We Shall Overcome: Many Voices, Many Initiatives, No Party Politics

Many Voices

We shall overcome
We shall overcome
We shall overcome some day

Chorus:
Oh, deep in my heart
I do believe
We shall overcome some day

We'll walk hand in hand
We'll walk hand in hand
We'll walk hand in hand some day

Chorus

We shall all be free
We shall all be free
We shall all be free some day

Chorus

We are not afraid
We are not afraid
We are not afraid some day

Chorus

We are not alone
We are not alone
We are not alone some day

Chorus

The whole wide world around
The whole wide world around
The whole wide world around some day

Chorus

We shall overcome
We shall overcome
We shall overcome some day

-- Guy Carawan, Candy Carawan, and others from Highlander Research and Education Center, Knoxville, Tennessee from Charles Tindley's gospel song "I'll Overcome Some Day" (1900) and "No More Auction Block for Me" (19th-century before the Civil War)


Having done my subuh prayers this morning, I went straight to the already turned-on PC, logged-on the Internet, and opened Berita KMU. The first thing that my sleepy eye picked up was the following:

Then I opened Walk With Us, the portion of the AFP report, "Bloggers undeterred by lawsuit" below caught my attention:

Two things stuck my mind: the ECM-Libra episode and what can we learn and do from that episode. With ideas gushing through my sleepy head, I typed my thoughts into the response box. When clerk-of-work put it up as a posting "Injunction after injunctions: How Kalimullah abused law to silence critics", it was an embarassing piece filled with grammar and spelling errors. Nevertheless, thanks for thinking it was worth giving the prominence. I am just doing my duty of care to those due.

In the nutshell, I proposed the following:

• Use of blogging to get around the misuse of legal injunctions to curtail freedom of expression.
• Encourage blogging to promote citizen journalism and a powerful watchdog mechanism with the caveat that it is done responsibly.
• Provide a platform for aggregating socio-political, socio-economic and public interest blog, complimented with archiving and search ability.
• Mechanism to overcome the diminishing coverage of issues that is characteristic in print and television media due to competition for media space.
• Complimenting the information dissemination and public discussion fucntions with actual citizen action group.
• Stress the need to maintain a "civil society" approach and refrain from partisan politics.

A voice is not enough. It takes many voices.

We shall overcome some day

A Voice
Kuala Lumpur
January 31st, 2007 9:00 p.m.

Update:

Its only fair to provide an updated comment to my list of proposals so as to be aware of examples and efforts done.

Blogging to Get Around Suppression of Information
Walk With Us, Law of Defamation , Defamation - Case Law and Defamation Malaysian Cases. is doing their part. MalaysiaKini here and here. I'm trying here and here.

Encourage Blogging
Jeff and Rocky is walking the talk. Retiree as frontliner? Hmmm .... interesting.

Bloggers Watchdog
If not for Berita KMU, Malaysia Today, and Rocky, you won't know Penerbangan Malaysia Berhad is not Government here, would you?

Blog Aggregator for Socio-Eco-Political and Public Interest Issues
Lets see what kickdefella and Blogger United will evolve into. They are few also here, and here. Was Jeff involved in Petaling Street Project?

Sustaining an Issue
Apart from Walk With Us, there is Education in Malaysia and Malaysia’s Scholarship Centre focus on education. Gabungan Rakyat Pemantau USFTA Malaysia on US-Malaysia FTA discussion. PGPO's Global Peace.

Actual Citizen Action Group
Usually its Citizen Action group initiating information dissemination online to gain support. Legal Fund for Rocky and Jeff is one.

NO partisan politics, Issues Only
Oh boy, this is a tough one. Even for me. Definately for Kit, Ron, and many many others. It needs a major psycho-cultural reform. Lets start by reducing the blame habit.

See the potential and possibilities? It takes many voice. Many many many ...

We shall overcome someday.

A Voice
Kuala Lumpur
February 1st, 2007 10:00 a.m.

Hejira: Reflection on My Hijrah Birthday

I'm traveling in some vehicle
I'm sitting in some cafe
A defector from the petty wars
That shell shock love away
There's comfort in melancholy
When there's no need to explain
It's just as natural as the weather
In this moody sky today
In our possessive coupling
So much could not be expressed
So now I'm returning to myself
These things that you and I suppressed
I see something of myself in everyone
Just at this moment of the world
As snow gathers like bolts of lace
Waltzing on a ballroom girl

You know it never has been easy
Whether you do or you do not resign
Whether you travel the breadth of extremities
Or stick to some straighter line
Now here's a man and a woman sitting on a rock
They're either going to thaw out or freeze
Listen...
Strains of Benny Goodman
Coming thru' the snow and the pinewood trees
I'm porous with travel fever
But you know I'm so glad to be on my own
Still somehow the slightest touch of a stranger
Can set up trembling in my bones
I know - no one's going to show me everything
We all come and go unknown
Each so deep and superficial
Between the forceps and the stone

Well I looked at the granite markers
Those tribute to finality - to eternity
And then I looked at myself here
Chicken scratching for my immortality
In the church they light the candles
And the wax rolls down like tears
There's the hope and the hopelessness
I've witnessed thirty years
We're only particles of change I know, I know
Orbiting around the sun
But how can I have that point of view
When I'm always bound and tied to someone
White flags of winter chimneys
Waving truce against the moon
In the mirrors of a modern bank
From the window of a hotel room

I'm traveling in some vehicle
I'm sitting in some cafe
A defector from the petty wars
Until love sucks me back that way

-- Joni Mitchell, Hejira (1976)


Helixical images symbolic of my past unfulfilled endeavour. Reckless reflection on my 48th Hijrah year old birthday.

Until love sucks me back that way.

A Voice
Kuala Lumpur
Muharram 10th, 1428H, 5:00 a.m.

Desperado: Whose Calling Other's Contempt?

Desperado, why don't you come to your senses?
You been out ridin' fences for so long now.
Oh you're a hard one,
But I know that you've got your reasons,
These things that are pleasin' you,
Can hurt you somehow.

Don't you draw the queen of diamonds boy,
She'll beat you if she's able,
The queen of hearts is always your best bet,
Now it seems to me some fine things
Have been laid upon your table
But you only want the ones that you can't get.

Desperado, oh you ain't gettin' no younger,
Your pain and your hunger they're drivin' you home,
And freedom, well that's just some people talkin',
Your prison is walkin' through this world all alone.
Don't your feet get cold in the wintertime?
The sky won't snow and the sun won't shine,
It's hard to tell the nighttime from the day.

You're losing all your highs and lows,
Ain't it funny how the feelin' goes away?
Desperado, why don't you come to your senses?
Come down from your fences, open the gate.

It may be rainin',
But there's a rainbow above you,
You gotta let somebody love you, (Let somebody love you)
You better let somebody love you,
Before it's too late.

-- The Eagles, Desperado (1973)


The title of the song is most adequate for my posting today on Who commited subjudice?

I was awaked by an SMS from a gentlemen (during my nap) and reminded by Lubuk Melayu to tell me of a court hearing due Tuesday, January 30th, 2007 with respect to Rocky's case.

The plaintiff lawyer, Shearn Delamore, filed a complain for contempt of court on the online comments on Rocky's blog, ever since the paper were served on Tuesday January 16th, 2007. They claimed the online comments had influenced the court and public. Hahaha...we have a Internet surfing judge that we can influenced?

Anyway, if I could contempt the honourable court, here are some Fodder for Rocky's to give em back a deep cross court top-spin forehand to their left:

1. NST and Berita Harian published on that January 25th court date two articles entitled "Bloggers subject to same rules" and "Pemilik blog tidak ‘kalis’ undang-undang", respectively.

Below is NST's:

Bloggers subject to same rules

Anis Ibrahim

Bloggers are liable for defamation — just as in other forms of communication, lawyers and other experts said.

Kuala Lumpur Bar chairman Lim Chee Wee said statements on the Internet were simply writings in a different medium.

"You can call them blogs, online forums, websites, they’re all subject to the same defamation laws if offending statements are published," he said.

Lim agreed with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who said in London on Tuesday that although bloggers would not be restricted, they could be subject to defamation, sedition and other laws.

"They cannot hide or take advantage of a situation and do something against the law," he said. "I also welcome the prime minister’s statement that blogs will not be censored," Lim said.

Law expert Prof Dr Shad Saleem Faruqi said there was no doubt the rules of defamation applied to blogs and Internet forums.

"The definition of speech covers every form of communication in whatever form, written or symbolic. There is no doubt that bloggers are subject to the same rules."

Asked whether defamation laws in the West were more advanced than Malaysia’s, Shad Saleem said, "In fact we tend to give people much more freedom to defame because we have no privacy laws unlike most Western countries."

Lawyer Datuk Dominic Puthucheary, who has represented a major local publication against defamation, said, "Our laws on defamation should
be governed by Article 10 of the Federal Constitution which provides for freedom of speech, unless limited by Parliament.

" There is no law restricting people on the content of their blogs, he said. But "if something is either spoken or written in a permanent form, it is liable for defamation according to basic common law".

That was his advice to a politician on a statement that had been taken from the Internet and broadcast.

Puthucheary also drew a line between private and public individuals: "A defamatory statement against a private person is actionable," he said.

"When it comes to public interest issues and the conduct of public officers, it is not defamatory in some jurisdictions unless there is reckless disregard for the truth. But it is still an open question here."

The former Member of Parliament said the legislature should draft laws to deal with defamation in the "new forms of communication".

Lawyer Nahendran Navaratnam agreed that legislative changes were needed "to ensure that protection is given both to bloggers and those who are the subject of discussion on the Internet".

National Union of Journalists president Norila Mohd Daud said it was logical that defamation laws would apply to blog postings.

"Right now our laws do not cover blogs or online forums, but I think it’s simple logic that a defamatory statement can reach the public via any medium, by newspapers, magazines or the Internet."

Norila also agreed that bloggers had to exercise caution on their websites.

"It is true that bloggers have to be responsible. You can express your opinions but we have to see it from the point of view of the people who are named," she said.

And, Berita Harian's:

Pemilik blog tidak ‘kalis’ undang-undang

KUALA LUMPUR: Pelbagai pihak berpendapat tindakan undang-undang terhadap pengendali laman forum atau blog di internet, tidak akan menjejaskan hak kebebasan bersuara atau bermaklumat di negara ini.

Mereka berpendapat, tindakan itu malah dapat membantu memastikan pengendali laman forum atau blog supaya lebih bertanggungjawab terhadap kandungan bahan yang disiarkan bagi mengelak sebarang implikasi negatif.

Ia berikutan tindakan pengendali blog yang menyebarkan fitnah tanpa bukti kukuh boleh memberi implikasi negatif besar bukan saja kepada individu atau sesebuah organisasi, tetapi juga negara.

Presiden Majlis Peguam Malaysia, Yeo Yang Poh, berkata sebarang bentuk sebaran fitnah sama ada dari segi percakapan atau penulisan boleh dikenakan tindakan mengikut Akta Hasutan.

Beliau berkata, mangsa yang difitnah sendiri perlu membuktikan bahawa sebaran terbabit mempunyai unsur fitnah sebelum proses pendakwaan di mahkamah boleh dibuat.

Presiden Persatuan Peguam Syarie Malaysia, Zainul Rijal Abu Bakar, berkata tindakan undang-undang terhadap pengendali laman forum atau blog boleh dibuat kerana kebebasan bersuara bukan sesuatu yang mutlak dan perlu mempunyai had.

“Jika kebebasan bersuara sehingga menafikan hak orang lain, itu tidak betul dan dalam Islam sendiri, kesalahan memfitnah itu adalah lebih berat daripada membunuh,” katanya.

Kelmarin, Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi berkata pemilik laman forum atau blog tidak bebas daripada dikenakan tindakan undang-undang serta harus bertanggungjawab terhadap apa yang mereka lakukan.

Perdana Menteri berkata, walaupun kerajaan berpegang kepada dasar tidak menapis kandungan di internet, pengendali blog harus memahami ada undang-undang fitnah dan hasutan yang boleh dikuatkuasakan.

“Mereka tidak boleh menyembunyikan diri atau mengambil kesempatan melakukan sesuatu melanggar undang-undang. Mereka harus tahu dan tidak boleh melindungi serta berharap dilindungi engan
perlindungan tertentu.

Abdullah berkata, media sama ada cetak, elektronik dan internet termasuk pemilik laman blog mempunyai tanggungjawab dan beliau tidak mahu wujud kebebasan tanpa tanggungjawab kerana ia akan membawa kehancuran.

Perdana Menteri berkata demikian mengulas tindakan The New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd (NSTP) dan pegawai kanannya memfailkan saman fitnah terhadap Ahirudin Attan dan Ooi Chuan Aun berhubung beberapa artikel dalam laman blog mereka.

NSTP dan plaintif lain – Timbalan Pengerusinya, Datuk Kalimullah Hassan; Ketua Eksekutif, Datuk Syed Faisal Albar; Ketua Pengarang Kumpulan, Datuk Hishamuddin Aun dan bekas Pengarang Kumpulan New Straits Times (NST), Brendan Pereira, memfailkan saman itu di Mahkamah Tinggi Kuala Lumpur, 4 Januari lalu.

Mengikut laporan akhbar, kedua-dua saman fitnah itu dikemukakan berhubung beberapa artikel dan komen yang disiarkan atau dibenarkan untuk disiarkan oleh Ahirudin dan Ooi dalam laman blog masing-masing.

Sementara itu, seorang peguam, Hasnal Rezua Merican berkata, pengendali blog tidak boleh berpendirian bahawa mereka beroperasi dengan mendapat kebebasan mutlak tanpa mengendahkan undang-undang negara.

“Ia sama dengan penulis buku yang masih tertakluk kepada Akta Fitnah. Ini tidak bermakna, kalau disaman kerana melanggar undang-undang mereka boleh mempertikaikan kononnya ia melanggar hak kebebasan bersuara,” katanya.

Beliau berkata, kalau pengendali blog meminta imuniti seperti itu atas nama kebebasan bersuara, ia boleh menyebabkan penyebaran fitnah berleluasa seterusnya mencetus pelbagai masalah.

2. Now, since we are talking contempt of court, how about Sun's "Dangers of misusing blogs" and The Star's "Defamation suit to test the limits of freedom of speech in cyberspace" on January 20th, 2007. The more the merrier?

3. Why not one more interested party namely; the PM himself? Walk with us made a good case here. His comment from London came out in all the local papers and even international coverage in Straits Times, Singapore, South China Morning Post, Hong Kong, Sydney Herald Tribune, Australia, Asia Media, and thats just a few I know of.

4. By the way, since we are going to do more exchanges before the actual injunction and defamation hearing and trial, Rocky and perhaps Jeff (Jeff could appeal his Exparte Injuction, could he, Malik?) could do a counter suit for a "reverse" defamation. I take excerpt from NST 27th news report "NSTP wants postings in blogs removed" below:

KUALA LUMPUR: Blogger Ahirudin Attan, who is slapped with a defamation and malicious falsehood suit, continues to display comments from his readers that are prejudicial to the case.

Was the word "allegedly precudicial" used? Is the description
"malicious falsehood" the legal term for the suit? Venomous? Definately ular ada banyak...

There you go, Rocky and Jeff. I'll post the various articles and news mentioned in the commentaries later. Much much later.

Now back to my nap...

Before its too late.

A Voice
Dreamland Somewhere
January 27th, 2007 1:00 a.m.

UPDATE:

PM in a Sunday Interview on Sunday Times today January 28th and interviewed by Dato Hishamuddin Aun could be considered committing another contempt of court. The excerpt as follows:

Q: But do you think the criticism against you has gone overboard? If previously there were people who disagreed with certain matters the leaders did, the government did, today there seems to be more integrated efforts from a particular group to discredit you. This is most evident in cyberspace. Why is this happening?

A: Seems that these people are captivated by these tools, the SMS, electronic media.

They feel they are free, they cannot be disturbed and they can say whatever they wish to say. They do it (post comments) anonymously.

This sort of freedom had made them resort to such action (of spreading lies and making unfounded allegations).

Even bloggers or those who maintain websites use this opportunity to create stories. Lies after lies are being told. To them, everything is not right, everything is not good.

If I allow myself to be distracted by all this, I will not be able to do any work. That is what they want, that I not focus on my work.

My focus now is to ensure the 9MP is successful and I am confident that the nation is on the right track and is moving forward.

The economy is expected to grow. I feel more energised to fulfil Malaysians’ ambitions.

A more compresed reporting on Berita Minggu's "Tak gugat tumpuan PM". Excerpt below:

Beliau berkata, pengendali blog atau laman web menggunakan kesempatan mereka membuat pelbagai cerita.

“Bohong demi bohong dilakukan. Pada mereka, semuanya tak betul, semuanya tak baik. Kalau saya membenarkan diri saya diganggu sepanjang masa, saya tak akan dapat buat kerja. Itulah sebenarnya yang mereka mahu lakukan, supaya saya tak dapat tumpukan pada kerja,” katanya.

Perdana Menteri berkata, ada segelintir yang kini ghairah dengan perantaraan moden seperti khidmat pesanan ringkas (SMS), media elektronik, pengendali blog atau laman web kerana tidak perlu mendedahkan nama dan berasa mereka bebas.

Still preaching us to dream 9MP but year in year out nightmarish reality. I am sure economy is expected to grow in his dreamland of high inflation, VSS, and no growing sector. I am awake and on terra firma today. Is he?

A Voice
Kuala Lumpur
January 28th, 2007 10:00 a.m.

The Great Pretender: You Can Criticise But ...?

Oh yes Im the great pretender (ooh ooh)
Pretending Im doing well (ooh ooh)
My need is such I pretend too much
Im lonely but no one can tell

Oh yes Im the great pretender (ooh ooh)
Adrift in a world of my own (ooh ooh)
I play the game but to my real shame
Youve left me to dream all alone

Too real is this feeling of make believe
Too real when I feel what my heart cant conceal

Ooh ooh yes Im the great pretender (ooh ooh)
Just laughing and gay like a clown (ooh ooh)
I seem to be what Im not (you see)
I'm wearing my heart like a crown
Pretending that youre still around

Yeah ooh hooToo real when I feel what my heart cant conceal
Oh yes Im the great pretender

Just laughing and gay like a clown (ooh ooh)
I seem to be what Im not you see
Im wearing my heart like a crown
Pretending that youre
Pretending that you're still around

-- Queens, Greatest Hit III (1999)


Govt Won't Censor Internet Bloggers But They Must Be Responsible, Says Abdullah

From Azman Ujang

LONDON, Jan 24 (Bernama) -- The government won't censor Malaysian bloggers on the Internet but they must be responsible for what they write, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Tuesday.

"We do not censor the Internet and that's our policy, but they (bloggers) must understand that there are also laws on defamation and sedition, for example.

"These laws are enforced. They should bear in mind that they cannot hide and they cannot take advantage of doing something against the law," he told Malaysian reporters here in his first comments on the country's growing number of online bloggers of late.

He was responding to a question on legal suits for alleged defamation filed by The New Straits Times newspaper and four of its senior executives against two popular blogs, Screenshots and Rocky Bru.

"The law is the law. They cannot hide and hope to be protected under some kind of a cover or whatever they think that they have," the prime minister added.

Abdullah said it was obvious that for bloggers and for journalists of other media, duty and responsibility must go together.

"And if you want freedom, what is freedom without responsibility," he asked. "I don't agree with freedom without responsibility. Freedom without responsibility is anarchy. Actually it becomes irresponsible," he added.

So, people, we have our own Citizen Kane. Kickdefella should make one ala Citizen Kane poster. But you must be a real cinema afficiando to actually know this film by Orson welles, Its only the greatest film of all time.

Back to Dolah. This report is another lying words of his. Expunging minutes of meeting, Tun's Kubang Pasu bid, No ISA BSA Tahir, Centrifuge, US$50 b loan scam recomendation, Oil-for-Food recomendation, free to hear Tun, ... where do we end? Sure I'll work with you, another one here.

Anyway Dolah, you better stop talking off-the-cuff, you were never good. Be a Great Pretender, follow your script. The Bernama, NST, and The Star reports tantamount to contempt of court. Read here. See what happens?

Wow, thats to much reading for Dolah ... You are hardly in the country, I must be ...

Pretending that you are round.

A Voice
Kuala Lumpur
January 26th, 2007 11:30 a.m.

We Will Rock You: The Plagiarist Story

Buddy you're a boy make a big noise
Playin in the street gonna be a big man some day
You got mud on yo face
You big disgrace
Kickin your can all over the place

We will we will rock you (2x)

Buddy youre a young man hard man
Shoutin in the street gonna take on the world some day
You got blood on yo face
You big disgrace
Wavin your banner all over the place

We will we will rock you (2x)

Buddy youre an old man poor man
Pleadin with your eyes gonna make you some peace some day
You got mud on your face
You big disgrace
Somebody better put you back in your place

We will we will rock you (2x)

-- Queen, Live Killer (1979)


Still for Rocky

On Thursday Jan 25th, NST, Kali & Gang are seeking to censure truth through an inparte injunction on Rocky's Bru. If they manage to, Rocky would have to remove some 48 of his postings. I do not care of any injunction. I will report it here. As far as I am concern, Kalimutu is a protected criminal and should be treated accordingly. And, I am a penembak curi (unknown sniper).

Go ahead and sue Blogger.com, that will be fun.

In "Freedom", I commented that one likely trouble issue is Rocky's comment on Kalimullah in "Ah! Nuraina A Samad!". Jeff Ooi expanded in his posting "Why Kalimullah didn't die a 'bloody death'". That is likely to upset the power at be.

In this posting, I wish to cover another one - the Brendan Plagiarist saga of award winning Mitch Albom work. The inclusion of Syed Faisal is a dead giveaway that this could be the real McCoy. With the CEO in, then NST has to be in and NST will foot the legal bill for these cheapskates. Off course, why not help jobless Brendan, the protected criminal's accomplice.

Rocky made a posting "Brendan Meets Albom" on Oct 31st, 2006. On the same date, Jeff posted a more detailed "How we dearly miss Brendan by 50 Albom days" entry. Brendan copied without any acknowledgement, you can read from here. Thats plagiarism. Off course, unless the judge says otherwise. But I am sure we can visually judge for ourselves.

Rocky and Jeff gave a rather moderate pursuit to it. Rocky posted on that same day "The Letter the Plagiarist Won't Print". While Jeff posted "The YOU in Journalism" on Nov 1st, and "Plagiarism: Views of 'foreigners' who know Malaysia" on Nov 2nd. On that same date, NST announced Brendan depature on Dec. 31st to be replaced by Syed Nazri.

On the announcement of his departure, Rocky commented:

DISGRACED EDITOR RESIGNS

Long chat with The Plagiarist. Hishamuddin Aun and Syed Faisal Albar had a long chat with disgraced NST group editor Brendan Pereira at the Balai Berita yesterday.

This morning, what they discussed appeared in the news here: "New Group Editor for NST".

Dream on. For as long as the other Singapore-trained operative Kalimullah Hassan who planted Brendan at the NST, who is responsible for the NST's current state and who is the author of the June 11 lies, remains as the Editorial Adviser and Deputy Chairman of the NSTP, and continues to rule men like Hisham and Syed Faisal, the decline continues.

Jeff posted as below:

Brendan 'Albom' Pereira leaving NST... finally? (Update version)

Two days after Brendan Pereira was outed for having plagiarised Detroit Free Press' Mitch Albom in his October 31 article attacking Mahathir, The NST announced yesterday that Syed Nadzri Syed Harun will replace him as the Group Editor from January 1, 2007.

During the transition, Syed will be appointed Group Editor designate on December 1.

There had been many crying-wolves about Brendan leaving The NST in the last two years, but he stayed on because PM Abdullah Ahmad Badawi still needed him, or so the media circle says.
However, according to Rocky's Bru, The NSTP Group Editor-in-Chief Hishamuddin Aun and CEO Syed Faisal Albar had a long chat with the disgraced NST Group Editor at the Balai Berita yesterday, and the inevitable decision was arrived at.

Will Singapore Straits Times take him back? Does Scomi have an opening for communications specialist?

Only this time, Malaysian bloggers and blog commenters have helped update his resume.

And, Jeff updated with BBC News coverage entitled "Malaysian editor in plagiarism row". This had an interesting twist because NST demand a retraction from BBC News. The held ground with Jonathan Kent's report. I am still waiting to see if they have the balls to sue those Mat Salleh. Calling MI6, 4K here. How do you read me?

Syed Faisal unreservedly (I love that word. Don't you, NST?) defended Mr Plagiarist. I quote the news report:

"He is one of the best group editors we have had in a long time," Syed Faisal said, adding that as far as the NSTP was concerned, on the allegations of plagiarism "our position is very clear; it is not. The other piece did not revolve around the Prime Minister of Malaysia or former Prime Minister. Our content was original."

This looks likely to be a case of "what we said in private" against "what you wrote". Even if it is different, Rocky and Jeff wrote in an opinion space and its nothing venomous, to use Brendan's favourite pun.

Common, pleaseee... Gossips and rumours speculating on people's position and movement in the workplace and public offices is common. So, the two blog brothers had it in writing. But they were professional enough not to pluck it from the air.

Isn't blogging a virtual version of kedai kopi gossip? Enter on your own accord.

Back to the law, what is so defamatory about it? Irrespective what Syed Faisal has to dutifully do, Brendan actually plagarised. Read the Copyright Law under Duty of Care please.

Does Kali and Brendan has an immaculate journalistic credentials? Read Cuit sikit here. Google and ask around for his journalistic resume. Both never made Editor before NST. Anything to shout about?

Ask every man on the street about NST. Every other person hated it and can notice the its obvious lies, spin, and venomous words. It is no more the prefered newspaper. NST has to really prove the damage it has caused the Company. It is already in the pits getting ready for the lion's lunch.

Look, this is just a personal issue of those criminals. Why drag the Company and spoil its reputation? The bad publicity will just deter clients. Smart CEO, ain't he?

The law is the law and it will take its own cause. The revolting part is the use of Singapore-style tactic, with convenient use of Money and Power, to suppress information. Bloggers United! No Fear!

We will we will rock you!

A Voice
Kuala Lumpur
January 24th, 2007 9:00 a.m.

Eye of the Tiger: Boycott NSTP & Media Prima!

Risin up
Back on the street
Did my time took my chances
Went the distance now I'm back on my feet
Just a man and his will to survive
So many times
It happens too fast
You trade your passion for glory
Don't lose your grip on the dreams of the past
You must fight just to keep them alive

It's the eye of the tiger
Its the cream of the fight
Risin up to the challenge of our rivals
And the last known survivor stalks his prey in the night
And he's watching us all with the eye of the tiger

Face to face
Out in the heat
Hanging tough
Stayin hungry
The stack the odds still we take to the street
For the kill with the skill to survive...

It's the eye of the tiger
Its the cream of the fight
Risin up to the challenge of our rivals
And the last known survivor stalks his prey in the night
And he's watching us all with the eye of the tiger

Risin up
Straight to the top
Had the guts got the glory
Went the distance now I'm not gonna stop
Just a man and his will to survive

It's the eye of the tiger
Its the cream of the fight
Risin up to the challenge of our rivals
And the last known survivor stalks his prey in the night
And he's watching us all with the eye of the tiger

The eye of the tiger......
The eye of the tiger......
The eye of the tiger......

-- Survivors, Rocky III Soundtrack


We are with you, Rocky

A cyberwar against NSTP has been declared. Read about it in kickdefella and the Bloggers United Official Page.

If you remember the movie Rocky, you should remember that Rocky Balboa came from Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love. and fight to win as an Underdog. This is what we doing and we are giving our brotherly support to Rocky and Jeff Ooi as Underdog against those big corporate bully. This is what we urged you to do:

• STOP subscribing and buying NST and its other publications!
• STOP watching Media Prima's television and help boost their ratings!
• DENY your Ad Ringgit to both their TV and Print Media!
• INFLUENCE and convince others to do the same!
• LEAK to us valuable insider information!
• REDUCE their newsworthiness; stop giving them materials.
• EDUCATE the public on the suppression of information by Big Media.

Already we see rebuttals by their coons in the court of "blogging" opinion that the suit is about defamation or boundaries on our freedom.

Lets not be deceived. Those words are mere justifications to hide their true intention.

It is to deny the public information and suppress freedom of expression. With the lack of information, the public is mislead and influenced to support wrong positions and truth is denied.

Bloggers do not go out to dominate public opinion, nor are we trying to influence public opinion. Bloggers only give information that are denied through the self-censurship of the Big Media for the self-interest of few. Whether it is to be trusted or not, you are given the option to believe or not. But you are not denied information.

Lets work together and make them really hurt from their actions against our fellow Bloggers. Let them beware that Bloggers United are sharp, and focus like ...

The eye of the tiger.

A Voice
Kuala Lumpur
January 21th, 2007 1:30 a.m.

Talkin´ Bout A Revolution: Bloggers United Statement

Don´t you know
They´re talkin´about a revolution
It sounds like a whisper
Don´t you know
They´re talkin´about a revolution
It sounds like a whisper

While they´re standing in the welfare lines
Crying at the doorsteps of those armies of salvation
Wasting time in the unemployment lines
Sitting around waiting for a promotion

Don´t you know
They`re talkin´about a revolution
It sounds like a whisper

Poor people gonna rise up
And get their share
Poor people gonna rise up
And take what´s theirs

Don´t you know
You better run, run, run...
Oh it said you better
Run, run, run...

Cause finally the tables are starting to turn
Talkin´bout a revolution
Yes, finally the tables are starting to turn
Talkin´bout a revolution oh no
Talkin´bout a revolution oh
While they´re standing in the welfare lines
Crying at the doorsteps of those armies of salvation
Wasting time in the unemployment lines
Sitting around waiting for a promotion

Don´t you know
They´re talkin´about a revolution
It sounds like a whisper

And finally the tables are starting to turn
Talkin´bout a revolution
Yes, finally the tables are starting to turn
Talkin´bout a revolution oh no
Talkin´bout a revolution oh no
Talkin´bout a revolution oh no

-- Tracy Chapman, Tracy Chapman (1988)


This is the official statement of Bloggers United. This statement is jointly drafted by Susan Loone and Sheih of Kickdefella. All those who believe in justice and right to free speech, please sign on and put this up in your blogs. Spread it around; let it grow far and wide. The fight is on!

BLOGGERS UNITED CONDEMN ACTION AGAINST ROCKY & JEFF & DEMAND LEVEL PLAYING FIELD in ALL ACTION AGAINST BLOGGERS

We, Malaysian bloggers, we, who believe in justice and right to free speech, we, who endorse the Bloggers United movement, unanimously condemn the action taken by media conglomerate NST against bloggers Rocky Bru and Jeff Ooi. The action by the newspaper against the duo is an action against all bloggers who believe in their right to free speech, freedom of expression and justice.

The recent event may seem like a grave development in the path of bloggers, but it can never and must never impede or stop us from defending our right to speak, to express, to write and to tell the truth, to be the watchdog, eyes and ears of the people, or simply to share our view, and give fair comment on any subject which involves and affects us as humans, as rightful citizens of this country.

The recent event may very well give the government owned media the opportunity to dictate the so-called ‘truth” but such actions only prove that bloggers must unite, continue to uphold the right to free speech and freedom of expression, fight for justice, even if it is not our own, be more alert, committed to the cause of free speech, relentless and persistence in the face of such persecution like the one which had befallen on the two of us.

What YOU do to any of US, is what YOU do to ALL.

As responsible bloggers, we demand and claim our space on the blogosphere for free and fair comment, where important national issues and prominent personalities are discussed.

Although it may seem as if the NSTP defamation suits will have a chilling effect on freedom of bloggers, as litigation can be expensive and may jeorpadise a blogger’s economic position, we will not be cowed or silenced by those who have no regard for free speech.

If you find our post offensive, you may refute us with correct facts and figures and fair comment, in the spirit of free speech.

The first two cases will have grave impact not only on the internet, but country as a whole as the country celebrates VMY2007. The healthy, mature and democratic growth for free speech and expression in our midst is at stake. The reputation of the nation as it strives to promote our multimedia supercorridor and love for IT will be a national joke for all the world to feast on.

We demand for a level playing field in all action meted out to bloggers and in particular in the defamation proceedings particularly in terms of financial resources and capabilities, and secondly, that the legal rights of bloggers et al are properly protected in keeping with the imperatives of an information society and knowledge economy which Malaysia aspires to become.

For further information, please contact blogger susan loone at susanloone@gmail.com and sheih at kickdefella@yahoo.com

Power to the People: Students Have Rights Too!

Power to the people (8x), right on

Say you want a revolution
We better get on right away
Well you get on your feet
And out on the street

Singing power to the people
Power to the people (3x), right on

A million workers working for nothing
You better give 'em what they really own
We got to put you down
When we come into town

Singing power to the people
Power to the people (3x), right on

I gotta ask you comrades and brothers
How do you treat you own woman back home
She got to be herself
So she can free herself

Singing power to the people
Power to the people (3x), right on
Now, now, now, now
Oh well,
Power to the people (4x), right on
Yeah,
Power to the people (4x), right on
Power to the people (4x), right on

-- John Lennon,

Mahasiswa menang selepas digantung UUM

Seorang mahasiswa bernama Mohd Rizal Mohamad @ Anan telah berjaya membuktikan kepada seluruh mahasiswa Malaysia bahawa kebebasan sememangnya sesuatu yang sewajarnya dimiliki oleh setiap masyarakat termasuk mahasiswa.

Mohd Rizal Mohamad@Anan, seorang mahasiswa Universiti Utara Malaysia telah digantung selepas mendapati Rizal memalukan universiti kerana bertanyakan suatu soalan kepada ahli panel dalam forum terbuka di kampus UUM pada 11 Februari 2000.

Baru-baru ini mahkamah tinggi Alor Star bersetuju untuk menerima pampasan RM 70 ribu dari UUM walaupun terpaksa menunggu sehingga lebih 6 tahun untuk membuktikan hak bersuara yang telah terjamin dalam perkara 10 perlembagaan negara.

Nilai RM 70 ribu yang diterima oleh saudara Rizal bukanlah harga sebenar mempertahankan kebebasan yang diperjuangkannya, namun ia patut menjadi simbol kepada berani kerana benar dan kebebasan siswa untuk bersuara mesti dipertahankan.

Keputusan Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) yang mengalah seharusnya dijadikan pengajaran kepada pengendali universiti-universiti lain yang merelakan diri menjadi alat penghalang kebebasan dengan mengugut mahasiswa-mahasiswa dengan undang-undang dan Aku Janji.

Perkara tersebut seharusnya dijadikan panduan kepada institusi pengajian tinggi awam yang lain, agar menghormati kebebasan bersuara bukan bertindak melulu mengikut telunjuk tuan politik masing-masing.

Malaysia Today
Januari 15hb, 2007

Freedom: The Chicken That Supress Story

Freedom! Freedom! (4x)

Sometimes I feel, Like a motherless child (3x)

A long
Way
From my home, yeah
Yeah

Sing
Freedom, Freedom (4x)

Sometimes I feel, Like I'm almost gone (3x)
Yeah

A long, long, long
Way
Way from my home, yeah
Yeah

Clap your hands, Clap your hands (4x)

Hey, hey, hey, hey
Hey, yeah yeah yeah yeah
Hey, yeah, yeah, yeah
Hey, yeah yeah yeah yeah

I got a telephone in my bosom
And I can call him up from heart
(2x)

When I need my brother / (Brother)
Brother / (Brother)

When I need my father / (Father)
Father, hey / (Father)
Mother / (Mother)
Mother, hey / (Mother)
Sister / (Sister)
Yeah / (Yeah)

When I need my brother / (Brother)
Brother, hey / (Brother)
Mother / (Father)
Mother / (Mother) (2x)

Hey, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah-yeah, yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
Hey, yeah, yeah, yeah (4x)

--- Richie Haven, Woodstock Live (1969)


This Rock classic is dedicated to Rocky, Jeff Ooi, KickdeFella, Sang Kelembai, and other Bloggers facing harrassment, legal intimidation, and persecution for excising their God-given freedom to practise amal makruf nahi mungkar. I am sure it is universal to all religion.

Last year, it was Sang Kelembai being expelled by UMNO for excercising his rights, as an UMNO member, as enshrined in their Constitution, to “tegur” the leadership and was denied audience and “proper” channel to voice his grievances.

Near the end of 2006, KickdeFella was believed to have been harassed and again recently.

Words are a buzzed last Friday that a legal demand was to be presented by the law firm of Shearn Delamore to Rocky and Jeff Ooi by Kalimullah to retract certain words from their blog. It is believed to be Rocky’s comment in his January 10th blog.

In case Rocky and Jeff retracts it, Kali can copulate with his choice of inanimate object ‘coz I have reproduced the extract below and will assure those words continue to exist in Blogosphere:

…..there was a lot more freedom then. but not because the government allowed the media to be freer or dr m was more tolerant. there was more freedom then because there were editors and journalists then who were pushing the line of tolerance because they craved for that freedom for themselves and for their readers. 

when i was made acting editor of business times (97) pak samad told me that i must, if i wanted to make a difference as editor in this country, swim against the tide/current. that i have tried to do, which is why i've never been ashamed to say, yes, i was editor of the mainstream media before. 

among many editors then, there was no fear of losing our positions as editors. editors were supposed to "die bloody deaths", anyway. (kadir jasin, dolah kok lanas, johan jaafar, nazri abdullah, rejal arbee, ahmad talib, zainudin maidin, mazlan nordin, and even pak samad were all booted out, sacked, or asked to leave at one time or another for their views and the stand they took). 

just before kalimullah joined the NSTP, i told him at austin chase in bangsar, which used to be his favourite hangout before i decided to take over, that he would die a bloody death, just as editors before him did. he told me he will not. true enough, he did not. 

but that's because he was not pushing any barriers or parameters, he wasn't doing what an editor should be doing. he had stopped being a journalist a while ago. he was at nstp to take care of his and some people's interests. he does not believe in press freedom because a free press would have devoured him - and his friends - alive. 

the situation is not hopeless, though. theSun, on certain days, gives me hope. Syed Nadzri, the new group editor of NST, will be pushing harder than Brendan. 

And we have Malaysiakini and MalaysiaToday and AgendaDaily and KMU. And the blogs and bloggers, like you and I.

Another Brick In The Wall will hereon use the Bloggers United logo to join hands with other Bloggerrs to protect our freedom to blog.

Can we not plead protection under the US Constitution’s First Amendment. Isn't Blogger.com US cyber territory? Let 'em sue, its worth the fight.

Together, we will rock this joint!

Hey, yeah, yeah, yeah
A Voice
Kuala Lumpur
January 14th, 2007 10:00 p.m.