The Dataran of stolen dreams

COMMENT At the end of the day, we lost the moral high ground adding fuel to the lies of the regime. It comes as no surprise to me. When you have a crowd of (maybe) hundreds of thousands, something "unusual" was bound to happen.

But let me tell you what this regime fears the most. It does fear violence as witnessed by the treatment meted out towards the protestors. It fears who the violence was directed against.

The ghosts of May 1969 have been truly exorcised. Malaysians are not turning against one another. That bogeyman that pro-regime types including the state propaganda organs have used for years has been destroyed.

‘They' are turning against the organs of the state attempting in their over-exuberance to reclaim something which rightly belongs to us.

I greeted the first light of April 28 in the Ganesha temple with prayers and a conversation with an Indian police officer who was there for the same reason as everyone else - illumination.

The temple folk had told me of an ‘important' police officer who frequented the temple and I sought him out, being at ease with the security personnel of this regime having been one for the better part of my life.

He asked me if I was part of this ‘event'. I answered in the affirmative and the conversation moved on to the behaviour of the police which had been exemplary the night before and my concerns that it would remain that way.

Hisham: Cops will act if Bersih rally at Dataran

Putrajaya has today showed the clearest sign yet that a crackdown on the Bersih 3.0 rally is imminent.

At a press conference today, Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein the police would take necessary measures to prevent the rally should "stubborn" organisers proceed with their plans at Dataran Merdeka.

"We have already compromised and offered alternative venues to them... but if they choose to be stubborn, it will be up to the police (to take the necessary action," he said, according to Bernama.

He said it was the police's responsibility to ensure public order was not threatened by anyone.

"I hope the organisers can assemble at the alternative venues offered in the spirit of political transformation and changes brought about by the government.

"As such, all parties should contribute towards building a healthy and mature democracy in the country," he said.

Electoral reforms pressure group Bersih 2.0 has on April 4 had announced that it would hold the rally this Saturday.

The rally was in response to what it terms has the failure of the parliamentary select committee (PSC) on electoral reforms to properly address comprehensive reforms to the electoral system.

Hisham: There's still time to go elsewhere

Citing the newly passed Peaceful Assembly Act 2012, Bersih 2.0 said it wanted to hold the rally on Dataran Merdeka and informing the police and Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) of its plans would be a mere formality.

DBKL has since denied Bersih permission to use the field and instead offered the coalition to move the rally to Stadium Merdeka, about a kilometre away.

However, Bersih claimed that this offer came too late as they were only informed yesterday and the offer could have been considered if it came much earlier.

On what action the police should the rally go ahead at Dataran Merdeka, Hishammuddin: “It will depend on the actions of the organisers”.

He said the police have been instructed to prepare themselves and draw from past experiences.

Hishammuddin said that he hoped organisers will accept alternative venues that have been suggested, stressing that there was still time to do so.

Other than Stadium Merdeka, the other alternative venues that have been offered are Stadium Titiwangsa, Kuala Lumpur Badminton Stadium and Kuala Lumpur Football Stadium.

Source: http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/196205

Khairy: I voted for removal of polling agents

Rembau MP Khairy Jamaluddin yesterday said that he voted in favour of the Election Offences Act Amendment Bill, which was rushed through on the last day of the recent Parliament sitting, because it still allowed safeguards.

Polling agents still have room to verify the identities of voters despite the amendments, he told reporters after a debate with Bersih co-chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan over electoral reform in Petaling Jaya last night.

Explaining one of the contentious amendment, Khairy (left) voted for the removal of candidates’ polling agents from the Election Commission (EC) registration booths because the commission had complained of trouble.

“In the last general election, the polling agents although I’m not sure from which parties, were telling the EC clerks what to do. They were campaigning and telling voters whom to vote for.”

He added that polling agents can still set up their own booths 100 meters away from the polling centre and monitor “suspicious voters”.

During the debate on electoral reform, the Umno Youth chief reminded Bersih that the Dewan Rakyat however did not pass one part of the amendment which had allowed the EC to determine when the polling agents can enter the polling centre (usually a classroom).

This, he said, would mean that agents can closely monitor if the person entering the polling centre has been marked with indelible ink.

No blue MyKad, no school

PETALING JAYA: Student B Reshina, 17, is studying hard for the SPM this year but she may never get to sit the examination.For she has just received the shocking news – she must stop schooling all because she does not have a blue MyKad.

Reshina (picture left) was one of the many Indians in the country who are stateless because the National Registration Department (NRD) has refused to grant citizenship for vague reasons.

She together with several other families were brought to the PKR headquarters here today to relate their ordeal as stateless Indians.

Speaking on Reshina’s behalf, her sister, Gowre, 24, said two weeks ago, Reshina’s school in Gombak, Chong Hwa Secondary School, stopped her from schooling after receiving instruction from the state education department.

“The state education department should not have stopped my sister from going to school as she is preparing for the SPM,” she said.

Hilmi, Chua in hot water for demolishing shrine

Penang Port Sdn Bhd chairman Hilmi Yahya and Penang Port Commission chairman Dr Chua Soi Lek are facing the wrath of the Hindu community over the demolition of a 40-year-old shrine at the Prai Bulk Cargo Terminal in the Prai Industrial Area.

The state government has quickly dived in to support the devotees of the Muniswarar shrine, many of whom are port workers, and have called for the duo to apologise over the matter.

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, who made a site visit yesterday, wants Teluk Bahang Umno assemblyperson Hilmi and MCA president Chua to apologise and provide an alternative site for the shrine.
Lim said the act of demolishing the shrine shows “disrespect” to the Hindu and Indian community who have been patronising the holy site for four decades.

He added the port authorities have admitted that they had not given any notice to the shrine’s caretakers before it was torn down on Friday at 8am.

“Although the government can demolish a building without notice but we in the Penang state government would always give a notice or at least paste it around the affected areas,” Lim told reporters.

Ananda Krishnan Visits Buddhist Monk Son

GEORGE TOWN, 24 APRIL, 2012: Billionaire T Ananda Krishnan took time off from his busy schedule to meet up with his Buddhist monk son Ven Ajahn Siripanyo, who is at a meditation retreat in Penang Hill here, reported local Chinese daily Kwong Wah Yit Poh.

Clad in T-shirt and jeans, the 74-year-old tycoon was spotted arriving at the foot of the popular tourist attraction in a BMW with several bodyguards at about 9am yesterday.

According to the report, Ananda was whisked off to an undisclosed location deep inside the forest in Penang Hill, where his son was having a retreat with 60 others.

It is learnt that Ven Siripanyo is his only son from a previous marriage.

The report said Ven Siripanno came to the hill retreat on Sunday before staying overnight at a colonial-style building in the forest.

According to local residents, the tycoon bought the retreat three years ago before restoring it to its former glory.

There are 30-odd rooms in the building.

The daily also reported that Ven Siripanyo was seen putting his palms together and took a bow when he saw his father.

He then led his father to a garden where Ananda Krishnan took photographs of trees and butterflies as he walked along.

It is learnt that the tycoon left the hill at about noon while his son and the others left for Thailand later in the evening.

Nicknamed AK, Ananda Krishnan is estimated to be worth US$9.6bil (RM29.66bil) according to Forbes' latest list of wealthiest people, making him the second wealthiest in South-East Asia after Robert Kuok and number 89 in the world.

He has a multimedia empire which includes two telecommunication companies Maxis Communications and Measat Broadcast Network Systems (Astro) and three communication satellites orbiting the earth.

Source : http://malaysiandigest.com/news/43214-ananda-krishnan-visits-buddhist-monk-son.html

Hanuman: Suara Hati – Bahagian 24

Tidak! Jika itu yang aku katakan, ayah dan ibu akan meninggal dunia. Aku tidak sanggup. Jadi, apa yang perlu aku lakukan? Ya, sengaja aku menggaru telinga kiri.

“Ke sini, wahai kera,” panggil Sita.

Matanya asyik tertumpu pada subang di telinga kiriku. Dia akan tahu siapa aku. Akulah Hanuman, anak Rama. Akulah anak yang menagih kasih sayang orang tuanya.

“Di mana kau curi subang ini?” Sita terus merenung telingaku. Kemudian wajahku.

Ya, ibu. Akulah anakmu! Peluklah aku, ibu. Aku menagih kasihmu.

Ibu berlalu ke jendela. Sugul. Air matakah itu?

“Mengapa? Adakah ia membawa apa-apa erti?”

“Tidak. Tidak.”

Ibu mengesat air mata. Dia memandang keluar jendela melewati tendas. Di luar sana, para pengawal sedang taat menjaga pintu masuk ke istana Ravana.

“Ibu menangis?”

Hah? Apa yang telah aku sebutkan?

“Tidak! Dan jangan kau panggil aku ibu. Aku bukan ibu kau. Kalau Rama sanggup mengambil seekor kera menjadi anak angkat, tidak bermakna aku juga akan turut sama menjadi bodoh untuk menganggap kau anakku.”

Ibu!

Itulah Sita, ibu kandungku. Itulah Sita yang tidak membenarkan mana-mana lelaki lain – termasuk anak kandung – menyentuhnya.

Dan inilah aku, anak yang menagih kasih. Salah akukah dilahirkan sebagai seekor kera? Hinakah aku sehingga ayah dan ibu tidak sanggup menerima aku dalam hidup mereka?

Lebih baik aku mati, fikirku sambil berdiri sedih di hadapan ibu. Lebih baik aku menyerah diri kepada Ravana. Biar dibalutnya ekor aku dengan kain. Biar disimbahnya minyak tanah ke atas tubuhku. Biar dibakarnya aku hidup-hidup. Mustahil akan lebih menyeksakan daripada seksaan yang sedang aku tempuhi sekarang.

Bodoh! Kalau aku mati, siapa yang akan membantu mempertemukan ayah dan ibu? Siapa yang akan membantu ayah membunuh Ravana? Letchumanen? Dewata Mulia Raya sudah pun mentakdirkan bahawa hanya aku dan ayah dapat bekerjasama membunuh Ravana.

Mungkin selepas itu sahajalah ayah akan mengakui aku anaknya. Sekarang biarlah dia berusaha mendapatkan isterinya. Sehingga itu, aku hanyaah pengikut setia Rama. Paling lebih, anak angkat. Tidak boleh lebih daripada itu. Aku mesti tekadkan hati.

Tidak mengapa. Sekurang-kurangnya aku tetap boleh memanggilnya sebagai ayah di dalam hati. Kami tetap boleh bersama. Demikian aku berfikir lagi sambil memandang keluar ke arah raksasa yang sedang mengawal pintu kota ke istana Ravana.


Source : http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2012/04/22/hanuman-suara-hati-%e2%80%93-bahagian-24/

Hanuman: Suara Hati – Bahagian 23

Akhirnya aku sampai di Langkapuri. Di bahagian tengah pulau itu kelihatan sebuah istana yang berdiri megah. Ia dikawal oleh sejumlah raksasa.

Aku boleh sahaja menjelmakan diriku dalam bentuk viswarupa, yakni bentuk tubuhku yang sebesar alam dan meranapkan istana Ravana berserta para tenteranya.

Akan tetapi, tentu Rama tidak akan bersetuju dengan tindakan sebegitu rupa. Aku diutus oleh Rama ke Langkapuri hanya untuk merisik keadaan Sita. Rama tidak menyuruh aku memulakan perang. Lalu, aku pun menjelmakan diriku dalam bentuk sebesar seekor lalat. Dengan cara itu, aku dapat masuk ke istana Ravana tanpa apa-apa halangan.

Sampai di dalam istana yang besar dan amat baik ciri pembinaannya itu, aku mula mencari tempat Sita disembunyikan.Akhirnya, aku menemui Sita di dalam sebuah bilik yang dihias indah. Aku menjelma semula dalam bentuk diriku yang asal dan memperkenalkan diri kepada Sita.

Sebagai bukti bahawa aku adalah sesungguhnya utusan Rama, aku menunjukkan cincin pemberiannya.
Kemudian, aku menawarkan diri untuk menerbangkan Sita dari situ. Nanti, bolehlah Rama datang membunuh Ravana. Nyawa Sita akan lebih selamat dengan cara itu.

Lagi pun, aku sedar betapa ibu merindui ayah. Ada baiknya jika aku membawa ibu terbang dari situ. Kalau ibu sudah dibawa pergi dari Langkapuri, bolehlah nanti seluruh pulau itu diserang oleh tentera ayah tanpa perlu risau tentang keselamatan diri ibu.

Biarlah seluruh Langkapuri dimusnahkan dan ditenggelamkan ke dasar laut supaya tidak ada sebarang sengketa berlaku berlatarkan pulau itu pada masa hadapan. Biar Langkapuri menjadi kenangan silam; atau sekadar mitos pada masa akan datang.

“Tidak.” Sita beralih ke jendela.

“Cuba tengok cincin ini.” Aku menunjukkan cincin itu bagi kali kedua. “Percayalah. Saya benar-benar adalah utusan daripada Rama.”

“Aku tidak sanggup disentuh lelaki lain.”

“Rama menganggap saya sebagai anak angkat. …”

“Apa? Seekor kera dibuatnya anak? Aku tidak sanggup disentuh oleh seekor kera yang kotor seperti kau! Entah penyakit apa yang kau bawa. Aku benci pada kera!”

Aduh! Tidak mengapa. Setiap kata seorang ibu adalah tanda kasih. Atau biarlah aku anggap begitu.
“Ibu sudah lupakah siapa saya? Sayalah anak yang ayah dan ibu serahkan kepada Ibu Anjathi. Sayalah Hanuman, anak Rama yang agung. Sudah lupakah ibu?”


Source : http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2012/04/21/hanuman-suara-hati-%e2%80%93-bahagian-23/

Ambiga-KJ showdown next week

Coalition for clean and fair elections (Bersih) co-chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan will take on Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin in a debate on electoral reforms next week.

The debate, organised by daily the Malay Mail, will take place at 8.15pm on April 25 at the Club on Persiaran Surian, Bandar Utama, Kuala Lumpur.

This will be preceded by a forum the night before, this time involving Ambiga, political scientist Ong Kian Ming and a representative of the Election Commission (EC).

The forum, entitled ‘How Clean will the 13th General Elections Be?’ and organised by NGO Tindak Malaysia, will be held at the Petaling Jaya Civic Centre at 8.30pm.

According to Tindak Malaysia representative PY Wong, the EC has not yet responded to the invitation.

“We actually don’t expect the EC to respond as their position is indefensible,” he told Malaysiakini.

Round two for Khairy, who is also Rembau MP, will be on May 3 against PKR director of strategy Rafizi Ramli.

The topic, however, will be on the National Higher Education Fund (PTPTN) loans.

PKR proposes an abolition of the student loans, while Umno Youth wants the interest and terms to be revised.

Source: http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/195551

Thugs attack students at Dataran Merdeka

A group of unknown assailants attacked the students occupying Dataran Merdeka in the wee hours of the morning today, beating up several of them, resulting in one being taken to hospital.

The assailants, many of whom clad in black shirts, destroyed all the tents that were erected since last Saturday at the iconic public square in the city centre.

Malaysian Youth and Students Movement (Dema) coordinator Heng Kiah Chun told Malaysiakini that the incident occurred at about 2.45am and lasted about 15 minutes.

He said between 50 to 70 thugs surrounded the students at the camp site, then proceeded to provoke and assault them.

They roughed up a number of students and dismantled all their 10 tents (right), which were set up as part of a protest for free education.

Cameras and mobile phones damaged

According to Heng, the students remained calm and refused to respond to provocation.

However, attempts to document the attack through cameras, camcorders and handphones apparently angered their attackers, who subsequently destroyed some of the recording devices.

Heng added that there were about a dozen police officers in the area but they did not intervene until the students' leaders pleaded for their help.

The thugs left the area when the police arrived, and eyewitnesses said one or two of the perpetrators were arrested.

The 100-odd students who are campaigning for the abolition of PTPTN (National Higher Education Loan Fund) were nevertheless appeared unfazed by the incident.

They held an impromtu meeting and voted to stay put at Dataran Merdeka.

"We will protect one another. We want action against the gangsterism," they said.

A police report will be lodged later today.

VIDEO

Source : http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/195396

Undo ‘racial bias’ in medical courses, PM told

KUALA LUMPUR: A group of disgruntled medical undergraduates want Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s intervention to correct the double standard practised by the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC), Health Ministry and Higher Education Ministry with regard to students pursuing medical degrees abroad.
They claimed that the double standard was based on race rather than academic qualification, as students studying medicine in certain countries were exempted from the foundation courses while others had to undergo them.

“We are fed up with the Health Ministry and the Higher Education Ministry which are silent on the matter despite obtaining solid evidence of the MMC practising race-based policies,” said Mohd Amin Mohd Ismail on behalf of the disgruntled students.

“Although I am a Malay, I feel it is not right for the MMC to discriminate against the non-Malays… they are my friends too,” he told FMT.

He said students were in possession of an e-mail sent by MMC secretary Dr Wan Maslan Mohamed Woojdy to the Crimea State Medical University (CSMU) administration on June 25, 2005 to obtain details of Malaysian students in the Ukrainian university.

Hanuman: Suara Hati – Bahagian 22

“Tapi kekanda, hanya dia yang dapat membantu kita sekarang. Siapa lagi yang boleh terbang ke istana Ravana di Langkapuri?”

“Jadi? Tidak perlu aku akui dia anak kandungku.”

Itulah Rama yang agung.

Aku biarkan sahaja air mata gugur satu per satu menimpa makam Tamnat Gangga. Angin laut menaburkan kuntum-kuntum bunga cempaka menimpa mahkotaku.

Apalah gunanya mahkota yang menjadi lambang pemerintahan! Apakah gunanya istana tujuh lapis bertingkat tujuh belas yang menjadi tempat bersemayam jika ayah tidak pernah mengakui aku sebagai anak kandungnya?

Wasiatnya masih implisit. Masih mengandungi ketaksaan. Aku mahukan pengakuan yang eksplisit.

Pengakuan yang dapat membuktikan kepada dunia, siapa aku sebenarnya.

Tidak mengapa. Ayah sekurang-kurangnya telah bermurah hati mengambil aku menjadi anak angkatnya. Tapi setakat itu sahajakah kelayakanku?

“Aku anggap kau sebagai anak angkatku,” kata ayah setelah kami selesai makan nasi atas daun pisang yang sama. “Bawalah cincin ini kepada Sita. Kalau dia masih ada, katakan kepadanya bahawa aku akan datang menyelamatkannya.”

Tidak mengapa. Ini sudah cukup bagiku buat masa ini. Tentu ayah akan mengakui aku anaknya suatu hari nanti. Begitulah fikirku sewaktu dalam perjalanan ke Langkapuri.

Sementara aku terbang ke Langkapuri, Rama dan orang-orangnya – termasuk Surgiwa dan kaum Vanara – mula berjalan ke arah Pantai Malabar. Rama memintaku agar menemuinya di sana apabila pulang dari Langkapuri nanti.

“Bagaimana?” Demikian tanya Ibu Anjathi semasa aku singgah di tempat pertapaannya di Laut Malgudi sebelum ke Langkapuri.

Aku menceritakan kepadanya tentang kematian Belia Raja. Aku nyatakan juga bagaimana ayah berpura-pura tidak mengenaliku.

“Kau teruskanlah perjalanan, anakku. Ibu doakan semoga apabila kau menemui Sita di Langkapuri nanti, dia akan mengakui kau anaknya. Tapi kau harus sentiasa berjaga-jaga. Jangan kau bocorkan rahsia itu walau kepada ayah dan ibu kau sendiri. Kau mesti sabar menanti sehingga mereka membuat pengakuan terbuka bahawa kau adalah anak mereka.”

Adilkah semua ini? Ayah berhak untuk memerangi Ravana bagi mendapatkan kembali isterinya. Ayah berhak mendapat kasih sayang isterinya.

Mengapa pula aku tidak berhak mendapat kasih sayang ayah dan ibu? Berdosakah aku dilahirkan serupa kera? Bukan aku yang minta dijadikan begini. Semua ini kuasa Tuhan, kuasa Dewata Mulia Raya.
Lalu, mengapa ayah harus berasa malu untuk mengakui aku anaknya? Tidakkah ayah sedar bahawa aku menagih kasih sayangnya?

Tidakkah ayah tahu bahawa aku telah menanti dan mengharap sekian lama untuk mendapat kasih sayangnya? Tidakkah ayah mengerti bahawa aku juga ada perasaan?

Bahawa aku juga seperti anak-anak lain yang memerlukan belaian kasih ayah dan ibu!


Source : http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2012/04/15/hanuman-suara-hati-%e2%80%93-bahagian-22/

Hanuman: Suara Hati – Bahagian 21

Aku pasti bahawa Rama sedar siapa aku. Akulah kera putih yang bakal membantunya membunuh Ravana.Atau lebih daripada itu, akulah anak yang dibuangnya ke laut sekitar dua belas tahun yang lalu.

Pertama kali ayah memandangku, matanya tertumpu pada subang di telinga kiriku. Itulah subang yang diberikannya kepada Ibu Anjathi dahulu.

“Ternyata dia anakku,” bisik ayah kepada adiknya. Telingaku memang mendengar.

Aku begitu pasti bahawa ayah akan memelukku erat. Aku pasti ayah akan memberitahu Surgiwa bahawa aku anaknya. Malangnya ternyata aku silap.

“Wahai kera kecil yang kotor, bolehkah kau terbang ke Langkapuri menengok kalau-kalau isteriku masih ada?”

Ayah! Suaraku tersekat di kerongkong. Aku teringat akan nasihat Ibu Anjathi.

“Kau tidak boleh memecahkan rahsia tentang siapa diri kau selagi ayah kau belum mengakui kau anaknya.”

“Kalau saya mungkir?” Pernah aku bertanya.

“Tubuh badan kau akan terus lebur. …”

“Itu sahaja? Saya tidak kisah.”

“Bukan itu sahaja. Ibu bapa kau akan serta-merta terbakar hangus. …”

“Bolehkah?” Ayah mengulangi pertanyaannya.

“Boleh,” aku menjawab dengan tenang walaupun hatiku terluka.

Mengapa ayah tidak menyatakan siapa aku sebenarnya? Mengapa ayah masih tidak berubah?

“Bagus. Kau pergi dan lihat sama ada isteriku masih ada, agar tidak sia-sia aku menyerang Ravana.”

Aduh! Untuk inikah aku merelakan kematian Belia Raja? Apa gunanya segala rancangan kami berdua jika ayah terus juga berpura-pura? Sia-sia belaka.

Namun begitu, aku tidak patut menyerah begitu sahaja.

“Saya akan pergi dengan satu syarat.”

“Syarat? Mintalah. Minta apa sahaja, akan aku penuhi jua,” ayah menjawab tanpa memandangku.

Mengapa, ayah? Begitu hinakah aku sehingga ayah sendiri terasa amat jijik untuk memandangku?

“Saya mahu makan nasi sedaun dengan Rama,” tegas aku menjawab.

“Mungkinkah dia sudah tahu siapa kita?” Demikian bisik ayah kepada Letchumanen.

“Mustahil, kekanda.”

“Lalu, mengapa dia membuat permintaan sedemikian?” bisik ayah. “Bukankah adat memakan nasi sedaun melambangkan perhubungan erat antara dua individu?”

“Biarkanlah. Dia hanya kera kecil yang baru sahaja kehilangan penjaga. Apa salahnya kalau kekanda makan sedaun dengannya?”

Ayah memandangku. Aku berpura-pura tidak mendengar apa yang mereka berdua bisikkan.
“Kekanda akan mengakui dia anak kekanda?”

“Tidak mungkin. Tidakkah malu jika seorang putera raja yang agung mengaku seekor kera sebagai anaknya?”


Source : http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2012/04/14/hanuman-suara-hati-%e2%80%93-bahagian-21/

In schools, politics rears a sinister ‘comic’ appearance

                            

                           A comic depicts a character resembling Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

KUALA LUMPUR, April 13 — Copies of a political comic book extolling the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) government have been circulating among teachers in recent weeks ahead of the 13th general elections, purportedly distributed by state education departments.The 50-page booklet in full colour featuring caricatures of figures resembling leading national political figures appear to paint those from the ruling coalition in the best positive light.

A comic depicts a character resembling an opposition leader with his arms around two men.

In contrast, opposition political figures are painted in a downright negative and sometimes sinister manner, such as on page 31 of the booklet, which show a goateed man in glasses dressed in a singlet cuddling two half-naked men that appear to be linked to Najib’s rival, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

The PKR advisor who was accused of sodomising former male aide Mohd Saiful Bukari Azlan was, however, acquitted by the High Court earlier this year after a marathion three-year trial.“The Education Ministry can call for meetings with us anytime. This time, we were briefed about the government’s achievements in the past few years,” a senior teacher from a national school told The Malaysian Insider.

The teacher, who spoke on condition of anonymity, had attended a recent briefing titled “Wacana Transformasi Minda” held by a state education department for school heads and their senior assistants.
“We were told that its a good government but there was no directive to vote for anyone.“But each of us got this book, which speaks for itself,” added the senior teacher.The BN’s mandate to rule expires in the first quarter of next year and speculation has been rife that national polls will be called early as in previous years, sometime in the next few months.

Law to replace ISA tabled in Parliament today

A new preventive detention law was tabled in Parliament today to replace the draconian Internal Security Act (ISA) 1960.

Among the key proposals are that police can only hold an individual for up to 28 days - instead of 60 days under the ISA - for interrogation.

Except in matters that ‘excite disaffection against the yang di-Pertuan Agong’, those charged under the new law will be tried in a High Court instead of being detained without trial.

Additionally, no individual can be arrested and detained solely on the basis of political belief or political activity.

In these respects at least, the Security Offences (Special Measures) Bill appears to address long-held criticism of the 52-year-old ISA.

Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein told a press conference at the Parliament lobby that the new legislation is more suited to the times.

The Bill limits the powers of the minister and considers the welfare of the families affected, Hishammuddin said, adding that the police were also receptive to the new provisions.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz tabled the Bill for its first reading today and it to be debated next week.

The Security Offences (Special Measures) Bill seeks to provide special measures relating to security offences in order to maintain public order and security, and specifically to tackle threats by a person or a substantial body should these:

Motive behind Samy's fault-fixing for polls defeat?

COMMENT Not that it matters very much now, but S Samy Vellu's blaming Dr Mahathir Mohamad for his defeat in his former bailiwick of Sungai Siput in the last general election is interesting for what it discloses of the revisionist impulse.

Also, the timing of Samy's blame-fixing for his defeat draws attention to who would be the BN candidate to wrest the seat back from the clutches of the giant-slaying incumbent, Dr Jeyakumar Devaraj.

Experienced politicians do not normally engage in fault-assigning retrospectives without a motive; Samy is clearly up to something.

He claims that Mahathir had called on Malay voters in the constituency not to vote for the former MIC president out of resentment for Samy's objection to the entry of the Indian Progressive Front into the BN during the tail end of Mahathir's premiership.

According to the ruling coalition's rules of engagement, the objection of one component of the BN to the admission of a new applicant is a veto that cannot be overridden.

Hanuman: Suara Hati – Bahagian 20

“Malah, Belia Raja kini menjaga seekor anak kera yang terlalu luar biasa. Anak kera itu boleh menjelma dalam pelbagai rupa. Dia boleh diutus terbang ke istana Ravana untuk meninjau keadaan isteri kau.”

Setelah dipujuk dan disogokkan dengan pelbagai pulangan yang lumayan, Rama bersetuju untuk membantu Surgiwa merampas takhta Belia Raja.

Lalu berangkatlah Rama, Letchumanen dan Surgiwa ke istana raja kera.

“Selamat datang, wahai anak-anak Dasaratha. Memang telah beta jangka Surgiwa akan meminta bantuan kalian.”

“Wahai kera tua, elok kau kembalikan takhta itu kepada Surgiwa!”

“Kembalikan?” Belia Raja yang sudah agak bongkok itu mula berang. “Mahkota ini milik beta. Lapan purnama lalu, beta pergi bertapa di Laut Malgudi. Beta amanahkan kepada adinda beta supaya mentadbir kerajaan kera ini bagi pihak beta sehingga beta kembali. Tapi dia pula mengangkat dirinya menjadi pengganti beta.”

“Tapi aku sangka kekanda sudah lemas di Laut Malgudi,” sampuk Surgiwa.

Hanuman: Suara Hati – Bahagian 19

Ah! Entah mengapa hari ini fikiranku agak bercelaru. Kenangan-kenangan lama terus sahaja mendatangi fikiranku satu per satu.

Dan mimpi itu! … Dua orang musafir memasuki istana. Tapi bukan aku yang menjadi maharaja.

Apakah makna mimpi itu? Adakah nasib yang menimpa Belia Raja akan menimpa diriku juga?

Surgiwa telah mendapatkan bantuan Rama untuk merampas semula takhta kerajaan kaum Vanara daripada Belia Raja. Siapa pula yang mungkin mahu membunuh aku?

Apakah …? Fikiranku melayang kembali.

Selepas pulih daripada pengsan, Rama dan Letchumanen berjalan meredah hutan menuju ke arah selatan Benua Hindia dalam usaha mencari Sita.

Di tengah perjalanan, mereka sampai di sebuah kampung kaum asli yang baru kematian ketua. Lalu, Rama mengisytiharkan dirinya sebagai raja. Penduduk kampung itu dijadikan tentera.

Dr M made me lose in last GE, says Samy Vellu

Former MIC president Samy Vellu has attributed his surprise defeat in the last general election to former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, alleging the former premier had worked against him in the polls.

In an interview with New Sunday Times published today, Samy said the high number of spoilt votes in the constituency of Sungai Siput which he had contested was Mahathir’s doing.

“...Where did the 1,001 spoilt votes come from? Because of his (Mahathir’s) advice to Malay voters, he told Umno (members), don’t vote for Samy Vellu,” he was quoted as saying.

Samy said in the interview that  he was later approached by voters who told him: “Do you know why we did not vote for you? Mahathir told us not to vote for you.”

All this was done, Samy said, because Mahathir held a grudge against him for opposing the entry of the Indian Progressive Front (IPF) into Barisan Nasional despite all the other component parties favouring the move.

Grass with Gandhi’s blood to be auctioned in UK

LONDON: Grass with a drop of Mahatma Gandhi’s blood and soil from the place where he was assassinated in 1948 in New Delhi are among rare items to be put up for auction in the UK on April 17, Press Trust of India reported.Other items include a pair of Gandhi’s round-rimmed glasses, ‘charkha’, a 10 inch 78rpm Columbia disc of Gandhi giving his spiritual message signed by him, and original photographs of Gandhi visiting London in 1931.

The items, along with letters in English by Gandhi to Raghavan, Sgt NER Poduwal in Rangoon, and letters by Gandhi in Gujarati and a prayer book in Gujarati are expected to fetch nearly 100,000 pounds in the auction conducted by auctioneer Mullock’s in Shropshire.

The highest guide price of 10,000 pounds to 15,000 pounds has been set by the auctioneer for three items in the collection: the pair of glasses, ‘charkha’ and a casket containing the soil and blades of grass from the spot where Gandhi was killed in New Delhi.The soil and blades of grass were collected by one P P Nambiar, who describes the samples in a provenance, and are placed in a small wooden casket containing a small glass topped box.

Hanuman: Suara Hati – Bahagian 18

Aku tersenyum sendiri mengenangkan peristiwa pertemuan dengan Surya Dewa, lapan belas tahun lalu. Aku mendongak memandang matahari.

Tentu Surya Dewa masih duduk di sana memperhatikan gelagat penghuni bumi. Tentu dia nampak aku yang sedang melutut di hadapan makam Tamnat Gangga.

Tidak ramai yang tahu bahawa aku yang pada hari ini menjadi raja di Kerajaan Indus adalah menantu Surya Dewa. Mereka masih menganggap aku brahmachari.

Malah, tidak ramai juga yang tahu siapa Tamnat Gangga. Mungkin juga kerana dia meninggal dunia pada usia yang terlalu muda.

Selepas meluangkan sedikit masa bersama-sama Surya Dewa, aku meminta diri untuk pulang.
Apabila aku kembali ke dasar laut tempat pertapaan Ibu Anjathi, aku lihat ibu angkatku itu sedang berbual-bual bersama seekor kera dewasa yang kelihatan agak tua.

Hanuman: Suara Hati – Bahagian 17

Pertemuan pertama aku dengan ayahku tidak membuahkan apa-apa hasil. Cuma aku sedar betapa ayah masih terlalu membenci akan aku. Dia berasa malu untuk mengakui aku anaknya.

Lalu aku terus tinggal bersama-sama Ibu Anjathi Devi sementara menantikan peluang yang lebih baik untuk menyedarkan ayah tentang dosa yang dilakukannya.

Pada suatu hari, dari dasar Laut Malgudi, aku nampak sesuatu yang berkilauan nun di atas sana.

“Itu Surya Dewa,” Ibu Anjathi menjelaskan.

“Saya mahu mendapatkannya.”

“Mustahil, anakku. Surya Dewa sukar didekati. Dia amat berkuasa dan pemarah pula.”

Aku mendongak. Seri Surya Dewa menembusi permukaan laut dan datang menyinari dasar laut, tempat pertapaan Ibu Anjathi. Persekitaran mula berwarna emas.

Hanuman: Suara Hati – Bahagian 16

Aku pula pada waktu itu sedang bersama-sama Ibu Anjathi Devi di dasar laut. Aku sudah pun tahu siapa ibu bapaku. Brahma yang muncul dalam mimpiku menceritakan semuanya.

Ibu Anjathi pula memintaku agar bersabar sehingga tiba masa yang sesuai untuk aku pergi menemui Rama dan Sita.

Sewaktu Rama rebah di hadapan pondoknya, aku dapat merasakan kejadian itu. Aku lantas memberitahu Ibu Anjathi. Dia mengangguk buat seketika.

“Masanya mungkin sudah tiba, anakku. Inilah peluang pertama untuk kau menemui ayah kau. Menjelmalah dalam mimpinya. Katakan padanya bahawa kehilangan Sita adalah sebagai membalas perbuatan mereka membuang anak mereka pada suatu masa dahulu.”

Indian artistes put off hunger strike until April 14

Confusion and commotion broke out at a gathering of local Indian artistes who had planned to go on a hunger strike spearheaded by the Malaysian Indian Creative Content Action Force (MICCAF) in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur, yesterday.

More than 100 local Indian artistes and their supporters gathered at the Naga’s Restaurant in support of the planned hunger strike to protest the lack of local content in TV stations and job opportunities.

At a press conference, MICCAF spokesperson NS Krishna put forth the coalition’s demands to have Channel 201 of Astro (Vaanavil) be made up of 100 percent local content by the end of 2013, and to have a Channel 202 (Vellithirai) to telecast more local telemovies on the prime time slot.

MICCAF also called for the resignation of Astro’s head of Indian programming, Rajamani Chellamuthu, holding him responsible for the lack of Malaysian-made programmes in the pay television service.

During the press conference, local director-playwright ST Bala was also calling for the resignation of Rajamani when local telemovie director Maras Ravi stormed in and shouted at Bala for making such claims.