It’s your right to spoil your vote

Sometimes, it is the political parties and politicians that need voter education, not us the voters.  It’s time to tell this to the arrogant EC, politicians and “journalists”.

What if A GOOD government uses a BAD law on BAD people?

My article at thenugraph.com “Why Malaysia needs the ISA” has evoked many responses, including those passionate ones at Malaysia Today.

I questioned whether Malaysians truly oppose ISA, whether how many would defend Ahmad Ismail and condemn ISA if he alone was arrested under ISA.

Two of such responses are particularly illuminating:

***”written by Jan, December 10, 2008 16:15:57

If Ahmad Ismail alone was arrested I am sure most Malaysians would not protest against the ISA. Unfortunately between Ahmad and Tan Hoon Cheng they arrested Tan instead of the perpetrator. This goes to show the authorities are abusing their powers by using the ISA to clamp down on dissent.
This is further confirmed when they arrested Teresa Kok instead of that botox guy who’s spreading all the lies. What more proof do you need that this govt is abusing the ISA?

disagree 0; agree 4

***written by Jan, December 10, 2008 16:26:56
Just look at Tan Hoon Cheng the reporter. If she stood beside Ahmad guess who’s more likely to cause racial tension? Yet they arrested Tan and went on record to tell the rakyat they wanted to protect Tan. The Home Minister must think the Malayisan people are all dungus.

disagree 0; agree 3

They provide a very straightforward reason to oppose ISA: A BAD government is using a BAD law against GOOD people.

Now, what do you do if instead a GOOD government has used the BAD law against BAD people? Should we still oppose ISA?

1st Anniversary of the Invasion of Malaysian Parliament House by the Police

[Correction: the invasion happened on Dec 11, so the anniversary was mistakenly thought to be one day earlier. Forgive my poor memory.]

Time flies. It’s one year now from the day when the Parliamentary House was invaded by police, when seven persons including were arrested in the compound of the august house after appearing in a press conference in the Parliament lobby condemning the constitutional amendment to extend the service of Tan Sri Rashid and his fellow commissioners at the Election Commision to one year. Sixteen others of BERSIH leaders and supporters were arrested at the gate of the Parliament House. And another citizen arrested later at the police station.

A year is now gone. The country has changed. Even Rashid is gone now. Malaysians have become bolder. Many are coming out condemning ISA. Peaceful assembly is now held every Sunday at least in PJ.

But have we changed fundamentally? I have been a party spoiler since March 8.

When a speaker in the PJ gathering last Sunday passionately lashed out at Malaysians who did not turn up because of their alleged fear for ISA, I felt compelled to pour some cold water – ISA exists because Malaysia needs it. Read my piece at thenutgraph.com at 9am later.

22 NGOs calling for a PR Shadow Cabinet Latest by March

Civil Society Organizations Joint Statement: 28 November 2008

Time for a PR Shadow Cabinet

We, the undersigned civil society groups call upon the Pakatan Rakyat to set up a shadow cabinet as soon as possible. Positioning himself as the prime minister-in-waiting, Anwar Ibrahim must present his team of ministers-in-waiting not later than his rival Najib Razak announces his line-up in March.