Merdeka : The Night Before

A look at Dataran Merdeka on the eve of Malaysia's 51st Merdeka* celebration. I am just not in the mood to write. I think I am begining to know how it feels like to be a photo-journalist deep in funk. Hope my point-and-shoot pictures tell the story...

...now if only I could get enough sleep and hopefully rouse myself up early for tomorrow's Merdeka Parade. HAPPY MERDEKA TO ALL MALAYSIANS!

* Malay for Independence

The Story Of A Malay Wedding Dinner

The SMS said, "Pls come to my wedding on 17 aug at 8pm location saloma bistro 139 jln ampang." So I said yes, and on a cool Sunday evening, I arrived at Saloma Bistro armed with my E-System DSLR. And an appetite. Another reason for accepting the invite, not only because a friend had taken the time and bother to remember me on his guest list, but also to try my hand out at event photography and to practice flash lighting techniques. So, as expected, members from both families were gathered in the lounge floor of the Bistro, and the first thing I noticed was this absolutely adorable cherub slumped over the shoulder of her aunt ("Why must they always take Cute Lil' Me to a strange place at an even stranger time? WHY?")

As some family members from both sides bide their time patiently at the lounge, the other more active family members manning the reception booth pore over the guest list and seating arrangements. A few were stumped by my electronic invitation. I must be the first in Malaysia to get one!

The groom and bride were 'delayed', so I took the liberty of entering the dining hall to take some photographs. The first picture was taken from a dining table looking towards the wedding dais, followed by that of the Bistro's staff lighting up the candles that served as decoration and as well as prop to the wedding dinner.

"Majlis Perkahwinan Nik Musaddique & Nadia Karmila" Dude, never say I never do nothin' for ya. Now, about borrowin' ya Subaru Impreza for the weekend...

After more than an hour of waiting, the flower girls accompanying the groom and bride arrives and are decorated with head veils. A bouquet of flowers each are then handed to both girls and as the couple makes their way to the dining hall, the flower girls preceding them scatter fragrant flower petals unto the red carpet to mark the path for the newly married couple. The slight delay in arrival was on account of Nik Musaddique insisting on him and his blushing bride being driven to the Bistro in his Subaru Impreza (Whaddya think ya attendin'? A rally with Nadia as navigator? Someone please hand me a Panadol...)

Groom (thinking to himself) : "God. I hope that moron of a valet doesn't scratch the Impreza."
Bride (thinking to herself) : "Oh, he looks a bit worried. Is something wrong with my hair?"

The Handsome Groom and the Beautiful Bride being preceded by the Angelic Flower Girls...

...and flanked by both Flower Girls at the wedding dais. To Nik Musaddique and Nadia Karmila, my Congratulations and may this Marriage be both a Happy and Everlasting Union for both you Husband and Wife. God Bless.

Ibu kepada Nik Musaddique merenjis kedua-dua pengantin bertuah.

"Fuyooh! Awek cun! Err, dah berpunya ke belum?"

Everybody there that night, especially table number 13 here, thought I was the official photographer for the wedding until I sat down and asked, "So, what's on the menu?" To Adriana and Zahrin (both can be seen on the right), thanks for being my company for the duration of the dinner (Err, bila pulak engkorang? He! He! He!)

"Finally! Dinner! Gotta fuel up for more rigorous activities later, if ya know what I'm sayin'..."

Aadipooram Festival and Makkal Sakhti

Last Saturday evening marked the Aadipooram Festival organized by Sri Mahakaliamman Sevai Nilayam Temple at Kampung Pandan. The fesival is associated with one of the more revered Hindu Goddess, Kaliamma, or translated into English as 'Mother Time'. According to Wikipedia, "...despite her negative connotations, she is not actually the goddess of death, but rather of Time and Change..." The Festival was slated as a double chariot procession, with that of Viren, the Heavenly Bodyguard to the Gods taking the point, followed by that of Goddess Kaliamma. There were political undertones to the Festival, as the chariot procession was expected to pass through a booth organized by HINDRAF (Hindu Rights Action Front). The above preceding photographs shows devotees hard at work preparing Goddess Kali's chariot for the procession and the moving of the two chariots to its starting point prior to the commencement of the Festival.

There were musicians...

There were devotees...

There was a Hindu priest performing absolutions and prayers...

...and there was also an adorable and cute baby boy at the Festival as well! ("Too tired! Someone get me a pillow quick!")

The fearsome visage of Viren at the head of the procession. When I was in Penang more than a year ago, a Hindu temple keeper explained to me the significance of Viren, a Heavenly Bodyguard to the Gods. Apparently Viren can get particularly irritated and miffed if devotees seeking his assistance has been wronged, or has done wrong, in any of these two matters. Viren will not tolerate those who would throw sand into the rice bowl of others, and he takes exception to those who would seduce the wives of others. Unlike most of the Hindu Gods and Goddesses, Viren can be worshipped with offerings of meat and tobacco.

The above two photographs are portraits of dancers from the Indrani Dance Academy based at Batu Caves. They were to precede the head of the procession, with the latter dancer showcasing the Peacock Dance, as noted by the peacock feathers forming part of her costume.

Musicians to accompany the procession. It was there I first encountered an Indian musical instrument, as seen borne by a musician on the right, that was played by rubbing something against its solid surface. Shaped approximately to an Indian classical drum, it produced a particular humming sound that was strange to my ears. I really cannot quite describe the sensation I felt upon hearing the instrument being played.

Bullocks garlanded and clothed in golden silk before being hitched to Goddess Kaliamma's chariot. As a measure of good luck, I later caressed the silk cloth that swaddled the bullocks as the procession made its way through from the Indian Settlement in Kampung Pandan.

The moving of the visage of Goddess Kaliamma from the Temple to the chariot. As the bearers carried the visage, they swayed it in a slow and rhythmic swinging motion...

...and moments later safely emplace the visage within the bedecked and gaily lighted chariot.

Setting off of fireworks before the commencement of the procession. As the musicians began their music, the dancers swirled, the devotees entranced, and the observers began to feel more as participants. Along the way, small and impromptu booths were set up by devotees showcasing offerings to either Viren or Goddess Kaliamma. The chariots would then stop by each and every booth, accepting all offerings no matter how big or small.

Dr. Lo' Lo' Ghazali, Member of Parliament for Titiwangsa was invited on behest of the Indian community to mark the Aadipooram Festival. To the left of Dr. Lo' Lo' is Mr. Ramamoorthi, dressed in white shirt, who furnished me with directions to the Temple and who would later ferry me there by motorcycle from the HINDRAF booth that same evening. My many thanks to Mr. Ramamoorthi for his kind assistance.

The candlelight vigil for Mr. Wayna Moorthy and the other five HINDRAF leaders detained under ISA as the chariot procession winded its way to the HINDRAF booth. I was introduced to a Mr. Jayaathas of HINDRAF who was one of the four HINDRAF activists who were arrested on Thursday for demonstrating at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center. The chariot procession was delayed for more than a quarter of an hour at the HINDRAF booth as the police refused to permit the candlelight vigil to accompany the procession. After negotiations between the police, the procession organizers, and HINDRAF representatives, the procession slowly picked up its pace through the city streets. Sans candles. (Mr. Jayaathas, if ya readin' this, remember the joke about the white hen sacrifice? Its still not too late, ya know...)

I also would like to thank police officers Mr. Johnson on the left and Mr. Special Branch on the right for agreeing to a photo opportunity. (Right now, I'm just waiting for that discreet knock on the door in the wee hours of the morning by a couple of guys from Peace Hill. Can ya imagine? "Well, Mr. Teoh, we take umbrage at our Special Branch officers being photographed by a Nobody like you. I mean, we expected at the very least National Geographic. Err, more coffee?")

Fiasco At Bar Council

I do not usually rouse myself up on a nice Saturday morning for anything involving lawyers, but last Saturday was an exception. The Bar Council held its controversial 'Conversion To Islam' forum, and attracted more than the usual serious discussions by those concerned with the religious and social maelstroms in the country involving amongst others, R. Subashini and M. Moorthy. Amongst those whom 'attended' the forum were Muslim NGOs who were demonstrating against the holding of the forum. Please click on the following shortcut links to MalaysiaKini here, here, and here to read more on this. What you will see here in this blog posting is my personal take and judgment regarding the events of that morning.

I was greeted by the sight of police officers standing guard when I arrived at the Bar Council building at Leboh Pasar Besar here in Kuala Lumpur. (Pretty lady officer on the left smiling at me while I took this photograph! You can arrest me anytime, Miss!)

Demonstrators from UMNO-backed and -sponsored NGOs, GPMS (Gabungan Pelajar Melayu Semenanjung) and PEKIDA (Pertubuhan Kebajikan Dan Dakwah Islamiah Se-Malaysia), were out in force by then as well. Unfortunately, their minuscule gathering was easily out-numbered by the press and the police that morning. At one point of time, I noticed a banner bearing the word 'Ketuanan Melayu' as well, but it was hastily taken down and I did not get an opportunity to photograph it for posterity.

Look at me while I look at you
Seeing eye to eye we can never do
You try to tell me what is right
I may not know a lot but I know one thing
If you've got the answer
Then I don't want to know
If you've got the answer
Just keep it your own
Forever and A Day by The Offspring

As you can see here, the size and number of demonstrators coming from UMNO was not large enough yet to block the traffic from flowing through Leboh Pasar Besar.

By the way, noticed this particular graffiti opposite the Bar Council building that morning. In English, it could be translated as 'Anything But UMNO' or as an acroynm, ABU.

Zulkifli Noordin, Member of Parliament for Kulim Bandar Baharu, (seen on the left) of PKR (Parti Keadilan Rakyat) was there as well to lend his support to the demonstrators.

Earlier, the crowd demonstrating in front of the Bar Council building was easily outnumbered by the press and police. That was to change when GAMIS (Gabungan Mahasiswa Islam Se-Malaysia), accompanied by Unit Amal Malaysia, showed up to join to demonstration thus swelling the crowd to almost threefold in size. Things were taking a turn from the comical to the serious.

As you can see here, with the presence of GAMIS and Unit Amal Malaysia, traffic through Leboh Pasar Besar was effectively halted. GAMIS and Unit Amal Malaysia are affiliated with PAS (Parti Islam Se-Malaysia.) The number of police officers, along with the Heavies in Red a.k.a. the FRU, however did not increase correspondingly and I was unable to ascertain the presence of any water cannon trucks.

The contrast between the banners unfurled by both UMNO and PAS were equally contrasting. Whereas it was obvious GPMS and PEKIDA was well prepared and funded, judging by the high quality and large size of the banners displayed, those hoisted by GAMIS was crudely hand-made or hastily printed using laser printers. In my opinion, the UMNO-backed and -sponsored NGOs, together with UMNO-linked and -controlled vernacular media, had had blown the whole issue out of proportions and politicized it to the point where PAS had felt it necessary for them to make a show of strength at the Bar Council building.

I had the pleasure of making acquaintance with Mr. Halim Berbar, photographer with SIPA Press (at left), and Mr. Bazuki Mohamad, photographer with REUTERS (at right).

At some point, agent provocateurs from the UMNO-backed and -sponsored NGOs attempted to incite and instigate the crowd by shouting out 'Serbu! Serbu!' * and 'Gempur! Gempur!' **, in an attempt to replicate the storming of the APCET II conference. Herman Shamsudeen of the PAS Youth Wing tried to pacify the crowd and requested that they sit down instead, without success as it turns out. As the words 'Serbu' and 'Gempur', unheard of in PAS rallies but quite common in UMNO's, was being hurled about to egg on the demonstrators, the boys from Unit Amal Malaysia struggled to hold the line to prevent the crowd from surging forward towards the Bar Council building. The line managed to hold with some assistance from the Heavies in Red.

Later the Bar Council decided to stop the forum an hour or so after it commenced, and as the attendees started to leave the building in twos and threes through the front, verbal abuses was hurled towards them by the demonstrators. I was later told by others that racial slurs were uttered that day as well, especially to the Non-Malays who had had attended the forum. If it were true, I could easily surmise as to the source of those racial slurs. When both the forum and demonstration ended, I noted that GAMIS and Unit Amal Malaysia quickly left the scene whereas the demonstrators from GPMS and PEKIDA lingered about the Bar Council building, akin to a predator savoring a fresh kill.

The following photographs shows a few of the characters associated with the UMNO-backed and -sponsored NGOs who 'attended' the forum that Saturday morning...

An extra from the movie Meet The Muallafs.

"Mamak! Roti Boom satu. Teh Tarik satu. Bungkus!"

An UMNO Powerbroker after the 'storming' of the Bar Council forum.

I donno 'bout you guys, but this fella here has got the look of a Wise Guy from UMNO written all over his face...

* Serbu = Charge
** Gempur = Distrupt

Road To Perdition

6 AUGUST 2008, PETALING JAYA, MALAYSIA

Press Statement For Immediate Release

This morning the Malaysian Election Commission announced nomination and polling day for the by-election that I will contest in Permatang Pauh. I look forward to the campaign period to meet with voters in my home constituency. I invite all Malaysians to join me in this historic campaign to bring forth a New Dawn for Malaysia as we work together to build a more peaceful and prosperous nation.

At the same time we would reiterate our longstanding concerns about the integrity of the electoral process. To this date, the evidence of phantom voters and ballot box stuffing has yet to be addressed by the Election Commission. The poor handling of the use of indelible ink in the General Elections gives all Malaysians, particularly those in Permatang Pauh, reason to be concerned about the conduct of polling this month. I urge the Election Commission to take this opportunity to restore some credibility to its reputation by fulfilling its constitutional mandate to ensure that voting is fair and unbiased.

On a darker note, I regret to say that I fear an enormous injustice is about to be perpetrated upon the Malaysian people, worse than those actions taken in 1988 and 1998 which rendered almost irreparable harm against the institutions of democracy and the rule of law. While some individuals suffered greatly by those actions, the Malaysian people have been the greatest losers.

Tomorrow I will be charged with a crime I did not commit. The real criminals will, in their efforts to humiliate me and to derail the people’s aspirations for transformational change in Malaysia, hide behind a smokescreen created by the government controlled mainstream media.

This travesty of justice will take place. It will happen with the active support and the criminal involvement of the highest echelons of the police and politicians—including the office of the Prime Minister.

We have been informed that the Attorney General’s chambers has advised against charging me after having studying the investigation papers. Despite its views, some individuals within the Police have insisted on pursuing this case even though the legal professionals in the AG’s Chambers take a different view.

The evidence proves that the accuser lied in his initial report. He has been seen to be working in close collaboration with the police, notably his meeting with SAC2 Rodwan who was working hand in hand with Musa Hassan to conspire against me in 1998. Other witnesses in this matter have been threatened and harassed in order to fabricate evidence. Doctors appear to have been pressured to violate all norms of medical ethics. Senior Ministers, in their comments about the case, have demonstrated their consistent interference in the investigation.

We are also informed that some individuals within the Prime Minister’s close circles are adamant about pursuing this case. Their involvement further undermines the credibility of the case and proves that the entire conspiracy hatched against me is politically motivated.

Today the Prime Minister faces a crisis of confidence. His approval ratings have plummeted since the March elections and senior members of the Barisan Nasional have joined Pakatan Rakyat in droves. The economy under his abysmal management has reached its lowest ebb in decades and all signs point to further weakening. And just yesterday prominent UMNO members have initiated an investigation into his own involvement in corruption and money politics. This is a man under siege – and he sees no way out but to deflect the attention of the Malaysian people with a sham trial against me.

He is now burning the forest to save his own tree!

I have thus far constrained my criticism of the Prime Minister to his failed policies and general incompetence in leading the nation. But now it is clear that his vendetta against those who would seek his early dismissal from office knows no boundaries and will transgress all limits of the rule of law.

I hold the Prime Minister personally responsible for the damage that is about to be done to the nation and to the integrity and dignity of the Malays.

Our international standing, recently lambasted by prominent leaders from around the world, will plummet even further. Overseas investors are already deeply skeptical about Malaysia on account of its reputation for deeply engrained corruption and economic inefficiency. They will certainly be further dissuaded from any further activity in Malaysia. The continued decline in the economy will lead to greater unemployment and rampant stagflation.

I will fight this with the hope and energy of the people who have supported reformasi in Malaysia. I will not allow this cowardly attack to derail Pakatan Rakyat’s agenda for change. Insha’Allah we will win in Permatang Pauh. Insha’Allah we will win convincingly. I look forward to joining my colleagues in the Parliament to prepare for the historic transition that the country is eagerly awaiting.

ANWAR IBRAHIM