Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News
Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News |
- Paralympics RM4 million poser
- IGP says cops to arrest those with pro-Bersih ‘shoes, cars, buses’
- Seven arrested in Bersih office raid
- PAS uncovers fake Bersih pamphlets
- Arrests precursor to UMNO's fall: Nik Aziz
- Anak Mamak disrupts press meet, rains abuses
- Selangor exco man’s post in jeopardy
- Ambiga appalled by govt intimidation
- Back down, IGP advises rally organisers
- Cops raid Bersih office
- Silat exponents threaten to ‘wage war’ on Bersih activists
- Release full video, Johari challenges blogger
- PKR sees Emergency in Putrajaya bid to stop Bersih
- Bersih T-shirts illegal, declares Hisham
- ‘Fight me in KL if you dare, Najib’
- As vice tightens, Anwar says rally the only option
- More Bersih-related arrests
- Analysts fear riots from Bersih rally
| Posted: 28 Jun 2011 09:36 PM PDT
By Haresh Deol, The Malay Mail PETALING JAYA: Why was a staggering RM4 million invested by the Malaysian Paralympics Council (MPC) in a company helmed by its president and his sons? This is the poser raised by several council members upon learning of the investment recently. A probe by The Malay Mail revealed that in 2008, MPC had invested RM4 million in an events management company, Paralimpik Ventures Sdn Bhd. Our investigations showed a cheque for RM2 million was issued on April 4, 2008, and another RM2 million was transferred about two weeks later, on April 17, 2008. The cheque and telegraphic transfer were allegedly signed off by MPC president Datuk Zainal Abu Zarin and its then treasurer, Liew Yoon Loy. It is understood the money was derived from donations and fund-raising activities carried out by the MPC over the years. Sources claimed nothing on the hefty investment had been heard of since. A check with the Companies Commission of Malaysia revealed Zainal and his sons, Idi Irwan and Ilia Ikhwan, were listed as the directors of Paralimpik Ventures. One person not amused by this episode was MPC council member Prof M. Chandra Sekaran, who said the issue had raised more questions than answers. "Who allowed the investment? Was it documented? How much have we made? Most importantly, who will be held responsible if the investment goes wrong?" he asked. Chandra claimed he was approached by Zainal to invest some money in the company in 2008. Chandra was the treasurer for the Malaysian Association for the Blind (MAB) then. "We were told it was a new scheme by Bank Negara Malaysia that promises to double the investment within a year but we at the MAB did not agree to it. "Millions have been channelled out of MPC but it has not been documented. Such an investment requires the approval of two-thirds of the council, not just a handful of people." He said there was no letter of undertaking by Bank Negara on the investment. "The manner the investment was done is unethical and we have been kept out of the loop for far too long. "Now, where is the money?" Chandra said he was eager to raise this issue at the much-awaited annual general meeting (AGM), which could be held soon. It was learnt the MPC had not conducted its AGM since 2005 and was only registered with the Sports Commissioner's office in May 2008. MPC executive board member Lee Sheng Chow, a blind national para athlete, said the revelation caught him by surprise. "This is news to me. We had had many meetings in the past, yet this was never brought up," Lee, who is also founder and president of the Malaysian Disabled Persons Sports Association, said. "This has to be clarified. Such dealings must be done in a transparent manner." Zainal, however, maintained the money was secure and kept aside for the possible construction of MPC's new headquarters. Meanwhile, Sports Commissioner Datuk Yassin Salleh said MPC would be hauled up to explain the matter. "We were not privy to such information before but once this is reported to us or even published in the newspapers, we will surely investigate. "I don't want to jump the gun but we need to know why such a thing was done in the first place and who had consented to the deal." This latest controversy has been deemed a "double whammy" for the MPC, which was in the limelight earlier this month after several national para athletes cried foul when their monetary rewards were significantly "slashed". On June 16, The Paper That Cares front-paged a report on Malaysia's paralympic athletes, whom despite finishing sixth out of 51 countries in last year's Asian Para Games in Guangzhou, China, only received 30 per cent of what able-bodied athletes got in cash incentives. Special athletes used to earn RM80,000 for a gold medal, RM40,000 for silver and RM20,000 for bronze at the regional games but when the incentives were presented to them in April, the winners only received RM24,000 for gold, RM12,000 silver and RM6,000 bronze. The National Sports Council (NSC) clarified, however, that the para athletes would be better taken care of under an incentive scheme introduced this year.
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| IGP says cops to arrest those with pro-Bersih ‘shoes, cars, buses’ Posted: 28 Jun 2011 09:26 PM PDT
By Yow Hong Chieh, The Malaysian Insider KUALA LUMPUR, June 29 — The police will not only arrest those sporting Bersih T-shirts but may also take action against anyone using any medium to promote the illegal rally, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) has said. "Not just T-shirts but shoes, cars, buses. If these are the tools used to encourage people to gather (illegally), this amounts to sedition," Tan Sri Ismail Omar told reporters at Bukit Aman police headquarters here today. Earlier today, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein declared T-shirts bearing messages in support of Bersih illegal as they were related to an illegal assembly. He, however, did not specify the legal provision that the garments were deemed to have breached. Ismail explained that it was the duty of the police as the "protectors of society" to safeguard public order and national security, which he said would be in jeopardy if the Bersih 2.0 rally were allowed to take place. "Based on PDRM (Royal Malaysian Police) intelligence ... if this rally is held, tension, chaos, the destruction of property, injury and even loss of life may occur," he said. "PDRM will not allow any individual or certain parties to do anything that could trigger chaos and anarchy." He added that the police have received information that foreign elements were poised to exploit the chaos that would "very likely" result from the rally but declined to reveal their identity or if they were working with opposition parties. Ismail also warned Bersih organisers and supporters not to take advantage of his civil treatment of them so far to continue "inciting" the public to take part in the illegal rally. "I am still being civil at this point but don't force me to go to the next stage," he said. "Just watch ... There have been arrests but you will see further action if anyone still dares to break the law."
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| Seven arrested in Bersih office raid Posted: 28 Jun 2011 09:00 PM PDT
(The Malaysian Insider) - Police have confirmed that seven Bersih volunteers detained during this afternoon's raid on the election watchdog's secretariat office in Petaling Jaya are now in remand. Federal CID chief Datuk Seri Mohd Bakri Zinin said that one Malay man, one Chinese man, one Malay woman, two Chinese women and two Indian women had been detained to help with investigations. He, however, declined to specify the legal provision under which the seven were being investigated. The volunteers are understood to be staff members from women's rights group Empower, which is part of the Bersih coalition for free and fair elections. Bakri added that 314 yellow, 90 orange, 136 cream Bersih T-shirts and banners were also seized during the noon raid carried out by some 20 policemen, at least one of whom was armed with an assault rifle. Selangor Chief Police Officer (CPO) Datuk Tun Hisan Tun Hamzah had earlier said that the police had obtained information that illegal activities were taking place in the house, adding that the tip-off appeared to be accurate. Lawyer Honey Tan, representing Empower, said the police were investigating the workers under the Printing Presses and Publication Act (PPPA) and for planning an illegal assembly under the Police Act. Bersih had earlier said that no search warrant was issued prior to the raid and that the police threatened to cut the locks to the office. Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein earlier today declared the Bersih T-shirts illegal over links with the unsanctioned July 9 rally. Bersih began an online campaign this afternoon asking those with Facebook and Twitter social network accounts to paint the Internet yellow with icons and badges in that colour.
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| PAS uncovers fake Bersih pamphlets Posted: 28 Jun 2011 08:44 PM PDT
A factory is printing "hundreds of thousands" of material calling for a Libya-style revolution, say MPs. (Free Malaysia Today) - A factory in Johor is printing fake Bersih pamphlets calling for a Libya-style revolution to overthrow the government, according to MPs from PAS. Speaking to reporters in the parliament lobby, Kubang Kerian MP Salahuddin Ayub showed a photographed copy of the pamphlet. It had a Bersih 2.0 logo directly above a caption that read "Bersama kita tumbangkan kerajaan sekarang! Adakah kita mampu seperti Libya?" This translates to "Together we will topple the government now! Can we be like Libya?" He said a reliable source told PAS that a factory was printing the pamphlets by the "hundreds of thousands". He said his party would make a police report about the development. Libya is in the midst of a civil war, which erupted after citizens took to the streets in defiance of Muammar Gaddafi's autocratic regime. More than ten thousand people have been killed since the fighting started in February. Kuala Selangor MP Dzulkefly Ahmad said he believed the pamphlets were the work of quarters out to sabotage Bersih's objectives. "We disown all this nonsense," he said. "We are no such revolutionary types." He told FMT he would not reveal the exact location of the Johor factory, saying the information was relayed to PAS in confidence. Pokok Sena MP Mahfuz Omar said the message on the pamphlet was contrary to Bersih's message. "We are not here to overthrow the government," he said. "We are gentlemen. We want free and fair elections." He said the only way PAS and its Pakatan Rakyat partners wanted to change the government was through the ballot box.
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| Arrests precursor to UMNO's fall: Nik Aziz Posted: 28 Jun 2011 08:07 PM PDT
(Harakah Daily) - The spate of arrests and police harassment throughout the country against supporters of the Bersih rally is a precursor to the UMNO and Barisan Nasional's downfall, said PAS Murshidul Am Tuan Guru Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat. "These arrests act as a precursor to the eventual fall of UMNO and Barisan Nasional," said the Kelantan Menteri Besar on a Twitter posting from Uzbekistan where he is on an official trip.
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| Anak Mamak disrupts press meet, rains abuses Posted: 28 Jun 2011 07:38 PM PDT
Meanwhile the Penang High Court will decide tomorrow on the application for a judicial revision on their seven-day remand by 30 PSM detainees. (Free Malaysia Today) - Several members from the unregistered Suara Anak-Anak Mamak Pulau Pinang disrupted a Bersih-related press conference and hurled abuses against members of a coalition of civil society here today. Led by its chief Mohamed Ghani Abd Jiman, they hurled abuses against the civil society coalition members, including former state executive councillor Toh Kin Woon. While Toh was speaking to reporters near the state police headquarters this afternoon, the group, among others, shouted "Go back to your country if you want to complain", "Don't eat shit eat rice", "You seem old and about to die, go home" and "We are here to protect the law and order, and sovereignty of the country". Earlier, Toh led some 10 civil society members to submit a memorandum to state police chief Ayub Yaakob. The memorandum was received by Ayub's representative ASP M Selvi. Although Ghani and his gang were hurling abuses against Toh and the others in front of the police headquarters, police personnel just watched the commotion for most of the time. George Town police chief ACP Gan Kong Meng, who was present, later intervened and told both Ghani and Toh as well as the rest to leave the place.
As Toh proceeded to continue his press conference outside the nearby Mydin Supermarket, Ghani and his gang again hurled abuses. Earlier, Ghani and his group scared off a Bersih 2.0 female activist while she was distributing copies of the memorandum to newsmen. The female activist hurriedly left the place fearing for her safety. This is the second time within 12 hours that rowdy groups had disrupted a Bersih gathering. Last night, PSM members faced a similar situation with a huge group of rowdy youths outside the northern Seberang Perai police headquarters. PSM submits memorandum This morning, PSM secretary-general S Arutchelvan led a party delegation to hand over a separate memorandum to the state police chief. Both memorandums touched on the detention of 30 PSM activists on Saturday while they were travelling in a tour bus along the North-South Expressway. The memorandums contained complaints of poor condition of police lock-ups, harassment of detainees, lack of water supply and medical treatment. The memorandums also called on the police to release the detainees at least on police bail.
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| Selangor exco man’s post in jeopardy Posted: 28 Jun 2011 07:26 PM PDT
Dr A Xavier Jeyakumar is expected to be charged with allegedly assaulting a former PKR member at a controversial divisional polls last year. (Free Malaysia Today) - Selangor executive councillor Dr A Xavier Jeyakumar's position is in jeopardy following allegations that he assaulted a former PKR member during the Kota Raja PKR division elections last year. Sources told FMT that the police had recently submitted their investigation papers – nine months after the alleged incident – to the Attorney-General's Chambers for further action. It is reliably learnt that the police had recommended Jeyakumar be charged under Section 324 of the Penal Code for the alleged offence. A person charged under this section can be jailed for not more than seven years or fined or caned if found guilty. If Jeyakumar is convicted, he stands to lose his exco post as the Federal Constitution stipulates that an assemblyman would be disqualified if he is sentenced to a jail term of more than a year or Jeyakumar, who is also the Seri Andalas assemblyman, is alleged to have assaulted former PKR member KS Kottapan during voting at the party's divisional meeting in September 2010. The polls was mired in controversy after Jeyakumar was accused of allegedly using dirty tactics to win the division chairman's post. The election results were announced about 66 hours after the ballots were cast. "Since this is a high-profile case involving a politician, the police have sent the file to the Attorney-General's Chambers. The police feel that they have a strong case against Jeyakumar," said a source. Video footage of fracas MX5sMw9A6UE SEE VIDEO ON YOUTUBE HERE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MX5sMw9A6UE
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| Ambiga appalled by govt intimidation Posted: 28 Jun 2011 07:15 PM PDT
Bersih 2.0 chairperson denounces the Najib administration for being bereft of statesmanship and turning on the rakyat. (Free Malaysia Today) - The spate of arrests and intimidation of Bersih 2.0 supporters over the past week has left the coalition's chairperson, S Ambiga, appalled by the government's irresponsibility towards its citizens. The latest arrests took place during a police raid of the Bersih secretariat this morning after which seven staff members were detained for questioning. "I denounce in the strongest manner the raid and the arrest of Bersih staff today," Ambiga told FMT. "And I call for their immediate and unconditional release." The government's heavy-handedness during the run-up to the July 9 rally has also caught the former Bar Council president by surprise. Asked if she had expected such severe clampdowns, Ambiga replied that she was "astounded" at the government's reaction. "From day one the general reaction from the powers of authority showed a distinct lack of statesmanship," she said. "I'm appalled that the government can turn on its people this way." "The government is caught in a time warp and is not listening to the voices of the people. My question now is how can a responsible government threaten its people in this manner?" Death threat Ambiga also refuted an earlier statement by Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein, that the Bersih T-shirts are illegal by the virtue of being linked to an illegal rally. If we look at the eight demands printed on the back of those T-shirts, which of those are illegal?" she asked.
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| Back down, IGP advises rally organisers Posted: 28 Jun 2011 07:03 PM PDT
Despite the Inspector-General of Police Ismail Omar's advice, Perkasa says it will only call off its July 9 rally if Bersih cancels its march. (Free Malaysia Today) - Inspector-General of Police Ismail Omar met with Perkasa secretary-general Syed Hassan Syed Ali today to dissuade the latter from holding a counter-rally on July 9. Ismail was expected to meet with Bersih 2.0 chairman Ambiga Sreenevasan tomorrow at 11.30am while Umno Youth deputy chief Razali Ibrahim was supposed to turn up today. Speaking to reporters after his meeting, Syed Hassan said the police had sent a letter requesting Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali's presence at the Bukit Aman federal police headquarters. Ibrahim, however, is currently in Kelantan. "The IGP was just giving advice and a reminder. It is sort of a briefing to coax us from holding the rally," Syed Hassan said, adding that it was a short discussion with Ismail and several other officers, including Kuala Lumpur police chief Amar Singh. "He was explaining to me how having such a rally will inconvenience and scare the public," he said, commending Ismail for taking this approach. "He repeated that the police will have to take action if the organisers insisted on going against the law and holding the July 9 rally without permits," he added. However, Syed Hassan said that Perkasa would only back down if Bersih 2.0 cancelled its rally. "If anyone should be arrested, it should be the Bersih people first. They claim to have the people's voice, but we are also representing the people's voice. See who has more people then. "Their motives are unclean, they are not Bersih. They just want to shame the country and pressure the government. Their leaflets are not all about the election, they're talking about price hikes and all," he said. Ridiculous fear Ambiga, when contacted, said she would meet with Ismail tomorrow. "I still have faith that good sense will prevail. I believe that all channels of communication must always be kept open," she added. Meanwhile, PAS deputy president Mohamed Sabu, whom the police said had failed to show up despite being summoned today, claimed that he did not receive any calls.
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| Posted: 28 Jun 2011 04:17 PM PDT
(The Malaysian Insider) - Police officers today raided the Bersih 2.0 office in Petaling Jaya, according to steering committee member Maria Chin Abdullah. She told reporters here in Parliament that 20 policemen were currently raiding the premises, and claimed that a search warrant was not issued prior to the raid. "Police raided the office at about 12pm, without a warrant. They are now at the office taking details of the staff," said Maria. The Bersih secretariat also doubles as the Empower office. Empower is a non-governmental organisation that is part of the Bersih coalition pushing for free and fair elections. Cemme Lee, a member of the Bersih 2.0 secretariat, said the police earlier entered the Empower office without a warrant. "They threatened to cut our locks," Lee, who is currently in Empower's office building, told The Malaysian Insider today. "They're taking down details of our ICs... they took our video cameras," she said, adding that there were six Empower staff members and a volunteer in the office presently. Lee said there were 15 police officers within the premises, but did not know how many were outside the building located in Section 4, Petaling Jaya. She added that the police are refusing to specify the purpose of their search. "They said they're here to check... they're counting Bersih shirts right now," she said. Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein earlier today declared Bersih T-shirts "illegal" by association with the unsanctioned July 9 rally. Lawyers for Liberty co-ordinator Fadiah Nadwa Fikri told The Malaysian Insider that she was on her way to the Empower office.
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| Silat exponents threaten to ‘wage war’ on Bersih activists Posted: 28 Jun 2011 04:09 PM PDT
(The Malaysian Insider) - More than 50,000 Silat exponents are prepared to "wage war" with Bersih activists next Saturday, Utusan Malaysia reported today. The Mahaguru (grandmaster) of the Pertubuhan Seni Silat Lincah Malaysia (PSSLM) Tan Sri Omardin Mauju was quoted as saying that the exponents were the third line of defence in the country, after the police and military, to ensure national security. "We maintain our stand to go to 'war' if they still want to proceed with this illegal rally," he was quoted by Utusan Malaysia as saying. "If it happens, I cannot guarantee I can control the emotions of my members because they have been taught to act when faced with opposition." The July 9 rally by Bersih 2.0 is making eight demands of the Election Commission (EC), including the call for free and fair elections. The government insists that elections are already free and fair, pointing to the opposition's gains in Election 2008. Pakatan Rakyat (PR) hopes the demonstration will generate momentum ahead of a general election expected within the year. The first Bersih rally in 2007 saw up to 50,000 people take to the streets of Kuala Lumpur before they were dispersed by police armed with tear gas and water cannons. The demonstration has been partly credited for Pakatan Rakyat's record gains in Election 2008, where the opposition pact swept to power in five states and won 82 parliamentary seats. PKR has accused the police of dancing to the tune of Utusan Malaysia and Umno leaders in their investigations into the July 9 Bersih rally.
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| Release full video, Johari challenges blogger Posted: 28 Jun 2011 04:03 PM PDT
The PKR MP is seen in this clip as being very friendly with the three men, laughing and joking with them several times during the sex video screening. (The Malaysian Insider) - Datuk Johari Abdul today demanded a pro-Umno blogger to release the full recording of the PKR leader watching the infamous sex video with the "Datuk T" trio, claiming that it will absolve him of any accusations. A new video clip emerged on the Internet yesterday to attack Johari's credibility with suggestions he had asked "Datuk T", comprising Datuk Shazryl Eskay Abdullah, former Malacca Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Thamby Chik and Datuk Shuaib Abdul Lazim, for RM1 million. The latest video is a recording of Johari (picture) watching the sex video in a hotel room, accompanied by the trio. The 1.59-minute-long video, posted by pro-Umno blogger "Papagomo" carried a blog posting which quoted Shazryl as alleging that Johari was convinced that Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was the man in the sex clip, and that Johari had also asked for RM1 million for himself and RM1 million each for five other MPs who would "leave PKR" after viewing the video. The posting also quoted Shazryl as saying that Johari had demanded RM100,000 in "advanced payment", and that the PKR man had been paid half the amount. The latest video clip however contains no evidence to suggest he had asked for money. "I challenge Papagomo to show the full tape, do not edit and only show two minutes, I watched it, I was there at least for half an hour. "Show the part where Rahim offered me money and offered to take me to see the Prime Minister," Johari told reporters today. The Sungai Petani MP claimed that he could not remember the context of a line he had said when watching the sex video, which was repeated a few times in the recording. "I can't remember...but what is said "it's not about Anwar, it's about the scene"...its scene, not sin. Only way to find out, show the whole video," Johari said. Johari has maintained he is "completely" innocent of the "untrue" accusations.
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| PKR sees Emergency in Putrajaya bid to stop Bersih Posted: 28 Jun 2011 03:46 PM PDT
By G Manimaran, The Malaysian Insider PETALING JAYA, June 29 — PKR said today it expects the federal government to declare an Emergency in Kuala Lumpur as a last resort to stop the July 9 Bersih 2.0 public rally calling for electoral reforms. Shuhaimi Shafiei, a member of PKR's central leadership council, said the assessment was based on the move by the authorities in recent days to clamp down on plans for the rally through mass arrests of Bersih activists "We expect them to use whatever means including declaring Emergency," he told reporters at his party's headquarters here today. Shuhaimi, who is also PKR's Selangor information chief, said he believed the recent police action pointed to plans by Putrajaya to declare Emergency. "We are heading in that direction...this is a move by Putrajaya because they are scared of losing power. "Nevertheless such actions will anger a public who are now aware of their rights," he said. The police have in hauled up a number of opposition leaders and Bersih activists for questioning in recent day. Perkasa and Umno Youth leaders have also been questioned in relation to their plans to have Bersih counter-rallies. On Sunday, the authorities arrested 30 activists from the Socialists Party of Malaysia including Sungai Siput MP Michael Jayakumar, on suspicion of "waging war on the King," and suspected communist activities after finding T-shirts with images of former Communist Party leaders Chin Peng and Rashid Maidin. "What has happened shows the terrible fears of those in Putrajaya.
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| Bersih T-shirts illegal, declares Hisham Posted: 28 Jun 2011 03:32 PM PDT
By Shannon Teoh, The Malaysian Insider PUTRAJAYA, June 29 — Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said today T-shirts with messages in support of Bersih have been outlawed because they were related to an illegal assembly. "The Bersih T-shirt is related to an illegal assembly, then whatever they are wearing is illegal," he told reporters. Police officers have been arresting activists and opposition members wearing Bersih T-shirts ahead of next weekend's rally and counter rallies organised by Umno Youth and Perkasa, all of which the government has said will not be given police permits. However, the Bersih organisation has not been declared illegal nor has the word "Bersih" been gazetted as such. Hishammuddin did not mention today under what law the T-shirts would be considered illegal. Speaking at a press conference here, he also rejected claims that the police clampdown on those supporting the July 9 march for electoral reforms was politically motivated. "On whose part? I can ask the same thing to them," he said, implying that it was Pakatan Rakyat (PR) who were politicising police action related to the Bersih rally. The Umno vice president also promised that action will be taken against the Umno Youth members who had surrounded the PKR headquarters on Monday, when they allegedly threatened to burn down the office. "I told the police to treat them as with Bersih. Nobody is above the law," he said. Police officers have also raided the Bersih office in Petaling Jaya today, according to steering committee member Maria Chin Abdullah. She told reporters here in Parliament that 20 policemen were currently raiding the premises, and claimed that a search warrant was not issued prior to the raid. Activists under Bersih and Pakatan Rakyat (PR) component parties are gearing up for the rally this July 9, the second such gathering calling for electoral reforms.
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| ‘Fight me in KL if you dare, Najib’ Posted: 28 Jun 2011 03:14 PM PDT
Bersih leader Haris Ibrahim challenges the PM to 'stop hiding in Pekan' and to contest in KL during the next elections. (Free Malaysia Today) - Bersih 2.0 leader Harris Ibrahim has challenged Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to an electoral duel. But, Haris, who is also president of the Malaysian Civil Liberties Movement (MCLM), said the Umno president must contest in a seat in Kuala Lumpur. "If Najib wants a challenge, stop hiding in Pekan. Contest in any seat in Kuala Lumpur. I will take you on," he said, referring to the Pekan parliamentary seat in Pahang, which was Najib's stronghold. Speaking on Durian FM's live programme last night entitled "HardTalk: Bersih", Haris was responding to Najib's call on Bersih to stand for elections instead of taking to the streets. However, the lawyer was confident that Najib would not take up the challenge. Haris said Najib and Barisan Nasional leaders stood in rural seats because the urban voters were well informed compared to their rural counterparts. Meanwhile, the Bersih leader also explained that the election watchdog was not a political party. "It is to ensure that the 13th general election is free and fair," he said. Asked on why there was such a necessity, Haris replied: "Financial analysts local and abroad said that we'll be a banana republic within the next two to three years." Bersih 2.0 had come under fire from government leaders over its plan to hold a rally on July 9 to press for electoral reforms. Haris also commented on the "Datuk T" trial, which he described as a "circus".
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| As vice tightens, Anwar says rally the only option Posted: 28 Jun 2011 01:03 PM PDT
By Clara Chooi, The Malaysian Insider KLANG, June 29 — Despite the ongoing round of arrests and the threat that violence may hamper Bersih's rally next week, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim insisted today that the street protest was the only avenue available to push for electoral reforms. Anwar, leader of the federal opposition and its prime minister-designate, said this was because the opposition had previously exhausted all other available options to no avail. "That is the whole interest (of Bersih 2.0), to express in this manner because all other avenues have failed. We have sent memos, (held) series of discussions, protest... Everything has been done, submissions with facts and evidence," he told reporters after speaking at a forum on public service integrity here this morning. Election watchdog Bersih along with Pakatan Rakyat (PR) component parties are gearing up for a rally this July 9, the second such gathering calling for electoral reforms. The first rally, also organised by Bersih, was held in 2007 and saw some 50,000 people take to the capital's streets. The gathering eventually dispersed, however, and resulted in chaos when the police deployed tear gas and water cannons on demonstrators. The historic event has been partly credited for PR's record gains in Election 2008, when the opposition pact was swept to power in five states and won 82 parliamentary seats.
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| Posted: 28 Jun 2011 12:59 PM PDT By Stephanie Sta Maria, FMT KUALA LUMPUR: The number of arrests in connection with the Bersih 2.0 rally has mounted with 14 more people being hauled up by the police in Sungai Siput this morning. Among them were DAP-Jalong assemblywoman Leong Mee Meng and PKR-Teja assemblyman Chang Lih Kang. The group had just started distributing miniatures of the national flag in the Sungai Siput market at 9am today when police entered the area 15 minutes later. Eight members of the group were clad in the yellow Bersih T-shirts while the rest wore DAP's red Ubah T-shirts. "The police ordered us to stop distributing the flags because we were supporting Bersih which isn't allowed," Leong told FMT when contacted. "We asked them what was wrong in demonstrating our love for the country by handing out the flags." "They repeated that support for Bersih isn't allowed, to which we asked if we were then expected to support "kotor". That was when they arrested us." Leong claimed that 20 policemen were present and shuttled the group out of the area to angry shouts from the public. The police attempted to handcuff one member of the group but relented after protests from the others. "We're now waiting in the Sungai Siput police station for our statements to be recorded," she said. "The police have already confiscated all our flags. But this is really too much. We were not doing anything that was disrupting the peace."
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| Analysts fear riots from Bersih rally Posted: 28 Jun 2011 12:57 PM PDT (The Malaysian Insider) - KUALA LUMPUR, June 29 — The July 9 Bersih rally is causing concern in two political analysts, who fear it may be used by unsavoury elements to create full-scale riots in the city. Prof Dr Ahmad Atory Hussain of Universiti Sains Malaysia said it takes just a small section of the crowd, which organisers expect to be in the hundreds of thousands, to spark chaos. "The organisers might say the assembly will be peaceful, but one individual is all it takes to cause mob behaviour," the sociologist was quoted in a Bernama Online report. Ahmad also voiced concerns that any potential clash may lead to intercommunal unrest. He did not, however, share his thoughts with regards to the identities of the possible instigators. Another pundit, UTM political science lecturer Che Hamdan Mohd Razali, expressed doubt that Bersih's motives are as transparent as the group claims, and voiced suspicion that the rally was intended to goad authorities into heavy-handed reaction. "I see the assembly is meant to provoke. It is also to build up anti-government sentiment among voters for the coming general election," he said in the same report.
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Meanwhile, PAS Youth chief Nasrudin Hasan Tantawi (right) has again urged UMNO to stop its excessive provocation by threatening to create chaos and instability ahead of the rally.
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