The Bolehland Wrap Up Stories

The Gangster Act Part 2 : Human or Animal? You decide.
BMC fracas: Police beat up youth

By his account, he was only a curiosity-seeker who wanted to know what was going on at the site of a disputed barricade near Bandar Mahkota Cheras (BMC) last night. In no time at all, however, Chang Jiun Haur was soaked in his own blood after being repeatedly beaten by 20 riot squad (FRU) personnel armed with batons and kicked with boots.

“He asked for it. He ran over a policeman and he got what he deserved,” the officer told Malaysiakini a few minutes after the incident. Asked to identify the person who was hit by the car, the officer had initial difficulty in persuading the individual to come forward.When he did so, the man - who appeared unscathed - claimed: “He tried to run me over... look at my baton, it is broken. What more evidence do you want?”

However, a police officer who took Chang to the Kajang Hospital said none of the personnel had been hit by the car. Chang, when met at the hospital at 12.30am, denied this as well: “We had just come back (to Kuala Lumpur) from Port Dickson and wanted to see what was going on.”

DAP Selangor executive councillor Ronnie Liu, who visited Chang later last night, said the police had over-reacted and that the excessive use of force could not be justified.

“The police should maintain law and order and not assault people. I am disappointed. My party will provide Chang and the others with lawyers,” Liu said.

According to Liu, the beating was so severe that Chang lost one or two of his teeth.

The Gangster act Part 1: Human or Animal? You decide
‘Journalists attacked’

Chinese-language dailies reported today that more than 10 people were seriously injured in yesterday’s incident, which saw BMC residents assaulted by ‘thugs’ allegedly hired by toll concessionaire Grand Saga. However, the company has disassociated itself from the incident, also saying it does not condone violence. About 7pm yesterday, defiant residents attempted to tear down the barricade that had just been rebuilt, but were confronted by unidentified men armed with iron rods, helmets and sticks.

“They attacked the residents immediately. About 10 people were assaulted, and three of them were reporters. Their cameras were confiscated as well,” claimed Tan.

Star reported that Utusan Malaysia photographer Roy Azis Abdul Aziz had been beaten up when he tried to take photos of the fracas. BMC resident Chin Kee Chong’s right arm was broken (right) and he suffered injuries to his head, while another resident - Lee Ah Seng - sustained severe injuries to his head, which required seven stitches.

Dumb and Dumber?
Ezam meets PM, rejoins Umno

Former PKR Youth chief Ezam Mohd Nor held a 30-minute meeting with Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in Parliament today to submit his application form and a RM100 in lifetime membership fee to rejoin Umno. Immediately after the meeting, Abdullah held a press conference in which he welcomed Ezam back into Umno.

Even foreigner cant stand the draconian law in Bolehland
Rights watchdog lobbies for Hindraf 5 release

An international human rights watchdog today urged the government to immediately release the five Hindraf leaders presently being detained under the Internal Security Act. The watchdog also wants the government to repeal the colonial era law which provided for detention without trial.

The International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH), in a report released today, said that the five Hindu Rights Action Force leaders should be released immediately and unconditionally as their detention was arbitrary.

Desperate moment calling for desperate measure?
Snap election 'a ploy to spook party hoppers'

Speculations that a snap parliamentary election may be held soon could be a political ploy to spook Barisan Nasional’s members of parliament from defecting to the opposition Pakatan Rakyat coalition.

DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng believed the ruling BN is sending a strong signal to potential party defectors that they would have to face the wrath of the voters should they decide to switch sides.

“It’s a warning to those who intend to party hop - that they would face an early election for their action,” said Lim, who is also Penang chief minister.

The dogs are barking in support of their owner again?
Lim: EC doing cabinet’s dirty job

Lim however did not buy the argument of a snap election.

But when asked whether Anwar’s claim to power was real, Lim said his experience would indicate that nothing was certain in politics.

“Nothing is real until it realistically happens,” he told journalists.

He hit out at Abdul Rashid for fuelling rumours of a snap election when the EC had “no business” in the matter since it was up to the federal government to dissolve parliament and call for fresh polls.

Sore loser finally call it a day?
Idris resigns as T'ganu Umno chief

Former Terengganu Menteri Besar Idris Jusoh today resigned as the state's Umno chief. He had been holding the post for four years. According to Bernama, Idris said he informed Prime Minister and party president Abdullah Ahmad Badawi of his decision when he met the latter today.

"I have informed the prime minister of my decision to relinquish my post as the Terengganu Umno liaison chairman and the prime minister agreed," said the Jertih assemblyperson.

"I will send my resignation letter tomorrow," he said.

He, however, did not state his reasons for quitting the post.