Written by lainie at 11:18 AM on August 29, 2008 in Rants, Events, Arty stuff.

Once a year, our country's independence day comes along (or twice, if you remember Sabah and Sarawak), and everything gears up for Merdeka celebrations. Each year I've felt like I have little reason to celebrate the freedom of our country, especially when so many freedoms are not only missing, they're actively oppressed.

So pardon the language if two days before merdeka I am asking: Apa pantat is happening to our country now? Twitter has been buzzing with disgruntlement. The last message I received before I slept was from my father, asking for Malaysia-Today's mirror website. I woke up to one from my mother, asking the same.

For those who are not clued in, TMNet has blocked access to Malaysia Today, and other providers like Jaring and Time are expected to follow suit soon.

Malaysia Kini reports back with Minister defends Malaysia Today ban:

Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar said today that the prominent news portal Malaysia Today had been banned because it published "libelous, defamatory and slanderous" content.

"I think we don't intend to curtail people's freedom and right to give information and debate," Syed Hamid told reporters.

"But when you publish content that is libelous, defamatory and slanderous to other people I think it is only natural we take action," he said.

He defended blocking access to Malaysia Today that has attacked top leaders, saying it had ignored warnings against publishing "slanderous" articles.

"So many warnings and opportunities have been given and it is not heeded, so I am sure they have exercised their authority well under the law."

Malaysiakini reported yesterday that government-backed watchdog Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission had ordered all internet service providers (ISPs) in the country to block the errant website, whose founder Raja Petra Kamaruddin, has already been charged with sedition.

Considering Malaysia ranks 124 out of 169 on the worldwide press freedom index (by Reporters Without Borders), I seriously doubt Barisan Nasional can generate credibility over what it decides is "libelous, defamatory and slanderous".

You can read more on letters to Malaysiakini.

The mirror to Malaysia Today is here: http://mt.harapanmalaysia.com/2008/.

[ Reconfiguring your DNS is easy and takes less than a minute. Illustrated guide for your connection here (heck, apparently your download torrents will be speedier too if you use it) ]

You're probably best off redefining your DNS server as more websites may be unavailable to you soon: Government to target blogosphere next. So yes, enable your access to the content again, past the censorship, but I hope you do not stop there. Make some noise about it. Cmon. You know if we let this happen it'll get very bad.

BN being allowed to censor whateverthefuck they consider slander? PFFT. You've got to be kidding me.

Damn, if they'd dared to pull this shit before the elections....So merdeka is coming up. There'll be a lack of celebration over here.

Merdeka my arse, but I will be at Annexe over the weekend for Seksualiti Merdeka and Arts For Grabs. I've been there, painting a typography mural the past two nights with some peeps.

Here are some of them minions hard at work.

Nothing compares with being in an enclosed area for hours with people (some you just met), getting increasingly cuckoo from inhaling paint fumes.

[ I shared an idea with Liy, whom you may know as the poet Dizzy, for Arts for Grabs, and hopefully our booth makes it through. ]