Get up, stand up, stand up for your rights

If this do not move a patriotic Malaysian,nothing can.

Get up! Stand up! Stand up for our rights!

Copied from write up by Mej Mior Rosli TUDM (Rtd)

Good afternoon to all. The fight for a free Malaysia must go on!
Let us get one thing clear – the country and the government are separate entities. Governments come and go, the country is eternal.

We owe our allegiance to the country, not to the government.
Therefore, saying bad things about a bad government is not being anti-national. Most important of all, voting against a bad government is not being anti-national.
A bad government does not deserve loyalty. Disloyalty to the government is not disloyalty to the country; in fact, voting out a bad government is being loyal to the country.

Today, Malaysia woke up and many hearts were broken.

We mourn our nation not because we lost, but because we were cheated.

We lost not to a better party, but we lost to injustice.

We lost not to a better system, but we lost to the lack of integrity.

We lost not to a better count, but we lost to the failure in upholding civil rights
We lost not to a better leader, but we lost to corruption.

We lost not to a better policy, but we lost to deceit.

But we will, and must not, lose heart.

We may feel sad, but we must not give way to despair.

We may feel angry, but we must not lose our righteous ways.

We may feel cheated, but we must fight on.

We may feel like leaving, but we must stay together.

We may feel like giving up, but we must now let the dream carry us.

We may feel like nothing will change, but we must now become that change.

Bersih spirit lives on!
We will rally.
We will fight on.
We will not give up.
We will become a Better Malaysia.

Clean elections
Clean government
Right to dissent
Save our economy
Strengthen parliamentary democracy.

BERSIH 4 in Opposition States? What State is Kuala Lumpur?

Nur Jazlan, the newest trumpeter/spinmaster of Najib and UMNO/BN has now taken to "funny" statements and questions, the latest, "Why didn’t opposition states host Bersih 4 rally"

May I ask Nur Jazlan a simple question, what State is Kuala Lumpur? The sneaky BN had resorted to making Kuala Lumpur "Wilayah Persekutuan" (Federal Territory) and removing all State constituencies knowing well they would not be able to win.  But clearly Kuala Lumpur IS Opposition in character because of the 11 elected Members of Parliament, 9 are from Federal Opposition and a mere 2 are from BN. (Members of the Dewan Rakyat, 13th Malaysian Parliament)

And morally speaking, the Mayor of Kuala Lumpur should be elected by these 11 Members of Parliament.

Contrast between BERSIH 1 and BERSIH 4

The first BERSIH mass protest in 2007 was a huge contrast to what was experienced from the peaceful BERSIH 4 in 2015. Armed police presence including the red helmetted FRU bearing rifles and shields were highly visible, but police presence was hardly felt this round, in any case in areas where I was present.

In Bersih 1, protestors were met with police vans and Black Marias standing ready to send protestors to lockups. In Bersih 4, protestors are offered free drinks and food from food trucks:


In Bersih 1, you will see police armed with revolvers stationed all around Kuala Lumpur, but in Bersih 4, a volunteer holds up the welcoming sign offering free medical attention and free food and drinks at St John's Cathedral:


In Bersih 1, as you turn the corner from Pasar Seni to Lebuh Pasar Besar towards Loke Yew Building, you will be greeted by menacing looking and armed FRU red helmetted riot squad, but in Bersih 4, you have many peaceful protestors holding up posters illustraing the ills of Malaysia, unhindered by the Police:


In Bersih 1, the presence of Malay Muslims donning white kopiah were overwhelming, but in Bersih 4, unfortunately they were not highly visible

Update: Ideally, we Malaysians should not be referring to race at all as good governance and corruption has no skin color. A commentator said BERSIH 1 80% Malays, but BERSIH that 80% attended but % diluted to 30% because of a huge turnout of non-Malays. Likely correct because of the huge increase in participants for BERSIH 4.


In Bersih 1, Dr. Mahathir who was then Prime Minister denigrated Bersih protestors, but in Bersih 4, he with wife participated in the protest although for only a short while:


Update: Unfortunately the peaceful nature of BERSIH 4 disturbed by a news update. Received news that FRU personnels were arresting Bersih 4 T-shirted protestors at Stathuys in Malacca.

BERSIH 4: HSBC and Medan Pasar

BERSIH 2.0 is now well funded. There were some big tents a Medan Pasar with what appears to be like air coolers or air conditioners. Not sure if they were meant for BERSIH 4 or for the national Merdeka activities:

Huge tents at Medan Pasar

Najib Razak in prison cell at HSBC?

Najib Razak in prison cell in front of HSBC

Even more portable toilets at HSBC/Medan Pasar:

Even more portable toilets at HSBC

Blog Shop at BERSIH 4/Medan Pasar?

Blog Shop at Medan Pasar

Fiesta Blog Shop at Medan Pasar

Posters galore at Medan Pasar:

Posters galore at Medan Pasar

Who is that lady with amazing hairstyle together with the chicken?

Amazing hairstyle lady with Chicken at Medan Pasar

BERSIH 4: Jalan Tun Perak near St. John's Cathedral

The scene at Jalan Tun Perak near St. John's Cathedral. Video below filmed as I inch slowly from St. John's Cathedral towards Jalan Tun Perak where Lim Guan Eng, Penang Chief Minister and DAP Secretary was giving a speech (apologies, video taken with handphone):



A volunteer holding up a sign telling demonstrators there are toilets and medical center at St John's Cathedral:

Toilets and Medical at St John's Cathedral

Amidst the bustling crowd, a protestor found time and space to explain what BERSIH 4 is all about to a foreign tourist:

BERSIH 4 at St. John's Catheral

BERSIH 4 is a world of difference from BERSIH 1 in 2007. BERSIH 4 2015, churches and temples were opened to demonstrators as a sanctuary to rest and pray.

At St. John's Cathedral, a first aid center with doctors, nurses, general helpers, stretchers, beds, drips, medicine, beds, oxygen, all ready in case any demonstrator needs medical intervention.

There were many portable toilets in more than 1 locations inside Church. For tired, thirsty and hungry demonstrators, there is drinking water aplenty, free mandarin oranges, free buns, a food truck. See photos below:

Welcome tent with free mandarin oranges and drinking water

Directions to the toilets, first aid and medical center

Plenty portable toilets with a sewage tanker I think

More portable toilets

Even more portable toilets. First aid and medical center entrance at left hand corner

Food truck

Free buns and water

Free coconut buns, kaya buns, black bean buns etc.

Plenty free drinking water

From a WhatsApp forward. How to bypass the block on websites posting updates on BERSIH 4 rally by MCMC (Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission. Malay: Suruhanjaya Komunikasi dan Multimedia Malaysia)

However, I have been able to access bersih.org, so hopefully you would not need the hack described below:

Bersih websites have been blocked. U may unblock them by the following steps:
1) go to https://sitenable.com or google search : sitenable
2) key in http://www.bersih.org or any blocked websites in "Search URL " box. And...BINGO!!!👌

Forward it to all your friends!!
For those who want to access Sarawak Report as well

Podcast: Puisi Unggun Bersih, oleh A Samad Said

Puisi: Unggun Bersih, oleh Abdul Samad bin Muhammad Said, poet, novelist & Sasterawan Negara (National Laureate)

April 27: BERSIH 3.0 has already started

The eager crowd has already started the rally, BERSIH 3.0 even before the official start time of 2pm April 28. See video below:

BERSIH 3.0: The night before

It is not even morning of the 28th of April and BERSIH 3.0 has already started:

BERSIH 3.0 Jom Mendaki Bantah at Mount Everest

Hurray, another global site for BERSIH 3.0 rally for free election has been added by 2 enterprising Malaysians who are climbing Mount Everest, the highest mountain in the world. Photo below show them unfurling the Malaysian flag Jalur Gemilang and a BERSIH Mendaki Bantah (BERSIH Climb Protest) as a variation to BERSIH Jom Duduk Bantah (BERSIH Sit Protest)

They will be putting up more flags and banners as they climb, thus BERSIH 3.0 is going to climb higher and higher and hopefully reach the highest point in the world.

SUARAM's URGENT ARREST TEAM FOR BERSIH 3.0

For those who are going for Bersih 3 tomorrow. We have given our names and contact numbers.

This what we want you to do:

If you see or witness anyone being arrested at your respective place, please send an sms to the number(s) given.

SUARAM URGENT ARREST TEAM

OFFICE NUMBER: 03 77843525 (DIANE)

NO	TEMPAT	SUARAM PIC	NOMBOR
1	CENTRAL MARKET	NALINI SARAH	019 3043159 018 3181179
2	MASJID NEGARA	SYUKRI	011 15542640
3	JALAN SULTAN	MAISARAH	012 218 7476
4	MASJID INDIA	ANDIKA	016 224 7255
5	BRIEKFIELDS	THEVA	013 3845740
6	KLCC	HASBEE	014 9254010

You only have to type:

a. Name

b. IC Number/passport number

c. Police station that the person is being taken to or detained

SUARAM will send the sms to the lawyers as well as to the our person in charge in office.

You may also call our office and you can talk to Miss Diane and please give details to her.

Its easy .... Dont panic when you are arrested by the police or stopped by DBKL. All you need to do is CALM DOWN and Call US!

Bersih and the rakyat, come what may

Bersih and the rakyat, come what may

Josh Hong
11:36AM Apr 27, 2012

One is entitled to accuse those who are determined to take to the streets tomorrow of being obstinate troublemakers or even ‘fanatics’, but the crux of the issue is: is Dataran Merdeka so sacred that any unauthorised use of is tantamount to sacrilege?
I have seen Mat Rempit play with their precious lives there umpteen times, and the police were nowhere to be seen even though these unruly youths pose a far greater threat to the public. So what is holding Dewan Bandaraya KL back from giving the green light to the Bersih 3.0 sit-in protest?
Someone must be trying to pull the government’s leg. But if the Najib Abdul Razak administration is truly serious about serving the people and gaining their trust, it must stop dithering over a simple event.
From Wong Chun Wai of The Star to Tay Tian Yan of Sin Chew Dailyto the now largely irrelevant Chew Mei Fun (Chew who?), much praise has been heaped on the prime minister as a man of principle and high calibre. But when Najib cannot even rein in a little Napoleon called Ahmad Fuad Ismail, it only shows that his promises on electoral reform and ‘best democracy’ are nothing but hyperbolic and farcical.
Will any of these ‘media professionals’ and political has-beens now dare to tell Najib he must not place himself at the mercy of some recalcitrant bureaucrat, who does not even have a popular mandate to sit in his mayoral office in the first place?
Najib’s apprenticeship has entered its fourth year, and he has broken a Malaysian record by becoming the longest-serving provisional prime minister in the country.
Hussein Onn (right) went to the country two-and-a-half years after he took over the administration, while Mahathir Mohamad called a general election within one year of succeeding his predecessor, although his Bersih, Cekap dan Amanah campaign will forever remind him and the Malaysian people of his utter failure as a visionary-wannabe.
Even Abdullah Ahmad Badawi - who is not a leader with a backbone made of steel - did not hesitate to ask for a fresh mandate: he dissolved Parliament barely four months into his premiership, and won rather handsomely on a post-Mahathir positive sentiment.
Given the disastrous results in the last election, Najib naturally would want to procrastinate as much as possible to give himself more time to strategise and, more to the point, to pacify the various factions within Umno by dishing out more goodies. But he should at least see it right to allow the sit-in protest to happen. The fact that he has not been able to do so only proves that he is a mediocre PM who can only ensure victory by all means - be they foul or fair.
Split down the middle
The country is split down the middle now. While the calls for greater democratisation are growing louder by the day, there still remains a sizeable number of Malaysians who remain sceptical and wary of street protest. They may be those who are afraid of chaos, although the past has made it crystal clear that mayhem was almost always the result of an excessive police crackdown and a paranoid government.
Then there are people who are used to all the privileges that they have been enjoying for decades - whether it is the bumiputra status that comes with economic security or the readily available largesse by virtue of being ‘the right crony’ - and hence refuse to change.
For this group of people, their resistance to peaceful street protest originates more from a deep-down fear of losing their advantages than from any genuine concern for public order.
But there has to be a paradigm shift in Malaysian politics because the nation cannot afford to live forever under political fear. As tax-payers and free-minded citizens, Malaysians have the right to express their opinion even in the form of public action, including claiming back Dataran Merdeka from Umno’s and, by extension, Barisan Nasional’s monopoly, which has built so much myth of national liberation around it at the expense of the country’s future.
One only has to witness the way their leaders are eating high on the hog.
What matters most is that civil society and the general public must not be absent from the meaningful event. The issue is not about Anwar Ibrahim, Lim Kit Siang, Hadi Awang or whether a non-Malay can present a better, alternative government, but about transparency, integrity and justice.
It is also about giving Malaysians a chance to drive out their fear and empower themselves politically. One needs no hero in this endeavour, for everyone can take charge of everyone’s own life by being wise, gentle yet bold in demanding a say in national affairs.
When East Germany was experiencing an upheaval in 1989 that would eventually consign the iron regime of the communists to history, many attributed the amazingly speedy democratic process to Mikhail Gorbachev.
President Richard von Weizsacker, West German president at the time, went a step further by crediting both the reform-minded Soviet leader and the brave East German church which had been working behind the scenes to protect political dissidents and provide them with a platform to spread their ideals.
Even the Lady would be nobody without the faithful and persistent masses in Burma.
If Malaysia was one day to be free of Umno’s tutelage, we might one day look back and congratulate each other by saying, ‘Well done, Bersih and the rakyat’.
For that to happen, one must stand up and be counted now, come what may.

---

JOSH HONG studied politics at London Metropolitan University and the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. A keen watcher of domestic and international politics, he longs for a day when Malaysians will learn and master the art of self-mockery, and enjoy life to the full in spite of politicians.

Last-minute call on PM to give nod to Bersih do

Last-minute call on PM to give nod to Bersih do

Hazlan Zakaria
12:16PM Apr 27, 2012

A group of well-known intellectuals and activists has called upon Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to exercise his discretionary power to allow the Bersih 3.0 electoral reform rally to proceed unhindered.

The statement was signed by ten individuals from activist and academic backgrounds as well as veterans of the civil service, labeling themselves concerned citizens over the crackdown against the peaceful assembly.
They include A Bakar Sulaiman, Ahmad Farouk Musa, Marion D’Cruz, Thasleem Ibrahim, Azmi Sharom, KJ John, Lim Teck Ghee, Kee Thuan Chye, Malik Imtiaz Sarwar and Zaharom Nain.

They noted with concern and disappointment, the many hurdles thrown in the face of Bersih by the police and Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), as well as threats of violent opposition against the peaceful gathering from various groups.
"We recognise that these agencies (DBKL and police) are either under the direct control or influence of your government," the group said in a statement.

They argued that the premier could simply order the police and DBKL to make way and facilitate Bersih's peaceful and democratic agenda, which is a representation of the rakyat's will.
This, the group said, would be in line with the "reformist agenda" and transformation pledge that Najib claims to profess.
"If you believe in democracy and clean and fair elections, now is the time to prove it. Allow Bersih 3.0 to go ahead peacefully".
The group said that since the prime minister has power over the agencies, he would held accountable for any untoward occurrence.

CIJ: Dailies' near-blackout of Bersih may be political

CIJ: Dailies' near-blackout of Bersih may be political

4:12PM Apr 27, 2012

The coverage by several major dailies for this year's Bersih rally saw a huge drop compared with last year's, and may involve political interference, according to a study by the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ).
Based on its study, identical to one it conducted prior to last year's Bersih rally, it concluded that people might see the newspapers as purposely restricting their coverage, or acting under political pressure from the parties which own them.
"This can only fuel speculation that (the four papers) are deliberately toning down their Bersih coverage - at best, of their own accord, or at worst, due to interference from the government or the political parties which own them," it said in a statement today.
The press NGO monitored articles from four major newspapers from April 14, - English-language dailiesThe New Straits Times, The Star andtheSun and, Malay-language Utusan Malaysia.
However, it did not include other major Malay-language dailies such as the Berita Harian, or any of the other Chinese or Tamil language newspapers.
The results of its study indicated that the coverage of Bersih in the two weeks before the rally this year had fallen sharply compared with the same period last year.
Drop in coverage sharp
Utusan Malaysia showed had a 97 percent decrease in Bersih coverage, with published 316 articles in 2011 and only nine this year.
New Straits Times had a similar drop of 92 percent, with 97 articles last year and only eight this year.
The Star's also saw a huge dive, at 91 percent. It only had nine articles this year compared with 104 last year.
theSun recorded the smallest at 62 percent, with 10 articles this year compared with 26 last year.
The group also analysed balanced coverage of the rally among the newspapers, finding that first two's were largely negative, that of the other two were more fair.
Coverage by Utusan Malaysia and New Straits Times were mostly negative across both years, while The Star saw a rise in the number of neutral articles published this year.
At odds with global ranking
theSun had the most balanced coverage this year, with eight neutral articles, and one negative and one positive .
It also noted that apart from theSun, no other newspaper published Justice Rohana Yusuf's court order to Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein last Wednesday, according to CIJ.
The Kuala Lumpur High Court order requested Hishamuddin clarify his stance on Bersih, as he had declared the organisation illegal in 2011 but allowed the Bersih 3.0 rally.
The poor performance of the print media in reporting accurately is at odds with Malaysia's rise in several global rankings of media freedom as well as the promise of liberalisation behind recent amendments to the Printing Presses and Publications Act (PPPA), it contended.
"These statistics are a clear example of how the print media is still not free to report fairly and accurately in Malaysia.
"CIJ calls for a complete repeal of the PPPA and a review of the ownership of the print media by political parties," it said.

KL police: Bersih 3.0 can gather but not march

KL police: Bersih 3.0 can gather but not march

S Pathmawathy
4:13PM Apr 27, 2012

Supporters of Bersih 3.0 are permitted to gather at the meeting points but are prohibited from marching to Dataran Merdeka as provided for by the recently enforced Peaceful Assembly Act (PAA), said Kuala Lumpur police chief Mohmad Salleh.
He said any group moving to Dataran Merdeka to join the banned sit-in tomorrow will face police action, and possible arrest.
The police obtained a court order last night barring the coalition for clean and fair elections from sitting-in at Dataran Merdeka tomorrow.
Mohmad said supporters and organisers are prohibited from marching from the meeting points to anywhere too close to streets bordering the venue.

"Seeing that the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) rejected Bersih's application and the police received intelligence and information that the organisers are adamant on going ahead, considering issues of safety and peace we had applied for a court order under Section 98 of the Criminal Procedure Code," said Mohmad at the police contingent headquarters.

The order bars all activities at Dataran Merdeka from tomorrow till  May 1, he  said, adding that any violation of the order carries a maximum jail term of six month or RM2,000 fine or both under Section 188 of the Penal Code.
The organisers had identified six gathering locations - Masjid Negara, Jalan Sultan, Jalan Masjid India, Central Market, Brickfields fountain, Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC).
Participants of environmental coalition, Himpuanan Hijau, plan to  make their way from KLCC to Dataran Merdeka to join forces with Bersih.

Asked if there will be road closure or road blocks leading to the gathering points, that, Mohmad told reporters, would depend on tomorrow’s situation.
No restrictions have been place on t-shirts and other paraphernalia related to Bersih or Himpunan Hijau, he said, unlike the July 9 rally last year when yellow coloured Bersih related materials were outlawed.
At a simultaneous press conference at another location, Bersih chief Ambiga Sreenevasan said that they will adhere to the court order but will try to get as close as possible to the iconic field.

The security move against the coalition, however, contradicts Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein's assurance that the rally is not a secuirty threat.

DBKL, under orders from Mayor Ahmad Fuad Ismail, said in a statement that the restriction will be enforced according to the  Local Government (Dataran Merdeka) (Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur) By-Laws 1992 and section 65 of the Local Government Act 1976 until Sunday 6am.

City hall has since barricaded the historic square and both DBKL and the government have repeatedly urged Bersih to change the venue of the sit-in to other venues including Stadium Merdeka which was ironically off limits to the tens of thousands during last year’s July 9 rally.

Bersih 3.0 'now a security issue', says KL mayor

Bersih 3.0 'now a security issue', says KL mayor

Nigel Aw
12:41PM Apr 27, 2012

Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has passed the buck to the police, saying that Bersih's insistence on holding its rally at the historic Dataran Merdeka has “become a security issue”.
KL mayor Ahmad Fuad Ismail (left) said today this meant the police should intervene to assist DBKL to uphold the law.
"Now it appears there is a confrontation between what they (Bersih) want and what is not permitted by law, between those who want to rally and outsiders who are opposed to it.
"I can say that there is now an element of security," Ahmad Fuad said at the DBKL headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.

In light of this, Ahmad Fuad said he will be meeting with Kuala Lumpur police chief Mohmad Salleh later today to determine their course of action in a joint operation.

‘DBKL to police: You know what to do’
“When there is a security issue, it is under the jurisdiction of the police and the police must assist DBKL.
“Even though from the statements the police have issued... I believe that the police are always ready (to assist us)," he said.
In contrast to the previous Bersih rally on July 9 last year, the police have adopted a hands-off approach.
Admitting that DBKL’s manpower was limited, he added that the police should know what has to be done.
“If the police provide us with large manpower, then perhaps we will not even require DBKL officers, but if the police tell us to handle it ourselves... then we will see how large the crowd is on that day,” he said.
Ahmad Fuad added that at a meeting with Bersih leaders on April 25, the group had made clear to him if Dataran Merdeka was  prohibited the venue as their rally site, they would sit on the roads.
‘Street sit-in is not peaceful protest’
“If they sit on the roads then it is no longer a peaceful rally, how can they guarantee that nothing unfortunate will happen?” he said.
He also criticised Bersih for rejecting the alternative venue of Stadium Merdeka offered to them on the grounds that there would not be enough time to inform protesters.
“If they cannot even inform their supporters, how are they going to control the large crowd that they claim will come to Kuala Lumpur tomorrow?” he said.
Asked about the possibility of  confrontation with Bersih supporters tomorrow, Ahmad Fuad said DAP vice-chairperson Tunku Abdul Aziz Tunku Ibrahim’s statement that the rally would bring more bad than good would rightly reflect the situation.

“I don’t want to comment but from what Tunku Abdul Aziz said, it is a scenario that could happen,” he said.

Tunku Abdul Aziz had yesterday broke ranks with party members, expressing concern that the Bersih demonstration may lead to chaos.

Ahmad Fuad added that as of now, there are no plans to close any roads but if it were to be done, the likely ones to be affected would be Jalan Raja, Jalan Tun Perak, Jalan Hishammuddin and Jalan Lebuh Pasar.