Dr M: Financial Turmoil Ahead

Did you read former PM Dr Mahathir's post on Financial Turmoil? He gives some interesting insights into what's in store. If you are holding plenty of US dollars, he suggests you get rid of them.

More Outcries Against Use of ISA

Since the recent ISA arrests last Friday, the incident continues to hog the limelight in the local media. More parties have come out to voice their views against the use of ISA on those detained. Even BN ministers have made their stand.

(The Star) Muslim NGO: Use of ISA is ‘un-Islamic’

(The Star) BN members lash out at the arrests

(The Star) Don’t use ISA, says Zaid and (NST) Zaid hits out at use of ISA

(The Star) Hishammuddin: ISA use not justified against reporter

(The Star) Suhakam: Reporter’s arrest an abuse of ISA

Meanwhile, the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism has appealed to the PM to release the ISA detainees.

And Law Minister Zaid Ibrahim was reported to have tendered his resignation to the PM . Read here and here.

Was Sin Chew Journalist Reporting A Fact?

Reading from the press reports on the turn of event surrounding the report filed by Sin Chew Daily reporter Tan Hoon Cheng, one will probably conclude that she was doing her job - reporting what Bukit Bendera UMNO chief Ahmad Ismail had said at a talk in the run-up to the Permatang Pauh by-election. That is the only logical conclusion since the police had released her from detention under the ISA albeit that it was done for her safety. Not forgetting that Deputy PM Najib Abdul Razak had aplogized on behalf Ahmad Ismail for his "Chinese are squatters" remarks, and that Ahmad was subsequently suspended by the UMNO Supreme Council over the incident.

See FREED: Tan detained because life was 'under threat' (NST) and also MCA’s Fong: Home Minister’s explanation ‘unacceptable’.

In another development, de facto Law Minister Zaid Ibrahim gives his views on the proper use of the ISA 'Wrong use of ISA: De facto law minister', saying it "should only be used against terrorists or those trying to topple the government by force". But Minister in the PM Dept Ahmad Zahid begs to differ, saying the detentions were justified. See also Invoking ISA is not the solution, says Koh (NST).

Meanwhile, DAP Adviser Lim Kit Siang told reporters that Seputeh MP Teresa Kok had been warned of her Internal Security Act detention, but she refused to go into hiding. See Teresa was warned of impending detention (NST).

12 Sept 2008 Another Dark Day

Look at the following headlines in today's newspapers...I am saddened with the developments:

(NST) Police detain Teresa Kok, Sin Chew reporter under ISA

(The Star) Raja Petra, Teresa Kok and Sin Chew reporter arrested under ISA

(NST) Teresa Kok held over 'azan' issue

(The Star) Why Raja Petra, Tan and Kok were detained

(The Star) Raja Petra anticipated his arrest, says wife

(The Star) Show-cause letters for dailies

 

As the following news quoting the MCA, it is rather perplexing: MCA shocked by arrest of reporter and not perpetrator. Why indeed?

And the NUJ says 'Detention of journalist an act to intimidate media'.

The event naturally was reported in BBC Asia 'Blogger's detention sparks fears'.

 

Meanwhile, we read the following news breaks:

(NST) Sin Chew journalist released and (The Star) Sin Chew reporter released

(The Star) NUJ saddened, disappointed by arrest and calls for an EGM on 20 Sept to discuss the 'serious national crisis'. And MCA says it's against the use of ISA on journos.

PAS says more will be detained in 'Arrests are an attempt to cover up real issue'.

Home Minister says: 'Order to arrest did not come from me' but declares 'No more arrests'. Seems rather odd that the police had detained the Sin Chew journalist under the ISA to ensure her safety.

I must agree with the DAP's call to 'Let the courts decide' and Transparency International: Try RPK and Teresa Kok under court of law, not ISA.

Our Wushu Exponents Get Olympic Medals

The following is extracted from 'Wushu exponents wrap up campaign with credible show' (The Star Online, 24/08/08). See also 'Wushu: Another silver for Malaysia' (NST Online, 23/08/08):

MALAYSIA wrapped up their campaign in the Wushu Tournament Beijing 2008 with two silvers and a bronze in the taolu (barehands and weapons) categories at the Olympic Sports Centre Gymnasium yesterday.

Chai Fong Ying handed Malaysia the first silver in the women’s taijiquan and taijijian combined events in the morning before Lim Yew Fai grabbed the second in the men’s jiangshu (sword) and qiangshu (spear) combined events in the evening.

The 22-year-old Fong Ying, who is also the Doha Asian Games gold medallist, was trailing Japan’s Miyaoka Ai in third spot by a marginal difference of 0.2 after the taijiquan discipline on Friday. But she put up a better performance in the taijijian (taijisword) discipline to earn 9.70 for a combined total of 19.34 points. She received the silver medal from action movie star Jet Li.

Yew Fai finished just 0.1 point ahead of Vietnam’s Nguyen Huy Thanh with his total of 19.32. Chai Fong Wei delivered a bronze in the women’s gunshu and daoshu combined events with 19.16 for Malaysia’s fifth medal of the world meet.

Note: There was not much fanfare or publicity given to the success of our wushu team. The medals are not counted in the Olympic tally. I wonder whether they will receive the cash rewards (like Lee Chong Wei) and the Datukship.

Pak Lah Should Do It More Often

If it is not a political gimmick - given the upcoming Permatang Pauh by-election - then PM Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's decision to take time off to take rides on the Komuter and the LRT last week probably indicates that he is not particularly happy with the performance of the Transport Ministry. Badawi didn't say it but if the public transport service is in top shape, he need not have to personally see the state of affairs.

Beside the Komuter and LRT services, there are obviously other public services and amenities that need his attention. The lay people will be observing whether the PM will come down from his Putrajaya tower office more often and not during run-ups to by-elections.

Read 'Rail bad! LRT, Komuter not meeting expectations' and 'Mobility woes within the city' (NST Online) and 'PM unhappy with city rail services' (The Star Online).

Pak Lah Does It Again

Our PM had earlier said that there would be a (downward) revision to the pump price of fuel in September, and that an announcement would be made on 31 August. Then on 22 Aug - 10 days earlier than expected - he announced a reduction in fuel prices. This is, of course, not the first time that the PM did something contrary to what he said. But being the PM, he has the prerogative to speak and act in a manner he deems fit.

As expected, the government refuted claims that the earlier-than-expected move was linked to the Permatang Pauh by-election. More need not be said and you be the judge.

Interestingly, the price reduction coincided with the Statistics Department announcing that our country's inflation rate for July 2008 had risen to 8.5% from a year ago, and up 1.1% from June. As a consumer, what's more important is whether cost of living will come down in tandem with petrol price reduction. It is a long shot to see a decline in food prices and other consumer items.

Read 'Cut comes 10 days early' and 'DAP questions timing of petrol price reduction' (The Star).