I started writing this two Sat nites ago, before RPK/MatTyson. I must admit, the explanation appears to be slightly less convincing now, in light of developments, but it’s still a theory worth elaborating on re: manipulation.
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I’m in an unusually poetic mood this evening.
These three terms were invented by author Christopher Priest; perhaps you recognise them from the movie The Prestige.
Me and Li Tsin just finished watching it, rather by coincidence. Li Tsin is humble about her piercing intelligence, but while I spent most of the movie trying to anticipate the twists, she correctly identified long before I did (if I were to have at all) the most important hidden aspect of the story. That’s my girl :)
Anyway :) Democrapedia:
First, there is the setup, or the “pledge,” where the magician shows the audience something that appears ordinary but is probably not, making use of misdirection. Then there is the performance, or the “turn,” where the magician makes the ordinary act extraordinary. Lastly, there is the “prestige,” where the effect of the illusion is produced. There are “twists and turns, where lives hang in the balance and you see something shocking you’ve never seen before.”
These terms call to mind the terminology of poker - another game that fascinates me.
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I’m far from the first to posit the following theory regarding the reasons for my arrest. Nonetheless, I thought it would be prudent to elaborate in my own words. The core thrust of it was recalled to me by Tian, right after my press conference at KeADILan HQ.
The Pledge
Perhaps the only place where it can be considered ‘normal’ for the nation’s top cop and his ministerial boss can be found publicly attacking one another is in Malaysia.
I have blogged on a number of occasions that this state of affairs is highly irregular. Nevertheless, it does form the backdrop of our situation.
Johari has lambasted the police for ineptitude in fighting crime (the rakyat is another popular punching bag for this particular deputy minister). He has also taken every step to highlight and generate hype about allegations connecting Musa to underworld gangs and so on.
Not exactly what you call a ‘normal’ pledge, but still not out of the ordinary for Malaysia, tragically.
The Turn
Meanwhile, if we look back to when the Johari case burst into the front page of The Star (March 3rd, 2007), we can see that Musa is an important actor in this drama right from the get go.
I invite you to look back as well as what I wrote (on the same day) in response to those newspaper reports - see my first (and to a lesser extent, second) blog post(s) on the matter, from which I quote:
As it so happens, the author of one of said websites has commented on this blog before. I had to delete some of his comments (dated almost a month ago) because the information could not be verified (links to the author’s site where all the information was originally produced were maintained however).
I am thus a little surprised that The Star chose to carry this story, and that the IGP commented as such. To me, the IGP’s comment has been the largest single validation of the accusations levelled by said minister on said website, which could possibly have otherwise been dismissed (as I sorta did) as without having credible sources/proof.
I know I’m being a bit of an ass for not saying which minister or which site, but a) you probably already know, b) it’s best not to encourage yet-to-be-proven accusations, and c) look hard enough in the archives here and i’m sure you’ll be able to ’snatch’ the information. Friends I trust won’t jump to conclusions can email me for details if it’s really nagging.
No doubt, all the media hype both then and now, the IGP’s very odd decision to investigate (does he investigate all ’specific’ accusations made on the internet), and the aftermath of the notion that OSA documents that are related to these accusations do in fact exist have given great credence to the accusations against Johari.
I recall one last factor. I may or may not have mentioned that the police report shown to me from which the ‘investigation’ ending in my arrest originated from was in fact made by a police officer (this is important). All the report stated was that said police officer had visited one of the freewebs websites, where possibly defamatory statements were made and where official secrets were supposedly exposed.
Observe then, how all the ‘credence’ given to what are otherwise (to the best of the public’s knowledge) facts and figures plucked completely out of thin air in fact originate from the police themselves.
In Malaysia, sadly, these facts offers no comment on whether the accusations are true or not. All they point out is a highly unusual amount of attention - especially given the lack of attribution, sources or verification - the police have given these accusations. Said accusations being true is a possible explanation for the intense police scrutiny, but there is no conclusive evidence either way.
Well, in the movie’s example of what makes an ordinary act extraordinary, making someone or something disappear is what exemplifies the Turn.
In this case, that someone was me.
The Prestige
The Prestige is where you make what has disappeared appear again. My detention has been discussed, let’s examine the landscape by the time I was once again produced to the public.:
1. Prior to the Friday of my arrest/’kidnapping,’ how many people remembered the accusations against Johari that were hyped up back in March?
2. How many people remember them now?
Voila.
Probably knowing what a ruckus this would all kick up, Musa Hassan has resurrected the scandal surrounding Johari (if only for a little while), as a sharp reminder to the ever threatening Johari that the Tan Sri still has ways of making the Datuk squirm. A few more tricks up his sleeve, if you like.
Musa also managed all this at no personal risk to himself (the same cannot be said for the reputation of the Cyber Crimes unit and the peace of mind of the Dang Wangi police).
See? Manipulating scandals and writers on the internet for their own personal agendas. And I got 4 nights in the lockup for their trouble, thank you very much.
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Well, that’s one conspiracy theory for you to chew on.
Things look a little different now though, now it seems everyone is out for blood. But who knows what is really going on; some of these attacks on the blogosphere are almost too stupid to be real. Perhaps that’s a subject for the next post….
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It was a pretty good movie, all in all.. I’m still so proud of Li Tsin for figuring the twist out! :)
Tags-
Malaysian Politics,
my arrest
Tags: my arrest, Malaysian Politics by Nathaniel Tan
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