Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News
Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News |
- Hisham declares Bersih an outlaw organisation
- Police may make more arrests, says Karpal
- Six PSM activists re-arrested under EO
- Govt to media: Black out police violence during rally
- PKR may drop ‘sex video’ MPs
- Bersih Australia seeks right to postal ballot
- Sabah singer Atama to lead rally (UPDATED WITH VIDEO)
- ‘Tone down anti-Bersih rhetoric’
- BN indirectly promoting Bersih rally, says Nizar
- EC may allow foreign observers
- Crackdown on Bersih sets alarm bells ringing abroad
- No more rally talks
- Young voters key to Pakatan victory in GE13, says Mat Sabu
- Ronnie Liu arrested for promoting Bersih rally
- 300 stage rowdy protest against Penang CM, Bersih
| Hisham declares Bersih an outlaw organisation Posted: 01 Jul 2011 07:31 PM PDT
(Malaysiakini) - The Coalition for Clean & Fair Elections (Bersih 2.0) has been declared an unlawful organisation effective yesterday, the Registrar of Societies (ROS) said today. In a statement, ROS director-general Abdul Rahman Othman said the declaration was made by Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein under Section 5 of the Societies Act 1966.
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| Police may make more arrests, says Karpal Posted: 01 Jul 2011 05:26 PM PDT
DAP chairman Karpal Singh thinks that more major players in the planned Bersih rally will be hauled up in the next few days. (Free Malaysia Today) - DAP chairman Karpal Singh expects the police to make more arrests in the coming days to thwart the planned Bersih 2.0 rally next Saturday. He believes more major players behind the planned march will be targeted. He said the current tough police crackdown on Bersih activists had led him to believe that anyone associated with Bersih would be hauled up soon. He pointed out that the detention of 30 leaders and activists from Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) since last was a clear sign that the police dragnet will widen. Karpal said the authorities have even criminalise any attempt by anyone to encourage people to take part in the mammoth rally on July 9. "Police are going all out to foil the rally. "I expect more arrests, especially on the Bersih main leaders," he told a press conference in Air Itam here during his visit to the Bukit Gelugor parliamentary constituency. Karpal also slammed the violent protest by some 300 youths against Pakatan Rakyat state government and Bersih in the city centre yesterday. He said the provocative protest was an attempt to incite racial hatred and violence. Karpal criticised Umno Youth and Perkasa for adopting intimidating political tactics to instill fear in the people over the Bersih rally. He chided both movements for trying to organise respective rallies on the same day and venue to disrupt the Bersih rally.
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| Six PSM activists re-arrested under EO Posted: 01 Jul 2011 04:47 PM PDT
Six PSM leaders will be taken to Bukit Aman to face charges under the Emergency Ordinance. (Free Malaysia Today) - Six of the 30 Parti Socialis Malaysia (PSM) activists whose seven-day remand period ended today have been re-arrested under the Emergency Ordinance (EO). The six are Sungai Siput MP Michael Jeyakumar, deputy chairman M Saraswathy, central committee members Choo Chon Kai and M Sugumaran, Sungai Siput branch secretary A Letchumanan and national Youth chief R Sarathbabu. According to PSM national treasurer, A Sivarajan, the six were seen exiting the northern Seberang Perai police district headquarters when they were handcuffed and led back inside. "It has been confirmed that they are being held under the EO 3(1) which constitutes detention without trial for 60 days," Sivarajan told FMT. "But we are still in the dark about what exactly the six are being charged with." "The lawyers were told that the orders came from Bukit Aman and that they will only be told of the charge once the six are brought there. I don't know when they will be leaving for Kuala Lumpur. We are still waiting." The 30 were detained at the Sungai Dua toll plaza in the North-South Expressway while travelling in a chartered tour bus from Kedah to Penang last Saturday. They were remanded for seven days to assist police investigation under Section 122 of the Penal Code for allegedly waging war against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
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| Govt to media: Black out police violence during rally Posted: 01 Jul 2011 04:29 PM PDT
(Harakah Daily) - Online news portal Merdeka Review revealed that the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission instructed radio and television stations to focus on 'damage' by participants on the July 9 Bersih rally while omitting police violence in the reporting. The portal said an official told this to some 22 electronic media representatives at a seminar themed Contents Management 2011 held at MCMC yesterday. 'Thank you'
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| Posted: 01 Jul 2011 03:33 PM PDT
Sungai Petani's Johari Abdul and the other five who watched the sex video implicating their boss may be axed in the next general election, says a party source. (Free Malaysia Today) - The PKR MPs who watched the sex video implicating Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim may be among those who are likely to be axed during the next general election, said a party source. The source was responding to PKR deputy president Azmin Ali's recent statement that candidates who failed to perform and were unpopular with the people would be dropped. Azmin also said that PKR was gunning for 97 parliamentary seats and its Pakatan Rakyat coalition partners, PAS and DAP, had agreed to this. The source said Sungai Petani MP Johari Abdul, who was the first to watch the video, could find himself on the chopping block despite vehemently defending Anwar over the scandal. "He is facing an acute internal problem," said the source, adding that the top leadership was not pleased with him being "friendly" with the "Datuk Trio" who exposed the video. Until now, he said, Johari had been unable to clear the mystery surrounding the matter. The main point of contention, he explained, was why the PKR MP had only issued a statement defending Anwar two days after he had watched the video. "Why didn't he do it immediately?" the source asked. "This is a question that needs to be answered. Party members are confused with certain things. Firstly, why did the 'Datuk Trio' target Johari (inviting him to watch the video)? "Why didn't Johari inform the party leadership of the attempt? Why did he bring five other MPs for the second screening?" he added. The others taken by Johari to view the video were Kamarul Baharin Abbas (Teluk Kemang), Rashid Din (Merbok), Azan Ismail (Indera Mahkota), Abdullah Sani Abdul Hamid (Kuala Langat) and Amran Abdul Ghani (Tanah Merah). Former Malacca chief minister Rahim Tamby Chik, one of the three who released the video, claimed that several PKR MPs had asked for RM1 million each to jump ship after watching the video. He also alleged that after watching the video, Johari had admitted that the person in the video was Anwar. Rahim also claimed that Johari had requested for RM100,000 as "wang pelincir" (lubricant money) to facilitate the exodus of PKR MPs. Sivarasa may also be dropped A pro-Umno blogger recently claimed that Johari had asked "Datuk Trio" for RM1 million to quit his party and posted a two-minute video clip showing Johari watching the sex video. In the clip, Johari was seen as being on close terms with the three men, joking and laughing with them during the screening. The PKR MP denied the allegation and challenged the blogger to release the full recording.
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| Bersih Australia seeks right to postal ballot Posted: 01 Jul 2011 03:19 PM PDT
(Malaysiakini) - While Bersih 2.0 in Malaysia is facing the brunt of police harassment in the lead-up to the July 9 rally in Kuala Lumpur, similar protests planned in Australia should proceed without a hitch. Youth of Malaysia in Australia (YMA), the group coordinating the rallies in seven cities Down Under, expects the Australian police to be "very accommodating" to their protests.
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| Sabah singer Atama to lead rally (UPDATED WITH VIDEO) Posted: 01 Jul 2011 03:17 PM PDT
An outspoken singer has come forward to organise the Bersih 2.0 rally in Kota Kinabalu. (Free Malaysia Today) - An outspoken local singer, Atama, is leading the Bersih campaign in Kota Kinabalu, come July 9. u4I422UqXtA SEE VIDEO ON YOUTUBE HERE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4I422UqXtA Atama or Andrew Ambrose Mudi, who had earned the wrath of Barisan Nasional leaders before for his outspokenness, told a press conference here today that he and his friends Michael Liew and Chester Pang, had yesterday applied for a police permit for the peaceful assembly at the city's Padang Merdeka here. "We decided to apply for the permit, with complete documents such as the programme for that day and a list of the organising committee members," he said. Asked what would happen if the police deny them the permit, Atama, 36, said they would re-apply and "will cross the bridge when we come to it". Atama, who is a member of MCLM (Malaysian Civil Liberty Movement), said that he was leading the Bersih campaign as a civil movement. "We are exercising our rights in accordance with the Federal Constitution," he said. "We have formed an ad hoc committee to get the various civil movements to come under one umbrella to support the Bersih rally in a disciplined and peaceful manner," Atama said. The Kadazandusun singer, speaking in fluent English, expects 500 to turn up for the march.
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| ‘Tone down anti-Bersih rhetoric’ Posted: 01 Jul 2011 01:38 PM PDT
By Casey Lee, FMT KOTA KINABALU: The heat over the Bersih 2.0 rally has been rising over the past few days, but the DAP wants the people to reduce the temperature and strive for cooperation. However, DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang urged the people to moderate their response to the crackdown on the rally but not to back down from demanding a clean-up of the electoral system. He urged the organisers and supporters of the rally and the police to lower their combative stance on July 9 and to strive for cooperation to turn the event into a successful and peaceful assembly for clean and fair elections. "All parties concerned should try to reduce the temperature which has been raised in the past weeks with all these overreactions by the Barisan Nasional, the police and the Election Commission (EC). "All parties should cooperate to make the Bersih rally peaceful and successful because this would be good for the reputation of Malaysia," he told reporters here yesterday. He said the recent arrests of Bersih supporters who were wearing the yellow T-shirts were unjust, adding that police were trying to suppress the march instead of ensuring a peaceful protest through crowd and traffic control. "I'm shocked that the prime minister is talking about the possibility of Emergency. Why should there be talks of ISA and Emergency proclamation where this is a peaceful and orderly protest, which is very common in developed democracies? "Bersih has become a dirty word. It is supposed to mean clean, but it has become a dirty word and this has made Malaysia a laughing stock in the eyes of world," Lim said. He added that it should be acknowledged that there were many failures in the current electoral process such as the management of postal votes, faulty electoral rolls as well as malpractices and corruption. "In the recent Sarawak election, the Barisan Nasional (BN) spent RM500 million, which is totally an abuse of the election expense limit under the law. "It is estimated that for the 13th general election, BN will need RM4 billion to RM5 billion… this is money politics at its most monstrous form because firstly, victories based on such gargantuan financial outlays are definitely not clean. "Secondly, those who have contributed to the BN election war chest would expect returns and that is the root of corruption in Malaysia, which is now so deep and entrenched that it has become notorious worldwide," he said. Manipulating press freedom Lim also condemned the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) for issuing instructions to private and public radio and television stations to "demonise" the Bersih rally. Based on a report in news portal, Malaysiakini, an editor said he was "implicitly advised by the MCMC to refer to the Bersih rally as an illegal gathering" in order to discourage public participation in the rally.
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| BN indirectly promoting Bersih rally, says Nizar Posted: 01 Jul 2011 01:36 PM PDT
By Humayun Kabir, FMT IPOH: Perak Pakatan Rakyat claims that Barisan Nasional (BN) is indirectly promoting the Bersih 2.0 rally with its suppressive moves to stop the peaceful rally on July 9. "BN is conducting an adverse publicity campaign on the Bersih 2 rally through the mainstream media. But it is adding more fuel to the call for clean and free elections and encouraging more Malaysians to participate in this peaceful march," Perak Pakatan's chief Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin said. "The high-handed police action against the Bersih organisers and supporters who wore yellow T-shirts is driving more angry Malaysians to lend support to this peaceful assembly," Nizar said . He said the BN government and police should allow the Bersih rally to proceed without hindrance, but they made the mistake of trying to suppress a people's movement. "The right of every Malaysian to participate in a peaceful assembly is enshrined in the Federal Constitution and no one can take this away. There is no need for a police permit," Nizar, the former Pakatan Perak menteri besar, told FMT today. He pointed out that the first Bersih rally in 2007 was peaceful but turned ugly when the police violently cracked down on the march. He said the aggressive response eventually backfired on the BN when it lost its two-thirds majority in the 2008 historic general election. Nizar hopes that the police will not make the same mistake again in the Bersih 2.0 rally, saying that if they do, it will cause greater negative consequences for the BN in the coming 13th general election. He said that public disorder will only be caused by the Umno and Perkasa rallies, and not from the peaceful Bersih 2.0 march.
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| EC may allow foreign observers Posted: 01 Jul 2011 01:34 PM PDT
(Bernama) - BANGKOK: The Election Commission is looking into inviting international observers for the coming election, EC chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof said. Saying that allowing international observers was a good practice, he said the EC would, however, look into various aspects, including costs, before deciding on the matter.Speaking in an interview with TV3 and Bernama here, Aziz said the move would allow the observers to see for themselves the way Malaysia conducts its elections. Aziz is here on the invitation of Thailand's election commission to monitor the country's election on Sunday. Malaysia is among 13 countries invited to observe the election -- a move which Thailand hopes will enhance the confidence of the international community in the country's election. Aziz described the invitation as an honour for the EC, saying it reflects confidence in the commission's ability and in Malaysia's election system. "If they didn't recognise our election system, they would not have called us to become international observers," he said. When asked what the criteria of a free and fair election in the eyes of the international observers were, Aziz said, voters should be free to vote and not being influenced or forced to vote only for certain parties. The candidates, on the other hand, should be free to campaign, he said. Voters should be allowed to listen to or follow the campaign and there should be no fraud or corruption. Asked on the eight demands by the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih), Aziz said, there was always room for improvement. He stressed that the EC did not view itself as a perfect entity. He also explained the EC's positions with respect to some of the demands, including: - Cleaning up the electoral roll -- He said this was being done on a daily basis but the public should also play their part by informing the EC about their status. There was no proof of voters being able to cast their votes more than once and that there had been no such cases being brought to court. - Minimum of 21 days campaign period -- The EC is looking into this, as well as the request for the campaign period to be shortened. The EC will also look into the matter from the security aspect. - Use of indelible ink -- The EC is looking into the use of the biometric system. - Free and fair access to media -- The EC cannot order the media to provide coverage for any party. The EC, however, can discuss with the media to give space to all parties. - Stop corruption -- The EC agrees with this but has no expertise in the matter. The EC, he said, would get the help of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission. - Strengthen public institutions --- He said this was not within the EC's purview. - Reform the postal ballot system -- The EC is looking into this, including the possibility for an advance voting system similar to the one implemented by Thailand, with voters allowed to vote earlier, or on polling day. The system, however, had its own inherent problems, he said. He stressed that some of the demands were not under the EC's jurisdictions. Bersih had submitted 17 demands but reduced them to eight following discussions with the EC, he added. "Had Bersih continued with the discussion, we would have been able to reduce them to about three issues," he said, adding that Bersih's illegal rally planned for July 9 would not solve anything. "Demonstrations won't solve anything. It doesn't mean that the EC will agree to their demand if they demonstrate," he said.
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| Crackdown on Bersih sets alarm bells ringing abroad Posted: 01 Jul 2011 01:31 PM PDT
By Stephanie Sta Maria, FMT PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian government's vehement opposition to the Bersih 2.0 rally has the international community reeling in alarm and bewilderment over the "uncharacteristic behaviour" of a "moderate, progressive country". The Human Rights Watch (HRW) noted that Malaysia has always been perceived as a reasonable country that welcomes dialogue and negotiation. But the government's severe crackdown on rally organisers and supporters have now run contrary to this sentiment and is likely to tarnish Malaysia's reputation within the United Nations Human Rights Council. HRW's deputy director for Asia, Phil Robertson, said that none of Bersih's demands has warranted the spate of arrests, threats of Internal Security Act (ISA) or bringing out the army on July 9. "For some reason the Malaysian government has decided to make this rally a test of its power," Robertson told FMT. "It almost seems like it has a screw loose. It's very clear that this is a campaign of intimidation." "I have heard that a number of foreign diplomats have attempted to pacify the Malaysian government, but the exact details of those talks have been kept confidential." "Malaysia is in fact bound by Article 21 of the United Declaration on Human Rights (UDHR) to allow this rally. Bersih is asserting its right under Article 21 and that right should be respected." Article 21 states that "the will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of the government: this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures". Robertson also dismissed accusations that Bersih is politically motivated due to the support by opposition parties. He stressed that even a member of a political party still has the rights of a citizen. "The issue here is freedom of peaceful assembly," he said. "If a NGO and a political party decide to walk hand-in-hand, that is their right. The government is just churning out excuse after excuse to stop the rally in the hope that the people will believe at least one of them." Thailand is not the bogeyman The Bangkok-based Robertson also defended Thailand against the Election Commission's (EC) portrayal of the country as one that is mired in chaos because "people are campaigning for one rejected leader". EC deputy chairman, Wan Ahmad Wan Omar, had made this earlier remark to draw parallels between Thai support for ousted prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, and Bersih's alleged support for opposition leader, Anwar Ibrahim. Thailand goes to the polls tomorrow in its 26th general election but Robertson assured that no chaos or violence is expected. "Malaysia is fond of painting Thailand as the bogeyman which isn't credible at all," he said. "The reality is that Thais broadly believe that the country's electoral procedures are actually good."
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| Posted: 01 Jul 2011 01:26 PM PDT
By Lee Shi-Ian, Roy See Wei Zhi and Nadirah H. Rodzi, NST KUALA LUMPUR: Police yesterday slammed the door shut on any further negotiations with parties intending to hold rallies on July 9. Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Khalid Abu Bakar said the time for talking was over and did not rule out the possibility of rally organisers being arrested in the days leading up to July 9. He also did not discount the possibility that they would be arrested under the Internal Security Act.In a hastily called press conference yesterday, Khalid said despite advising the rally organisers through amicable meetings, they did not show signs of backing down.
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| Young voters key to Pakatan victory in GE13, says Mat Sabu Posted: 01 Jul 2011 01:07 PM PDT
By Boo Su-Lyn, The Malaysian Insider KUALA LUMPUR, July 2 — Pakatan Rakyat (PR) is confident young voters will deliver the pact at least seven states in the next general election, says PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu. The popular leader, better known as Mat Sabu, said the federal opposition plans on retaining Kelantan, Penang, Selangor, Kedah and winning back Perak. He added that PR intended to take over Negri Sembilan, Terengganu and will deliver a "shock" in Johor, although he declined to elaborate if the "shock" meant seizing the Barisan Nasional (BN) stronghold or increasing PR's seats. "Young people are our friends; young voters are more inclined towards change. All races love us now," said Mohamad with a smile in a recent interview with The Malaysian Insider. The popular ceramah speaker noted a "very strong" presence among the youths at PR programmes in Negri Sembilan, Terengganu and Johor. "We only need four seats to control Negri Sembilan...we can take nine seats to get Terengganu," said the former Internal Security Act (ISA) detainee. According to the Election Commission, 70 per cent of the 4.2 million unregistered voters are between the ages of 21 and 40, and about 450,000 Malaysians turn 21 each year, the eligible age to vote in the country. The number of voters being registered is also picking up pace, with some 12 million on the electoral rolls ahead of a snap election widely speculated to be held early next year. Young people were a key voter segment that swung in favour of the opposition in Election 2008, carrying it to record gains. The loose pact swept to power in five states and denied BN its customary two-thirds majority of Parliament when it won 82 parliamentary seats.
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| Ronnie Liu arrested for promoting Bersih rally Posted: 01 Jul 2011 01:00 PM PDT
By Teoh El Sen, FMT KUALA LUMPUR: The police have detained Selangor state exco member Ronnie Liu at about midnight on Friday for allegedly urging people to join the July 9 Bersih rally. Liu, the Pandamaran state assemblyman, was stopped and arrested while returning to Petaling Jaya from a community programme in Serendah. He was traveling with Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim in the latter's car. The DAP man is currently being held at the Kuala Kubu Baru police station for questioning. Fellow state exco member Elizabeth Wong, who was in another car, said she saw a police patrol car stop Khalid's car along a trunk road in Rawang. "The policemen just opened the door and pulled him (Liu) out. A few seconds later they whisked him away," she said. Liu's lawyer told FMT that the police wanted to take his (Liu's) statement. "They said that he was asking people to join the Bersih rally, but we don't think they have any case against him," said the lawyer, who requested anonymity. Meanwhile, Liu said in an SMS message: "Arrested after a ceramah in Serendah because (in my speeches) I touched on Bersih. Now at IPD KKB waiting to give statement".
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| 300 stage rowdy protest against Penang CM, Bersih Posted: 01 Jul 2011 12:57 PM PDT
By Athi Shankar, FMT A journalist from Sin Chew Daily was hit on the back while the protesters warned him that they would throw him into the sea if he continued to snap their photos at close range. The protest caused massive traffic jam on the bridge but policemen failed to take any action. The demonstrators chanted "Guan Eng is a Communist" and claimed that he was the "most racist leader in the history of the country". GEORGE TOWN: Some 300 supporters from Umno, Perkasa and an unregistered NGO Suara Anak Anak Mamak Pulau Pinang held a nearly three-hour noisy march and violent protest in the city centre, condemning both the Pakatan Rakyat state government and the Bersih 2.0 rally. The crowd first gathered at the historic Masjid Kapitan Keling after Friday prayers at 2.30pm. Chanting anti-state government and anti-Bersih slogans, they then marched for about 1.5km from the mosque to Komtar via Lebuh Chulia and Jalan Penang. Their march against the traffic flow caused a standstill and tension in the city. Eyewitnesses said the rowdy protesters hit windshields of cars, and violently shoved aside two meida men – a photographer from the Chinese newspaper Guan Ming Daily and a videographer from a TV station. At Komtar, the protesters chanted anti-state government and anti-Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng slogans. They demanded Lim's resignation as chief minister on grounds that he had openly thrown his support behind the Bersih 2.0 rally planned for July 9. Scuffles broke out when police finally took action to disperse the crowd. Police detained eight people, including Senator Ezam Mohd Nor and Mamak Association chief Mohamed Ghani Abdul Jiman, for allegedly taking part in an illegal assembly. Police deployed some 100 officers and men to thwart the gathering. After the arrests and after police sounded the siren for the protesters to disperse, they gathered along Jalan Penang, where several Umno leaders, including Ezam, gave anti-state government and anti-Lim speeches. Ezam, who was former PKR Youth chief, warned Lim that there would be more such protests in the future to force him out of office before the next general election. Another group of demonstrators marched from Jalan Penang to the Komtar area, carrying two ducks. They called out Penang state executive councillor and Batu Maung assemblyman Abdul Malik Abul Kassim. The police just stood by and allowed the protesters to perform their antics. After the protest, the demonstrators marched back to the mosque via Lebuh Carnavon. Another group proceeded to Penang Bridge. They held a separate rally, carrying banners, waving the Malaysian flag and handing out flags to passers-by. A journalist from Sin Chew Daily was hit on the back while the protesters warned him that they would throw him into the sea if he continued to snap their photos at close range. The protest caused massive traffic jam on the bridge but policemen failed to take any action. The demonstrators chanted "Guan Eng is a Communist" and claimed that he was the "most racist leader in the history of the country". They carried banners carrying messages such as "Bumiputeras are in the government and Chinese in opposition, is there any hope for the Penang Chinese?"
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Earlier, PAS central committee member Hanipa Maidin 'thanked' the government and the tightly-controlled media for promoting the Bersih rally through their warnings and reports.
The Bersih rally calling for widescale electoral reforms has come under attack from UMNO and its right wing leaders, with the party's offshoot Perkasa raising the spectre of a racial riot should organisers refuse to heed warnings from the police to cancel the rally. 
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