anilnetto.comanilnetto.comThe journalism and other writings of Anil Netto - featuring real journalism in the cause of justice, freedom and solidarity 
Articles
Samy Vellu booed on ?live? TV; are his political days numbered?
2007-12-23 05:53:00 MIC president Samy Vellu was booed and publicly humiliated when he turned up to officiate at the Aattam 100 Vagai 3 (100 types of dance) performance at the Penang International Sports Arena (Pisa) last night. Sources tell me the crowd of 2,000-3,000 shouted obscenities at him including “po-dah” (the rude version of “get lost”) and ... More About: Political , Poverty , Democracy , Live , Days
Why are Malaysians so restless these days?
2007-12-18 10:42:00 What is fuelling the protests and rallies and candlelight vigils and prayer gatherings? If we look at the Hindraf protest, it would be easy to conclude that the main issue is ethnic and religious discrimination, which has left many Indian Mala ysians feeling disgruntled. But then again, it is not only Indian Malays ians who have protested. In the ... More About: Days , Restless
Activists hold candle-light vigil in Penang on a dark day for democracy
2007-12-13 16:15:00 Some two dozen activists and other concerned Malaysians held a candlelight vigil in central George Town, Penang to uphold the right to freedom of assembly on a day which saw five Hindraf leaders detained under the ISA. The small crowd, which included Aliran and Suaram members, gathered at 8.50pm at the Penang Road/Kimberley Road junction, under ... More About: Human Rights , Democracy , Dark , Light
Wielding the big stick and sweeping issues under the Putrajaya rug
2007-12-11 11:24:00 More arrests today. This time largely targeting the Bersih group and the Hindraf leaders. I have lost track of the number of people arrested, released, re-arrested, denied bail, charged with illegal assembly, “causing mischief”, “attempted murder”, sedition… All this while the Attorney General personally appears in court and tries to deny people bail. What on earth is ... More About: Issues , Human Rights , Democracy , Accountability , Stick
Climate change: Too little, too late?
2007-12-10 12:13:00 This snippet from a World Development Movement blog entry from the UN Framework Conference on Climate Change in Bali got me worried - and as it should you too. While we carry on our lives as usual, we remain blissfully unaware that the very survival of our planet is at stake. ”The science says that ... More About: United States , Environment
On the eve of World Human Rights Day, Malaysia?s bravest lawyers are arrest
2007-12-09 07:02:00 Five lawyers and three activists were arrested this morning when they attempted to march in Kuala Lumpur ahead of World Human Rights Day tomorrow. That they should be arrested while trying to uphold the right to freedom of assembly rights shows us just what the authorities think of human rights. It reveals utter contempt of basic ... More About: Christianity , Malaysia , Lawyers , Arrest
Farmers lose autonomy as MNCs take control of agriculture
2007-12-06 15:28:00 Farmers are under increasing pressure from multinational corporations, which in many parts of the world are planning to take control over the entire food production and distribution chain. This leaves farmers at the mercy of these MNCs for seeds, fertilisers, pesticides, sales and distribution. In the end, the farmers will lose their autonomy and independence and ... More About: Workers , Agriculture , Democracy , Control , Agrobusiness
?The Light? and PGCC cast a shadow over Penang
2007-12-04 00:35:00 What they showed you: Night view (towards George Town) of the PGCC’s “iconic towers” (Image from the official PGCC launch booklet) What they didn’t show you: Add in 37 towers (Image editing by the PGCC Campaign Group) Nightmare scenario of the PGCC project! (Image editing by the PGCC Campaign Group) Even before the PGCC can take off, ... More About: Environment , Penang , Shadow , Cast , Light
Just a reminder: Have you registered as a voter?
2007-12-02 09:30:00 Make sure you check your voter registration details. Click here to verify. More About: Democracy , Civil society , Reminder , Regis , Remi
Umno state assembly member criticises PGCC project
2007-12-01 14:31:00 This is an actual picture of the Turf Club land and the surrounding low-rise properties. (Photo credit: PGCC Campaign Group) This is what it would look like with towers… gulp! The towers here are replicas of 37 existing towers from all over George Town transplanted to the Turf Club site (The wonders ... More About: Politics , Environment , Assembly , Project , State
Look who?s breathing down Patrick?s neck?
2007-11-30 15:36:00 Priceless moment: A bemused Patrick Lim, the developer of the Penang Global City Centre, turns to look at heritage conservationist Loh-Lim Lin Lee as she presents the PGCC Campaign Group’s grave concerns about his mega project during the Penang Local Government Consultative Forum on 23 November. On Patrick’s right is Nasrine Seraji, the PGCC master ... More About: Environment , Neck
Can Media Prima take on Malaysia Today and Malaysiakini?
2007-11-29 06:47:00 This is a piece I wrote for Asia Times about Media Prima’s intention to plunge into the Internet in a big way, ostensibly to diversify its revenue base and tap into on-line advertising revenue. Telekom Malaysia is spending billions to prepare the ground with high-speed broadband around the country. Though the main focus of Media ... More About: Human Rights , Today , Democracy
When human rights activists let their hair down?
2007-11-29 06:45:00 The Aliran Singers re-united and in full flow! Aliran turns 30: A heart-warming celebration of justice It was all so different from the official Merdeka celebrations, monopolised and dominated by members of the ruling coalition, recalls Anil Netto, of a night to remember. Full article Why not support the cause of human rights and justice by subscribing ... More About: Politics , Media , Workers , Human , Rights
Penang Global City Centre: Spot the difference!
2007-11-28 06:21:00 This is the PGCC (based on Equine’s model of the 38 towers) (Patrick Lim is on the right) And this isn’t? (The PGCC campaign group’s model of the PGCC which PGCC master planner Nasrine Seraji says is based on a “misunderstanding of the masterplan”) (photo credit: Sin Chew from Nasrine’s powerpoint presentation) So what is the ... More About: Environment , Global , Spot , Penang , City
Bersih and Hindraf gatherings: An awakening of the marginalised
2007-11-24 18:48:00 Two huge protest gatherings - or attempted gatherings - in the space of 15 days in the heart of Kuala Lumpur. Amazing! But what does this tell us? A few things, actually: More and more Malaysians are casting off their fear of the repressive powers of the state. That was abundantly clear in the ... More About: Awake , Awakening , Erin , Gathering
Asean embraces a rogue regime while inking a Charter for Big Business
2007-11-21 07:10:00 So the Asean leaders have signed a Charter in the wonderfully democratic nation of Singapore in the company of leaders from Burma’s rogue regime. (Check out this excellent documentary “Burma’s Secret War”.) Each member nation now has to take the Charter back to their home countries so that it can be ratified by their respective ... More About: Business , Big Business , Human Rights , Neo-liberal economics
No need for institutional reform? You gotta be kidding!
2007-11-18 16:07:00 Here is the Al Jazeera panel discussion (in two parts) on the 10 Nov rally to demand electoral reforms. The panelists were Umno Youth deputy chief Khairy, de facto Law Minister Nazri (Umno as well) and human rights lawyer Imtiaz. Here’s an excerpt. Nazri tries to keep up with the fast-paced discussion by repeating his mantra ... More About: Kidding , Reform , Human Rights , Institutional , Civil society
Beware those who want to hijack Malaysia?s People Power movement
2007-11-17 06:43:00 In a parting shot, Thierry Rommel, the Europe an ambassador who left his post on Tuesday, castigated the Malaysia n government for its deplorable human rights record and the “discriminatory” New Economic Policy (NEP). News reports quoted Rommel as saying the executive in Malaysia is “all-powerful and not accountable” while the judiciary remains beholden to the executive because ... More About: Power , People , Human Rights
?Iconic towers? or eyesores?
2007-11-15 15:31:00 If our experience with “iconic towers” in Penang is any indication, then look out for what could happen with other towers in the pipeline. Thanks to a reader for bringing these to my attention: Sad-looking Komtar: Why has its viewing gallery become a store? And here’s a blocked fire-escape Cardboard on the windows ... More About: Environment
?No matter the regime?s physical power, in the end they can?t stop the peop
2007-11-13 05:51:00 Those words uttered by Burma’s Aung San Suu Kyi could well apply to Malaysia. Was it a stalemate on 10 Nov? After all, the demonstrators had been thwarted from gathering at Dataran Merdeka in the city centre. They were unable to reach the gates of the palace to hand in their memorandum. So what had they ... More About: Power , Physical , Human Rights , Democracy , Matter
50,000 Malaysians defy ban to demand electoral reforms
2007-11-11 02:44:00 Sea of yellow: They came in their thousands to get their point across - Photo credit: Seng Keat Tan So the chief of police puts the turnout at 4,000 in a report tucked away on page 8 of The Star. Interesting! But then he was probably referring to the crowd at Masjid Jamek alone, where police ... More About: Democracy , Civil society , Malaysian politics , Demand , Electoral
Penang Global City Centre: Activists step up campaign
2007-11-06 18:22:00 Activists have stepped up the campaign as the stakes rise. The developer has taken its PR blitz to the shopping malls, but activists have been meeting residents neighbouring the PGCC project site who are worried about the impact of the project. Here we see heritage conservationist Loh-Lim Lin Lee, architect Laurence Loh and heritage activist Dr ... More About: Environment , Global , Campaign , Penang , City
And so the PGCC PR battle begins?
2007-10-30 07:34:00 The PGCC developer has taken its road-show to Queensbay Mall Looks like the PR battle has begun. The Penang Global City Centre developers are on a road show promoting their project in Queensbay Mall and Gurney Plaza in Penang. Just received in the email the following hypothetical conversation between the pro-PGCC lobby and a member of the ... More About: Environment , Public Transport , Battle
Milan and Penang: Trams vs Monorail/PORR/PGCC
2007-10-28 02:18:00 Greetings from Milan ! I am here presenting a paper at a conference. Walking around the city, I must say I have been impressed with Milan’s excellent network of underground trains, trams (old and modern), buses and taxies - though locals tell me there is still room for improvement. But first, what’s this? Someone alerted me to ... More About: Environment , Penang , Public Transport , Pena
?It is people like Hishamudin who should be heading the judiciary?
2007-10-26 05:09:00 Justice Hishamudin has created waves with his decision to punish the government for its detention and torture of activist Abdul Malek Hussin. In the wake of his decision, some Malaysians are even suggesting that if the government really wants to restore the shine back to the judiciary, then judges like Hishamudin should be allowed to ... More About: People , Human Rights , Democracy , Accountability , Judiciary
It?s a PGCC jungle out there, folks!
2007-10-24 22:47:00 Here is one guy’s impression of what the PGCC would look like from Komtar. KL Dude has had a go on photo editor with the earlier picture of the PGCC Twin Towers posted on this blog; only this time he has actually added the 38 towers in front of those “iconic” towers. Perhaps his ... More About: Environment , Accountability , Jungle
It?s a home-grown resistance movement in Iraq
2007-10-23 20:56:00 The New York Times has finally admitted in an op-ed video - in contradiction to some of its own reports - what many of us already knew: that the US war in Iraq is largely against a determined home-grown resistance movement against Occupation (yes, the ‘O’ word). Check it out. More About: United States , Home , Militarism , Resistance
Now you can watch Fahmi Reza?s hartal film
2007-10-20 15:28:00 Go here to watch Fahmi Reza ’s outstanding film on the 1947 hartal - the winner of the 2007 Freedom Film Festival. It’s worth the watch. More About: Watch , Human Rights , Democracy
Surprise! Migrant workers from Malaysia remit more home
2007-10-20 07:48:00 While Malaysia ns tend to look down on neighbouring countries because their workers are forced to work abroad and remit money home, few of us realise that, as a percentage of GDP, migrant workers from Malaysia remit more home than those from Indonesia and Thailand. More About: Workers , Home , Poverty , Asean
Wanna peek into the future??
More articles from this author:2007-10-18 04:09:00 From one sorry-looking tower to another two: This is what the PGCC will look like from Komtar - but please, please remember that there are going to be 38 other high-rise towers in front of the crooked twin towers! Just read a Star report that says Penang Chief Minister Koh Tsu Koon has rejected ’suggestions’ (I ... More About: Future , The Future , Democracy , Accountability , Peek 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 |
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