Blogs & Ecology

Paradise Storm and Anil Netto from Malaysia provide eyewitness accounts to the peaceful vigil-protest which was violently dispersed by the police. The vigil was a protest against Malaysia's authoritarian policies.

One of the most enduring legends of South East Asia is the Pontianak, said to be a bone-white lady, with ruby-red eyes, who is borne from her death in birth-giving. The Pontianak, or sometimes called the “Kuntilanak”, lives in almost all of South East Asia, except the Indochina region. Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and the Philippines have the blood-drinking ghoul in their folklore. According to the Chap Ayam Photographers' blog:

The Malaysian judiciary has long been criticised of corruption, and also for being less-than expeditious in its process. Earlier this year, de facto Law Minister, Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, promised to bring changes to Malaysia's legal system, beginning with the judiciary. While he was in office, Zaid set up a committee to get reforms underway.

Lush with primary and secondary virgin jungle, Malaysians have long held a respect for the forests. It also helps that myths, whether bearing down from the forefathers or from urban legend, has caused a lot of superstition surrounding the vast jungle of Malaysia.

According to Hungzai.com,

Entering the jungle? Respect the place and don’t “talk big”. Don’t relieve yourself anywhere you like. Don’t call out your friend’s name. Break these traditional taboos and unseen spirits may just wreak havoc on you – for instance, a “voice” may just imitate your companion’s name and lead him far astray from the path.

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Source: Global Voices Online

After the China milk scandal, Jewelle notes that in Malaysia some popular food brands are also allegedly contaminated. Are we living in the era of contaminated food?

Like the rest of the world, the China milk scandal has alarmed Southeast Asian countries. China is the major trading partner of Southeast Asian nations. Chinese goods are popular and accessible in the region. It is not surprising to learn that Chinese milk products which are contaminated by melamine have already been sold in local markets.

A molotov cocktail was thrown at the house of Malaysian politician Teresa Kok. She condemned the act and attributed the “despicable act to certain media groups and blogs that have deliberately demonised and portrayed (her) as chauvinistic, anti Malay and anti Islam.” She adds: “They persisted in reporting similar fictitious and false stories. This may have also stoked the contempt and hatred towards me and my family.”

Think Vision's Weblog posted photos of a political assembly where Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim announced that his party is ready to form a new government.

The fourth Global Chinese Blog Award-the biggest blog award in Chinese blogosphere-hosted by Taiwan's Chinatimes.com just finished sign-up stage this evening with a result of more than 10,000 blogs signing in 16 categories. The most competitive category is Art and Culture which has 3,015 contesting blogs while the least is Political Parties and Central Government with only four runners. I was one of the judges in last year contest and I managed to read over 7,500 blogs at that time as if I was mad.

Hard-hitting Malaysian blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin was arrested again by police for allegedly violating Malaysia's Internal Security Act. Another journalist was arrested too.

Image: Assembly of Upper Baram headmen in 2006 (top left corner: the late Kelesa Naan, former headman of Long Kerong; top right corner: Bilong Oyoi, the deposed headman of Long Sait). Photo: The Bruno Manser Fund

In a move to seize control of land belonging to indigenous peoples who oppose logging in the Borneo rainforests, the government of Malaysia is replacing locally-elected community leaders with timber company associates.

Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim will become Member of Parliament again after winning in a recent election. No Kacau, Don't Kacau sees a better political landscape for Malaysia.

Close to 200 athletes from the Southeast Asian region are participating in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The big news (as far as the region is concerned) during the opening ceremonies are the exclusion of Brunei during the event and the “improper” waving of the Singaporean flag by the country’s flagbearer.

Bisean lists Southeast Asia's tallest waterfalls.

photo by Geoff Leeming