While The Star Online excitedly writes about Gong Li’s Singaporean citizenship, Malaysiakini finally tells us that all arrested last night have been released except for one individual (I learnt via Terence Tan’s facebook that the one still detained is being held due to an oustanding warrant of arrest out in Pahang).

More importantly, videos are out - These two via the Rev. Sivin Kit (the second shot by Khalid Abu Bakar’s ridiculous denial that the police charged into a group of peaceful citizens singing Negaraku.

I still can’t find a compelling narrative that fits what has happened and explains the motives.

One of the most disturbing aspects is that the police appeared to have decided to attack at the last possible moment - which also happened to be a moment that was an obvious public relations disaster.

This may mean that the police had planned to attack all along. Not having been given a ‘better’ opportunity earlier, they decided to do so before the crowd dispersed after the anthem (as indicated by the organisers, I understand).

There’s much to uncover here. I’ll keep a list here of the expanding amount of writing that is coming out on what happened:

- Sivin Kit
- Anil Netto
- Wong Chin Huat
- Melvin Mah
- Amin Iskandar
- Tony Pua
- Lau Weng San

A full list of those arrested compiled by Suaram, after these excerpts from Malaysiakini.

Selangor police chief Khalid Abu Bakar has denied that the police moved in on participants at a candle-light vigil last night while they were singing the national anthem.

“That is what they (participants) are claiming,” Khalid told reporters at the Petaling Jaya police district headquarters about midnight.

When told that there was a video recording of the police action, Khalid replied: “I am denying it.”

According to Khalid, a group had been gathering at the field opposite Amcorp Mall for four consecutive weeks and have not heeded police demands to apply for a permit.

“We have given them enough warnings,” he said.

Asked if the group had posed a danger to the public, Khalid replied “That doesn’t matter. The law says that a permit must be obtained.”

Asked if this amounted to double standards, since no action had been taken against pro-government groups such as those protesting against the appointment of a non-Malay to head PKNS (Selangor government investment arm).

Khalid denied this, and reiterated that the group had failed to heed demands to obtain a police permit for four weeks.

I doubt the records will show that the police lodged some official protest to the organisers of the weekly ISA vigils about the lack of permits.

It seems more like DCP Khalid is stonewalling and taking a “deny everything” hard line - taking a leaf from the page of the BN book, where they make statements that fly in the face of all available evidence, trying somehow to ‘outsmart’ reality just by repeating a bunch of lies.

We’ll continue to follow all closely. Here’s the list of those arrested:

1. Tony Pua Tiam Wee, PJ Utara Member of Parliament
2. Ronnie Liu Tian Khiew, Selangor State Executive Council member and
Pandamaran State Assemblyman
3. Lau Weng San, Kampung Tunku State Assemblyman
4. Teoh Way Keng, Petaling Jaya City Councillor
5. Ashok Kandiah, Lawyer
6. Ong Boon Keong, Activist and Coordinator for MAFREL
7. Father Paulino Miranda
8. Ambrose Goh, Malaysiakini journalist
9. Shukri Mohamad, Malaysiakini videographer
10. Sunny Lim, blogger
11. Andrew
12. Angelia Ooi
13. Arrif Abdul
14. Augustine
15. Goh Chien Li
16. Johny Andrew
17. Kenny Goh
18. Khairul
19. Mohd Faizal
20. Rahman
21. Ramesh
22. Syed Ahmad
23. Tinggaran

Tags: Making A Better Malaysia by Nathaniel Tan
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Membujur lalu, melintang patah!

In tai chi, when your opponent pushes, you pull; when he pulls, you push. An opponent’s strength is used against him, and often, victory is merely a matter of where to stand.

Back in the early days of Hindraf, I wrote at length of how with just a few small changes, Uthayakumar could be Malaysia’s Gandhi, and Hindraf could become the more encompassing Makkal Sakhti - a movement to empower all the people of Malaysia, to stand up for justice.

That moment comes again. An opportunity to build on success, and be reborn into something even greater and more effective.

No fire against fire, no hitting our heads against stone walls - let us evolve, adjust our position to our advantage, and pull as our opponent pushes.

So what if one organisation is banned - let’s start another. Let’s call it Makkal Sakhti - People Power.

Let Makkal Sakhti be open to all Malaysians, and let Makkal Sakhti never forget the struggle of poor and downtrodden Indians, nor the struggle of poor and downtrodden Malaysians from any background.

Let Makkal Sakhti fight the ISA to the end. Let Makkal Sakhti denounce corruption at every turn and corner. Let Makkal Sakhti protect the poor, defend the weak, and uphold justice for all.

Let Makkal Sakhti give them no space and no excuse to vilify us. Let us give up not one inch of moral high ground.

Tags: Making A Better Malaysia by Nathaniel Tan
9 Comments »

Note: Don’t forget the solidarity vigil tonight. Stay peaceful, and be calm in the face of any provocateurs.
Date: 13 September 2008
Place: Bukit Aman Police HQ Entrance
Time: 8.30 pm

Malaysia is facing a malicious attempt at false provocation.

Clearly, the selectiveness of the ISA arrests is an insidious and misleading attempt to create resentment among particular communities. Why else arrest the messenger but not the message maker, or a politician proven to be only falsely accused?

Perhaps it is hoped that impassioned and racially tinged sentiments will be expressed in the coming days, escalating to even more impassioned racial reactions. This in turn may lay the ground for emergency rule, and for all the suspension of civil liberties and human rights that follow.

What the powers that be have forgotten however, is that Malaysia is better than that.

On March 8th, Malaysians refused to vote purely on racial lines and instead chose their leaders based on issues that affect us all as a united Malaysian nation.

This time, once again, we will not fall for the trap that is racial fear mongering. We will not be pawns in the political manoeuvrings of the ever crumbling ruling party. We will not be trapped in racial polemics, or ever again draw the bitter lines of conflict along the lines of racial division.

While race is not something that must never be talked about and only swept under the carpet, the simple truth of the matter is that the crisis that is now enveloping Malaysia is not about race at all.

It is about keeping the movement for a better Malaysia alive; it is about rejecting a culture of fear and corruption in favour of a culture of integrity and good governance; most of all, it is about protecting what we as a united people regardless of race and religion hold dear as Malaysians, as mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, daughters and sons.

The time has come to speak out in the right language. The language of upholding truth, human rights and our love for one another as Malaysians.

We will reject the language of race, and the utterly misleading temptation to describe the current crisis as a conflict between ethnic communities.

We will not talk the way they want us to, about supposed injustices and insults inflicted by one race on another, or about how one group supposedly steals from another, or any other such lies and misrepresentations.

These are the same tools used the world over throughout history to incite multiracial populations into hate; populations that would and do coexist peacefully and in harmony if not for the manipulations of power obsessed politicians.

Instead, we will speak of defending those who speak truth to power; we will speak of upholding the rule of law and due process, not the use of draconian colonial laws at whim or fancy; we will speak, most of all, of our desire to remain united as Malaysians and continue to love our neighbours as we have done for decades in peace.

When talk is no longer sufficient we will act. We will act only peacefully, without burning tires or harming even a fly.

We will learn the lessons of Gandhi, Martin Luther King, and Mandela and practice peaceful civil activism. We will stand together and rise in defence of our principles, our patriotism and our unity.

If the first line of leadership is taken in, the second must take its place; if the second line falls, the third must rise, and so on until every Malaysian stands up to be counted and to resist injustice.

Whether our country will emerge from this tunnel into the light, or whether we lose our best chance to finally break free of the lies that create racial conflict, will depend entirely on ourselves and our resolve.

If we stand firm now, united and without fear in the face of the challenges and temptations ahead; if we be strong, and take courage; we will see the invincible strength of a united people, and finally win for all Malaysians the Malaysia we deserve.

Tags: Making A Better Malaysia by Nathaniel Tan
22 Comments »

Update 12.15am: Teresa Kok’s arrest supports the provocation thesis, bolded below. Very stupid of them. We must be smarter. I support the idea of mass action - driving with lights on, flying the Malaysian flag, wearing a certain colour, and maybe a nationwide stay-away-from-work on Monday.

If reports of Tan Choon Heng’s arrest are true, then it is the last straw. Tan is one of the reporters who witnessed and wrote about Umno’s Ahmad Ismail’s hate speech.

I am enraged, but must maintain as much rationality as I can.

My current reading is this: the authorities are truly trying to provoke a racially slanted mass uprising, which they will come down hard on and use as an excuse to impose an Emergency, or similar situation.

The blatantness with which they fly in the face of reason and decency can only suggest more nefarious schemes are at work.

My ultimate faith lies in the goodness of Malaysians, who will not be goaded into ridiculous behaviour.

Ever since March, the powers that be have demonstrated again and again that they have absolutely zero ability to adapt and develop new tactics. For whatever reason, they have proven multiple times over that they are only able to rely on past strategies - sodomy accusations, playing the race card, and now: stirring up racial hatred.

The model which they appear to be using mimics both 1969, where Tun Abdul Razak used the riots to instate an Emergency and eventually force Tunku Abdul Rahman out of power, as well as 1987, where a massive internal struggle within Umno moved Mahathir to attack exterior ‘enemies’ in order to strengthen his own fledgling position within Umno.

Today, Najib begins breaking ranks, Muhyiddin whores out his loyalty, and the old guard circle around like sharks. The parallels of internal crumbling within Umno ala 1987 are not to be dismissed.

These tactics are reprehensible, immoral, and disgusting. We will not be goaded.

But we will not sit still either. Peacefully, and with wisdom, patience, fortitude and strength, we will fight them.

“We shall go on to the end,
we shall fight on the seas and oceans,
we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be,
we shall fight on the beaches,
we shall fight on the landing grounds,
we shall fight in the fields and in the streets,
we shall fight in the hills;
we shall never surrender.”

Tags: Making A Better Malaysia by Nathaniel Tan
22 Comments »

I confess, I don’t know much about the man, but a former Gerakan-affiliated political analyst once oozed compliments about the man to me, so I suppose his reputation is fairly sound. This appointment also is occasion to make a few comments about some BN ‘good guys.’

All in all, I’m sincerely glad about the appointment, although of course, the mischievous bit in me can’t help a few playful jibes :) I was amused by this bit in theSun article:

Speaking after a press conference by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, who announced his appointments, the former Jelutong MP and Gerakan deputy secretary-general, stressed that he was still a Gerakan member.

“I can be a voice within the state government. Check and balance need not be outside but from within,” said Lee who was offered the positions a week ago. He took just a few days to accept the offer and even “reported for work” at InvestPenang last Friday.

Hehe, I guess a Gerakan man can’t possibly be a stranger to “check and balance from within” eh? :) Better luck this time I hope!

Okok, enough busting his chops :)

But seriously, in the Malaysian context, it is statistically improbable that every single BN politician pre-2008 was lousy. Obviously, Pakatan should be a little wary about accepting into the fold politicians who have accepted and espoused racist ideologies, as well as are completely accountable for not speaking out against rampant corruption they could not possibly have been ignorant of.

Still, I suppose it’s a little foolhardy to discard them completely, *if* the nation is short on hands. Some service experience and prior good deeds should count for something I suppose. On the nearby front, for instance, I’ve heard decent things about the likes of Sharizat and Lee Hwa Beng. Based on what my friend said, I suppose Lee Kah Choon falls into that category as well.

(People like to point to Zaid and Shahrir.. Well, I suppose.. Though I’m a little disappointed they decided to ignore the writing on the wall and join this cabinet).

Basically, ensuring the best service to the rakyat is the bottom line. Precautionary measures are eminently fair, but all in all, partisanship is a distant second place.

Tags: Making A Better Malaysia, Malaysian Politics by Nathaniel Tan
11 Comments »

ps- headed outstation for a few days, see you on Friday or so! :)

I’ve been meaning to write this for a mighty long time, as it’s something I believe quite strongly in.

Lately I have been looking at the possibility of Umno’s demise (see Part 1 and Part 2). Again, I think that on the whole, this would be a positive thing, but if we do not take the right attitudes down this road, it will be fraught with no good.

I address this post in large part to non-Malays, because as a non-Malay myself, I think the following is an important position for me to take and to articulate, for reasons that I hope will become evident.The key to a healthy transition from an Umno dominated Malaysia to a relatively Umno-less one (they keep keep Johor and maybe Pahang, that’s not the end of the world :) is to under stand the concerns of not only your rabid Umno supporter, but your more general, middle ground Malay Malaysian as well.

We have to affirm and respond to what are real, genuine, and not completely unfounded fears.

The first step along this path is to see Malaysia in the same context a Malay might. Most non-Malays view their situation in a purely Malaysian context. Many Malays understandably view their position in a more global, universal context.

I feel that it is a common apprehension among Malays that their culture and their heritage run the risk of being overrun by globalisation. In a world dominated by English-speaking, materialist non-Muslims, how is a small culture to survive?

Add that to the fact that rightly or wrongly, many Malays perceive the economy, many professions and wealth in general in Malaysia, to be dominated by non-Malays. True, this perception could possibly be due largely to Umno fear-mongering, but that in itself does not detract from the weight of that perception.

A parallel exists where religion is concerned. To many Muslims around the globe, Islam is under siege. So while most non-Muslims see themselves as being contained by a Muslim majority, Muslims feel called to defend their faith against encroachment from forces both local and foreign.

This type of siege mentality must be appreciated to the fullest. Mahathir’s old warning that Malays must take care to ensure that they never end up like Native Americans, black South Africans or Australian Aboriginies carry weight for a reason.

Whether we like it or not, not only the Umno hardcore, but many middle ground Malays would see the removal of Umno from federal power as a serious blow towards the Malay position.

I, like you perhaps, obviously believe that the future of the Malays - along with every single other Malaysian - would be better off, better cared for, and better protected under a Pakatan government. Yet, it is not enough for us to believe this; how can we help others believe it?

Here, I find Kian Ming has a few days ago articulated a number of the things I wanted to suggest.

At the same time, I wish that there was a Chinese or Indian politician who would tell his non- Malay constituents about the deep insecurities felt by many in the Malay community, about how they feel that they might be overrun in their ‘own’ country, as it were, if the NEP were to be lifted, much like how the non-White community in South Africa were marginalised under apartheid.

I wish that there was a Chinese or Indian politician who would tell his non-Malay constituents about the genuine fear that many Malays feel when they perceive that Islam is being ‘attacked’ by organisations such as Article 11 or the Interfaith Commission, about how this is related to the perception that Islam is being ‘attacked’ on a global scale in the war on terrorism.

I wish that there was a Chinese or Indian politician who would tell his non-Malay constituents that many Malays still feel as if many non-Malays are reluctant to embrace a Malaysian identity and would rather retain one which seemed to place more emphasis on ancestral ties and that many non-Malays are still reluctant to embrace BM as the national language of the nation.

Basically, I feel it is the duty of non-Malay believers in a better Malaysia, be they Pakatan sympathisers or not, to help assuage some of the fears of the Malays.

This is not a one way street. I am encouraged to read and see all sorts of signals from Pas that indicate their going through great pains to assure and affirm the needs of the non-Muslim community.

It is not enough for us to applaud these actions, we have to reciprocate in kind.

It is very meaningful when Anwar talks about the need for a race-blind Malaysian Economic Agenda, or when Hadi Awang speaks passionately about the rights of non-Muslims. Now we have to do our part.

There are countless issues we can address, in addition to what Kian Ming touched on above.

For instance, we can speak about the need to protect and encourage the growth of Malay culture and heritage in a world dominated by Western culture. We can speak out against the policies of private companies that for no good reason require job applicants to have Chinese language skills. We can speak up for the countless underprivileged Malay communities, be they urban squatters or rural poor.

If you don’t think these are genuine problems, I humbly invite you to do some soul-searching and look around with more open eyes.

It doesn’t stop there. We obviously have to practise a sincere zero-tolerance policy on snide jokes about Malays being lazy, spoilt, etc etc. Don’t make such remarks, and don’t just smile quietly when your friends do.

There are also other ‘battles’ that we have to pick with greater care. I don’t have strong feelings on the use of the term ‘Allah,’ but from an ethnic relations standpoint, I do have to wonder if those advocating its use by non-Muslims really have that much to gain from a stance, as compared to the strain it may put on religious relations.

I admit to being quite perturbed with statements like: “Saya betul-betul tidak faham kenapa segelintir orang amat sensitif jika menyentuh perkara berkaitan babi atau daging babi.”

Jika betul-betul tak faham, berusahalah untuk faham sket.

The new dawn for Malaysian politics requires politicians to up their game somewhat where nuances and maturity are concerned, as well as to leave behind old mindsets. Lim Kit Siang seems to be doing a great job evolving, as witnessed by his more measured statemens and the way he responded and changed his stance over the Perak MB issue. That, along with statements from Hadi Awang, Husam Musa (and even the Kelantan Deputy MB who clarified his backbone statement in Harakah) really signal positive maturing.

But we can’t just leave it to politicians. You and I have to do our part too. I’m quite confident my Malay brothers and sisters will help to break this new ground. The rest of us are going to have to do the same, and go above and beyond, and far out of our way, to send all the right signals to assure Malay Malaysians that even if Umno were to fade, Malay culture, Malay heritage, and Malay dignity will all continue to be protected and upheld according to the best traditions of defending human rights for all Malaysians.

Tags: Making A Better Malaysia, Malaysian Politics by Nathaniel Tan
26 Comments »

As promised, here is my accounting of the funds donated during the GE 12 campaign.

It may not be perfect, but that’s the best that we have been able to come up with so far.

As you can see, there is about RM 5,000 not spent. I do apologise that I was not able to use this money in time.

Some (non-exhaustive) options:

1. Spend it on future projects, such as revamping and integrating KeADILan’s web presence or towards start-up costs of any new party apparatus.

2. Donate towards any civil society initiatives for a better Malaysia.

3. Donate to charity.

Well, will have to think on this for a while, and rest assured that I will account for the remaining 5k.

I really want to offer my heartfelt thanks once again for your amazing generosity. It really meant a lot, and you have yourselves to thank for the fantastic showing in these historic general elections. We’ve struck the first (possibly soon to be final) blow towards ending corrupt & race-based politics.

Thank you, thank you once again. (Special thanks to Bel, Tamara, GS & Amita for helping sort through all the receipts and all! :)

Tags: Making A Better Malaysia by Nathaniel Tan
6 Comments »