Does Sarawak really need 12 dams and 7,000MW of power?

PETALING JAYA: Sarawak plans to build 12 hydroelectric dams to meet its future industrialisation needs. [The Star, 23/7/08]

The mega project will include the construction of new dams on the rivers of Ulu Air, Metjawah, Belaga, Baleh, Belepeh, Lawas, Tutoh, Limbang, Baram, Murum and Linau. The existing Batang Ai dam, on the other hand will undergo an extension.

With the Bakun dam already under construction, these dams will push Sarawak's output to 7,000MW by 2020; an increase of 600% from the current capacity.

However, Sarawak currently only consumes about 750 MW of power.

Image taken from Malaysiakini

Preliminary work on a RM3 billion dam in Murum in Sarawak has again put the spotlight on the government’s controversial scheme to build a string of 12 dams in the next decade to tap cheap electricity in the state. [Malaysiakini, 29/9/08]

The proposed Murum dam, which will cost RM3 billion to construct, had raised questions over the need for the state to have another hydroelectric power plant. On July 23, the Sarawak state government announced that they were planning to build 12 hydroelectric dams to meet future industrialisation needs.

Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB), which the state government has a 65% stake, will fund the construction of the Murum dam. SEB has been in negotiations with Cahaya Mata Sarawak (CMS) and the multinational Rio Tinto Alcan to supply 900-1200 MW of electricity to power an aluminium smelter. Both CMS and Rio Tinto Alcan are in a consortium and is planning to build a US$2 billion aluminium smelter, not far from the Bakun and Murum dams.

CMS is in fact controlled by Sarawak Chief Minister Taib Mahmud's (image) family. The company shareholders include the chief minister's daughters, Jamilah Hamidah and Hanifah Hajar, son-in-law Syed Ahmad Alwee Alsree, and family-owned Majaharta Sdn Bhd, each with a 14% stake.

Taib's wife currently holds an 11% stake while both his sons, Sulaiman Abdul Rahman and Mahmud Abu Bekir own 9% each. On the other hand, the Chief Minister's brother-in-law, Aziz Husain is the managing director of CMS.

Was the Murum dam being built simply to power an aluminium smelter partially owned by the Sarawak Chief Minister's family or was it honestly intended to supply the state with cheap renewable energy?

Nonetheless, the question lies in the government's justification of turning Sarawak into a ginormous power plant. As reported, Sarawak does not need a surplus of electricity as the state's power consumption is well within it's current capacity.

The Bakun dam is expected to churn out 2,400 MW of electricity. With the huge output, the dam is theoretically capable of powering 3 Sarawaks, if based on the state's current power consumption. Hence, Bakun's output alone is already sufficient to satisfy Sarawak's need for power, well into the next decade.

The Bakun dam project was scheduled to be completed by September last year but was recently given an extension till June 2010 by the government. The delay had incurred extra costs of up to RM1.02 billion; mostly paid as compensation to contractors for the failure of the project to meet its dateline. The initial cost of the Bakun dam was RM4.5 billion.

The average cost of a dam would be, say RM3 billion. By the year 2020, the government would need to fork out about RM36 billion to fund all 12 dams in Sarawak - that is if all remaining dams are completed in time.

Sarawak's new mega project is definitely electrifying.

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UMNO plays racial card again

UMNO vice president, Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam criticized former Health Minister Datuk Chua Jui Meng's statement that the need for the New Economic Plan (NEP) no longer exists. [Malaysiakini, 30/9/08]

On September 28, Chua who is challenging for MCA's presidential post in the party polls next month, called for the Barisan Nasional government to reconsider the relevance of the NEP with the present needs of the country.

"After 38 years of its (the NEP) implementation, the Malay middle class is now large and secure. The need for the NEP therefore no longer exists, and the Constitutional rights of all Malaysians should be restored," he said during his manifesto launch. [Bernama, 28/9/08]

However, he also affirmed that only the aspects of poverty eradication of the NEP should continue to remain in order to effectively tackle future economic challenges.

The NEP has been a controversy onto its self; being accused of reducing the non-Malays to second class citizens through the ketuanan Melayu (Malay supremacy) ideology in the implementation of the policy . The NEP was first introduced in 1971 by then Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak and was set to target 30% Bumiputra equity of the country's economic pie. After nearly 38 years of its induction into Malaysia's socio-economic structure, official government statistics revealed that the NEP did not meet its objective after all. As a result, the failure of the policy was not only a subject of debate for the non-Malay communities but also for the general Malay populi. The NEP itself was seen as an excuse for certain individuals to enrich their cronies; providing avenues for day-light nepotism in government projects.

However, Chua's statements against the NEP came under fire from UMNO vice president Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam. He said that Chua was merely taking cheap shots in wooing more support in his bid for party presidency. According to Mohd Ali, Chua's statement was an "old tactic" of gathering support by criticizing the Malays.

"The objectives of the NEP was clear which is to eradicate poverty. All races have indeed benefited from the policy. Chua must find a better way to gain support; not by criticizing government policies that are alleged to only benefit the Malays," he said. [Bernama, 29/9/08]

Mohd Ali also said that during Chua's tenure as Health Minister, he did not succeed in solving the shortage of medical workers and specialists in Malaysia.

Now consider the following:

1. How does commenting on the NEP which was alleged to have benefited all races, be a form of criticism against the Malays?
2. Did Mohd Ali fail to understand that the NEP was designed as an economic stepping stone for Bumiputras (including the natives) and not just the Malays?
3. What has Chua's failure to address the shortage in medical workers got to do with the NEP?
   

Mohd Ali might be playing the racial card again in his attempt to discredit Chua. On the other hand, Chua's recent reproach on the controversial government policy could also be his tactic to rake in more votes in his party presidential bid. Either way, Chua's statement certainly made more sense than Mohd Ali's.

Something has got to be wrong; when the objectives of the NEP were yet to be met even after 38 years of its introduction. UMNO politicians like Mohd Ali reasoned that the NEP had benefited the Malays by bridging the economic disparity with the non-Malays. True - but only to a certain extent.

Malaysians do not hide the fact that poverty is still very evident in rural Malay and non-Malays communities. However, in order for the NEP to succeed, the "benefits" of the NEP should not be given at the expense of the other communities. The discriminatory practice of the NEP to benefit certain quarters has been heavily criticized by many for creating an unequal socio-economic playing field.

Malaysia's first Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman also opposed the overly-ambitious policy which he deemed as "an attempt to fill the target without thought for the ability and the capability of attaining it."

The Founding Father also said that "some became rich overnight while others became despicable Ali Babas and the country suffered economic set-backs." Though the Malays of high or low income levels are entitled to the same benefits of the NEP, "entitlement" does not necessarily rake in "equal results". Here is an example:

Under the NEP, Bumiputras are entitled to discounts in real estate. As the brochure on the left shows, Bumiputras are entitled to 7% discount regardless of the income group they belong to.

Now, if the NEP was truly meant to "reduce the wealth gap", how does a Bumiputra of the lower income group afford to buy the million ringgit building in the first place? Wealthy bumiputras take advantage of this by buying real estate at lower prices and selling them again at the normal price.

Wouldn't it make more sense to offer the similar discount to not just Bumiputras but also to Malaysians who are of the lower income group? That way, it would certainly be more effective in bridging the economic divide between the different social classes of the country.

The benefits in the real estate sector is just one of many radical provisions enshrined in the NEP. To read more about the NEP, check out Wikipedia's article on the Malaysian New Economic Policy.

To conclude, there is clearly no solid basis now to argue that the NEP was a success as statistics have proven otherwise. The policy had indeed fallen short of its expectations to eradicate poverty on a national scale. Malaysia has been riding on a faulty engine all these years when the government still assures the general public that it is still Formula One worthy. In the 2007 UMNO General Assembly, Education Minister and UMNO Youth Chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein quoted from a local study; saying that at current rates, it would take 120 years for the Malays to achieve income parity

Gee, 120 years? Something in the NEP is definitely not working right, ain't it?
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What the government does not want Malaysians to realise

On September 17, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi who was then the Finance Minister switched portfolios with Defence Minister, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. There were mixed reactions to the sudden exchange of offices but it was a matter of better-late-than-never as the future of the country's ailing economy seemed bleak.

Being a graduate from University of Nottingham with a Bachelor's degree (Hons.) in Economics, many saw Najib as a more suitable candidate to lead the Ministry of Finance. His predecessor, Badawi on the other hand graduated with only a Bachelor of Art in Islamic Studies.

And it took Badawi this long to realise Islamic Studies had nothing to do with economics.

In just than a week in office, the new Finance Minister announced that Malaysia is heading for an economic growth rate of 5.5% or 5.7%; provided the US economy remains stable.

PUTRAJAYA, Sept 25 - Malaysia is on track to achieve the targeted 5.5 per cent or 5.7 per cent GDP growth if there are no more disastrous news from the United States, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said today. [The Malaysian Insider, 25/9/08]

So, does it mean that the Malaysian economy is getting any better?

The optimism and confidence in the country's economy shown by Najib may just be nothing more than a smoke screen to dilute the magnitude of the current economic situation. However, it is not to imply that the announcement of encouraging GDP growth is a total lie by the government as there could be understated issues affecting the economy which has gone unnoticed by the majority of Malaysians.
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Malaysia's Corruption Perception Index (CPI) remains at 5.1 this year, showing no major improvement since 2001, said Transparency International Malaysia president Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam. [The Malaysian Insider, 23/9/08]

On September 23, Malaysia's Corruption Perception Index (CPI) remained unchanged to last year's; at 5.1. The CPI works a scale of zero (highly corrupt) to 10 (highly clean). Transparency International Malaysia president Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam told reporters that Malaysia's CPI have lingered within 4.9 to 5.1 since 2001. The absence of any signs of improvement can only be explained by Badawi's empty promises of reforms to curb corruption when he assumed office in 2003. Nonetheless, the country's CPI may have been stable but Malaysia's ranking have slipped from 43rd to 47th among 180 countries this time around.

Our closest neighbour, Singapore scored 9.2.
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The inflation rate has jumped to a 27-year high of 8.5 percent in August, driven by the escalating cost of food and fuel. [Malaysiakini, 24/9/08]

On September 24, the day before Najib announced a positive growth for Malaysia, it was reported that the inflation rate for the month of August have skyrocketed to 8.5% - the highest ever in 27 years. The hike was driven by the reduction of fuel subsidies in June which witnessed the price of fuel reached an unprecedented peak of RM2.70 for petrol and RM2.58 for diesel. Hence, the prices of products ranging from rice to transportation increased as well. The price of fuel have since been reduced to RM2.45 for petrol and RM2.40 for diesel.

However, the government would be naive to believe the current reduction of fuel prices would bring the prices of goods and service down too. Most products off the shelf of supermarkets and grocery stores remained high despite lower fuel costs.

Can the projected 5.5% GDP growth be able to increase household incomes and help the middle-class cope with rising costs?
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Foreign direct investment (FDI) outflow in Malaysia has exceeded inflow for the first time ever, underscoring fears that investors might be losing confidence in the government and its economic policies. [Malaysiakini, 25/9/08]

According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development's (Unctad) World Investment Report 2008, FDI outflow in 2007 surged 82% to RM38 million from 2006. The net outflow was also reported to be almost RM9 billion.

Many economists perceived that the increase in FDI outflow reflected the maturity of many local sectors as more companies were accelerating cross-border acquisitions to expand regionally. Nonetheless, Malaysia's Inward FDI Perfomance Index ranking fell to 71st position from 67th in 2006. Ratings Agency Malaysia chief economist Yeah Kim Leng told the Business Times Singapore that larger reverse investments are acceptable, but there would be a concern if domestic investments and FDI inflow declined sharply in future.
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Malaysians certainly do hope that a graduate in Economics could do a better job in turning the economy around this time. However, the predicament is not solved until the link between Islamic Studies and the military has been figured out.





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Hindraf starts off snowballing effect

About 2,000 people marched from the Dataran Merdeka to the Hindu temple opposite the Puduraya bus terminal in solidarity against the Internal Security Act; pleading for the abolishment of the Internal Security Act (ISA) and the release of all detainees. [Malaysiakini, 27/9/08]

What started off as a candle light vigil for press freedom by the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) and several NGOs quickly snowballed into a gathering of 2,000 Malaysians calling for the disbandment of the ISA and the release of all its detainees.

The organisers of the candle light vigil had initially planned to stage a peaceful gathering in Dataran Merdeka (Independence Square). It was understood that the police had deployed a number of officers at the intended venue; probably to pull the plug on the so-called "illegal gathering". The group of about 500 people, then took another route and marched for a kilometer to a Hindu temple adjacent to the Puduraya bus station.

Amazingly, many members of the public soon found themselves joining in the 1 kilometer march and the numbers quickly swelled to 2,000 people. Another group carrying lanterns also mustered in to join the street-wide protest against the ISA.

A group of just 500 people have triggered a snowballing effect; turning a mini vigil for press freedom into an ostentatious display of democracy.

Hindraf Chairman, P. Waytha Moorthy (image) who is now residing overseas later expressed his gratitude to the Royal Malaysian Police for allowing the peaceful march to go on without any major incidents. He also stressed the significance of the march; hoping it would be a step closer to abolishing the ISA.

"The government now must accept the reality; Malaysians have sent a strong message and have voiced their rejection to the use of the ISA," he said. [Malaysiankini, 27/9/08]

However, it was reported that the police had obstructed the distribution of anti-ISA materials to the public the day earlier on September 26. ASP Sydney Clyde Jeremiah also warned the group coordinator, E. Nalini not to use loudspeakers or carry signboards in front of Masjid Jamek where they were gathering.

The September 26 March was not the first time in recent years for ordinary Malaysians to take to the streets in peaceful protest for justice. About 40,000 people participated in the Bersih Rally on November 10, 2007 to peacefully demand for electoral reforms but was eventually marred by sanctioned police violence and arrests.

The 2000-strong march on September 26 may not poise the slimmest chance of persuading the government to abolish the ISA once and for all. Nonetheless, it still leaves Malaysians a tinge of hope that there is still light at the end of the tunnel.

The voice of democracy was heard once again. It is now up to the leaders of the Barisan Nasional government to heed its call and restore true freedom.

Let us continue to believe in Malaysia.

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Teresa to be arrested again for insulting the egg?

The Seputeh UMNO Youth division lodged a police report today against Seputeh MP Teresa Kok, claiming she had insulted the Royal Malaysian Police and the egg, which is an essential food of the underprivileged. [The Sun, 24/9/08]

Teresa Kok, the DAP MP of Seputeh was released on September 19 after spending 7 days in detention under the Internal Security Act (ISA). She later revealed that while in police custody, the was served with what she likened as "dog food". She told reporters that she was only given 2 boiled eggs, cucumber and curry gravy; twice a day for lunch and dinner.

The Public Complaints Bureau (PCB) chief who is also Deputy Minister of the Prime Minister's Department, T. Murugiah has expressed his shock over Teresa's claims and assured her that he would look into the matter.

The PCB later discovered that only RM4.50 was allocated a day to each detainee for food in police lock-ups.

On September 24, Seputeh UMNO Youth lodged a police report against Teresa for insulting the Royal Malaysian Police and ... the egg at the Brickfields Police Station.

According to the division's deputy chief Alawi Dahalin, the Seputeh MP had insulted the egg which he explained, is an essential food to the underprivileged.

"Teresa Kok said she was served with food "fit for dogs". By saying this, she had insulted the police and the poor. Eggs are an important food for low-income earners and the poor. As an elected representative of the people she should not have said that," he said. [The Sun, 24/9/08]

Egg rights activist Alawi Dahalin and Seputeh UMNO Youth might as well speak up for the rights of cucumbers and curry gravies of this country.

Speaking in a forum, Teresa also attacked her critics for manipulating the matter in attempt to stir racial sentiments among the Malay community. Teresa had apparently offended the Malay community for using the word "dog" in her description of the food being served to her while in detention. The Seputeh MP was quick to clarify that she did not intend to offend the Malay community or anyone as it was just a figure of speech. [Malaysiakini, 25/9/08]

No action has been taken against Teresa so far.

Should the police arrest Teresa for insulting eggs, it was understood that Humpty Dumpty might also file a defamation suit against kindergarten teachers and children below the age of five.
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PAS young leaders show UMNO how it is done

Will the Pakatan Rakyat continue to flourish long into the future or will it collapse under the thorns of racial politics?

The Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party or more commonly known as PAS is viewed by many Malaysians as a pro-Islamist political entity; aiming to establish Malaysia as a country based on Islamic principles and legal theories. While PAS still lack support from the non-Muslim community in the west coast of the Peninsula, their political presence remains strong in the conservative east.

PAS joined forces with two other Opposition parties to form the Pakatan Rakyat; in attempt to give the ruling Barisan Nasional a run for their money in the 2008 General Elections. Despite having conflicting ideologies, the alternative coalition to the government was a proven success; snatching 5 states from Barisan Nasional plus 62 extra Parliamentary seats to deny the government two thirds majority in the Dewan Rakyat.

Many have predicted a brief existence for the Pakatan Rakyat as PAS do not share the same secular political ideologies of its partners - DAP and PKR. However, with more young intellectuals in the party's hierarchy, PAS may someday abandon it's old ultra-Islamic policies in favour of a more lenient path in politics.

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PAS Shah Alam MP, Ir. Haji Khalid Abd Samad relates the defeat of his party in Terengganu in the March 8 Elections to PAS State Commissioner Dato’ Hj. Mustafa Ali's mentality of "banning everything". [Malaysiakini, 22/9/08]

Khalid Abdul Samad could be part of a new wave of young PAS leaders who might give a breath of fresh air to the party's conservative approach to politics. The Shah Alam MP criticized Terengganu PAS Commissioner Dato' Hj. Mustafa Ali recently; blaming him for the party's defeat in the hands of Barisan Nasional.

"We (PAS state branch) in Selangor are far weaker than our counterparts in Terengganu. Yet, we are successful. What is needed for them to consider now is their strategy and approach in politics," he said. [Malaysiakini, 22/9/08]

He reckoned that it was Mustafa Ali's "mentality of imposing bans" on trivial issues that had contributed to the decline in public support. Khalid also added that Mustafa Ali had been paying too much attention in imposing restrictions on concerts, liquor, gambling and dress codes. He further suggested the Terengganu party chief be more concerned in establishing a cleaner and more efficient administration.

PAS have been known in the past to be overly conservative when dealing with Western influences and have been imposing their values on others who may not share the same religion with them. Perhaps, Khalid as a young party leader realised that a multi-racial and multi-religious nation like Malaysia demands more tolerance and mutual understanding between the races in order to achieve lasting unity.

"Look, with the majority of the Terengganu's population being Malay Muslims, PAS Terengganu still failed to win in the General Elections last March. So we need to go back to the drawing board and review our approach. That's because we cannot be too stringent in governing. What's the point when at the end of the day, we do not have the support of the people?" [Malaysiakini, 22/9/08]

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PAS Youth Information Chief of Wilayah Persekutuan, Herman Samsudeen called on the disband of all race-based political parties and replacing them with multi-racial ones for the greater good of the nation. [Malaysiakini, 22/9/08]

Another PAS leader took a leap of faith when he suggested that all race-based political parties should be abolished in favour of a multi-racial platform. Malaysian politics has been heavily segregated by race since the formation of the federation with the majority of political parties representing a single ethnic community. Both PAS and UMNO rely on the support of the Malays which constitutes roughly about 60% of the entire country's population. The remaining ethnic minorities are represented by parties like the MCA and MIC.

However, many Malaysians believe that the future of Malaysia remains volatile unless the country does away with race-based politics. The philosophy of a multi-cultural approach to politics and governance proved to be the Pakatan Rakyat's winning stroke in the General Elections last March. Hence, it can be implied that most Malaysians are already favouring the abolishment of racial politics.

"Racism should not be pushed aside and be used as a political agenda for any party to achieve their goals. Racism in the world of politics will evidently cause national instability and disunity ," Herman described. [Malaysiakini, 22/9/08]

Herman shared his view in response to MCA vice president Datuk Donald Lim Siang Chai who recently said that it would be "dangerous" if all non-Malay parties defect to the Opposition; leaving the pro-Malay UMNO as the sole ruling party in the government. According to Donald Lim, a scenario like that would create racial tension and uncertainties which will affect businesses and ultimately, the economy.

However, Herman rebuked Donald Lim; saying he was merely "trying to stir racial sentiments to ensure MCA remains the sole representative of the Chinese community".

"If the Chinese parties cross over to the Opposition, this country will not be governed by the Malays alone. Because the multi-racial Pakatan Rakyat would have formed the federal government by then," he said. [Malaysiakini, 22/9/08]

It showed that PAS has accepted the reality of a multi-cultural Malaysia; a notion the racially-motivated UMNO is struggling to comprehend.
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One can only continue to wonder how a pro-Islamist party like PAS can ever strike a formidable working partnership with the secular DAP and PKR. Yet, with the emergence of young intellectual leaders like Khalid Abdul Samad and Herman Samsudeen, a reformed PAS in the Pakatan Rakyat might just teach UMNO a thing or two about a multi-racialism.
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Khir Toyo sounds like a comedian who is not funny

Former Selangor menteri besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo (image) has flatly denied any role in the recent seven-day detention of DAP parliamentarian Teresa Kok under the Internal Security Act (ISA). [Malaysiakini, 22/9/08]

It was understood that Teresa Kok was arrested on September 12 under the Internal Security Act based on Khir Toyo's accusations against the Seputeh MP through an article in Utusan Malaysia. Teresa was alleged to have called on the Selangor State Assembly to ban the Azan prayers calls by mosques in Puchong and Kota Damansara.

All fingers have been pointing towards Khir Toyo and Utusan Malaysia columnist Zaini Hassan as the culprits for the unlawful arrest of Teresa on September 12. It was later revealed that the police had acted solely on the allegations written in Utusan Malaysia without prior investigations - much to the anger of many Malaysians. Teresa was only released 7 days later due to the lack of evidence.

Read:

• The story behind the police's reckless arrest of Teresa Kok
• Teresa Kok shares her experience in detention
  

Apparently, Khir Toyo is now attempting wash his hands clean by denying he had anything to do with Teresa's unlawful arrest nor had he agreed to the use of force by the police.

“I never agreed to Kok (Teresa) being arrested under the ISA. The issue is now under police investigation. Just let the police investigate it and see what they have to say,” he explained. [Malaysiakini, 22/9/08]

If the former Selangor Chief Minister had meant that as a joke, it wasn't funny. He may not have agreed with the arrest but had Khir Toyo lost touch of reality or did he fail to realise that the police had acted on his allegations in Utusan Malaysia? Indirectly or not, one cannot deny Khir Toyo had nothing to do with Teresa's detention under the ISA.

On September 9, the Malay language daily reported that a certain "female politician with glasses" had attempted to disallow the Azan prayer call through loudspeakers. However, Masjid Kota Damansara explained that a damaged amplifier had resulted the prayer call to be done without the help of the PA system; resulting a period of "silence". Masjid Kinrara also denied Teresa Kok was involved in any way of leading a petition against the Muslim prayer call.

It was evident that there was no case against Teresa to begin with. She then decided file a RM30 million suit against Utusan Malaysia for defamation and false reporting. Could Khir Toyo be next in line to face the music?

With the looming possibility of being extradited for his defamatory allegations, Khir Toyo is now trying his best to disassociate himself as much as possible from the controversy. He may have his hands washed clean but little does he know that words once said can never be taken back.
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Don't expect caviar for ISA detainees

But at least provide decent meals for them...

DAP MP Teresa Kok who was detained for 7 days under the Internal Security Act, revealed that the food provided for her during police custody were similar to "dog food". [Malaysiakini, 19/9/08]

The Public Complaints Bureau (BCB) will meet Seputeh MP Teresa Kok on Monday to investigate claims that she was not given proper food during her detention under the Internal Security Act (ISA). [Malaysiakini, 21/9/08]

Teresa was held under the ISA after former Selangor Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Dr. Mohd Khir Toyo and Utusan Malaysia columnist, Zaini Hassan accused her of campaigning against the Muslim Azan prayer call by mosques around Puchong and Kota Damansara. She was then released by the authorities on September 19 due to the lack of evidence.

Many have publicly condemned the arrest; as a result Zaid Ibrahim resigned from the Cabinet as Law Minister in protest of the unlawful arrest. Teresa is now seeking to sue Utusan Malaysia and Khir Toyo for defamation; reportedly for RM30 million.

Read: Whatever Utusan Malaysia says is true! for more details.

The Seputeh MP shared her experience while in police detention to reporters during a press conference organised by DAP. [Malaysiakini, 19/9/08]:

• Upon her arrest, she was denied the right to make a telephone call to her lawyer or family.
  
• She was confined to a 6 x 8 meter cell.
• There was no air ventilation.
• She had to spend the night on a wooden plank.

Teresa raised more eyebrows when she said she was served with what she likened as "dog food". She revealed that she was only given 2 hard boiled eggs, cucumber and gravy - twice a day (lunch and dinner).

She got the attention of the Public Complaints Bureau (PCB) who has promised to investigate Teresa's claims of the poor treatment she received during her detention. Deputy Minister of the Prime Minister's Department T. Murugiah said he, along with PCB officers will meet Teresa to acquire more information on the matter.

“I am shocked with Kok’s comments on the food. I will be handing in a report on my findings to the Home Minister and the Prime Minister,” he said. [The Star, 21/9/08]

If the Deputy Minister was shocked of Teresa's comments, he should get a cardiac arrest for this: The Star reported that only RM5.80 have been allocated a day for food for suspects in police lock-ups. Of course, T. Murugiah's heart was still functioning quite well when he said,

“If it is true, then it is definitely not enough especially with the price of goods going up. A detainee needs to have breakfast, lunch and dinner." [The Star, 21/9/08]

T. Murugiah who is also the chief of the PCB suggested that each detainee should be allocated RM10 a day for meals; including breakfast, lunch and dinner.

“We want transparency. I’m quite serious about this and I dont want this to be swept under the carpet. I’m not happy that this news has gone international,” he said. [The Star, 21/9/08]

The Malaysian Bar Council have called on the government to immediately release all detainees under the ISA and charged them in a civil court. There are currently 60 people still detained under ISA and more than 2000 people imprisoned under various preventive laws. [Malaysiakini, 20/9/08]

The majority of Malaysians are not bothered if ISA detainees have caviar for breakfast or truffles for dessert. The unlawful detention of individuals without trial can never be justified with better living conditions. The ISA may be an obsolete piece of legislature but it's sting on freedom is still as painful as it was back then in the 1960's.
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