Debunking the myth and clearing the path

By RZMay
The Malaysian Insider
May 04, 2012

KUALA LUMPUR, May 4 — We were ordinary Malaysians, professional, non-professional, rich, middle class and poor. On April 28, I found out that the different classes don't matter, we all felt the tear gas. I was at the Masjid Jamek LRT station when they fired on us, and they closed the LRT station. I was angry at that time, but now I understood that an open LRT station could have caused more danger to us than a closed one. We could have fallen on the tracks; there could have been more injuries, and even death.

We found out on that day that our skin colour and our beliefs don't matter. Muslims or non-Muslims, Malays, Indians, Chinese, Ibans, Kadazans, half-Eurasian half-Malay, quarter-Javanese, quarter-Portuguese, we were all one colour — yellow.

Our fight was for justice, and justice is a universal value that is upheld in every religion and belief. They say that if the polls were rigged, the opposition wouldn't have won five states. If the polls weren't rigged, how did BN with only 50.27 per cent of the votes get 63.1 per cent of the parliamentary seats? Why does Putrajaya have 5,000 voters yet Klang has 100,000 voters?

Then you're going to say that we were hijacked by the opposition. Let me tell you this, we invited everyone, BN and PR, to join us, the rakyat. We are your masters, not the other way around. The only one who got "hijacked" during the gathering were PR leaders because they succumbed to our demand for free and fair elections. And let me give this warning to PR leaders, in any case during the future should you be in power and you rig the elections, we would not hesitate to go back to the streets to demand what is just, because we are your boss.

We were 250,000 on the day itself. For what reason would 0.7 per cent of the country's population spend their weekend under the hot sun, be forced to buy RM2 non-chilled canned water (shout to the traders: really? RM2?), get tear gassed, beaten up by the police, risk massive stampedes and later accused of being disloyal to the country? Why was that huge number of people willing to do that despite all the odds and pressure? Even free food won't persuade that many people.

Let's not be distracted by the few rowdy supporters, real or covert. Those were just red herrings to try and distract us from our demand. We, normal Malaysians, are proud to show our love for this blessed country, and we want this country, our country, to succeed. We condemn the violence from both sides, and you guys can bear witness that we were all peaceful on that day, regardless of what the mainstream media says.

On that day, I was proud to be a Malaysian and I hope you were too. Thank you people for walking with me and let's make Malaysia our proud home.

Hidup rakyat!

This entry was posted on Friday, 4 May 2012, 4:47 pm and is filed under Bersih, Elections. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0.  

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Suhakam: Excessive force used in Bersih 2.0

KUALA LUMPUR: Suhakam has found that the police used excessive force in dealing with the July 9 Bersih 2.0 rally last year, which it said violated human rights.

Among those highlighted are the brutal tactics used by the police to disperse a group of protesters at KL Sentral where Bersih and opposition leaders S Ambiga and Anwar Ibrahim were located at and firing tear gas into public amenities like the Tung Shin hospital along Jalan Pudu.

The report, citing those present in the vicinity at the time, said the fracas had left demonstrators trapped in a cloud of tear gas with no escape route while those shot in the hospital risked public safety.

It further stated that although there were eyewitness accounts of protesters charging towards the police, the authorities' response threatened public safety due to the locations.

The human rights commission also cited the testimonies of those assaulted at the polls reform rally, including PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu whose arrest was made using unnecessary aggression.

"As officers of the law with specific training, the police should have displayed high professionalism and ability to deal with pressure pertaining to any issues related to their duty," said the 40-page report released this morning.

The commission also called for stern action against police officers found to have committed the said acts.

'Unfair media treatment'

Meanwhile, the report also criticised the "unfair media treatment" given to Ambiga and said there were clear efforts to demonise the polls reform movement by the government-owned mainstream media.

"The mainstream media did not give full coverage where the movement's essence was presented in a manner not neutral and unbalanced," it said.

The report went on to urge the mainstream media to be more responsible in executing its duty.

Suhakam also pointed to deliberate attempts to deny the former Bar Council president sufficient space to present her argument amid consistent media bashing of the Bersih leader.

Bersih's July 9 rally for free and fair elections had drawn thousands to the streets of the capital but participants were met with a bombardment of tear gas and chemical-laced water from riot police under orders to disperse the crowd.

The high-handed response by the authorities drew international condemnation that forced the Najib administration to concede on the need for polls reform although subsequent initiatives taken met widespread scepticism.

Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak's failure to ensure that reforms would be in place before he held national elections prompted Bersih to hold another massive rally last Saturday.

The April 28 protest took a similar violent turn when police fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse some 80,000 and a clash broke out leaving scores injured including police officers and pressmen.

Observers said that police aggression at Saturday's rally was "worse" than its predecessor. Suhakam said it would soon launch a probe into the incident.

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‘Polis, jangan berat sebelah’

KUALA LUMPUR: Kumpulan Pro-Mahasiswa hari ini menafikan penuntut yang menyertai perhimpunan Bersih 3.0 mencetuskan kekecohan, sebaliknya kekecohan itu datang daripada polis.

Kumpulan itu sebaliknya bersedia memberi kerjasama tampil selepas polis mengeluarkan 49 gambar peserta yang disyaki mencetuskan kekecohan.

Ini berikutan respon Kementerian Pengajian Tinggi menggesa 22 penuntut yang gambar mereka disiar polis berhubung Bersih 3.0 Sabtu lepas tampil bantu siasatan polis.

"Kita akan bersama mahasiswa menentang apa jua pertuduhan yang akan dikenakan terhadap mereka termasuk menyediakan bantuan guaman," kata wakil Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) Ahmad Syukri Razab.

Beliau bagaimanapun mahu polis bertindak adil dengan mengenakan tindakan tegas terhadap anggota yang bertindak ganas terhadap peserta Bersih 3.0.

"Siasat juga polis yang mengganas bertindak diluar etika dan mereka perlu dihakimi dengan adil. Polis jangan berat sebelah," katanya kesal.

Sementara itu, beberapa pelajar mewakili kunpulan Gerakan Menuntut Pendidikan Percuma (GMPP), Kelab Mangsa PTPTN, Gamis, Dema, SMM akan mengeluarkan satu modul menuntut beberapa perkara supaya pendidikan dapat diberikan secara percuma dan memansuhkan PTPTN (Perbadanan Tabung Pendidikan Tinggi Nasional).

Antaranya mendesak supaya mengharamkan penglibatan pegawai tinggi kerajaan dan menteri menjadi pengarah kolej swasta, selain mahu pembinaan kolej swasta baru dibekukan.

Pengerusi SMM Safwan Anang berkata pihaknya berusaha untuk memperoleh sokongan beberapa kumpulan mahasiswa lain seluruh negara sebelum diberikan kepada kerajaan dan pembangkang untuk diteliti.

"Ini konsensus kami. Kalau tak terima kita akan lawan balik," katanya yang tidak menolak kemungkinan akan mengadakan demonstrasi lagi sekiranya suara mereka tidak didengari.

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Bersih ‘suspect’ surrenders

KUALA LUMPUR: A 39-year-old man surrendered to the police here this afternoon to assist investigations in relation to the Bersih 3.0 rally last Saturday.

City police chief Mohmad Salleh said this followed the disseminating of photographs yesterday of 49 wanted individuals believed to be involved in various offences during the April 28 rally.

"The man had came on his own accord to the KL police headquarters at 3pm today. Meanwhile another individual, a 22-year-old student, has agreed to surrender himself, with his lawyer, tomorrow morning," he told FMT.

He added that police had now published more pictures of those wanted to assist investigations in their official Facebook page "Polis KL".

The Bersih rally, which was to be a peaceful protest to call for election reforms, turned violent when the protesters breached the barricades at Dataran Merdeka.

This prompted the police to retaliate by firing tear gas and water cannons, paving the way for clashes that went on for several hours.

Numerous protesters and several policeman were injured in the fracas, which also saw a police car being overturned and other vehicles damaged.

While the organisers had blamed the police for the violence, the authorities pointed the finger at the protesters instead.

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‘Misconduct due to ignoring inquiries’

KUALA LUMPUR: The government's reluctance to implement the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) and repeated snubbing of Suhakam's recommendations contributed to the various reported misconduct of the police during the Bersih 3.0 rally, Bar Council president Lim Chee Wee said today.

"It is sad that the police has not learnt in the last 10 years from the mistakes it has made in past rallies," he said.

"Given the incontrovertible and extensive evidence of police brutality and wrongful use of non-lethal weapons of tear gas and water cannon, the government must demonstrate a serious commitment to investigate via an independent and competent panel on what went wrong, how and what to do for the future."

Lim added that the government must follow up on the findings and recommendations of the panel.

He said the public was disappointed with the government's reluctance to heed past panels of inquiry, notably the proposal for an IPCMC and the recommendation for prosecution of MACC officers responsible in the death of Teoh Beng Hock.

Lim said that the number of "negative elements in the police force" would have been reduced had the government implemented the IPCMC, recommended by a royal commission headed by former chief justice Mohamed Dzaiddin Abdullah.

"The recommendation is premised on the underlying principle that the police cannot be expected to police themselves."

Lim said that in the absence of the IPCMC, Suhakam would be the best body to undertake the investigation into police conduct during last Saturday's rally.

However, Lim added, despite Suhakam having conducted three separate public inquiries and produced its reports into police brutality and misconduct in their handling of rallies, it has been ignored by police, said Lim.

The inquiries were:

• Inquiry on its own motion into the Nov 5, 2000 incident at the Kesas Highway;

• Public inquiry into KLCC Incident on May 28, 2006; and

• Public inquiry Into the allegation of excessive use of force by law enforment personnel during the incident of May 27, 2008 at Persiaran Bandar Mahkota Cheras 1, Bandar Mahkota Cheras.

Lim noted that there is an ongoing Suhakam inquiry into last year's Bersih 2.0 rally.

Recommendations made by Suhakam from past inquiries include:

A. From the inquiry into the Kesas Highway incident:

Crowd dispersal methods

1. The police should review the methods of crowd dispersal.

2. Police personnel on duty should be ordered to exercise restraint when dispersing assemblies, especially in the use of canes and batons, tear gas and water cannons.

3. Warnings to disperse should be given loudly and clearly, three times at 10-minute intervals.

4. Sufficient time to disperse should be given. The time given should depend on the size of the crowd – the larger the crowd, the longer the time given.

5. People who are trying to get away after the warning to disperse should not be chased and/or assaulted.

Confiscation or destruction of property

1. Property belonging to members of the public should not be destroyed or confiscated without a justifiable reason.

B. From the inquiry into the KLCC incident:

The basic principles on the use of force and firearms by law enforcement officials which have been adopted by other jurisdictions provide a practical guideline for law enforcement officials when the use of force and firearms is unavoidable. In summary, the guidelines are as follows:

1. Human life should be respected and preserved;

2. Everyone is allowed to participate in peaceful assemblies;

3. There should be no interference by the police save for the protection of persons participating in the assembly or others;

4. Police officers should exercise restraint in the use of force and minimise damage and injury;

5. Law enforcement officials should minimise the risk of endangering uninvolved persons, and the use of such weapons should be carefully controlled;

6. The progression of use of force should follow five stages: verbal persuasion, unarmed physical force, force using non-lethal weapons, force using impact weapons and deadly force.

Lim said similar recommendations made in Suhakam's Report on Freedom of Assembly have remained unheeded by the police.

"This is evident by the recurrence of excessive use of force and unprofessional police conduct in the dispersal of peaceful assemblies in past assemblies and the incidents of heavy-handed action of FRU personnel" in Bersih 3.0, he added.

Lim said the Bar Council would participate in any Suhakam inquiry into Bersih 3.0.

The council has called for a extraordinary general meeting next Friday to discuss issues surrounding the Bersih 3.0 rally.

The council deployed a 78-member monitoring team during the rally and released an interim report early this week.

Lim has also announced that the council was considering getting volunteer lawyers to file civil suits on behalf of victims of violence during the rally.

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Kembara Ke Akhir Usia

 

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What good will Najib’s panel do?

PETALING JAYA: The government has promised to set up an independent panel to investigate allegations of police brutality during last Saturday's Bersih rally, but opinion leaders are asking: Who will be the panellists, and is there any point in having the inquiry?

One issue that keeps cropping up is that public confidence in open inquiries is at an all time low.

Among the most critical of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak's announcement yesterday was Lim Teck Ghee, who said it was an an election ploy.

"On the one hand, Najib concludes that Bersih is an attempt to overthrow the government. The next moment he says we'll have an independent panel. It is clearly political since the election is coming, and he is not sincere at all," said Lim, who heads the Centre for Policy Initiatives.

The Malaysian experience with royal commissions of inquiry and other so-called independent panels was that the odds were stacked in the government's favour, he said.

"It won't be independent and would simply be there to present the BN and police points of view. It will be used for political spinning. We should reject this panel, unless the government changes its method of selection. The terms of reference also should be looked at carefully."

Asked to suggest names for the panel, Lim said the suggestions should come from the main stakeholders – organisers of the Bersih rally, Suhakam, the Bar Council, the police and the media.

Bar Council vice-president Christopher Leong concurred that having a panel without bite would be pointless.

"We have had in the recent past disappointing experiences with public inquiries in that their recommendations are not heeded," he said.

Plenty of evidence

Leong cited the royal commission on police misconduct and the more recent inquiry into the death of Teoh Beng Hock.

"Even the annual reports of Suhakam are not tabled and debated in Parliament. There is no point in having a commission of inquiry, or an independent panel of inquiry or a Suhakam inquiry if the findings and recommendations are ignored.

"It would be merely a process of buying time or wasting time and resources."

Leong noted that the police had said they were able to identify from videos and photos the rally participants who had misbehaved and would have them prosecuted.

He asked that the police do the same with policemen who misbehaved, adding that there were plenty of evidence on the Internet.

"The police should therefore name these officers and have the A-G prosecute them. Don't waste time, take action."

Leong said that if the authorities wished to have an independent panel of inquiry, the following questions should be addressed: Who are going to be  the members? What would be the panel's  terms of reference? What powers would it have and where would it derive such powers from?

"It is not productive to have a panel of inquiry that ultimately has no bite."

Leong also questioned if the panel would be solely about violence against the media, saying: "What about the allegations of police violence against the other members of the public – the clerks, secretaries, managers, doctors, engineers, lawyers, architects, bankers, business people, IT people, farmers, stall owners, students, retirees, accountants, pilots, labourers, nurses, artists, etcetra?"

'We really need neutrality'

However, the chairman of the Asli Centre of Public Policy Studies, Ramon Navaratnam, said having such a panel was "still better than none at all" although he would have preferred a Suhakam inquiry.

He suggested the following names as choices for the proposed commission's chairman: former police chief Mohammed Haniff Omar, Umno veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, former deputy prime minister Musa Hitam and former chief justice Mohamed Dzaiddin Abdullah.

"One good person would be preferably a judge who has no connection with the police. Not me. We need somebody of higher standing than that," he said.

"This investigation must be done quickly – a one-month deadline, and you come up with conclusions and recommendations. There is ample evidence from all sides."

Social Care Foundation chairman Robert Phang also said Suhakam would be the best body to investigate.

"Suhakam is perceived to be anti-government, but in fact that's not true," he said.

"In any case, there's no point putting in anybody who is mediocre. We need someone who is fair and just. One name I can think of is (Suhakam vice-chairman) Simon Sipaun. Suhakam chief Abu Talib Othman also.

"We really need neutrality. But the question is: what is neutral? Neutral in the eyes of politicians or the public? We should ignore politicians because they are blindfolded. Perhaps the media should
suggest some names."

Najib said yesterday that "credible, experienced and respectable" individuals will make up the independent panel, adding that it was likely to be formed by next week.

An online portal quoted DAP's Tony Pua today urging the government to use Suhakam to conduct an inquiry and said the government's proposal to set up a separate independent panel was unnecessary.

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Nayati asked kidnappers for chicken rice

PETALING JAYA: Twelve year-old Nayati Moodliar wanted to eat chicken rice while he was held by his kidnappers.

His father, Shamelin Moodliar, told this to reporters here today when the family held a brief press conference a day after his son was found unharmed.

"You can tell that he is integrated [into the Malaysian society]. The kidnappers had asked him what he wanted to eat and he [Nayati] answered, 'Could I have some chicken rice, please,'" he said about his son of Dutch and Indian heritage.

The family's six-day ordeal ended on a high note yesterday morning when Nayati was found unharmed. He was kidnapped while walking to his school, Mont Kiara International School, on April 27.

His mother, Janice Smith, added that Nayati was well taken care of.

"No words can describe… when we saw our son again [yesterday]. We were so happy," said the home-maker.

His father added that after meeting his family, Nayati immediately requested to go back to his school to see his friends.

"He asked to go back to school to thank his friends. He knew everyone was waiting for him.

"He wanted to walk back to school," he said while holding back tears.

Shamelin, a senior adviser in a Dutch business management consultancy firm, added: "This is a strong gesture that Nayati is not afraid and will carry on."

The family added that things were back to normal as there were celebrations and dancing last night with Nayati.

When asked how did Nayati sleep on his first night back, Janice said: "He slept very well. He only asked us to join him so we slept together."

The family extended their gratitude to the Malaysian public and also their family abroad in the Netherlands and South Africa.

A tale of human compassion

Shamelin said the family will first take some time off before moving on with their lives.

"First thing we will do is take a family retreat. We appreciate the attention and love given [in Nayati's case]. We came here to thank you and also to say please give us some time to deal with this as a family quietly," said Shamelin.

He also thanked the Malaysian police for doing a "fantastic" job as the police reassured the family that finding Nayati alive would be their priority.

"They were there with us everyday," he said.

The family also added that they have no plans to migrate from Malaysia.

When asked, Shamelin said: "After this episode, I can tell you we love Malaysia even more than before… and how everyone has helped us. It is a great country."

He added: "This isn't a kidnapping story anymore but [a tale] of human compassion, friendship and love. Everyone from my family overseas and the public were offering their help."

Nayati was not present at the press conference but a video recording of his thank-you message was distributed to the media.

In the 24-second clip, Nayati dressed in blue was seen cheerfully bouncing around on his bed.

"Really appreciate all your prayers, you guys found me," he said, smiling.

He added with a big grin: "Luckily nothing is wrong with me. I am not hurt, I am okay."

Nayati was said to be kidnapped by two local men in a black Proton Gen 2 .He was released at a rest and recreation stop in Rawang early yesterday morning. News reports claim that a ransom was paid.

When asked about the ransome the family said they were not at liberty to comment on the matter.

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PKR to haul EC bosses to court

KUALA LUMPUR: PKR plans to take legal action against the Election Commission's top bosses with regard to the accusation that the two are Umno members.

Calling it an "unprecedented move", a party source said the suit would be based on Article 114 of the Federal Constitution which was related to the formation of the EC.

"The court action is related to 4A of the Article. We will push for what is provided in the constitution for their removal. We think we have enough grounds to do so," he added.

Article 114 (4A) states: "In addition to any disqualification provided under Clause (4), the chairman of the Election Commission shall be disqualified from holding such office if after three months of his appointment to such office or at any time thereafter he is or becomes a member of any board of directors or board of management, or an officer or employee, or engages in the affairs or business, of any organisation or body, whether corporate or otherwise or of any commercial, industrial or other undertaking, whether or not he receives any remuneration, reward, profit or benefit from it."

The source said that Opposition Leader and PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim would announce the suit during a Merdeka Rakyat event on May 7 as part of the party's effort to push further the momentum gathered from the Bersih 3.0 rally for polls reform.

In a statement earlier, PKR strategic director Rafizi Ramli said the event would be a tribute to those who went against what he claimed as police repression on a peaceful assembly.

Recently, PKR claimed that EC chairman Abdul Aziz Yusof and deputy Wan Ahmad Wan Omar were still members of Umno and called for their immediate resignations.

The party said this proved their repeated allegations of bias against the two in the past.

Spreading the good news

Despite the duo admitting to being Umno members in a Sinar Harian interview, Wan Ahmad later denied the charge and described the accusation a politically-motivated lie.

"Anwar is expected to make a special announcement regarding the position of the EC chief and deputy chief at the Merdeka Rakyat event," Rafizi said in the statement.

"PKR will continue to bring the good news of Bersih 3.0 to the people with regard to the peoples' uprising. The date April 28, 2012 will be forever marked as Merdeka Rakyat (people's independence)," he added.

The opposition and Bersih hailed the rally as a success after tens of thousands gathered in the capital for free and fair elections within the Dataran Merdeka vicinity despite police's warning.

The rally was peaceful until the police fired tear gas and water cannons after some demonstrators breached the barricades in front of the square, which the court had barred the public from entering.

In the ensuing fracas, scores were injured including two police officers. There were also cases of assault against the media said to be perpetrated by both the police and the protesters.

Both rally organisers and the authorities blamed each other for the clash. Bersih 3.0 leaders said the violence was prompted by the police while the government maintained that the men in blue had acted in self-defence after the crowd turned unruly.

Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak said Bersih had failed to keep its promise of a peaceful assembly and said the fracas could have been avoided if the organisers had agreed to move the rally to Stadium Merdeka.

This morning, the prime minister claimed that the protest, which also called for the resignation of the EC top brass, was aimed at toppling the government.

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Can good looks win votes?

By Kisho Kumari Sucedaram

KUALA LUMPUR: Should good looks be a major criteria to garner votes in the 13th general election (GE)?

Or, to put it in another way, can an engaging personality coupled with good looks, immaculate dressing and grooming, give the much-needed edge to the potential candidate to win in the GE?

While there is no known research to date — to determine the sure-fire qualities needed for a winnable election candidate — the subject has been bandied, whenever a GE draws near.

Recently, there have been debates on the "beauty or brains" issue as political parties are abuzz over the selection of potential candidates for the general election which is said to be around the corner.

Should or should not good looks be one of the major criteria for winnable candidates?

MIC president G Palanivel said recently, it would be advantageous for the party to offer good-looking candidates, in the hope that they could bag the desired votes in the GE.

Beyong that, the minister in the Prime Minister's Department said that politicians certainly must have other more important qualities, such as good leadership, scandal-free resume and be well-respected within the party and the Indian community.

Universiti Sains Malaysia political analyst Sivamurugan Pandian notes that being good-looking, to some extent, would be a value-added point in gaining popularity.

However, that alone would not be sufficient, he said.

"Other more relevant criteria for voters in determining their choice of wakil rakyat would be honesty, talent, intelligence, kindness and caring for the constituents.

"Maybe, handsome and beautiful politicians are more appealing to voters in other countries like the United States whose President Barrack Obama is tall, good looking and attractive. Another example is Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra who is pretty," he told Bernama here recently.

However, for Malaysia, Pandian believed that voters were more inclined and looked forward to giving their support to responsible representatives or political parties that could serve them best, rather than those with just good looks.

"What is the point, if at the end of the day, good-looking elected representatives cannot deliver their promises and keep up with the peoples' aspirations? It's okay if he (/she) has good looks and can easily touch base with the rakyat," he added.

A blend of all things

Meanwhile, former MIC strongman DP Vijandran said physical appearance of politicians should be seen in terms of his or her charisma and leadership.

"Yes, to some extent, good looks are admirable like in the case of President Obama. Yet, charisma plays an important role. A politician should be a blend of strong intellectuality, integrity and commitment to serve people," he said.

Taking Lee Lam Thye, the former DAP leader who left the party as an example, Vijandran said Lee had all those values expected by the people.

"He is good at making peace and touching base with the rakyat, and became a celebrated leader. He even continues doing social service for the public. This is how a leader should be. It's all about total impression that we make," he said.

For school bus driver Mohd Kamarul Ishak, 50, from Tapah, Perak, good looks certainly make a good first impression and easily attract the people to get to know the would-be candidate better.

However, he noted that the people's judgment would be based more on service delivery.

"If he does not fulfil our needs here, I'm sure no one will vote for him in the next general election. He must be good and caring at heart," said Mohd Kamarul.

As for housewife Fatimah Yahya, from Klang, pleasant looks help make a "very good first impression" but only for a short period of time.

The real impression, she said, would be based on the amount of time, effort and service above self which the people's representative offered.

"However, that does not mean that handsome and pretty leaders cannot win the people's heart, if they are also sincere, hardworking and understand the constituents well," she added.

Inner qualities important

Concurring with most of the opinions, a psychologist, Associate Professor Dr Arifin Zainal, said good looks played certain roles, especially in shaping perception and readiness by the community to give space to be comfortable with their leader.

"The (good) looks factor always attracts the people and they would feel that the wakil rakyat is more approachable in a way," said the dean of the Faculty of Applied Social Sciences, Open University of Malaysia.

However, Arifin said, it did not mean that good looks could override the inner qualities needed to be a leader, where creating a long-term good impression among the people was especially, vital.

He said the elected representative should be the beacon of the people's hope and happiness.

- Bernama

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Finally, Najib resets Malaysian aviation — Ahmad Razlan Shafie

MAY 4 — Much has been said about the Malaysia Airlines-AirAsia deal, from the time it was sealed to this week, when it was unwound.

The issue many fail to address is the illogical and irrational need to even have the share swap. A collaboration would have sufficed back then, had this been necessary.

But Khazanah Nasional must have felt an instant noodle fix was required because their decade-old turnarounds did not show results.

The former MAS managing director Tengku Azmil Zaharuddin was doing fine renewing the fleet when he was unceremoniously kicked upstairs, back to Khazanah.

Did Khazanah ever tell its chairman, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, that Tengku Azmil was on the right track and results would show soon enough?

After all, Pemandu's plans will only show results after a while, why not MAS?

I'm glad Najib has decided to abort the deal and set up an aviation board. We need professionals to run Malaysia Airlines and not bean counters just looking at the bottom line.

I know the prime minister is busy and has political battles to face. Therefore, he has no time to look into the fate of MAS, but this time, he came through for the national airline.

It is our pride and joy, not a company that is a revolving door for managers from outside, especially its rivals, and business plans that don't make sense.

MAS was doing well with Firefly when AirAsia got in and killed the jet service. Now, MAS has fewer routes but more planes.

What can it do? I don't know but I hope it takes the opportunity given by Najib to fly again, higher and higher, just like the other GLCs that the prime minister is fixing, such as Tenaga Nasional and Keretapi Tanah Melayu.

The prime minister wants an economic transformation for the good of Malaysia. Let us take that chance to make these companies and Malaysia soaring towards excellence under his leadership.

* Ahmad Razlan Shafie reads The Malaysian Insider.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.

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Why we dressed in black — Lim Mun Fah

MAY 4 — Please remember this day when we dressed in black!

Please remember May 3.

On this day, we dressed in black and the front pages of our papers were printed in black and white to mourn a black World Press Freedom Day.

On April 28, our journalists and photographers were assaulted, had their cameras snatched or photos deleted. They were yelled at, chased and attacked by tear gas. Our dignity has again and again been humiliated and trampled!

On May 3, we used black to express our discontentment, anger and protest.

We are ashamed of being ranked 122nd in the Press Freedom Index 2011/2012 and being listed as a country enjoying little freedom of the press.

We wonder, we are confused, and we are disappointed.

On this day, however, we wanted to leave these aside and use black to call for freedom of the press, as well as the return of the deprived dignity.

Along the country's political liberalisation process, the freedom enjoyed by traditional media is still the most backward and neglected. Members of the media have been psychologically threatened by the Printing Presses and Publications Act, the Official Secrets Act and the possibility of being put behind bars. Therefore, they have to explore with extreme caution.

Our freedom of the press has to move over as the principle of "national security" and the protection umbrella of "national secrets" are prioritised.

However, how should we define "national security" and "national secrets"?

There is no government in the world that does not wish to suppress freedom of the press. Therefore, press freedom has been eroded, public opinion has gradually lost control of governments, the truth and the distinction between right and wrong are blurred.

Freedom of the press is the cornerstone of a democratic society, as well as a thermometer for basic human rights. How could a country achieve democracy and respect human rights without freedom of the press?

The unstoppable pressure and fear are the cruel reality that must be faced by Malaysian pressmen.

Unfortunately, amidst the noises of the Government Transformation Plan and Economic Transformation Programme, like a solitary traveller, media practitioners are neither respected by those in power nor understood by the opposition. They can only keep struggling alone to move forward.

Under the great pressure and fear, some people quit due to the difficulties, some people left in disappointment and some people are muddling along. However, there are also some people who are still insisting on pursuing the ideal, taking all cynical remarks indifferently and calmly, and guarding a weak spark.

Yes, we have been disappointed and we have disappointed many people. We have accused ourselves and felt ashamed. Also, we have been criticised and condemned. However, we always believe that without an ideal, there will be no future. And there will be hope only if we retain our dream.

We hope that one day, we will no longer be forced to cover our mouths.

We hope that one day, we will no longer be forced to lock up the truth in the black box.

We hope that one day, we will no longer put on black shirts in great sorrow.

We hope that one day, we can sing in the words of the old spiritual, as Martin Luther King, Jr said in his famous speech "I Have a Dream" — "Free at last ! Free at last!..." — mysinchew.com

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.

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MyKad brawl victim to fight on

SUBANG: The beating that Puchong PKR division chief S Murali received at the hands of MIC Youth members may have broken his cheek bone, but not his resolve.

The former bodybuilder stressed that once he recovered from his surgery on Monday, he would take 17-year-old student B Reshina to the Prime Minister's Office again to demand that she be issued a MyKad.

When met at the Subang Jaya Medical Centre here, Murali, a former MIC man himself, recounted what happened on Wednesday morning outside the PMO in Putrajaya.

Murali, whose face is still bruised from the attack, claimed that he was set upon by the MIC Youth members when he attempted to defend Reshina and PKR vice-president N Surendran.

'They are my brothers'

Describing the experience as "gruesome", the PKR man however said that he would not seek revenge on his attackers.

"I know all of them [the people who assaulted him] very well. Despite us being in different political camps, I still consider them as my brothers because we are fighting for the same cause [the betterment of the Indian community]," he added.

Murali said that he would let the police investigate the incident, which had tainted the image of MIC Youth.

However, the PKR man claimed that he believes someone higher up had given the MIC Youth members the order to launch the attack but declined to elaborate on this.

"The policemen present had ignored the fight and allowed the MIC Youth members to attack us and at the same time, nobody was arrested. I am shocked that the policemen just stood and watched. Furthermore, it happened in front of the PMO," he said.

'She needs her MyKad'

As for Reshina's case, Murali vowed that whatever happened on Wednesday would not deter PKR from helping her secure a MyKad.

On the contrary, he added, the incident had only made them more determined.

"Despite the school giving Reshina the green light to sit for the SPM examination, our objective is to ensure that she gets her identity card. What can she do with her SPM result without a MyKad? This girl's future is at stake," he added.

Murali also stressed that MIC Youth was wrong if it thought that it could break PKR's spirit with a few punches.

"We are much stronger than that," he added.

The clash erupted when the MIC Youth delegation came face-to-face with the PKR members who had gone to submit a memorandum to the prime minister regarding Reshina's case.

MIC Youth had denied that its delegation wanted to attack Surendran and Reshina, and accused Murali of hurling vulgarities and throwing the first punch.

Surendran, however, called it a premeditated attack.

Yesterday, MIC disciplinary committee chairman KS Nijhar took the MIC Youth to task for resorting to violence and vowed that an inquiry would be held.

Also read:

Attack on PKR man draws more flak

MyKad brawl outside PM's office

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Attack on PKR man draws more flak

PETALING JAYA: A Kita state chief and a business leader have joined the chorus of criticism against MCA Youth over Wednesday's assault of Puchong PKR chief S Murali.

R Sri Sanjeevan, who heads Kita in Negeri Sembilan, called on MIC Youth to renounce violence in settling political scores, and Malaysian Indian Business Association (Miba) president P Sivakumar said MIC should learn to respect freedom of expression.

Wednesday's attack happened just outside the Prime Minister's Office, where a PKR delegation led by vice-president N Surendran had gathered to deliver a memorandum over the issue of stateless Indians in Malaysia.

Murali was attacked by several people, believed to be members of MIC Youth. MIC Youth chief T Mohan tried but failed to stop the attackers.

Murali is still warded in a private hospital and MIC disciplinary committee chief KS Nijhar has promised an investigation into the incident.

Sanjeevan said he doubted that the MIC Youth members, given their "unruly behaviour", could be groomed to become future leaders.

"Is it only violence that the MIC Youth members learn in their party? We may have political differences, but at end of the day, we are all humans with thinking capabilities and we should abhor violence," said Sanjeevan.

He added that MIC members should know that it was not only their image that was tarnished by the incident, but that of the entire Indian community.

"MIC president G Palanivel is bringing a lot of good changes in the party. I hope he will take action against the perpetrators soon."

Sharing Sanjeevan's sentiments, Sivakumar said MIC members should have known better than to behave violently after the thumping the party received in the last general election.

"MIC should also know that the laws of the land apply to them as well. They should also learn to respect a person's freedom of expression," he said.

Sivakumar, a former MIC member, said MIC Youth should learn to face challenges by engaging all stakeholders in a collaborative way.

"The educated masses, especially the Indians, have learned to respect all elected representatives irrespective of their political ideologies," he said.

Also read:

MIC to probe MyKad brawl

'What's your fear, Surendran?'

MyKad brawl outside PM's office

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Nurul gets RPK’s stamp of approval

PETALING JAYA: Controversial blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin has expressed support for PKR vice-president and one of the rising stars in the Malaysian political arena, Nurul Izzah Anwar.

The blogger, once a die-hard supporter of Nurul's father, Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim, had of late been critical of some of the latter's policies with regard to Pakatan Rakyat.

However, the UK-based Raja Petra organised a fund-raising dinner for Nurul, who is also the Lembah Pantai MP, last night.

In a message to FMT, the blogger had stressed that the future of Malaysia hinged upon young and talented leaders like Nurul.

"I would like to express my support for Nurul. The future belongs to the young. She and those of her generation should now take over the leadership of Malaysia," he said.

Raja Petra also hoped to see the next general election being contested by "educated, intelligent and progressive" candidates under the age of 40.

"This younger generation with new ideas and the spirit of anak bangsa Malaysia is what the country needs to move Malaysia forward and discard the racial politics that is dividing our nation," he said.

Raja Petra's open endorsement of Nurul was bound to raise eyebrows since his detractors in Pakatan had accused the blogger of being a turncoat due to his stinging articles against the opposition pact and its leaders.

However, the blogger had on numerous occasions stressed that he would call a spade a spade irrespective of political affiliations.

The fund-raising event was also attended by Raja Petra's daughter, Sara (photo).

A 'princess' liked by all

Nurul, on the other hand, was a familiar face both in the domestic and international arenas.

The 31-year-old mother of two was thrust into the limelight when her father was sacked from the government in 1998 and became the poster girl for the Reformasi movement.

In the 2008 general election, Nurul, an engineer by training, made her electoral debut and defeated Umno heavyweight Shahrizat Abdul Jalil for the Lembah Pantai parliamentary constituency.

From her teenage days as the "princess of Reformasi" till now, Nurul's striking good looks, humility, charm and intelligence had managed to capture the hearts of millions, even those of her political adversaries.

Political pundits had also not discounted the possibility of Nurul, who is well-received by all races, of rising to the pinnacle of power to become the first woman prime minister of Malaysia.

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Kenapa panel bebas, kan Suhakam kan...Najib takut kot...

Kerajaan sengaja mengenepikan Suruhanjaya Hak Asasi Manusia (Suhakam) apabila hendak menubuhkan panel siasatan bebas yang lain untuk menyiasat perhimpunan Bersih 3.0, kata Naib Presiden PAS Datuk Mahfuz Omar.

"Itu kerja Suhakam. Kenapa ketepikan Suhakam dan tubuh pula kononnya panel siasatan bebas untuk siasat kejadian yang berlaku dalam perhimpunan Bersih 3.0 itu?

"Apa perlu panel siasatan itu sedangkan Suhakam telah membuktikan ia menjalankan kerjanya dengan professional," beliau mempersoalkan.

Ahli Parlimen Pokok Sena itu menyifatkan tindakan itu sebagai bukti nyata bahawa kerajaan Umno Barisan Nasional (BN) bukan sahaja tidak menghargai kewujudan Suhakam malah terangan-terangan menunjukkan rasa tidak percaya kepada suruhanjaya tersebut.

"Mengapa kerajaan terang-terang menunjukkan rasa tidak percaya kepada Suhakam?

"Adakah (Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri) Najib (Tun Razak) dan kerajaannya marah dan sakit hati sangat kerana merasakan pendengaran Suhakam sebelum ini tidak menyebelahi pihak mereka," soal Mahfuz lagi.

Tindakan kerajaan yang menunjukkan rasa tidak percaya kepada Suhakam itu seolah-olah sengaja mahu mendorong masyarakat antarabangsa khususnya meragui kemampuan suruhanjaya itu, katanya.

"Kerajaan nampaknya tidak mahu mengiktiraf peranan Suhakam sebagai pelindung hak asasi semua pihak termasuk pihak polis sendiri," katanya.

 Beliau juga bimbang kerajaan sengaja menolak peranan yang sepatutnya dimainkan oleh Suhakam untuk menyiasat kejadian yang berlaku dalam perhimpunan Bersih 3.0 itu kerana mahu mencari pihak yang boleh melindungi jenayah yang dilakukan terhadap mereka yang menyertai perhimpunan itu.

"Adakah kerajaan sengaja hendak mencari orang yang boleh berkerjasama untuk melindungi apa yang dilihat umum sebagai jenayah kerajaan Umno dan sebahagian anggota polis yang bertindak kejam dan ganas terutama yang mengarahkan tindakan sedemikian terhadap mereka yang menyertai perhimpunan Bersih 3.0 itu?" tanya Mahfuz.

Beliau menyifatkan tindakan mengetepikan Suhakam itu menambahkan lagi keyakinan masyarakat termasuk masyarakat antarabangsa bahawa kerajaan cuba melindungi keganasannya dari disiasat secara bebas, bersih dan adil.

Dalam perkembangan berkaitan, Pengerusi Suhakam Tan Sri Hasmy Agam menegaskan bahawa penggunaan kekasaran yang tidak seimbang dan tidak sepatutnya terhadap peserta perhimpunan dan juga petugas media adalah satu tindakan pihak polis yang tidak boleh diterima sama sekali.

Suruhanjaya itu juga, tegasnya, terkejut dengan dakwaan layanan polis terhadap petugas media yang mempunyai tanggungjawab untuk merekod, mendokumen dan melaporkan peristiwa yang menarik minat orang ramai secara professional dan beretika.- harakahdaily

Najib fears using Suhakam to probe police brutality...

DAP has slammed the prime minister for sidelining the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) by forming a new panel to probe reported police viole! nce duri ng Bersih 3.0.

"Is it because the cabinet is worried that the Suhakam findings will be detrimental to both the police force and the government, and hence Najib is attempting to set up a new panel that will be more 'sympathetic' towards the government's cause?" asked DAP parliamentarian Tony Pua.


Pua (right) said the government's announcement was "curious" since it had already set up Suhakam under the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia Act 1999 to handle matters of human rights infringements.

"Therefore, why is it that Suhakam has been marginalised when it comes to the investigation of outright human rights abuses by the police force?  

"Why is there a need for the prime minister to set up a new 'independent' committee which will require a fresh set up and selection of new panel members? Are the existing commissioners not good enough?" asked the PJ Utara MP in a statement today.

Pua also slammed Najib for attempting to "shift the blame" of the chaos after Bersih had called on the rally to disperse, on the organisers refusing the offer to use Stadium Merdeka for the event.
 
"Aside from the fact that the venue was only offered to Bersih at the very last minute, there is absolutely not good reason provided by the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) for the rejection to use Dataran Merdeka."

Pua blamed DBKL's "unreasonable rejection" for forcing the protest into the streets and the police barricading the Dataran.

" It became a most ridiculous and ironical situation where the Bersih rally was tacitly allowed on the streets, but they were not allowed to gather ! on the f ield!" said Pua.

He also argued it was Najib who had breached the Peaceful Assembly Act, not Bersih, for failing to "understand and embrace the principles and spirit of the Act to allow greater democratic space for expression and assembly by Malaysians".

Suhakam dealt police blow

Meanwhile PAS Youth said Suhakam's statement following the rally deals a "serious blow" to the police and the government.

PAS Youth Federal Territories deputy chief Mohamad Suhaimi Abdul Aziz in a statement today pointed out that Suhakam was present at the rally and has witnessed the acts of brutality for themselves.
 
"As a body responsible for taking care of human rights, Suhakam has spoken up about a major error by the police in contravening the people's rights of assembly and freedom of speech," he said.

With the amount of evidence available, he said, the police and government have no excuse to deny the allegations or hide from the truth.

"In this case there is enough evidence to haul the police to the dock to be charged.

"The government and in particular the Home Ministry cannot absolve themselves just like that in the face of all that has taken place," he said.- malaysiakini

Suhakam will probe Bersih 3.0 violence

 

Suhakam: Police violated human rights in Bersih 2.0

The police had violated human rights when they fired tear gas in the vicinity of public amenities during the Bersih 2.0 rally last July, said the Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam).

"There is infringement of human rights by the police in some instances, especially when tear gas was fired at the vicinity of public (amenities) like Tung Shin Hospital, Chinese Maternity Hospital and KL Sentral, where public safety was at risk.

"In the case of Tung Shin Hospital, even if the tear gas had not been fired directly into the compound! , firing it along Jalan Pudu is in itself hazardous to the people in the hospital, as it is in the vicinity of the hospital," said Suhakam vice-chairperson Khaw Lake Tee at a press conference today at Suhakam headquarters.

Khaw was reading out the commission's 40-page report after a public inquiry on human rights infringements before and after the rally on July 9 last year. - malaysiakini  

cheers. 

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Choose the middle path: But don't be neutral

Anas Zubedy

Many mistake the middle path as being neutral. There is a vast difference between a middle path person and a neutral person.

The middle path points forward; the neutral position is at a standstill.
The middle path leads to action; the neutral path accomplishes nothing.
The middle path takes responsibility; the neutral shirks it.
The middle path asks questions; the neutral avoids them.
The middle path requires commitment; the neutral is non-committal.
The middle path sides with justice and truth; the neutral sits on the fence.
The middle path has solid foundations; the neutral is like lalang.
The middle path demands integrity; the neutral sways with the tide.
The middle path captures reality; the neutral does not want to face it.
The middle path empathises; the neutral is selfish.
The middle path thinks long term; the neutral cares only about the present.
The middle path uses intelligence; the neutral is unthinking.
The middle path is innovative; the neutral needs no innovation.
The middle path sees right as right and wrong as wrong no matter who does it; the neutral hides.
The middle path cares; the neutral does not.
The middle path adds value and contributes; the neutral does not.  
The middle path guides us to the right way, in the right measure and at the right time. It is the path that will lead us to Unity.

Choose the middle path.

 

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SAMM Buka Talian SMS Untuk Mangsa Kezaliman Pihak Berkuasa

Nombor talian SMS : 018-9235083

Email SAMM : adu@anakmudamalaysia.com

Secebis kesempatan diambil oleh Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM) untuk mengucapkan tahniah kepada semua rakyat yang hadir dalam apa jua bentuk sokongan bagi menjayakan perhimpunan BERSIH 3.0. Tahniah rakyat Malaysia, himpunan terbesar dalam sejarah negara tercipta 28 April 2012.

Ternyata 'benchmark' himpunan rakyat terbesar di awal zaman reformasi suatu ketika dahulu telah dipecahkan oleh kejayaan BERSIH 3.0 dengan menghimpun 300 ribu rakyat di 11 venue seluruh Malaysia dan 73 negara di seluruh dunia. Ini suatu kejayaan mutlak hasil tindakbalas rakyat bagi menghalang cubaan pihak kerajaan pemerintah mengekalkan kuasa melalui pelbagai helah dan penipuan pilihanraya.

SAMM yang terlibat secara langsung dalam menjayakan BERSIH 3.0, menyedari pelbagai kesulitan dan kesengsaraan dilalui oleh semua peserta himpunan di atas ketelanjuran pihak berkuasa yang bukan sahaja gagal memastikan keamanan, tetapi telah merusuh di atas khabar angin yang sengaja diatur. Akhirnya ramai peserta yang mendapat kecederaan akibat dirempuh dan dibelasah oleh pihak polis yang 'hilang pedoman'. Ramai juga peserta yang ditangkap dan dibawa ke Pulapol.

 

Tidak kurang juga peserta himpunan BERSIH yang mengalami kerugian di atas kehilangan harta benda hasil daripada rusuhan pihak berkuasa. Para wartawan yang menjadi pemerhati berkecuali juga turut menjadi mangsa kezaliman pihak berkuasa sehingga ada alat media milik mereka dirampas.

Justeru itu, SAMM membuka talian SMS dan juga menyediakan email untuk semua mangsa kezaliman/keganasan/tangkapan pihak polis bagi menyatakan pengalaman masing-masing terutamanya mereka yang dipukul samada separuh mati atau hampir mati, diheret ke Pulapol dan juga yang mengalami kerugian/kehilangan harta benda di atas rusuhan pihak polis. Berikut adalah nombor talian S! MS dan a lamat email:

Nombor talian SMS : 018-9235083

Email SAMM : adu@anakmudamalaysia.com

Talian di atas juga dibuka kepada peserta yang mempunyai apa jua permasalahan dan kesulitan yang tidak berjaya diselesaikan seperti urusan dengan pihak polis dan keperluan khidmat guaman. Sila sertakan info/maklumat untuk dihubungi bagi keperluan makluman selanjutnya. Pengamal media juga dialu-alukan untuk memberi bantuan hebahan.

 

Pihak SAMM mengambil tanggungjawab untuk memastikan tiada mangsa yang dibiarkan dan tidak dibela setelah kita bersama 28 April 2012 menjadi sebahagian daripada sejarah menerpa kejayaan BERSIH 3.0 demi pilihanraya bersih dan adil serta ruang demokrasi yang terjamin.

Sekian

"Perjuangan Adalah Perlaksanaan Kata-Kata"

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Najib: They wanted to topple the govt

GUA MUSANG: The Bersih 3.0 rally was an attempt to topple the government which was elected by the people through a democratic system, said Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak.

He said the rally showed that the groups involved did not respect the government which was elected by the people through a valid process.

"They had the intention to take over Dataran Merdeka, not to gather for two or three hours but for two or three days or even longer, to show that the government cannot control the situation.

"They wanted to make Dataran Merdeka like the Tahrir Square in Egypt," he said when launching the Kelantan State 1Malaysia Community Carnival at the Civic Centre Hall, here today.

The prime minister, who is on a one-day working visit to the state, was addressing more than 30,000 people who had started to wait for his arrival since 7am at the Civic Centre hall.

Najib said the government would not compromise with the group in its attempt to bring down the government which was legally chosen by the rakyat.

He said during their attempt to win over Dataran Merdeka, the group had injured a policeman and media personnel, as well as destroyed public property.

The prime minister said the rioters also blamed the police for allegedly instigating chaos at the rally.

Najib, who is also Barisan Nasional chairman, challenged the group to compete in the election.

"If they are man enough, let's compete through votes in the election," he added.

"I don't deny there may have been some police brutality, but it could be avoided if rally participants obeyed the law approved by Parliament," he said.

The prime minister said the government had offered a suitable location for them to demonstrate peacefully, including the Merdeka Stadium, but they had declined.

"They rejected the Mederka Stadium because of their intention, should the country be in harmony and everything is fine, they cannot rule Putrajaya," he said.

Meanwhile, Najib was proud of the public including residents of Gua Musang, who turned out in large numbers at the Civic Centre field, for a peaceful demonstration without creating pandemonium.

"I salute the people of Gua Musang; we can tell those who rallied near Dataran Merdeka that Gua Musang residents are more civilised than them.

"They (Gua Musang residents) portray a community that respects the law and its principles for order in the world," he said.

- Bernama

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BERSIH Di "HIJACK" Adalah Fitnah Paling JAHAT

Tulang Besi mencadangkan kepada blogger2 dan individu2 yang sibuk menyebarkan cerita kononnya AZMIN hijack BERSIH, Anwar Hijack BERSIH, parti2 politik hijack BERSIH.........SILA MASUK UMNO!!!!.

Usaha dan kata2 kamu itu telah DIGUNAKAN oleh SEMUAAAAAA media UMNO untuk MEMBURUKKAN IMEJ BERSIH. 

Hakikatnya:

1.0 Tiada salahnya kalau Azmin suruh rakyat berjalan ke Dataran Merdeka kalaupun betul.

2.0 Yang kejam dan zalim bukannya Azmin. Bukan Azmin yang tembak gas, bukan Azmin yang pukul peserta

3.0 Undang2 yang menghalang rakyat pergi ke Dataran itu hanyalah Undang2 Kecil DBKL sahaja.

4.0 BERSIH tidak akan berjaya kalau tiada sokongan dari parti2 politik seluruh Malaysia.

5.0 Sampah sebenarnya adalah kamu kerana menjadi alat kepada UMNO dan BArisan Nasional. Bukan Azmin dan bukan Anwar Ibrahim.

Blogger2 dan individu yang terus memainkan isu ini hanya akan memecah belahkan BERSIH. Eloklah kamu isytihar masuk UMNO.

 

TULANG BESI

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SAMM Buka Talian SMS Untuk Mangsa Kezaliman Pihak Berkuasa

Nombor talian SMS : 018-9235083

Email SAMM : adu@anakmudamalaysia.com

Secebis kesempatan diambil oleh Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM) untuk mengucapkan tahniah kepada semua rakyat yang hadir dalam apa jua bentuk sokongan bagi menjayakan perhimpunan BERSIH 3.0. Tahniah rakyat Malaysia, himpunan terbesar dalam sejarah negara tercipta 28 April 2012.

Ternyata 'benchmark' himpunan rakyat terbesar di awal zaman reformasi suatu ketika dahulu telah dipecahkan oleh kejayaan BERSIH 3.0 dengan menghimpun 300 ribu rakyat di 11 venue seluruh Malaysia dan 73 negara di seluruh dunia. Ini suatu kejayaan mutlak hasil tindakbalas rakyat bagi menghalang cubaan pihak kerajaan pemerintah mengekalkan kuasa melalui pelbagai helah dan penipuan pilihanraya.

SAMM yang terlibat secara langsung dalam menjayakan BERSIH 3.0, menyedari pelbagai kesulitan dan kesengsaraan dilalui oleh semua peserta himpunan di atas ketelanjuran pihak berkuasa yang bukan sahaja gagal memastikan keamanan, tetapi telah merusuh di atas khabar angin yang sengaja diatur. Akhirnya ramai peserta yang mendapat kecederaan akibat dirempuh dan dibelasah oleh pihak polis yang 'hilang pedoman'. Ramai juga peserta yang ditangkap dan dibawa ke Pulapol.

 

Tidak kurang juga peserta himpunan BERSIH yang mengalami kerugian di atas kehilangan harta benda hasil daripada rusuhan pihak berkuasa. Para wartawan yang menjadi pemerhati berkecuali juga turut menjadi mangsa kezaliman pihak berkuasa sehingga ada alat media milik mereka dirampas.

Justeru itu, SAMM membuka talian SMS dan juga menyediakan email untuk semua mangsa kezaliman/keganasan/tangkapan pihak polis bagi menyatakan pengalaman masing-masing terutamanya mereka yang dipukul samada separuh mati atau hampir mati, diheret ke Pulapol dan juga yang mengalami kerugian/kehilangan harta benda di atas rusuhan pihak polis. Berikut adalah nombor talian S! MS dan a lamat email:

Nombor talian SMS : 018-9235083

Email SAMM : adu@anakmudamalaysia.com

Talian di atas juga dibuka kepada peserta yang mempunyai apa jua permasalahan dan kesulitan yang tidak berjaya diselesaikan seperti urusan dengan pihak polis dan keperluan khidmat guaman. Sila sertakan info/maklumat untuk dihubungi bagi keperluan makluman selanjutnya. Pengamal media juga dialu-alukan untuk memberi bantuan hebahan.

 

Pihak SAMM mengambil tanggungjawab untuk memastikan tiada mangsa yang dibiarkan dan tidak dibela setelah kita bersama 28 April 2012 menjadi sebahagian daripada sejarah menerpa kejayaan BERSIH 3.0 demi pilihanraya bersih dan adil serta ruang demokrasi yang terjamin.

Sekian

"Perjuangan Adalah Perlaksanaan Kata-Kata"

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POLIS PUN LARI BILA KENA KEJAR

POLIS PUN PENAKUT

Lihat bila peserta perhimpunan Bersih mengejar walaupun ramai macam tu mereka lari lintang- pukang!!

Bersih 4 nanti kita sewa lori sarkas untuk "igat" polis pula!!!

he he

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POLIS PUN LARI BILA KENA KEJAR

POLIS PUN PENAKUT

Lihat bila peserta perhimpunan Bersih mengejar walaupun ramai macam tu mereka lari lintang- pukang!!

Bersih 4 nanti kita sewa lori sarkas untuk "igat" polis pula!!!

he he

Read More @ Source

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Forced to run from hotel to Dataran ‘detention’

by Hee Jenn Wei

On the night of April 27, I left for Dataran Merdeka after work to stay at Citin Hotel Masjid Jamek, where I made a reservation weeks before the Bersih 3.0 rally. There I met up with friends and scouted around Dataran Merdeka to plan for escape routes in case anything happened. The moment we arrived, Bersih protesters had already flooded its entrance. They were chanting. The square was all barb wired and guarded by hundreds of policemen.

I started out at KLCC on the day of rally (April 28) with the Himpunan Hijau 3.0 group. We marched from KLCC before joining the rest at Dataran Merdeka for the sit-in. The Himpunan Hijau protesters gathered at Puduraya, and then went to Dataran Merdeka around 1pm. The Bersih protesters gathered along Masjid Jamek LRT station chanting, "Stop Lynas", "Hidup Bersih".

Some started to sit down in front of Masjid Jamek LRT station, while some rushed into the Dataran entrance chanting, "Buka, Buka!" (open, open). I was taking shelter at OCBC and wasn't sure what triggered the firing of the tear gas and water cannons. People slowly retreated after the first and second rounds of canisters were fired. After a couple of shots, the people began to panic as they had no means of retreat.

I walked slowly to my hotel to seek shelter from the tear gas. Many people came unprepared – without towel, salt or water. I had soaked a towel with salt the night before and offered it to the rest, trying to help as many people as I could. After a couple of hiccups, I successfully returned to Citin Hotel, where the security guards allowed only residents to enter.

Half an hour later – around 3.45pm to 4.15pm – while I was sitting inside the hotel cafe for some rest and refreshment, some three or four policemen barged in. The moment one of them saw me, he pointed at me and wanted to take me away. Grabbing me by the shoulder, he shouted, "You ikut saya!" (you follow me). I asked whether I was under arrest and on what grounds. I told him I left my wallet and identification card in my bag in the room, and I needed to get them.

But the policeman repeatedly shouted, "You diam, ikut saya!" (shut up and follow me). Leaving me no chance to grab my IC, I knew I'd be in trouble. So I raised both my hands in the air and shouted, "I won't struggle, I won't struggle, I won't struggle!" inside the hotel foyer. I was then hit behind my head by another policemen. Turning around, I saw that he kept both of his hands behind his back, and I wasn't sure whether it was him who hit me. In the distance, I heard the hotel security guard telling him not to hit me as I was a resident of the hotel; the policeman just screamed and told him to shut up.

The policemen brought me all the way from Citin Hotel to Dataran Merdeka, shouting for me to run, "I nak you lari, LARI! LARI! LARI!"

Refused right to call lawyer

I tried to calm him down and kept telling him that I wasn't going to struggle, and that I would follow what he said. As soon as I arrived at Dataran Merdeka, a group of other policemen saw me and charged forward – kicking me on my legs and back.

I kept telling the policeman who grabbed me that I was not going to struggle free. When the other policemen tried to charge forward, he warned them not to hit me – "Jangan pukul dia." I tried to look for his name and batch number, but there was none.

I was refused the right to call any lawyers or friends. I could only secretly send out text messages (thank God for the Blackberry). We were all led into a cage without being told where we'd be sent to, even though we persistently asked.

I only found out upon arrival that we were in Pulapol (the Police Training Centre). Quickly, I texted my friends. We were all, however, treated surprisingly well when we got there. I asked, "Why treat us so politely after beating us up? What's the point? Don't you think it's pointless?"

They just kept quiet. An hour later, MP Tian Chua arrived, descending from the bus and comforting everyone, "Jangan takut." (don't be afraid). I had to say that worked like a charm. We were left unattended at the detention area, then officers started calling out names one by one – 512 of them altogether – taking down our particulars. Luckily, they heard me out on my explanation for not having an identification card.

Subsequently, we were left unattended for many hours. It was only at nightfall that they began calling out names again – this time to take our photos. Most of the people present were badly injured – most were hit and beaten – including a 71-year-old lady, "Mei Jie" – click for her press release. Two tourists were also detained – Jose from Spain and Andy from Austalia. They were arrested when they were standing outside their hostel and just looking at the rally.

It was only at about 1am or so that the police began releasing people batch by batch. Tian Chua was supposed to leave in one of the early batches, but instead decided to stay put and wait for everyone to be released first. I was freed around 3am, and waited in the bus for about half an hour. The bus exited Pulapol from the back door – avoiding all our friends and family, lawyers, and journalists who were waiting at the front entrance – and dropped us all at Jalan Duta at about 4am.

We were detained for 11 hours: denied our right to legal representation and were not told the reasons for our detention.

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MIC and thuggerism

FMT LETTER: From P Dev Anand Pillai, via e-mail

Though it has come to light that the MIC will conduct an internal probe into the attack on the PKR delegation led by vice president Surendran at the Prime Minister's Office to demand the issuance of a National Registration Identification Card [NRIC] for school girl Reshina whose plight was highlighted by Pakatan Rakyat recently, thuggerism is the hallmark of MIC.

Bringing hired hands to wallop and silence members during meetings is a normal trend in the MIC which has been passed down from the elders to the young ones who are now in the Youth wing of the party that claims to champion the cause of the ethnic Indian Malaysian.

Seeing the responses in Free Malaysia Today, it is not suprising to note that comments like that are typical of aspiring MIC politicians who will blame everyone else and even pick a fight with them except for their masters Umno.

Seeing stateless Indians in Malaysia in this day and age, only tells us one thing, that the Umno led BN government couldn't care two hoots about the ethnic Indian who has no papers on him. As long as he can be used for a purpose for e.g. cheap labour and then discarded like sucked oranges, stateless Indians are a shame to the Umno led BN government.

In the case of Reshina, based on the explanations given by her family members who were present during the press conference organised by PR, her father seems to be a citizen, therefore by operation of the law and as a citizen of Malaysia, his child should be given citizenship and an identity card without any question.

It would have been some administrative mistake which the National Registration Department [NRD] had made which has ended up with this school girl being unable to get her citizenship.

With a birth certificate, the child is then at the mercy of the Education authorities who will then continously harp on the fact that she is not a citizen and question her right to school in a National school and be given the rights and privileges like the rest of her peers to sit for public exams and obtain certificates.

Being typical of MIC youth politicians in training, most don't seem to understand that the fight is with Umno and not with the rest who can see the true picture. There is no necessity for MIC being a party that was started by John Thivy in 1946 to be thanking the Prime Minister for giving identification documents to Indians who have been born and bred in this country.

The MyIndians.com and the Mydaftar.com was a result of the mini revolution that the Hindu Rights Action Force staged in 2007. Up until then, stateless Indians were the norm in most isolated estates in the country.

Even a semi-urban constituency like Kapar can habour stateless Indians who have lived there for three generations and more will only go to show how the NRD operates when it comes to the Indians. Instead of going after Umno, MIC decides to wallop others who question.

Typical of these young wannabes, they don't even know that the NRD comes under the Home Ministry and the Home Ministry going by the practice of what Umno has done to the system of governance, will be under the thumb of the PMO.

Though it would have been correct to see the Home Minister instead, but by going to the PMO to submit a memorandum to seek immediate action on this girl's plight, isn't this the nambikei (trust) that the Najib Administration so much wants from the Indians?

Therefore Surendran was correct in taking the plight straight to the supreme commander who has represented to the Indians of Malaysia that he deserves their trust (Nambikei).

Therefore for those who seem to be still pigmyfied by the MIC, note that nothing will change until and unless the Indians learn to stand up and demand for equality. If we would like the Malays to accord that level of respect that one ought to get as a equal Malaysian, then Indians must learn how to demand for equality.

Indians have contributed to this land from the time the Chola Empire had conquered the whole of Southeast Asia, we did not just come when the British Raj brought us here to work out the plantations, we were here earlier and our presence is even stamped from the fact that our Sultanates have Hindu origins.

So instead of being led by a bunch of pigmies who know nothing but thuggerism, the Indians should awaken themselves and start demanding for equality from the Umno led Federal government.

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