Category: Bersih

The break-in attempt at the office of Bersih 2.0 co-chairperson Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan in Damansara this morning is a matter of grave concern to rational and decent Malaysians, although full details of the attempted break-in have still to come in.

Rational and decent Malaysians want a return to the decency and civility of politics and public life, instead of growing desensitization to sense, sensibility and sensitivities as happened recently, for instance in the Perkasa “funeral rite” in front of Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s house in Penang, the setting up of a burger stall in front of Ambiga’s house at Bukit Damansara and the disgraceful and deplorable “butt” dance by a group of armed forces veteran in front of Ambiga’s house.

For this reason, I support Ambiga’s proposal, as reported in Free Malaysia Today, asking the NGO, WargaAMAN, to reconsider its decision to set up a thosai stall outside Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Khalid Abu Bakar’s house on Sunday. Continue reading “Support for Ambiga’s proposal for the calling off of the “thosai” plan outside Deputy IGP’s house to initiate a virtuous circle to restore decency and civility to politics and public life”

When the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib spoke about “uncivilized enemies” who will lead Malaysia to ruin at the UMNO anniversary gathering at the Bukit Jalil Stadium last Friday, Malaysians immediately thought of two “uncivilized” acts which occurred only the day before – the Perkasa “funeral rite” in front of Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s house in Penang and the setting up of a burger stall in front of the house of Bersih 2.0 co-chairperson Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan’s house at Bukit Damansara, Kuala Lumpur.

Since then there had been a third “uncivilized” act which had never happened before in Malaysian politics and public life in the nation’s 54-year history – the utterly insensitive and deplorable “butt” dance by a group of armed forces veteran in front of Ambiga’s house two days ago, with the promise of more and bigger “uncivilized” actions to come!

What is most shocking is that these “uncivilised” actions had at first the approval and support of important personalities in government – especially the Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Khalid Abu Bakar and some Ministers who asked what was wrong with setting up a beef burger stall in front of Ambiga’s house. Continue reading “Time to restore decency and civility to politics and public life”

— Aliran
The Malaysian Insider
May 17, 2012

MAY 17 — Aliran is shocked by Deputy Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar’s glib reaction to the May 10 protest by Malaysian Small and Medium Entrepreneurs Alliance (Iklas) members outside Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan’s home.

“What offence? If you want to sit in front of her house without disrupting other people, there is no offence,” he states without a trace of human understanding.

“Which privacy? They didn’t enter her house, they were in public space,” he maintains without an inkling of the dangerous situation created by these trouble-makers intent on causing mischief outside Ambiga’s house.

Such comments coming from the No. 2 man in the police force no less encourage lawlessness and open the flood gates to mischief-makers, hooligans and thugs to go on a rampage. His comments are unacceptable and unbecoming of a police officer of his rank who is entrusted with the peace and harmony of this country founded on the supremacy of the Federal Constitution.

Already, spurred on by his comments, another bigger rally involving 500 traders has been planned for May 24. Continue reading “Slippery slope to lawlessness”

— Galvin Wong
The Malaysian Insider
May 17, 2012

MAY 17 — The last two weeks have been filled with events that have displayed violence, disrespect and the true character of politics. On April 28, we experienced Bersih 3.0, the biggest protest in our country’s history that started off on a good note but quickly degraded into an event of confusion and violence. The days that followed were filled with allegations and blame shifting from all parties involved. After that came the burger selling and bum exercise incidents in front of Ambiga Sreenevasan’s house. And just two days ago, DAP vice-chairman Tunku Abdul Aziz Tunku Ibrahim ended a dispute he had with the party by resigning on national TV.

I write this article today not to talk about these incidents, but to remind us that all these incidents have stemmed from one issue we all fought for in July last year and in April this year — free and fair elections.

Our focus and the pressure placed on the government have both diminished and shifted away due to the many other incidents that have happened. One reason I feel the Election Commission has not done much since 2007 is because we failed to place constant pressure on them. The public scrutiny on their work came in waves, the 2007, 2011 and this year’s waves. After they weathered the short storm during these years, they went on in a business-as-usual mode, only succeeding in fulfilling ONE Bersih demand — the use of indelible ink. Continue reading “Let us not forget free and fair elections”

Eric Loo | May 14, 2012
Malaysiakini

‘Oh Carol, I’m a bloody fool; darling I love you, so you treat me cool.’ That was what I thought I heard from the radio. That was how, as a kid, I sang Neil Sedaka’s 60s hit until I checked out the lyrics in an old musty songbook.

Oh, journo, you’re a bloody fool when you sing your political master’s tune without a bother to check the original script. And, bloody guttered is your paper when it falsifies, fabricates and intentionally misrepresents to peddle a political message.

Just like Utusan Malaysia in its May 1 article, and repeated the next day in New Straits Times (NST), which turned an Australian senator, Nick Xenophon, into a xenophobe. NST retracted and contritely apologised after the senator, with hearty support from Malaysians, threatened to sue for defamation. Utusan apologised on May 12.

Utusan’s and NST’s falsification of Xenophon’s speech delivered in the Australian parliament on Nov 17, 2009 marks the lowest of the low in journalism standards. Any educated sceptical reporter will ask “Did I hear it right?”

As in real life, always assume that there are alternative views. Each ‘fact’ can always be countered if you research and talk to different sources. Any reporter with a modicum sense of accuracy and fairness will know to cross-check with the original source the veracity of controversial political statements. It doesn’t take much effort these days to Google search.

Sure, journalists are not infallible. Lapses in ethical practice and news judgment happen due to the short news cycle and thus the rush to judgment, misattribution of sources, misquoting, and, in the Malaysian newsroom culture, editors slanting the news on cue by the authorities.

Errors happen often because journalists deal with human sources who see the world through tinted glasses. But, as ‘professionals’, journalists are duty bound to check and verify. Failing which are reports that are based on assumptions, generalisations and biases exacerbated by a lack of context. Continue reading “Lowest of the low in journalism”

— Dennis Ignatius
The Malaysian Insider
May 16, 2012

MAY 16 — Marina Mahathir, one of our nation’s most inspiring figures, recently wrote how her article in The Star was spiked for fear of incurring the wrath of the powers that be.

As a columnist for the same newspaper myself, I understand Marina’s angst.

Recently, I submitted an article about democracy in Myanmar. It ran on Monday, May 7. One line was, however, deleted. In referring to Prime Minister Najib Razak’s promise to support the transformation process in that country, I said, “We may not have much to teach them about democracy but we can help in other ways.”

It seemed such a small thing but even such references are now deemed too sensitive.

I thought it was really ironic that here I was writing about democracy in Myanmar, long considered a dictatorship, while being censored in a country that is assumed to be a democracy.

The last article I wrote in response to bizarre allegations in the national press that American and Zionist groups were plotting regime change in Malaysia was spiked with no explanations given. Continue reading “A free press is essential to democracy”

Malaysiakini
May 16, 2012

Despite the personal attacks launched by former senator and DAP vice-chairperson Tunku Abdul Aziz Tunku Ibrahim, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has chosen not to retaliate.

Lim, in a press statement, said that he had received Tunku’s resignation letter from the DAP yesterday, and has attempted to contact the latter since he announced his departure on a programme on ntv7 on Monday, but failed.

“I do not wish to exchange personal attacks with Tunku but wish to put on record the party’s appreciation for his contribution for the four years he has been the DAP’s national vice-chief,” he said.

“Let time decide who is on the side of truth,” added the DAP secretary-general. Continue reading “Guan Eng declines to counter-attack Tunku Aziz”

— Aspan Alias
The Malaysian Insider
May 16, 2012

16 MEI — Saya berasa geli hati dengan gelagat Umno yang kian hari kian memalukan. Pagi semalam sekumpulan penyokong parti itu telah berbaris dihadapan kediaman Ambiga Sreenevasan, Pengerusi Bersih, dengan menonggeng dan menunjukkan bontot kepada rumah Ambiga.

Umno sudah menjadi parti lawak dan telah benar-benar jatuh martabatnya dengan sikap yang ditunjukkan oleh penyokong tegarnya itu.

Kemasukkan saya kedalam DAP dahulu disambut oleh seorang dua sebagai tindakan politik bangkrap. Tetapi sebenarnya apa yang berlaku semalam itu merupakan betul-betul politik bangkrap yang tidak ada tolok bandingnya.

Nampaknya politik Umno ini tidak lagi boleh lari dari bontot dan punggung, sejak 14 tahun yang lalu. Sudah tidak terlarat untuk membesarkan isu bontot dan punggung Saiful Bukhari, sekarang mereka memanjangkan lagi perjuangan berlandaskan kepada bontot dan punggung.

Dalam kesemua 213 negara yang berkerajaan di dunia ini, Malaysialah yang parti pemerintahnya mempertahankan kuasa dengan menggunakan bontot dan punggung dan ini amat memalukan. Saya tidak tahu bagaimana kah perasaan mereka-mereka ini semasa melakukan kerja keji ini. Continue reading “Tak payah guna kepala, sekarang guna punggung pula”

JD Lovrenciear | May 15, 2012
Malaysiakini

Do you laugh or do you lose sleep? Do you cry or do you spit venom?

Indeed the antics staged by the followers of their political patrons clearly indicate that the very party leadership of these stooges who are into burger protests and butt protests in front of the revered Bersih co-chair Ambiga Sreenevasan’s residence, are just as helpless and hopeless, while their followers degrade their reputations even further.

Instead of issuing a stern warning against BN sympathisers for rolling politics in the slime, they allow them to carry on their disgusting and uncouth antics in front of Bersih’s leader. Continue reading “Burgers and butts incidents reflect on nation’s leaders”

— Jaleel Hameed
The Malaysian Insider
May 15, 2012

MAY 15 — All hail our army veterans. They only need their bottoms to defend the country from its enemies.

Today, I read in The Malaysian Insider that 10 retired soldiers “exercised” their bums this morning outside Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan’s Bukit Damansara home against the April 28 Bersih rally.

The members of the Malay Armed Forces Veterans Association (PVTM) did their “butt exercises” to protest against the Bersih chief for being an “enemy” of the nation, reports the news portal.

“We Armed Forces veterans have the right to protest against an ‘enemy’ who tried to smear the nation’s name,” said PVTM president Datuk Mohd Ali Baharom.

Of course, sir. Much obliged that despite your retirement, you are brave enough to take up arms to drop your pants in the face of the enemy.

As they say, if you can’t use your head, use your bottom. Well played, sir. Continue reading “Mooning, Malaysia’s ultimate defence”

by Lim Guan Eng
DAP Secretary-General

When announcing his resignation from DAP, Senator Tunku Abdul Aziz Tunku Ibrahim cited “irreconcilable differences” with the party leadership in dissenting with DAP’s official position to support Bersih 3.0 to conduct a peaceful sit-in protest in Dataran Merdeka to press for clean, free and fair elections.

DAP is big enough for Tunku Abdul Aziz to remain as National Vice-Chair and accomodate his” irreconciliable differences” with the DAP on Bersih’s quest to conduct a sit-in protest in Dataran Merdeka to press for clean elections

Malaysiakini reported Tunku Abdul Aziz as saying his open disagreement with DAP made Tunku himself choose not to be re-nominated as a senator for Penang when his term expired on 30 May 2012, and stated that he was not sacked from his Dewan Negara’s post by DAP.

Tunku Aziz had also suggested to the party leadership that DAP should subject him to the “same disciplinary procedure as any other party member” for his dissent. As disciplinary action from DAP was not forthcoming he had decided to resign from the DAP to avoid further embarrassment.

I would like to express my sadness at Tunku’s announcement. DAP believes in freedom of speech and that every member and leader has a right to differ. I don’t agree that any disciplinary action should be taken against Tunku for differing with the party on Bersih’s right to do the sit-in protest in Dataran Merdeka. Continue reading “DAP Is big enough for Tunku Aziz to remain as National Vice-Chair”

An A-levels student details his experiences and the lessons learnt during the April 28 Bersih 3.0 rally.

By B Anand
Free Malaysia Today
May 15, 2012

COMMENT

Admittedly, this article might be a bit overdue, however it was mainly due to the fact that I’ve been bogged down with my upcoming A-levels. As I sat in front of my laptop the night before, watching the crowds assemble near Dataran, I was still mulling over whether or not I should attend.

A part of me posed the following questions: What if I get hurt, gassed or sprayed? What if I get arrested by the police? Was it wise to take such a risk right before such an important exam?

However, I also thought to myself: As a future law student, shouldn’t it be my duty to defend our right to protest? And more importantly, if ever I was forced to join the Malaysian diaspora, would I ever be able to forgive myself for not having tried fighting for my rights first?

In the end,regardless of the risks it posed, I felt that it was my duty to attend. Being 18, I am not yet eligible to vote; however I had always believed in the Bersih cause, as a clean and fair electoral system is the only way in which we could obtain a government that truly represented the interests of the people.

In addition to the above, I was also dumbfounded by the illogical reactions of certain quarters to the rally. And so, with vinegar soaked masks, swimming googles, earplugs, legal aid numbers saved on my phone, a towel, water and some food in my bag – I left the comfort of my home, ready for whatever might come. A part of me was excited to become a part of national history, however I would also be lying to say that I wasn’t nervous and expecting the worst. Continue reading “Bersih through an 18-year-old’s eyes”

Jeswan Kaur | May 15, 2012
Free Malaysia Today

Can Najib help enlighten whatever happened to his promise that the government could only work best if it listened to the people?

In some South Pacific cultures, a speaker holds a conch shell as a symbol of temporary position of authority. Leaders must understand who holds the conch – that is, who should be listened to and when. – writer Max De Pree

There is a reason why human beings have been blessed with two ears and one mouth – so that we listen better and speak only when need be. However, looking at the chaotic political scenario of this country, the opposite seems to be in motion.

From Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to his team of ministers, none is listening to the rakyat. These politicians seem to have made up their minds who they will lend a listening ear to.

Joining them is former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad who, for reasons best known to him, has never learnt the virtue and value of being a “good listener”, both back when he lorded 22 years over the nation and now when as a “retiree”.

In Mahathir’s case, less than a week ago he accused the events of April 28 as attempts to discredit the ruling government under the Barisan Nasional flagship. Continue reading “No one is listening to rakyat”

— P. Ramakrishnan
The Malaysian Insider
May 14, 2012

MAY 14 — Much has been made of the so-called 100,000 turnout of Umno members at the Bukit Jalil Stadium to observe Umno’s 66th anniversary celebrations. Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak was obviously elated in seeing the sea of Umno members dressed in red that greeted him on his arrival at the stadium.

He remarked that they, too, can bring in the crowds. And he was jubilant thinking that support for Umno had returned. You can’t fault him for being carried away by the euphoria of the occasion.

But little does he realise that his optimism was misplaced. Continue reading “Umno, how much did you spend to bring your crowd?”

— Aspan Alias
The Malaysian Insider
May 14, 2012

14 MEI — Saya mencadangkan supaya Umno mengadakan perhimpunan seperti yang diadakan di Stadium Bukit Jalil pada 11 Mei yang lepas sekali lagi. Pada perhimpunan Umno di Bukit Jalil baru-baru ini seramai 100,000 orang telah dapat dihimpunkan oleh Najib Razak untuk menunjukkan sokongan ramai terhadap Umno dan Barisan Nasional.

Saya kira Umno perlu melakukannya sekali lagi dan himpunkan seramai dua juta manusia untuk menyamai “equation” himpunan Bersih 3.0 yang dihadiri oleh 300,000 orang pada 28 April yang lalu.

Lain-lain perkataan hanya himpunan dua juta rakyat sahaja boleh menyamai kekuatan 300,000 kehadiran dalam himpunan Bersih itu untuk mendapat “legitimacy” sokongan rakyat. DAN dalam perhimpunan itu nanti bawa bersama rakyat dari kaum-kaum lain untuk menyatakan yang Umno serta BN iu mendapat sokongan rakyat berbilang kaum.

Setakat 100,000 orang yang mampu dihimpunkan oleh Umno itu sangat tidak seimbang dengan belanja dan kemudahan yang diberikan oleh Umno kepada siapa yang datang untuk berhimpun di Stadium Bukit Jalil itu. Seperti biasa Umno akan memberikan “5-T” untuk menghimpunkan orang ramai. Continue reading “Umno patut berhimpun sekali lagi”

— Justice Seeker
The Malaysian Insider
May 13, 2012

MAY 13 — It is telling that Nazri Aziz is considered among the more capable ministers. But on the evidence of what he has said and done, that is a backhanded compliment. A bit like saying that the one-eyed man is the king in the kingdom of the blind.

Even that is being charitable to Nazri. He is as incompetent and dense as the rest of his Cabinet colleagues. He was quoted as saying that the Bar Council’s stand on alleged police brutality was not representative of the legal fraternity because only some 1,200 lawyers out of 20,000 attended.

So should we say that the UN Security Council’s rulings are not binding on Malaysia because Malaysia is not a member? Should we say that Umno’s choice of its president and therefore prime minister of Malaysia is not valid because only 2,000 of its members out of three million members voted?
Obviously this minister does not understand the concept of representation. The Bar Council leadership were voted by members of the legal fraternity and therefore have the mandate to call for any meeting to discuss matters of public interest.

Lawyers getting beaten up by thuggish cops is a matter of interest. The quorum for Friday’s meeting was easily met. Two thousand of 20,000 lawyers is 10 per cent while 2,000 of 3,000,000 Umno members is 0.07 per cent. Continue reading “Our fate: Sub-par ministers”

by Allan CF Goh

Bersih is the people’s movement:
There is no subscribed membership,
Nor a registered society.
It is a spontaneous grouping
Of free, like-minded citizens,
Who believe in democracy,
Transparent and impeccable.
Bersih does not ask for the sky;
It only wants clean elections.

It is helmed by a committee
Of people with integrity,
Deeply concerned with the faulty,
Fraudulent electoral roll.
These brave civic individuals,
Voluntarily give their time,
Resource, effort and energy.
Bersih does not ask for the sun;
It only want fair elections. Continue reading “The Significance of Bersih (poem)”

— Maha Balakrishnan
The Malaysian Insider
May 12, 2012

MAY 12 — At a press conference on April 29 and in reference to the Bersih 3.0 rally the day before, the prime minister was reported to have stated that “the rally was the first test for the police in translating the action stipulated under the new legislation following the political transformation implemented by the government, including….. introducing the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012”.

The Peaceful Assembly Act (PAA) came into force on April 23. The prime minister therefore had basis for saying that Bersih 3.0 was the first test for the police in translating the action stipulated under the PAA.

The question is: did the police pass or fail that test?

In my view, they failed. Here’s why: Continue reading “Bersih 3.0: The first test for the police under the Peaceful Assembly Act?”

– Sam Peh
The Malaysian Insider
May 12, 2012

MAY 12 – Even during the most dictatorial days of Mahathir Mohamad, the mainstream media has not been this inept, corrupt, dishonest and even clumsy.

But during the Najib reign, the New Straits Times, the Star and the Malay language papers have crawled to depths never before experienced. Take today’s NST.

Yesterday more than 1,200 lawyers voted at a Bar Council EGM to condemn police brutality at Bersih 3.0 but the Umno owned paper focussed on 16 little known lawyers who dissented. And to make matters worse, the report focussed on whether the quorum was reached (which it was) and whether all those who turned up were lawyers. What rubbish reporting.

I am making public this dishonest reporting because this is the stock in trade of the NST . Remember how the paper tried to stitch up Lim Guan Eng as unpatriotic and Senator Xenophon as anti-Islam. Continue reading “Malaysia’s sad media”

Malaysians, including the hundreds of thousands regardless of race, religion, class, region, age or gender, who had come out peacefully for the Bersih 3.0 “sit-in” at Dataran Merdeka on April 28, armed at most with salt and water bottles, are shocked and outraged at Home Minister, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein’s allegation today that “some parties wanted serious injuries and deaths” at Bersih 3.0 – 24 days after the event! (The Malaysian Insider)

I believe I could speak on their behalf, as well as all decent and rational Malaysians, to urge Hishammuddin to stop spreading lies and falsehoods about Bersih 3.0 as his allegation that “some parties wanted serious injuries and deaths” is most wild, irresponsible and deplorable.

There is no iota of evidence whatsoever to back this latest but totally wild and contemptible allegation emanating from government quarters.

Malaysians can still vividly remember Hishammuddin’s declaration a week before April 28 that the Bersih 3.0 rally was not a security threat and his dismissive statement that “April 28 is not an issue” as it had gained “little traction” with the public.

Clearly, Hishammuddin had not expected Bersih 3.0 to garner much crowd, probably a few thousands but definitely not more than the Bersih 1.0 and 2.0 crowds. The hundreds of thousands of Malaysians who gathered in peace must have totally caught him and the Barisan Nasional leadership by surprise.

When did Hishammuddin get the “intelligence” that there were “some parties at the April 28 Bersih rally who wanted serious injuries and deaths to occur”? Was it before or after Bersih 3.0 on April 28? Continue reading “Hishammuddin – stop spreading lies and falsehoods about Bersih 3.0 as his allegation that “some parties wanted serious injuries and deaths” most wild, irresponsible and deplorable”