Sunday, May 31, 2009

Penanti Results : PKR Wins...Again! - MalaysiaKini SMS 31/05/09

31/5: Official results: Mansor Othman (6,052 votes), Nai Khan Ari (494), Aminah Abdullah (392), Kamarul Ramizu Idris (56). Majority 5,558./MKINI
Sent via BlackBerry from Maxis

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Technical Recession Soon? - Bernama SMS 27/05/09

27/5: Bank Negara: Economy shrank a worse-than-expected 6.2% in the first three months of 2009 and is headed for a technical recession./MKINI
Sent via BlackBerry from Maxis

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Running Men (aka Pelarian...)

Yesterday on my way home, I came across an incident which involved a police patrol car stopping a lorry. The lorry was carrying I assume construction labourers judging from its equipment.

The road rules states that a lorry can only transport goods and not passengers at the back.

Anyway to cut the story short, a few of the workers caught glimpse of the cops, started to panicked, jumped off the vehicle and started running towards the villages along the Minintod-Inanam road.

I've never seen such desperation in real life before. I've only seen these in movies of the typical cops and robbers chase (which is so hammed up by the way).

The funny thing was that the coppers took their sweet time getting out of the car and the workers jogged (that's right, jogged) out from the lorry! Quite casually too I got to mention!

I assumed that these were workers without any proper travelling documents/passes.

I nearly stopped my car to watch the whole episode but thought against the idea and went on with my journey.

None of my business I had thought.

Then it has struck my mind that even if I had gone down and assisted the cops by giving them an eye-witness account; would it have made any difference?

There are so many things to complain about our government's administrative system. The problem of this magnitude started when the leaders of yesteryears decided to put themselves first before the nation's needs.

This action thus caused a chain reaction which eventually leads us to the alleged illegals running for their lives from the police.
Our administrative system is so corrupted that in order to survive, we need to adapt to it. By doing that, we are also jeopardising our children's bright future.

All these are happening right now due to political pride,short-sightedness and especially for personal gain.

It's an never-ending situation.

Take care everybody and be good to one another.
Sent via BlackBerry from Maxis

Monday, May 25, 2009

TNB Seeks To Commission 1st Nuclear Plant - Bernama SMS 25/05/09

Kl25/5: Tenaga Nasional Bhd targets to commission the first nuclear power plant in Malaysia by 2025/BERNAMA
Sent via BlackBerry from Maxis

8,000 Km Undersea Cable To Meet Internet Demands - Bernama SMS 25/05/09

KL 25/5: Telekom joins consortium to build 8,000 km long int'l undersea cable known as Asia Pacific Gateway to meet rising Internet demand/BERNAMA
Sent via BlackBerry from Maxis

Susan Boyle Performance On Britain's Got Talent Semi Final

Here's Susan Boyle performing "Memory" from the stage classic "Cats"! Enjoy this here before it gets taken down...

Saturday, May 23, 2009

Its A 4-Cornered Fight At Penanti -MalaysiaKini SMS 23/05/09

23/5: Penanti: 4 candidates have submitted nominations - Mansor Othman (PKR) and 3 inds - Aminah Abdullah, Mohd Saberi Othman, Nai Khan Ari/MKINI
Sent via BlackBerry from Maxis

WTF??? David Blaine!?!? Part 3

And this one...


WTF??? David Blaine!?!? Part 2

Heh, just for laughs...


Friday, May 22, 2009

Umno To Contest Kelantan State Seat Says Najib - MalaysiaKini SMS 22/05/09

22/5: PM Najib says Umno will contest the Manek Urai state seat in Kelantan, now vacant after the death of its PAS representative today./MKINI
Sent via BlackBerry from Maxis

Zambry Is MB Says Appeals Court - MalaysiaKini SMS 22/05/09

22/5: Appeals Court unanimously rules that BN's Zambry Abd Kadir is the Perak MB, allowing his appeal against earlier High Court decision./MKINI
Sent via BlackBerry from Maxis

Manek Urai Assemblyman Dies, Another By-election - MalaysiaKini SMS 22/05/09

22/5: Manek Urai state assemblyperson Ismail Yaacob, 60, passed away in Kota Bharu at 6am today, paving way for another by-election./MKINI
Sent via BlackBerry from Maxis

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Perak MB Appeal Decision Tomorrow

21/5: Three-member Court of Appeal panel to make its decision on an appeal by Zambry Abd Kadir on who is the legitimate Perak MB tomorrow./MKINI
Sent via BlackBerry from Maxis

On RPK's Response On Son's Predicament

For me this is truly a difficult situation for RPK and family. I bet this incident about Raja Azman is more painful in comparison with being held in Kamunting. I mean would many of us choose principles over family first? (Not a lot I can tell you that!)

Anyway here is RPK's full apology...

NO HOLDS BARRED - My Most Sincere Apology To The Nation

Raja Petra Kamarudin

I offer no excuses. My wife, Marina, and I have five children, all now grown up. Four have made a life for themselves -- two are now married and have blessed us with four grandchildren. One, Raja Azman, left home when he was still in lower secondary school and chose to end all ties with the family. That was about 18 years ago or so.

Since he left home, he has been in and out of trouble, the result of living on the streets and sleeping in the back alleys of Kuala Lumpur. Invariably, life on the streets like an urchin turned him into what he is today.

Muslims believe that heaven lies beneath the feet of one’s mother. It is therefore seldom a Muslim mother would bring herself to curse her offspring. Doing so would condemn that child for eternity. That is what Muslims believe.

My wife made it very clear to our prodigal son that he turns his back on the family and resorts to a life of crime at his own peril. It does not matter the severity of the crime. Crime is crime whatever it may be, big or small. And is it not the tendency that petty criminals eventually migrate to hardcore crimes? He therefore invites his mother’s curse if he brings shame to the family. That was my wife’s final word on the matter.

Our son was warned that if he ever got into trouble he was entirely on his own. He can’t expect the family that he has disowned to rally to his side. He has made his bed so he must now lie in it. That was our irrevocable and uncompromising stand and this was delivered in no uncertainty to our son. He would have to make the decision as to what it was going to be.

Marina and I received a phone call a couple of months ago that our son, yet again, was in trouble. It was a call from a police officer. The phone was passed to our son so that we could be assured he was in the hands of the police. Although it was a huge disappointment to both of us, it was no shock, neither a surprise. This was yet another brush with the law that our son has got himself into over more than a decade.

The purpose for the phone call became clearer after our son handed the phone back to the police officer. They wanted to negotiate a settlement. The problem is small, we were told. This can be settled easily enough. They know we would rather bury this problem than let it become public knowledge. We are, after all, high profile. And bad publicity such as this would not help our image.

I made it very clear there would be no negotiations. How can I agree to bribing police officers to get my son off the hook after speaking out against crime, corruption, abuse of power and cover-ups of criminal acts by those who walk in the corridors of power? Sure, maybe no one would know about it. Once I pay up, the matter will be buried so deep no one would be the wiser. But I would know. My wife would know. My family would know. And the police officers who I had bribed would know.

How can I continue speaking out against what ails this country when I am not able to walk the talk? It is so easy to talk when you have nothing to lose, except maybe your freedom. But when it comes to a member of your family, you compromise your principles and violate the very thing that you speak out against.

When I hung up the phone, I could see the pain in my wife’s heart. After all, are not the eyes the window to the heart? Which mother can abandon a child, never mind how evil that child may be. It takes a very determined woman to put principles before the welfare of the family.

We knew it was with dire consequences that we had turned down the offer to settle the matter. We would be made to pay dearly for our stubbornness. They would make sure that we would suffer shame never before suffered by our family.

My children are devastated. The thought of our son having to spend a good part of his life in prison is only part of it. The fact that he carries the family name and that this would be held against the family was their main concern. They knew we would be made to suffer for what Raja Azman had done.

This was a predicament we would never be able to avoid. It would have been so simple to just agree to meet the police officers and pay them the money they wanted and all would have been settled. But it would have been settled only for that short moment in time. I would have to carry the knowledge that I sold out my principles and was not able to walk the talk for the rest of my life.

How can I continue doing what I am doing knowing that I am not able to practice what I preach? I would lose the moral high ground and would no longer be qualified to talk about change and about a better Malaysia. I am, after all, as corrupted as those people who walk in the corridors of power. My son may walk free. But I shall be taking his place in prison -- not a physical prison, but a prisoner of my own nagging conscience, which will haunt me till my last day on earth.

As a father, it was a most difficult choice I had to make. It was more difficult for Marina, the mother who gave birth to that son. We held each other’s hands and looked each other in the eye without speaking. Words were unnecessary. In that silence our hearts did all the talking. We knew we had to bite the bullet and face whatever lies ahead of us without wavering.

Marina and I apologise to the nation for what our son has done. As parents, Marina and I accept that responsibility.

Requiem By London Boys

I used to love this song while growing up! It's been years since I last heard of it. Thanks to the wonders of YouTube I can now enjoy the video clip over and over again!

Sad thing both men died in freak car accident while on holiday together with their wives.

I still love this song!

Enjoy!

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

WTF? David Blaine??!!

I was surfing over at Youtube when I came across this spoof on David Blaine's Street Magic series. When I first watched it, I thought it was the real deal until well, just watch the show.

Hilarious!


Tamil Tiger Leader Body Found - MalaysiaKini SMS 19/05/09

19/5: Sri Lanka state TV showed footage of what it said was body of V Prabhakaran, which bore close resemblance to the Tamil Tigers leader./MKINI
Sent via BlackBerry from Maxis

Privileges Committee Suspends Khir Toyo - MalaysiaKini SMS 19/05/09

19/5: S'gor assembly Privileges Committee suspends opposition leader Khir Toyo a year for not attending hearings and for blog postings./MKINI
Sent via BlackBerry from Maxis

Uthayakumar No Show With Advisory Panel - MalaysiaKini SMS 19/05/09

19/5: Hindraf leader P Uthayakumar does not turn up for a scheduled meeting with the advisory panel at the Kamunting Detention Camp today./MKINI
Sent via BlackBerry from Maxis

Anwar : BN Admits Defeat - MalaysiaKini SMS 19/05/09

19/5: Anwar Ibrahim says BN's decision not to contest the Penanti by-election means BN finally admits it is beaten in its own heartland./MKINI
Sent via BlackBerry from Maxis

Tamil Tigers: Prabhakaran Alive And Well - MalaysiaKini SMS 19/05/09

19/5: Tamil Tigers deny that their leader Velupillai Prabhakaran has been killed by the Sri Lankan military, saying he is alive and well./MKINI
Sent via BlackBerry from Maxis

Monday, May 18, 2009

BN Not Contesting Penanti - 18/05/09

18/5: BN will not contest the Penanti by-election on May 31, says PM Najib after chairing a BN council meeting in Kuala Lumpur today./MKINI
Sent via BlackBerry from Maxis

Friday, May 15, 2009

Appeal Against HC Decision Hearing May 21

15/5: Court of Appeal will hear on May 21 Zambry's appeal against High Court decision in declaring rival Nizar as legitimate Perak MB./MKINI
Sent via BlackBerry from Maxis

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Gun Brought Into May 7 Sitting?

View from 2:38 and snapshots at the end...



I think the person is a plain-clothed policeman.

No Snap Polls 'cos Pakatan Will Win : Tun M - MalaysiaKini SMS 14/05/09

14/5: Ex-PM Mahathir said Pakatan would win snap state election in Perak and thus he is against it being held to resolve political impasse./MKINI
Sent via BlackBerry from Maxis

PM Najib To Talk To Pakatan On Perak Crisis - MalaysiaKini SMS 14/05/09

14/5: PM Najib willing to talk to Pakatan to resolve the on-going Perak crisis but said there should be no pre-conditions for the meeting./MKINI
Sent via BlackBerry from Maxis

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Nizar Files Appeal Against Stay Order - MalaysiaKini SMS 13/05/09

13/5: Mohd Nizar filed appeal in Court of Appeal at 2.50pm to set aside the court's 'stay order' in recognising him as lawful Perak MB./MKINI
Sent via BlackBerry from Maxis

LDP VP Peter Pang Is Sabah DCM - MalaysiaKini SMS 13/05/09

13/5: Liberal Democratic Party VP Peter Pang named new Sabah DCM, replacing Raymond Tan - ex-Sapp who was partyless until he joined Gerakan/MKINI
Sent via BlackBerry from Maxis

Probe Weapons Claim At Perak State Assembly - MalaysiaKini SMS 13/05/09

13/5: Perak DAP assemblypersons urged authorities to probe claim that weapons, including a firearm, were brought into the May 7 sitting./MKINI
Sent via BlackBerry from Maxis

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Court of Appeal Granted Stay in Execution of Decision - MalaysiaKini SMS 12/05/09

12/5: Court of Appeal has granted a stay in execution in High Court's decision. Perak MB Nizar cannot dissolve assembly until appeal heard./MKINI
Sent via BlackBerry from Maxis

Perak MB (Nizar) & Exco Vacates Post - MalaysiaKini SMS 12/05/09

12/5: Perak MB Nizar and excos vacate their posts at 2.45pm following a stay in execution of High Court's decision by the Court of Appeal./MKINI
Sent via BlackBerry from Maxis

Petrol Price Increases! - MalaysiaKini SMS 12/05/09

12/5: Premium grade petrol RON97 to increase by 20 sen, or 11%, to RM2 per litre from Sept 1. New grade RON95 to be introduced at RM1.75./MKINI
Sent via BlackBerry from Maxis

Perak MB (Zambry) Files Appeal - MalaysiaKini SMS 12/05/09

12/5: BN MB Zambry Abd Kadir filed appeal in Court of Appeal against yesterday's High Court decision. Also seeking a stay pending appeal./MKINI
Sent via BlackBerry from Maxis

Perak MB (Nizar) Reports to Work With Exco 8 - MalaysiaKini SMS 12/05/09

12/5: Perak MB Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin and his 8 exco members reported to work at the state building at 7.30am. Audience sought with Regent./MKINI
Sent via BlackBerry from Maxis

Monday, May 11, 2009

PPP Leader Murugiah Death Threat - MalaysiaKini SMS 11/05/09

11/5: Embattled PPP leader T Murugiah has received a bullet casing and a note warning him against contesting for any party posts./MKINI
Sent via BlackBerry from Maxis

BN To Appeal Against Decision Says Najib - MalaysiaKini SMS 11/05/09

11/5: PM Najib said BN will appeal against the Perak decision tomorrow, urged people to remain calm and that the problem will be solved./MKINI
Sent via BlackBerry from Maxis

Nizar Is Legit MB : KL High Court - MalaysiaKini SMS 11/05/09

11/5: KL High Court today declared Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin as the legitimate Perak menteri besar. BN MB Zambry to appeal./MKINI
Sent via BlackBerry from Maxis

Centre-Point No Power!

I'm in Centre-Point right now and there's no electricity! Imagine that here at one KK's landmark areas!

That was 20 minutes ago! Anyway heading out towards my car now.
Sent via BlackBerry from Maxis

Hindraf Chairman To Return From Exile- MalaysiaKini SMS 11/05/09

11/5: Hindraf chairperson Waythamoorthy has decided to return home from his exile in London even if it means he would be arrested./MKINI
Sent via BlackBerry from Maxis

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Lift Hindraf Ban Waythamoorty Tells Govt - MalaysiaKini SMS 10/05/09

10/5: P Waythamoorthy called on govt to lift ban on Hindraf - release of Hindraf 5 from ISA showed it is of no threat to national security./MKINI
Sent via BlackBerry from Maxis

Saturday, May 9, 2009

Hero's Welcome For Uthayakumar - MalaysiaKini SMS 09/05/09

9/5: Released Hindraf leader P Uthayakumar arrived at his hometown of Seremban to hero's welcome, gave speech amid shouts of Makkal Sakthi/MKINI
Sent via BlackBerry from Maxis

Hindraf Leader On Way Home -MalaysiaKini SMS 09/05/09

9/5: Released Hindraf leader P Uthayakumar on way to his mother's home in Seremban. 100 supporters await his arrival at Labu toll booth./MKINI
Sent via BlackBerry from Maxis

Hindraf 3 Officially Out Of Kamunting - MalaysiaKini SMS 09/05/09

9/5: Three remaining Hindraf leaders - P Uthayakumar, M Manoharan and T Vasanthakumar - have been released from Kamunting Detention Camp./MKINI
Sent via BlackBerry from Maxis

Hindraf 3 Released Today - MalaysiaKini SMS 09/05/09

9/5: Hindraf leaders P Uthayakumar, M Manoharan and T Vasanthakumar are to be released from the Kamunting Detention Camp this afternoon./MKINI
Sent via BlackBerry from Maxis

Friday, May 8, 2009

Bersih's Wong Freed - MalaysiaKini SMS 08/05/09

8/5: Bersih's Wong Chin Huat, who was arrested under the Sedition Act, his 15 supporters and their 5 lawyers were all freed this afternoon/MKINI
Sent via BlackBerry from Maxis

20 Arrested At Bersih Vigil - MalaysiaKini SMS 08/05/09

8/5: 20 people, including 5 lawyers, arrested last night at candlelight vigil for Bersih's Wong Chin Huat at Brickfields police station./MKINI
Sent via BlackBerry from Maxis

200 Lawyers Gathers At Jln Duta Court Complex - MalaysiaKini SMS 08/05/09

8/5: 200 lawyers gathered at Jln Duta court complex in KL this morning to protest the arrest of five of their colleagues late last night./MKINI
Sent via BlackBerry from Maxis

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Perak State Assembly Crisis - MalaysiaKini Updates 7 May 2009



Perak Speaker Sivakumar being forced out from the State Assembly Chair!


5.10pm: BN speaker Ganesan tells reporters that he does not see any problems with regards to executing his duties in future.


"There is a maxim in democracy - majority rules. BN has 31 (seats), Pakatan has 28. The majority elected the speaker."



Asked on how he plans to keep the House in order, he replies: "I won't be a dictator. I will do my duty as per standing orders."


On the manner he was elected, Ganesan (left) says the issue of an 'illegal speaker' does not arise because BN has the majority.


"Sivakumar was removed as per standing order."


5.06pm: Nizar leaves the building and is seen waving at journalists as well as police personnel.


5.03pm: Sivakumar leaves the state secretariat building. His car briefly stops at the gates to allow photographers to snap a few shots.



5pm: Nizar tells a press conference that as far as Pakatan is concerned, the House did not sit today. He says that whatever BN did was "illegal and unconstitutional".


As for the regent's speech, the ousted MB describes it "as just a royal speech, nothing more than that. It is not opening the assembly."



4.30pm: PAS' Salahuddin Ayub says all the elected reps arrested earlier have been released.


4.05pm: Perak regent Nazrin leaves the chamber. BN-appointed MB Zambry suggests for the House to be adjourned. Pakatan reps repeatedly shout ‘Dissolve the assembly’ again.


New speaker Ganesan adjourns the assembly to a date to be decided. Pakatan reps call press conference inside the assembly.


4pm: PKR election strategy director and Batu parliamentarian Tian Chua is arrested outside the state secretariat building in Ipoh. The police inform him that the area has been cordoned off. The opposition politician tells police that he is there to greet his Pakatan colleagues.


Although he was accompanied by PKR treasurer William Leong and several other party leaders, the police only detained him. He is forcefully dragged to an unmarked police vehicle.


3.47pm: Raja Nazrin ends his royal speech. He does not touch on the ongoing political crisis in the state during his 30-minute speech. He spoke on the stimulus packages and development of the state. A closing prayer session is underway.


3.36pm: Sivakumar's official car is seen returning to the state secretariat building with the same woman passenger.



3.16pm: Order is resumed in the dewan and Raja Nazrin starts his royal address.


3.15pm: Regent of Perak Raja Nazrin enters the House and talks to Nizar and DAP's Ngeh Khoo Ham. Following this, Nizar tells all Pakatan reps to take their seat and they obey.


The police install a new chair for Ganesan as the old speaker's chair was damaged during the earlier scuffle. The plainclothes personnel have also left the House.


3.12pm: Sivakumar's official Toyota Camry bearing the registration plate 'AFD 999' is seen leaving the state secretariat building with a woman passenger but the speaker is not in the car.


3.10pm: Ganesan adjourns the House in order to wait for the Regent of Perak to deliver his official address.


3.05pm: Ganesan starts chairing the meeting and calls for the customary prayers to be recited. He also calls for the removal of two Pakatan reps but no action is taken to do so.


Sivakumar's wife is enraged and demands to see her husband. The 'officials' then take her to see the Pakatan speaker but nobody else is allowed to meet him.


3pm: PAS youth chief Salahuddin Ayub who was arrested this morning told Malaysiakini that he was being held at the Sungai Senam police station in Ipoh.


He said there are about 40 others who were arrested this morning at the station. He added that he had given a statement to the police but has not been informed when he will be released.


Meanwhile it is learnt that the police have released 13 people who were arrested this morning.


It could not be ascertained the exact number of people arrested this morning but DAP leader Lim Kit Siang said the number stood at 64.


2.55pm: The same group of 'officials' escort Ganesan to the speaker's chair.


2.41pm: A group of men clad in jackets grab hold of Sivakumar and forcibly remove him from the House. The men are believed to be police personnel.


2.35pm: Attempts by the sergeant-at-arms and state assembly staff to remove Sivakumar are being resisted by the speaker and Pakatan reps. Some other Pakatan assemblypersons are continuing with their attempts to eject BN speaker Ganesan from the house.


2.30pm: The situation is still chaotic in the house. The sergeant-at-arms is now trying to remove Sivakumar from the speaker's chair to allow Ganesan to assume the chair.


2.15pm: ROUND 3 - TUSSLE FOR SPEAKER'S SEAT The assembly resumes. Pakatan reps are trying to physically stop Ganesan from entering the chamber.


There is a lot of pushing and shoving among the state reps. A few punches are being thrown about as well. A number of reps climb up the table. It is complete pandemonium in the assembly.


A couple of police officers are now inside the assembly to try to restore order. Pakatan reps shout at the police to leave the assembly.


At the same time, the BN reps are trying to force Sivakumar out of the speaker's chair but he is being protected by some Pakatan assemblypersons.



12.55pm: BN speaker Ganesan announces that the House will be adjourned for another hour. This is the second adjournment he has announced since been appointed by the BN as the speaker.


As he is unfamiliar with the House standing orders and has to be helped by BN exco Hamidah (Sungai Rapat), he is laughed at by Pakatan reps.


Despite the adjournment, the elected reps remain in the House.


12.50pm: Umno Youth's Saiful Adli files a police report against Sivakumar for ordering Zambry and others out of the House. He says this is in contempt of court.


11.48am: Pakatan elected representatives told Malaysiakini that their seating arrangements were changed before they entered the house this morning - moving their places from the right of the speaker to the left.


However since they arrived into the house much earlier than the BN reps, they just made the necessary changes to sit in their original places at the right of the speaker.


By convention, the ruling party sits in the right of the speaker.



11.37am: A ceasefire seems to be in place. Pakatan reps are still in discussion with Mohammad Nizar while the BN reps are glued to their seats, worried that Sivakumar would start the sitting if they leave the house.


11.34am: Sivakumar is questioning the legality of the decisions made by the BN side, including the decision to appoint a new speaker. He said that the assembly has not officially begun as the Perak regent has yet to declare the sitting open.


He said Raja Nazrin should give a royal speech first before the sitting officially starts.


11.30am: "As long as I am here, the other speaker (Ganesan) is haram," said Sivakumar while attempting to start the assembly sitting. His microphone is still turned off.


11.25am: Pakatan reps walk over to their ousted MB Mohammad Nizar to discuss their next strategy. The verbal salvos continue in the background.


11.23am: Sivakumar once again asks the 10 BN reps to leave the House. Failing which, he warns that he will not reconvene the sitting. But as far as BN reps are concerned, their speaker has adjourned the sitting. A shouting match erupts again.


11.21am: Amidst the pandemonium in the House, BN still manages to pass four motions. These include to remove Sivakumar as the speaker, to appoint Ganesan as the new speaker, to appoint new state committee members and to declare the tree assembly illegal.


11.20am: Zambry moves a motion to adjourn the sitting and the motion is passed. The new speaker announces that the sitting has been adjourned. Pakatan reps respond by shouting 'keluar'. But both sides return to their seats later while Sivakumar continues to occupy the speaker's seat. The House is calm again. The regent of Perak has yet to deliver the royal address.


11.13am: BN representatives seem to have the upper hand in the house now with new speaker Ganesan controlling the proceedings. His microphone is the only one working. With Ganesan chairing the proceedings, BN is now moving a motion to appoint members of various state committees.


They are also moving a motion to declare that the tree-assembly held on March 3 was illegal. In that sitting, a motion moved by the Pakatan representatives to dissolve the assembly was passed. BN reps did not attend that sitting.


11.05am: Deputy speaker Hee Yit Foong, who is now a BN-friendly independent, announces that she has taken over from Sivakumar. Standing behind a cordon of BN state reps, she orders the sergeant-at-arms to expel Sivakumar. However, no action is taken by the sergeant-at-arms.


BN-appointed MB Zambry again reads out the motion to sack Sivakumar. All BN state reps raise their hands in support. Zambry also moves the motion to appoint R Ganesan as the new speaker. This is again backed by BN reps and the three BN-friendly Independents.


Ganesan walks into the assembly hall to accept the speaker’s gown. He is quickly sworn in among the turmoil, and signs the appointment document at the BN side of the assembly.


Sivakumar, who is still occupying the speaker’s seat, keeps shouting, “Speaker ini haram” (He is an illegal speaker), referring to Ganesan.


Ganesan conducts the assembly meeting from the floor among the BN state reps. Zambry tries to move other motions to change a number of key posts.

10.35am: Perak assembly still at a stand-off. Sivakumar keeps repeating that BN MB Zambry’s motion to sack him as speaker is “null and void” and orders the sergeant-at-arms to expel the 10 state assemblypersons. However, the sergeant-at-arms refuse to abide to the speaker’s instruction.


A group of state reps from both sides surround Zambry as the shouting match continues. Assembly state secretary Abdullah Antung tries to talk to the speaker, but he is ignored by Sivakumar.


Zambry maintains that the speaker has now been sacked as BN controls the majority in the assembly.


10.25am: Contrary to the chaos inside the assembly, the situation outside the state secretariat is much calmer with the police successfully dispersing the crowd.


The police have widened the no-go cordon, as a result the coffees shops are deserted.


Earlier the police ordered all those having drinks in the restaurants to leave immediately. Many left without paying for their drinks. Two refused to budge and were arrested.


10.20am: The impasse between speaker V Sivakumar and BN state reps continues. The speaker refuses to begin proceedings unless the seven suspended reps and three BN-friendly independents leave the hall.


Assembly secretary Abdullah Antung tries to take his seat in front of the speaker. But about 10 Pakatan reps walk up to him and physically stop him from doing so. They instruct Antung not to interfere with assembly business as he is a civil servant.


Both sides then engage in a free-for-all shouting match. Pakatan reps are also seen trying to prevent BN MB Zambry from speaking.


Zambry moves motion to sack the speaker. Sivakumar rejects the motion. The assembly plunges into chaos.


Raja Nazrin, who is to officially open the assembly, is waiting in a VIP room.

10.19am: Two more politicians have been arrested by the police for breaching the injunction against gathering at the state secretariat - Sungai Siput MP Dr D Jeyakumar (PSM) and PAS' MP for Parit Buntar Mujahid Yusof Rawa.

Also arrested was Malaysiakini columnist and activist Helen Ang.

10.05am: The speaker said his suspension of Zambry and his six exco members was made in his capacity as the chairperson of the privileges and the special rights committee and not as the speaker.

He said the Federal Court decision was based on his standing as a speaker and as such the matter was inapplicable.

He also asked the three BN-friendly independents to leave the assembly as his legal suit against the three was still pending in court.

His order for the 10 to leave the assembly was greeted by cheers and table-clapping by the Pakatan representatives. They shouted ‘keluar' (out) repeatedly.

However the 10 elected representatives are still in the house. A shouting match between the two sides is presently underway.

Nizar is seated in the right side of the speaker - the place allocated for the ruling party while Zambry is on the left.

9.55am: The action has now moved inside the state assembly. House speaker V Sivakumar, after immediately taking his seat, asks the seven suspended BN state reps including BN appointed MB Zambry to leave the hall.

He says he won’t begin the assembly sitting until they are out of the hall. According to Sivakumar, he has the power to do so. Pakatan state reps thump their table in support.

9.45am:
PAS Youth chief and MP for Kubang Kerian Salahuddin Ayub is arrested near the 'democracy tree' behind the state secretariat building.

9.40am:
Pakatan supporters, estimated at around 200, are scattered in various places near the state assembly building. There is no crowd at the gate of the building. The compound is barricaded by about 200 police.

9.30am:
Perak crown prince Raja Nazrin Shah arrives. He inspects the guards of honour. Unlike the cold reception given to BN MB Zambry, all Pakatan state reps raise to their feet to welcome Raja Nazrin.

He was greeted by Zambry, assembly speaker Sivakumar and deputy speaker Hee Yit Foong (who defected from DAP to become a BN-friendly Independent rep).

9.25am:
BN Menteri Besar Zambry Abd Kadir arrives to inspect the guards of honour. He shakes hand with assembly speaker V Sivakumar. Only BN state reps stand up to welcome Zambry. Pakatan state reps however snub him by remaining seated.

9.23am:
All 59 state reps seated outside the state secretariat building where the opening ceremony will be held. They are waiting for the arrival of Perak crown prince Raja Nazrin Shah.

BN appointed state cabinet members could be seen wearing ‘exco’ (executive councillor) tags while Pakatan reps, including ousted MB Nizar, were wearing ‘Adun’ (state representative) tags.

9.15am: The police have moved in to arrest people gathered at the restaurant, including people having their breakfast. Many people have been arrested. Exact number of those arrested is uncertain.

The police first allowed those having their breakfast to do so but then soon changed their mind and started arresting them as well.

One man who was having tea lashed out at the police for their actions. He was allowed to have his tea and then was arrested.

The restaurant has decided to close its shutters for the day.

9.11am:
The police are issuing warning to people who have gathered near the state secretariat, asking them to disperse by reminding them of the ban against gathering.

People having breakfast in a nearby restaurant are also being told to get away. Fresh arrests are expected.

9.09am: The crowd which had gathered at the Umno headquarters has started to disperse. Umno Youth exco member Lokman Adam told reporters that their members were now free to do their own work.

"We gathered to show support this morning and now that the assembly is about to start, we have decided to disperse.

"We are not like the Pakatan crowd who want to protest at the state secretariat despite a police ban," he said.

9.01am: The 11 people who have been arrested are herded into a police lorry inside the state secretary compound. They include one MP and three state assemblypersons - Ampang MPZuraida Kamaruddin (PKR-Selangor), Ayer Keroh state repKhoo Poay Tiong (DAP-Malacca), Teratai state repJenice Lee (DAP-Selangor) and Bahau state rep Tey Kok Seong (DAP-Negri Sembilan).

The police lorry leaves the compound with those inside shouting “1BlackMalaysia”, “Dissolve the assembly” and “Reformasi”.

9am:
All elected representatives are getting ready for the official ceremony to start. The regent is expected to arrive at any time.

8.59am: DAP's Ipoh Timor member of parliament Lim Kit Siang, under whose area the state secretariat is located, is turned away from the building.

Also with Lim are DAP's MPs for Ipoh Barat M Kulasegaran and Teluk Intan MP M Manogaran. The three MPs had official invitations to attend the sitting from assembly speaker.

In an ensuing shouting match with the police, Kulasegaran's aide was arrested.

8.50am: More arrests by the police. This time four people, including a Pakatan elected representative from Negeri Sembilan and Teratai state representative Jenice Lee (centre in photo), were arrested while having breakfast in a mamak stall.

8.47am:
Batu MP Tian Chua, who has donned a black suit, arrived at the state secretariat compound. He was in Tai Sing Ng (Perak’s Kuala Sepetang rep) car. While Tai was allowed into the building, Chua was told to stay outside the ‘500m exclusion zone’. Chua left the area in another car.

So far, eight have been arrested, including Ampang MP Zuraida (PKR-Selangor), Ayer Keroh state rep Khoo (DAP-Malacca) and her aide.

8.45am: Ampang MP Zuraida Kamaruddin, who wanted to give a press conference outside the state secretariat building, was arrested by the police. She resisted, resulting in a slight scuffle. Police officers forcibly subdued her and put handcuffs on the parliamentarian.

“Why do you handcuff me?” she shouted at the police. The Ayer Keroh state rep Khoo Poay Tiong from Malacca, who was arrested minutes earlier, was also handcuffed.

8.44am:
A group of Umno/BN supporters numbering about 100 have started to gather at the Umno headquarters since morning. A spokesperson said they will be at the building until the official opening of the state assembly sitting. The crowd is carrying banners and placards. Some police officers are on standby.

8.37am: The police have totally cordoned off the road behind the state secretariat with barbed wires. A copy of an injunction obtained yesterday to bar people from gathering has been pasted on the ‘democracy tree'.

8.35am:
Ousted menteri besar Mohamad Nizar Jamaluddin and Pakatan reps enter the state secretariat building. All their bodyguards are stopped at the gate. Only their drivers can go through the entrance.

8.30am: All Barisan Nasional elected representatives arrived at the state secretariat in one bus. Their arrival is greeted by a small group of demonstrators wearing black. The demonstrators are located outside the state secretariat.

The police have moved in to stop the demonstration by arresting three people. Among those arrested are DAP's Ayer Keroh elected representative Khoo Poay Tiong.

8.15am: Security is tight at the Perak state secretariat building in Ipoh, where the controversial legislative assembly meeting is to be held. About 100 police and FRU personnel have been deployed in the area. Five FRU (riot police) trucks are at the back entrance of the building complex.

The assembly hall will be opened at 9am. There will be a guard of honour by crown prince Raja Nazrin Shah, who is expected to represent the Perak sultan. Journalists will be allowed into the hall at 9.45am.

The assembly will officially be opened by Raja Nazrin, who will give his address to the 59 assemblypersons.

8:05am: The 28 Pakatan Rakyat state assemblypersons leave for the Perak state secretariat building in a convoy from the Grand View Hotel in Ipoh. They were accompanied by assembly speaker V Sivakumar and police escorts complete with outriders. The hotel is about 600m from the state secretariat building.

Earlier this morning, the state representatives had breakfast together at a mamak stall near the hotel. There are about 50 Pakatan supporters milling around the area - all wearing black. They are being watched by an equal number of police.

Perak Speaker Ask Suspended 7 Reps To Leave Assembly - MalaysiaKini SMS 07/05/09

7/5: Perak speaker V Sivakumar, immediately after taking his seat, asks 7 suspended BN reps including MB Zambry to leave assembly hall./MKINI
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PAS MP Arrested Near Perak Tree - MalaysiaKini SMS 07/05/09

7/5: PAS Youth chief and MP for Kubang Kerian Salahuddin Ayub arrested near the 'democracy tree' behind Perak state secretariat building./MKINI
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YBs Arrested - MalaysiaKini SMS 07/05/09

7/5: Arrested - Zuraida Kamaruddin (PKR-Ampang), Khoo Poay Tiong (DAP-Ayer Keroh), Jenice Lee (DAP-Teratai) and Tey Kok Seong (DAP-Bahau)./MKINI
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1 MP & 3 State Reps Arrested Outside Perak State Assembly Building -MalaysiaKini SMS 07/05/09

7/5: 11 people arrested outside Perak state secretariat building including 1 MP & 3 state reps. All Perak state reps arrived at assembly./MKINI
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Wednesday, May 6, 2009

14 Arrested For Supporting Wong Chin Huat - MalaysiaKini SMS 06/05/09

6/5: The number of people arrested by the police at Brickfields now stands at 14. They were there to show support for Wong Chin Huat./MKINI
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Sultan Unauthorized To Sack MB: Tun M - MalaysiaKini SMS 06/05/09

6/5: Dr Mahathir Mohamad, speaking after a speech in Putrajaya, said a sultan has got no power to remove an elected menteri besar./MKINI
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3 Activists Arrested For Cake Delivery - MalaysiaKini SMS 06/05/09

6/5: 3 activists arrested for attempting to deliver a cake commemorating 31st birthday of Altantuya Shaariibuu to PM's Office in Putrajaya/MKINI
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Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Bersih Spokeman Arrested - MalaysiaKini SMS 05/05/09

5/5: Poll reform group Bersih spokesperson Wong Chin Huat was tonight arrested under the Sedition Act by police at his home in KL./MKINI
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A(H1N1) Suspect Cleared - MalaysiaKini SMS 05/05/09

5/5: The 31-yr-old man warded at the S'wak general hospital for suspected influenza A(H1N1) has been cleared of the virus: Health Ministry/MKINI
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Another Swine-flu Suspect - MalaysiaKini SMS 05/05/09

5/5: A 31-year-old local man, returning from the US, has been admitted to the Sarawak general hospital with suspected influenza (H1N1)./MKINI
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Sabah DCM Joins Gerakan - MalaysiaKini SMS 05/05/09

5/5: Partyless Sabah DCM Raymond Tan (Tanjong Papat) & Au Kam Wah (Elopura) - both ex-Sapp - have joined Gerakan: Party chief Koh Tsu Koon/MKINI
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Monday, May 4, 2009

Britain's Got Talent Featuring Jamie Pugh

Here's one of my favourite performances from the reality show, Britain's Got Talent. This one's by Jamie Pugh who's a truck driver by day and delivers pizza by night.

Check this out! Its truly amazing!


The Blower's Daughter - Damien Rice

I'm working the midnight candle at the moment so I'm having a short break. I'm listening to Damien Rice right now. The song that he's singing is 'The Blower's Daughter' taken from the album "O".

I fell in love with this song immediately right after I first heard it being played. I never grow tired of it. In fact I like the song so much that I learned to play it with my guitar. (My guitar skills aren't spectacular but hey, everybody needs a hobby!)

A beautiful song indeed. I hope you enjoy it just as much.


Perak Speaker Seeks Assembly Postponement - MalaysiaKini SMS 04/05/09

4/5: Perak speaker V Sivakumar has written to Sultan Azlan Shah seeking a postponement of Thursday's state assembly sitting./MKINI
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No al-Qaeda Link : Bank Negara - Bernama SMS 04/05/09

4/5 KL: Bank Negara: No evidence of suspect linked to al-Qaeda transferring funds from Malaysian banking system to terrorist groups/BERNAMA
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Invest In Gold : CIMB - Bernama SMS 04/05/09

4/5 KL: CIMB Private Banking says high net worth clients should invest in gold as an effective portfolio diversifier amid current volatility/BERNAMA
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NH3-New Home III

I don't know what is happening with The Jongandhi Blog's settings. It doesn't seem to include the dates and times of my postings. So I've decided to create another blog-site. By the way this is my third blog.

My second blog was created using WordPress. I like it very much however lately I find that it has been lagging; I can't seem to access its dashboard as quickly as before. The dashboard itself is laden with items that I don't really use and care about. Since I'm on the move most of the time, I like to blog on the go. WordPress.com Gadget isn't as user friendly as compared to go@blogger.com. So portability is a biggie for me. After saying all that, I still think WordPress is an excellent tool for blog creation. Its just that now I just need to only do some basic stuff.

So this leads me back to Blogger and a new blog! To tell you the truth, I don't know what to expect out of this yet but nothing is absolute. Hence the creation of this blog.

As I write this, I find Blogger's writing features are soothing to a very much pressured mind. It almost brings back fond memories of my first posting. Well, almost... as nothing can ever beat the first time! :)

Catch you later!

PAS Leader Say No To Contest Penanti

4/5: PAS leader Nik Aziz Nik Mat tells party members not to create problems by demanding that PAS contest the Penanti by-election./MKINI
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