Category: Politics & government

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[737] Of trouble to the northeast

Filipino President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has officially declared a state of emergency in the Philippines after a coup plot was uncovered:

MANILA (Reuters) – President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo invoked emergency rule in the Philippines on Friday after security forces said they had foiled a coup attempt, shocking analysts and driving down the country’s currency.

Talk of plots against Arroyo, who survived a crisis last year over allegations of vote-rigging and corruption, has been running high around this week’s anniversary of a “people power” revolt that toppled dictator Ferdinand Marcos in 1986.

“I have declared a state of emergency,” Arroyo said in a taped address on television and radio, adding she had authorized the military and police “to take ample measures”.

“This is my warning to those who are attempting anything against the government.”

I say, Arroyo needs to step down already. It’s becoming more apparent each day that Arroyo has little popular support from the masses. With all the controversies centered around her, I bet the Philippines would solve a lot of problem with her stepping down.

With there’s already trouble to the north of Malaysia (read, Thailand), Malaysia doesn’t need another unstable neighbor.

p/s – remember the great flood of Pasir Kumpal? Well, some people got back there and Pelf has some pictures.

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Liberty Politics & government

[736] Of reductio ad absurdum and selective free speech

A lot of us Malaysians consider our government as the main bulwark towards greater free speech in this country. I thought so too until the Non Sequitur and New Straits Times (NST) controversy occured. As the issue unravels, it’s becoming clear that the principle hurdle towards free speech is not the government. Instead, it is the society itself; us.

The more I look at it, the more convinced am I of the fact that Malaysians, even the urbanites that on the surface are for free speech, are unprogressive and illiberal wherever the ideal is concerned. Instead, they practice selective free speech, which is an act of hypocrisy. In this controversy, same people that chastise the government for blatant disrespect of free speech are calling for censorship of NST. It’s scary to see these people working to undermine free speech. A fifth column in the most unexpected vocal camp – bloggers like Jeff Ooi!

Jeff Ooi is probably a free speech icon in Malaysian blogosphere. Worse, he seems to be jumping up and down seeing NST getting into trouble. It will be crucial to keep the whole episode in mind the next time Jeff Ooi get into trouble.

While bloggers don’t represent the Malaysian society as a whole, it does give a glimpse of what’s happening. And while not all Malaysians are supporting actions against NST, it seems to me, a sizable numbers are.

All I want to say is that, if we ourselves, Malaysians disrespect free speech and criticize other for disregarding free speech, then we shouldn’t blame the government for practicing censorship. We shouldn’t even get mad whenever the government practices it. After all, it’s we that elect the government into office. The government is an image of us, the people, the majority.

The right thing to do in the name of free speech is to come to NST’s defense. No censorship whatsoever.

Finally, in form of reductio ad absurdum: if NST is guilty of publishing and republishing the strip, then Jeff Ooi is also guilty of republishing it. If NST is being punished for publishing the strip, so should Jeff Ooi. Since Jeff Ooi supports action against NST, then Jeff Ooi must support actions against himself.

Absurd? If yes, then there must be a flaw in reasoning somewhere. Right?

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Liberty Politics & government

[733] Of doublespeaking about free press and free speech

Sarawak Tribune made itself infamous in Malaysia by publishing the 12 cartoons that were produced by The Jutland Post. After so much pressure, Sarawak Tribune closed down. And now, New Straits Times (NST), a newspaper which garners greater influence than Sarawak Tribute in Malaysia, published a Non Sequitur comic strip that tried to squeeze the humor out of the controversy started by a rightwing Danish newspaper. Apparently, some Malaysians got upset by a comic strip that doesn’t even start to draw Muhammad, the Islamic prophet. And guess what those Malaysians want?

They want to censor the NST. Even those bloggers that claim to speak for free speech.

To me, the comic does not even come close to the level of The Jutland Post. The strip doesn’t even make fun of the prophet. But that is not the case and I doubt those that are pushing for censorship care about that. This is not a case whether I, or anybody, loving or abhorring the strip. This is a case of free press and speech.

Regardless, the Malaysian government however risks of being hypocritical to the offended by the strip if the government won’t act against NST. I’d rather have a hypocritical government than living a society that develops a knack for censorship.

If a person is actually for free press and free speech, that person shouldn’t and wouldn’t want NST to be censored, regardless of how NST had reacted to the suspension of Sarawak Tribune. So, if you’re one of those out there that support the move to censor NST, please, don’t call yourself as a person that is for free speech or free press. Else, you would be as hypocritical as your government.

Those that are for free press and speech should defend NST from any censorship. This is especially so when NST is one of Malaysia’s principle newspapers. If we allow NST to be censored, what do you think will happen to the other papers?

Think of the scenario Singapore. Alright, alright. Just taking a cheap shot. Sorry Singaporeans. I love you all!

Let’s do it better. Think Union of Soviet Socialist Republic. Of People’s Republic of China. Or North Korea. We’ll be in league with them. Hell, our ranking in Reporters’ Without Borders would probably take a nose dive.

A systematic erosion of free press. Is that what you want?

I know we should strive for consistency. But do we want a government that censors everything for the sake of consistency? The only consistency here is the continuing erosion of free press and speech and I don’t want that consistency.

If you want consistency, then think in the way that “if NST is allowed to offend some people that and gets away, then Sarawak Tribune should be allowed to operate“. Not in the way of “if Sarawak Tribune’s license was revoked because it offended other people, then so should NST’s.”

Observe the difference.

In this scenario, New Straits Times is a city wall. If the city wall is breached, there goes free press in Malaysia. Therefore, think before you speak. Think before you take the next step. Free press and free speech are at stake here.

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Liberty Politics & government

[722] Of State of the Union: Hamas and Bush’s hypocrisy

Bush just had his 2006 State of the Union a couple of hours back. One of his points is:

Far from being a hopeless dream, the advance of freedom is the great story of our time. In 1945, there were about two dozen lonely democracies in the world. Today, there are 122. And we’re writing a new chapter in the story of self-government — with women lining up to vote in Afghanistan, and millions of Iraqis marking their liberty with purple ink, and men and women from Lebanon to Egypt debating the rights of individuals and the necessity of freedom. At the start of 2006, more than half the people of our world live in democratic nations. And we do not forget the other half — in places like Syria and Burma, Zimbabwe, North Korea, and Iran — because the demands of justice, and the peace of this world, require their freedom, as well.

Yes. When the Palestinians democratically elect Hamas into office, suddenly, it’s not acceptable, isn’t it?

A reminder for Bush: in real democracy, you can’t always get the result that you yearn for.

Contrary to Bush and several others’ belief, including Israel, I believe that this is a chance to establish greater peace between Israel and Palestine. Take the Hamas’ ceasefire for instance. Hamas is staying true to its words. Hamas has not launched any single attack on Israel for the last few months. Meanwhile, Israel’s unilateral withdrawal from Gaza Strip speaks well from Israel.

Both are signals that both sides could assume good faith. Because of that, I have high hope the ceasefire could a stepping stone for a comprehensive and viable peace plan if Israel and Hamas-led government could sort things out on a negotiation table. If Israel and everybody else won’t talk to Hamas, then things won’t go for the better.

Isolation just won’t work. It didn’t work with North Korea, neither did it work for Iran nor Myanmar. It didn’t even work with Arafat when he was alived. Isolation will only bring more trouble. The European Union, United States and Israel cannot pretend that Hamas doesn’t represent the people of Palestine.

While saying this, Hamas must realize that the state of Israel is not going anywhere. Israel has a right to exist regardless of history. The most viable solution is a two-state solution. The time for war has come and gone.

p/s – this is starting to become very ridiculous. Protesting Muslims don’t seem to comprehend free speech while German and French media can’t seem to appreciate diversity.

pp/s – well, somebody disagrees with me. It seems he prefers war to peace.

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ASEAN Politics & government

[718] Of bridge of euphemism

So, in truest form of doublespeak, a crooked bridge has become a scenic bridge. Shakespeare would say, what’s in a name? Despite the doublespeak, I fully support the idea of a bridge, bent or otherwise.

In my opinion, the only reason Singapore is being impossible is because an opening of Tebrau Strait would enable Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) in Johor to seriously challenge Port of Singapore. The growth of PTP has already alarmed the Singaporean government. For the past few years, several of the world’s largest container ship operators like Maersk and Evergreen have migrated from Singapore to PTP. According to Wikipedia, Maersk’s migration alone represented a 10% drop in business at Singaporean ports.

PTP is growing because it’s a cheaper alternative to Singaporean ports. And it’s growing in spite of the Causeway. Imagine if there were no causeway to prevent sea travels. With clear lines connecting PTP with two other Johor ports in the east – namely Johor Port at Pasir Gudang and Tanjung Langsat Port – PTP would become an even larger entrepot. That itself would encourage PTP to grow even further and faster.

I’m sure the Singaporean government know this and I suspect they’re trying to slow PTP’s growth down. Today in Utusan Malaysia, an article suggests that Singaporean reclamation projects at eastern and western reach of Tebrau Straits might be Singapore’s effort to prevent the strait from becoming a viable sea route. That article helped me sealed my suspicion. After all, narrowing the strait is the surest way to keep PTP and other Johor ports’ growth in check.

Singapore insists that construction of a bridge replacing the Causeway must bring benefit to both sides. However, opening up of the strait will hurt Singaporean trade. Given that, Singapore refusal to agree to a bridge is comprehensible, no matter how frustrating it is. So, when Singapore said it’s not benefiting from the construction of the bridge, Singapore is telling the truth. More importantly, a convoluted truth because Singapore is applying a false dilemma fallacy. The result of “no bridge” has already been guaranteed when they supplied the condition. And not to forget, this is done on top of other nonsense reasons such as traffic volume into Singapore, higher toll and how Goh Chok Tong is feeling nostalgic about the Causeway given by Singaporean government.

A false dilemma is the appearance that only two choices exist when in fact, there are other explorable options. For instance, if Singapore refuses to replace its half of the Causeway, Malaysia could demolish its half and then replace it with a crooked bridge, which is what Malaysia is doing.

A crooked bridge is an unfortunate political turn. Nonetheless, I believe it is important for Malaysia to take our economy into own hands instead of the Singaporeans’. We should never make ourselves as somebody else’s hostage. This bridge is us driving forward. This bridge is us giving the Tebrau Strait back its life.