tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12144038956651894082024-03-22T00:32:51.782+08:00Rest Stop ThoughtsRamanathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09688155304178033077noreply@blogger.comBlogger823125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1214403895665189408.post-47137065811317576302024-03-21T16:36:00.005+08:002024-03-21T18:10:26.965+08:00Amri Che Mat case: The Rules of Evidence, screenshots, and a new police report<p><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipG91KM-umgy8Ia68CDERz3gLZdmtRr05zpwBJxi15oYxDH5MEmdzjrZWX6UJUMWQhOcPd9MCHuGFFBLsQFRFAtkGUqLBm_-Wk4oE9NpaBvX5D1OhQokeb11B8ugGE8Uc_geqgjaYPpCpbLk0B1vyKU3YIHxPHLWODMrHQ_4ASdJvfJat947TUXn3w7m8/s262/Duta%20Court%20Complex.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="164" data-original-width="262" height="401" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipG91KM-umgy8Ia68CDERz3gLZdmtRr05zpwBJxi15oYxDH5MEmdzjrZWX6UJUMWQhOcPd9MCHuGFFBLsQFRFAtkGUqLBm_-Wk4oE9NpaBvX5D1OhQokeb11B8ugGE8Uc_geqgjaYPpCpbLk0B1vyKU3YIHxPHLWODMrHQ_4ASdJvfJat947TUXn3w7m8/w640-h401/Duta%20Court%20Complex.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br />Kuala Lumpur, 21 March 2024</b>. Today, two more
witnesses were called for the plaintiff, Amri’s wife Norhayati Ariffin. The
first was Sheryll Stothard, who assembled much of the evidence in the cases of
Amri and Raymond. The second was Norhayati herself.</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">After the Task Force Report debacle <a href="https://write2rest.blogspot.com/2024/03/amri-che-mat-hearing-is-agc-sophistic.html" target="_blank">yesterday</a>, everyone
agreed there was no point in the Senior Federal Counsel (SFC) cross-examining Norhayati
today.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">But the court’s time today had already been reserved for this
case. Therefore, the judge wanted the hearing to continue.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Norhayati’s lawyers used the time to get some bundle C
documents admitted into evidence. As I said yesterday, a document is classified
as “C” if one side – in this case the parties represented by the AGC – contests
the authenticity of the document.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Some documents contain images of “screens” displayed on
smartphones. These are called screen captures or screenshots.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Rules of evidence require that the maker of a document be
produced to authenticate it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">One of the documents is a set of screenshots of a Facebook
post by Shahidan Kassim, who had been Chief Minister of Perlis for 13 years, from
1995 to 2008, and remains an influential figure in Perlis. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">The screenshots are
evidence of what Shahidan said about Amri’s NGO, Perlis Hope, and of how people
responded to what he said.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">From the gallery, it was difficult to follow the testimony
since documents aren’t flashed onto a projection screen. So, what follows is
merely what I think I heard:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Aptos; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span>Some of the screenshots were captured by Amri
Che Mat, the victim.</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Aptos; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span>The screenshots were shared with Sheryll by Aizat,
one of Amri’s many friends who had begun their own investigation.</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Aptos; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span>Sheryll interviewed them in Perlis while gathering
facts about the case.</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Aptos; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span>They told Sheryll that Amri shared the shots in
the Perlis Hope NGO’s WhatsApp group. And that he did so in order to demonstrate
that they were the subject of hate speech on Facebook initiated by a leading
politician.</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Aptos; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span>After Sheryll reviewed the screenshots, she visited
Shahidan’s FB page to verify his post, and to collect evidence contemporaneous to
the time of her investigation. She found the post was still there, as were some
comments. Other comments had been deleted. She made screenshots as
documentation to support her finding.</span></p></blockquote><p><span> </span> <span style="font-size: large; text-indent: -24px;">6</span><span style="font-size: x-large; text-indent: -24px;">.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="text-indent: -24px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sheryll sent the screen shots to Norhayati's legal team.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large; text-indent: -18pt;">Norhayati’s counsel and the Senior Federal
Counsel questioned Sheryll to establish who the maker of each screenshot was. And
to establish there had been a “safe” chain of custody of the shots (without any
alterations) from capture to the printed sheet in Bundle C.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">The purpose of such questioning is to establish authenticity
and to protect the court from being misled by forged documents. Nevertheless,
some questions seemed inane: for example, which phones were used to capture the
screenshots.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">I was most exasperated when the SFC asked which printer was
used to produce the images in the papers submitted to the court. From the
volume of bundled, numbered papers, surely it would be a printer in Norhayati’s
lawyer’s office!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">The SFC appeared pleased when she got Sheryll to agree that
perhaps some screenshots were missing. Perhaps the defendant (the government)
will suggest Shahidan made one or more comments, now lost, to cool down fiery
responses.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">That exhausting exercise was repeated with Norhayati. We
even learned that Norhayati keeps her family’s printer is in her kitchen! Just
thinking about it makes me exhausted.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Due to the insistence by the SFC that every missing link in
the chain of custody of the screenshots weakens its evidential value, Norhayati’s
lawyers agreed to recall Aizat who had sent to Sheryll the screenshots shared
in the WhatsApp group by Amri.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">I thought I sensed a tinge of dolefulness in Surendra Ananth’s
tone when he said he told the court he would recall Aizat. Especially
when he re-iterated his earlier claim that the AGC had admitted the same
documents into “bundle B” in the Raymond Koh case – which, incidentally, is
being heard by the same judge, in the same courtroom!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">I couldn’t help but think of the cost to the plaintiff of
these demands and decisions. I couldn’t help but be grateful that the lawyers
are doing all this work pro-bono. I couldn’t help but be grateful that the modus
operandi of the adversarial system is being exposed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Another development is the response to the insinuation by
the SFC that the plaintiff hasn’t made sufficient effort to locate Saiful
Bahari. Last night, at 10:47 PM, Norhayati made a police report. She asked the
police to find Saiful, to assist the court.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">A sergeant in the Sentul police station acted urgently on
her request. He even attended to messages late into the night. And at 7:46 AM
today, he informed her that Saiful Bahari is a wanted person in the system. And
that therefore, he could do no more to assist.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">I’m glad I can end with that positive story about the police!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">The judge has scheduled case-management (a planning meeting between
all parties) for April 5th, for the SFC to inform the court about the AGC’s
decision on whether the Task Force Report will be classified as “A,” meaning
both authentic and true. The judge kindly said he would also like the SFC to
affirm whether Aizat needed to be recalled.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">I expect that if the AGC agrees to the “A” classification, Norhayati’s
lawyers will ask the judge to (1) decide that their case has been proved by the
Special Task Force, and (2) focus the remainder of the hearings on assessing
damages.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">The next hearing date remains set at April 22, 2024.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>rama ramanathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18393433601515789090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1214403895665189408.post-77115341082805102362024-03-20T19:25:00.001+08:002024-03-20T19:55:31.182+08:00Amri Che Mat hearing: Is the AGC sophistic, disdainful, or just incompetent?<p><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNKIPmNo5GRgrzs5Oh-O1Dl8wf1DmbM1jNSQpX5bMNaXfRfTKmc5wiOPYJCmsac54I3eEHhf06cHuIO2zpeD6ryBQTGxUWmHt8QoPG5aQsifpz0cU7Cyx1zmZiEVKtrY7PWM2Ux3_qtIA8YVlfC9ZDFCxo8M_w37E2Z4psZTsGhVpa133naYoBL387seM/s602/AGC%20Building.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="376" data-original-width="602" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNKIPmNo5GRgrzs5Oh-O1Dl8wf1DmbM1jNSQpX5bMNaXfRfTKmc5wiOPYJCmsac54I3eEHhf06cHuIO2zpeD6ryBQTGxUWmHt8QoPG5aQsifpz0cU7Cyx1zmZiEVKtrY7PWM2Ux3_qtIA8YVlfC9ZDFCxo8M_w37E2Z4psZTsGhVpa133naYoBL387seM/w640-h400/AGC%20Building.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br />Kuala Lumpur, 20 March 2024</b>. A sophist uses
plausible, but false arguments. For months the government refused to give the
family of Amri Che Mat the report of the Special Task Force which “investigated”
Suhakam’s April 2019 finding that Amri Che Mat was a victim of enforced
disappearance and that the police were culpable.</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Amri’s wife, Norhayati Ariffin, moved the High Court to
order the government to release the report to her for purposes of pursuing her
civil suit against the government.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">The High Court judge granted her prayer. The government appealed
the decision. Then the government waited for the hearing to come up in the
Court of Appeal. Shortly before the hearing date, the government withdrew its
appeal.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Wishing to control the extent to which contents of the
report would become public knowledge, the government released it with
conditions drafted by the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC). Suffice to say
that the conditions are ambiguous.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Ambiguous to the extent that the AGC’s officer, the Senior
Federal Counsel leading the defence – for parties including the government, the
police and several individuals – requested that the judge vacate the court, except
for accredited media persons.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Norhayati’s lawyers put up a spirited objection to her
request. They pointed out that the Federal Court has well established the
principle of open justice: the principle that hearings should be transparent,
and therefore, in open court.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">The judge decided to reject the motion of the Senior Federal
Counsel. He based his decision on the principle of open justice and another
principle: “the greater includes the lesser.” The “greater” being the media and
the “lesser” being the public.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">After making his decision, the judge noted that the tendered
report had redactions in it. He asked the parties about their positions on the
redactions. He gave the parties references to two decided cases which involved
redacted documents and asked them to consider the impact the decisions in those
cases might have on the present case.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">This is significant because documents are of three types. What
I spell out in the next three paragraphs wasn’t said in court today. But if you
don’t know it, you can’t appreciate the importance of the decisions the AGC
must soon make.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Bundle A documents are accepted by all parties as authentic (not
forged) and true. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Bundle B documents are accepted by all parties as authentic,
but not necessarily true. The party which questions the truth of a document (AGC)
forces the party which submitted the document (Norhayati) to call the document’s
maker to testify about it – and be challenged (cross-examined). This is
expensive and time-consuming.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Bundle C documents are accepted as neither authentic nor
true by one party. News reports often fall in this category.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">In which category should the Task Force Report be placed? Norhayati’s
lawyers argue that it should be in Bundle A.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">They base their argument on the fact that (1) it’s an
official government document prepared by a panel of experts selected by the
Home Minister as directed by the Cabinet (government); (2) its witness
statements were recorded according to the established norm in police work – <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>section 112 of the Criminal Procedure Code;
(3) its evidence was gathered and interpreted by professionals from the police
(PDRM), the Enforcement Agency Investigation Commission (EAIC) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">What position should the AGC take? What are the precedents?
What position will the AGC take? What are the implications for similar cases,
both ongoing and yet-to-come?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">The SFC said she would need time to consult with her
superiors and “receive instructions” (from her clients) before taking a
position.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">I was shocked when I heard her response. Is it possible that
the AGC didn’t anticipate the need for such a decision? Why didn’t the team – of
five lawyers – come with a ready response? <b>Is the AGC sophistic, disdainful,
or just incompetent</b>?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><u>Note</u>: I use “sophistic” to mean “using plausible but
fallacious arguments.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Now I move on to the explosive content of the task force
report. Norhayati’s lawyers had her read out various sections from it. Within minutes,
the following became clear:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Aptos; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span>The Task Force agreed with Suhakam’s findings which
are pertinent to this case.</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Aptos; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span>The AGC was represented in the Task Force.</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Aptos; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span>The AGC had itself, shortly after Suhakam
published its report, instructed the police to change the classification of the
case from “missing person” to “abduction,” and asked to be updated at least
every three months.</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Aptos; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span>The Task Force agreed that the police should
have treated Saiful Bahari, owner of the gold Toyota Vios implicated in the
abduction of Amri (and of Raymond Koh), as a prime suspect, but did not.</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Aptos; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span>The Task Force believed the ten persons who
attended a meeting in the office of the Mufti of Perlis shortly before Amri’s
abduction should have been treated as persons of interest. First on the list is DCP
Awaludin Jadid, Director of the Social Extremism Division (E2) of the Special
Branch of the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) at the material time. Also on the
list is Perlis Mufti, Dr MAZA.</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Aptos; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span>The Special Branch didn’t give full cooperation (presumably)
to the Task Force.</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Aptos; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span>The Task Force, in its report, adopted language
which sounded so like that used in the Suhakam report: rogue elements,
negligent, incompetent.</span></p></blockquote>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">More was said, but I was weeping internally. I stopped
taking notes. I thought,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">“The AGC was well represented in
the Task Force. The AGC has had the Task Force Report for at least four years. The
AGC knew there was strong evidence to support what Suhakam said. Yet the AGC,
in this suit, took the position that Suhakam’s findings and conclusions couldn’t
be substantiated.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Is the AGC sophistic, disdainful, or just incompetent?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Justice Su Tiang Joo is presiding over the case. Senior
Federal Counsel Zetty Zurina Kamaruddin is leading the AGC’s team. Norhayati’s is
represented by Surendra Ananth, Larissa Ann Lewis, and Malik Imtiaz.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><u><span style="font-size: large;">The hearing continues at 10:00 am tomorrow in CVC3, 3rd
Floor, Duta Court Complex.</span><o:p></o:p></u></i></p>rama ramanathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18393433601515789090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1214403895665189408.post-20395766489412286422024-03-01T14:37:00.012+08:002024-03-02T08:49:06.459+08:00The enforced disappearance of Amri Che Mat: 3 cars, a gun, a Hadith, and a disappeared witness<p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8BdjKpLObeXbQbLuQgfGhiQXWEQz6cA4Po8Nx3cTRv6DTbvFnYpGsufmG0RCPBAjdU61caLU3aTaPG8HFpXFn2QyoO0dWAAn9H8TBQ_5hxSlYJklBbLpSAol0CYOrEjQVCYyqd5563E5TR12oJUY2gUP2TxJNTRM0qarDLtG4t3Z-qCTaafe_bsLeCzoh/s648/Di%20mana%20mereka.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="369" data-original-width="648" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8BdjKpLObeXbQbLuQgfGhiQXWEQz6cA4Po8Nx3cTRv6DTbvFnYpGsufmG0RCPBAjdU61caLU3aTaPG8HFpXFn2QyoO0dWAAn9H8TBQ_5hxSlYJklBbLpSAol0CYOrEjQVCYyqd5563E5TR12oJUY2gUP2TxJNTRM0qarDLtG4t3Z-qCTaafe_bsLeCzoh/w640-h364/Di%20mana%20mereka.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br />Thursday, 29
February 2024. High Court, Kuala Lumpur.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The judge
hearing the civil suit against the government and others, brought by Amri’s wife
(Norhayati), is Justice Su Tian Joo. Today he heard evidence from three
witnesses for Norhayati. They had travelled overnight from Perlis to attend
the hearing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The first witness
was Vee Yak. He owns and operates an automotive workshop located about 150
metres from the home of Amri Che Mat. There’s a clear line of vision from an
area near his workshop and Amri’s house. Anyone who wants to observe Amri’s
house, while sitting in a car, can do so by parking near Vee Yak’s workshop.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Amri was
abducted on 24 November 2016. A few days before that date, Vee Yak noticed three
cars, with engines running, parked for long hours near his workshop. He noticed
a daily pattern.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">At 9:30 am, a
gold-coloured Toyota Vios would appear. At 12:00 noon, the Vios would be
replaced by a White Honda Accord. At 7:00 pm, the Accord would be replaced by a
black Toyota Hilux.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Vee Yak was
anxious that the occupants of the cars might be up to no good. He was anxious
that they might be planning to steal from his business or planning to target
cars belonging to his customers.<a href="#_edn1" name="_ednref1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 115%;">[i]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">One day,
while going across the road to get lunch, he noted the registration number of
the Vios. He later wrote it down on a whiteboard in his workshop: PFC1623. Readers
of the Suhakam investigation final reports will know that this car helped
reveal the link between Amri’s abduction, Raymond Koh’s abduction, and the
police.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The Senior
Federal Counsel (SFC) asked Vee Yak a great many questions about his workshop.
She asked about the volume of cars he handles daily, about where he parks the
cars, about the perimeter fence, about line of sight both to the three cars he
observed, and to Amri’s house, and about his neighbours.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The SFC wished
to suggest that Vee Yak hadn’t actually seen the cars, especially the Gold
Toyota Vios. In my opinion, the SFC did not succeed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The SFC also
pointed out to Vee Yak that according to the transcript of his testimony before
the Suhakam panel, he said the colour of the car, in Malay, was “unggu.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I had to look
up that word. It translates to “purple.” I didn’t recall him saying “unggu” during
his testimony before Suhakam. When I returned home, I looked it up. Sure
enough, the transcript says he said “unggu.” Curiously, the transcript doesn’t
say anyone translated it as “purple.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">(It’s
important to bear in mind that Vee Yak neither reads nor writes English or
Malay. Even his spoken Malay isn’t great. His preferred language is Mandarin.)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Anyhow, there’s
plenty of evidence, including from the police themselves, that PFC1623 is a
gold-coloured Toyota Vios. Norhayati’s counsel showed Vee Yak a photo of the
car provided by the police. Vee Yak confirmed it was the car he saw – except
that he said when he saw it, the glass on it was tinted dark.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The SFC also
questioned Vee Yak about a statement the police had recorded from him in
October 2017 – yes, about a year after Amri was abducted. They had not recorded
a statement from him earlier.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">During his
testimony before the Suhakam commissioners, Vee Yak said the police interviewed
him at a police station, then asked him to sign a blank sheet of paper, saying they would transcribe his answers later. He also said the police
never read out to him what they had written.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The SFC appeared
to suggest that since the police made a recording – I’m not sure if it was
audio or video – and later transcribed it above his signature, it shouldn’t be
a matter of much concern. I didn’t know whether to laugh or to cry.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Enough about
Vee Yak. I’ll move on to the second witness, Mohd Aizat bin Zahid. Aizat was a
member of Perlis Hope, a social service NGO. He worked very closely with Amri,
who founded Perlis Hope. He’s one of a group of loyal friends of Amri who’ve
laboured all these years to discover what happened to Amri.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Aizat’s
testimony revealed that he’s very knowledgeable about smartphones and Apps. His
testimony was polished, polite, and professional. He never stumbled.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The SFC
questioned him at length about some WhatsApp images which Norhayati has
tendered as evidence. These have to do with messages exchanged after Amri was abducted,
and also call-logs, listings of incoming and outgoing calls. We learned that
since Amri’s abduction, Aizat has changed phones at least three times: he
reeled off the brands and models of the phones.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The SFC kept
asking him about the brands and models, and seemed very eager to establish that
the images were captured on a phone other than the one he was using when the message
screenshots were captured.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Without
fumbling for a moment Aizat explained to the SFC the different ways in which
WhatsApp – and Telegram – store data, and his practice of backing up data. I found
it interesting that the SFC treated him as if he were an expert witness, with
specialist knowledge in how telecommunications architecture, hardware and
software works.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">There was one
curious thing. Aizat was asked to show the SFC, on his phone, from the witness
box, some messages of which screenshots had been included in the printed evidence.
The SFC compared them with the printouts. The time on one of them didn’t match.
The content of the message on the phone was identical to the printout, except
for the time stamp. One read 1:22, while the other read 1:23.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The SFC was
also keen to establish which printer he had used to print the images. From a
response of Norhayati’s counsel, I realized that all her questions had to do
with the admissibility of evidence, governed by the Evidence Act. I’ll just say
that sections 63(c) and 65(c) were cited by counsel, and leave it at that.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The SFC
belaboured many points, often repeating questions, and answers. A couple of
times, Norhayati’s counsel, very respectfully, stood up and objected. He even
said that because of the time wasted, after the trial he might file a motion
for costs.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Once, in response
to counsel’s objection about the SFC’s extensive probing to test conformance of
printouts with the Evidence Act, Justice Su told him he would not “enter into
the arena.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">One another
occasion, Justice Su pointedly told the SFC she was fond of repeating questions,
was wasting the court’s time, and to get on with it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The third and
final witness, Mohd. Faisol bin Abdul Rahman, was called a few minutes past 4:00
pm. I must commend Justice Su for extending the hearing beyond normal hours, to
accommodate the witness. Justice Su said he was doing this because the witness
had travelled so far to come and do his duty before the court.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">In fact, Justice
Su sincerely thanked all the witnesses. I found it very touching.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Faisol was
questioned mainly about two things. First, how he came into possession of the full
name and phone number of Sergeant Shamzaini, the Special Branch officer in the
politics division in Perlis, whose surreptitious, late-night conversation with
Norhayati broke open the case and enabled the discovery of the role of the
Special Branch of the Malaysian police in the abductions of both Amri and
Raymond.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The SFC took
great pains to establish that Faisol – and before him, Aizat – could not verify
what Shamzaini said to Norhayati. Surely all that was necessary was to put on
the record, through a simple question, that they were not present when the
conversation took place? But she dragged it on. Sigh.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Faisol was no
pushover. When the SFC put it to him that only Shamzaini could verify what was
said, he shot back that he didn’t agree. He pointed out that Norhayati and her
daughter could also verify what was said.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">One
interesting thing which emerged is that soon after Faisol got Shamzaini’s phone
number, he sent him a WhatsApp message.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Faisol’s
replaced his phone since then, and didn’t back up his messages. So, he couldn’t
state exactly what he said. He only said that he sent Shamzaini a quote from a
Hadith, a saying of Prophet Mohammad, that one should always speak the truth.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The second main
thing Faisol was questioned about is the testimony of Saiful Afzan, who, in the
wake of the abduction, had provided Norhayati’s legal team with an account of
what he saw that night, and had also allowed Suhakam officers to record his
statement.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Saiful Afzan
told them that he saw Amri’s car being boxed in by other vehicles, that he saw
a gun being wielded, and that, frozen in fear, he did nothing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Saiful Afzan
has disappeared. The police still cannot find him – just like they can’t find Saiful
Bahari (the owner of the Gold Toyota Vios, who worked for the police at the
material time), Jho Low (of 1MDB fame), Muhammad Ridzuan Abdullah (Indira
Gandhi’s husband), and so many others.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Because he’s
disappeared, Norhayati faces a challenge. The SFC will argue that according to
the Evidence Act, Saiful Afzan’s evidence – in the form of statements recorded
by Norhayati’s legal team and by Suhakam – cannot be admitted. So, Norhayati’s team
have to show the judge they’ve made great efforts to locate him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">So, Aizat and
Faisol were questioned about their attempts to find him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I was struck
by a question the SFC put to Faisol: she asked whether he had put a notice in
the newspapers, to find Faisol. Perhaps in her final submission to the judge,
she will say this shows Norhayati didn’t make sufficient effort to find Faisol?
But what if the police have put a notice in the newspapers?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The next
hearing dates are 20 and 21 March. Justice Soo kindly offered to rearrange his
schedule so that the parties could have two consecutive days. This will reduce
their labour of having to refresh their minds with the facts before every hearing
day.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>Note</b>: Surendra Ananth and Larissa Ann Louis are representing Norhayati. Both were present in court. On this day, Surendra
did all the speaking.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="mso-element: endnote-list;"><!--[if !supportEndnotes]--><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br clear="all" />
</span><hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="edn1" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><a href="#_ednref1" name="_edn1" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 115%;">[i]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Some of what I say in this report are inferences based on my knowledge of what
was said during the Suhakam hearings. Today, in the interest of time, the court
decided that written witness statements would be accepted as evidence without the
witnesses reading them verbatim in court. Counsel for the Norhayati asked
additional questions. Senior Federal Counsel, acting for the defendants, asked
the witnesses questions about some paragraphs in the statements. </span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div>Ramanathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09688155304178033077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1214403895665189408.post-69416261985871104852024-02-09T21:53:00.003+08:002024-02-10T06:11:06.653+08:00 Lessons from the Kelantan 2019 syariah enactment<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMltgK9Oe5OYIAvC6LslkyA8bvKnjYc1SajH8et1vC6CBgyAemr4NRcGWSphObn9c0GK_oWLCwePVqpciAtwRXodThhTt5jEyQlxNCfuq3CAvYapgvFVGMlJuabqTPmPTY4DMPtsVILd2U3785E0j6SwbxvWO1pD-oBWGTwH7FY3PQAn4AS8QMsKe0_vQ/s1240/Nik%20Elin%20and%20Tengku%20Maimun.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="826" data-original-width="1240" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMltgK9Oe5OYIAvC6LslkyA8bvKnjYc1SajH8et1vC6CBgyAemr4NRcGWSphObn9c0GK_oWLCwePVqpciAtwRXodThhTt5jEyQlxNCfuq3CAvYapgvFVGMlJuabqTPmPTY4DMPtsVILd2U3785E0j6SwbxvWO1pD-oBWGTwH7FY3PQAn4AS8QMsKe0_vQ/w640-h426/Nik%20Elin%20and%20Tengku%20Maimun.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">I’ve written this for three reasons. First, many have asked me
about a decision I heard today in the Federal Court. Second, I think it helps us
better understand Muslims. Third, it teaches us about civil and Muslim law in
Malaysia.</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Today, 9 judges of the Federal Court issued a watershed decision.
By a majority of 8-1, they struck down sixteen sections of a Muslim law<a href="#_edn1" name="_ednref1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 107%;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
passed in 2019 by the State Legislative Assembly of Kelantan.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b><i>Locus standi</i></b><i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The court made the decision in response to a petition by Nik
Elin and her daughter Tengku Yasmin. Both are lawyers, and therefore, “officers
of the court,” who are duty-bound to uphold the constitution.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Importantly, they are Muslim daughters of Kelantan.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Importantly, because Malaysia adheres to an antiquated
conception of <i>locus standi</i>, the right to bring a matter before a court. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">In accordance with the law, they had to obtain permission, or
‘leave’, from a judge of the Federal Court to file their petition.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The judge agreed they have <i>locus standi</i> partly because
they are Muslims who travel frequently to Kelantan, and the law may be used
against them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>Civil and Syariah courts</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Broadly speaking, in Malaysia there are two types of courts.
The first are civil courts. I call them “first” because these courts are responsible
for interpreting the Federal Constitution which is the supreme law of the land.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The second are syariah courts. Syariah courts are not
inferior to civil courts. The difference between civil courts and syariah
courts lies in the matters they cover, and in the limits on punishments they
can impose.<a href="#_edn2" name="_ednref2" style="mso-endnote-id: edn2;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 107%;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The maximum punishment any Syariah court can impose is 3
years imprisonment, RM5,000 fine and 6 strokes of the cane. By comparison, the
lowest civil court, a Magistrate’s court, can impose 5 years imprisonment,
RM10,000 fine and ten strokes of the cane.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The Federal Constitution guarantees equal protection under
the law for everyone. For this reason, only the Federal Parliament can enact
criminal laws. This has been so from the first Constitution, which came into
effect in 1957, and was extended to Sabah and Sarawak in 1963.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The Constitution bars state legislative assemblies and
federal territories from making laws which concern criminal offences. It accomplishes
this through two “lists” in its Ninth Schedule. List I is called the Federal
List. List II is called the State List.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I’ve found Arabic words associated with Islam only in the State
List. I think there are five, namely <i>wakaf</i>, <i>zakat</i>, <i>fitrah</i>,
<i>baitulmal</i>, and <i>syariah</i>. The State List also includes several matters
which concern normal life and death, for example, marriage, divorce, adoption,
trusts, and inheritance.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>Nik Elin’s petition</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The petitioners asked the court to agree with them that the
state assembly of Kelantan, in its law-making, crossed the limits set upon it
by the constitution. And that by crossing the limits, the assembly encroached
on the powers of the Parliament.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Through their lawyers, they presented hundreds of pages of
arguments and documents. On that basis, they asked the court to declare that 20
sections in the 2019 Kelantan state enactment are null and void.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">During the course of the proceedings, they withdrew two of
the sections from their request. The two sections concern alcohol and gambling.
I cannot say for sure why they withdrew them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Perhaps they did not wish to bear the costs of supporting
their contention. I’ve observed that the court allowed many parties to be
intervenors. This probably means the petitioners would’ve had to provide copies
of documents to all of them – and to respond to arguments from all of them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>The court’s decision</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The Chief Justice of Malaysia, Tun Tengku Maimun, also a
Kelantanese, read out a summary of the court’s decision, in Malay.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The court declared that 16 sections of the Kelantan
enactment are null and void. On the grounds that the state assembly crossed the
limits set upon it by the Federal Constitution. The assembly enacted laws which
it is not empowered to enact.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The court did not agree with the petitioners on two
sections. These concern adoption of Muslim children and actions which may
disrupt harmony.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>Misrepresentations</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">During the course of the trial, the Chief Justice had commented
on misrepresentations of the case made in public by various parties. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Today, she touched on it again. I think it’s important to mention
this because of the urge many have to manipulate public opinion.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The Chief Justice called out a misrepresentation by a
lawyer, Yusfarizal Yusof. She noted that he had claimed that a decision in
favour of the petitioners would amount to the placing of a gravestone on the
grave of syariah courts or laws in Malaysia.<a href="#_edn3" name="_ednref3" style="mso-endnote-id: edn3;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 107%;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I hope the court’s full, detailed judgment will reprimand
Yusfarizal for failing to act in a manner befitting an officer of the court. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The dissenting judgment<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Justice Tan Sri Dato' Abdul Rahman Sebli, Chief Justice of
Sabah and Sarawak, read almost the entirety of his long dissenting judgment. In English.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Unlike Tengku Maimun who was calm, temperate, and tranquil, Sebli
was petulant, sanctimonious, and rambling. He seemed to be driven by the
conviction that Nik Elin and Yasmin are not good Muslims because they brought
this action.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Sebli said Justice Vernon Ong, his fellow Federal Court
Judge who gave the petitioners leave to file their case, erred in law. He said
the petitioners had no <i>locus standi</i>, because they have not been charged
with any offences against the enactments.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Sebli said that his eight fellow judges erred in that they
did not challenge the petitioners' <i>locus standi</i>. He repeatedly said that
the petitioners were “busybodies, cranks, and mischief makers”; he likened them
to “ghosts and phantoms”. It's not clear to me whether his principal goal was
to tar the applicants or to tar his fellow judges.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Sebli mentioned and rejected the 'activist' turn in the Indian
judiciary, which now takes a broad view of <i>locus standi</i>. I don't think
he mentioned Public Interest Litigation at all.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">3 things I’ve learned<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Many, in particular people who hail from the East coast of
Malaysia, can be easily manipulated in matters which allegedly concern Islam.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Some people are either fossils or have no qualms insinuating
that their peers are poor specimens of Muslims.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Muslims who uphold constitutional provisions are subjected
to intense emotional pressures.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="mso-element: endnote-list;"><!--[if !supportEndnotes]--><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br clear="all" />
</span><hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="edn1" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><a href="#_ednref1" name="_edn1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 107%;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
I say “Muslim,” rather than “Islamic,” because different states have different
laws and it seems to me they have different interpretations of Islam.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="edn2" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><a href="#_ednref2" name="_edn2" style="mso-endnote-id: edn2;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 107%;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
There are also traditional courts, but to keep things simple, I won’t speak
about them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="edn3" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><a href="#_ednref3" name="_edn3" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 107%;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
He claimed the “grave” was dug by the Federal Court’s decision in the Iki Putra
case. I discussed Iki Putra in my post titled <a href="https://write2rest.blogspot.com/2023/08/responsible-kelantanese-lawyers-take-it.html?q=iki+putra">Responsible
Kelantanese lawyers take it to court</a>.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div>rama ramanathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18393433601515789090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1214403895665189408.post-72046688048271519182024-01-20T20:42:00.007+08:002024-01-20T20:42:32.831+08:00Kathir Oli Police Shooting Death Closure for family as Judge rules it was homicide<p><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEIEmpg2CMaM0vIQ9IEAEORl9JMpnJRRTECiI-Fe9AzanQw4FInG7zIFNbbTTCjR8BdDT0ABk5STV-qlgTyjlZYa50YnOc3NlhVbwkjx8K4v1p_OTD5vFh7c7BS8itkY7j5DcC6SuDBnzjG8tKkIZlQiCkoNv68xPwUWH5oI39dT-ycwQNrG_Pwh1yShk/s1000/Kathir%20Oli%20High%20Court%20photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="1000" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEIEmpg2CMaM0vIQ9IEAEORl9JMpnJRRTECiI-Fe9AzanQw4FInG7zIFNbbTTCjR8BdDT0ABk5STV-qlgTyjlZYa50YnOc3NlhVbwkjx8K4v1p_OTD5vFh7c7BS8itkY7j5DcC6SuDBnzjG8tKkIZlQiCkoNv68xPwUWH5oI39dT-ycwQNrG_Pwh1yShk/w640-h384/Kathir%20Oli%20High%20Court%20photo.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Guest post by Rani Rasiah, PSM.</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Ipoh High Court , 18 January 2024</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The Ipoh High Court ruled today that the shooting death of Kathir Oli was an act of homicide and not self-defence as has been claimed by the police and the prosecution. With that the judge quashed the open verdict decision of the coroner.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The Judge held that the situation confronting the police officer at the scene of the altercation between Kathir Oli and policeman did not warrant shooting to kill. Kathir Oli and his friends were unarmed, and posed no immediate danger to the life of the policeman.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">This ruling by Justice Dato Abdul Wahab bin Mohamed brought closure for the family after 12 agonising years. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Counsel Puravalen represented Kathir Oli's family and was assisted by Mogana.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The family has expectations that the AG will act on today's ruling which points to the blatant abuse of police powers. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Background:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">1. Kathir Oli was shot dead after midnight on 15/9/2011. The policeman who shot him claimed he did so in self-defense. The Perak CPO gave a press conference in the morning saying that parang wielding robbers at a pub in Ipoh attacked a policeman on duty who had to shoot to defend himself. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">2. No inquest was held. The DPP said that other individuals were going to be charged under the Penal Code in connection with the shooting, and so as the law allowed, an inquest would not be needed. The charges were one, causing mischief, and another, voluntarily causing hurt to deter a public servant from doing his duty. How could these charges be linked to the death of Kathir Oli? </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">3. One of the three men who had been remanded was charged and fined RM5 000, but the question remained: Why was Kathir Oli shot dead? </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">4. Anbughani, Kathir Oli’s brother, represented by M. Puravalen challenged and overturned the no inquest decision at the High Court in July 2020. The High Court ordered the investigation papers to be forwarded to the magistrate to decide if an inquest was warranted. The magistrate decided it was. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">5. An inquest was held and on 10/1/2023 the Coroner delivered an ‘open verdict’ decision. It meant that no one was found to have to answer for his death. It was a great disappointment to family, friends and concerned members of the public. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">6. The open verdict was appealed at the Ipoh High Court, and today the judge delivered his decision. He said that based on the facts and evidence presented, this was a case of homicide and not self-defence. He said there was no parang, that Kathir Oli was not armed and that the policeman’s shooting to kill was unwarranted.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">7. Justice and closure at last for Kathir Oli’s family. Will the AG initiate action on the murder?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Released :</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Rani Rasiah</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">PSM Central Committee Member</span></p>rama ramanathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18393433601515789090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1214403895665189408.post-29227095643952656272023-12-14T20:48:00.005+08:002023-12-16T17:40:11.304+08:00Raymond Koh, Arab Palestinians, and Israel’s police<p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBtfXkycPCmX6jxTgEUOx7om8Qe7NHvvvs8hLHgome75mPj4Ohzt6pkVQwnlEoNylCLZpgJCZI3iSfpEZDAhkuGUo8lR3mReC5PQFsOfGtFHcHvNgd-_f6_98Ik-sHwSWOm0NWP_5MXmTrczUCuf26aIHocxqX-tBuSyHVCn7jCmuG2hUX73ZSuDiQ9nQ/s800/Pastor-Raymond-Koh3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBtfXkycPCmX6jxTgEUOx7om8Qe7NHvvvs8hLHgome75mPj4Ohzt6pkVQwnlEoNylCLZpgJCZI3iSfpEZDAhkuGUo8lR3mReC5PQFsOfGtFHcHvNgd-_f6_98Ik-sHwSWOm0NWP_5MXmTrczUCuf26aIHocxqX-tBuSyHVCn7jCmuG2hUX73ZSuDiQ9nQ/w640-h320/Pastor-Raymond-Koh3.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /><u>14 December
2023</u>. This post is about a hearing in the High Court, Kuala Lumpur, today. But
first, a reminder about what the case is about.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">It happened
on 13 February 2017. Raymond Koh, a 63-year-old Christian Pastor, was abducted
while driving. In broad daylight. In under 40 seconds. By a team of trained
persons. Using 7 vehicles. In Petaling Jaya, a city joined at the hip with the
Federal Capital, Kuala Lumpur.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">An eyewitness
saw the abduction. He reported it to the police. The police traced the owner of
the car the pastor was driving. The police phoned the owner. The owner phoned
the pastor’s son. The son called his mother. Though tormented, the son began gathering
evidence to help find his dad.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">If not for
the eyewitness, the phone call by the police, and the son’s efforts, we would
know nothing about the abduction. It’s thanks to the son’s diligence in
acquiring recordings from home CCTVs overlooking the abduction site that we
know the abduction was conducted professionally.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">After being
questioned by the police Investigation Officer (IO) assigned to the case, the witness
expressed concern for the wellbeing of the victim. The IO calmed the witness. The
IO said something like “don’t worry, from what you described, I think it may
have been a police operation.”<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/Raymond%20Koh%20High%20Court%20Commentary/14%20December%202023.docx#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">But
Malaysians draw that conclusion for another reason. That reason is the abduction,
by police, of the Sultan of Kelantan. It happened on 4 May, 2010. In broad
daylight. In plain clothes. In black balaclavas. In unmarked cars. Just like in
the case of Raymond Koh.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The Human
Rights Commission of Malaysia, Suhakam, formed a panel to investigate the abduction.
The panel members were a retired judge of the Court of Appeal and two law
professors. They subpoenaed and questioned many police officers. They concluded
“the cops did it.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The Attorney
General’s Chambers (AGC) collaborated with the police to try to derail the
Suhakam investigation.<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/Raymond%20Koh%20High%20Court%20Commentary/14%20December%202023.docx#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
They did this by charging with kidnapping a man whose sole crime was opportunistic
extortion – this is based on the sworn testimony of the IO in the Raymond Koh
case. After years of delays by the AGC, a judge threw the case out.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Suhakam’s
investigation included public hearings. During the hearings it emerged that the
unit which “found evidence” allegedly implicating a drug and human trafficking
syndicate in the abduction was STAFOC, an “elite police Special Task Force on
Crime.” STAFOC was disbanded soon after Koh’s abduction. Then Home Minister
Muhyiddin Yassin publicly linked the disbanding to corruption.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The “STAFOC
evidence” was obtained from the home of a suspect whom the police killed during
an operation in Kedah. The evidence was alleged to be in the form of a number plate
and three photos. There were so many issues with it, it’s hard not to conclude it was
planted by the police.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The above were
admitted into evidence in the High Court today in a hearing of the Koh family’s
civil suit against the police and the government. The evidence was admitted by
means of a witness statement and testimony by Susanna Liew, Pastor Koh’s wife.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">None of the
above-mentioned evidence is new. What is new is the venue in which the evidence
is being presented. What is new is the response of the government, through the AGC.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The AGC, in
the person of Senior Federal Counsel (SFC) </span><span style="background: white; color: #212529;">Nurul Farhana Abdul Khalid</span>, is
defending the police, the government, and the individuals who have been named as
collaborators (“co-respondents”) in the cover-up of the abduction.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #212529;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The SFC exasperated everyone. The judge ticked her off for constantly
consulting with her co-counsel, for belabouring points, for framing questions
poorly, and more. To a layman like me, it looked like her superiors have either
selected her or instructed her to delay the case as much as possible.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #212529;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">My key interest is the “defence” the government is putting up. I was
astonished to hear the SFC say that the role of the police in abducting the
Sultan of Kelantan 13 years ago “is not an agreed fact.” She told the court
there’s no evidence that the police abducted the Sultan!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #212529;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The SFC tried to discredit Susanna, the sole witness for today. She suggested:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span style="background: white; color: #212529;">Susanna knew little of what went on in the Koh family NGO,
Komuniti Harapan, because she was not an office-bearer and was often in
Singapore.<o:p></o:p></span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span style="background: white; color: #212529;">Susanna never conducted a criminal check on Raymond so, unknown
to her, Koh may have had a criminal record.<o:p></o:p></span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span style="background: white; color: #212529;">Susanna may be unaware of updates Koh may have got from the
police about investigations of his previous police report, re. a threat he had
received.<o:p></o:p></span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span style="background: white; color: #212529;">Susanna and Koh were wrong to conclude the threat note found in
their letter box was intended for Koh, since his name was not on it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span style="background: white; color: #212529;">Susanna is wrong to claim speeches about Christianization
were related to Koh because he wasn’t named in those speeches.<o:p></o:p></span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span style="background: white; color: #212529;">Susanna is wrong to say the police hadn’t provided investigation
updates to her because she couldn’t provide documentary evidence of denied requests.<o:p></o:p></span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span style="background: white; color: #212529;">Susanna is wrong to say Amri Che Mat was the founder of the
NGO Perlis Hope because she didn’t have any documentary evidence to say so.<o:p></o:p></span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span style="background: white; color: #212529;">Susanna is wrong to say she’d been questioned by Special
Branch officers at immigration checkpoints because she didn’t have any documentary
proof.<o:p></o:p></span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span style="background: white; color: #212529;">Susanna is wrong to say police had come to the guardhouse of
her condo at 4 am on 14 February because she didn’t see the police officers
herself.<o:p></o:p></span></span></li></ul><!--[if !supportLists]--><p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #212529;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Though the SFC didn’t use the word “hearsay,” she pretty much said what then
Prime Minister Mahathir said when Suhakam concluded the police were complicit in the
sordid affair. He said, “Suhakam’s decision rests on hearsay.” Why? Because the narrative
presented by the Koh family includes inferences drawn from articles published
by the media.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #212529;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The SFC essentially said no news report can be received as evidence by a
court of law: “You weren’t there. How would you know the report is accurate?”</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #212529;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I
can see merit in that argument. But since only the police have the power to
investigate and gather evidence or compel witnesses, how’s a layperson to get
justice if STAFOC is corrupt?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #212529;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The SFC appeared to say the police don’t “intervene” in matters of
religion. I draw this conclusion from the questions she put to Susanna about (1)
the “inspection” (not “raid”) of DUMC in 2011 which brought Koh and Harapan
Komuniti into the public eye, and (2) the visit of senior Special Branch police
officer DCP Awaludin Jadid to the Mufti of Perlis. Yet in speeches around the nation,
Awaludin said “Christianization” is a threat to national security!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #212529;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">One thing Susanna said seemed fresh – I don’t recall hearing it during
the Suhakam inquiry. She said she visited the mother of the suspect shot dead
by the police in Kedah. She said the mother told her (1) her son couldn’t drive
and (2) the government had given money to the family to renovate their house.
Interesting!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #212529;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Another thing. Susanna complains that the police questioned her for an
exhausting 5-hours, late into the night, on the day her husband was abducted. She
complains that they were asking her about Koh’s “Christianisation activities.” The
police say this shows they were doing their job, and that the questions were
pertinent. Did the early commitment of the police continue in the following weeks?
Will they provide proof of what all they did – proof which they didn’t provide
to Suhakam? <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #212529;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">This hearing is about a case which has been deemed an enforced
disappearance by a distinguished panel of human rights commissioners guided by
international norms. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #212529;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">But the police failed to obtain additional evidence. Probably because
they lack the will to charge their own men.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #212529;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Now it’s being tried as a civil case, and the government is providing the
defence. And demanding that the family provide evidence of the sort only the
police can gather.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #212529;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">After the full-day hearing (9:00-4:30), I left the courtroom with two
thoughts.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #212529;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">First, what Prof Gurdial said at the beginning of this trial: “mere
suspicions can lead to strong conclusions; a compelling rope must be woven from
many strands of evidence ...” (<a href="https://write2rest.blogspot.com/2023/06/how-will-agc-treat-suhakams.html">link</a>)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #212529;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Second, how hard it must be for a Palestinian Arab to get enough evidence
to convict Israel’s chief of police.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #212529;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #212529;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2023/12/14/pastor-kohs-wife-breaks-down-while-testifying-in-court/" target="_blank">Report by FMT</a>.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #212529;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.nst.com.my/news/crime-courts/2023/12/990473/pastor-kohs-wife-gives-emotional-testimony-high-court" target="_blank">Report by NST</a>.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #212529;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/690034" target="_blank">Report by Malaysiakini</a>.</span></span></p>
<div style="mso-element: footnote-list;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br clear="all" />
</span><hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<p class="MsoFootnoteText"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/Raymond%20Koh%20High%20Court%20Commentary/14%20December%202023.docx#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 107%;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
No Malaysian will be surprised if it’s proven that the police conducted the
abduction. Officially the police and the government deny they conduct
abductions. But a retired police Special Operations Unit (UTK) officer told me
“it was done just like we were trained to do it.” The officer drew that
conclusion after he’d watched a viral video produced by assembling clips from
the security CCTV recordings. An official from KONTRAS, an Indonesian NGO which
specializes in cases of abductions saw the video and drew the same conclusion.<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
</div>
<div id="ftn2" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<p class="MsoFootnoteText"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/Raymond%20Koh%20High%20Court%20Commentary/14%20December%202023.docx#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 107%;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The Suhakam Act has a
provision which prohibits the commission from investigating a case which is the
subject of a pending matter in the courts. Click <a href="https://write2rest.blogspot.com/2018/01/will-police-succeed-in-snuffing-out.html" target="_blank">here </a>to read a post I wrote about this in January 2018.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
</div>rama ramanathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18393433601515789090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1214403895665189408.post-18135741480893417032023-10-13T09:40:00.003+08:002023-10-16T22:27:47.187+08:00Malaysia’s unique political structure: from the Straits Settlements to the Malayan Union<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUMdF7X9sv8o1cCkEKlDcqhH0z379DszvUOxgZva6J0nUNPiZ2Qmw09cLQL1BQC1p4jPfJP1QaLiI27qXjiJ9T-UtplVLobdS2SdU06Ye3DTLSsyKlcPSA1TdzJE6WT-6VjiGEwd_wNYKomTRpvkVtV4pgXAC4oVq564hUno0K-WZzziPiyKBM3JWD-0M/s250/Coat_of_arms_of_Malaysia.svg.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="188" data-original-width="250" height="481" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUMdF7X9sv8o1cCkEKlDcqhH0z379DszvUOxgZva6J0nUNPiZ2Qmw09cLQL1BQC1p4jPfJP1QaLiI27qXjiJ9T-UtplVLobdS2SdU06Ye3DTLSsyKlcPSA1TdzJE6WT-6VjiGEwd_wNYKomTRpvkVtV4pgXAC4oVq564hUno0K-WZzziPiyKBM3JWD-0M/w640-h481/Coat_of_arms_of_Malaysia.svg.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">In Muzium Negara, in Gallery D, you’ll see the <u>headdress<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/My%20Writing/The%20SS%5eJ%20FMS%5eJ%20UMS%5eJ%20Bornean%20States%20and%20FT.docx#_edn1" name="_ednref1" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><u><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;">[1]</span></u></span></span></a>
of the Yang diPertuan Agung</u>, the “supreme ruler” of Malaysia. The federal
constitution requires the Agung to be a hereditary Malay ruler of one of the
nine “Malay states.” It also requires him to be replaced every five years.</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">The office of Agung is unique to Malaysia. No other country
has an Agung. The office was created in 1957, when Malaya gained independence
from Britain. It was created in order to allow the nine hereditary rulers to
remain in office, albeit mostly for ceremonial roles.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Another exhibit in Gallery D is the <u>crest or coat of arms
of the Federation of Malaysia</u>. It shows that Malaysia has fourteen “states.”
The states may be classified into five “groups.” The five groups arise from the
manner in which Malaya, later Malaysia, became a nation.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">The five groups are the Straits Settlements (SS), the
Federated Malay States (FMS), the Unfederated Malay States (UMS), the Bornean
territories, and the Federal Territories (FT).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Straits Settlements</b>,<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/My%20Writing/The%20SS%5eJ%20FMS%5eJ%20UMS%5eJ%20Bornean%20States%20and%20FT.docx#_edn2" name="_ednref2" style="mso-endnote-id: edn2;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
assembled by the East India Company in 1826, comprised of Penang (1786), Singapore
(1819) and Malacca (1824)<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/My%20Writing/The%20SS%5eJ%20FMS%5eJ%20UMS%5eJ%20Bornean%20States%20and%20FT.docx#_edn3" name="_ednref3" style="mso-endnote-id: edn3;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>.
All these states were directly ruled by the British. They didn’t have Malay
rulers. The British Colonial Office in London took over in 1867.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">The British gradually signed treaties with the Malay Rulers.
The deal was that the British would recognize and protect the incumbent ruler
and use their powers to keep him in office. In exchange, the ruler would
consent to his state being ruled according to the “advice”<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/My%20Writing/The%20SS%5eJ%20FMS%5eJ%20UMS%5eJ%20Bornean%20States%20and%20FT.docx#_edn4" name="_ednref4" style="mso-endnote-id: edn4;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;">[4]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
of a “Resident.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">The first treaty was signed in 1874. It’s known as the
Pangkor treaty because it was signed on a ship near the island of Pangkor. Sir
Andrew Clarke, the governor of the Straits Settlements, signed it on behalf of
the British. The state was Perak, the incumbent ruler was Raja Abdullah.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">The British promised to resolve disputes in the tin mining
areas of Perak which had disrupted profits of British traders and revenues of
the ruler. The Resident took over state administration in all matters,
including tax collection. The Raja retained powers over Malay religion and
customs.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Because the Raja<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/My%20Writing/The%20SS%5eJ%20FMS%5eJ%20UMS%5eJ%20Bornean%20States%20and%20FT.docx#_edn5" name="_ednref5" style="mso-endnote-id: edn5;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;">[5]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
remained in office, Perak was not added to the Straits Settlements.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Soon, the rulers of three other tin-rich states acquired
similar “protected” status: Selangor and Negeri Sembilan in 1874, and Pahang in
1888.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Each state had its own form of laws and administration. This
made governance difficult. So, the British consolidated them. The consolidation
was completed in 1896. The result was the Federated Malay States (FMS).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">The Residents reported to a Resident General, who in turn
reported to a High Commissioner – the Governor of the Straits Settlements.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Power lay with the Governor. He was advised by a council
made up of himself, the Resident General, the four Sultans, and the four
Residents. This was the first Federal Council in what would become Malaysia.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">We’ve spoken of the Straits Settlements and the FMS. Next
came the Unfederated Malay States (UMS).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">The British didn’t want to take over the administration of
the other states.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Why? Because there was no commercial benefit. Also, unlike
the rulers of the FMS states, the rulers of the other states were more focused
on culture and religion than economics. They didn’t need British “protection,”
and didn’t wish to lose their ability to exercise power and patronage.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Also, Thailand had claims to the northern states of Perlis,
Kedah, Kelantan, and Terengganu – they sent the Bunga Mas to the King of Siam
at intervals of three years. And Johor was administered almost like an FMS
state by its savvy Sultan who cultivated British friendship.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">But fear of German or French intervention in the region, and
hopes of finding minerals, led the British to negotiate another treaty. This
was with Siam (now Thailand). Under the terms of the Bangkok Treaty of 1909,
Thailand relinquished its hold over the four northern states to Britain.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">The Bangkok Treaty was the genesis of the Unfederated Malay
States. These states, also by treaty, received British “advisors,” not
“residents.” Symbolically, the Bunga Mas, a tribute traditionally paid by the
four states to Siam, was paid, in 1909, to King Edward VII in Britain!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Local tensions between the Siamese, the Malay rulers, and
the British, and global tensions in the build-up to World War I, enabled the
four Malay rulers to retain their independence and resist incorporation into
the FMS. Their state councils had more power than the state councils of the
FMS.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">In 1914, the ruler of Johor also agreed to “receive British
advice.” The main driving factor was extensive debts of the government of
Johor. One of the “agreements” was that Johor would retain its military force.
This is why <u>Gallery D has headdresses for only eight rulers</u>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">We’ve now spoken of the Straits Settlements, the FMS and the
five UMS. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">When the Japanese attacked in 1941, there was no single
government over Malaya. There were seven governments. There was no united,
empowered command and control system to resist the Japanese.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">In 1942, the Japanese consolidated all the states under one federal
government. In 1945, the British Military Administration continued this
consolidation. In 1946, the British government of Malaya formalized it by treaties
with the Malay Rulers when they formed the Malayan Union. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">The Bornean states of Sabah and Sarawak (and Singapore<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/My%20Writing/The%20SS%5eJ%20FMS%5eJ%20UMS%5eJ%20Bornean%20States%20and%20FT.docx#_edn6" name="_ednref6" style="mso-endnote-id: edn6;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;">[6]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>)
joined the Federation in 1963 – the Constitution made special provisions for
them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">The Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur was formed in 1974.
Two other Federal Territories followed. These are Labuan and Putrajaya. This is
why 14 “states” are depicted in Malaysia’s national crest or insignia.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">So, Malaysia, due to the manner in which Malaya was
colonised by the British, the manner in which Malaya gained independence, and
the manner in which Malaya federated with the Bornean states, has a very
complicated political structure.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">This makes the success of the nation – which you can also
see in Gallery D – all the more remarkable.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div style="mso-element: endnote-list;"><hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="edn1" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/My%20Writing/The%20SS%5eJ%20FMS%5eJ%20UMS%5eJ%20Bornean%20States%20and%20FT.docx#_ednref1" name="_edn1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
<i>Tengkolok.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
</div>
<div id="edn2" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/My%20Writing/The%20SS%5eJ%20FMS%5eJ%20UMS%5eJ%20Bornean%20States%20and%20FT.docx#_ednref2" name="_edn2" style="mso-endnote-id: edn2;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
The East India Company formed the Straits Settlements of Penang and Singapore
in 1826. The British Raj in India took over in 1858.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>London in 1867.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="edn3" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/My%20Writing/The%20SS%5eJ%20FMS%5eJ%20UMS%5eJ%20Bornean%20States%20and%20FT.docx#_ednref3" name="_edn3" style="mso-endnote-id: edn3;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Dindings, a “fruit” of the Pangkor Treaty, was added in 1874.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="edn4" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/My%20Writing/The%20SS%5eJ%20FMS%5eJ%20UMS%5eJ%20Bornean%20States%20and%20FT.docx#_ednref4" name="_edn4" style="mso-endnote-id: edn4;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;">[4]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
In practice, “dictates.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="edn5" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/My%20Writing/The%20SS%5eJ%20FMS%5eJ%20UMS%5eJ%20Bornean%20States%20and%20FT.docx#_ednref5" name="_edn5" style="mso-endnote-id: edn5;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;">[5]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Later called “Sultan.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="edn6" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/My%20Writing/The%20SS%5eJ%20FMS%5eJ%20UMS%5eJ%20Bornean%20States%20and%20FT.docx#_ednref6" name="_edn6" style="mso-endnote-id: edn6;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;">[6]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Singapore left the Federation in 1965.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div>rama ramanathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18393433601515789090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1214403895665189408.post-55967906661014545772023-10-13T09:20:00.003+08:002023-10-13T09:20:29.583+08:00Armenians, pedlars, and the East Asia trade<p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhixUOoGZ-qfsAJ7_G8lsMSTiQwah6Hbc5l9vMVV40CiqDo1bSeLK2xOx6MlzQ8ljF8kTqAv5nPJvS-ECF4w-wgw8sXde6G2sRDOzpePlOsJDXajJ2f0HgM6IK_clqOlu6GkLLfvHAk0dW6WBbab6sXe-uOsNLsshgPbIrR7BtibAVfLnRXAuTM7YP76EI/s550/vank_cathedral_armenian_quarter_esfahan_iran-417.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="367" data-original-width="550" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhixUOoGZ-qfsAJ7_G8lsMSTiQwah6Hbc5l9vMVV40CiqDo1bSeLK2xOx6MlzQ8ljF8kTqAv5nPJvS-ECF4w-wgw8sXde6G2sRDOzpePlOsJDXajJ2f0HgM6IK_clqOlu6GkLLfvHAk0dW6WBbab6sXe-uOsNLsshgPbIrR7BtibAVfLnRXAuTM7YP76EI/w640-h428/vank_cathedral_armenian_quarter_esfahan_iran-417.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: "Google Sans", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;"></span></p><div style="text-align: center;">Interior of Vank Cathedral, New Julfa, Isfahan</div><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a class="gQtke indIKd" data-ved="0CBMQjhxqFwoTCIDUidXs8YEDFQAAAAAdAAAAABAE" href="https://ajammc.com/2012/10/23/the-bridge-to-new-julfa-a-look-at-the-armenian-community-of-isfahan/vank_cathedral_armenian_quarter_esfahan_iran-417/" jsaction="focus:trigger.HTIQtd;mousedown:trigger.HTIQtd;touchstart:trigger.HTIQtd;" rel="noopener" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; align-items: center; background-color: white; display: flex; flex: 1 1 auto; font-family: Roboto, HelveticaNeue, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; padding-top: 16px; text-align: start;" target="_blank"></a></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;">Hovhannes Jughayetsi, an Armenian merchant, signed a
contract on 19 December 1682, in New Julfa, near Isfahan. By signing, he committed
to work as a trader for the Khoja brothers, Zakar and Embroumagha.<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/My%20Writing/Armenians%5eJ%20pedlars%5eJ%20and%20the%20East%20Asia%20trade.docx#_edn1" name="_ednref1" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">[1]</span></span></span></a></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">As “factor,” Hovhannes received from his “principals” 18 “English
cloths,” together with some cash. The total value was relatively small, about
6,000 Rupees. He contracted to conduct trade in India, and to give to his
principals seventy five percent of the profit.<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/My%20Writing/Armenians%5eJ%20pedlars%5eJ%20and%20the%20East%20Asia%20trade.docx#_edn2" name="_ednref2" style="mso-endnote-id: edn2;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Hovhannes is important because, unlike his predecessors and
even his contemporaries, he kept a 10-year ledger-diary of his trades. Keeping
such records was unusual, because maintaining “mystery” over sources and prices
was essential for assuring profits.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">It’s thanks to the record-keeping of Hovhannes that we know
many details of how goods were traded in South Asia<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/My%20Writing/Armenians%5eJ%20pedlars%5eJ%20and%20the%20East%20Asia%20trade.docx#_edn3" name="_ednref3" style="mso-endnote-id: edn3;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
in the premodern period. It’s thanks to his records that the idea of “pedlar
trade” gained currency.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">“Pedlar trade” captures the manner in which trading was done
before buying and selling in large volumes – initially by the Portuguese, Dutch
and English ventures in East and South Asia – became commonplace.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Over the span of about ten years, Hovhannes traded in over
174 goods. He sold fabric by the yard, not just by bales. He used three camels
for transport. He used bills of exchange. He “farmed out” transport to others.
He connected with Armenian communities everywhere he travelled.<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/My%20Writing/Armenians%5eJ%20pedlars%5eJ%20and%20the%20East%20Asia%20trade.docx#_edn4" name="_ednref4" style="mso-endnote-id: edn4;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">[4]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Like other Armenian traders, Hovhannes competed with the
Dutch and English East India Companies, including for Indigo grown in India.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Although the term “pedlar” suits the pace and volume of his
trades, Hovhannes is better thought of as one of many cogs in a large machine,
controlled by his principals through their representatives in India.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">One observer said this about Armenian traders:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>“These people are shrewder
than the Indian </i>sarrafs<i> because they do not work alone when it comes to
evaluating their merchandise and money. The more enterprising amongst them deal
with all there is to trade in, and do not ignore the price of any merchandise,
either from Europe or Asia, or any other place because they correspond with all
others and receive rapid information on current prices wherever they are. Thus,
they do not get cheated in their purchases, and are very economical, and work
unbelievably hard to trade so as not to overpay on the merchandise. They spend
very little towards their living. They are by nature accustomed to living
frugally.”<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/My%20Writing/Armenians%5eJ%20pedlars%5eJ%20and%20the%20East%20Asia%20trade.docx#_edn5" name="_ednref5" style="mso-endnote-id: edn5;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">[5]</span></b></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Another important name amongst Armenian traders in East and
South Asia is Khoja Minas. He too was from New Julfa, though he operated out of
Surat in India. In 1663, one of his English contemporaries wrote that he was “an
able and well reputed Armenian merchant.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Minas operated four large ships, with the names St Michael,
Selimony (“Sulaiman”), Queddah Merchant, and Hopewell – the last of which was,
for a period, captained by an Englishman, Thomas Quin.<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/My%20Writing/Armenians%5eJ%20pedlars%5eJ%20and%20the%20East%20Asia%20trade.docx#_edn6" name="_ednref6" style="mso-endnote-id: edn6;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">[6]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Minas’ ships plied the Persian Gulf, the Red Sea, the Indian
Ocean and more, most notably to the Philippines via the Malacca straits. When Minas
first sent a ship to the Philippines, English factors in Surat wrote the
following to their principals.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>“There is so great hope on this
voyage that Khoja Minas and the persons concerned have taken up money at </i>avog<i> (bottomry)
thereon at 45, 50 and 60 per cent, and truly, were it not for the Dutch
obstructing them at Malacca, most men here do conclude it will turn out well</i>.<i>”</i><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/My%20Writing/Armenians%5eJ%20pedlars%5eJ%20and%20the%20East%20Asia%20trade.docx#_edn7" name="_ednref7" style="mso-endnote-id: edn7;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">[7]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">It's hard not to detect excitement and envy in tone of the
English writer! What is <i>avog</i> (bottomry)? Here’s how Investopedia explain
it:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>“Bottomry, referring to the
ship's bottom or keel, is a maritime transaction, where the owner of a vessel
borrows money and uses the ship itself as </i><a href="https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/collateral.asp"><i><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">collateral</span></i></a><i>.
However, if an accident should happen during the voyage, the </i><a href="https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/creditor.asp"><i><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">creditor</span></i></a><i> will
lose out on the loan because the guaranteed security no longer exists, or
exists in a damaged fashion. Should the vessel survive the journey intact and
whole, then the lender will receive the return of the loaned </i><a href="https://www.investopedia.com/terms/p/principal.asp"><i><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">principal</span></i></a><i> plus
interest</i>.<i>”</i><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/My%20Writing/Armenians%5eJ%20pedlars%5eJ%20and%20the%20East%20Asia%20trade.docx#_edn8" name="_ednref8" style="mso-endnote-id: edn8;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">[8]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Once common, bottomry is no longer practiced. Why? Because
of high levels of fraud associated with it, and because of the high interest
rates.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">There were Armenian traders in Malacca. Some are buried
there. Local guides often point out to tourists a tombstone in the central
aisle of Christ Church. It’s the last resting place of Jacob Shamier, also from
New Julfa. This is the translation of the epitaph engraved upon it:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Hail to thee who readest the
epitaph on my tomb!<br />
Give me the news of my nation’s freedom, for which I have passionately longed.<br />
[Tell me] if someone has risen among us, as deliverer and leader; which, while
on earth, I so earnestly desired.<br />
I, Jacob, scion of respectable ancestors from Armenia<br />
I received the name Chamrchamian<br />
I was born in a foreign land, at New Julfa, a town in Persia.<br />
On attaining twenty nine years of age, I accepted my destiny<br />
On the seventh of July, I reached the end of my life,<br />
In the year of the Saviour 1774, I laid myself down to rest in this grave,
which I had bought.<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/My%20Writing/Armenians%5eJ%20pedlars%5eJ%20and%20the%20East%20Asia%20trade.docx#_edn9" name="_ednref9" style="mso-endnote-id: edn9;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">[9]</span></b></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a></i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Why is all of the above important? I’ll let Shireen Moosvi,
a historian who teaches at Aligarh Muslim University, explain:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">“[The Armenian] merchants, who
neither had force behind them nor represented large-scale firms, could carry on
successful commerce in India. There seems, therefore, little substance in
arguments that the English East India Company and other European Companies … were
compelled to use force. The Companies in fact, used force – Europe’s “major
invisible export” in Steensgaard’s words – in order to establish monopolies;
and of this the Armenians were victims equally with the Indians.”<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/My%20Writing/Armenians%5eJ%20pedlars%5eJ%20and%20the%20East%20Asia%20trade.docx#_edn10" name="_ednref10" style="mso-endnote-id: edn10;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">[10]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Why is all of the above important? In the preceding
paragraph, just replace “Indians” with “Malaccans” and “Indonesians.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">For ease of
reading, I’ve simplified and updated “quotations.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Bibliography<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoBibliography" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; text-indent: -36.0pt;"><!--[if supportFields]><i><span
style='mso-element:field-begin'></span><span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>BIBLIOGRAPHY<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>
</span>\l 17417 <span style='mso-element:field-separator'></span></i><![endif]--><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-size: large;">Moosvi, S. (2007). Armenians in Asian Trade 16th and
17th Centuries. In K. K. Sushil Chaudhury, <i>Armenians in Regional and
Inter-Regional Trade</i> (pp. 103-112). Open Edition Books.<span style="mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoBibliography" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; text-indent: -36.0pt;"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-size: large;">Steensgaard, N. (1974). <i>The Asian Trade Revolution
of the Seventeenth Century: The East India Companies and the Decline of the
Caravan Trade.</i> Chicago and London: The University of Chicago Press.</span></span></p><div style="mso-element: endnote-list;"><hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="edn1" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/My%20Writing/Armenians%5eJ%20pedlars%5eJ%20and%20the%20East%20Asia%20trade.docx#_ednref1" name="_edn1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
<w:sdt citation="t" id="-1025940503"><!--[if supportFields]><span
style='mso-element:field-begin'></span><span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>CITATION Moo07 \l 17417 <span
style='mso-element:field-separator'></span><![endif]--><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">(Moosvi, 2007)</span><!--[if supportFields]><span style='mso-element:
field-end'></span><![endif]--></w:sdt><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="edn2" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/My%20Writing/Armenians%5eJ%20pedlars%5eJ%20and%20the%20East%20Asia%20trade.docx#_ednref2" name="_edn2" style="mso-endnote-id: edn2;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
<w:sdt citation="t" id="1164980328"><!--[if supportFields]><span
style='mso-element:field-begin'></span><span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>CITATION Nie74 \l 17417 <span
style='mso-element:field-separator'></span><![endif]--><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">(Steensgaard, 1974)</span><!--[if supportFields]><span style='mso-element:
field-end'></span><![endif]--></w:sdt><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="edn3" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/My%20Writing/Armenians%5eJ%20pedlars%5eJ%20and%20the%20East%20Asia%20trade.docx#_ednref3" name="_edn3" style="mso-endnote-id: edn3;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
The Indian subcontinent.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="edn4" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/My%20Writing/Armenians%5eJ%20pedlars%5eJ%20and%20the%20East%20Asia%20trade.docx#_ednref4" name="_edn4" style="mso-endnote-id: edn4;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">[4]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
<w:sdt citation="t" id="1352842286"><!--[if supportFields]><span
style='mso-element:field-begin'></span><span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>CITATION Nie74 \l 17417 <span
style='mso-element:field-separator'></span><![endif]--><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">(Steensgaard, 1974)</span><!--[if supportFields]><span style='mso-element:
field-end'></span><![endif]--></w:sdt><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="edn5" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/My%20Writing/Armenians%5eJ%20pedlars%5eJ%20and%20the%20East%20Asia%20trade.docx#_ednref5" name="_edn5" style="mso-endnote-id: edn5;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">[5]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
<w:sdt citation="t" id="-2014140028"><!--[if supportFields]><span
style='mso-element:field-begin'></span><span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>CITATION Moo07 \l 17417 <span
style='mso-element:field-separator'></span><![endif]--><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">(Moosvi, 2007)</span><!--[if supportFields]><span style='mso-element:
field-end'></span><![endif]--></w:sdt><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="edn6" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/My%20Writing/Armenians%5eJ%20pedlars%5eJ%20and%20the%20East%20Asia%20trade.docx#_ednref6" name="_edn6" style="mso-endnote-id: edn6;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">[6]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
<w:sdt citation="t" id="-1705626836"><!--[if supportFields]><span
style='mso-element:field-begin'></span><span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>CITATION Moo07 \l 17417 <span
style='mso-element:field-separator'></span><![endif]--><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">(Moosvi, 2007)</span><!--[if supportFields]><span style='mso-element:
field-end'></span><![endif]--></w:sdt><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="edn7" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/My%20Writing/Armenians%5eJ%20pedlars%5eJ%20and%20the%20East%20Asia%20trade.docx#_ednref7" name="_edn7" style="mso-endnote-id: edn7;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">[7]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
<w:sdt citation="t" id="1683704699"><!--[if supportFields]><span
style='mso-element:field-begin'></span><span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>CITATION Moo07 \l 17417 <span
style='mso-element:field-separator'></span><![endif]--><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">(Moosvi, 2007)</span><!--[if supportFields]><span style='mso-element:
field-end'></span><![endif]--></w:sdt><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="edn8" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/My%20Writing/Armenians%5eJ%20pedlars%5eJ%20and%20the%20East%20Asia%20trade.docx#_ednref8" name="_edn8" style="mso-endnote-id: edn8;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">[8]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
<a href="https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/bottomry.asp">https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/bottomry.asp</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="edn9" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/My%20Writing/Armenians%5eJ%20pedlars%5eJ%20and%20the%20East%20Asia%20trade.docx#_ednref9" name="_edn9" style="mso-endnote-id: edn9;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">[9]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
https://armenianweekly.com/2019/05/23/there-once-were-armenians-in-malacca/<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="edn10" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/My%20Writing/Armenians%5eJ%20pedlars%5eJ%20and%20the%20East%20Asia%20trade.docx#_ednref10" name="_edn10" style="mso-endnote-id: edn10;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">[10]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
</span><w:sdt citation="t" id="-25565954"><!--[if supportFields]><span
style='mso-element:field-begin'></span><span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>CITATION Moo07 \l 17417 <span
style='mso-element:field-separator'></span><![endif]--><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-size: large;">(Moosvi, 2007)</span></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style='mso-element:
field-end'></span><![endif]--></w:sdt><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div>rama ramanathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18393433601515789090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1214403895665189408.post-773929368528371982023-10-13T09:06:00.000+08:002023-10-13T09:06:01.397+08:00August 31st and the Dutch East India Company (VOC)<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/My%20Writing/31st%20of%20August%20and%20the%20first%20joint-stock%20company%20VOC.docx#_edn1" name="_ednref1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><b><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-MY; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></b></span></span></b></span></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh9UsKyAW1tZv8m0iFOwHTiPcrTCtHR_TLOu9iEYJynFAFwfVtlHLhNVbNkMmxI-v-j8df8FULjGxzPVJbJmo9R6yN6dr6EbeHpZmraz-XdG162xlidZUV28QlwVjuPB3d30XU6vn3kE9o5T3gKKWKkBm7VYM47PJIbH1mnbNnzRSysUY-Pt6cVaGz_pc/s584/east-india-house-directors-room-willem-v-1768.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="399" data-original-width="584" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh9UsKyAW1tZv8m0iFOwHTiPcrTCtHR_TLOu9iEYJynFAFwfVtlHLhNVbNkMmxI-v-j8df8FULjGxzPVJbJmo9R6yN6dr6EbeHpZmraz-XdG162xlidZUV28QlwVjuPB3d30XU6vn3kE9o5T3gKKWKkBm7VYM47PJIbH1mnbNnzRSysUY-Pt6cVaGz_pc/w640-h438/east-india-house-directors-room-willem-v-1768.webp" width="640" /></a></b></b></div><b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br />[1]</b><!--[endif]--></b><b><o:p></o:p></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">On August 31<sup>st</sup>, Malaysians commemorate the
transfer of the government of Malaya from the British to Malayans in 1957.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">August 31<sup>st</sup> was also the closing date, in 1605,
of the first subscription to the first public joint-stock company – the
precursor to “public companies” listed on global stock exchanges today. That first
company was the Dutch East India Company, VOC, <i>Vereenigde Oost-Indische
Compagnie</i>.<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/My%20Writing/31st%20of%20August%20and%20the%20first%20joint-stock%20company%20VOC.docx#_edn2" name="_ednref2" style="mso-endnote-id: edn2;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Here, I’ll expand on “VOC,” “subscription,” and “joint stock.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">The VOC was the brainchild of the States General, the
supreme governing body of the Republic of the Netherlands.<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/My%20Writing/31st%20of%20August%20and%20the%20first%20joint-stock%20company%20VOC.docx#_edn3" name="_ednref3" style="mso-endnote-id: edn3;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">The brainchild was birthed for many reasons. The most
important reason was the desire to redirect aggressive competition between several
small Dutch trading companies into aggressive competition with the Portuguese. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Those small companies owned ships which sailed to “the Far
East” and returned with very profitable cargoes. Historian Lodewijk Petram<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/My%20Writing/31st%20of%20August%20and%20the%20first%20joint-stock%20company%20VOC.docx#_edn4" name="_ednref4" style="mso-endnote-id: edn4;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">[4]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
tells us:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>“Between 1595 and 1602 no
fewer than seven flotillas totalling fifty vessels sailed from Amsterdam to the
Far East. Another thirty ships set out from Hoorn, Enkhuizen, Rotterdam,
Middelburg, and Veere. Not every vessel returned to the Republic of the United
Provinces, but those that did were laden with highly profitable cargoes, and
the costs of the expeditions were recovered several times over</i>.<i>”</i><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/My%20Writing/31st%20of%20August%20and%20the%20first%20joint-stock%20company%20VOC.docx#_edn5" name="_ednref5" style="mso-endnote-id: edn5;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">[5]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">The problem was that they fought each other for a share of
the cargoes, spices. Another problem was that the Dutch were at war with Spain.
And therefore, at war with Portugal when, in 1580, the king of Spain became king
also of Portugal, the key European player in the spice trade.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">The Dutch government wanted to attack the Portuguese trade. The
brainchild was the idea to unite the small companies – soon called “precompanies”
(<i>voorcompagnieën</i>), into a new company, the VOC. And get ordinary Dutch people
to contribute the money to finance the fight.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">The precompanies would be induced to amalgamate under the
VOC because the VOC would be granted a monopoly on trade with the East. And
would be allowed to receive money as investment from all residents of the
Netherlands. The investors would be called “subscribers.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">The brainchild was written up as a 21-year “charter,” a deed
of incorporation, and granted to the VOC on March 20, 1602. The directors of
the VOC were required to declare, at 12 midnight on 31 August 1602, the amount
of capital they had obtained from subscribers.<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/My%20Writing/31st%20of%20August%20and%20the%20first%20joint-stock%20company%20VOC.docx#_edn6" name="_ednref6" style="mso-endnote-id: edn6;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">[6]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">The subscription period overlapped a period of plague. This
limited the number of subscribers. Nevertheless, 1,143 subscribers signed up. The
directors declared that they had obtained the enormous capital of about 3.7
million guilders<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/My%20Writing/31st%20of%20August%20and%20the%20first%20joint-stock%20company%20VOC.docx#_edn7" name="_ednref7" style="mso-endnote-id: edn7;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">[7]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
– about USD130 million in today’s terms.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Was the VOC a private company? It had a board of directors,
each of whom were required to own a minimum number of shares in the company.
They were called “Lords Seventeen” (<i>Heren XVII</i>). But:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>“The charter also made it
clear that the VOC was not just a commercial undertaking but an enterprise that
could serve as an extension of the state. In the Orient the Company was
authorized to negotiate with local rulers on behalf of the States General. The
other side of the coin was that any captured vessels had to be handed over to
the government</i>.<i>”</i><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/My%20Writing/31st%20of%20August%20and%20the%20first%20joint-stock%20company%20VOC.docx#_edn8" name="_ednref8" style="mso-endnote-id: edn8;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">[8]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Subscription registers were placed in six cities, including
Amsterdam, because these were the bases of the precompanies. But the Union’s
states were suspicious of each other. To quell fears that the “Hollanders” in
Amsterdam would dominate, two controls were established.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">First, the governing board of the Company was made up of
directors from each of the different cities, and their meetings were required
to be held alternately in Amsterdam and Middelburg.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Second, the board would have seventeen members – known as
the <i>Heren</i> <i>Zeventien</i>, or Lords Seventeen – Amsterdam was not
allowed to nominate more than eight of them, which meant that Amsterdam could
never decide Company policy on its own.<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/My%20Writing/31st%20of%20August%20and%20the%20first%20joint-stock%20company%20VOC.docx#_edn9" name="_ednref9" style="mso-endnote-id: edn9;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">[9]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Subscribers came to be called shareholders. The provisions
of the charter included (1) the promise of a share of profits, and (2) a
relatively easy means for stockholders to sell their stakes in the company to
others.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Jan Allertz tot London, a bargeman, was first to sell. He
sold on March 3, 1603, about six months after he subscribed. He made a profit
of about 150 Guilders<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/My%20Writing/31st%20of%20August%20and%20the%20first%20joint-stock%20company%20VOC.docx#_edn10" name="_ednref10" style="mso-endnote-id: edn10;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">[10]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
when he sold his right to invest 2,400 Guilders in the V.O.C.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Yes, that’s correct. He sold his “right” to invest. Subscribers
didn’t have to put down any money upfront. They just had to promise to pay when
the directors called for payment. And if they didn’t have the money to pay,
they could sell their right to others.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">The VOC operated for nearly 200 years.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Bibliography<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">The above is
mostly from <b>Chapter 2: A New Company</b>, in Lodewijk Petram’s 2014 book, <b>The
World’s First Stock Exchange</b>, published by Columbia University Press.
Petram earned a Ph.D. in economic history in 2011, with a thesis on the
development of the market for shares in the V.O.C. He blogs at: </span><a href="https://www.worldsfirststockexchange.com/"><span style="line-height: 107%;">https://www.worldsfirststockexchange.com/</span></a><span style="line-height: 107%;">. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<div style="mso-element: endnote-list;"><!--[if !supportEndnotes]--><span style="font-size: large;"><br clear="all" />
</span><hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="edn1" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/My%20Writing/31st%20of%20August%20and%20the%20first%20joint-stock%20company%20VOC.docx#_ednref1" name="_edn1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
The conference room of the Heeren XVII in the East India House in Amsterdam,
1771.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;">Simon Fokke, pen and brush. Collection Stadsarchief,
Amsterdam, 010001000758<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="edn2" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/My%20Writing/31st%20of%20August%20and%20the%20first%20joint-stock%20company%20VOC.docx#_ednref2" name="_edn2" style="mso-endnote-id: edn2;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
According to Britannica, the English East India Company became a permanent
joint stock company in 1657 (<a href="https://www.britannica.com/money/topic/East-India-Company">link</a>).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="edn3" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/My%20Writing/31st%20of%20August%20and%20the%20first%20joint-stock%20company%20VOC.docx#_ednref3" name="_edn3" style="mso-endnote-id: edn3;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
“Netherlands” means low-lying country; Holland, from <i>Houtland</i>, means
“Wooded Land” (<a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/history-of-the-Netherlands#:~:text=%E2%80%9CNetherlands%E2%80%9D%20means%20low%2Dlying,Holland%20and%20Zuid%2DHolland).">Britannica</a>).
What’s now called the Netherlands was then called the Republic of the United
Provinces. Its sovereignty hadn’t been recognized abroad. “The VOC was a
prestige project that could demonstrate the Republic’s power and strength,” page
62.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="edn4" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/My%20Writing/31st%20of%20August%20and%20the%20first%20joint-stock%20company%20VOC.docx#_ednref4" name="_edn4" style="mso-endnote-id: edn4;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">[4]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
<a name="_Hlk146139412">Lodewijk Petram, The World’s First Stock Exchange</a>, <a name="_Hlk146139441">Columbia University Press</a>, 2014.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="edn5" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/My%20Writing/31st%20of%20August%20and%20the%20first%20joint-stock%20company%20VOC.docx#_ednref5" name="_edn5" style="mso-endnote-id: edn5;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">[5]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Page 10.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="edn6" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/My%20Writing/31st%20of%20August%20and%20the%20first%20joint-stock%20company%20VOC.docx#_ednref6" name="_edn6" style="mso-endnote-id: edn6;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">[6]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Unlike in the present day, no limit was set on the amount of capital to be
raised.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="edn7" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/My%20Writing/31st%20of%20August%20and%20the%20first%20joint-stock%20company%20VOC.docx#_ednref7" name="_edn7" style="mso-endnote-id: edn7;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">[7]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Petram. Robert Parthesius reports it as 6.5 million guilders; he also says the
capital of the first of the precompanies, which sent out a fleet of four ships,
was 290,000 guilders.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="edn8" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/My%20Writing/31st%20of%20August%20and%20the%20first%20joint-stock%20company%20VOC.docx#_ednref8" name="_edn8" style="mso-endnote-id: edn8;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">[8]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Page 14.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="edn9" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/My%20Writing/31st%20of%20August%20and%20the%20first%20joint-stock%20company%20VOC.docx#_ednref9" name="_edn9" style="mso-endnote-id: edn9;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">[9]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Page 12.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="edn10" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/My%20Writing/31st%20of%20August%20and%20the%20first%20joint-stock%20company%20VOC.docx#_ednref10" name="_edn10" style="mso-endnote-id: edn10;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">[10]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Net of registration and transcript fee (shared between buyer and seller) and
stamp duty. Commission (brokerage) isn’t mentioned. Page 26.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div>rama ramanathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18393433601515789090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1214403895665189408.post-15374817068296546262023-08-31T10:29:00.003+08:002023-08-31T10:35:06.497+08:00My interest in an Nawawi’s 40 Hadiths<p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik3qCnN6FEU5Go6nZy2frLlus_eMNT-ZH9TDpFTBjYuxnBoqfpMJCZCQp53egribilE_wF16kfrQ8Sc_eEBq9DzanWL4jTDbF80U66XnhpL0jgwaPhHPbkJYzmHy5fQi-QSPgIfy-zSF7TImzyT7Gtw92_uD5i4Mf7zkTdDS8z_LaYR5QQWnfgwL4eFKo/s602/Pontian,%20Noordin%20Mat%20Top,%20Imam%20Nawawi,%20and%20me.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="602" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik3qCnN6FEU5Go6nZy2frLlus_eMNT-ZH9TDpFTBjYuxnBoqfpMJCZCQp53egribilE_wF16kfrQ8Sc_eEBq9DzanWL4jTDbF80U66XnhpL0jgwaPhHPbkJYzmHy5fQi-QSPgIfy-zSF7TImzyT7Gtw92_uD5i4Mf7zkTdDS8z_LaYR5QQWnfgwL4eFKo/w640-h360/Pontian,%20Noordin%20Mat%20Top,%20Imam%20Nawawi,%20and%20me.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br />Am I, a non-Muslim, “brave” to make comments about a
collection of Muslim scriptures?<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/Islam/My%20interest%20in%20an%20Nawawis%2040%20Hadiths.docx#_edn1" name="_ednref1" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 107%;">[1]</span></span></span></a>
The answer is “perhaps.”</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Why? Because I edit very carefully before I post my comments.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Why? Because I know some, out of the belief that I’m
interfering in their business, will nitpick what I write. But I still write.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Why? I hope it’s because I try to “Love the Lord my God with
all my heart and mind and soul, and my neighbour as myself”.<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/Islam/My%20interest%20in%20an%20Nawawis%2040%20Hadiths.docx#_edn2" name="_ednref2" style="mso-endnote-id: edn2;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 107%;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
This is my version of the rule taught by Jesus, whose claims about himself I
accept.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">My home district is Pontian, Johor. It’s also the home
district of <a href="https://ms.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noordin_Mohammad_Top">Noordin
Mat Top</a>.<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/Islam/My%20interest%20in%20an%20Nawawis%2040%20Hadiths.docx#_edn3" name="_ednref3" style="mso-endnote-id: edn3;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 107%;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
He’s the <i>al Qaeda<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/Islam/My%20interest%20in%20an%20Nawawis%2040%20Hadiths.docx#_edn4" name="_ednref4" style="mso-endnote-id: edn4;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 107%;">[4]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a></i>
militant<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/Islam/My%20interest%20in%20an%20Nawawis%2040%20Hadiths.docx#_edn5" name="_ednref5" style="mso-endnote-id: edn5;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 107%;">[5]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
who was shot dead in Indonesia in 2011. His body was brought back to Malaysia.
And buried in my district.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The Malay and English Wikipedia pages on Noordin are
independent (not translations one of the other). The Malay page<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/Islam/My%20interest%20in%20an%20Nawawis%2040%20Hadiths.docx#_edn6" name="_ednref6" style="mso-endnote-id: edn6;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 107%;">[6]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
says over 3,000 people attended his funeral and chanted “Allahhuakbar!”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Since then, I’ve read much about how people become
radicalized.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I grew up with Malays. Often, I’d wait outside the home of
an Ustaz for my best friend to finish attending his religious class. Then we’d
go on adventures. We’d catch guppies, spiders. We’d race on our bicycles.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">It was only after 9/11 that I realized what texts the Ustaz
might’ve taught my friend. Because I never asked him about it. Just as he never
asked me what texts my parents taught me in our family’s altar room. For him
and for me, religious teaching was “yours for you, mine for me.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">After 9/11 I awoke to the public impact of religious
teachings.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I “saw” that Nathuram Godse prayed at a temple before killing
Gandhi; Jewish settlers prayed before killing Palestinians; Indian Hindutva prayed
before destroying Babri Masjid; Georgian Muslims prayed before firing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I woke up: my neighbour’s beliefs matter!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">After 9/11, governments around the world invested in actions
to curb terrorism. Made laws. Enhanced intelligence collection and policing.
The span of these actions included money laundering and terrorism. I think
especially of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I prayed for Ayob Khan, head of the counter-terrorism
division of the Royal Malaysian Police when I read that a terrorist group had
put him on its hit list. I was annoyed by his heavy-handedness in applying the
law, arresting, and locking up young, gullible youths for long periods.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I attended a public meeting at which one of the panellists
was an Ustaz involved in “deprogramming” Muslim POTA detainees. The Ustaz<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/Islam/My%20interest%20in%20an%20Nawawis%2040%20Hadiths.docx#_edn7" name="_ednref7" style="mso-endnote-id: edn7;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 107%;">[7]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
spoke of the need to correct “wrong interpretations” of texts. I thought he was
a sincere man trying to save lives and prevent family breakups.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">That’s why I don’t object to Imam Nawawi’s 40 Hadith being
taught to Muslims in schools funded in full or in part by the government.
Because I believe Hadith are already taught in these schools, in <i>ugama</i>
classes. I just see the current initiative as Anwar’s “I did it my way” claim
to fame.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Also, I see it as an opportunity for everyone, Muslim or
not, to read and to discuss a small sample of the thousands of Hadith. I stress
“small.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I look forward to publication of a “pupil-level” textbook,
more intelligible than the Hadith introductions by various authors and the collections<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/Islam/My%20interest%20in%20an%20Nawawis%2040%20Hadiths.docx#_edn8" name="_ednref8" style="mso-endnote-id: edn8;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 107%;">[8]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
of Bukhari and Muslim which I’ve failed to comprehend.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Additionally, I think speaking about Nawawi’s 40 will result
in more Muslims becoming aware of what’s really in their scriptures. I say this
because when I posted Nawawi’s choice #8 (actually #24 from Bukhari Volume 1,
Book 2), it seemed like an “Aha!” moment for many Muslims.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I do not highlight the seeming ignorance of some Muslim
readers to mock them. I say the same about my co-religionists, Christians. Most
of them are ignorant of the content of the Bible and the convoluted ways in
which texts can be interpreted.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I hope the current initiative will result in at least the
Council of Rulers, the National Fatwa Council, Anwar, Hadi, Sabu, and Zahid (the
leaders of the major Muslim-dominated parties), publicly stating what they make
of at least Hadith #8 in Imam Nawawi’s compilation:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Abdullah bin Omar narrated that the messenger
of Allah said:</span><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">"I have been ordered to fight against
people until they testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammed is
the messenger of Allah and until they perform the prayers and pay the zakat,
and if they do so they will have gained protection from me for their lives and
property, unless [they do acts that are punishable] in accordance with Islam,
and their reckoning will be with Allah the Almighty.“<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Related by Bukhari and Muslim.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I was glad to see the responses of several jubbah/songkok
wearers to lawyer Asiah Jalil’s critical<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/Islam/My%20interest%20in%20an%20Nawawis%2040%20Hadiths.docx#_edn9" name="_ednref9" style="mso-endnote-id: edn9;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 107%;">[9]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Facebook comment about Nawawi’s #8 of 42. Their responses give me some hope,
but also cause me some anxiety.<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/Islam/My%20interest%20in%20an%20Nawawis%2040%20Hadiths.docx#_edn10" name="_ednref10" style="mso-endnote-id: edn10;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 107%;">[10]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
I’ll give just one example.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I couldn’t help thinking about the case of a Christian who,
one Sunday, refused to be the public reader of a Bible text because it used the
word <i>heathen</i> to describe a people group. (If I’d been the reader, I
would’ve uttered “ahem” before and after reading the word.)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The jubbah/songkok respondents used the word <i>kafir</i>
without a pause. How would they feel if I called them <i>heathen</i>?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I think I’ve said enough to explain my interest in Nawawi’s
40 Hadiths. Peace be with you.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="mso-element: endnote-list;"><!--[if !supportEndnotes]--><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br clear="all" />
</span><hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="edn1" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/Islam/My%20interest%20in%20an%20Nawawis%2040%20Hadiths.docx#_ednref1" name="_edn1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 107%;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
A remark several people have addressed to me over the past week.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="edn2" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/Islam/My%20interest%20in%20an%20Nawawis%2040%20Hadiths.docx#_ednref2" name="_edn2" style="mso-endnote-id: edn2;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 107%;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
<a href="https://www.esv.org/Luke+10:27;Matthew+22:36%E2%80%9340;Mark+12:28%E2%80%9331/">Bible
texts</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="edn3" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/Islam/My%20interest%20in%20an%20Nawawis%2040%20Hadiths.docx#_ednref3" name="_edn3" style="mso-endnote-id: edn3;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 107%;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Noordin’s from Kayu Ara Pasong. I often took the bus there to hang out with a friend.
Most of the links in the footnotes to the Wikipedia article are broken.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="edn4" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/Islam/My%20interest%20in%20an%20Nawawis%2040%20Hadiths.docx#_ednref4" name="_edn4" style="mso-endnote-id: edn4;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 107%;">[4]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Noordin may have begun with Jemaah Islamiah before forming “Al-Qaeda Jihad
Organization for the Malay Archipelago” (<a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/newsMaps/idUSTRE58G2OR20090917">Reuters</a>).
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="edn5" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/Islam/My%20interest%20in%20an%20Nawawis%2040%20Hadiths.docx#_ednref5" name="_edn5" style="mso-endnote-id: edn5;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 107%;">[5]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4302368.stm">Obituary: Noordin
Mohamed Top</a> (BBC)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="edn6" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/Islam/My%20interest%20in%20an%20Nawawis%2040%20Hadiths.docx#_ednref6" name="_edn6" style="mso-endnote-id: edn6;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 107%;">[6]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
<a href="https://ms.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noordin_Mohammad_Top">https://ms.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noordin_Mohammad_Top</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="edn7" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/Islam/My%20interest%20in%20an%20Nawawis%2040%20Hadiths.docx#_ednref7" name="_edn7" style="mso-endnote-id: edn7;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 107%;">[7]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
The audience was mostly non-Muslim. But the Ustaz kept using Arabic. His point seemed
to be, if you don’t learn Arabic, you can’t interpret Muslim scriptures. I
thought, does he think we don’t know that even native Arab speakers don’t know
classical Arabic?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="edn8" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/Islam/My%20interest%20in%20an%20Nawawis%2040%20Hadiths.docx#_ednref8" name="_edn8" style="mso-endnote-id: edn8;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 107%;">[8]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
The 40 Hadith “translations” included in several English language commentaries
I’ve looked at are what translation specialists call “wooden.” I wish Muslims would
adopt “dynamic” translation philosophies and produce “contemporary
translations.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="edn9" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/Islam/My%20interest%20in%20an%20Nawawis%2040%20Hadiths.docx#_ednref9" name="_edn9" style="mso-endnote-id: edn9;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 107%;">[9]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
I use “critical” in the sense of discussing both the merits <u>and</u> faults
of an enterprise.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="edn10" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/Islam/My%20interest%20in%20an%20Nawawis%2040%20Hadiths.docx#_ednref10" name="_edn10" style="mso-endnote-id: edn10;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 107%;">[10]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
The ones I read/heard didn’t mention the use of #8 by militants such as
Noordin.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div>rama ramanathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18393433601515789090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1214403895665189408.post-78327801867345741072023-08-23T17:55:00.003+08:002023-08-24T05:23:02.648+08:00Police mythology goes on trial in the Raymond Koh civil suit<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAmelrQXp0fJ0kFxUBfQ0HnZwXS_MUPEf2HDSTS6iL1wIWJRExgC0xc-zwEcN7A80cdfe2_ReV2kP8nyf2HcrqpqehaUzdgD2sQZ2UZ4vEyhG0nCZ7-WF-bAgui6u643rdvIx_MTmjB0881gfcPNGS48MgNsiazf1V3CS9Zphh1z7eEsVshIw6ibaj1W4/s1448/Awaludin%20on%20PDRM%20FB%20clipped.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="945" data-original-width="1448" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAmelrQXp0fJ0kFxUBfQ0HnZwXS_MUPEf2HDSTS6iL1wIWJRExgC0xc-zwEcN7A80cdfe2_ReV2kP8nyf2HcrqpqehaUzdgD2sQZ2UZ4vEyhG0nCZ7-WF-bAgui6u643rdvIx_MTmjB0881gfcPNGS48MgNsiazf1V3CS9Zphh1z7eEsVshIw6ibaj1W4/w640-h418/Awaludin%20on%20PDRM%20FB%20clipped.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Royal Malaysian Police claims there are nearly 3 million Shiites in Malaysia</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Here, I’ll tell you what I heard in open court this week. I’ll
tell you some mythology about activists, Christians, and Shiites propagated by an
officer in the top echelons of the Royal Malaysian Police. I’ll tell you why I
think the mythology is accepted by the Attorney General’s Chambers. I’ll tell
you five things Raymond Koh’s son Jonathan told the judge, and I’ll tell you how
the Senior Federal Counsel (SFC) responded. I’ll end with some questions.</span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">This week, two members of the Special Branch (SB) of the
Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) again attended a hearing in Susanna and Raymond
Koh’s civil suit against the police and the government.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Why are members of the SB attending? To detect and prevent extremists
who might try to create a ruckus? Or for some other reason?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>Constitutional responsibility</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">We don’t know why the SB are attending, because anything to do with the police is secret.
But after the damning allegations against the police by a statutory body, citizens
have a constitutional responsibility to speculate.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I write “constitutional responsibility to speculate” because
those who uphold the constitution must cry “foul!” and demand that those in
power redress wrongs whenever there is evidence that the authorities fail to
afford equal protection under the law for everyone.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I write “damning allegations” because the Human Rights
Commission of Malaysia, Suhakam, after an exhaustive investigation, concluded that
the SB abducted and disappeared Raymond Koh and Amri Che Mat.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Suhakam also concluded that the “investigations” conducted by
the police were “tardy, sloppy, lackadaisical,” and put the victims outside the
protection of the law – as also in the case of Joshua Hilmy and Ruth Sitepu.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I write “against the police” because the SB is part of the
police and is subject to the Inspector General of Police. Suhakam said the
evidence showed the SB conducted the abductions, not another division of the
police. Suhakam didn’t exonerate the police.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I have no reason to believe the SB has been purged of the
belief that national security is threatened by Bersih activists, Christian evangelists,
and Shiite Muslims – evidence for this emerged during the Suhakam inquiry, and
I include some of it below.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>Reasons for being increasingly concerned</b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I’m increasingly concerned because during the hearings, I
see that the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) appears to support the labelling
of demonstrators, Christian evangelists, and Shiite Muslims as threats.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">What did I see? The SFC who is defending the police and the
government claimed that demonstrations are a threat to national security. When
she said this, Professor Gurdial Singh, one of the lawyers in the Kohs’ (<i>pro
bono</i>) legal team, sprang from his seat and objected.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">What did I see? Evidence of the extent to which the police are
motivated by falsehoods propagated by a man who appears to be their chief mythologist:
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Retired) Awaludin Jadid.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Awaludin’s role in what I call “tackling Christianizers”
first emerged when Malay Christians were targeted during Operation Lalang in 1987
– he was the Investigation Officer for several cases involving Malay Christians.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">In 2019, evidence about Awaludin was one of the planks in
Suhakam’s conclusion that the SB abducted Amri and Raymond in 2016 and 2017
respectively. He was also mentioned in the 2022 Suhakam decision in the case of
Joshua Hilmy and Ruth Sitepu.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Awaludin was Director of the Social Extremism Division (E2) of
the SB at the time Amri and Raymond were abducted, and Joshua and Ruth
disappeared. He went around the nation propagating his myths, meeting state
muftis, making speeches. Dates of what may be myth propagation and morale boosting
activities on his calendar eerily match the timeline of disappearances. (Suhakam
said this more diplomatically.)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>Jonathan Koh's testimony</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Raymond Koh’s son, Jonathan, testified on Monday and
Tuesday. He gave the judge an annotated statement. His evidence was led by another
lawyer in the Kohs’ legal team, Steve Thiru.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Jonathan included an account of his activities on the day
his father was abducted, and in the days following.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The abduction day was harrowing for Jonathan. He was informed
by phone that Raymond’s car was involved in a kidnapping, but the caller – who owned
the car Raymond used – didn’t know who had been kidnapped. He updated his
mother, Susanna. He viewed wrecked cars in a police compound. He looked for Raymond
in a hospital. He accompanied his mother. He was interviewed by the police. And
more.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">In the following days, Jonathan gathered evidence. He and
his sister got CCTV footage, clips from which were used to make the viral video
which shows the extent, precision, and confidence of the abductors. (It is a
matter of huge national embarrassment that the CCTV footage was obtained not by
the police, but by the children of the victim.)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The family played over in their minds the death threats they
had received in the aftermath of the August 2011 raid by the Selangor State
Islamic Authority (JAIS), escorted by the police, of the Harapan Komuniti
thanksgiving dinner in DUMC church in Petaling Jaya.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Over time, with the help of friends, they realized Raymond’s
abduction might be linked to that of Amri and of Joshua and Ruth. They found evidence
of incendiary speeches by Awaludin and others.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">They attended meetings with the police. They were astonished
when they saw a news report that the police had linked Raymond’s abduction to a
smuggling ring, though the police had said they had no new leads.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">They learned more during the Suhakam inquiry.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The family was shocked when the Attorney Generals Chamber’s
charged an Uber driver who had tried to extort money from Jonathan for the additional
crime of abducting Raymond – despite having earlier said they had no evidence
to link the driver with the incident.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Jonathan said the decision to charge the driver with abduction
was a ploy to stop Suhakam’s investigation. (To no one’s surprise, due to lack
of evidence, the driver was acquitted.)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">There was a lot more in Jonathan’s statement. I’ll give some
examples, to give you a sense of the “defence” offered by the SFC.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>Five examples of SFC's responses</b></span></p><div><b style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">My first example of what Jonathan included</b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">concerns a
package with two bullets and a death threat in red ink, delivered to the Koh
family’s home about three weeks after the DUMC incident.</span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Jonathan found the package in the letter box and brought it
to his father. After seeing the contents, Raymond immediately made a police report.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Jonathan said Raymond didn’t get updates from the police
about the investigation, and that the police didn’t charge anyone. (<u>Note</u>:
Unauthorized possession of bullets carries the death penalty; therefore, the
police should have conducted a prompt and thorough investigation.)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>What was the SFC’s response? I’ll summarize</b>. Since neither
the package nor the note named anyone in the Koh family, the threat was not directed
at them. Raymond may have got updates from the police and not told his family. The
span of six years from the “alleged” threat and Raymond’s abduction shows there’s
no connection between the two.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>My second example of what Jonathan included</b> is a
report by Ismaweb of a long speech by Awaludin in November 2015. Jonathan
presented the material in the original Malay. This is my own translation:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b><i>“Bukit Aman [Police HQ]
reveals Christian missionaries are masquerading as Muslims and influencing
Muslims</i></b><i>.<b><o:p></o:p></b></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">“Bukit Aman revealed that there
are Christian missionaries masquerading as Muslims in order to influence adherents
of Islam to become adherents of Christianity. This revelation was made by the Director
of the Social Extremism Division, Special Branch, Royal Malaysian Police, DCP
Awaludin Jadid. He also revealed that there are many kindergartens with names
that sound Islamic, but in reality, are centres for propagating Christianity.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><i>“Awaludin said 300 to 500 apostate
Muslims are still active in Malaysia and that it is intensely worrying that
they adopt liberal lifestyles which can confuse us. He urged NGOs to combine
forces and craft actions to halt the Christianization movement. He said many
NGOs hold demonstrations or protests to oppose things, but these actions are
not effective. He urged NGOs to discuss and evolve actions to prevent
escalation of this problem.”</i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Jonathan said that while Awaludin was giving his speech, the
following text was visible behind him (as seen in the accompanying screenshot
which I found on the Facebook page of Ismaweb):<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuaN3RD7pJcrxM-NF2C5Au252QNw5fTBWxrnc37woMhTniYbLXUstcE_amtk-e2w-ALkT9K-ZD_NZaryKozLuduRnCQueWQfQrZXxcCqi4XGw9UNc64uMl8mtxyMRY0GF-OzmAvOR7HzK8zZDpNBCyURqLef8bJ40YjFOzNfqIQl9My8otyIMpncmjvBM/s752/Ismaweb%20Awaludin%20Screenshot.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="652" data-original-width="752" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuaN3RD7pJcrxM-NF2C5Au252QNw5fTBWxrnc37woMhTniYbLXUstcE_amtk-e2w-ALkT9K-ZD_NZaryKozLuduRnCQueWQfQrZXxcCqi4XGw9UNc64uMl8mtxyMRY0GF-OzmAvOR7HzK8zZDpNBCyURqLef8bJ40YjFOzNfqIQl9My8otyIMpncmjvBM/s320/Ismaweb%20Awaludin%20Screenshot.png" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">“Scope of briefing:
Introduction. Christianization movement targeting Malays/Muslims/Indigenous
people. Religious groups/people involved. Modus operandi/approach.
Target/contributory factors. Statistics. Cases of interest.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>My third example</b> <b>of what Jonathan included</b> is
an extract from an article posted on the Facebook page of the Royal Malaysian
Police on 7 August 2017. This is my own translation from the Malay which I
heard read out by Jonathan:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">“Datuk Awaludin Jadid, Deputy
Director of the Social Extremism Threat Division of the Special Branch, Bukit
Aman, is alarmed that three million Shiites in Malaysia are posing a threat to
national security. He said although these Shiites have not been directly
involved in violence, they mastermind movements which threaten national
security. He said we mustn’t view the collapse of Islamic states such as Iraq
and Libya as normal. Studies which have been conducted have found that Shiites
are responsible.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>What was the SFC’s response to those passages?</b> She
said she’d read in full the articles from which Jonathan had obtained those
extracts. She said none of them named Raymond Koh or Komuniti Harapan or DUMC.
She said none of them named any of the persons from whom Susanna and Raymond
Koh are seeking damages in this suit. Therefore, the extracts have no
evidential value in the present case.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>My fourth example of what Jonathan included</b> is the
raid of the Harapan Komuniti Thanksgiving Dinner in DUMC in 2011, which I
mentioned in passing earlier. As confirmation of JAIS involvement, he
referenced a police report made by a JAIS official – a report from the Suhakam
inquiry. He said JAIS did not produce a search warrant.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>What was the SFC’s response?</b> She said the JAIS
official, in his police report, called the raid an inspection. She said it
could not have been a raid because no one was arrested, and Raymond wasn’t questioned.
She said Jonathan wouldn’t know whether or not a search warrant was produced –
because he had no direct contact with the officials.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>My fifth and final example of what Jonathan included</b>
is what he began with: photos of Raymond doing social work, such as handing out
food parcels, opening a centre, and so on.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>What was the SFC’s response?</b> She said since Jonathan
didn’t take the photos, and wasn’t in them, he couldn’t use the photos as proof
of what Raymond did. (Lawyer Dato’ Jerald Gomez, another lawyer in the Koh
family’s legal team, made short shrift of her argument. He showed that the string
of photos included one in which Jonathan himself appears.)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">After Jonathan’s testimony, Michelle Wong, the fourth member
of the Kohs’ legal team, led evidence from Mr Sri Ram. He was one of the three
directors of Harapan Komuniti, which has been voluntarily deregistered. I’ll
write about his evidence when the hearing continues on 7 November.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>Concluding thoughts</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I began with the mythology perpetuated and adopted as motivational
truth by the police, and the seeming acceptance by the Attorney General’s
Chambers (AGC).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">From my recounting of the evidence given by Jonathan Koh,
and the responses of the Senior Federal Counsel (SFC), what do you think is the
position of the AGC, and thus the position of the current government?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Are there 3 million Shiites in Malaysia? Are those who
organize protests and demonstrations a threat to national security? Did Shiites
bring about the collapse of Iraq and Libya? Is there a program of
Christianization in Malaysia? Are Christians choosing names for kindergartens
in order to trick and “convert” Muslims?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Since Awaludin was propagating his myths nationally over a
period of years, perhaps beginning as early as 1987, how deeply entrenched
within the police force is the view that activists, Christians, and Shiites pose
a threat to national security?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">What’s the extent of police involvement in the elimination
of Raymond and Amri? Has anything changed in the police force in response to
the reports of Suhakam in the cases of Amri, Raymond and Joshua and Ruth? What’s
the likelihood that it has? Is there any proof?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b><u>Note</u></b>: I understand the SFC has a job to do and
is duty-bound to cast doubts about the value of the evidence in relation to the
plaintiffs’ claims. She’s been put in a spot by the decision of the AGC to contest
so much of the evidence. To avoid crossing into judicial territory, I will say no more.</span><o:p></o:p></p>rama ramanathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18393433601515789090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1214403895665189408.post-51305087029963147722023-08-18T19:56:00.013+08:002023-08-19T07:07:13.355+08:00Responsible Kelantanese lawyers take it to court<p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVkgOpoL8TW3HGV0fQZsQDp-msb1hswv7DMwcFXHYfYjX75Vj9MidtDfR3nYYqTn4Te8tIdRzo3wJSB7GCzUah82bTiHkEVgBtSBryJheA2LZmJsOVccTWlRAgT22UjEFOd17H29_LtKzAD1OuI9kkrzfmSc38yOHtBBUBjZ6s_xapEy1RLf2XjPLcdFo/s950/Federal%20Court%20Nik%20Elin%2017%20Aug%202023.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Federal Court lobby, after the hearing" border="0" data-original-height="712" data-original-width="950" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVkgOpoL8TW3HGV0fQZsQDp-msb1hswv7DMwcFXHYfYjX75Vj9MidtDfR3nYYqTn4Te8tIdRzo3wJSB7GCzUah82bTiHkEVgBtSBryJheA2LZmJsOVccTWlRAgT22UjEFOd17H29_LtKzAD1OuI9kkrzfmSc38yOHtBBUBjZ6s_xapEy1RLf2XjPLcdFo/w640-h480/Federal%20Court%20Nik%20Elin%2017%20Aug%202023.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Federal Court lobby, after the hearing</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Some friends want me to write about why I went to the
Federal Court on Thursday. They want me to comment like I’ve done about other
cases. It’s not an easy task since this is a case before the Federal Court – more
on this later. First, a summary of the case.</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Case summary<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">The case was initiated by a mother-daughter duo: Nik
Elin and Tengku Yasmin. The mother is a practising lawyer. The daughter will
soon qualify to practice law. Their home state is Kelantan.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">As lawyers, they believe they must uphold the Federal
Constitution, the supreme law<a href="#_edn1" name="_ednref1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
of the Federation of Malaysia. They believe a law passed by the Kelantan state
assembly in 2019 contravenes the Constitution.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">The law is the “Kelantan Syariah Criminal Code (I) Enactment
2019.” By means of this enactment, the state assembly has given itself the
power to apprehend, prosecute and punish Muslims for 20 criminal offences.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">The list of offences includes making false claims,
destroying or defiling places of worship, sexual intercourse with a corpse,
sodomy, giving false evidence, consuming alcohol, and gambling.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">The duo argue that according to the Federal Constitution, the
20 offences fall within the law-making purview of Parliament. And that states
are forbidden from making laws concerning these – criminal – offences.<a href="#_edn2" name="_ednref2" style="mso-endnote-id: edn2;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">The duo argue that that interpretation has been practiced by
the federal and state governments, taught in law schools, and upheld by the
courts.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">The duo believe it is their duty as good citizens and, as members
of the legal profession, to ask the Federal Court to rule the enactment invalid.<a href="#_edn3" name="_ednref3" style="mso-endnote-id: edn3;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">As required by the Constitution, they asked a judge for
leave to bring their claims/case before the Federal Court.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">The judge granted them leave. They filed their case. They
named the government of Kelantan as respondent.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">The first hearing of arguments was held yesterday. (In
earlier hearings, the Court heard applications by many parties who asked to “intervene.”)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">All nine judges of the Federal Court are sitting together to
hear the case.<a href="#_edn4" name="_ednref4" style="mso-endnote-id: edn4;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;">[4]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">What I saw in court yesterday<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">I said at the outset that it’s not easy for me to comment,
as this is a case before the Federal Court. What do I mean by that?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">To put it very simply, judges of the Federal Court seem to operate
very differently from judges in lower courts. I formed three impressions.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">First, Federal Court judges are voracious, confident
readers. Yesterday, Chief Justice Maimun told one rambling lawyer “Counsel, we’ve
read the submissions. Judicial time is precious. Just answer my question.” References
such as “enclosure 92, page 472, paragraph 500,” were made.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Second, Federal Court judges are sharp. One judge said to one
counsel that he had referenced a decision which had been overturned. Another judge
said to a counsel that to prove the point he was allegedly making, he had to
show that the enactment restored previous practice.<a href="#_edn5" name="_ednref5" style="mso-endnote-id: edn5;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;">[5]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
And the list goes on.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Third, the Federal Court reverberates with technical terms
which are strange even to some lawyers. At one point, the term “pith and
substance” reverberated in the room. I overheard a Master and his interns<a href="#_edn6" name="_ednref6" style="mso-endnote-id: edn6;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;">[6]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
ask each other what “pith” means. Terms like “obiter,”<a href="#_edn7" name="_ednref7" style="mso-endnote-id: edn7;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;">[7]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
“non sequitur,”<a href="#_edn8" name="_ednref8" style="mso-endnote-id: edn8;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;">[8]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
“colouration”<a href="#_edn9" name="_ednref9" style="mso-endnote-id: edn9;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;">[9]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
and “preclusion”<a href="#_edn10" name="_ednref10" style="mso-endnote-id: edn10;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;">[10]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
were used.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">My biggest takeaway from yesterday is that civil servants in
religious departments around the country – Perlis, Selangor, Terengganu have been
permitted to participate – are distraught over a previous decision of the
Federal Court in the “Iki Putra” case.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">It’s the case of a man charged in a Selangor Syariah court
with attempting to have sex with another man. He asked the Federal Court to
rule on the constitutionality of a state law in respect of a criminal offence already
defined in the Penal Code.<a href="#_edn11" name="_ednref11" style="mso-endnote-id: edn11;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;">[11]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">In court yesterday, I heard the name “Justice Azahar”
mentioned several times in relation to that case. I now know it’s Tan Sri Azahar
Mohamed, then Chief Justice (Malaya). <u>No</u></span><span style="font-size: large;"><u>te</u>: This paragraph has been corrected for an earlier wrong attribution to the current Attorney General.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">In <a href="http://www.malikimtiaz.com.my/doc/CLJ465.pdf">Iki
Putra</a>, dated 25 February 2021, a full coram Federal Court said the state
doesn’t have the power to enact legislation on criminal offences. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">In Iki Putra, the Federal Court said the constitutional provision of equal protection
of the law<a href="#_edn12" name="_ednref12" style="mso-endnote-id: edn12;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;">[12]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
requires that the punishment for a crime must be the same wherever the crime is
committed in the Federation: it will not do to have a maximum punishment of 3
years under a state law, but 20 years under federal law.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-size: large;">I wonder whether Iki Putra triggered the then Attorney
General to instruct all state legal officers to review all state criminal legislation. (The AGC is not represented in the present case.)</span></li><li><span style="font-size: large;">I wonder whether there are instances of Syariah punishments being
different across the Federation.</span></li><li><span style="font-size: large;">I wonder whether any non-Muslim organizations asked to be
intervenors in the present case.</span></li></ul><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Will the Federal Court reverse a full-bench decision it made
two years ago? (Some judges in the Iki Putra <i>coram</i> are also in the present
<i>coram</i>.)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="mso-element: endnote-list;"><!--[if !supportEndnotes]--><span style="font-size: large;"><br clear="all" />
</span><hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="edn1" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="#_ednref1" name="_edn1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Federal Constitution, Article 4(1).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="edn2" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="#_ednref2" name="_edn2" style="mso-endnote-id: edn2;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
As delimited by the Federal and State lists in the 9<sup>th</sup> Schedule of
the Constitution.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="edn3" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="#_ednref3" name="_edn3" style="mso-endnote-id: edn3;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
As provided for in Art. 4(4) of the Constitution<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="edn4" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="#_ednref4" name="_edn4" style="mso-endnote-id: edn4;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;">[4]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
The number of judges sitting to hear a case is called a <i>coram</i>. This “<i>full
coram</i>” reflects the importance of the case.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="edn5" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="#_ednref5" name="_edn5" style="mso-endnote-id: edn5;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;">[5]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Counsel failed to provide proof.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="edn6" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="#_ednref6" name="_edn6" style="mso-endnote-id: edn6;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;">[6]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Before being called to the bar, and thereby be allowed to appear as counsel in
courts, a student must intern in a law firm and be a “pupil” to a “master.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="edn7" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="#_ednref7" name="_edn7" style="mso-endnote-id: edn7;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;">[7]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
In a decision, something said in passing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="edn8" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="#_ednref8" name="_edn8" style="mso-endnote-id: edn8;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;">[8]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
<span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #202124;">A conclusion or statement that does not </span><span class="aranob"><u><a data-ved="2ahUKEwjWponfiOaAAxXohVYBHVUkBF0QyecJegQIDhAK" href="https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=558091660&rlz=1C1GCEA_enMY1018MY1018&sxsrf=AB5stBh4PL_Pr2ZfkyUzRUiQjJpWPkhrZg:1692356900450&q=logically&si=ACFMAn8hzZSJQsgXIYlkGc-z1vmpsFiK4_CnJBg-jyMDYFodZiDMlZLniZAx4tRGNvfCD4rwk4pPqlua6SzlWgmXaRhU1CQ1Cg%3D%3D&expnd=1" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); color: inherit; outline: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">logically</span></a></u></span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> follow from the previous argument or statement</span>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="edn9" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="#_ednref9" name="_edn9" style="mso-endnote-id: edn9;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;">[9]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
An appearance of legal power to act that may operate in violation of law.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="edn10" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="#_ednref10" name="_edn10" style="mso-endnote-id: edn10;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;">[10]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
The action of preventing something from happening.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="edn11" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="#_ednref11" name="_edn11" style="mso-endnote-id: edn11;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;">[11]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Sections 377 and 377A.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="edn12" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="#_ednref12" name="_edn12" style="mso-endnote-id: edn12;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;">[12]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Federal Constitution, Article 8.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div>rama ramanathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18393433601515789090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1214403895665189408.post-20772523827706528052023-06-07T17:17:00.006+08:002023-06-07T17:21:41.227+08:00This is how the AGC is treating Suhakam’s investigation of the disappearance of Pastor Raymond Koh<p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP_rWrm-LKufSpnC0c-EO_wVf0-AMD8IUpUxWbL756ZvkwyO3VL5zLmUzBN3rBwyJrzhnOErWqxSfdjTJ51lMNfE0RjhHJU4HRe59eqkl5SL0Wg5sMjKUS-4lR9SyD96HjCWbX6MR7daI1FBHL4R8nMDan_gm24p5WK0wxQP874BU90ahwPU3tEsXl/s2301/Koh%20Family%20-%20Day%202.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1725" data-original-width="2301" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP_rWrm-LKufSpnC0c-EO_wVf0-AMD8IUpUxWbL756ZvkwyO3VL5zLmUzBN3rBwyJrzhnOErWqxSfdjTJ51lMNfE0RjhHJU4HRe59eqkl5SL0Wg5sMjKUS-4lR9SyD96HjCWbX6MR7daI1FBHL4R8nMDan_gm24p5WK0wxQP874BU90ahwPU3tEsXl/w640-h480/Koh%20Family%20-%20Day%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Susanna (far right) speaking to the media</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br />In my article <a href="https://write2rest.blogspot.com/2023/06/how-will-agc-treat-suhakams.html">yesterday</a>, I said the public are looking for
the answer to this question:</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">How will the AGC treat
Suhakam’s investigation of the abduction and disappearance of Pastor Raymond
Koh?<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Today, when Senior Federal Counsel (SFC, from the Attorney
Generals’ Chambers, AGC) Nurul Farhana began cross-examining the first witness for the plaintiffs', part of the answer emerged.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">As I said yesterday, the witness is Roeshan Thiran Gomez. He
witnessed the abduction of Raymond. He went to a police station. He made a
report. He provided additional assistance to the police. And later to Suhakam,
the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia, a body formed by Parliament.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">It’s thanks to Roeshan that Raymond’s family, and the
public, know that Raymond was abducted. Suhakam, in its final report into the
disappearance of Raymond, made a point of thanking Roeshan:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><i>The Panel takes this
opportunity to commend and thank Roeshan for having gone to the Police Station
promptly to lodge a police report after witnessing the incident along Jalan
SS4B/10, Kelana Jaya. By doing so, Roeshan had performed his civic duties
admirably and responsibly notwithstanding that he had to spend at least two (2)
hours waiting to give his statement to Inspector Ali. The conduct of Roeshan
augurs well for his legal career in the future. </i>(Paragraph 200, Suhakam’s
Final Decision in the case.)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Those who attended the Suhakam hearings or have read the
Notes of Proceedings of the hearings, know that the police never questioned the
veracity of Roeshan’s report, never accused Roeshan of making a false report, and
never complained about Roeshan.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I was therefore surprised by the approach taken by the SFC today
when she cross-examined Roeshan.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The SFC asked Roeshan whether he knew Raymond or his family;
what time he left his home on that day; what the visibility was; how far he was
from the commotion he “allegedly” saw and reported to the police.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The SFC asked Roeshan about details he didn’t include in his
police report, e.g., make of the car which he said he’d seen someone abducted from,
name of the companion who was with him during the time he said he witnessed the
abduction, registration numbers of vehicles, etc.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Bluntly and repeatedly she “put it” to Roeshan that he didn’t
include the details because he didn’t witness what happened. She appeared to
suggest that he made up his police report after seeing the video of Raymond’s
abduction compiled from CCTV clips<a href="#_edn1" name="_ednref1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 107%;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><sup>,<a href="#_edn2" name="_ednref2" style="mso-endnote-id: edn2;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 107%;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a></sup>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The SFC continues to insist that the maker of the video must
be identified before the video can be accepted as evidence, seemingly in accordance
with the Evidence Act.<a href="#_edn3" name="_ednref3" style="mso-endnote-id: edn3;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 107%;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I was surprised she did not offer to let Roeshan see the “112
statement” which the police recorded from him after he made his police report.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Isn’t the 112 statement a tool for officers trained and
experienced in investigative work, and in how to deal with traumatized
witnesses, to gather evidence while it is fresh in their minds, and to
plot paths and assign resources to find evidence to close gaps in knowledge?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I couldn’t help wondering whether the SFC shot the defendants
whom she represents. After all, the police never charged Roeshan with making a
false police report. And the police acknowledged assistance from Roeshan’s
companion during the course of their investigations (identification parade and photo-fit
if memory serves me right).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">This is the public’s question which I framed yesterday, and repeated
at the outset of this article:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">How will the AGC treat
Suhakam’s investigation of the abduction and disappearance of Pastor Raymond
Koh?<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Part of the answer has emerged.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The AGC’s position is that Roeshan
duped the Suhakam investigation panel, comprising retired judge of the Court of
Appeal, Dato’ Mah Weng Kwai, and law professors Dato’ Dr Aishah Bidin, and Dr Nik
Salida Suhaila binti Nik Salleh.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">It’s for the presiding judge, Judicial Commissioner Soo
Tiang Joo, to decide the merits of the AGC’s position. The cross-examination of
Roeshan is slated to continue on the afternoon of 20 June.<a href="#_edn4" name="_ednref4" style="mso-endnote-id: edn4;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 107%;">[4]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><u>Note</u>: Some have asked whether it’s ok for me to write
such commentary while the case is on-going. My response is that this is a
matter of grave national interest<a href="#_edn5" name="_ednref5" style="mso-endnote-id: edn5;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 107%;">[5]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>,
many want to know what’s happening in court, and have urged me to be their eyes
and ears. And I only write what’s said in open court. I will not write anything
expressly forbidden by the judge.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="mso-element: endnote-list;"><!--[if !supportEndnotes]--><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br clear="all" />
</span><hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="edn1" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><a href="#_ednref1" name="_edn1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 107%;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Raymond and Susanna’s lawyer, Dato’ Jerald Gomez, addressed the court about the
video. He referred to minutes of meetings between representatives of his firm
and of the AGC, and a follow-up letter from Suhakam which he said demonstrated
the AGC had previously agreed the video is authentic. A companion officer of the
SFC said an AGC officer mentioned in the minutes would have to verify the
minutes.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="edn2" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><a href="#_ednref2" name="_edn2" style="mso-endnote-id: edn2;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 107%;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
The SFC’s questions were confusing. Often I wasn’t sure whether she was
referring to Roeshan’s police report, his witness statement to Suhakam, his
witness statement in this trial, or some other document.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="edn3" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><a href="#_ednref3" name="_edn3" style="mso-endnote-id: edn3;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 107%;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
I must note in passing that on one occasion, the judge told the SFC to be
guided not by common sense, but by the law. He made an explicit reference to
the Evidence Act. The context was assumptions she had used as basis while cross-examining
Roeshan.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="edn4" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><a href="#_ednref4" name="_edn4" style="mso-endnote-id: edn4;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 107%;">[4]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
In courtroom NCVC3, third floor, right wing, Duta Court Complex. The subsequent
hearing dates have been fixed for 6-7 November and, in 2024, 27-30 May and 4-6
June.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="edn5" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><a href="#_ednref5" name="_edn5" style="mso-endnote-id: edn5;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 107%;">[5]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
To the extent that the government has appealed a High Court order to release to
Amri’s family the report of a Task Force set up as response to Suhakam’s report.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div>rama ramanathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18393433601515789090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1214403895665189408.post-13110067308137904412023-06-06T18:29:00.017+08:002023-06-06T21:00:54.082+08:00How will the AGC treat Suhakam’s investigation of the abduction and disappearance of Pastor Raymond Koh?<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF96kLW-9jQNYw1dUDBGWzDqwdXRuhit-lOF_AwpbeYCry78g907RT0woQtk1FDvQQXtVD2GNPul15_9s6hTtwhT48O4hSzVtxG2dMDgqFEMJGqviNr51tUk0E4THUNOC_sFYoeNrUL-nRkgjb8Vq7XgL1xFHX_nhf4_kiSHdcHFeS_Vpl9XL1o9eT/s3391/Koh%20family%20and%20their%20lawyers%20-%20Day%201.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1908" data-original-width="3391" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF96kLW-9jQNYw1dUDBGWzDqwdXRuhit-lOF_AwpbeYCry78g907RT0woQtk1FDvQQXtVD2GNPul15_9s6hTtwhT48O4hSzVtxG2dMDgqFEMJGqviNr51tUk0E4THUNOC_sFYoeNrUL-nRkgjb8Vq7XgL1xFHX_nhf4_kiSHdcHFeS_Vpl9XL1o9eT/w640-h360/Koh%20family%20and%20their%20lawyers%20-%20Day%201.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Koh family with their lawyers</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">“How will the AGC treat Suhakam’s investigation of the abduction
and disappearance of Pastor Raymond Koh,” is one of the questions the public will be trying to answer.</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">We’re looking for answers during the hearings in the High
Court, Kuala Lumpur, in the case of the abduction of Pastor Raymond Koh by the
Special Branch, Bukit Aman, of the Malaysian Police.</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Yes, I wrote “abduction of Raymond Koh by the Special
Branch.” I write it on the authority of a statutory body formed by the
Parliament of Malaysia. On the authority of Suhakam, the Human Rights
Commission of Malaysia, which, after an exhaustive, public, inquiry, concluded:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><i>The direct and circumstantial
evidence in Pastor Raymond Koh’s case proves, on a balance of probabilities,
that he was abducted by State agents, namely, the Special Branch, Bukit Aman,
Kuala Lumpur.</i> (Paragraph 36, Suhakam’s Final Decision in the case.)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Raymond Koh and his wife Susanna have brought a civil suit
against the government and various individuals vested by the public with immense,
exclusive police powers.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Today, the court heard an opening statement by counsel for the
plaintiffs, Raymond, and Susanna. And heard evidence from one witness.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">As Federal Counsel from the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC),
pointed out, Raymond’s whereabouts are unknown, so he can’t have provided instructions
to his lawyers. How can he be a plaintiff? This is a matter of <i>locus standi</i>,
the right to bring an action in court.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">After hearing both sides, the judge ruled that Susanna would
be treated as Raymond’s “litigation representative.”<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/Raymond%20Koh%20High%20Court%20Commentary/Day%201%20(6%20June%202023)%20How%20will%20the%20AGC%20treat%20Suhakam.docx#_edn1" name="_ednref1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 107%;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Federal Counsel are, of course, doing their jobs. It’s a
given that the process in a civil suit (unlike in a coronial inquiry into a death)
is adversarial. Federal Counsel, for the defendants, are opposing the claims of
the plaintiffs, the family. They are “assisting the judge.” They are “upholding
the law,” including the Law of Evidence. They are working to avoid the setting
up of precedents with unintended consequences. I get it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">But there are several problems. I’ll point out just four of
them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>First</b>, there’s limited – though, hopefully, sufficient
– evidence. Why? Because, as lawyer Gurdial Singh Nijar said in his opening
statement, the plaintiffs' case is that the police didn’t do a proper job of
gathering evidence, and even obfuscated Suhakam’s efforts to get to the truth.
So, “mere suspicions can lead to strong conclusions; a compelling rope must be
woven from many strands of evidence; the usual heavy burden of proof must not
be applied to the plaintiffs.” Gurdial provided several international case references
for this. Does the AGC accept this?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>Second</b>, the AGC sanctioned the police’s refusal to
assist Suhakam by allowing access to police documents which would show whether they
did an adequate investigation, and whether there was undue interference. If the
AGC colludes in hiding information from a statutory body, a body with powers
invested in it by Parliament, what message is the AGC sending Parliament and
the watching world? Can the AGC serve the public interest if it colludes in
hiding police misfeasance (wrongful use of legal authority) and malfeasance
(wrongdoing by public officials)? This question is of course not unique to this
case.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>Third</b>, the AGC commenced unfounded prosecution of one
Mr Lam for “kidnapping” of Raymond Koh – a prosecution which culminated in the
courts giving Lam a “Discharge Not Amounting to Acquittal, DNAA.” (During the
Suhakam hearings, the Investigation Officer in the Raymond Koh case said there’s
no evidence to link Lam with the abduction.) I say “unfounded prosecution” because
the DNAA makes it seem like the prosecution was commenced not on the basis of evidence,
but as part of a strategy to derail Suhakam’s investigation.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>Fourth</b>, the AGC has made no statements about Suhakam’s
findings – despite Suhakam’s recommendation that the AGC should take an active role
in a fresh investigation of the abduction of Pastor Koh. (In Paragraph 192.1,
the panel recommended the AGC appoint members of an Investigative Task Force.) Does
the AGC treat Suhakam’s reports, the conclusions of a well-attested, exhaustive
inquiry, as hearsay?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Now, I’ll offer some other highlights from today.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>What’s the AGC’s position on the viral video?</b> When the
viral video of Raymond’s abduction was tendered today by family counsel, Datuk Jerald
Gomez, Federal Counsel said the defendants object to its veracity. This despite
lengthy references to the Suhakam Notes of Evidence which show the police had
previously accepted the video as true. Shortly thereafter, she said the
defendants accept it, but with the proviso that they accept “authenticity” but
not content (or vice versa; I didn’t get it). Gomez told the court he didn’t
know what she meant. Neither do I.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>Special Branch men in the courtroom?</b> Present in the
gallery today were some persons who may well be members of the Special Branch.
Questions flooded my mind: Did any of them participate in the abductions? Why
are they attending? On whose instructions? What will they report? To whom? What
message does their presence send?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Today, the plaintiffs’ called Roeshan Thiran Gomez as their
first witness. He’s the person who witnessed Koh’s abduction and reported it to
the police.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Roeshan validated the viral video. He also gave evidence
about how the police used him in their investigation.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Roeshan was asked about a prime suspect, Saiful Bahari<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/Raymond%20Koh%20High%20Court%20Commentary/Day%201%20(6%20June%202023)%20How%20will%20the%20AGC%20treat%20Suhakam.docx#_edn2" name="_ednref2" style="mso-endnote-id: edn2;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 107%;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>,
a Special Branch operative who owned the Gold Toyota Vios which Suhakam
concluded was used in the abductions of Raymond and of Amri Che Mat. He said
Saiful was not in the Identification Parades he was asked to participate in (Jerald
Gomez showed him photos of Saiful Bahari).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Roeshan also said none of the persons in the line-ups
resembled the descriptions he had given to the police of the person who had
ordered his friend (who was in the car with him) not to video-record the abduction,
and had ordered Roeshan to reverse his car.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Additionally, Roeshan said the first Investigating Officer
(IO), Inspector Ali, phoned a number, asked whether the police had conducted an
abduction operation and seemed not to get a clear answer.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Roeshan also said that later a police officer told him the
abduction may have been the work of religious extremists.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The hearing continues tomorrow<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/Raymond%20Koh%20High%20Court%20Commentary/Day%201%20(6%20June%202023)%20How%20will%20the%20AGC%20treat%20Suhakam.docx#_edn3" name="_ednref3" style="mso-endnote-id: edn3;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 107%;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
with cross-examination of Roeshan by Senior Federal Counsel Nurul Farhana
Khalid. She said she’ll need two hours to question him. She also said she would
respond tomorrow to the plaintiffs’ request that the court visit the scene of Raymond’s
abduction.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The plaintiffs’ argument is that the modus operandi of abduction
was used by the Special Branch to fulfil the motive of removing “troublesome
individuals.” That the police failed to provide Raymond Koh the protection of
the law. And that some key individuals named in the suit engaged in a cover-up
of major proportions in order to avoid liability.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Judicial Commissioner Soo Tiang Joo is presiding.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="mso-element: endnote-list;"><!--[if !supportEndnotes]--><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br clear="all" />
</span><hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="edn1" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/Raymond%20Koh%20High%20Court%20Commentary/Day%201%20(6%20June%202023)%20How%20will%20the%20AGC%20treat%20Suhakam.docx#_ednref1" name="_edn1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 107%;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Rules of Court 2012, Order 15, rule 17: “The Court may give the conduct of any
action, inquiry or other proceeding to such person as it thinks fit.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="edn2" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/Raymond%20Koh%20High%20Court%20Commentary/Day%201%20(6%20June%202023)%20How%20will%20the%20AGC%20treat%20Suhakam.docx#_ednref2" name="_edn2" style="mso-endnote-id: edn2;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 107%;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Saiful Bahari mysteriously disappeared after he was questioned – and exonerated
– by the police soon after the abduction of Amri Che Mat. The police say they
cannot find him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="edn3" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/Raymond%20Koh%20High%20Court%20Commentary/Day%201%20(6%20June%202023)%20How%20will%20the%20AGC%20treat%20Suhakam.docx#_ednref3" name="_edn3" style="mso-endnote-id: edn3;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 107%;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
In courtroom NCVC3, third floor, right wing, Duta Court Complex.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div></div>rama ramanathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18393433601515789090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1214403895665189408.post-24507000547377734582023-05-17T11:50:00.001+08:002023-05-17T11:50:12.495+08:00What should the government do after the farcical Annapuranee Jenkins inquest?<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8zeTcNwK3o1WQRWLuzwROPMOiFRfGILW0BdcZy-7U6odoK2HfoG2sa5swkhKXKTcKyBwFMO6NX_lKFzR7lmIi95WbVM1QbVS4gMXPQLdkRghTPBSlwPH29sk0Dd8uB3CZi-czATakKV8HV-WQdRxc1t-vynoVI-STN7wrCMq2pnR5eG5kaJCIN4ex/s800/Frank_Pangallo_with_Annapuranee_Jenkins%E2%80%99_son_Greg-Sofia_Nasir.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="800" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8zeTcNwK3o1WQRWLuzwROPMOiFRfGILW0BdcZy-7U6odoK2HfoG2sa5swkhKXKTcKyBwFMO6NX_lKFzR7lmIi95WbVM1QbVS4gMXPQLdkRghTPBSlwPH29sk0Dd8uB3CZi-czATakKV8HV-WQdRxc1t-vynoVI-STN7wrCMq2pnR5eG5kaJCIN4ex/w640-h428/Frank_Pangallo_with_Annapuranee_Jenkins%E2%80%99_son_Greg-Sofia_Nasir.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frank Pangallo (MP, Parliament of South Australia) with Greg Jenkins<br />Photo credit: The Vibes</td></tr></tbody></table><br />17 May 2023 Media statement by Citizens Against Enforced
Disappearances (CAGED)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Australian Frank Jenkins and his wife Annapuranee visited
Malaysia regularly over many years.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">They came to Malaysia together in December 2017. Frank left
in the same month.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">18 out of 206 bones in Anna’s skeleton left in a box in 2023.
The remainder of her bones are embedded in the Kensington Gardens housing
project in Penang.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">An inquest into Anna’s death was held because Anna’s family,
supported by the Parliament of South Australia and the Government of Australia,
insisted that her disappearance must be investigated in accordance with law. If
not for their insistence, no inquest would have been held.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">That’s the first thing to fix. Coroners must comply with the
law. If they don’t, they must be made to pay a price.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Before we speak of other things to fix, we explain why we
say the inquest into Anna’s death was a farce.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">It was a farce not because the coroner (in Penang, on 12 May)
returned an open verdict.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Months ago, when we learned the police had recovered only a
fraction of Anna’s bones, we knew the coroner would have to deliver an open
verdict, because the pathologist wouldn’t be able to determine time, place, and
cause of death.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The inquest was problematic for many reasons. We’ll list ten
of them. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 42.55pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">1.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->The coroner failed to direct the Assisting
Officers (“DPP”) from the Attorney General’s Chambers to ensure that the police
had gathered the evidence necessary for her to make a decent decision.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 42.55pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">2.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->The coroner failed to ensure that witnesses were
scheduled so that their evidence could be effectively and efficiently adduced.
The few hours used for adducing evidence on hearing days and the intervals
between hearing days were a show of contempt for the family.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 42.55pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">3.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->The inquest was a mockery because when witnesses
made wild allegations about Anna which they could not support with evidence,
the coroner failed to direct the media not to report what they said.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 42.55pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">4.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->When police witnesses said they didn’t collect
information such as phone records, Anna’s alleged diary or journal, video
records, the coroner responded weakly. She appeared to condone such lapses.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 42.55pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">5.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->The inquest was a travesty because the coroner
didn’t prepare a written decision to explain her rationale for accepting or
rejecting key pieces of evidence, especially since there were glaring
contradictions between police testimony and the testimony of Anna’s son.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 42.55pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">6.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->The public is left wondering why the Nora Anne
Quoirin decision (Negeri Sembilan) is 111 pages, but the Penang coroner wrote
nothing for Anna and merely delivered an oral verdict in 3 minutes.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 42.55pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">7.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->The coroner failed to take judicial notice of
the string of police failures in the handling of the case. These failures recall
those documented by the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) in the
cases of Raymond Koh, Amri Che Mat and Joshua and Ruth Hilmy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 42.55pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">8.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->The proceedings were conducted in Malay,
although family members and officers from the Australian High Commission – who
attended every hearing – do not understand Malay. Much of the Quoirin inquest
was conducted in English.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 42.55pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">9.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->When there is no evidence to determine time,
place and cause of death, the goal of the inquest should shift to understanding
why there is no evidence and to take judicial notice of police failures which
made impossible the fulfilment of the coronial investigation mandated by law.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 42.55pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">10.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->The inquest was a travesty because the coroner
can appeal to multiple other examples of coroners acting similarly – for
example in the inquest into the death of Thomas Orhions Ewasinha, a Nigerian
Ph.D. student who died in immigration custody – the KL coroner delivered a
similarly short, oral decision.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">From the above, it should be clear that the public have
strong grounds for calling the inquest a farce, mockery, travesty. How should
the government respond?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">We call on Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and Law
Minister Azalina Othman Said to set up a commission to review how the police
handle reports of missing persons and sudden death reports.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">We call on them to produce a white paper to describe the
problems which need to be fixed through better resourcing or supervision and
the problems which need to be fixed through revision of legislation.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">We urge Parliament to enact a Coroner’s Act modelled on that
of the United Kingdom, with variations to suit conditions in our nation.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Rama Ramanathan<br />
Spokesperson<br />
Citizens Against Enforced Disappearances (CAGED)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></p>rama ramanathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18393433601515789090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1214403895665189408.post-70779866869279814072023-04-17T20:50:00.004+08:002023-04-18T10:44:10.200+08:00Roopen inquest: ASP reveals the problem with Death in Custody investigations <p><span class="TextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" face=""Verdana Pro", "Verdana Pro_EmbeddedFont", "Verdana Pro_MSFontService", sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; font-weight: bold; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space: pre-wrap;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-aAzwfvMFI9uhXxVQyBWKOgdPbWGAmq-NKOa61N3xJP3XKVNCnfoTtIX1wY8GGqaMGsFqip1BZa5kGZQPhPajE9UXNCll6R0GVlNya6qXFxMjqz81Qhs88v3bfKLWpjQJ_Kurgz42ZO81JTWkNlEYxA9dJLanmV_H_Kkv0YDDzt5mOUzFjWo1u1nc/s6856/Shah%20Alam%20Coroners%20Court.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3856" data-original-width="6856" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-aAzwfvMFI9uhXxVQyBWKOgdPbWGAmq-NKOa61N3xJP3XKVNCnfoTtIX1wY8GGqaMGsFqip1BZa5kGZQPhPajE9UXNCll6R0GVlNya6qXFxMjqz81Qhs88v3bfKLWpjQJ_Kurgz42ZO81JTWkNlEYxA9dJLanmV_H_Kkv0YDDzt5mOUzFjWo1u1nc/w640-h360/Shah%20Alam%20Coroners%20Court.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtroom in Shah Alam. (Source: internet)</td></tr></tbody></table><span class="TextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" face=""Verdana Pro", "Verdana Pro_EmbeddedFont", "Verdana Pro_MSFontService", sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; font-weight: bold; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space: pre-wrap;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Shah </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Alam</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, 17 April 2023</span></span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" face=""Verdana Pro", "Verdana Pro_EmbeddedFont", "Verdana Pro_MSFontService", sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space: pre-wrap;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. Shining buttons. Three stars on each of his shoulders. Bright eyes. Commanding voice. Crisp answers. Exudes confidence. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Just</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> 41-years-old. Senior Investigation Officer.</span></span></span><p></p><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW144222739 BCX8" paraeid="{b16a1fd7-e04b-4224-876e-ad7536b85cf0}{170}" paraid="325345964" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" face=""Verdana Pro", "Verdana Pro_EmbeddedFont", "Verdana Pro_MSFontService", sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW144222739 BCX8" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{5cf2b71a-9a60-4bc5-a636-e84d8676dc94}{106}" paraid="170914736" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" face=""Verdana Pro", "Verdana Pro_EmbeddedFont", "Verdana Pro_MSFontService", sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">He’s</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> the Investigating Officer (IO) in the case of the Death in Custod</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">y of K</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Roopen</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. He prepared well. He failed badly.</span></span></span></p><p class="Paragraph SCXW144222739 BCX8" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{5cf2b71a-9a60-4bc5-a636-e84d8676dc94}{106}" paraid="170914736" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="EOP SCXW144222739 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face=""Verdana Pro", "Verdana Pro_EmbeddedFont", "Verdana Pro_MSFontService", sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW144222739 BCX8" paraeid="{b16a1fd7-e04b-4224-876e-ad7536b85cf0}{194}" paraid="548860878" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" face=""Verdana Pro", "Verdana Pro_EmbeddedFont", "Verdana Pro_MSFontService", sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">The IO came with a well-prepared written statement, in Malay. Copies were given to the officers of the court. He read it out. He even brought many documents </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">he’d</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> been asked to bring. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">He’d</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> organized the documents well.</span></span></span></p><p class="Paragraph SCXW144222739 BCX8" paraeid="{b16a1fd7-e04b-4224-876e-ad7536b85cf0}{194}" paraid="548860878" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" face=""Verdana Pro", "Verdana Pro_EmbeddedFont", "Verdana Pro_MSFontService", sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW144222739 BCX8" paraeid="{b16a1fd7-e04b-4224-876e-ad7536b85cf0}{208}" paraid="866955035" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" face=""Verdana Pro", "Verdana Pro_EmbeddedFont", "Verdana Pro_MSFontService", sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;">But there was a tragic problem.</span></span></p><p class="Paragraph SCXW144222739 BCX8" paraeid="{b16a1fd7-e04b-4224-876e-ad7536b85cf0}{208}" paraid="866955035" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" face=""Verdana Pro", "Verdana Pro_EmbeddedFont", "Verdana Pro_MSFontService", sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW144222739 BCX8" paraeid="{b16a1fd7-e04b-4224-876e-ad7536b85cf0}{214}" paraid="7106530" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" face=""Verdana Pro", "Verdana Pro_EmbeddedFont", "Verdana Pro_MSFontService", sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">The IO only investigated criminal aspects of the case. He thought his job was to </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">establish</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> that no crime had been committed. He focused on the absence of signs of beatings or torture, absence of drugs and toxins in the cold, dead body of K </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Roopen</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">.</span></span></span></p><p class="Paragraph SCXW144222739 BCX8" paraeid="{b16a1fd7-e04b-4224-876e-ad7536b85cf0}{214}" paraid="7106530" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" face=""Verdana Pro", "Verdana Pro_EmbeddedFont", "Verdana Pro_MSFontService", sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW144222739 BCX8" paraeid="{b16a1fd7-e04b-4224-876e-ad7536b85cf0}{228}" paraid="1138153381" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" face=""Verdana Pro", "Verdana Pro_EmbeddedFont", "Verdana Pro_MSFontService", sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Family counsel </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">T Shashi Devan</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> nailed it with the questions he put to the IO, whose name </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">I’ve</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> chosen to omit.</span></span></span></p><p class="Paragraph SCXW144222739 BCX8" paraeid="{b16a1fd7-e04b-4224-876e-ad7536b85cf0}{228}" paraid="1138153381" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" face=""Verdana Pro", "Verdana Pro_EmbeddedFont", "Verdana Pro_MSFontService", sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW144222739 BCX8" paraeid="{b16a1fd7-e04b-4224-876e-ad7536b85cf0}{242}" paraid="500731" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" face=""Verdana Pro", "Verdana Pro_EmbeddedFont", "Verdana Pro_MSFontService", sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">The </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">confident</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> ASP admitted that he </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">di</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">dn’t</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> r</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">evi</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">ew the</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> medical records in the case. He admitted that he </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">di</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">dn’t</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> i</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">nve</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">stigat</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">e who ordered the D-dimer test on </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Ro</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">open</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">and</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> why.</span></span></span></p><p class="Paragraph SCXW144222739 BCX8" paraeid="{b16a1fd7-e04b-4224-876e-ad7536b85cf0}{242}" paraid="500731" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" face=""Verdana Pro", "Verdana Pro_EmbeddedFont", "Verdana Pro_MSFontService", sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW144222739 BCX8" paraeid="{11cbfba4-ca3a-4969-a58b-01af36bb7f91}{5}" paraid="1696257068" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" face=""Verdana Pro", "Verdana Pro_EmbeddedFont", "Verdana Pro_MSFontService", sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">The D-dimer test is central to this case. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Roopen</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, an inmate of Kajang prison, suffered severe breathing difficulties and was brought to Kajang hospital for emergency treatment. For reasons yet to be </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">established</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, but </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">likely related</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> to a bruise on his leg, the D-dimer test was ordered.</span></span></span></p><p class="Paragraph SCXW144222739 BCX8" paraeid="{11cbfba4-ca3a-4969-a58b-01af36bb7f91}{5}" paraid="1696257068" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" face=""Verdana Pro", "Verdana Pro_EmbeddedFont", "Verdana Pro_MSFontService", sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW144222739 BCX8" paraeid="{11cbfba4-ca3a-4969-a58b-01af36bb7f91}{23}" paraid="173242226" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" face=""Verdana Pro", "Verdana Pro_EmbeddedFont", "Verdana Pro_MSFontService", sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">D-dimer is a protein which appears in our blood when our bodies try to break down blood clots which may form for </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">various reasons</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. A high D-dimer result </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">almost always</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> results in other tests being ordered </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">– </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">to enable doctors to discover and treat causes of blood clots such as Deep Vein Thrombosis.</span></span></span></p><p class="Paragraph SCXW144222739 BCX8" paraeid="{11cbfba4-ca3a-4969-a58b-01af36bb7f91}{23}" paraid="173242226" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" face=""Verdana Pro", "Verdana Pro_EmbeddedFont", "Verdana Pro_MSFontService", sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW144222739 BCX8" paraeid="{11cbfba4-ca3a-4969-a58b-01af36bb7f91}{41}" paraid="834737128" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" face=""Verdana Pro", "Verdana Pro_EmbeddedFont", "Verdana Pro_MSFontService", sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">In Roopen’s case, there was a high D-dimer test result. The IO failed to discover who ordered the test, and why. The IO failed to discover why no other tests were ordered to be done on </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Roopen</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. The IO </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">failed to</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> question anyone who worked in the shift during which the test was ordered.</span></span></span></p><p class="Paragraph SCXW144222739 BCX8" paraeid="{11cbfba4-ca3a-4969-a58b-01af36bb7f91}{41}" paraid="834737128" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" face=""Verdana Pro", "Verdana Pro_EmbeddedFont", "Verdana Pro_MSFontService", sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW144222739 BCX8" paraeid="{11cbfba4-ca3a-4969-a58b-01af36bb7f91}{67}" paraid="1083717534" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" face=""Verdana Pro", "Verdana Pro_EmbeddedFont", "Verdana Pro_MSFontService", sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">It’s</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> baffling, because the IO knew the forensic pathologist had concluded the cause of </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Roopen’s</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> death was a thromboembolism. He found a 2-inch length of clotted blood in his left leg. He concluded that parts of it broke off, flowed into </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Roopen’s</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">heart</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> and clogged it until it failed.</span></span></span></p><p class="Paragraph SCXW144222739 BCX8" paraeid="{11cbfba4-ca3a-4969-a58b-01af36bb7f91}{67}" paraid="1083717534" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" face=""Verdana Pro", "Verdana Pro_EmbeddedFont", "Verdana Pro_MSFontService", sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW144222739 BCX8" paraeid="{11cbfba4-ca3a-4969-a58b-01af36bb7f91}{83}" paraid="763057214" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" face=""Verdana Pro", "Verdana Pro_EmbeddedFont", "Verdana Pro_MSFontService", sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Failure to treat the causes of blood clotting in Roopen is one of the case theories which the IO </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">should’ve</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> investigated. He </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">didn’t</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. Instead, he focused on causes such as torture, poisoning and drugs.</span></span></span></p><p class="Paragraph SCXW144222739 BCX8" paraeid="{11cbfba4-ca3a-4969-a58b-01af36bb7f91}{83}" paraid="763057214" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" face=""Verdana Pro", "Verdana Pro_EmbeddedFont", "Verdana Pro_MSFontService", sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW144222739 BCX8" paraeid="{11cbfba4-ca3a-4969-a58b-01af36bb7f91}{97}" paraid="1478298626" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="TextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" face=""Verdana Pro", "Verdana Pro_EmbeddedFont", "Verdana Pro_MSFontService", sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">This is what happens when crime investigators are assigned to investigate cases of death in custody without </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">specif</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">ic training. Even star performers such as the ASP seems to be.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW144222739 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face=""Verdana Pro", "Verdana Pro_EmbeddedFont", "Verdana Pro_MSFontService", sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW144222739 BCX8" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{148d17a4-9e18-49cd-934f-b14c35ff3aa0}{164}" paraid="1671756604" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" face=""Verdana Pro", "Verdana Pro_EmbeddedFont", "Verdana Pro_MSFontService", sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;">Without specific training, they will fail the nation. Repeatedly.</span></span></p><p class="Paragraph SCXW144222739 BCX8" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{148d17a4-9e18-49cd-934f-b14c35ff3aa0}{164}" paraid="1671756604" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" face=""Verdana Pro", "Verdana Pro_EmbeddedFont", "Verdana Pro_MSFontService", sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW144222739 BCX8" paraeid="{11cbfba4-ca3a-4969-a58b-01af36bb7f91}{103}" paraid="1762428848" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" face=""Verdana Pro", "Verdana Pro_EmbeddedFont", "Verdana Pro_MSFontService", sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">The IO must recognize that he alone has the power to obtain evidence.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> He must recognize that he must </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">provide</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> evidence for a coroner to decide whether “any unlawful act or omission on the part of any other person” contributed to the death of the deceased. (Criminal Procedure Code, section 328)</span></span></span></p><p class="Paragraph SCXW144222739 BCX8" paraeid="{11cbfba4-ca3a-4969-a58b-01af36bb7f91}{103}" paraid="1762428848" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" face=""Verdana Pro", "Verdana Pro_EmbeddedFont", "Verdana Pro_MSFontService", sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW144222739 BCX8" paraeid="{11cbfba4-ca3a-4969-a58b-01af36bb7f91}{109}" paraid="1303211439" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" face=""Verdana Pro", "Verdana Pro_EmbeddedFont", "Verdana Pro_MSFontService", sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;">Shashi Devan’s interventions also helped reveal other failures.</span></span></p><p class="Paragraph SCXW144222739 BCX8" paraeid="{11cbfba4-ca3a-4969-a58b-01af36bb7f91}{109}" paraid="1303211439" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" face=""Verdana Pro", "Verdana Pro_EmbeddedFont", "Verdana Pro_MSFontService", sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW144222739 BCX8" paraeid="{11cbfba4-ca3a-4969-a58b-01af36bb7f91}{115}" paraid="925335562" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" face=""Verdana Pro", "Verdana Pro_EmbeddedFont", "Verdana Pro_MSFontService", sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">For example, Roopen needed breathing support. But the prison ambulance in which he was taken to the hospital </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">didn’t</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> have Oxygen support.</span></span></span></p><p class="Paragraph SCXW144222739 BCX8" paraeid="{11cbfba4-ca3a-4969-a58b-01af36bb7f91}{115}" paraid="925335562" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" face=""Verdana Pro", "Verdana Pro_EmbeddedFont", "Verdana Pro_MSFontService", sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW144222739 BCX8" paraeid="{11cbfba4-ca3a-4969-a58b-01af36bb7f91}{129}" paraid="966587944" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" face=""Verdana Pro", "Verdana Pro_EmbeddedFont", "Verdana Pro_MSFontService", sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;">Reviewing a logbook, Shashi Devan spotted that the ambulance was used to transport the child of a prison staff member.</span></span></p><p class="Paragraph SCXW144222739 BCX8" paraeid="{11cbfba4-ca3a-4969-a58b-01af36bb7f91}{129}" paraid="966587944" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" face=""Verdana Pro", "Verdana Pro_EmbeddedFont", "Verdana Pro_MSFontService", sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW144222739 BCX8" paraeid="{11cbfba4-ca3a-4969-a58b-01af36bb7f91}{135}" paraid="2112322302" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="TextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" face=""Verdana Pro", "Verdana Pro_EmbeddedFont", "Verdana Pro_MSFontService", sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Most importantly, the IO said that </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Roopen</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, after he returned to the prison, had not been given the </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" face=""Verdana Pro", "Verdana Pro_EmbeddedFont", "Verdana Pro_MSFontService", sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Augmentin </span><span class="TextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" face=""Verdana Pro", "Verdana Pro_EmbeddedFont", "Verdana Pro_MSFontService", sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">antibiotic tablets he had been supplied with when discharged from the hospital. (As I noted </span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW144222739 BCX8" href="https://write2rest.blogspot.com/2023/02/k-roopen-inquest-dr-topknot-and-top.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; user-select: text;" target="_blank"><span class="TextRun Underlined SCXW144222739 BCX8" data-contrast="none" face=""Verdana Pro", "Verdana Pro_EmbeddedFont", "Verdana Pro_MSFontService", sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #0563c1; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: underline; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">previously</span></span></a><span class="TextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" face=""Verdana Pro", "Verdana Pro_EmbeddedFont", "Verdana Pro_MSFontService", sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, a doctor testified that failure to take the antibiotic would have led to </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Roopen’s</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> death.)</span></span></span></p><p class="Paragraph SCXW144222739 BCX8" paraeid="{11cbfba4-ca3a-4969-a58b-01af36bb7f91}{135}" paraid="2112322302" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" face=""Verdana Pro", "Verdana Pro_EmbeddedFont", "Verdana Pro_MSFontService", sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW144222739 BCX8" paraeid="{11cbfba4-ca3a-4969-a58b-01af36bb7f91}{151}" paraid="1945105381" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" face=""Verdana Pro", "Verdana Pro_EmbeddedFont", "Verdana Pro_MSFontService", sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">There are also unanswered questions about gaps in the timeline. For instance, why did it take two and a half hours for the prison authorities to lodge a police report after the hospital certified </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Ro</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">open</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> d</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">ead?</span></span></span></p><p class="Paragraph SCXW144222739 BCX8" paraeid="{11cbfba4-ca3a-4969-a58b-01af36bb7f91}{151}" paraid="1945105381" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" face=""Verdana Pro", "Verdana Pro_EmbeddedFont", "Verdana Pro_MSFontService", sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW144222739 BCX8" paraeid="{11cbfba4-ca3a-4969-a58b-01af36bb7f91}{161}" paraid="405894566" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" face=""Verdana Pro", "Verdana Pro_EmbeddedFont", "Verdana Pro_MSFontService", sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Disappointed by the failure of the IO to question witnesses whom they consider critical for </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">establishing</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> a reliable timeline, the family asked for nine </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">addit</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">ional</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> witn</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">esses to be called. The coroner agreed to three.</span></span></span></p><p class="Paragraph SCXW144222739 BCX8" paraeid="{11cbfba4-ca3a-4969-a58b-01af36bb7f91}{161}" paraid="405894566" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" face=""Verdana Pro", "Verdana Pro_EmbeddedFont", "Verdana Pro_MSFontService", sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW144222739 BCX8" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{54e2a831-06f9-4564-87dc-d6a1c64937cd}{78}" paraid="266619790" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="TextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" face=""Verdana Pro", "Verdana Pro_EmbeddedFont", "Verdana Pro_MSFontService", sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">The coroner, Justice </span><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlSpellingErrorV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Rasyihah</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, also admitted into evidence a confidential investigation report into </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Roopen’s</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> death by Suhakam, the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia. This </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">admi</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">ssion without calling a Suhakam official is unusual, though within her power. Highly commendable!</span></span></span></p><p class="Paragraph SCXW144222739 BCX8" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{54e2a831-06f9-4564-87dc-d6a1c64937cd}{78}" paraid="266619790" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="EOP SCXW144222739 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face=""Verdana Pro", "Verdana Pro_EmbeddedFont", "Verdana Pro_MSFontService", sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW144222739 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW144222739 BCX8" paraeid="{11cbfba4-ca3a-4969-a58b-01af36bb7f91}{175}" paraid="851869678" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="TextRun SCXW144222739 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" face=""Verdana Pro", "Verdana Pro_EmbeddedFont", "Verdana Pro_MSFontService", sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">The hearing continues in Shah Alam Coroner’s Court on 18 May 2023. Roopen died on 21 June 2021.</span><span class="EOP SCXW144222739 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face=""Verdana Pro", "Verdana Pro_EmbeddedFont", "Verdana Pro_MSFontService", sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div>rama ramanathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18393433601515789090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1214403895665189408.post-3858430772674951742023-02-16T20:40:00.002+08:002023-02-16T21:30:08.957+08:00 K Roopen Inquest: Dr Topknot - and a top-notch Coroner?<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvp3vxJmSk29XJZ_S1TJkYlvdpuCYApO93R6bd4BsAE2NhILQ-ZVNsGosXQzMg4iCKbv0a6lhI5GaC4GDe83f3UNZ-32cq4Zm1nFqXO0-EX6iJuH5j5glawZ6ffvClK0s_dqbXpCPZeVS0UrfJaQj-qpziQvx_HUCTQWp0sNXPiOQgQfCQP6H0Mnkl/s6856/Shah%20Alam%20Coroners%20Court.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3856" data-original-width="6856" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvp3vxJmSk29XJZ_S1TJkYlvdpuCYApO93R6bd4BsAE2NhILQ-ZVNsGosXQzMg4iCKbv0a6lhI5GaC4GDe83f3UNZ-32cq4Zm1nFqXO0-EX6iJuH5j5glawZ6ffvClK0s_dqbXpCPZeVS0UrfJaQj-qpziQvx_HUCTQWp0sNXPiOQgQfCQP6H0Mnkl/w640-h360/Shah%20Alam%20Coroners%20Court.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shah Alam Courtroom (source: internet)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">He wore a pink shirt tucked into his jeans. He had a
topknot (a “man bun”): he’d tied his scalp hair in the shape of a sharp mound.
I’ll call him Topknot.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Dr Topknot discharged prisoner K Roopen, 25-years, from
Kajang hospital the day before he died in Kajang prison on 21 June 2021.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Topknot testified today before the Selangor coroner,
sessions court judge Rasyihah Ghazali, at a hearing in the inquest into Roopen’s
death. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I’ve attended many inquests in Malaysia, before many
coroners. I complained in <a href="https://write2rest.blogspot.com/2023/01/another-day-of-dismay-in-annapuranee.html">Another
day of dismay in the Annapuranee Jenkins inquest</a>, that coroners often allow
and engage in lack of punctuality. And that they often don’t take the lead, don’t
behave like they’re supposed to. I wrote:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt;"><i><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">An inquest is supposed to be
inquisitorial. … the driving, directing force [should be] the coroner. I’m
still looking for evidence of this.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Today, I’m delighted I can say there’s evidence in
Justice Rasyihah.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Rasyihah models respect for time. Today she chided two
persons for lateness. She even refused the Assisting Officer’s request for a
10-minute “stand down” in order for her to ‘organize’ a witness. Syabas!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">It gets better. Rasyihah asked many questions – to the
extent that the Assisting Officer and family counsel could omit many of their
questions. Never have I had occasion to note so many questions asked by a
coroner. Syabas!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I’ll return now to Topknot.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Topknot was questioned rigorously because Roopen died the
day after Topknot discharged him from Kajang Hospital, back to the prison.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><u><span style="line-height: 107%;">Note</span></u><span style="line-height: 107%;">: Topknot was not Roopen’s
attending doctor. He did not treat Roopen. He was merely responsible for
discharging him. The attending doctor had testified earlier (I was not
present).<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Topknot said he discharged Roopen because he had shown good
recovery – he didn’t need oxygen support, his temperature was normal, he breathed
normally. He said he discharged Roopen with instructions that he should complete
the course of antibiotics begun in the hospital. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Family counsel T Sashi Devan asked Topknot what would have
happened if Roopen had not continued with the antibiotics. Topknot answered
that he would have collapsed and even died, because “the bacteria just <i>pengsan
(</i>faint<i>)</i>” after 3 days and would have revived.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Topknot said he was surprised when he was told Roopen had
died. He was surprised because Roopen’s case was “not complicated.” He was
surprised because Roopen was young.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">In response to a query by family counsel, Topknot revealed
that he had done his own investigation. He’d gone to the lab and looked at
Roopen’s records. He’d seen that a “D-dimer” test had been done on Roopen’s
blood. The result was about 18, much more than the expected 0.5.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Topknot said the D-dimer test is not specific: a high
D-dimer result could be due to trauma, inflammation, infection, or embolism. There
was no other test data of concern. No symptoms. No complaints by Roopen. Hence,
there was no indication that further treatment was needed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Family counsel questioned Topknot at length to tease out
whether he might be able to shed light on who had ordered the D-dimer test, and
why. Topknot said the question shouldn’t arise, because during the COVID-19 period
when Roopen died, the D-dimer test was routine.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">He said the D-dimer test was likely to have been ordered after
Roopen was in the ward, not while he was in the Emergency zone, because much
writing of case details is required in order to complete the D-dimer test
request – and they don’t have the time to do this in the Emergency zone.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">When Family counsel pointed out that a Specialist from
the same hospital had testified that only a Specialist could order the test, Topknot
said the court should accept the evidence of the Specialist.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">This morning, before hearing from Topknot, the inquest
heard from the doctor at the Kajang prison’s inhouse hospital (RSD: <i>Rumah
Sakit Dalam</i>) who had attended to Roopen on 17 June 2021. This doctor, with
short hair and long sideburns, wore a light blue shirt. I’ll call him Lisbon.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Lisbon told the court Roopen presented with “sudden
onset shortness of breath,” and the only symptoms he could detect in him were
a high pulse and low oxygen. He said he put Roopen on oxygen and ordered him
sent to Kajang Hospital for further investigation.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Lisbon also said Roopen’s lungs were clear and that he
showed no clinical signs of infection. He expected the Kajang Hospital would
X-ray Roopen as part of their investigation, to confirm the status of his lungs.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">In answer to questions, Lisbon said at the material time the
prisoners had not been given COVID-19 vaccinations.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The mystery remains.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The pathologist who conducted the autopsy put the <a href="https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2023/02/13/inmate-couldve-been-saved-if-blood-clot-treated-earlier-court-told/">cause
of death</a> as pulmonary embolism (blood clot which blocks an artery in the
lung) arising from deep vein thrombosis in Roopen’s left leg. Yet, the medical
records and doctors’ testimonies say nothing about the bruise and clot.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">A third witness, the Investigating Officer (IO) was to be
called. However the Assisting Officer told the court the IO’s statement had
gaps and it would be in the interest of the court to give the IO time to
improve it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Family counsel agreed. He added that Roopen’s family would
like to hear the IO’s testimony, but couldn’t be present today because of ill
health.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The IO’s testimony is now scheduled for 17 April. The inquest
began at 9:30 and ended at noon, with no break: the most respectful and effective
use of time I’ve ever experienced during an inquest.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Syabas, Justice Rasyihah! I respectfully submit that you’re
top-notch in respect of time-keeping and acting like an inquisitor.</span></span></p>rama ramanathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18393433601515789090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1214403895665189408.post-80773901792078900962023-02-06T18:30:00.004+08:002023-02-06T19:18:40.486+08:00 How did the Batang Kali massacre shape Malaysian history? <p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimp03A5kZHFRkR6FGOUVD7C-hvN_QwQ4KXb-DlajlafB-B5koFah4b2Rc4rut9NwgnnI01qfqM0IUS31xETUr_YkD9Bspxw0SU12PiQMNtKEeqHBuOZB8BOpYfBULfKxE-MWEwCS5BGh9z0A-lg3JmGUdPux5LnOvVz6V0uP6XKgyrPJxvitekH6Yr/s1000/Batang%20Kali%20Massacre.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimp03A5kZHFRkR6FGOUVD7C-hvN_QwQ4KXb-DlajlafB-B5koFah4b2Rc4rut9NwgnnI01qfqM0IUS31xETUr_YkD9Bspxw0SU12PiQMNtKEeqHBuOZB8BOpYfBULfKxE-MWEwCS5BGh9z0A-lg3JmGUdPux5LnOvVz6V0uP6XKgyrPJxvitekH6Yr/w640-h480/Batang%20Kali%20Massacre.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image credit: https://www.emilyding.me/the-batang-kali-massacre</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">It became known as the Batang Kali massacre. 24 Chinese villagers
were shot dead. By members of a British military regiment, the Scots Guards.</span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">They shot them dead on 12 December 1948. They shot them
dead in the village of Batang Kali. They shot them dead six months after the
Communist Party of Malaya was banned and “the Emergency” was declared. They shot
them dead three months after they arrived in Malaya.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Why did they do it? There are two versions.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">First, the government version, published at the time and
maintained for decades. Second, the confession version, published 12 years
later.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The government version is that the soldiers killed the
villagers as they were trying to escape. Escape from what? From being arrested
and interrogated on suspicion of being or aiding communist terrorists.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">This is the official account of the government version:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><i><span style="line-height: 107%;">Acting on police
information, patrol of 2SG [Scots Guards] found 26 male suspects in a </span></i><span style="line-height: 107%;">kongsi<i>
house … on the evening of 11 December. 1 who attempted to escape was shot dead,
and the remainder confined in the </i>kongsi<i> house under guard for the
night. Acting on information supplied by one of the suspects, a </i>kepala<i>
[headman] arriving with a lorry [truck] full of food was arrested early in the
morning. Shortly afterwards 25 suspects attempted a mass escape on a
pre-arranged signal. They ran into parties of our own troops who had been
positioned to block the exits into the jungle, and 24 of them were shot dead.</i>
(Source: Headquarters Malaya District G Branch, Quarterly Historical Report
1948 October-December).<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The confession version is by soldiers who participated in
the killing. This is my summary of Dr Christi Siver’s 2009 account of the confession
version:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt;"><i><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Before the patrol left for
the village, their commander briefed them. He said their objective was to wipe
out the village and everyone in it because they were either terrorists or were
helping terrorists. At the village, the soldiers separated the women and
children. Then the sergeant told the soldiers all the remaining men and boys
were to be shot. He said anyone who wished to opt out could do so. No one did.
They divided the victims into groups. Each group was taken by three soldiers to
different areas at the edges of the village. The soldiers fired into the victims
until all were dead. None were shot while trying to escape.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Curiously, neither version mentions burning – which the
European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), in a <a href="https://laweuro.com/">2018
decision</a> said “could not be the subject of serious doubt.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">In the ECHR version, the Scots Guards shot dead one male
on 11 December and another 23 males the following day. After which they burned
down the inhabitants’ huts.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Dr Siver is a political science professor. Her research
focuses on international security and human rights. Her account of what I have
termed the confession version is based on extensive research.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I found it in a paper she submitted to the American Political
Science Association for its annual meeting in 2009. It is titled “The Other
Forgotten War: Understanding atrocities during the Malayan Emergency” (<a href="https://digitalcommons.csbsju.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1014&context=polsci_pubs">download</a>,
54 pages).<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">In the paper, Siver seeks to answer many questions. Among
them are: What happened in Batang Kali? Why did it happen? What was its impact
on operations to end terrorist activities in Malaya during the 12-year “Emergency”
which ended in 1960? This thought motivated her:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt;"><i><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Discovering why some units
participated in war crimes is critical to understanding how civilian and
military leaders can prevent these small scandals that endanger larger
political and military operations.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Siver interrogated oral histories, media reports, official
documents, communist propaganda, and other literature. This makes it hard for
me to fathom Siver’s failure to mention the burning of the huts in Batang Kali.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Nevertheless, her paper gives many insights into how the
war – for war is what it was – was conducted. I’ll mention four of them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b><span style="line-height: 107%;">First</span></b><span style="line-height: 107%;">, the majority of the soldiers
were National Service conscripts, 18-30 years old. They served for just 18-24
months.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b><span style="line-height: 107%;">Second</span></b><span style="line-height: 107%;">, initially, the military
leader in Malaya was distinct from the civilian leader and actions by soldiers
could be investigated by the civil government. Magistrates could and did conduct
inquests into all deaths.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The impact of that role separation is strikingly
illustrated by “a botched ambush in which soldiers killed a woman and injured
an old man.” The ambush was investigated by a civilian magistrate. He concluded
the soldiers should be tried under local law.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The military leader, General John Harding, responded. He
threatened the civilian leader, Sir Henry Gurney, with a full military pull-out
if the trial proceeded. Gurney found a way to exonerate the soldiers. This signalled
to them that “civilian authorities had no power to question their actions.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Such tension between the military and civilian leaders dissolved
after January 1952, when General Templer was appointed High Commissioner: the High
Commissioner was given both hats.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b><span style="line-height: 107%;">Third</span></b><span style="line-height: 107%;">, the oddity of labelling the
guerrillas as bandits. The guerrillas were in the military wing of a political
outfit, the Malayan Communist Party. But the politicians insisted they be called
bandits, forbade labelling them as “the enemy” and barred reference to “a war.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The result? The Malayan war wasn’t reported in Britain as
a frontier in the Cold War, the global fight against communism. Siver found
that “there was very little coverage of the Emergency in the London newspapers”
and concluded that this led to soldiers’ lack of a clear sense of purpose:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><i><span style="line-height: 107%;">Soldiers were sceptical of
efforts to link the conflict to Britain or national security; they saw
themselves more cynically as protecting British economic interests.</span></i><span style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b><span style="line-height: 107%;">Fourth</span></b><span style="line-height: 107%;">, the importance soldiers
place on the particular regiment they belong to, the identity they draw from
this. In Siver’s words:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><i><span style="line-height: 107%;">Developing regimental pride
and identity is a key part of basic training in the British military. Each
regiment learns its history; training officers quiz new recruits with
historical events and regimental honours. Most soldiers stay with their
regiment for their entire military careers; their loyalty, while technically to
the Crown, often lies with their regiment.</span></i><span style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Siver suggests that a failure to achieve a good number of
captures or kills drove the Scots Guards actions in Batang Kali. Here are two observations
she marshals to support her suggestion:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt;"><i><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Up to that day [their] bag
of terrorists had been very poor indeed … they could not shoot at moving
targets with any accuracy …<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt;"><i><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The Scots Guards had a
relatively weak record of insurgent captures or kills; pressure would have been
high to generate some kind of result to compare to other units.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">She focuses on the Scots Guards because her review of the
records showed that the Batang Kali massacre was the only <i>en masse</i>
shooting during the Malayan Emergency.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Space does not allow me to list all the other
explanations of the Batang Kali massacre offered over the years, many of which Siver
discusses - including the (then in-drafting) Geneva conventions, commitment to
use minimum force and avoiding civilian casualties, service experience levels, training,
socialization, discipline, junior officer influence, and more.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Suffice to say that when she tested them against records
she reviewed, she found them insufficient to explain the Batang Kali massacre.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">According to Siver, the factors which contributed to the
Scots Guards killing innocent civilians in Batang Kali were lack of training,
discipline, adaptability, accountability and general regard of Chinese as
enemies.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Google reminded me of the massacre when I began researching
the Batang Kali mudflow deaths in December 2022. I was drawn to read up about
the massacre for three reasons.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b><span style="line-height: 107%;">First</span></b><span style="line-height: 107%;">, to appreciate the tenacity
of relatives of the Batang Kali victims, who pressed for justice despite the
passing of decades: they devotedly and relentlessly brought their prayers
before British and European courts.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b><span style="line-height: 107%;">Second</span></b><span style="line-height: 107%;">, to reflect on what history
can predict of the likely results of Putin’s diktat that his war in Ukraine mustn’t
be called a war.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b><span style="line-height: 107%;">Three</span></b><span style="line-height: 107%;">, to consider what impact the
government’s failure to admit and address its responsibility for the Batang
Kali massacre had on the shape of Malaysian history. I’ll crystallize this in
the form of three questions:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Would Malayan Chinese have been more
cooperative with the colonial government if there had been no massacre in
Batang Kali?<o:p></o:p></span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Would the resort to violence by our own
police be less entrenched if the Batang Kali assassins had been tried,
convicted and punished?<o:p></o:p></span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Could terrorist actions by the communists
have been ended without resort to herding and caging Malayan Chinese in “New
Villages”?<o:p></o:p></span></span></li></ol><!--[if !supportLists]--><p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Siver seems to think the answer to the three questions is yes. I
can only go so far as to say “perhaps.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">What I find striking is that there was at least one
magistrate then who took his responsibility as a coroner seriously. I wish
coroners in Malaysia today were as committed to investigating “sudden deaths.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Siver notes that “the authorities conducted a cursory
investigation of the [massacre]” and that they “quickly concluded that the unit
justifiably shot the villagers as they tried to escape. [But] privately, the
Attorney General admitted that the incident was ‘a bona fide mistake.’”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">However, Siver says nothing about an inquest by a coroner
– as required by the Criminal Procedure Code (1935). It seems failing to
investigate deaths goes back a long way in Malaysia.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Will the Selangor coroner conduct inquests into the 31 mudflow
deaths? Or will the historic experience of Batang Kali victims be repeated?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>rama ramanathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18393433601515789090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1214403895665189408.post-13440176843759039442023-01-19T18:31:00.004+08:002023-01-21T06:09:20.226+08:00 Shambolic is how I would describe the Anna Jenkins inquest<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj50QBEdOE1gfWnEqTTF4_cnShTD6KwJNgW6O4YklzXwHEzz8mv18FnRftxjtFk34wtLIwZDBjZP-8jmlVtbwJuEQeN_LHP21T3vato_puLq7wOqULUcLec35Ppq0QnhCYfRJBxbJ-pyQiWbIZh1bDwK0sWn0q9pjbmzblbjpO4FuDBEcwYz6S0qvSP/s2048/Arriving%20at%20the%20Kensington%20Gardens%20site%20on%2019%20Jan%202023%20-%203.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj50QBEdOE1gfWnEqTTF4_cnShTD6KwJNgW6O4YklzXwHEzz8mv18FnRftxjtFk34wtLIwZDBjZP-8jmlVtbwJuEQeN_LHP21T3vato_puLq7wOqULUcLec35Ppq0QnhCYfRJBxbJ-pyQiWbIZh1bDwK0sWn0q9pjbmzblbjpO4FuDBEcwYz6S0qvSP/w640-h360/Arriving%20at%20the%20Kensington%20Gardens%20site%20on%2019%20Jan%202023%20-%203.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">In Kensington Gardens. Coroner being briefed before entering the "incident scene" behind the rock wall, where Anna Jenkins remains were found</span></td></tr></tbody></table>“Shambolic” means “chaotic,
disorganized, or mismanaged.” Shambolic is my one-word summary of the Annapuranee
Jenkins (Anna) inquest.</span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Today I attended what
has turned out to be the last day of hearings in the inquest. Today, I
constantly asked myself why officers of the court didn’t put the family of the
deceased at the centre of the inquest.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Anna is the 65-year-old
Australian wife, mother of two and grandmother of two who was reported missing in
Penang in December 2017. A portion of her skeletal remains were found 30 months
later, together with some of her personal effects.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Anna, a devout woman
who set herself to serving others, is surely very proud of her children. They’ve
shown their love and respect for her in a remarkable way. How so?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">By insisting that the
police be held accountable for failings in handling her case. By insisting that
her death not be wasted. By insisting that her death serve others. By insisting
that missing person investigations are improved so that police failures in this
case will not remain the norm.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">They sprang into
action as soon as their mother vanished. They pressed the Malaysian police to
act. They got the Australian High Commission to intervene. They brought in a
private investigation agency. They offered a reward. They engaged Australian state and federal governments.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Greg, Anna’s son, travelled
more than 30 times to Malaysia. He was “in the face” of so many in Malaysia who
hold power but fail to exercise it for good. He pressed very hard to obtain
evidence in the case.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Finally, much of the
evidence has emerged. It has emerged by means of an inquest. A means enshrined
in Malaysia’s Criminal Procedure Code.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The evidence is not what
one would expect. It’s not evidence about cause of death or of suspects.
Because the police, according to the sworn testimony of one of their own, chose
not to investigate. Shambolic!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The evidence is of
police failures. Of police disinterest. Of police proposing absurd theories and
making false accusations. Shambolic!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Today the coroner,
officers of the court, Anna’s children Greg and Jen, two representatives of the
Australian High Commission, an Australian friend of the family, two local
reporters and I, visited the elite Kensington Gardens development in which Anna’s
remains were found in 2020.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The police officers
who ‘led’ the procession of cars took a wrong turn. Greg took over as lead driver
and took us to the site! The coroner’s Assisting Officers, through their
questions and comments, made it plain that they had never visited the site
before! Shambolic!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The topography of the
site and its distance – estimated at 6 kilometres – from where Anna was last
seen (by an Uber driver she had hired) made it abundantly clear that a police
theory that she arrived at the spot on a ‘jungle trek,’ and died there was
patently absurd. Shambolic!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">After finishing the ‘tour’
of the site – which is now very different from what it was in 2020 – the
coroner recessed the hearing. The hearing resumed, late, as usual, at about 11:50
am, to receive the testimony of the chemist who had examined soil samples in
the case. Shambolic!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The officers of the
court referred to the samples by their identification numbers: A10, A34, A35,
A36. It was clear that A10 was soil from one of Anna’s shoes recovered from the
site, and that A34-A36 were soil samples collected by the Investigating
Officer.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">To us in the gallery –
including the family – it was unclear why the samples had been collected at the
three different places. What was clear was that soil sample A36 was different
from A34 and A35, and that A36 was a match for the soil on the shoe.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">On what basis did the
officer choose the location from which to draw sample A36? What theory did he
wish to test by means of the comparison with A10? What was his conclusion? We
don’t know. Often we couldn’t hear. Why? Because the family’s not put in the
centre. Shambolic!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The officers of the
court clearly hadn’t thought about how to refer to the samples such that family
in the gallery would understand. Why? Because they didn’t put the family at the
centre of the inquest. Shambolic!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">(Perhaps in future at
least one family member should be allowed to sit with Family Counsel so that
they can get the clarity the Criminal Procedure Code is designed to give them.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">There was also the
drama of the Assisting Officer – the Director of Prosecutions in Penang –
asking the chemist to read the labels of the evidence packs of soil samples,
provide commentary on the condition of the packaging, ‘wave’ the soil in court,
and enter it into evidence. Shambolic!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">When I phoned and asked
a lawyer friend to comment on this, I could almost see him smirking. He just
asked me whether, in the just-concluded Kathir Oli inquest which I reported
extensively, the bullet casings were brought to court or entered into evidence.
They were not!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">It seems to me what was
done today and yesterday in respect of showing and telling and entering such
evidence into the record is not just a blatant waste of time. It’s highly
embarrassing. On not just the national scale. On the international scale! Shambolic!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">We adjourned at 12:50
for lunch. We were supposed to resume at 3:00 pm. We resumed late, of course.
Part of the reason for the late resumption was ‘practicing’ by officers of the
court in how to receive the testimony of another chemist via ZOOM.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I was baffled that
despite the audio-video equipping of the courtroom at great expense during the COVID
era, the officers of the court had so little sense of how to go about using the
system effectively. They were even holding up documents to overhead cameras.
Shambolic!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Finally, the ZOOM
call began. It was with the DNA chemist who had tested for DNA on the shoe. She
had removed the soil from the shoe and sent it to the other chemist as Sample
A10, for soil evaluation.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The most important
information which she provided is that what was entered into evidence yesterday
as pulverized bone was in fact soil. It was the soil she had scraped off the
coccyx before she ground up the coccyx for use in conducting DNA analysis. She
was not asked about a portion of skull which was found but seems to have
disappeared.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">She was not asked why
she ground up the entire coccyx. She was not asked what sample size is
prescribed in the test procedure she used. So, the family’s hoped that the
coccyx could be examined for clues as to cause of death by a second pathologist
is now dashed. Shambolic!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">For part of the
way-too-long “lunch break” I sat by the sea, thinking about the morning, listening
to the waves lapping on the rocks. The sound the waves made sounded to me like
the exclamation “shambolic!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">After hearing the 30th
witness (many of whom need never have been called) and unnecessarily entering scores
of exhibits into evidence, the inquest ended just before 4:00 pm. The coroner invited
the Assisting Officers and Family Counsel to deliver their submissions by 21
February.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">She said she would
then decide when to deliver her verdict. I’m now going to go out to try to
drown out the sound of the waves.<br /><br /><span style="color: #2b00fe;">I've also written about the hearings on Tuesday and Wednesday this week. Click the links below to read<br /></span><br /><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"></span></span></p><h1 class="title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; display: table-cell; font-family: "Helvetica Neue Light", HelveticaNeue-Light, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 40px 0px 0px; position: relative; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; width: 670px;"><a data-id="1148133665693007434" data-item-type="post" href="https://write2rest.blogspot.com/2023/01/another-day-of-dismay-in-annapuranee.html" itemprop="url" rel="bookmark" style="color: #333333; outline: none; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.3s ease 0s;">Another day of dismay in the Annapuranee Jenkins inquest</a></h1><h1 class="title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; display: table-cell; font-family: "Helvetica Neue Light", HelveticaNeue-Light, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 40px 0px 0px; position: relative; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; width: 670px;"><br /><a data-id="888221686920260369" data-item-type="post" href="https://write2rest.blogspot.com/2023/01/annapuranee-jenkins-empty-evidence-bags.html" itemprop="url" rel="bookmark" style="color: #333333; outline: none; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.3s ease 0s;">Annapuranee Jenkins: empty evidence bags, pulverized evidence, lackadaisical police</a></h1>rama ramanathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18393433601515789090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1214403895665189408.post-8882216869202603692023-01-18T18:52:00.006+08:002023-01-18T19:18:54.411+08:00Annapuranee Jenkins: empty evidence bags, pulverized evidence, lackadaisical police <p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz_ym65HvlK8sGk6ZZuasp35wsnZyoGKCAcv52_uQWG5AZqvhUW3nzjEtXyIOLqehKLG-A_68kyGYJcDeDNzo7OkrfQFMQYbR1BafccyhXWHb7lWLCHNRmQX4UDFFrppab3U3INUjm54zqNgDSVZGG0hHAWImbAyhOOLfaR88saryib9aPqr2mJWs-/s800/K-9-Anna-Jenkins.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz_ym65HvlK8sGk6ZZuasp35wsnZyoGKCAcv52_uQWG5AZqvhUW3nzjEtXyIOLqehKLG-A_68kyGYJcDeDNzo7OkrfQFMQYbR1BafccyhXWHb7lWLCHNRmQX4UDFFrppab3U3INUjm54zqNgDSVZGG0hHAWImbAyhOOLfaR88saryib9aPqr2mJWs-/w640-h400/K-9-Anna-Jenkins.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Police searching for remains of Anna Jenkins in Berjaya Group's Kensington Gardens Construction site in Penang</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;">The inquest began late, again. It began 40 minutes after 9:30
am which the coroner and all interested persons agreed to yesterday. The
coroner said nothing about the late start.</span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The Assisting Officers continued their “questioning” of
the ASP who “investigated” the case of the disappearance and death of Anna Jenkins,
the key events of which I listed <a href="https://write2rest.blogspot.com/2023/01/another-day-of-dismay-in-annapuranee.html">yesterday</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Why did I put two words in quote marks in the previous
paragraph?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I put “questioning” in quotes because the time was mostly
spent on having the officer identify the condition of packages of evidence,
open them, and read them into evidence as formal exhibits.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Even empty evidence bags were read into evidence. Why
were they empty? Because their contents had been previously handed over to the
family of Anna Jenkins. Why? Because they belonged to Anna Jenkins and were deemed
to be not needed for the inquest.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Much of the evidence shown in court today had not been
handed over to Anna’s family. Why? Because the evidence didn’t belong to her!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Why then were all the other pieces of evidence entered
into evidence, in open court, with so many people present – all with other,
productive work to do? Officers of the court call it “due process.” I call it
waste.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">It seems likely that the officers of the court did the “show
and tell” to counter an allegation on social media that the police had
destroyed critical skeletal evidence by pulverizing it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The “show and tell” served to show that the police stored
and handled the evidence well. That the pulverizing was done by the Chemistry
department.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Strangely, I did not hear anything said about a part of
the skull which was also claimed on social media to have been pulverized. Where
is it now?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The coroner consented to Anna’s children Greg and Jen and
a representative of the Australian High Commission coming forward to view the
skeletal remains.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The family raised a question: Why was some of the
pulverized material brown instead of the light colour expected of bone?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">It was agreed that the question would be put to a witness
from the Chemistry department later in the week.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><u><span style="line-height: 107%;">Note</span></u><span style="line-height: 107%;">: The
Assisting Officers informed the court that one of the witnesses – who had been
subpoenaed – was unable to come as she had to attend another court. The coroner
agreed her testimony would be received via Zoom. The coroner was non-plussed by
the late notification. I’m still raging.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I also put the word “investigated” in quote marks. Why?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Because the officer said his investigation was limited to
Ah Boy’s report of having discovered and collected personal effects of Anna (some
of which bore the name “Annapuranee Jenkins.”) And a bone.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The officer said his initial efforts were focused on two
things. One, ascertaining whether the bone (coccyx) he received from Ah Boy was
human. Two, when confirmed human, the identity of the human.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Before the investigation was closed, many other bones
were found. These bones were not found through information gleaned by the police.
They were found through the diligence of Anna’s son, Greg.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I couldn’t help feeling that the police consider Greg’s
discoveries a shattering of their desire to do nothing further in the case. The
officer seemed totally unembarrassed that it was Greg, not the police, who found more evidence at the incident scene.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The officer also seemed to be at pains not to mention the
name of the construction site at which the skeletal remains were found. It’s the
elite Kensington Gardens property, owned by Berjaya group.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I was shocked that the coroner, Assisting Officers and
even Family Counsel didn’t stress that the officer failed to investigate the
reburial of the material on instruction of the site manager, with no police
report.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">No police report was made, despite the Berjaya Manager’s certainty
that the bones were human, and were accompanied by dentist, clinic and other
appointment cards with the same person’s name. (Which proved sufficient for Ah Boy
to trace the family of Annapuranee Jenkins.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Are the police and officers of the court unaware that the manager committed an offence under the Criminal Procedure Code, section 13, when he failed to report the finding of human remains (“dead body”)?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Family Counsel highlighted that the investigating officer
in the case of “bones and other remains” did not look into findings in the
earlier missing persons case filed in respect of Anna’s disappearance in
December 2017.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">In response to questions, the officer admitted that he
did not investigate the cause of Anna’s death. Why? Because he was not
instructed to do so. Because he was satisfied that his work ended with
submission of samples to forensic pathologists and to chemists.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Family Counsel took issue with the fact that the case was
classified by the police – with consent/advice of the Public Prosecutors Office
– as a case of “sudden death.” He suggested, based on the report of Anna’s
disappearance, that the case should have been classified as a kidnapping.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I don’t see the significance of the classification, since
classifying a case as “sudden death” doesn’t mean investigation stops.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">In my reading of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC),
sections 329 and 330, classification as sudden death forces a commitment to
investigate and, for as long as the case remains classified as sudden death,
the onus of investigation lies on the coroner.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I was surprised the officer wasn’t asked if he had
reported the finding of human remains to the coroner, as required by CPC sections
329(5) and (6).<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I was disappointed that the questions I listed <a href="https://write2rest.blogspot.com/2023/01/another-day-of-dismay-in-annapuranee.html">yesterday</a>
were not asked of this officer.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I believe the police did not put enough effort into
finding the skeletal remains of Anna Jenkins. This is why the cause of death cannot
be established. This is why possible perpetrators can evade the law.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Family Counsel also brought up the matter of the death certificate
stating the cause of death as “undetermined, skeletal remains.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">As I pointed out in <a href="https://write2rest.blogspot.com/2022/08/the-graves-of-wang-kelian-and-anna.html">my
discussion of the Wang Kelian deaths</a>, if you don’t have enough bones and you
don’t have sufficient context, you can’t establish the cause of death. That is also
the key issue in this case.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">One word kept flashing through my mind during the day. It’s
the word used by Suhakam commissioners after they concluded their
investigations into the disappearances of Amri Che Mat, Raymond Koh and Joshua
and Ruth Hilmy. They used it to describe the police: lackadaisical.</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>rama ramanathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18393433601515789090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1214403895665189408.post-11481336656930074342023-01-17T20:14:00.006+08:002023-01-17T21:10:10.008+08:00Another day of dismay in the Annapuranee Jenkins inquest<p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWU4LmGRcoBwN9n42PKwVeuiLRXpVHSPXuN4oywZ65hgf_gG0ONxSY1CJqKrY_fOWB5PTMo1rrNLOEA28sSUOZUjmmh7hUuOAgk_8gZBmMz3V-Hk3PE9ZFJk6J-rmyQtH4bRIBnjvU-iSUHSzf7Ufe8ULnXKb4zsbseG4T9YfUtBuq9U9nfjx-6vWh/s3188/Greg%20and%20Jen%20Jenkins%2017%20Jan%202023.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1794" data-original-width="3188" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWU4LmGRcoBwN9n42PKwVeuiLRXpVHSPXuN4oywZ65hgf_gG0ONxSY1CJqKrY_fOWB5PTMo1rrNLOEA28sSUOZUjmmh7hUuOAgk_8gZBmMz3V-Hk3PE9ZFJk6J-rmyQtH4bRIBnjvU-iSUHSzf7Ufe8ULnXKb4zsbseG4T9YfUtBuq9U9nfjx-6vWh/w640-h360/Greg%20and%20Jen%20Jenkins%2017%20Jan%202023.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Greg and Jen Jenkins, children of Annapuranee Jenkins</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;">This morning I forgot to take my blood pressure
medication. Not good normally. Especially bad on a day when I attend an inquest
in Malaysia.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The inquest is into the death of Annapuranee (Anna) Jenkins.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">A 65-year-old grandmother from Adelaide, Australia, Anna
visited Penang with her husband. They arrived on 5 December 2017.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">On 13 December 2017, Anna failed to return to her hotel
after a visit to her dentist. The next day, her husband reported her missing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">About 30 months later, on 25 June 2020, a man walked into
a police station with some of Anna’s skeleton and some of her personal effects.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">About 21 months later, on 28 March 2022, the inquest
began.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Perhaps this will be the last week of hearings. Perhaps
my blood pressure will get fewer shocks.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I’ve reported extensively on the case. If ever you need
an example of time wasted during inquests, this case would be a good choice. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">What happened today is typical.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">We were supposed to start at 10:00 am. The courtroom was available
– a first in my experience. All interested parties were present. The coroner
didn’t show up till 11:30 am. No explanations given.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The Senior Investigation Officer, an ASP, was the sole
witness. He’s a busy man. With many responsibilities. He oversees several other
Investigation Officers. He personally handled the investigation of Anna’s
remains.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">He was questioned from 11:30 am till 12:40 pm. We were
supposed to resume at 2:15 pm. We resumed at 2:30 pm. We ended at 4:30 pm.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">What did the Assisting Officer – another busy man with
many responsibilities, the Head of Prosecutions, Penang – hope to accomplish
today? Did he accomplish it? I don’t know.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">What did he accomplish? He got several documents entered
into evidence. These were photographs, sketches and lists of evidence. He got the
documents numbered for easy reference. Much time was wasted because of some earlier
misnumbering.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">He got clarifications on dates, what was done on each
date, chain of custody, seeming discrepancies. He established what samples were
sent for testing and what tests were requested.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">He did what I think criminal law practitioners often do in trials. They
“enter” documents into evidence. They do it through the testimony of those who
were links in the process of which the document is the result. What he did was
time-consuming. Laborious. Unintelligible to those in the gallery.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Is it necessary?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Shouldn’t an inquest be more like civil law cases? In
which interested persons – those whose right to appear has been recognized –
exchange documents early and agree what evidence they won’t challenge?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Today, the Assisting Officer produced documents which the
Family Lawyer hadn’t seen before. For some documents, the Assisting Officer
didn’t have ready copies for the Family Lawyer. He promised to supply them
later.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">There was a lot of talk of bones. Of their locations, completeness,
viability for further analysis, present condition, and custody. Surprise was
expressed that a human found a bone which a dog had failed to find.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Surprise quickly morphs into suspicion, doubt. There’s a
simple explanation. It will clear the doubt. But an expert witness will need to
be called to provide it in a manner which will satisfy the Evidence Act.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Ah, but coroners are not bound by The Evidence Act. Even “hearsay”
is admissible – with controls. The standard of
proof is “balance of probability,” using the <a href="https://www.malaysianbar.org.my/cms/upload_files/document/Teoh%20Beng%20Hock%20Verdict.pdf">Briginshaw
scale</a>, not “beyond reasonable doubt.” I think the officers of the court forget
this. Often.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I expect that in a case involving the finding of skeletal
remains, the most important questions are:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt;"></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Where was the skeleton
found?</span></span></li><li><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">What made the finder think
it was a human skeleton?</span></span></li><li><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">What position was it in?</span></span></li><li><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">How complete was it?</span></span></li><li><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">When was it placed there?</span></span></li><li><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">What was found together with
it?</span></span></li><li><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">How did the remains get there?</span></span></li><li><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Who was there when the
remains were found?</span></span></li><li><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Who was questioned and what
answers were obtained?</span></span></li><li><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">How long had the remains been there?</span></span></li></ol><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The questions asked today were about "skeletal remains," not about the skeleton. If I'm generous, I could say question 6 was asked today and question 10 was answered, indirectly.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Today, we mostly learned
that forensic analysis was requested. These included post-mortem reports (the
makers of the reports have previously testified), DNA tests, soil tests.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Today, we did not hear what the Investigation Officer learned
from the test results, what conclusions he drew from them, what further work he
did. I hope this will be covered tomorrow.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">An inquest is supposed to be inquisitorial. This is why the officers of
the state who sit at the bar are not called prosecutors. They’re called
Assisting Officers. They assist the coroner. This should mean that the driving,
directing force in an inquest is the coroner. I’m still looking for evidence of
this.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Perhaps I should double my pressure medication for the
rest of the week.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><br /><p></p>rama ramanathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18393433601515789090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1214403895665189408.post-89175923954556322302023-01-14T18:17:00.003+08:002023-01-14T18:59:09.668+08:00The mostly true story of the Indomitable One and the White Nona in the Malayan Jungle<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Xw4Gtvjp1zcO5SLqxDCZ6GJp7JqwjawlTQ-HbRPpl1sHjYyMhHVRyYp3V6wfTHUvgRaZl_CflZgwxduuGkyQnTBq-kBSrCG9B8G1Zt-PhlSujgyzkPVJpukhVCOceiMp0g4lnkaD_-gyYmSneruj4RQd9sKtdcwCT2pFUM6UViggQa8MIJAu6Bd9/s475/Pai%20Naa%20Book%20Cover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="309" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Xw4Gtvjp1zcO5SLqxDCZ6GJp7JqwjawlTQ-HbRPpl1sHjYyMhHVRyYp3V6wfTHUvgRaZl_CflZgwxduuGkyQnTBq-kBSrCG9B8G1Zt-PhlSujgyzkPVJpukhVCOceiMp0g4lnkaD_-gyYmSneruj4RQd9sKtdcwCT2pFUM6UViggQa8MIJAu6Bd9/w416-h640/Pai%20Naa%20Book%20Cover.jpg" width="416" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">This is a review of “Pai Naa, the true story of
Englishwoman Nona Baker’s Survival in the Malayan jungle during WWII,” first
published in 1959 by Constable and Company Ltd in the UK.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">It’s hard not to conclude that the Nona Baker story (1959)
was commissioned by the British colonial government as a counter-narrative to
<a href="https://write2rest.blogspot.com/2023/01/new-villagers-only-refuge-was-complete.html" target="_blank">Han Suyin’s (1956) expose</a> of the dark side of the Malayan Emergency. It’s hard
not to conclude that the government got only a sliver of what it wanted.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">On 7 October 1945, the New Straits Times (NST), the
premier national newspaper in Malaya and Singapore, reported that “Nona Baker,
the only English girl guerrilla in Malaya has returned to civilization.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">On 31 December 1941, about three weeks after the Japanese
Army began its conquest of Malaya and Singapore, Nona and her brother Vincent (“Vin”)
fled to the jungle to escape the wrath of the Japanese.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Initially the pair were not with the “guerrillas,” whom the
British government funded, equipped and trained as resistance fighters against
the Japanese.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Initially, the pair were on their own, supported by a
logistics team of three men who helped them move, built shelters for them, and
brought them supplies such as food, paraffin, and tobacco.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">When their money to pay their logistics team ran out, the
pair ‘joined’ the resistance fighters, as refugees, for safety, as people
hiding from the Japanese. Not as co-fighters in the resistance. The following
is from the NST report I mentioned in the first paragraph:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><i><span style="line-height: 107%;">“We had about $9,000 to
bribe people to bring us food and not give us away. Then, in February 1943, the
money ran out. We both began to get ill, and my brother decided we must go and
join the guerrillas for safety.” (</span></i><span style="line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19451007-1.2.16"><i>link</i></a><i>)<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The pair were children of a pastor in England, bastions
of middle-class society. Nona was the adoring youngest sister of the oldest
child, Vin, who doted on her. The age gap between them was 17 years.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">At the time they took to the jungle, Vin had been, for
over thirty years, on the staff of the (Australian) Pahang Consolidated Mining
Company, which operated an underground mine in Sungai Lembing which had about
8,000 residents. He had been the General Manager for some years.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Nona had come to Malaya to care for him and to manage his
social life, especially entertainment. Their flow of guests included the most
senior Malayan civilian and military officers and the Sultan of Pahang.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Vin was held in high regard by the locals. This despite
the fact that he lived apart from them as a European, with access to a club,
tennis courts and so on, from which locals were excluded. He was considered a
good employer. He cared for the welfare of his workers. He paid wages on time,
treated people fairly, and even provided medical care.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">(All that is according to Nona and may well be true. I
find it hard to believe there were no negatives. Especially since we’re talking
about a mining company.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Nona’s stay in the jungle ended when the Japanese
surrendered. By that time, she’d spent over three years in the jungle. Vin, who
had become depressed, weak, and sick, died in her arms a few months before the
Japanese surrender. He was buried in the jungle in an unmarked grave.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The book is written in Nona’s voice, speaking
chronologically from 1942-1945. But it is the work of Dorothy Thatcher and
Robert Cross, who own the copyright. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">In a postscript, Nona says she was approached to have the
book written, and agreed since it’s writing would fulfil Vin’s wish that the
story of their time in the jungle be published.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">She gives several reasons why the book was written a long
14-years after she exited the jungle.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The principal reason she gives is that by the time of the
writing, the horror of the killing of her friends by those who had saved her
life had ended. By friends, she means “European miners” and by “those who had
saved her,” she means “terrorists” (no longer “guerrillas”).<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Those are the reasons she gives. I stand by the reasons I
deduced and stated in the first paragraph of this essay.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The book is remarkable because the story is true, and
incredible: the white, capitalist, elite, Bakers sought refuge with communists.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Communists, the leaders of the resistance fighters, accepted
them and even arranged porters for their luggage as they fled from camp to
camp!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Why did the communists save the Bakers and treat them
with kid gloves?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">First, because they held firmly to a rule that they wouldn’t
turn away anyone who sought refuge with them. Second, because they never took
anything from the poor without paying for it. Third, because they could play Vin
as a card to raise money.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">In war, much is grey. Post-war, there is much judgment of
persons and events. Tensions rule. Within as well as between persons.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">This paragraph from Nona’s postscript – the product of nearly
two decades of reflection and likely also the product of much argument with her
publishers – captures both the tension and the orientalism which infected many
European minds:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt;"><i><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">“I realize that to those who
fought against the terrorists, or those who lost relatives at their hands, my
picture of the group in East Pahang may appear unduly favourable, but with the
exception of Lao Fong, these savage and uncouth men never showed us anything
but kindness and, whatever they hoped to get out of us in the end, there were
many times when we were a considerable liability; neither did they ever refuse assistance
to anyone who sought escape from Japanese oppression.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">How did the communists play the Vin-card? This paragraph
tells us, and also reveals the role played by Chinese <i>towkays</i>
(businessmen) in funding the Malayan People’s Anti-Japanese Army (MPAJA):<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><i><span style="line-height: 107%;">“One day Lao Lee … told me that
Pai Kher’s death was being kept a secret from the outside world as news of it
would have an adverse effect on many people’s morale in Sungei Lembing; also
what he left unsaid was the fact that without Vin’s presence in the jungle to
dangle before the eye (</span></i><span style="line-height: 107%;">sic<i>) of the rich towkays, the East
Pahang branch of the Communist Party would find their supply of funds drying
up. To do Lao Lee justice, I believe that he was genuinely sad at Vin’s death,
apart from these other considerations.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">In the jungle, initially Vin and Nona were addressed as <i>Tuan
Besar</i> and <i>Missie</i>. Nona tells us how they acquired their jungle
names:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt;"><i><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">“… not long after we joined
the guerrillas … Vin asked them to stop calling him by a title, which now had
only ironic significance, and we were given the names ‘Pai Ker’ and ‘Pai Naa,’ which
as far as they had any meaning were the Indomitable One and White Nona.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Another remarkable thing in the postscript is that Nona
attributes the violent acts of the communists against the government and the
people of Malaya to “Chinese from China”:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt;"><i><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">“… the atrocities committed
by the terrorists … [were] largely organized by Chinese from China and had no
truly nationalist background.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I think that’s quite a stretch! Even the Special Branch of
the time didn’t believe that. As <a href="http://web.usm.my/km/27(1&2),2009/KM%20SE-%20XXVI%20NO%201%20&%202%20ART%202%20(39-59).pdf">Leon
Comber</a>, a Special Branch officer in Malaya during the Emergency has pointed
out, the only “foreign role” the Special Branch considered seriously was that
of the Soviets. (They concluded that the Soviets were more interested in
trading rubber than in supporting the Malayan communists.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Despite and partly because of all of the above, I
recommend this book.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">From the above, you already know that it gives insights
into how the craft of writing was harnessed by the government to counter the
truth-telling of persons like Han Suyin. Now, in the 21st century, after the
release of confidential documents, we know that Han Suyin’s version is largely
correct.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">But there’s more to the book, because it shows what a
British woman noticed about the jungle, about the communists and about those
who sought refuge with them or chose to join their fight – as members either of
the Communist Party, or of the MPAJA.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">In the jungle camps, in the early days, everyone had to
salute the sickle and hammer flag every morning. Later, it was changed to the
3-star flag, the flag of the MPAJA.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">In the jungle camps, there were classes to help inmates –
once in, you couldn’t get out – to overcome boredom. Illiterate people were
taught to read and write, even to sing. Nona taught music.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">In the jungle camps, there was different treatment of
leaders compared to followers. Leaders had their own quarters, less strict
mealtimes, and special food.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">In the jungle camps, the penalty for crimes such as stealing
food was death – after public torture.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">In the jungle camps, inmates were required to attend
classes designed to indoctrinate. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Nona tells us some other interesting things.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">She says the names of communist leaders often included
the prefix “Lao” because “all leading members of the Malayan Communist Party
prefixed their names with Lao, which means ‘old and to be respected.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I doubt offal rots more quickly than other parts of an
animal, but this caught my eye: “The offal of a beast is eaten first, because
the hot, sultry weather turns everything rotten in a short time.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Here’s a paragraph which offers a glimpse into hunger,
social stratification, and Chinese beliefs:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt;"><i><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">“The Chinese method of
cooking made most food palatable, but one could not afford to be squeamish; we
ate a great many monkeys, and I for one had to try to forget that they looked
like babies as they were dropped into the pots of boiling water; monkey’s
brains were thought to bestow wisdom if eaten while warm with life, and members
of the Commissaire not surprisingly reserved the right to crack open the skulls
and swallow the contents with the aid of chopsticks; this they did with
revolting gusto and relish. This was one of the rare occasions that the
leaders, in the early days of our stay in the jungle with them, asked for
anything more than the rank and file were given; when however, a bear was shot,
the Commander did insist that he be served with its genitals, as it is believed
by the Chinese that such organs confer immortality on the consumer. One day a
patrol came in and shortly afterwards we were given a delicious extra meal of
stew made from some animal they brought with them. While we were digesting this
unexpected treat Vin said, ‘I hear they’ve got a dog to eat; the Chinese think
dog flesh is a great delicacy – could you eat it?’”<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Towards the end of her time in the jungle, Nona was put
to work on producing news bulletins and propaganda, using typewriters, stencils,
and duplicating machines. She had mixed feelings about this but toiled hard at
it. She justified her service by convincing herself she was compensating for articles
by her Russia-adulating boss, Ah San, “a rabid communist.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The news she used was transmitted to the camp commander
by jungle couriers who got it “from an American who had been dropped a hundred
miles off course, complete with a receiving set.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I can’t say I’ve read anywhere else about an American operating
a radio set in the jungles of Malaya.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Her satisfaction with her busyness and her understanding
of the nature of her work posed a moral dilemma for her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">This surfaced when an Indian “dresser” (a person not
trained as a doctor but often performing the work of a doctor) was discovered
around the camp and the leaders tried to persuade him to work for the camp. He insisted
he wouldn’t work for communists. He was executed. Nona says:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt;"><i><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">“The Indian’s moral courage
and steadfastness to his principles disturbed me. Until then I had never
wondered what people would think of me for taking such an active part in the
life and work of the camp. … I became introspective, and everything looked
different: I imagined that in spite of his respectful manner, I had seen
contempt in the Indian’s eyes, as he saw me as a tool of the Communists he
hated.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The book ends with Nona worrying that the communists
would kill her because she knew too much about them. Because during her stay in
the jungle she learned Mandarin, the <i>lingua franca</i> of the communists and
from her workspace she could hear their ‘private’ discussions. They feared she might
reveal their locations, practices and plans to the British forces.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">However, Nona was allowed to move to the care of Colonel
Spencer Chapman of Force 136 – who, she says, never asked her for information
about the communists. I find this hard to believe.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Read it. Don’t believe everything in it. Be amazed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">And then visit the museum in Sungei Lembing which is located
in the home Vin and Nona lived in. It’s run by the Malaysian Museums
Department. (Confession: I haven’t visited the museum.)</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>rama ramanathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18393433601515789090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1214403895665189408.post-3588207045764302352023-01-11T08:51:00.003+08:002023-01-11T08:51:46.747+08:00New Villagers’ only refuge was complete idiocy (Han Suyin)<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsr8sDILdKYgOY15e4K3ajksc7Y2FwCqrLqVo-dzTKqIfPQzg9PhW1tsE7fx3GP9T2cjf9_vpSM5oa-yWLq8stNdhHp9wk8VA-CL0cGec8DnZVnnDqityFZaE0GEJu3MrZ55q5YPw9Tocbr5GnP_btIhZePsKk6Cc07rJBowUH2b-w2FcXqw1B4pUt/s500/And%20the%20Rain%20My%20Drink%20-%20Book%20Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="331" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsr8sDILdKYgOY15e4K3ajksc7Y2FwCqrLqVo-dzTKqIfPQzg9PhW1tsE7fx3GP9T2cjf9_vpSM5oa-yWLq8stNdhHp9wk8VA-CL0cGec8DnZVnnDqityFZaE0GEJu3MrZ55q5YPw9Tocbr5GnP_btIhZePsKk6Cc07rJBowUH2b-w2FcXqw1B4pUt/w424-h640/And%20the%20Rain%20My%20Drink%20-%20Book%20Cover.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">We know much about Hitler’s concentrations camps. Why?
Because prisoners on the cusp of extermination were liberated by the Allies. Because
heart-rending photos of them were widely circulated. Because what was done to
them was clearly criminal. On an immense scale.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">We also know because the survivors and the liberators of
the camps wrote compelling accounts of their experiences. They wrote memoirs,
novels, poems, short stories. Many of them were very well educated. Click <a href="https://www.holocaust.org.uk/holocaust-literature">here</a> for some
examples.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Among the survivors, authors like Elie Wiesel, Primo Levi
and Viktor Frankl come to mind. They were Jews. People of the book, of words.
They had a tradition of memorializing things, of ‘never forgetting,’ ‘always
learning,’ and ‘always teaching’ from their own history as an ethnic group.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">But it seems we know little about the British colonial
government’s “Resettlement Camps” in Malaya during the years 1951-1960. (These
areas were later renamed “New Villages.”)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Why do we know so little about these camps which, for
reasons of psychological warfare, were renamed “New Villages?” Perhaps because
their occupants and observers didn’t write about them? Perhaps because writers
feared ‘legal actions,’ in the era of Emergency regulations?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I’m aware of only one contemporaneous<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/Police/IPCMC%20-%20Legislation/My%20Writing%20and%20Analysis/New%20Villagers%E2%80%99%20only%20refuge%20was%20complete%20idiocy%20(Han%20Suyin).docx#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 107%;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
account in English, of the resettlement camps.<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/Police/IPCMC%20-%20Legislation/My%20Writing%20and%20Analysis/New%20Villagers%E2%80%99%20only%20refuge%20was%20complete%20idiocy%20(Han%20Suyin).docx#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 107%;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The account was written as fiction. The type of fiction which
unmistakably suggests that names and events have been altered to avoid
potential legal actions against author and publisher.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">We know the names of the two chief political parties in 1950s
British Malaya: United Malays National Organization (UMNO) and People’s Action
Party (PAP).<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">If a 1950s book speaks of political parties named United
People’s National Organization and the People’s Independence Party, who
wouldn’t think the two names were meant to invoke the former two parties?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Those names appear in Han Suyin’s “And the Rain my Drink”
which I touched on in my review of Gary Lit’s “<a href="https://write2rest.blogspot.com/2023/01/if-sky-were-to-fall-between-police-and.html">If
the Sky were to Fall …</a>” Gary’s book is a memoir, focused on one family and
its close friends. Suyin’s book is a novel, written as literature.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">One of the things I mean by “written as literature,” is
that Suyin throws in hints as she tells her story.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">For example, she begins with a judge walking among animals
in a zoo. The imprisoned animals include three Malayan tiger cubs.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The cubs foreshadow the three stars of the Malayan
Communist Party, one star for each of the three ethnic groups: Chinese,
Indians, and Malays. Later, the judge will decide the fate of persons imprisoned
for their association with the Malayan Communist Party. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Another example is hair. Women who admire and cherish “the
People Inside” keep their hair straight. Those who “accept the colonial
mindset” curl their hair. We see this in Ah Mei, a Captured Enemy Personnel who
remains free by becoming a police informant against her erstwhile comrades.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">A third example is Suyin’s choice of name for the “Resettlement
Officer” of “Todak” camp. She chooses the name Uxbridge. This name recalls Oxbridge
graduates, products of the universities of Oxford or Cambridge, universities
designed to populate England with ruling elites.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Suyin’s book is powerful because of the medium she has
chosen to tell the story. The medium makes it possible for her to show – with
quiet outrage – much more than is possible in a memoir.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Take for example chapter 8, titled “No Fruit but Thorns.”
This chapter is peopled by fifteen characters with names. Their ethnicities are
European, Chinese, and Malay. Why does she have so many characters?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Because by this means, she can show the differences
between them, even when they are from the same ethnic group – though they speak
in generalities (stereotypes) about members of other ethnic groups. She shows
officers like Daley and Crufts as admirable, and officers like Uxbridge and
Stewart as despicable. She also shows differences within and between Chinese
officers, peasants, and businessmen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Corruption is a theme which runs through the novel. The
government paid for rice “supplied” to seven non-existent detention areas
(camps). Ah Kim, the all-round contractor, supplied the “needs” of arrogant Resettlement
Officer Uxbridge, ranging from crates of whiskey to services of women in
Singapore. <i>Mata-mata</i> (police) collected ten cents from all who passed
their post to collect water.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Ah Kim got the contracts to put up hut frames and roofs –
the rest of each shack had to be built and paid for by the assigned occupants. The
assignees often didn’t have the money. Ah Kim lent them money. At 30% interest
per month. Ah Kim named his son Georgie (to recall the then British monarch,
King George). Georgie acted as interpreter between Uxbridge and all-comers. Georgie
controlled the messages. Mistranslation is another theme which runs through the
novel.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The Inside People execute arrogant Uxbridge, a man with “whiteskin
fury” and a “fuehrer complex.” The government locks down Todak. The villages
homes are searched, aggressively. They are interrogated, incessantly.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The demographics of the “village” is striking: the women,
with young children, say they are widows (<i>laki t’ada</i>). Why? Because
their husbands – and older sons – have joined the resistance in the jungle and the
wives expect that if they admit to it, they will be pressured to reveal their
whereabouts.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Suyin portrays the population statistics of Todak as
typical of New Villages:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt;"><i><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">In this lot there were seventy-eight
families, consisting of one hundred and thirty-five women over thirty, including
several grandmothers, two hundred and forty girls and women under thirty, and
seven hundred and sixty-four children under sixteen. There were twenty-eight
men over fifty, nine men over forty, and no man between sixteen and thirty. Not
one. <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">When the police question them, ask them the most basic
questions such as age and origin, they reply that they don’t know. Suyin captures
the frustration and the explanation in a conversation between Oliver Daley, former
missionary, now resettlement officer, and Luke Davis, a police officer:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt;"><i><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">‘It is incredible,’ said
Luke, ‘how dumb they can become.’ A wall of impenetrable stupidity … their only
defence. Not to know, not to see, nor hear, nor speak … unable to remember
their names, nor how many children they have. I had a village like that to
screen once. Not one person there knew there was an emergency on.’<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt;"><i><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">‘They are so terrorized, so
much more terrified of us and unable to understand what has happened to them,
that their only refuge is complete idiocy,’ said Daley.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Suyin powerfully evokes the government’s resort to incarceration
to break and shape its subjects. She does so in “Chapter 6: Minos Discerns.”<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/Police/IPCMC%20-%20Legislation/My%20Writing%20and%20Analysis/New%20Villagers%E2%80%99%20only%20refuge%20was%20complete%20idiocy%20(Han%20Suyin).docx#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 107%;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
She uses the vehicle of a conversation between members of an annual inspection
committee to explain what goes on in the camps.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The committee members are Mr Clerkwell (what a name!), a senior
British officer in the Malayan Colonial service; Sir Moksa Bakrar, cricketer, outstanding
scholar and Anglophile, founder of the People’s Independent Party (evoking Lee
Kuan Yew and the People’s Action Party); and two Chinese businessmen – Poh Cho
Yee and Quo Boon.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Suyin gives some insight into the character of the
businessmen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Wealthy Cho Yee was in cahoots with the Japanese, makes large
charitable donations – for which he was rewarded by the British with awards and
public offices, and is ‘custodian’ (hint, hint) of properties belonging to persons
incarcerated in the detention camp.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Wealthy Quo Boon was one of the wealthiest men in the nation.
He’d become rich partly by exposing corrupt practices of contractors and then
getting their contracts as reward. Quo Boon also showed sensitivity to abuses
of power by the British. He asked awkward questions. (Unknown to the authorities,
Quo Boon’s son is a leader in the Communist Party and is romantically linked to
Ah Mei, a Surrendered Enemy Personnel who has become a most valuable police
informant.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The committee tour the camp together with the camp
commandant, Mr Hinchcliffe, a man caught between his innate fairness and his
duty to defend an unjust system:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">“Although doing his job
ably, he never forgot that detainees were human beings, and would aver that
fully one-quarter of the people in the detention camp had done no harm at all
and were there by mistake. Of all the commandants … he was one of the best.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">When Hinchcliffe explains that detainees are classified
as black, grey and white, and may progress from black to white, Quo Boon asks “who
and what determines” their progression.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Hinchcliffe gives a lengthy answer. I summarize it in
this way: “blacks” are those who won’t change; “greys” are those who may change;
and whites are those who exhibit a high level of docility and servility. Suyin
describes Hinchcliffe as he answers:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">“His sad blue eyes betrayed the
turmoil of his mind, the frustrated kindness of a man caught and trapped in his
ignorance, knowing the system inadequate, but standing his ground.” (Also
applies to the commandant of the Bukit Jalil immigration depot when he <a href="https://write2rest.blogspot.com/2020/09/camp-commandant-explains-dangers-of.html">testified</a>
at an inquest into conditions in his detention camp.<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/Police/IPCMC%20-%20Legislation/My%20Writing%20and%20Analysis/New%20Villagers%E2%80%99%20only%20refuge%20was%20complete%20idiocy%20(Han%20Suyin).docx#_ftn4" name="_ftnref4" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn4;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 107%;">[4]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Suyin uses the difference between the responses of two
detainees to lay bare the inherent, insistent failure of the rehabilitation
system. Big Dog Sou is the Communist Party organizer who executed Meng, an
informant in Todak camp. Neo, (and his wife Neo Saw), were witnesses.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Sou adapts to the system. He knows servility is what will
get him out of the camp and enable him to thrive economically when he’s released.
He wows the wives of the British officials with his tailoring skills. He kowtows
to all who wield power. He bends with the wind and so will not be broken.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Unlike Sou, Neo resists the system. He refuses to
remember anything about the killing of Meng. He won’t bend to the system which detained
him – without a shred of evidence – over the killing of Meng. A system which
kept him his wife and children in a state of hunger, indignity and hardship.
Unlike Sou:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">“[Neo] could never learn the
language, the language that everybody outside the wire fence spoke to smoothen
life, as stealthy murderers rub oil on their bodies to make the grasp of
would-be pursuers futile: the language of smiles and servility.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">How much credence can we give to Suyin’s accounts of New
Villages and Detention Camps?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Her husband, Leon Comber, was an officer in the Special
Branch. He has attested that what she wrote is a good representation of the
facts on the ground.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Shocked by her accounts, I did much research. I found scholarly
works which support what she says. For example, she says that Todak New Village
was built on a swamp. From my research, I learned that there were indeed such New
Villages – one of which was moved twice.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Suyin brings a unique perspective as a recorder of the Malayan
Emergency. She worked in the casualty department of a government hospital and
attended to the medical needs of people on all sides of the war both combatants
and as civilians. She was a Eurasian, fluent in English, language of the
colonial government and in Mandarin, the language of the People Inside.<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/Police/IPCMC%20-%20Legislation/My%20Writing%20and%20Analysis/New%20Villagers%E2%80%99%20only%20refuge%20was%20complete%20idiocy%20(Han%20Suyin).docx#_ftn5" name="_ftnref5" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn5;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 107%;">[5]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">In her person, language competence and occupation, Suyin
straddled European society and local society. Therefore, she was able to write about
motives and frictions among Malayan Europeans. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Suyin shows that the goals of British officials were
often quick promotions and substantial pensions when they returned to Britain. She
shows that they were quick to give ontological (‘nature of being’) explanations
rather than epistemological (‘reason for being’) explanations. She shows the
conflicts between those who were prisoners in Changi, those who fled home, and “the
Palestine contingent.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">By showing through conversations and by harnessing idioms
(e.g. “when the head is blind, the limbs fall into the mud”) rather than
telling, she makes her points incisively. Powerfully. Perhaps even safely.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Suyin was never prosecuted for what she wrote – perhaps because
her words had the ring of truth and prosecuting would have forced release of disturbing,
embarrassing data. According to scholars, much of the records for that period
have mysteriously disappeared.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Before I end this review, I’ll return briefly on the
question of literature and its seeming absence in the early period of New
Villages. Bayly and Harper discuss this question in their 2007 book, Forgotten
Armies. They suggest why there’s not more local literature from that period:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt;"><i><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">[Han Suyin] calculated that
around fourteen books of poetry, ninety-six novels – a new form in Malayan
Chinese literature – and forty-eight books of essays appeared in Chinese in
[‘the Malayan Spring,’ the first weeks after the Japanese surrender], though by
the time of her arrival six years later the parameters of open public debate
had shrunk dramatically.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt;"><i><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">To her eyes, intellectual
life seemed to have been obliterated entirely, and ‘Special Branch was The
Power’. She found that much that had been written in the immediate post war
years was no longer available; the authors could not be traced or, if they
could, denied that they had ever written anything. But at the time the Malayan
Spring was a significant shift in mood, and perhaps more enduring<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/Police/IPCMC%20-%20Legislation/My%20Writing%20and%20Analysis/New%20Villagers%E2%80%99%20only%20refuge%20was%20complete%20idiocy%20(Han%20Suyin).docx#_ftn6" name="_ftnref6" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn6;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">[6]</span></b></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
than Han Suyin realized.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><i><span style="line-height: 107%;">One writer, styling himself
‘Fu-sheng’, or ‘Revival’, described the change in an essay in New Democracy
that marked the fourth anniversary of the Japanese invasion of Malaya, or
‘Twelve-Eight’ [8 December 1941, when the Japanese invaded Malaya], as it was
now called. Before the war, he wrote, the Chinese in Malaya were ‘just an
overseas Chinese and nothing more’</span></i><span style="line-height: 107%;">. (Page 251)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Though I find “And the Rain my Drink” somewhat verbose, I’m
likely to read it several times. It reveals hidden history and compels me to
examine stereotypes within and without myself. The list of characters included at
the beginning makes it easier to keep track of who’s who.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The book is only available electronically. I recommend
the <a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Han_Suyin_And_The_Rain_My_Drink?id=krxEDgAAQBAJ&hl=en">Google
Books version</a>. Just RM20.99. There's also a <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Rain-My-Drink-Han-Suyin-ebook/dp/B06XFXHS96">Kindle</a> edition, at USD5.99<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<div style="mso-element: footnote-list;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br clear="all" />
</span><hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<p class="MsoFootnoteText"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/Police/IPCMC%20-%20Legislation/My%20Writing%20and%20Analysis/New%20Villagers%E2%80%99%20only%20refuge%20was%20complete%20idiocy%20(Han%20Suyin).docx#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 107%;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> “In
the same time period.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="ftn2" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<p class="MsoFootnoteText"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/Police/IPCMC%20-%20Legislation/My%20Writing%20and%20Analysis/New%20Villagers%E2%80%99%20only%20refuge%20was%20complete%20idiocy%20(Han%20Suyin).docx#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 107%;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> In
their 2007 book, “Forgotten Wars,” Bayly and Harper – citing Han Suyin – observe
that in the weeks after the Japanese surrender, a period Suyin called “the
Malayan Spring,” many Malayan Chinese works appeared. But soon, their
circulation ceased. Their authors either couldn’t be traced or, if they could
be traced, denied being the authors. Why? Because “the parameters of open
public debate had shrunk dramatically.” Because “Special Branch was the power.”
Because “there was a significant shift in power.” Towards the end of this essay
I include an extended quotation from their book.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="ftn3" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<p class="MsoFootnoteText"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/Police/IPCMC%20-%20Legislation/My%20Writing%20and%20Analysis/New%20Villagers%E2%80%99%20only%20refuge%20was%20complete%20idiocy%20(Han%20Suyin).docx#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 107%;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Minos is the name Plato gives to Aristotle’s conversation partner. Minos is
also the name of a judge placed at the entrance to the second circle in Dante’s
inferno. The chapter title “Minos discerns” is open ended. Who’s the judge –
the reader perhaps? Does the reader discern the inherent absurdity of the colonial
enterprise to coerce and control its subjects? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="ftn4" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<p class="MsoFootnoteText"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/Police/IPCMC%20-%20Legislation/My%20Writing%20and%20Analysis/New%20Villagers%E2%80%99%20only%20refuge%20was%20complete%20idiocy%20(Han%20Suyin).docx#_ftnref4" name="_ftn4" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn4;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 107%;">[4]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> Extract
from my blog post about the commandant’s testimony: “I believe Chandran and
other immigration officers are caught in a terrible system. The system allows
for prolonged detention in ill-equipped, vile, sickness-inducing quarters which
drive detainees to violence and suicide. … Officers who “tell it like it is”
can be put in cold storage, demoted, or transferred, if they speak out. What
can reasonably be expected of them?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="ftn5" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<p class="MsoFootnoteText"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/Police/IPCMC%20-%20Legislation/My%20Writing%20and%20Analysis/New%20Villagers%E2%80%99%20only%20refuge%20was%20complete%20idiocy%20(Han%20Suyin).docx#_ftnref5" name="_ftn5" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn5;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 107%;">[5]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> She
was also fluent in French. I was surprised that the communist leadership
adopted Mandarin.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="ftn6" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/4e38d43e59757aa5/Documents/Police/IPCMC%20-%20Legislation/My%20Writing%20and%20Analysis/New%20Villagers%E2%80%99%20only%20refuge%20was%20complete%20idiocy%20(Han%20Suyin).docx#_ftnref6" name="_ftn6" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn6;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 107%;">[6]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Perhaps the tide is turning. Another recent book is “Behind Barbed Wire:
Chinese New Villages during the Malayan Emergency, 1948-1960,” also published
by <a href="https://www.gerakbudaya.com/Behind-Barbed-Wire-Chinese-New-Villages-During-The-Malayan-Emergency-1948-1960">Gerakbudaya</a>.
The author is <span style="color: #ffd966; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #FFD966; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: "lumm=60000 lumo=40000"; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent4; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themetint: 153;">Dr Tan </span>Teng Phee and the book is a version of
his award-winning Ph.D. thesis at Murdoch University in Australia. It’s a source
which helps confirm that Suyin’s “And the Rain my Drink” is historical fiction.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoFootnoteText"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
</div>
</div>rama ramanathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18393433601515789090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1214403895665189408.post-34900524447791117012023-01-10T15:17:00.008+08:002023-01-10T16:54:20.175+08:00 Coroner’s crushing conclusion in the Kathir Oli inquest<p><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgutc0PkbDJBa77oq-4xrl8MYP7pxPdthPa7nXby83I-EgKXNfpoJANXmb0tofvMoE4nDAXPGWkcLU42asNYAaICOBfQV9G9TlYnP91EkUa8vimbGN7f3GKZq_VWcKHzSOKjV1RctqECBCwhj1BdzNtIvYxn9WnLVg2FHoXO4eyrHNL0csEZe0sXi4n/s443/Ipoh%20Sessions%20Court.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="249" data-original-width="443" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgutc0PkbDJBa77oq-4xrl8MYP7pxPdthPa7nXby83I-EgKXNfpoJANXmb0tofvMoE4nDAXPGWkcLU42asNYAaICOBfQV9G9TlYnP91EkUa8vimbGN7f3GKZq_VWcKHzSOKjV1RctqECBCwhj1BdzNtIvYxn9WnLVg2FHoXO4eyrHNL0csEZe0sXi4n/w640-h360/Ipoh%20Sessions%20Court.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br />There was never any dispute over who killed Kathir Oli, a
34-year-old son, husband, father, successful businessman. He was shot dead by a
plainclothes cop more than 11 years ago. Why did the cop shoot him?</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Detective Lance Corporal Cheah Yew Teik told the coroner
he saw a pub being attacked by a group of men just past midnight on 15
September 2011. He claimed he collected his firearm from his car, identified
himself as a police officer, and intervened.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Cheah told the coroner that the men had parangs and iron
rods. That some of them punched and assaulted him and tried to grab his gun. That he
fired his weapon in self-defence.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The coroner accepted that there was medical evidence consistent
with his claim – though the evidence didn’t include any parang cuts. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">It’s a strange case. There’s no record of a police report
made by the alleged victims of the attack on the pub.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">It’s a strange case. The then coroner didn’t conduct an
inquest – though no one was charged for the death of Kathir Oli. This is contrary
to the law.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">It’s a strange case. The cop claimed he shot the victim
at close quarters and that the attackers used parangs and one or more iron rods.
Yet no evidence of gunshot residue, parangs or iron rods was tendered.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">It’s a case in which actions and inactions stink to high heaven.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I commend the Ipoh coroner for giving written grounds for
her decision. She’s done better than many. But I’m disappointed she didn’t discuss
matters of law raised in open court and perhaps also in submissions.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The coroner said nothing about the person, Kathir Oli,
and the persistence and expectations of his family and friends. They want to
clear his name. Which they say was besmirched by the cops and the then officers
of the Attorney Generals Chambers. This was their plea to the coroner.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">But the coroner didn’t address their many concerns.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The coroner said nothing about the lateness in commencing
the inquest. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The coroner said nothing about the failure of the police,
the police who alone have the power to gather the evidence, to gather the
evidence. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The coroner took into consideration that the cop shot
Kathir Oli with a legally issued weapon. She even noted the date on which it
was issued to him. But she did not explicitly call out that he shot someone –
at close range – a mere ten weeks after the lethal weapon was issued to him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I’m left wondering. Shouldn’t “proportionate response” be
an essential component of any evaluation by a judge of any shooting?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The coroner said there was no evidence that Cheah and/or
the deceased and others were intoxicated or sober. She was silent on why there
was no evidence. Surely in a shooting which involves a pub, the shooter and
those arrested should be tested for blood alcohol levels?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Doesn’t it matter that witnesses told her, under oath,
that they were drunk and disorderly? Isn’t it possible that Cheah acted
inappropriately and put lives in unnecessary danger?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The coroner said there was a criminal act in progress at
the time, but there was insufficient evidence to prove whether it was a
robbery. She was silent about the then state police chief’s claim that it was a
robbery.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The coroner concluded that Kathir Oli was killed by Cheah
who was performing “his duties as a police officer, in an attempt to stop a
criminal act or acts, on the Pub and on his person.” She gave an open verdict.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I can only conclude that the coroner, the Honourable Puan
Ainul Shahrin binti Mohamad, Judge of the Sessions Court, Ipoh, chose to remain
within the very tight confines of the Criminal Procedure Code. She did not
choose to reveal her other thoughts about the case.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I can only hope that we have lawmakers who will hear the
voice of Kathir Oli, his family, his friends, concerned police officers and
concerned officers of the court.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I can only hope that our lawmakers will see it’s time to
introduce a coroner’s act which will have real teeth. Which will hold the
police and the government accountable. Which will bring honour to all
Malaysians.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Kathir Oli, “Brilliant like sunlight,” was snuffed out
and then his name was tarnished. The law was not upheld – an inquest was held only
on order of a High Court. The inquest failed to address many investigational
failures.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Until coroners are held accountable for holding inquests,
until they are effectively trained to do so, and until a sound Coroners Act is
enacted, there will be many more such cases.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Coroners must recognize stenches, report them, and demand
action plans to address them – as I said in the last paragraph of <a href="https://write2rest.blogspot.com/2022/07/making-coroners-courts-better-day-in.html?q=future+deaths">this
post</a>.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>rama ramanathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18393433601515789090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1214403895665189408.post-31010818287772351072023-01-02T21:27:00.006+08:002023-02-12T22:37:21.143+08:00If the Sky were to Fall: Between the Police and the People Inside<p><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS9ghr0vAgZCdRpmWD-okSL15QlOPAyjlB-WvVSkJGDlhKbPNMj7n2e_KJWzRpIcEC4adxcYUiOKJzJIP9E66R6dv52BjAZObJTTDZUC-QY9x5-X4bm09HwFTW_SewAVtecg1W6nBG8fvmz8Kaa3IGwkinmkXSflIo25CMDX6NCER4zycnSvpQKlRO/s650/If%20the%20sky%20were%20to%20fall%20-%20book%20cover.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="650" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS9ghr0vAgZCdRpmWD-okSL15QlOPAyjlB-WvVSkJGDlhKbPNMj7n2e_KJWzRpIcEC4adxcYUiOKJzJIP9E66R6dv52BjAZObJTTDZUC-QY9x5-X4bm09HwFTW_SewAVtecg1W6nBG8fvmz8Kaa3IGwkinmkXSflIo25CMDX6NCER4zycnSvpQKlRO/w640-h640/If%20the%20sky%20were%20to%20fall%20-%20book%20cover.png" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /><span>Gary Lit’s book “If the Sky were to Fall …” is a story of
life between fire and water during the Japanese Occupation of Malaya and the
Malayan Emergency. It’s also about the early years of post-independence
Malaya.</span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Gary’s title is from a Chinese idiom: “if the sky
were to fall, we shall use it as a comforter;” in Cantonese, <i>thin tit lok
lay dong pei kum</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Best-selling author Han Suyin (1917-2012) titled her controversial
1956 book on the Malayan Emergency: “And the Rain my Drink.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Suyin’s title is from a ballad sung by nationalists in
China and later in the Malayan jungles. It includes the line: “I will go to the
forest for justice.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Suyin’s book was controversial – General Templer tried to
have it suppressed because it revealed the human cost of what he did to end resistance
to British rule in Malaya. In his foreword to the Monsoon edition of Suyin’s
book, Professor Kirpal Singh explains why:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt;"><i><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">“… the establishment was not
happy with the way Han Suyin portrayed the treatment and handling of difficult
issues such as justice and equality. It is clear that she tended to side with
the underdogs – in this case those fighting on behalf of the people, i.e.,
mainly the communists. … she firmly believed in democracy and resented any
attempt at coercion or suppression.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Like Suyin’s, Gary’s book vividly recalls how Chinese in 20th
century Malaya responded to widespread hardships, injustices, and deception. </span></span><span style="font-family: verdana;">Gary emphasizes resilience. </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">Suyin’s treatment is more nuanced.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Though categorized as Malayan history during the Japanese
occupation and the Malayan Emergency, Gary’s book is a racy story of resilience: of a ‘typical’ Chinese family, his parents and grandparents, and their friends.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">It offers answers to questions such as these: What was it
like to be a poor Chinese in Malaya in the 1940s, just before and during the
Japanese occupation? What was it like in the period between the British
Military Administration and the first decade after Malayan independence in
1957?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><a href="https://write2rest.blogspot.com/2022/12/the-awful-days-of-death-railway-romusha.html" target="_blank">Previously</a>, I discussed Sasidaran Sellappa’s book
“Revisiting the Death Railway.” Sasidaran, like Gary, wrote to honour his
parents and to put on record long-suppressed truths which have shaped the
nation.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">But there’s a big difference between the two books.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Sasidaran’s
is a non-ethnic account and doesn’t include the Malayan Emergency. Gary’s is filled
with Chinese cultural practices, Chinese idioms, and Chinese “New Villages.” Much
of it is set during the period of the Malayan Emergency.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Other notable differences are that Sasidaran doesn’t
attempt a novelistic style, uses direct quotes from his fifteen interviewees,
and gives footnotes to support his claims. Gary, despite being an academic, writes
in a novelistic style, doesn’t use direct quotes, and has no footnotes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Gary’s primary sources are un-transcribed, natural conversations
over the years with his parents, uncles, and aunties.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Gary’s story is set principally in Kampar, a town in the
state of Perak, the Malayan jungles and partly in the state of Kedah. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The story begins with Gary’s grandparents, landless
peasants with 13 children. Gary’s father, the first son, is 12-years old. They
abandon their shack and walk into the jungle, together with three neighbouring
families. One of them includes a grandmother with bound feet, carried by her
son.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Within hours of their departure, it’s clear that foot-bound
grandma and family won’t make it. So, they are left near the graves of their
ancestors. The other three families head into the jungle to set up a new home.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Their exodus decision was driven by two reasons. First,
they’ve heard of the atrocities Japanese soldiers committed on the people of
China, and they expect the Japanese will do the same to Chinese in Malaya.
Second, they know the British have abandoned them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">In their exodus, they put their hope and faith in their
ancestors and their gods. When they fled, they took with them their “ancestor
tablet.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">They appealed to their ancestors, to Guanyin, the Goddess
of Mercy, and to the Buddha. They lit joss sticks. In troubles, they chanted <i>Amitabha</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Their life in the jungle was one of constant hardship. They
set up home in a cave. They tried to settle down, to cope with bites, bruises,
and fears – of attacks by wild animals and of discovery by Japanese patrols.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">In the jungle, the Lit family buried their beloved youngest
child Poh Choo, who died of fever. Her parents didn’t attend her burial – for they
held to the tradition of their ancestors: “grey hairs” mustn’t bury their
children.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">In the cave, a triumvirate of boys formed, one from each family:
Chong, Gary’s father, with twelve siblings; Keong, with one sister; and Fook, a
single child. They had adventures together, including spending a day with an
aboriginal, from whom they learned much about jungle-living.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">After several months in the jungle, a wild boar gored Fook.
He was seriously injured. His parents wanted to take him to a hospital.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Gary’s grandfather decided everyone would leave together,
for they’d soon run out of food – the supply of which they’d extended by
selling their 9-year-old daughter Ling. And they’d heard things were ‘better’ outside;
they could survive by farming; the children could go to school.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The families split up when they emerged from the jungle.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Fook’s family connected with relatives who took them to a
hospital, where Fook’s leg was later amputated.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;">Keong’s family’s hardships included the multiple rape of
his sister by Japanese soldiers, and her eventual suicide. And Keong being
rounded up with others and put on a train to be among the forced civilian
labourers (</span><a href="https://write2rest.blogspot.com/2022/12/the-awful-days-of-death-railway-romusha.html"><i><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;">Romusha</span></i></a><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;">) in
the project to construct the Thai-Burma (‘Death’) railway.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Chong’s family’s hardships included him being beaten for
failing to bow to a Japanese soldier, and lots more.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Much of the story is about Keong who, with six others,
jumped off and escaped from a train which was taking the <i>Romusha</i> to
Thailand. The escapees included Chinese, Indians, and Malays. Keong, though the
youngest, was the tallest – and knew how to survive in the jungle and find the
way home. He became the leader of the band of escapees.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">They journeyed through the jungles, evading the Japanese
who hunted them. They were helped by many, including a Malay farmer and his
family in Kedah, who put their lives on the line to help them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">They survived their weeks-long jungle trek home by
foraging, hunting and fishing. They ate fruits, roots, fish, birds, wild boar.
Their constant companions were jungle noises, insect bites, bruises, sprains.
And along the way, they buried the abandoned bodies of some war victims.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Eventually Keong showed up at Chong’s home.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">He didn’t go
home to his own parents, for he knew informants in the community would report
his return to the Japanese and there would be hell to pay. Keong and Chong lived
in a shed, toiled on the farm, eked out a living.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">One day a leader of the People Inside, the Malayan
People’s Anti-Japanese Army, MPAJA, arrived, to get food and medicine and other
supplies. He told of his adventures engaging and defeating the Japanese. He showed scars inflicted upon him by the Japanese.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Keong saw in the MPAJA a way to get revenge, justice, for
what the Japanese had done – especially to his sister.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Soon after the visit of that MPAJA leader, Keong joined
the People Inside. He went on to become a leader. He met Chong a few times, both
after the British returned, and during the Malayan Emergency, from 1948-1960.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">One meeting was unintentional. It was when a bus Keong’s
company halted, emptied of passengers, then set on fire, turned out to have
Chong as ‘captain’ (driver and ticket collector). On other occasions, Keong met
Chong to ‘explain’ and ‘establish’ things.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">A gripping occasion when they met was when, driven by
strong traditional Chinese beliefs about filial piety and the afterlife, he attended
his mother’s funeral – and evaded capture by the British.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I was struck by the difference in whom Keong’s mother and
father prayed to when they sought assistance for him. His mother prayed to Guan
Yin, goddess of mercy. His father prayed to Guan Gong, god of justice and
courage.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">What emerges clearly from Gary’s book – he writes in his
own voice, referring to Chong as “father,” – is the gratefulness the Chinese
community felt towards the People Inside, the only organized group which
actively resisted and meted out ‘justice’ to the viciously brutal Japanese.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">When, in 1977, I completed 13 years of education in national
schools in the state of Johor in Malaysia, I’d never heard of “the Sook Ching
massacres.” I learned about them only years later.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">There are many variations on how Sook Ching massacres
were conducted – by the Japanese military police, the Kempeitai.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Often, it was like this: Males aged 18-55 years were
called to report to screening centres. There, they were made to walk past
hooded local informers who would nod if the passing man was ‘anti-Japanese.’ Those
so labelled would be tortured and often executed, by decapitation or by machine
gunning. Their bodies would be buried in mass graves.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;">It's worth noting that the Government of Singapore runs a
portal called Singapore Infopedia. It has a good article titled “</span><a href="https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_40_2005-01-24.html"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;">Operation
Sook Ching</span></a><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;">.” I don’t know whether Sook Ching is taught in Singapore
schools. I do know, as Gary also notes, that Lee Kuan Yew narrowly escaped
being a victim.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The rapacity of the Japanese soldiers was rampant. For
their own protection, Chinese girls and women cut their hair and dressed like
males.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Gary tells of an occasion when, in response to news of
approaching Japanese soldiers, village elders evacuated all the women in a
village to the jungles – to save them from rapes and other abuses. On this
occasion, Gary’s grandfather received a severe beating, the results of which he
had to endure for the rest of his life.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">When the Japanese surrendered, the MPAJA emerged from the
jungles and handed out rough justice to those who collaborated with the
Japanese – principally spies and local mistresses of Japanese officers. Gary
tells us that his father and his cohort quickly saw that the killings:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><i><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;">“… soon descended into a vendetta
… generated a feeling of fear and concern … people started questioning whether
there was any difference between the methods used by the communists and the
Japanese.”</span></i><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"> (Page 191)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Gary sometimes refers to the People Inside as MPAJA, and
at other times as “communist guerrillas.” In this article, I have followed Han
Suyin and used “People Inside” when I refer to the jungle-based resistance.
(Gary occasionally uses “People Inside.”)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Two-thirds of the way into the book, in Chapter 13, Gary
begins to write about the Malayan Emergency. He starts with people lining the
streets to welcome truckloads of British troops, while hoping for better
treatment by their returning British employers in the mines and estates.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The people’s hopes were not fulfilled. So, some of them, assisted
by the Communist Party of Malaya, mounted strikes. They demanded basic workers’
rights and overdue pay. Gary summarizes the government’s response and of his
father’s reaction in these words:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><i><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;">“… soon the British denied
the communist (</span></i><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;">sic<i>) of their right in political
representation. They banned the Communist Party of Malaya and forced it to go
underground. Although father was not a communist, he nevertheless lamented that
the British should practice what they preached. In a democratic system, all
parties should be allowed to fight in a fair manner in a free and open
democratic election to decide the winner.”</i> (Page 198)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Gary does not point out that the banning of the communist
party was proclaimed on 23 July 1948, over five weeks after three British
planters were assassinated by members of a communist gang – on 16 June 1948.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">It’s important to notice that the British banned the
major trade unions – claiming they were fronts of the communist party.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The bargaining power of abandoned, abused, expectant, workers
was cut off at a crucial moment in the history of our nation – at a moment when
hundreds of thousands of them were put behind barbed wire “for their own
protection.” And to serve as a source of cheap labour for the mines and estates.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Gary also discusses the contributions and sacrifices of
Chinese police officers in the fight against the Chinese dominated Communist
Party of Malaya, while noting that the party included notable Malay leaders
such as Abdullah CD, Rashid Maidin, Shamsiah Fakeh and Abu Samah.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Gary points out what we often forget: “Compared to other
communities, Chinese civilians suffered many more casualties during the
Emergency.” (Page 204) <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">That’s true because casualties include those who sustained
emotional hurts, and much of the action during the Emergency was in the New
Villages, to which Gary devotes most of the last third of the book, after
touching briefly on the Batang Kali massacre and the big dent that massacre
made in the reputation of the British Army.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The Batang Kali massacre was on 12 December 1948. In that
incident, British soldiers shot dead 24 unarmed civilians.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">As recently as 2015, a justice of the Supreme Court of
the United Kingdom said, after evaluating evidence presented by relatives and
friends of the 24 who persisted in seeking justice:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;">[the] “overwhelming
preponderance of currently available evidence” showed “wholly innocent men were
mercilessly murdered and the failure of the authorities of this state to
conduct an effective inquiry into their deaths.” (Christopher Hall, </span><a href="https://southeastasiaglobe.com/remembering-the-batang-kali-massacre/"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;">Globe</span></a><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;">)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Three years later, the tide turned in favour of the
British.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The tide turned because of the undirected killing, by
communist guerrillas, of British High Commissioner, Sir Henry Gurney, on 6
October 1951. It was undirected because the guerrillas weren’t acting on orders
to kill Henry. Their orders were to ambush vehicles and collect ammunition!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The tide turned because the population of Malaya was
grief-stricken over Sir Henry’s assassination.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The tide turned because there was a national outpouring
of grief.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The assassination also resulted in Churchill appointing
General Templer to replace Sir Henry. Templer,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><i><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;">“With an impressive military
record, … known to be a quick tempered and action-oriented leader.”</span></i><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;">
(Page 208)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Templer was true to his reputation. He turfed out all the
residents of the town of Tras, on the basis of suspicion that they had aided
the assassins:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><i><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;">“Father felt sorry for his
friends in Tras. Although they were born and grew up in the town, they had to
leave everything behind. Not even a dog was left behind. It was turned into a
ghost town literally overnight.”</span></i><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"> (Page 208)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Next was the punishment of all 20,000 residents of the
town of Tanjung Malim for the ‘crime’ of “withholding information from the
authorities.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Gary doesn’t expand on why Tanjung Malim was targeted.
Suffice to say that the communists killed 17 people who were seeking to repair
a water supply pipe sabotaged for the sixth time by the communists.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;">Templer imposed a 22-hour curfew, reduced food rations,
and induced people to provide information about the terrorists. Based on the
information he got, he ordered the complete destruction of Kampung Simpat Ampat.
Not much different from what the MPAJA did in the aftermath of the Japanese
surrender! (For more, see </span><a href="https://www.nst.com.my/news/2015/09/walk-down-memory-lane-historical-district"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;">this</span></a><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"> NST
article.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The greatest impact on the Chinese community of actions
undertaken during the Emergency was the forceful, involuntary relocation of:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><i><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;">“… more than half a million
farmers living in the jungle fringes to detention camps called New Villages …
called </span></i><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;">San Chun<i> … the vast majority … were Chinese. They
constituted almost 10% of the population of Malaya … it was then the biggest
emergency relocation exercise of its kind in the world.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><i><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;">Along with their neighbours,
grandpa had to move the family to stay in a </span></i><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;">San Chun<i>. It was a
drastic and unwelcome change for everybody concerned. Gone was the joy of
working in your own farm and freedom of roaming around the jungle fringes. They
were also deprived of their own fruits of labour as they had to hurriedly
abandoned </i>(sic)<i> all their crops and animals they raised. </i>(Page 209)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">In the following words, Gary describes the hardships they
endured, both in respect of personal hunger and of pressure to ‘help’ the People
Inside:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><i><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;">Each family was given a rice
license and food ration. Every detail was recorded. Ironically, smuggling rice
would carry a heavier sentence than smuggling drug (</span></i><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;">sic<i>)
then. Once, a communist sympathiser approached father asking him to smuggle
some items out of a nearby village [in his lorry]. Father was caught in a real
dilemma. He knew that if he refused to help, he could be killed. However, if he
got caught by the police or army for doing so, he would be thrown into jail for
a long time.</i> [Page 211]<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Women had to endure body searches at the hands of male
guards each time they passed through the gates of New Villages. Gary quotes Han
Suyin’s description of the groping endured by two key characters in her novel, Neo
and his wife Neo Saw:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt;"><i><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">“It was Neo Saw’s turn, and
Neo, pretending indifference, looked blankly away, feeling the tightening in
his heart, the coiled rankling fury which dwelt within him at the sight of
another man’s hands upon his woman; rage unbetrayed by tremor or word, endured,
as so many things were endured in these days between two terrors, that of the
Police, and that of the People Inside.” (Page 218)<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Much of what Gary describes in chapter 15: “The
Concentration Camps called <i>San Chun</i>,” will be news to many – who may
baulk, as I did, at the categorization of New Villages as “concentration camps”
– a term which evokes the horrors of </span></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">Auschwitz in Poland and </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">Buchenwald in Germany.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">It wasn’t until I read Gary’s book that I realized the
depth and extent of dismay inflicted upon Chinese people during the Emergency.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">They couldn’t take food and drink to their ancestors’
graves during Qing Ming. The areas they lived in were often labelled ‘black,’ which
to Chinese denotes a bad omen. And, just like the Japanese had used hooded
spies to flag anti-Japanese persons, the British placed their spies inside
armoured cars to flag communist sympathizers.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">New Villagers lived by the motto <i>yan sik foo bok mang!</i>
Eat bitterness, be gritty! (page 229) Sometimes, they had to pass motion in
their houses, for they wouldn’t be allowed to use the outhouses. They joked
sadly that the British enforced not only movement control, but also motion
control.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Gary’s final chapters – after a quick review of Merdeka (independence),
the Baling talks and so on – are about the marriage of his parents, the work of
his father which included lorry driving, taxi driving, and running a grocery
store. He also touches fleetingly on himself and his generation.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Interspersed in Gary’s account are many interesting
snippets about Chinese practices during births, weddings, and funerals.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I was very struck by how much spirits - both good and
evil - superstitions, ancestor appreciation and ‘gods’ seem to be in the DNA of
the Chinese. I also got insights into coffee shops as information nodes; ‘wise
men;’ herbal medicines and more.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">This is a book about Gary’s family. It’s not a complete
account of life in Malaya during the Japanese Occupation, the Malayan Emergency
and the first decades of Independent Malaya. But it’s well worth reading. The
response of most readers will be “why did we not know of this?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Curiously, both in his introduction and conclusion, Gary
doesn’t lament the lack of inclusion of the sufferings and responses of the
Chinese community in the curricula of our schools.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I do!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I highly recommend this book. It’s shockingly informative.
It’s easy reading. It costs a mere RM40, delivered, via Shopee.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>rama ramanathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18393433601515789090noreply@blogger.com0