I met PAULA KHOO for the first time during the PJ vigil but we did not spend time together. We met again on the day that RPK was released from Kaumunting. She had thumbed a ride with Kasee from Penang. She informed me that she would attend the 2nd phase of candlelight vigils for the release of all ISA detainees. Earlier, Penangites had organised 6 consecutive vigils asking for the release of Raja Petra.
Paula had volunteered to emcee the vigil and armed with her guitar she entertained the crowd with "The Song of Freedom". The police then ordered the participants to disperse which they obediently did. Paula too packed her guitar and proceeded to where her husband had parked. It was here that the Police decided to bundle her into their car and took her to Jalan Patani Police HQ.
Angela and Jong called in from
9:08PM.
Paula called from the Patani Police Station to ask for advice...our coversation was interrrupted abruptly as she was called into the room for questioning.
9.10PM.
I contacted Jeff Ooi, MP for Jelutong.
9:12PM:
Haris contacted lawyer Munaweer.
1:22AM
+++++
Two days before the vigil Paula posted this appeal to Penangites:
Thursday, November 13, 2008
TO LIGHT OR NOT TO LIGHT? That is NOT the question!
My dear friends, blog readers, Malaysians, especially PENANGITES,
Greetings from my pc screen to yours !
Do you have a dream?..........................
Please don't slip into passivity, fear or apathy or feel that you are insignificant, unimportant or irrelevant because YOU MATTER.
And why so?
Because YOU ARE MALAYSIAN, and this country is YOUR NEGARA as much as it is MY NEGARA. OUR TANAHAIR.
And you know what? We need each other to press for change.
WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER, TO UNITE, TO BE OF THE SAME HEART AND MIND TO HEAL THIS NATION!!!!
Most of all, to PENANGITES and other MALAYSIANS WHO WILL BE IN
WE NEED YOU THIS SATURDAY AT ESPLANADE, 8 P.M.!!!
There is no time to waffle around wondering...should I, should I not...should I ...should I not...
should I light that candle this Saturday?
There is no time to be nervous and imagine the worst case scenario ....or to ask yourself...
* what if there is a raid?
* what if I am caught and thrown into a Black Maria...
* what if my face makes it to the front page news, or worse still headlines in Malaysiakini or other blogs? This is not the way I want to achieve fame...
* what if...what if...what if....
My dear blog reader, time is running out.
There is ABSOLUTELY NO TIME FOR THE "WHAT IFs" IN LIFE.
We are appealing for your support to stand by her.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
WHAT OTHERS HAD TO SAY OF PAULA ON HER ARREST
donplaypuks® said...
Only a truly beautiful soul whiose conscience has been fully awakened could write that there's no time for IF's at this point in M'sia's political scene.
I wish I could have been ther to offer moral and physical support.
Zorro, if she needs monetary support to fight this bullying and fascist state, let's chip in. Individually and Collectively, it will not burden us!!
http://donplaypuks.blogspot.com
de minimis said...
I am shocked to hear that Paula aka masterwordsmith has been arrested by the police. She's just a conscientious objector to the ISA and, if you read her blog posts, you wouldn't be able to find anyone more reasonable than her. This episode of police action is a wrong, wrong move.
Anonymous said...
paula was released at about 1.00am. many of us (the organisers and a few others non organisers) were at the police station waiting for her from the time she was arrested (9.30). we do know of her arrest when she was bundled in the police car. we called liew chin toong and he was there with paula until her release. paula called rhina bhar, the lawyer.
we are meeting tonight to have a post-mort
Paula, we love you. Paula, we will fight for you. Paula, we will stand up for you. Paula, thanks for pricking our conscience. Paula, thanks for reminding apathetic Malaysians that democracy is under threat. That we are living under a fascist state. Heinrich Himmler, the dreaded Gestapo chief in Nazi Germany, died in the smouldering ruins of a shamed nation 60 years ago. But today, we have another Himmler in the form of a botak called Heinrich Syed Hamid, the most despicable character in Malaysian history.
Anonymous said...
Using section 143 against " A Song of Freedom" ? Legally unsound !
'Love, Hope & Solidarity ' is the spirit and message expressed peacefully.
I am with you all in Spirit as I pray.
Let's continue to Fast and Pray for Wisdom, Peace and Tranquility to prevail.
Let's continue to sing ' A Song of Freedom' and to 'candlelight vigil' to " RELEASE all ISA detainees & ABOLISH ISA NOW!".
Syabas o all Peacemakers.
We Care.
Dear Uncle Bernard,
ReplyDeleteThank you very much for highlighting my predicament. Your steadfastness and courage in fighting for the cause and compassion for the downtrodden remain an inspiration to me. For all that you have said and done for me, I will always be grateful and will never forget your kindness.
God bless you and yours always...
cheers,
Paula
Yes, Penangites, I know Paula through blogs and Facebook and can vouch for a truly wonderful soul that is Paula Khoo. Tomorrow at 8.00 amand on the third day of Chinese New Year, she has to undergo the hassle of reporting to the Police. People she needs your support, please don't let a fellow patriot down.
ReplyDeletepolice r d threat 2 peace in msia
ReplyDeletethe vigil went on incident-free
until d anjing kerajaan decided that songs r a threat 2 d umno-bn govt
they 4get that they r govt servants thanx 2 d umno-bn regime that uses them 4 its survival
its 2 late 4 d ipcmc
we have 2 have CHANGE..... ie. CHANGE OF GOVT
A phrase that keeps popping to mind about the knee-jerk reactions of the BN in general & the home minister in particular is... the banality of evil. How pathetic to use an obsolete & unjust law in the name of the law to harass & intimidate good, honest citizens who truly care about the future of the country (& not just their own jobs & retirement plans)! By asking Paula to report on the 3rd day of CNY the police effectively dampened her spirits & sabotaged her lunar new year celebrations. How heroic of them, how impressive, how commendable... NOT! We the people will not forget these malicious acts of small-minded villainy. We are taking down meticulous notes & watching the home minister's every twitch & every tumble... & we would all be overjoyed to see him GONE.
ReplyDeleteGO ! tell it on the mountain,
ReplyDeleteover the hills & everywhere;
GO ! tell it on the mountain,
let my people GO (free) !
Paula , be strong & GODBLESS !!
BERJUTA2 kami are with you, sis. !
( the whole dunia knows what the polis has done to Kugan already so also wants to know MORE what they are going to do to you !)
Go on, insult your neighbour!
ReplyDeleteWere you surprised that the Cabinet scrapped the proposed Race Relations Act (RRA)? According to Bernama, the minister said the idea was dropped because “we don’t have to unite the various races through the enforcement of laws, on the contrary, the community should be educated not only at the adult stage but at a much younger age. This will be more effective”.
He further added: “There is no element of force in our efforts to inculcate unity, the spirit of solidarity should be nurtured among the young people. There must be willingness in the feeling of love for others instead of using force.”
Now I don’t know about you but I’m guessing that the reason why the RRA was dropped is probably the same reason why Malaysia cannot ratify (or sign) the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. This convention is one of the oldest UN conventions presented to the UN general assembly in 1966.
Under article two, it states:
1. Each State Party to the present Covenant undertakes to respect and to ensure to all individuals within its territory and subject to its jurisdiction the rights recognised in the present Covenant, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.
2. Where not already provided for by existing legislative or other measures, each State Party to the present Covenant undertakes to take the necessary steps, in accordance with its constitutional processes and with the provisions of the present Covenant, to adopt such laws or other measures as may be necessary to give effect to the rights recognised in the present Covenant.
3. Each State Party to the present Covenant undertakes:
(a) To ensure that any person whose rights or freedoms as herein recognised are violated shall have an effective remedy, notwithstanding that the violation has been committed by persons acting in an official capacity;
(b) To ensure that any person claiming such a remedy shall have his right thereto determined by competent judicial, administrative or legislative authorities, or by any other competent authority provided for by the legal system of the State, and to develop the possibilities of judicial remedy;
(c) To ensure that the competent authorities shall enforce such remedies when granted.”
Now, in Malaysia, we have the infamous NEP and affirmative action policies plus other regulations which come into conflict with this international convention. Some of these policies may be judged to be racial discrimination. Malaysians do not enjoy the full political rights granted under this convention so that is the reason why the government cannot sign it.
Connected to this international convention is the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) another United Nations convention. The Convention commits its members to the elimination of racial discrimination and the promotion of understanding among all races. The convention was adopted by in 1965, and entered into force on Jan 4, 1969. As of June 2, 2008, the Convention has been signed by 173 countries but not Malaysia.
The convention states that:
“Considering that the United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination of 20 November 1963 (General Assembly resolution 1904 (XVIII)) solemnly affirms the necessity of speedily eliminating racial discrimination throughout the world in all its forms and manifestations and of securing understanding of and respect for the dignity of the human person,
Convinced that any doctrine of superiority based on racial differentiation is scientifically false, morally condemnable, socially unjust and dangerous, and that there is no justification for racial discrimination, in theory or in practice, anywhere,
Reaffirming that discrimination between human beings on the grounds of race, colour or ethnic origin is an obstacle to friendly and peaceful relations among nations and is capable of disturbing peace and security among peoples and the harmony of persons living side by side even within one and the same State,
Convinced that the existence of racial barriers is repugnant to the ideals of any human society,
Alarmed by manifestations of racial discrimination still in evidence in some areas of the world and by governmental policies based on racial superiority or hatred, such as policies of apartheid, segregation or separation,
Resolved to adopt all necessary measures for speedily eliminating racial discrimination in all its forms and manifestations, and to prevent and combat racist doctrines and practices in order to promote understanding between races and to build an international community free from all forms of racial segregation and racial discrimination”
Need I say more? Since we have not signed any of these convention it’s perfectly okay in Malaysia to insult your neighbour using their ethnic status. Hence there are plenty of racial jokes here that you can repeat; from calling other Malaysians “pendatang” to “Go back to India” to “Go back to China” to “when you see a snake and … who do you kill first?” Who cares about the Sedition Act since it is applied selectively.
It’s also okay to have laws and regulations that divide the population into two halves and you can have 1st class Malaysians, 2nd class Malaysians and so on. You can also divide the country according to the various religions and so on.
In fact you can discriminate in all areas of life and we Malaysians do it all the time. Discrimination is now part and parcel of Malaysian culture so much so that we even write jokes about it.
Thus, for those middle-class pretenders who are fighting for RRA to be adopted in Malaysia, I can only wish you good luck. If the government has no intention of signing international conventions on discrimination and social and political rights, I doubt it will accept RRA.
- James Chin