Raja Petra and Anwar Updates

Raja Petra has been freed.

Somebody on the net is talking about something called "criminal defamation" and "sedition". From what I comprehend, these two terms account for two different things under the legal system. I am so confused as to what is transpiring now in Malaysia. It is so mind-boggling.

How could that happen?

Blogger CHARLES HECTOR wrote the entry Why Raja Petra charged? Because if the state wants to it can... . It is necessary to read his blog for more information.

Meanwhile . Malaysiakini reports Still no sign of Saiful's police report . It seems that Anwar alleged that he has not seen the police report detailing the crime he was alleged to be committed. If what Anwar said is true, this brings to two questions : Can an arrest be made on a person without him/her knowing his/her offense? Would that be a human rights violation?

Hopefully people from the legal circle can educate the public on this matter.

Now, Anwar Released, Raja Petra Arrested and Charged !

Elviza wrote Anwar released on police bail and I thought the people waiting for him in front of Ibu Pejabat Kontinjen Kuala Lumpur (IPK KL) can take a rest, the road block can be removed and everything can resume as usual.

Anyway, I am very displeased with the reason given on why Anwar was arrested yesterday, one hour before the 2 p.m. deadline issued in the arrest warrant An excerpt from The Star says :

"Police arrested Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim an hour before the 2pm deadline as they feared that he would not show up."

This is really mind-baffling. Did anyone read the content of the warrant? I thought the warrant only allow arrests IF he did not show up after 2 pm . This reason of "fear" is truly shocking ! If police did not obey the time prescribed and the legally issued warrant itself, what more can I say?

Meanwhile, before everyone's emotions settled down, comes another arrest. Raja Petra of Malaysia Today have been arrested !

Aarvidi wrote Raja Petra in ‘mood to fight’ . Judging by his character, he will not back down from his words. Previously, I remember reading one of his articles where he said he will not give up and shall persist till the end. Come what may .. jail etc.

As a blogging Malaysian, I admire his spirit of persistence. I appreciate his contributions in promoting understanding between races by opening spaces for public opinions and building a cleaner and more efficient government.

I am saddened by this turn of event. I give my support to him and his family in going through this ordeal.

Anwar Arrested ! This is 2008, That Was 1998 !

Goodness gracious. Fiddlesticks ......

Anwar is arrested again ! He was debating yesterday and now he is arrested !

Almost all corners of blogosphere is writing about this !

There is a commotion in our Parliament as well.

Within hours, this event has gone international ! Read this....

Read more of his arrest here:
Malaysia’s Anwar arrested over sex charges
Irish Times - Dublin,Ireland

Lawyer says Malaysia’s Anwar has been arrested on
International Herald Tribune - France

Malaysian opposition leader Anwar arrested: lawyer
Sydney Morning Herald - Sydney,New South Wales,Australia

Malaysia’s Anwar faces arrest
Aljazeera.net - Qatar

Malaysia’s opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim arrested
Radio Australia - Melbourne,Victoria,Australia

Malaysia’s Anwar Ibrahim arrested
BBC News - UK

Anwar Is Arrested in Malaysia After Sodomy Accusation (Update1)
Bloomberg - USA

Police Arrest Malaysian Opposition Leader
Wall Street Journal - USA

Thanks to Susan Loone who provided those links in her entry Hundreds gather to protest Anwar’s arrest .

Tony Pua said Deja Vu and there are a few wishes that he had made on the up-and-coming investigations .... read it .. Statement 2 reminds me of history ...

"2. That Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will be treated with total respect and decorum as an individual who is innocent until proven guilty under Malaysian laws. We do not need another black eye for Malaysia."

Fed Up of The Starry Drama

Wong Chun Wai wrote Fed up with the political drama

This is what was written ....
After all, politics is all about perception. But in Malaysia, with the credibility of the government, judiciary, police and media in question, facts and evidence no longer matter.

And who can blame Malaysians? You have a private investigator P. Balasubramaniam who made incredulous allegations against Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in a statutory declaration, which ranged from anal sex to commission for a submarine deal, and then retract them barely 24 hours later.

The man should be arrested and charged in court. The perception of Malaysians now is that a statutory declaration can be written by anyone, in the presence of any lawyer, and sealed for RM6 in front of any commissioner of oath.

The statutory declaration is in danger of becoming a piece of toilet paper. You can file a document, say the nastiest things, with no evidence except “reliably informed”. What the people choose to believe will depend on their political allegiance.
_______________________________________________

It is necessary for me to say a few things. Yes, I am indeed sick, tired and fed up of the current political drama.

Yes, I have low confidence on the credibility of the government, judiciary, police and media in question but it has nothing to do with Mr. Bala's act of retracting the first Statutory Declaration. Goodness gracious.....

Besides, on the part of the phrase "reliably informed", to ascertain whether it can be treated as valid, one should check out Haris Ibrahim's latest post Hearsay and speaking from the grave (1) and Hearsay and speaking from the grave (2) (updated 09 July 2008 08.36 a.m.)

Now I am sick, tired and fed up of "questionable" media too ......

Malaysia Circus Politics: Bloggers Declare Strike-Disgust

I am joining this chorus of bloggers to express my extreme disgust, frustration, discontent at the recent Malaysia Circus Politics involving the below:

1) No end in sight to handing in and revoking Statutory Declarations. The only one acceptable to me is RPK's Statutory Declaration.

2) Police reports after police reports, allegations after allegations, denials after denials.

3) Endless "Bollywood Drama Minggu Ini" : Keeping evidences and giving out little by little.

4) Flip-flopping : Somebody said they did not meet someone, the next day Somebody said he actually did.

5) Liwat-Meliwat. Fretting over anal intercourses.

6) Suggestion on army to be involved in streets. Why do that? That should be the police's job. Somebody used to say Malaysia is not like Pakistan, not like Myanmar. Malaysia is not a military government (yet).

As a Malaysian, I would want "Justice for Altantuya", the Mongolian lady who was killed and body destroyed using a C4 bomb. In my opinion, it is still necessary for Najib to put national and party interest as priority by taking a leave and clearing his name before resuming his job.

As for Anwar, if he has any other evidences, he should for once and for all expose everything. Otherwise, make lesser episodes.....

In this day and time, we should place more attention on bread-and-butter issues, inflation, a potential looming global economic crisis/recession and a dwindling economy.

What is Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, the Prime Minister of Malaysia and his Administration doing to all these crucial issues? Can Pak Lah step up to the plate?

It is useless if one is only smart in playing politics but not on administering the welfare and economy of the nation. After all, poor administration is not a wise political move. This statement is dedicated to all politicians.

All these politicising has taken away our attention on the bigger threats/issues. I am too lazy to keep up with the circus politics. Tell me when the story is near the end. That is how I approach boring serial dramas. There is more to life than this. Instead, I shall put more concentration on economy and administration.

Blogs expressing similar sentiments (strike, disgust)
Rocky's Bru Malaysian bloggers on strike
Marina Mahathir's I think I'll go on strike
Jeff Ooi's Visit Meliwat Year 08
Wong Chun Wai's Sick, Tired and Fed up
Khoo Kay Peng's National Crisis
Unspun blog Sick, tired and fed up in the New Malaysia
Michelle Yoon's My open letter to Anwar Ibrahim

Drama Minggu Ini : Sodomy (Again ?)

Read this from Malaysiakini :

A police report has been lodged against de facto PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim for allegedly sodomosing one of his aides - the second time that such an accusation had been made in over 10 years.

The report was lodged by the 23-year-old alleged victim at the Jalan Travers police station at 6pm.

KL police chief Muhammad Sabtu Osman confirmed that the report had been made.

I am sure everybody remember 1998, the questionable sodomy case and the Reformasi movement. Now, another sodomy report appears. Rocky's Bru has some basic but important details of the police report. It is necessary to read it beforehand.

Before we get to see any "upacara angkat tilam" (bed carried off to police station as evidence) being televised on local channels, Anwar has made a move to the Turkish embassy to seek for asylum. He purportedly was worried that his life was under threat. There were claims by certain quarters on the possibility of all this as part of a conspiracy cum major political ploy to undermine the most successful de facto opposition leader to date in Malaysia. If there is any real mutiny behind this, it is not hard to guess who hides behind the shadows and masterminded all these.

Another important question to ask, is this case considered as "sodomy" or "rape"? Some quarters suggest to the citizens to have more confidence in the police, judiciary and media in managing with the investigation and such. Unfortunately, I would say my confidence is extremely low.

As for whether I believe Saiful or Anwar, I shall let the pictures speak a thousand words ... Malaysia Today published several pictures of Saiful with various non-Pakatan Rakyat leaders .

I was actually reading some important news before getting awed by the "sodomy" news that uncannily appeared when the nation is concerned with RPK's Statutory Declaration on some people linked with a high profile figure, C4 and Altantuya .

I believe it is time for me to place my main attention on this case. After all, the murder of a person using bombs is definitely more serious than sodomy charges.

As a Malaysian, I want "Justice for Altantuya" and nothing would distract me from this.

I urge all Malaysians to do the same.