At first I wanted to say 'Padan Muka' to Bersih chief Maria Chin Abdullah for failing to pass the immigration check point at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) on Sunday night.
She wanted to go to South Korea where she is scheduled to receive the Gwangju Prize for Human Rights award.
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The government, I believe, have solid reasons to bar her, especially after all she had done to tarnish the country's image abroad by organising street rallies and other 'hooky' events.
Some said she was only too concern for the right to a free election but didn't care much about others' rights.
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In late March, Nisha Ayub (dunno what's her actual name is) was among the 14 women who the State Department honored in D.C.
She (or he) joined those from Bangladesh, Belize, China, France, Guatemala, Iraq, Mauritania, Russia, Slovakia, Sudan, Tanzania, Thailand and Yemen received the State Department’s International Women of Courage Award.
Amazingly, the prize was given by Secretary of State John Kerry.
By the way, has Nisha come home? Did we bar her from entering Malaysia?
Hey....NO! I don't support what Maria and Nisha did but from a journalistic perspective, I am for every right for everybody and every movement as long as it doesn't 'cross the line'. We are not proud of what both of them did, morally or religiously.
We have one too many freedom fighters here in Malaysia, including those who fight for the rights of the Malays, Chinese, Indians, Sikhs, Ibans and others. There are also those who fight for Sarawak and Sabah autonomy and the rights of members of the Palace to say anything they like.
Also worth-mentioning is the right of the Press, right of expression and the right of the left ear to listen to rumors and slanders. Most interesting is the right of Muslims.
And there are some who claim fighting for the right of Malaysians to free Malaysia from Prime Minister Najib Razak's administration.
Somehow or rather, these people deserve their kind of prize too, don't you think so?
She wanted to go to South Korea where she is scheduled to receive the Gwangju Prize for Human Rights award.
Some said she was only too concern for the right to a free election but didn't care much about others' rights.
Coalition for Free and Fair Elections (Bersih 2.0) chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah was barred from leaving the country on Sunday night.However, after reading about another Malaysian being awarded in the US for protecting the rights of transgender in Malaysia, I think Maria should be given the chance to collect hers.
She was about to fly from the Kuala Lumpur International Airport to South Korea, where she is scheduled to receive the Gwangju Prize for Human Rights award.
The Bersih 2.0 official Twitter account @bersih2 tweeted on Sunday night: “BERSIH Chair, @mariachin just been barred from leaving the country. She suppose (sic) to receive Gwangju Award from Korea.”
The reason given was that it was “arahan Putrajaya” (instruction from Putrajaya).
The electoral reforms group had since condemned the order and demanded an explanation from Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
In late March, Nisha Ayub (dunno what's her actual name is) was among the 14 women who the State Department honored in D.C.
She (or he) joined those from Bangladesh, Belize, China, France, Guatemala, Iraq, Mauritania, Russia, Slovakia, Sudan, Tanzania, Thailand and Yemen received the State Department’s International Women of Courage Award.
Amazingly, the prize was given by Secretary of State John Kerry.
By the way, has Nisha come home? Did we bar her from entering Malaysia?
Hey....NO! I don't support what Maria and Nisha did but from a journalistic perspective, I am for every right for everybody and every movement as long as it doesn't 'cross the line'. We are not proud of what both of them did, morally or religiously.
We have one too many freedom fighters here in Malaysia, including those who fight for the rights of the Malays, Chinese, Indians, Sikhs, Ibans and others. There are also those who fight for Sarawak and Sabah autonomy and the rights of members of the Palace to say anything they like.
Also worth-mentioning is the right of the Press, right of expression and the right of the left ear to listen to rumors and slanders. Most interesting is the right of Muslims.
And there are some who claim fighting for the right of Malaysians to free Malaysia from Prime Minister Najib Razak's administration.
Somehow or rather, these people deserve their kind of prize too, don't you think so?