Bloggers and Fellow Malaysians unite for Justice !

There will be a vigil tonight (May 7, 2008 ) at 9.00pm at the main entrance of Sungei Buloh Prison. It will be a peaceful show of solidarity for Raja Petra. You are welcome to join.

I am told by his wife, Marina Lee Abdullah-Petra this morning that Raja Petra is not in communication with her, his children, his close relatives and his friends. This means that he does not want to be bailed out and has decided to stay in prison until his trial in October, 2008. Let us hope Raja Petra has not gone on a hunger strike.

- Din Merican


Malaysia Today editor Raja Petra Raja Kamarudin remains adamant in his refusal to meet anyone, even his wife who twice tried to see him at Sungai Buloh prison on Wednesday.

Malaysiakini:

Malaysia Today webmaster Raja Petra Kamaruddin - presently in jail for refusing to pay bail - has cut off all contact with the outside world including his own wife, Marina Lee Abdullah.

DAP supremo and Ipoh Timur member of parliament (MP) Lim Kit Siang has brought the case of blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin, who has been charged with sedition, to parliament.

In debating the motion of thanks on the royal address yesterday, Lim told the Dewan Rakyat that Raja Petra, who runs popular political website Malaysia Today, was facing a sedition charge for his recent posting entitled, “Let’s send the Altantuya murderers to hell”.

“Is this the beginning of a crackdown and the latest example of The Empire Strikes Back — the Barisan Nasional (BN) strikes back in retaliation for the March 8 political tsunami, which swept away the BN’s two-thirds parliamentary majority?” he said.

The DAP adviser, who is also a blogger, said the police investigated Raja Petra under the Sedition Act 1948 for incitement and that the blogger had commented on Altantuya’s case before the court made its decision.

“Any offence in the latter category would fall under the contempt of court to be dealt with by the presiding judge for the Altantuya murder case. When and why did it become an offence under the Sedition Act?” he added.

Lim also highlighted that Raja Petra’s prosecution came after Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak denied that he had anything to do with the murder of the Mongolian model.

He questioned why the Sedition Act should be used against Raja Petra as Najib’s wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor said she reserved the right to take legal action against those who defame her and her husband.

“Is the government willing to set up a Royal Commission of Inquiry to investigate whether Raja Petra’s claim is true?” Lim said.


And Najib said :"it's not a clampdown on bloggers, it's Not Politically Motivated.."

The first blogger to face the Sedition Act 1948 and the first one who rather cool his heels in jail than stay free to face trial.

Raja Petra shouldn't be the hero and legend. But his refusal to pay RM5,000 in bail in lieu of jail time for the charges under the Sedition Act has done that.

It has also enhanced his stature and will attract more to his website and believe it to be the gospel truth. And further spread allegations and innuendoes that have got him the attention of the authorities.

But the charge against him under Section 4.1 (c) of the Sedition Act 1948, which pertains to threats against national security, is not the answer. Those maligned by Raja Petra should sue him for defamation and libel rather than let the state prosecute him.


Marina Lee : Is Parliament still relevant?

"... when freedom of speech is being brutally subverted by the present regime and false charges can be instituted against anyone who dares to demand for justice and truth."

As a wife and mother, I want to know from my fellow citizens whether a government that has incarcerated my husband in the Sungai Buloh prison on trumped up charges and brought untold suffering on my family, especially when one of my daughters is sitting for her final examinations, is a legitimate government.

No wife, mother or child should to go through this horrible experience when all her beloved husband did was to uphold justice and truth...read more here.