Just got back from playing with massive house-sized machinery and a bit of investigation here and there. In any case, bone, bone tired. Some quick shorts:
- CIJ and WAMI calls for the lifting of the Minnal FM presenters, according to Malaysiakini. At least this travesty is getting some attention, and I hope CIJ and WAMI’s initiative gains some traction.
- 26 from Hindraf will be charged… for attempted murder. Attempted Murder. I think the Police should charge these 26 Hindraf supporters for running around naked in public. Different charge, but just as ridiculous. Who are the Police fooling? Who is BN trying to fool?
- A call to boycott the mainstream media, which I support. But just one thing I’d like to note. The media isn’t being irresponsible by portraying the wrong sort of news to Mr Big Ears. Oh, no. It’s Mr Big Ears who is being irresponsible by allowing the mainstream media to broadcast tainted, skewed, off-kilter news.
- For those who still can’t muster a bit of understanding over the causes behind the Hindraf rally, read KJ John’s latest column on the plight of rural Indians. Malaysiakini so must subscribe lah. Support Media Alternatif! :)
A little under the weather but I want to say this. After the Bersih rally, I had the opportunity to talk to some great people who have really great, and good, ideas. It makes me wish I was staying in KL, you know, so I could participate with more like-minded people. In any case, some time back I blogged about how civil society must replace the opposition in creating a space within which to negotiate with the government of the day. That is: stop talking about displacement of the government via opposition parties, and start talking about engagement with the government via civil society groups and pressure groups. I was just thinking about how things have changed since I posted that little bit. Some things, however, haven’t.
Now I’ll say this: for this idea to work, we must not allow opposition parties to hijack civil society initiatives!. The thing is, DAP, PKR and PAS all know that civil society groups can’t do without the critical mass opposition parties can mobilize. But something must be done to overturn this!
So, just to go through a few things that need to be done:
- Build a civil society divorced from party politics.
- Clean up the judiciary.
- Create a more inclusive, multi-ethnic civil service.
- Wrest the mainstream media from the government’s grasp.
- Bring alternative solutions to rural development pushed forward by non-governmental organisations! Crucial!
There. Easy enough!
Comments (3)
ha ha ha ha….gee, why din i think of that….genius……
you know what they say about difficult things: they are easy to say, lor..
But there was “no action & no reprimand†from BN for MIC MP K. Devamany is a â€saving face “ way out - so as not to aggravate the bad situation. It is rather shocking why is Nazri having a Change of Heart and taking a soft stance now when on the fly he has “condemned†him earlier and asked him to get out of MIC. It is clear now he is under orders to do some Election Damage Control. He was seen holding his hand and patting him then declared:
“There is no suspension, nothing. This will go to show that you know the Barisan National, we allow you as MP to speak accordance to your conscience at the same time to maintain decorum and to ensure unity for Barisan National in the Parliamentâ€
Can the Coalition MPs speak their minds and conscience now with Nazri’s assurance? Will the MCA or for the matter Gerakan & other component parties dared to open their “big mouths†now that Nazri has given the green light. It is unlikely.
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