Pakatan Rakyat (PR) Social Political Buzz & Bulls

Good Move By The Malaysian Government

I am shocked. A huge fraction of my politically apathetic friends have been converted to the right path ;-)

Now, these are the people who love saying that politics is dirty and that they'd prefer to stay as far away from it as possible.

Thanks to the roadblocks running up to the rally, Bersih 2.0 steering committee did not need to put out advertisements. The government did it on their behalf.

Tanks of petrol were consumed, legs were aching from alternating between clutch and accelerator, there was severe exhaustion, bad manners on the road - well, those have imprinted into the minds of the average citizen that there is something very rotten about the government.

Thanks to the roadblocks, I had a colleague ask me, "Bersih 2.0? What is it - an environmental effort?"

Never too late, I thought, before explaining exactly what the cause behind this rally was.

Suddenly, political awareness mushroomed like never before. No other rally had ever brought out this amount of interest.

This is by far the biggest rally I have ever attended - it attracted people from all walks of life.

BERSIH- Constructive engagement

  • In my posting under the heading A tribute to the yellowwarriors, I had proposed that Malaysian should wear anything yellow on every Saturday and today BERSIH had proposed the same thing. Today Bersih 2.0 chief called on all Malaysians to wear something yellow every Saturday as a peaceful show of support for their 8 point demands. I supposed the English proverb; Great Minds Think Alike, But Fools Seldom Differ is apt. Maybe both of us are indeed fools.

  • While this is going on, BERSIH is now looking at another rally called BERSIH 3.0.A rally once in a while is acceptable but if it is done frequently, then it loose its charm. From popularity it can become a source of hatred. If BERSIH continue this route having one rally after another, it will work against them. Sometime the threat of a rally has a far more potent implication than having a rally itself.

  • For the reason above, I think BERSIH now should find a channel of communication to get its agenda across. The British uses its skills of talking and applying pressure at the right time in conquering one territory after another. The art should be learned and applied. Only skillful communicators can get their agenda across. When dealing with a reluctant authority, the art of talking must be complemented with tactful pressure.

  • If I may, I hope BERSIH would now go back to the discussion table. They have made their point. It has been heard loud enough. No point continuing the threat and counter threat at this stage. Better to work and focus towards getting the 8 point demand. That would be the best thing to do now.



  • Bersih should evolve into a grassroots movement — Ronald Benjamin

    JULY 12 — The Bersih rally that brought thousands to the street even though it was basically an urban middle-class movement holds a great hope for Malaysia in terms of grassroots democracy.

    With Parliament becoming ineffective, where debates do not create real substance to the struggles of the common people and a mainstream political discourse that is based on personality of elite politicians and the ethnic base, the awakening of a people movement rooted in reality has become an urgent national priority.

    It is something to be proud of to see Malaysians coming together, in spite of all obstacles and being demonised by the mainstream media, to demand for free and fair elections. This showed the real 1 Malaysia instead of the hypocritical slogans that say 1 Malaysia to a multiethnic crowd but call people who take a non-ethnic platform as being anti-Malay or Islam.

    This is the greatest contradiction of Najib’s 1 Malaysia policy whether he realises it or not. The greatest intellectual renaissance that could take place in this country is for Malaysian citizens to be liberated from the shackles of the intellectual paradigm of ethno-religious politics that is based on dominance towards mutually inclusive spiritual struggles against of injustice, poverty and elite feudal dominance of institutions and intellectual discourse.

    The Bersih rally, a mutual struggle for justice, was what the political elite were really afraid of because it could trigger a multi-ethnic grassroots movement for change. This is the reason the home minister was adamant to take action against Bersih by calling it an illegal organisation, besides the mainstream media playing the ethnic card.

    Therefore the question is what should Bersih do from now?

    I believe the movement should evolve from a single struggle for free and fair elections towards a broader struggle in building awareness of grassroots democracy among Malaysians, even to the rural areas, to make people aware of corruption, ethnic propaganda and one-sided deception by our mainstream media. It is also important to understand the root causes of poverty.

    There is also need of awareness on the global dimensions of poverty rooted in neoliberalism that shapes the policies of our current government.

    People need to be empowered to understand real issues of life instead of getting caught with ethnic polemics that benefit the political and economic elite more than the common people.

    Hopefully Malaysia would move forward to becomes a nation with progressive ideals that have a grassroots base. Bersih has the credibility to lead the way.

    * Ronald Benjamin reads The Malaysian Insider.

    * This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication. The Malaysian Insider does not endorse the view unless specified.

    Ibrahim Ali (mass comm grad) lectures journalists

    Jangan you ingat oh seronok seronok nak ambil gambaryou pun nak ambil gambar, jangan seronok seronokeh you MalaysiaKini ya!you-u-u kena buat macam berita berita lain jangan you main balingyou shoot everything A to Z pikir la bila saya kadang kadang bercakap mana kalau kita you know Im a mass comm graduate tau Im also a journalist and Ive been to School of Freedom di Germany for few months learning about propaganda, all this kind of thing ah tapi being a responsible reporter ke wartawan kita tau la mana kita nak siar


    Filed under: Journalism

    from ousel.blogspot.com comes another global perspective on Bersih rally...

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    Tuesday, July 12, 2011

    Malaysia: Government risks undermining democratic progress, say UN experts

    The right to freedom of opinion and expression, including in the form of peaceful protests, is essential for democracy. By declaring the demonstration illegal, sealing off parts of the capital in advance and responding in such a heavy-handed manner against peaceful demonstrators, the Government of Malaysia risks undermining democratic progress in the country, said Frank La Rue, UN Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression.

    GENEVA UN human rights experts* on Monday expressed their dismay at the use of tear gas and water cannons by security authorities against peaceful protestors in M! alaysia on Saturday, reportedly leading to injuries and one death, and the arrest of more than 1,600 people at the Bersih 2.0 rally.

    The right to freedom of opinion and expression, including in the form of peaceful protests, is essential for democracy. By declaring the demonstration illegal, sealing off parts of the capital in advance and responding in such a heavy-handed manner against peaceful demonstrators, the Government of Malaysia risks undermining democratic progress in the country, said Frank La Rue, UN Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression.

    Tens of thousands of people gathered near the Medeka Stadium on Saturday despite the announcement made by the police that no gathering would be permitted that day on the basis of the Malaysia Police Act, which requires organizers of public gatherings of three or more persons to seek permits beforehand. The protests were called by Bersih, a coalition of more than 60 non-governmental organizations seeking to promote free and fair elections in Malaysia.

    Actions taken by the authorities prior to and during the rally unduly restricted the rights to freedom of expression, assembly and association, said La Rue. Declaring Bersih illegal based on claims that it is trying to topple the Government or is a risk to national security and public order - in the absence of any credible evidence to substantiate such claims is also an unnecessary restriction of civil and political rights.

    According to Malaysian police, all of those arrested on Saturday have been released. But the UN experts noted that six leaders from the Socialist Party of Malaysia reportedly remain in detention. These individuals include Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj, Sukumaran Munisamy, Letchumanan Aseer Patham, Choo Chon Kai, Sarasvathy Muthu, and Satat Babu Raman.

    We remain deeply concerned about the detention of six individuals since 25 June under the Emergency Ordinance, which allows for detention without trial for up to! 60 days , said El Hadji Malick Sow, Chair-Rapporteur of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention.

    The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention also reiterated its recommendation, made to the Government of Malaysia following a visit to the country in June 2010, to repeal the Emergency Ordinance and other preventive laws, on the grounds that they significantly hinder fundamental human rights, such as the right to fair trial.**

    The independent experts reminded the Government of Malaysia of its obligation to fully respect the rights to peaceful assembly, association, and expression, as guaranteed under the Federal Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. They also recalled that as a member of the Human Rights Council, Malaysia has pledged to uphold the highest standards in the promotion and protection of human rights.

    Malaysia, as a dynamic, multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and pluralistic nation, should remain open to legitimate political discourse on democracy, including the expression of dissent, the experts said. We urge the Government to allow all individuals to enjoy their human rights, and to address the problem of preventive detention. Likewise, we call upon the Government to ensure that there will not be any punitive measures taken against peaceful demonstrators.

    * Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Mr. Frank La Rue; and Chair-Rapporteur of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, Mr. El Hadji Malick Sow.


    PS: Dear readers, FOR NEXT TWO WEEKS it will be mainly Cut&Pastrying from "friendly" blogs I have struck up arrangement to reproduce their writes. Desi to "too bee-sy"on a work of passion" if you haven't heard!:) It's to do wit' BUM or pronounced by Zunar as BooM!:)

    ***********************************************************

    And the next C&T from MalaysiansMustKnowTheTruth!:)

    Bar Council: Tung Shin ! Hospital was hit

    Even with Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai vehemently denying that police fired tear gas and water cannons into Tung Shin Hospital during last Saturday's rally, the Bar Council monitoring team is backing the many witness accounts that this happened.

    Presenting the observation report compiled from some 100 observers deployed during the rally, Bar Council president Lim Chee Wee said police had used indiscriminate and excessive tear gas and water cannons against peaceful protesters.

    NONEWater from the cannons fired by the police, Lim told a press conference at Bar Council office in Kuala Lumpur today, went into the compound of Tung Shin Hospital, and according to eyewitness accounts, tear gas canisters also landed in the compound.

    He also screened a footage taken by one of the observers, showing the hospital being hit by water cannons during the rally.

    The Bar Council went on to urge Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein to drop his "siege mentality" against the allegations of police brutality during the Bersih 2.0 rally.

    Lim also called on the minister to conduct an independent internal investigation into the allegations and to find ways to improve the conduct of the police, instead of warning the media.

    Yesterday, Hishammuddin had warned that action would be taken against those whose reports on police brutality and misconduct during the rally were found to be untrue, and that this included the media.

    [More to follow]

    Thousands throng PR ceramah in Penang...

    They have been accused of hijacking the July 9 rally as calls of 'reformasi' - PKR's battle cry - reverberated on the streets of Kuala Lumpur instead of cries of 'Bersih' for electoral reforms.

    Yet more than 5,000 turned up to throw a hero's welcome for Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim and PAS deputy chief Mohamad Sabu at the Seberang Jaya Expo site last night, a ceramah which the latter described as 'Bersih 3.0'.

    Both leaders, who arrived within 20 minutes of each other, made a grand entrance - Anwar entered sporting a neck brace and had to assisted as he headed for the stage, while Mohamad was in a wheelchair and was hauled up onto the platform by several security personnel.

    A media frenzy ensued, with photographers jostling to take the best shot of the duo - their first appearance after their harrowing experience at the Bersih rally which included being tear-gassed and sustaining injuries. Afraid that their leaders may sustain further hurt due to all the shoving, the emcee had to gently tick off the media for their enthusiasm and pleaded for calmness.

    Judging by the mood of the multiracial crowd last night, the jubilation of those who joined the banned gathering in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday spilled over into this Malay epicentre of Penang. During his session, Anwar spoke briefly, but was noticeably less energetic than usual, obviously due to the pain on his neck and back he suffered following the KL Sentral underpass incident, which PKR had described as a "criminal act".

    He managed, however, to lambast Najib Razak for accusing him of faking his injuries, saying that the prime minister had "no sense of humanity" for belittling others when they are down.

    "I am forced to wear this neck brace -! it was the doctor's orders after he saw how bad the injury was to my neck and back... I did not ask for it," he said.

    "Najib would even like everyone to think that I had purposely gone for (slipped disc) surgery in Munich so that I can come home and show the people," he chided the prime minister.

    Renewed enthusiasm

    Meanwhile, the crowd displayed a rare sense of renewed enthusiasm for the Bersih campaign by responding boisterously to their leaders' comments, clapping loudly or offering a remark of two. The mixed crowd of young and older men, women and children, sat on the grass patch and the more experienced ones rolled out their own mats, while it was business as usual for the operators of a nearby pasar malam.

    Before the ceramah begun, many who just returned from the Bersih 2.0 rally on Saturday, were heard eagerly sharing their stories with friends and acquaintances. Tales after tales of police brutality against peaceful protesters such as physical assault and the firing of tear gas directly into a retreating crowd which they witnessed "with my own eyes" were heard.

    Although Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai and the police have refused to accept responsibility for the firing tear gas into the Tung Shin hospital near Puduraya, a Seberang Perai municipal councillor Oon Neow Aun said he was at the scene and witnessed the incident.

    Police also arrested a shocking figure of 1,667 for taking part in illegal rallies and defying police orders to disperse, all of whom were released that night. Government leaders, especially Home Minister Hishamuddin Hussein had refuted claims that the police force was brutal.

    One-minute silence for Baharuddin

    Meanwhile, Mohamad, who is widely ! known as Mat Sabu, arrived from Langkawi in the midst of a one-minute silent for Baharuddin Ahmad - spouse of PKR Setiawangsa women's chief Rusni Melan - who died of a heart attack after he was chased by police during the rally.

    The police have denied involvement in his death, saying that Baharuddin did not die out of complications arising from exposure to tear gas.

    Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng who initiated the silent memorial said it pained him to see his friends injured as the result of the police's reaction against the protesters.

    "But nothing can be more painful than to know of Baharuddin's death, so let us remember him," he said.

    "And no matter how much pain they are suffering, these two leaders have come... this is the kind of leaders we want, those who would go through thick and thin with the rakyat," he added, referring to Mat Sabu and Anwar.

    Despite having to go for leg surgery this Friday, Mat Sabu, who spoke in his wheelchair, was in high spirits as he entertained the crowd.

    "Najib lies! Najib lies! Najib lies!" shouted Mat Sabu, asking the crowd to echo him several times as he related a series of incidences where Najib "flip-flopped" in his handling of the Bersih rally.

    However, despite all the bad blood between the opposition and the police, Mat Sabu said "all is not lost yet".

    He advised the force not to be partisan since "if tomorrow BN is gone, you will still be around".

    He urged the police to protect the rakyat, not Umno.

    "But if you protect Umno, if they fall, you will fall also," he added.

    "It is still not too late to act professionally in your duties... do not work for Umno, which is rotting internally."

    source:malaysiakini

    Ribuan banjiri ceramah 'BERSIH 3.0' di P Pinang

    Crackdown 2.0 in Malaysia

    cheers.

    Malaysia: Government risks undermining democratic progress, say UN experts


    The right to freedom of opinion and expression, including in the form of peaceful protests, is essential for democracy. By declaring the demonstration illegal, sealing off parts of the capital in advance and responding in such a heavy-handed manner against peaceful demonstrators, the Government of Malaysia risks undermining democratic progress in the country, said Frank La Rue, UN Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression.

    GENEVA UN human rights experts* on Monday expressed their dismay at the use of tear gas and water cannons by security authorities against peaceful protestors in Malaysia on Saturday, reportedly leading to injuries and one death, and the arrest of more than 1,600 people at the Bersih 2.0 rally.

    The right to freedom of opinion and expression, including in the form of peaceful protests, is essential for democracy. By declaring the demonstration illegal, sealing off parts of the capital in advance and responding in such a heavy-handed manner against peaceful demonstrators, the Government of Malaysia risks undermining democratic progress in the country, said Frank La Rue, UN Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression.

    Tens of thousands of people gathered near the Medeka Stadium on Saturday despite the announcement made by the police that no gathering would be permitted that day on the basis of the Malaysia Po! lice Act , which requires organizers of public gatherings of three or more persons to seek permits beforehand. The protests were called by Bersih, a coalition of more than 60 non-governmental organizations seeking to promote free and fair elections in Malaysia.

    Actions taken by the authorities prior to and during the rally unduly restricted the rights to freedom of expression, assembly and association, said La Rue. Declaring Bersih illegal based on claims that it is trying to topple the Government or is a risk to national security and public order - in the absence of any credible evidence to substantiate such claims is also an unnecessary restriction of civil and political rights.

    According to Malaysian police, all of those arrested on Saturday have been released. But the UN experts noted that six leaders from the Socialist Party of Malaysia reportedly remain in detention. These individuals include Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj, Sukumaran Munisamy, Letchumanan Aseer Patham, Choo Chon Kai, Sarasvathy Muthu, and Satat Babu Raman.

    We remain deeply concerned about the detention of six individuals since 25 June under the Emergency Ordinance, which allows for detention without trial for up to 60 days, said El Hadji Malick Sow, Chair-Rapporteur of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention.

    The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention also reiterated its recommendation, made to the Government of Malaysia following a visit to the country in June 2010, to repeal the Emergency Ordinance and other preventive laws, on the grounds that they significantly hinder fundamental human rights, such as the right to fair trial.**

    The independent experts reminded the Government of Malaysia of its obligation to fully respect the rights to peaceful assembly, association, and expression, as guaranteed under the Federal Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. They also recalled that as a member of the Human Rights Council, Malaysia has pledged to uphold the highest standards in the promotion! and pro tection of human rights.

    Malaysia, as a dynamic, multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and pluralistic nation, should remain open to legitimate political discourse on democracy, including the expression of dissent, the experts said. We urge the Government to allow all individuals to enjoy their human rights, and to address the problem of preventive detention. Likewise, we call upon the Government to ensure that there will not be any punitive measures taken against peaceful demonstrators.

    * Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Mr. Frank La Rue; and Chair-Rapporteur of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, Mr. El Hadji Malick Sow.

    Ucapan perbahasan Usul Tergempar saya di Dewan Negeri Selangor tentang BERSIH

    Yang Berhormat Tuan Speaker,

    Sebelum menyentuh isu Bersih, izinkan saya memuji Yang Berhormat Taman Templer yang dua hari berturut-turut memakai tali leher kuning. Sekali mungkin tersilap atau tidak perasan, kalau dua kali mungkin niatnya hendak duduk di kerusi kosong di sebelah saya. Dahulu diduduki oleh Pelabuhan Klang tetapi Taman Templer bukan setakat lagi hebat dari Pelabuhan Klang, lebih layak dari Seri Serdang menjadi Ketua Pembangkang.

    Izinkan saya memulakan ucapan saya dengan kata-kata ini:

    Kerajaan yang kuat ialah Kerajaan yang tidak takut mengamalkan demokrasi.

    Tun Dr. Ismail Abdul Rahman,
    Menteri Dalam Negeri
    Julai 1969

    Itu bezanya Menteri Dalam Negeri UMNO dahulu berbanding Menteri Dalam Negeri UMNO hari ini. Meskipun Tun Dr. Ismail memegang jawatan tersebut ketika negara dilanda tragedi 13 Mei 1969, beliau dihormati semua kerana pendiriannya yang berprinsip yang dirakam di dalam buku the Reluctant Politician.

    Saya membawa usul tergempar ini ke Dewan Negeri Selangor memandangkan saya merasakan penting untuk Dewan mengambil pendirian dalam isu penangkapan dan halangan yang dikenakan terhadap BERSIH.

    Sejurus selepas 13 Mei, Kerajaan telah memperkenalkan Rukunegara bagi memulihkan perpaduan negara ketika itu.

    Saya pasti kita semua ingat prinsip-prinsip Rukunegara:

    ? Kepercayaan kepada Tuhan
    ? Kesetiaan kepada raja dan negara
    ? Keluhuran perlembagaan
    ? Kedaulatan undang-undang
    ? Kesopanan dan kesusilaan

    Kesemua prinsip-prinsip Rukunegara telah dicabuli oleh Kerajaan Persekutuan UMNO-BN yang dipimpin YAB Dato Seri Najib Tun Razak dan Polis Di Raja Malaysia dalam ketakutan mereka menghadapi BERSIH.

    Yang Berhormat-Yang Berhormat sekalian,

    Sebelum BERSIH berlangsung, UMNO-BN dan Polis telah menggunakan pelbagai cara bagi menggagalkannya dan menekan penganjur BERSIH. Lebih 200 aktivis BERSIH dan pemimpin Pakatan Rakyat dan PSM telah ditangkap di atas pelbagai tuduhan termasuk melancarkan perang terhadap Seri ! Paduka B aginda Yang Di Pertuan Agong. Ada yang ditahan di bawah Ordinan Darurat. Ada yang ditahan semata-mata kerana memakai kemeja T berwarna kuning malah kasut berwarna kuning.

    Sebagaimana kata-kata Yang Berhormat Bukit Antarabangsa semalam adakah takhta DYMM Sultan di hadapan ini juga hendak dirampas semata-mata keran berwarna kuning?

    Bagi Karnival Mesra Rakyat Bersama Menteri Besar yang diadakan di DUN Seri Setia, antara lain saya menjemput ikon dan personaliti TV Wardina Safiyyah untuk menyampaikan ceramah motivasi pada sebelah malam yang turut dihadiri Yang Berhormat Bukit Antarabangsa. Kebetulan Wardina menasihatkan ibu bapa untuk menekankan tentang kebersihan setempat dan ada gambar beliau bersama saya, Bukit Antarabangsa dan Ahli Majlis kawasan yang secara kebetulan memakai baju BERSIH. Beliau terus diserang teruk oleh bloggers-bloggers UMNO kononnya beliau menyokong Perhimpunan BERSIH.

    Saya turut dijemput ke Ceramah BERSIH anjuran Pakatan Rakyat Kuala Langat bersama-sama Yang Berhormat Sijangkang. Namun dewan asal telah dikepung oleh polis dan kami terpaksa berpindah ke Surau Kg. Mujahideen dan pegawai polis minta ditukar program ke Program Israk Mikraj. Saya tak hebat macam sesetengah Yang Berhormat seperti Meru, Kota Anggerik atau Hulu Klang, ilmu tak cukup nak sampaikan kuliah Israk Mikraj tanpa sebarang persediaan!

    Bercakap soal kebersihan setempat tidak boleh, memakai baju kuning tidak boleh, hatta memakai kasut kuning pun tidak boleh.

    Tepuk dada, tanya selera. Siapakah komunis hari ini? BERSIH atau UMNO-BN?

    Yang Berhormat Tuan Speaker,

    Pada 3 Julai Seri Paduka Baginda Yang Dipertuan Agong telah pun menitahkan agar pihak Kerajaan Persekutuan dan BERSIH untuk berunding secara baik. Dalam titahnya, Baginda menasihatkan Kerajaan Persekutuan:

    Beta juga menyeru kepada pihak kerajaan agar melaksanakan segala amanah yang diberikan kepada rakyat secara adil dan bijaksana dan yang pentingnya Beta selaku Yang di-Pertuan Agong tidak mahu melihat dalam negara b! ermasyar akat majmuk ini berada di dalam keadaan bermusuhan sesama sendiri ataupun sebahagian rakyatnya bermusuh dengan kerajaan atas apa jua alasan pun.

    Kemudian Datuk S Ambiga, Datuk A Samad Said dan Zaid Kamaruddin mewakili BERSIH telah mengadap Yang Dipertuan Agong dan mengumumkan bahawa BERSIH bersetuju untuk menarik diri daripada perhimpunan jalanan kepada stadium.

    YAB Perdana Menteri kemudian mengumumkan bahawa Kerajaan Persekutuan bersedia untuk bertemu dengan BERSIH dan membenarkan perhimpunan 9 Julai dibuat di stadium. Namun beliau enggan mengarahkan Menteri Dalam Negeri membebaskan semua tahanan mahupun menarik balik pengharaman BERSIH.

    Namun Menteri Dalam Negeri kemudiannya menarik balik tawaran stadium dan meminta program diadakan di stadium negeri Pakatan Rakyat. Masalahnya bagi stadium negeri Pakatan Rakyat tidak perlu Perdana Menteri menawarkan, sudah lama pun kita adakan program di sana. Ibu negara Malaysia masih lagi Kuala Lumpur, jadi sudah tentulah rakyat hendak berarak di Kuala Lumpur.

    BERSIH boleh mendengar titah Seri Paduka Yang Dipertuan Agong. YAB Perdana Menteri engkar.

    Tepuk dada, tanya selera. Siapakah yang derhaka hari ini? BERSIH atau UMNO-BN?

    Yang Berhormat-Yang Berhormat sekalian,

    Saya seperti Yang Berhormat-Yang Berhormat Kerajaan di Dewan ini berada bersama kira-kira 50,000 rakyat yang berhimpun secara aman. Rakyat berhimpun secara aman Melayu, Cina dan India malah ada yang datang dari Sabah dan Sarawak. Ada doktor-doktor kerajaan, ada ketua-ketua jabatan, ada pelajar-pelajar Kolej. Ada pemandu teksi dan ustaz-ustaz yang datang dari kampung. Ada nenek tua yang digelar Lady of Liberty. Ada yang datang bersama anak-anak. Kami berhimpun menjerit Bersih, Daulat Tuanku, Hidup Rakyat dan menyanyikan lagu Negaraku. Dalam kegagalan Perdana Menteri merealisasikan 1Malaysia dengan konsultasi jutaan ringgit APCO, rakyat merealisasikannya di Perhimpunan BERSIH.

    Namun kami dilayan lebih hina daripada sampah. Pimpinan dan aktivis BERSIH 2.0 dan! Pakatan Rakyat ditembak dengan gas pemedih mata secara dekat, ada yang ditendang dan ditangkap. Ketua Pembangkang Parlimen Malaysia YB Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Ahli Parlimen Shah Alam YB Khalid Samad ditembak gas pemedih mata secara langsung sehingga pegawai peribadi Datuk Seri Anwar terkoyak pipinya dan kepala YB Khalid terpaksa dijahit 6 kali. Motosikal yang dibonceng Haji Mohamad Sabu pula dilanggar oleh kenderaan polis sehingga lutut kanannya cedera teruk seperti kita saksikan semalam.

    Lebih mendukacitakan lagi, Sdr Baharuddin Ahmad, seorang anggota PAS dan suami kepada Ketua Wanita KEADILAN Setiawangsa, Rusni Melan, meninggal dunia selepas terperangkap di dalam gas pemedih mata. Pihak Polis tidak mengendahkan permintaan agar Allahyarham diberikan rawatan perubatan dan van untuk menyelamatkan beliau hanya sampai ke tempat kejadian 90 minit kemudian.

    Sewaktu saya menuntut di London selama tiga tahun, saya banyak turut serta di dalam demonstrasi menentang peperangan Iraq. Pernah, dua juta orang termasuk rakyat Britain beragama Kristian dan Islam berarak di bandaraya London. Namun permit diberikan, hanya jalan di sepanjang laluan perarakan ditutup dan lebih penting lagi polis menjaga keselamatan rakyat yang berarak. Saya ulangi, polis menjaga keselamatan rakyat, bukan menjadi perkakas kepada kerajaan yang zalim.

    Aneh sekali, saya seorang Muslim lebih selamat berarak membantah Britain dan Amerika menawan sebuah negara Islam berbanding berarak menuntut pilihan raya bersih dan adil di negara sendiri yang dipimpin Perdana Menteri, Menteri Dalam Negeri dan Ketua Polis Negara yang semuanya Muslim. Mungkin ini petanda akhir zaman.

    Sebab itu perhimpunan BERSIH yang diadakan di Australia, Singapura, Thailand, Jepun, Taiwan, Korea, Britain, Dubai dan Amerika Syarikat berlangsung dengan aman damai. Hanya di negeri sendiri BERSIH menjadi perkataan kotor.

    Pada sebelah malam pula, saya menerusi KEADILAN Kelana Jaya mengadakan Ceramah di Kompleks Sukan PKNS Kelana Jaya. Meskipun saya bersetuju ! dengan p ermintaan Polis agar memindahkan program daripada padang bola sepak kepada dewan, namun pihak Polis tidak memberikan permit dan kira-kira 250 orang anggota Polis mengepung Kompleks tersebut pada malam itu. Sekatan Polis yang ditumpukan pada perhimpunan BERSIH 2.0 dipindahkan ke sekitar Kelana Jaya pula.

    Apabila saya meminta penjelasan Polis, jawapan mereka ialah tiada permit meskipun tapak tersebut bukan kawasan awam. Apabila saya memaklumkan perkara tersebut mereka membalas bahawa wujud ancaman keselamatan tanpa memberikan sebarang bukti.

    Ini satu penghinaan kepada Kerajaan Negeri Selangor memandangkan saya sebagai Ahli Dewan Negeri kawasan tidak boleh mengadakan program di dewan milik badan berkanun Kerajaan Negeri sendiri. Adakah Polis lupa bahawa Pakatan Rakyat sudah dipilih rakyat sebagai Kerajaan Negeri?

    Saya tahu ramai pegawai-pegawai Polis yang cintakan negara tidak lagi menggunakan arahan menurut perintah atau menjalankan tugas untuk menjadi perkakas kepada UMNO-BN. Dalam Islam jelas, kepatuhan kepada pemerintah hanya sekiranya tidak bertentangan dengan syariat. Mencederakan, memukul mahupun menzalimi rakyat jelas bertentangan dengan syariat.

    Sebagaimana kata Saidina Ali, kita sesama Islam merupakan saudara dalam Islam (akhukum fil Islam) dan kita dengan bukan Islam pula saudara dalam kemanusiaan (akhukum fil Insaniah). Di dalam kubur nanti, jawapan menurut perintah membuta tuli tidak lagi boleh dijadikan alasan.

    Justeru, saya menggesa Kerajaan Persekutuan dan Polis menghentikan segera sebarang tangkapan dan halangan terhadap BERSIH 2.0 dan menumpukan masa, tenaga dan sumber mereka bagi membebaskan rakyat daripada jenayah yang membelenggu masyarakat hari ini.

    Saya turut meminta agar Kerajaan Negeri mengambil tindakan tegas terhadap pencabulan Perlembagaan Persekutuan ini. Saya mencadangkan Kerajaan Negeri:

    i. Memulakan tindakan undang-undang kepada Perdana Menteri, Menteri Dalam Negeri, Ketua Polis Negara, Ketua Polis Selangor dan Ketua Polis Daerah Peta! ling Jay a berdasarkan pencabulan Perkara 10 Perlembagaan Persekutuan;

    ii. Memastikan kejadian sama tidak berulang lagi di mana-mana premis milik Kerajaan Negeri, Badan-Badan Berkanun Negeri, GLC Negeri dan PBT.

    Yang Berhormat Tuan Speaker,

    Benar kata-kata Ronggorwarsito, penyair Jawa yang menyebut tentang Jaman Edan atau zaman gila. Warna kuning ditakuti, perkataan BERSIH menjadi kotor, rakyat dizalimi dan Perlembagaan seolah-olah dibuang ke bakul sampah.

    Mengapakah Perdana Menteri dan UMNO-BN begitu takutkan rakyat yang ingin Pilihan Raya Bebas dan Adil? Tepuk dada, tanya selera.

    Izinkan saya akhiri ucapan saya dengan sajak Peludah Warna oleh Sasterawan Negara Datuk A. Samad Said.

    Kuasa gusar kini menggelegak murka;
    warna kuning diisytihar racun terbisa.
    Diragutnya baju-T segeram tenaga
    dan diumum itulah busana bahaya.

    Tapi, kita jahit semula perca kain,
    menjadikannya panji terindah dan tulen.
    Warna kuning yang teramat tenang dan syahdu
    kita kembalikan damai ke dalam qalbu.

    Kini cahaya mentari mungkin diramas
    dan sinar kuningnya juga mungkin dicantas.
    Memanglah mereka kini peludah warna
    sedang menghimpun lendir kahak sebanyaknya.

    Kerana nikmat amat lama berkuasa,
    kuasa pun seolah menjadi hartanya.

    Sekitan terima kasih, saya mohon mencadang.


    Bar Council: Tung Shin Hospital was hit


    Video footage from the council's monitoring team shows that water cannons were aimed into the compound.

    Tear gas in Tung Shin a matter of perception, says Soi Lek

    July 9 rally: PAS Youth complains to Suhakam

    Even with Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai vehemently denying that the police had fired tear gas and chemical-laced water into Tung Shin Hospital during last Saturday's rally, the Bar Council monitoring team is backing the many witness accounts that this did happen.

    Presenting the observation report compiled from some 100 observers deployed during the rally, Bar Council president Lim Chee Wee said police had used indiscriminate and excessive tear gas and water cannons against peaceful protesters.

    Water from the cannons fired by the police, Lim told a press conference at Bar Council office in Kuala Lumpur today, went into the compound of Tung Shin Hospital, and according to eyewitness accounts, tear gas canisters also landed in the compound."Although we don't have any footage from our monitoring team, accounts from our eyewitnesses say 'yes, tear gas was launched and canisters did land in the Tung Shin premises'."

    Lim also screened footage taken by an observer, showing the hospital being hit by water cannons during the rallyAccording to the report, the participants were hit by water cannons while the rally organisers were negotiating with the police.

    "Some monitors noted that the police did give warnings prior to using the tear gas and water cannons. However, it was difficult for the huge crowd to hear what the police commandants said via their loud hailers, except for participants who were situated near the police," the report says.

    Elaborating on the Bar Council report, Lim said the use of tear gas and water cannons was "wholly unnecessary" in many locations when the crowd was stationary and showed no indication that they would charge the police or create any havoc.

    No warning, not enough time to disperseHe also said that police either did not give any warning or sufficient time for the crowd to disperse before unleashing tear gas and the water cannons, resulting in chaos and injuries.

    "What we found was that throughout Kuala Lumpur, there had been a mismanagement by the police in terms of crowd control."

    Another footage screened during the press conference showed police, without any provocation, firing tear gas at a group of protesters holding their position in front of the Agro Bank on Leboh Pasar Besar.

    Lim then cited the example of the crowd behind Dayabumi, where tear gas was fired at them from both ends.

    "The crowd was actually squeezed in on both ends by the launching of the tear gas. When you launch tear gas, it is with the aim of dispersing a crowd. You do not launch tear gas at both ends, without any exit routes for the crowd. This also happened in the Puduraya area."

    He noted that the tear gas was fired towards the crowdat the human height level, instead of being fired up in the air, which is the universal standard.

    Apart from the use of tear gas and water cannons, Lim also condemned the random and arbitrary arrests by police during the rally.

    "We ourselves, the office-bearers, saw with our own eyes, as the crowd was dispersing, the FRU moving forward into the crowd with plainclothes policemen behind them, who then ran out and started arresting people at random. There was no need for this, as the people were already dispersing."

    Lim urged the police to adopt the recommendations made by the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) on engagement with the leaders of a demonstration to find out the intention of the group and to give sufficient time for them to disperse before resorting to the use of non-lethal weapons.

    Nevertheless, he said, an exemplary model had been shown by the police on Jalan Hang Jebat, where the crowd was allowed to gather and listen to short speeches from their leaders just beyond the barricades after the organisers, including PKR's Chua Jui Meng, negotiated with the police.

    "There was no use of tear gas or water cannons, nor was there any arbitrary arrest after or during the dispersal of the crowd. That is how crowd control should have been done throughout Kuala Lumpur."

    He reminded the government that Suhakam had conducted at least two inquiries into public rallies and had come out with various recommendations to the government.

    "We cannot understand why the government has not taken heed of the recommendations and suggestions of Suhakam," he added.

    Malaysians mature and peace-lovingOn the participants of rally, the report states that they generally behaved in a peaceful and calm manner, except for a few untoward incidents at Jalan Hang Jebat:

    • One protester threw a bottle of water at a news reporter while he was up on the stairs leading to a basketball court hall, reporting live, but the reporter managed to evade it. Some of the crowd showed their middle fingers at the police and chanted "menyebuk" (troublemakers);
    • At one point, the crowd booed the TV3 crew inside the building. As they chanted "penipu" (liars), some threw a few plastic bottles at the cameraman. None hit. Rally marshals told crowd to keep walking. No uniformed police personnel were present.
    The report concluded that the rally had demonstrated that the people of Malaysia are mature and peace-loving when championing a cause they believe in.

    "Most importantly, we witnessed that people from a wide variety of backgrounds across Malaysia participated in this rally, without any conflict.

    "This is contrary to the fear of possible racial disharmony or riots expressed by certain irresponsible public figures," the report says.

    Added Lim: "On that day, a lot of members of our monitoring team saw friends and acquaintances who are not aligned to any political party, whom they would categorise as very conservative people, but they were out there in the streets that Saturday because they are outraged by the way in which the government mismanaged this entire situation." The Bar Council full observation report on the Bersih 2.0 rally can be accessed here.

    Dear NST reporters: open your eyes and face facts

    An anguished or angry NST reporter (unverified) wrote a comment in response to the earlier posting about the New Shameless Times. The response is a defence of other reporters in general, as well as a defence of the NST, which she (I presume its a woman) says has moved away from a pro-Umno culture.

    Reporters in general cringe every time someone makes a remark about journalists and journalism. They seem to think the word applies to them personally. If there is one remark that applies to all reporters and other journalists (yes, other people are also journalists, too, not just reporters) it is that journalists are not immune to woolly-headed thinking, shallowness, making excuses for themselves, vanity, or an inability to face facts.

    I thought my reply to her comment was of general interest, not just to the reporters at NST, so here they are:

    Dear NST reporter:

  • Can you pinpoint exactly where and what the New Sunday Times said on Sunday about what the front-page photo is about, who the man was, where he was at the time, what he was doing at the time, when did this happen and why did this happen?
  • Can you explain why there is no caption to the photo on the front page?
  • Have you read my earlier posting on the Cover It Live session? Can you explain why the NST calls July 9 the July 9 crackdown?
  • Can you pinpoint which of my comments above were directed at any reporter, except for the Crush story? Did you read what I said about the Crush story? Did you read Subashinis comment on it in the comment section below the posting?
  • Why should I not comment on the first person account? Its my blog. Have you read other first-person accounts on other occasions? Have you read other first-person accounts on Bersih elsewhere? Can you tell the difference?
  • Did you ask News Desk why those assignments were handed out?
  • Did you ask News Desk why those reports were written that way? Can you tell me what News Desk said?
  • Did you ask t! he Rewri te Desk what instructions were given to them? Or why they handled those stories that way?
  • Did you ask Subs Desk why those headlines were written and why those layouts were done that way?
  • Did you ask the New Sunday Times editor why the photo was given used for a wrapper? Can you state what she said?
  • Can you show how the NST from 2001 to 2011 has moved away from a pro-Umno culture? Give examples.
  • Can you tell us what instructions were given to editors at the KDN briefing?
  • Can you tell us what instructions Ahmad Talib and Zainul Ariffin were given, and what instructions they gave to the section editors?
  • Can you describe what Ahmad Talib and Zainul Ariffin did all day on Saturday up to the final edition?
  • And this is the NST reporters comment earlier today:

    My two cents opinion
    Hey ppl, personally I think the photo wasnt doctored as alleged. If so, why wld the nst waste one whole page to clarify. They wld have rather sold the page for adversitement, rite? Btw, when you speak of journalism and bias bersih rally reporting, I think u did not realise that NST actually had a a online cover it live session where feeds, updates of happenings were posted at almost real-time by the reporters at the respective scenes. The updates were also accompanied by photos, which Im not surprised if u say it was also doctored. (If this thought is on your mind than, i must say the that reporters and photographers who covered the rally has some hell of a skill to make facts n pics).

    It is also not fair for you to stereotype the reporters or even comment of the first person acct cause everyone have different perspectives and views on various matters.

    As you claim, the company may have its own agenda but then i think you should not label all the reporters for bias reporting.

    Im a reporter too and Im very unhappy with your claims. We report ! as we se e and if the facts is later altered, or as you like it doctored, you cannot blame the reporters. Easily said, pls refer to the cover it live July 9 crackdown and then you wld know that the reporters are not bias. Maybe years ago, thing were pro umno at nst but now the culture has changed and I think one should give the paper and reporters a chance to report without hurling accusations and making allegation.
    Read the comment as posted


    Filed under: Journalism

    SPR Masih Berdegil Di Dalam Isu Undi POS


    Perkembangan undi POS yang terbaru dilaporkan oleh MalaysianInsider kenyataan SPR yang berbunyi:

    Kata beliau, sekiranya pengundian berterusan sehingga dua atau tiga hari, dalam sesetengah kes, peti undi akan disimpan di pejabat pegawai pengurus pilihan raya.
    Tambah Wan Ahmad, pada hari pengundian kertas undi akan dikira sama ada di pejabat pengurus pilihan raya ataupun di pusat penjumlahan undi.


    Walaubagaimanapun, antara tuntutan BERSIH semenjak sebelum pilihanraya 2008 lagi adalah supaya undi dikira dan Borang 14 diberikan pada hari undi dibuang oleh anggota tentera dan polis.

    Kalau ditakdirkan pengundian berjalan untuk 2 atau tiga hari pun, pengiraan mesti dijalankan pada setiap hari pembuangan undid an Boran 14 dikeluarkan pada setiap hari pengundian dijalankan.

    Tidak boleh kotak undi disimpan di tempat yang tidak diketahui tanpa pengawasan dari wakil-wakil parti.

    BAGAIMANA DENGAN KELUARGA ANGGOTA TENTERA DAN POLIS?

    Isu keluarga Anggota tentera yang disenaraikan sebagai pengundi pos juga tidak disentuh oleh SPR. Apa perlunya ahli keluarga anggota tentera dan polis mengundi secara pos? Mengapa mereka tidak boleh mengundi seperti orang biasa? Mereka hanya tinggal di dalam kem masing-masing yang mempunyai tempat membuang undi yang berdekatan.

    Bagi saya, SPR hanya mahu membuat perubahan yang kecil-kecil dengan tujuan mahu mengurangkan kemarahan rakyat jelata. Tiada usaha yang serius mahu membetulkan sistem pilihanraya yang bobrok dan berkudis itu

    Tulang Besi
    SPR guna peti undi ganti sampul undi pos polis dan tentera
    Oleh G Manimaran
    July 12, 2011

    KUALA LUMPUR, 12 Julai Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya (SPR) memutuskan untuk tidak lagi menggunakan sampul surat dan karung undi pos pada pilihan raya umum ke-13 dilihat perkembangan terbaru dalam melaksanakan pembaharuan sistem pilihan raya negara ini.
    Langkah itu dilihat selaras dengan perubahan nama undi pos kepada pengundian awal yang diputuskan oleh suruhanjaya itu sebelum ini.

    The Malaysian Insider difahamkan perkara itu dibincangkan baru-baru ini.
    Ia diumumkan kepada media dua hari selepas perhimpunan Bersih 2.0 yang diadakan, menuntut lapan pembaharuan dalam sistem pilihan raya negara ini.
    Bagaimanapun menurut Timbalan Pengerusi SPR Datuk Wira Wan Ahmad Wan Omar perkara itu sudah lama dikaji dan langkah awal sudah pun dimulakan ketika pilihan raya kecil kerusi Parlimen Kuala Terengganu pada Januari 2009.

    Kalau dulu anggota tentera dan polis menggunakan sampul surat undi pos dan sampul surat dimasukkan ke dalam karung undi pos, tetapi mulai sekarang mereka akan memasukkan kertas undi ke dalam peti undi seperti yang digunakan di pusat-pusat pengundian normal, kata Wan Ahmad kepada kepada The Malaysian Insider pagi ini.

    Dalam laporan New Straits Times hari ini, Wan Ahmad dipetik berkata, jika sebelum ini anggota polis dan tentera mengundi dengan diselia pegawai-pegawai kanan mereka, sistem itu juga akan mengalami perubahan.

    Justeru, tugas penyeliaan proses pengundian di kem-kem tentera akan diambil oleh pegawai-pegawai lantikan SPR iaitu pegawai pengurus pilihan raya.
    Wan Ahmad berkata ia antara pembaharuan yang akan dibawa ke atas sistem pilihan raya, yang dteliti sejak kebelakangan ini dan sudah sedia untuk ! digunaka n dalam pilihan raya umum ke-13.

    Kami sebenarnya sudah mula melakukan pembaharuan ke atas undi pos sejak pilihan raya kecil Kuala Terengganu... di mana kami membenarkan ejen calon berada di pusat pengundian seperti di ibu pejabat kontinjen polis dan kem-kem tentera, katanya.
    Cuma kali pertama peti undi akan digunakan untuk mereka memasukkan kertas undi terus ke dalam peti undi, tidak lagi digunakan sampul surat dan Borang 2 lagi, jelas Wan Ahmad kepada The Malaysian Insider.

    Pada pilihan raya umum ke-12 terdapat seramai 221,000 pengundi pos.
    Sebelum ini wujud kritikan bahawa pengundian oleh anggota tentera dan polis di depan pegawai atasan mereka menyebabkan proses pengundian tidak dikendalikan dengan telus dan sokongan memihak kepada parti pemerintah.

    Lazimnya anggota tentera polis dan tentera akan mengundi menggunakan undi pos dua atau tiga hari sebelum pengundian sebenar satu-satu pilihan raya kecil.
    Kami mahukan satu sistem pengundian yang berkesan dan telus, kata beliau sambil menambah, ini adalah antara aspek yang SPR mahu melaksanakan tanpa menunggu pindaan undang-undang.

    Persepsi adalah isu, di mana (tanggapan) bahawa anggota pasukan seragam mengendalikan keseluruhan proses pengundian, dakwaan itu adalah tidak berasas, kata beliau menurut laporan akhbar itu.

    Dalam menjadikan sistem pengundian lebih berkesan, kami akan membenarkan ejen-ejen parti (calon) berada di pusat pengundian dari pagi hingga keseluruhan proses pengundian berakhir, apabila anggota tentera dan polis mengundi, kata Wan Ahmad.

    Kata beliau, sekiranya pengundian berterusan sehingga dua atau tiga hari, dalam sesetengah kes, peti undi akan disimpan di pejabat pegawai pengurus pilihan raya.

    Tambah Wan Ahmad, pada hari pengundian kertas undi akan dikira sama ada di pejabat pengurus pilihan raya ataupun di pusat penjumlahan undi.

    Katanya, SPR sedang mengkaji apsek-aspek lain agar pendekatan baru ini tidak berhadapan dengan kekurangan ataupun kecacatan.!


    Why Hindraf opted out

    By P Uthayakumar

    Bersih 2.0 alias Pakatan Rakyat refuses to even engage the Human Rights Party (HRP) and Hindraf Makkal Sakti because of the Indian poor political baggage. But they want Indian support and Indian votes for free.

    Hindraf and HRP can trace back their origins to at least 1990, even before the birth and rise of PKR. We came into existence because there were no takers for the Indian poor problem in the 54 years since the nation gained its independence.

    And in all these 22 years, we have been forced to go almost solo as neither even the pseudo multi-racial PKR, DAP and PAS nor the supposed bi-racial NGOs and civil society really cared about the Indian poor, even up to this day.

    They see the Indian poor problem as a political liability and political baggage. They prefer to play to the sentiments of the Malay Muslims, Chinese and natives which earn them greater political mileage.

    Even during the Nov 25, 2007 Hindraf rally, we never had the support of PKR, DAP, PAS, NGOs and the civil society. We went almost solo with the Indian poor backing us up. And we paid the heavy price solo as well.

    It was the Indian poor who literally bailed us out right up to the Hindraf lawyers release from ISA detention without trial after 514 days. And till now, especially during the Hindraf Anti-Interlok/ Anti Umno Racism Rally on Feb 27 this year which saw 54 Hindraf activists maliciously arrested and prosecuted we had to fight on our own.

    But PKR, DAP and PAS made use of the 2007 Hindraf wave, and unprecedentedly denied Barisan Nasional its two-thirds Parliamentary majority and won five west coast states including winning 10 out of the! 11 parl iamentary seats in the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur. And like Umno/BN thereafter dumped Hindraf and the Indian poor like sucked oranges.

    Using the power of money and the powerful Umno government machinery including that of the police Special Branch E3M, Umno destroyed Hindraf to a significant extent under Ops Padam Hindraf. But we are now rebuilding and regaining lost ground knowing that Hindraf still lives on in the hearts and minds of the Indian poor.

    We were not invited

    We have had been questioned on our non-participation in the July 9, 2011 Bersih rally.

    Our reply was that we were never invited in the first place while 62 other NGOs were invited. We were not invited as we carry with us the Indian poor political baggage which Pakatan Rakyat sees as a political liability. And we refuse to be the blind followers or cari makan Indian mandores for the Tuans and Towkays in Pakatan, what more being one in BN.

    Our position is that ending the Indian poor problem and ending the 54 years of continuous Umno rule must be fought along parallel lines and not only after Pakatan Rakyat has got to Putrajaya.

    Especially so when PKR, DAP and PAS were already in the Putrajaya of Selangor, Penang and Kedah and refused to resolve even the most elementary Indian poor problems. For this and other obvious reasons, we are not prepared to give Pakatan a blank cheque to Putrajaya or to take a rain cheque for that matter. We want to be Pakatans internal check and balance.

    Why should any democracy or those battling for free and fair elections have problems welcoming this healthy internal check and balance?

    And Bersih 2.0s free and fair elections also refused to include the de-gerrymandering of Indian majority seats like Sungai Petani, Padang Serai, Batu Kawan, Ipoh Barat, Sungai Siput, Bagan Datoh, Teluk Intan, Kuala Selangor, Hulu Selangor, Kota Raja, Klang, Teluk Kemang, Cameron Highlands etc.

    Of course if Pakatan leaders had also champione! d the ca use of the Indian poor as done for minorities in the western civil societies, western democracies and western free and fair elections standards, we would be the first to concede that our position now would stand superfluous. In fact, we would not want to contest at all in the general election as we prefer the majoritarian Malay Muslim, Chinese and native top leaders and their MPs to champion the cause of the Indian poor.

    It should have made sense also to Bersih 2.0 that despite there being almost one million Indian voters in Malaysia, (715,099 Indian voters in the 2008 electoral roll) there is not even one Indian majority seat in all of the 222 Parliament and 576 state assembly seats. But we suppose this does not fall within the ambit of free and fair elections of Bersih alias Pakatan. We do not need even one Indian majority seat if and only Pakatans top leaders, their 75 MPs including their 11 Indian mandore MPs do not sidestep the pressing Indian poor problem vis-a-vis Umno racism.

    We are a different breed

    But Pakatan is not even prepared to engage HRP and Hindraf as we consciously and uncompromisingly choose not to abandon the cause of the Indian poor vis-a-vis Hindrafs 18-point demand which Pakatan sees as a political liability.

    To Pakatan, we wish to state that Hindraf and HRP are not the easily excitable Malaysian Indians they have been so used to seeing or dealing with including during their ex-Umno days.

    And neither are we prepared to assume the role of the much sought after by Umno/BN and now Pakatan i.e. the cari makan Indian mandores. We are a different breed. We are a different lot. We are a different kettle of fish. We are racing against time. We stand for equality and equal opportunities as guaranteed by Article 8 of the Federal Constitution especially for the Indian poor in both the government, GLCs and the private sectors.

    For this, our detractors branded us as the Indian Perkasa, racists and extremists. But when we ask the! m to poi nt out to one instance of we ever having asked for Ketuanan India (like what Perkasa does), they have no answer. The truth is they use this Perkasa label on us as a shrewd strategy in completely sidestepping especially the pressing Indian poor problem.

    In conclusion, Bersih = Pakatan Rakyat, Umno = Kotor and HRP = Hindrafs 18-point demand.

    If we are forced to go solo again, so be it. Assuming even if we lose 100% of HRPs 15/38 seats because Pakatan wont make way for us, we have already won as a political pressure group against both Umno/BN and Pakatans racism against the Indian poor as evidenced by our daily postings in www.humanrightspartymalaysia.com.

    Be that as it may, the Bersih rally was a success and we congratulate them. If invited, we would consider attending the next Bersih rally as it is also our main objective to end Umnos rule, which is the main main cause for the predicament faced by even the sixth generation of Malaysian born Indian poor.

    P Uthayakumar was arrested under the ISA in 2007 for leading the Indian cause through Hindraf. He is Hindrafs legal advisor and the pro-tem secretary-general of Human Rights Party.


    Tear gas gun aimed directly at Anwar...

    The police stood prepared with their anti-riot weapons, with one of them aiming his tear gas gun at Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim. That's what his bodyguard Fayyadh Afiq saw, and he immediately took action. As he heard the order to fire, Fayyadh said he pulled Anwar away.

    Numbed by high dosages of medication, he said his left cheek, on which a metal gas canister landed when the police fired, has not stopped throbbing.

    Recalling the incident, he said: We exited KL Sentral and proceeded marching through the enclosed shelter at the back, where the buses stop.

    Other bodyguards and I were with Anwar and a few other leaders were walking in the front, forming a long column, when I heard a faint sound.

    I am sure it came from an officer using a loudhailer, but with everyone shouting around us, I could hardly hear a thing, Fayyadh told Malaysiakini.

    He then turned towards the riot squad, assembled and ready, and did not need to take a second glance when he spotted the weapon pointed at Anwar.

    And then it happened. Fayyadh said he pulled Anwar to the left and immediately felt an excruciating pain as if he was given a heavy blow on his face, followed by a stinging, piercing sensation all over his body from the tear gas.

    The 25-year-old, who sustained a broken cheekbone, added that all he could think about was the safety of his boss as they fled the plumes of tear gas.

    We tried to rush Anwar to safety, we ran towards KL Sentral and that's where he tripped over a pothole and fell.

    As they were trapped in the middle, with both exits leading to Jalan Tun Sambanthan sealed off by police, the only way bac! k into t he central transit hub was the narrow escalator and staircase, recounted Fayyadh.

    Shah Alam MP receives six stitches

    After they managed to manoeuvre out of the chaotic situation, he said, they retreated to Anwar's rented suite at Hilton Hotel, located at another corner of the transportation hub.

    Once up in the suite, we wanted to head to the hospital because a few of us were injured from the melee. But the police guarding the hotel entrance refused to let us out,
    he said, muttering profanities under his breath.

    After approximately an hour, they managed to wriggle through the police on duty and made their way to a nearby private hospital for treatment.

    Fayyadh underwent surgery yesterday, with a titanium plate inserted to stabilise his face bone.

    Also injured was Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad of PAS, who said one of the tear gas canisters fired directly at the crowd hit him on the head.


    Khalid, who sustained six stitches on his head, said the riot police at KL Sentral's public bus and airport shuttle route sandwiched him, along with the top leaders of Pakatan and Bersih 2.0, as well as the protesters.

    We stopped when we saw the FRU policemen block our way, and we also noticed the FRU moving in behind us. Without warning, they started shooting tear gas and they were aiming at the demonstrators.

    I turned around to look at the FRU (members) behind us, and suddenly my spectacles flew and there was blood everywhere, Khalid told a press conference yesterday.

    The doctor who checked me was surprised that the wound was a very clean cut, just like a slice with a knife. This would only happen if tear gas was aimed directly at the people, Khalid said.
    < span>Protesters trapped

    These claims were also backed by PKR vice-presidents Nurul Izzah Anwar and N Surendran, who were at the scene and recounted similar descriptions about the police crackdown on the Bersih 2.0 rally participants. Nurul had said that police trapped the demonstrators within the KL Sentral underpass, on both sides and fired tear gas from both ends.

    Aside from Anwar and Khalid, several top Bersih and Pakatan Rakyat leaders were at KL Sentral during the rally on Saturday, including Bersih 2.0 chief Ambiga Sreenevasan, steering committee member Maria Chin Abdullah, PAS president Hadi Awang and DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang.

    They had gathered at the KL Sentral vicinity as they were all among the 91 barred from every other key location for protesters to gather, including, Jalan Syed Putra, Jalan Istana, Jalan Bukit Petaling, Jalan Bellamy and the area surrounding Istana Negara leading towards Stadium Merdeka.

    Despite heavy surveillance and a complete lockdown in the capital city, ten of thousands traversed the streets, with a large majority in support of Bersih's cause for electoral reform, while a small fraction, made up of Umno Youth members, marched in a counter rally.

    Bersih 2.0 organisers declared their protest a success, claiming an estimated 50,000 people had marched despite police warnings, and where 1,667 people were arrested. The government, on the other hand, lauded the rest of Malaysians for not taking part in the street demonstration, and said only 5,000 to 6,000 took part in the Bersih rally.

    Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak rejected the allegations of violence on the part of the police and accused Anwar of masterminding the rally and manipulating rally organisers to bolster his ambition to become prime minister.

    Just hit by a little tear gas ... and his photo and video were on YouTube as though he was beaten up, and landed in the hospital, Najib had ridiculed at an Umno-Mala! y NGO ga thering at the Putra World Trade Centre on Sunday.

    source:malaysiakini

    'Gas pemedih mata disasar terus ke Anwar'

    cheers.

    RM73 mil diamond ring for Rosmah?


    A blog claims that the self-styled First Lady received a 'Natural Fancy Blue Gray Cushion Cut Diamond Ring' in April.

    FULL REPORT

    PETALING JAYA: As Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak still reels from the Bersih 2.0 rally’s political aftershocks, a glittering new allegation has surfaced about his wife, Rosmah Mansor.

    The self-styled First Lady had allegedly come into possession of a diamond ring, worth a whopping US$24 million (RM73.48 million) sometime in April this year.

    A pro-Pakatan Rakyat blog called “Milo Suam” claimed that the ring was sent to Rosmah by the New York-based fine jewellers, Jacob & Co.

    The ring

    The ring

    The blog claimed that the ring, identified as a “Natural Fancy Blue Gray Cushion Cut Diamond Ring” passed through the Kuala Lumpur International Airport customs and was cleared by a customs operations manager known as A Krishnan.

    Screenshots of the alleged customs computer displays also revealed that the ring did not have import duties imposed on it.

    The same display also indicated the value of the ring to be US$24.4 million.

    The story of the ring had also spread to many other pro-Pakatan blogs.

    According to a Forbes website, the ring is a “VVS2 clarity diamond mounted on a platinum ring surrounded by 414 diamonds in a micro-pave setting (3.48 cts.).”

    Meanwhile, “Milo Suam” questioned Najib’s rationale in allegedly purchasing such an expensive item for his wife.

    “While you were screaming in pain from being beaten by a police baton… there was someone who was enjoying wealth that she did not earn,” read the blog.

    The blog also asked if Najib had misused his powers in allocating RM111 million to Rosmah for her woman-and-children-oriented programme, Permata, in the 2011 Budget.

    Jacob & Co has an outlet in Malaysia through a local branch known as Yafriro Celebrer Le Temps Sdn Bhd, located at the Starhill Gallery luxury shopping mall in Jalan Bukit Bintang.

    When contacted, Yafriro refused to comment on the alleged ring puchase by Rosmah.

    Deny it Rosmah, says Chegu Bard

    Meanwhile in another development, PKR leader and SAMM (Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia) president Badrul Hisham Shaharin challenged Rosmah to deny the claims made about the expensive ring.

    “US$24 million is a lot of money! Its a lot! Where did she get that much of money? I don’t want any of the mosquito Umno leaders to answer the allegation but Rosmah herself must do so”, he demanded.

    The screenshots allegedly taken from the Customs Department computer was also put up in Badrul Hisham’s blog. Known popularly as Chegu Bard, he is the Rembau PKR division chief.

    He also asked if the prime minister had any ulterior motive in announcing tax exemptions for imported jewellery.

    “ When the prime minister announced the tax exemption during last year’s budget (last October) on certain luxury goods including handbags, clothing and jewelleries, it maybe be done in the interest of his wife,” he charged.

    “I suspect this is the case based on the forms in the customs’ computer system. The forms show that the transaction was done without any taxes being imposed,” he added.

    He also said that the Penang chapter of SAMM would be lodging a report at the Penang Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) over the diamond ring scandal.

    "Mahaguru58" aka Zainol Abideen, Indian SUFI Muslim Penchant for Religious Bile Against Non-Muslims

    This pretentious SUFI Muslim, ZAINOL ABIDEEN aka "MAHAGURU58" , a wannabee Malay, attacks Hj Zaid Kamarudin for the latter's Islamic credentials because Hj Zaid Kamarudin is part of BERSIH STEERING COMMITEE and working closely with Datuk Ambiga Sreenvasan.

    He spills his usual filth in his blog as a Muslim by calling Datuk Ambiga, "seorang MUSUH umat Islam seMalaysia yang nyata"

    Of Hj Zaid Kamarudin, this foul-mouth disgraceful SUFI Muslim had this to say,
    "Zaid menjadi pisau bermata dua tetapi demi menjaga hati sesama NGO Muslim, mereka terpaksa buat buat tak nampak akan jalan yang dipilih Zaid bersama sama dengan pihak kuffar yang menentang usaha gerakan dakwah Islamiyyah seMalaysia"
    Read here more of his unIslamic garbage in MAHAGURU58 BLOG

    Related Article

    Fatwa dari Majlis Fatwa Kebangsaaan di atas tariqat sufi ini di sini:( http://www.mail-archive.com/islah-net@yahoogroups.com/msg06556.html)

    Keputusan Fatwa Muzakarah Jawatankuasa Majlis Fatwa Kebangsaan Bagi Hal Ehwal Agama Islam:

    a)Tariqat Naqsyabandiah Al-Aliyyah di bawah pimpinan Syeikh Nazim
    bertentangan dengan fahaman akidah Ahli Sunnah Wal-Jamaah dan
    menyeleweng dari ajaran Islam. Pengamal ajaran ini hendaklah segera
    bertaubat.

    b) Semua negeri dikehendaki memfatwa dan mewartakan bahawa tariqat
    Naqsyabandiah Al-Aliyyah di bawah pimpinan Syeikh Nazim diharamkan
    dan tidak boleh diamalkan oleh umat I! slam ker ana ia bercanggah
    dengan ajaran Islam yang sebenar."

    Mahaguru58 ini mengikuti sebuah tarikat bernama Tariqat Naqsyabdi Al Aliyyah ".

    Ini diakui oleh Mahaguru58 sendiri dalam artikel yang beliau sendiri tulis. (http://mahaguru58.blogspot.com/2006/07/tariqat-naqsyabandiah-sufi-mureeds.html).

    Kalau Benar Mahaguru58 Masih Mengikut Tariqat Ini, Minta Beliau Bertaubat


    Blogger "Mahaguru58" posing with his SUFI mentors

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