2007/01/18

Pie in the Sky 空头支票


Did Abdullah fulfill his promises which he made before General Election 2004?

Don't be too hungry until trying to get "the pies in the sky" !

2007/01/16

你要买车吗?

(独立新闻在线-独立专栏 |)

在吉隆坡生活已三个月,朋友最常问:“什么时候买车?”我也只能老实地说,目前的我负债累累,实在没有能力养一部车。

那些劝我买车的人基本上都会说:“买部车比较方便。”一些赞同我不买车的朋友们会说:“不买车也没关系,我们有车,找你很方便。”我也曾经以车代步,后来把车卖了筹学费。很多时候,我在想,汽车究竟是必需品还是奢侈品?


若 说是必需品,买一部车似乎不那么容易。我父母那个年代,是努力存钱买车,到了我这一代,身边很多朋友(包括我自己)的第一部车子,都是由父母资助诞生。家 中小弟最近在物色新车,他说买一辆大车是他的梦想,我却和他唱反调说,让巴士车站、轻快铁站建到我们的住宅区,是我的梦想!


为了生活及工作上的便利,很多毕业生一开始工作的首要目标,就是拥有一部车;很多行业,特别是行销业,在征聘启事都会写上“需自备交通工具”。如果有任何公司提供交通工具、交通津贴,那样的雇主可说体恤员工的仁人善翁了。


在新山、吉隆坡这些都市,没有汽车好像不能生活。当然,也有一些人不停地追求马力更大、车身更宽敞舒服、更昂贵、更能换取路人羡慕眼光的轿车,于是,必需品变成奢侈品。除了“方便”,“安全”也是购车一族的考量。


若 仔细观察,一些巴士车站、轻快铁站都建立在一些远离闹市、远离人口密集住宅区,从出门到车站、车站到办公地点、从下车在家门口的路途中,那些步行人士(尤 其是女性),特别容易成为歹徒下手的目标。君不见学校假期时,马路上的车子会比平常少一点吗?一些为人父母者,为了确保小孩的安全,宁可自己亲自送孩子上 学、放学,也不让他们乘校车。


一边批评国产车

一边赞扬马哈迪


如 果说,拥有一部汽车比较方便、安全。追根究底,就是无论在质或量方面,公共交通都无法满足公路使用者的需求,人们转而自行解决交通问题。很多人批评国产车 素质低劣之余,其实都会赞扬马哈迪的国产车政策,让很多低收入人士至少拥有一部可以挡风遮雨的小灵鹿(虽然还没有国产车与高车祸率的关连性的统计)。


物极必反,大力促销国产车的后果,便是城市地区居民需面对烦人的塞车问题、环境污染、健康受损。数据显示,交通工具废气在温室气体源头排第三,仅次于发电厂及工业。美国加利福尼亚州政府去年入禀法庭起诉六大家汽车制造商:福特、普通汽车、本田、三菱、丰田、克莱斯勒(Chrysler),指它们必须为自己所生产的汽车所造成的环境,经济、农业、公共健康承担社会责任,特别是造成全球气候变暖。

陆路交通局的数据显示,1994年至2006年,我国的交通工具从700万辆增加至1520万辆或117% 。一户人家停泊至少两辆车已司空见惯,塞车一族必须承认,政府根本不可能解决塞车问题,多建几条公路、增建几个停车场又能怎样?挺多也只能暂时纾缓现有拥车族的问题,对于未来的拥车族呢?


面 对日益严重的塞车问题,政府必须承担解决交通问题的成本,如建造更多公路。当政府无力承担时,就将道路私营化,让私人公司承建公路,然后由公路使用者直接 承担费用,也为朋党开了一条保证不亏钱的“康庄大道”。全国人民每年担心南北大道涨价,雪隆市民最近对五条收费大道咆哮不满,追根究底,和国家鼓励人民使 用私家交通工具,以及发展国产车工业的远景息息相关。


先不谈资源有限,每当国际油价涨,政府便以此为无力负担津贴的藉口,让汽油涨价。如果政府良好规划公共交通,减少国内私家交通工具的使用,燃油使用量将大幅度降低,国库也无须支出太多燃油津贴。


我国政府无力解决公共交通系统不完善的老问题,如:德士漫天开价、巴士不准时、时抛锚、轻快铁站建在人烟稀少区、过度拥挤等等,也是许多居民倾向买车的主因之一。


骑脚车运动

最近在《消费人前锋报》看到一个可爱的封面,消费人协会正发起“骑脚车运动”,封面主题说明:脚车是最好的――最无污染、最健康、最便宜、最有效率。


很 多人会笑说,这提议在马来西亚一点也不实际。最直接的反应是:我国天气炎热,难道要每个人汗流夹背地上学、上班?《消》点出了骑脚车有助于促进身心健康, 骑脚车能减肥、降血压、血糖、防癌、防心脏病等等。经济方面,不仅有助于减少个人消费,也能让国库减少交通流量不断上升的负担,如:处理交通意外的费用、 治疗因交通废弃导致的呼吸系统疾病等等。


最关键之处,看看我国的公路,对无车人士极不友善,只有一些公路铺设了电单车道,就连行人走道,往往还要托游客的福,本地居民才能在观光区享用到比较像样的行人道。如果没有脚车道,岂不是送脚车骑士入虎口?


先天条件不足的问题是需要人类动脑筋去解决。笔者以为,在人口约50 万左右的城镇,可推广使用脚车。人口上百万的都市,除了可以划定脚车使用区,更重要的是,公共交通必须让大家觉得“比自己开车更方便”。无论如何,全球变 暖、气候变化是全人类问题,我国的统治者有没有眼光、决心去应对未来?有什么政策改善我们的居住环境?还是依旧等待上天的旨意、大水淹顶出国度假再说?


对于不愿意买车、想要使用公共交通、或骑脚车的本地公民,我们的交通政策制定者为何无法提供这个选择空间?我国国民大部份皆投身于国家统治精英所构想的经济发展模式之中,在国家经济能力许可的情况下,为何不见他们拨款进一步完善公共交通系统,让更多人受惠?


或 许有一天我也会买部车,那也绝非心甘情愿。一项各国人民快乐指数的研究指出,物质富足不一定带来快乐。当我们的商业宣传、政治宣传充斥着一种“拥有一部豪 华轿车,生活才会美满幸福”的画面时,为了促销国产车,我们是否忽略了汽车对很多人其实是沉重的负债?也忽略汽车所排放的废气对环境所造成的破坏程度?还 有,如何计算交通阻塞的时间损失及开车一族的精神损失?


生 活在一个健康的环境,是每个人的基本权利,如果你已厌倦乌烟瘴气的车龙,偶而别忘了为自己的自私想法自责,是时候想一想如何与身边的朋友一同改变一些生活 方式,公共交通的管理者也应负起最大的责任。如果有一天,国家领袖说一句:“汽车过多是全球变暖的原因之一,减少使用车子吧!”,希望届时一切还来得及。

2007/01/15

手机遗失 Mobile phone been stolen

Unfortunately, my moblie phone was stolen by pickpocket on Putra LRT train when there was a large crowd of people getting out of the light rail train at "KL SENTRAL " last night. It happened just within one minute. My mobile phone was gone when I found a seat on the train.

I did not put it into my bag because my friend's mobile phone has been stolen by someone who cut her bag. So I put it into the pocket of my jacket, in the end, I still lost it. I was dull on the way to the destination. The person who did such a despicable thing deserves to be cursed~ It really causes inconvenience for my life~

Due to financial constraint, I probably will not get another mobile phone until Chinese New Year in Feb.

Be careful in this crazy city, Kuala Lumpur.


2007/01/12

菊花台 Curse of the golden flower

有一天听电台广播时,才知道,全世界只有马来西亚电影院上映的《满城尽带黄金甲》是广东话版本。

真的很可惜,巩俐说普通话演戏其实更有气质。这部片是导演用了曹禺的《雷雨》改编而成的,有很多不符合历史逻辑之处,受到中国观众极度严厉的批判。

其实,剧中每一个人都受伤了(身心都受伤),结果,一翻厮杀后,许多人赔上了性命,留下的也是一个受伤的皇帝。


唱:周杰伦

你的泪光柔弱中带伤
惨白的月弯弯勾住过往
夜太漫长凝结成了霜
是谁在阁楼上冰冷地绝望

雨轻轻弹朱红色的窗
我一生在纸上被风吹乱
梦在远方化成一缕香
随风飘散你的模样

菊花残满地伤
你的笑容已泛黄
花落人断肠我心事静静躺
北风乱夜未央
你的影子剪不断
徒留我孤单在湖面成霜


花已向晚飘落了灿烂
凋谢的世道上命运不堪
愁莫渡江秋心拆两半
怕你上不了岸一辈子摇晃

谁的江山马蹄声狂乱
我一身的戎装呼啸沧桑
天微微亮你轻声的叹
一夜惆怅如此委婉

菊花残满地伤
你的笑容已泛黄
花落人断肠我心事静静躺
北风乱夜未央
你的影子剪不断
徒留我孤单在湖面成双

菊花残满地伤
你的笑容已泛黄
花落人断肠我心事静静躺
北风乱夜未央
你的影子剪不断
徒留我孤单在湖面成霜

2007/01/01

Happy New Year!!

Happy New Year ,everybody!!

What did you do on the last day of the year 2006?

In the morning, I joined the anti-toll hike protest in one of the highways in Kuala Lumpur.
In the afternoon, I bought four books from a bookshop which is full of Chinese books-- there are so many books that all the books are shelved together in every corner of the bookshop.


After that, I went to watch "Eragon" . I like the legend with magic, devils, and heroes, heroines. I like the story ended with all the devils and demons being killed. Just like "The Lord of the Ring". Perhaps, there are too many cruel, fierce, ferocious, barbarous, inhuman, savage, vicious (all the words I can find in the dictionary) things and people in the reality. How I wish I can practice magic!

Last year, last week, I worked day and night to meet the deadline of printing, it is time to get a good sleep in the first day of the new year.

I am so sorry that I am unable to keep my blog updated all these days, things have not been working very well in the last three months. I lost control of my own time and space.

Sometimes, I really feel that there are too many things to learn, but time is running out.

Anyway, what are your new year wishes?

For me, I hope I can always read more books, meet more people and learn new things.

Wish you good luck!!

2006/12/15

自由贸易攸关各族人民权益 We should question the FTA

此文已于2006年11月16日刊登于(This artible has been published in )《独立新闻在线》http://www.merdekareview.com/news.php?n=2970


马美自由贸易协定第三轮谈判已经结束。在10月30日早上,一百多名社会人士在“反对自由贸易联盟”的号召下,前往谈判地点抗议、示威。然而,反对自由贸易人士激昂的呐喊并没有通过媒体传遍全国各地角落。

就华文报章而言,唯有《东方日报》以彩色版进行报道,但该报又将示威人士指为“激进份子”,让人不禁怀疑,我国的新闻把关人,对马美自由贸易的谈判、签定后的影响,究竟是不闻不问?不知不觉?还是不清不楚?

一般而言,自由贸易协定指两国或以上的国家、经济体间具有法律约束力的契约,签署国的目标之一是消除贸易壁垒,促进彼此的产品与服务自由流动。此文暂不讨论多边自由贸易,但看马美自由贸易,拥护或支持的人皆各有说辞。

有人欢喜有人愁

马美自由贸易估计会让政府取消一些保护措施,一名马来政治评论人在报章上指,反对者是一些“保守政治声音”。一些华裔同胞则抱着看好戏的心理,毫不讳避地直指“让美国的竞争来纠正那些只保护单一族群的政策!”

种族政治走到这个地步,的确让人无可奈何。一方因长期浸泡在各种各样的优惠、特权中,一旦保护政策被取消,就像终日由主人喂饱的猫那样,可能连捉老鼠的本能也失去;而另一方则希望籍自由贸易来逼使政府取消保护政策,那长期“

自力更生”的心底,积累满肚子长期受制度性压制及边缘化的怨气,争的就是与其他人平起平坐,公平竞争的机会。

原本,国内各行各业包括:电子业、纺织业、服务业、医药界、农民、金融业等,举凡出卖劳力赚取生活必需品的人民,都应该质疑马美自由贸易的谈判内容。然而,反对或支持马美自由贸易的人士皆从本族群利益考量利弊,若此协定哪朝成定局,其导致的后果,这一代以种族角度思考的人士都难辞其咎。


与美自贸恶梦连连

非洲各国、泰国、印尼人民都反对他们的政府与美国签署自由贸易协定。美国是经济强国,但不代表和它进行自由贸易就能飞黄腾达。笔者对一部影片记忆犹新:加勒比海某小国因美国入口的奶粉价格低于本国生产的鲜奶(美国政府给予美国农产品极高的津贴),导致牛奶供应商必须将数加仑的牛奶倒掉、养牛人忍痛杀掉奶牛… …

经济强国与发展中国家签署自由贸易协定,是强迫小国开放市场、让资本与技术相对薄弱的本土工、农、商直接面对跨国集团的竞争。如果中小型企业、承包商倒下,失业率将随之提高,贫富悬殊问题加剧。政府放松投资管制后,大资本家在贪污腐败当道的发展中国家继续扩张、累积资本。

自由贸易对民主最大的讽刺就是:在许多国家,民选代议士组成的国会在最后关头,都无法推翻协定内容,一些国家为了人民利益违背协定,反被控“防碍投资者利益”。在许多国家如:加拿大、墨西哥、南美洲各国、澳洲等早有前鉴,尝过苦头的人最直接的批评就是:自由贸易典当人民权益!


自由贸易考验民主

非政府组织及在野党组成的“反自由贸易联盟”,数度要求会见我国国际贸工部长拉菲达,表达本身对马美自由贸易协定的担忧。不料,却遭对方冷冷一封信:“我们知道你们要说什么,我们知道自己在做什么… …“回拒。


在国内,有很多关乎大众利益的文件被列为官方机密,包括政府与南北大道公司的合约。这一次,我国谈判代表自今年6月份起,皆对会谈内容三缄其口。要知道,无论自愿与否,在谈判过程中,美国政府早让我国代表签署保密协议。我们应该大声问道:“你们签署的合约关乎全国2千700万人口的命运,凭什么要我们相信你?”

谈判还没有结束,马美自由贸易对我国的影响对于全体国人而言,还没有切肤之痛。大家连国内的攫夺案、通货膨胀都应付不暇,要关注这种影响下一代的经济协定似乎显得心有余而力不足。但是,要知道,根据我国宪法,自由贸易协定可以绕过国会,直接在内阁通过。我们要问:拥有决定权的部长们,在没有咨询民意的情况,你们依据什么来决定国民的命运?

但笔者相信,人民可以要求最基本的透明度。贸工部不应该屈服于美国任何形式的协议,而应该在每一轮会谈后光明正大地举行汇报会、征询各界意见。美国代表尚且需向他们的工商界代表汇报,凭什么我国的政府能将会谈文件藏起来,不面对人民?

由经济列国如美国、日本、欧盟主导的自由贸易必须谨慎看待,因为当中涉及的问题包括:谁定义的自由、自由的条件、自由的范围等等,在搞不清楚自由贸易伙伴是敌是友的情况下签定自由贸易,我们必然会赔上追求这类自由的代价。


The third round of the Malaysia-US Free Trade Agreement talks is over. On 30 Oct 2007 morning, more than 100 activists gathered in front of the Imperial Hotel, where the talks were held, they went there to protest and demonstrate. However, their voice has not been heard by people in others part of the country.

One of our Chinese Press, only the Orientaldaily reported the news, and generously published them in colour, but they described the protesters as “extremists”. I cannot help thinking that our guardians of information that are so indifferent to FTA, do they care about the whole process? Do they know anything about it?

Generally speaking, Free Trade Agreement means contract between two or more than two nations or economies that is aimed to remove protective customs tariffs, and to encourage free flow of goods and services between the parties. In this article, multilateral free trade is not in the process of discussions, we will only have the choice of facing the implications of the controversial Malaysia-US free trade.

It is believed that FTA Malaysia-US will lead to the abolishment of some protective policies in a local market. One of the Malay intellectuals wrote, people who anti-FTA are “conservative politicians”. For Chinese-Malaysians, some of them are welcoming the US power to enter our local market so that those Malay preferential policies will be redressed.

It is very sad to see our racial politics moving into such direction. All kind of privileges, special rights have permeated into the life of one side. On the other side, they hope to see the abolishment of protective policies through the FTA, this is the resentment stems from the groups which have long systematically marginalized by the government, they still hope for equal opportunities after a long time of self-dependency.

Actually, people from all walk of life including electrical, textile, service, and medical industries, farmers, finance etc, ( long as these people are selling their labour in exchange for satisfaction of their basic needs) they all need to question the content of the FTA negotiations. However, various groups who support or oppose FTA are measuring the interest of their ethnic groups, therefore, if the agreement comes into effect, they have to pay the price for any consequences of the FTA negotiations.

People in Africa, Thailand, and Indonesia are opposing their governments in signing FTA with the US. US is an economically powerful state, but it does not mean that whoever established a free trade agreement can be as powerful as it is. I still remember a documentary about FTA between a Caribbean country and the US, a creamery supplier poured all his fresh milk, and the ranchers have to slaughter their milk cows. All these things happened due to the low price milk powder imported from the US, as the US gives a far higher subsidy to their farmers until they can produce milk powder in a lower cost.

When the economically developed countries seek to sign FTA with developing countries, it means forcing developing countries to liberalize their market. Due to a lack of capital and technologies, local businesses and private sectors will find it hard to compete with transnational corporations (TNCs). If these small manufacturing enterprises, contractors collapse, unemployment rate as well as the gap between the rich and the poor will increase. When the government loosens investment regulations, the capitalists will continue to expand and accumulate their capital again in the corrupt developing countries .

Free Trade also makes a mockery of democracy. In many countries, even the elected parliamentarians are unable to overthrow the decisions taken prior to signature of FTA. Some of the governments were charged by TNCs when they were trying to regulate some laws to protect the interest of their disadvantages groups. Any government measures that affect the expected future profits of the US companies have in previous FTAs been counted as constituting “expropriation” and thus the government is liable to pay compensation for the losses.

Many lessons can be learnt from countries like Canada, Australia, Mexico, FTA trades away people’s rights and benefits!

The anti-FTA Alliance consists of NGOs and opposition parties. When they wrote to Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) and asked for a talk with Rafidah, the ministry rejected them with a letter telling that they know what they are doing.

In Malaysia, many documents which are affecting people are official secrets, including the highway concession contracts. This time, the FTA talks began in June 2006, but they disclosed nothing about the contents of the talks. It is important to know that in the process of negotiation, the Malaysian delegates and the US have to sign an agreement to keep the talks as confidential. We want to ask, what kind of contract are you going to sign? How do we trust you in deciding the fate of 2.7million people in this country?

The FTA talks will be continued. It seems like our nations are too busy with snatching thieves, inflation, it is unlikely to draw attention of the people. Crucially, according to our constitution, the cabinet can endorse the FTA without the consent of parliament. It is crucial for us to ask our ministers, without public participation and consultation, on what ground for the ministers to decide our future?

At least, we should ask for transparency. MITI should not be bound by any kind of the US agreement. They should report to the public and seeking further opinions after every round of talks. Even the US delegates have to report to their business representatives, how can we hide our documents?

We have to scrutinize every aspects of the free trade dominated by developed countries such as the US, Japan, EU. It is important to know: who defines the trade? What are the conditions? If not, we will have to pay the price of pursuing it.

(The fourth round of the Malaysia-US FTA talks will be held at 8-12 Jan 2007)

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2006/11/22

23 activists arrested, houses demolished

They keep the illegal mansion of Klang municipal councillor, Zakaria... ...


But they demolished the houses (so-called Squatters )of the people,


the only place where the poor can sleep in ... ...








KHIR TOYO OVERRULES PAK LAH, 23 ACTIVISTS ARRESTED, HOUSES DEMOLISHED

Report by : SUARAM


(Note- the local authorities have confiscated and deleted the photos taken.)


Ampang, 20 November 2006

After almost 8 hours of defending 62 houses in Kampung Berembang, finally the police and local authorities crushed the resistance resulting in 23 arrests including arrest of PSM and JERIT leaders, houses being demolished and burned down and one women in a very critical condition, fighting for her life in the hospital.


After only managing to demolish 2 houses on Friday, the MPAJ(Local authorities) with the developers and the police came again this morning to finish the job which they failed to complete last week. At the village, all three entrances to the village have been blocked by human shield and other items. There were also a large number of activists mainly from JERIT and PSM, along with several other villagers from other Urban Settlers community aligned to the Coalition of Housing and Urban Settlers present. The situation was tense and the people waited for the showdown.


After more than 3 hours of initial stand-off, the first ambush by MPAJ at around 10.30am saw a massive clash between the local authorities and the villagers. The fight broke out with every corner, fist fighting, punching and dragging. The local authorities with 3 huge demolition machines failed to penetrate the human shield but it resulted in the local authorities arresting and assaulting 8 people – 2 villagers and 6 activist. The assault was brutal but the people were equally strong and the first wave of attack by the authorities failed. There were injuries from both sides. Both parties retreated to original positions.


Then came the second round of stand still. The District Police Chief of Ampang, ACP Amer and his high ranking officers were also prevented from entering the area from another location. That resulted in another arrest by the police. Human Rights Commissioner, Dato Siva Subramanim arrived shortly.


Then in a series of negotiation between the District police Chief, Dato Siva, MPAJ officer- Ismail, the developer and PSM Secretary general S.Arutchelvan created a stand still but a tense situation.


The police Chief told that he prefers to call off the operation as he said the situation is very tense and serious and he wants to avoid a bloodshed. Siva Subramanima said that the demolition should be called off and SUHAKAM (Human Rights Commission) will conduct a meeting with the relevant bodies to resolve the issue.


But the Local authorities- MPAJ who were under the Instruction of the Developers was very adamant to bull doze. They told the police that they have enough people to carry out the operation. The police then told all parties to hold on, as there were attempt to reach certain Government authorities to call off the exercise.


Both parties stood their ground. The developers and the MPAJ said that the people did not have an Injunction while the people said that the case was to be heard in April next year and therefore the authorities have to wait and the land status must remain unchanged. Then the police Chief, MPAJ and SUHAKAM representative went to the Developers site office with the instruction that there should be no forced eviction until some agreement can be reached.


Just after 1 pm, the whole situation from gloom changed to happiness when 2 villagers shouted victory and carried with them some papers. They managed to get a letter calling for the demolition and forced eviction to be postponed. The letter was released by the Prime Minister's Department and signed by the Prime Minister's private secretary. The villagers Pak Lang told the people gathered, the Government has opened its eyes. We have a letter now and thanked everyone. The activists were very caution and told the people not to be fooled but wait for final confirmation that the forced eviction exercise will be called off. Pak Lang has already started singing praises for the Prime Minister.


A team villagers and PSM Sec Gen, S.Arutchelvan then took the letters to the Developers site office. They were shocked to find that the Developers has catered a lot of food to feed the government servants. Meanwhile the Human Rights Commission, Dato Siva said that the letter is good enough to stop the demolition of houses. He said this is the highest authority- The Prime Minister's Office. He later held a Press Conference at the side and left.


An hour later, things became sour again when Riot police started parking their heavy vehicles in two main entrance to the village. The news then came that the Selangor Chief Minister (MB) Khir Toyo has overruled the PM's letter and has called for the operation to carry on. Pak Lang was stunned and in tears. The villagers were stunned. The Villagers then made a human chain with the activist and waited for the ultimate assault, which was imminent.


Then a team of police under the order of the Deputy Police Chief came to arrest PSM Secretary General S.Arutchelvan, who was at that time the key negotiator. He was told to surrender but he remained defiant. Arul was then arrested, dragged and handcuffed by around ten policemen. He was then taken away to a separate police detention center.


The rest of the people continued to hold on. They managed to hold on for another half an hour, then the next series of arrest took place. Sivarajan, PSM's Treasurer, Chang Lih Kang- SUARAM were arrested, other JERIT leaders as well other activist and villagers were arrested. 13 more people were arrested, a fight broke out, more people got injured and one young lady collapsed and did not regain consciousness. She was taken to the Hospitals. The authorities moved from every angle, one house was razed and the rest went down one by one. The resistance collapsed under a heavy presence of riot police with authorities outnumbering the people to 3 to 1.


All arrested were taken to Ulu Kelang police station except for Arutchelvan who was kept at Ampang Police Headquaters. He was later taken to Ulu Kelang and after a massive protest by Human Rights Groups, all those arrested were released just before midnight the same day. They were released on police bail and told to report at the Ampang magistrate on 4 th. December. Around ten police reports at different parts of the country was also done by the JERIT network condemning the arrest and the forced eviction..

At the village, the houseless people erected tents. They were still stunned how the Chief Minister- Khir Toyo can overrule a letter from the Prime Minister's department. They are now more convinced that the Prime Minister has no control. The Human Rights Commission is equally stunned and are going to call for a Press Conference the following day.


The arrest of 23 people is perhaps the first time after many years when such a huge resistance was put up. The last major resistance in an Urban Settlers area was in 1998 in Kampung Sg. Nipah where 55 people were arrested. Today the resistance in Kampung Berembang has radicalized the community there. The people are putting up tents and are staying put in the same land. Under the ruins, they are going to attempt to build their homes again.


The resistance this time also saw how the various races can unite under a class solidarity to fight the oppressor. The villagers- all of them Muslim Malays have now realized a few important lesson. They now see that the issue is simply that the Developer(capitalist) has bought over the local authorities and the State Government and police are standing behind them. The Prime Minister letter did not stand. The only people who stood with the poor urban settlers were other settlers from various ethnic and comrades from the socialist party and the JERIT coalition as well as ther activist. They understand who are their allies and who are their enemy.


List of people arrested:

1. Adli Abdul Rahman

2. Ahmad Tamrin

3. Arutchelvan

4. Awalluddin Sharif

5. Azman Mohd

6. Chang Lih Kang

7. Ebrahim Haris

8. Faezae Ramzi (15 years old)

9. Fiqtriey bin Al Hakimi

10. Kumaravee

11. Lechumy Devi Doraisamy

12. Lee Huat Seng

13. Mohan

14. Mohd. Rajis

15. Parames Elumalai

16. Ramachanthiran Ananthan

17. Ramalingam Thirumalai

18. Sabariah Ayoub

19. Sevan

20. Sivarajan

21. Thevarajan Ramasamy

22. V. Wani