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Run Makkal Run

November 12th, 2008
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Odinan, odinan, ellaiyai thandiye odinan (He ran, he ran, until over the boundary he ran) – a well-known dialogue in Tamil comes to my mind.

Well, DAP is taking the fight/campaign to free HINDRAF 5 ISa detainees to a different level. Its organising a Run for Freedom activity which involves a distance of 350km! Yup, all the way from Klang to the gates of Kamunting detention center. Many Pakatan Rakyat MPs and ADUNs will be running in order to get some airtime and publicity as well. It will be like the Olympic torch run, where only one person will be running at a time and will pass the “torch” (in this case a special flag) to the next runner.

I Wonder how the police going to stop this activity. Easiest is to claim “no permit”.

The organisers are looking for 5000 people to participate. So, those who are concerned about the HINDRAF 5 and oppose ISA can show their support by taking part in the run.

DAP Selangor has found a novel way to increase awareness on the continued detention of the five Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leaders and to add pressure on the government to free them.

The party is organising a run – dubbed the ‘Makkal Sakhti 5 Freedom Run’ – over the weekend (Nov15-16).

Organising chairperson Dr Wong Ang Peng said he expects some 5,000 people to participate in the 350km run, which will kick off in Klang and end at the gates of the Kamunting Detention Centre in Perak.

He said there will also be a ‘special flag’ which will be passed from one runner to another during the entire journey. The last runner will hand the flag as well as ‘three larger banners’ to Taiping MP Nga Kor Ming in Kamunting.

DAP Selangor will also canvass for signatures from the public in support of the cause.

Later in the night, an anti-ISA candlelight vigil will be held to call for the release of the five and protest against the Internal Security Act.

Cheras MP Tan Kok Wai will be the first runner when things get off the ground at 8am on Saturday in Klang. The run will be suspended at 7pm in Sabak Bernam and will resume the next morning.

Meanwhile, various Pakatan Rakyat leaders are expected to take part in the run. PKR’s Manikavasagam will run through his Kapar parliamentary constituency as will PAS’ Dzulkefly Ahmad through his Kuala Selangor seat.

Also figuring in the run will be DAP Selangor chairperson and Selangor exco Ean Yong Hian Wah, Puchong MP Gobind Singh, Selangor exco Ronnie Liu, Klang MP Charles Santiago and Selangor state speaker Teng Chang Khim.

Controversial blogger and just released ISA detainee Raja Petra Kamaruddin will be present at the start of the run in Klang.

The freedom run will pass through Kapar, Kuala Selangor, Sekinchan, Sg Besar, Hutan Melintang, Setiawan, Pantai Remis, Simpang and Taiping before reaching Kamunting.

“Traffic will not be obstructed as there will only be one runner at a time on the road,” explained Wong.

Those interested in participating can contact Dr Wong at 012-6644432.

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Non Muslims shouldn’t interfere with Fatwa Council

November 10th, 2008
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I agree with Zahid’s statement that non-muslim NGOs should not challenge the fatwa council’s credibility. Why should non-Muslims be bothered about those ridiculous statements and rules issued by their religion for their followers? Unless such rules look down/insult our religions, we should stay as far away from this council. For example, if the council decides to rule Yoga as haram, then, they should put in a nice sentence, not make Yoga a devil’s tool, or humiliate other religion/beliefs just to make theirs stand our better.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid
Hamidi today told non-Muslim non-governmental organisations (NGOs) not
to challenge the National Fatwa Council’s credibility.

He said it was unfair to challenge or dispute a fatwa issued by the
council purely on logic because it could create confusion among the
people.

The issue of “pengkid” (tomboyism) for example had
become a social problem when the Department of Islamic Development
Malaysia received complaints and on that ground, the Fatwa Council felt
it was necessary to issue a fatwa on it, he said.

“The problem
of a girl running away with a boy can be solved using the law but what
about a girl running away with a girl who looks like a boy?” he told
reporters here.

Zahid said if the NGOs were confused or wanted
further explanations on the background of a fatwa, he was willing to
organise a forum.

The NGOs or non-Muslim writers would not resort to
disputing or challenging a fatwa but instead respect it should
discussions be held, he said commenting on the protest staged by
non-Muslim NGOs — “Katagender” and “Foot-not-Bombs” — on Friday against
the Fatwa Council ruling that “pengkid” is haram.

I just remembered something someone said – if so many agama lessons and agama classes does nothing to improve the condition, do you think a fatwa will achieve anything at all? Not that I’m against the rules, but perhaps the solution lies in other areas, rather than issuing fatwas.

Non-muslim NGOs should not fight against such rulings on behalf of others. If the muslims are indeed against certain fatwa ruling, let them voice out. There’s millions of them, with many many NGOs. Surely got many channels to highlight their objection.

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Police attack at Bersih rally anniversary

November 10th, 2008
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Well, if up to 10pm there were no news, and we can see the anniversary did not attract many people, explosive news came out after midnight. While the NST did not report on police intimidation and attacks at all, The Star mentioned it in a very very light manner. As usual, the blogs are full of anger of action of the police. I provide some links below and also MK’s article. Another MK staff arrested as well. Total of 24 peopel arrested.

What is more stunning is that views of some eye witnesses that imply police were targetting some of the Indians (who may be wearing orange or Bersih t-shirt). Probably want to link HINDRAF to the gathering and make it an illegal one (it is illegal since no permit).

Also, the police seemed to pissed off with the public singing Negaraku. That’s what some wrote.

Read more at blogs below:

Sunrise

ADUN Lau Weng San

MP Tony Pua

Surviving KL Life Reuben Chua

A Litter Taffer (Melvin Mah)

Dead Alien X

Anil Netto (live)

Jelas.Info

Anil Netto (more eyewitness)

And MK article:

Riot police today dispersed about 300 people who had gathered at the Petaling Jaya Civic Centre.

The police moved into the crowd just as they were singing the national anthem and getting ready to leave. Before that they have heard short speeches from several politicians.

The crowd had walked over to the PJ Civic Centre shortly after 9.30pm after they had been originally dispersed from the Padang Timur, about a kilometre away, where they had gathered to take part in a candlelight vigil.

Just as the crowd started re-gathering at the Civic Centre, a team of anti-riot squad and a water cannon truck had arrived.

Shortly afterwards the police started dispersing the crowd using their shields.

In the ensuing melee, police arrested PJ Utara member of parliament and DAP leader Tony Pua, Kampung Tunku state representative Lau Weng San and 22 others. Also arrested was Malaysiakini videographer Shukri Mohamad.

“I was shooting the water cannon truck when a policeman told me to stop that. He ordered me to hand over the camera and tape. I turned and walked away when I was arrested,” Shukri said when contacted.

Eyewitnesses said that Pua was physically manhandled and thrown into a waiting Black Maria. The police were also seen chasing the crowd into an Indian restaurant located opposite the Civic Centre.

Those arrested have been taken to the PJ police station. A small group of people have gathered outside in support of those arrested under the watchful eyes of a team of police anti-riot squad.

Candlelight vigil called off

Earlier, at about 9.35pm, a candlelight vigil organised by polls reform group Bersih was hampered by police insistence on the gathered crowd to disperse.

The vigil was to have started at 9.30pm at Padang Timur opposite Amcorp Mall, Petaling Jaya.

However, the police had started blocking the roads leading to the venue as early as 7pm.

And as the scheduled 9.30pm approached, the police urged the gathered crowd in the field to disperse.

The crowd had then moved into the nearby Amcorp mall, engaged in a ?wait-and-see’ game with the police.

Among those in the crowd were recently court-released ISA detainee Raja Petra Kamaruddin, Selangor exco member Ronnie Liu and DAP leaders Lau Weng San and Pua.

At about 9.30pm, the organisers told the crowd to disperse so as to avoid any trouble with the police.

Some of the people then decided to hold a mini-procession from the field to the PJ Civic Centre, about a kilometre away.

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Bersih Rally anniversary today, Hindraf in two weeks

November 9th, 2008
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According to Malaysiakini, the rally anniversary in PJ only saw about 200 people, and basically no vigil was held as police managed to turn away the crowd. It was better in Ipoh as about 350 people attended. Still, its a very very small number of people, maybe due to lack of publicity.

HINDRAF Rally anniversary is in two weeks time. How would it be celebrated by the community? Perhaps a prayer in Batu Caves? November 25 falls on Tuesday this year. HINDRAF would have problem getting their message and publicity across this time. So, one can expect little crowd at the celebrations.

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Why no t-shirt of local leaders

November 9th, 2008
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I was piqued by the comment made by Tan Sri Annuar Musa:

“I see people wearing Obama T-shirts. While it is good, let us not get carried away with what happened in other nations.

“I also prefer if people could wear T-shirts bearing Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, soon to be our next Prime Minister and Umno president,”

His reasoning is that “Najib had displayed traits of nationalism of Umno founder Tun Onn Jaafar and the long-term foresight of his late father, Tun Abdul Razak Hussein”.

But, really, does one need to ask for respect and admiration? If you are good, it will come to you, right? If they are people really supporting Obama, then they will wear t-shirts, become volunteers etc. Same goes here. Unfortunately, there’s no election involving Najib. So, who want to waste money, especially when we have been advised to be prudent and save more money?

I really can’t remember seeing pictures of local leaders in t-shirts – maybe JAKIM will consider it as idol worship 🙂 . However, there are t-shirts of RPK in the “free RPK” campaign.

Have we seen t-shirt of Samy Vellu, Ong Ka Ting, Dato Subra, Ling Liong Sik, Mahathir etc.? Not sure.

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