Southeast Asia Thread

Maybe Anwar should make better defence instead of fabricating alibi complete with more than a dozen witness to lie for him.

Pakatan Rakyat should focus on getting a proper leader in Anwar's absence, the odds for them getting him granted an amnesty are a tad too long.

1MDB is in some deep hot water at the moment.

As inspired by The Handle:

edited 6th Mar '15 7:18:50 AM by Krieger22

Is there proof that Anwar even lied to the SC? Unless I'm reading the wrong sources...

This is a somewhat opposition friendly source.

edited 6th Mar '15 7:27:58 PM by Blurring

Ten thousand Malaysians joined the #KitaLawan (We Fight) rally last Saturday to press for the release of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim.

How did the rally went?

Not as much chaos as previous demonstrations due to lower attendance, but some opposition leaders who attended were arrested, plus there are arrest warrants out for the leaders of the protests.

The White House has responded to a petition requesting the release of Anwar Ibrahim with what they already said. What a surprise. I never understood why some people thought that the petition succeeding would result in the US invading the place, but then they are members of the Exalted Elder Generation and I'm not.

The US can't support Anwar that much. Not with Anwar was the one leading ABIM in the 80's and still hold much power over it even today, in fact, ABIM is practically Anwar's personal fundie army, something most of his non-fundie followers conveniently forget.

The debate on the Kelantan Hudud bill has been adjourned for the day - KOTA BARU: The tabling of amendments to the Syariah Criminal Code II 1993 has been adjourned and will continue on Thursday at 9am.

The Singaporean Prime Minister's Office has reported that Lee Kuan Yew remains critically ill. - SINGAPORE: Former prime minister Lee Kuan Yew (pic) remains "critically ill" and his health has deteriorated further, according to a statement by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) on Wednesday.

The Indonesians have implemented a new visa policy to aid the rupiah - Jakarta: The Indonesian government will waive visa requirements for 30 countries as early as next month to boost the country’s foreign exchange income from the tourist industry, as President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo broadens the size of his economic package to support the ailing rupiah.

That said, the Indonesians have left off Australians from the visa-free list - JAKARTA, March 17, 2015 (AFP) - Indonesia will soon allow tourists from an additional 30 countries to visit without a visa, a minister said, but neighbouring Australia was left off the list amid a row over looming executions.

The new Prime Minister of East Timor has been flown to Singapore for medical tests - Dili (East Timor) (AFP) - East Timor's Prime Minister Rui Araujo was flown to Singapore on Monday for medical tests after suffering fatigue, the government said, just a month after being sworn in.

Singapore’s first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew dies aged 91.

And he's...gone. May you rest in peace Mr Lee.

What can be said? I...no, the whole of Singapore would be much different if not for him.

Huh. Tearing up. I don't do that.

Meanwhile, in Malaysia:

Sultan Ibrahim has been crowned the fifth ruler of modern Johor

Kit Siang proposes formation of new 'Save Malaysia' government - PETALING JAYA: DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang (pic) has proposed the formation of a new coalition called "Save Malaysia" consisting of members from different political backgounds whose ultimate aim is to champion the Federal Constitution and rule of law.

Jakim declares book on Lee Kuan Yew haram - Lee Kuan Yew: Hard Truths to Keep Singapore Going, a collection of interviews published in January, was included in a list of 15 books declared haram by the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim).

edited 23rd Mar '15 3:09:38 AM by Krieger22

"Haram" means "censored" here, yes?

I think it means "forbidden", actually, and I'm not surprised.

EDIT: If you believe Wikipedia, the word itself means "sinful", but "forbidden" / "prohibited" is the next logical step.

edited 23rd Mar '15 3:17:01 AM by Pyrite

The Home Ministry hasn't made any official moves to ban it. Yet.

By the way, could this thread be renamed to include general news from the region?

Did so.

I think it was only a small section of the book that had those statement. Anyway it's been out for quite some time already.

Malaysia:

Home Minister Zahid swears he was not paid for penning Paul Phua letter to FBI

DAP commits to Pakatan, severs ties with Hadi - PETALING JAYA: DAP has reaffirmed its commitment to Pakatan Rakyat while maintaining its opposition to the implementation of hudud.

Ministry of Finance will decide if Malaysian F1 race stays after 2015 - SEPANG: The Finance Ministry will have the final say whether the Formula 1 Malaysian Grand Prix will continue beyond 2015.

Indonesia:

Indonesian cops arrest five suspected IS recruiters

Gunmen kidnap, kill two Indonesian soldiers in Aceh - Banda Aceh (Indonesia) (AFP) - Two Indonesian intelligence officers were found shot dead Tuesday, a day after being kidnapped by gunmen in the former separatist rebel heartland of Aceh in the country's west, a military spokesman said.

Singapore:

Singapore bans protests at free-speech park after Lee’s death

edited 24th Mar '15 3:27:55 AM by Krieger22

Day 2. Tributes and updates on the situation.

I won't be posting any other articles since I feel there isn't much more I can say.

Not surprising the park is closed, not the best time for a protest.

edited 24th Mar '15 4:24:52 AM by Batter

How long will the mourning last, officially?

(Will look up your link later)

edited 24th Mar '15 7:34:23 AM by Quag15

A week. Funeral is on Sunday 29 March.

Malaysia:

IGP: Don’t provoke militants with negative talk on sensitive issues

Parliament nod unlikely for hudud - PETALING JAYA: PAS’ hudud push has little chance of getting past Parliament, judging from the number of party leaders on both sides of the political divide who are objecting to it.

Sarawak PKR wants declaration that hudud will not be implemented in state - KUCHING: Sarawak PKR is proposing the tabling of a joint motion with Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem during the coming State Legislative Assembly sitting, to declare that hudud will not be implemented in the state.

Najib assures anti-terror law not to be used on politicians - KUALA LUMPUR: The proposed Prevention of Terrorism Act will not be used for political means, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Retailers trying to cash in before April 1 - GEORGE TOWN: As the clock ticks towards April 1, retailers are luring customers without using the letters “GST”.

PAS Ulama come out in defence of Hadi Awang - KUALA LUMPUR: PAS Ulama leaders have come out in defence of Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang after a stinging criticism by DAP and the severing of ties between the party and their president.

Sedition law still needed to keep peace, PM says - KUALA LUMPUR, March 25 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak defended today his government’s decision to retain the Sedition Act amid criticism that the colonial-era law is being abused to clamp down on dissenters.

IGP: No harm for laymen to discuss legal aspects of hudud - KUALA LUMPUR, March 25 — Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said today discussing hudud is permitted only with regards to its constitutionality and not on its “divine” aspects.

Forget democracy and put Malaysia under Shariah rule, Putrajaya told - KUALA LUMPUR, March 25 — Using democratic means to introduce hudud is “haram”, the local chapter of hardline Islamist group Hizbut Tahrir said, insisting that Islamic law must be implemented in its entirety in Malaysia without approval from Parliament or state assemblies.

Singapore:

Lee Kuan Yew's casket arrives at Parliament House

Matching orchid hybrids for iconic couple - SINGAPORE: The orchid named after Lee Kuan Yew matches the orchid hybrid that was named after his late wife Vanda Kwa Geok Choo. The match is not only in terms of colour, form and stature, but both hybrids also share a few species in both their lineages, said Minister of National Develop­ment Khaw Boon Wan.

Looking beyond Kuan Yew’s legacy - SINGAPORE: The death of Lee Kuan Yew has generated calls for Singapore to escape the shadow of its authoritarian founder and his “culture of fear”, and begin a debate on embracing freedoms needed to power growth and innovation.

Thailand:

Thai PM Prayuth warns media, says has power to execute reporters

I'd say that finding a way for a large part of Malaysian society to be more, dare I say it, rational when discussing Fairly Serious Matters is going to be more useful for keeping the peace than retaining the Sedition Act, but then one of the two involves less paperwork...

edited 25th Mar '15 2:52:53 AM by Krieger22

So, Malaysia is on its way to become less democratic, Singapore is on a possible way to become a bit more democratic, and Thailand is pretty much a dictatorship at this point.

The world is getting a bit upside down...

A bit? Look at the countries around and near you, Quag, it's more than a bit.

Fair enough. I said 'a bit' in a cautious manner, since I don't know exactly what/how our fellow Malaysian and Singaporean tropers feel right now.

I don't think that Lee Kuan Yew's passing will have much of an effect on making Singapore more democratic, actually. He hasn't been part of the Cabinet for a few years now. In fact, I suspect that his death will win quite a few sympathy votes for the PAP at the upcoming election. For as much as many younger Singaporeans might loath the ruling party, very few Singaporeans view Lee Kuan Yew's legacy in anything less than a positive light. The turnout for the lying in state today was so overwhelming that the viewing, originally scheduled to end at 10 pm each day, has now been extended to 24 hours: http://www.straitstimes.com/news/singapore/more-singapore-stories/story/hours-pay-last-respects-mr-lee-kuan-yew-extended-massive

Saw that from a mile away, anyone who thinks that it will be enforced is either unaware or conveniently forgets that a similar attempt was made in Terengganu in the 90s.