Klik GAMBAR Dibawah Untuk Lebih Info

Sumber Asal Berita :-

Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News

Q&A: Malaysia’s Ambiga Sreenevasan
Malaysian government runs scared
Malaysia's leader warned: reform elections or risk revolution
Photo gallery of the Bersih 2.0 rally 09 July 2011
Bersih Global's Gallery Albums

Posted: 11 Jul 2011 09:38 PM PDT

The question now is whether Malaysia's opposition groups can capitalize on the momentum from Saturday's rally and force further changes in one of Southeast Asia's linchpin economies– or if voters will continue to stick with Mr. Najib and the ruling coalition that has dominated Malaysia since it gained independence from Britain several decades ago.

By Celine Fernandez, The Wall Street Journal

An estimated 20,000 protesters gathered in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday to call for reforms to Malaysia's electoral system. The surprisingly large turnout—and the government's tough response, with water cannons and tear gas—appears to have galvanized the country's opposition, which until recently had struggled to gain traction against a government led by Prime Minister Najib Razak.

The protesters believe Malaysia's government must reform to reduce electoral fraud and create a level playing field for all parties, including the opposition. Government officials say rally organizers were trying to embarrass the government, garner sympathy for opposition politicians and threaten social order.

The Wall Street Journal's Celine Fernandez recently spoke with Ambiga Sreenevasan, chairwoman of Bersih 2.0 (or the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections), a coalition of activists that organized Saturday's rally. A former president of the Malaysian Bar Council, she was the first Malaysian to receive the U.S. Secretary of State's International Women of Courage Award for championing human rights, the status of women and religious tolerance in Malaysia.

Here are some edited excerpts from the interview:

Q: Your organization has built up some momentum with Saturday's rally. What is the next move for Bersih?

A: Our agenda for electoral reform still stands firm, but we have two priority items which we think should be resolved. The first, of course, is that we express terrible regret at the death of Baharuddin Ahmad (a man who died of a heart attack during the rally), and we are very concerned at the manner in which it occurred. One of our top priority items is to refer the issue of the excessive use of the police force upon the rally to Suhakam (the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia). And we are asking them for a full investigation.

(Editor's note: Malaysian authorities have said they believe the man's death was from natural causes and not related to the rally. They have also defended the police's use of tear gas and water cannons, saying they were provoked into action and had to act to protect public order, and relied on minimal force to disperse crowds).

The second priority item for us is the release of those held under the Emergency Ordinance (including a number of activists arrested in connection with the rally). We are very, very, very concerned about the reports we are getting, about the manner in which they have been treated. We call for their unconditional release.

We are pushing for the setting up of a Royal Commission of Inquiry consisting of experts acceptable to the people to look into comprehensive electoral reform before the 13^th General Elections (Malaysia's next elections, which must be called by spring 2013), and we reiterate our call for this to the government.

Q: Will you hold more rallies?

A: I do not see it happening in the near future.

Q: What are the most important reforms needed in Malaysia, and why? Is it just about electoral reforms, or are other changes needed?

A: Immediately, we want a more level playing field for the 13^th General Elections. But apart from that, in the last six weeks, I think Bersih has become more than just a movement for electoral reform. I think that there is a real yearning for a higher standard of democratic values. People are utterly, utterly shocked by the abuse of power displayed by the government. So it has also become about the integrity of our institutions and the manner of governance and the abuse of power. I think people were very moved by that, and that is why we got the numbers that we did.

Q: What benefits would come from those reforms, and why are they needed in Malaysia?

A: The benefits would be providing a more level playing field and we think it brings legitimacy to the government who wins. If you come in because of free and fair elections, it would be something that would be more acceptable to the people.

Q: If Malaysia had truly free and fair elections, what do you think would happen?

A: I really can't predict. I wouldn't want to even begin to predict, actually. All I can tell you is that we will get a government who truly reflects the will of the people. And that's all we want.

Q: Why do you think the government cracked down so hard on Saturday?

A: Really, I fail to completely understand that. But I think they acted because they have taken a position and they were not prepared to move from that position. And they wanted to teach us a lesson, not by reason, but by force. I had made this statement earlier: They thought might could win over right, but I am afraid might can never win over right. Right always ultimately wins.

Q: The government says Bersih is really just a front for opposition parties and is trying to promote their interests ahead of any national election. They note that Anwar Ibrahim (Malaysia's most prominent opposition leader) played a conspicuous role at Saturday's rally. Is the government's criticism fair?

A: Not at all fair, because we invited all political parties including Barisan Nasional (Malaysia's ruling coalition) to support us. How can you say the cause for free and fair elections is only for the opposition? It is for everybody. Pakatan Rakyat (Malaysia's main coalition of opposition parties) did support Bersih. What's wrong with that? Pakatan Rakyat members are also citizens of this country. Are they not entitled to support a movement for free and fair elections?

Q: The government also says you're also trying to destabilize the country and undermine public order. Is that fair?

A: Totally unfair. So far, I have refused to respond to personal allegations. My issue is please judge me by my conduct and the government by their conduct. And let the public draw their own conclusions.

Q: Many people have said it took a lot of courage to organize Saturday's rally. Why are you doing this? What drove you to get involved and take such a leadership role in Bersih? Do you feel like you are putting yourself at any risk?

A: A few NGOs approached me and asked me to lead a civil society movement for free and fair elections, which I was very willing to do because it was for a good cause. And I did not for one minute think there was anything controversial about this topic. We thought we won't even get the numbers – we were worried about how to publicize the event. We never expected the government to react the way it did. I certainly did not want any of this attention that I am getting. I don't know why the focus was on me. We have 14 steering committee members. I was not making decisions on my own. We had nongovernmental organization members who had their views as well.

A government that comes across as such a great bully repulsed a lot of people. And I think that is why we had the numbers and the momentum that we did. Honestly, if they had allowed us to proceed and played it down, we would not have gotten those numbers. That's why you saw on that day, ordinary citizens, and these are not even members of political parties, from all walks of life, old, young, all races, all religions. Where have you ever seen that? And how does the government read it? They come back on Monday and attack Bersih again. Those are the people you are attacking. Those are the voters you are attacking. They are not reading the situation properly at all. But I still say there is time to salvage, to reconcile, and I hope the government will seek to do that.

Q: Although there are obviously major differences between Malaysia and countries such as Egypt, Tunisia or Syria, any demonstration these days inevitably invite comparisons to the Arab Spring protests. Are there are any similarities here?

A: No similarities, in my view. They were in a completely different situation. Here, all we are doing is asking for a free and fair election. It is the government's disproportionate response that created a momentum. But we are still a peace-loving nation. We still want the government to be fair. To me it was never our intention and it is still not our intention to bring down this government. We want to work with this government, to improve our electoral system.

Q: How deep is the support for Bersih?

A: When you look online, you will find it growing exponentially. I am amazed at how it has taken off. Bersih is not a word any more. It is an idea. It is a feeling. It is a passion, which is why you can never kill it.

Q: There is a Facebook page with 100,000 people requesting Najib Razak's resignation. What do you think about that?

A: We have nothing to do with that. It is never and has never been Bersih's intention for the prime minister to step down. As I said, we want to work with the prime minister and his government to have a better electoral system.

Malaysian government runs scared

Posted: 11 Jul 2011 07:30 PM PDT

By Jonathan Manthorpe, Vancouver Sun

Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak and his National Front government that has ruled the country for 54 years are exhibiting acute anxiety as new elections approach.

A demonstration on Saturday in Kuala Lumpur by a coalition of opposition and civil society groups demanding electoral reform was dealt with by the authorities far more harshly than the situation appears to have warranted.

The authorities' swift recourse to riot squads, volleys of tear gas, water cannon and the arrest of 1,600 people, is being widely seen as evidence of the National Front's fear it may be defeated in elections that must be held by 2013.

At the same time, reports from Paris say French prosecutors are near the end of their investigation of allegedly corrupt payments of $200 million involved in the $2-billion sale to Malaysia of Scorpene submarines by French arms manufacturer DCNS in 2002.

Najib was defence minister at the time and the $200 million was paid to a company controlled by some of his closest associates and advisers.

There is also the question of whether the murder of Mongolian model and translator, Altantuya Sharriibuu, the mistress of Najib's chief negotiator on the submarine deal, is linked to the scandal.

Two of Najib's bodyguards have been convicted of murdering Altantuya. Their appeal against their conviction and sentence that they be hanged is due to be heard shortly after a twoyear delay.

With these storm clouds gathering it is understandable that Najib may be fretful as he contemplates his first election since taking over as prime minister in April 2009 and assuming the leadership of the United Malays National Organization (UMNO), the dominant party in the National Front governing coalition.

Najib took over from Abdullah Badawi, who oversaw the ruling coalition, when in the 2008 elections it lost for the first time its two-thirds majority in parliament.

Provincial elections also saw parties of the opposition People's Alliance win control of five of Malaysia's 13 states.

Abdullah's lacklustre performance and departure followed a massive opposition rally in 2007 by a group called Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections, which also organized Saturday's march in Kuala Lumpur.

The group contends Malaysia's elections are far from free and fair because of inadequate voter registration lists, widespread fraud and gerrymandering of constituencies.

It wants wholesale reform of the process, including guaranteed access to government-linked media for opposition parties.

The Najib government's anxiety about this demonstration has been evident for several weeks. The human rights organization Amnesty International has described the response to the protest and the events leading up to it as "the worst campaign of repression we've seen in decades."

Over the last two weeks police have detained more than 200 people nationwide for trying to promote the rally, which was banned by the authorities.

Early last week, there was an unusual intervention by Malaysia's king, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, who got demonstration leaders to agree to hold their rally in Kuala Lumpur's Merdeka Stadium.

The Najib government at first agreed to this compromise, but then changed its mind and reinforced the ban. Merdeka Stadium management said the facility was not available because it is still being renovated after a Justin Bieber concert in April.

To reinforce the ban, police cordoned off the centre of Kuala Lumpur on Friday evening, sealed off roads, closed railways stations and deployed water cannon trucks in readiness.

However, somehow thousands of people evaded these attempts to thwart them.

Exactly how many people took part is unclear. The authorities say it was only 6,000 or so. The organizers say it was 50,000. Independent observers put the number at from 10,000 to 20,000.

What is not in dispute is that they were given no leeway and were met with volleys of tear gas and chemicallaced water from the start.

Among those injured was Anwar Ibrahim, leader of the opposition People's Alliance, who warned the Najib government will face an "hibiscus revolution" -the hibiscus is Malaysia's national flower -unless there is reform.

Najib's state of mind is evident in his response.

"Don't doubt our strength," he said. "If we want to create chaos, we can. UMNO [his party] has three million members. If we gather one million members, it is more than enough. We can conquer Kuala Lumpur."

Malaysia's leader warned: reform elections or risk revolution

Posted: 10 Jul 2011 11:39 PM PDT

Najib Razak's administration urged by protesters to implement reforms and crack down on corruption

More than 1,400 people were arrested and 12 injured — including Anwar — as clashes between police and protesters broke out in Malaysia's biggest protest since 2007.

Kate Hodal in Kuala Lumpur, Guardian UK

Malaysia's top opposition leader has warned the government that it may face a "hibiscus revolution" unless activists' demands are met for electoral reform and an end to "dirty politics".

Anwar Ibrahim's comments came a day after an estimated 20,000 people took to the streets to protest against alleged vote-rigging and other electoral abuses, defying a government ban and widespread use of teargas and water cannon filled with chemically laced water to deter the crowds.

More than 1,400 people were arrested and 12 injured — including Anwar — as clashes between police and protesters broke out in Malaysia's biggest protest since 2007.

Speaking to a small group of young graduates on Sunday, the People's Justice party leader warned prime minister Najib Razak's government: "We will have to pursue – in parliament and outside of parliament – free and fair elections, even by rallying unless they change the electoral vote."

When asked whether Malaysia was in the middle of its own revolution, Anwar said: "We have no confidence left [in the government], so it is important for Najib to consider seriously that we are close [to that]."

Najib, whose ruling party Barisan Nasional (National Front) has been in power since 1955, has dismissed Anwar as an opportunist who "will do everything, good or bad" to become prime minister himself. He has also claimed that Anwar might have been using Saturday's rally – organised by the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections, a loose group of 62 non-governmental organisations – for his own political gain.

Najib's government took extreme measures to prevent people from attending Saturday's protest, including a city-wide lockdown that saw police suspend public transportation, seal off main roads, and threaten to arrest anyone wearing yellow, the colour of the coalition.

Amnesty International denounced the government's actions as "the worst campaign of repression we've seen in decades".

But Najib has since warned activists not to take to the streets again and claimed that his party, Umno, far outnumbered opposition groups.

"Don't doubt our strength," he said. "If we want to create chaos, we can. Umno has 3 million members. If we gather 1 million members, it is more than enough. We can conquer Kuala Lumpur."

Such comments – along with images and videos of police brutality against peaceful protesters – are undermining the BN's future, some say.

"They made a very big mistake on Saturday, by assuming that arresting more people would make the rest of us scared," said youth leader Khairul Anuar. "Actually, it has just made us more brave."

A similar rally in 2007 is widely credited with spurring on Malaysia's opposition movement, which won a landslide victory in the 2008 elections.

Many are hoping that Saturday's rally could potentially topple the BN entirely in the next election, slated for as early as this year. But some analysts say the government may hold off in order to smooth things over.

"From Najib's perspective, holding elections any time soon would be a mistake because of the damage that has been done," Bridget Welsh, Malaysia specialist at Singapore Management University, told Reuters.

"The fact that such a large crowd turned up despite a crackdown shows that voter anger is deep and this is going to push a lot of people who are in the middle towards the opposition."

Photo gallery of the Bersih 2.0 rally 09 July 2011

Posted: 10 Jul 2011 11:15 PM PDT