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• 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
• The summer of our discontent
• Bersih 2.0 - Full Picture
• Only King can declare Emergency, says constitutional lawyer
• Live Updates
• See you on 9 July, around 2:00 pm, Stadium Merdeka
• July 9, 2011: Charting or challenging the destiny of a nation?
• 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'
• Kuala Lumpur under siege!
• PAS lawyers ready to defend rally participants
• Government cannot stop us, says Bersih
• The World Is Watching Us! (TO BE UPDATED)
• BERSIH mahu berhimpun di luar Stadium Merdeka
• Malaysia's Moment Of truth
• Mind control: the game of religion and politics
• IGP insists Bersih arrests, roadblocks necessary for public safety
• Hisham says no plans for military action, won’t shut Internet
• Law experts say King acted constitutionally over Bersih
• Malaysia rally: Kuala Lumpur 'to be locked down'
• People, the choice is yours
• Ops Bersih cops get last briefing
• Malaysia reform rally to go ahead: activists
• Malaysia to lockdown largest city to block protest
• Now Umno Youth also wants Stadium Merdeka
• WIKILEAKS: US viewed Pak Lah’s reform a failure
• Perkasa rally in limbo, chief to stay home
• Bersih is govt’s secret fear
• Mystery surrounds police permit for Bersih
• MyKAD
• Can M’sia reform and discriminate?
• Dirty treatment for a clean cause
• How Low Can You Go?
• Support Bersih In Its Moment Of Need
• Najib Flees When Consumed By The Yellow Peril
• Global BERSIH 2.0 - updated list of BERSIH hotspots around the world
• A delicate balance
• Adakah mereka ini pengundi dari langit?
• King’s ‘independence’ surprises Umno leaders, say sources
• Koreans to show solidarity for Malaysian campaign
• Malaysian Opposition Digs In
• Running Scared In Malaysia
• No mention of court order at IGP meet, says Ambiga
• MCA tells Bersih to shed link with Pakatan
• Malaysian Police Threaten Mass Arrests
• Clampdown will bring city traffic to a halt

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."   READ MORE HERE.

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.   READ MORE HERE.

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.  Thus far, Malaysiakini has been informed of police presence in three hotels. 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.  He said that the event was a training session for polling agents. He said that the police left before midnight but came back at about 1am.  "They are patrolling the corridors," he said. 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 Meanwhile, at the Swiss Inn along Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, lawyer HR Dipendra reports that he saw the police enter two rooms. "They checked the adjacent rooms but not mine," said Dipendra, adding that two police personnel were in uniform, another two were in mufti.  It was uncertain what they were looking for or if anything was confiscated.  Another occupant of Swiss Inn, on condition of anonymity, said that he spotted the police at the reception screening the guest list.  "There was a police personnel taking our photos as we walked in. On the way to our rooms, we saw one of them knocking on room doors. But no one has knocked on ours yet," he said. 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.  "So I immediately ordered my men to leave the hotel. We are still outside," he said when contacted. He does not know whether the police had entered their room. Over at Lotus Hotel in Medan Tuanku, near Tune Hotel, the several uniformed policemen were seen entering the premisses with what appeared to be a list in hand.  Former PKR supreme council member Badrul Hisham Shaharin confirmed to Malaysiakini that the police had tried to arrest him at the Brisdale Hotel, for breach of the restriction order.  However, he said he managed to flee the scene unscathed.  On Thursday, the police obtained a court order, restricting 91 individuals from entering Kuala Lumpur tomorrow. It was supposed to be enforced from 8am onwards. Eerie calm in KL Meanwhile, an eerie calm shrouds downtown Kuala Lumpur as the usual Friday merrymakers stay away from the city.  Eye-witnesses said that local are avoiding the city's numerous nightspots and the majority of patrons are foreigners.  It is a different story altogether in the city's outskirts. Roadblocks are being erected in major arteries throughout the city and some cars are being randomly checked.  A Malaysiakini reader submitted video footage taken yesterday evening depicting a major crawl caused by the roadblock along the Sungai Besi highway toward the city.  The roadblock was mounted after the Plus Highway toll both. But such measures extend far from Kuala Lumpur, as the authorities step up efforts to stop people from participating in the Bersih 2.0 rally tomorrow.  According to citizen journalist Dave Kameron, there are roadblocks near the Sungai Petani toll booth near Alor Setar.  "A Canadian academic Dr Adam Tyson who entered Malaysia through Bukit Kayu Hitam told me that he and his colleagues were stopped at the border, ostensibly to be checked for weapons.  "Leslie Daniel, a local councillor, told me that his bus was boarded by the police and some bags were inspected," said Kameron. 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. With the awakening, however, has come too the fear on the part of the BN of its future come the 13th general election. 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.

The summer of our discontent Posted: 08 Jul 2011 11:45 AM PDT By Adrian Chew These days in July have been the hardest. What so many innocent Malaysians have been forced to endure is painful and heartbreaking to watch.  Police trucks are now massing on the city streets. Brigades of heavy boots have descended to meet our compatriots. We demanded free and fair elections. And this was their chosen response. As the helmets and truncheons stare down at us, take heart in knowing that their madness is now reaching a crescendo. Stand firm. Don't break ranks. Pause to remember the many decades that we, as a nation, have been subjected to the hysteria of political pogroms, mass arrests, threats and imprisonment.  While there will be more of these in the coming days and weeks, we also know now that they can inflict no further injury on a population that has finally been roused from political slumber and united in a single protest. What started as a movement demanding free and elections has now become something much, much bigger owing to the ways by which government has chosen to react.  The madness of police raids on homes and offices looking for yellow T-shirts and arresting those wearing them has turned the current impasse, almost overnight, into a stand-off between the Silent Majority against their stubborn Oppressor. In the face of harsh crackdowns across the country against many innocent supporters of electoral reforms, how can the silent majority still remain silent with their frustrations?  Many who just days ago wouldn't have wanted anything to do with this gathering are now determined to participate despite all the risks. Now we see this is as a march against everything that is wrong with this government. We march against its policies of divisiveness; against its double-standards and tolerance of racist and religious extremists. We march because we are tired of hearing that Jews, Communists, Christians, liberal Malays, Chinese and Indians are somehow all behind plots to destabilise our communities and economy. We're fed-up with having to sacrifice everything to live within our means in the face of rising fuel and food prices; homes and cars that are beyond our reach unless we commit ourselves to more debt.  We sacrifice all these only to see a government that still spends without any restraint and sense of priority. We march because we want real solutions to real problems. We want an end to rampant corruption. We want elections that are clean and fair. We want to see courts dispense real justice. We want a professional police force that we can be proud of. We march because we're just fed-up with being fed-up. But what will it take for this government to finally listen?  It's a question it must think about — and answer fast — because in the days and weeks ahead, it may not matter anymore if this government listens or not. Already, we've stopped relying on it to defend our rights and freedoms. Malaysians are learning very quickly now that if there are things they want defended, they have to do it themselves. So when the truncheons start drumming against the shields, remember that the state's last line of defence isn't the police. No, not them. It's you — the ordinary citizen. You must hold the line because we have for too long let them take everything else away from us. A whole nation is gathered behind and in support of these brave marchers. It's a march in defence of a new Malaysia that's emerging.  After these days in July, nothing will ever be the same again.

Bersih 2.0 - Full Picture Posted: 08 Jul 2011 11:24 AM PDT Pictures uploaded continually at: http://malaysiaterjah.blogspot.com/ More pictures at: https://picasaweb.google.com/104201905154669598873/Bersih2Rally090711?authkey=Gv1sRgCN2Bo8PKqdzNIQ#slideshow/5627167371241983986 More pictures at: http://malaysiaterjah.blogspot.com/

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.   READ MORE HERE.

Live Updates Posted: 08 Jul 2011 10:17 AM PDT (Malaysakini) - 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. Bersih has vowed to gather at the Stadium Merdeka at 2pm to call of wide-ranging reforms in the electoral system which it claims to be unfree and unfair.  Despite roadblocks at key junctions and roads in Kuala Lumpur, traffic is smooth due to the low amount of vehicles, but traffic is gridlocked in the outskirts as the police are weeding out possible protestors. 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.  8am: Jalan Bukit Bintang - The streets of the tourist trap areas in Bukit Bintang are still empty, save for a few cars and jaywalker. Unlike the other known assembly points for protesters, there are minimal police presence. Umno Youth is expected to rally here at 1.30pm. 8.10am: Tune Hotel - The Jalan Sultan Ismail and Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman interchange is being manned by about 100 police personnel who are inspecting all vehicles entering the area. Tourist appear to be having trouble finding taxis. [See video]  8.25am: Sogo - The Sogo shopping complex on Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman now looks like a police base. More than 10 police trucks and 100 police personnel are spotted. There is another roadblock here, and every vehicle is being inspected. [See video]  8.30am: Kampung Baru - Nine Bersih 2.0 supporters are nabbed and packed into one of the two police trucks parked near the Kampung Baru mosque. The road to the mosque has been cordoned off. 8.40am: Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman - Bar Council's monitoring team hits the streets donning black suits and a "Observer" tags on their jackets.  "We will monitor the rally and take photographs if necessary. There are about 100 observers from Bar Council. Some of them are also providing legal aid," said HR Dipendra, who leads a team of 15 observers. 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.  Along Jalan Tun Perak, near the Masjid Jamek station, more than a dozen FRU trucks and a water cannon truck were spotted. The area is a favourite haunt of anti-government protestors in the past.  An estimated 300 FRU and other police personnel are stationed within the vicinity. "Nobody can enter this area," said a uniformed policeman when the reporter tried to enter the area surrounding Dataran Merdeka. [See video] 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.  9.35am: Masjid Jamek - Seven people have been detained. It is unsure why. Reporters are now allowed to get near the truck where they are held.  "You cannot be here. Please speak to my officer if you want to enter this area," said a police personnel. 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. The Umno Youth anti-Bersih rally is expected to start from Bukit Bintang Plaza at noon, before marching to Stadium Merdeka about 2km away. Some clashes are expected to take place with Bersih 2.0 supporters who are also marching to the stadium. However not a single Umno protester is in sight at the moment. About 50 members of the press have also converged in front of the iconic McDonald's at the Jalan Sultan Ismail - Jalan Bukit Bintang junction. While there are no roadblocks nearby, a handful of plainclothes policemen are seen loitering about holding their walkie talkies tight. 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. "I am old, but I am walking (with Bersih) because they are taking away my freedom, I can't even wear a yellow shirt now," she said when met. "When I was young I didn't do anything. I was in the education service and I had to stomach (misgovernance) like sheep because it was my bread and butter," she said. The feisty woman, who had her details taken down by police this morning for wearing a bright yellow shirt, was part of the Bersih rally in 2007. She is walking alone today, "because it's easier to work alone". Asked of her children's reaction to her decision, Anne, who chided a reporter for asking her age, said her children told her to "have a nice walk". Petaling Street is under a kilometre from the Bersih's final destination Stadium Merdeka. Police have cordoned off part of the road as well as adjoining Jalan Tan Cheng Lock.  9.55am: Masjid Jamek - More passengers are streaming out of the LRT station. The police are not checking their personal effects but are keeping close watch. 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. "They asked me to open my bag and asked me where I came from," says a middle-aged Malay man who was stopped by the police for a check. However the cops did not find anything suspicious in his bag and let him go. 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. Masjid Kg Baru - The surroundings of Jln Abdullah, Jln Raja Alang and the masjid are calm, with light traffic. No Bersih supporters or leaders are in sight. The police seem to have the area under control. 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. Earlier, a man in white shirt was arrested after police stopped and checked his bag. Some fund-raising documents were found in his bag but they were not related to Bersih 2.0. The man conceded that he was raising money at a PAS ceramah. Soon after, the police nab another four young women clad in tudung as well as three men. All of them are not wearing yellow. 10:35am: Stadium Merdeka - Police have set up barb wire barricades at the two ends of Jalan Stadium, keeping both pedestrians and vehicles out.  However, some 20 press personnel are camped out in front of the stadium. 10.43am: Sogo - Another three men, carrying backpacks, are picked up from around the area. One, a heavily built man with a long goatee, appears to be wearing a Bernama press tag. Approached later, the Bernama reporter said he was let off after the police was satisfied with his explanation. He said he was questioned because he was holding a walkie-talkie.  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. Some Pakatan Rakyat supporters are being asked as to their presence there. 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. "Put in my photo, splash it a bit (Bubuh gambar saya, biar besar sikit)," he grins before being told told to go up the truck. 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.  From 10.50am until now, the total number of those arrested in this area is close to 40. They are carted away in a police truck as well as a police van. Anticipating more arrests, the police call in another truck to serve as their temporary remand room. The heavy-guarded Masjid Jamek LRT station is still operating and commuters are still streaming into the area. The number of journalists, both local and foreign, have increased to 50. 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).  PKR deputy president Azmin is one of the 91 individuals banned by a court order from the protest area.     To be updated

See you on 9 July, around 2:00 pm, Stadium Merdeka Posted: 08 Jul 2011 10:12 AM PDT Malaysia is a police state where the rule of law is meaningless; where the law and legal processes instead of being tools of justice and fairness become tools of cruelty and oppression; and where the police work in cahoots with the AG's Chambers and the judiciary with impunity.  By Lawyers for Liberty Despite offering a major compromise to hold the Bersih "Free and Fair Elections" rally at Stadium Merdeka, the Prime Minister, Home Minister and the police have snubbed Bersih's offer in good faith and instead maintained that Bersih is still "illegal" and continued with their campaign of terror which essentially confirmed Malaysia's police state status. In the weeks leading up to 9 July, the authorities have acted in the most malicious, ridiculous and extreme manner: banning Bersih; banning all related symbols including the word "Bersih" and the colour yellow; arresting hundreds including Members of Parliament, opposition and civil society activists on the remotest connection to Bersih including "secretly" wearing Bersih T-shirts and wearing yellow. Many more have been unnecessarily remanded and charged for criminal offences, and most oppressive of all is the detention without trial of 6 PSM leaders including MP Dr. Jeyakumar under the Emergency Ordinance on blatantly false and absurd charges. Let there be no doubt: Malaysia is a police state where the rule of law is meaningless; where the law and legal processes instead of being tools of justice and fairness become tools of cruelty and oppression; and where the police work in cahoots with the AG's Chambers and the judiciary with impunity. Peaceful protest is a vital part of a democratic society and has a very long and respected tradition in Malaysia. Just look back at the historic protests against the Malayan Union and more importantly the All Malaya HARTAL in 1947. Many of the rights and freedoms we enjoy today were gained because the Rakyat were prepared to go out on the streets and protest. The right to peaceful protest is enshrined in the Malaysian Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and numerous other international human rights instruments. And no IGP or Home Minister can decree that our right to peaceful assembly is suspended no matter what they claim the oppressive laws state. Despite the campaign of terror and other dirty tactics, the Rakyat will gather peacefully on 9 July. Exercise caution but do not be overly cautious. We shall endure the traffic jam, police roadblock, inane questioning, harassment, verbal abuse, chemical-laced water cannon, tear gas, beating, arrest and detention. And in the process don't forget Bersih's 8 Demands for Free and Fair Elections. See you on 9 July, around 2:00 pm, Stadium Merdeka.

July 9, 2011: Charting or challenging the destiny of a nation? Posted: 08 Jul 2011 10:04 AM PDT For the citizens it is already beginning to be a day that is being permanently chiseled into history.  By J. D. Lovrenciear   The eve of July 9 is the most pregnant moment of apprehension as the government of Malaysia takes a hard-line stand against its own citizens. How the day will end is fodder for analysts and observers the world over. For the citizens it is already beginning to be a day that is being permanently chiseled into history. If the law enforcers take the law into their own hands and bulldoze through the determined citizens' peaceful assembly that is merely demanding for a fair, clean and free electoral system, the end result will cut the deepest wound into the souls of all Malaysians. If those against the Bersih 2.0 momentum charge in and create mayhem, Malaysians would have been guilty of maiming their own citizens, inflicting a wound that will leave a permanent scar in the political landscape of Malaysia. If Malaysians stayed away from forming the assembly owing to the water-tight dragnet barricades by the authorities - not to mention the heightened intimidation including losing one's rice bowl, nobody can fathom when the backlash will erupt. And when it does, the country will sink without mercy. We have seen this in Philippines, Indonesia and in many other countries elsewhere. If those who still brave the situation – especially the leadership team and leaders of political parties and NGOs and civil groups, and assemble and eventually all get arrested, Malaysia would have successfully migrated to the class of oppressive regimes that still dot the planet. And with that ASEAN will be dragged into a quagamire situation - given Myanmar's unhealing infestation.  Malaysia is in crisis. This crisis could have easily been averted if only the BN government had the honor, dignity and sincerity to uphold first-world democracy and civil liberties instead of locking the entire episode into an impasse. But the powers that be have taken the route that most control madness regimes have attempted. They opted for one of hostile and brute force with the hope of trumpeting their success in diffusing a potential crisis. And in doing so, they have virtually obliterated the wisdom and advise of sober, sane organizations from at home and abroad. If only Malaysia had learnt from their Thai neighbor's "Red Shirt" rally, the Bersih 2.0 crisis which is of a far lesser magnitude, could have been easily harnessed to serve in the best interest of all parties or quarters. But we all know that the BN political party with UMNO as its pack leader has unfortunately suspected that the Bersih 2.0 is a direct assault on its own political survival and future. And so it is set to thwart this rally at all costs. Any means to an end is the war strategy. What remains to be seen is what is the eventual price that will be paid in this race by the citizens asking for their country's fair share of justice and fairness and what price the ruling government will be compounded with eventually for its hard and brutal stand against its own citizens. What is also conclusive even before the deadline of July 9 arrives is the give-away fact that Malaysia's sense and direction of democracy and civil liberty is being put to the final test. It is certainly not the work of a foreign enemy as some would have us believe. On the contrary, the tidal wave of citizens' awakening has reached the shores of Malaysia finally. What happened in the Philippines, Indonesia and more recently in Thailand is now in Malaysia. Will the BN led government survive this test of the times? It certainly has started on the wrong foot up. But if the proverbial 'once bitten twice shy' can be believed, a post crisis mending with sincerity might (with remote possibilities) save this dinosaur political machinery.  And that includes playing politics through general elections on an even turf. In this game of high stakes then, the Constitutional Monarch and its Conference of Rulers would be better off being on the side of the citizens who are part of that global tide that is in definitive terms charting a new world order out of true democracy and civil liberties. Thus Malaysia is at its doorstep of history in the making. Its past mantras of political miracles will fail as the contours of the world's political frameworks are changing very fast.

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.   READ MORE HERE.

'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. "Why must the burden be put on the police, when Najib should issue a clear directive to allow the rally proceed in the stadium. "Who leads the cabinet? The police?" asked PAS information chief Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man (pic), echoing an earlier statement by DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang slamming Najib for being "insincere" and "irresponsible" by passing the buck to the police. Lim had also questioned Najib's decision to leave the country on the day of the rally. "He should not do so but should be in the country to ensure that the Bersih 2.0 stadium rally on July 9 as agreed upon as a result of the wise and just intervention of the Yang di Pertuan Agong and with his concurrence is held in a smooth, peaceful and orderly manner," he added. 'Lives affected even before rally' Tuan Ibrahim meanwhile said it was a telling sign of the weakness in the government's argument that street rallies would disrupt businesses and cause traffic chaos, pointing out that the police had already caused such a situation even before the rally. "So with all the road closures and the restrictions into Kuala Lumpur, will they not affect traders?" he asked. Giving an analogy, Tuan Ibrahim said the government's reaction in the run-up to the rally was like a person who has been informed by the doctor that he only has few months to live. "The people are laughing at UMNO-Barisan Nasional's reaction. Their panicky response is as if they (UMNO-BN) can be destroyed by a clean and fair election," he said.

Kuala Lumpur under siege! Posted: 07 Jul 2011 10:54 PM PDT By Aliran Executive Council Kuala Lumpur is under siege. It is under siege by the police. We are not facing any external threat neither are we under any attack. But we are under siege by our own police. What is happening in KL doesn't make sense. What is happening in KL is troubling.  A situation of emergency is being created wantonly.  A large area is coming under strict police control. We are witnessing the greatest mobilization of the police force in our entire history.  It is a complete waste of resources and totally unnecessary.  The police should be concentrating their efforts in bringing criminals to book instead of wasting their time in stopping a peaceful gathering. 91 Malaysians have been barred from entering the city centre under threat of arrest. A court order has been obtained to enforce this ruling. Among the 91 are two Malaysians who have been detained on 2 July 2011 under the Emergency (Public Order and Prevention of Crime) Ordinance 1969. They are still under detention. But what makes the police think that somehow or other they will escape from their security cell in Bukit Aman and make their way to the Merdeka Stadium? This restriction order is absolutely absurd. What about those who live in KL? Are they required to shift their residence outside KL and relocate themselves elsewhere? What about those who work in KL? Are they forced to be absent from their duty? This court order doesn't make any sense at all. In fact, it is senseless! All this seems unnecessary. All that Malaysians want to do is to walk peacefully to register their protest against the Election Commission for conducting elections that are viewed as being "not free and fair." These very unfair elections have been going on for decades. We have now reached a boiling point when it is not possible to tolerate this any longer. So Malaysians decided to march on 9 July 2011. But out of deference to the Yang diPertuan Agong who wanted the rally to be held indoors, the Bersih Steering Committee willingly agreed to His Majesty's suggestion. The Prime Minister initially agreed that Bersih could use one of the stadiums in KL. But the PM did a somersault and denied agreeing to this. Bersih had come down from their earlier uncompromising stand to have an open rally and decided that they would now gather at the Merdeka Stadium. But the police and others are putting all sorts of unnecessary obstacles. The Merdeka Stadium is not available on flimsy grounds. The police refuse to grant a permit for this peaceful gathering and want it to be held elsewhere, possibly in one of the Pakatan-controlled states. When arrangements have been made for the rally to be held in KL, now to tell them to go elsewhere is only making Malaysians angry and frustrated. To stop this peaceful, democratic rally - guaranteed as a right under the Federal Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights - is to ignore the Rule of Law and tarnish our reputation as a member of the UN Human Rights Council. When we occupy this exalted position on the Council, we should be setting   examples to the rest of the world instead of becoming the laughing-stock of the world. This gathering would not threaten the security of the country or in any way pose a risk to public order. What the police should do is to restrain Pekasa and Umno Youth from marching on the same day. These are the trouble-makers who may create unrest and disorder tomorrow.  Even at this last minute, it is not too late to allow Bersih to gather at Medeka Stadium. This is one positive way to defuse this volatile situation. Let good sense prevail.

PAS lawyers ready to defend rally participants Posted: 07 Jul 2011 10:21 PM PDT (Harakah Daily) - 46 lawyers from PAS will commence their duty tonight in ensuring those who participate in the Bersih rally tomorrow were legally represented in the event they face police arrest. Earlier, the laywers, dressed in special uniformed suits complete with yellow caps bearing party logo and the word "peguam", arrived at the PAS headquarters at Jalan Raja Laut to be briefed on their duties. The group is headed by head of the Islamic party's legal unit Asmuni Awi  and its members will be scattered across gathering spots around the city. They complement some 120 voluntary lawyers prepared by the Bar Council's Legal Aid Centre to oversee the rally and provide legal aid. The 46 PAS lawyers will also be stationed at temporary detention centres set up by the police in anticipation of any arrests. Hotline numbers Meanwhile, PAS Youth's legal unit has prepared several telephone numbers for rally participants: 1. 016-3126463 2. 016-3126473 3. 014-6451753 4. 012-3928379 While the Bar Council's Legal Aid Centre representatives can be contacted at these numbers: 1. Ravin 0193255825 2. Leena 0122841895 3. Stephanie 0163435202 4. Jeeva 0196353151

Government cannot stop us, says Bersih Posted: 07 Jul 2011 09:57 PM PDT (The Malaysian Insider) - Bersih has insisted that the government has no right to stop its rally at Stadium Merdeka tomorrow despite last-minute attempts to secure the venue coming to nought. The electoral reforms movement also called for Malaysians to show their patriotism and stand up against what it called the lack of principle shown by the Najib administration. "No government agency has any right whatsoever to prevent Malaysians from exercising their freedom of movement and access to our capital city. "Malaysians have now seen the degree of paranoia and lack of principled leadership that seems to have gripped the government. It is imperative that patriotic Malaysians rise now and take this stand together to save Malaysia from slipping further into this insane darkness," it said. In a statement released this evening, the coalition of 62 NGOs accused the authorities of putting "obstacle after obstacle where they only needed to provide sincere cooperation to win the trust and confidence of the people." "Half-hearted offers of stadiums, arrogance regarding meetings, denials of permits, arrests, detentions ... we feel that we have done all that is humanly possible to demonstrate sincerity and good faith in dealing with the government — but we have only been met with reversed decisions and stone walls," it said. Dang Wangi police told the movement today that it would not allow the gathering to be held at the stadium, a day after city police had obtained a court order barring 14 of its leaders along with 77 others from Umno Youth, Perkasa and Pakatan Rakyat (PR) from entering the capital tomorrow. Cabinet ministers and the police have told Bersih to take its rally outside Kuala Lumpur despite the coalition accepting on Tuesday the government's offer to move its street protest to a stadium. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's offer came after the Yang di-Pertuan Agong had stepped in on Sunday to defuse tension by advising Putrajaya and Bersih 2.0 to hold consultations over the issue of free and fair elections. But the Najib administration still considers the movement illegal and the police have continued to make arrests in connection with the rally, most of which revolve around yellow T-shirts with the word Bersih emblazoned on them. The police have also promised that they will act against any Bersih-related activity, even up to Saturday's rally as long as it was still not a legally registered outfit. "The Bersih 2.0 leadership reiterates our own unyielding commitment to our shared cause, and to being at Stadium Merdeka at 2pm tomorrow. We will meet at the car park, and trust that the doors will be opened for us," Bersih added.

The World Is Watching Us! (TO BE UPDATED) Posted: 07 Jul 2011 09:38 PM PDT By Malaysia Today Here is a summary of news reports on Bersih 2.0 from various international media. The world is watching Malaysia. Who is to be blamed for all the bad press? Certainly, NOT Bersih! 1. The Guardian - Malaysia braces for pro-democracy street protests in Kuala Lumpur 1. Bloomberg -  Malaysia to Block Roads in Bid to Stop Protesters Demanding Fair Elections 2. BBC - Malaysia rally: Kuala Lumpur 'to be locked down' 3. Asiaone News -  Malaysian capital locked down for rally 4. The Australian - Malaysian Capital In Lockdown  5. United Nations - Malaysia: UN rights office concerned at reported crackdown ahead of planned protests 6. Wall Street Journal - Running Scared In Malaysia by John Mallot 7. The New York Times - Malaysian Opposition Digs In 8. The Korean Herald -  Koreans to show solidarity for Malaysian campaign 9. Huffington Post -  Malaysia to lock down largest city to block rally 10. abc News - Malaysia to lock down largest city to block rally 11. Newsday.com - Malaysia to lock down largest city to block rally 12. ChannelNewsAsia -  Malaysia to lock down largest city to block rally  13. 680News - Malaysia to lock down largest city to block rally 12. The Jakarta Post -  Malaysian activists, govt clash over rally venue 13. The Guardian - Malaysia arrests 14 for 'Bersih' protest T-shirts 14. Winnipeg Free Press - Malaysia to lock down largest city to block opposition-backed rally for electoral reforms 15. Canada Views -  Malaysia: End mass repression of pro-reform activists *To be updated

BERSIH mahu berhimpun di luar Stadium Merdeka Posted: 07 Jul 2011 09:07 PM PDT (Malaysiakini) - Penganjur BERSIH 2.0 membuat ketetapan rasmi untuk berhimpun di tempat letak kereta Stadium Merdeka esok walaupun dilarang polis yang memberi amaran untuk menangkap mereka yang menyertai perhimpunan tersebut. Dalam kenyataannya, BERSIH 2.0 menegaskan pihaknya semakin komited untuk berhimpun secara aman bersama rakyat Malaysia dalam menuntut pilihan raya bebas dan adil. "Rakyat Malaysia daripada segenap lapisan telah melalui perjalanan jauh dan penuh cabaran untuk sampai di saat yang genting ini yang bakal mencorakkan sejarah negara kita. "Dengan kurang 24 jam tinggal untuk perhimpunan aman BERSIH, tekad kami untuk mengharungi fasa terakhir dan yang paling sukar dalam ranjau ini... adalah lebih kukuh daripada sebelumnya dalam menuntut pilihan raya yang bersih dan adil demi membina Malaysia yang lebih bagus," kata gabungan itu. Kenyataan itu mencerminkan pendirian muktamad BERSIH untuk berhimpun secara aman di Stadium Merdeka meskipun dilarang oleh polis dan jemaah menteri. Gabungan 62 NGO itu juga kesal kerana pihak berkuasa mengenakan pelbagai sekatan dalam usaha membatalkan perhimpunan itu. "Walaupun berdepan dengan tawaran stadium yang dibuat secara tidak ikhlas, dan kemudian dinafikan permit, serta tangkapan, penahanan dan macam-macam lagi, kami telah berusaha bersungguh-sungguh untuk berurus dengan kerajaan secara ikhlas. "Namun segala usaha kami itu dibalas dengan pelbagai sekatan," kata kenyataan itu. Sehubungan itu, menurut BERSIH 2.0 pada 9 Julai ini tidak ada sebarang sekatan yang akan memintas usaha ke arah keamanan dan keadilan. "Pada 9 Julai kami akan menegakkan hak perlembagaan kami untuk berhimpun secara aman di Stadium Merdeka. "Tidak ada mana-mana agensi kerajaan yang berhak untuk melarang rakyat daripada bergerak secara bebas... di ibu negara kita. Tidak ada ugutan dan hasutan yang boleh menafikan kebenaran asas ini," kata BERSIH 2.0 lagi. Menurut gabungan itu adalah amat penting, lebih-lebih lagi sekarang untuk rakyat yang patriotik untuk bangkit dan bersatu demi menyelamatkan Malaysia daripada tergelongsor lebih jauh ke dalam lurah kegelapan. "Kita akan berkumpul di tempat letak kereta dan percaya pintu (stadium) akan dibuka kepada kita. "Ini adalah saat penting dalam sejarah dan kami yakin rakyat akan menyambut seruan untuk mempertahankan prinsip-prinsip yang membentuk Malaysia. Bersama-sama kita berjuang untuk mewariskan kepada anak-anak kita sebuah negara yang adil, demokratik, dan penuh dalam kasih sayang untuk satu sama lain," katanya.

Malaysia's Moment Of truth Posted: 07 Jul 2011 08:02 PM PDT By Bersih 2.0 Malaysians from all walks of life have travelled a very long road to reach this defining point in our nation's history. With less than 24 hours to our intended peaceful gathering, our resolve to walk the last, most difficult mile as one united people in pursuit of clean and fair elections and a better Malaysia for all is firmer than ever. Our reason for gathering is pure and simple — to demand the electoral roll be cleaned, that the postal voting system be reformed, that indelible ink be used, a minimum 21 day campaign period be instated, free and fair access to media for all be provided, public institutions be strengthened, and for corruption as well as dirty politics to be stopped. The authorities have put obstacle after obstacle where they only needed to provide sincere cooperation to win the trust and confidence of the people. Having faced half-hearted offers of stadiums, arrogance regarding meetings as well as denials of permits, arrests, detentions and so much more, we feel that we have done all that is humanly possible to demonstrate sincerity and good faith in dealing with the government — but we have only been met with reversed decisions and stone walls. There are no walls however, that will arrest the advance of the cause of peace and justice. Come the 9th of July, we will uphold our constitutional right to converge peacefully on Stadium Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur. No government agency has any right whatsoever to prevent Malaysians from exercising their freedom of movement and access to our capital city. No threat or intimidation can overturn this fundamental truth. Malaysians have now seen for themselves the degree of paranoia and lack of principled leadership that seems to have gripped the government. It is thus all the more imperative that patriotic Malaysians rise now and take this stand together to save Malaysia from slipping further into this insane darkness. Since the beginning of Bersih 2.0, we have witnessed nothing but the utmost bravery and commitment to peace and justice demonstrated by ordinary Malaysians from every walk of life. Inspired by this example, the Bersih 2.0 leadership reiterates our own unyielding commitment to our shared cause, and to being at Stadium Merdeka at 2pm tomorrow. We will meet at the car park, and trust that the doors will be opened for us. This is Malaysia's single most important defining moment in recent history, and we are fully confident that the rakyat will heed the call to safeguard the principles Malaysia was founded on and together ensure that we pass down to our children a nation that is just, democratic and united in love for one another. * The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (BERSIH 2.0) steering committee comprises Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan (Chairperson), Andrew Khoo, Arul Prakkash, Arumugam K., Dr Farouk Musa, Haris Ibrahim, Liau Kok Fah, Maria Chin Abdullah, Richard Y W Yeoh, Dr Subramaniam Pillay, Dato' Dr Toh Kin Woon, Dr Wong Chin Huat, Dato' Yeo Yang Poh and Zaid Kamaruddin.

Mind control: the game of religion and politics Posted: 07 Jul 2011 08:01 PM PDT When you see kemunkaran (evil), fight it with your hands, said Prophet Muhammad (meaning, rise up in opposition). If you fear to fight it with your hands then fight it with your mouth (meaning, speak out against it). And if you still fear to fight it with your mouth then hate it in your heart. But those who only dare hate it in their heart is the sign of a very weak Muslim, said the Prophet. NO HOLDS BARRED Raja Petra Kamarudin Friday sermon accuses Bersih of manipulating Muslims (The Malaysian Insider) — For the second week in a row, the Friday sermon in mosques throughout Kuala Lumpur attacked the credibility of Bersih's organisers, accusing them today of causing disunity by questioning Islamic rights and manipulating Muslims. The sermon, obtained from the website of the Malaysian Department of Islamic Development (Jakim), charged that the organisers were using many tricks to achieve their goals. The sermon is prepared by the government and read out in all mosques in Kuala Lumpur. "The big question is, who exactly are these people who have become traitors to their religion, race and country? They have actually angered Muslims before. Questioning Muslim rights and manipulating some Muslim leaders who have been blinded by the pursuit for power," said the prepared text. The sermon did not name any of the leaders it was referring to, but it is believed to be aimed at Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders as well as the organisers of tomorrow's rally. Last week's sermon accused Bersih's leaders of being "extremists", and had urged Muslims to reject the movement. Today's sermon however stated that the rally's organisers undermined Islam through many means including legal measures. The speech also claimed that these leaders encouraged hatred among Malaysians by making provocative slogans. "This is who they are, wearing masks on the pretext of upholding justice, making the rakyat a shield but the truth is that they have their own agenda to destabilise the country, weaken its rulers and destroy the harmony between the country's citizens," added the sermon. The sermon warned Muslims against supporting any cause which could jeopardise the country's peace and security. "As Muslims who love their religion, race and country, do not be fooled by their lies. Let us unite in defending every inch of our land from being invaded by enemies of Islam, unite so that every effort by our enemies will not bear fruition," said the sermon. It urged Muslims to abide by the wishes of Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin that peace and security of the nation should be the utmost priority at all times. *************************************** Yes, JAKIM again, the same people who accused me of insulting Islam -- when I wrote that Friday prayer sermons spread hate messages -- which resulted in me being detained without trial under the Internal Security Act. So, BERSIH is now the enemy of Islam whose aim is to undermine Islam. How convenient to pull the race and religion card out of your hat when you need a bogeyman. JAKIM sounds just like the Christian preachers of 1,000 years ago -- whom in their sermons said that the Jews killed Jesus Christ and the Jews cut out the hearts of Christian babies and eat it raw and whatnot. The result of that anti-Jew propaganda was the Jews all over Europe were expelled from the country of their birth. They were persecuted and discriminated against and were placed in 'special neighbourhoods' which they were forbidden from leaving under pain of death. They also had to wear yellow stars on their chest. This was almost 1,000 years before Hitler and the Nazis did the same thing. England, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, etc., were 700-800 hundred years ahead of Hitler but we keep talking about how bad the Nazis were while forgetting that the whole of Europe was as bad or worse than the Nazis. So how different is JAKIM compared to the Europeans of 1,000 years ago or Nazi Germany of World War 2? JAKIM is just like the Fascists and Nazis. They stir hate and they hide behind religion in doing so.  Yes, I know, many are asking me why I do not have the balls to come back to Malaysia. It is not about balls. It is about the freedom to say what I want to say. And can I go back to Malaysia and say that JAKIM is just like the Fascists and Nazis? I can, I suppose. But then I would have to do that from behind the barbed wire fences of the Kamunting Detention Centre. No, staying here is not just about freedom from prison. Staying here is about the freedom to whack racism, extremism, persecution, discrimination, hate sermons, Fascism, Nazism, and whatnot -- everything that Umno stands for and everything that I am opposed to. Let me put it this way. If the Malaysian government can guarantee me that I shall be allowed Internet access in jail (like in the western countries) and if the government can guarantee me that I can continue to write and update Malaysia Today every day without fail, I, in turn, can guarantee that I will return to Malaysia and spend my time in jail. Can we have a watertight agreement in writing? READ: Expanding Internet Access in Prison (http://news.change.org/stories/expanding-internet-access-in-prison) Many prisons outside Malaysia allow inmates to keep in contact with the outside world through the use of the Internet and e-mails. In Malaysia, they still lock you up in solitary confinement in windowless cement boxes with no beds and mattresses. Anyway, back to the issue of Friday prayer sermons. Is JAKIM doing a great service to Islam by indoctrinating Muslims to hate Christians and those of other religions? Malays are being brainwashed into becoming bigots and racists. And they are using religion to do this evil deed. Many from the other faiths consider Islam an evil religion. Non-Muslims believe that Islam is a religion of hate. And can we blame them for coming to this conclusion when our words and deeds give this impression? Even I think that the government is spreading hate through the Friday prayer sermons. Why should non-Muslims not think the same? And have a look at the memo below. What the Telekoms Malaysia staff does during working hours is the business of the company. But what they do outside working hours is nobody's business. What illegal activity is Telekoms Malaysia talking about? Demonstrating? The so-called 'perhimpunan haram' being organised by BERSIH? Read Imam Ghazali's kitab on haram and halal. Imam Ghazali has explained everything that is haram and halal in Islam. And demonstrating (perhimpunan) is not one of those listed as haram. Is Malaysia not a Muslim country? Is not Islam the religion of the Federation? So, should we not follow the proper Islam of Imam Ghazali and not the false Islam of the Malaysian government? And, according to Imam Ghazali, amar makruf, nahi munkar is mandatory to all Muslims. Failure to uphold this principle would make you a weak Muslim. When you see kemunkaran (evil), fight it with your hands, said Prophet Muhammad (meaning, rise up in opposition). If you fear to fight it with your hands then fight it with your mouth (meaning, speak out against it). And if you still fear to fight it with your mouth then hate it in your heart. But those who only dare hate it in their heart is the sign of a very weak Muslim, said the Prophet. That is true Islam, not the Islam of JAKIM. And organisations like Telekoms Malaysia are going against Islamic teachings. Maybe that is because a Jew is the CEO of Telekoms Malaysia and we all know that Jews are enemies of Islam, as what the Friday prayer sermons teach us.

IGP insists Bersih arrests, roadblocks necessary for public safety Posted: 07 Jul 2011 07:58 PM PDT By Melissa Chi, The Malaysian Insider KUALA LUMPUR, July 8 — Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar today defended the police's decision to arrest Bersih supporters and carry out major roadblocks within the city, saying that it was necessary for public safety. The police chief also said court restriction orders were needed as a "precautionary measure" ahead of tomorrow's rally. "Since several dangerous weapons were found, there is a safety risk (risikan keselamatan) (as) certain quarters insist on having the illegal rally in Kuala Lumpur. They will use all kinds of tricks like they have before. "As a precautionary measure, the police had to get the restriction order ... just to prevent this illegal rally from taking place," he told reporters today. A total of 91 people have been barred from entering the capital city tomorrow, and this includes Bersih, Umno Youth and Perkasa leaders. Elaborating further, Ismail said that the restriction order was not limited to the 91 people, but also to their supporters. He said that the police received two applications to hold the Bersih rally in Kuala Lumpur tomorrow, and have rejected both applications. READ MORE HERE

Hisham says no plans for military action, won’t shut Internet Posted: 07 Jul 2011 07:53 PM PDT By Melissa Chi, The Malaysian Insider KUALA LUMPUR, July 8 — Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein pledged today that the government will not resort to deploying military personnel for the Bersih rally tomorrow, nor will Internet services be disrupted. Electoral reform movement Bersih has vowed to press ahead with a rally calling for free and fair elections at Stadium Merdeka despite the authorities rejecting a police permit and withholding permission to use the historic venue. Two other groups, Perkasa and Umno Youth, have also been barred from carrying out counter-protests. "We don't know what's going to happen tomorrow, or the day after. But under the law, there are provisions, so at the moment, we feel that there are police in place, so there is no necessity to talk about the military," the Home Minister told reporters at the Bukit Aman federal police headquarters here. Hishammuddin said the government will react according to how events unfold tomorrow. City authorities and the police have said some 32 roads will be closed to traffic while express bus services from the city centre have been rerouted to Hentian Duta. The police have also brought in personnel from beyond the city limits to aid in the operations. They have also applied for court orders to bar 91 people from Bersih, Umno Youth and Perkasa from entering the city tomorrow. Bersih, a loose coalition of 62 non-governmental organisations, has insisted that it will not move its rally away from Stadium Merdeka tomorrow, stating that it is too late for its supporters to change their plans. It has also demanded that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who proposed on Monday that Bersih move its street march to a stadium, instruct Stadium Merdeka to allow the rally to take place in the historical venue. MORE TO COME HERE

Law experts say King acted constitutionally over Bersih Posted: 07 Jul 2011 06:34 PM PDT The King leaves Istana Negara after his audience with Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan last Tuesday. Constitutional lawyer Tommy Thomas said today that the King, as supreme head of the federation, is above party politics.  (The Malaysian Insider) - Two constitutional law experts weighed in today in support of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's unprecedented remarks over the Bersih 2.0 affair, saying the King had acted in line with his limited powers under the nation's highest law. The Malaysian Insider reported earlier today that some Umno politicians, including those in Cabinet, were upset by Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin's decision to grant an audience to Bersih 2.0 chief Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan last Tuesday, arguing that it is outside his constitutional powers. Government officials also confirmed that there was much toing and froing over the draft of the King's statement between the palace and the Najib administration before Istana Negara issued what amounted to measured advice late Sunday. "The King has the right to be kept informed concerning matters about the nation," said prominent constitutional lawyer Tommy Thomas, responding to criticism against the King's seemingly independent move to meet with Ambiga. The King rarely issues political statements, which was why many people were surprised by Tuanku Mizan's proclamation. Citing Article 32 of the Federal Constitution which deals with the Yang di-Pertuan as the "supreme head of the federation", Thomas explained that there is a convention for a weekly audience between the prime minister of the day and the King, to keep the King updated on government affairs. "The King as supreme head of the federation, speaks for the entire nation. The prime minister of the day is always partisan whereas the King is above party politics. And there's nothing wrong with the King meeting with any of his subjects to find out what's going on in his country," he told The Malaysian Insider. A former member of the Bar Council, Thomas said that Britain's constitutional monarch also practises a similar approach in England where it is known as "soundings"; he said Queen Elizabeth II always talks with professors and famous personalities in order to be kept informed about current affairs. "In that context, what's wrong with the King meeting Ambiga or for that matter Nicol David, as they are his subjects and he is their King?" Thomas quizzed. "After inviting her to the palace, he can say, 'Look, this is my advice ...,' in a sort of fatherly way, and it is up to Ambiga to say 'I accept', or reject it. The King has no real power as he is a constitutional monarch. "To say the King cannot give advice or talk to anyone is wrong," Thomas stressed. Law lecturer Abdul Aziz Bari backed Thomas' opinion that Tuanku Mizan had acted constitutionally when he intervened. "The constitutional principle is simple and clear: The King is only under duty to act on the government's advice when this is in line with both the letter and the spirit of the Constitution. READ MORE HERE

Malaysia rally: Kuala Lumpur 'to be locked down' Posted: 07 Jul 2011 06:11 PM PDT Malaysian police have said they will block access to the capital Kuala Lumpur for 24 hours because of a planned pro-electoral reform rally. (BBC) - Major roads will be shut and public transportation suspended from midnight (1700 GMT). A group calling itself the Bersih 2.0 coalition plans to hold the rally in a sports stadium on Saturday. Police have questioned more than 150 activists in recent weeks, and 91 have been barred from the city. More than 30 activists remain in detention after being arrested almost two weeks ago. The demonstrators initially organised a street rally, but agreed to hold their gathering in a sports stadium after objections from the authorities. But police say the rally is still illegal, despite its change of venue. "Merdeka Stadium, which they chose, is too close to the city centre and can create massive traffic jams and disrupt businesses," federal police chief Ismail Omar was quoted as saying by the Singapore-based New Straits Times. Police have not given a permit for the rally, but the demonstrators have argued that they do not need permission. "We are heading for the stadium," a representative of Bersih, Andrew Khoo, told AFP news agency. "We will keep our focus on the basic demands... to campaign for free and fair elections. We won't be distracted." Rally organisers say Malaysia's electoral system is plagued with fraud - they want longer campaign periods, automatic voter registration and equality of access to the largely government-linked mainstream media. The authorities say the protesters are trying to promote communist ideology, thereby "waging war against the king". Police have accused several of those they have arrested of carrying flyers and T-shirts with "inflammatory slogans". The police launched a crackdown after a similar demonstration in 2007. Analysts say that protest helped the opposition win an unprecedented number of seats in the last general election.

People, the choice is yours Posted: 07 Jul 2011 05:32 PM PDT (FMT) - Tomorrow is the big walk. It is open to all Malaysians who believe in upholding democracy. Democracy is a big word but it has a simple meaning: it is a government of the people, by the people, for the people. It is the people who are the masters of the country. The destiny of the country lies in their hands. Only they can decide which way they want the land of their birth to move. They do this by casting their votes at the appointed time. They speak through the ballot box. They choose representatives of good character to sit in Parliament to champion their interests. But in the course of time, things can go wrong. Like what is happening now. The government is not on the side of the people wanting to exercise their right to a peaceful assembly for a cause that strenghtens, and not wrecks, public institutions. When thousands of ordinary men and women show up for the "Walk for Democracy" tomorrow, be it on the streets or in a stadium, they are not waging war against the government. They have no reason to do so. They are not rebels pouring out of the jungles or coming down from the mountains to capture the capital and set up another government. They are just plain ordinary citizens who wish to support a non-governmental organisation fighting for clean and fair elections. What is wrong with that? But what is wrong with the government? Why is the state acting irrationally? Why does it see red in yellow? Suddenly everything has turned ugly. The government we elected to represent us has become our enemy. Now it is state power versus the will of the people. The state says the rally is illegal. Bersih is illegal. Bersih T-shirt is also illegal. Everything connected with the movement is unlawful. Even the meeting at the palace between the King and Bersih does not appear to be legal. The state is doing everything in its power to make the people hate Bersih – and love the government. It is plain for all to see that the people are not taking the bait. Acting harsh and repressive is clearly not going to win the government any brownie points. Malaysians love peace but at the same time they do not like to be bullied into submission. Times have changed. People can think for themselves and separate truth from lies. In the Bersih story the government does not come out smelling sweet, innocent, clean. READ MORE HERE

Ops Bersih cops get last briefing Posted: 07 Jul 2011 05:26 PM PDT (FMT) - KUALA LUMPUR: Some 1,500 arresting officers this morning received their final briefing on handling tomorrow's Bersih rally. The police operation has been codenamed "Ops Bersih". The 1,500 will be divided into 150 teams deployed at different locations in the city. A police source told FMT that some of the policemen were from outside Kuala Lumpur and not familiar with the standard procedures of handling large crowds of demonstrators. This morning's briefing was conducted at Universiti Malaya. The source said police estimated 30,000 people to turn up for the Bersih rally. "We identified some weaknesses in our strategies, especially with news that rival groups might gather at the same locations," he said. "Our men are being told not to compromise with either Bersih or Umno Youth or Perkasa supporters. They must arrest immediately all those demonstrators who ignore the order to disperse." The same group of 1,500 attended a refresher course on Tuesday and Wednesday at the Cheras Police Training College. The source added that 3,000 policemen from the General Operation Force, the Federal Reserve Unit and the Special Branch will be deployed from midnight today at various parts of the centre to handle traffic flow and carry out general crime prevention duties. FMT has learnt that all arrested rally participants will be taken to the Jinjang police station, where investigating officers will record their statements. Only those suspected of having committed serious offences will be detained overnight. It is also learnt that about a half dozen magistrates will be on standby to hear police applications to remand suspects. READ MORE HERE

Malaysia reform rally to go ahead: activists Posted: 07 Jul 2011 04:52 PM PDT (AFP) - Malaysian activists said they would proceed with a controversial rally calling for electoral reform, despite mass arrests by police and fears of chaos in downtown Kuala Lumpur. Rally organisers Bersih 2.0 had agreed to hold Saturday's event at a stadium after complaints that a planned street protest could turn into a riot, but the deal was thrown into confusion after the necessary permit was refused. Bersih representative Andrew Khoo said there was still no approval for the rally to be held at the capital's iconic Merdeka Stadium but that if necessary they would hold the demonstration outside the building. "We are heading for the stadium," he told AFP. "We will keep our focus on the basic demands... which is to campaign for free and fair elections. We won't be distracted." Protests are illegal in Malaysia without a permit, and police have over the past two weeks detained more than 150 people, accusing them of drumming up support for the gathering. Police have also obtained a court order to bar 91 activists from certain downtown areas, and major roads will be closed from early Saturday in a lock-down to make it difficult for people to congregate. Street protests are rare in Malaysia but in the past they have drawn tens of thousands of people, with police using water cannon, tear gas and baton charges to clear the crowds. Khoo condemned the police response as a "gross overreaction" and called for the protesters to be allowed inside the stadium to preserve safety. "It is such a breach of fundamental rights of freedom of movement. There is no risk to public order because we have always maintained this will be a peaceful gathering," he said. Police have insisted that Bersih choose another venue far from the capital. "Merdeka Stadium, which they chose, is too close to the city centre and can create massive traffic jams and disrupt businesses," federal police chief Ismail Omar was quoted as saying by the New Straits Times daily. Most of those detained have been released, but six people, including an opposition member of parliament, have been held under a security law that allows detention without trial. The protest is backed by opposition parties who complain they are the victim of underhand election tactics. With national elections due by 2013 but expected to be held earlier, Bersih is demanding reforms including measures to prevent vote-buying and fraud, and equal media access for both the ruling party and opposition.

Malaysia to lockdown largest city to block protest Posted: 07 Jul 2011 04:47 PM PDT (AP) — Malaysian police say they will shut major roads and suspend public transportation into Kuala Lumpur to block a rally by opposition-backed activists. The organizers of the banned rally planned for Saturday are demanding electoral reforms. The escalating political tension marks a major challenge for Prime Minister Najib Razak's long-ruling coalition ahead of general elections widely expected next year. Kuala Lumpur Police Chief Amar Singh says major roads into the city will be shut for 22 hours starting at midnight Friday. More than 200 people linked to the rally have already been detained in recent weeks. Activists insisted they would gather in a stadium downtown Saturday and urged Najib to call off the clampdown that "fits the style of dictators."

Now Umno Youth also wants Stadium Merdeka Posted: 07 Jul 2011 04:20 PM PDT (The Malaysian Insider) -  Umno Youth has decided to revive its Patriot counter-rally against Bersih tomorrow by applying to gather in Stadium Merdeka — the same venue chosen for a rally by the electoral reform movement. This comes despite city police obtaining a court order barring Khairy and 90 other leaders of Umno Youth, Bersih and Perkasa from entering the city tomorrow in an effort to lock out all three planned rallies. "This is our right to gather, according to the constitution. We don't want to clash with anyone, especially police, but this is our democratic right. We have discussed it and the Umno Youth exco has unanimously decided to accept any action that can be taken against us," Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin said. He told a press conference today that the Youth wing made the about-turn after "the opposition rejected the government's advice to hold the rally outside of KL." "This afternoon, we will make an application to gather in Stadium Merdeka. We have applied, we were the first to apply for a police permit on June 24," the Umno Youth chief said, showing reporters the letter sent to the Dang Wangi police station. The Rembau MP added that the application was rejected on July 6 but the Youth wing would appeal the decision today. Khairy, however, denied that the purpose of Patriot meeting in Stadium Merdeka was to create a confrontation with Bersih, who has also insisted on gathering in the historical venue despite the government and police advising the coalition of 62 NGOs to move outside of the city. "We are not interested in clashing with anybody. Crowd control is up to police," he said. Khairy said Umno Youth would meet on Jalan Bukit Bintang at 10am tomorrow regardless of whether it had permission to march to Stadium Merdeka. He said it would look for an alternative venue to march to if not given Stadium Merdeka but would not rule out proceeding to the stadium without permission. "We are not the government, not the police, we'll do what we want," he said when quizzed on the opinion of the authorities that a gathering in the city would disturb the peace. Khairy reiterated that Umno Youth was marching on behalf of the "silent majority" who did not agree with Bersih's methods of pursuing and the politicising of electoral reform. "We are ready to face anyone to make our stand," he said. READ MORE HERE

WIKILEAKS: US viewed Pak Lah’s reform a failure Posted: 07 Jul 2011 04:09 PM PDT His administration's follow-up on vows for reform was 'disappointing', says a US cable leaked by WikiLeaks. (Free Malaysia Today) - Washington felt the economic policies introduced by then prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi were not successful while his reform measures were least convincing, according to a diplomatic cable leaked by whistleblower site WikiLeaks. The US government also felt that Abdullah's ascent to power improved Washigton-Putrajaya ties, calling him "a breath of fresh air after the long-serving and vituperative Mahathir Mohamad" who retired in late 2003. According to WikiLeaks – published by Malaysia Today website today – the US government felt Abdullah's effort to encourage a private sector-led growth amid ballooning national debt was a failure and his administration's follow-up on vows for reforms "disappointing". "He is publicly committed to fighting corruption and reining in costly mega-projects, though his government's follow-through has been disappointing. "In his early days, PM Abdullah made rural development and control of government spending, partly as a means to encourage private sector-led growth, his top economic priorities. So far, only his reduction of the government's deficit – now down to 3.8% of GDP – can be chalked up as a clear success," read the cable. Abdullah's 9MP lacked initiative The leaked cable also disclosed US scepticism towards Abdullah's economic policies under the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP). "Abdullah's partisans say that the Ninth Malaysia Plan (a five-year plan for economic policy and development spending) will be the vehicle for advancing his other economic goals, but the 9MP, unveiled on March 31, contained little in the way of drama or new initiatives," read the cable. READ MORE HERE

Perkasa rally in limbo, chief to stay home Posted: 07 Jul 2011 04:03 PM PDT With no stadium and no police permit, the Perkasa rally appears doomed. But Ibrahim Ali is now thinking about turning to the Selangor authorities. (Free Malaysia Today) - Perkasa's rally for tomorrow is now in limbo while its president Ibrahim Ali has decided to stay home following a court order restricting him from entering certain parts of the city. However, Ibrahim said there is still time for Perkasa to look for a new venue after the KL City Hall rejected the movement's application to hold the gathering at Stadium Titiwangsa here. "We applied for Stadium Merdeka but was rejected. We asked for Stadium Titiwangsa but was rejected. Police permit also rejected," he told a press conference here. "We are having difficulty looking for a place… at this moment in time we can't do anything," he said, but added, "We still have time. It is only noon now, and we plan to gather at 2pm tomorrow." Ibrahim said Perkasa will vie for Stadium Selayang, located in the Pakatan Rakyat-controlled state of Selangor, but has yet to contact the relevant authorities. Commenting on the court order obtained by the police yesterday barring him and 90 others from being present at some parts of the city, Ibrahim said he will remain at home. "Even if I have to go out, I won't go to the restricted areas," he added. Fourteen Perkasa members are on the list, which also includes Bersih 2.0 chief S Ambiga, Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim, Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin, PAS spiritual adviser Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang as well as numerous Pakatan MPs and Umno Youth leaders. Despite the court order, Bersih has decided to push ahead with the rally slated for 2pm at Stadium Merdeka. Yesterday, Ibrahim expressed confidence that the police will issue the movement a permit to hold its rally because it will be a peaceful gathering. However, Sentul district police chief ACP Zakaria Pagan told FMT that Perkasa's application was rejected because it does not have permission from the premise's owner. "Perkasa could not get City Hall's approval to use the stadium as some other agency already booked the place for a sports event for both Saturday and Sunday," he said. 'Why does she insist on Stadium Merdeka?' Ibrahim advised other Perkasa members who are not on the list to bring their families sight-seeing tomorrow and cheekily suggested Taman Tasik Titiwangsa, which is located close to Stadium Titiwangsa. He said that 15,300 people have "enthusiastically" confirmed their attendance at Perkasa's rally. "They can take their families out to places like the Titiwangsa Lake Club as well which is something like the Hyde Park in London," he said, drawing laughter. Ibrahim reiterated his call on the police to check Bersih's foreign funding and urged Perkasa members to file police reports on this issue. READ MORE HERE

Bersih is govt’s secret fear Posted: 07 Jul 2011 03:59 PM PDT Political observers predict that the government's biggest fears will be realised with the Bersih rally tomorrow. (Free Malaysia Today) - The government's crackdown on the Bersih 2.0 rally has gone down in the country's history as its harshest yet and earned international recognition as a campaign of intimidation. The government has trotted out its intention to preserve national security as justification for the arrests of Bersih supporters, criminalising the coalition and the flurry of roadblocks that incurred a city's wrath. Yet word on the street is that this concern for national security is a mere smokescreen to mask a secret fear that July 9 could potentially culminate in a staggering success. And that would force the ruling government to face an ugly fact – a yellow tsunami may just drown it in the the 13th general election. Professor James Chin of Monash University has no doubts about this. He noted that the government blamed Hindraf and the first Bersih rally for causing its stumble in 2008 and is now fearful that Bersih 2.0 will be a repeat of history. He also believed that similarly to previous demonstrations, this rally would see a higher turnout of Indians and Malays compared to Chinese. "The government has come down harder on PAS than on DAP because it expects the Chinese to stay away from the rally," he said. "If you notice, the DAP leadership has issued statements but has not called on its party members to participate in the rally." "Yet there will be more Chinese participation tomorrow than in to the 2007 rally because there are more Chinese NGOs today. The other Chinese numbers will come from PAS' supporter's club and PKR." Worried over massive turnout Former journalist and author of "March 8: Time for Real Change", Kee Thuan Chye, agreed that the government is "very worried" about a massive turnout and warned that it would do all it can to prevent such a scenario. "Roadblocks are already in force," he said. "I expect a lot of arrests and bag searches on that day. It will literally be hazardous to wear yellow." Professor Shamsul Amri Baharuddin of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, meanwhile, pointed out that demonstrations were no longer a new phenomenon in Malaysia. The question, he said, was the difference between rallies on international and domestic issues. "When 3,000 people showed up for the anti-Israel rally there was no talk of a threat to national security because everyone was on one side," he explained. "With domestic issues there are always extremists on both ends with each side determined to promote its political agenda." "Also the Bersih issue is an old one. Certain personalities want improvement in order to win bigger in the next general election so they can return to the limelight. This could also be a concern to the government." Shamsul, too, echoed Chin's prediction that the Chinese would steer clear of the rally, saying added that this is a fact that has been proven time and time again. "About 90% of participation at rallies consist of Malays and Indians," he said. "One can see that even during university rallies. I don't know whether they are genetically more inclined to demonstrations or if they just have a lot of time on their hands." READ MORE HERE

Mystery surrounds police permit for Bersih Posted: 07 Jul 2011 03:25 PM PDT (FMT NEWS ALERT) - Bersih 2.0 has claimed that a police permit has been issued for the coalition to hold its rally in Stadium Merdeka. However, PKR Youth leader Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin tweeted that Dang Wangi district police chief Zulkarnain Abdul Rahman had denied this. Bersih steering committee member Haris Ibrahim had earlier confirmed that a police permit was issued. "The police permit has been issued but we need to negotiate with the stadium's management because the place is undergoing renovation works," he said. A Bersih representative is on the way to the police station to collect a letter from the district police chief. FMT however learnt that the letter from the district police is just a rejection letter although Bersih had not applied for a police permit. In another tweet, PKR vice-president Tian Chua offered a different version, stating that the stadium had given permission to Bersih for the rally tomorrow but the police had yet to issue one. Yesterday, Inspector-General of Police Ismail Omar urged Bersih to hold its rally outside of the city while Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin condemned the coalition as being recalcitrant for insisting on Stadium Merdeka. Yesterday, the police also obtained a court order barring 91 people, including Bersih chief S Ambiga, from entering certain parts of Kuala Lumpur. However, Stadium Merdeka was not one of the places cited in the order. When contacted, the Dang Wangi police chief said he would clear the confusion over the Bersih permit at his press conference later this afternoon. MORE TO FOLLOW

MyKAD Posted: 07 Jul 2011 12:19 PM PDT By Roslan  My late father-in-law died in April 1983 and an extract of his death certificate dated May 11, 2010, there is a spanking new 12-digit IC number noted next to the old seven-digit number given in 1960. Can anyone please give an explanation? Since 1990, every citizen of Malaysia is given a set of unique 12-digit format IC number. Further references in http://ms.wikipedia.org/wi​ki/MyKad while on the website http://en.wikipedia.org/wi​ki/National_identification​_number # Malaysia revealed a set of 12-digit IC was introduced in 1991. Why was a 7 year deceased citizen assigned with a 12-digit NEW IC number?? If that is the government's effort to be fair to all, how about the citizen with IC number 0000001 Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra the Father of Malaysia which was assigned in 1960? Why would a car peacefully rest in a junk yard for the past 15 years have its road tax renewed by the JPJ? The Deceased had lived and breathed his last in the Kubang Pasu Parliamentary represented by Tun Dr Mahathir from 1974-2004.  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------   Sejak tahun 1990, setiap warganegara Malaysia diberikan satu set nombor Kad Pengenalan format 12-digit yang unik. Rujukan lanjut di http://ms.wikipedia.org/wi​ki/MyKad manakala di laman web http://en.wikipedia.org/wi​ki/National_identification​_number # Malaysia mendedahkan satu set kad pengenalan 12 angka diperkenalkan pada tahun 1991. Arwah bapa mertua saya meninggal dunia pada April 1983 tetapi pada cabutan Daftar Kematian yang bertarikh 11 Mei 2010, terdapat kad pengenalan 12-digit ada dicatitkan di samping nombor lama 7-digit yang diberikan pada tahun 1960. Boleh sesiapa tolong berikan penjelasan?  Mengapa seorang warganegara yang telah meninggal dunia 7 tahun yang lalu diberikan nombor IC BARU dengan 12-digit?? Jika usaha kerajaan untuk berlaku adil kepada semua, bagaimana pula dengan warganegara dengan nombor kad pengenalan 0000001 Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Bapa Malaysia yang diperkenalkan pada tahun 1960? Mengapa kereta yang tersadai di pusat buangan sejak 15 tahun yang lalu telah diperbaharui cukai jalan oleh JPJ? Petua: Arwah bermastautin dan menghembuskan nafas terakhir di Parlimen Kubang Pasu yang diwakili oleh Tun Dr Mahathir dari 1974-2004.

Can M’sia reform and discriminate? Posted: 07 Jul 2011 11:18 AM PDT (FMT) - PUTRAJAYA: Dr Mahathir Mohamad sits at a vast desk cluttered with work, hands clasped before him and looking at his visitors with a slight smile.   Dr M, as he is popularly known, was prime minister of Malaysia from 1981 to 2003, the first commoner to ever hold the post in a land with nine sultans. His demeanour suggests the country physician he once was, ready with a frank diagnosis – and in his first interview with the foreign media in five years, he doles out prescriptions for what ails his nation. The man who made Malaysia part of the "East Asia Miracle" with a massive inflow of foreign direct investment (FDI) doesn't think much of it today. The former miracle economy, now a muddle, needs a new policy direction, he says in his office in Putrajaya, the administrative capital he built on old plantation land in the 1990s. "We should not be too dependent on FDI anymore," says Mahathir. "We've come to the stage when locals can invest. They have now the capital. They have the technology. They know the market. And I think they can manage big industries." His thinking is at odds with government policy. But it gets to the heart of a debate over the future of Malaysia, a former emerging market star now in danger of becoming an also-ran, stuck in the dreaded "middle income trap". Foreign investment has been dwindling since the onset of the 1997-1998 Asian financial crisis. Capital outflows have even exceeded inflows in four of the past five years. This has been accompanied by an alarming "brain drain" of emigres voting with their feet against Malaysia's prospects. Malaysia is counting on foreign investment to provide a quarter of the investments needed to fund projects under its "Economic Transformation Programme", which aims to turn the country of 28 million into a fully developed nation by 2020.   READ MORE HERE.

Dirty treatment for a clean cause Posted: 07 Jul 2011 11:13 AM PDT By Jeswan Kaur, FMT Shamefully desperate. This best describes Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, who is going all out to finish off election watchdog Bersih 2.0. Applying all the dirty tactics in the book, Najib sought the help of his cousin-cum-Home Minister, Hishammuddin Hussein, and got Bersih 2.0 declared as an illegal outfit. Then, there were claims that Bersih 2.0 chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan was the beneficiary of illegal funding including from controversial currency speculator George Soros. It did not end there. The police claimed it found a bag full of the yellow T-shirts with the word Bersih on it, Molotov cocktails and other weapons days ahead of the July 9 rally. Still unhappy with the people's show of support towards the rally, Najib has ordered the police to apply for a court order and arrest the 91 individuals including Ambiga, Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim and DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang should they set foot in certain parts of Kuala Lumpur. All that could be done to tarnish the image of Bersih 2.0 and cast doubt on its "Walk for Democracy" rally was being done by Najib and his team. Yet, all that failed to brainwash the people who staunchly support Bersih 2.0. Utterly desperate, Najib's last attempt was to "instruct" the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to interfere, which the former dutifully did, urging that the rally due tomorrow not happen on the streets because of the chaos it might lead to. Bersih 2.0 respectfully abided by the King's request to not take to the streets, not realising that the "powers that be" were not trustworthy. Bersih 2.0 agreed to hold the rally in a closed-door environment and identified Stadium Merdeka as the preferred venue, due to its historical significance, that is, being the site where the country's independence was proclaimed by the country first prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman. But the Stadium Merdeka management refused to entertain that request from Bersih 2.0, giving reasons that the stadium was already booked for July 9. Passing the buck While the tug-of-war goes on between Bersih 2.0 and Stadium Merdeka, Najib watches from afar, pleased that he succeeded in giving Ambiga the run-around for a venue, passing the buck of dealing with an illegal organisation to the police. The latest scenario has the Inspector-General of Police Ismail Omar telling Bersih 2.0 to seize the "golden opportunity" offered by the government for the rally to take place indoors – but best they do it outside Kuala Lumpur.   READ MORE HERE.

How Low Can You Go? Posted: 07 Jul 2011 10:59 AM PDT By Shamini Darshni Let's get one thing right — Bersih 2.0 has already won. JULY 8 — The whole political drama surrounding Bersih 2.0's planned rally on Saturday has reached historical proportions — but at which end, whether incredibly ridiculous or incredibly ingenious, still begs decision. On one hand, we have Bersih 2.0, with a committee made up of respected citizens with a deep understanding of electoral issues, bent on rallying for one cause: free and fair elections in a country that has been ruled by one multi-party coalition for over 50 years. On the other hand, I know I am not the only who feels that there is a tactical game plan being rolled out to disable Bersih 2.0 and build anxiety among the general population. Recently, as my dad, his German friend and I talked about Malaysia's politics, my father pointed out that governments should realise that the people today have something that they might not have had 50 years ago: education. When the country's politicians were in their 20s, things were a lot different. Yet, the answer is not in trying to woo young people over Twitter and Facebook, not when their generation knows you mess around with PSD scholarships. Plus, there are "Ignore", "Block" and "Unfollow" options. Those in their late 20s and above are a lot more educated than some of the country's politicians will ever be. With this level of education comes better-paying jobs, and with that, comes exposure, evolving viewpoints, information exchange — all the traits of a developed country. But we cannot be a developed country and try and suppress people for having an opinion. And what IS being a "developed country"? Bigger buildings? GST? Sky-high property prices? More FDI? Less FDI? We must remember that there is no "developed country" without a developed people. Our people (and yes, this means non-Bumiputeras too) are our biggest asset. The government must realise this in some way or why keep screaming about brain drain? Trying to woo people back to "serve their country" and yet call them "pendatang" is not going to win any votes, for goodness sake. Which is one of the many reasons why the brain-drain "problem" will never be solved. In the meantime, organising a big bunch of motorcyclists to circle the opposition's headquarters while waving Umno flags was too obvious an attempt at intimidation. Furthermore, we have been struggling with Mat Rempit hooligans for years and it was almost sad to see the obvious irony lost on the organiser(s). And now, here we are. The claws are out. The law is being bastardised and used as a whip. "Waging war against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong"? Seriously? The police have been amazing. Their swift action in detaining hundreds under emergency laws in a few weeks has been impressive. Meanwhile, the acid splasher who injured over 20 women is still at large although months have passed and police have a photo-fit of the man. Cue: Shamini throws her hands up in the air. As the government and its allies clutch at straws, desperately wielding every "weapon" in their arsenal — from silat to rationing bus permits — we watch part in anger, part in amusement, and all in irritation. Through all the politicking over the past few weeks, one message has prevailed: people power. When a group of ordinary folk band together for a cause, the grace with which it faces its adversaries yet remains steadfast, is something political parties (BN or PR) can gain pointers from. Let's get one thing right — Bersih 2.0 has already won.

Support Bersih In Its Moment Of Need Posted: 07 Jul 2011 10:38 AM PDT By Dato' Ambiga Sreenevasan I would like to thank all Bersih supporters for your kind outpouring of support thus far. Bersih 2.0 has come a long way in carrying the aspirations of the rakyat for clean and fair elections, and it is the rakyat themselves above all who have made this possible. We have faced massive obstacles, vilification and oppression, but inspired by the bravery of the Malaysian people, managed to overcome them all thus far. Like many other Steering Committee members, it has been challenging personally to face threats of murder, gang rape and various other violence directed against myself and others. Nonetheless, we understand our responsibility in holding the line on behalf of all of you who want nothing more than a clean electoral system and a better Malaysia. Malaysians both at home and abroad have already been called to make so many sacrifices, so while we do not aspire to add to your burdens, we are writing this in the hopes that you can spare some support. The cost of our campaign increases every day, complicated by constant harassment by the authorities. In addition to our operational expenses listed below that are necessary to organising our gathering successfully in a peaceful and secure environment, we find ourselves having to raise money to bail staff at the secretariat of Bersih 2.0 that have been unjustly arrested and are now facing charges that make no sense whatsoever. Having key staff detained will cripple our operations in devastating ways.   READ MORE HERE AND SEE HOW TO DONATE

Najib Flees When Consumed By The Yellow Peril Posted: 07 Jul 2011 10:18 AM PDT By Mariam Mokhtar Instead of engaging with the rakyat, Najib has ordered the city closed to NGOs and political reformists. He has conveniently flown to Europe, like a coward. Malaysia's leaders are afraid that the country will experience its own Tahrir Square. The Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak is threatened by the Bersih demand for electoral reform and the rakyat has been energised. Najib's plans to outsmart Bersih have come to nothing. His idea to include the Agung in averting tension, has not endeared Najib to the public. Najib's co-conspirators have accused Bersih of a possible bloodbath. So called evidence has been planted to implicate Bersih in an uprising. Several people in Malaysia, including social activists and opposition politicians, have been arrested and the government is now claiming that the 'Bersih 2' March for Democracy is being financed by foreign elements, with the intention of toppling the government. The crisis is so deep that the government has declared that the wearing of yellow T-shirts is illegal, as it represents support for Bersih. Hundreds of thousands of Malaysians are prepared to march peacefully to support clean and fair elections on 9th July. On that day, solidarity marches in America, Australia, London and Korea, will also be held. After the first Bersih march in 2007, the performance of the Opposition at the 2008 general election saw them take over five of the thirteen Malaysian states and reduce the two-thirds majority of the government. If Najib and the Election Commission have nothing to fear, why will they not engage with Bersih? Western governments look away whilst the government of Malaysia declares the pro-democracy march illegal and the police arrest people wearing yellow T-shirts bearing the 'Bersih 2' logo and detain social activists and opposition politicians. Umno / BN is in meltdown and reacting out of panic. The Arab Spring in the middle-east managed to remove despotic and corrupt leaders from power. Encouraged by this show of public strength, Malaysians are determined to change their autocratic government. No one in Malaysia is asking for a military intervention from the west, but there has been little international condemnation of Razak's government. The Obedient Wives Club is seen as more newsworthy than the corrupt and scandal ridden government of Malaysia. This is probably because Malaysia is seen as a moderate Muslim country and so the west is courting Malaysia in the fight against Islamic terrorists and fundamentalist Muslim nations. There are no suicide bombings or fighting in Malaysia, and western governments are prepared to turn a blind eye and ignore the injustices and human rights abuses of the Malaysian government towards its own people. Perhaps the west sees Malaysia as a cheap source of much needed commodities like crude oil, timber and electrical components. Malaysia is also a voracious purchaser of defence equipment and is eager to set-up twinning arrangements with British universities. Furthermore, companies linked to the Malaysian government have made significant investments in real-estate in the United Kingdom. Ever since independence was granted by the British in 1957, the Malays have held the upper hand in Malaysian politics, as agreed in the constitution. Since the term of office held by Malaysia's fourth Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, race and religion have been used as weapons to divide the people. The non-Malays are not normally granted scholarships and places for them in the civil service and armed forces are limited. On the other hand, the Malays enjoy many privileges, including a generous subsidy when they buy houses. Malaysians of Chinese and Indian descent are termed illegal immigrants, and their contributions to the birth of the nation, overlooked. In elections, there has been massive vote rigging, gerrymandering, abuse of postal votes and phantom voting including the buying and manipulation of votes. The Electoral Commission has not been able to discharge its duties and none of the complaints have been acted upon or investigated conscientiously. The military budget increases annually but has not been spent wisely. Armed forces personnel, who speak in confidence, have expressed incredulity that millions have been squandered on military hardware from America, Britain, France and Russia, thus making maintenance and spare parts a logistical nightmare. The purchase of three Scorpene submarines in 2002 has attracted international attention only because money politics and the murder of a Mongolian model were linked to the defence minister, Najib Abdul Razak, who is now Prime Minister. Comparisons of the lavish spending, from the public purse by Razak and his wife, Rosmah Mansor, have been made with the former President of Tunisia, Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali and his wife Leila. Malaysians are aware that the west only sees the good side of the country; it has beautiful beaches and exotic food. Few foreigners know the 'other' Malaysia. Bersih's leaders have been subject to death threats and abuse. Many face arrest. The scale of panic and incredulity is such that even a poet laureate was brought in for questioning because of a few lines in one of his poems. A circular was handed to the Malaysian students department in Adelaide, Australia, warning students that if they were to join the rally on 9th July, they would face severe punishments. Malaysia is under siege from its own government and its citizens worldwide, are being threatened with reprisals if they support the call for democratic and electoral reform. The rakyat is wholly behind Bersih and is prepared to defend their rights to proper governance, in a peaceful manner. Najib on the other hand, is nowhere to be seen. Next week, the Pope should refuse to grant Najib an audience for running away from Malaysia and for abandoning her citizens at this crucial point in her history. The colour yellow suits Najib to a 'T'.

Global BERSIH 2.0 - updated list of BERSIH hotspots around the world Posted: 07 Jul 2011 10:08 AM PDT We, ordinary Malaysian citizens around the world, are supporting BERSIH 2.0 because we can and because we should. We believe that the future of Malaysia belongs to all our children and that together we can ensure that the legacy we leave them is a beautiful and just one. By Global Bersih 2.0 The BERSIH 2.0 Global Solidarity Network strongly supports the BERSIH 2.0 rally for Clean and Fair Elections in Malaysia on the 9th of July 2011. We urge all Malaysians abroad to unite in solidarity with our Malaysian brothers and sisters at home by joining BERSIH 2.0 walks and other events in cities across the world (see below for complete list). Malaysians have the constitutional right to peaceful assembly and freedom of speech in keeping with international human rights norms. As citizens, we demand free and fair elections, which provide the foundation a better, more democratic Malaysia. We support BERSIH 2.0's eight points of electoral reform and call in addition for a ninth: suffrage for Malaysians residing abroad. We, ordinary Malaysian citizens around the world, are supporting BERSIH 2.0 because we can and because we should. We believe that the future of Malaysia belongs to all our children and that together we can ensure that the legacy we leave them is a beautiful and just one. We are speaking out because we live in open democracies where the freedoms of speech and of peaceful assembly and the right to demonstrate are the norm rather than the exception. As is the case with the rally in Kuala Lumpur, we intend to gather peacefully and with dignity, and we shall do so without fear of water cannon, tear gas, police intimidation and brutality, or arbitrary arrest for dressing in yellow. Wherever we may be, we shall be wearing yellow T-shirts and carrying yellow banners, balloons and placards with peaceful slogans in support of clean and fair elections in Malaysia. We shall be bringing our family members both young and old. Together with Malaysians all over the world, we urge the Najib government to support electoral reform. Clean and fair elections are essential to developing a mature and open democracy, and to safeguard the integrity of our nation for future generations. We call on the Prime Minister to respect DYMM Seri Paduka Baginda Yang Di-Pertuan Agong's advice to His Majesty's government to 'show prudence and fairness in carrying out the duties entrusted to it by the Malaysian people'. We also urge the federal government and the Inspector-General of Police to follow this advice by releasing all those detained in connection with BERSIH 2.0, and stop the ongoing, systematic harassment of BERSIH 2.0 supporters. It is not too late for the Prime Minister to fulfil his duties and responsibilities in a manner that becomes his office and to allow this gathering to proceed peacefully in recognition of the will of the people. With the proper cooperation of all government agencies, we are confident the gathering will be nothing more and nothing less than a peaceful expression of a just and legitimate cause. The eyes of the world are now on the Prime Minister and his government, in this pivotal moment that will surely define his legacy in the eyes of Malaysians as well as citizens and governments the world over. We urge him to rise to the occasion. Global BERSIH 2.0 events in support of the BERSIH 2.0 gathering in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia   Country Time Location Facebook URL Contact Person 1 New Zealand 02:00PM Wellington – Malaysian High Commission http://on.fb.me/jMlCwc Danielle Ng Tallondanros20@gmail.com 2 Australia 12:30PM Canberra –Parliament Front Entrance http://on.fb.me/kBLI2H David Teohdavid.teoh@gmail.com 3 Australia 02:00PM Sydney – Sydney CBD Town Hall http://on.fb.me/j0RzYt David Teohdavid.teoh@gmail.com 4 Australia 01:30PM Melbourne – Federation Square http://on.fb.me/j0rDf1 David Teohdavid.teoh@gmail.com 5 Australia 01:30PM Hobart - Parliament House Lawns, Salamanca Place http://on.fb.me/jP0MWL Jason Lee jasonleecj@gmail.com 6 Australia 01:30PM Perth – Malaysian Consulate-General, 252 Adelaide Terrace  http://on.fb.me/lihTnU David Teohdavid.teoh@gmail.com 7 Australia 02:00PM Adelaide – Victoria square, Adelaide http://on.fb.me/klaDdS Maverick Loh maverickloh@hotmail.com 8 Australia 11:00AM Brisbane – Brisbane Square http://on.fb.me/imhKwv Calvyn Tan http://facebook.com/calvyn.tan 9 Japan 03:00PM Osaka – Tower of the Sun http://on.fb.me/mUGxvB Satya Arjunansatya.arjunan@gmail.com 10 Korea 03:00PM Seoul - Gwanghwamun Subway Station, Exit 6 http://on.fb.me/lgB4oQ Alfian Tahiralfian_zohri@yahoo.com Thency Gunasekaran thency@gmail.com 11 Taiwan 02:00PM Taipei - The National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, Liberty Square,Taipei http://on.fb.me/mIEOGW KM Chan qiminchan@hotmail.com   12 Hong Kong 03:00PM Malaysian Consulate 50 Gloucester Rd http://on.fb.me/lxYT2E Sze Wei zweiang@hotmail.com 13 Malaysia 02:00PM Kota Kinabalu, Sabah http://tinyurl.com/5rvefz3 Dave McLaren lmcmcwest69@gmail.com 14 Switzerland 02:00PM Zurich - Bahnhoffstrasse, Zurich, opposite Feldpausch http://on.fb.me/lQq8qB Bala Chelliah bala.chelliah@bluewin.ch   15 Sweden 01:00PM Stockholm - Malaysian embassy, Stockholm Karlavägen 37 http://on.fb.me/kfrxAK   16 France 02:00PM Paris – Parvis des Droits de l'Homme, Place du Trocadéro http://on.fb.me/joKlVQ Charis Quay cquayhl@stanfordalumni.org 17  England (UK) 12:00PM London – Malaysian High Commission, Belgrave Square http://on.fb.me/kQ9fsQ Yolanda Augustin yolanda_augustin04@yahoo.com 18 Scotland (UK) 12:00PM 10/7/11 Glasgow - George Square http://on.fb.me/kAefYr Mesoul Bin Safiemesoul@gmail.com 19 Ireland (UK and Republic) TBC 9/7/11 – Dublin, Belfast 10/7/11 – Cork, Limerick http://tinyurl.com/68trlxm Bakhtiar Hasnawibakhtiar.hasnawi@yahoo.com 20 Canada 09:00AM Ottawa – Parliament Hill http://on.fb.me/kb5OY4 Angeline Woon angeline.aubry@gmail.com 21 United States 10:00AM New York City – Consulate General of Malaysia, 313 East 43rd Street http://on.fb.me/lWrJ8l Leng Feng Lee llee3@buffalo.edu   22 United States 02:00PM Washington DC – Embassy of Malaysia, Washington ,3516 International Court Northwest http://on.fb.me/l9XgH0 John Lee johnleemk@gmail.com 23 United States 09:30AM San Francisco – Chrissy Field Picnic Area, Presidio http://on.fb.me/jehClH Chong Pin Limhttp://facebook.com/chongpin 24 United States 12:00PM Los Angeles – Pershing Square, Downtown LA  532 South Olive Street http://on.fb.me/iBJgM3 James Chenghttp://facebook.com/chenglf 25 United States 12:00PM Chicago - Milennium Park (Cloud Gate / The Bean) http://on.fb.me/rjGpaq Andrew Loh andrewlza@gmail.com

A delicate balance Posted: 07 Jul 2011 10:03 AM PDT By Maria J Dass, The Sun Former Perak chief police officer and Special Branch commander Tan Sri Yuen Yuet Leng talks about managing mass gatherings and his experiences during the May 13 racial riots that he hopes never to see again. As someone who was at the forefront of the fight against the communists during the Emergency, he shares with Maria J. Dass his thoughts on idolising communist leaders by some quarters and the threat that the Communist Party of Malaya (CPM) still poses in present time. How do you view recent developments in the country especially the turn of events that followed the plan to hold the Bersih 2.0 rally? There is nothing wrong with the demands that are being made by the organisers of Bersih per se, but the problem is the interference from outside the organisation. Other parties with different intentions have joined in the fray and are exploiting the situation. On top of that, the situation has been compounded by organisations coming out to make threats, and parties such as Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) whose members turned up to protest wearing t-shirts with pictures of communist leaders in the country emblazoned on them. Why is this worrying? The PSM does not seem to understand the parameters of the peace accord signed with CPM head Chin Peng in 1989. Under the accord, the CPM was never dissolved, it was only a disbandment of the communist armed forces that allowed some of them to come back. If you are going to sport a picture of Chin Peng on your t-shirt, you are only asking for trouble. How do you expect the police not to take action? I agree with what the Special Branch had done. This problem has been thrown in the police's lap and involves national security and public order. The Inspector-General of Police has to do what is best to prevent a clash of forces, until better heads prevail. You must remember Malaysia was one of the countries where the communist ideology was spread through violence. The violence lasted for a long time and affected a lot of people and many lives were lost. But for a lot of people, the Communist Party of Malaya is practically redundant. I know the communists and how they operate. They won't dissolve the party until they really want to. The CPM has the same ideology as (Chinese communist revolutionary) Mao Zedong who believed that the highest form of struggle is an armed struggle, and not a political struggle. Chin Peng is smart and has said that he does not want to go back to an armed struggle, but this he said for himself. He did not say this on behalf of the party. It is all very subtle. Malaysians are so trusting. I can be compassionate and trusting too, but I know when they are telling half-truths. So as long as they do not say they are dissolved, this group which espouses armed struggle is at liberty to pick up arms when the legal system fails. It is different with communist parties in Australia, America and United Kingdom which espouse legal and not armed struggle. In these countries, they do not promote violence but only bear socialist objectives. Is it cause for concern that remnants of the CPM are still around? When they withdrew in 1953, a small group of them that survived made their way across the border where they recruited Thai Chinese and managed to continue propagating their ideology to Malaysians from across the border. This is how the second wave of the Emergency got started. The Special Branch, as an intelligence organisation, has to have the historical knowledge of the workings of the party, and note their ideology of armed struggle as the highest form of struggle. But where PSM and some other organisations are concerned, many people question why the police seem to act against only certain parties, while others who make seditious comments and threats get away. Won't the public equate this with police persecution? Yes and no. The police usually back the effort of the incumbent government of the day so long as it acts by the rule of law, but they need to be more courageous and brave to act when supporters of the incumbent government go too far. When they are hesitant, they are bound to be accused of being unfair. Being balanced will earn the police some respect. Also, the police will probably be doing a favour for leaders of political parties who find it hard to reprimand errant members. Let the police do that work for them. The police have a pragmatic policy where sometimes they have to do what seems to be the wrong thing at the right time to avert an escalation of emotions. You just have to do it, because if you do not do this wrong thing at the right time, the situation can blow up. So the police have to act as fast as possible on information on both sides. Troublemakers from both sides have to be picked up. But there is also a perception that politicians are interfering in police work. I don't envy the position the police are in now. During my time, the main problem they had to address was the communist insurgency. Once this was over, it seemed like Malaysians had won the war against the communists, but lost the peace among themselves. I say this because they were united in the fight against the communists, but once this was over, each retreated into his own racial cocoon, leading to a lot of debate over matters and their rights as enshrined in the Constitution. Is it necessary to bring in the army to assist the police (in keeping order) as is being proposed? It is quite natural for the army to be brought in to support the police. This was done to stamp out the May 13, 1969 racial riots, but at that time the move to call in the army was to resolve a situation that had already blown out of proportion. And this time around? This time the police action is more pre-emptive. They are putting in place measures to address the security risks that may arise. This is good as the problem is addressed before it happens. They are thus better equipped and organised to address any problems that may arise, as compared to May 13. I had seen the atrocities of May 13 and don't ever want it to happen again in my lifetime. I will never ever forget the state of the bodies I saw and the heart-wrenching task of having to look for my missing men by searching at all hospital mortuaries in Kuala Lumpur. But I will never forget the acts of my Malay colleagues who protected me when there were attempts to harm me, and likewise Chinese colleagues who protected their Malay friends. People involved in the rallies planned this time around are those who do not know anything about what had happened and can never fathom the effects of it. But aren't the people today more educated and perhaps more discerning and mature, and therefore less gullible and taken in with the rhetoric of rogue leaders? People are better educated, but they still think along the same racial lines, and education makes them do things in a more sophisticated way – and this applies to both sides of the divide. It is impossible for Malaysians to integrate when each is still stuck in his racial cocoon. To compound this problem, we now have a problem with corruption which is again being looked at through racial eyes due to power being held by certain political parties. The trouble is that the race-based political parties we have now are all looking after the needs of their own members, more than addressing the widening racial divide. This is why I feel that the Malay leaders who are in control should make an effort to look after the needs of the minority Chinese and Indians instead of sidelining them, since the race-based parties are not doing their job. But some say this is precisely why we need a strong opposition to keep things in check. The Opposition we have is not that strong actually. They only appear to be strong because the incumbent government has weakened itself by allowing corruption and racial polarisation to fester. These problems need to be addressed and I think the present Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak) is trying very hard to make the changes. Back to demands for free and fair elections – don't the people have a right to demand a stop to manipulation of the electoral process? They want the leaders that they choose to serve them. Why not address this once and for all? Interference by outside forces aside, there is nothing wrong with Bersih 2.0's demands and the incumbent government must hear the genuine worries of the people. They need to pry things apart and deal with people who are sincere with their concerns. Then legitimate complaints can be looked into. People must see that the incumbent government is really trying to make a difference by addressing genuine concerns. Both sides (government and opposition) must work together for the interest of the nation. The timing is such that there appears to be a united front against the government, and this frightens them. Similarities have been drawn between the recent uprisings in the Middle East including that in Tahrir Square, Egypt, and the Bersih 2.0 rally. Do you think the situation is the same? The situation here is different. There is still a lot of hope left here, but in those countries the situation is more acute. Except for demonstrations, there is no other avenue for the people there to speak up. In your opinion and experience in the Special Branch, should the Bersih walk be allowed to go on so that the people can express their views? People must be given an avenue for expression, so the police must be more liberal in issuing permits for gatherings. I would rather it be allowed to go on but be held in a place where there will be better crowd control and security, like in a stadium. The police can be there to guide them along. This is a process of growing up in a democracy. It is good that the organisers of Bersih 2.0 agreed to move their programme to a stadium. With the intervention and edict of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, all parties involved should use the opportunity to climb down from where they are in a dignified manner. No one has lost face, and the only one who has won is the nation and its security.

Adakah mereka ini pengundi dari langit? Posted: 07 Jul 2011 10:03 AM PDT By Anak Sungai Derhaka   Imej diatas menunjukkan nama No. Kad Pengenalan, Nama, Alamat, lokaliti dan juga daerah mengundi tiga manusia tertua didunia yang masih hidup dan boleh mengundi kini tinggal di Perak. Mereka adalah antara 1538 warga emas yang usianya melebihi 100 tahun dimana Sembilan dari mereka sepatutnya tersenarai dalam "100 manusia paling tua" Wikipedia, namun tidak tersenarai dimana silapnya hanya SPR yang tahu. Senarai No. Kad Pengenalan, Alamat dan usia mereka sila lihat di (SINI) Bayangkan apa pandangan dunia terhadap Malaysia jika dunia mengetahui di Malaysia ramai rakyatnya yang berusia melebihi 100 tahun, pasti dunia akan kagum.. Walaupun nama mereka tidak tersenarai dalam Wikipedia, mereka masih boleh berbangga kerana mereka punya tempat tinggal, ini terbukti melalui alamat yang terpapar dalam imej diatas. Mereka boleh berbangga kerana mereka tidak berkongsi tempat tinggal atau berkongsi alamat dengan 87 orang lagi ataupun 63 orang lagi seperti yang boleh kita lihat di (SINI) Mereka mempunyai alamat tempat tinggal, begitu juga dengan 88 dan juga 64 pengundi yang berkongsi dua alamat yang berbeza, tetapi bagaimana pula dengan mereka yang disenaraikan dibawah.. Mereka-mereka dibawah ini yang mempunyai No. Kad Pengenalan, Nama, lokaliti dan juga daerah mengundi tetapi mereka tidak mempunyai alamat tempat tinggal… Bagaimana agaknya petugas-petugas pilihanraya terutamanya yang bertugas sebagai 'Polling And Counting Agent' (PACA) samada dari pihak Pakatan Rakyat mahupun Barisan Nasional boleh mengenali mereka? Jika mereka tiada alamat tempat tinggal bagaimanakah nama mereka boleh tersenarai sebagai pengundi?   Read more at: http://darisungaiderhaka.blogspot.com/2011/07/adakah-mereka-ini-pengundi-dari-langit.html

King’s ‘independence’ surprises Umno leaders, say sources Posted: 07 Jul 2011 09:51 AM PDT By Clara Chooi, The Malaysian Insider KUALA LUMPUR, July 8 — The Yang di-Pertuan Agong's "independence" over the Bersih issue through his edict and meeting the electoral reform group is causing some consternation among Umno politicians, including several ministers, sources say. The Malaysian Insider understands that they are upset by Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin's decision to grant an audience to Bersih 2.0 chairman Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan last Tuesday, arguing that it is outside his constitutional powers. Government officials also confirmed that there has been a series of tooing and froing of the draft of the King's statement between the palace and the Najib administration before Istana Negara issued what amounted to measured advice late Sunday. "Some Umno politicians felt that the King's statement should have been more strongly worded against Bersih. And some ministers are also upset that the King met Ambiga," a source told The Malaysian Insider. A Cabinet minister confirmed with The Malaysian Insider that dissenting views were raised during the weekly Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak. "They felt that the Agong is not the executive arm of the administration and the Agong must subscribe to the constitutional monarchy system where he acts on advice of the PM. "So most of the ministers felt that this was done without PM's knowledge. But PM knows, so actually, it was a wrong assumption," said the minister. The minister added that the disapproval was also largely because the government had already declared Bersih 2.0 an outlawed organisation. The King's agreement to meet Ambiga, said the minister, gave the appearance that the Ruler did not recognise the Bersih 2.0's status as illegal.   READ MORE HERE.

Koreans to show solidarity for Malaysian campaign Posted: 07 Jul 2011 09:48 AM PDT By Kirsty Taylor, The Korean Herald Pro-democracy campaigners in Korea are to push for free and fair Malaysian elections this weekend. A show of solidarity for people in Kuala Lumpur is to be held in Seoul on Saturday, as part of the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih) campaign calling for an end to dirty politics in the country. Amnesty International has published a press release on the issue saying that Malaysian authorities are arbitrarily arresting and detaining scores of peaceful electoral reform protesters in what it called "the worst repression of free speech and freedom of assembly in recent years." Since June 24, more than 100 activists have been arrested or questioned by police over their support of the electoral reform rally since June 24, according to Amnesty. "The Malaysian authorities are muzzling calls for electoral reform by throwing peaceful protestors in jail," said Donna Guest, Deputy Asia-Pacific Director at Amnesty International. "We have not seen such a crackdown on political activists across Malaysia in many years." The global demonstration is being planned for July 9 by the Coalition for Fair and Free Elections, also known as Bersih, meaning "Clean." The movement is calling for is calling for a cleanup of the electoral roll, reforms to the postal vote, free and fair access to media and a minimum 21-day campaign period for politicians in the country. The Korean event to be held in Seoul's Gwanghwamun district on July 9 will be one of many held around the world on the same day. Protests are to be held all over Australia as well as in New Zealand, Japan, Philippines, Indonesia, Taiwan and many European countries. The Bersih Korea Solidarity Rally is to meet at Gwanghwamun Subway Station Exit 6 at 2:45 p.m. for the rally to be held from 3-5 p.m. Protesters in Korea were encouraged to purchase and wear copies of the yellow Berish campaign T-shirts which have seen wearers reportedly held without charge by authorities in Malaysia. Anyone interested in taking part or purchasing a T-shirt can email bersih.korea@gmail.com or call (010) 4363-0609 for more information. (kirstyt@heraldm.com)

Malaysian Opposition Digs In Posted: 07 Jul 2011 08:53 AM PDT By Liz Gooch, New York Times KUALA LUMPUR — Election reform advocates said Thursday they would proceed with a rally in a stadium here on Saturday, despite warnings from the authorities that such a gathering would be illegal. Tensions have risen in this Southeast Asia nation in recent weeks, with the police arresting more than 200 people in connection with the planned rally, which is being 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. Opposition leaders, who strongly support the campaign for electoral changes, have predicted that the rally could attract about 300,000 people. 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. 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. Prime Minister Najib Razak then said the coalition could hold the rally, if it agreed to meet in a stadium, rather than on the streets as first planned. After a rare mediation meeting Tuesday with the Malaysian king, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, Bersih organizers agreed to these terms. Now, however, the authorities have 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 and said they would assemble at Merdeka Stadium in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday afternoon "whatever happens between now and then." "We are coming, we will be peaceful and together, we will build a better Malaysia," the coalition said in a statement. On Thursday, the chairwoman of Bersih, Ambiga Sreenevasan, said the management of Merdeka Stadium had turned down the coalition's request to use the site, but that it would reapply and try to secure a police permit under the name of one of its member groups. Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin accused Bersih of attempting to "incite hatred" by insisting on holding its rally at Merdeka Stadium, which he said should only be used for official functions, The Malaysian Insider, a Web site, reported Thursday. Meanwhile, the police have set up roadblocks on streets leading into the city and said they would arrest anyone found with Bersih materials, such as the coalition's yellow T-shirts. 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. Perkasa, a group formed after the 2008 elections to defend the rights of ethnic Malays, which it asserts are being eroded by non-Malays, is planning to hold a counter-rally against the Bersih movement and is seeking a police permit and a stadium. The United Malays National Organization's youth wing said it had yet to decide whether to go ahead with a similar rally. The Kuala Lumpur city police deputy chief, Amar Singh, said Thursday that the police had obtained court orders that bar 91 people, including leaders of Bersih, Perkasa and UMNO Youth, from certain parts of the capital between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Saturday. 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. Ms. Ambiga, the Bersih chairwoman, said the coalition wanted these changes implemented before the next election. The Electoral Commission has announced that it will introduce biometric fingerprinting for voters, but she said that the commission's recent announcement did not go "far enough." The coalition that has governed Malaysia since the nation gained independence in 1957, now under the name National Front, rejects accusations that elections have not been conducted freely and fairly and notes that the opposition won control of five states in the last national election. Analysts say the Bersih campaign could help the political opposition. "The opposition parties have jumped on this bandwagon because they would be direct beneficiaries of electoral reform," said Ibrahim Suffian, director of the Merdeka Center, an independent polling firm in Kuala Lumpur. Describing Bersih's demands as "perfectly normal in terms of what's expected in a functional democracy," Mr. Ibrahim said that if large numbers of protesters turned out Saturday, it could slow the government's momentum after a recent series of by-election victories. "I think that is the deeper concern: that a show of protest, a show of force by the opposition and NGOs demanding reforms from the government, could sway undecided people to feel that the government is not doing enough," he said. Ong Kian Ming, a political analyst at UCSI University, said that the rally came at an "opportune time" for the opposition and that a violent crackdown on the protesters could be "a game changer" in the coming elections.

Running Scared In Malaysia Posted: 07 Jul 2011 02:19 AM PDT The Malaysian government has pulled out all the stops to prevent an opposition rally this weekend. This week, army units conducted crowd control exercises with banners that said, "Disperse or we will shoot!" By John Malott, The Wall Street Journal  The police set up roadblocks and arrested Malaysians simply for wearing yellow T-shirts, the signature color of Bersih, a coalition of 62 nongovernmental organizations that demands changes in Malaysia's electoral system. To date, the police have arrested over 250 supporters of Bersih, claiming that they are "waging war against the king." Then something unprecedented happened. Malaysia's King Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, allegedly the target of Bersih's campaign, intervened. He called on both Prime Minister Najib Razak and Bersih to resolve their differences in a spirit of harmony and cooperation, for the good of the nation. There was a collective sigh of relief in Malaysia. The leader of Bersih, Ambiga Sreenevasan, an attorney and former president of the Malaysian Bar Council, met with the king and announced that the "Walk for Democracy," as it was called, was cancelled. She said that she was ready to meet with the government to discuss Bersih's concerns about electoral fairness. Prime Minister Najib then offered an olive branch, saying, "We are willing to provide a stadium for them to rally in … from morning until night," an offer that Ms. Ambiga and Bersih immediately accepted. Then Mr. Najib backed off. His government says that because Bersih is still illegal, it cannot apply for a permit. It also has banned Bersih's leadership from entering Kuala Lumpur on the day of the rally. On Thursday, he joined a gathering of martial artists who said that their 50,000 members will "wage war" against Bersih. Donning their militant uniform, Mr. Najib said, "If there are evil enemies who want to attack the country from within, you, my brothers, will rise to fight them." Mr. Najib has undermined the authority of the king, who gave Bersih and its concerns credence by meeting with its leadership and calling for a negotiated solution. The political situation in Malaysia is a fast-moving target, and each day brings new developments. Ms. Ambiga and Bersih now say that because of Mr. Najib's actions, they will go ahead with their assembly, no matter what. Nobody knows what will happen tomorrow. Bersih's main issue is not freedom of assembly but the fairness of Malaysia's democratic process. Bersih's backers ask how anyone can be opposed to free and fair elections. It's an easy question to answer. The United Malays National Organization, of which Mr. Najib is president, is the longest continuing ruling party in the world, and it is running scared. In the last general election in 2008, Malaysia's opposition took 47% of the popular vote. That year Parti Keadilan Rakyat, the party of Mr. Najib's nemesis Anwar Ibrahim, went from one seat to 31. The establishment parties in Malaysia's neighboring states are also in retreat. The opposition scored a major victory in Thailand last weekend, and in Singapore opposition candidates made surprising gains. No wonder Mr. Najib and company are worried. Many observers of Malaysian politics believe that electoral reform will lead to the ruling party's defeat, and that is why UMNO is afraid of Bersih. In the last election in 2008, the party received only one-third of the nation's votes. UMNO rules only because of its coalition with other political parties, which it increasingly marginalizes, that represent the Chinese and Indian minorities. Mr. Najib and his allies say that the opposition's gains in 2008 prove that Malaysia's elections are free and fair. Impartial observers disagree. Academic studies have enumerated how the Election Commission gerrymanders electoral districts to benefit the ruling party. The U.S. Department of State's human rights report bluntly states that opposition parties are unable to compete on equal terms with the governing coalition because of restrictions on campaigning and freedom of assembly and association. "News of the opposition," the U.S. says, is "tightly restricted and reported in a biased fashion." In the recent state elections in Sarawak, the government announced $390 million in local projects during the run-up to the polls. Prime Minister Najib was caught on video tape telling one village gathering that the government would give them 5 million ringgit ($1.5 million) for a local project on Monday, but only if they elected his candidate on Sunday. Who would win elections in Malaysia that truly are free and fair? The U.S. State Department reports that despite the many election irregularities during the 2008 elections, "most observers concluded they did not substantially alter the results." But unless the electoral reforms that Bersih is calling for are made, we will never know. Despite the government's intimidation, thousands of Malaysian citizens of all races and religions are expected to exercise their constitutional right to assemble and call for free and fair elections. Tomorrow's protest represents a brave step in what not just Malaysians but also the international community should hope will begin the country's transition to full democracy. Mr. Najib should display his own courage and ensure that a peaceful rally that seeks the fundamental rights of democratic peoples everywhere does not turn into a bloody confrontation. Mr. Malott was the United States ambassador to Malaysia from 1995-98.

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

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