Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News
Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News |
- Bersih rally lost direction, says Hishammuddin
- Today, Malaysians revisit Bersih 2007
- 'Bersih 2.0' illegal rally fails to muster support
- Malaysia police arrest 500 after street battles for electoral reform
- Over 1,400 arrested, tear gas fired in Malaysia protest
- Malaysia Police Fire Tear Gas and Arrest Hundreds of Protesters
- Cops seize Ambiga, Pakatan leaders mid-march
- Follow RPK on Twitter for Latest Updates
- Bersih leaders begin march
- Blocking Bersih has hurt BN, says deputy minister
- Showdown at Menara Maybank
- Ambiga, top leaders arrested; Anwar injured (To be Updated)
- Standing up for our democratic rights
- More cities hold Bersih rallies
- FRU form defensive line at Stadium Merdeka
- Global Bersih movement kicks off with Melbourne
- Photos of Scenes at Bersih 2.0 hotspots
- 236 held as KL lock-down goes into full swing
- NGOs in Asia and Europe condemn Najib
- KL lock-down in full swing
- Sabah police in surprise raid on SAPP HQ
- KL holds its breath as Bersih rally looms
- Crackdown widens, cops comb hotels
- A day of reckoning for Najib and his cronies
- Only King can declare Emergency, says constitutional lawyer
- BERSIH: Updated from 7:50am -1p.m.
- In Bersih row, BN risks electoral fallout
- A principled Umno needn’t fear fair polls, says Anwar
- 'BN acting like a person told by doctor of impending death'
| Bersih rally lost direction, says Hishammuddin Posted: 09 Jul 2011 01:09 AM PDT  By Clara Chooi, The Malaysian Insider KUALA LUMPUR, July 9 — Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein thanked the police tonight for keeping the Bersih 2.0 rally under control and claimed the group's electoral reform agenda has been outshined by Pakatan Rakyat's (PR) political propaganda. In a statement, the home minister said this afternoon's events clearly showed that the group's criticisms against the Election Commission (EC) had failed to emerge as the primary purpose of today's rally. "The question of the EC no longer arises. Instead, it is the involvement of opposition party leaders that became more pronounced than the agenda they claimed to have before this. "They (protestors) shouted 'Reformasi' and wreaked havoc. This gathering clearly lost its direction and its organisers must be held responsible for the events that occurred," he said. Hishammuddin also said the group had defied the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's advice by insisting on staging its rally in Stadium Merdeka, pointing out that the government had already agreed that the event could be held in any stadium outside the capital. "To the very end, this group clearly did not take the initiative to assemble peacefully at a specific location although the government repeatedly gave its assurance they could meet anywhere, any stadium outside of Kuala Lumpur," he said. The Umno vice-president claimed that opposition leaders today were "hoping" to be arrested by the police in order to cast the authorities in a bad light. "The opposition only wants Malaysia to be seen as unstable and at the end, this will only bring negative effects to our economy and topple a democratically-elected government," he said. Of the thousands that turned up at today's rally, a total of 1,401 were arrested, including prominent leaders like Bersih 2.0 chairman Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan and PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang. Hishammuddin thanked the thousands of riot police deployed across the city centre today, saying they had acted within their jurisdiction when they clamped down hard on protestors. He expressed relief that none of the untoward incidences he had feared had occurred, and credited the police for this, saying they were "brave, fair and prudent".
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| Today, Malaysians revisit Bersih 2007 Posted: 09 Jul 2011 12:58 AM PDT By Debra Chong, The Malaysian Insider Despite Putrajaya's best efforts, the authorities failed today to prevent a repeat of the first Bersih street rally four years ago that was credited for shrinking Barisan Nasional's (BN) voter support in Election 2008. The Najib administration appears to have taken a massive punch to its gut as thousands thronged the city's streets in the afternoon downpour in support of Bersih 2.0's call for electoral reform and ignored the government's description of troublemakers intent of sabotaging Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's leadership. Bersih 2.0 chief Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan coolly kept her equanimity and remained open to discussions with Putrajaya but the BN government's move to clamp down on her and the grassroots movement she represents turned the veteran lawyer into an icon of dissent. The clearest thing this rally has showed is that the middle class and civil society are more willing than ever to stand up and act when faced with a government that does not listen when engaged in civil discussion, not even hesitating to pull out all stops and employ public institutions like the police to act against the public. Even when Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin made a rare intercession to bring both sides to the negotiating table. International news coverage of the Bersih affair today showed the world armed police personnel launching tear gas and chemically-laced water into thousands of unarmed civilians. It was the same in 2007 when Bersih first marched. |
| 'Bersih 2.0' illegal rally fails to muster support Posted: 09 Jul 2011 12:43 AM PDT True? Read and respond, especially those of you who were at the rally. (Bernama) KUALA LUMPUR: The illegal street demonstration planned in the city today by outlawed group 'Bersih 2.0' led by Datuk S. Ambiga failed to garner support from the people as only some 10,000 people turned up for it instead of the 100,000 people the group had targetted.
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| Malaysia police arrest 500 after street battles for electoral reform Posted: 09 Jul 2011 12:24 AM PDT By The Telegraph Police fired tear gas at 8000 protesters, many of whom were left bleeding after the clashes. Crowds chanting "Long Live the People" and "Reform" were also sprayed with water cannons. "We are fighting for free and fair elections," Ambiga Sreenevasan, the head of the Bersih (Clean) grouping that called the protest, told reporters. "The government uses might, we use our right. Our right will eventually prevail." Bersih has vowed to bring together tens of thousands of supporters in the centre of the city to demand electoral reforms, in what threatens to become the biggest anti-government movement in Malaysia since Anwar Ibrahim's sacking as deputy premier in 1998 led to violent street rallies. "We are not being disruptive, we want to walk for free and fair elections," said Nor Shahidal, a college student in her early 20s. "Why is the government trying to intimidate citizens?" said Mohamad Manij Abdullah, 50, a businessman, who joined the rally. "We are only trying to reform elections and have a free and fair government," he told AFP news agency. The protesters are united against Prime Minister Najib Razak, a leader who has enjoyed high popularity ratings and good economic growth but who is a focus of anger for many Malaysians. The demonstrators accuse him of presiding over a system that favours the ruling party, and they want reforms including the eradication of vote buying and preventing some people being allowed to vote several times during elections. Mukhriz Mahathir, a leading member of the powerful United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) which dominates the ruling coalition, said the government had to act to prevent anarchy. "We cannot allow a minority group to protest and stir trouble in the country," he said, accusing protesters of provoking the police into firing tear gas "so that they can accuse the government of being heavy handed." |
| Over 1,400 arrested, tear gas fired in Malaysia protest Posted: 09 Jul 2011 12:08 AM PDT By Niluksi Koswanage and Razak Ahmad, Reuters Malaysian police fired repeated rounds of tear gas and detained over 1,400 people in the capital on Saturday as thousands of activists evaded roadblocks and barbed wire to hold a street protest against Prime Minister Najib Razak's government. At least a dozen people were hurt in the demonstration for electoral reform in downtown Kuala Lumpur. There were no reports of serious injuries but some analysts said the police action was excessive and would dent Najib's image. "We are not criminals, we are just asking for free and fair elections," opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim's daughter, Nurul Izzah Anwar, told reporters after her father was knocked down and hurt in a melee when he and his supporters were tear gassed. "Many innocent people were injured. We condemn this act of cruelty by UMNO and Barisan Nasional," she said, referring to Najib's party and the ruling coalition. Street protests are rare in this Southeast Asian nation, but foreign investors are worried that any groundswell of anti-government sentiment could delay economic reforms seen as essential to draw investment. If he is put under popular pressure, Najib may reconsider plans for a snap election and hold back on reforms such as cutting fuel subsidies or unwinding an affirmative action program for the country's Malay majority. Polls are not due until 2013 but analysts have said Najib could seek an early mandate after economic growth accelerated to a 10-year high in 2010. "From Najib's perspective, holding elections anytime soon would be a mistake because of the damage that has been done today," said Bridget Welsh, Malaysia specialist at Singapore Management University. "The fact that such a large crowd turned up despite a crackdown shows that voter anger is deep and this is going to push a lot of people who are in the middle toward the opposition." Reuters witnesses saw tear gas shells lobbed repeatedly at groups of protesters in downtown Kuala Lumpur as the crowds chanted "Long Live the People" and "Reformasi, reformasi," the Malay word for reform. Several people were seen bleeding after the tear gas was fired, but police gave no details of any injuries. Crowds around the city's main bus station were also sprayed with water cannon. Malaysia's inspector-general of police, Ismail Omar, said 1,401 people were taken into custody, but many will be released after questioning. At least three senior opposition leaders were among those detained, other officials said. "We have made our point that we want free and fair elections," said Chan Mei Yin, a 32-year old accountant who joined the protest. "The police are just showing that they are brutal to Malaysians. I will not vote for this government." NOT THAILAND While Malaysia is far from being divided by political strife like its northern neighbor Thailand, the opposition has been steadily growing more vocal. Tens of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets at a November 2007 rally, which analysts said galvanized support for the opposition ahead of record gains in a 2008 general election. Analysts said the turnout of protesters on Saturday was more than 10,000, around the same as in 2007. Police, however, put the number at 5,000-6,000, while protest organizers claimed 50,000 attended. "Malaysian civil society is showing the government that intimidation will not work," said Ooi Kee Beng, a political analyst at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies of Singapore. "We're seeing a lack of will on the part of the government to try to negotiate and to defuse the situation. It's all going to look very bad outside Malaysia." After Malaysia's constitutional monarch tried to defuse the situation, the government initially offered Bersih (Clean), the group that called the protest, the use of a stadium to hold its demonstration. But it baulked at allowing the group to use the main stadium in downtown Kuala Lumpur, at which point Bersih said it would defy the ban. From midnight, police locked down the central shopping district of the city of 1.6 million people, setting up roadblocks and barring taxis and buses from the area. Suburban trains, however, continued to operate and other areas of the city were not affected. Bersih has vowed to bring together tens of thousands of supporters to the protest but it fell short. Still, some analysts said the government faced a problem. "Just looking at the crowd there were many 'first timers', young people from the Facebook generation who just wanted to have a peaceful life," said Ibrahim Suffian, director of the independent opinion polling outfit Merdeka Center. "This is trouble for Najib as it will polarize traditionally non-political segments of society like the young even further away from him." Najib took power in 2009, and inherited a divided ruling coalition which had been weakened by historic losses in the 2008 polls. He has promised to restructure government and economy and introduced an inclusive brand of politics aimed at uniting the country's different races. Najib's approval ratings have risen from 45 percent to 69 percent in February, according to independent polling outfit Merdeka Center. But analysts said recent ethnic and religious differences have undermined his popularity. (Additional reporting by Angie Teo and Damir Sagolj; Writing by Liau Y-Sing; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan and Sugita Katyal)
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| Malaysia Police Fire Tear Gas and Arrest Hundreds of Protesters Posted: 08 Jul 2011 04:31 PM PDT
KUALA LUMPUR — Police arrested hundreds of people and fired tear gas on protesters in Malaysia's capital on Saturday in an apparent attempt to prevent an afternoon rally by election reform advocates. By Liz Gooch, New York Times Officials said they had arrested 672 people for "various offenses" by late morning as they closed off roads leading into the capital and some streets in the city in advance of the rally planned at Merdeka Stadium.
Demonstrators were seen scattering Saturday afternoon as police fired tear gas, and it was unknown whether the rally would be held. Saturday's confrontation between police and protesters culminated after weeks of growing tension as activists have called on Prime Minister Najib Razak to make election laws more transparent. National elections are expected to be held by the middle of 2012. Saturday's rally was organized by the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections, also known as Bersih, or "clean" in Malay. The coalition is made up of 62 nongovernmental organizations. Speaking at a news conference on Saturday, Ambiga Sreenevasan, chairwoman of Bersih, said the arrests and firing of tear gas by police had stirred a sense of outrage among Malaysians. Malaysia is a constitutional monarchy and democracy with regular national elections, but Bersih organizers say that elections are vulnerable to manipulation. They have issued a list of eight demands, including marking voters with indelible ink to prevent them from voting more than once, purging electoral rolls of "phantom voters" and ensuring that opposition parties have equal access to the mainstream news media. The group is also calling for a royal commission to investigate how elections are conducted. Last Saturday, the government declared Bersih illegal, because it had not registered as an organization and was causing unrest among the public. Bersih countered that it was not a new organization, but rather an alliance of existing groups. Mr. Razak said the coalition could hold the rally if it agreed to meet in a stadium, rather than on the streets as first planned. Bersih organizers agreed to the terms, but the authorities said that Bersih cannot proceed without a police permit, which normally would not be granted to a group that has been declared illegal. Bersih leaders responded by accusing the prime minister of having "reneged" on his offer to provide a stadium for their rally. Bersih leaders said they would go ahead with Saturday's protest, despite not receiving permits from police. In recent weeks, 225 people have been arrested in connection with the Bersih movement under various laws including the Sedition Act and Emergency Ordinance, which allows for detention without trial. On Thursday, the police said six people remained in custody. Human rights groups such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have condemned the recent arrests, and called on the government to stop harassing those associated with Bersih. "The Malaysian government's crackdown on an electoral reform group shows utter disregard both for free expression and for the democratic process," Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch, said in a statement. A street rally calling for similar changes in 2007, in which the police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse protesters, was credited with helping the opposition make historic gains in the 2008 elections. The next election must be held by mid-2013, but there is speculation it could be held as early as this year.
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| Cops seize Ambiga, Pakatan leaders mid-march Posted: 08 Jul 2011 04:27 PM PDT (The Malaysian Insider) - KUALA LUMPUR, July 9 — Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan was arrested by police as she and several Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders attempted to march towards Stadium Merdeka from the Kuala Lumpur Hilton this afternoon. Police earlier also fired tear gas at the group as they tried to force their way past a police barricade. Scores of PR and Bersih activists have now been arrested, including PAS president Datuk Seri Hadi Awang and committee member Dzulkefly Ahmad. They join PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu and two other vice presidents arrested earlier. However, it is understood Dzulkefly was released in the confusion ensuing the arrests. Others detained were PKR's Chua Tian Chang, Bersih steering committee member Maria Chin Abdulla, and both Nurul Izzah and Nurul Iman Anwar, the daughters of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Shielded by scores of supporters, all linking arms, the movement fighting for electoral reform earlier left the KL Hilton hotel about 2pm today and made their way down three flights of stairs and headed towards KL Sentral across the road. The group, shouting "Hidup rakyat!" and "Bersih! Bersih! Bersih!" interspersed with PAS's Islamic battlecry "Allahu Akhbar!" and "Takbir!", pushed past a barricade of police personnel who formed three lines to block the station's sole entrance fronting the hotel. Shopkeepers in the transportation hub quickly moved to shutter their businesses as the massive wave surged towards them. But drawn by the noise, scores of curious onlookers moved forward. At the Bangsar LRT station, a policeman on duty told would-be passengers that the KL Sentral LRT stop is now closed and no one will be allowed to embark or disembark there.
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| Follow RPK on Twitter for Latest Updates Posted: 08 Jul 2011 04:06 PM PDT Things are moving way too fast. Whilst the MT team is trying their best to update this site, please FOLLOW RAJAPETRA ON TWITTER FOR THE LATEST AND LIVE UPDATES.
You can also CLICK THIS LINK TO FOLLOW RAJAPETRA ON TWITTER.
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| Posted: 08 Jul 2011 03:25 PM PDT (The Malaysian Insider) - KUALA LUMPUR, July 9 — Bersih 2.0, led by Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan and Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Lim Kit Siang and others, have begun their march towards Stadium Merdeka. Shielded by hundreds of supporters linking arms, they left the KL Hilton Hotel at 2pm and made their way down three flights of stairs, heading towards KL Sentral. The group, shouting "Hidup rakyat!" and "Bersih", pushed past a barricade of police personnel who had formed three lines to block the station's entrance MORE TO COME
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| Blocking Bersih has hurt BN, says deputy minister Posted: 08 Jul 2011 03:11 PM PDT
By Shannon Teoh, The Malaysian Insider KUALA LUMPUR, July 9 — A Barisan Nasional (BN) deputy minister lamented today the failure of the ruling coalition to discuss terms with the outlawed Bersih 2.0, whose supporters have amassed in the city by the tens of thousands despite a police lockdown of the capital. Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah told The Malaysian Insider that the government "should have discussed the proposal on how to address a peaceful assembly" as recommended by the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam). "In terms of political communication, we have lots of repair to do," the deputy education minister said. Although he agreed that a stadium gathering was better than marching in the streets, the Temerloh MP said he disagreed with "some who generalise that once done on the road, it will lead to havoc, because many road demos go peacefully." The electoral reforms movement agreed earlier this week to move today's street rally to a stadium after Datuk Seri Najib Razak had made such an offer on Monday. This came after the Yang di-Pertuan Agong had stepped in to defuse tension on Sunday, calling for the Najib administration and Bersih to negotiate over the issue of free and fair elections.
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| Posted: 08 Jul 2011 02:51 PM PDT (FMT) - KUALA LUMPUR: Thousands have started marching towards Stadium Merdeka and are currently at Menara Maybank to meet other groups there. The police have started firing tear gas and their water cannons at the crowd. The protesters, who came together from various locations, were chanting, among others, "Hidup Rakyat" and "Bersih". According to reports from the ground, the crowd could be as big as 10,000 and the number was expected to grow as more groups of protesters join in. At Pudu Plaza, more than 1,000 are also heading towards Stadium Merdeka. DAP MP Tony Pua estimated the figure to be at 3,000. Chants of "Bersih" and "Hancur BN, Hidup Rakyat" reveberates as many of the protesters wave the Malaysian flag, drawings cheers and applause from onlookers. |
| Ambiga, top leaders arrested; Anwar injured (To be Updated) Posted: 08 Jul 2011 02:34 PM PDT
At least five marches have broke out in Petaling Street, near Daya Bumi Complex, Masjid Jamek, Pudu and Sogo and the police have responded by firing tear gas. By Malaysiakini LIVE REPORTS12.20pm: Pudu Plaza - At Jalan Landak, Pudu, some 200 people have started to gather, preparing for the rally. This group is believed to have marched from the former KTM headquarters nearby. The crowd is estimated at 1,000 people. 12.50pm: About 3,000 to 4,000 people are marching from Petaling Street in downtown Kuala Lumpur to Stadium Negara. 12.55pm: Pudu Plaza - DAP leader Teresa Kok is defying her ban and leading protesters to start the march towards Merdeka Stadium. 1pm: Masjid Jamek - The crowd here has grown to about 1,000 people and the are beginning to march. Earlier, a student was hit by a tear gas cannister. He refused to have his photograph taken due to his status. 1.10pm: Masjid Negara - The mosque is mostly empty. Some are complaining that the toilets are locked. 1.14pm: A fake Twitter account @bersihrally have appeared, apparently created only at 9.42 this morning. 1.15pm: Official police figures - 514 arrested. 478 males, 36 females. 1.20pm: Masjid Jamek - There is a standoff here. The growing crowd continues chanting while the police are awaiting reinforcements. 1.21am: Top Bersih leaders Ambiga Sreenevasan, Haris Ibrahim, Wong Chin Huat and A Samad Said are in Hilton Hotel. They are with politicians William Leong, Kamaruddin Jaafar, Zaid Kamaruddin, Syed Azman Syed Nawawi and Tian Chua. They join Anwar Ibrahim who is in the hotel. It is confirmed PKR deputy president Azmin Ali has been arrested and was brought to Pulapol (Police Training Centre). Earlier, PAS vice-presidents Mahfuz Omar and Salahuddin Ayub were also arrested. 1.22pm: Petaling Street - The group of a few thousand which is marching to Stadium Negara turn back to Jalan Tan Cheng Lock after encountering a roadblock. 1.30pm: About 300 Umno Youth members have gathered at Jalan Bukit Bintang. They are all wearing red T-shirts with the word 'Patriot'. These T-shirts are also being given out to the public. 1.33pm: Jalan Tun Perak - PAS leader Dr Hatta Ramli with a loudspeaker tells the crowd of at least 4,000 that party vice-president Mahfuz Omar and about 300 others have been arrested. 1.35pm: Press statement by IPK KL. 1.38pm: LRT Masjid Jamek - A police officer with loudhailer announced: "Perhimpunan hari in tak ada kebenaran jadi diminta semua bersurai serta merta atau kami suraikan dengan kekerasan." 1.40pm: Menara Maybank - Water cannons unleashed on more than 1,000 protestors. 1.43pm: Masjid Jamek - A group of about 10 general duty police officers with gas masks chased after the protesters who ran helter skelter into Masjid India area. [Watch video - 17 sec]1.44pm: Menara Maybank - Water cannon truck fires at the crowd a second time, this time with chemical laced irritants mixed with blue dye. 1.55pm: It begins raining in Kuala Lumpur. 1.57pm: Malaysia Hotel - Khairy Jamaluddin appears at the Umno Youth rally and gives out a short speech. He said that Bersih 2.0 cannot be supported because it is infiltrated by opposition parties. He then leads the crowd in a march towards Stadium Merdeka. They will likely bump into a section of the Bersih 2.0 crowd. 1.59pm: Puduraya - Police fired tear gas on an estimated 10,000-strong crowd, which converges in Puduraya, in front of Menara Maybank. Part of the crowd came in from Masjid Jamek while others are from Petaling Street Police had to resort to using tear gas after the water cannon failed to stop their advance. People in the crowd appear to be recovering from the tear gas and are coming back together to continue with their march. 2pm: Hilton Hotel - It is still raining cats and dogs outside the hotel and the atmosphere inside is tense as Pakatan leaders prepare to march out into the streets. 2.10pm: Puduraya - The police are increasingly harsh towards protestors. Some are dragged on the road. One protestor was bleeding from the head. Some police officers were seen punching and pushing protestors who were trying to flee. In one incident, several protesters were forced to jump off a six-foot high ledge to evade capture. 2.15pm: Bukit Bintang - Umno Youth's 'Patriot' procession has stalled momentarily. 2.15pm: KL Sentral - Pakatan Rakyat and Bersih leaders are marching towards from the Hilton Hotel towards KL Sentral shouting "Bersih! Bersih!" but are stopped by the police. 2.18pm: Pudu-Bukit Bintang - As the drizzle starts, the crowds raise their hands and cheer again, and retreat towards Bukit Bintang. 2.20pm: Puduraya - Police moved in to detain dozens of protesters, with officers going in groups of five to six to detain individual protesters. Incidences of police brutality were seen, with officers allegedly punching and shoving detainees. They were also allegedly seen manhandling female detainees. Some protesters jumped off a six-foot high ledge to evade capture in possibly one of the most dangerous situations of the day so far. 2.25pm: Brickfields - The Pakatan Rakyat and Bersih 2.0 crowd has managed to emerge from KL Sentral and have entered Jalan Tun Sambanthan where they are met by almost 1,000 supporters. 2.30pm: Human Rights Watch's Asia division deputy director Phil Robertson says, "This is a maelstrom of the Malaysian authorities' own making.
2.35pm: Bukit Bintang - The Umno Youth group have stopped in front of Royale Bintang Hotel where they are walking towards another Bersih group at the Jalan Pudu-Bukit Bintang intersection. 2.40pm: Puduraya - The crowd here is breaking up into smaller groups. They are believe to be taking separate routes towards Stadium Merdeka. 2.41pm: PDRM Facebook: As of 2pm, 644 arrested - 597 males and 47 females. 2.43pm: Pandemonium breaks out at KL Sentral as police fire tear gas in a closed environment as Bersih 2.0 and opposition leaders attempted to exit the station via Brickfields. The tear gas forced protesters back into the station, which has been locked down. Journalists outside KL Sentral were barred from entering the station, making it difficult to verify the status of the situation. It was however confirmed that a group of Pakatan leaders and individuals were arrested in the chaos, including Batu MP Tian Chua, Pantai Dalam MP Nurul Izzah Anwar, Kuala Selangor MP Dzukefly Ahmad, artist Wong Hoy Cheong, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang's son and three other supporters.2.45pm: KL Sentral - Anwar Ibrahim tweets that he has suffered a minor injury and that his two daugthers - Nurul Izzah and Nurul Hana - has been arrested during the melee. Bersih 2.0 chief Ambiga Sreenevasan confirms that she has been arrested. 2.48pm: Puduraya - The crowd disperses into Tung Shing Hospital and a nearby Chinese school. Police are firing tear gas into the hospital in attempts to disperse the protestors.
2.50pm: KL Sentral - PKR vice-president N Surendran told Malaysiakini Anwar is bleeding from the head and injured in one of his knees. 2.55pm: Bukit Bintang - There's a standstill between the Umno Youth's Patriot rally and the FRU with neither side budging. 3.10pm: PDRM Facebook - The total number of people arrested as of 2.30pm has reached 672. 3.15pm: Pudu - Police have agreed to give safe passage to the thousands of protesters assembled at Pudu up till Jalan Sultan on condition that they only use half of the road and march peacefully. The accord was met after Pakatan parliamentarians R Sivarasa and Ngeh Khoo Ham negotiated with the police, who also decided to allow the crowd to chant as they march.3.20pm: Pudu - The crowd has begun to march from Pudu towards Jalan Sultan, thanking the police for allowing them safe passage. The 2,000-strong crowd also began singing Negaraku as they march. 3.22pm: Bukit Bintang - The 300 Umno Youth supporters at Jalan Bukit Bintang in front of Federal Hotel begin to disperse after negotiation with the police. Claiming moral victory despite only being able to proceed 200m along Jalan Bukit Bintang - still far from their Stadium Merdeka destination - Umno Youth exco Megat Omardin said that their message have been conveyed. "We have come and we fulfilled our purpose," he told the crowd before another individual led a prayer. Later, Umno Youth Petaling Jaya Utara chief Arman Azha told Malaysiakini that exco Lokman Noor Adam as well as 20 of their members have been arrested. Movement head Khairy Jamaluddin, who was also arrested, later tweeted that he has been taken to Pulapol while exco Ahmad Zaki Zahid is injured. 3.37pm: Pasar Seni - The triumphant group from Stadium Merdeka marched down Jalan Sultan towards Central Market, but they were attacked by tear gas by police near the Pasar Seni LRT Station. 3.38pm: Pudu - The 2,000-strong crowd at Pudu have now been denied safe passage to Jalan Sultan, and riot police have fired both water cannons and tear gas on the protesters assembled in front of the Tung Shin hospital. The crowd is now sandwiched between two FRU blockades. 3.50pm: Istana Negara - A small group of Bersih 2.0 steering committee members are marching towards the palace from Midah Hotel. They are awaiting clearance from the palace to submit Bersih 2.0's petition. 3.50am: Pasar Seni - Bersih leader Wong Chin Huat, after reading out the eight demands of Bersih 2.0, call on the crowd to disperse. 3.50pm: KL Hilton - In an impromptu press conference, PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar, N Surendran and PAS deputy secretary general Syed Azman condemn the police's brutality that they allege has caused injury to several Pakatan leaders. 4pm: Istana Negara - The Bersih 2.0 delegation of about 20 people led by A Samad Said were stopped from marching to the palace gates by the police about 200m away. Negotiations with the police failed and the group agreed to disperse. However, Samad said he needed to rest and the group left him alone with the police before leaving the area. 4.01pm: PDRM Facebook - Among the top leaders arrested are: 4.10pm: Light Rail Train (LRT) stations still closed, according to RapidKL - Pasar Seni, KL Sentral, Masjid Jamek and Dang Wangi. 4.21pm: After almost four hours of cat-and-mouse confrontation with the police in downtown Kuala Lumpur, most of the protesters have dispersed. The Bersih committee is to call press conference at 4.45pm at Midah Hotel. 4.40pm: Pudu - Suhakam commissioner Muhammad Sha'ani B Abdullah condemns the authorities for their harsh handling of the protesters. 4.50pm: Fadiah Nadwa Fikri of Lawyers for Liberty says that the police have invoked section 28A(8) - denial of access to lawyers - at Pulapol (Police Training Centre), where she says 1,000 people are being detained. 5.34pm: PDRM Facebook - As of 3.30pm, a total of 924 people have been arrested. 6.30pm: Police say 1,401 protesters were arrested during the day-long operation, including 13 children. The authorities estimate the crowd turn out between 5,000 to 6,000. 6.45pm: IPK KL - Ambiga Sreenevasan has been released from detention. KL CID chief Ku Chin Wa said that the police would decide whether to take action against her after investigations are concluded.
MORE TO COME
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| Standing up for our democratic rights Posted: 08 Jul 2011 02:15 PM PDT By R Kengadharan
As Malaysians, we must be committed to the principles of integrity. Whether the establishment subscribes to this notion or not, we as Malaysians must maintain an uncompromising stand. In the last two weeks, there has been an intense and continuous crackdown on Bersih 2.0 and it is shameful they are not given an opportunity to be heard at all. Why? And is Bersih 2.0 any way capable of upseting national security and public order? Being a loose coalition of registered societies can Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein declare Bersih 2.0 illegal under the Societies Act 1966? While the minister has powers to declare a movement illegal, he certainly cannot do so for a coalition of diverse organisations. Such a declaration contradicts the Federal Constitution and is a clear assault on human rights. While Bersih 2.0 is striving for electoral reforms, the government carelessly describes the coalition as moving actively to create a situation of unrest and worry. This is utter rubbish. The continued denial to allow them to assemble is an affront to fundamental freedom and the desperate action of a government attempting to unlawfully stifle the freedom of lawful citizens. This must be condemned. Despite Bersih repeatedly stating that it will be a peaceful gathering, the authorites are over-reacting and continue to harass and intimidate the movement and its supporters. The agenda pursued by Bersih 2.0 is not anti-government nor is it anti Barisan Nasional but a struggle to preserve clean and fair elections. Cops gone beserk On the other hand, Perkasa chief Ibrahim Ali accused Bersih chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan of having committed treason against the monarch. This is an unfounded allegation and unbecoming of a MP. While Ibrahim is making uncalled for and outrageous remarks, the police on the other hand have gone berserk over Bersih 2.0 and the men in blue are repressing the citizens of this country. The establishment fails to understand that this deplorable pattern of behavior will have a devastating effect at the 13th general election. A responsible government must look into the aspirations of the rakyat and must never be manipulative and deceptive. Instead, every leader regardless of race, religion and political beliefs must rise to the occasion. Actions to the contrary will only undermine democracy. As Malaysians, we must be committed to the principles of integrity. Whether the establishment subscribes to this notion or not, we as Malaysians must maintain an uncompromising stand. We must determine our future and destiny and reject traitors and incompetent leaders and the persecution of any on the premise of a fictitious law. A government must strive to preserve the liberties of its people and must guard the civil society against oppression. It must never tell the people how to run their lives. Additionally, a government should not curtail freedom and fundamental liberties. While the Emergency Ordinance has defeated and destroyed communism, it must not be allowed to destroy democracy.
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| More cities hold Bersih rallies Posted: 08 Jul 2011 02:09 PM PDT By J. Ariffin and Alexis See Tho. The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, July 9 — Malaysians in cities across the world will rally today in support of the Bersih 2.0 movement to demand free and fair elections, even as authorities threaten to snuff out the group's march here. What was started as a street rally in Kuala Lumpur later spawned the Bersih 2.0 Global Solidarity Network, which encourages Malaysians abroad to add their voices to the movement. The movement kicked off earlier today with rallies in Melbourne, Australia and Wellington, New Zealand, both beginning even as authorities attempt to stifle Bersih's own rally in Kuala Lumpur. "Malaysians have the constitutional right to peaceful assembly and freedom of speech in keeping with international human rights norms," spokesman for Global Solidarity Network Nathaniel Tan yesterday said in a statement today. "We support Bersih 2.0's eight points for electoral reform and call in addition for a ninth: Suffrage for Malaysians residing abroad," he added. For two weeks, organisers around the world have been busy setting up group pages on social networking site Facebook in support of Bersih 2.0's call for electoral reform. Support groups have been set up in Australia, New Zealand, Japan, France, Ireland, Sweden, Hong Kong, Switzerland, Scotland, Canada and the United States. |
| FRU form defensive line at Stadium Merdeka Posted: 08 Jul 2011 02:02 PM PDT
By T K Letchumy Tamboo, Malay Mail KUALA LUMPUR: With hours left before the planned Bersih 2.0 rally meet the Stadium Merdeka here, security measures at the area has been beefed up on a large scale. At approximately 11.30am today, the Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) trucks that were parked at Stadium Merdeka's parking lot moved to the entrance of Jalan Stadium where police personnel were standing guard since 7am. In what seemed like a drill, about 100 police personnel climbed out of the trucks and took their positions in front of the cordoned area of Jalan Stadium. They then ran back and climbed into their trucks. Two minutes later, they repeated this action. The defensive perimeter was further strengthened at 11.45am, when more than six additional FRU trucks along with about 100 FRU trucks arrived at Jalan Stadium. The trucks were initially stationed at the entrance of Jalan Stadium before being moved to the inside of the cordoned off area. The situation has attracted a group of bystanders, who were advised police to leave the area if they had no concerns there. |
| Global Bersih movement kicks off with Melbourne Posted: 08 Jul 2011 01:52 PM PDT
(The Malaysian Insider) - KUALA LUMPUR, July 9 — While the police intensify efforts to stop Bersih 2.0 supporters from gathering here this morning, Malaysians across globe have already begun to rally in support of free and fair elections. According to eyewitness accounts from Melbourne, Australia, some 750 marchers brandishing banners and placards in Bersih 2.0's signature yellow have gathered at Federation Square to call for electoral reforms in Malaysia. In Wellington, New Zealand, a group of about 10 people reportedly stood together while encouraging passing cars to honk their horns to indicate support. At Bersih 2.0 New Zealand's Facebook fan page, it was reported that a mini rally was held at the University of Canterbury. About five hours ago, a supporter posted details on the various gatherings in New Zealand, calling on participants to meet at a car park in Church Corner, Christchurch; the Malaysian High Commission in Wellington; Morgan Street, Newmarket, in Auckland; and Royal Oat Mall, also in Auckland at a different time. Bersih 2.0, a Malaysian-based coalition comprising 62 non-governmental organisations, have called on all Malaysians across the globe to participate in today's rally, which is expected to attract tens of thousands of people to the city centre here.
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| Photos of Scenes at Bersih 2.0 hotspots Posted: 08 Jul 2011 01:35 PM PDT
Online news reports on the rally may give us details in words but a picture speaks a thousand words. Here is a collection of photographs taken by Malaysiakini field team at various rally hotspots. Perhaps now, the picture is clearer. Tell the world how you feel by leaving a comment.
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| 236 held as KL lock-down goes into full swing Posted: 08 Jul 2011 01:04 PM PDT
The police are expected to make arrests in the coming hours. (Free Malaysia Today) - With the lock-down of the federal capital, ahead of the planned Bersih 2.0 rally scheduled for this afternoon in full swing this morning, the number of those arrested has increased drastically to 236. Most of them were picked up near Masjid Jamek, Masjid Negara and Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman. They have been transported to the police training centre (Pulapol) in Jalan Semarak. The crowd of Bersih supporters appeared to be swelling at these locations prompting police to swing into action. The largest gathering was at Masjid Negara with some 300 to 400 Bersih supporters chanting the "takbir". They had been told to disperse but have yet to do so. The police are expected to make arrests in a couple of minutes. The police are also on the verge of dispersing a large crowd that had gathered at the old KTM building beside the national mosque. Meanwhile, police have mounted roadblocks at all major roads leading to the city while LRT passengers are being checked since early this morning. FMT reporters on the ground report that there was heavy police presence in the city, especially in "hotspots" like Dataran Merdeka, Masjid Negara, Jalan Tun Perak, and Jalan Raja Laut, just to name a few. Late last night police "raided" small hotels in the city to flush out outstation Bersih supporters who have come to the city for the rally. Police have also been using helicopters to monitor the situation since this morning. They have mounted a roadblock at the Sungai Besi toll, checking all cars. The roadblock has caused a traffic snarl for those wanting to enter the city, which, for the time being, resembles a ghost town with hardly any cars on the roads. Dataran Merdeka, meanwhile, has been completely cordoned off. Reports from the ground also say that the LRT system seems to be running smoothly but policemen have been placed at all stations. They were seen checking bags of suspected passengers. At least four people have been arrested at the Masjid Jamek LRT station, while another eight near the Sogo shopping centre at Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman.
There are also reports that some stations like the Jalan Maharajalela LRT station have been shut down for the time being. Among those arrested at Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman is a protester who identified himself as Omar Mokhtar Abdullah. Omar shouted at the police as they were approaching a larger group of protesters to warn them to disperse. "Don't worry, (Kelantan Menteri Besar) Nik Aziz (Nik Mat) will be here with many buses, coming to Kuala Lumpur!"
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| NGOs in Asia and Europe condemn Najib Posted: 08 Jul 2011 01:04 PM PDT By Syed Jeymal Zahiid, FMT
KUALA LUMPUR: Some 120 international NGOs, who are part of the Asia-Europe Peoples' Forum (AEPF), have condemned the Najib administration for its clampdown on Bersih 2.0 and the call for electoral reforms. The group has also demanded the immediate release of Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) members, who were detained under the Emergency Ordinance (EO) and for the government to rescind its decision to declare Bersih an illegal organization. AEPF also called for the Malaysian police to stop arresting peaceful political activists promoting Bersih 2.0. In a statement issued yesterday, AEPF said: "May we remind you that Malaysia, as a member of ASEM (with whom we at AEPF actively engage), adheres to the Asia-Europe Cooperation Framework which 'envisage(s) Asia and Europe as an area of peace and shared development, uphold(s) the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, respect for democracy, the rule of law, equality, justice and human rights." ASEM is the Asian-Europe meeting established in 1996 as a platform for inter-regional dialogue. The statement also noted that despite the King's intervention and plead for peace and dialogue from both sides, police continued to make arrests while some remain detained. Police, it said, are using the existing ban on the coalition by the Home Ministry to justifiy their actions. More than 250 people have been arrested in relation to the planned rally today. This morning, the police have arrested more that 21 people suspected of being protesters. Bersih decided to call off the planned street protest after the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin intervened on Sunday, amid heightened tension and called on both sides to sit down for consultation. But when Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak backpedalled on his promise to provide the group with a venue to gather and gave police discretionary power to decide if the rally could be held, the coalition of 62 NGOs decided to gather and march towards Stadium Merdeka later today.
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| Posted: 08 Jul 2011 12:59 PM PDT
The action for now seems to be at Masjid Negara, which is heavily guarded by the police. (Free Malaysia Today) - The lock-down of the federal capital, ahead of the planned Bersih 2.0 rally scheduled for this afternoon, is in full swing with the police setting up roadblocks at all major roads leading to the city while LRT passengers are being checked since early this morning. FMT reporters on the ground report that there was heavy police presence in the city, especially in "hotspots" like Dataran Merdeka, Masjid Negara, Jalan Tun Perak, and Jalan Raja Laut, just to name a few. Late last night the police conducted "raids" at small hotels in the city with the intention of flushing out outstation Bersih supporters who have come to the city for the rally. Police have also been using helicopters to monitor the situation since this morning. They have mounted a roadblock at the Sungai Besi toll, checking all cars. So far nobody has been detained at this roadblock but it has caused a traffic snarl for those wanting to enter the city, which, for the time being, resembles a ghost town with hardly any cars on the roads. Dataran Merdeka, meanwhile, has been completely cordoned off. Reports from the ground also say that the LRT system seems to be running smoothly but policemen have been placed at all stations. They were seen checking bags of suspected passengers. At least four people have been arrested at the Masjid Jamek LRT station, while another eight near the Sogo shopping centre at Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman. Among those arrested at Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman is a protester who identified himself as Omar Mokhtar Abdullah. Omar shouted at the police as they were approaching a larger group of protesters to warn them to disperse. "Don't worry, (Kelantan Menteri Besar) Nik Aziz (Nik Mat) will be here with many buses, coming to Kuala Lumpur!" After a few attempts to get him to leave, police then grabbed Omar and led him to a patrol car.
Omar earlier showed FTM an allegedly self-made yellow T-shirt with the words: "Kotor, Dark Justice". He said that he chose "Kotor" to refer to the government. "Dark Justice", Omar claimed, was his nickname. So far no LRT line or station had been closed. Meanwhile, at Masjid Negara, at least four people have been arrested for allegedly having in their possession yellow Bersih T-shirts The Bersih rally is organised to cal for free and fair elections. The government has banned the organisation but gave the go-ahead for the rally in a stadium.
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| Sabah police in surprise raid on SAPP HQ Posted: 08 Jul 2011 12:37 PM PDT
(FMT) - KOTA KINABALU: The word 'Bersih' (clean) will need some cleaning up after police found it inappropriate to be used on a signboard here. Police in a midnight operation at the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) headquarters in the city questioned officials on a signpost painted with the Malay slogan "Bersih, Berani and Benar" (Clean, Brave and Truth). They were particularly focussed on the word Bersih and demanded to know why it was used. "The police personnel questioned why we use the word Bersih, why the background is yellow and why we choose July 9 to launch our online radio and TV," said SAPP youth leader Chester Pang. SAPP Women wing chief Melanie Chia, who rushed to headquarters after being alerted that about 20 police personnel were questioning its youth members in a surprise visit just after midnight, said this was harassment. Chia said she rushed to the scene together with her husband, Edwin Liew, after she was informed that several police officers were questioning party members hours before the launch of its online radio and TV, Sabahtv.net, at 1pm today. She was informed by Pang that one of the police officers approached him and questioned him over the design and the Malay slogan in its signboard put up outside its headquarters to mark the launching ceremony. The group of police officers left about an hour later when they saw Chia and her husband arrive. "Why is the Barisan Nasional government so paranoid of the word Bersih and yellow colour? What's wrong with them?" asked Chia. She said this paranoid display contradicted BN government's constant projection of itself as a "Bersih, Cekap dan Amanah" (Clean, Efficient and Trustworthy) government, a slogan introduced and promoted by the former prime minister, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammed, when he became the Prime Minister of Malaysia back in 1981. "Don't tell me the present BN government has now completely forgotten about its very own slogan or that it has transformed into an "Unclean, Inefficient and Untrustworthy" government? Is this what the current prime minister meant by Government Transformation (Program)," she asked. City Hall has no objection Chia advised party members and the public not to be easily intimidated by the police and assured that they have no right to demand for the removal of the signboard as it was beyond their jurisdiction. "The display of signboard comes under the jurisdiction of the DBKK (Kota Kinabalu City Hall), and in as far as we are concerned, they have not objected to it."
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| KL holds its breath as Bersih rally looms Posted: 08 Jul 2011 12:24 PM PDT
(The Malaysian Insider) - KUALA LUMPUR, July 9 — City folk stepped out of their homes and into a ghost town this morning in what many has described as "the lull before the storm" of the nation's second march for free and fair elections by Bersih 2.0. The main road arteries snaking through the capital were devoid of the usual Saturday visitors, crowded instead by a sea of policemen and reporters deployed at various checkpoints across the city. Kuala Lumpur's characteristic hustle and bustle was whittled down to a whimper as many offices and shops, from major franchises like KFC and A&W to small-time traders, have kept their shutters down in anticipation of the chaos that may break out closer to noon. "Most stalls on Masjid India are closed, except a few stalls selling bags, toys, perfume, beads. "Police asked a young man on Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman to open his bag and asked what he was doing here. He said he just came here for fun. He opened his bag, showing an envelope. Police then released him," said a reporter with The Malaysian Insider stationed there. Key areas like Masjid Jamek, Dataran DBKL, Masjid Kampung Baru, Jalan Kinabalu, Jalan Kuching Pasar Seni, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman and the vicinity of Merdeka Square and Istana Negara are being closely screened by the police. "Still the occasional tourist milling about Stadium Negara, also there's a church somewhere past the barricades but police are redirecting churchgoers to Jalan Pudu," said another reporter on the ground. The Puduraya bus terminal has been shut and buses have been rerouted to the Integrated South-Bandar Tasik Selatan Terminal and Hentian Duta. Although train services remain uninterrupted, reports are streaming in across the city that the police have infiltrated the coaches, stopping and checking the belongings of its commuters. "Policemen in uniform seen riding the KL Monorail coming into Maharajalela station, they appear to be stationed on the trains," said the reporter. According to national news agency Bernama this morning, police detained 21 people since last night until 9am this morning under Section 27 of the Police Act for planning to participate in illegal rallies. This morning, scores more have been hauled up at various checkpoints across the city. Reports claim that, among others, Gombak PAS Youth chief Syarhan Humaizy was arrested near YMCA in Brickfields. English daily New Straits Times also reported that four men were picked up during screening at Sogo while 28 were detained in Kampung Baru this morning. "A man calling himself 'Dark Justice' was arrested at Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman. When asked if he's a member of a political party, he said 'I don't like politics'. He called himself Omar Mokhtar. He was wearing a beige shirt and carrying a red bag," said another reporter.
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| Crackdown widens, cops comb hotels Posted: 08 Jul 2011 12:04 PM PDT
By Andrew Ong, Malaysiakini The authorities are further tightening the screws on Bersih 2.0 supporters, checking several hotels in the Klang Valley. At the Puteri Park Hotel in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, PKR member Vernon Kedit reports that the police conducted inquiries into their party function there. Another occupant at the hotel was former Perak Menteri Besar Nizar Jamaluddin. He said that he was awokened by the police who took down his particulars, but did not arrest him. "One female police personnel walked in my room and took a picture of me while I was in my sarong," Nizar said. Room to room checks Some forced to flee Over at Subang Jaya, Ayer Keroh state assemblyperson Khoo Poay Tiong said five uniformed police personnel were checking the hotel guest list. Eerie calm in KL Additional reporting by Abdul Rahim Sabri, S Pathmawathy and Kuek Ser Kuang Keng. |
| A day of reckoning for Najib and his cronies Posted: 08 Jul 2011 11:54 AM PDT
By Jeswan Kaur, FMT Today is July 9, 2011, the day that will always give prime minister Najib Tun Razak and his band of cronies goosebumps, for the simple reason that the rakyat is out in solidarity with election watchdog Bersih 2.0, their voices in unison repeatedly demanding that the Barisan Nasional government stop playing dirty at the polls. The awakening of the ordinary Malaysian started in 2008 and which went on to become the turning point in the history of Malaysian politics. Today's "Walk for Democracy" further reinforces the belief that the people no longer accept the BN's crooked ways of claiming power during elections. The unexpected defeat to the opposition in 2008 proved too much for BN, which until today is still kept busy with its "damage control" or more precisely propaganda measures, all aimed at snatching back whatever power the opposition is currently enjoying. While BN under president Najib is going all out to foil any attempt to end its reign as the country's powerhouse, the notion that the rakyat will always and unconditionally support BN has post-2008 turned into a myth. The people are fed up with the rhetoric of the BN and the abuse of power displayed by Najib with regard to today's rally. Reneging on his word to allow Bersih 2.0 the space to vent out its frustrations against the BN government, Najib abandoned all modicum of leadership and scooted off to meet the Pope in Vatican, using work as his lame excuse. Najib also let the rakyat down when he turned bully and gave Bersih 2.0 the go-around in organising today's rally. While Bersih 2.0 agreed to skip the streets and converge in an indoor environment, choosing the historical Stadium Merdeka as their venue, the authorities turned around and began revealing their true colours. Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein declared Bersih 2.0 an illegal outfit and rationalised that the rally would be too. But after meeting the Yang di-Pertuan Agong who urged Bersih 2.0 to maintain peace and harmony, the latter respectfully decided to hold the rally indoor. At one point, the police were even willing to expedite the permit to Bersih 2.0 but on the eve of the rally went back on its words, citing safety reasons. Bersih 2.0 speaks for the rakyat It looks like Najib was not paying attention to what Bersih 2.0 chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan was saying all the while, about why the electoral system needs to be "cleaned up". All that Najib understood was that the "Walk for Democracy" equalled to his losing power and authority, which was not what Bersih 2.0 was implying. However, today, with thousands of people coming together to lend support to the cause Bersih 2.0 has been championing, it is proof that all the arm-twisting, lies and high-handed tactics used by Najib to crush the rally have only backfired, with public faith and trust in him and BN having shifted. READ MORE HERE. |
| Only King can declare Emergency, says constitutional lawyer Posted: 08 Jul 2011 10:29 AM PDT
By Debra Chong, The Malaysian Insider KUALA LUMPUR, July 8 — Constitutional lawyer Tommy Thomas assured the public today that only the King has the power to declare a state of Emergency as speculators claim the federal government will deploy the armed forces to control demonstrators ahead of Bersih 2.0's electoral reform rally tomorrow. Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein pledged earlier today that the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) government will not send out military personnel to the city's streets for the Bersih rally tomorrow, nor will Internet services be disrupted. But the police's steps to increase security around the city with a court order banning 91 individuals linked to Bersih 2.0, Umno Youth and Perkasa from entering Kuala Lumpur's business and shopping districts are fuelling rumours of an impending Emergency that may allow martial law and a curfew to be imposed. Thomas said the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin has limited powers as a constitutional monarch under Articles 32 and 39 of the Federal Constitution but still has a role to play in declaring a state of Emergency and in any order involving the army, navy and air forces as he is the supreme commander of the armed forces, as spelled out in Article 41. "The Agong acts on the prime minister's advice, but he has a role to play in declaring Emergency. While the prime minister is a key player, he cannot force the King to sign the Proclamation of Emergency which is a document to declare a state of emergency," the prominent lawyer told The Malaysian Insider. To support his case, he cited Article 150 (1): "If the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is satisfied that a grave emergency exists whereby the security, or the economic life, or public order in the Federation or any part thereof is threatened, he may issue a Proclamation of Emergency making therein a declaration to that effect." The former Bar Council secretary said further that even though the Federal Constitution provides that the King must act on advice from the prime minister, the nation's highest law also prescribes exceptions to the rule as can be seen in Articles 40 (1) and (1A). "Although the prime minister recommends an Emergency, the issuance ... the signing of the document is by the King. The Proclamation of Emergency is a document that has to have a signatory and that signature has to be the King's and not anyone else's. The prime minister cannot sign the document," he said. "So he can say whatever he wants but the signing matters and the role of the signatory cannot be undermined, otherwise there would be a constitutional impasse," Thomas added.
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| BERSIH: Updated from 7:50am -1p.m. Posted: 08 Jul 2011 10:17 AM PDT
(Malaysiakini) - The police force is expected to battle with Umno Youth and polls reform coalition Bersih in the streets of Kuala Lumpur as both groups seek to break the blockade to mount two separate protests. Umno Youth, which is rallying to defend the electoral system, will be congregating in Bukit Bintang at 1.30pm. This was a last-minute change of time from the earlier announced 10am. The majority of the police are stationed in the usual haunts for protestors - Dataran Merdeka, Masjid Jamek area and Sogo shopping centre. Vehicles entering this area are being vigorously inspected. There is also heavy police represence at Masjid Negara. As of 8.30am, LRT services are operating as usual, without any stations inaccessible. The weather forecast in Kuala Lumpur is expected to be a mix of cloud and sun with a chance of showers or thundershowers. LIVE REPORTS 7.50am: Masjid Jamek - There is heavy police presence in the vicinity of the mosque. The road in front of the mosque has been sealed off. 7.45am: Masjid Negara - A dozen FRU jeeps and a water cannon truck are stationed at the Jalan Keretapi roundabout opposite the Kuala Lumpur Syariah Court complex. No roadblocks are visible, but there are many police personnel in the area. 8.40am: Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman - Bar Council's monitoring team hits the streets donning black suits and a "Observer" tags on their jackets. 8.45am: PAS headquarters - No uniformed police personnel or police vehicles are being stationed here, but a group of unidentified men has set up a video camera opposite the building. PAS' top leaders are believed to be holed up here. 8.50am: Dataran Merdeka - Police has cordoned off Dataran Merdeka. More than six FRU trucks, including a water cannon truck is being parked here. 9.00am: Stadium Merdeka - The route to the stadium from Jalan Maharajalela is being blocked with a barbwire barricade. Journalists who wish to enter the area must registered with the police. 9.05am: KL Sentral - Police are inspecting the bags of a group of PAS supporters from Kelantan. 9.15am: DBKL - About 60 police personnel and ten police trucks spotted at the T-junction in front of City Hall. 9.25am: Kampung Baru - Another 18 males have been brought to the police truck, joining the nine detained earlier. The truck is parked in front of the Kampung Baru mosque, has locked up by the mosque committee about ten minutes ago. 9.35am: IPK KL (state police headquarters) - As of 9am, 21 people have been arrested, according to spokesperson ACP Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf. Unofficially, an officer at KL IPK say the number of people arrested has exceeded 100. 9.30am: Maju Junction - Four men are being whisked away by the police after police found a yellow shirts in one of their bags. 9.40am: Istana Negara - A water cannon truck and riot police were spotted at the area. It seems that this strectch of Jalan Mahameru is completely off limits to vehicles. 9.40am: Bukit Bintang - At the shopping belt near Lot 10, it's holiday as usual for tourists who have started to pour into the streets and into the malls. 9.45am: Masjid Negara - At least 1,000 Bersih 2.0 have gathered near the former KTM headquarters and are chanting slogans. 9.50am: Masjid Negara - An elderly man approaching the national mosque with the intention of praying has been turned away by the authorities. Bersih 2.0 supporters at the old railway station is growing. 9.55am: Petaling Street - A diminutive retiree, who only wants to be known as Anne, says freedom is precious. Outside of the Masjid Jamek LRT station, the area along Jalan Tun Perak and Jalan Pudu is crawling with police officers. Some are guarding the entrance of Masjid Jamek. This spot was one of the major flashpoints during the first Bersih rally in 2007. 10am: Masjid Jamek - Police are seen randomly checking the bags of people in the Masjid Jamek LRT station vicinity. Masjid Negara - At the old railway station at Jln Sultan Hishamuddin, a 70 year-old man wearing a Pakatan Rakyat vest and serban was arrested along with two helpers after he insisted on going to the national mosque for prayers. The three of them are led off in a police jeep. 10.05am: Masjid Negara - The crowd in the area is rapidly growing. there are now more than 1,000 people. 10.23am: PDRM reports that as at 9am their 'Operasi Polis Perhimpunan 9 Julai 2011' has seen 21 arrests. 20 are Malay and 1 is Chinese. 10.25am: Masjid Jamek - There are more arrests around Masjid Jamek LRT station. The police truck parked beside the Masjid Jamek mosque has at least 16 people in it. 10:35am: Stadium Merdeka - Police have set up barb wire barricades at the two ends of Jalan Stadium, keeping both pedestrians and vehicles out. 10.43am: Sogo - Another three men, carrying backpacks, are picked up from around the area. The other two however was brought up a truck. 10.45am: Kampung Baru - Yet another group of people are being detained, including one male who was in possession of a Bersih T-shirt. He was not placed with the other detainees and brought elsewhere for questioning. 10.55am: Stadium Merdeka - Police have closed off the Maharajalela and Hang Tuah monorail stations, which is the closest to the stadium. 10.56am: KTM railway station - About 100 police are manning the entrance leading to the national mosque. 11am: A Bukit Aman source said that more than 100 people have been arrested this morning so far. 11am: Hang Tuah LRT station is now closed due to "security reasons". 11.10am: KLCC - No evidence to claims that tear gas was used at protestors here. Weekend shoppers are seen going about their business as usual. 11.12am: Sogo - Police trucks are filling up fast. Another three men are being processed after they were detained around Masjid India. One of the man, who is from Alor Setar, says that police searched his bag and found yellow T-shirt. 11.25am: According to sources, Pakatan Rakyat leaders are moving into the city centre. 11.30am: Royal Malaysian Police Facebook page says that as of 11am, 236 people have been arrested - of whom, 228 are men, eight women. 11.34am: Tension rising at the old KTM station. The police are trying to disperse the crowd inside gathered on platforms inside the building. The crowd is chanting "God is great" and remain in defiance of the police. At least six people have been arrested within the vicinity since morning. 11.34am: Masjid Jamek - A young man who has a yellow Bersih 2.0 T-shirt in his bag arrested in front of the McDonald restaurant. 11.44am: The biggest crowd is in both the vicinity of Masjid Jamek and Masjid Negara. However, the gates into Masjid Jamek are locked while police are not allowing anyone near Masjid Negara, confining most of the people in the old KTM station. 11.50am: Azmin Ali sends tweet - Saya sudah berjaya tiba di 'forbidden city of KL' (I have successful enter the forbidden city of KL). 11.55pm: Old KTM station - There are still many people loitering on the middle platform of the train station. Those asked to leave are seen exiting through a pedestrian bridge near the Syariah Court. 11.45am: Sogo - A woman is seen pleading with the police to release her husband who was picked up after the couple were shopping at Haniffa Textile. "The police asked me to take a taxi, but there is no taxis here," said the franctic woman as the police truck with her husband inside pulled away. 11.55am: Old KTM station - There are still many people loitering on the middle platform of the train station. Those asked to leave are seen exiting through a pedestrian bridge near the Syariah Court. 11.58am: Petaling Street - About 50 people are gathered in smaller clusters along the market street, believed to be protestors. However, none are wearing yellow items of clothing. 12 noon: Former KTM headquarters - A public service announcement said that Komuter trains are facing delays because the authorities are conducting checks on passengers. 12:12pm: IPK KL - A total of 338 people have been arrested - 321 males and 17 females. 12.15pm: Former KTM headquarters - The toilets in the building have been locked up by the police. 12.16pm: Masjid Jamek - Although hardly any shop is opened, many people are loitering around the back lanes of Little India, waiting for the time to act. 12.20pm: KL Sentral - Pakatan Rakyat leaders Anwar Ibrahim, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Anthony Loke and Saifuddin Nasution are at Hilton Hotel, which is located in the building. They are expected to hold a press conference soon. All of them are on the list of 91 individuals banned from entering Kuala Lumpur. 12.30pm: KL Sentral - PAS vice-presidents Mahfuz Omar and Salahuddin Ayub has been detained. 12.32pm: Masjid Jamek - MPSJ councillor Michael Tamil and Mohd Hafifudin, who is chairperson of Bumiputera Hawkers Association Masjid India, are monitoring the Masjid India market area. 12.34pm: About 1,000 people are moving from the old KTM station towards Dataran Merdeka. 12.40pm: Official police update: As of 12 noon, 441 people have been arrested - 421 males and 20 females. 12.42pm: Old KTM station - Suhakam commissioner James Nayagam said they are concerned over the mass arrests. ______________________________ updated at 1.35pm: At least five marches have broke out in Petaling Street, near Daya Bumi Complex, Masjid Jamek, Pudu and Sogo and the police have responded by firing tear gas. This post is already too long. PLEASE GO TO THIS LINK TO SEE MORE LIVE REPORTS UPDATES IN MALAYSIA TODAY. |
| In Bersih row, BN risks electoral fallout Posted: 08 Jul 2011 10:01 AM PDT
By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal, The Malaysian Insider KUALA LUMPUR, July 9 — The Najib administration risks losing crucial votes needed to keep power in the next general election, as analysts and politicians believe that Barisan Nasional's (BN) continued hostility towards Bersih will only damage the ruling coalition's image and credibility. Pundits said Putrajaya's clampdown on Bersih even after it agreed to hold its July 9 rally inside a stadium showed the government is adamant in not allowing the protest to take place on the streets or within the walls of a stadium. The polls reform group have questioned the police's intentions in using court orders to bar its leaders from entering the city today. The court order prevents 91 people from Bersih, Umno Youth and Perkasa from entering the capital. Umno supreme council member Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan admitted that the government's actions in banning Bersih would affect votes in the next national polls, but insisted that any form of preventive measure was necessary to maintain and preserve the security of the country. "We know we're going to be hit politically, we know that, no government wants to lose votes... so then why do we do it? "We have to do what we need to do; the police need to take preventive action. The opposition is not responsible for the security of the country... I think we'd rather be cautious and preventive than do nothing," he told The Malaysian Insider. Asked whether the handling of the Bersih affair indicated a ceding of power by the government to the police, Abdul Rahman agreed. But the Kota Belud MP defended the police's role in the affair, and stressed that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had to listen to the police when it came to "security concerns" due to the police having more experience in the matter. Merdeka Center director Ibrahim Suffian believes that the government is pushing the responsibility of handling the Bersih rally to the police, and police action so far — mass arrests, confiscations and roadblocks — will do little to defuse the boiling tension ahead of the rally today. "It does not seem like they are handling it in a way to defuse the situation... passing the buck to the police maybe a convenient way out, but it will affect the government when voters go to the ballot box," Ibrahim told The Malaysian Insider. Dr Faizal Hazis, an academic from Unimas agreed with Ibrahim's views, and said Putrajaya could have avoided matters from escalating to such a tipping point. |
| A principled Umno needn’t fear fair polls, says Anwar Posted: 08 Jul 2011 09:53 AM PDT
By Boo Su-Lyn, The Malaysian Insider Umno should be confident of winning elections freely and fairly if the ruling Malay party subscribed to these principles, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim declared ahead of today's Bersih rally. The opposition leader also said he would attend the electoral reforms gathering at Stadium Merdeka, despite a court order barring him and 90 others from Bersih 2.0, Umno Youth, Perkasa and Pakatan Rakyat (PR) from entering the city. "We are just asking for clean elections, that's all," Anwar told a 400-strong crowd at a madrasah in Cheras last night. Holding up Turkey as a model, the PKR de facto leader pointed out that the country had invited foreign representatives to observe its elections last month. "We can't even check our own electoral rolls... I can't even get a single minute of an interview (on mainstream media)," said Anwar, who wore a yellow collared shirt. "I'm going to Stadium Merdeka. How? Don't ask," he added with a smile, as the crowd laughed and clapped. Police locked down the capital since midnight to head off the Bersih rally and Umno Youth's counter-protest. Several highways leading into the city were congested as traffic was reduced to a single lane for police checks. Cabinet ministers and the police have told Bersih to take its rally outside the federal capital despite the movement accepting on Tuesday the government's offer to move its gathering to a stadium.
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| 'BN acting like a person told by doctor of impending death' Posted: 08 Jul 2011 02:44 AM PDT
(Harakah Daily) - As police stepped up roadblocks at major roads leading to the capital late this evening, causing miles of traffic congestion, PAS has called on prime minister Najib Razak not to further burden the force. Najib had earlier said that the government would leave it to the police to determine how to handle the Bersih rally, contradicting an earlier statement that he would give his cooperation to Bersih if its rally was held in a stadium. The police have however so far rejected all attempts to give a permit.
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2.30pm: Puduraya - The 10,000-strong crowd led by PAS leader Dr Hatta Ramli and PKR leader Badrul Hisham Shaharin has regrouped and move towards town centre.
There is brief respite as Subang MP R Sivarasa tries to negotiate with the police to allow protestors to move back to Masjid Negara. 
2.57pm: Bukit Bintang - Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin has been arrested when he was found to be resting and clearing his eyes from the tear gas fired, at a shack just 100m from the FRU line.
Bersih Sydney 
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