Apakah yang dimaksudkan dengan Harta Bersama?

J:Harta Bersama ditakrifkan sebagai semua di atas tanah berimilik kecuali petak dan petak aksesori seperti tangga, bumbung, taman dan sebagainya.

What they call the "petak aksesori" are those which defines the private porch or even extra lands on corner lots of Townhouses/link houses/semi-D homes which aren't included in the examples. These areas are "PRIVATE PROPERTIES", and any trespassing of these properties even by those who may be enforcers of the law, violates the law - unless they are there to uphold the law.

Now the law clearly states that animal cannot be kept on properties which are - "HARTA BERSAMA" which are quite different from "Petak Aksesori" as stated above.

Is it not the resident's right to used the private property as he deems fit - so long as he doesn't flout the law? Does MPS have the right to dictate terms to residents on what they can do & keep on their private property?
Now is MPS trying to redefine the law, or am I mistaken here?

Somehow I cannot accept the claim that MPS has the right to restrict the keeping of pets in areas beyond "harta bersama".

Let's not even begin discussing the shooting of Nine defenceless & hungry pedigree dogs (which would've been grabbed-up immediately, if put up for adoption) recently by some two-legged dogs with guns ..... It is bad enough aslo, that "some muncipalities" got a bad name from ill-treating animals or even holding stray-dog shooting competitions.

Even if you were right - you should at least have the humanity of "the prostitute who is said to have entered heaven for showing compassion to a stray dog" which the scripture speak of.
Let the owners at least make arrangements before you intrude on private properties- give them enough time (not 24 hrs la .....).

C'mon MPS - get real, and try to understand the laws you wish to enforce .....

PS
A note of appreciation must be mentioned to a certain individual from MPS, who has been very understanding on this issue - Thank You, Puan.

1-MALAYSIA'S CARTOON-O-PHOBIA!!!

Charter 2000-Aliran condemns the unfair and unwarranted detention of cartoonist Zunar by the Malaysian government last night as it violates the basic principle of freedom of expression in a democracy.

The police have also seized seized 66 copies of Zunar’s latest book, ‘Cartoon-O-Phobia’ – a worrying testimony of the state of freedom of expression in the country. But until now, the authorities don’t even seem to be sure whether his “offence” falls under the Sedition Act or the Printing Presses and Publications Act.

Known for his wit and grit and critical observations of Malaysia’s political scene through his hilarious sketches, Zunar has always shown his determination in calling a spade a spade. He has effectively exposed abuse and corruption in a simplistic manner, which a thousand words would find difficult to achieve. He should not be penalised for doing a great service to the nation even if his views came into conflict with those of the powers-that-be.

If expressing views that are critical of the government and its policies are deemed to be an offence, then this unfortunately may be construed as a warning to not only other cartoonists but also critical political commentators, analysts and oppositionists.

Given the severe political constraints that exist in our society, we commend Zunar for his courage in soldiering on. His arrest and harassment will not deter him from his mission to expose the dirt in our political system.

Amidst this darkness, there are rays of light. We would like to congratulate the new president of the National Union of Journalists of Malaysia, journalist Mohamed Ha’ta Wahari, for being bold and brave in championing the freedom of the press in the face of criticism and political pressure from within and outside Utusan Malaysia, where he works. It is commendable that Mohamed Ha’ta has strived to be fair and independent by being equally critical of both BN and Pakatan Rakyat politicians particularly over issues relating to press freedom and freedom of information.

If a free and responsible press is the cornerstone of a democracy, then the political and legal constraints that have been placed against journalists and cartoonists, among others, must be removed to promote democracy, the free flow of information and honest journalism. In the case of Malaysia, the Sedition Act and the Printing Presses and Publications Act must be repealed.

We urge the government to release Zunar immediately and unconditionally and to show maturity and tolerance when poring over critical cartoons such as Zunar’s. A sense of humour might help to lighten up the nation!

Dr Mustafa K Anuar and Anil Netto
Coordinators
Charter 2000-Aliran

"FB"-ciency at your service?

My matters with regard to telephone/streamyx/banking etc are usually conducted online or through "authorized personnel" most (if not all) of the time, simply becos I cannot leave my workplace. Phones could be transfered without a hitch, with just a phone call. Those good ol' days, before the "co-piratization" trend of "one who believes that meritocracy is racism".

Lately I was faced with the same predicament- (which I had mentioned on my FB page some time back) .... I needed to do something about my phoneline/streamyx- (something which I could once do without leaving my home/work .... )
Going thru the TMPoint website was pointless - it is the most useless website .... they had no downloadable forms, no customer feedback on problems, no transactions possible - practically no avenue to do anything beyond seeing their "latest offers"!!
Now why would anyone wanna visit their site if there wasn't anything they could do there?

Calling them was useless.
After following the instructions from the automaton on the other side & pressing God-knows-what buttons for this & that, the "customer service executives" (who are usually busy) are trained to say only one thing in very polite language - "Go to TMPoint to sort out your problem, mate - I'm just doing my job here"!! (If it was streamyx, they'll tell you to do the usual cable gymnastics & rebooting everything before they take your complaint or resetting things- but I must admit that they're better of late).

So, what which once could be settled without a hitch by phone, in the 1-Malaysia Boleh spirit of "Rakyat DiUtamakan, Pencapaian DiDahulukan"- today, I, at the instruction of "DYMM" TMPoint "have to go to TMPoint" to get the very same things done!!

Accordingly, I went to the "DYMM" TMPoint's office which was "fortunate" to see me - a faithful customer ....
Even as I walked in, I was so disgusted with what I saw - I saw people being told-off, and were leaving disappointed. Poor consumers probably didn't know how to get things done, & took it all sitting down ....
When I aproached this jackass at the counter, he just told me off without batting an eyelid (& sans courtesy), that they were "offline" and hence, "Tak Boleh Buat Apa-apa"!!
Somehow, I managed to have them "get cracking or else ..."("my own 'courteous' way, la)!!

Yes- from "offline" (while being able make collection of payments only!!),
tthen tried "we'll just callect data",
then "we'll do our best",
then "it'll take a week",
then "it'll take 3 days",
then after the prodding & threats - "definitely 24-hrs",
and have the free phone delivered too my home, on top of that!!
One lady, seeing how they (TMPoint) suddenly got working, came complaing to my better-half .... apparently, this "offline" response had been going on for more than two weeks!!
Really didn't know that this was what the people on the street faced on a daily basis.
**Makes you want to scream out expletives while pulling on your hair, doesn't it?

In the interest of keeping my end of the bargain (since I managed to get things done), I will not expose the location of my experience, nor the faces/names of those who put me in that predicament. Anyways -this phenomenon (of "Rakyat DiUtamakan, Pencapaian DiDahulukan") isn't as isolated as it may seem .... and I also kinda put it behind me.
Today though, I got a pic (of I-don't-know which office) from a friend in my email :-

(it definitely wasn't a "photoshop" job, as there were two shots
- and note the man waiting at the counter.
I have also removed parts that may identify people/place)
They say "A picture paints a thousand words" ....

P.S.
Apparently, this is something that goes on in many offices in the civil service, while customers wait!!
They are definitely not "private sector" by any measure ....
Who cares about the private sector anyway - if they go bankrupt & die out- that's their funeral. This is the civil service & the corporotized, monopolized (& piratized) public sector we speak of- for which we pay taxes!!
Yes - I've experienced this myself in certain other offices, which I wouldn't want to mention- lest I "ruffle feathers" - but I certainly hope Mr. 1-Malaysia's henchmen can do something about this "FBciency-at-work" disease ......

SELAMAT HARI RAYA!!

This year's Raya wishes on this blog, presented a dilemma to me - I had a problem with the imagery I wanted to use as the background.....
With making "polis repot" being the latest past-time/hobby/craze in town & with so many people being very "sensitive" these days, I didn't want one more hobbyist lodging a "polis repot" against me for sincere Hari Raya wishes on this blog.

Wanted to put some ketupat pics - but I thought the chequered image might offend those who believe that it was "unsur-unsur Kafir laknatullah" Masonic.

The Pelita didn't cut it either- some said it had the Illuminati symbolism (after all, the bulb did evoke such perceptions in some).

The crescent - well, some say it is associated with ...... I better not say it ...

The kampung house would've risked offending those who associated it with backwardness. Don't say I'm paranoid- that's what the TV3 ad did!! Don't believe me? Check this out HERE.

The Malay boy in kain pelikat & ketayap walking to the mosque to pray might've offended someone who thought the boy should've been chauffeur driven by a Muthu or Ah Beng ...

Depicting people partying would've offended those who think Raya is a solemn affair, plus "immorality" of dancing could lead to sex - at least that's what some people say.

Those flickering (what do you call them - tinsels?) Lights could be regarded as too "christmassy".

Mercun wasn't "Islamic culture" .... neither were "baju baru" or presents .... Flowers- I'm not sure. Animals were out of the picture. So were cartoons- lest I get banned!!

The green Duit Raya packets would've been associated with decadent Capitalism & the Chinese "ang-pow" (but of course, we all know kids don't give a damn as long as the money comes in ...)

In the end, I settled for the beautiful, the spectacular pedestrian skybridge in Langkawi.
I have no idea what purpose it serves beyond that of a photo op - but it is beautiful nevertheless (despite the cost). Maybe someone made some halal duit raya out of this thing - but at least it was a bridge built between two point that didn't meet earlier.

So- Selamat Hari Raya Guys - have a blast!!

53 Yrs On - What comes to mind this "Merdeka" ......

“We are going to showcase something different this year.
There will be no cultural performances-
instead we are going to focus on performance by the armed forces and police.”
-Culture and Arts Director-General Norliza Rofli

“It (national flag) is not expensive- cheaper than a pack of cigarettes.
If cost is a problem, we can supply them”
(adding that this year the giving away of the flags for free was limited because the government wanted to see for itself the people’s response to the flag flying campaign)
-Rais Yatim
===============================

This year once again, we'll be having the anniversary of our so-called "independence" from the British empire on the 31st of August. Apparently Umno "fought" for "Independence" lah ... at least that is the urban (or is it kampung) legend/myth which has been drummed into Malaysians year in, year out.
The heroic nationalism of Umno stalwarts had determined the freedom which we enjoy now..... the "scrifices" of Umno Malay leaders got us all we have - "tanah tumpah darah ku". all the rest were traitors, and they were rightfully incarcerated by the colonial masters prior to independence under the Emergency Ordinance), and by Umno (under the Police Act & the ISA) thereafter.

This will be the 53rd consecutive "celebration" of the Umno rule - of course, under the Barisan Nasional flag (after the "Perikatan"/Alliance flopped in 1969 after the post-513 internal coup within Umno). In other words, it will be a celebration of Umno Rule, wherein no "opposition" leaders would be invited as guests of honour.
MIC, MCA, Gerakan, PBS, LDP, PBB, UPKO, and all the other submissive pirates in arms standing in the front row to honour the master - UMNO.
Meanwhile, we have fascist, religious bigots, racists and morons among the supporters of the ruling elite of UMNO, running wild - telling others that they're 2nd class citizens or even telling them to leave their country if they don't like UMNO policies of Ketuanan Melayu ..... and our Mr 1-Malaysia with his "Zero-Tolerance" maintains his "elegant silence".

So this year, the "celebration" will be only with the participation of "defence" (only God knows what they "defend" us from- but I hear, it is actually defending Umno from Malaysians) forces .... nice!! Apparently, being the Ramadan - they wanna have it all on a moderate scale .... yes - I'm sure the "moderate" celebration will include rental of canopies & tents for the "security" personnel, as in a certain by-election some time ago.

As for the flags which are supposed to be given out for free - Rais's claim of it being "limited because the government wanted to see for itself the people’s response" - my @$$ ...... I'd rather speculate that (in the Umno/NEP spirit), Ramadan or not, somebody made a hefty profit from undelivered goods, and is laughing to the bank while celebrating "Merdeka!!".

Anyway, that's "peanuts" compared to what I'd worry about ......
This "Merdeka", my mind will be on the

"booming" 10% growth economy,
increasing cost of living,
my shitty ASTRO subscription,
the even shittier lying mainstream media,
flight of capital,
numerous toll booths on our roads,

ISA,
OSA,
UUCA,
PPPA,
Police Act,
DDA,
Sedition Act,
NEP (include NEM, NKRA, KPI, PEMANDU and whatever crap)
PKFZ,
MAS,
Petronas,
Sime Darby,
MARA,
FELDA,
FELCRA,
Scorpene,
Sukhoi,
missing jetfighter engines
(and missing God-knows what else),
PWTC,
BMF,
Sarawak rain forests,
Penans,
Petroleum royalties,
Bakun,
Kugan,
the fascists in UMNO,
Perkasa's "Bangsa Ketuanan",
illegals with citizenship,
Pendatangs,
Perak's lost democracy,
Mahathir's racist "meritocracy",
Umno's bribing Chief Justice Zaki,
Sarawak's Taib Mahmud,
the illegals & the Rape of Sabah,
Proton,
Altantuya,
and of course ..... Teoh Beng Hock.

Yes, yes of course- I'm mighty proud to be "Malaysian" under the stinking yoke of Umno's NEP piracy .... and this is the picture that comes to mind:-