The government confirmed today that all toll concession agreements have been declassified in a sign that it is bowing to pressure for more transparency.

Consent from the concessionaires is needed before the agreements can be made public because of non-disclosure clauses in the respective agreements.

The declassification of the toll agreements was approved by the Cabinet largely because it was felt the public had a right to know how their taxes were being spent.

The public disclosure of the toll agreements will also provide answers to widespread allegations that the concessions are skewed in favour of the concessionaires.

the malaysian insider

Cabinet did talk about declassifying toll deals: Najib

The Cabinet had discussed the declassifying of toll concession agreements “a couple of meetings ago,” Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said.

He declined to elaborate on the matter, saying he would get Works Minister Datuk Mohd Zin Mohamed to make a statement.

Mohd Zin, who was in Johor Baru for a function, refused to speak to reporters.

An aide said he was scheduled to speak to the press today but did not mention what it was about.

Najib was asked to comment on a newspaper report quoting sources that the Government had declassified toll concession agreements.

“Was it reported in the papers? I think I will ask the minister to make a statement to make sure it is technically correct,” he told reporters after presenting the Felda Youth Awards 2008 yesterday.

Asked if the issue was ever discussed by the Cabinet, he said:

“Yes, it was. (During) a couple of Cabinet meetings ago,”

Among the highway concessionaires are PLUS Expressways Bhd, Penang Bridge Sdn Bhd, Besraya (M) Sdn Bhd, Grand Saga Sdn Bhd, Kesas Sdn Bhd, Lingkaran Transkota Sdn Bhd, New Pantai Expressway Sdn Bhd, Konsortium Lebuhraya Butterworth-Kulim Sdn Bhd and Sistem Lingkaran Lebuhraya Kajang Sdn Bhd.

The report had stated that the Government’s decision was based on the fact that it felt the public had an inherent right to know where and how their tax monies were being used and the non-disclosure clauses had been widely interpreted to mean that the contracts are skewed to favour concession companies.

Although the agreements no longer fall under the Official Secrets Act, a non-disclosure clause in the agreements prevents them from being made public.

star

Umno politicians have, on a nearly daily basis, spoken about the challenge to Malay rights, the social contract, the position of Islam and Bahasa Malaysia from the Opposition and certain groups.

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Pakatan Rakyat may have snared close to 50 per cent of the popular vote in the general election thanks to overwhelming support from Chinese and Indians but they still understand this reality – it does not pay to alienate the Malays.
More so Malays who believe that if the PKR-Pas-Umno coalition comes to power at Federal level, their special privileges, the official status of Islam, Bahasa Malaysia as the national language and the status of the Malay Rulers will be dismantled.

For the past few months, Umno leaders have waged a scare campaign warning Malays that Anwar and his colleagues in the Opposition cannot be trusted to safeguard their position, pointing to the former deputy prime minister’s stance on the New Economic Policy and the debate on the social contract.

Publicly, Pakatan Rakyat politicians dismissed the campaign, saying that Malays would be wise to Umno’s dirty tricks campaign. But on Sept 8, Anwar, DAP’s Lim Kit Siang and Pas’ Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang signed an agreement to uphold Malay rights as enshrined in the Federal Constitution. This is the clearest acknowledgement by the Opposition that the Umno campaign is having some traction among the Malays.

“We signed an agreement that cannot be changed by any party so there is no truth to claims that Pakatan Rakyat will take away the rights due to pressure from members within the coalition,” Anwar said during a briefing for religious school teachers organised by the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) here on Monday.

The four-paragraph letter agreed by the three parties also said that the Opposition leaders rejected narrow-minded race-based politics as it would disrupt the unity and harmony of the community.

Anwar noted that the public, especially teachers in religious schools, should not fear that Pakatan Rakyat state governments would no longer develop Islamic studies in the five states. He also claimed that it was difficult for the state governments to explain such issues to the people as the media would not report accurately the explanations given by Pakatan Rakyat.

In the March 8 elections, a clear majority of Chinese and Indians voted for Pakatan Rakyat. This trend has solidified and in a survey done in August-September, only slightly above 30 per cent of non-Malays polled said that they would vote for Barisan Nasional. The support among the Malays for BN was close to 60 per cent.

In the same survey by the Merdeka Centre, the level of support for Anwar was the lowest among the Malays. Since then, Umno politicians have, on a nearly daily basis, spoken about the challenge to Malay rights, the social contract, the position of Islam and Bahasa Malaysia from the Opposition and certain groups.

They have tried to frame the decision by the DAP government in Penang to have road signs in different languages and a move by Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim to appoint a non-Malay as temporary head of state agency PKNS as proof of a plan by the Opposition to erode the position of Bahasa Malaysia and the special privileges of the Malays.

There are some quarters out to discredit the police who were painting the picture that the country was facing security threats all the time, Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar claimed.

“This attitude will not help the police solve cases and build public confidence,” he told reporters after attending the ministry’s monthly gathering on Tuesday.

Syed Hamid said the police too were unhappy over unsolved crimes and were committed to continue investigating such cases.

“I don’t understand why there are parties going all out to discredit the police. These people are free to voice their opinion and criticise others because the country is safe, thanks to our security personnel.

“If they (police) make mistakes, point it out and we will rectify them. But they should also be given a pat on the back for doing a good job.

“Give them a bit of credit where credit is due.The police are doing all they can to upkeep the safety and security of the country,” he said.

Syed Hamid said economic uncertainty had led to an increase in crime, particularly with petty and transborder crimes, but claimed that Malaysia’s crime rate was still low compared with other countries.

He did not specify which countries.

“This does not mean we are resting on our laurels. We will want to tackle crime so that Malaysians will continue to live in a safe and secure country,” he said.

star

Dewan Rakyat: Crime on the rise, but police are solving more cases

THE crime index has been on the rise since 2005—but with a concurrent increase in cases solved.

Deputy Home Affairs Minister Datuk Chor Chee Heung said a total of 157,365 cases of crime were reported in 2005, with a 48.43 per cent success rate.

The numbers increased by 25.5 per cent to 197,780 cases in 2006 (32.53 per cent solved) and by 6.5 per cent to 209,559 cases (39.26 per cent solved) last year.

Chor, replying to Chong Eng (DAP-Bukit Mertajam), said the police had been doing its best to solve as many cases as possible although its performance was not 100 per cent satisfactory.

“The number of solved cases each year is over 30 per cent. This has exceeded the 20 per cent standard set by Interpol.”

On Chong’s question about the crime index in Penang, Chor said the state crime index was also high, with 11,516 cases in 2005 and 15,268 cases in 2006.

An increase of nine per cent was seen last year when the state recorded a total of 16,661 cases.

Chor said the police force had taken several steps to lower the crime rate in the country, including despatching more officers to crime-prone areas and holding joint crime-busting operations with several agencies.

“They have also set up more booths in heavily-populated areas and widened the closed-circuit television monitoring network.”

He said that the police had also planned to increase manpower by 60,000 officers by 2012.

On rape cases that had doubled in the last five years, Chor said some of the cases were reported as rape due to parents’ interference in their children’s love affairs.

“Some of these cases are settled out of court when both families agree to marry them (children) off.”

He also blamed the people for the increase in the crime index.

“At times, the police do not get enough cooperation from the people. They do not inform the police when they go off on holidays,” he said, adding that this would result in an increase in break-ins.

nst

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Pakatan Rakyat may have snared close to 50 per cent of the popular vote in the general election thanks to overwhelming support from Chinese and Indians but they still understand this reality – it does not pay to alienate the Malays.

More so Malays who believe that if the PKR-Pas-DAP coalition comes to power at Federal level, their special privileges, the official status of Islam, Bahasa Malaysia as the national language and the status of the Malay Rulers will be dismantled.

For the past few months, Umno leaders have waged a scare campaign warning Malays that Anwar and his colleagues in the Opposition cannot be trusted to safeguard their position, pointing to the former deputy prime minister’s stance on the New Economic Policy and the debate on the social contract.

Publicly, Pakatan Rakyat politicians dismissed the campaign, saying that Malays would be wise to Umno’s dirty tricks campaign. But on Sept 8, Anwar, DAP’s Lim Kit Siang and Pas’ Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang signed an agreement to uphold Malay rights as enshrined in the Federal Constitution. This is the clearest acknowledgement by the Opposition that the Umno campaign is having some traction among the Malays.

“We signed an agreement that cannot be changed by any party so there is no truth to claims that Pakatan Rakyat will take away the rights due to pressure from members within the coalition,” Anwar said during a briefing for religious school teachers organised by the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) here on Monday.

The four-paragraph letter agreed by the three parties also said that the Opposition leaders rejected narrow-minded race-based politics as it would disrupt the unity and harmony of the community.

Anwar noted that the public, especially teachers in religious schools, should not fear that Pakatan Rakyat state governments would no longer develop Islamic studies in the five states. He also claimed that it was difficult for the state governments to explain such issues to the people as the media would not report accurately the explanations given by Pakatan Rakyat.

In the March 8 elections, a clear majority of Chinese and Indians voted for Pakatan Rakyat. This trend has solidified and in a survey done in August-September, only slightly above 30 per cent of non-Malays polled said that they would vote for Barisan Nasional. The support among the Malays for BN was close to 60 per cent.

In the same survey by the Merdeka Centre, the level of support for Anwar was the lowest among the Malays. Since then, Umno politicians have, on a nearly daily basis, spoken about the challenge to Malay rights, the social contract, the position of Islam and Bahasa Malaysia from the Opposition and certain groups.

They have tried to frame the decision by the DAP government in Penang to have road signs in different languages and a move by Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim to appoint a non-Malay as temporary head of state agency PKNS as proof of a plan by the Opposition to erode the position of Bahasa Malaysia and the special privileges of the Malays.

the malaysian insider

Petrol and diesel prices have been slashed by a further 15 sen per litre from today.

Yesterday’s price of a barrel of crude was about US$56.

Najib, who is also Finance Minister, urged traders to lower prices of goods and services to fully benefit the people following the fuel reduction.

“The people should also continue to use petrol and diesel sparingly despite the lower price in line with the Government’s efficient energy consumption plan,” he said.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the Government had kept its promise to reduce petrol prices.

Abdullah, who is on a working visit to Uzbekistan, said consumers should boycott outlets which refused to lower prices.

“I have been told that there is a non-governmental organisation spearheading this move. They have my support,” he told Malaysian reporters in the Uzbek capital Tashkent.

He said the people would be angry with the Government because prices of goods were still high.

“The Government had kept its promise but traders are not doing their part,” he said.

Abdullah said more NGOs should come forward and advise consumers where to shop.

“You can work together and get consumers to shun traders who pofiteer. We have to do this or else prices would not come down,” he added.

Meanwhile, petroleum dealers said they would feel the pinch with the latest fuel price reduction.

Malaysian Petroleum Dealers’ Association acting president Abdul Wahid Bidin said: “We hope this reduction will be the last. Otherwise, we won’t be able to plan ahead and doing business will be very difficult.”

star

The Government is open to liberalising its policies including on bumiputra equity but the liberalisation process will be at a pace the country is comfortable with, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Asked if the current global crisis is forcing the Government to take these measures, he said: “We have been considering this for some time. Gradual liberalisation is something that we will consider.”

The Government recently announced that it is relaxing the minimum 30% bumiputra equity requirement for public-listed firms.

Asked to confirm a report that the Government was considering further easing the listing requirement by lowering a company’s free float requirement – which is currently at 25%, he said: “There is no announcement on that; only regarding the 30% bumiputra equity. We are open but I don’t want to (pre-empt any later announcement).”

He was speaking to reporters after opening the Kuala Lumpur Islamic Finance Forum 2008 on Tuesday. On whether Malaysia would undertake more countermeasures since the global economic turmoil has worsened, he said additional measures would be taken from time to time.

“We are watching and monitoring the situation very, very closely. At the moment we are still reasonably confident that we can achieve the target of growth figures for this and next year.”

He said that towards this, the Government would focus on key factors such as ensuring the RM7bil fiscal stimulus packages he announced early this month was on the ground by the first quarter of next year.

Also, the Government must ensure bank credit lines to Malaysian companies continued to be relatively strong.

“We must also look at some of our domestic regulatory requirements that can be liberalised and streamlined so that we can facilitate the ease and cost of doing business in Malaysia,” he said.

The Government recently slashed its gross domestic product growth forecast to 3.5% for next year from the previous target of 5.4%.

Earlier in his speech, Najib announced that the Securities Commission had granted two additional licences – to India’s leading fund management company, Reliance Capital Asset Management and Kuwait-based Global Investment House to establish their Islamic fund management operations in Malaysia.

star

Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said Sarawak, which has 30 members of parliament, holds the key to the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) government in the country.

He said leaders in the PR coalition like Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang of Pas, Lim Kit Siang and Lim Guan Eng of DAP and himself and his wife would continue to meet and hold discussions with BN MPS to get them to cross over.

About 3,000 people were present at the dinner, the biggest so far for a PKR function here.

Those present included PKR vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Jeffery Kitinggan, Sarawak DAP leader Wong Ho Leng, former Sri Aman MP Jimmy Donald, and Baginda Minda, the former Parti Rakyat Sarawak Balleh branch publicity chief, who caused a furore with his statement accusing the state dominant BN party, the Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu, of being a bully.

At the function, Anwar received membership application forms from Gabriel Adit Demong, one of two independent state assemblymen, and from 11,752 individuals from throughout the state.

Anwar said Sarawakians were now ready for change, saying Adit had volunteered to lead a recruitment drive for more members for PR.

“Do not be surprise if what had happened in five peninsula states in the March general elections could happen here,” he said, adding that PR was prepared to face the coming state election.

He also claimed that several people from the state had visited him to express their interests to join PKR.

Meanwhile, Adit said a lot of BN members were “waiting in the wing” to join him and that his decision in joining PKR was “the first of many installments” over the next few months.

BERNAMA

Independent Sarawak assemblyman joins PKR

And the veteran assemblyman is not crossing over alone – he handed over 11,753 applications to PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at the event.

A happy Ng said: “(With Adit), I will get at least a seconder in any motion that I table.”

He described Adit, a former vice-president of the now defunct Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS), as an experienced politician and good speaker.

Ng said almost all the fresh applicants were Dayaks from the central region.

To prepare for the “influx”, he said the Sarawak PKR was in the midst of setting up division pro tem committees in 20 of the state’s 31 parliamentary constituencies.

“Our target is to have one division in all the parliamentary constituencies by year’s end,” he said.

Ng said Pakatan Rakyat leaders and MPs from the peninsula would visit Sarawak to help build up the party’s strength.

On the state PKR-DAP relationship, he said it had greatly improved and both sides were working in tandem.

He said the presence of Sarawak DAP chairman Richard Wong Ho Leng and his deputy Chiew Chiu Sing at the dinner proved this.

Of the 71 state assembly seats, the DAP holds six, PKR two and one Independent.

- The Star

A NEW generation of leaders in Malaysia is fighting for control of the ruling party – in disarray since heavy election losses – with the premier’s son-in-law battling his predecessor’s son.

After disastrous election results in March, Mr Abdullah has been forced to stand down early next year, unleashing an unprecedented contest for top posts in the United Malays National Organisation (Umno).

Drawing intense interest is the tussle for the influential role of youth wing chief – a nurturing ground for future leaders.

Mr Abdullah’s son-in-law is pitted against Dr Mahathir’s son, in a fight that could determine which of the rival clans will control Malaysia’s future.

The two patriarchs have had a very public falling-out since the 2003 leadership handover, and Dr Mahathir’s constant sniping is one of the major factors behind Mr Abdullah’s impending departure.

‘It is obvious that the person who wins will determine whether the party’s future will be more aligned to Mr Abdullah or Dr Mahathir, as they have each got their favourite proxy in the race,’ said Professor Tricia Yeoh from the Centre for Public Policy Studies.

Mr Mukhriz Mahathir, a sophisticated 44-year-old businessman, is the frontrunner for the youth chief job.

His father will forever be remembered as the man whose two-decade rule brought prosperity to Malaysia, transforming a tropical backwater into one of South-east Asia’s most prosperous nations.

But Mr Mukhriz says he is his own man and is looking to reform the youth movement, which along with the ruling party has lost much support and credibility over the years.

‘One of the reasons we were rejected in the last general elections and recent by-elections was the perception that we misuse, worse still abuse, our positions in government for political purposes,’ he told wires agencies.

‘So I want an arm’s-length relationship between the party and the government.’

The Umno-led coalition, which has run Malaysia since independence in 1957, suffered its worst-ever setback in March elections, losing five states and a third of parliamentary seats – effectively ending Mr Abdullah’s career.

Mr Abdullah had been criticised as weak and ineffective, but many Malaysians believe a major factor in his downfall was the antics of his 32-year-old son-in-law Khairy Jamaluddin.

The Oxford-educated Khairy was an aide to Mr Abdullah before marrying the boss’s daughter in 2001, sending him on a meteoric rise that landed him the deputy youth chief position in 2004.

Eloquent and expensively dressed, Mr Khairy cuts an impressive figure but his naked ambition and alleged influence with his father-in-law have seen him vilified on political websites and in water-cooler gossip.

Dr Mahathir has accused Mr Abdullah of pandering to the demands of Mr Khairy, whom he said was influencing government policy, contracts and appointments – charges he denies.

‘I’ve gotten used to it. As far as I’m concerned, nobody has substantiated any of this innuendo with any facts or evidence, I have consistently denied it but people persist on perpetuating this perception,’ Mr Khairy told AFP.

Mr Khairy, who also has big reform plans for Umno youth, says his reputation has been unfairly smeared.

‘I’m not merely up against Mukhriz. There looms behind him someone, something, much larger. That is exactly what I’m up against,’ he said.

‘Mahathir has… openly campaigned for Mukhriz, has repeatedly criticised and denigrated me and who am I when compared to Mahathir? He is a statesman and a PM of 22 years and I’m just starting off in politics.’

With Mr Abdullah almost out of the picture, Mr Khairy’s star may be fading but analysts say that in the arcane business of Umno internal politics, Mr Mukhriz cannot yet count on victory.

‘But whatever the outcome, it will finally determine whether Dr Mahathir or Abdullah has the last say,’ said Prof Yeoh.

AFP

The people should just ignore the intense discussion over the Social Contract.

“This is not a legal agreement, it’s a political philosophy; it’s not like buying a car or a house where there is a sale and purchase agreement.

“Don’t confuse the issue… if you don’t understand, just keep quiet.”

Dr Aziz said that the Social Contract also manifested itself in other aspects, for instance in Article 3 of the Constitution about Islam being the official religion of the Federation but other religions could be practised in peace in any part of the federation; and Article 152 about Malay being the country’s national and official language.

“There is an element of compromise here of give-and-take between races because in Article 152, for instance, although Malay is the national language, there is no stopping others from using their languages.”

He said the Social Contract could change with the times as when Article 153 was amended in 1963 when Sabah and Sarawak, together with the Federation of Malaya, formed Malaysia.

“When Sabah and Sarawak Bumiputeras were accorded the same privileges (given to the Malays), the (Article 153) was amended to grant the Yang di-Pertuan Agong the responsibility for safeguarding the special position of the Malays and the Sabah and Sarawak Bumiputeras and the legitimate interests of other communities.

“So, the Social Contract can change with the times and situation; (but it will be all right) as long as the change takes place in a transparent manner and not done unilaterally.”

Dr Aziz also rejected the notion that the Social Contract was to safeguard the interest of the Malays, saying such views smacked of ignorance.

“The Social Contract is important to all… to the Malays as well as to the non-Malays. Without the Social Contract, there will be chaos and no one will be able to live in peace.”

Dr Aziz also said that the Malays had no reason to feel threatened by the demands made by the non-Malays because their rights and privileges were protected under the Constitution.

“If Lim Kit Siang were to become prime minister, he cannot ignore Article 153. If he wanted to change the policy, he would have to get the consent from the Malay rulers as provided for under Article 38.

“They (the Malays) are well-protected, well-endowed if you look at the Constitution. You cannot take away those provisions and you cannot amend them without the prior consent from the Conference of Rulers.

“So, what are we afraid of?” said Dr Aziz, who has written numerous books and over 50 articles on public law, particularly constitutional law.

On ketuanan Melayu or Malay supremacy, he said many people misunderstood the issue.

“It is a political philosophy. In the Constitution, it’s about our identity, not supremacy.

“If we talk about the issue of ketuanan Melayu, then there will be the concept of a master and the rest will be second-class citizens or slaves, which is unacceptable, either in a democratic constitution or in Islam.”

Dr Aziz, who coordinates IIUM’s courses on constitutional law, said some of those who took part in the discussion on the Social Contract had failed to fully understand the core of the Constitution, to the extent of denying the existence of the Social Contract in the country.

“It is true that the term ‘Social Contract’ does not exist in the Federal Constitution, but I disagree with the view that it is non-existent.

“The Social Contract in the country is not the same as the social contract advocated by English philosopher John Locke or Thomas Hobbes… that people surrender their rights to the state in return of protection. That is different.

“The question is, in this issue, there is a quid pro quo, a compromise and give-and-take between the races,” said Dr Aziz, who is also chief editor of IIUM’s Law Journal.

Bernama

It takes a great deal to sustain market interest these days.

Malaysia’s recent attempts at shoring up its bulwark haven’t exactly set pulses racing either.

Following an initial RM7 billion stimulus package, it was decided last week to allow potential companies seeking a listing on the local stock exchange to be deemed to have complied with listing rules should attempts to seek bumiputra buyers willing to take up 30 per cent of the entity prove unsuccessful.

Predictably, the “relaxation” of the listing requirement to enhance the capital market elicited shrugs of indifference.

If big Bumiputera funds have little interest in such companies, it’s safe to say few Bumiputera retailers (next in line to be offered the shares) or non-Bumiputera retailers (who are then to be afforded the next bite of that unsnapped up cherry) would be sprinting to subscribe to the listings.

Even so, it’s telling that in spite of the seeming insignificance of the relaxation, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had to reassure that the 30 per cent Bumiputera requirement under the country’s
affirmative action New Economic Policy remains unchanged.

A second proposal before the Treasury to do away with the requirement for listed entities to ensure a top-up to 30 per cent in the Bumiputera portion should there be a dilution subsequent to the listing could prove uneventful.

Never mind waiving subsequent top-ups. Getting owners to give up nearly a third of their company cheapish is already a formidable mountain to climb as evidenced by the shrinking listings. Admittedly, decreasing numbers of initial public offerings is not a problem unique to Malaysia, but with stock exchanges worldwide casting their nets outside their home turf, the challenges faced by the local bourse are obviously more formidable.

But as minor as the relaxation last week appears to be, it should not be taken in isolation because it is likely to be one of many elements ahead, the optimists propound.

In some ways, the country has been a victim of its own success, as economic growth over the past decade – whether owing to its natural resources or its economic headstart over its neighbours – has been decent to impressive.

In recent years, however, other emerging economies – each with its own unique strengths – have been quick to throw down the gauntlet, with the result that issues which have kept the country from performing to its ability have become more glaring.

Labour, human capital, subsidies, educational standards, and other prickly issues that have persistently been consigned to the backburner over the past few years as too difficult or inconvenient to tackle head on have now become more prominent because of the current economic shakeout.

Executives say they are less alone these days in the fight to increase the country’s competitiveness because an increasing number of senior government officers are now on the same page.

“I think there will be an acceleration of reform as within the government there is now more emphasis on making the country more competitive,” said a corporate chieftain.

Whether the pace is fast enough is another question. When asked if there would be further relaxation to the 30 per cent Bumiputera equity rule, Najib, who has the daunting yet rewarding task of getting Malaysia past the impending global recession, replied: “Wait. Slowly.”

The economic contagion from the world’s biggest economy, on the other hand, has not been slow to spread, such is the inter-connectedness of the global economy.

And while every little bit helps, too scant a bit might be too little for the crisis ahead.

Petrol prices have gone down to RM2.15 per litre, hypermarkets are competing to reduce the prices of some grocery items, mamak stall operators are charging less for teh tarik and nasi kandar – everyone’s favourite comfort food – and even airline companies are slashing the costs of flight tickets.

Do they see an improvement in their personal lifestyles compared to say three months or even six months ago when petrol was sold at the pumps at a whopping RM2.70 a litre, causing an overnight domino effect on the prices of every day goods and services?

The Malaysian Insider spoke to four people and found that their answers were similar, despite their very different social and economic backgrounds.

As copywriter Adam Chan surmised: “Psychologically, it is very nice to hear that prices are going down.”

Chan works for a major advertising agency in KL. A bachelor, he bought an apartment on the city outskirts a couple of years ago and is currently waiting for its completion, which had been postponed.

The 27-year-old explained that because of that, he had been careful of his spending even before the global economic crisis hit Malaysia.

Therefore, he did not see much increase to his savings when the local merchants reduced the prices of goods.

“There hasn’t been any drastic improvements to my savings. Let’s say I used to save RM400 a month. Now, I save maybe an extra RM10 from petrol a month,” said Chan.

He believes that Malaysia is currently quite protected from the global economic crisis. But he also believes the big crunch has yet to hit our shores.

Healthcare administrative manager Katrina Felix, 30, feels there has not been much change to her life in the last three months. She said that she had not been badly affected by the economic situation in the first place.

“Everything is pretty much still the same. No change,” she noted, except to her eating habits. She also pays more in cash now than using her credit card, due in part to the places she eats at and to control her spending.

Felix frequents roadside eateries like mamak stalls more now compared to the restaurants she used to hang out at with friends.

“It’s either their prices have increased or their portions have grown smaller,” she said, referring to how the restaurants have adjusted to the economic situation.

She added: “At mamaks, you pay half the price for double the size.”

While glad that mamak food prices and petrol prices have dropped, Felix laments that her dreams have been put on hold as the few shares she had bought on the stock exchange are now “stuck”.

“Can’t sell now. Rugi so much,” she said, frustrated at the lack of disposable income.

She wanted to change her car from a three-year old Proton Waja to a Mazda 3, which costs RM106,000. It is out of the question now.

“I had test-driven the car before. It is very nice,” she said, emphatically.

A taxi-driver who wished to be known only as Hamdan was sceptical of the measures. He bemoaned that the cost of living was very high in the city and found it difficult to save money.

He said he had to pay the car rental from the taxi company, which cost over RM1,000 a month, the fuel, and maintenance on the car.

He saved on lodgings as he was currently sharing a flat with his brother.

A divorcee in his mid-forties, he left Kelantan for KL nine months ago. He had six children, three who were still schooling. He missed them terribly.

Asked why he did not return to his home state if he were unhappy, he answered: “No work there.”

Penang-based construction engineer Oliver Nathan, 34, said the last three months have been an improvement for the average Malaysian.

“I can now save more petrol, eat and drink cheaper roti canai and teh tarik at my favourite mamak stalls and buy things for less from the hypermarkets,” said Oliver.

While he admitted that he does not usually frequent mamak stalls and generally has not felt the pinch to his wallet – his company pays him a lucrative salary and even covers his personal daily expenditure from food to fuel – he believes that the lower-income groups have benefitted from these few measures.

Echoing Chan’s views from earlier, Oliver believes that the impact on the middle-income groups and higher are more “psychological” as they can well afford these goods.

Just like Chan, he added that Malaysia is largely buffeted from the full impact of the global crisis, thanks to the solid backing from the local banks and from the government.

“It’s still early for the financial crisis to be fully felt in Malaysia. The impact is still small,” Oliver said, noting that retrenchment exercises, which had hit the US and Europe had yet to make its way to our shores.

The only sacrifice he has made is visiting Bali, where he owns a time-share apartment unit, this year and probably next year.

Oliver is quitting his lucrative job for a less financially-rewarding position in Australia, where the economy mirrors that of the US.

The Australian dollar, Oliver noted, had just dropped 90 cents.

In fact, he is moving his whole family there. Plus, his lecturer wife has given up her job to care for their newborn baby girl, their first child, effectively halving their two-income household.

The irony is not lost on him, but the new father is taking the entire global economic downturn in stride.

He noted that he was taking a risk but explained that he would have done the same, economic crisis or not.

“Mankind is very resilient,” said Oliver.

Raja Petra Kamarudin knows he could soon go back to jail. The country’s leading blogger was released by order of the Shah Alam High Court last week, after being held in detention since Sept 12, but his troubles are far from over and his freedom could be shortlived.

The ISA is an inheritance from the British, who used it in the colony prior to independence in 1957. In essence, it allows for the arrest and internment of any person without the need for a trial in certain defined circumstances.

Raja Petra’s alleged crimes were linked to his writing. For several years he has published provocative opinion pieces on the issues of the day, as well as a number of articles unmasking corruption scandals, drawing his information from a wide array of contacts. His blog, Malaysia Today, is one of the most popular sources of independent news in a country where the mainstream media refrains from criticising the government.

With popularity, however, came a lot of trouble. His latest arrest stemmed from accusations lodged by several religious groups, which claimed that his Aug 8 article entitled “I promise to be a good, non-hypocritical Muslim” had offended Islam.

After being held for a few days, he was sentenced to two years in detention without trial. But, on Nov 5, High Court judge Mr Justice Datuk Syed Ahmad Helmy Syed Ahmad ruled that the arrest of Raja Petra, 58, was contrary to the constitution and said he should be released. He was freed two days later.

Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail is expected to file an appeal against the decision, and the blogger could find himself back in custody.

Raja Petra remains defiant. He said his battle with the authorities was a proxy for the larger contest that sees Malaysia torn between the old political establishment and the new contender, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Raja Petra is a close ally of Anwar’s and this association has made him a target of the ruling coalition led by Umno.

“I support Anwar because I believe in what he stands for. But I have attacked him in the past and I would do so again, if he changed his programmes,” he said.

“Anwar and (Deputy Prime Minister) Najib (Razak) are like the kings in a big chess game, and my friends tell me that I am the queen. There is little doubt that my future depends on the future of Anwar,” he added.

Anwar has promised to allow freedom of expression and to do away with the ISA and pro-Malay policies that have discriminated against the Chinese and Indian minorities for decades. He is trying to convince 31 lawmakers from the ruling Umno-controlled Barisan Nasional coalition to switch sides and allow him to form a government.

Raja Petra’s friendship with the former deputy prime minister goes back to 1998, when he was a leading member of Keadilan — the party set up in response to Anwar’s arrest and detention.

Anwar, the deputy and heir apparent to Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, was charged with, and jailed for, sodomy and corruption, accusations widely believed to have been politically motivated.

Raja Petra, who was also the main mover behind the “Free Anwar” website, campaigned tirelessly for Anwar’s release and freely criticised the political establishment. He was eventually arrested under the ISA on April 11, 2001. Accused of plotting to overthrow Dr Mahathir, he spent 52 days in jail.

Fast forward to this year and his political connections have placed him in the middle of a power struggle between Anwar and Najib. The latter is poised to take over as prime minister in March when Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is scheduled to step down.

Najib has been one of the main targets of Raja Petra’s columns. In his most controversial article, “Let’s send Altantuya’s murderers to Hell”, published on April 25, Raja Petra claimed that Najib and his wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, were involved in the October 2006 murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu, a Mongolian-born translator and former model, who was shot in the head twice before her body was blown up with explosives in a jungle outside Kuala Lumpur.

It is known that the former model had had an affair with Abdul Razak Baginda at a time when he was one of Najib’s closest advisers. It is also known she tried to blackmail Abdul Razak when the affair ended, though her motives remain unclear. He was acquitted of abetting the murder on Oct 31.

It has also been alleged that she had an affair with Najib. Many wonder what happened to private detective P. Balasubramaniam, who had also linked Najib to the case on July 1 — but then retracted the allegations and has since gone missing.

For his part, Najib has denied any involvement in the case and swore on the Quran that he never met Altantuya.

Anwar has called for the case to be properly investigated.

The article came at a crucial juncture, and has played a key role in the larger political struggle.

“I am aware that I have raised the stakes with this article and I am prepared to go all the way,” Raja Petra said.

Following the article’s publication, Raja Petra was charged with sedition and two counts of criminal defamation. The cases are ongoing.

The blogger’s wife, Marina, has stood by her husband’s claims, and said she feared that when Najib takes power, “there may be even more problems for us”.

In the meantime, Raja Petra said he had taken heart from the courage shown by the judge in releasing him, and that he hoped more would follow his example.

“There have always been independent judges, but they were sidelined and subjugated by the government under strongman Dr Mahathir. The government is now weak, Umno is plagued by infighting and there is a strong opposition,” he said. “I hope more judges will come out of their shells.”

His wife said she had taken strength from the support she received when she led the fight to release her husband. Prominent among those are fellow bloggers who share Raja Petra’s view that Malaysia needs change.

News about Raja Petra, a minor member of the Selangor royalty, was — and still is — widely reported and commented on in Malaysia’s blogosphere. Bloggers were also behind an online petition to free him and other ISA detainees, which has gathered almost 42,000 signatures, and they attended a weekly vigil in Kuala Lumpur.

Marina explained that she also received public support in the streets from people not normally associated with political life.

“During those days I was often stopped in the street, where people hugged me, shook my hand and told me to keep strong,” said Marina, who did not miss any of the court hearings involving her husband.

South China Morning Post

Unless and until there is a serious desire to stamp out money politics, talk of cleaning Umno of the scourge will remain just that, writes ZUBAIDAH ABU BAKAR.

But this political corruption is no mysterious illness needing faith-healing. It’s only common sense that a concerted effort by the players—candidates, intermediaries and delegates—would be effective enough a treatment of Umno’s “rotten to the core” stigma.

The situation is very bad; even top leaders are indulging in vote-buying, even as they speak out against it.

“Money politics” is a very vague term, clouded by many grey areas, but in Umno’s context, it means buying votes outright, or offering other forms of reward to get elected to party posts.

Contesting senior party positions has become a very expensive affair today, with money spent so far said to run into millions of ringgit.

Umno’s battle against money politics took a positive turn recently when Umno Youth set up its own monitoring body to complement those monitoring on behalf of the party’s disciplinary board.

More leaders vying for posts in the March 2009 party elections are coming out to openly tell delegates not to expect cash rewards from them. To be fair, not all Umno leaders play the vote-buying game, winning their positions on their merits—and winning the respect of people in and outside Umno.

Vote-buying is not unique to Umno, of course, but it is much more intense than in other political parties because of the high stakes involved.

The unprecedentedly long campaign period may also work against vote-buying, with the prospect of a “bidding war” until March next year. “Candidates with less money may think twice about playing the game as they cannot afford it,” says political analyst James Chin, a professor at Monash University in Malaysia.

Chin thinks the only way to stop vote-buying in Umno would be to allow direct elections to the top five positions.

“This would make it virtually impossible for vote-buying to be successful unless you are willing to spend not millions but a few billion ringgit.”

Umno veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, who twice failed to qualify to contest the Umno presidency, has also been calling for direct elections at all levels of Umno’s leadership.

“We have over three million members. If we give them the right to elect leaders at various levels, we can get rid of money politics,” he has advocated.

Then again, the Kelantan prince has also been accused of being behind the emergence of money politics in Umno, although he now openly speaks against the malaise.

At the 1994 Umno extraordinary general assembly to curb money politics and corruption, then Umno president Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad observed that money politics had hatched at the 1987 party elections when Tengku Razaleigh mounted an unsuccessful challenge against him for the Umno presidency.

Eyebrows were again raised early this month when Tengku Razaleigh’s Gua Musang division nominated Tan Sri Isa Abdul Samad, a former vice-president convicted of money politics, for one of the party’s three vice-presidencies.

Isa had served out the three-year suspension handed down by the Umno disciplinary board against him, and is now one of eight candidates qualified to vie for the three coveted posts.

Dr Mahathir may contend that money politics in Umno started more than two decades ago, but he, while not personally involved, failed to nip the problem in the bud, allowing it to become a norm whereby every single person involved had benefited.

Admits Tengku Ahmad Rithauddeen Tengku Ismail, chairman of the Umno disciplinary board entrusted to handle such cases: “We are trying our best, but it seems we can’t deal with it completely. It is now rooted to the core.”

Appealing to Umno members to help him fight money politics, party president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in his presidential address at the 54th Umno general assembly in 2006 said: “The process of arresting and prosecuting is not as easy as people say it is. The investigative process is painstaking and the process of proving corruption and getting witnesses is extremely difficult.

“There is no point in prosecuting in large numbers if we do not have enough evidence to convict them. Help me fight corruption by providing evidence.”

Lack of information remains a stumbling block, preventing punitive action against more offenders. In a willing-giver-willing-taker situation, it is highly unlikely that the case will be reported. It is manifestly clear that the roots of corruption will not be eradicated if new seeds of graft are allowed to sprout and grow.

It should, therefore, be a cause for concern to the authorities that agents of candidates have started collecting the names and phone numbers of those voting at the party elections—for obvious reasons.

Umno members, particularly the 2,500 or so delegates to the Umno general assembly, must be resolute in not allowing themselves to be influenced by money when making decisions.

There also has to be the political will to arrest the excesses and abuses of money politics and its attendant degradations and decadence.

As the backbone of Barisan Nasional, Umno should be an exemplar to all Malaysians of integrity and incorruptibility—not their antitheses.

star

Money politics akin to cancer

Corruption and money politics have been around for a long time. It is like a cancerous growth. It was around before he entered politics, it was definitely around during his time and if it is not excised now, it will remain for an indefinite period.

Why has he become extremely vocal only now, yet strongly denied similar allegations during his time as premier and silenced those who dared criticise?

As we have previously seen, corrupt politicians, when faced with mounting evidence of their ill-gotten gains, have reluctantly tendered their resignation. However, the same people have always managed to bounce back into the Umno fold.

Resignations seem an easy cop-out. Why have they not been made accountable for their actions?

On one hand, the message sent out is that Umno condones such practices. It gives the illusion that to enter politics is an easy way to rich pickings. Sadly, it is us, the electorate, who are victims when our politicians lack responsibilities and have no sense of duty.

Conversely, punishments meted out in the past have been relatively light. Thus for every corrupt person who is removed, 10 others rush in to fill this void.

How can the Umno political masters convince us that money politics does not exist or that they are serious about dealing with it? Our trust and confidence in them have been eroded. Losing one’s trust is like losing one’s virginity. Once it is gone, there is nothing that will make it return.

MARIAM MOKHTAR,

Ipoh.

star

Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed today blamed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi for the corruption which he says is rife in Umno.

Dr Mahathir, who has been increasingly vocal in recent weeks, repeated his contention that Barisan Nasional’s (BN) current weak position is largely the fault of Abdullah.

Writing in his popular chedet.com blog today, he defended his own administration and leadership, pointing out that even when Umno was extremely unpopular in 1999, BN managed to retain its two-thirds majority in Parliament.

“Umno leaders must now meet as many Umno members and voters as possible to hear their

complaints,” he said, naming the economic downturn, inflation, lack of employment and contracts for small contractors as matters that Datuk Seri Najib Razak, as Abdullah’s successor, must pay attention to.

He said that cronyism and corruption became rife under Abdullah.

“This was so because even Abdullah was seen to abuse his position and power to help his son and son-in-law’s businesses,” he stated, referring to such companies as Scomi, in which his son Kamaluddin Abdullah is involved in and ECM Libra, which his son-in-law Khairy Jamaluddin is linked to.

“Everyone knows about the RM200 given to delegates to the Kubang Pasu division so that they did not vote me to be a delegate at the 2006 Umno General Assembly,” Mahathir said.

He added also that a Petaling Jaya Selatan leader as well as a veteran leader had reported that Abdullah had given RM 200 and other gifts to branch members and treated them to a stay in a luxury hotel in exchange for support of his 2010 transition plan.

“It is clear that corruption has become part of Umno culture at all levels. This will cause Umno to lose the confidence of the people.

“If Umno under Najib wants the support of voters, it must stamp out corruption. If not, voters will vote whoever pays them off and this includes the opposition,” he warned.

Mahathir, who was Prime Minister for 22 years, rebutted any assertion that Abdullah had inherited a damaged Barisan Nasional.

“If so, then why did BN gain two-thirds majority since 1974? BN has never failed to rule Kedah, Perak and Selangor and since Gerakan joined BN, it has never lost Penang,” he reasoned.

He further stated that Abdullah had succeeded him in Oct 2003 and in five months, won big at the 11th General Elections with 90 per cent of MPs from the ruling coalition and took back Terengganu as well as nearly regaining Kelantan from Pas.

“This shows that the BN he inherited was very healthy,” Mahathir concluded and added that the Permatang Pauh by-election was further proof as “members were afraid to wear the badge and shirts of Umno or BN.”

Malaysia plans to introduce automatic issuance of manufacturing licenses to counter a slowdown in the sector.

These were among a slew of measures announced by International Trade and Industry Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to boost investments in light of the global financial crisis.
His announcement today is part of efforts to ensure Malaysia remains attractive to investors.

The automatic issuance of licenses will take effect next month and is available for all sectors except businesses related to health, security, the environment and religion.

Muhyiddin said effective Dec 1, manufacturing licenses will be issued automatically and without the need for renewal.

Last June, the ministry had already eliminated manufacturing license fees.

The ministry also announced full import duty exemption on raw materials and intermediate goods, which includes steel bars and petrochemicals.

Muhyiddin said the government would also assist the private sector in fully utilizing the benefits from various free trade agreements by establishing dedicated FTA units.

He said Malaysia would be intensifying its efforts in drawing investment from new and emerging markets of the Middle East, China, India, Korea, North Africa and Asean.

To assist the SMEs, the government will also review business licenses and fees by local authorities.

Muhyiddin pointed out that the economic slowdown may last longer than expected.

We have not gone down to the lowest level, it may last more than one year,” said Muhyiddin.

Malaysia’s growth projection next year is expected to be 3.5 per cent compared to the earlier projection of 5.4 per cent.

the malaysian insider

The Selangor Chief Police Officer, Deputy Comm Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar should apologise to Ronnie Liu for the unprecedentedly ill-mannered, rough and high-handed police arrest of the Selangor state exco at the Selangor state secretariat on Wednesday, just in time to prevent him from attending the weekly state exco meeting as if he posed instant and major threat to national security and public law and order.

The Police has to date failed to give any credible reason why the arrest should be effected in so rude and crude a manner, when the police should know that Ronnie was not about to be a fugitive from justice and from his past record, would have fully co-operated with the police in his own arrest.

I am not here disputing Ronnie’s arrest – putting aside for the moment the merits and demerits of the charge pending against him – but the manner of the arrest of a State Exco, raising the question asked by Malaysians not only in Selangor but throughout the country that if the police could be so highhanded and ill-mannered when dealing with a Selangor State Exco, how could the ordinary man and woman in the street expect good manners and courtesy from the Police in their everyday interactions?

Ronnie is to be charged on Monday under Section 186 of the Penal Code for the offence of obstructing a public servant in the discharge of his functions, which is punishable on conviction to a two-year jail sentence, RM10,000 fine or both.

If the two accused in the C4 murder of Mongolian woman Altantuya Shaariibuu, Chief Inspector Azilah Hadri and Corporal Sirul Azhar Umar (both members of the Special Action Unit, UTK) could be treated with the extraordinary and unprecedented kindness of covering their faces using the “ninja” mask throughout the murder trial which have lasted over 150 days, can the Selangor CPO explain why the police is incapable of the most minimal considerations of courtesy and good manners when arresting Ronnie?

Is this why the Police has abandoned the earlier “mesra” slogan, to the extent that the entire police motto of “Mesra, Cepat dan Betul” had been dropped?

Khalid has also failed to explain why it has taken a full year to charge and arrest Ronnie for an alleged offence over a very straightforward matter for which a police report was lodged in November last year.

Let him come clean and give the relevant dates, when the Police investigations were completed, when the investigation papers were forwarded to the Deputy Public Prosecutor’s office for action, when the DPP decided that Ronnie be arrested and charged and when the police received such instruction from the DPP!

If there is an Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC), all these information would have to be disclosed when a formal complaint is lodged with the commission.

Is this why the police are so dead set against an IPCMC from being set up to deal with police abuses of power, for the police would have nowhere to hide their abuses, wrongs and mistakes?

I regret the unthinking intervention of the Home Minister, Datuk Syed Hamid Albar who criticized me at the Parliament lobby yesterday following my media conference deploring the manner of Ronnie’s arrest.

He said:

“Beliau sentiasa mengkritik kerajaan apabila pemimpin DAP dan ahli parti ditahan polis termasuk menghalang tugas penguatkuasa.

“Perrnahkah dia cakap perkara baik mengenai polis. Jadi dia mesti menjadi lebih rasional. Kita dapat lihat setiap tindakannya didorong oleh politik,” katanya. (Utusan Malaysia)

Just to prove Hamid wrong that I had never praised the police, let me refer him to my media statement of March 2, 2006 where I gave “the highest praise” to the then Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohd Bakri Musa for his speech opening a three-day course for OCPDs at the Royal Malaysian Police College in Cheras a day earlier.

I said Bakri’s speech was a “most positive sign in the past 10 months that the police leadership is not totally resistant to public aspirations for police reform to become a world-class service and that the Royal Police Commission recommendations will not be a complete waste of time and resources”.

I had never been sparing in criticism of “black sheep” in leadership positions in the public service, whether in Police or any other branches of the government but my public record on looking after the welfare of the police personnel, whether in Parliament or outside, is an open book.

I had not only supported, but constantly put pressure on the government to improve the welfare, remuneration and working conditions of the police force so that Malaysia has an efficient, dedicated, contented and professional force to make Malaysia safe and secure for its citizens, visitors and investors.

In the current meeting of Parliament, for instance, I had criticized Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan for supporting the RM20 billion proposal to rent 34 helicopters for the police for the next 30 years as the money can be better spent on the police rank-and-file to improve their welfare and remuneration.

Let me ask Hamid when he is going to assume personal responsibility as the Home Minister for the daily deterioration of public security situation in the crime, and restore to all Malaysians their fundamental right to be free from crime and the fear of crime?

This week alone, there had been a spate of major crimes like a petrol kiosk cashier hacked to death by robbers in Ipoh, the murder of a salesman found burnt inside his car showroom in Penang and another Mat Rempit mob attack on five people in a car in Jalan Loke Yew, Kuala Lumpur until they lost consciousness.

As Home Minister, Hamid should direct the police to return to the basics to end their misallocation of priorities by maintaining as their topmost priority the fight against crime and to reduce crime instead of deploying limited police personnel and resources to harass and victimize responsible and law-abiding Malaysians, including senior citizens, who want just to exercise their democratic right to express their concerns about justice, freedom and democracy in Malaysia through peaceful gatherings or candlelight vigils.

Hamid should tell the police to keep an eye but to “stay off” from these peaceful gatherings, which are always peaceful and full of goodwill and camaraderie until the spell is broke by high-handed police provocations!

http://blog.limkitsiang.com/2008/11/14/1878/#more-1878

Police deny they roughed up Liu

However, he said police had to restrain those being arrested, regardless of who they were, and that this was allowed under the law.

“I deny all allegations that Liu was treated roughly as we have to restrain those whom we arrest.”

Khalid said the law did not discriminate in its treatment of persons being detained and that the process was the same for everyone.

“No one gets special treatment,” he said after attending an award presentation ceremony in conjunction with the state government’s quality month at Dewan Jubli Perak.

Khalid denied that Liu’s arrest had been politically motivated.

He alleged that Liu had prevented him from carrying out his duties last year while sealing a hotel in Puchong and that he would be charged at the Petaling Jaya magistrate’s court on Monday.

Khalid said the process of charging Liu had taken a year because statements had to be recorded and the matter had been referred to the Attorney-General’s Chambers.

On Wednesday, Liu had asked why eight policemen had been sent to arrest him when he could have gone to the police station or court voluntarily if they had just called or written to him.

He also alleged that the arrest was politically motivated because police had waited a year before suddenly deciding to charge him.

In an unrelated issue, Khalid said yesterday that action would be taken against any group that insisted on gathering illegally at the football field in front of AmCorp Mall, Petaling Jaya.

“I suggest they follow the advice of the Selangor menteri besar and get police permission before holding any gathering.”

An Angry Night To Remember

The Anti-ISA Candlelight Vigil gathering on the 9th November 2008 was a meaningful and memorable one for those who were present. But, it was marred by the sudden arrest of some participants at the field of MBPJ in the midst of singing Negaraku. I was one of those detained.

My name is Sunny Lim and let me take you with me—no, rather with us (those who were detained on the same night with me)—for an unprecedented experience in that memorable night.

The weather was kind and the night air was filled with patriotism. The national anthem was heard loud and clear, sung by all present, in unison. (WATCH THE VIDEO HERE). Before it was over, my arm was grabbed by a plainclothes officer. I suffered shock for a moment and wondered what had gone wrong. I remained composed and walked along with him. This particular officer was kind to me perhaps it was my age. I am a 58-year old man who only wanted to play a societal role to call for the abolishment of ISA in a peaceful way. Lighting a candle to show us the way will not even hurt a fly. However, I could not hold a candle because the video cam in my hand will help me to record all the wonderful moments and the peace-loving people around.

This particular officer allowed me to my requests—to walk with him (no doubt he was still holding on my arm), to leave my video cam alone, and let me climb up the truck by myself.

It was pitch-dark inside and I moved to where I could see with the help of the light shinning in from the road. I was not alone. Someone had beaten me to it. I sat down oblivious to whoever was in there. The first thing that surged in my mind was my daughter who came with her boyfriend. I called her and was happy that they did not have to share the same predicament. Then, my voice rang out. “Girl I have been arrested. I am fine, please tell mum not to worry.”

Well, it is the usual endearment you and I will say when a situation like this arises. Of course, she will worry like hell or perhaps will go hysteria by the news of my arrest or ballistic for not heeding her advice not to go. However, my beloved wife has none as such except to allow me to my decision and with her caring words that I should look after myself. Well, what are spouses for anyway? Perhaps, I failed to look after myself well that night and had caused the tears of anguish to fill her eyes instead.

Yes, I failed to look after myself because I refused to budge while singing the National Anthem. Yes, I failed to look after myself because I showed my patriotism, and yes, I failed to look after myself to be with the other peace-loving Malaysians. This was how a 58-year old Malaysian man had finally failed himself!

I remained composed but not for long because one by one the arrested were hauled in. A young man in his early twenties was disorientated with both his hands cuffed behind him. We told him that he was not alone and no one would leave him behind. It was not our assurance but our promise.

Abruptly, a man was pushed in and he fell on his back with his hands cuffed behind him. He could not get up and yelled for our help to lift him up, and in a jiffy uncountable hands were all over him. He screamed at the police to loosen his handcuffs but was shouted back by the police to shut up. I was as helpless and unable to help him except to give a few words of encouragement to hold on. He had to bear the agony inflicted around his wrists for nearly an hour.

Then, a woman entered with her hands cuffed behind her back too. Later, I got to know her name. She is Angela and of my age. Her son was not under arrest at that point of time but to accompany his mother to the truck. He was arrested too for doing so. Arresting her with handcuff behind her back had made me a very very angry man. However, I was blessed that I had a new-found younger sister.

I could not believe my eyes when I saw a priest in white robe was helped up into the truck. He could not hear me calling him “Father” because I had a lump in my throat looking at what I should not be seeing. But at least I had the honour to hold his elbow to help him up.

Then, I saw that a few Yang Berhormat(s) and la