Freedom

In view of recent events in Malaysia, I say to thee:

UMNO YOU BETTER BUCK UP BECAUSE THE RAKYAT AIN’T HAPPY

In a recent protest, members of BERSIH, a joint effort between Malaysian opposition parties, organised a mass rally to submit a memorandum to the King in hope that he will intervene to ensure a free and fair election. The Malaysian government acted to clamp down on such activities (Federal Reserve Unit, water cannons and tear gas was involved), not seen since the demonstrations during 'Reformasi' when Anwar Ibrahim was sacked by the then prime minister (now Tun Dr Mahathir).



Pictures are courtesy of Malaysia Today online forum.

I'm not usually into politics but recent events have really changed that. I guess you can say I'm jumping on the bandwagon. But my opinions have not necessarily sung in favour the Coalition.

I can safely say 100% of my friends in Malaysia had little or no information about the rally, meaning the government's censorship is still effective. They've apparently blocked access to foreign news on the matter, censored news coverage on Astro (our version of CableTV or Foxtel); even the opposition’s "Malaysia-Today" website is offline.

But what worries me most is the 'tidak-apa' (couldn’t care less) attitude of my friends. A few cited the famous 'Malays will never change' slogan without realising that those words apply to the Chinese and Indians as well (judging by their attitudes towards forming an opinion about the rally, where the most common reply was 'dunno' or 'don’t care'). I've had many friends who simply couldn’t be bothered to take notice. Funny, how I in Australia am more concerned than they are!

Shame. Shame on you all.

I once believed that change was impossible. Now I believe change requires more than nonchalance. Malays, if anyone, are the agents of change in blogs and in independent news. Change within the Malay community is crucial as it dictates election outcomes, seeing that they hold most of the votes.

But even the Chinese and Indians must understand that failure to form an opinion doesn't put them any higher than the Malays. Everyone has their part to play. Every opinion, whether in favour or against, is important.

Abdullah has not addressed are the allegations brought forward by the opposition, in particular about 'phantom voters' during the last general election. An embarrassing report released by foreign news Al Jazeera has prompted a lash back in response.

When they unleashed the water cannons loaded with acid, children were in the line of fire too. Even foreign news correspondent Hamish McDonald was doused by the acid spray.

The government has refused to comment on the lack of freedom-of-speech in Malaysia, constantly asking skeptics to 'prove it' and pushing the racial button by declaring Malaysia a 'harmonious country', instead of responding to the allegations. Foreign coverage of the media has been extensive and seems to differ from what local newspapers had to say (news articles below). Actions taken against bloggers and "separatists" have not helped the situation.

It does help that the government has the press and Affirmative Action for Malays on their side, but their failure to realise that a more liberal online community and growing dissent against their conservative approaches to free speech may prove to be their demise.

My view is that no nation can consider themselves developed if it does not have free speech (yes, Singapore included). The word 'free' here means abolishing censorship and police permits for gatherings. Malaysia will need to start looking at the issues being voiced out by the rakyat (people) such as crime, inflation, corruption and censorship, because these issues are real and meaningful. Failure to do so may result in loss at the elections, unprecedented for our country which has only been ruled by the coalition since independence.

These developments back home will be interesting to watch, especially for a Malaysian abroad (like myself).

Further reading available here, here, and here.

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News Reports on this issue:

Teargas used on rare Malaysia demo
November 10, 2007 -- Updated 0418 GMT
Courtesy of CNN

The largest political protest in nearly a decade erupted in Malaysia's capital city, Kuala Lumpur, Saturday with riot police aiming water hoses and tear gas at thousands of protesters gathered to demand electoral reform.

Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets of Kuala Lumpur to demand electoral reform.

Opposition parties and civic groups demonstrated against alleged fraudulent activity in the electoral process and demanded an overhaul of Malaysia's electoral commission ahead of general elections widely expected for early next year.

Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had vowed to suppress the demonstration, and on Saturday police had erected roadblocks and ramped up security in an attempt to close down the city's center.

Nevertheless, in defiance of a government ban, between 30,000 and 40,000 demonstrators massed outside the royal palace in Kuala Lumpar, according to media reports. Opposition group leader and former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim put the number much higher, claiming more than 100,000 people had gathered in the streets.

One witness said police fired tear gas and jets of "chemically-laced water" at hundreds of demonstrators who sought refuge in the city's Jamek mosque and in commercial buildings.

"Squads of police are chasing hundreds of protesters along alleys and on the city streets," the witness said, speaking on condition of anonymity. He said blockades had been set up around the city to hem in demonstrators.

Photos of the crackdown showed protesters dressed in yellow t-shirts and head scarves shielding their heads as water from cannons blasted down on them.

New York-based Human Rights Watch slammed the rally ban and urged the government to support free speech ahead of elections expected to be called early next year.

"If Malaysia wants to count itself a democracy, it can begin by upholding constitutional guarantees of free speech and assembly. The way the system works now, only the ruling coalition can get its messages out," it said.

Human Rights Watch said Malaysian elections have been sullied by vote-buying, the use of public resources by the ruling parties and accusations of bias against the Election Commission.

Malaysia has had only one party in power since 1957.

Speaking to CNN after briefly addressing the opposition-backed rally, Anwar said "we are demanding that the (election) process be cleansed. There are no such thing as fair elections in Malaysia at the moment."

He said a memorandum detailing allegations of corruption by the commission had been handed to Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin, Malaysia's constitutional monarch.

Malaysian law stipulates the sultan must give his royal assent to the commission after it has been appointed by the government.

Opposition party leaders, including Anwar, called the mass meeting to protest alleged fraudulent activity in the electoral process.

"This was an attempt to threaten the people. But I am very proud that Malaysians were not intimidated and turned out in such great numbers and that they behaved peacefully," Anwar said.
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Anwar was heir apparent to former premier Mahathir Mohamad until 1998, when he was sacked and charged for corruption and sodomy.

The sodomy conviction was overturned, but the corruption verdict was never lifted, barring him from running for political post until next year.


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Teargas and water cannons used on illegal assembly, 245 held
By LOONG MENG YEE, PAUL CHOO and RASHITHA A.HAMID
Sunday November 11, 2007
Courtesy of The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: Police used teargas and water cannons to disperse thousands of people who tried to march from Jalan Tun Perak to Dataran Merdeka for an Opposition-led illegal assembly yesterday.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan said the police were forced to use teargas and water cannons because the marchers refused to disperse when instructed to do so at 2.30pm. He put their number at 4,000.

He said 245 people were detained for questioning but were released after their statements were recorded.

"We exercised restraint in our approach and only resorted to using teargas and water cannons to disperse the gathering," Musa said, adding that no teargas or water was sprayed into the Masjid Jamek mosque in Jalan Tun Perak.

The gathering was organised by The Coalition for Clean and Fair Election (Bersih), a group of 60 non-governmental organisations supported by five Opposition parties.
Thousands had gathered at five meeting points in the city – the National Mosque, Masjid Jamek, Dataran Merdeka, Central Market and at Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman next to the Sogo departmental store – as early as 8am to join in a walk to the Istana Negara.

Police only used teargas and water cannons at the Masjid Jamek meeting point.
At 3.55pm, Bersih’s representative Dr Syed Azman Syed Ahmad Nawawi handed a memorandum to a palace official. The document urged the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to intervene to ensure a fair and just election.

He was accompanied by PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang and Parti Keadilan Rakyat de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The marchers began dispersing at about 4.30pm.