Musa: More freedom now

A Malaysian leadership where freedom prevails – both in speech and in expression.

This is how former Deputy Prime Minister Tun Musa Hitam has described the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Taking a shot at his former boss, he said Malaysians were now enjoying more freedom of expression and speech compared to the era of Abdullah's predecessor.

"This was unknown during the leadership tenure of my best friend,” he said in an obvious referrence to former Prime MinisterTun Dr Mahathir Mohamad

On demonstrations, he said: "We can even have demonstrations without permits...(and) the people have less fear.

Oh really? You too Tun? Also mudah lupa or buat-buat lupa? Then what about this, this and this?

Continue reading below:

Musa said that nowadays the media could even expose the mistakes and failings of the Government.

“The freedom given by the government is mostly enjoyed by us, the middle class. Nowadays, we can even have demonstrations without permits ... (and) the people have less to fear.

“This was unknown during the leadership tenure of my best friend,” noted Musa, at the Universiti Malaya Alumni Day 2008 Malaysian Development Vision Forum yesterday.

While it was true the authorities had used water cannons and tear gas to disperse illegally-assembled crowds, he said even developed nations used such tactics on such demonstrators.

On blogging by detractors and the opposition, Musa welcomed it as a form of digital democracy as it allowed them to vent their anger, without going to the streets and causing harm or public disturbances.

“However, I must remind the middle class to be more rational and less emotional about certain issues, and take a more balanced perspective.

“As the middle class, we should not be reactive to issues but be more proactive by studying, listening, being open minded and do researching,” he said, adding that the people should mingle with one another to achieve greater understanding. – Bernama

Blogger Jeff Ooi contesting in Penang?

Blogger-turned-politician Jeff Ooi said there was a “99.996% chance that he will contest here in the coming general election.

He said he would leave it to the DAP leadership to decide which constituency he should contest. Here's the the Star report.

Ooi, who is DAP's "e-campaign director," was commenting on speculation that he would be contesting the Bukit Bendera parliamentary seat, now held by Gerakan secretary-general Datuk Seri Chia Kwang Chye.

"My hometown is in Butterworth and my immediate and extended family members are still here.

"I think I will be able to get some support here,” he said during a one-hour tele-conferencing session from Kuala Lumpur at the DAP headquarters here on Saturday.

State DAP chairman Chow Kon Yeow said the idea of fielding Ooi as a candidate was "something that the party is looking into."

Sharlinie still missing...

It has been three weeks since five-year-old Sharlinie's gone missing and there are still no new leads as to her whereabouts.

There's not much news on her in the papers either. Even the police admit they aren't getting much information from the public and the lack of information is affecting their investigation although the operation to find her is still going on. Thank God for that!

While I am praying and hoping that Sharlinie, who turned five yesterday, is being kept safe somewhere, I came across this news while reading the Sun online. The news is worrying.

The headline says There was an attempt to abduct a five-year-old girl in Pusat Bandar Puchong.

The incident happened last week.

The story is very familiar. Two siblings (12 and 5 years) were playing with each other (outside a restaurant while their parents were having dinner) when a black coloured van pulled up and a man emerged and lured the younger one with a sweet.

When the girl took the sweet, the man tried to bundle her into the van.

The man tried to push the elder sister into the van too when she tried to pull her sister away. But he got back into his van and sped away when two women passers-by went to check the commotion.

The elder sister related the incident only after they reached home to the parents who subsequently lodged a police report. But I find it strange that the report was not covered by the media.

As for the two passers-by, I think they could have done better. They could have taken down the plate number of the van and bring the children to their parents and relate the incident to them instead of just walking away. Don’t they read the papers, listen to the radio or watch news on TV?

I think there is an urgent need to educate members of the public on what they should do in such a situation. Be a little kay poh. They have to act fast...scream and shout for help.

The incident could shed some light and give fresh leads to the ongoing investigation on Nini and maybe, just maybe, the man is connected to cases of missing children. (read tembam's entry here )

What are we looking at here: a man trying to abduct a five-year old girl into a van. The same way Nurin and Nini were seen being taken away. The story is too familiar to be ignored.

Another thing; the girls told their mother there was a little boy crying on the floor of the van. I hope police will follow up this report.

In the meantime, let's not give up on Nini. Let's continue to pray for her.

Read "Attempted AbductionsWhat Parents & Guardians Need to Know": here

Aman Malaysia Launches Gaza Humanitarian Fund

Aman Malaysia today launched the Gaza Humanitarian Fund to help the 1.5 million Palestinians trapped after the Israeli regime closed its border in June.

Its coordinator, Datuk Mukriz Mahathir, told a press conference that the Fund aims to collect RM200,000 to buy food, medical supplies and clean water for those in Gaza. (Read this)

Contributions to the fund could be made via cheque in the name of PEACE MALAYSIA and addressed to Blok B-13-D2, Plaza Mont Kiara, No 2, Jalan Kiara, 50480 Kuala Lumpur or cheque deposit or cash into the account of Peace Malaysia at CIMB 142090007389058.

Mukhriz who is Umno Youth international relations and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) bureau chairman said the food and medical supplies would be sent to Rafah at the Egyptian border, some 300km from Cairo.

Meanwhile, Palestinian ambassador to Malaysia Abd Elaziz Abu Ghoush said his government welcomed the efforts by Aman Malaysia to help those in Gaza who were under total seizure and were denied food, medicine, water and fuel.

He said an unofficial estimate put the number of those who had fled across the Egyptian border to become refugees at 700,000. Gaza which borders Egypt, Israel and the Mediterranean Sea is 40km long and 7km wide.

Bernama report here.

Read report by Rana Elhindi, a Save the Children worker in Gaza, who describes the impact of Israel's blockade on daily life and the aid effort in the territory: here

'Boycott newspapers, buy no lies'

The People’s Parliament committee for Hartal-MSM held a press conference at the Blog House in Damansara this morning to launch a civil society initiative to boycott the mainstream media (MSM).

According to the "HARTAL MSM Committee " media statement the boycott of local newspapers is one way "we can check the rot in our country and a means for civil society to take constructive action. Malaysia deserves a free press."

This initiative was borne out of a genuine concern in society over how news reported by the MSM did not always tally with facts. For a start, it is advocating a 'Newspaper Free Tuesday'.

For details on the press conference and media statement go: here.

Hartal-MSM has also started a ‘Boycott the Newspapers!’ online petition. You can access it at : http://www.petitiononline.com/hartal/petition.html

Felix Abisheganaden passes away

Veteran journalist and PR practitioner Felix Abisheganaden died of cancer at the Sunway Medical Centre early today. He was 85.

Felix was a journalist with the NST for more than 25 years before he swtiched profession to become a PR practitioner in 1976.

My condolences to his family.
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Felix Abisheganaden: Doyen Of Malaysian Journalism Dies

KUALA LUMPUR, 28 Jan (Bernama) -- Felix Abisheganaden, a former editor of the New Straits Times and fondly referred to as a doyen of Malaysian journalism, died at the Sunway Medical Centre today.

He was undergoing treatment for cancer when he breathed his last at 8.15am - exactly a week after celebrating his 85th birthday.

At the time of his demise, Abisheganaden was a partner of public relations firm Prestige Communication.

His third child, Hannah K. C. Boey told Bernama that Abisheganaden was afflicted with an advanced stage of cancer.

She said when he suffered from severe digestive problems, he was warded at the medical centre on Jan 4, where he underwent intestinal surgery.

"When my father's condition became critical, doctors placed him on a life-support machine," added Hannah.

Abisheganaden's body will be kept in his house at No: 4, Jalan Sendeng 11/3C, Shah Alam for the wake.

On Wednesday, his casket will be placed at St Paul's Church in Jalan Utara Petaling Jaya at noon, before it is taken to the Christian cemetery in Jalan Kuari, Cheras at 3.30pm.

Abisheganaden, whose real name is Felix Abishegaraden, is survived by widow, Ivy Kitchen, 84, four children aged between 52 and 64, and five grandchildren.

Born in Singapore, Abisheganaden's early education was at St Andrew's Institution. At 18, he worked as a mechanic and nine years later, joined the Singapore Development Board. At 32, Abisheganaden joined the Straits Times in Singapore and embarked on an illustrious career as a respected journalist of calibre as a result of his writings.

Among his noted assignments were historical events leading to Malaysia's independence, confrontation with Indonesia, Singapore's separation from Malaysia and the tragedy of May 13, 1969.-- BERNAMA

Released - 11 of protes participants

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 27 (Bernama) -- Eleven of the 56 people arrested Saturday for participating in an illegal assembly at the Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) have been released unconditionally, the police said.

The other 45 were still being investigated for participating in the illegal gathering and for defying court order, said a statement from the Kuala Lumpur police headquarters.

"They were also arrested for obstructing public officers from discharging their duties," the statement said.

Meanwhile, the proceedings to obtain remand orders for those who were still under police custody were still progressing at 8pm tonight at a Kuala Lumpur court, with 13 of them had already been issued with the remand order until tomorrow.

Yesterday, police arrested 56 people including several opposition leaders and members of the non-governmental organisations (NGO) for participating in the illegal assembly which they said was to protest against rising cost of living. ---Bernama

Suharto dies at 86

Al Fatihah.

Former Indonesian president Suharto, an army general who crushed Indonesia's communist movement and pushed aside the country's founding father to usher in 32 years of tough rule that saw up to a million political opponents killed, died Sunday.

He was 86.

"He has died,'' Dr Christian Johannes told The Associated Press, adding that he died at 1.10pm (2.10pm Malaysian time).

Dozens of doctors on Suharto's medical team had been rushed to the Pertamina Hospital in the capital, Jakarta, after his blood pressure fell suddenly Saturday night. Suharto had slipped out of consciousness for the first time in more than three weeks of treatment, doctors said.

Suharto, had been in intensive care with lung, heart and kidney failure since he was admitted to the hospital on Jan 4. Over the past week his physicians had spoken of a recovery, but by Sunday that had changed dramatically. - AP

Read BBC's The lasting legacy of Suharto

"Protes" at KLCC: Dozens picked up

Police have detained more than two dozen individuals near the Kuala Lumpur City Centre ahead of a protest against price hikes organised by the Coalition Against Inflation (Protes), according to Malaysiakini.

They included a Malaysiakini reporter.

Yesterday, police obtained a restraining order from the court to stop Protes from gathering at the Kuala Lumpur City Centre and warned that that they would not hesitate to detain anyone who ignore the order.

Copies of the the warrant were pasted on various locations within the vicinity of KLCC.

Protes is protesting against a possible oil price hike and other essential goods and services, likely in April.

Read full report in HarakahDaily.Net: here

Zorro's entry: here

Elizabeth Wong's video clip on Saturday's protest: here

Pix: Courtesy of HarakahDaily.net