Let's shoot the messenger.

Next time a postman comes to bring a letter of bad news to you, shoot him. Next time a friend tells you that your stock in the stock market falls, slap him in the face. Next time a reporter reports a news that's displeasing to you, ISA him. Yes, let's shoot the messenger, shall we?

The arrest of Tan Hoon Cheng, a Sin Chew Daily reporter under Section 73 (1) ISA following Datuk Ahmad Bukit Bendera (DABB) statement of 'racial differences' was appalling. To those who did not follow, the arrest of Hoon Cheng was due to fact that 'her life was threatened'. When asked why not Hoon Cheng was asked to come to the police for questioning, Home Affairs Minister Syed Hamid Albar said that "it was always difficult when police had to deal with reporters". Well, i guess dealing with reporters are the same to dealing with DSAI, where he also had to be picked up by police at his house for questioning. To note, DABB was only 'summoned' to come to the police to record his statements, but he went missing for sometime. Not even Pak Lah could contact him then.

To some effect, Hoon Cheng should be proud that she was taken under ISA. She was the second only journalist to be taken under ISA after the late Tan Sri A Samad Ismail. Not even a single reporter was taken in during Ops Lallang 1987. While DABB? He got suspended for three years from UMNO. Probably just a 'jentik di telinga' compared to the draconian (*phew) ISA detention Hoon Cheng got. Yeah, she was released after less than 24 hours detained, but the damage was already done.

What was this? A play of intimidation game with the media. They are just merely reporting of what was said, but instead of the perpetrator got punished, the messenger was. To the BN govt, good luck in your effort to regain popularity. Lots of luck. Baca lagi!

What I got for my b'day

Thank you, all! Robert Capa: The Definitive Collection *thank you sayang!*

Travel & Nature :The World's Top Photographers' Workshops *thanks Yan!*

and....I got myself
A TANK!

Kinda busy building the tank now. Even tho its not the type that I really wanted, but this will do. And it's a lot smaller. Sebesar tapak tangan, I guess. Anyway, I managed to build the turret. Lots of small pieces. Which reminds me to buy a tweezer. Happy Ramadan all!

Baca lagi!

Al-Fatihah for Pak Samad

One of the great journalist, A. Samad Ismail passed away on Thursday. He was 84. It is such a loss. He was a freedom fighter. A nationalist. I once got a glimpse of him while I was in BH doing my practical in 2001. He was wheelchair bound that time, for reasons I do not know. He was being wheeled away to the lift, while I was about to enter the office. There he was, the great A. Samad Ismail. Still with his thick, black-rimmed glasses. A part of ASAS 50 group, his writings are as sharp as the tip of a knife. I do have a book on his writings. Eloquent. May you rest in peace, Pak Samad. Al-Fatihah. Baca lagi!