Scrap DDA, stop detention without trial!

SUARAM had launched a booklet on the Dangerous Drugs (Special Preventive Measures) Act 1985 last weekend. Three speakers were invited to speak on the topic. They were Dato' Siva Subramaniam (SUHAKAM commissioner), saudara S. Arutchelvan (secretariat members of SUARAM) and saudara Gobin Singh (lawyer).

In spite of the cold response from public and press, the panelists gave very good analysis on the Dangerous Drugs Act, which permits detention without trial. Similar to the Internal Security Act (ISA) and Emergency Ordinance (EO), Dangerous Drugs Act (DDA) can detain anyone without bringing him/her to the court. The number of detainees under the DDA is way more than the other two draconian laws. Unfortunately, due to the nature of the law (which has mostly been used on drugs traffickers and drugs addicts), the public has turned a blind eye on the sinister act.

In fact, according to the reply given by the Ministry of Internal Security during a sitting of the parliament in July 2005, a total of 5967 people had been detained under the DDA at Simpang Renggam Detention Centre between 2000 and June 2005. In comparison, ISA is nothing! (To date, there are approximately 103 ISA detainees in Kamunting Detention Camp)

The SUHAKAM commissioner has precisely pointed out that despite so many arrests under the DDA, crimes related to drugs remain rampant. So, it is high time for all members of the society to urge the government to:

SCRAP DDA and Stop Detention Without Trial!

p/s: Anyone who is interested to own this booklet, please contact me at 012-5173067 or 03-77843525. You can also drop by to pick it up at 433A, Jalan 5/46, Gasing Indah, 46000 PJ.

Ceramah Perdana: Protes Sampai Turun!

Though there was no protest in the past two weeks, it doesn't mean people have given up on the fuel price hike issue. I would like to borrow an Indonesian adage here, "Air tenang jangan disangka tiada buaya" (Never think that still water doesn't have crocodiles)

People are preparing for a huge demonstration in the near future. As warming up, the organiser is organising a Ceramah Perdana tonight, at:

Date : 17 April 2006 (Monday)

Time : 8pm

Venue : Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall

Speakers :
Nasharudin Mat Isa (PAS)
S. Arutchelvan (PSM)
R. Sivarasiah (PKR)
Zaid Kamarudin (JIM)
Elizabeth Wong (SUARAM)
Syed Shahir (MTUC)
DAP representative
SMM representative

A fool's mouth is his destruction

Few days ago, Samy Vellu’s press secretary E.Sivabalan used abusive language on malaysiakini journalist Beh Lih Yi when she attempted to approach the minister at the Parliament lobby.

He pointed finger at Lih Yi and said:"She is very rude. F**k that woman!"

This Sivabalan fella has gone too far, who is he to threaten the journalists? I am quite sure he does not know much about defamation or libel (law, I mean). But I can understand why he was so angry. People like him is so used to be flattered (and flattering, of course. One of the great jobs he has done is a book authored by him - Mahathir: Nadi Penggerak Bangsa, published in 1998). Sometimes, these people forgot their identity and started to act like big shot. This Sivabalan is one of those typical minister's famulus who has this kind of mindset.

When he is challenged by someone (Lih Yi in this case), he doesn't know how to handle. Doing nothing makes him feel shame (especially when he couldn't "control" a journalist in front of so many people) . Therefore, he can only resort to violence (spitting vulgar words). Of course, Lih Yi's young age and her gender are part of the reasons why that bugger was so daring.

Anyway, this incident has clearly shown us that one's accomplishment cannot be judged by their shining business suit and glittering leather shoes.

Salute to my brave and pretty comrade, Miss Beh!

Meaningful song: Man in black

Opps, this is not the one by Mr. Jones and Mr. Smith, but it is by Mr. Johnny Cash, the famous country music singer! Below are the lyrics:

Well, you wonder why I always dress in black,
Why you never see bright colors on my back,
And why does my appearance seem to have a somber tone.
Well, there's a reason for the things that I have on.

I wear the black for the poor and the beaten down,
Livin' in the hopeless, hungry side of town,
I wear it for the prisoner who has long paid for his crime,
But is there because he's a victim of the times.

I wear the black for those who never read,
Or listened to the words that Jesus said,
About the road to happiness through love and charity,
Why, you'd think He's talking straight to you and me.

Well, we're doin' mighty fine, I do suppose,
In our streak of lightnin' cars and fancy clothes,
But just so we're reminded of the ones who are held back,
Up front there ought 'a be a Man In Black.

I wear it for the sick and lonely old,
For the reckless ones whose bad trip left them cold,
I wear the black in mournin' for the lives that could have been,
Each week we lose a hundred fine young men.

And, I wear it for the thousands who have died,
Believen' that the Lord was on their side,
I wear it for another hundred thousand who have died,
Believen' that we all were on their side.

Well, there's things that never will be right I know,
And things need changin' everywhere you go,
But 'til we start to make a move to make a few things right,
You'll never see me wear a suit of white.

Ah, I'd love to wear a rainbow every day,
And tell the world that everything's OK,
But I'll try to carry off a little darkness on my back,
'Till things are brighter, I'm the Man In Black

Johnny Cash