Posts Tagged ‘Protest’

Silibin versus Patto

November 16th, 2008
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First, let’s look at two different statistics:

NST:

He pointed out yesterday that during a month-long survey conducted by the state DAP, only 12 out of 100 respondents living in Jalan Silibin had voiced their reservations over the renaming of the road.

He said 55 residents and business operators had supported the renaming while 37 others were neutral in the matter.

55+37+12 = 114. This is more than 100 possibly because the combination of residents and business owners, but still need to clarify why 114 responses exist.

The Star:

He said of the 74 respondents interviewed, 55 supported the idea while 12 disagreed and seven were neutral.

“We made sure we got the views of a multiracial group of people so that all races were represented,” he said.

55 + 12 + 7= 74. Perfect fit.

But how can the Star and NST report two different set of numbers? Who to believe?

Let’s see both side of the arguments:

For change
– honor the late Patto
– the late Patto served Silibin area before
– The hassle for residents is minimal. (well, then perhaps the state government can cover the cost of the changes – MyKad, business cards, letterheads etc.).
– Jalan Silibin is not that well known, unlike Jalan Alor which is world famous
– No record of the history or origin of the name “Silibin” – claims Kulasegaran.
– 70% of residents affects agree to the change

Against change
– Its a hassle and unnecessary expense
– Will affect businesses
– Can rename a monument or park, or name a road in new housing area.
– Silibin has lots of historical significance.

A group of businessmen even sent a petition to Perak Menteri Besar protesting the proposed change.

I think there should be a study on the historical significance or origin of “Silibin”. It should be having some history behind it. Secondly, since 30 percent are opposing, perhaps the state government can hold a public forum to get more responses (being a transparent state, its should do so). The state can also identity other sites/roads that can be named after the late Patto. Being a caring government, it can reimburse the affected businesses and residents if the name is changed.

Protest sans signs of protest

November 16th, 2008
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Imagine you want to complaint against your school. The school says fine, but you cannot carry any banners, wear any clothing opposing the schools, nor say anything negative about the school. In other words, just stand in a place for a while until you feel contented or have achieved something, and then disperse.

That’s the scenario with the anti-ISA vigil held at PJ, which saw police attacking the crowd last week. This week, a permit was given, but with 12 conditions. Three of them are as follows:

One of the organiser of the gathering, lawyer and blogger Harris Ibrahim told Malaysiakini
that the police had given permission for the gathering on the provisions that no candlelight vigil was held, no anti-ISA T-shirts were worn by the participants and no speeches by politicians – all main ingredients of the pasts gatherings.

Anil Netto provides few more of the conditions:

  • No candles allowed
  • No T-shirts showing support for the Abolition of the ISA allowed
  • “Penganjur dilarang melakukan sebarang aktiviti yang lain yang melambangkan simpati terhadap tahanan Akta Keselamatan Negara” (Organisers are prohibited from any other activity that suggests sympathy towards ISA detainees!)
  • No banners or distribution of leaflets allowed
  • No political speeches allowed

I got to say this: Only in Bolehland!!!

Well, as mentioned by commenter Novinthen in another post, the alternative is join the ruling party! You get permit, no questions asked. 🙂

Pics from Anti ISA Freedom Run

November 16th, 2008
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There’s some photos at Anil Netto‘s and Charles Santiago‘s blogs.

Earlier report is here.

Anti ISA Freedom Run Flags Off

November 16th, 2008
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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.

dap freedom run 151108 flag offHe 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.

dap freedom run 151108 manikavasagam“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.

makkal sakthi 5 freedom run pandamaran to kamunting route 121108After 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

Video |4 mins

dap freedom run 151108 long photo

MIC Youth leads protest over Sri Lanka war

November 14th, 2008
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After being snubbed by Sri Lanka embassy in the first round, MIC Youth wised up and got its coalition partners to join in the next protest which was held today evening. UMNO sent about 300 members, while representatives from Gerakan, MCA, PPP, IPF, Makkal Sakthi, and other NGOs attended as well.  I, for one, never thought the other BN partners will join in MIC protests. For that, I must say well done to MIC Youth. I really can’t remember MIC Youth ever leading any protest with other coalition members before this, so this is an achievement.

Hmm…not sure about DAP, PAS, and PKR members. Never get invitation?

However, I was surprised to see the police not doing anything to disperse the crowd. Borrowing the Selangor CPO, Deputy Home Minister and others of the same ilk’s words – What if some “bad elements” made use of the crowd to cause disturbance? The police should take preemptive action before something bad happens 🙂

Permit? I think we better not venture into that area.

More surprising is the orange color t-shirts worn at the protest. Orange at the moment symbolises HINDRAF. But it seems MIC members (Youth or Putera?) also use the same color for some time now. At the very least, police should have taken in all those wearing orange into questioning and ask them things like : Why you wear orange, which group wears orange, were you at deepavali open house, are you member of hindraf, who is your leader, why he is not here, why you are here, and 1001 other questions. 🙂

MIC also takes a leaf out of HINDRAF’s strategy by including children in their protest. But since its just a day before school holidays start, I guess its OK to bring the kids for some sort of outing.

Oh ya, I’m not belittling the protest nor the war in Sri Lanka. I’m very curious on why the police never do anything.

All in all, good effort by MIC Youth. Hope we see more protests in the future.

mic youth sri lanka protest 141108 old people

Pool of Orange!

Hundreds of MIC Youth members, party supporters and NGO representatives were bussed in from all over the country for the protest.

This time they were joined by about 200 Putera Umno members led by Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim. There were also small representations from the youth wings of Gerakan, PPP and MCA.

Last Friday MIC Youth had similar but smaller demonstration at the same site.

At about 3pm, the crowd armed with placards and banners marched some 100 metres towards the Sri Lankan embassy and gathered there for about 30 minutes.

At that point the crowd had swollen to about 1,000 people, including children.

They chanted slogans such as “Don’t kill the innocent”, “No war” and “Stop the killings” in Tamil. The protestors also donned black arm bands to show they were mourning for the dead civilians in the conflict.

Memorandum handed

mic youth sri lanka protest 141108 riot policeBy about 4pm, protest representatives handed a memorandum to Sri Lankan embassy officials – as representatives of BN Youth demanding the Sri Lankan government to cease their military aggression.

The Sri Lankan government was also urged to allow international aid organisations into the affected areas and resume negotiations with combatants.

Speaking to reporters later, chief organiser of the protest and MIC Youth deputy chief S Murugesan told reporters that the protestors represented a cross-section of Malaysians who are opposed to the violence in Sri Lanka

abdul azeez abdul rahim putera umno chiefAbdul Azeez (left) said that Umno Youth and youth wings of other Barisan component parties had joined the MIC Youth initiated demonstration on the basis of friendship.

“We give full support to this action initiated by MIC Youth especially in opposing the use of violence against civilians and the bombings of hospitals and schools,” he said.

He said that the protest was not meant to be a political action, but it should be seen as a humanitarian appeal for the Sri Lankan government to end military violence.

The event was closely watched by 50 police personnel who did not intervene except to halt the protestors 50 metres from the embassy.

mic youth sri lanka protest 141108 group shotAsked if a police permit had been obtained for the protest, Murugesan did not give a direct answer.

“We have applied for it… We were told in that in principle, they (the police) have agreed,” he said.