Plight of the Malaysians from Singapore

(Towards the Woodlands checkpoint)
(Tens of thousands of Motorcyclist)
(Endless queue of vehicles)

We were travelling back from the Lion City on the eve of merdeka hoping to use the second link from Tuas, Singapore to Tanjung Kupang in Johor, and were met with a massive traffic jam (estimated to be more than 6 km of cars in the queue) leading to the Tuas checkpoint and on checking the time as it was about 4.45pm we decided to try the main causeway to johor bahru and that we might as well stop there for our dinner break before heading towards Kuala Lumpur.

And on towards the old causeway we were caught as expected but we were hoping for better traffic conditions, and so we reluctantly joined the very long queue of cars patiently meanwhile we see a continous flow of motorcycles passing us. And as we inch nearer after almost an hour in this traffic crawl we saw this massive columns of motorcycles.

You could see that these motorcyclist were all prepared and had expected this traffic queue towards the Singapore immigration checkpoint as some were reading a book or magazine and some busy chatting on the mobile phone and some even took the time to have some food they had brought along. We were caught in this traffic for more than 2 1/2 hours and that this is inhuman and a daily ordeal for these Malaysians working in Singapore.

This old causeway is much more older than the 51 years of Merdeka for Malaysia as it was built in the year 1923 making this an 85 yeears old land bridge. Both the second link and the old causeway is unable to cope with the high amount of traffic flow at peak hours.

Both the Malaysian government and the Singapore government should look into resolving the ordeal of these people who contributes to both the economy of this two country. These mostly Malaysians in this massive traffic crawl is also a threat to the health for being exposed to the continous exhaust of carbon monoxide from the vehicles.

There are about 400 to 500 thousand Malaysian working in Singapore and it is estimated that more than 200,000 people travels to and fro daily or weekly. These Malysians contribute to the exchange earnings for their home country and towards the economic growth, productivity an development of Singapore where they work.

Don't these people deserve more than being tormented through this daily pain of travelling through this health threatening and time consuming and frustrating ritual?

Allegation of payment made to family member of Tun Dr. Mahathir

In Indonesia, a joint-venture into a pay-TV business has turned hostile. Allegations of embezzlement and fraud, including charges that unauthorised payments were made to an unnamed family member of former Malaysian premier Mahathir Mohamad, have been levelled.

A grand alliance between two of South-east Asia's wealthiest tycoons, Malaysian T. Ananda Krishnan and Indonesian James Riady, has collapsed into an acrimonious face-off that could lock their businesses in a bitter legal battle.

Relations worsened to the point that at least three employees of Mr Ananda's business units in Jakarta had to flee Indonesia for fear of arrest by the police.

Reporting from Singapore. Read Full Report HERE.

Malaysia Today Blocked!

Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission has order that the Malaysia-Today website be block. This directive has been given out to all internet service provider.

"It is being blocked because we found that some of the comments on the website were insensitive, bordering on incitement," said MCMC chief operating officer Mohamed Sharil Tarmizi.

Under the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) Malaysia 10 Point Bill of Guarantees, the government promises to ensure no internet censorship.

This could be an infringement of basic human rights on the freedom of expression of the United Nation's Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).

Article 19 of the UDHR. Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

We will report on this new development later but for now our link to the site is good and can be accessed in the my link column or you can type in the malaysia-today ip address HERE.

Read full report from malaysiakini HERE

Looking Forward to September 16

(Anwar and wife with Guan Eng and other leaders after winning the by-election in Permatang Pauh)

Despite all odds fighting against the Barisan National election machinery with the use of federal and state apparatus and of government agencies and the state controlled print and broadcast media propagating relentless attack villifying the man as immoral, greed and his party as aggressive and troublemakers.

Anwar only had the alternative media of blogs and internet for support and had to campaign through his rally or ceramah as thousands swarm the numerous ceramahs held all throughout the constituency.

In his victory speech Anwar proclaimed "This is the people's victory!" "Permatang Pauh has given a clear signal to the leadership of this country: We demand change. We want freedom. We don't want to live with corruption and oppression."

With this victory his supporters can look forward to September 16, a date whereby he planned to take on the challenge of a change in government with the assistance from defectors of the BN.

"We are entering Parliament with a clear agenda, and they should wake up with the stark realities of the day," Anwar said.

Tricia Yeoh, director of the Center for Public Policy Studies, said she believed there was enough infighting and disaffection within the governing party that these defections were feasible. But Anwar's opposition movement is still young, and its unity could fray if it moves too quickly into power, she said.

"I do think they have sufficient numbers and the question is whether it is the best and most strategic move for him now." she added.

With the 8th March General Election landslide victory described as the "Tsunami" where the opposition captured 5 states and swept the seats in the capital of Kuala Lumpur already indicates that Anwar's Pakatan Rakyat has garnered the support of the people where they had taken 56% (or thereabout) of the popular votes in within the peninsular and it was only the votes from the Borneo states of Sabah and Sarawak that gave the BN its flimsy hold on to the government.

The result of 8 March coupled with this triumphant win speaks much of the peoples support for the promised change of September 16. And for any change to happen the people must demand and want it and this result clearly and precisely reflects the wishes of the people.

"One of the things that has held this country back is the issue of corruption - resources are not being distributed in a way that is fair to the vast majority of people," said Bridget Welsh, a specialist in Malaysian politics at Johns Hopkins University in Washington.

"What you're seeing now is the rise of the voice of people wanting change for a broader constituency than just the elite." said Bridget.

There is now justification for change to take place and come September 16, can we have a new Malaysia that is free of corruption and oppression!

2 Great Poster to Celebrate the Win by PKR

Reproduced here are two great poster by 2 of our best creative artist from the blogging community. Compliments to Mob's Crib and Bodohland. In celebration of the great victory in the Permatang Pauh By Election to Pakatan Rakyat.

PERMATANG PAUH BY-ELECTION - LIVE UPDATE FROM THE WHARF (live update - end)

9.55 pm : Official Results = Anwar Ibrahim 31,195 (66.64%). Arif Shah Omar 15,524 (33.16%). Hanafi Hamat 92 (0.20%). Anwar won by a majority of 15,671 votes. Increased majority from march 8 when Wan Azizzah won by 13,388 votes.

9.19 pm : unconfimed and unofficial = PKR 31,579 BN 16,045 with a majority of 15,534 votes

9.00 pm : recount in progress so far PKR 29665 BN 14340 not all votes re-counted yet.

8.45 pm : Gus reports that there is now a recount of the votes.

8.42 pm : unofficial results anwar has increased majority of 17,652 from march 8 general election when wan azizzah won by a majority of 13,400 votes.

8.36 pm : old ben reports anwar 31949 votes has won by about 70% of all votes

8.31 pm : 31,949 PKR, 14297 BN and 74 votes for Akim

8.24 pm : votes still counting

8.21pm : Unofficial votes anwar majority of 17,652 votes report from Gus at houston control

8.03pm : Viveg reporting from the counting centre
The barricade splitting the filed just off the counting centre that was supposed to separate the supporters of BN and PKR has gone.
Why?
Because there are no BN supporters there and the space was needed to accommodate the more than 15,000 PKR supporters who are on hand to receive the final result.

8.11 pm: So far total of 15 polling centres votes counted at PKR 22,659 BN 10,999

8.08 pm: Guah Perahu district = PKR 909 votes BN 726

8.06 pm : Kuala Mengkuang district of 5 centres = PKR 1207 votes BN 1062 votes

8>03pm: Gus reports that Nurrul Izzah and Ronnie Liu is now at Houston control at PP

7.58pm : Mengkuan district 4 centres = PKR 1029 votes BN 560 votes

malaysia kini reports anwar at 5398 votes arif shah 1891 votes at 7.43pm

7.48 pm : Kg. Cross district = PKR 1412 votes vs BN 180 votes

7.46 pm; so far anwar is leading in vote counts by over 70%

7.44 pm : Jalan Tuna district of 4 centers; PKR 1174 BN 549

7.40 pm: Taman Tun Hussein Onn total of 4 centres = PKR 1142 votes BN 493 votes

7.30pm: report from Gus Gan reports. Seberang Jaya district. total of 5 centres= PKR 1476 votes BN 602 votes. this is BN stronghold

7.20pm anwar leading by a mile in all centres.

7.06pm : Viveg reporting from the counting centre
Helicopter hovering over the centre.
FRU presence as not dissimilar to that on nomination day.
5,000-6000 PKR supporters present. BN supporter presence

7.10 pm : got reports news portal site inaccessible like malaysiakini and others

7.02pm : Din Merican reporting from the counting centre
Anwar has won Seberang Jaya ( Arif Shah’s stronghold ) by a huge majority. Unofficial figures in have it that Anwar garnered 5,865 votes while Arif Shah got 1,977 votes

7.05 pm : Gus reporting from PP.
in one polling station there was almost 100% votes for Anwar

7pm : update from Gus Gan.
19000 votes counted so far.

6.35pm : Update from Haris
News just in. Average voter turnout 81%.
Unofficial report from one counting centre is that Anwar garnered 80% of the votes. In one more centre, Anwar is said to have garnered 72% of the votes.

6.33pm: Estimated voter turnout at 80% ie. approx 43000 voters. and PKR exit polls show anwar leading by 63.7% approx 27000 votes with majority of just over 10000 votes.

5.52pm : Lillian reporting from the Seberang Jaya police station
Lillian reported that as she spoke to me, she was staring directly at an angry-looking FRU water cannon.
She could also see the three ‘pengundi hantu’ buses, now empty, in the police compound.
Many PKR supporters have converged on the station and are becoming increasingly patient.
YB Ronnie Liu is in the station. It is rumoured that YB Karpal Singh is also in there.
Gobalakrishnan, who is reported to have been beaten up by police, together with hiis sons, and then arrested, is also reported to be held at this station.
Word is that Gobala saw police escorting one of the buses and wanted to know why they were escorting the bus into Permatang Pauh.

6.25pm: Reporting from ground zero at PP (houston control) are zorro, haris of people's parliament, gus gan, viveg, balraj and many other anak anak bangsa malaysia.

Hello test test... calling houston control... this is wharf checkpoint.. rodger over and out.... contact established ... with houston control in PP simpang ampat.

Vote counting to start at 7pm... system standby... check check... Time check 6.05 pm

Total of 25 polling centres.

ITS ALL UP TO YOU NOW - PERMATANG PAUH

After 10 days of campaigning Anwar Ibrahim ended with an epic rally with more than 20,000 people despite the light rain as reported by Gus on ground zero.

BN side have been relatively quiet as their tactics of personal attack on the sodomy issues backfired on them and the results will show tomorrow. BN media controlled machinery was very annoying churning out Saifool's swearing on the quran incessantly and up till now on the Bernama TV they are still on the same topic and this time it is the Director General of Health Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican trying to discredit the Pusrawi medical report. (rubbish always comes out of RUBBISH). And it was kind of silly as in all their ceramahs and operative stations they will have the Fool swearing played on TV over and over.

Allegations of BN's dirty tricks are the talk here amongst the people in Permatang Pauh and you can read more HERE and HERE. Anwar himself has called for caution, warning that more dirty tricks could surface between now and polling day. “Don’t be surprised at what else they could bring up.” He highlighted cases of certain people going around photostating and collecting the ICs of voters.

It will be a definite win for Anwar, the question is the impact of that win and if a bigger majority could be obtained over the last election of 13000 would be considered a huge success and anything from 18000 to 20000 would be construed as the Knock-Out Blow for BN . And above that number of 20000 will be the Killer Blow and you can start saying bye bye to some of those guys in putrajaya.

Well now its all up to the 58459 people of Permatang Pauh and tomorrow will be a historic day as we awaits the result in quiet anticipation.

There will be results streaming in direct from polling stations to the wharf tomorrow from 6pm onwards as the votes gets counted.