Raja Petra's morning run around at the courts

Raja Petra Kamarudin, better known as RPK was charged in the Petaling Jaya Sessions court on Tuesday, 6th of May 2008. He was earlier asked to present himself at the Kuala Lumpur court complex, and he arrived at around 8.50am. Seen at the car park was lawyer Haris Ibrahim, and his wife, Marina. Other notable bloggers who was also there to meet him was Zorro.
At 8.50am RPK was yet to be made known of the charges that he was to face.
On entering the court outer perimeter, a throng of reporters and photographers were there to greet him. He entered the court building around 9.05am. Surrounded by supporters as well as Pakatan Rakyat's Members of Parliament, and bloggers as well as supporters, RPK had to wait to 10.30am before he was further told that his charges was to be read out in the PJ sessions court.
He eventually arrived in the PJ Sessions court at around 11.00am and proceeded to the waiting room. It was at around 11.55am when YB Gobind Deo and YB Karpal Singh arrived and acted as hid co counsel. Other lawyers in his initial team are YB Lim Lip Eng, YB William Leong, K.Balaguru. RPK was subsequently charged under the Sedition Act, and was granted bail of RM5,000.00. However, he could not raise bail and Balaguru issued a statement that appealed to his supporters to help him by contributing RM1 each to his bail. (a total of about RM30,000 was raised through a designated CIMB account as well as through paypal).
RPK was brought to the Sungai Buluh Prison for remand due to his inability to post bail.
(As of 4.00pm on 7th May 2008, RPK has yet to post bail, and reliable sources informed that he has declined to meet visitors, including his wife. However, he did receive a pair of glasses that was handed over to prison officers. The Star newspaper also provided the same update)
Video report attached.

Blogger 'King' RPK summoned for questioning by Police

Blogger RPK of Malaysia Today received a morning call on the 2nd of May 2008 by seven police personnel, arriving in two cars and three motorcycles. The officers who were in plain clothes proceeded to remove a computer and a laptop from his home. Speaking to Marina, his wife, we were also told of the Police's intention to question him and his interview was originally planned on the 3rd of May at 11.00am. However, he was later told to present himself on the afternoon at 4.00pm through a phone call received at about 3.00pm. Under advice, he could have declined the time, however RPK chose to meet the police to assist them in their investigation, wanting to get it over with. Arriving at the Bukit Perdana commercial crimes division, he went in around 3.50pm accompanied by YB William Leong of Selayang who is also a lawyer. RPK emerged from his Police interview some two and a half hours later. Welcoming him at the entrance of the police complex was his wife Marina, and some blogger friends, including Rockybru, Nuraina Samad, Zorro, Shanghai Fish, and some supporters too.
YB Wee Choo Keong, MP for Wangsa Maju attempted to meet RPK during the interview as his lawyer but was denied entry by the Police. It was understood that the Police were questioning RPK based on a report on RPK's posting on Altantunya, titled "let's send the murderers of Altantunya to hell". In the course of the interview, the Police even threatened to charge RPK for his refusal to answer any questions, and his refusal to make a statement. Eventually, RPK emerged 'victorious' giving an interview to pressmen at around 6.50pm. Read other eyewitness accounts here, here and here.

Prime Minister Abdullah's address to the BAR Council

Read accompanying report here, here or here.

Hill Slope Developments and the destruction of Ampang Hills

Ampang Jaya, more accurately, the vicinity of Bukit Antarabangsa, Ukay Heights, Bukit Malawati, and Ampang Hills. On December 11, 1993, round about 1pm, block 1 of the apartment complex known as Highland Towers collapsed. The tragedy claimed 48 lives. A tragic turn of events that could have been avoided had the developers and local council been more careful. (look here for case documents) A long legal battle ensued, but in reality, those who fought it had no consolation in sight. Families and friends lost.
That was back in 93. 2008 brings a new challenge. Resident associations around these same area are up against the might of another developer, in the form of MAA Assurance. The Resident Association of Taman Hijau, the area closest to the proposed development, informs myblog-tv that the MPAJ(Ampang Jaya Town Council) had already issued a town planning permission to the developers on March 17 2008. This despite appeals from the association(s) and countless letters written to the President informing them of the resident's protestations.
Myblog-Tv visited the areas surrounding the Ampang Jaya hills and found many development notices (up to 5 notices). Given the topographical orientation of this area, it is not surprising that the homeowners had turned up in great numbers to voice their frustrations. YB Elizabeth Wong, Selangor State Exco member for Environment, Consumer Affairs and Tourism was present to hear the grouses of the residents, as was Member of Parliament Gombak, YB Azmin Ali and YB Zuraida, MP of Ampang. Elizabeth informed all present of the State's decision to halt and reject all category 3 & 4 hill slopes (above 29 degrees).
Development must be carried out responsibly, and not at the expense of nature. It took thousands of years to grow, and only days to cut down. Perhaps MAA must relook into their plans for a private and exclusive bungalow enclave, ironically, a company responsible for ensuring the safety of others is now putting these residents in jeopardy.
go here for more details from those living in the area.


This is what the residents had to say. (due to the length of the video, you tube has not approved the final version yet, please return to view again, Thanks)

Malaysian Blogggers in Singapore Round Table

What was the role of Internet and bloggers in the recent 12th Malaysian general Election?
That seemed to be the flavour of the day, when the Institute of Policy Studies, Lee Kuan Yew school of Public Policy invited Malaysian bloggers to their facilities in a roundtable discussion with policymakers and bloggers as well as government officials of the Singapore Government past April9th 2008.
The impact of ICT in the General Elections- A lesson for Singapore, was to see Malaysian bloggers Media Consultant RockyBru, Blogger turned Parliamentarian Jeff Ooi, Lawyer and Blogger Haris Ibrahim, Webmaster and Blogger Nat Tan as well as Chief Editor of Malaysiakini Steven Gan engage the IPS invitees in a closed door session.
As agreed between the bloggers and the host, only the points shared by the bloggers was to allowed to be posted. Not surprisingly to us, seeing as our friends across the causeway was bent on keeping whats out, in!
As such the video coverage that was to have been, did not. We do apologise for the low quality content relied on notes taken. Let's hope that next time round, our host will be more eager to share with others what they would have learnt, if any.

SUARAM Forum

Is it a challenge or a complement to Democracy? The subject of debate is the intervention by the Monarchs in the recent aftermath of the elections. More from SUARAM website.
Chaired by Wong Chin Huat, the panelist included Malik Imtiaz, President of HAKAM and Lawyer, Gobind Singh, Elected Member of Parliament for Puchong, Prof Abdul Aziz Bahri, Constitutional Law Professor and Lecturer at the Islamic International University, Dr Syed Husin Ali, PKR Stalwart, and Dr Dzulkifli Ahmad, Newly Elected Member of Parliament for Kuala Selangor.
Dissecting the State constitution and evaluating the turn of events, much was said about the intervention of the Monarchy. Even citing the monarchy of other countries, it seems that this was an issue very much in the minds of the citizenry.
However, as pointed out by those in the panel, the Sultan was well within the confines of the law.
A question and answer question ensued, but due to the lack of time only 5 questions was taken from the floor.

UMNO's Bethrayal - Why I lodged Police Report against Pak Lah

Tuesday - 1st April 2008. Pavillion Kuala Lumpur.
Its not an April fool's joke, as some may think. Rather, it was Johari Ismail (photos here when he held his initial press conference on Nov 6th 2007), an active UMNO member of the Kampung Tahang Rimau branch in Johor, at the launch of his book (as the title suggested).
Asked why he did what he did, Johari replied that he made the report in view that the Prime Minister issued a directive to stop Tun Dr Mahathir from being nominated as a candidate. Such act, as he saw it, was unfit of that of a leader. On the other contents of the book, Johari also touched on the Iskandariah Region (WPI). Citing that the formation of such a region with access to foreign nationals unrestricted will be threat to National Security.
Speaking at the launch was Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Tapa, an UMNO stalwart, considered by most as part of the founding members. Tan Sri Abdul Aziz touched on the subject of betrayal too. However, he cited the results of the recent General Election as a catalyst, and perhaps its time to reevaluate the party. Betrayal or not, what will happen in the next few weeks or months leading to the AGM would be one that most people would be interested in, UMNO members or not.