Archive for category Elections
History’s lessons
Posted by Kit in Bersih, Elections, Human Rights on Tuesday, 5 July 2011
by Karim Raslan
The Malaysian Insider
Jul 05, 2011
JULY 5 — Malaysian contemporary history has started to loop back on itself. Instead of going forward and progressing, we are going backwards, repeating the past: Sodomy 1 and Sodomy 2, Bersih 1 and Bersih 2.
There are those who would argue that the political missteps have little impact on our economy. I would disagree. In order for the Malaysian economy to grow further and move to the next level, we need a political transformation — we need an injection of transparency, accountability and the dynamism that comes from an open society.
Sadly, the forces of darkness are too powerful and entrenched. As such much of the flow of domestic capital and human resource overseas is directly attributable to the government’s determination to reject change.
When talk of Bersih 2.0 first surfaced a few weeks ago, I remember thinking it was a total waste of time. To my mind, the civil society agenda had been sidelined by widespread concerns over galloping inflation and rising prices. Read the rest of this entry »
Bersih 2.0: Winners and losers
The Malaysian Insider
Jul 05, 2011
KUALA LUMPUR, July 5 — So it is settled, after weeks of harassment and thuggish behaviour by the government, the people for free and fair elections will gather in a stadium on July 9.
This episode has once again demonstrated how fractious and divided Malaysia is with enlightened and liberal Malaysia on one side and almost facist powers on the other.
Some individuals emerge from this episode with reputations intact, others with image destroyed forever. The Malaysian Insider gives our take on the winners and losers.
Winners
• The organisers of Bersih: let’s be honest, until a few weeks ago this was a movement at the periphery of most Malaysians. Okay, so some 100,000 people would have marched on the streets on KL. But thanks to the government’s blanket arrests, use of draconian laws and decision to behave like a repressive regime, Bersih became a buzzword. Much to the government’s chagrin, everyone has forgotten about Datuk T, all the wonderful projects under the ETP. Today, people remember Bersih as the people fighting for clean and fair elections, and the Barisan Nasional (BN) government as the people frightened of free and fair elections. Read the rest of this entry »
Police – stand down apparatus of repression, decriminalize Bersih T-shirts so that tens of thousands can be printed
Posted by Kit in Bersih, Elections, Human Rights on Tuesday, 5 July 2011
The Yang di Pertuan Agong’s wise and just intervention resulting in agreement for a July 9 Bersih 2.0 rally in a stadium has saved the day for Malaysia, sparing her the infamy and ignominy inside the country and worldwide at the farce of a democratic government treating a peaceful rally for free, fair and clean elections as a grave national threat even greater than one ever posed by terrorists or enemies of the country in the nation’s history.
Equally important, Malaysia is also spared the international embarrassment of her credentials and qualifications as a member of the UN Human Rights Council questioned or even censured by other countries because of a most egregious crackdown on the most basic and fundamental of human rights in Malaysia.
Several steps must be taken immediately to return the country to the course of sanity, good and common sense abandoned by the government in the past ten days.
As a first step, the Police should immediately stand down its apparatus of repression in the past two weeks, when the police abandoned and abdicated its first task to keep the people and country safe from criminals by going on a nation-wide mobilization against imaginary foes in the form of Bersih 2.0 rally on July 9. Read the rest of this entry »
Bersih 2.0 accepts stadium offer for rally
By Joseph Sipalan & Abdul Rahim Sabri
Jul 5, 11 | MalaysiaKini
Following a meeting with the Agong this afternoon, Bersih 2.0 chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan said the NGO coalition has agreed to hold its rally in a stadium.
Met outside the national palace after an audience with Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin at Istana Negara, Ambiga said the coalition “will cooperate with the government and accept their offer to have the event in a stadium”.
“Therefore, the rally on the street will not take place.” Read the rest of this entry »
Taking people for fools
By Eric Loo
Jul 4, 11 | MalaysiaKini
Each time I log in to non-mainstream media to catch up on news in Malaysia, I see the same old stories about how bad things have become since the 1980s – from financial scandals and systemic corruption to institutional discrimination and dill heads running the country. My reactions have become passé.
Each time I come home, friends and kin tell more stories about how bleak they see their future as being. Once, these were mere stories and theories we shared over mugs of teh tarik during the pre-Internet days when the government-controlled media was our main source of political news. Read the rest of this entry »
Pakatan Rakyat leadership council emergency meeting on Wednesday on Bersih 2.0 rally and current national political situation
The Pakatan Rakyat leadership council will hold an emergency meeting on Wednesday on the July 9 Bersih 2.0 rally for free, fair and clean elections and the current national political situation.
The PR leadership council will discuss the wise and commendable counsel of the Yang di Pertuan Agong. I am most impressed by the advice of the King particularly when he said:
“I also urge the government to carry out everything that is entrusted to it by the people in a just and wise manner, and it is important that I, as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, do not want to see this country with a plural society in a situation where there is animosity among them or a section of the people being enemies with the government, on whatever grounds.”
The Bersih 2.0 plan to have a peaceful rally on July 9 calling for free, fair and clean elections, which has the support of Malaysians transcending race, religion, class, gender and age, would be a celebration of the growing democratic spirit and culture in Malaysia and the best illustration of the 1Malaysia slogan of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak. Read the rest of this entry »
King’s concern most welcome – call on Najib to meet with Bersih organisers as the first positive government response to popular concerns for free and fair elections
Posted by Kit in Bersih, Elections, Najib Razak on Monday, 4 July 2011
The Yang di Pertuan Agong’s concern over the “binge of madness” in the country arising from the July 9 Bersih 2.0 peaceful rally for free, fair and clean general elections is most appropriate and welcome.
Lets not doubt the loyalty and patriotism of Malaysians who want to see free and fair general elections – which is the highest form of love, loyalty and patriotism to Malaysia.
As a first positive step in response to the Yang di Pertuan Agong’s concern and call that Malaysia must always conduct itself as “a civilised society” grounded on consultations with all stakeholders in the country, the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak should meet with Bersih organisers to address legitimate nation-wide concerns about free and fair elections which could be fully taken account in the forthcoming 13th General Elections. Read the rest of this entry »
Veto the Bersih ban, Mr PM
Posted by Kit in Bersih, Elections, Human Rights, Thomas Lee on Monday, 4 July 2011
by Thomas Lee Seng Hock
Malaysiakini
Jul 3, 11
COMMENT
The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih 2.0) has been declared an illegal organisation effective 1 July 2011.
A statement issued by the Registrar of Societies (ROS) says that the declaration was made by Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein (right) under Section 5 of the Societies Act 1966.
According to the ROS statement, Bersih is not a registered organisation.
The statement claims that Bersih has been actively creating confusion and causing anxiety among the people.
It says that Bersih has been distributing handbills containing propaganda aimed at toppling the BN federal government.
The ROS statement says that Bersih has undermined the nation’s sovereignty and disrupted the harmonious environment among the country’s multi-racial population, and also caused disrepute to the country’s image, and is a threat to public order, security, and economic development and prosperity.
Bersih had earlier announced plans to hold rallies in Kuala Lumpur, Sabah and Sarawak on July 9 to mobilise concerned citizens to demand for a clean, fair and transparent electoral process. Read the rest of this entry »
What Is This Country Coming To?
Posted by Kit in Bersih, Elections, Human Rights, Kee Thuan Chye on Sunday, 3 July 2011
by Kee Thuan Chye
Malaysian Digest
01 July 2011
WHAT is this country coming to? Many Malaysians are asking this question in view of the numerous actions taken by the police over the past week.
First, they arrested 30 Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) members, including MP for Sungai Siput Dr Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj, and are now investigating them for resurrecting Communism and waging war against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. While on their way to a Bersih roadshow in Penang, they were arrested in Kepala Batas and found to have in their possession T-shirts bearing faces of Chin Peng and Rashid Maidin. They have been remanded for seven days.
Communism? That’s crazy talk. Read the rest of this entry »
Lift ban on Bersih, urges Kit Siang
Posted by Kit in Bersih, Elections, Hishammuddin, Human Rights, Police on Sunday, 3 July 2011
Jul 3, 11 | MalaysiaKini
The PM, Najib Abdul Razak, should overrule Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein and lift the ban on Bersih said DAP Parliamentary Leader Lim Kit Siang.
He said in a statement today the three grounds given for the ban under the Societies Act do not stand scrutiny and will only expose the government and country to public disdain and international scorn.
Bersih is not guilty of the first ground, “Being active and sparking an atmosphere of unrest and worry among the multiracial community in the country,” he added. Read the rest of this entry »
Bakri MP, 5 others held over yellow gotong-royong T-shirts
By Clara Chooi
July 03, 2011 | The Malaysian Insider
JOHOR BARU, July 3 — Six DAP members, including Bakri MP Er Teck Hwa, were hauled up by the police this morning during a gotong-royong exercise, on suspicion that it was part of the now-outlawed Bersih 2.0’s activities.
The six, wearing yellow T-shirts bearing designs different from that of the Bersih 2.0 logo, were picked up at the Taman Pelangi market as they were distributing leaflets to the public.
Despite trying to explain to the cops that their walkabout this morning was part of a community cleanliness campaign themed “Negara Bersih, Rakyat Bertuah”, they were still hauled up to the Taman Pelangi police station. Read the rest of this entry »
Technology and protest
Posted by Kit in Bersih, Elections, Human Rights, Police on Sunday, 3 July 2011
By Kapil Sethi
July 03, 2011 | The Malaysian Insider
JULY 3 — To an observer of the increasingly charged political rhetoric in the country, the lack of political acumen on display by the ruling coalition vis- à-vis the Bersih 2.0 rally is truly astonishing.
If there is one thing to be learned from the Arab Spring, it is that draconian measures against protesters give more impetus and motivation to their cause. It is a different paradigm from the past where in the absence of alternative media, divide and rule was a very successful strategy.
The larger question, of course, is what the powers that be are so afraid of? The answer to a great extent has to do with the current power of technology. Yes, technology. For instance, consider the differences between, say, the online Curi Curi Wang Malaysia protest and the Bersih 2.0 rally. Read the rest of this entry »
Pakatan condemns Bersih 2.0 ban
Posted by Kit in Bersih, Elections, Human Rights on Saturday, 2 July 2011
By Clara Chooi
July 02, 2011 | The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, July 2 — Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders expressed outrage tonight at the Home Ministry’s decision to outlaw Bersih 2.0 ahead of its rally next week, but declared that the clampdown has not spooked them into withdrawing their support.
Electoral reforms coalition Bersih 2.0 has invited all political parties to join its march for free and fair elections but the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) have snubbed them, saying PR’s victories in Election 2008 is proof there is no fault with the current system.
“We are more determined now to demand for more democratic space in society. I do not see any reason whatsoever for the minister or Umno to crack down on the people just because they are demanding free and fair elections,” PKR deputy president Azmin Ali told The Malaysian Insider. Read the rest of this entry »
Sungai Siput MP, five PSM members held under emergency law
By Shannon Teoh and Melissa Chi
July 02, 2011 | The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, July 2 — Police have re-arrested Sungai Siput MP Dr Michael Jeyakumar and five other Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) members for 60 days under the Emergency Ordinance, which allows for detention without trial.
The six were due in the Butterworth courts this morning as a seven-day remand order had expired after their arrest for promoting the Bersih rally last week.
It is understood that the six have been sent to the Bukit Aman federal police headquarters. Read the rest of this entry »
Najib blasts Ambiga, PAS over Bersih rally
Posted by Kit in Bersih, Elections, Human Rights, Najib Razak on Saturday, 2 July 2011
The Malaysian Insider
July 02, 2011
PASIR PUTIH, July 2 — Datuk Seri Najib Razak lambasted Bersih chief Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan and PAS for the planned July 9 rally, telling people here the Islamist party will do anything to capture Putrajaya.
The electoral reform movement has called for a rally to press for free and fair elections but the Najib administration is taking all measures to stop the demonstration which is a repeat of a 2007 rally that drew some 50,000 people in Kuala Lumpur.
“Who doesn’t know Ambiga. She’s the one who threatened Islam. And below her is Mat Sabu,” Najib (picture) told a 20,000-strong crowd, referring to the Bersih chief who once took up a case involving the faith and the new PAS deputy president Mohamed Sabu. The prime minister is in Kelantan for a day-long visit. Read the rest of this entry »
Deputy IGP: No more discussions over rallies
Posted by Kit in Bersih, Elections, Human Rights, Police on Friday, 1 July 2011
By Teoh El Sen
July 1, 2011 | Free Malaysia Today
KUALA LUMPUR: The police will no longer seek to negotiate or discuss with the organisers of the July 9 rallies, be it from Bersih, Perkasa, or Umno Youth.
Their stand is clear: The rallies will not be allowed.
The nation’s number two police officer, deputy inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar said: “We have given them explanations and warnings and reminders, but they do not heed. We will make sure this rally does not take place.” Read the rest of this entry »
TV, radio told to demonise Bersih rally
By Lee Way Loon
Jul 1, 11 | MalaysiaKini
With the Bersih 2.0 rally just around the corner, the authorities have launched a media campaign to label the rally as an illegal gathering to the extent that TV stations are required to submit daily reports detailing their news coverage on the rally.
Malaysiakini learnt that the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), which oversees all private TV and radio stations, has directed the broadcasters to state the number and content of news related to Bersih in their reports. Read the rest of this entry »
Bersih rally a turning point for democracy
Posted by Kit in Bersih, Elections, Human Rights on Friday, 1 July 2011
by Kim Quek
The Malaysian Insider
Jun 30, 2011
JUNE 30 — Amidst the frenzy of draconian measures to prevent the July 9 Bersih rally from taking place, many Malaysians have begun to wonder: Has Malaysia descended into a state of lawlessness?
No sooner had the home minister declared that wearing the yellow Bersih T-shirt was illegal, the Inspector-General of Police up the ante by announcing that even “shoes, cars, buses or any medium that promote the Bersih rally are illegal, as this amounts to sedition”, and he said the people involved will be arrested.
To date, more than 100 people have been arrested all over the country in the past four days, mainly for wearing the yellow Bersih T-shirts. Read the rest of this entry »
I’ll wear yellow baju raya
Posted by Kit in Bersih, Elections, Human Rights on Friday, 1 July 2011
by Mohd Syahir Sulaiman
The Malaysian Insider
Jun 30, 2011
JUNE 30 — Semakin lara kita didera bara, kita laungkan juga pesan merdeka, demokrasi sebenderang mentari, sehasrat hajat semurni harga diri — A. Samad Said.
Yellow symbolises wisdom.
July 9th is just around the corner, and talks get heated up in every corner, from Facebook urbanites to long house foyers. Thanks to RTM and Utusan for the free publicity.
People may differ. However, one thing in certain, all eyes are set on the upcoming saga. Read the rest of this entry »
Malaysia’s season of fear
Posted by Kit in Bersih, Elections, Human Rights on Friday, 1 July 2011
by Praba Ganesan
The Malaysian Insider
Jun 30, 2011
JUNE 30 — “Have you no sense of decency, sir, at long last? Have you left no sense of decency?”
Joseph Welch, the attorney representing the US Army, asked this of Senator Joseph McCarthy at the height of the series of “witch-hunts” under the guise of various congressional committees to uncover unAmerican activities in America between 1953-54.
America was in the early years of the Cold War when tales of communists, spies and those bent on destroying the American way of life were rife.
McCarthy felt his populism, electability and political future could benefit from playing up the “bogeyman.”
Proof or even truth was irrelevant in the dark period referred to as “McCarthyism”. Read the rest of this entry »
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