Filed under: Events
Sitting in front of the computer while waiting for Rachel and Weiyang to finish their prep on the motion (10 minutes more, That We Would Prohibit Private Prisons, for those who are wondering). I really should be typing out my piece on Scientology, which was due about 18 hours ago, but more words on this blog should be about debating anyway.
I could really see myself spending every weekend like this.
These are going to be two long days.
Here we come.
Have you ever done a duet for an hour on the telephone?
I have. 
(Chords- F#m- 122111, G# 466544, B 688766)
Up in the club and I’m sippin’ that bub’ and you’re not gonna reach my telephone.”
This afternoon, I reactivated my Facebook temporarily to activate my Formspring (long story).
And I saw this.
The following is reblogged verbatim from Hillary Ang’s note.
*******
the following is written by a very dear friend of mine, Inessa Irdayanty, and the one below, by her sister Elza Irdalynna. there isn’t anything for me to do about this predicament she and her family currently face, except to help spread the news about injustice that is prevailing right here, right now. by re-posting this note, i hope im doing her a favour – it’s the least i can do, besides keeping her in my prayers.
my heart goes out to her family. they’ve been holding on to each other and not giving up in times of adversity – and i do know for a fact that this is one very, very strong family who has been, time and time again, been thrown into the many difficulties of life. may they pull through this!
please do take the time to read. i mean it. and re-post it if possible, and if you feel strongly about this.
thank you.
*******
the latest news is, as written by Star Online,
The 800gm of “powder” found at actor Khaeryll Benjamin Ibrahim’s condominium unit in Kepong is not cocaine, said the police.
“The 800gm of powder confiscated was not cocaine and we have requested the Chemistry Department to conduct tests again,”.
why the retest is necessary, i do not know. just like how they needed about 10 plain clothed cops to rearrest my brother after the bail was posted, i do not know. and as much as i try to comprehend, i can’t.
i’m just hoping that all of this end soon enough, before my mother breaks down – she has been very strong about this; before my father speaks up – we all know how quiet he usually is; before my sister loses her patience – God knows she already has very little of that; and before my 4-year-old nephew is old enough to realise what is going on, and have these bullshit questions running through his head the way they run through mine.
thank you very much to all of you out there who are supporting us, praying for us, or at the very least ask us how we are. it means a lot to us, trust me.
one favour i would like to ask from all of you, is to please read the note below, written by my sister Elza Irdalynna, and to perhaps re-post this, if you may. please, and thank you. God bless.
——————————————————————————————————————————
On March 11th, he was arrested at his apartment’s parking lot in Segambut. Police brought him to an apartment he rented in Kepong, and after entering, claimed that in that residence, he possessed 800grams of cocaine, and 140grams of methamphetamine, and accused him of processing and trafficking, putting him under the risk of being charged under Section 39B, which carries the death penalty.
On March 12th he was remanded for 7 days. When my parents inquired if we can engage a lawyer, the Investigation Officer told us “No need”.
On March 17th, after our family waited more than an hour, we were allowed to see him for the very first time, under supervision.
Again my mother asked if we should get him a lawyer, again the I.O advised against it, claiming “Lawyer tak boleh buat apa-apa sekarang. Buang duit je. (Lawyer can’t do anything now. It’s simply a waste of money).”
On March 18th, his remand was extended another 7 days. The magistrate inquired why there was no lawyer present for him, and whether he was made aware he had the right to a counsel of his choice. He replied “No.” Therefore, he requested for one, and only nine hours later, did the I.O call to inform my mother, who promptly engaged Amer Hamzah Arshad.
But the very next day, the police used their Executive authority under Section 28A that vetoed his right to a counsel. All requests made by our lawyer to visit him was denied.
Only after we complained to SUHAKAM, did the police allow Amer to visit him.
On the last day of his remand.
After the investigations were concluded.
For only 15 minutes.
On March 25th, he was brought to court, and charged under Section 12(2) for possession of 0.24grams of metaphetamin in his Segambut residence. Nothing the police claimed they found in the Kepong residence, the cocaine and shabu that was “already packaged to be distributed” or the so called “cocaine processing mini-lab” was brought to court.
Because there WAS none.
He was released on bail. A trial date was set. He was so close to being free, and seeing his 4 year old son again.
But as he was signing the papers of his release, the Plainclothes were outside waiting.
Not two steps after he came out of the bail department, without any explanation, they re-arrested him. Amer was restrained from protecting him, and only after Amer repeatedly asked them to show their I.D, did they do so. Still, no explanation was given to the family. We were merely told to go to the Headquarters and speak to Inspector Kang. The same guy who claimed my brother possessed the cocaine they NEVER found.
He never saw us, he was “in a meeting.” He wasn’t too occupied to give the press a statement, but was unavailable to see us.
We were told by the new I.O for this case, and the DSP (the guy who signed the papers denying my brother the right to a counsel) that they are detaining him for 60 days under the Special Preventive Measures Act (LPK), after which, they could further detain him for 2 years if found guilty.
Guilty according to THEM. For under this act, it is a detention without trial, like the Internal Security Act. Any information gathered from “witnesses” and “investigations” will never be disclosed to him or his lawyer, or the court. He will also not be able to defend himself against any allegations. Under this act, he will never have his day in court.
On March 25th, my brother, Ben, was denied his Constitutional rights.
For 2 weeks, our family went through hell. Sleepless nights, press waiting outside our door, Ben had asthma attacks after the police delayed themselves in acquiring the requested medication for 3 days, Mama, who is a cancer patient herself, suffered chest pains and lost her voice.
We felt it was all worth it, for we would be able to have him back.
But now, a new nightmare has begun.
Whether or not Ben is guilty, should not be for the Police to decide. If they HAD the evidence to strengthen their warrant for re-arrest, why was it not brought to court? Why is Ben not given a chance to defend himself? How can we ever know the authenticity of these so called witnesses and their statements? If there were ANY to begin with?
Under this act, I could simply be caught for any crimes of drug offences the police accuse me of, because they can claim they have enough information (even if they have absolutely nothing) and detain me. For 60 days, for 2 years, and even EXTEND it after.
Acts like this and the ISA are licenses for ARBITRARY arrest and detention. Anytime. Anywhere. Anybody.
My family and Amer will not back down. We will fight for Ben’s right. We will speak up for all of those who were silenced before us, who will be silenced hereafter.
But we seek your help. In any way at all, help us fight this. Re-post this, write on your blogs, write to your local representative, to our newspapers, and together we shall use our voice, our art, our space, to stand up not just for Ben, but for all our rights.
Liberty is a Constitutional right. It’s time to get it back.
*******
I am extremely upset, and am currently not in a mood to comment, as least not without the use of strong language.
Reblog if you feel strongly about this. It’s the least we can do for her family and our country.
Five months ago, I received a cute, folded piece of A4 paper with the words “SOMETHING SHORT & SWEET 
” scrawled on top in black ink, right before I left for Penang for my public speaking nationals. I told my coach, Puan Magdalen that she didn’t need to worry about me. Because I had a ‘secret weapon’.
Five minutes before I went on stage to present my final impromptu speech, I took the letter out from my the warm confines of my pocket, and read it.
It said:
Just a short message Keefe
Good luck!
I believe in you.
And after this long, I’m sure you know how much I long to be watching you speak at national level, once again, twice in a row with that confidence and charm that makes you, you.
So picture me in the crowd, clapping, cheering, smiling, rooting you on!
I may be in Japan but my heart still lies in Malaysia, Damansara Jaya and my brother, Keefe, you. Do your best, promise me
I’m probably missing you loads now :’( Already feel like crying a little.
Like the great words of John Lee “GO KICK ASS”!
Much love and pride,
Sophia.
(11/10/2009)
I’m not much of a believer in things like destiny and fate, but there are certain times in my life in which the order of events is so unexpected, so coincidental, so perfect that I cannot help but suspend my belief momentarily. This was one of those moments.
I unfolded the second piece of paper containing the title of my impromptu speech slowly.
The title of my impromptu speech was “Make My Day”.
*******
As practiced, my speech was carefully structured into three main points, as I spoke about the three things which I thought, made my day. The first was Laughter, the second was Optimism, and the third was Love- easily summarized into the internet slang phrase ,”LOL”. I spoke with confidence and speed (perhaps a little too much), as I highlighted the importance of all three things in our life, each one supported by suitable quotes, well practiced way before the competition. I spoke, feeling invincible.
And I lost.
*******
Tonight, as I reminisce in the midst of this silent night, I realize that I spoke about all the wrong things. I never actually connected with more than half of the things I was saying. Sure, I could wax lyrical about the importance of laughter, how optimism is key and how love makes the world go round. Although all of it made good, simple sense which everyone could understand, I never actually felt that speech. Looking back, if I could do it all again, I would chuck that regimented, structured speech right into the dustbin.
Now I realize, that what I should have done, was to walk up stage, and start talking about you, Sophia.
*******
You make my day everytime you greet me with a warm, cuddly hug and say “Love you Keefe!”.
You made my day when you remembered to get me keychains from Jogjakarta and Tokyo.
You make my day whenever you genuinely tell me something nice about myself, whether you’re speaking to me on the phone, in person, or on your blog.
You made my day when you wrote me a lengthy and touching Raya email even though I’m non-Muslim.
You make my day whenever you are my third speaker, and our thoughts match every single time (except when it comes to boys lah).
You make my day all the times you speak out for the underprivileged, and all the times you speak out for the forgotten, and the lonely, reminding me that there is still good in a cynical, selfish world.
And most of all, you make my day whenever you tell me that you want to be a better person, despite being the kind-hearted, optimistic, charming lady you already are.
If you don’t know, that amounts to so, so many days that you have made for me over the past 3 years I’ve known you. Consequently, you have shaped my life, by making want to be better, always. And I cannot help but feel so proud that on this day, my dear sister is actually going to be 17 years old. That describes how I currently feel the best, the word “proud”. The greatest joy an older brother can have is probably experienced when he watches his younger sister grow up, and when he also knows that she is going to be such a splendid sister, daughter, and friend; because she already is all of those things, when she continues to make so many days other than my own.
And that is why I cherish and love you so, so much. I find it incredible how we may be in different forms, different classes, and yet I feel that you know me better than so many of my friends.
It is, and truly has been, a great pleasure and an honour to know you, Sophia Aliza binti Jamal.
Happy 17th birthday. Love you.
(this is such a cute picture) /smile
Figured that it was about time I stopped spending so much time following other people’s lives, and focusing more time on my own (i.e this dear old neglected blog of mine- I shall be updating more on this page).
It’s amazing how much freedom a few clicks of your mouse can give you.
I may come back one day. Maybe.
But for now, /deactivated.
Filed under: Events
It’ll be bigger and better next year. Promise. 
Filed under: Events
Have a great holiday, folks. May your new year be filled with life, love and lol. <3
