Yours truly today attended the Walk (and Talk) For Media Freedom organized by BENAR, Center For Independent Journalism (CIJ), and Writers Alliance For Media Freedom. The original idea was for journalists, bloggers, and citizens to start a walk from the flagpole at Dataran Mereka to National Press Club (NPC) for the Talk with Senator
Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, the so-called de facto Law Minister. I did see some folks doing the Walk, but basically, it was more or less nixed by the cops. Many of those gathered at the NPC were asking for a repeal of the following Acts: Printing Presses and Publications Act, Internal Security Act, Sedition Act, and Official Secrets Act. Anyway, here's Datuk Wong Chun Wai of The Star newspaper sharing a laugh with one of the participants.
"Rocky, baby. Ya breakin' my heart! Didya have ta close ya eyes when I pressed the shutter button, huh? Didya? I am not gettin' any respect here..." Mr. Ahirudin Attan of
Rocky's Bru.
"Rocky, this is how ya shoulda pose for the camera. Lookit this! Class. Suave. Debonair. Zorro, ya gotta tell Rocky to stop ruinin' my shots!" Mr. Bernard Khoo of
Zorro Unmasked.
(The guy who got himself arrested by the cops for lighting a candle at Dataran Merdeka. His comment on that? "I tell ya, I get no respect at all!" Lucky it wasn't a short fuse to a bundle of plastic explosives, ya know what I mean?) Mr. Haris Ibrahim of
The People's Parliament. Someone please get this a man a cigar!
"So the guy at Petaling Street tells me it was a genuine Vacheron Constantin! And for two and half grands! How could I pass? Two weeks later, my grandson comes over, takes a look, and say he sees Mickey Mouse engraved at the base plate! I ask ya, is this respect, huh?" Senator Datuk Zaid Ibrahim and Datuk Wong Chun Wai of The Star discussing matters of horological significance.
Standing room only at the National Press Club. I did not have a tape recorder nor did I jot down any notes while the speakers made their points. So I'm just recalling from memory on what had had transpired on the Sunday of June 1, 2008 at NPC. I'll just digress and paraphrase what Senator Datuk Zaid Ibrahim had to say regarding press freedom and the laws governing the media. So, if there's any misinterpretation or misunderstanding on my part, I'll be glad for corrections from readers.....
"I feel your pain; but I ain't no Bill Clinton." The Senator makes it clear he wasn't there to endorse or accept any statements or positions advocated by BENAR and CIJ regarding press freedom and the repeal of certain Acts considered necessary or draconian (depending on your POV). However, he also makes it clear that he is amicable and understanding on the issues concerned.
"Listen, fellas. I ain't no UMNO warlord, ya get my drift?" The Senator continuously drives home the hint that all of the Acts considered draconian by the press is considered necessary by certain members of the Cabinet. Furthermore, all of the said Acts fall under the purview of the Home Minister, Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar. Whilst Datuk Zaid may be sympathetic, he point blank tells the gathered audience that they invited the wrong guy for the dialogue.
"Hey, the wise guys tell me is all they wanna see is some quid-pro-quo, ya know what I'm sayin', huh? Ya want some, ya give some. Look, the Dons are being reasonable..." Senator Datuk Zaid Ibrahim would like to see media and press agencies form a common stance and present a reasonable alternative for overseeing of the media and press freedom in the absence of the PPA and OSA.
After Senator Datuk Zaid Ibrahim concluded his speech, a Q&A session followed. The above two photographs shows two participants of the event fielding their queries to the Senator. There was some booing and heckling, which was unnecessary, as the Senator had the courtesy to address the gathered media at NPC and wasn't there to dispense agitation propaganda. In my humble opinion, once you read between the lines on what the Senator had to say, you just might have an idea of the difficulties faced by him in advocating press freedom sans the Acts to a Cabinet populated by, as Raja Petra Kamarudin would put it, Powerbrokers and Warlords of Utmost Influence and Significance. But that's just my two cents on this issue.
After Senator Datuk Zaid Ibrahim left, many of the participants decided to make The Walk after The Talk. But in reverse; from NPC to Dataran Merdeka. Mr. Steven Gan of Malaysiakini can be seen at the foreground of the first photograph. I think this was one of the few times the cops got caught by surprise because by the time everyone arrived at the flagpole, no cop was to be seen. Nada.
A press statement from BENAR and ICJ. A tepid and uninspiring rendition of Negaraku. Shouts of Merdeka for three times. A photo-op for the gathered participants. Finish.
(Rocky. Quit hogging the limelight, huh?)
Yours truly today attended the Walk (and Talk) For Media Freedom organized by BENAR, Center For Independent Journalism (CIJ), and Writers Alliance For Media Freedom. The original idea was for journalists, bloggers, and citizens to start a walk from the flagpole at Dataran Mereka to National Press Club (NPC) for the Talk with Senator Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, the so-called de facto Law Minister. I did see some folks doing the Walk, but basically, it was more or less nixed by the cops. Many of those gathered at the NPC were asking for a repeal of the following Acts: Printing Presses and Publications Act, Internal Security Act, Sedition Act, and Official Secrets Act. Anyway, here's Datuk Wong Chun Wai of The Star newspaper sharing a laugh with one of the participants.
"Rocky, baby. Ya breakin' my heart! Didya have ta close ya eyes when I pressed the shutter button, huh? Didya? I am not gettin' any respect here..." Mr. Ahirudin Attan of Rocky's Bru.
"Rocky, this is how ya shoulda pose for the camera. Lookit this! Class. Suave. Debonair. Zorro, ya gotta tell Rocky to stop ruinin' my shots!" Mr. Bernard Khoo of Zorro Unmasked.
(The guy who got himself arrested by the cops for lighting a candle at Dataran Merdeka. His comment on that? "I tell ya, I get no respect at all!" Lucky it wasn't a short fuse to a bundle of plastic explosives, ya know what I mean?) Mr. Haris Ibrahim of The People's Parliament. Someone please get this a man a cigar!
"So the guy at Petaling Street tells me it was a genuine Vacheron Constantin! And for two and half grands! How could I pass? Two weeks later, my grandson comes over, takes a look, and say he sees Mickey Mouse engraved at the base plate! I ask ya, is this respect, huh?" Senator Datuk Zaid Ibrahim and Datuk Wong Chun Wai of The Star discussing matters of horological significance.
Standing room only at the National Press Club. I did not have a tape recorder nor did I jot down any notes while the speakers made their points. So I'm just recalling from memory on what had had transpired on the Sunday of June 1, 2008 at NPC. I'll just digress and paraphrase what Senator Datuk Zaid Ibrahim had to say regarding press freedom and the laws governing the media. So, if there's any misinterpretation or misunderstanding on my part, I'll be glad for corrections from readers.....
"I feel your pain; but I ain't no Bill Clinton." The Senator makes it clear he wasn't there to endorse or accept any statements or positions advocated by BENAR and CIJ regarding press freedom and the repeal of certain Acts considered necessary or draconian (depending on your POV). However, he also makes it clear that he is amicable and understanding on the issues concerned.
"Listen, fellas. I ain't no UMNO warlord, ya get my drift?" The Senator continuously drives home the hint that all of the Acts considered draconian by the press is considered necessary by certain members of the Cabinet. Furthermore, all of the said Acts fall under the purview of the Home Minister, Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar. Whilst Datuk Zaid may be sympathetic, he point blank tells the gathered audience that they invited the wrong guy for the dialogue.
"Hey, the wise guys tell me is all they wanna see is some quid-pro-quo, ya know what I'm sayin', huh? Ya want some, ya give some. Look, the Dons are being reasonable..." Senator Datuk Zaid Ibrahim would like to see media and press agencies form a common stance and present a reasonable alternative for overseeing of the media and press freedom in the absence of the PPA and OSA.
After Senator Datuk Zaid Ibrahim concluded his speech, a Q&A session followed. The above two photographs shows two participants of the event fielding their queries to the Senator. There was some booing and heckling, which was unnecessary, as the Senator had the courtesy to address the gathered media at NPC and wasn't there to dispense agitation propaganda. In my humble opinion, once you read between the lines on what the Senator had to say, you just might have an idea of the difficulties faced by him in advocating press freedom sans the Acts to a Cabinet populated by, as Raja Petra Kamarudin would put it, Powerbrokers and Warlords of Utmost Influence and Significance. But that's just my two cents on this issue.
After Senator Datuk Zaid Ibrahim left, many of the participants decided to make The Walk after The Talk. But in reverse; from NPC to Dataran Merdeka. Mr. Steven Gan of Malaysiakini can be seen at the foreground of the first photograph. I think this was one of the few times the cops got caught by surprise because by the time everyone arrived at the flagpole, no cop was to be seen. Nada.
A press statement from BENAR and ICJ. A tepid and uninspiring rendition of Negaraku. Shouts of Merdeka for three times. A photo-op for the gathered participants. Finish. (Rocky. Quit hogging the limelight, huh?)
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2 comments:
Thanks buddy....am putting you on my blogroll. Debonaire, suave? U deserve many malts form me....we do it next when we meet....we are going to Kamunting (not on invitation)for a vigil on 6 June. Will blog about this. Thanks again....will pass message to Rocky.
Zorro. Many thanks, sir. I'm honored. Wow, malts for two little words. Hope to see you soon and take up on your offer, sir. Preferably after Kamunting, that is.
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