Khamis, 7 Julai 2011

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Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News


No mention of court order at IGP meet, says Ambiga

Posted: 07 Jul 2011 01:39 AM PDT

(The Malaysian Insider) - Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan has questioned the Inspector General of Police's sincerity in meeting Bersih this afternoon after Kuala Lumpur police obtained court orders to bar leaders of the electoral reforms movement from entering the city this Saturday.

The Bersih chief told The Malaysian Insider that Tan Sri Ismail Omar made no mention of the court order that prevents a whopping 91 persons from the movement, Umno Youth and Perkasa from entering the capital, despite the meeting taking place at the same time the order was sought.

"Why were we not told when the whole time we were talking the IGP knew we were going to apply for Stadium Merdeka?

"We are very surprised that a court order for the same area was being sought at the very time that we were speaking to the IGP," the former Bar Council president said.

The court order also allows city police to shut down roads, effectively paralysing any attempts to rally on the day.

READ MORE HERE

 

MCA tells Bersih to shed link with Pakatan

Posted: 07 Jul 2011 01:35 AM PDT

(The Malaysian Insider) - A MCA leader today urged Bersih 2.0 to distance itself from Pakatan Rakyat (PR) to remain apolitical, even as the troubled electoral reforms group faces major hurdles which could dampen its rally turnout this Saturday.

MCA treasurer-general Datuk Seri Tan Chai Ho explained in a statement today that this was because PR, led by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, was attempting to hijack Bersih 2.0's rally to gain political mileage.

Anwar, he added, was aiming to steal Bersih 2.0 chairman Datuk Ambiga Sreenavasan's thunder this Saturday to divert attention from the latest sex allegation against him.

"PR should not have hijacked the Bersih rally. This is a cheap political ploy to fish for votes and to achieve political milestone by inciting people to hate the government. 

"If Bersih is intended to be apolitical, I encourage Datuk Ambiga to distance the Bersih organisers from PR," Tan wrote in a brief statement today.

He added that PR's "hijack" plan was mirrored yesterday when the coalition's leaders sounded a call to arms and pledged to mobilise at least 300,000 people to participate in the rally.

In a press conference after its leadership council meeting, PR leaders led by Anwar, DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang, PAS and PKR deputy presidents, Mohamad Sabu and Azmin Ali, declared the coalition's support for Bersih 2.0's plan to relocate its rally to a stadium instead of on the streets.

"This suggests that PR wants to link with Bersih and that Anwar wants to replace Bersih chief organiser Ambiga as the main leader at the assembly to shout out loud Pakatan's agenda and all focus would be on Anwar," said Tan.

READ MORE HERE

 

Malaysian Police Threaten Mass Arrests

Posted: 07 Jul 2011 01:32 AM PDT

Malaysian Saturday Rally Back On, Along with Confrontation

(Asia Sentinel) - With the Malaysian electoral reform organization Bersih 2.0 threatening to go ahead with a planned rally Saturday that is expected to draw as thousands of people, police say they will arrest 91 individuals from Bersih or two opposing organizations if they show up anywhere near Kuala Lumpur's Merdeka Stadium.

Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak earlier gave Bersih, which means "Clean" in the Malay language, permission to go ahead with the rally if it were held in a stadium. The rally originally was postponed earlier this week to a future date until a stadium could be found.

The Bersih steering committee said the rally would go on as scheduled on July 9 and would be held at Merdeka Stadium only to have the management of the stadium, which was erected for Malaysia's declaration of independence in 1957, say the facility is undergoing renovation although teen heartthrob Justin Bieber drew thousands of fans to a concert there April 21.

The Malaysian cabinet, however, ruled Wednesday that while the rally could be held in a stadium, it couldn't be held in any of the three major stadiums in Kuala Lumpur, according to the state-owned news service Bernama. Police have also warned university teachers, administrators and students to stay away from the rally.

"I view their statement (to have the rally in the Merdeka Stadium) as a provocation, unwilling to give and take," Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin told Bernama earlier. "This is just to provoke and cause feelings of hatred."

The rally has been shaping up as a major confrontation between the government and electoral reformers, with the police declaring Bersih an illegal organization and arresting as many as 200 people and releasing them in the last couple of weeks, many of them for merely wearing yellow tee-shirts, the color that Bersih has adopted as its own for the rally. Bersih is asking the sultan to accept a 10-point program to clean up what the organization describes as impediments to a free and fair vote.

The organization takes its Bersih 2.0 designation from an original rally four years ago that drew some 40,000 people and caused chaos on the streets of Kuala Lumpur as police declared the rally illegal and pursued demonstrators with water cannon and tear gas.

One Bersih leader told Asia Sentinel the rally could go ahead without the leaders because it is a bottom-up organization. UMNO leaders say that's nonsense, and that the rally is a tool of the opposition Pakatan Rakyat coalition, made up of the Democratic Action Party, Parti Keadilan Rakyat and the Islamist Parti Islam se-Malaysia.

Rally organizers accused Najib of telling the stadium management to find an excuse not to allow the rally to go ahead.

Bersih had been threatening to march through the streets to deliver a petition to the country's Yang di-Pertuan Agong, or ruling sultan, on Saturday. However, the king vetoed that idea earlier this week and the organizers bowed to a government demand to hold the rally in a stadium. According to Wikipedia, the Merdeka Stadium can hold 30,000 people.

Police say the event has the potential for major hostility between the opposing parties. An UMNO source told Asia Sentinel earlier that the rally has the potential to kick off a racial confrontation, although the Bersih leaders say the organization is multiracial and not

In a public statement, the police said they had placed a restriction order on the 91 individuals, which include the organizers of the Bersih rally, the Malay supremacy organization Perkasa and the United Malays National Organization youth wing's Patriot rallies. The two Malay organizations have been threatening a confrontation in the streets if the rally goes ahead. The order is designed to stop any of the 91 from being present at several different locations in Kuala Lumpur on July 9.

"This means that anyone (on the list) caught present at these areas will be arrested on sight," city deputy police chief Amar Singh told reporters. At the top of the list are the Bersih 2.0 steering committee members, including former Malaysian Bar President Ambiga Sreenevasan, political science lecturer Wong Chin Huat and women's rights activist Maria Chin Abdullah.

Also on the list are Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim, Nik Aziz Nik Mat, the PAS spiritual advisor, PAS newly-elected deputy-president Mohamad Sabu, DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang and social activist Hishamuddin Rais.

Also warned to stay away are 14 individuals from Perkasa, including its firebrand president Ibrahim Ali and other top leaders such as Ab Rahman Ab Bakar and Syed Hassan Syed Ali. Umno Youth leaders included in the list are Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin, secretary Megat Firdouz Megat Junid and information chief Reezal Merican Naina Merican.

Asked why the government is so adamant about stopping a rally that would be a one-time event, a Malay businessman told Asia Sentinel: "They are desperate. I can't understand it but the common view is that they are panicky about losing support if there is a major turnout at this rally. If they give it legal status by allowing the rally, people from all walks will turn up. You can see how much support there is for Bersih by looking at tweets which are trending to the top 10 in the world and on Facebook."

Lim Kit Siang tweeted that Prime Minister Najib is "at risk of becoming the 1st Kafkaesque PM in Malaysia who does not mean wht he says and does not say wht he means."

 

Clampdown will bring city traffic to a halt

Posted: 07 Jul 2011 01:05 AM PDT

Buses heading into many parts of Kuala Lumpur will be barred from entering the city during the Bersih rally.

(Free Malaysia Today) - Traffic on Kuala Lumpur's roads will grind to a halt in a 22-hour public transport clampdown tomorrow, the day of the Bersih 2.0 rally.

A statement by the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) said that express buses arriving in the city at three major bus statious would be diverted elsewhere.

City buses will also have their routes cut short on that day, with at least 14 major roads affected.

The order to do so was given by the police, the statement added.

The transit clampdown will start at 12.01am and end at 10pm tomorrow. Details on these changes are as follows:

Express buses:

Hentian Duta will receive Puduraya and Pekeliling-bound express buses (except KL-Seremban route).

TBS will receive Hentian Putra (PWTC) and KL-Seremban-bound express buses.

City buses will stop at these train stations:

  • Titiwangsa LRT: Jalan Semarak, Jalan Setapak/Genting Kelang, Jalan Ipoh, Jalan Kuching and Jalan Duta;
  • Dato Keramat LRT: Jalan Ampang;
  • Maluri LRT: Jalan Kampung Pandan, Jalan Cheras; and
  • KL Sentral Monorail: Federal Highway routes (using Jalan Bangsar, Jalan Travers, Jalan Tun Sambanthan) and Jalan Damansara.

It is expected that the route changes will severely increase the level of traffic congestion in the city tomorrow.

The following roads, some of the most heavily-travelled in KL, will be affected:

  • Hentian Duta: Mahameru Highway;
  • TBS: Middle Ring Road 2;
  • Titiwangsa LRT: Jalan Tun Razak;
  • Dato Keramat: Jalan Datuk Keramat and Jalan Jelatek;
  • Maluri: Jalan Cheras; and
  • KL Sentral Monorail: Jalan Tun Sambanthan.

A large number of commuters, who rely on buses to ferry them around the city, may also be left stranded at these locations.

Temporary adjustments

Public transport expert, The Association for the Improvement of Mass Transit (Transit), was not impressed by the route changes.

"SPAD could (have) taken the extra effort to work with every stage bus operator to determine the exact routes affected, and display the temporary adjustments on its website, rather than lumping the route detours according to the names of the roads that buses use," a post from its website read.

Transit was also puzzled over the heavy-handed police action in barring buses from going into the city. It said that public transport vehicles should be allowed to travel on one lane to ferry people out of the city on July 9.

READ MORE HERE

 

Perkasa submits permit application for stadium rally

Posted: 06 Jul 2011 07:12 PM PDT

(The Malaysian Insider) - Perkasa today submitted its permit application to the police to hold its anti-Bersih rally this Saturday, Datuk Ibrahim Ali said.

The Perkasa president said that the group submitted the application to hold its "Gerak Aman" rally at Stadium Titiwangsa at 3pm today at the Sentul district police station.

"The delay in sending the permit application was caused by the difficulty in obtaining a closed area, especially a stadium. Perkasa is still waiting for the approval from the management of Stadium Titiwangsa as well as the Kuala Lumpur municipal hall (DBKL)," Ibrahim said in a statement today.

The pint-sized politician said that time was of the essence and "begged" the police to approve the permit application.

"This is a peaceful gathering for people to protest against the illegal Bersih (rally) which is receiving foreign funds to ruin the good name of the country," added Ibrahim.

The Malay rights group had initially applied to three stadiums in the capital city for its own rally.

The police have however obtained court orders to prevent 91 persons associated with Bersih, Umno Youth and Perkasa from entering Kuala Lumpur this Saturday, and also to shut down city roads, to effectively paralyse any attempts to rally on the day. Ibrahim is among the 91 persons barred from entering the city.

Others include Bersih chief Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan, Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin and Bersih steering committee member Maria Chin Abdullah.

The persons named in the court orders will be arrested on sight.

The individuals named in the orders include 66 from Bersih, 14 from Perkasa and 11 from Umno Youth.

 

IGP: No 'Bersih' this July 9

Posted: 06 Jul 2011 07:09 PM PDT

(Malaysia Digest) - Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar said any application for permit applied under the name Bersih will be rejected by them.

"If they apply it under the name of Bersih, then we will reject the application as it is an unregistered organization," said the IGP.

However, Ismail met with Bersih chairman Datuk S. Ambiga earlier and had discussed about the terms and conditions in holding a gathering as they are still allowed to hold a gathering this 9 July but told that the gathering cannot be something that represents or promotes Bersih.

He said if any individual or group found to be holding a gathering that represents Bersih this 9 July, then the police will take the necessary actions towards them.

In a press conference at the Bukit Aman police headquarters today, Ismail had reminded the organizers for the gathering to follow the law that relates to gatherings, meetings and rallies.

"This is important in for the well-being of the people and the community that loves peace and harmony," he said.

Regarding the permit, Ismail told that the organizers must apply to the police first and obtain its approval from the county police chief before proceeding to any event.

The application will then be evaluated with consideration regarding its safety or anything that could disturb the peace before, during and after the gathering.

Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein asserted that the Bersih 2.0 movement is subject to legal action as it is still deemed illegal.

He said that the government's position has not changed although the Agong had granted an audience to Bersih 2.0's leaders yesterday.

According to him, the organization is still banned and that nobody can put themselves over the law just because they had met with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

 

Ambiga, Ibrahim Ali, Khairy among 91 locked-out from KL this Saturday

Posted: 06 Jul 2011 06:31 PM PDT

(The Malaysian Insider) - Police have obtained court orders to prevent 91 persons associated with Bersih, Umno Youth and Perkasa from entering Kuala Lumpur this Saturday, and also to shut down city roads, to effectively paralyse any attempts to rally on the day.

City police chief Datuk Amar Singh also said that the public are "strongly discouraged" from going into the city on Saturday.

The persons named in the court orders will be arrested on sight.

Among those restricted under court orders are Bersih chief Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan, Perkasa chief Datuk Ibrahim Ali, Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin and Bersih steering committee member Maria Chin Abdullah.

Amar said the individuals named in the court order were being personally served today.

The individuals named in the orders include 66 from Bersih, 14 from Perkasa and 11 from Umno Youth.

MORE TO COME

 

Bersih rally goes global

Posted: 06 Jul 2011 06:25 PM PDT

Malaysians in more than 30 cities around the world will gather in a show of solidarity for Bersih 2.0's call for free and fair elections.

(Free Malaysia Today) - Malaysians living abroad will stage gatherings in 30 cities around the world in solidarity with Bersih 2.0′s "Walk for Democracy" on Saturday.

In Australia, organisers are expecting some 1,000 Malaysians or double that figure to turn up to support the call for free and fair elections.

"Over there, it's not being viewed as an 'anti-government' protest but a solidarity movement. We're appalled by the intimidation and roadblocks happening back home.

"Nobody is angry here, the mood is peaceful. We're more concerned than anything else," said Melbourne-based David Teoh, who is a key organiser of the rallies which will be held in several Australian cities.

Teoh said that in Australia, the police have been accommodating and offered more space than they have originally asked for.

"In Melbourne itself, we're expecting some 500 people including even Australian parliamentarians," said the 26-year-old architect.

"There's a lot of excitement. Late last night, we were preparing buntings and banners. It's very heartening to see people express their love and loyalty to the country and doing something as meaningful as this.

"I don't think many of them have experienced this… this has actually helped unite the people. In Malaysia, the situation is absolutely ridiculous; we see it as the government going back on its undertaking to negotiate. We are quite upset.

"Until we can have clean and fair elections, we truly believe that Malaysia cannot step into its own greatness. There is a jarring lack of integrity in our national institutions as the very words that created our country have been totally ignored," said Teoh, who is also the pro-tem president of SABMoz (Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia di Australia).

Besides supporting Bersih's eight demands for free and fair elections, the global movements are also urging the Election Commission to allow people working overseas the right to vote via postal ballots.

"One of the key things for Malaysians living abroad is the right to vote by post. Right now, only civil servants and students are allowed to vote," said Temme Lee, a Bersih staff here assisting the efforts of Malaysians overseas.

Lee said Bersih is finalising a memorandum that solidarity movements can use to send to their Malaysian embassies.

Gatherings in the US

Meanwhile in the US, New York City organiser Lee Leng-Feng said that quite a number of the global movements are simply small groups of Malaysians who do not want to sit at home while their fellow Malaysians marched.

"I cannot stand watching my fellow countrymen walk while I do nothing here. I was 'forced' to organise one. All other Bersih organisers in the US have a similar story – we want to walk, but we could not find anyone to organise one, so we organised one ourselves," said the Klang-born post-doctoral fellow in a university there.

Lee said that so far only fewer than 30 have confirmed their attendence, but added: "Even if it's just me alone, I will walk on July 9."

"I have friends who told me 'you are not going to change anything by walking'. I even have friends telling me 'I am not going back to Malaysia, so this is none of my business'. You get discouraged. But there are more people around the globe telling me I'm not alone," he said.

Lee said that he felt ashamed when he read how people were physically attacked by the police during the 2007 Bersih rally.

"I do worry if I will get into trouble the next time I travel back to Malaysia. But I guess that is exactly what the government wants – they want us to be afraid and stay at home. But if I don't do anything, as I said before, I will not forgive myself. And what I am really afraid of is that 10 years from now, my children will ask me why I didn't do anything to save the country and I cannot answer them," he said.

READ MORE HERE

 

No temporary bus permits for Friday and Saturday

Posted: 06 Jul 2011 03:54 PM PDT

(The Star) - Temporary bus permits for travel to Kuala Lumpur will not be issued Friday and Saturday to avoid adding to an anticipated traffic congestion, said the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD).

Its chairman Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar said Thursday that this applied to school and factory bus operators who often applied for the permits during peak seasons to transport people to the city.

"It is not necessary since it isn't a festive season or a school holiday. We also did not receive a sudden surge in permit applications," he said when contacted.

Syed Hamid said this would not affect travellers as all other public transport services, including the light rail transit (LRT) and KTM commuter trains, would be operating as usual.

"People can continue travelling into Kuala Lumpur via express and tour buses as well," he said.

He said the decision had been made in a monthly meeting with all public transport and enforcement agencies including the Road Transport Department (JPJ), immigration and the police on Wednesday to discuss various issues and coordinate enforcement work.

"We looked at whether there was a need for temporary licenses during these two days and decided there was not," he said, adding that it was anticipated there would be traffic jams if the Bersih 2.0 rally was held Saturday.

He stressed this was a precautionary measure to ensure smooth traffic flow this weekend.

Syed Hamid expressed confidence that the bus operators would understand the decision as they were "reasonable people".

 

Dr M admits that it's easier said than done

Posted: 06 Jul 2011 03:31 PM PDT

Business Times - Advising the rakyat to do well in business is easier than actually being in it, so says former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

The owner of the gourmet bakery and pastry restaurant, The Loaf, said even after five outlets, he has yet to see his return on investment.

"I thought I knew the business world well when I was the PM, but only now I know I did not," he told a hall packed with participants of an SME seminar here yesterday.

However, he is confident that as soon as he receives his dividend from The Loaf outlets, only then will he consider franchising it as had been requested by some parties.

"I went into this business after retirement to see if I can do what I had urged others to do ... to test myself. I found it interesting and at the same time, challenging."

A few things Dr Mahathir had learned since the opening of his first outlet in Langkawi was in business, it is better to start small and the entrepreneur must have more capital than what was originally required.

"Your due diligence study might say you need RM1 million but before you know it, the figure goes up to RM3 million. I have put in more money in The Loaf and have got nothing."He added that luckily for him, he did not go to banks to borrow because he always had a fear of borrowing.

"If I borrow money from others, I will lose sleep. Since I value my sleep, I might as well don't borrow," he said, adding that his years in government and the perks that came with it had allowed him to save most of his salary.

"I was given a house, a car, my utility bills were paid by the government. So I saved my income and with that savings, I entered into this business," he said. 

Dr Mahathir said his restaurants sell high-quality bread and pastries and for that reason alone, the products are costlier.

"I get people coming to me complaining of the price but I still see them coming to the place. So it must be all right."

He added that in business such as his, where he promised to deliver quality, is it vital that he keeps the promise. 

"Being the boss, I do my spot checks sometimes, having breakfast at any of the outlets, and that keeps my staff on their toes, making sure that the shop and kitchen are clean and the quality of the products good."

He said he knows all prices of the products and which ones are best-sellers and which are not. 

During a question and answer session, a participant spoke about branding, telling Dr Mahathir that since displaying the former premier's picture taken during an award ceremony in all her shops, her business has been doing so well since then.

"I am kind of a brand for this country, I suppose. But yes, branding is important to a company and so is advertising. Building up a brand takes time and once you do so, you must keep to what your branding promises," responded Dr Mahathir.

He cited the building of the Petronas Twin Towers - a branding feat that made Malaysia a recognisable name worldwide.

The 3rd Malaysia SME Congress held yesterday was launched by SME Corp chairman Datuk Dr Mohamed Al Amin Abdul Majid.

 

Ban on Bersih items stays

Posted: 06 Jul 2011 02:09 PM PDT

http://www.cobboldjohn.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Bersih-BAJU27.jpg

By Lee Shi-Lan, NST

KUALA LUMPUR: The ban on Bersih T-shirt and paraphenalia still stands.

Despite the government agreeing to the coalition to hold the rally in a stadium, supporters are banned from wearing the T-shirts.

"We will take action against anyone wearing or caught in possession of materials related to Bersih 2.0, including T-shirts and flyers.

"It is an offence to do so," said Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Khalid Abu Bakar.

"The coalition is still outlawed by the Registrar of Societies."

Khalid also said they were still monitoring text messages urging the public to support rallies and gatherings on the streets.
He said police were also not discounting the possibility of violence erupting this Saturday following the recent discovery of weapons, including parang and molotov cocktails, in the city.

"That is why roadblocks have been mounted nationwide.

"We know they are causing a lot of inconvenience to motorists, but it has to be done in the interest of public safety and order," Khalid said, urging Malaysians to be patient.

"State and district police chiefs have been advised to reevaluate the location of roadblocks, but we also have to think about public safety."

Khalid also dismissed rumours that police would call in the army on Saturday, saying they were capable of controlling the situation and ensuring nothing got out of hand.


Rais: Rally can’t be held in three KL stadiums

Posted: 06 Jul 2011 12:10 PM PDT

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(The Star) - PETALING JAYA: As Bersih 2.0 is an illegal entity, any application by the rally organiser to use the Merdeka, National and Bukit Jalil stadiums will not be considered, said Information, Communications, Culture and Arts Minister Datuk Seri Rais Yatim.

He added that the organiser should instead plan to hold the rally in stadiums in states controlled by Pakatan Rakyat.

Rais said the authorities should also give due consideration to those who opposed the Bersih 2.0 rally, based on the thousands of police reports lodged against it.

In a related development, the management of Stadium Merdeka has rejected Bersih 2.0's application to use its premises on July 9.

Bersih 2.0 steering committee said in a statement that the officer in charge of booking at the stadium had denied them the use of the facility because it was being used for an internal sports event.

Bersih was also told that the stadium was undergoing renovation.

"Bersih is of the view that a proper venue that reflects the scale and centrality of this issue to Malaysians throughout the nation must be selected.

"We have decided that Stadium Merdeka is the only location that appropriately meets the criteria, and the Prime Minister must, as a matter of honour, make good on his offer to let us use an appropriate stadium," said the statement issued yesterday.

Meanwhile, the National Stadium Board (NSB) expressed concern that Bersih 2.0 would pick any of its stadiums for the rally.

"We hope the organisers will not pick our stadiums because we are worried that the place will be vandalised," its representative told Bernama yesterday.

NSB manages the National Sports Complex in Bukit Jalil, the Bukit Kiara Sports Complex, the Jalan Duta Sports Complex and the Matsushita Sports Complex in Shah Alam.

In Kuala Lumpur, City Hall and several outlets of the Mydin emporium group will close on Saturday as a precautionary measure in the event the Bersih 2.0 street rally goes ahead as planned.

City Hall corporate communications director Anwar Mohd Zain said City Hall office buildings in Jalan Raja Laut would be closed and all employees have been told not to come to work on Saturday.

Bersih Rally: An Imperative Gambit to Capture Seven More States

Posted: 06 Jul 2011 11:38 AM PDT

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By Haris Dol, Malaysian Digest  

Tension has been on the up and up in the last week three weeks leading to the Bersih 2.0 rally that's planned for July 9.

Police have already embarked on a nationwide witch hunt on the 'evil' Bersih promoters with six PSM members (including Sungai Siput MP Dr D Jeyakumar) rearrested under the Emergency Ordinance while six DAP members (including Bakri MP Er Teck Hwa) have been arrested under the Societies Act, Printing Presses and Publications Act and Sedition Act.

Police had also issued a warning that more arrests will be underway and they already said they will use all the resources at their disposal to stop the march. But regardless of such severe actions and warnings from the authorities, by the look of it the Bersih organizer S Ambiga and the supporters of the rally (mainly the opposition) are going ahead with their plan for this Saturday.

Why is the Opposition in particular going ahead with the rally despite the dangers they've put themselves and the public in for promoting and carrying out the planned outing? Is there a political agenda behind Bersih 2.0 as the government and pro-government groups claimed?
 
Kit Siang Can't Wait


DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang have been one of the most vocal among the adamant voices in support of the second Bersih rally. He's been notorious for being outspoken and no doubt it's a healthy thing especially when you have a good argument and the criticisms are constructive. But once in a while one must also know when to shut up.

I usually would agree with Kit Siang on many issues and I find his critical analysis on issues benefits everyone who has interest in knowing what the government is doing and suggestions on what it should be doing instead. Everything was going fine until he took a Mickey out of Najib Razak's proclamation in his (Najib's) speech during World Youth Day where the prime minister told the crowd: "if in Egypt one million youths gathered in Tahrir Square to change that country's leadership... in Malaysia, one million youths gathered to defend Putrajaya" (apparently, the turnout for World Youth Day was only 8,000). In response to this, Kit Siang said: "Are Najib and Umno/BN leaders prepared when Tahrir Square comes to Malaysia?" This was followed by: "I have confidence that there will be one million youths in Malaysia to defend Putrajaya ala Tahrir Square – not to defend Najib, Umno and Barisan Nasional but freedom, democracy and political change in Malaysia by democratic and constitutional means."

The above statement by Kit Siang was released on June 6 – almost two weeks shy of the Bersih 2.0 launch on June 19. He never mentioned Bersih in that particular statement but, whether he intended it or not, people would already relate his 'Tahrir Square' remark to the upcoming 'Bersih 2.0' rally. That's not the kind of publicity Bersih needs as the situation in Egypt is obviously not the same as it is in this country.

Pakatan Aims to Capture Seven More States

Less than two weeks after he made the 'Tahrir Square' statement, Kit Siang gave a speech at the Teluk Intan DAP Anniversary Dinner at a school hall in Teluk Intan. In his speech, he pointed out that Pakatan Rakyat has three targets for the next general elections, viz:

• "To retain the four Pakatan Rakyat states of Penang, Kedah, Selangor  and Kelantan;"

• "To win back Perak state government which was illegally, unconstitutionally and undemocratically robbed from the people and the Pakatan Rakyat; and"

• "To form the state government in the six states of Negeri Sembilan, Johor, Melaka, Pahang, Terengganu and Perlis."

Those are very ambitious goals if you ask me but the way things have been going I say it's not that impossible.

"Umno and BN will be fighting a 'life-and-death' battle in the 13th General Election, not just about whether they can regain two-thirds  parliamentary majority lost in 2008, but whether they could be returned to power or would have to occupy the Opposition benches for the first time in their experience," said Kit Siang in his speech.

"However, Najib and his election strategists should realize that if the BN government decides to resort to high-handed, repressive and undemocratic measures to use the police to crack down on the peaceful Bersih 2.0 rally for free, fair and clean general elections, they may be creating the very conditions which would ensure a 5 percent (vote) swing against Umno and BN in the next general election – setting the stage for a change of federal power in Putrajaya for the first time in the nation's history," he added.

 

READ MORE HERE.

Cops prepare for possible demos by splinter groups although street rally is called off

Posted: 06 Jul 2011 11:24 AM PDT

(The Star) - KUALA LUMPUR: Police are gearing up to face possible street demonstrations by splinter groups on Saturday although Bersih 2.0 chairman Datuk S. Ambiga has called off the street rally.

Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Khalid Abu Bakar said police were not taking any chances although Bersih had agreed to hold its rally inside a stadium.

"But we will ensure our preventive actions including roadblocks and redirecting traffic will not cause much inconvenience to motorists.

"I have instructed all the state police chiefs and district police chiefs to review their roadblock checks. They will only be carried out if totally necessary.

  ure public order and the safety of every member of the public," he said yesterday.

Khalid hoped the public would understand why the police needed to remain vigilant in the light of the discovery of Molotov cocktails and machetes in several locations in Gombak and the city centre two days ago.

Khalid also promised to expedite any permit application for the Bersih rally and warned that failure by the organisers to do so might result in stern police action against both the organisers and participants.

He also reminded those who planned to take part in the rally not to wear or have on them any paraphernalia related to Bersih.

He said to date, 3,256 police reports had been lodged nationwide against Bersih, 235 people have been arrested over various offences related to the rally and 29 charged in court.

Meanwhile, police recovered a bag containing four home-made shotguns in Petaling Jaya.

Police said the bag was found by a gym manager outside a shophouse in Taman Seri Manja yesterday.

Petaling Jaya OCPD Asst Comm Arjunaidi Mohamed said the shotguns were found in the bag, which was wrapped in a yellow canvas material.

Najib endorses silat groups despite their threat to Bersih

Posted: 06 Jul 2011 11:06 AM PDT

http://www.nst.com.my/articles/4silata-2/single

By Boo Su-Lyn, The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, July 7 — Datuk Seri Najib Razak has described silat and other self-defence exponents as the third line of defence in the country, including a group that has threatened to wage war against electoral reforms movement Bersih 2.0.

The Pertubuhan Seni Silat Lincah Malaysia (PSSLM) had challenged Bersih for its refusal to abandon a planned rally on July 9 to call for free and fair elections.

"I believe if there are evil enemies who want to attack the country from without and within, 'anak-anak lincah' will rise to fight them," said Najib in a fiery speech last night.

"But tonight, we do not gather to fight," added the prime minister. "We do not gather to wield the keris (dagger). We gather for the loyalty and unity of our country."

Najib pointed out that there were non-Malays at the event last night, although silat was a Malay martial art.

"We do not fight the non-Malays. We embrace them as fellow citizens," said Najib.

PSSLM Mahaguru (grandmaster) Tan Sri Omardin Mauju said last month that silat exponents were Malaysia's third line of defence after the police and the army.

In his threat to Bersih, Omardin said: "We maintain our stand to go to 'war' if they still want to proceed with this illegal rally. 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."

Police have locked down the capital city and asked residents to bear with the inconveniences as they are looking for weapons that have allegedly been stashed away by unknown people.

 

READ MORE HERE.

 


Non-Malays will back silat exponents to fight traitors, says grandmaster

Posted: 06 Jul 2011 10:58 AM PDT

By Boo Su-Lyn, The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, July 7 — A silat grandmaster expects non-Malays to join ranks with practitioners of the Malay martial art to battle "traitors" of the country.

Pertubuhan Seni Silat Lincah Malaysia (PSSLM) Mahaguru (grandmaster) Tan Sri Omardin Mauju said yesterday that silat exponents would not allow street demonstrations that disturbed public order.

"We will rise and oppose these traitors," Omardin said at PSSLM's 50th anniversary last night. "Not only the Malays, but the children of 1 Malaysia and other races will also be with us.

"We're ready to die," he added, seated in a wheelchair as he delivered his speech.

Omardin recently threatened to "wage war" against Bersih activists, should their rally calling for electoral reforms proceeded this Saturday.

Bersih 2.0 on Tuesday decided to gather at a stadium instead of demonstrating on the streets of Kuala Lumpur, after its leaders met the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Omardin pointed out yesterday that there were non-Malays in his association.

A few Chinese and Indians could be seen at the gathering dressed in black, instead of the traditional Malay costume worn by most of the more than 100 PSSLM members present.

"This is an extraordinary success that we have never witnessed, in line with the 1 Malaysia concept," said Omardin, referring to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's brainchild.

Omardin recently referred to silat exponents as the third line of defence of the country. Najib repeated this yesterday, stressing that other practitioners of self-defence were also part of the line-up.

Despite Bersih's audience with the king, and Najib's earlier assurance that the Bersih rally could be held in a stadium, the police have told the polls watchdog to apply for a permit for the event.

READ MORE HERE

 

Bersih to rally in Stadium Merdeka despite Cabinet refusal

Posted: 06 Jul 2011 09:04 AM PDT

(The Malaysian Insider) - KUALA LUMPUR, July 7 — Bersih has vowed to gather in Stadium Merdeka for its July 9 rally despite the Cabinet's refusal to allow them to use any stadium in the capital city, ostensibly because the electoral reform coalition has been outlawed.

Bersih said in a statement last night that it "will not for one moment be swayed from our decision to gather there" to call for free and fair elections.

Information, Communications and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Rais Yatim earlier said Putrajaya would not accept any application from Bersih to hold rallies in Kuala Lumpur while the police said they were still waiting for the movement to apply for a permit.

"Bersih 2.0 is disappointed in the manner in which the Prime Minister and his cabinet has reneged on their offer to provide a stadium for us to hold our peaceful gathering," said the group in a statement signed by all 14 members of its steering committee.

Bersih representatives led by chairman Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan had an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, on Tuesday where they agreed to the constitutional monarch's advice to hold their rally in a stadium rather than in the streets.

Datuk Seri Najib Razak also had an audience with the King and later said he would meet with Bersih on the stadium offer but the prime minister said yesterday his offer for a stadium was on behalf of his government and the final decision lay with the police.

But a Cabinet meeting yesterday rejected the movement's bid to hold the rally in the historic Stadium Merdeka, where Malaya declared independence in 1957.

"If the Prime Minister is a man of his word, he will make the appropriate arrangements for the event to proceed peacefully at Stadium Merdeka. 

"Whether or not the government abides by their principles, we the Malaysian people will always uphold ours. Our determination to exercise our constitutional right to gather peacefully for a just and reasonable cause is unwavering," Bersih said in the statement.

The movement made of 62 registered societies also pointed out that  recent statements by Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar indicated that the police would take action against those  who "do anything on July 9th beyond staying at home."

READ MORE HERE

 

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