I had always thought that Home Minister Kerismuddin is not smart, especially when he was caught on camera in a press conference with the cow head protesters saying silly things trying to justify the rowdiness and the stepping on the cow head by those protesters.
However, this take the prize. This silly Kerismuddin admitted the seizure of journalists (and manhandling) is police standard operating procedure? How can a lawyer and Home Minister admit that and put the police in scorn?
Sunday, April 29, 2012
BERSIH 3.0: Police attack journalists recording brutality against protesters
A female reporter, Merdeka Review reporter Chen Shaua Fui, was manhandled by four male police personnel at about 7.30pm, when she tried to photograph police personnel beating up protesters who were eating at a restaurant.
“Police dragged out two people who were eating, arrested them and beat them up. I wanted to take a photo but was warned by police not to, so I didn’t.
“Then they went to another restaurant where two others were having their meal. The police asked them to take off their shirts, arrested and beat them. I wanted to take photos and that’s when they grabbed me,”
An Al Jazeera videoman was also ‘punched’
Al Jazeera reporter Harry Fawcett said that he was “manhandled” by several uniformed police personnel when he had tried to capture what looked like police assaulting protesters.
He told Malaysiakini that a group of 10 to 15 police personnel surrounded him and Al Jazeera videographer Ray Jones at Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman.
“We saw two or three police officers hold a guy while another was kneeing him either in the face or in the chest, it wasn’t clear.
“When we went to record it, I found that we were surrounded by police who were extremely aggressive. They held my arm and gripped my shirt. When I turned around, the camera was on the ground,” he said when contacted.
He said Jones told him that he was “punched at the back of the head” by police personnel and the camera was “smashed” to the ground.
“The camera was wrenched from him and our wireless microphone and battery pack was taken. The camera was smashed to the ground, and we coudn’t take the tape out. It was inoperable,” he said.
Minutes before the incident, Fawcett and Jones were also stopped from recording another incident where police allegedly assaulted protesters, and were also stopped by police.
“A group of protesters tried to enter Dataran Merdeka... two or three police officers would hold one guy while another punched his body. We were about 100 metres away from the scene,” he said.
Others hurt during the rally were Malay Mail photographer Arif Kartono, reportedly assaulted by several uniformed police personnel and Al-Hijrah videographer Mohd Azri Mohd Salleh, reportedly assaulted by protesters.
At least two media personnel, including Malaysiakini's photojournalist Koh Jun Lin, were also arrested in what appears to be an unprecedented heavy-handedness on journalists by the authorities.
Do you have photographs or video clips depicting police brutality during Bersih 3.0? Contact photo@malaysiakini.com and let Malaysiakini help you share them with Malaysiakini readers.
Source: Female reporter 'grabbed' by four male cops at rally
“Police dragged out two people who were eating, arrested them and beat them up. I wanted to take a photo but was warned by police not to, so I didn’t.
“Then they went to another restaurant where two others were having their meal. The police asked them to take off their shirts, arrested and beat them. I wanted to take photos and that’s when they grabbed me,”
An Al Jazeera videoman was also ‘punched’
Al Jazeera reporter Harry Fawcett said that he was “manhandled” by several uniformed police personnel when he had tried to capture what looked like police assaulting protesters.
He told Malaysiakini that a group of 10 to 15 police personnel surrounded him and Al Jazeera videographer Ray Jones at Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman.
“We saw two or three police officers hold a guy while another was kneeing him either in the face or in the chest, it wasn’t clear.
“When we went to record it, I found that we were surrounded by police who were extremely aggressive. They held my arm and gripped my shirt. When I turned around, the camera was on the ground,” he said when contacted.
He said Jones told him that he was “punched at the back of the head” by police personnel and the camera was “smashed” to the ground.
“The camera was wrenched from him and our wireless microphone and battery pack was taken. The camera was smashed to the ground, and we coudn’t take the tape out. It was inoperable,” he said.
Minutes before the incident, Fawcett and Jones were also stopped from recording another incident where police allegedly assaulted protesters, and were also stopped by police.
“A group of protesters tried to enter Dataran Merdeka... two or three police officers would hold one guy while another punched his body. We were about 100 metres away from the scene,” he said.
Others hurt during the rally were Malay Mail photographer Arif Kartono, reportedly assaulted by several uniformed police personnel and Al-Hijrah videographer Mohd Azri Mohd Salleh, reportedly assaulted by protesters.
At least two media personnel, including Malaysiakini's photojournalist Koh Jun Lin, were also arrested in what appears to be an unprecedented heavy-handedness on journalists by the authorities.
Do you have photographs or video clips depicting police brutality during Bersih 3.0? Contact photo@malaysiakini.com and let Malaysiakini help you share them with Malaysiakini readers.
Source: Female reporter 'grabbed' by four male cops at rally
BERSIH 3.0: Mobashar Jawad Akhbar said violence provoked by police?
Mobashar Jawad Akhbar, a prominent Indian journalist and editorial director of India Today said that the violence in the BERSIH 3.0 rally for free and fair elections could be provoked by the police to create situations and images that will play well in the official media in order to blame them. According to Mobashar, this was a common old trick.
He said: "The crowd has been building overnight, they have ample time to be violent if they wanted to. It was very peaceful until the very end. I do believe that the provocation was perhaps done in order to create images that will play well in the official media,”
He said that this provoking the victims in order to blame them later, was “one of the oldest tricks” employed by various authorities and noted that the crucial essence of democracy is the freedom from fear, which he said is “non-negotiable”.
“Democracy does not function when ppl do not have right to assembly,” he said, praising the protestors for rising above fear.
He said: "The crowd has been building overnight, they have ample time to be violent if they wanted to. It was very peaceful until the very end. I do believe that the provocation was perhaps done in order to create images that will play well in the official media,”
He said that this provoking the victims in order to blame them later, was “one of the oldest tricks” employed by various authorities and noted that the crucial essence of democracy is the freedom from fear, which he said is “non-negotiable”.
“Democracy does not function when ppl do not have right to assembly,” he said, praising the protestors for rising above fear.
BERSIH 3.0: Police attacks, not disperse crowd
The Malaysian Bar Council said that the police used excessive force and had actually attacked, not disperse the crowd of protestors:
'Dataran barrier breach no excuse for use of force'
2:01PM Apr 29, 2012
The police cannot justify the "grotesque use of force" at yesterday’s Bersih 3.0 rally by blaming the breach of the barricades in Dataran Merdeka, said the Bar Council.
“The crowds that had gathered for the Bersih 3.0 rally reflected a broad cross-section of Malaysian society, and were peaceful. 
He said the “grotesque use of force” by the police showed that they “do not have the maturity, discipline and restraint required of a professional force”.
“In this regard the Malaysian Bar strongly disagrees with the Minister of Home Affairs’ assertion that the police acted professionally,” said Leong in a statement today.
The rally, the saw an estimated 150,000 Malaysians of all ages march to Dataran Merdeka at the heart of Kuala Lumpur yesterday ended peacefully at 2.30 with the organisers calling for the protestors to disperse.
However, some protestors breached the barricades that the authorities had erected to cordon off the Dataran, Bersih’s original venue for their sit-in protest, and provoked the police into firing tear gas and water cannons at the crowds.
471 were arrested by the end of the day, including activists and members of the media.
Court order ‘flawed’
Leong also faulted the court order barring the public from assembling at the city’s iconic square, venue of the country’s independence gathering. 
“Given that the Bersih 3.0 rally had been announced on April 4, 2012, there was no need to have obtained the order ex parte.
“There had been ample opportunity for the relevant parties to be heard before deciding if such an order deserved to be issued,” said Leong.
The police had obtained thecourt order from the KL Magistrate’s Court at the last minute, that was in the judge’s own words, issued as “immediate action”. 
Leong charged that the police furthermore overstepped the ban order by closing roads beyond what was stipulated.
As a consequence, he said, the “restriction in access gave rise to a tense situation that contributed to the unnecessary violence that occurred”.
‘Cops hostile to monitoring’
The lawyer said while the Bar did not approve of the “belligerent conduct” of some of the protestors, the police on the other hand “displayed a lack of restraint and proportionality”. 
Leong added that the lawyers’ monitoring teams also “witnessed numerous acts of police brutality” and said the police’s attitude was not merely to arrest, but was “punitive in nature” that he said “aggravated” the tense situation that unfolded in the latter part of the day.
He regretted that the police displayed “a general lack of cooperation” towards the Bar’s monitors and were at times even “hostile”
BERSIH 3.0: Malaysian Bar Council Statement
The Malaysian Bar is appalled at the abuse of the legal process and grotesque use of force by the police in connection with the Bersih 3.0 rally in Kuala Lumpur yesterday, April 28, 2012.
The crowds that had gathered for the Bersih 3.0 rally reflected a broad cross-section of Malaysian society, and were peaceful. The police were initially restrained, although they did try to stop people from reaching various pre-announced meeting points. However, the attitude of the police underwent a sea-change at 3:00 pm that day.
The reported breach of police barricades in some areas does not justify the police unleashing the full force of their arsenal upon crowds that were peaceful.
The police have shown in this incident that they do not have the maturity, discipline and restraint required of a professional force. In this regard the Malaysian Bar strongly disagrees with the minister of home affairs’ assertion that the police acted professionally.
The court order excluding members of the public from Dataran Merdeka is arguably defective in law due to a lack of specificity. Given that the Bersih 3.0 rally had been announced on 4 April 2012, there was no need to have obtained the order ex parte.
There had been ample opportunity for the relevant parties to be heard before deciding if such an order deserved to be issued. In addition, the order was obtained with respect to a situation of the authorities’ own making, by their unjustifiable denial of access to Dataran Merdeka. It is important to bear in mind that the minister of home affairs had previously announced that the Bersih 3.0 rally was not a security threat.
Nonetheless, having obtained the exclusion order, the police proceeded to disrespect the order by unilaterally closing additional roads and restricting access to other areas not covered by its terms. The terms of the order itself, the closing of the roads and the restriction in access gave rise to a tense situation that contributed to the unnecessary violence that occurred.
As has been done with some other public assemblies in the past, the Malaysian Bar deployed lawyers and pupils-in-chambers to act as monitors during the rally, numbering approximately 80. Our monitoring teams reported witnessing the use of an array of heavy-handed tactics by the police, including the indiscriminate discharging of multiple rounds of tear gas without any obvious provocation, and arbitrary use of water cannons.
Police fired tear gas directly at the crowd. They also manoeuvred their firing pattern to box in the participants rather than allowing them to disperse quickly. This is not action to disperse, but is instead designed to attack, a crowd. When items were thrown at the police, the police stooped to return like for like.
The Malaysian Bar does not countenance the belligerent conduct shown by a number of the participants. However, we express deep and serious concern as to how the police responded. The police displayed a lack of restraint and proportionality, reminiscent of their actions at the Bersih 2.0 rally on 9 July 2011. Instead of displaying action to calm the situation, they instead aggravated it and contributed to the escalation of the conflict.
Although organisers of public gatherings must bear some responsibility when things get out of hand due to their action or inaction, this does not and cannot excuse the response of the police.
The monitoring teams also witnessed numerous acts of police brutality, such as assault of arrested persons. Instead of merely apprehending suspects, the attitude of the police was punitive in nature.
The reported attacks by the police on members of the media, both local and international, and the confiscation and/or destruction of their photographs and video recordings, speaks to police action in covering up or preventing a full and accurate record of the Bersih 3.0 rally and the responses of the police.
Regrettably, the police also showed a general lack of cooperation towards the Malaysian Bar’s monitoring teams, and were hostile in their attitude and approach at times. This is most unprofessional and unbecoming, and serves as an unhealthy development with negative connotations for the future.
The Malaysian Bar notes that yesterday’s events have not occurred in isolation, but stem from the fundamental problems that gave rise to the Bersih 3.0 rally in the first place, namely the ongoing and outstanding issues relating to the electoral roll, and the lack of confidence in its integrity and that of the electoral process in Malaysia.
Those who look upon Dataran Merdeka as a symbol of freedom will view the exclusion from Dataran Merdeka as freedom denied. The promise by the government to respect democracy and human rights, and implement reforms, was tested yesterday.
The government’s response and actions during the Bersih 3.0 rally provided an indication of whether the new reform legislation will be perverted and abused in its use and implementation, where the wide powers vested in the authorities call for measured, proportionate and mature exercise. The events of 28 April 2012 do not bode well in this regard.
Transformation and real recognition of democratic rights come at a price, namely constant vigilance. The cost of not transforming and not allowing Malaysians the proper exercise of our democratic rights is too high. In Malaysia’s march towards developed nation status by 2020, which is only eight years away, the constitutional right to clean, free and fair elections cannot and should not be sacrificed.
The crowds that had gathered for the Bersih 3.0 rally reflected a broad cross-section of Malaysian society, and were peaceful. The police were initially restrained, although they did try to stop people from reaching various pre-announced meeting points. However, the attitude of the police underwent a sea-change at 3:00 pm that day.
The reported breach of police barricades in some areas does not justify the police unleashing the full force of their arsenal upon crowds that were peaceful.
The police have shown in this incident that they do not have the maturity, discipline and restraint required of a professional force. In this regard the Malaysian Bar strongly disagrees with the minister of home affairs’ assertion that the police acted professionally.
The court order excluding members of the public from Dataran Merdeka is arguably defective in law due to a lack of specificity. Given that the Bersih 3.0 rally had been announced on 4 April 2012, there was no need to have obtained the order ex parte.
There had been ample opportunity for the relevant parties to be heard before deciding if such an order deserved to be issued. In addition, the order was obtained with respect to a situation of the authorities’ own making, by their unjustifiable denial of access to Dataran Merdeka. It is important to bear in mind that the minister of home affairs had previously announced that the Bersih 3.0 rally was not a security threat.
Nonetheless, having obtained the exclusion order, the police proceeded to disrespect the order by unilaterally closing additional roads and restricting access to other areas not covered by its terms. The terms of the order itself, the closing of the roads and the restriction in access gave rise to a tense situation that contributed to the unnecessary violence that occurred.
As has been done with some other public assemblies in the past, the Malaysian Bar deployed lawyers and pupils-in-chambers to act as monitors during the rally, numbering approximately 80. Our monitoring teams reported witnessing the use of an array of heavy-handed tactics by the police, including the indiscriminate discharging of multiple rounds of tear gas without any obvious provocation, and arbitrary use of water cannons.
Police fired tear gas directly at the crowd. They also manoeuvred their firing pattern to box in the participants rather than allowing them to disperse quickly. This is not action to disperse, but is instead designed to attack, a crowd. When items were thrown at the police, the police stooped to return like for like.
The Malaysian Bar does not countenance the belligerent conduct shown by a number of the participants. However, we express deep and serious concern as to how the police responded. The police displayed a lack of restraint and proportionality, reminiscent of their actions at the Bersih 2.0 rally on 9 July 2011. Instead of displaying action to calm the situation, they instead aggravated it and contributed to the escalation of the conflict.
Although organisers of public gatherings must bear some responsibility when things get out of hand due to their action or inaction, this does not and cannot excuse the response of the police.
The monitoring teams also witnessed numerous acts of police brutality, such as assault of arrested persons. Instead of merely apprehending suspects, the attitude of the police was punitive in nature.
The reported attacks by the police on members of the media, both local and international, and the confiscation and/or destruction of their photographs and video recordings, speaks to police action in covering up or preventing a full and accurate record of the Bersih 3.0 rally and the responses of the police.
Regrettably, the police also showed a general lack of cooperation towards the Malaysian Bar’s monitoring teams, and were hostile in their attitude and approach at times. This is most unprofessional and unbecoming, and serves as an unhealthy development with negative connotations for the future.
The Malaysian Bar notes that yesterday’s events have not occurred in isolation, but stem from the fundamental problems that gave rise to the Bersih 3.0 rally in the first place, namely the ongoing and outstanding issues relating to the electoral roll, and the lack of confidence in its integrity and that of the electoral process in Malaysia.
Those who look upon Dataran Merdeka as a symbol of freedom will view the exclusion from Dataran Merdeka as freedom denied. The promise by the government to respect democracy and human rights, and implement reforms, was tested yesterday.
The government’s response and actions during the Bersih 3.0 rally provided an indication of whether the new reform legislation will be perverted and abused in its use and implementation, where the wide powers vested in the authorities call for measured, proportionate and mature exercise. The events of 28 April 2012 do not bode well in this regard.
Transformation and real recognition of democratic rights come at a price, namely constant vigilance. The cost of not transforming and not allowing Malaysians the proper exercise of our democratic rights is too high. In Malaysia’s march towards developed nation status by 2020, which is only eight years away, the constitutional right to clean, free and fair elections cannot and should not be sacrificed.
BERSIH 3: What & Who caused the violence?
Today, as was expected, Malaysia's synchophantic printed newspapers ignoring the positive aspects of BERSIH 3.0 and highlighted some violence especially an overturned police patrol car featured on its front page. What caused this, a damaged and overturned police car:
It was this, the police patrol car recklessly speeding along Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, losing control and crashing into the demonstrators causing injuries. Below is a photo of the patrol car as it dived into the protestors walking along the sidewalk:
Below is the video which caught the patrol car speeding:
Here is the video of the injured protestor being placed on an improvised stretcher and being ferried away by an ambulance:
Today, as was expected, Malaysia's synchophantic printed newspapers ignoring the positive aspects of BERSIH 3.0 and highlighted some violence including an overturned police patrol car. What caused this, a damaged and overturned police car:
It was this, the police patrol car recklessly speeding along Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, losing control and crashing into the demonstrators causing injuries. Below is a photo of the patrol car as it dived into the protestors walking along the sidewalk:
Below is the video which caught the patrol car speeding:
Malaysiakini plea for photos & videos showing police brutality
Malaysiakini, being unable to publish photos showing police brutality during yesterday's BERSIH 3.0 rally for free and fair election is now appealing for those who have such photos and video clips to send them to photo@malaysiakini.com
Malaysiakini is doing this because its journalist Koh Jun Lin was arrested along and his memory card containg photographs of the rally were confiscated
Malaysiakini is doing this because its journalist Koh Jun Lin was arrested along and his memory card containg photographs of the rally were confiscated
Nayati Shamelin Moodliar abducted. Father begs for return
Update: Nayati has been released by his kidnappers and is now with his parents. Police has set up a special task force to track down the kidnappers. Anyone with information please contact the police at 03-2115 9999 or visit the nearest police station.
Here is a photo of Nayati Shamelin Moodliar, a 14 year student of the International School in Mont Kiara who was abducted when leaving the school. Do help spread the photo around and hopefully assist in efforts to locate and help return the boy to his desperate parents.
Watch the video below as his father tearfully plea for his return:
If anyone knows of his whereabout or have information that may help in locating and returning him to his parents, call 012-365 6202 or 019-233 3065
BERSIH 3.0: Police attack journalists
Did the Malaysian police coordinated an attack against journalists, local and foreign, to prevent journalists from recording police aggression, violence and assaults on participants of BERSIH 3.0 rally to be recorded and publicized?
According to Surendren of PKR, that was the case as reported in Malaysian Insider, PKR: Najib to blame for attacks on media at Bersih.
This was collaborated by Alzajeera's journalists and crew whose camera was busted by the police and Aljazeera's Harry Fawcett had to report using the Skype for iPad application.
Malaysiakini journalist Koh Jun Lin was also arrested along with several other members of the press while covering the rally at Dataran Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur. Koh's memory card containg photographs of the rally were confiscated, while another photographer said police destroyed his memory card after he refused to delete photographs of a melee.
Listen to his first-hand account of "police violence" in the video below:
According to Surendren of PKR, that was the case as reported in Malaysian Insider, PKR: Najib to blame for attacks on media at Bersih.
This was collaborated by Alzajeera's journalists and crew whose camera was busted by the police and Aljazeera's Harry Fawcett had to report using the Skype for iPad application.
Malaysiakini journalist Koh Jun Lin was also arrested along with several other members of the press while covering the rally at Dataran Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur. Koh's memory card containg photographs of the rally were confiscated, while another photographer said police destroyed his memory card after he refused to delete photographs of a melee.
Listen to his first-hand account of "police violence" in the video below:
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Press pixmen nabbed over assault pictures
Press pixmen nabbed over assault pictures
6:40PM Apr 28, 2012
Several newspaper photographers have been arrested while photographing scenes of alleged police brutality.
It is unclear how many photographers are arrested. Among them isMalaysiakini photojournalist Koh Jun Lin.
“My camera and memory card have been confiscated,” Koh said.
"They said they wanted it as evidence."
The police were engaged in about three hours of cat-and-mouse with pockets of protesters after Bersih 3.0 organisers urged participants to disperse at 3pm.
Violence involving both the police and protesters escalated as the minutes went.
One photographer told Malaysiakini that after he refused to delete photographs of a melee, a police personnel removed his memory card and destroyed it.
It was confirmed by Guang Ming Daily that one of their photographers was arrested while taking photographs of the process of an arrest and alleged police assault
7,000 including Penang CM rally at Esplanade
7,000 including Penang CM rally at Esplanade
Susan Loone
2:31PM Apr 28, 2012
At least 7,000 people gathered at the Esplanade in George Town this afternoon and Aliran president Francis Loh was the first to address them.
Loh expressed surprise over the number of people who turned up.
Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and Pakatan leaders were also present.
There were no disturbances whatsoever throughout the rally.
Around 2.20pm, everybody was asked to sit down, including the hantu(phantoms) present, and the crowd laughed.
The crowd then began chanting, Bersih! Cuci! and Bantah! three times each.
The crowd then got excited and shouted sit down at those who were standing. And every time a group sat on the ground, the rest of the crowd broke into applause and cheered.
'Crowd not really from Penang'
Later about 2.30pm, the crowd swelled to about 7,000; bottles of water were distributed, litter bags were provided, and participants did not leave the field filthy after the protest.
A regular ice-cream vendor when asked, said cheerfully: "Business is good. I wish there are events like this at least once a week."
A special branch police officer whom Malaysiakini spoke to complained that the crowd was “not really from Penang”.
“They came from Sungai Petani and elsewhere, I saw them walking from the peer,” he said.
Other than chanting Bersih songs and the national anthem, the event included the reading of national laureate A. Samad Said’s poem by Aliran’s Mustafa K. Annuar.
A group of Malaysians from Los Angeles, the US, were also on the field carrying posters with slogans ‘allow overseas voting’ led by engineer Caterine Chow, a first time voter.
“If I can make it, I would surely come back to vote but we need to be prepared. We hope the authorities can make it possible to vote from where we are,” she added.
Rumours of trouble
Meanwhile, the crowd grew ecstatic as Lim addressed them.
He praised the crowd for their courage in turning up at the venue despite “rumours of trouble” created by certain quarters.
Lim joked: “There might have been some who are anti-Bersih, but when they saw the 10,000 strong crowd they must have left.”
He told those who opposed Lynas and a dirty election “you know what to do”, referring to the upcoming 13th general election.
“Do you want your life to be dirty?” he asked, and the crowd responded with a resounding “no".
“What I say is not important, but the fact that you are here at the sit-in, braving the rain and the fear of trouble is testament to why we need Bersih,” he added.
Then he prodded the crowd to shout “Bersih so loud that even Rosmah (Mansor) in Putrajaya can hear you”.
The crowd, including Lim, dispersed at about 3pm, when rain started to pour.
However, several protestors continued to stay on the field conducting their on activities.
Malaysiakini later saw a smiling Penang Perkasa Youth chief Risuan Azuddin on his motorcycle with several bikers near the Esplanade.
Anwar's clarion call: End polls fraud now
Anwar's clarion call: End polls fraud now
Hafiz Yatim
2:27PM Apr 28, 2012
De facto PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim has urged the people to end corruption and fraud in the Election Commission and the government.
The opposition leader said this at Mesjid Negara, where the crowd included his wife and PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, as well as a group of international observers.
Anwar stressed that the time has come to purge polls fraud.
"There is enough corruption and fraud for us to call for cleaner elections, which is what we and the rakyat want."
PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu welcomed the international observers from the Philippines and Indonesia and he too urged the people to free Dataran Merdeka.
Mat Sabu said the time has come to free Dataran Merdeka, which was a symbol of independence, and break the shackles of the BN.
DAP veteran leader Lim Kit Siang paid homage to all the races for coming together in the demand of the people for free and fair elections.
"I also am encouraged by the many young people who have stepped up to support this noble cause," he said.
The gathering here plans to walk towards Dataran Merdeka after the Zohor prayers.
[More to follow]
Bersih: Some protesters' behaviour 'unusual'
Bersih: Some protesters' behaviour 'unusual'
S Pathmawathy
6:02PM Apr 28, 2012
Electoral reforms pressure group Bersih says it is shocked by allegations that some of its supporters had acted violently during the Bersih 3.0 rally today.
Bersih co-chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan described allegations of violence committed by the movement’s supporters as “highly unusual”.
Among the acts of violence witnessed includes the overturning of a police vehicle, which she said could have been instigated by agent provocateurs.
"We have this suspicion (because) this is a highly unusual behaviour on the part of our supporters," she told reporters at a brief press conference in KL Sentral.
[More to follow]
250,000 at Bersih 3.0, Ambiga claims success
250,000 at Bersih 3.0, Ambiga claims success
S Pathmawathy
6:13PM Apr 28, 2012
Electoral reforms pressure group Bersih 2.0 said that their rally was a success, claiming that 250,000 Malaysians had joined their Bersih 3.0 rally to call for proper electoral reforms.
"In that sense it was a success," said the coalition for clean and fair chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan at a press conference after the rally.
"The atmosphere was wonderful and the numbers that were there - it was tremendous.
Police erect roadblocks on key roads into KL city centre
Police erect roadblocks on key roads into KL city centre
8:40AM Apr 28, 2012
Police have erected roadblocks in major roads leading into the Kuala Lumpur city centre in the bid to stop protesters from congregating in Dataran Merdeka at 2pm today.
Roadblocks are reported in Ampang Elevated Highway, Jalan Tun Razak, Jalan Mahameru, Jalan Pudu, Jalan Bangsar and Jalan Tun Sambathan.
Tens of thousands are expected to take to the streets of Kuala Lumpur in a rally dubbed 'Bersih 3.0' to demand, among others, electoral reform and the resignation of the Election Commission.
Protestors are gathering at six core locations, namely Jalan Sultan, Pasar Seni, Masjid India, Masjid Negara, Brickfields and KLCC with other additional points around the vicinity.
Bersih 3.0 protestors at KLCC are expected to be joined by Himpunan Hijau 3.0 supporters which will first march to the Australian High Commission to protest the RM700 million rare-earth processing plant in Gebeng, Kuantan by Australian-based company Lynas before proceeding to Dataran Merdeka.
Protestors are also gathering slightly earlier at Jalan Sultan to support a video shoot opposing the MyRapid Transit (MRT) project which will cut through the historical street.
All protesters will eventually move towards Dataran Merdeka, a venue which the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has banned for demonstrations and have pre-empted the rally by sealing it off with barricades and barb wires.
Kuala Lumpur police chief Mohamad Salleh had also announced yesterday that demonstrators may gather at their locations but barred them from marching, an order protestors are expected to defy.
Police have also obtained a court order barring the public from entering Dataran Merdeka.
Bersih 3.0 organiser had yesterday said they will respect the court order but will try to get "as close as possible" to the iconic square and still harbours hope that the police will allow a last minute goodwill gesture for demonstrators to occupy the site for a sit-in protest.
[More to follow]
BERSIH 3.0 Karpal Singh visited Dataran Merdeka on eve
Karpal Singh, despite his wheelchair-bound condition, visited Dataran Merdeka last night and was greeted with loud cheers by the eager and early participants of BERSIH 3.0
BERSIH 3.0: Ready for BERSIH 3.0 for truly free and fair elections
Done my obligatory income tax return for 2011 so now don't have to worry about being unable to comply due to detention.
Bought salt and vinegar.
Put salt into zip-lock plastic bag formerly used to contain medicine
Soaked hand towel with vinegar and water
Emptied camera memory card and charged battery
Filled bottle with water
Now ready for BERSIH 3.0
Bought salt and vinegar.
Put salt into zip-lock plastic bag formerly used to contain medicine
Soaked hand towel with vinegar and water
Emptied camera memory card and charged battery
Filled bottle with water
Now ready for BERSIH 3.0
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: Dataran Merdeka at dawn 28 April
Police get court order, Dataran off-limits for 4 days
2:32PM Apr 27, 2012
The Magistrate’s Court has issued a court order barring Bersih 3.0 from the vicinity of Dataran Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur tomorrow until May 1, said Bersih.
According to the order issued yesterday evening, the ban includes roads leading to the iconic landmark and its surrounding lands.
“This court has found that Bersih 3.0 will carry on its rally even without approval from Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) or informing the Dangi Wangi district police chief.
He ruled that “decisive action is required to avoid an act that will threaten public order or endanger public life or safety” should the rally proceed. 
“Therefore, any gathering at Dataran Merdeka, that is the land bordering Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin, Jalan Raja and Jalan Kelab except the area occupied by the Selangor Royal Club... is hereby banned, and the public are warned against attending, being present or taking part in any gathering from April 28, 2012 to May 1, 2012,” read the order.
The order was served upon Bersih chairperson S Ambiga, “the organisers” and “the public”.
Signed 'under protest'
According to the document sighted by Malaysiakini, the coalition for clean and fair elections signed receipt of the document at noon today “under protest”.
Meanwhile, early this morning DBKL began a lockdown of Dataran Merdeka where the sit-in protest is to take place.
The developments today contrast with Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein earlier saying twice that the rally was “not a security threat”.
Bersih is however adamant on its sit-in tomorrow to call for electoral reform, adding that recent amendments to the Election Offences Act was reason enough to justify the rally.
Organisers are expecting the crowd this year to be more than double last July, when tens of thousands took part. 
"If the authorities come down hard on us with violence, it will go to show the world how this country is run by the Najib administration.”
Bersih co-coordinator Ambiga Sreenivasan accused the city's mayor of abusing his power by banning the rally.
The coalition has rejected an offer to hold the protest in alternative venues, including stadiums, saying it is too late to change the location.
"We will march to the barrier. We will not break the barriers or create any situation in the hopes that the government will lift the barrier and allow the sit-in to take place," she told a news conference.
Bersih has emerged as a key pressure group against Najib who took office in 2009 and pledged political and economic reform in a bid to reverse some of the ruling coalition's 2008 election losses.
Later this afternoon, the City Hall put up a banner at the banned site which reads: "Thank you for respecting the law. No rally in Dataran Merdeka."
Dataran closure an 'insult'
Meanwhile DAP national organising secretary Teresa Kok criticised the home minister’s “flip-flop” in considering the rally a security threat, asking, “What has changed?”
“(Hishamuddin’s) U-turn decision regarding the peaceful assembly tomorrow is symptomatic of the Malaysian government’s lack of respect towards its electorate and its high-handedness in dealing with dissenting views,” said the Seputeh MP in a statement today.
She said the police’s resolve to take action against rally participants made Malaysia a “police state” controlled “menacingly” by BN.
She added the latest developments showed that Prime Minister Najib Razak is “insincere with his ideologies of transformation” and slammed the KL mayor as a “tool of the BN government”.
PAS Youth also slammed the lockdown of the Dataran, calling it an “insult to Malaysians”. 
While tourists were allowed to visit the Dataran at any time, it was ironic that the rakyat were barred from going there, he said.
“The people are saddened because the government treats the people as a security threat that needs to be countered endlessly,” said Riduan.
“It seems this is how BN treats the rakyat, just as orphans who can be abandoned,” he said, adding sarcastically that DBKL may as well “close Dataran for good”.
The full court order [PDF file]
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)