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Technology and protest

By Kapil Sethi
July 03, 2011 | The Malaysian Insider

JULY 3 — To an observer of the increasingly charged political rhetoric in the country, the lack of political acumen on display by the ruling coalition vis- à-vis the Bersih 2.0 rally is truly astonishing.

If there is one thing to be learned from the Arab Spring, it is that draconian measures against protesters give more impetus and motivation to their cause. It is a different paradigm from the past where in the absence of alternative media, divide and rule was a very successful strategy.

The larger question, of course, is what the powers that be are so afraid of? The answer to a great extent has to do with the current power of technology. Yes, technology. For instance, consider the differences between, say, the online Curi Curi Wang Malaysia protest and the Bersih 2.0 rally. Continue reading “Technology and protest”

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Ambiga: Bersih is the rakyat, ban has little impact

By Melissa Chi
July 03, 2011 | The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, July 3 — The Home Ministry ban on Bersih 2.0 will not have the impact it had aimed for as the electoral reform movement has captured the people’s “hearts and minds”, says its chairman Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan.

The former Bar Council president also disagreed with the Najib administration’s rationale for outlawing the movement, saying Bersih 2.0 was a coalition of established groups and does not need to be registered.

“More important, above and beyond that, Bersih now means more than just a group of organisations to Malaysians. Bersih is now a concept that has captured the hearts and minds of the rakyat. Continue reading “Ambiga: Bersih is the rakyat, ban has little impact”

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Media organisation condemns rally and police

By Athi Shankar
July 3, 2011 | Free Malaysia Today

GEORGE TOWN: The assault on newsmen during Friday’s violent rally and the police inaction to stop it had irked the Penang Chinese Journalists and Photographers Association (Pewaju).

In a strongly worded statement here, Pewaju condemned the unprovoked attacks on a journalist, a photographer and a videographer by the protestors during violent and illegal rallies in George Town downtown and on Penang Bridge.

The rallies were against the Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s Pakatan Rakyat state government and next Saturday’s Bersih 2.0 rally. Continue reading “Media organisation condemns rally and police”

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Where’s the 1 Malaysia, Datuk Seri?

The Malaysian Insider
July 02, 2011

JULY 2 — Of course, any visit to Kelantan makes a politician a bit more religious in his outlook. Datuk Seri Najib Razak is no exception.

But Kelantan doesn’t make anyone less Malaysian or less inclusive.

Yet the prime minister chose to use his visit to Kelantan today to lash out at Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan in a very base way. The kind of attack one expects from others but not the political aristocracy that has given us two Umno presidents and two prime ministers.

“Who doesn’t know Ambiga. She’s the one who threatened Islam. And below her is Mat Sabu,” Najib told a 20,000-strong crowd here, referring to the Bersih chief who once took up a case involving the faith and the new PAS deputy president Mohamed Sabu. Continue reading “Where’s the 1 Malaysia, Datuk Seri?”

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Pakatan condemns Bersih 2.0 ban

By Clara Chooi
July 02, 2011 | The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, July 2 — Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders expressed outrage tonight at the Home Ministry’s decision to outlaw Bersih 2.0 ahead of its rally next week, but declared that the clampdown has not spooked them into withdrawing their support.

Electoral reforms coalition Bersih 2.0 has invited all political parties to join its march for free and fair elections but the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) have snubbed them, saying PR’s victories in Election 2008 is proof there is no fault with the current system.

“We are more determined now to demand for more democratic space in society. I do not see any reason whatsoever for the minister or Umno to crack down on the people just because they are demanding free and fair elections,” PKR deputy president Azmin Ali told The Malaysian Insider. Continue reading “Pakatan condemns Bersih 2.0 ban”

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Hisham outlaws Bersih 2.0

The Malaysian Insider
July 02, 2011

KUALA LUMPUR, July 2 — Electoral reforms movement Bersih 2.0 has been declared illegal by the Home Ministry effective July 1 for causing “an atmosphere of unrest,” a week before its planned July 9 rally.

The ministry issued a four-paragraph statement outlining the reasons for the ban by Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein.

It gave three reasons for the banning of the movement, adding it was an unregistered group despite fulfilling all criteria to form an organisation under the Societies Act 1966.

The reasons given for the ban are: Continue reading “Hisham outlaws Bersih 2.0”

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Sungai Siput MP, five PSM members held under emergency law

By Shannon Teoh and Melissa Chi
July 02, 2011 | The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, July 2 — Police have re-arrested Sungai Siput MP Dr Michael Jeyakumar and five other Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) members for 60 days under the Emergency Ordinance, which allows for detention without trial.

The six were due in the Butterworth courts this morning as a seven-day remand order had expired after their arrest for promoting the Bersih rally last week.

It is understood that the six have been sent to the Bukit Aman federal police headquarters. Continue reading “Sungai Siput MP, five PSM members held under emergency law”

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Najib blasts Ambiga, PAS over Bersih rally

The Malaysian Insider
July 02, 2011

PASIR PUTIH, July 2 — Datuk Seri Najib Razak lambasted Bersih chief Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan and PAS for the planned July 9 rally, telling people here the Islamist party will do anything to capture Putrajaya.

The electoral reform movement has called for a rally to press for free and fair elections but the Najib administration is taking all measures to stop the demonstration which is a repeat of a 2007 rally that drew some 50,000 people in Kuala Lumpur.

“Who doesn’t know Ambiga. She’s the one who threatened Islam. And below her is Mat Sabu,” Najib (picture) told a 20,000-strong crowd, referring to the Bersih chief who once took up a case involving the faith and the new PAS deputy president Mohamed Sabu. The prime minister is in Kelantan for a day-long visit. Continue reading “Najib blasts Ambiga, PAS over Bersih rally”

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Deputy IGP: No more discussions over rallies

By Teoh El Sen
July 1, 2011 | Free Malaysia Today

KUALA LUMPUR: The police will no longer seek to negotiate or discuss with the organisers of the July 9 rallies, be it from Bersih, Perkasa, or Umno Youth.

Their stand is clear: The rallies will not be allowed.

The nation’s number two police officer, deputy inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar said: “We have given them explanations and warnings and reminders, but they do not heed. We will make sure this rally does not take place.” Continue reading “Deputy IGP: No more discussions over rallies”

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TV, radio told to demonise Bersih rally

By Lee Way Loon
Jul 1, 11 | MalaysiaKini

With the Bersih 2.0 rally just around the corner, the authorities have launched a media campaign to label the rally as an illegal gathering to the extent that TV stations are required to submit daily reports detailing their news coverage on the rally.

Malaysiakini learnt that the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), which oversees all private TV and radio stations, has directed the broadcasters to state the number and content of news related to Bersih in their reports. Continue reading “TV, radio told to demonise Bersih rally”

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Police to make sure July 9 rallies do ‘not take place’

By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal
July 01, 2011 | The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, July 1 — The police have shut out all forms of negotiations with organisers of the upcoming July 9 rallies, with Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar warning today that the police will make sure the rallies do not take place.

The Deputy Inspector-General of Police said that there would be no more room for discussions, and warned the organisers — Bersih, Perkasa and Umno Youth — to be prepared to be arrested if they did not abort the rally.

“We have given them explanations and warnings and reminders, but they do not heed. We will make sure the rallies do not take place.” Continue reading “Police to make sure July 9 rallies do ‘not take place’”

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Religious council throws its weight behind all three rallies

By Tarani Palani
July 1, 2011 | Free Malaysia Today

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) has thrown its weight behind all three planned rallies on July 9.

The organisation which propagates religious harmony said that the “supreme law” of the court, the Federal Constitution guarantees the freedom of assembly.

“Article 10 (1)(b) (states) all citizens have the right to assemble peaceably and without arms… it is one of the pillars of our Rukun Negara,” read the statement. Continue reading “Religious council throws its weight behind all three rallies”

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Of songkoks, uniforms and managing expectations

by Zairil Khir Johari
July 01, 2011 | The Malaysian Insider

JULY 1 — I must admit to feeling a tad slighted when I read the recent reports of my friends and fellow comrades turning up on the first day of the Sarawak State Assembly in lounge suits instead of the ceremonial “number one” dress with songkok that was worn by everyone else.

Now, it must first and foremost be stated that no wrong was committed. The ceremonial uniform is not compulsory, and at no time did any breach of protocol occur. Neither is this issue a new one, having become a recurrent, though not persistent, occurrence at some of the legislative assemblies nationwide. Continue reading “Of songkoks, uniforms and managing expectations”

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Open Letter – Cabinet should end the “madness” unleashed in past week

The Prime Minister,
Deputy Prime Minister,
Cabinet Ministers.

Cabinet should end the “madness” unleashed in past week with police required to arrest those wearing the Bersih 2.0 T-shirt, yellow virtually becoming a colour of crime and “Bersih” a dirty word

I am writing this short Open Letter to the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister and all Ministers to ask the Cabinet at its meeting this morning to end the “madness” unleashed in the past week with the police required to act unlawfully to arrest those wearing the Bersih 2.0 T-shirt, yellow virtually becoming a colour of crime and “Bersih” a dirty word.
Continue reading “Open Letter – Cabinet should end the “madness” unleashed in past week”

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Bersih rally a turning point for democracy

by Kim Quek
The Malaysian Insider
Jun 30, 2011

JUNE 30 — Amidst the frenzy of draconian measures to prevent the July 9 Bersih rally from taking place, many Malaysians have begun to wonder: Has Malaysia descended into a state of lawlessness?

No sooner had the home minister declared that wearing the yellow Bersih T-shirt was illegal, the Inspector-General of Police up the ante by announcing that even “shoes, cars, buses or any medium that promote the Bersih rally are illegal, as this amounts to sedition”, and he said the people involved will be arrested.

To date, more than 100 people have been arrested all over the country in the past four days, mainly for wearing the yellow Bersih T-shirts. Continue reading “Bersih rally a turning point for democracy”

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I’ll wear yellow baju raya

by Mohd Syahir Sulaiman
The Malaysian Insider
Jun 30, 2011

JUNE 30 — Semakin lara kita didera bara, kita laungkan juga pesan merdeka, demokrasi sebenderang mentari, sehasrat hajat semurni harga diri — A. Samad Said.

Yellow symbolises wisdom.

July 9th is just around the corner, and talks get heated up in every corner, from Facebook urbanites to long house foyers. Thanks to RTM and Utusan for the free publicity.

People may differ. However, one thing in certain, all eyes are set on the upcoming saga. Continue reading “I’ll wear yellow baju raya”

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Malaysia’s season of fear

by Praba Ganesan
The Malaysian Insider
Jun 30, 2011

JUNE 30 — “Have you no sense of decency, sir, at long last? Have you left no sense of decency?”

Joseph Welch, the attorney representing the US Army, asked this of Senator Joseph McCarthy at the height of the series of “witch-hunts” under the guise of various congressional committees to uncover unAmerican activities in America between 1953-54.

America was in the early years of the Cold War when tales of communists, spies and those bent on destroying the American way of life were rife.

McCarthy felt his populism, electability and political future could benefit from playing up the “bogeyman.”

Proof or even truth was irrelevant in the dark period referred to as “McCarthyism”. Continue reading “Malaysia’s season of fear”