Anwar Ibrahim |
- Fighting Mahathirism, again
- Azmin: Crackdown a return to Mahathirism
- PKR dakwa ada undi tambahan dalam peti undi
- PKR moots new panel to do redelineation
- [PRESS STATEMENT] Charging Adam Adli, Tian Chua, Tamrin and Harris arrest – This is tyranny
- Anwar unfazed by government crackdown
- Opposition crackdown shows reforms a lie, say Pakatan leaders
- Disebalik tindakan keras terhadap penentang, puluhan ribu hadir perhimpunan Black 505 Terengganu
| Posted: 24 May 2013 06:03 AM PDT I wrote about it, didn't I? A vote for Najib Abdul Razak would be a vote for the return of Mahathirism, and no sooner was I proven right last Saturday when student activist Adam Adli Abd Halim was hauled up by the police for investigation into his 'seditious' remarks. While Adam is now out on bail awaiting trial, Haris Ibrahim, Tian Chua and Tamrin Ghafar were nabbed one after another, again under the notorious and anachronistic Sedition Act 1948. It does feel like 1987 and 1998 all over again, and we are stuck. While the Internal Security Act is gone, the Sedition Act is not. Najib, now the minority prime minister, announced last July that it would be abolished, but was cunning enough to not gazette it as he knew he would need it after GE13. How convenient. As a closet authoritarian, he never disappoints. And his Wesak message that "there will be an abundance of joy and peace and forgiveness as people seek blessings for themselves and their loved ones" just makes me puke.
But time and again, the protesters have proven him wrong, for those who were bent on wreaking havoc turned out to be agents provocateur planted by Umno! Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, desperate to prove his worth, has first alienated the public with his migration outburst and then come down hard on those who dare to stand up to state bullying. There will be a do-or-die party election end of the year and, true to their chauvinistic nature, all the Umno bigwigs must act tough to secure the support of the rank and file. As many Malaysia watchers have said, the real contest in Malaysia is not general elections, which are fought on uneven terrain and horribly skewed to the disproportionate advantage of the ruling coalition, but Umno party polls, in which horse-trading, betraying and vote-buying are far more rampant. This year, it is going to be all the more crucial now that close to two-thirds of the cabinet is made up of Umno ministers, most of whom will not think twice to resort to high-handedness and provocative statements just to up the ante against their rivals, all at the expense of the people. Iron-fisted tactics Some have asked why I must blame Mahathir for all that is wrong with Malaysian society today? Of course one has to apportion a large chunk of the blame to the man who is single-handedly responsible for the rot in our judiciary, distortion of parliamentary democracy, police brutality and media manipulation. In short, Mahathir has practically destroyed the relatively fair system of checks and balances envisioned by the founding fathers in 1957. His iron-fisted tactics in 1987 and then in 1998 have left his successors with a modus operandi to emulate when their authority is severely challenged, and they have shown no qualms in substituting even the last vestiges of our democracy with renewed authoritarianism. Lest not forget that it was Mahathir who as education minister in the 1970s brutally suppressed our vibrant campus culture, after which student activism went into a sharp decline. In the decades that followed, the Chinese were taught to think they were superior to the Malays academically. For years, the Chinese parents would want their young ones to shun student activism, focus on textbook knowledge, and care about nothing else. For a student to take to the streets to protest against an unjust system and a suffocating campus culture was not only useless but also a sign of moral decay.
I would not care one iota if Mahathir had honoured his promise by not playing a prominent role in Malaysian politics. Instead, he is just omnipresent. In other words, I would not hold Adolf Hitler accountable for neo-Nazism that is now becoming pervasive again across Europe, or Emperor Hirohito for the jingoistic stance taken by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in recent weeks, or Mao Zedong for the re-emergence of ugly nationalism in China, for the simple reason that all these autocrats who once brought their respective countries onto the brink of total destruction are dead. Not so with Mahathir, as he continues to manoeuvre behind the scenes and influence his party's directions in a way that may eventually bring Malaysia 'securely' back to the age of tyranny, not to mention the racist and seditious views which he sees no wrong in uttering every now and then. This is precisely what the 'neutral elites' choose not to admit, pretending instead that Malaysia has moved out of the dark shadows of Mahathirism. Unlike the Germans who have thoroughly de-Nazified their beloved country, we are yet to embark on the project of de-Mahathirisation. The task is doubly hard now that Mahathir is practically the backseat driver, and a devious one at that. Hence, the arrests of Adam, Tian Chua, Harris and Tamrin are only just the beginning and represent the shape of more abhorrent things to come. Yes, it is 1987 and 1998 all over again, but the sentiments on the ground are vastly different in 2013. In their pursuit of greater democratic space, Malaysians have demonstrated their determination in confronting state violence face to face. It is a trend that must not be reversed, and change is now a duty that cannot be relegated. |
| Azmin: Crackdown a return to Mahathirism Posted: 24 May 2013 06:00 AM PDT The recent crackdown on opposition leaders and pro-democracy activists is a clear sign of the return of ‘Mahathirism’, when high-handed tactics were used to to muzzle dissidents, PKR says. The slew of arrests yesterday under the Sedition Act are a “return to the days of (former premier Dr) Mahathir (Mohamad)”, when civilians were detained for their “assertion of civil rights”, PKR deputy president Azmin Ali said today.
He urged the people to remain staunch in their pursuit for democracy and to exercise their constitutional rights to voice their objection to the electoral fraud that occurred during the 13th general election. Yesterday, PKR vice-president Tian Chua, Anything But Umno (ABU) chief Haris Ibrahim and former Batu Berendam MP and PAS member Tamrin Ghafar were arrested for allegedly uttering seditious statements, while student activist Adam Adli Abdul Halim was charged with committing sedition. Earlier on PKR’s Seri Setia assemblyperson Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad wascharged with organising an illegal assembly to protest against electoral irregularities. Several other opposition leaders have also been investigated over various offences, including DAP founding chairperson Dr Chen Man Hin, Serdang MP Ong Kian Ming, Taiping MP Nga Kor Ming and Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli. ‘Home Ministry is high-handed’ DAP also condemned the Home Ministry for its “high-handed approach” in the police crackdown. Commenting that the arrests so far could be only the “tip of the iceberg”, Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng said DAP leaders were willing to cooperate with the police in their investigations. “If the police reveal to us the leaders on their list and what the charges are under the relevant laws, we will be more than willing to go to a designated police station at an appointed time,” Lim said. In another statement, PAS vice-president Mahfuz Omar lashed out at the BN for manipulating the laws and enforcement bodies at their whim in oppressing its political foes. “The confiscation of Harakah Daily and Suara Keadilan and the arrests of the political activists are proof that they (BN) don’t honour their word to reconcile after their humiliating loss in the election,” Mahfuz said.
“Rather than abolishing the repressive sedition law as promised, the government is now using it against peaceful protesters,” Amnesty International’s Asia Pacific’s deputy director Isabelle Arradon said. Najib, in July last year, vowed to replace the act with a new act to be known as the National Harmony Act. Amnesty International has repeatedly raised concerns about the Sedition Act and the way the authorities have used it to repress political dissent. The Sedition Act criminalises a wide array of acts, including those “with a tendency to excite disaffection against any Ruler or government” or to “question any matter” protected by the federal constitution, added Arradon. |
| PKR dakwa ada undi tambahan dalam peti undi Posted: 24 May 2013 05:59 AM PDT  PKR hari ini mula mendedahkan dakwaan penipuan pilihan raya secara terperinci, bermula dengan kawasan parlimen Balik Pulau di Pulau Pinang di mana ia mendakwa terdapat lebih jumlah undi daripada kertas undi yang dikeluarkan.
Bagaimanapun, katanya, selepas perjumlahan keputusan dibuat, Borang 14 menunjukkan sebanyak 562 undi dalam peti undi tersebut, lebih 138 undi daripada kertas undi apa yang telah dikeluarkan. Menurutnya, dengan majoriti yang kecil dan jumlah undi rosak yang tinggi, maka keputusan di saluran dua, cukup untuk mengubah keputusan di kawasan parlimen Balik Pulau dan kerusi negeri di Telok Bahang. Rafizi memberitahu demikian dalam satu sidang akhbar di ibu pejabat PKR pagi ini. |
| PKR moots new panel to do redelineation Posted: 24 May 2013 05:57 AM PDT A new commission should be established to study the redelineation of state and parliamentary constituencies, which is due to soon, PKR deputy president Azmin Ali proposed today. “The gerrymandering masterminded by Umno has crippled the electoral system in Malaysia. The delineation of constituency boundaries was done unfairly and did not meet the principle of representative democracy.
“This will only jeopardise the credibility and independence of the EC,” Azmin said in his opening address at the annual congress of the PKR Wanita and Youth wings in Petaling Jaya this afternoon. The Gombak MP proposed that a new commission that will be independent, transparent and professional be given the task of re-delineating constituency boundaries. Azmin cited the Boundary Commission of the United Kingdom, which is tasked to conduct the redelineation of constituencies every five years, as the example for Malaysia to follow. Kick off efforts in this, Wanita, Youth wings told “Hence, I suggest that the Wanita and Youth wings be proactive in kicking off the effort to discuss with those who have the expertise to propose the justification for re-delineation based on democratic ethics, to serve as a counter-proposal to the re-delineation proposal of the EC at the end of this year.”
This is to ensure a fairer distribution of voters in the constituencies, said Pua, the MP for PJ Utara. The federal constitution stipulates for an interval of not less than eight years between two redelineation exercises, with a mandatory deadline of two years for the process to be completed. The last constituency redelineation was carried out in 2002 and the proposals adopted by Parliament in 2003. After the redelineation, the EC still needs a two-thirds backing of the Members of Parliament or the members of the state assemblies for the new constituency boundaries to be approved. Yesterday, EC deputy chairperson Wan Ahmad Wan Omar said the new round of redelineation exercise will begin soon. In his speech today, Azmin also slammed Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak by "reminding" him that he is heading a minority government, which has lost the popular vote. "Yet, Malaysia's democracy is strange and miraculous. Pakatan Rakyat which has garnered 51 percent of the popular vote from the people becomes the opposition, whereas Umno (and BN) forms the government although he only receives 47 percent (of the votes)," he lamented.
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| [PRESS STATEMENT] Charging Adam Adli, Tian Chua, Tamrin and Harris arrest – This is tyranny Posted: 23 May 2013 10:04 PM PDT Adam Adli has been charged with sedition purportedly "by calling for the toppling of the elected government". Tian Chua, Harris Ibrahim and Tamrin Tun Gaffar have been arrested. This is tyranny writ large. Let's get it straight: Najib's government is not a duly elected government. It is a government that's come into power by systemic widespread fraud aided and abetted by the Election Commission. Its legitimacy is therefore in question. This is our position and we are mounting a legal and judicial challenge in this regard. Meantime, the people by the hundreds of thousands are exercising their constitutional right to gather peacefully to demonstrate their utter disgust with this cheating and the consequent illegitimate assumption of power. By the latest count, almost half a million Malaysians, mostly comprising the young from all races have attended our nation-wide rallies. They have come because of their conviction for justice and their deep sense of fair play and not because of any inducement or bribe or promise of material gain. On the contrary, they have come to these rallies in spite of the constant threats and warnings from the police of arrest because they believe in their cause – a cause for their future and the generations to come. This is nobility of spirit which no tyranny can suppress. Adam Adli embodies this spirit and the aspirations of the hundreds of thousands who have attended and the millions more who voted for change, fair play and justice. The dictatorships of Stalin, Marcos are Suharto are long gone. The likes of Ben Ali, Mubarak and Gaddafi are gone not so long ago. Even Mahathir's time where such abuses of state power were ever so common is over. Yet, not only has Najib reneged on his pledges of political reform, he is winding the clock backwards. First, Nik Nazmi was charged. Last night, they arrested 18 people who together with a thousand others had gathered in front of the Jinjang police station to show support for Adam. No doubt, this intimidation will continue even as the show of solidarity for those arrested will spring up across the land. The new Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar is talking tough and issuing all kinds of threats to the people, taking the cue from the Home Minister. May I remind him that his duty is to serve the people. His priority is to keep the county safe – not from legitimate peaceful rallies – but from criminals and real mischief makers. Meanwhile, DAP veteran Dr. Chen Man Hin, who should rightly be honoured for his tireless service to the people, was hauled up and interrogated over frivolous allegations about him being linked to a plot to overthrow the government. This is completely insane. Is this Najib's way of spending tax payers' money? Is this the new direction to be given to the police under its new IGP? While real criminals, including those who commit hate and racist crimes, are going about with impunity, those who are calling for justice are being hounded like rats and prosecuted? Police detainee N Dharmendran was beaten to death and people at a peaceful candle light vigil for Adam in Penang were assaulted by thugs while UMNO's racist inciters to hatred and thugs are roaming the nation with impunity. Najib is stepping on the heads of the rakyat. Eventually, the rakyat will prevail. ANWAR IBRAHIM 23rd May 2013 |
| Anwar unfazed by government crackdown Posted: 23 May 2013 10:03 PM PDT  The slew of arrests following accusations of electoral fraud in the May 5 general election has not spooked PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim into giving up the opposition struggle.
“The crackdown has begun. We all know who will be their target in the end. “If these arrests are a signal by Prime Minister Najib (Abdul Razak) or the home minister (Ahmad Zahid Hamidi) to rattle me, I’m telling you now that I am not afraid as long as the rakyat are with me,” he said to loud cheers. Last night’s rally was part of the nationwide rallies organised by Pakatan Rakyat to spread the word about electoral fraud in GE13, which the opposition, despite winning close to 52 percent of the popular votes, failed to win federal power.
PKR vice-president and Batu MP Tian Chua was slated to speak at the rally but he was arrested by police at the Low-Cost Carrier Terminal in Sepang yesterday, just before boarding his flight to Terengganu.
The trio, believed to be nabbed in relation to a protest rally clated to be held in Petaling Jaya tromorrow, are being held under the Sedition Act at the Jinjang police station. Since the election, six Pakatan leaders and activists have come under police investigation for separate alleged offences.
The police actions come under the watch of newly-appointed inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar. |
| Opposition crackdown shows reforms a lie, say Pakatan leaders Posted: 23 May 2013 10:01 PM PDT |
| Disebalik tindakan keras terhadap penentang, puluhan ribu hadir perhimpunan Black 505 Terengganu Posted: 23 May 2013 09:58 PM PDT Disebalik tindakan keras kerajaan terhadap pemimpin pembangkang dan aktivis, puluhan ribu rakyat berhimpun dalam perhimpunan menentang keputusan Pilihan Raya 2013 Black 505 di Terengganu. Media melaporkan himpunan yang berlangsung di Markaz PAS Kuala Ibai malam tadi dianggar mencatat kehadiran lebih 50,000 orang. Pemimpin utama Pakatan Rakyat (PR) Ketua Umum PKR Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Timbalan Presiden PAS Mohamad Sabu, Naib Presiden PAS Datuk Husam Musa adalah diantara yang berucap dalam himpunan tersebut. Mohamad dalam ucapannya malam tadi turut mengulas isu penangkapan ahli Parlimen Batu Chua Tian Chang, bekas ahli Parlimen Batu Berendam Tamrin Ghafar serta aktivis Asalkan Bukan Umno (ABU) Haris Ibrahim. Menurut beliau yang dikenali sebagai Mat Sabu itu, Menteri Dalam Negeri yang baru Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi sudah panik dengan kebangkitan rakyat menentang penipuan Pilihan Raya 2013. "Penangkapan sudahpun bermula, pendekar Bagan Datoh sudah tunjuk belang.?Zahid Hamidi mula menunjukkan belangnya terhadap rakyat marhean yang tidak bersenjata. "Dia sudah panik, panik dengan kebangkitan rakyat," katanya dipetik dari portal Harakahdaily. Chua, Tamrin dan Haris ditahan semalam kerana menghasut dan ditahan semalaman di lokap berpusat Balai Polis Jinjang di bawah Seksyen 4 (1) (c) Akta Hasutan dan seksyen 124 Kanun Keseksaan. Individu pertama yang ditahan akibat forum itu dan didakwa kerana menghasut adalah aktivis mahasiswa, Adam Adli Abdul Halim di kompleks mahkamah Jalan Duta pagi semalam. Lelaki berumur 24 tahun itu mengaku tidak bersalah dan dibebaskan dengan ikat jamin RM5,000 dan perbicaraannya ditetapkan bermula pada 2 Julai. Mendakwa pilihan raya dicurangi, PR setakat ini enggan untuk mengiktiraf keputusan Pilihan Raya 2013 yang menyaksikan BN dan Najib mempertahankan kuasa akan tetapi dengan majoriti kurang. Gabungan dipimpinnya juga hilang undi popular menyebabkan ianya menjadi kerajaan minoriti. Zahid walau bagaimanapun mempertahankan tindakan polis, mengatakan mereka mempunyai asas dan bukti kukuh untuk membuat penangkapan. Sebelum ini perhimpunan Black 505 diadakan di Selangor, Pulau Pinang, Perak, Pahang, Johor, Negeri Sembilan dan Kedah dimana ribuan engkar kepada arahan polis dengan memenuhi stadium dan tempat ceramah. Dalam Pilihan Raya 2013, BN mendapat 133 kerusi berbanding PR 89 kerusi. BN turut hilang undi majoriti pertama kali semenjak tahun 1969. |
Early this week, Mahathir Mohamad (left) warned against street rallies on his blog, saying that "in many instances the police had to withdraw or they may be directed to withdraw. They become disinclined to carry out their duties. Some people would take advantage of this by committing minor crimes. The people would feel insecure".
That's why Adam (right) has been amazing. With his simple but brave act of defiance, he has won the hearts and minds of many Chinese parents. He has changed radically their perception about student politics, and given them tremendous hopes for the future generations. Adam and his supportive father have done Malaysia proud indeed.
“With Home Minister (Ahmad Zahid Hamidi) trying to outdo his predecessors in being high and mighty, and (Prime Minister) Najib (Abdul Razak) remaining in 'elegant silence’, we certainly can expect more arrests and prosecutions of opposition leaders and civil rights activists,” Azmin (left) said in a statement.
The crackdown also attracted the attention of international human rights watchdog Amnesty International, which called on the government to release all peaceful protesters arrested under the Sedition Act 1948.
Pengarah Strategi PKR, Rafizi Ramli mendakwa di saluran dua pusat mengundi di SJK (C) Yu Chye, Borang 13 menunjukkan sejumlah 424 kertas undi telah dikeluarkan.
“The Election Commission (EC) should focus more on the management of elections and not be burdened with the responsibility to propose redelineation of constituency boundaries.
Last night DAP publicity secretary Tony Pua (right) told a rally in Petaling Jaya that Pakatan Rakyat MPs will push for a bi-partisan parliamentary select committee on redelineation when the new Parliament convenes on June 24.
Telling this to about 20,000 people at a ‘Blackout 505′ rally in Kuala Ibai, Terengganu last night, Anwar said he would fight on so long as the people continued to support him.
Also at last night’s rally were PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu and party vice-president Husam Musa.
Police also detained human rights activist Haris Ibrahim and PAS member Tamrin Ghafar in separate locations yesterday.
They include Seri Setia assemblyperson Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, student activist Adam Adli Abdul Halim, Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli, DAP veteran Dr Chen Man Hin, Taiping MP Nga Kor Ming and Serdang MP Ong Kian Ming.
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