RPK: You will not stand alone

[pywong]

RPK, You will not stand alone

By: pywong. 2:15pm, Monday 6 Oct 08

RPK was brought into the PJ Sessions Court this morning to be tried for criminal defamation. The usual supporters were there - Haris Ibrahm, Bernard Khoo (Zorro), Sampah Lee, Amelia, Chee Kim Mang, Nat Tan and others. I also saw some old friends that I have not met for quite some time. His wife, Marina, and his youngest daughter were also present.

There was a good crowd (about 150 people) over-flowing into the compound - see attached picture. It was nice to see a very varied group from among all the major communities coming forward to give moral support.

From the political parties, DAP's Lim Kit Siang and Ronnie Liu came at 9am and stayed for about an hour. Dato Kamarul from PKR also attended.

RPK has fought very hard to expand the political space in Malaysia. In his time of need, let us not desert him. Show him that he is not alone by coming to his trial. It is going to be a long-drawn affair.

[pywong]

http://harismibrahim.wordpress.com/2008/10/06/rpks-sedition-trial-gets-off-the-ground/

http://harismibrahim.wordpress.com/2008/10/06/yes-malaysia-today-denounces-corruption-money-politics-and-ethnic-polarisation/

http://harismibrahim.wordpress.com/2008/10/06/day-2-of-rpk-sedition-trial-tomorrow/

[pywong]

Tues, 7 Oct 2008, 3pm

Background on the trial:

On May 6 the Malaysia Today news portal webmaster was charged for allegedly implying in the article that Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and his wife were involved in the killing of Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu.

The sedition trial was fixed for a week over Raja Petra's article entitled ‘Let's send the Altantuya murderers to hell' which he was charged with posting on Malaysia Today on April 25.

Raja Petra then claimed trial to the charge. He was charged under Section 4(1) (c) of the Sedition Act for publishing the article which was deemed seditious.

If found guilty under sedition the popular blogger could face up to three years imprisonment or not more than RM5,000 fine, or both.

Justice Rozina Ayob is presiding over the case.

http://malaysiakini.com/news/90735

Today the courtroom was packed as usual. The 40 seats inside the courtroom was full, including 2 gentlemen from the Special Branch. The police manning the door to the court were different from the regular court staff, being sent over from the PJ Police Dept. Outside, the number was less than yesterday, probably because of the Anwar trial going on in Jalan Duta. Still, it was a credible 20 plus. What was interesting to note was that the people coming forward were just ordinary citizens who did not have any previous involvement with politics or NGO work. They genuinely cared for RPK AND just wanted to show him their support.

The trial continued with the Defence's cross examination of the first prosecution witness, Harme Mohamed, a 39-year-old information technology expert from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). Gobind Singh, representing RPK, raised the temperature. He tried to question the witness on C4 explosives, Altantunya, Najib Abdul Razak and politics. This started an argument with the Judge who tried to stop the line of questioning. Finally, she ordered a 15 minute recess for her to consider further the issues involved on the Defence's arguments.

After the break, the Judge disallowed Gobind from pursuing his previous line of questioning.

Gobind then restricted his questions to the internet - measure of activity of the website, whether articles can be viewed throughout the world, whether it was possible to identify the source of an article. He tried to make the point that it was not possible to trace electronically the source of an article, to which the witness disagreed with.

At the close of his examination, Gobind made a point to the judge that his line of questioning relating to C4 and Najib is crucial to the defence.

The deputy public prosecutor Farhan Read then re-examined Harme. His performance is to put it mildly, bumbling, so much so that the judge herself lost her patience and told him to proceed faster.

At the rate this is going and the prosecution's plan to call six to seven witnesses, the case is unlikely to finish by this Friday. One gets the feeling that the prosecution is not serious and is just dragging out the case to make an example of RPK. However, I must add the judge is quite sharp and seems quite fair.

Those who can make the time, do try and attend to show RPK your support.

[pywong]

http://mt.m2day.org/2008/content/view/13515/84/

Point to note the public attending the court case: No photos to be taken inside the court and published. The judge finds out, she will clear the public gallery.

[pywong]

Looks like prosecution can talk about Altantuya. Wonder why RPK's lawyers can't.

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/10/7/nation/20081007194905&sec=nation

Raja Petra sedition trial: 'He told me'
By M. MAGESWARI Tues Oct 7, 2008 MYT 7:50:09 PM

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia Today editor Raja Petra Raja Kamarudin had told a
talk show host that he had written about Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu two
days before the programme was aired live nationwide in April, the Sessions
Court heard.

Hasshim Abu Hanifah, who is a host of RTM's Blog talk show, said he
interviewed Raja Petra in its second episode on April 27.

"If I am not mistaken, he (Raja Petra) mentioned that he had written about
Altantuya two days before that," he told Sessions Court judge Rozina Ayob in
the packed courtroom.

Raja Petra claimed trial to publishing a seditious article on its website on
April 25.

Questioned by DPP Ishak Mohd Yusof, the second witness said Raja Petra had
made such a statement when he was interviewing him under the "Keterbukaan"
(openness) segment.

Hasshim, 49, who is also RTM news editor, however said Raja Petra did not
elaborate on the title of his article.

He said he asked Raja Petra on openness in the government but the blogger
had rejected the existence of such a thing, giving various reasons why he
thought so.

He said he had asked RTM studio director Ahmad Zaki Mustafa to record the
show in a video compact disc (VCD).

However, the defence raised an objection when the prosecution applied to
have the VCD played in the courtroom.

DPP Roslan Mat Nor argued that the VCD would not prejudice the accused as it
had been supplied to the defence team before the trial started and that it
was only to let the witness refresh his memory.

Counsel Gobind Singh Deo, however, argued that if the court allow the
witness to watch the VCD in court it would appear as though he was giving
his evidence not from recollection but from the VCD.

The judge later threw out the application by the prosecution.

At this juncture, the crowd in the public gallery clapped their hands and
cheered but the judge cautioned them against it.

Hasshim then continued to testify, saying that Raja Petra also told him in
Arabic language that his contributions as a blogger were to do good and
reject bad things.

The second witness also confirmed that Raja Petra had mentioned the
Altantuya case to him during the interview.

Asked by lead counsel J.Chandra, he denied that the talk show was made to
"trap" the blogger.

He said he did not give any caution to Raja Petra before the show that
anything he said could be used against him.

The hearing continues on Wednesday.

[pywong]

http://sloone.wordpress.com/2008/10/07/altantuyas-dad-speaks-rpk-shouldnt-be-a-victim-of-political-injustice/

Altantuya's dad speaks: RPK shouldn't be a victim of political (in)justice
Posted by: sloone on: October 7, 2008

http://sloone.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/2008oct.jpg?w=377&h=348

Altantuya Shariibuu's dad, Stev, has emailed me his statement (through his
lawyer in Mongolia) regarding RPK's trial and detention under the ISA. The
image above is his own handwriting. The translation copy I receive in his
mail says:

I understand, Mr. Raja Petra has good personal character and has a good
reputation and runs humanitarian activity.

I understand that the below issues were directly connected with murder case
of my daughter:

- Who did arrange visa issue for my daughter while she visited in French?
- Who was attending in the trip to French and what did they do?

If it could make clear those issues, they would understand every thing. Why
is there so much force and influence in the case? Because there was a
serious issue. Thus they destroyed my daughter.

Unfortunately, they pressed down Mr.Raja Petra's statement. I think this
issue needs to get attention from international human right organizations.

He (RPK) shouldn't be a victim of politic for justice. It would be justice
if they release Mr.Raja Petra.

As we are, all Mongolian worry for him and his justice, we lack of
information on truth and situation.

Signed:

Mongolian citizen:Shaariibuu Setev
06.Oct.2008

I am also sending this information to my friends in the media and bloggers.
Hope this letter can be distributed for RPK's sake.

[pywong]

http://anilnetto.com/human-rights/meanwhile-at-the-rpk-trial/

Meanwhile, at the RPK trial.
posted on Tuesday, 7 October 2008 at 5.50pm

Two of the most well-known critics in the land, Anwar and RPK, are involved
in legal proceedings today, both facing different charges.

Blog reader Stephen gives us a taste of what it was like in court on Day Two
of the RPK sedition trial:

I went to the PJ Sessions Court this morning at 8.15am. It was full house. I
went back to work and came back at 1.30pm. The court had a short break for
15 minutes at about 1.30pm, but no one came out to give up their seats.

We had to be seated in "transit" outside the court's front office . As one
visitor left, another went in. I went in from 2.25 to 2.26pm when one guy
left to answer his phone and he let me 'borrow' his 'seat'. Better than the
Mama Mia! blockbuster showing in cinemas in PJ now.

There was an intense fellowship amongst RPK supporters. About 20 reporters
took the front bench. Multiracial support. Our boys in blue and their white
Protons were omnipresent. Even Ronnie Liu dropped by after lunch. I did not
think he could get a seat unless someone gave up his or her seat.

The proceedings were about verifying basic facts, dates and events. It has
not risen to a crescendo to produce any startling evidence yet that could
shake the columns at Level 5, Putrajaya. But from the first day's hearing,
it was deduced that any one with a password could submit an article in a
blog using another's name. We should salute RPK & family for enduring all
this.
...................
Blogger Nat Tan got to meet RPK today:
http://jelas.info/2008/10/07/rpks-trial-waiting/

Today I even got to see the man, which really heartened me.

He seemed calm, collected and in control. His family appears ever strong, as
do his supporters who have been turning up faithfully.
____

Inspiring sense of one-ness outside RPK's trial
http://anilnetto.com/civil-society/inspiring-sense-of-one-ness-outside-rpks-hearing/

[pywong]

UMNO should consider this point by Malik very carefully. They could be charged for human rights abuse, from which one cannot hide anywhere in the world.

..............

The Government Man
Posted by Malik Imtiaz Sarwar at 5:54 PM

Allow me to hypothesize with you this week.

Let us, for arguments sake, say that those detained under the ISA are
treated in a manner that leaves much to be desired. Assume that they are
subjected to tactics of intimidation and coercion, either through
interrogation or carrot-and-stick strategies that leave them mentally
traumatized. At the whim of those who are in charge of them, they could be
kept in solitary confinement for prolonged periods, denied visitation
rights, be given food that could not in any way (and I do not mean any
disrespect to the egg or those who eat it) be described as wholesome or
nutritious or given amounts so meager that health and strength are affected.
As a consequence, those detained are suffering.

Would that be torture? For those of you who say 'no', would it instead
amount to cruel or inhuman or degrading treatment? For those of you who
still say 'no', what if I were to add that those detained have not been
found guilty of any crime and, in fact, those who have been and are serving
prison terms, are treated better? Would it make a difference?

A theorist would have answered that the treatment described would by any
standard have amounted to torture or cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.

http://malikimtiaz.blogspot.com/2008/10/government-man.html

[pywong]

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Datuk Seri Wan Azizah and Zuraidah (PKR's MP for Ampang) came this morning for RPK's trial. This despite the ongoing sodomy trial that Anwar was undergoing. They came in at 10:10am and left at 10:35am to rush to the Duta Court Complex for Anwar's trial.

This morning a more experienced prosecuter took over, which was a relief for everybody. The first witness for the day was DSP Victor Sanjoz from the Cyber Commercial Investigation Department. He came well-prepared and gave confident clear answers. He led the raiding team to RPK's house on 2 May 2008 to confiscate RPK's computer, which was displayed in court as an exhibit. His team consisted of four other policemen, one of which was missing that morning. That got the prosecutor a ticking off by the judge and led to a scramble to locate the witness.

RPK's supporters were still out in force, numbering about 60 in total. Speaking to one of them outside, Rodi, a Malay entrepreneur, said that she had been supporting RPK even during his first trial previously. She condemned the Government for using such unjust laws as the ISA against RPK. Their actions will only serve to make the Malays weaker and more dependent on handouts by suppressing outspoken people like RPK who is trying to show them another way.

Some brought bottled water to share with the supporters waiting outside. Everyone was very co-operative, taking turns to leave the court to allow others to go in. They were determined to shower RPK and his family with love and not to let them feel disillusioned or lonely.

[pywong]

10:45am, Wed 8 Oct 2008, PJ Sessions Court.

Interview of RPK's counsel, Gobind Singh, by the press.

Q: What is Raja Petra charged for?

Gobind: For publishing an article that the Government deems to be seditious and designed to create hatred and ill-feeling towards the system. If you read his article carefully, he is merely stating his opinion towards the ongoing Altantunya trial in which a Mongolian lady was shot and her body blown to bits with C4 explosives. He questioned why allegations were made against the Prime Minister (Abdullah Badawi), the Deputy Prime Minister, (Najib Abdul Razak), Najib's wife and yet no investigation was made against them. All we had was a bland trial in which there was no solution in sight. So it is up to the prosecution to prove their case against RPK.

Q: He has been detained under the ISA. What is happening in the court now?

Gobind: That is precisely the point we have been trying to make. He has been detained under the ISA for sedition and now he is charged in court over the same issue.

The Government resorts to 3 tactics to intimidate people who question them.

1. Use the police to harass them into silence.

Unfortunately for them, RPK does not succumb to such pressures.

2. Charge them in court, which is what they are doing now.

3. Resort to draconian laws like the ISA. Which they have done. But why charge him with a similar charge?

Q: Is there justification for the Government to act as such?

Gobind: Obviously, the Government thinks so. We don't and we will fight them all the way. When the Government does not allow the people to express their legitimate views and opinion without fear of threats, they will use the only viable tool left for them - the Internet. People are not willing to be silenced anymore. The Government cannot handle the people's questions, so they resort to suppression of the questioners. This, despite the Government's promise not to censor the Internet when they launched the Multi-media Super Corridor.

The question we have to ask is: Why charge RPK alone? There are many bloggers who have posted similar stories. The difference is that RPK has named names and they reach all the way to the top. It has touched on a raw nerve.

But, ultimately, it is politics. These are just tactics by the Ruling Party to hang on to power.

Q: Not only RPK but increasingly, more people has been charged or detained.

Gobind: There are laws in place that the Government can use. These laws are cruel and unjust. The people have decided to fight these laws. The people want change and transparency. We will not be cowed and are prepared to face the Government crackdown.

Q: What if RPK is found guilty?

Gobind: The minimum sentence is a fine and the maximum is 4 years in jail. The issue of whether the sentence will run concurrently with his ISA detention or start after the detention is up to the Home Minister to decide.

Q: Are you confident of an acquittal.

Gobind: Yes, the charge should have been withdrawn and the case dropped. We will win.

Q: Are there politics in play?

Gobind: At risk of me being detained under the ISA, yes, politics always play a part. The question is to what extend. So far, the trial is going smoothly.

Q: How is RPK's morale?

Gobind: RPK is unbreakable. It is just another dark spot for him. We are not concerned with RPK's personality or how he can put with this.

[pywong]

Warga Puchong say it loud and clear : Release our brothers, repeal the ISA
October 8, 2008

http://harismibrahim.wordpress.com/2008/10/08/warga-puchong-say-it-loud-and-clear-release-our-brothers-repeal-the-isa/

[pywong]

http://malaysiakini.com/news/90913

Counsel, Gobind Singh, established the following points with the prosecution witness, Superintendent Victor Sanjos.

1. RPK's CPU and laptop was confiscated without a search warrant.

Cop: We confiscated CPU, laptop
S Pathmawathy | Oct 8, 08 6:55pm
The police confiscated a central processing unit (CPU) and a laptop from blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin without a search warrant, a witness told the Petaling Jaya Sessions Court today on the third day of the sedition trial.

2. The police have no worries that RPK would abscond or dispose off his computers.

Gobind: Tell me, you said you were not pressured, you agree there was no reason to suspect that the evidence in this case will be disposed?

Sanjos: Yes

3. Gobind made the point that a search warrant was needed unless there was reasonably doubt that evidence would be disposed off by the suspect.

At this juncture, the counsel questioned Sanjos whether he was familiar with the details of Section 8 of the Sedition Act and Sanjos said "yes".

The counsel then asked Sanjos whether he agreed that a warrant is usually needed unless there is reasonable suspicion that the evidence of the case will be disposed.

Gobind then read aloud the particular section under the Sedition Act which stated that '… reasonable cause to believe that in any premises there is concealed or deposited any seditious publication, and he has reasonable grounds for believing that, by reason of the delay which would be entailed by obtaining a search warrant, the object of the search is likely to be frustrated, he may enter and search the premises…'

However, Sanjos disagreed and reasserted it was within his power to confiscate items without the need of a warrant.

[pywong]

The number of supporters increased today to almost 100. There was excitement mid-morning when defence counsel challenged the prosecution's enclosure to the charge sheet. This was supposed to be a copy of the original offending article posted by RPK. They pointed out that the exhibit was not similar to the internet article allegedly posted by RPK. It seemed to be a product of retyping, cut and paste. This threw the prosecution into confusion and the judge called for a recess.

During the recess, RPK was his jovial self. He was poking fun at the police drivers sending him from the detention centre to the court. He told them that he knew the way from the centre to the court, which puzzled the police no end as he was practically blind-folded and could not see where he was going.

He had slimmed down a lot and I joked with him that we can open an ISA Slimming Centre when he got out from Kamunting. Sure, he replied dryly. We have no TV, sleep on a hard bed, no cigarettes, lousy food - how not to lose weight. One plus point - during Mathathir's days, the detainees went barefoot. This time round they got Japanese slippers.

When the court reconvened at 11:30am, the judge gave the prosecution until Monday morning to come up with a proper exhibit. She also offered to let both the prosecution and defence until Friday 10th Oct 08 to submit any additional documents they wished.

Court was then adjourned to Monday, 9am 13 Oct 08.

Later, outside the court, Gobind Singh, RPK's defence counsel, complained that he was not permitted to make any reference to C4 plastic, not even plasticine!

11:20am, October 9, 2008: The prosecution just admitted that the exhibit which forms the foundation of the charge against RPK was not originally taken from Malaysia-Today but was a police cut-&-paste job.They also did not deny that a large part of the original article is true.

11:30am: The prosecution is seeking to stand down the trial, and decide what to do as the charge may be defective. The judge is alarmed that the exhibit to the charge is not the original but a police's cut-and-paste article.

11:35am: Prosecution is in a quandary as the trial appears to be scuttled since charge may be held to be defective midway through the trial.
http://mt.m2day.org/2008/content/view/13596/84/

[pywong]

RPK had a special visitor today, Siew Hoon, his neighbour from Bt Rahman Putra, Sg Buloh. Siew Hoon suffered from an eye degenerative disease. When she was giving birth to her baby 12 years ago, she had to choose between saving her eyesight or saving her baby. She chose her baby and as a consequence, today she is blind.

Despite her handicap, she came to court to give support to RPK. It really touched us who were privileged to witness them hugging.

Siew Hoon related to us their experience when her family first shifted to BRP to be RPK's neighbours. The housing estate suffered frequent breakins. So much so that RPK organised a Rukun Tetangga to guard the area. That's RPK, said Siew Hoon. He is so caring for his neighbours, always fighting for justice. Once when she was alone in the house with her child, a thief climbed on the roof. RPK came out and risked his life to single-handedly chased the thief off. When Siew Hoon called the police, all they asked was: "Did you catch the thief?" The police could not be bothered to help us and it took a civilian to do it.

Another time, about 10 years back, when Anwar Ibrahim was arrested for sodomy. RPK explained to her, Anwar is not like that. He does not have such sexual preferences knowing him in college. RPK set up the Free Anwar Campaign Site to defend Anwar. He was always fighting for the underdog.

He set up Malaysia-Today to fight for us Malaysians. Now that he is in trouble, Siew Hoon re-iterated, we must come out and show him support. If I, a blind person, can do it. There is no reason normal people cannot do it.

[pywong]

The insertion of a cut-and-paste job as an exhibit for RPK's seditious article looks like a clumsy attempt by the prosecution to lose the case. This is consistent with the inept performance of the prosecution so far. Come on. Even my son who is now in college can do a better job of conducting the prosecution.

I expect that they will drop the case this coming Monday.

[delCapo]

great forum, bro....

d1 to d4 has been excellent in terms of !!!PEOPLE POWER!!! including YBs joining us.....


btw..EVERYONE!
Lets have a great show of force again come Monday!! 8.00am breakfast at the ***** Store....

delCapo buys 1st drink for anyone wearing "FREE RPK T-shirt"!!! BE THERE!!!

________________________
http://delcapo.wordpress.com/

[pywong]

delCapo buys 1st drink for anyone wearing "FREE RPK T-shirt"!!! BE THERE!!!


Hmmm, delCapo. Your site is a scream. Interesting.

Your format to sign the "Abolish ISA" petition is well done and easy to sign. Good job.

BTW, how do I claim your free drink? Do you have a "delCapo" stamped on your forehead? ;D

Dear Readers, go to delCapo's site here: http://delcapo.wordpress.com/2008/09/14/special-page-dedicated-to-no-to-isa/
He has designed a much better format to sign the petition.

[pywong]

Another human side of the RPK story that you don't read in the press.

I was sitting right next to the two old geezers and Mat Salo at the same table.

http://matsalo.com/

No Country For Old Men, 9 Oct 08

[kkitsam]

Hi pywong, great forum here. yes we need to show more supports to RPK instead of sitting in front of the PC. I was there in day 3, actually Siew Hoon was there also, Marina asked her to sit in the front row with RPK's family so that they can take care of her instead of squeezing with the rest of us at the back.

[pywong]

Hi pywong, great forum here. yes we need to show more supports to RPK instead of sitting in front of the PC. I was there in day 3, actually Siew Hoon was there also, Marina asked her to sit in the front row with RPK's family so that they can take care of her instead of squeezing with the rest of us at the back.


Thanks kkitsam. Do visit often and contribute your comments. I look forward to see you this coming Monday. But you will have to talk to me first as I may not be able to recognize you without the benefit of a photo.

The weird thing was that Siew Hoon's eyes seemed to be in such good condition that I did not even realize that she was blind. I tried to show her the photo I took of her that Bernard asked me to take and I still didn't catch on when she said she couldn't see it. I just thought she was short-sighted. Talk about being blur-headed. :-[

[bolanliap]

is still to hard to get the free RPK T-shirt!

[pywong]

is still to(o) hard to get the free RPK T-shirt!


Don't look for free shirts, lah. The proceeds go to the bloggers and detainees fund, if I am not mistaken. Treat it as a bit of charity.

[pywong]

RPK had a special visitor today, Siew Hoon, his neighbour from Bt Rahman Putra, Sg Buloh. Siew Hoon suffered from an eye degenerative disease. When she was giving birth to her baby 12 years ago, she had to choose between saving her eyesight or saving her baby. She chose her baby and as a consequence, today she is blind.
................
He set up Malaysia-Today to fight for us Malaysians. Now that he is in trouble, Siew Hoon re-iterated, we must come out and show him support. If I, a blind person, can do it. There is no reason normal people cannot do it.


Visit here for comments on this posting: http://mt.m2day.org/2008/content/view/13626/1/

[pywong]

Westerner with new-born baby.

Bernard Khoo (Zorro-Unmasked) in black and Antares of Magickriver (in red)

Agency France-Press (AFP) SouthEast Asia TV Reporter, Jacqueline Pietsch

[pywong]

RPK had a special visitor today, Siew Hoon, his neighbour from Bt Rahman Putra, Sg Buloh. Siew Hoon suffered from an eye degenerative disease. When she was giving birth to her baby 12 years ago, she had to choose between saving her eyesight or saving her baby. She chose her baby and as a consequence, today she is blind.

Siew Hoon posted an article to Malaysia-today here:
http://mt.m2day.org/2008/content/view/13718/84/

[pywong]

Petaling Jaya says no to ISA, Haris Ibrahim
October 13, 2008

I got to the PJ Club just before 7.30pm Had agreed to meet Bernard and Gan there.

Bumped into these lovely people at the club.

http://harismibrahim.wordpress.com/2008/10/13/petaling-jaya-says-no-to-isa/

[pywong]

Looks like my prediction that the case will be thrown out today did not turn out. The charge is defective. Now the prosecution have one more month to rework their charges.

Time for Anwar to do his job.

RPK Sedition trial : Judge ill, case postponed
October 13, 2008

Judge Rozina Ayob, who had mentioned last week that she was in fact unwell, was taken ill this morning, resulting in RPK’s trial being postponed.

http://harismibrahim.wordpress.com/2008/10/13/rpk-sedition-trial-judge-ill-case-postponed/

[pywong]

It tolls for thee.

http://www.mysinchew.com/node/17278?tid=14

For Whom The Bell Tolls
(By BOB TEOH/ MySinchew) 2008-10-13 14:09

This morning I arrived at the Petaling Jaya Sessions Court for the RPK
sedition trial. However, the case was postponed to 11 and 12 November. This
is my second time there. I was not there to cover his case as a journalist
but to show my support for RPK, his wife Marina and his family and to stand
alongside all those who believe in the cause of justice.

I do not know RPK or Marina personally until some months ago when I met them
together with three other Christian bloggers for an extended lunch. But this
much I know about them. They are both truly bold and courageous. RPK cannot
be half the man he is without the rock solid support that Marina is to him.
RPK, of course, is blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin.

There were not many people there 30, maybe 40, maybe 60. The size of the
crowd did not matter one bit as it was the quality of it that was important.
All there were true-blue supporters, bloggers, lawyers, activists,
politicians, home makers, NGO leaders and the like. It was not a crowd but a
fraternity.

An editor friend of mine called out to me the moment he spotted me. He was
also there the last time I was at the court. He had brought along his two
grown children and introduced them to me.

"You're in familiar company," I told them, and he smiled, proud to be the
father inducting his charges to the cause of justice, truth and freedom.

Others were milling around either selling or buying :I-Am-With- RPK ISA
tee-shirts. The last time, I saw a foreigner with his little baby buying a
T-shirt too.

"I am doing my bit for human rights in Malaysia," he told me.

It took a little while for RPK to be driven out in a heavily-tinted van. He
could see us, but all we saw was black-plated windows. I peered into one and
I saw RPK seated handcuffed in both hands like a dog. What injustice! He has
already been slapped with criminal defamation charges and presently
defending himself in a sedition trial for an article allegedly written by
him about the murder of a Mongolian which implicated many people in high
places.

Not happy with that, the Home Ministry has thrown him into the slammer for
two years (subject to extensions) under the Internal Security Act without
trial. Now he steps in the boxing ring fighting for his life with both hands
tied at his back. You call this justice? Bah!

Why was I there? I am reminded of the book "For Whom The Bell Tolls"written
Ernest Hemingway in 1941 from his experiences in covering the Spanish Civil
War as a journalist. Ironically, his book was banned in the U.S. then when
it was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize.

The title was actually taken from a line by the 17th century Welsh
poet-priest John Donne' s "Devotions Upon Emergent Occasions,
MeditationXVII" published in 1623:

"All mankind is of one author, and is one volume; when one man dies, one
chapter is not torn out of the book, but translated into a better language;
and every chapter must be so translated...As therefore the bell that rings
to a sermon, calls not upon the preacher only, but upon the congregation to
come: so this bell calls us all: but how much more me, who am brought so
near the door by this sickness....No man is an island, entire of
itself...any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind;
and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for
thee."

Despite his great education and poetic talents he lived in poverty for
several years, relying heavily on wealthy friends. In 1615 he became an
Anglican priest and, in 1621, was appointed the Dean of St Paul's Cathedral
in London.

RPK is no poet nor priest. But when they try to silence him, the peal of
freedom, of truth, and of justice, begins to fade quickly into the dungeon
of our collective darkness.

"Therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee."

My prayer and my hope is with and for RPK and Marina and their family. May
this be your prayer too.

[pywong]

Looks like it will dovetail nicely with the UMNO Dec elections. Wonder whether this is a coincidence.

Ha! Ha! Ha! In UMNOland, nothing is a coincidence. It is part of a series of clumsy moves by the UMNO rats to backstab each other.

RPK Sedition Trial: 10 to 13 more to testify
Posted by St Low
Monday, 13 October 2008 20:46

The prosecution will be calling 10 to 13 more witnesses to testify when the sedition trial of blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin resumes in November, the sessions court here was told today.

The trial was to have continued today but was postponed to Nov 10 - 13 because sessions judge Rozina Ayob is on medical leave.

DPP Ishak Mohd Yusoff told judge Balqis Aini Mohd Ali, who presided over the hearing, the prosecution would continue with the questioning of Supt Gan Tack Guan, who had been called to testify last week.

http://mt.m2day.org/2008/content/view/13774/84/

[pywong]

Aristotle: What is a friend? A single soul dwelling in two bodies.
http://zorro-zorro-unmasked.blogspot.com/2008/10/aristotle-what-is-friend-single-soul.html

[pywong]

Malaysia’s Risk-Takers
Posted by St Low
Wednesday, 15 October 2008 09:14

The government’s promise not to censor the Internet has allowed bloggers more latitude than journalists working in other media. Now, with a leading blogger jailed, that freedom is in jeopardy.

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia
The jailing of Raja Petra Kamarudin, a self-described risk-taker who has led Malaysia’s lively blogging culture, has come to symbolize the government’s new assault on Internet expression. On September 12, police raided Raja Petra’s residence, seized documents, and arrested the popular blogger under the draconian Internal Security Act, which allows for detention without trial.

Two weeks later, Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar ordered the detention extended for two years on charges that Raja Petra published seditious and anti-Islamic articles on his blog, Malaysia Today. The government, signaling a wider crackdown on dissent, detained a newspaper journalist and an opposition politician the same day.

http://mt.m2day.org/2008/content/view/13837/84/

[pywong]

This article by Malik describes the arguments used in challenging the ISA detention of RPK by the Home Minister. There are several interesting points of law here.

http://malikimtiaz.blogspot.com/2008/10/free-rpk-2nd-habeas-corpus-heard.html

Free RPK: The 2nd Habeas Corpus Heard

Posted by Malik Imtiaz Sarwar at 7:55 AM
Saturday, October 25, 2008

I am sorry for not having done this earlier. It has been a busy week.

As you would have already read, the hearing went on as scheduled before
Justice Syed Helmy. on 22nd October 2008. The hearing went smoothly, with
Justice Syed Helmy giving both sides a fair hearing. I do not think anyone
in court, Marina and family included, who could have asked for more. We were
given every opportunity to say what we needed to in the way we wanted to.

There were some administrative glitches that could have been exploited for
benefit, but counsel for the government very graciously chose not to. With
an accommodating Judge, we got over these minor humps very quickly and got
straight to what needed to be done: the hearing itself.

Azhar Azizan Harun and I presented the case for RPK. Azhar (a.k.a. Art Harun
of Navel Gazing) is an old friend and a well-regarded advocate. Though
specializing in commercial and corporate law, he has always maintained an
interest in public law. As soon as news got out that RPK had been detained,
I got a call from him asking for news of developments. Once he knew that I
was involved, he immediately volunteered to "carry bags" (some of you may
have noticed the comment on my earlier RPK postings).
http://thegazerofnavels.blogspot.com/

Ashok Kandiah and Neoh Hor Kee once again handled the solicitors' aspect of
the brief and, as before, from the time the detention order was issued did
all that could humanly be done to get us as quickly and smoothly as possible
to that hearing that morning. They, together with Amarjit Singh, J Chandra
and Sreekant Pillay, helped put together the case that we presented that
morning.

As I had noted in an earlier RPK posting, we were faced with one serious
obstacle, judicial attitudes towards a provision in the Internal Security
Act. The provision, section 8B, ousts the jurisdiction of the court to
scrutinize acts done by the Minister in the exercise of discretion under the
ISA except on procedural matters. There were decisions of the courts that
suggested that this immunity from review applied to all cases.

If correct, then this meant that the scope of review was so narrow so as to
be virtually meaningless. This would, for all purposes and intents, mean
that one could not point to bad faith on the part of the Minister (acting
outside the scope of his permitted powers) leaving the Minister to detain at
whim. In my view this could not be correct, as this would allow for highly
undesirable consequences, in particular the misuse of powers with impunity.

On this footing, Azhar and I split the arguments. I was to take the first
attack.

The arguments were technical and I will not bog you down with detail. I can
summarise my arguments as follows:

* For reasons going to constitutional pre-conditions to legislating
exceptional laws such as the ISA, and in particulars sections that allow for
detention without trial, section 8 is unconstitutional;

* Section 8B does not oust the jurisdiction of the court to consider whether
the Minister was acting with jurisdiction or where the issuance of the order
to detain was a nullity (void in law) for having been done without
jurisdiction. As such, the court would have to consider whether the elements
making up the state of affairs contemplated by the ISA - threat by a
substantial body of persons that actions of the specified kind would be
taken - were present at the time the detention order was issued as these
were preliminaries to the existence of jurisdiction. Further, if it was
contended that the Minister had acted mala fide (in bad faith), then the
court was to consider this contention as this was an act not in accordance
with the ISA itself (the law does not permit acts of such a nature) and as
such not within the ambit of section 8B;

* The Minister had acted without jurisdiction, as the preliminaries to the
existence of his jurisdiction to detain did not exist. There was no threat
by a substantial body of persons and RPK was had not acted nor was he
threatening to act in any of the manners specified. The Minister had no
jurisdiction. This contention was reinforced by the fact that the Islamic
authorities had not seen it fit to charge RPK for insulting Islam. These
authorities had exclusive domain over matters of administration of Islam and
as such, the Minister could not have acted without fist having obtained
authoritative confirmation from these authorities that RPK had insulted
Islam;The grounds of his detention were incredible and as the Minister had
explained himself through his grounds of detention, which were before the
court, the court could not ignore this. Further, the Minister had not
established that RPK published the writings on Malaysia Today or that RPK
owned Malaysia Today;

* The detention infringed RPK's freedom to profess and practice Islam under
Article 11. Though the Constitution permits the enacting of exceptional
legislation that contravenes the right to life (Article 5), the right to a
fair trial (Article 5), the right to free movement (Article 9) and the right
to free expression, assembly and association (Article 10), it does not
permit the contravening of the freedom of religion. RPK had stated in his
affidavits that e write as a Muslim, guided by the Islamic principle of amar
makruf nahi mungkar. As such, his writing was an expression of his faith and
conscience;

Azhar then took the factual arguments on bad faith arguing that the Minister
had acted for collateral purpose - to silence RPK for being a vocal critic
of the Government of the day. He pointed to the pending criminal proceedings
for sedition and criminal defamation and RPK' being innocent until proven
guilty, and the fact that no action had been taken by RPK that could be said
to constitute a threat to national security nor had he threatened to take
any such action.

Counsel for the Minister argued, in essence, that the court was not
permitted to scrutinize the decision to detain as this was a matter left
entirely by law to the Minister, i.e. it was in his subjective discretion.
Further, section 8B shielded the Minister from scrutiny, even on bad faith,
and the only permissible challenges were those realting to procedure. That
being the case, as long as the procedures were complied with and the
Minister said that there was basis for the detention in his view, the court
had no power to review.

We concluded the arguments on the 22nd itself, thanks to the Judge having
cleared his schedule to accommodate us. At the conclusion of arguments, the
Judge indicated that he needed to time to go through the comprehensive
submissions and the law.

The Judge scheduled his decision for 7th November, the first date he could
do so on. The Judge noted that this was a habeas corpus but explained that
this was the earliest he could manage. This was fair in view of the
seriousness of the arguments and the fact that the court has other matters
before it.

MIS

[Han2]

There is good chance, based on the submissions by the counsels of both parties, that RPK might be released on November 7. Be there and show your support!

[pywong]

This ruling is important to establish whether the Police can arbitrarily arrest anyone they like.

Ruling on Nov 25 over RPK's arrest
Andrew Ong | Oct 28, 08 3:38pm
Kuala Lumpur High Court will decide on Nov 25 whether or not to strike out Raja Petra Kamaruddin’s habeas corpus application for his detention under Section 73 of the Internal Security Act (ISA).

Justice Suraya Othman said this today after hearing lengthy submissions from Raja Petra’s counsel Ashok Kandiah and Home Ministry counsel Abd Wahab Mohammed. ..

..... On Nov 7, the Shah Alam High Court will decide on a separate habeas corpus application in relation to Raja Petra’s detention under Section 8 of the ISA.

http://malaysiakini.com/news/92011

[besitai2007]

You can expect the answer so long as the justice system in our country is not free or devoid of political interference. A ruling in favour of BN interests will be the norm of the day..so don't get your hopes up high. I would love to be proven wrong.

[pywong]

You can expect the answer so long as the justice system in our country is not free or devoid of political interference. A ruling in favour of BN interests will be the norm of the day..so don't get your hopes up high. I would love to be proven wrong.

Besitai,

A useful question to ask: What can we do to make things better? :)

That is what Tindak Malaysia is all about - looking for ways to make things better and to TINDAK!

[pywong]

Taking a second bite of the cherry
Posted by Super Admin
Tuesday, 18 November 2008 10:41

The legal brains may argue that a person can’t be punished twice for the same crime. This might be true but this did not stop them for punishing me twice for the article ‘Let’s send the Altantuya murderers to hell’.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin
Today, at 3.00pm, I have to, yet again, report to the Sentul Police Station. It seems the police wish to record my statement, which is a nicer way of saying that I am going to be interrogated. Under Section 112 of the CPC, the police have a right to ‘record’ your statement and:

1) You must answer all questions (you may of course reply by saying that you do not wish to reply to the question which is considered answering the question).
2) If you lie then the police can charge you.
3) If you tell the truth then what you say can be used to charge you.

In other words, if you refuse to open you mouth you die. If you lie, you also die. And if you tell the truth you also die. Either way you die. There is no escape.

According to the police, in September 2008, four people from JAKIM and the religious department made a police report against me. What was said in the police report and under which section of the law they are going to record my statement is not known yet and will only be told to me later today.

The last time they called me to the Sentul Police Station was when they wanted to record my statement on the Statutory Declaration that I signed in April. At that time they told me they were going to charge me for the crime of making a false declaration. So I took pains to prove to them that I did not make a false declaration but had in fact told the truth.

I of course did not realise then that this was merely a trap. They wanted me to make a statement that would incriminate me and after they got what they wanted they used my statement to charge me for the crime of criminal defamation instead of for the crime of making a false declaration. I mean, it’s like they accuse you of murder and then when you offer an alibi to prove that you were not at the scene of the crime but had in fact been sleeping over at your girlfriend’s house they charge you for kalwat (close proximity) instead. So, because of your airtight alibi, they are able to charge you for another crime.

The police report against me was made in September 2008. Based on this police report they detained me under Section 73 of the Internal Security Act on 12 September. From the 13th to the 22nd of September, they recorded my statement in a marathon interrogation session and one hour after my statement was completed they served a Section 8 detention order on me and the following morning packed me off to Kamunting.

They though that that was the end of the whole episode but on 7 November the Shah Alam court declared my detention unlawful and at 4.00pm I was released from detention. So it is now back to the drawing board and they are trying to get a second bite of the cherry. So my interrogation at 3.00pm today is merely an exercise to see how, since I am no longer under ISA detention, they can get me on a ‘legitimate’ charge.

They are of course also appealing the Shah Alam court decision. But if they lose the appeal they can still send me to jail. And if they win the appeal they have the benefit of two detentions that they can hold me with.

The legal brains may argue that a person can’t be punished twice for the same crime. This might be true but this did not stop them for punishing me twice for the article ‘Let’s send the Altantuya murderers to hell’. Not only am I facing trial under the Sedition Act but one of the four charges for my ISA detention was this very same article. Therefore, apart from facing trial I was also detained without trial for the very same article. That is certainly being punished twice for the same crime.

It appears like they are all out to get me at whatever cost, even if they have to look silly for punishing me twice for each so-called crime. Maybe they feel that the more shots they take at me the better chance they have of at least one shot hitting it’s mark. I suppose when they use a machine gun they have more chance of at least one bullet striking me.

According to the police, the crime rate has doubled. The police has expressed concern that as the economy becomes worse in the coming year crime is going to get out of control. They are having their hands full trying to maintain law and order. Next year we may see an orgy of crime where Malaysians will no longer be safe even sleeping in their beds. With so much resources wasted on trying to send me to jail it makes one wonder whether the police has got its priorities right.

I wrote some time back that Umno blamed its 8 March 2008 general election debacle on the internet, in particular the blogs. Umno feels they it needs to put the blogs out of action if it wants to be able to silence its critics. The Permatang Pauh by-election again proved what damage blogs can do to Umno. So the focus today is not on how to reduce the spiralling crime rate but on how to put the bloggers behind bars where they can no longer do any damage to Umno.

And that is why I have to report to the Sentul Police Station at 3.00pm today. I am now a free man again, at least for the meantime. So they need to see how they can put me back behind bars so that Umno can be safe. It is all about Umno and how Umno can be protected from the bloggers. And they do not care how they do it as long as they can stifle criticism against Umno. The end justifies the means.

On another note, the police has warned the public not to question fatwahs (decrees) by the religious people. If the religious people issue a fatwah declaring that you are wrong then you are wrong. This can’t be questioned and if you do the government will take action against you.

On the Tuesday after Deepavali I was made to attend a religious class conducted by JAKIM. This was part of my religion rehabilitation class while in Kamunting. I stood up to say that, if go by to the many fatwahs issued, all of us in the room that day are infidels (kafir).

In January 2006 the Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia issued a fatwah declaring Shias as kafir. The Shias in turn issued a fatwah declaring the non-Shias as kafir. Malaysia too will detain any Malaysian who converts to Shiism, as what happened to a few university lecturers some years back. In short, going be the many fatwahs issued, all Muslims are kafir. None of us are Muslims.

The question would be: whose fatwah is the one we need to follow? And this raises another question of which religious scholar is the legitimate one to follow.

JAKIM has said that I have insulted Islam and must be put in jail. Other people, well-versed and equally knowledgeable in Islam, have contacted me to say that they can’t see in what way I have insulted Islam. They in fact feel that what I wrote was absolutely true. And these people are Arabs who speak the language of the Quran fluently and do not agree with the Malaysian government’s interpretation of Islam. In fact, they laugh at Islam Hadhari and regard it as utter rubbish.

So whose version of Islam is the correct version? The Malay version or the Arabic version? The Malays say I have insulted Islam. The Arabs tells me I have not insulted Islam and they think it is stupid of the government to say that I have.

Unfortunately, in Malaysia, it is what Umno says that carries weight and no Arab, however much he may support me, can change that. That is the reality of the situation.

http://mt.m2day.org/2008/content/view/15004/84/

[pywong]

RPK at the Sentul police station today
November 18, 2008

http://harismibrahim.wordpress.com/2008/11/18/rpk-at-the-sentul-police-station-today/

[pywong]

4 months already and it is still dragging on.... As long as Najib is not put on the witness stand and questioned, the public will maintain the impression that he is involved. How can the public not be suspicious. Najib's aide gave the instructions to the murder suspects to detain Altantuya. And this aide is not brought to court for questioning or charged for involvement.

Is it any wonder why UMNO is so desperate to hang on to power by hook or by crook?

Some one's neck is on the line,... literary.

Why Najib was not questioned

Posted by admin
Wednesday, 11 February 2009 23:58

Gobind: I put it to you that the reason you did not question Najib in this case is because the police knew for a fact that he was involved in the murder and had no guts to reveal this in their probe.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was not questioned in the Altantuya Shaariibuu murder investigations as he was not involved in the case, a police officer told the Sessions court yesterday.

Superintendent Gan Tack Guan, formerly from the Kuala Lumpur Serious Crimes Division, said there was no need to record Najib's statement as investigations had revealed that the deputy prime minister was not involved in the Mongolian woman's murder.

Gan said this was based on the initial murder investigations conducted by the investigating officer Assistant Superintendent Tony Lunggan. "If he (Najib) was not involved, why should he be called in for questioning?" Gan responded during cross-examination by counsel Gobind Singh Deo yesterday.

More… (http://mt.m2day.org/2008/content/view/17991/84/)

[pywong]

2 ongoing court case reports:

Senior cop accused of being a ‘compulsive liar’ in RPK trial

Posted by admin Thursday, 12 February 2009 22:12
By Debra Chong, The Malaysian Insider

A key witness in the sedition trial of controversial Malaysia Today blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin was accused of being a “compulsive liar” in court today. More… (http://mt.m2day.org/2008/content/view/18038/84/)

No probes into RPK's "made up stories", court told

Posted by admin Thursday, 12 February 2009 21:22

(Bernama) PETALING JAYA, 12 Feb 2009: Bukit Aman-based National/Interpol Bureau Centre assistant director DSP Gan Tack Guan told the Sessions Court here today that no investigations had been conducted into stories "made up" by blogger Raja Petra Raja Kamarudin.

He said this when cross-examined by Raja Petra's lawyer Gobind Singh Deo. More… (http://mt.m2day.org/2008/content/view/18033/84/)

The logic that is employed when the court is determined to free an accused, is breathtaking.

Razak Baginda’s Affidavit revisited

Posted by admin
Thursday, 12 February 2009 15:19

"In the absence of the rebuttal evidence against them (statements in the affidavit), coupled with the fact that there is no legal onus for him to rebut any statutory presumption, there is clearly no reason for the statements to be ignored and rejected," the judge said.

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Malaysia Today

Mongolian’s murder: Razak reveals his relationship with Altantuya

R. Surenthira Kumar
The Sun Daily, 19 January 2007

......The unanswered questions about Musa Safri
Malaysia Today, 13 June 2008

.......Razak Baginda saved by his affidavit
The Straits Times, 2 November 2008. More… (http://mt.m2day.org/2008/content/view/18015/84/)

[pywong]

Heavier financial and criminal liability for RPK. An attempt to use the law to stifle dissent.

RPK defamation case to be heard in Sessions Court, rules High Court
By Debra Chong

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 13 — Controversial blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin will be tried for criminal defamation in the Sessions Court, the High Court ruled today.

High Court judge Justice Zainal Azman Ab Aziz dismissed Raja Petra's application made last November for the case against him to be moved back to the magistrate's court where the monetary penalty, should he be convicted, is limited to a maximum fine of RM10,000.

He also ordered the case be moved back to the Sessions Court for the trial dates to be set.

"We shall file an appeal," Raja Petra's lawyer J. Chandra told reporters outside the courtroom later.

Chandra said it was a matter of importance that needed the "authoritative decision of the Federal Court" as it touched on constitutional issues.

He noted that Article 8(1) of the Federal Constitution expressly provides that all persons are equal before the law and deserve its equal protection.

More… (http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/18267-rpk-defamation-case-to-be-heard-in-sessions-court-rules-high-court)

[pywong]

Almost 60 RPK supporters waiting outside the courtroom while inside, it was packed.

http://i416.photobucket.com/albums/pp242/tindakmalaysia/rpk/rpktrial230209putrajaya.jpg

RPK’s habeas corpus : Reporting live from Putrajaya on 23/2/2009
Haris Ibrahim, February 23, 2009
More… (http://harismibrahim.wordpress.com/2009/02/23/rpks-habeas-corpus-reporting-live-from-putrajaya-on-2322009/)

Monday, February 23, 2009
a question of etiquette
by Art Harun

I was in the Federal Court this morning with Malik Imtiaz for the hearing of Raja Petra’s application to review four decisions of the Federal Court last week. The review application stemmed out from what we, the Counsel for Raja Petra, deemed as the “coram failure” of the Federal Court which sat to hear 4 motions filed by us last week.

More… (http://art-harun.blogspot.com/2009/02/question-of-etiquette.html)

Federal Court needs more time to decide on Raja Petra's application

Posted by admin
Bernama, Monday, 23 February 2009 22:24

Blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin will have to wait a little longer to know whether he succeeds in his application to review the Federal Court's decision to retain Justice Datuk Augustine Paul as one ofthe three judges to hear the appeal against his (Raja Petra's) release fromInternal Security Act (ISA) detention.

The Federal court's quorum, comprising Court of Appeal President Tan SriAlauddin Mohd Sheriff, Chief Judge of Malaya Datuk Arifin Zakaria and ChiefJudge of Sabah and Sarawak Tan Sri Richard Malanjum, reserved their judgment on the matter as they needed time to consider the points of law raised in the proceeding.

More… (http://mt.m2day.org/2008/content/view/18417/84/)

[pywong]

The truth that refuses to surface

Posted by admin
Raja Petra Kamaruddin, Thursday, 05 March 2009 08:34

In my sedition trial, Superintendent Gan Tack Guan just refuses to reply to YB Gobind Singh Deo’s questions as to how and why Altantuya Shaaribuu was killed and whether someone had paid Azilah and Sirul to kill her. Gan also refuses to confirm whether C4 was used to blow up her body after she was killed. Gan, in fact, says it was not C4 and he does not know what type of explosive was used. Today, Malaysia Today will reveal the truth that Gan refuses to reveal in my trial.

More… (http://mt.m2day.org/2008/content/view/18841/84/)

and more here by Susan Loone Read on.. (http://sloone.wordpress.com/2009/03/05/french-newspaper-reveals-identity-of-altantuyas-alleged-assassins/)

[pywong]

Let the truth be told

Posted by admin
Wednesday, 04 March 2009 11:19

Tomorrow, Malaysia Today will reveal the truth behind the Altantuya Shaaribuu murder. How and why was she killed and were Azilah and Sirul hired to kill her, and by whom? Today, we shall recap on what Supt Gan Tack Guan, the Investigating Officer in the Altantuya murder, has thus far told, and refuses to tell, the court during my sedition trial.

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Raja Petra Sedition trial: 'It was not C4'
By M. MAGESWARI, The Star

More… (http://mt.m2day.org/2008/content/view/18809/84/)

[pywong]

Pieces of a jigsaw puzzle

Posted by admin
Thursday, 05 March 2009 12:36

Now, let us look at the bits and pieces of the jigsaw puzzle so that we can get a clearer picture as to why Azilah and Sirul killed Altantuya Shaariibuu and try to figure out that most elusive missing piece of information as to who hired them to do so.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Check comments by cahaya.. More… (http://mt.m2day.org/2008/content/view/18858/84/)

Records of the Court Cases are shown in the Court Room (http://thecourtroom.stomp.com.sg/thecourtroom/murderofmongolmodel/index.html)

[pywong]

A walk down memory lane

Posted by admin
Friday, 06 March 2009 11:26

Government in Malaysia is where the money is, and that is where UMNO intends to stay despite its disastrous March 8, 2008, election results, which cost the national ruling coalition the two-thirds hold on parliament it has enjoyed for half a century.

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Many people scream they want to see the ‘smoking gun’ before they are convinced. One would be very stupid to stand around with a smoking gun in hand, patiently waiting for the police to drive up and arrest you. Mokhtar Hashim was arrested for murder while he was speaking at a function. They never found the smoking gun -- at least not in his hands at the time they arrested him. But they did a ballistics test and found that the bullets that killed Taha Talib came from his gun.

More… (http://mt.m2day.org/2008/content/view/18894/84/)

[pywong]

March 7, 2009
ALTANTUYA SHAARIIBUU; 1978 – 2006

Link here… (http://sjsandteam.wordpress.com/2009/03/07/altantuya-shaariibuu-%D1%88%D0%B0%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%B9%D0%B1%D1%83%D 1%83%D0%B3%D0%B8%D0%B9%D0%BD-%D0%B0%D0%BB%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BD%D1%82%D1%83%D1%8F%D 0%B0-1978-%E2%80%93-2006/#respond)

[pywong]

History will record the courage and sacrifice made by this man to free Malaysia from tyranny.

Syabas, RPK. We salute you.

Why I am absent in court today

Posted by admin
Thursday, 23 April 2009 04:23

After two ISA detentions, I do not plan to allow them to get me so easily the third time around. I also refuse to face treason charges that will result in me being sent to the gallows. I love my life and wish to remain alive a few years longer if possible.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

I wish to explain why I am not going to be present in court today, 23rd April 2009. Firstly, it involves my recent dispute with the Selangor Palace. This dispute was due to my open letter to the Perak Menteri Besar, Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin, which I wrote on 2nd March 2009 in response to the ongoing Perak Constitutional Crisis. My family said I had acted in a treasonous manner and they wanted me to issue a public apology to the Sultan of Perak.

I refused to comply with my family’s demand and instead wrote two articles condemning the Perak Palace for violating the Federal Constitution of Malaysia and for ignoring the wishes of the rakyat. My opinion is no different from that of NH Chan, the former Court of Appeal judge, which you can read in the addendum below.

More… (http://mt.m2day.org/2008/content/view/20972/84/)

[pywong]

Update on RPK's sedition trial

Posted by admin
Thursday, 23 April 2009 09:51

A warrant of arrest has been issued due to RPK's no-show at the Petaling Jaya court today.

Judge Rozina Ayob also requested the bailor, Marina Abduallah, to show cause why RPK was not present at the court for his ongoing sedition trial. Counsels Gobind Singh Deo, J. Chandra and Amarjit Singh were present for the defense.

The trial is postponed to 22 May.

Link here… (http://mt.m2day.org/2008/content/view/20985/84/)

[pywong]

Najib should answer – Is RPK to be detained under new ISA order and to be charged for treason?

Posted by admin
Friday, 24 April 2009 13:21

Lim Kit Siang

The new Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak should answer two questions – has a new Internal Security Act (ISA) detention order been issued against blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin and whether a decision had been taken to charge him for treason or equally serious capital offence?

If not, is Najib prepared to make two public commitments that under his premiership, Raja Petra will not be victimized and will not be detained under a fresh ISA detention order and will not be charged for treason or equally serious capital offence for what he had done so far?

Furthermore, is Najib prepared to make the further commitment for the withdrawal of the government’s appeal to the Federal Court against Raja Petra’s release under the ISA in November when the Shah Alam High Court ruled that his ISA detention was illegal.

More… (http://mt.m2day.org/2008/content/view/21039/84/)

[pywong]

What will irritate them the most?

Posted by admin
Saturday, 25 April 2009 18:40

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. I was mere seconds away from being sent back to Kamunting. Malik was just about to inform the court that we were giving it a walkover. And, suddenly, the court changed its mind and said, yes, it will give us the time we requested after all.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

“They are most worried that you will disappear or go underground or overseas where they can’t touch you and where you will become even more dangerous. That is the greatest fear.”

More… (http://mt.m2day.org/2008/content/view/21076/84/)

[pywong]

The mystery of the missing confession

Posted by admin
Monday, 04 May 2009 01:47

We met early April at La Bordega in Bangsar. Bull suggested I should instead sign a Statutory Declaration, as that would be stronger. They can ignore my article but they can’t ignore a Statutory Declaration.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

From the 12th to the 22nd September 2008, I was detained at the Police Remand Centre (PRC) where most ISA detainees spend their first 60 days of detention. Suddenly, on the morning of the 22nd, I was told that my interrogation, which was held from the 17th to the 21st, is going to end and that they have to finalise their report that same day.

That was the first surprise.

I was supposed to sign my statement the following day -- on the 23rd. Instead, I was packed off to Kamunting the morning of the 23rd without being allowed to sign the statement cum confession.

That was the second surprise.

More… (http://mt.m2day.org/2008/content/view/21327/84/)

[kpc]

I can't access Malaysia-Today blog today.
Is it blocked again?

[pywong]

I can't access Malaysia-Today blog today.
Is it blocked again?

Hmmm. Looks like it. I tried the following, all without success:
http://mt.m2day.org/
http://www.malaysia-today.net/blogs
http://www.malaysia-today.net/2008/
http://mt.harapanmalaysia.com/2008/

It was accessible at 3am this morning. Must be quite explosive.

BTW, this is a fake: http://www.malaysiatoday.com

Just to satisfy your curiosity, it is about Rosmah and some fireworks; JJ and an offer to RPK to lay off for a consideration, something like 30k/month.

With politicians, especially Malaysian-types, if the accused does not sue to clear their names, we have to assume they are guilty.

[pywong]

I just love a good fight

Posted by admin
Sunday, 24 May 2009 05:05

Rusdi Mustapha said some nasty things about me. Maybe I should allow you to be the judge as to whether what he said is true or not. My comments to his comments are in brackets/italics. Read on and you decide if what Rusdi said is the gospel or a load of bullshit.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

The events leading to the C4 trial. More… (http://mt.m2day.org/2008/content/view/22309/84/)