DAP organised Run for Freedom kicked off at Pandamaran stadium, Klang today. Anil Netto has the tentative schedule of the run. Meanwhile, the only report so far is from Malaysiakini. Reproduced below with photos:

DAP’s anti-ISA marathon began its 350km journey to the Kamunting Detention Camp in Pandamaran, Selangor, this morning with several party personalities kicking the event off.

MCPX

Party vice-chairperson and former Internal Security Act detainee Tan Kok Wai flagged off the low-key event at the Pandamaran new village at 8.15am with a short speech.

He said the event was meant to express the public’s disappointment with the continued use of unjust and repressive laws such as the ISA.

“We call upon the government to immediately and unconditionally release all detainees held under the ISA,” he told a crowd of about 50 party supporters.

Tan said the purpose of the event, dubbed the ‘freedom run’, was also to call for a lift of the ban on the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf), adding that it symbolises equality, freedom and a call to all Malaysians to unite in order to “move forward”.

The DAP event was given a boost with the presence of popular blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin and his wife Marina Lee Abdullah. Raja Petra has been detained twice under the ISA.

The wife of Hindraf legal advisor V Ganabatirau, V Buvaneswary, was also present during the flag off. Ganabatirau and four other Hindraf leaders have been in detention in Kamunting since Dec 13 last year.

‘Run will be bear fruit’

Other personalities at the event included DAP advisor Dr Chen Man Hin and Selangor state executive councilor Ronnie Liu, who was the first runner at the event.

“It was an honour to be the first,” said Liu, who headed towards Bukit Tinggi, where the flag was passed to an awaiting runner at the service centre of Klang MP Charles Santiago.

Liu told Malaysiakini he had high hopes that the objective of the run would be accomplished as similar runs in the past had been successful.

This includes DAP’s campaign to save Bukit Cina, Malacca from development and SRJK(C) Damansara primary school from permanent closure.

“We have organised this kind of run in the past and every time, it had been fruitful. You can expect this run to bear fruit in the future as well,” Liu said confidently.

Also lending their support were Pakatan Rakyat coalition partners PAS and PKR. Elected representatives from these two parties will be joining in the run when the flag passes through their constituencies.

Two Pakatan MP’s who have confirmed their participation are S Manikavasagam (PKR-Kapar) and
Dzulkefly Ahmad (PAS-Kuala Selangor).

End in Kamunting

If all goes to plan, the anti-ISA flag would pass through hundred of hands in the coastal towns of Kapar, Kuala Selangor and Sekinchan today, before ending up in Sabak Bernam, which borders Perak, by this evening.

After breaking for the night, the second leg of the run will begin at the border between Selangor and Perak before runners take the flag to Kamunting.

The flag would be passing through Teluk Intan, Setiawan, Pantai Remis, Simpang and Taiping before finally reaching Kamunting.

About a dozen plainclothed police officers kept a close watch at the proceedings at the Pandamaran new village this morning while riot police were on standby in a nearby police station.

Commenting on the police presence, Manikavasagam said there was an overwhelming number of police personnel at his service centre in Kapar.

There were so many of them. Even the Klang OCPD and his deputy were here, he told Malaysiakini.

Manikavasagam said the police disallowed more than five persons from running at the same time and asked several individuals to remove button badges with
the ‘Hindraf’ on it.

I’m disappointed because the police did not allow more than five people to run with their elected rep, he said.

He added that the turnout at Kapar was large and multiracial, adding that the large numbers may have attracted the attention of the police.

Photos below courtesy of S Jayathas, co-ordinator of Police Watch and Human Rights Committee Malaysia

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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.