Art Harun apologizes to Mukhriz Mahathir for being "a stupid Malaysian" (repost)

Pic courtesy of The Nut Graph

SORRY, DATUK, I HAVE MISUNDERSTOOD THE ISA!

By Art Harun | Monday, August 03, 2009

Finally, I am in agreement with an UMNO leader. On the issue of the Internal Security Act, no less. In a Malaysian Insider report titled "Mukhriz defends ISA, says it's misunderstood," Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir has apparently lamented that the public has failed to see the benefit of the ISA. He was quoted as saying:

“The people cannot really see the benefits from ISA but if we realise that we are able to send our children to school and shop safely then we can see that all of these are from a government policy to provide protection to the people.”

One of the people whom Datuk Mukhriz was unknowingly referring to was, I must say, myself. Over the weekend I was thinking about what Datuk Mukhriz has said. And today, Monday the 3rd of August 2009, I conclude that all this while I have been a stupid Malaysian. I have been wrong all this while. Yes. I have to confess. I have misunderstood the ISA. Datuk Mukhriz, I bow in all humility to your wisdom and I must say I am not worth it. I am sorry.

All this while, I thought that a citizen's liberty is guaranteed by our Federal Constitution. And as I understood it, the Federal Constitution says that a citizen's liberty cannot be taken away other than in accordance with the due process of the law. And of course the law says that a person cannot be sent to prison until he or she has been found guilty by the Court and sentenced to imprisonment. That was what I understood.

I understood this from a year learning the Malaysian Constitution. And from another year of learning Comparative Constitutional Law where I studied the Indian, English and American Constitutions. And another year learning Administrative law. Also from a year of learning the subject of politics.

As I understood it too, when the ISA was debated in the Parliament, Tunku Abdul Rahman, our first Prime Minister as well as our Father of Independence, said this:

“My cabinet colleagues and I gave a solemn promise to Parliament and the nation that the immense powers given to the government under the ISA would never be used to stifle legitimate opposition and silence lawful dissent."

That was a promise, solemnly made to the Parliament. And the late Tunku was of course also the UMNO President at that time.

So, in my gullible and naive mind, I understood that the ISA would not be used to stifle opposition and silence lawful dissent. Furthermore, the then Home Minister, Tun Dr Ismail said:

"I am convinced that the Internal Security Act as practiced in Malaysia is not contrary to the fundamentals of democracy. Abuse of the Act can be prevented by vigilant public opinion via elections, a free Press and above all the Parliament."

I must admit therefore Datuk Mukhriz, that I was under the impression that the Malaysian public - and that includes me and other Malaysians - could criticise any abuse of the ISA by the Government. We could express our unhappiness in a free Press as well as the Parliament.

I was also under the impression that what Tun Dr Ismail had meant was that the public would have the freedom to express their displeasure over what they perceive as abuses of the ISA freely too. After all, what is the use of vigilance without the freedom to express the result of that vigilance?

Datuk Mukhriz, due to the above, I understood that the ISA would not be abused. I also understood that the ISA was to be used solely for the purpose of protecting the security of our nation. And if it was abused, I understood that I would have the right to protest against such abuse.

I also understood that the Court would have the power to check and balance out any abuse of the ISA by the government. This the Court could do by issuing a writ of habeas corpus in order to release a person who has been wrongfully detained under the ISA by the government. The Court could look into the exercise of the government's power under the ISA and decide whether such power has been correctly exercised or whether such power was exercised in good faith.

That was what I had understood all these while. And Datuk Mukhriz, sadly, I had been proven wrong. You are right. I have misunderstood the ISA all this while.

First of all, your father, Tun Mahathir Mohammad, had taken away the powers of the Court to look into the exercise of the power under the ISA and decide whether such power was exercised correctly or in good faith.

Your father changed the law and the Federal Constitution to render the Court lame and impotent. The Court could now only look into whether the government has filled in the right form before a detention is made. Or whether the Home Minister has used a comma and a full stop at the correct place in such a form. Your father has rendered the Court to be an instrument of checking only instead of an instrument of checks and balances. Your father had deemed it fit to render the Court as a proof reader. That is your father's idea of a democratic society.

So, I am sorry, I have misunderstood the ISA.

Then I found out that the ISA actually could also be used, and was in fact used, to detain immigration document forgers, counterfeiters, opposition leaders and the likes. As at the end of 2007, a staggering 10,711 persons have been arrested under the ISA and a total of 4,370 detention orders have been issued pursuant to the ISA. A total of 46 detainees continue to be detained at the Kamunting Detention Camp as at 5th December 2008.

I also learned that your father had orchestrated Operasi Lalang under which 106 persons were arrested and 40 were detained. I also learned that while anybody deemed as a threat to national security from the opposition parties must be arrested or detained under the ISA, such arrest or detention is not necessary if the threat to national security comes from a member of or leader from UMNO or the BN.

I have also learned that the ISA could be used to detain anybody for no reason whatsoever. Teresa Kok, for instance, was arrested under the ISA for apparently protesting to a mosque for reciting the azan too loudly. She was arrested although she said she did not do so. Even the mosque committee said she did not do it. But she was arrested under the ISA and was detained for about a week anyway. Then she was released without any further action.

Then Raja Petra Kamaruddin was also arrested and later, detained under the ISA for insulting Islam and for writing an article deemed seditious. He was so arrested and detained even though the police admitted that his article was not investigated upon to ascertain the truth of the contents or otherwise. That was a new lesson for me.

Luckily a brave Judge, in Justice Datuk Syed Helmy of the Shah Alam High Court, freed him.

Around the same time, I also learned that the ISA could also be used to arrest people in order to protect their personal safety. Remember a journalist by the name of Tan Hoon Cheng?

Your father also had detained a Malay man whose name was Hilmi Noor for some odd and strange reason. He was said to have converted to Christianity and by doing so he was accused of "disrupting the Malay culture by being a Christian.” Datuk, that was also a new lesson for me about the ISA.

On top of all that, I had always understood that the ISA's purpose was to arrest and detain people from carrying out whatever plans they have which threaten national security. It is preventive in nature and not punitive. But later, I learned that detainees could be tortured while under detention under the ISA.

A learned High Court Judge, Justice Datuk Hishamuddin Mohd Yunus (now a Court of Appeal Judge, finally, after years and years of service and being stepped over many many times by his juniors), in a case known as Abdul Malek Hussin v Borhan Hj Daud & Others [2008]1 CLJ 264, found as follows:

"On this issue, upon a careful evaluation of the entire evidence before me, it is my finding of facts that the plaintiff has succeeded in proving to the court on a balance of probabilities that he had been assaulted in the manner he alleges and by the individuals that he has named or identified. The plaintiff alleges that he was first assaulted by the first Defendant after the arresting team moved him from his home. He was arrested in front of his home after which a search of his home was done and various documents and a personal computer removed. He describes the assault in his evidence. He says he was slapped three times by the first Defendant after he was unable to take the first Defendant to the location of his (the plaintiff's) car. The plaintiff also said that he was blindfolded, and his head was forcibly covered with a T-shirt and forced to bend forward down between his legs in the car as he was taken to the IPK, Kuala Lumpur. The first Defendant denies these allegations. He only admits that he instructed L/Cpl Johari to place "cermin mata gelap" on the plaintiff, and that the purpose being "adalah bertujuan untuk menutup penglihatan plaintiff bagi mengelirukan plaintiff". The plaintiff then describes the circumstances of the second assault. In summary, he describes how in an air-conditioned room on the first floor of the IPK he was stripped naked, blindfolded, verbally abused and then physically assaulted. He was hit several times on the face and head. Most of the blows and kicks were directed at his body and legs. His legs were hit with a hard object. He fell over several times as a result of the blows. At one instance when his blindfold slipped, he identified one of the assailants as the second Defendant in person - Tan Sri Rahim Noor. The plaintiff also said that after the episode of physical assault, some urine-smelling like liquid was poured into his mouth while his mouth was forced open. Throughout the ordeal he was forced to remain naked. His penis was hit and an object pushed against his anus. He was made to stand in front of an air-conditioner and drenched with water - this treatment was done for almost an hour. The ordeal finally ended at about 4am. According to the plaintiff when the blindfold was removed he saw the first Defendant and other Special Branch officers in plainclothes. The first Defendant warned him not to make a police report regarding what had happened. The plaintiff also asked for medical treatment from the detaining officer but access to a doctor was only provided three days later on 29 September 1998... In my judgment, based on the evidence before the court, on a balance of probabilities, the plaintiff's case is more credible and ought to be accepted."

It is clear as daylight dear Datuk, I have misunderstood the ISA. I am sorry.

Last weekend, between 20,000 to 30,000 people came out to show their unhappiness over the ISA. They had wanted to demand the ISA to be abolished by presenting a memorandum to our King. Yet, they were met with water cannons, tear gas, batons and riot police with full gear, ever ready to shout and scream, even to beat them up and arrest them. Even 16 and 13 year olds were arrested and detained.

I thought Tun Dr Ismail already said that the public may be vigilant about the ISA and may express their opinion peacefully.

Again, I have misunderstood the ISA. And I am sorry.

[First posted 5 August 2009]

Mini-Festival of Anti-Corruption Short Films... so funny it hurts! (repost)

Go ahead, folks... laugh like a landslide till you fall on your backside. 

Then get up, look in the mirror, and say to yourself: "I'm not going to let this beautiful land be pillaged, poisoned and polluted by parasitic organisms and pirate princes who have perverted every public institution with their primitive pork barrel politics and puerile propaganda!"

After that, you'll need to take another pee. But don't do it on any flagpole, please... or on any official portraits of your primate ministers... if you don't want the polis coming over and handcuffing you in front of the prostitute press.

Make sure you're registered to vote. Check your voting status regularly online to ensure that no monkey in the Election Commission has tampered with your data. You know what to do when the time comes...

[First posted 20 September 2012]

The Remarkable Anwar Ibrahim ~ by Gwo-Burne Loh (repost)

Just think about it: Mahathir, the financial might of UMNO, the entire cabinet, the Police, MACC, the Judiciary (or at least a large part of it), Election Commission, top civil servants, you can say the whole weight of the government has been going all out to find some evidence of wrongdoing (be it Sodomy 1 or 2, sex tapes, and maybe more to come) for the last 16 long years and yet to date, not one credible shred of evidence has been found or revealed. What does this mean? 

Anwar is not the man Mahathir tries to paint him to be. Think about it: Mahathir is so rich (with access to tens of billions), so powerful, so cunning, evil and sly, so clever and resourceful - and with all that power and money of the whole government and UMNO plus the BN partners ever willing to do his bidding - he could prove nothing against Anwar. What an anti-climax. Every plot to destroy Anwar Ibrahim has fallen completely flat or backfired - and he still cannot understand why. In plain English, Mahathir's time is up. The Mahathir Era is over. Let a fresh new dawn begin for all us!

Press Release issued by Kelana Jaya MP Gwo-Burne Loh 

on 9 January 2012 in Petaling Jaya

Saeed Khan (AFP/Getty Images)

The Remarkable Anwar Ibrahim

This is not an article about Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim's sodomy trial. But in case anyone is interested to hear my two-cents worth on the trial, I have two questions. How many people do we know who have actually been charged with sodomy? And do you think Dato Seri Anwar would be charged if he were not an opposition leader?

My answers are: 1 and NO.



Furthermore, those paying attention during the VK Lingam video would have heard Anwar’s case being mentioned. What does it mean? It means the BN government would go to great lengths to ascertain that Anwar be put behind bars until his political career expires, if not for his entire lifetime. On that fateful day Lingam revealed to my father and myself that Mahathir and his political cronies had planned an UMNO-led coalition be cemented in power as long as time could be projected, and in the name of Malaysian prosperity and peace, Anwar must be destroyed.



In this conspiracy all sectors of government - including the civil service, judiciary, and police - would be under their direct or indirect control and influence. The reach of this conspiracy even extends into the private sector. The financial system in the country would be manned by trusted cronies; Petronas and its agents guarded by friends and family; the private power suppliers, utilities, media, trading companies... precious little was spared.

One man stood to threaten the conspiracy, so he had to be destroyed. And what will happen on the 9th of January? I think all the cards are with the conspirators. If recent trends are any indication, then I think Anwar will be found not guilty, to buy some goodwill. Instead the grounds of execution will be moved to the court of Appeal (probably only after the elections). But all the cards are with the conspirators, we can only wait.

With that out of the way, I want to talk about one of the most remarkable humans I have had the pleasure to encounter and spend time with. He is my boss, but I will try to be objective. So let’s make it clear that Anwar is by no means perfect, only Umno Barisan Nasional is perfect and does no wrong, so Anwar from time to time makes mistakes. The important thing is that he admits it.

The Inspirational 

The first time I met Anwar Ibrahim was about 4 years ago together with my father. I was never an Anwar fan; also I am a skeptic by nature, making me someone quite difficult to convince. I had lost all hope for Malaysia, and like many Malaysians, had decided to move abroad. I was in a very good place in my life. Anwar struck me with his warmth and modesty. He spoke at length on his beliefs and his political vision for Malaysia. He spoke about his views regarding race relations and international relations of Malaysia. He spoke at length about his mistakes and what he learnt during his ordeals. When I left the meeting, I left with a change of heart. I left the meeting loving Malaysia more.

For the first time in my life I felt hope for Malaysia . I realised that there is something worth fighting for. Suddenly I started to see everyone as Malaysians instead of just Malay, Indian, Chinese, Dayak, etc. I was inspired to see hope for our nation and its people...

Anwar inspires. Anwar inspired with his sincerity and conviction. Anwar inspired with his vision. And directly and indirectly millions were inspired. Just five years ago, who would have believed that our nation was standing on the verge of change? Who would believe that the mighty UMNO would need to start listening to the rakyat?

Of course Anwar was not the only source of inspiration. But at a time where some tremble at the sight of the moon on a green flag, and others who hurl insults at the sight of a rocket. He, more than anyone else, was the glue to bind us all together. He, more than anyone else, led us to each other; and today, together, we stand at the brink of a regime change in Malaysia. Without Anwar, how many would have believed we would have even got this far?

The Resilient

The remarkable thing about the survey which registered that 51% like Najib Razak, while 39% likes Anwar is this: a friend commented that PR should be worried since Najib apparently was more popular than Anwar, but I offered a reversed conclusion that it is BN who should be concerned. Why? Simple. For four years you have all the kings’ horses and men, all the newspapers, radio, cybertroopers attack one man. You went so far as to dig out the old play book and charge him with sodomy. You even have a crony get his own brother to impersonate this man in a porno production.

All this while, the mainstream media treat every day as "deify our prime minister day." Even going as far as to issue official national sermons for Friday prayers telling all good Muslims to offer undivided loyalty and obedience to our great Prime Minister and friends. After four years of this and you find you are only 10% ahead, wouldn't you be worried?

In other words we need to appreciate one thing. Anwar is extremely resilient. Anyone else subjected to this intensity of abuse would have thrown in the towel long ago, anyone else would have fallen ages ago. Yet, Anwar still stands tall and strong.

In fact through the waves of onslaughts directed at Anwar, I have never seen him visibly affected. Except during Zahrain’s fallout. For the first time I could see Anwar visibly sad, more from the lost of an old friend I sensed. Despite the unrelenting assaults, which would have crippled entire armies, Anwar still stands tall and strong. "This is because of the hard work and support from all of you," he would say. But, in truth, we are the ones who should be thankful.

Not only because he continues to give us hope and inspiration, he also provides us shelter and protection. Imagine if there is no Anwar to draw the waves and waves of onslaught by the powers that be. Imagine if all the PR leaders and YBs are subjected to what Anwar has to face every day, how many more of us would have fallen? How many more would have thrown in the towel? He stood there and drew most of the heat upon himself, so the rest of us can collectively work towards the goal of a better nation.

The Remarkable

Sometimes a nation produces a person who is destined to shine not only within their nation, but on the international stage as well. Someone that will make our nation shine that much more brightly (Some might try, some might imitate, but you can’t pretend to be Princess Diana). We in Malaysia are fortunate to have produced such a remarkable person. But it is also unfortunate that we choose to allow him to be shackled and weighed down.

Or should I say that it is unfortunate that so many of us decide to stand by and allow him to be shackled. But, remarkably, Anwar remains firm with his love of Malaysia and its people; remains determined to spend his life and blood in building the nation into the great nation we know we can become. He believes we can, I believe we need to. Today our nation remains rooted, unable to break free from being decidedly mediocre, but the truth is, we are mediocre by choice rather than due to any disability.

Gwo-Burne Loh

Kelana Jaya MP

To a large extent this is where our government has decided is the best place to be. And for 55 years there was nothing the people could do about it. In a way we chose where we wanted to be.

When the BN government was bulldozing the so called "peaceful" assembly bill through parliament, in spite of the widespread objections from the people, a BN YB said that the Barisan Nasional is passing this bill with the mandate of the people and if you don't like it then take over the government in the next elections, if you can.

The Remarkable Mr. Anwar Ibrahim says we can. Do you hear him?



[First posted 3 June 2012]

Teoh Beng Hock ~ five years down the line, still no closure!

Teoh Beng Hock (1979-2009)

Beng Hock, a former journalist with the Chinese press, became political aide 
to Selangor exco member Ean Yong Hian Wah (DAP) after 8 March 2008. 
Teoh wanted to make Malaysia a healthier, happier place for everybody.

A dedicated worker who enjoyed a good laugh, Beng Hock was well loved 
by friends and colleagues.

Beng Hock was engaged to 28-year-old Soh Cher Wei, a schoolteacher,
and they had planned their wedding for 17 July 2009.

Teoh Beng Hock was found dead at Plaza Masalam, Shah Alam, 

around noon on 16 July 2009, after being brutally "questioned" for 9 hours 

by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) over 

a RM2,400 discrepancy in the office accounts.

Malaysians were outraged. We knew why Teoh Beng Hock was dead.  

Shortly after his appointment as crime minister, Najib Razak boasted 

he would wrest Selangor back from Pakatan Rakyat - 

just as he stole Perak back through means entirely foul.

Former Selangor chief minister Khir Toyo has close friends in the MACC more than willing to help their UMNO buddy frame a few Pakatan Rakyat state exco members.

Teoh Beng Hock's unforeseen death forced UMNO to abort 
its dastardly plot to topple the Pakatan Rakyat state government. 
In a way, Beng Hock died to save Selangor from falling back 
into the clutches of a grimy, slimy bunch of hardened criminals.

The Teoh family, unhappy with the clumsy cover-up by MACC as well as PDRM, 

demanded a second autopsy, this time observed by renowned 

Thai forensic pathologist Dr Pornthip Rojanasunand who stated, 

after viewing photos from the first post-mortem, 

that she was 80% positive that Teoh had been murdered.

The whole nation was angered and saddened by Teoh's unnecesssary death. Few have faith in the MACC's political neutrality - indeed, most view the corrupt law enforcement agencies as UMNO's gestapo. Anger at Beng Hock's cruel mistreatment cut across the social spectrum. In an attempt to placate the public, Najib ordered a coroner's inquest which dragged on for 18 months and ground to a grating inconclusion: Teoh Beng Hock's death was neither homicide nor suicide, the coroner announced. The loud public outcry finally forced Najib to accede to a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the case. During the RCI, almost all the MACC officers revealed themselves to be totally incompetent and unprofessional - in fact, they came across as no better than salaried thugs, compulsive liars, and sadistic psychopaths. When the Royal Commsssion's findings were finally made public on 22 July 2011, the public was outraged by the RCI's politically expedient conclusion that "Teoh Beng Hock was driven to suicide due to the aggressive interrogation methods used by Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officers." Despite the fact that three MACC officers (Selangor deputy director Hishamuddin Hashim, Mohd Anuar Ismail, and Mohd Adhraf Yunus) were held responsible for their tyrannical and unnecessarily malicious interrogation methods, not one has been prosecuted or even fired. Meanwhile, on 6 April 2011, another mysterious death occurred at the hands of MACC - that of customs officer Ahmad Sarbaini Mohamed.

On 22 February 2010, the son of Teoh Beng Hock 

was born at Pantai Hospital, Batu Pahat.

Watch this fantastic video produced in honor of 
Teoh Beng Hock!

[First posted 15 July 2013]

Post GE13 Reform Agenda: in search of a win-win scenario (repost)

Repealing all draconian laws and returning state institutions back to the rakyat

Posted on October 23, 2011 by Haris Ibrahim

5

Najib, UMNO and BN will not do this.

We need a new non-BN government post the 13th GE to do this.

Repeal the ISA, the OSA, the PPPA, the UUCA, the Sedition Act.

All the laws that we’ve been asking to have taken off our statute books and from around our necks for so, so long.

Return the judiciary back to us.

The AG’s office.

Election Commission.

MACC.

PDRM.

And every other institution that ought to be protecting the interests of the rakyat, not UMNO and BN.

And to do all of this early on in their term of administration at Putrajaya.

[Read the rest here.]

Hercules flushing out the Augean
stables and fertilizing the land

I posted a comment to the above which warrants reproduction here, as I've long pondered how any new administration can best approach the Herculean task of cleaning up the Augean stables of moral filth and bureaucratic incompetence left behind by 54 uninterrupted years of Umno/BN mismanagement...

It may not be premature to contemplate an alternative scenario to what RARA proposes. Imagine you're a young Penan asked to choose between two developmental packages. The first involves clearing the forest and urbanizing your ancestral lands (so you and your kids can enjoy better schools and medical care); however, there will be no turning back, your way of life will be destroyed and your children will be forced into the rat race...

If you were a young Penan, would you trade this natural splendor for a Carrefour and a few 7-Elevens?

The second leverages on technological advances such as free (or affordable) helicopter and hovercraft services that bypass the necessity to build destructive highways through the rainforest ecosystem; and broadband internet access via satellite that provides access to the modern world, without destroying the serenity and majestic beauty of your natural environment; plus the benefit of cross-cultural volunteer programs wherein enthusiastic young professionals from all over the world can live amongst the Penan for a while, and impart various skills while documenting their traditional knowledge and wisdom - thereby creating a win-win scenario between traditional and modern cultures.

Let's say Pakatan Rakyat is now the federal government. For sure, oppressive laws must go pronto. The Umno Polis have, for too long, abused archaic laws like the ISA, OSA, Sedition Act, UUCA, PP&PA and the Police Act that outlaws public assembly without permits to browbeat, harass and thwart all political dissent. Twice, PDRM have used the 19th century laws against oral and anal sex to neutralize Anwar Ibrahim as a threat to their deadly stranglehold on power. What does it take, a parliamentary majority? The Agong's assent? 

However, overhauling corrupt and complacent agencies and institutions involves human beings and requires a lot of lateral thinking. Allow me to toss a few scenarios in the air for further contemplation, discussion and elaboration...

PDRM: do we really need such an unwieldy force? Quality over quantity is best, so we sack a few hundred irredeemable senior officers (Khalid Abu Bakar and Wan Bari will top the list, I'm sure) and streamline the police force to one-quarter of its present size. Those that remain in uniform will be given salary increases and refresher courses in how to serve and protect the public; while those who opt for re-education will continue to receive wages for at least 3 years while the new administration sponsors their acquisition of new skills in any field of endeavor or assists them to launch their own modest enterprises - whether it's opening a warung in their kampung, becoming a pasar malam trader, or studying a foreign language and upgrading their personal resumes. Some (particularly retrenched Special Branch officers) may opt to offer courses on self-defence and investigation skills to the public - so that the public will learn to look after themselves instead of relying on outside help to solve minor dramas like petty misdemeanors in the neighborhood.

MACC: assuming new brooms sweep cleaner and the new administration is far cleaner than its predecessor, we won't require an "anti-corruption" agency, as such. By abolishing the OSA and protecting, and even rewarding whistleblowers, every institution would have a built-in mechanism by which it can regulate itself and ensure minimal transgressions and infractions. Those currently employed by the MACC will probably have to be "disinfected" before being released to rejoin the community-at-large. Once cleansed of BTN contamination, these personnel can be offered jobs in any other government department - or opt to go on state-sponsored further studies.

EC: do we really need a massive organization to conduct polls? With existing digital tech it's feasible that public referendums and elections can be digitized. Every citizen that turns 18 becomes eligible to vote and can cast a vote from home, or from a cybercafe, or via the mobile voting service that may be necessary pending nationwide access to the internet. Electoral fraud can be easily prevented using available security software akin to what online banking entails (voter IDs, passwords, captcha, IP tracking, and so on). Election Commission top brass will be assigned to 6 months coaching by prominent comedy troupes like the Instant Cafe Theatre, Comedy Court or the Malaysian Association of Chinese Comedians - and then given their own TV sitcom series. If they refuse to cooperate, they face the prospect of 10-year exiles on the moon or the ocean depths.

As for the Attorney-General's office.... well, everyone serving the present BN regime will have to be retrenched, of course, as unusable bent nails - along with the entire top ranks of the judiciary. Once we have somebody straight and honorable appointed to the offices of AG and CJ, the overhaul can proceed with relative ease and minimal pain to all concerned.

Without the protection of Umno, the 9 rulers will quickly realize their fate lies in their own hands. If they wish to be acknowledged, respected and supported as symbolic monarchs, they have no choice but to discipline themselves, rein in their excesses, reassess their own track record - and resolve to serve as the conscience and spiritual cores of their respective states. 

Failing which, even Ibrahim Ali cannot save their skins. Their crowns and jewels can be placed in a public museum for posterity to gawk at and shake their heads in disbelief; their toy cars can be auctioned off; their palaces converted to boutique hotels like Carcosa.

[First posted 23 October 2011, then reposted 27 March 2014]

Live at the Oxford Union Debating Society ~ The Man England Used To laugh At

[Brought to my attention by Hock Soh]

Divide-and-Rule ~ It's All About the $$$ (another timely repost!)

Believe it or not, I sat through the entire 2-hour recording of this forum convened by Hindraf and the KL Chinese Assembly Hall Civil Rights Committee. It's taken us more than 42 years since 13 May 1969 to arrive at a point where the once-taboo topic of institutionalized racial inequality as embodied in Article 153 of the Malaysian Constitution can be publicly discussed. Most certainly an important step in the right direction!

Public Forum on Institutionalized Racism in Malaysia
by HINDRAF and KL Chinese Assembly Hall Civil Rights Committee

Forum venue: Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall, KL
Date: 17 January 2012 at 7.30 pm.

The speakers were:
1) Mr N. Ganesan - National Advisor to Hindraf

2) Dr Kua Kia Soong - Director of Suaram

3) Assoc. Prof. Dr Azmi Sharom - Law Lecturer and Activist

Chaired by: Dr Lim Teck Ghee - Director, Centre for Policy Initiatives

Malaysia is plagued by a subtle, pervasive and increasingly aggressive form of racism. What started as a defensive affirmative action program has now degeneratied into an aggressive form of institutionalized racism. This is sapping the potential of Malaysian society. The future on this trajectory is disastrous for all Malaysians. It will bring ruin to all of us.

The political, legal and administrative structures of our country - the anchors and sources of this institutionalization need to be fundamentally revamped. For this to happen, the public view of what is truly happening must become sharper. This is not an easy task - given the resources at hand for the beneficiaries of this racist system.

Public opinion must first be aligned with this developing reality, before any change can happen.

This video was presented by the Green Party of Malaysia.

[First posted 22 January 2012]

The Merry Month of May That Was (Part 3)

This quickly became a familiar sight

Ahau Ben at 6 (Photo: Emanar)

Before Ahau was born I telepathically enquired of the incoming soul: "What's your mission in this incarnation?" It responded: "I come to demonstrate the power of love." Even though we still do not know what triggered the terrifying fits on the morning of May 25th - & despite CT scans that show the presence of some fluid in his brain, symptomatic of possible infection - I no longer doubt that this strange lad who chose to be born as my only begotten son is on a very special mission & it has just shifted gear.... in Putrajaya! Thanks, Yehokhanan Ishtar, for your extremely timely, insightful & pertinent message. Ishtar said: "Be grateful for what Ahau is going through right now." Indeed, it's not always pleasant work, demonstrating the power of love.... {Facebook update on 27 May 2014)

The doctors had analyzed the preliminary results of Ahau’s cerebrospinal fluid sample and ruled out meningitis. There had been no relapses since his admission to the Hospital Putrajaya ICU. Indeed, his metabolism was completely back to normal, and he had begun drinking water and eating solids by the third day.

Ahau usually doesn't like wearing hats but in this instance he didn't resist

During his recovery Ahau had been uncharacteristically cooperative with the doctors and nurses, allowing his blood pressure to be recorded several times daily, blood samples taken, even stoically enduring multiple attempts to reinsert his intravenous antibiotic and saline drip, which kept getting displaced. Everyone who attended to him was extremely kind and patient and he certainly was more open and responsive to people around him than he had previously been wont to.

It certainly seemed like the entire medical crisis had been a massive wake-up call not just for Ahau, but also for Mary and me. We had been content to leave well enough alone and hadn’t been firm enough with regard to how much time he could spend in front of his laptop, replaying specific cartoon scenes over and over again.

Ahau perks up at the sight of his beloved laptop

Over the years I had more or less given up trying to get Ahau interested in other activities – taking walks, playing music, drawing, and so on. Mary and I resolved to keep the pressure on Ahau to shift beyond his comfort zone, but for now, we were just overjoyed that our beloved Bunyip was back on track and ready to walk out of Hospital Putrajaya – which he did around 6:30pm on 30 May 2014.

Ready to go home after paying a very reasonable hospital bill of RM402

Looking back almost a month later on the entire episode, I feel profoundly grateful that Ahau’s medical crisis lasted no more than five days and that it had brought out far more positive side-effects than anyone could have imagined. 

Surprise visit from an old friend, Ras Adiba Radzi,
closet elven queen & fairy godmother to Ahau

The emotional and energetic support of a wide circle of friends kept us calm and centered, focused on Ahau’s swift recovery and emergence from his hospital ordeal with palpable gains in awareness, maturity, and a willingness to engage with other humans. Old friends suddenly popped up in my inbox asking about Ahau and offering useful advice and energetic support. Someone I haven't seen in years couriered a consignment of Transfer Factor to help boost Ahau's immune system and accelerate full recovery. Ahau even had a special visit from Ras Adiba Radzi the day before he was discharged.

Mee rebus served at Cafe Hospital Putrajaya
(photo: Ben Ashaari)

Every step of the way – from KKB District Hospital to Putrajaya - we encountered only helpful, dedicated and competent doctors and nurses. Even the ambulance drivers, security guards and maintenance staff were friendly and understanding. I found myself looking forward to the amazing variety of food served in the Hospital Putrajaya cafeteria. One of the staff told me this was actually a branch of a well-known restaurant franchise – not any run-of-the-mill hospital canteen.

Apart from that, I could sense that Ahau’s other-worldly energy field had the effect of neutralizing or at least softening the cold, impersonal atmosphere of the nation’s administrative capital. Throughout the period of commuting between Pertak Village and Putrajaya Hospital, I found myself operating on overdrive, far more alert than usual to changing frequencies. After this experience, the whole idea of Putrajaya has lost its erstwhile reptilian clamminess. I know there are still many befriendable and admirable human beings to be found in its vast precincts.

20 June 2014

Saturday afternoon jazz in Jakarta with Spyro Gyra!

Spyro Gyra is an American jazz fusion band that was originally formed in the mid-1970s in Buffalo, New York, United States. Their music, often featured on smooth jazz radio stations, combines jazz with elements of R&B, funk and pop music. To date, the band has released over 30 albums and sold over 10 million copies. They average about 100 live performances per year. Popular singles include "Shaker Song" and "Morning Dance" (1979).

With the exception of founding bandleader Jay Beckenstein (alto saxophonist and songwriter) and Tom Schuman (keyboardist), the personnel has changed over time, and between the studio and the live stage. Today, guitarist Julio Fernandez is also in his third decade with the band. The band's name is a misspelling of Spirogyra, a genus of green algae, which Beckenstein had written about in a college biology paper.

Mark Zuckerberg, I take back what I said about you... (but do I still feel the same about facebook 7 years later?)

It all began in mid-2005 when the 24-year-old son of an old friend returned from a week's holiday at my place and invited me as his Facebook friend. I like Dave Herzenberg so I signed up. Soon after that I received almost daily friend requests and after a while it became a serious annoyance. I was tempted to delete my account more than once.

Then I read somewhere that Yahoo! had offered you $1.7 billion for Facebook - and that you had turned them down! That got me really mad, Mark. First of all how could a nerd come up with just another variation of the networking site and attract so much interest in such a short time that he'd be technically a billionaire? Guys like me have been plodding on for decades, dreaming of that elusive Big Break... and here comes a kid on rollerblades whizzing out of nowhere with a nothing idea and... anyway, how dare you turn your nose up at 1.7 billion bucks?

I got even madder when friends kept asking me to add all sorts of apps - just so they could poke me and turn me into a zombie (yeah, that's what I've always wanted). But why didn't I just delete my Facebook account and breathe a huge sigh of relief?

Well, the sad truth is: I couldn't! I was secretly having too much fun flirting with the women and bonding with the men. Then amazing things began to happen: long-lost friends spontaneously appeared in my Facebook inbox; people I had long wanted to meet suddenly added me as a friend!

Damn... I knew then that whatever Mark Zuckerberg's original intentions were, he had created a monster beyond anyone's control. Nobody can predict what will happen when family and friends begin to merge on Facebook (up till now they've always been separate worlds). But I've got my buddies and my two daughters and their mother, as well as my sister and one brother, on my Facebook friends' list - and that alone is a phenomenon. Distant nieces and nephews have added me as their friend... people who bumped into me eight, nine years ago at a party have added me as a friend. It's a weird unpredictable journey into a dimension of universal connectivity one could only dream about even 10 years ago.

There are detractors who warn about having so much personal data on Facebook's servers - and then there are all these auxiliary app developers and their servers. What if the secret government is behind Facebook?

Well, fuck the secret government! We have nothing to hide. It's them that have been in hiding all these aeons. I haven't a clue where this will eventually lead, Mark, but I just wanted to tell you one thing: Facebook is pretty much a sign of the Aquarian times and you deserve to be fabulously rich because your simple idea is enabling a level of planetary connectivity that merges work and play across the board. That, ultimately, has got to be a very positive and wholesome evolutionary factor.

So, hey... thanks, buddy!

[From a facebook message to Mark Zuckerberg sent 20 Oct 2007 at 6:54pm. First posted 16 February 2012]

Our 7th prime minister will NOT be from Umno! (revisited)

Things have been happening fast and thick. Exactly a year ago Malaysian voters were looking forward to witnessing Pakatan Rakyat take over the federal government and Anwar Ibrahim's installation as our 7th prime minister. But the utterly partisan Election Commission deemed otherwise & Barisan Najis remains in power, even with only 47% of the votes. Anwar's former-mentor-turned-nemesis Dr M then stirred up some racial & religious shit through his ultra-rightwing fascist proxies, further polarizing the nation. And now, Najib is poised to step down to make way for the return of the reptilian Mahathir dynasty...


At least that what Mahathir hopes. But that's not how it's going to pan out. Why am I convinced this won't happen? Very simple - dishonesty can never triumph over honesty, just as cowardice will  never gain traction over courage. In the same way, a political coalition founded on lies, arrogance, avarice, abuse of power and deception will eventually collapse under the weight of its own negative karma. It is absolutely inevitable - and I reckon 5 May 2013 marked the moment when Umno/BN was forced to concede that Pakatan Rakyat has won the hearts and minds of an overwhelming majority of Malaysian voters.

Not even a million phantoms or airfreighted instant citizens can save Umno/BN now. It's too late, guys, the rakyat is on to your game. Just put down your toy guns, hold up your hands, and walk slowly out the door. We promise we'll be understanding and lenient with you - so long as you fully cooperate and return whatever you've stolen from us and apologize profusely. We'll give you a chance to shout "Reformasi!"... after you've rid yourselves of the entire corrupt and cynical Old Guard.

Over the past 6 years since Umno/BN lost its precious 2/3 parliamentary majority, instead of looking deeply and honestly into their own conscience, they chose to spend hundreds of millions in a propaganda war - thinking it's all "a matter of perception." It's like a bunch of robbers dashing into a nearby tailor shop when the burglar alarm goes off - and emerging minutes later looking like respectable captains of industry in the hope that the cops will be fooled and immediately offer to escort them wherever they wish to go. Well, you can fool some cops some of the time; but some time some cop will turn out to be honest and smart - and he will blow his whistle and reinforcements will arrive and frogmarch the whole lot of these impostors to jail.

Malaysian Spring: neutralizing the Barisan Najis blues (Lai Seng Sin/AP)

A few weeks ago I had a surprise visit from an old acquaintance who has a habit of showing up unexpectedly once every four or five years. This time he had brought a few friends along - two guys and a pretty young woman whose aura of mystery was particularly appealing. Turns out she was marketing specialized communications and surveillance equipment - and her biggest client was the Malaysian Secret Police.

I should have guessed as much when she declared she had no issue with a Pakatan Rakyat federal government - but she was dead set against the idea of Anwar Ibrahim becoming prime minister.

Anwar Ibrahim: true reformers are always persecuted (The Malaysian Insider)

That jolted me to full alertness. Nobody gets away with slagging off Anwar without my attempting to turn them around or deleting them from my virtual contacts. To me, Anwar Ibrahim isn't merely less obnoxious compared to Mahathir and Najib; to me, Anwar was destined to play a very important and necessary role in the ongoing evolution of Malaysia as a young nation.

Anwar Ibrahim: brains, ideals & charisma

I didn't always feel this way about Anwar. My interest in him as a political figure really began on 2 September 1998 - the day he was fired as deputy prime minister and finance minister - and also kicked out of Umno.

That was perhaps the best thing that ever happened to him.

Coming back to my friend the Malaysian "Altantuya" who hobnobs with secret policemen. I asked her why she had such a negative impression of Anwar; did she know him personally and for how long? Her answer was no, she had never met the man - but she had heard enough from her secret police contacts to convince her that Anwar was a very dangerous man.

Dangerous? How so? Anwar has close ties with the Zionist Illuminati, she said. If he becomes PM he will sell Malaysia to the Ashkenazi Jew banking bloodlines like the Rockefellers and the Rothschilds. That's right... that's exactly what Mahathir and Daim Zainuddin told the Umno Supreme Council back in 1997 when Anwar, as finance minister, proposed that Malaysia abide by IMF guidelines and allow mismanaged corporations to go belly up. It so happens that all the bankrupt enterprises were the direct result of Razak Hussein's infamous New Economic Policy - an excuse to create a new breed of instant Bumiputra millionaires (there were probably no billionaires in Malaysia back in the early 1970s).

Umno mafia don: former finance minister Daim Zainuddin

And every single Bumiputra enterprise was in the hands of either Mahathir's sons or Daim's wheeler-dealer protégés like Halim Saad, Tajuddin Ramli, Wan Azmi Wan Hamzah, and the like, who wholeheartedly embraced the opulent lifestyle of corporate high-flyers without ever acquiring the inner discipline, farsighted vision and sheer perseverance it takes to pilot such colossal enterprises as Renong, Perwaja Steel, Time Engineering and United Engineers Malaysia.

I bet she had no idea Taib Mahmud's insane ambition to convert Borneo's 120-million-year old rainforests into cold cash, camouflaged as a long-term plan to construct 20 dams in Sarawak ("to bring development to the natives") is being underwritten by Goldman Sachs - who are as Zionist Illuminati as they come.

As far as I'm concerned every political figure with the potential to become a national leader is closely watched by the Archons. They're always on the lookout for new blood, these vampire bloodlines. Lee Kuan Yew has been on the guest list at Bilderberg Conferences at least once. And so has Mahathir. Maybe in the case of Mahathir they quickly sussed that he wasn't worth inviting back.

Anunnaki Tree of Life: it all began in E.din

Those who delve deeper beneath and beyond the headlines invariably discover that the game of geopolitics is far more complex and multidimensional than most journalists - especially the official pundits - are programmed to comprehend.

At the very highest echelons of power there are no national boundaries and few tribal prejudices, if any. It's mostly about genetics. In the old days the qualities deemed worth cultivating were cold-blooded calculation, ruthless ambition, sophisticated guile, and a ferociously competitive ego. These days, the younger Archons have begun to appreciate the value of what they call "emotional intelligence" and the ability to cooperate and harmonize.

What catalyzed this radical change in approach and perspectives was their realization that unless they clear up the karmic mess their predecessors left behind, they themselves were doomed to go around in ever narrowing circles ad infinitum - until at some point they would simply cease to exist. There was absolutely no way out of this superlabyrinth - except through activating the heart chakra and attaining Christ-like compassion and Buddha-like wisdom. That's right, folks - they would have to recalibrate their own spiritual consciousness and realign it with universal values of compassion, empathy and all-inclusive love. Only then could they achieve their own redemption and reintegration with the whole of existence.

Malaysian Special Branch commandos in Sabah

The Malaysian Secret Police desperately need to update their training manuals, which mostly date back to the Cold War when Communism was the biggest bogeyman. In any case, it was obvious that this attractive but impressionable young woman had been fed a diet of Mahathirist propaganda by her buddies in the Special Branch - who had, in turn, been brainwashed by the Evil Mamak himself (although how he achieved this I would really like to know).

Pink-lipped poltroon

Well, folks, we are indeed fortunate to be living in these times of mind-boggling quantum shifts when everything we inherited as ancestral knowledge will suddenly become irrelevant and meaningless. Many ancient traditions will reincarnate as fresh ways of quickly attaining social cohesion and an inclusive worldview. The idea of exclusivity - and the prestige that accompanies it - will soon be revealed as utter nonsense.

Those who cling to ambitions of becoming "VVIPs" will find themselves laughing stocks. Their accumulated loot will turn worthless overnight. Notions of centralized power and authoritarian control (such as tinpot despots are prone to embrace with megalomaniacal fervor) will be discredited and become ineffectual.

Whether we label it Big Brotherism or Mahathirism or the New World Order, it's going to rapidly unravel and be exposed as just another banal manifestation of myopic evil. The real value is to be found in the fully conscious individual. The state will exist for one purpose only, that is to serve, nurture, cultivate and celebrate the glory and magnificence of every self-realized Individual - whether human or more-than-human.

How long is this process expected to take? I don't know - and I doubt it's useful to attempt to put a time frame around it. However, I have a feeling it has already happened - but inertia and force of habit prevent us from noticing. Bear in mind that evolutionary quantum shifts don't occur overnight. This one has been in the making for at least 26,000 years.

Galactic events: Sagittarius Dwarf Galaxy being consumed by our own (PennStateScience)

[First posted 4 May 2013]