Wednesday, May 28, 2008

A Sunday walk and some words from a Minister

Dato' Wong Chun Wai, GEIC of The Star, speaking with Rocky and Eric Woon
YB Dato Zaid Ibrahim, with Dato Wong CW and Cik Norila Daud
Rocky and Wong Chin Huat leading the Media Walk
Merdeka! Merdeka! Merdeka!
UPDATE: 2nd June 2008

They came , they heard, and probably most left unimpressed. Unimpressed because most felt that Dazo Zaid Ibrahim as a Minister in the Prime Minister's Department would have been able to emphatise with the plight of those in the Media and help push for reforms. As such his speech which mainly touched on the need from those in the media to consolidate and unify to provide suggestions as to how these reforms can be carried out, though sensible was still not what they wanted to hear. Zaid was heckled as he attempted to lend his ear to those calling for greater press freedom. In turn he used that as an example for the Media to also listen other then imposing their request. He made it known that he was there in his capacity as a Minister wanting to hear and get to the ground on why the media is still not pleased with the current government which has shown that it was indeed open to changes. He also said that it was really the role of the media to present news as it was supposed to and not allow the spinning that is quite often the case. He stressed that it was really up to the editors themselves to undo the damage, long perceived as the work of unseen powers that be, or so he says (or rather that was how I read his statement). I suppose, that those who were actually doing the groundwork would stand up for they are the ones who go through all that chopping and clipping from their bosses.
IMHO? Bloggers still have the edge to print what they can get their hands on, without fear or favour......for now at least!

For an Irish Perspective, read here!

Come Sunday 1st June 2008, journalist will have their turn to lead civil society in their call for true press freedom. The main stream media has been called many names. It is therefore not surprising that Benar (a civil action group) has now called for the Journalist to show their true colours.
The National Union of Journalist and the National Press Club is in arms to support this walk/stroll (read, NOT A POLITICAL gathering) and it hopes to see both journalist and members of the public who has interest in a truly free media come out in support of it.
Word has it that Wong Chun Wai will be walking with his colleagues, and hopefully by the time they leave dataran Merdeka to the National Press Club, we will not see blue and red monkeys waving their batons and threatening with chemical laced gas!
After all, there is no protest, there will be no chanting, but a peaceful walk by many individuals or twosomes.....

I will be there to record it, and you should be able to catch it on yew tube by evening time!

Anu has a more complete report posted in her blog


Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Of Pebbles and Rocks...and now Banana Trees

double click on pictures to enlarge

Sat pix from Google earth & Inset Picture from Lighthousedepot.com

In coffee shops, they are talking about it, how our Malaysian team had argued without conviction and how the team comprising of a Father and Son may have inadequately presented Malaysia's argument at the ICJ last week. And the result of course was us gettng the pebbles, and our neighbours, the rocks.
Though the Singapore Government did not lay claim to Banana Island (better known as Pulau Pisang) maybe our Government should wise up and come to an agreement with our neighbours that we really have the resources and should take back the management and operations of this, (potentially disputable) lighthouse that is only 5 kilometres away (this according to newspapers, but according to my calculations, courtesy of google earth, its at least 13 kilometres from the shores of pontian) from our shores.
Unlike the feeble attempt by our legal team in the Hague, which chose to present a Lighthouse blog in their argument, the Lighthouse Depot, is a dedicated website on lighthouses worldwide.

What do you think our maritime heroes should do? Continue to let our neighbours operate OUR lighthouse, and eat our Bananas at the same time, or should we take it over and run it ourselves?
If they can't find someone to run it, will you?
Tok mommy has her take here

Friday, May 23, 2008

Of Pebbles and Rocks

So we lost it. But hey, we still got two pebbles (At least)!
Its really a pity, even the photos are not ours!
Credit goes to Singapore Memorial for the photos.....

Read here for the judgement by ICJ and here for a lawyer's take....

What 5 days of not checking your SMS means to 130 others

Picture from weechookeong.blogspot.com

An enforcement officer of the City Hall of Kuala Lumpur (Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur) claimed that he could not check his SMS for five days, and proceeded to demolish 7 corner lots in the vicinity of Wangsa Maju section 2, based on an demolition order issued by the office of Town Planning DBKL. The action was to have taken place on 21st of May 2008. However, on being informed of the threatened action by a hawker in that area, Member of Parliament for Wangsa Maju proceeded to contact the office of the Town Planning department and he received the assurance by the Deputy Director of Town Planning DBKL that the action will be stayed for 14 days in order for the MP to provide alternative solutions.
The hawker when informing YB Wee Choo Keong also added that the local MCA office had warned the hawkers not to relay the demolition notice to the incumbent MP (this information was obtained from YB Wee Choo Keongs weblog). Given the assurance that there would be a stay of demolition, YB Wee then proceeded to meet the hawkers. However, on the morning of the 21st of May, the enforcement unit of DBKL proceeded with the demolition. The officer attending to the demolition had even not bothered to identify himself, proceeding to remove his identification tag when he was on site. Despite YB Wee's protest, the demolition continued.
Today, YB Wee and those affected by the demolition gathered at the HQ of DBKL to voiced their dissaitisfaction as well to hand over a memorandum of protest to the Mayor of KL.
YB Wee also added in his interview with TV3 that the result of the intervention of DBKL, and the mere mention of the action was because the hawkers had supported the PKR candidate instead of MCA was clear indication that DBKL was also playing politics. He also cited the high handed ways of the officers in charge of the operation as well as the failure to wear indentification tags as means to indiscriminately perform their duties. YB Wee then reiterated his point that the Mayor needs to be voted by the rakyat in order for him to perform his duties without fear or favour.
Myblog-TV went to the area in question, section 2 of Wangsa Maju and also recorded illegal hawkers still operating in the vicinity, some, 10 metres away from the affected hawkers. Speaking to bystanders in the area, they expressed concern that instead ofa balnket action, it seemed like a selective enforcement of sorts by DBKL.
What is clear is that these hawkers have been operating for more than 20 years, and have well established themselves despite some being illegal. Some of the hawkers claimed that they even had licenses issued to them by DBKL. They also highlighted that they have in the past brought this matter up to the previous member of Parliament, and had engaged DBKL in a roundtable discussion. YB Wee had also claimed that he had in his possession documents that proofed such a meeting did exist.
Evidently, the action by DBKL seemed to have proven the opposite. We can only emphatise with the 130 hawkers and their family and hope that DBKL can carry out their actions without favour.

YewTube has its video report here.
YB Wee Choo Keong has his story here , here and here.

Thursday, May 22, 2008

Finance 101: How to spend your annual budget in four Months

We have heard it so often, monies meant for the public wasted and spent wantonly. But what takes the cake is how the former State Assemblyman of Kampung Tunku (and some others) spent his annual budget in four months. The Sultan of Selangor had also voiced his concerns when this was brought to light by the PKR lead state government in its seating on Wednesday.
(DUN for Kampung Tunku, Lau Weng San has got these documents to share)
To illustrate the way the money was spent, here is my analysis taken from the JPG documents that Lau Weng San posted in his blog.
DOWNLOAD EXCEL FILE HERE FOR ALL PAYMENTS MADE FROM THE 2008 BUDGET FOR ADUN KAMPUNG TUNKU
There are many questions that are unanswered from a simple analysis of these payments.
Questions like,
1. How can applications for Proposal be made one month after the event?
2.How many days does it take to organise a Chinese New Year event (3 days from Chap Goh Mei, last day of New Year) and get RM10,000.00 for doing it at the same time?
3.Why were payments made to proprietary businesses for the benefit of certain communities in various parts of Kampung Tunku?
4.Why were projectors being given away to 'community centres' and for what reasons?
5.Why are payment details not complete?(Businesses without business registration numbers and details of cheques missing from the summary list of payments)
6.Why does the ADUN need to provide two seperate dinners for 'Party leaders' and 'Rakyat'? Shouldn't it be one and the same for integration purposes?
7.MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION....How do you allow for the whole year's budget to be used up in four months?

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Eat for a good cause

The Merry bunch at the Damansara Village

A facebook invite I received a few days ago said just that. Sent out by Patrick Teoh, it needed no explanation, to me at least. A few phone calls later, Bernard Khoo had firmed up a table for 10 and the rest they said, is history.
Located at a cosy and clean corner of SS23, Damansara Jaya / Taman Megah, whichever way one takes, Damansara Village appears from the outside to be just another restaurant.
It offers live seafood, and my take on yesterday's dinner was just...mmmmmmmmm...Oishe!
To be able to have a nice dinner and do good as well was just, icing on the cake!
And yes, lets not forget the lovely company of Mr & Mrs Zorro, Mr & Mrs Fisherman's Wharf, Benny, Little Taffler, and the Old Sea Dog(Ancient Mariner)!.
Yew Tube had to go to work, but missed out on the who's who in the arts! (this Yew Tube fella has got a lot to learn....)
But for those who did not make it there, do give it a try some day, live prawns jumping out of yer plate does remind me somewhat of the dancing ducks on a hotplate! And the magic number they raised was RM24632.17!

Lovely pix of the night from Damansara Village official blog here! A job well done Patrick & Team! Yew Tube's video report here

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

What drives one person to act?

Its up to us. Really. If you do not want change, then it comes down to you. Not me, certainly not the next person closest to you.
Haris Ibrahim took one year to start the ball rolling, he started People's Parliament and all those initiatives that got so many Malaysians off their backside (read here on his interview by the Star). Pete Teo took six months to get his fellow artistes to contribute their time so that they can come up with a song, an identity for Malaysians who have so often complained about racial and religious discrimination in this land we so love.
I can think of so many issues that drives me, the environment, the National (Dis)Service, Council issues, just so many that I don't know where to start!
But what about you? Have you been driven to a point that the only thing that you can do is to start an action group?
Is it so hard that we each give some of our time to better our surroundings?

How many of you recycle? I took a bag full of bottles to the scrap yard the other day, and they told me that they do not take bottles! I can only assume that they do not make enough money from it! Our society has come to the stage that it will only act if there is a reward....sad. Really sad. I will be building a compost bin for my sisters house next week, in our little effort to try to recycle some waste. I urge you to do the same (not the compost bin!) but to seperate your waste, by bottles, plastics, paper and natural waste. If you have not been recycling your aluminum can, start doing it.

We each have to do our part. And let's not forget our social responsibility too. Continue to be vigilant on wastage by our councils. Wake up and reclaim your country.

Thursday, May 15, 2008

MAFU


OK not SNAFU...MAFU which stands for Malaysian Artistes For Unity project was launched, with its song and video released to the public for the first time since it's announcement some 6 weeks ago. A brainchild of Pete Teo (who incidentally also wrote the song), the project involved some 120 volunteers and showcases 16 artistes and personalities in their video.
The sole aim of this project is to involve the Malaysian public in its drive for a united Malaysia, no rece, no colour, to promote racial unity in our country.
The song 'Here In My Home' was wirtten by Pete, and features local popular personalities, like Afdlin Shauki, Awie, Ning Baizura, Jaclyn Victor, Reshmonu, Pete Teo, Jason Lo, Klg Sqwad, Altimet, Suki, Daniel Lee, Nikki Palikat and Melina William.
The video which was directed by Yasmin Ahmad and Ho Yuhang features, apart from the 16 singers, at least 50 personalities, known or otherwise, including Shebby Singh, Tony Fernandes, Amber Chia, Harith Iskandar, Dancer January Low, and actors Nell Ng, Ida Nerina, Maya Karin and Sharifah Amani.

'Here In My Home' is fully available for FREE downlaods on the MAFU website, and with its catchy tune, I would suggest that you find a good bandwidth to do so. Sandy Monteiro was also at the press conference and thanks largely to his organisation, Universal Music, which helped convert the media to suit the various different files required for download purpose was also helpful in getting local Telco Maxis to provide the downloads via its network for Free!

Pete Teo in answering questions from the media also stressed that MAFU is an independent, non partisan, non profit project that seeks to celebrate the multi cultural ideal of Bangsa Malaysia.
Bangsa Malaysia movement which was mooted by the People's Parliament had asked Dave Avran of Spanking Da Monkey to develop the possibility of having some of the artistes to involve themselves in the roadshow that is being planned. Pete Teo had expressed his interest, and Yasmin Ahmad has committed herself for the Sarawak leg of the BM roadshow.
(look out for more details)

Malaysia has done it again. Proud Malaysians doing their part to achieve real unity, now, that's truly, truly Malaysia.

visit yew tube for the video report

Monday, May 12, 2008

Retribution....or not?

It seems that some people did actually take notice of the Tourism Minister's threat to stop funds from getting to certain parties in support of Tourism activities of the Pakatan Rakyat run states.
I can't help but think that this is the case. (read here on reaction by PR heads to Azalina's call to end funding to PR states)
The Malaysian Highway Authority has cancelled this year's Penang Bridge run, citing monetary problems, but surprisingly quoting safety as well (Malaysian Highway Authority's Penang Marathon notice) . On their statement that "the bridge is narrower now" does not hold water, as it applies only to the mid span of the bridge. Marathons had been successfully run on two laned roads before and the narrowest part of the bridge has two lane span. Further, the Penang Bridge Expansion project started in December 2005 (the bridge run did take place in 2006 & 2007) Phase one was to have seen the expansion of lanes and toll booths, all of which has been completed. The current phase involves, piling and expansion of the mid span area. How can this be a problem to runners? If indeed, there is a problem, it would constitute more of a problem to daily motorist, especially motorcycles. Despite the claims by MHA, they posted this on their website.

So if this is the way, certain parties are reacting after March 8th, then the rakyat again will have to dome to the rescue. Watch this space if a bigger event will replace the Bridge Run.....
Danny Law, are you all ears?

Thursday, May 08, 2008

Candle Light Vigil.....Not!

a candle (and more) for those detained unjustly....

an unknown man being detained and taken away in a patrol car

RPK's imminent release tomorrow morning would probably be the most awaited event to his supporters and Malaysia Today's followers. A candlelight vigil was to be held in Dataran Merdeka at 8.00pm tonight in solidarity with RPK and all those held unjustly, especially ISA detainees.

Arriving at around 8.15pm, I was informed that Haris Ibrahim had been 'taken' away in a patrol car as soon as he got to the Dataran. Fortunately, YewTube was there to record the incident.
On being taken away, Haris had enough time to pass his car key and a message to Wilson. "They are taking me to Tun HS Lee". Wilson had offered to shoot video for YewTube (myblog-tv) in anticipation of events unfolding as soon as we got information that there was already heavy police presence in the square.

I got the message as soon as I arrived and proceeded to document another 'arrest' that was happening that very moment. At the same time, I got in touch with Malik Imtiaz not knowing that he was down with 104degrees fever! He got in touch with Edmund Bon, and for a good 30 minutes we exchanged phone calls, and in between, staying in touch with Haris's family.

At the same time, almost anyone that was in the square was told by police personnel to 'move away from the square'. It really did not help that the civil defense services and Bomba (fire department) was setting up for a two day exhibition from tomorrow. As such, unknown to those passing through the area, it looked like Fort Knox!

A sight most familiar with civil society wanting to express themselves in public

It was quite intimidating for those who are not familiar with these kind of intimidation by our boys in blue. Show up in force, be rude to the public, and most likely they will disperse. Tonight,they sure did. Without a whimper, most made their way to central market. And they really cannot be blamed for it.

Some 20 minutes later, YB Tian Chua emerged with the beret-wearing Hishamudin Rais. The two of them insisted that they be allowed through the police barrier so that they can make their way to the Royal Selangor club house.
Members of the media was allowed to accompany them as they made their way round the padang. Marina and most RPK supporters had already gathered in Selangor Club when they were refused entry to the dataran premises.As soon as we got to the club, there were loud cheers and candles had already been lit along the Selangor Club padang fence.

YB Tian Chua, 'very experienced Police detainee' lights a candle for RPK's cause

A short while later, a high-ranking police officer made his way in and spoke to a few officials of the club. At this point, Edmund Bon had already got to Tun HS Lee police station and as expected, Haris was nowhere to be seen.
A short while later, an SMS from Malik as well as a call from Edmund confirmed that Haris was at the Dang Wangi station and was 'chatting' casually with some officers. That was good news and what came next was almost a joke. It seemed that they merely wanted to 'speak' to Haris, and that was all. NO arrest, NO charges, and certainly NO sedition! (Haris and Edmund eventually made it back to the Press Club at 10.00pm, thereabouts)
Meanwhile at the club, things got a little ugly, as Club Management officials instructed their guards to remove all candles along the fencing.

The man was just doing his duty.........but it was not a nice sight

At the same time, the officer was also asked to identify the guest of the members who were not signed in and presumably to remove them from the private premises. I do not blame the club, as it was a private club after all, but to not support its own in their call for justice? I shall reserve my comment, but I thought they could have handled it better.

I made my way back to the Press Club, and as I write this, I have this to say to those who were turned away. Next time, stay strong.

Facts of the day.....
Police personnel - Around 150 (spoke to a beat officer from the 4th PGA, PDRM)
FRU personnel - Light Advance force (around 50 personnel in two trucks)
Water cannon - One truck (not used)
Police Patrol cars on site - 8 cars (UNIT 380 KL)
Police Bikes - 10
Plain clothes SB - Unknown (spotted at least 4 men with cameras)
No of people turned away - around 25 (those that I saw, and photographed)
No of people 'taken away' - 2 (Haris and one other unidentified)
No of candles lighted - probable around 60 or more, at the Selangor Club Fence
No of Media personnel - at least 18 (those who followed Tian Chua and Hishamudin Rais to RSC)

Catch YewTube tomorrow for the video coverage of both evenings of candlelight vigils.

We care.....

UPDATED: 8 May 2008, 1555 hrs
RPK will be brought to the PJ Sessions court tomorrow at 9.45am. He is still technically held at the Sungai Buluh prisons despite bailed being paid this afternoon. At 2.20pm, Marina confirmed that bail has been paid. In the meantime, at 8.00pm today, the candlelight vigil will still be held.
The vigil is also held in mind of those unjustly held under the ISA.
Do show up in support and if you still need a candle contact me at 0133872028.

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The one thing that the government does not realise is that civic minded Malaysians do genuinely care for their fellow countrymen. Really. Hence, their call for the championing of one particular race's rights is genuinely a call to split the country. That's my take on it. (Malik has a good piece on his blog) But we all do care. No colour, no race.
Hence, last night when the call went out that there would be a candlelight vigil at the Sungai Buluh Prison entrance, I was hoping for a good turnout, yet doubtful if there would be a significant crowd. Sungai Buluh Prison was afterall some 38 km from KL and who, eventhough in support would drive 76 kms to light a candle? Still hopeful, but on arriving there, I was left wondering if RPK would be left alone to fight the battle in the war that he had waged for the rest of civil society.
Arriving at the entrance to the prison complex, I was still sceptical. I had picked up Zorro, and met Haris at bloghouse, and received a call from Jaya at the same time, inviting him to join our car pool.
So when the crowd started to grow, inside, I was relieved that others had also started to arrive.
It was also clear that the boys in blue would turnout sufficiently to ensure that RPK did not get too large a group, again my opinion. I did see some Gestapo Special Branch officer clicking away with his camera (I am not entirely sure, but I have not seen this guy before in any of the events I covered before, and judging from his equipment, he did seem entirely out of place, as did the guy in the courthouse, and the guy.......you got my point already!). And the candles came out in numbers....as did those who held it.
The boys in blue was out in numbers, coupled with off duty prison officers,
they definitely outnumbered supporters!
Some saw it fit to display their allegiance to Anwar!
some last minute placards.....
Ironically the road leading to the prison is named 'Hope'
but what hope do we have if our fellow Malaysian is frivolously charged?
YB Ronnie Liu stating the obvious persecution of RPK
Marina later took the mic and thanked all for their support

We must stand up and be counted. The time to fear should stop. We MUST speak out to stop any and all injustice. RPK did that and we must pick up from where he stopped.
The call goes out again to gather for another candlelight vigil for our Blogger King!
8pm at the Dataran Merdeka. Bring your candles. Do not litter. NO PARTY SLOGANS.
Keep to the subject, FREE RPK, remember......"Suara Rakyat, Suara Keramat!"

video report at YewTube.....



Tuesday, May 06, 2008

RPK's Sedition Charge

RPK at the KL Court House at around 9.00am
RPK at the PJ courthouse around 11am

RPK being taken away to Sungai Buluh at around 1.30pm

Blogger RPK was charged in court today. The charged sheet which carried the 'Tangkapan no_-_-2008' looked incomplete, but he was officially charged under the Sedition Act for his posting entitled 'Let's send the Murderers of Altantuya to Hell'. Part of the purported seditious remarks that was highlighted in the charge sheet included “Even pigs can be cute,” my wife who was driving the car butted in and I repeated what she said. “Yes, even pigs are cute. These people are not even the same level as pigs. They are lower than pigs. Melayu babi, the whole lot of them.”
Raja Petra Kamarudin who is more commonly referred to as RPK was earlier 'invited' for a discussion with the investigation team of police officers from the Commercial Crime division on Friday, 2nd of May. He was initially asked to present himself on Saturday at 11am, before being summoned at 3.00pm the same day for an official police interview at 4.00pm.
Yesterday, RPK was asked to present himself at the KL Courts today morning at 9.30am to be officially charged. He showed up punctually, at around 8.50am at the KL courts in Jalan Duta and had met lawyer Haris Ibrahim at the car park. Walking towards the court building, he was swamped by reporters and camera crews of the Media even though he had not officially been charged yet. It was then that he informed those present that he had been told to show up at 9.30am. Soon after, YB Nurul Izzah Annuar arrived as did YB Ronnie Liu, YB William Leong, YB Lim Lip Eng. Incidentally, YB William & YB Lim who were lawyers presented themselves as part of RPK's defense team. The other lawyers are YB Gobind Singh, YB Karpal Singh, Mr Chandra Balaguru, and two others. Haris Ibrahim, Malik Imtiaz and Mr Ashok assisted Syed Akbar Ali, who was also charged under the same act based on some comments he made on the blog.

However, up to 10.20am, RPK and his supporters as well as members of the media were still in the dark on his charges, and it was then that he received another telephone call informing him to present himself at the Petaling Jaya Sessions Court instead. How and what transpired before the phone called was not immediately known, but having spoken to Marina (RPK's wife), what was certain was that the mention of PJ Sessions court was not made known until the very last minute. The entourage, then made its way to the PJ Sessions court, only to be told to wait, as apparently the Majistret Judge had taken ill. A police officer showed up and offered the excuse that he was waiting for the Deputy Public Prosecutor to show up with the charge sheet. Eventually, at around 12.4opm, those who were in court emerged to inform that RPK had in fact been charged, and that he was also offered bail of RM5,000.00. As he could not afford to raise the bail, he was remanded instead. At this point, his lawyer Mr Balaguru, informed the media that RPK had left it to his supporters to raise the amount as he could not afford it. (This statement was confirmed earlier as he had narrated his financial situation in hope that the courts will levy a lower bail on him)

As of 4pm, Malaysia today had confirmed that they have raised RM24,500.00 to date through their appeal to Malaysia-today supporters to contribute no more than RM1 per person. This is to show support and transparency that the amount collected was only intended for the purpose of RPK's defense.

There are really some clear statements made today;
1.The government is really going all out to prove themselves as champions of being small mindedness (as well as time management)
2.Malaysia Today has proven yet again that the rakyat is fully in support of it
3.24,500 people (as at 4pm) have decided that RM1 in support of their 'voice' is worth it (+ some 3,400 USD too, thanks for the reminder...)
4.The lawyers have proven themselves to be reliable, yet again (but my suggestion to the politician MPs is you have too much to do, and we have a lot of lawyers out there, give them a chance...take this fight to Parliament instead!)

p.s am I being seditious if I repeated those damning remarks RPK made?......

Rocky's report here, More on Malaysia's sedition Act.
Video report at Yew Tube!(thanks to Zorro, myblog-tv is YEW TUBED!)

Friday, May 02, 2008

An Invitation to meet at Peace Hill

RPK emerged from his 'interrogation' some two and a half hours after presenting himself at the last minute, having received a phone call at 3.00pm for him to meet with his Police interrogators at 4.00pm! Despite the shortage of time, RPK still made himself available to the police. Earlier in the morning of 2nd of May, seven police personnel paid him a visit and removed his computer and laptop from his house. All this in their effort to follow up on a police report made by on of their own! Speaking to Marina, RPK's wife, I was later told that RPK was being questioned under the sedition act! Ah...that wonderful act that selectively persecutes those who speak out, and not against those who wave kerises!
A number of bloggers were there to show solidarity for their own, including Rocky Bru, Zorro, Nuraina Samad, Shaghai Fish, Cheers Cobber, and also supporters of Malaysia Today. One other was Daniel K who was a participant of BUM 2008! 'He speaks out for the people and now when he is in trouble the people will come out for him' said a supporter. It seems the police are more interested in questioning bloggers like RPK, eventhough two very public police reports were made by YB Ronnie Liu against those responsible for the Port Klang Free trade zone, yet no action were taken by the police. Such is the situation, and as far as I am concerned, Bloggers will continue to voice out in support of those who dare to speak out!

Read rocky's report here, and Bernard's report here. Video account, and RPKs press statement here.
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UPDATE: 2 May 2008 - 3:35pm, just been told that the 'meeting' is so important it had to be brought forward to 4pm today!
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It really isn't something that one looks forward to.
Its not like a wedding invitation, no. Its not like an invitation to a party. This one is an invitation to meet and talk with Malaysia's Special Branch (some have referred it to the Gestapo of Malaysia).
They show up for forums, ceramah (public rally) and other events deemed anti-establishment.

So its not surprising, every now and then, that one of our fellow bloggers would be 'invited' for this special meeting. The latest visitor will be RPK, yes 'King Blogger' of Malaysia Today.
Tomorrow at 11am, he has been summoned to meet the investigating officers. Prior to this, another blogger, now an MP was also 'invited' for a 'discussion'.
It has been heard that this could be the result of a police report made against him by a wife of a very senior cabinet member. Read this piece in The Star in an unrelated story to RPK's invitation.
All this after last nights successful BUM 2008 event, in which RPK also spoke about the 'Fifth Estate-Bloggers as Agency for change'. Perhaps we will have to wait for his next piece in Malaysia Today which might or might not be in a while, seeing that both his desktop and laptops have been 'taken in' ahead of his 'meeting'.

One police report, and a blogger gets his unwanted meeting. Two police reports by a YB and nothing happens in Port Klang......Hmmmmmmmm.
Anyway, I was asked if I could draw a map to this ever popular meeting spot between bloggers and the police....so here it is. I know at least one blogTV who will be there! Moir!

click to enlarge