Our heartfelt congratulations go to Irene Fernandez for being recognised for her lifetimes' work and awarded - together with three others - the 2005 Right Livelihood Award also known as the alternative Nobel Prize.
Indeed, it makes us all proud that despite the powers-that-be that view Irene to be a felon, those who have had faith in her are now rewarded by an organisation that has far more credibility than that Malaysian judiciary which found her guilty of 'maliciously publishing false news'.
Indeed, despite many thinking that the judiciary might have cleansed itself of the taint of Anwar Ibrahim's trials, one should be reminded that it has not completely cleansed itself. Irene's outstanding appeal after probably the world's longest trial, continues to taint the Malaysian judiciary.
And since it is the government that 'controls' that institution, this is telling on the current government.
I would also like to take this opportunity to remind one Anwar Ibrahim that it was while he was still in the government as deputy prime minister that Irene ran foul of the law. He failed to ensure justice was done then when he was in a position to be able to do so.
Despite that, when he got sacked she came to his side. Now that Anwar has the world at his feet, maybe he can, in addition to reminding the world of the injustice done to him, also remind the world of the injustice done to Irene with regards to her conviction.
More importantly, any remorse on the part of the government should only be accepted if Irene is duly compensated for all the misery caused to her. Indeed, the shame on the government will be far more greater if she were to be awarded the real thing, the Nobel Prize for Peace!
As it is, when Irene goes up to receive the award from the King of Sweden, I hope we can all celebrate together with her.