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Untameable Bersih Part 2, understanding it

By Sakmongkol AK47
July 15, 2011 | The Malaysian Insider

JULY 15 — Some spell it as “tamable”. Others as “tameable”. The fact remains, the marchers cannot be tamed and though battered and aspersed, remained unbowed and honourable.

How do we make sense and explain the actions that took place after Bersih?

Let’s have our own debriefing session lest we agonise over how the media characterised our fellow citizens who marched on July 9. On the whole, I think, those people who marched towards Stadium Merdeka on July 9 before being horribly set upon by the police with tear gas and chemically-laced water are good, honourable and public-spirited people. Continue reading “Untameable Bersih Part 2, understanding it”

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Why did the police do what they did?

By Zan Azlee
July 15, 2011 | The Malaysian Insider

JULY 15 — The tough policeman with the huge muscles grabbed me by my shoulders and flung me towards the sidewalk not caring that I had a press tag around my neck.

I struggled to keep my balance and not drop my camera. I barely managed to not trip over the curb.

“Halau cameraman itu! (Get rid of that cameraman!)” screamed the policeman’s other colleagues.

My crime? I was shooting a bunch of arrested demonstrators being led out of Tung Shin Hospital and through a police line. Continue reading “Why did the police do what they did?”

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The elephant in the (news)room

By Dr Mustafa K Anuar
July 15, 2011 | The Malaysian Insider

JULY 15 — The morning after. The pro-government mainstream press splashed headlines, news reports, so-called “analyses” and photos that essentially and predictably mocked, discredited and demonised the leaders, supporters and participants of the Bersih 2.0 rally in Kuala Lumpur last Saturday.

For instance, the Sunday Star carried a front-page headline that said: “Defiant”. The bold headline accompanied a huge picture of a face-off between the Federal Reserve Unit and other police personnel on the one hand and the protesters on the other at the temporarily closed Puduraya bus terminal. Continue reading “The elephant in the (news)room”

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Cartoons, yellow tees, now ties – what’s next?

Malaysiakini Your Say | Jul 15, 11

‘When are they going to learn that Bersih, when it’s in the rakyat’s hearts, cannot be removed from the rakyat by banning yellow ties and T-shirts?’

Police to tighten noose against Bersih neckties, too

DannyLoHH: Is there a way to file a class suit against the police and the home minister for their unconstitutional and unlawful outlawing of all things Bersih?

Wearing a Bersih shirt or shirt with the word ‘Bersih’, or even just the Bersih logo should not be illegal as we are a democratic country. Wearing a Bersih shirt does not mean we are a member of the ‘outlaw organisation’ nor does it necessarily mean we’re providing (material) support the organisation.
Continue reading “Cartoons, yellow tees, now ties – what’s next?”

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Tung Shin should put people before gov’t

Malaysiakini Your Say | Jul 15, 11

‘Tung Shin missed the point: as a social entity with a mission, who should Tung Shin entertain first – the police or those who need help?’

Doctors: We’ll produce more evidence if challenged

Cala: Honorary secretary of Tung Shin Hospital board Chong Teck Hong has turned Tung Shin into a state apparatus.

From Chong’s perspective, the assumption is that the hospital is both a private property as well as a common-pool resource. The property is privately-owned by a certain entity or corporation. It is also common-pool resource, similar to commercial shopping centres like Subang Parade, since it cannot reject anybody from entering.
Continue reading “Tung Shin should put people before gov’t”

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Bersih: My final thoughts

By Art Harun
July 14, 2011 | The Malaysian Insider

JULY 14 — “Wise men profit more from fools than fools from wise men; for the wise men shun the mistakes of fools, but fools do not imitate the successes of the wise.” — Cato the Elder (234 BC – 149 BC) from Plutarch, Lives.

In my opinion, the biggest mistake that the government had made in the Bersih issue was to isolate a large section of the society from itself, anger them and convert them into a Bersih sympathiser and/or supporter.

At some point of time before the Bersih rally — in my opinion it was about the time Pak Samad said was hauled to the police station — the Bersih movement had transcended its electoral reform objective into a full-scale platform for the people to vent their frustrations, disappointments, angst and anger to the government. Continue reading “Bersih: My final thoughts”

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How democratic elections still failed Sabah

By Erna Mahyuni
July 14, 2011 | The Malaysian Insider

JULY 14 — “How can you say our elections are unfair when BN lost five states in 2008?” I hear that refrain over and over again to the point I want to scream. And stage my own private rally in front of Putrajaya.

Let me tell you a story, of a 16-year-old girl witnessing the 1994 Sabah state elections. I was that girl. Imagine turning on the television to watch a video showing derelict shacks, illegal immigrants (who Sabah natives recognise on sight) living in squalor while in the background a refrain plays, calling on viewers to “Binalah Sabah baru (Build a new Sabah)!”

Nearly two decades later and I still want to punch whoever made that video in the mouth. Continue reading “How democratic elections still failed Sabah”

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BERSIH 2.0: Pengalaman Saya

By Khalid Samad
14 July 2011

Pengalaman saya bersama Perhimpunan BERSIH 2.0 bermula pada jam 11 pagi apabila saya dengan seorang teman dari PAS Shah Alam menuju ke Kuala Lumpur. Pada mulanya kami mencuba Lebuh Raya Persekutuan. Ianya sesak dari sebelum Tol Batu 3. Kami cuba pintas melalui Glenmarie. Trafik sesak di hadapan kilang pengedar kereta BMW. Kami memutuskan untuk berpusing balik dan mencuba pula melalui ELITE/PLUS menuju ke KLIA. Masuk di Batu 3, keluar di Tol USJ. Seterusnya menuju ke arah Puchong. Seterusnya kami menyusuri Jalan Gasing dan melalui kawasan Universiti Malaya sehingga keluar di Jalan Pantai. Dari situ terus menuju ke KL Sentral.

Sekatan jalan oleh polis di merata tempat. BN menyusahkan rakyat semata-mata kerana hendak menghalang program yang menegur mereka. Turut bersimpati dengan pihak polis, berpanas dan mendapat sumpahan rakyat berbakul-bakul semata-mata kerana UMNO/BN. Hanya pencuri dan BN yang bergembira dengan penggunaan polis secara sebegini. Tetapi, kalau difikirkan, memang terdapat persamaan di situ. Pencuri mencuri secara ‘illegal’, BN mencuri harta rakyat melalui cara ‘legal’. Continue reading “BERSIH 2.0: Pengalaman Saya”

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BN losing the cyberwar again

By Oon Yeoh
Jul 14, 11 | MalaysiaKini

What a difference a year makes. Around this time last year, I wrote an article entitled The Cyberwar of 2012 for my weekly Oon Time column in theSun newspaper.

In it, I wrote about how Barisan Nasional seemed to be getting the upper hand in the online space largely because many of the popular pro-Pakatan Rakyat bloggers had become MPs and had become too busy to blog.

Post-March 8, 2008, we saw the rise of pro-Umno bloggers who quickly went on to dominate the political blogging scene. Continue reading “BN losing the cyberwar again”

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Something unspeakably holy about Bersih 2.0

By Steven Foong
July 14, 2011 | The Malaysian Insider

1000hr – Ka Vee arrives at my house. We bought toothpaste, salt and drinking water before going for breakfast. He was wearing a “Racism is so Yesterday” T-shirt by Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia. I laugh and joked, “You most likely won’t make it past the LRT Station. .

1050hr – At the Asia Jaya LRT station. A couple of cops were leaning against a yellow Digi booth chatting up the pretty girl manning the booth. Life is good, eh? Ka Vee proposed KL Sentral while I was in favour of Masjid Jamek. The heavy police presence at KL Sentral was intimidating enough that we gave it a miss. Masjid Jamek then. Continue reading “Something unspeakably holy about Bersih 2.0”

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Kedah ban on entertainment outlets during Ramadan – MB should revoke decision

I have been in contact with the DAP Kedah State Chairman and Kota Darul Aman State Assemblyman Lee Guan Aik on the Kedah ban on 13 types of entertainment outlets from operating during Ramadan.

Lee reports that Kedah DAP had never agreed to the ban and that the matter was never raised at the Kedah Pakatan Rakyat council level, although it was agreed that matters that might be sensitive to the different communities like the ban on entertainment outlets during Ramadan should be discussed at PR Kedah state council level first.

Lee also clarified that he had never agreed to such a ban in the Kedah State Assembly.

In the circumstances, the Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan should reconsider and revoke the decision to fully implement Kedah State Entertainment Enactment 1997, especially as the previous Barisan Nasional state government had not done so in the 11 years before it was ousted in the 2008 general elections. Continue reading “Kedah ban on entertainment outlets during Ramadan – MB should revoke decision”

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Ramadan ban lands PAS and DAP in the soup

By Susan Loone
Jul 14, 11 | MalaysiaKini

A big storm is shaking up the Pakatan Rakyat in Kedah over the PAS-led government’s recent ban on entertainment outlets during Ramadan.

PAS’ coalition partner, DAP, has expressed disappointment over the new ruling, accusing accused the former of not consulting its partners before deciding on the controversial issue.

The party’s Kota Darul Aman assemblyperson Lee Guan Aik said he regrets Menteri Besar Azizan Abdul Razak’s very hasty decision to halt the outlets as the non-Muslim community’s livelihood would be affected. Continue reading “Ramadan ban lands PAS and DAP in the soup”

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Suhakam public inquiry into police brutality most laudable

The decision of Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) to hold a public inquiry into police excessive use of force, violence and brutality during last Saturday’s Bersih 2.0 rally is most timely and laudable.

In fact, if the Malaysian police subscribes to the principles of democratic policing to protect the rights and interests of the citizens and not the outmoded colonial mentality of regime policing, not a single tear gas canister or water cannon needed to be fired during the peaceful 709 Bersih 2.0 rally.

The tens of thousands of Malaysians from all races, religions, regions, age and gender who braved police threats, arrests, teargas and water cannons to gather in Kuala Lumpur on 709 to support Bersih 2.0’s legitimate calls for free and fair elections distinguished themselves by being peaceful, orderly and disciplined – going out of their way to avoid or respond to police provocations and to protect private and public property as there was no vandalism of any kind. Continue reading “Suhakam public inquiry into police brutality most laudable”

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Yes, minister, you are wrong!

By Dr Hsu Dar Ren
July 14, 2011 | The Malaysian Insider

JULY 14 — Article 18, Part II of the Fourth Geneva Convention (August 12, 1949) states clearly that:

“Civilian hospitals organised to give care to the wounded and sick, the infirm and maternity cases, may in no circumstances be the object of attack but shall at all times be respected and protected by the Parties to the conflict.”

Hospitals are sanctuaries that should be respected and avoided by all warring sides. One of the reasons is that the injured and wounded are unable to defend themselves, and any honourable being will never attack or fight with anyone who is disabled or ill. The patients are also unable to run or seek shelter elsewhere. Continue reading “Yes, minister, you are wrong!”

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It’s between evil and good

By The Malaysian Insider
July 14, 2011

JULY 14 — We are not interested in the politicians who lined up behind Bersih 2.0 or those who chose to fight against the cause of clean and free elections.

We are interested in the thousands of Malaysians (not Malays, Chinese or Indians or Kadazans, etc) who marched together in solidarity and love for each other and the millions at home who are realising that we are more similar than different.

It is sad that we needed adversity to tell us that we accept each other as Malaysians and that polarisation and racial divide is the creation of politicians, especially those in power. Continue reading “It’s between evil and good”

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If only every day was July 9

By Joey Sze
July 14, 2011 | The Malaysian Insider

JULY 14 — Many people were surprised that I attended the rally despite all the hoo-hah and clampdowns. Someone who describes me as “soft spoken” commended me on my “courage” and “strength.”

The truth is that I am a little surprised myself. I am, by nature, non-confrontational. Street rallies are not part of my usual Saturday afternoon routine.

The first time Bersih was held in 2007, I was completely oblivious. Until I had to rush for a wedding dinner that evening … and traffic was at a standstill “due to a rally in town.” I was so annoyed at the “inconsiderate” people. How dare they inconvenience the rest of us with their little parade? Continue reading “If only every day was July 9”

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Bersih rally may point to unequal wealth distribution, says Financial Times

By Clara Chooi
July 14, 2011 | The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, July 14 — Datuk Seri Najib Razak should take heed of last Saturday’s mass protest as a possible show of public distaste on income disparity in Malaysia, aside from a push for electoral reform, the Financial Times has said.

The daily reported in a commentary on its popular Lex column that the prime minister may have to lift the issue of unequal wealth distribution as a priority for his administration, noting that since the Umno president took office, he had chosen instead to focus on boosting Malaysia’s gross national income per capita (GNI). Continue reading “Bersih rally may point to unequal wealth distribution, says Financial Times”

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My march for the real one Malaysia

By Lucia Lai
Jul 14, 11 | MalaysiaKini

EYEWITNESS I had, long before July 9, already made up my mind to attend the Bersih 2.0 rally in Kuala Lumpur. I missed the 2007 rally, so I was very determined to make it to this one.

I even started a ‘Penangites attending Bersih 2.0 rally’ event page on Facebook, to try to see how many Penangites would go, and maybe arrange to go together.

Unfortunately, with all the clamping down the police were carrying out, I was advised not to go in a big group. In the end, I went with two of my Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia (SABM) Penang friends, Stanley and Howie, in Howie’s car. Continue reading “My march for the real one Malaysia”

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Suhakam to probe ‘police brutality’ during rally

By MalaysiaKini
Jul 14, 11

The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) is to hold a public inquiry into allegations of police brutality during last Saturday’s Bersih 2.0 rally in the streets of Kuala Lumpur.

However, Suhakam still studying the terms and reference for such an inquiry, which would be made public later, the organisation announced today.

Commissioner Dr Khaw Lake Tee made the announcement at the Suhakam office in Kuala Lumpur after receiving a memorandum from a group of rally participants led by Bersih 2.0 steering committee member Maria Chin Abdullah.
Continue reading “Suhakam to probe ‘police brutality’ during rally”

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Predators and preys on July 9

By B Nantha Kumar
July 14, 2011 | Free Malaysia Today

Comment I am a photojournalist and having witnessed four major rallies – Bersih 1.0, Hindraf, Anti-ISA and PPSMI (a rally against the teaching of science and mathematics in English) – I feel compelled to register my shock and awe at how the July 9, Bersih 2.0′s “Walk for Democracy” turned into a playground for predators and a nursery for unconditional kindness.

There were thousands of Malaysian on July 9 in Kuala Lumpur, all aiming to find their way to the goalpost – Stadium Mederka.

They were all to assemble there and the Bersih steering committee would then march to the palace to give the King the eight-point memorandum. Continue reading “Predators and preys on July 9”