This is not some second-hand story; this is an account from the front line.
These are not borrowed photographs; these are pictures from the epicentre.
Because that was what the situation descended to in the city centre this afternoon, where my entire view of the present government was shattered the moment I saw those first gas cannisters fly. You can read it in a paper, on a website, in a forwarded email, but the magnitude of the brutality will never compare to the panic that infiltrated into my being, and the fear that I now harbour for the government.
You could feel the stillness in the air, the sudden descent of tension into the atmosphere. Ominous signs paraded before us, my younger brother, my sister and I, before we even left the house. We headed toward the city via the Putra LRT, where Shaz managed this almost candid shot of policemen in RapidKL uniforms being briefed by a senior officer.
Once we exited the station at Masjid Jamek, we were greeted by the ever heart-warming sight of riot police. Here they call them the Federal Reserve Unit, but they are nothing more than mercenaries in uniform. Zealots armed with batons and gas launchers, completely apathetic to the growing crowd, swollen by passer-bys and passionate Malaysians. The police sprayed preliminary water-cannon fire on the crowd, which I wasn’t to concerned about. It was only upon reaching home that I found out they were contaminated with chemicals.
Now there is something of great importance that I need to stress; in no way, absolutely none, did the demonstrators aim to incite the police. There was lots of chanting, of slogan shouting, of crowd rallying, but there was no hatred or contempt hurled against those in power. In short, we did not merit the treatment we received. One may say, “But it was an illegal gathering anyway.” How can the executive issue a decree banning the people in a democracy from voicing their opinion? We are not looking for a riot. We’re not looking for impeachment. We’re not looking for a revolution. We want clean elections. After all, if the government did its job efficiently, without corruption,racism and wanton aggression, why would we want to vote for the opposition? The demonstration today was truly a model demonstration. A peaceful, passionate crowd standing defiant, in a completely passive manner. It was a moment to remember, the solidarity on the faces of others as we stared down the threats in the hope of a better tomorrow.
All until the police became violent.
And then God played his hand; the heavens opened as it started to pour. As the precipitation flowed down my skin, a sickening sight developed before my eyes. If you notice in the above picture, the corner was crowded with people, having made some headway, only for cannon fire to push us back to the aforementioned corner. That’s when the police formed a line, and fired tear gas at the crowd.
Fellow Malaysians, firing on their countrymen.
It wasn’t so much as the actual shooting which was horrendous, but seeing them take their line of sight made my stomach turn. These uncompassionate robots, protectors of the society shooting against the people they swear to protect. Here they are, ladies and gentlemen, “dispersing crowds”, while paedophiles run riot, pun very much intended.
When they fired, they shot directly infront of the crowd. Shaz and I happened to be caught in between a mass of bodies and a drain barrier. Just like some bad war movie, everything seemed to happen in slow motion, as the cannister rolled to a stop barely 10 feet away. Time sped back to normal as the people around me started scrambling into the nearby station. Shaz and I were stuck outside, but fortunately, my brother was pulled in by a fairy-tale hero.
“Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death”, but don’t give me tear gas. The following account is in no way dramatisation, it is, as it is. Maybe it was my severe underestimation of the pain, both physical and psychological, that caused my hesitation. If not for the rain, I shudder to think of the potential pain. Had I known…
Completely immobile and covering our faces with wet cloths, we were powerless for a good 45 seconds to the gas. Initially, you feel a sting in your nose. As the pain increases, it ignites your eyeballs into blindness. As the pain mounts unbearable, tears streaming uncontrollably out of your eyes, the gas enters the pores on your face, the sensation acid to the pH. As you try and escape the gas, running literally blindly, with your skin aflame, the gas enters your lungs, constricting respiration to almost nil. Every inhalation you take is void of oxygen, and soon you will not be able to breathe. More than once the thought of death surfaced in my mind, as I moved with, not fought against the crowd to clear the area. Shazee later told me she thought she was as good as gone as well. Tear gas brings you to the edge of death, only for you to be resuscitated back into Hell.
Finally, we broke into the station, where the gas was less. The stations themselves had all been shutdown, effectively freezing all those in the city centre, as the station officials looked on with barely masked glee. The three of us huddled in a small corner, tears, mucus and saliva smeared all over our faces like a child’s hand painting, resisting the temptation to throw up. We sat there recuperating for much of the time, before continuing down the street, away from the uncivil servants. We lingered on the corner, based on utter foolishness, that the police wouldn’t shoot again with so many ordinary civilians. Around us were myriad characters, women and children, to armchair politicians raised to a fury.
And then they fired again.
Now I’m unaware in the ensuing panic whether they fired two volleys or one, for as we moved away from the gas (by the way, huge kudos to all BERSIH chaps for ensuring people kept cool) we turned into the corner. The shots were similar to the first episode in that they we’re fired infront of the crowd, however, as we entered the corner there was ANOTHER canister on my right barely 10 feet away. What luck.
As we scrambled yet again, in my mind I was still able to ponder, as the familiar pain returns, “Are they aware of how devastatingly painful it is?” I question the tactics of the police. Why fire so unbelievably close to the crowd? The gas is supposed to deter and disperse, not to cause chaos and anarchy. How would they have liked it, that fatalistic sensation creeping upon themselves?
We were able to move quicker this time. The crowd pushed and heaved past empty buildings, knocking over motorcycles carelessly parked. An entry point of one office building, and we all rushed in, taking to the stairs, and as the sensation died down the sight in the stairwell was one to behold. Like some kind of urban warfare, there were people slumped against the wall, faces in disarray, completely broken in spirit, trying to regain some semblance of composure. Around went a saviour passing out salt, which miraculously rid us of the worst effects almost instantly. Resigned to painful defeat, we decided to walk back home, with public transport at the mercy of the government.
Funnily enough, we found ourselves walking towards Istana Negara, where the memo was to be passed to the king. And i’ve just learned from dad that as we left the city, people lingered on as a decoy, while a mass gathering took place at the Istana. Ingenious, when you see the size of the crowd. Once again, hats off and big kudos the the organisers who did a fantastic job of keeping everyone calm, orderly, help direct traffic, etcetera etcetera.
At the Istana, it was a normal looking sort of demonstration, one which did not look like it was gonna get ugly. Cheers as I presume the memo was handed over, and the crowd slowly dispersed. As quickly as the tear gas hit, it was all over.
Even now, as I write this, I feel a mild headache coming on. It may or may not be a side effect, but surely the worrying thing is my willingness to believe it is born out of injustice. For now, I have come to a deeper understanding as to why private security is still employed despite the police, and I may cower everytime I see smoke or smell something foreign in the air.
Today serves as a landmark for my patriotism. Today serves as a landmark for the nation’s patriotism, for in the face of such cruelty and opposition we prevailed and were crowned victors of the day. I also hope, that with the events of today, change shall, God willing, be effected. The people have spoken, the people have risen, the people have taken action. The onus passes to the King as a test of strength, and to the government to clean up its act.
You want the votes? Bloody earn it.
54 responses so far ↓
kaki bangku // Nov 11, 2007 at 8:52 am
I repeat what I said in your personal blog: this is the best personal account of the BERSIH rally in the blogosphere that I’ve come across.
s // Nov 11, 2007 at 9:37 am
great story
mypetridish // Nov 11, 2007 at 10:49 am
hey, since you were there, do you think there were 4000 or 40,000 people on site? i find it hard to distinguish a crowd of 40k and 4k from the videos that i have seen. based on trustworthy sources there were 40k, yet tan sri musa estimated that there were 4k peeps.
yes, i know2, i should take words from a man of his position with a boat load of salt, yet i want to hear it from someone who was actually(!!!) there
damn, kakiblog could use more of these types of reporting and less of those rather shallow discussion of who should i get married to.
p/s ok now im being cheesy. tan sri musa said “We exercised restraint in our approach and only resorted to using teargas and water cannons to disperse the gathering,†thus i find it hard to believe your part of the story. ran to take cover? The (tear) gas causes chaos and anarchy? come on, you could do better than to kid us. meh~~~
(i was just kidding, for those who are too oblivious or didnt know better)
imboogereater // Nov 11, 2007 at 11:09 am
well said,
gua tabik sama lu
Antares // Nov 11, 2007 at 11:20 am
Enjoyed your action-packed report. I was in the area too. Fortunately my timing was impeccable. I arrived immediately after the tear gas attack (could still smell the acrid smoke). Then the stormtroopers beat on their shields and charged the crowd. I slipped down an alley to avoid the stampede and found myself alone with a tramp (and a scowling plainsclothes cop) at Dataran Merdeka. Then I did a simple ceremony of CLEANSING at the point where two rivers meet and had a glass of teh tarik at Central Market with some friends. It was then I heard the petition had been received by the Agong through his secretary.
Syabas, BERSIH and EVERYBODY who came out to let BN know we are not kambing and lembu and ayam after all.
Rashaad // Nov 11, 2007 at 11:27 am
At Masjid Jamek there were easily 3000-4000 people, and the 40,000 were those who assembled at the Istana, where the demonstrators sat on the road, others climbed those things that hang overhead (those signs that say stuff like “Selamat Hari Raya” and drive safe and what not) and reporters taking to the grass knolls surrounding the palace. definitly a massive number at the Istana, i remember seeing an impressive aerial shot somewhere…
mypetridish // Nov 11, 2007 at 11:45 am
what? what kind of thing hangs overhead and says “selamat hari raya” while the month of syawwal has already passed? a banner? but that would suggest malaysians are so malnourished to be so light as to be able to hang on a string
mind you i havent been home for years, what other white-elephantesque monstrosity have they introduced to please the public?
anyways are you saying that them FRUs were fooled by the lingering protesters to cover for the crowds who were headed for the istana? that’s awesome. yet, this particular info minister claim that “we knew that they were headed there and we compromised”
but he’s an idiot anyway, and that’s an understatement. the right word is prolly retarded. and no, i dont like to call people names but he’s a classic. youtube treat bellow:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1_GQ-K7P_w&eurl=http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/551967
Rashaad // Nov 11, 2007 at 12:24 pm
if you see in the first picture its the grey steel thing over the street. haha sorry if i was vague about it, i really have no idea what you call those things
Zahra' // Nov 11, 2007 at 1:11 pm
You are definitely talented in words.
ChuckMoore // Nov 11, 2007 at 1:57 pm
Pah! Can’t even control the Mat Rempit menace but they are great at oppressing the rakyat with brutality.
nana07 // Nov 11, 2007 at 2:06 pm
Of all accounts I’ve read, this must be the most moving. This is not a trouble-maker. This is a brave, sensitive, young man trying to understand “a world he did not make”.
I’d like to hear more from you.
Sincerely, thank you.
The BERSIH March « in fantasyland // Nov 11, 2007 at 4:44 pm
[...] A Front-liner - also at Masjid Jamek and got hit hard by the tear gas [...]
oster // Nov 11, 2007 at 6:27 pm
The ‘problem’ of people assembling is only a problem because the BN administration arbitrarily declares it to be a problem.
Add to that, a generation has been indoctrinated to view a movement only by its methods and not the merits of the contents of its cause and we get a general revulsion of any movement contrary to held beliefs.
Thank you for being there and articulating the events for us.
cheers
adibahabdullah // Nov 11, 2007 at 7:38 pm
Salam’alaik.
In the UK, there’s a rally made in front of Malaysian Students Department London, made in conjunction with Malaysia’s BERSIH.
http://spinzer.us/blog/2007/11/10/bersih-rally-msd/
http://www.anwaribrahimclub.com/?p=84
http://marhaen.ngepeng.com/mar_a_10november_05.html
The last link is the most highly recommended.
And yes, Rashaad, I salute you. And if you are a sponsored student, I couldn’t find words good enough to compliment you (or to wonder at your recklessness), although there’s a large bilingual thesaurus currently residing in my head.
Well done. Will say something about this later.
meow~
John // Nov 12, 2007 at 5:01 am
ye catz! ViVa~ La ReVolution! woot!
aldo // Nov 12, 2007 at 7:59 am
i’ve seen a crowd of near 20k at a rock concert.
the pictures are more then that. the police are idiots
mypetridish // Nov 12, 2007 at 9:39 am
they are idiots how?
da real deal // Nov 12, 2007 at 9:45 am
My dear friend,
This is an interesting read. However I must ask you, after having been forewarned as to the consequences, what did you really expect from the authorities? Were you perhaps expecting the FRU to escort you to the Istana for tea with the King?
Because this effort was spearheaded or high-jacked (whatever suits you) by the opposition, it has made Bersih into Kotor. It would have had more credence if you and your sister yourselves handed over the memorandum on our behalf.
The opposition are opportunists taking advantage of your pure intentions. While you were suffering inhaling chemicals, Anwar and the rest were taking the bloody glory.
Enough said. I give the number to be 100,000. That said, it is certainly not the majority of the nation’s population. Don’t beleive me? Check out Zakaria’s open house. That’s the mentality of the majority of our voters.
Rashaad // Nov 12, 2007 at 10:18 am
@ da real deal…
Tea would have been nice.
Maybe it was my romanticism which threw me off guard. That said, I wouldn’t have traded the experience for anything in the world.
I don’t think Bersih became Kotor. It doesn’t matter that the rally was “spearheaded” by the opposition. Like I said before, its not like we were calling for revolution, just fair elections. The government thinks it can taint the whole event by painting a “opposition vs government” picture, when it actual fact, its Malaysians voicing their concerns. So what if the opposition organised it? these are well-known concerns. With their resources i’m glad they managed to get as many people to turn up. Do you expect Khairy to lead the march for electoral reform?
It doesn’t bother me, or i think anyone else, whether the opposition hijacked the event and stole all the glory. An opportunity to effect change in my country arose, and we struggled for it. Anwar is one man. There where 99,999 others there too, you know.
and anyways, irregardless of whether it represents the general feeling of the nation, it at least reflects the concerns of SOME people, let me be selfish, ME. I am concerned about the state of the nation, and I am calling for the government to sort it self out. If a government was truly democratic, it would take its time to examine those concerns. I am a citizen of this country, a Malaysian, and in 3 years time i’ll be able to vote. Shouldn’t they care?
Guess not, when the election process is dirty.
mypetridish // Nov 12, 2007 at 10:24 am
kid, you’re missing the point. regardless of the opposition party hijacking the rally, it was still a peace rally which did not necessitate the use of chemical laced water or tear gas.
Malaysia is supposed to be a democratic country, regardless of who is voicing out his/her opinions, the police should not have use any means of force
And yes, it’s easy to bribe people with food, it’s not just the mentality of Malaysians. but it is much harder to get lazy people off their ass and march down KL knowing the police could and would probably use force against you.
you couldnt see beyond that, ure in no position (not that you dont have the right to blabber nonense) to criticize him. I bet you havent committed 1 tenth his effort to make this country cleaner and more democratic.
nana07 // Nov 12, 2007 at 1:48 pm
Gosh, I knew you were young but blimey, not that young that you can’t even vote yet! I am of older generation and having read you, I have faith in Malaysia’s future.
Don’t ever lose your idealism, young man.
Taufik // Nov 12, 2007 at 1:49 pm
Entertaining! Rasa macam baca Tom Clancy tak pon Orwell version Malaysia la… hehe..
Azlan Adnan // Nov 13, 2007 at 1:29 am
I think everybody has missed a very important point. We’ve been so indoctrinated by the BN bullshit that we’ve even accepted their notion that OPPOSITION is a bad word. Don’t you realise that an OPPOSITION is a necessary prerequisite for a DEMOCRACY? We’ve been so blinded by the spindoctors of the MADHATTER DICTATORSHIP/AUTOCRACY that we accepted the TAKPELAH MEDIOCRACY. All that has happened when BOLEHLAND changed leaders is that we’ve exchanged one DE FACTO DICTATOR and his cronies for another and his bunch of cronies. The fun will start when the MADHATTER kicks the bucket and Mr I’m-in-politics-to-avenge-my-suicided-dad KJ will start the witchhunt on the MADHATTER cronies and progeny with the help of the KeADILan “ANWAR-REVENGE” PARTY. ANWAR is his almost-father-in-law.
BTW, Mamak of Merbok is a good one ~ better than ZAM Goblok! He still speaks Urdu at home with his family, so that moniker is rather apt for the spindoctor-in-residence.
da real deal // Nov 13, 2007 at 4:00 am
When a political party ( ruling or otherwise ) organizes something, there is an agenda to screw the people to win votes. When non-political NGO’s organize this, it is with a sincere agenda to present the views of a section of the public.
I’m willing to be a pawn for the people’s cause, but not a fool for any political party in a game of upsmanship.
da real deal // Nov 13, 2007 at 5:29 am
mypedrish,
Imposing myself in your house without your permission is unlawful, does that mean I have a democratic right to do so nevertheless?
There is the law. Just because 100,000 people decided to go for a stroll to the Istana gates doesn’t mean that it should be lawful. Ask the traders if they share your sentiments? Heck! Even McDonald’s was closed for the day.
I’m a citizen of Malaysia just like you. The fact that I and close to a million others in the Klang Valley didn’t join the yellow parade doesn’t necessarily mean that we were lazy. It simply means that we do not share your sentiments and ideals and we wish to translate it during the elections which is near.
My family voted the opposition in Kelantan and they won. Are you saying that the results were rigged? I guess the SPR must have used dirty tacticts otherwise BN would have won.
Don’t sing to the crooked tune of Anwar Ibrahim. He is worse than the current administration. What’s worse than an UMNO leader? An UMNO reject! If you have to shop old chap, don’t shop at the reject shop. You get cheap branded goods but they are defected.
Klaw // Nov 13, 2007 at 6:54 am
Dude,
Great account! I was at Masjid Jamek as well, but the crowd I was with didn’t make it to the Istana
I’m glad you did though, and hope your brother and sister are doing alright.
I’ve only started feeling less pissed off today, haha.
Rashaad // Nov 13, 2007 at 7:21 am
@ da real deal:
Er, that analogy doesn’t really work… with my shallow knowledge in the law, with regards to the law on trespass and democratic rights. I also remember reading somewhere that the issue of the permit can only be revoked if the police can prove beforehand that the rally would become criminal, ie violent or violent against some authoritative body, making it criminal trespass ab intitio. If i’m not mistaken.
for the record, Mc’Donalds had the best business of the year on saturday. And of course those traders are gonna complain, especially when they’re interviewed from a government controlled newspaper. Besides, you can’t expect everyone to care about clean elections.
If you believe that the opposition had a hidden agenda “to screw the people to win votes”, then what was the agenda? what was their aim? I think we’re placing too much emphasis on the political parties here. Like i’ve mentioned before, it was a march (organised by the opposition) for electoral reform. Nobody’s trying to win any votes. The people marched, pleading if you will, for the government to clean itself up. the opposition only constituted to a minute number of the whole.
I guess the main reason of conflict is that you and I (and i guess mypetridish) are coming from different sides. I assume that since you “do not share our sentiments” means that your okay with things the way they are and you are happy with the ruling party (unless you wish to state otherwise), and you think Anwar Ibrahim is a defect. That’s completely fine, if your comfortable with the way things are, and you don’t mind the corruption, the racism, the police state-tactics and at times, the downright bigotry shown in parliament.
Once again, marching for electoral reform is not picking sides. The government’s the one drawing the lines.
» Using Tear Gas On Innocent People Is Not Violence >> Malaysians Say The Darndest Things! // Nov 13, 2007 at 7:33 am
[...] Now read this account from a Malaysian who got hit by the close proximity of tear gas, twice . If Zam says tear gas on innocent people is not violent on innocent people, then does it mean it was humane? What if the people had thrown eggs at the police? I am sure the government-owned media would readily and instantly paint the picture of a very violent demonstration. [...]
Rashaad // Nov 13, 2007 at 7:34 am
here’s a good one…
http://sagaladoola.blogspot.com/2007/11/yellow-wave-how-come-opposition-led.html
adam and eve // Nov 13, 2007 at 8:10 am
u have no idea how proud i’m to all u guys and gals.there is indeed salvation for malaysia
The BERSIH March : Bolehland // Nov 13, 2007 at 8:19 am
[...] A Front-liner - also at Masjid Jamek and got hit hard by the tear gas [...]
Joanne // Nov 13, 2007 at 9:22 am
You wanna know why BN let PAS win Kelantan? Fistly, if they sapu all the states, then confirm the election’s rigged…so, they spare the least advance state to the opposition. 2nd, so that they can forfeit the oil royalties and keep it for themselves to savour.
That’s why
And finally this assembly was for the rakyat and believe it or not, opposition party members are rakyat too…they pay taxes like us too, so I don’t see why all the opposition bashing….they have the same rights as us to demand for a cleaner government…in fact everyone was invited, even the BN.
But kudos to those who suffered the oppresion from the very people who were paid to protect us….
Lays // Nov 13, 2007 at 9:34 am
@ da real deal,
You may be right on certain points. And yes, i would believe that there are always hidden agendas behind a politician’s plan. Never been supportive to certain politicians that attended that day.
But i was there. I attended. I came out from my comfort zone and marched.
I marched, because i have a very bad feeling of what is going on in this country.
When leaders supposed to be someone we look up to, some of them behaved like thugs.
When leaders are supposed to be wise, they spat out words which even my puny brain finds it illogical.
The march is more than just electoral system reform.
The march gives hopes for Malaysian who wish to improve, a better tomorrow.
The march made me forget my ethnic. The march taught me that, regardless what parties, we are self disciplined.
March for the cause. As long as the parties involved aligned with good cause of every Malaysian, even if it is by BN. I shall march.
As i mentioned else where, i was reborn on 10th Nov 2007.
reality check // Nov 13, 2007 at 5:02 pm
i was there at istana.
it doesn’t matter who handed the memorandum, who was there and who wasn’t, because i wasn’t there for any of them.
i was there because i believe something is very wrong with the electoral.
i shall be voting for the second time in my life.
and i was there because i want my vote to truly mean something
i was there because i want to believe this can be a better nation
i was there because i want to believe this is nation is a democracy
i was there because i want to believe we, the people are responsible for this nation
is BERSIH “kotor” simply because it was led by leaders of the opposition party?
WHO CARES?
da real deal // Nov 14, 2007 at 7:41 am
Lays,
if you are talking about the other greivances, I’m with you. But what election reforms are these people talking about? It’s not like The opposition never won, heck! they won an entire state and many more in other states and also in Parliament which proves that the election isn’t rigged.
I dare say that the majority of the yellow brigade voted BN and some even had “We love Pak Lah” at the back of their cars. The election process is perfect. Its the voters’ decision that was flawed, and now they want to blame the govt for their mistake. They should wait another few months to make it right through the ballot boxes.
Rashaad,
I may not be completely happy with the current govt, I assure you, but looking at the equally if not worse clowns on the other side of the isle, I think I’d stick with the status qou just the same.
You want to talk about corruption? Abuse of power? Ask your daddy as you were only 7 or 8 years old when Anwar was DPM. Anwar’s Daddy and siblings were all over the corporate scene due to his position as Finance Minister cum DPM. He was a classic model of your perception of a corrupt leader.
Lim Kit Siang has his son as Sec gen of the DAP, his daughter in law as MP from Melaka. Any stark difference than whagt we already have?
PAS, well..what can I say? You just agree with them for now because they brought in the numbers in the demo on Saturday. I ‘d wager that non of you here agree with their political ideology.
So let’s not kid ourselves huh? What happened last Saturday wasn’t helping the nation economically. It was just helping the equally corrupt opposition. What point is there to show the world how bad our country is? Do you think Bush is gonna send in the forces and make the change for you?
Rashaad // Nov 14, 2007 at 10:09 am
@ da real deal:
thanks for your insight. You make some very good points, particularly since i am in no real position to counter claims of corruption in the opposition. Corruption aside though, voting the opposition into power presents another an opportunity to right things. I’m inclined to believe my dad for his deference to the opposition as he is not a thick-skulled individual. If he believes, and others to, that the opposition can make a difference, then they’ve got a point.
My point is the government currently is digging its own grave with its various policies that make up this racist police state. If you ask me one reason why I would vote opposition is because of the Bumiputra issue. I’m a Bumiputra myself (it says so on my IC) and i find the whole thing blatantly racist and anti-Islamic. BN and Umno have used the issue to further their own needs. But you say the opposition is just as bad. Maybe that’s why my law teacher told me to form my own party. PAS ideology btw is quite naive, it forgets this country is multi-racial. That aside, there’s an Indian man voting for PAS next year cuz he wants to see the back of corruption. Religious ideology is powerful, provided you stick to it.
Talking about the election process. Bersih’s grievances were:
1. The use of indelible ink
2. A cleanup of the electoral roll
3. The abolition of domestic postal voting
4. Fair access to the media
those are fair claims, no? i refer you to what has already been said by Joanne above. That’s why BN should have joined in the march. But irregardless of whether they think the elections are clean or not, it sure benefits them. I’ll ask you to stop listening to what the government say, this is not a government-against-opposition thing. it is a government-against-clean elections thing.
History will tell you that the more the world, and the rest of the rakyat know the state of the country, the greater the forces of change. I refer you to two instances, the fall of communism in Russia and the Tianenmen Square massacre in China. Communism fell from internal and external pressure as hardships became public and the people started pushing for reform. In China, the same thing happened, except the government got trigger happy and killed all the demonstrators.
I’m not trying to make a believer out of anyone, i’m not trying to get you to switch sides. I’m just pointing out, as was with the purpose of the article, that there’s something seriously wrong with this country and the people who run it.
Antares // Nov 14, 2007 at 11:04 am
Healthy debate raging on this blog - it’s a good sign! You’ve done a very good thing, Rashaad, by going for the 10-Eleven march and blogging about it
As for da real deal’s obvious antagonism towards Anwar Ibrahim, I have this to say: I only began to have some respect for the man AFTER he was sacked by Dr M and resisted. During the 6 years he was beaten up, accused of sodomy, subjected to a kangaroo court, imprisoned in Sg Buloh (and nearly poisoned by arsenic-laced paint), Anwar conducted himself impeccably. He has never been the PM and so we don’t know how he might perform, but his resilience and determination are to me admirable qualities and I would be proud to call him a friend.
Lays // Nov 14, 2007 at 11:08 am
@da real deal,
The placement of seats are being implemented according to BN’s influence. I’m not sure if you are aware of the location around Selangor / KL. Have a look here.
http://www.spr.gov.my/index/parlimen_dun/senarai_parlimen_dunBM.xls
104 KELANA JAYA (Parliament)
31 SUBANG JAYA (DUN)
32 SERI SETIA (DUN)
107 SUBANG (Parliament)
37 BUKIT LANJAN (DUN)
38 PAYA JARAS (DUN)
39 KOTA DAMANSARA (DUN)
Why is Subang Jaya fell under Kelana Jaya instead of Subang? And how did Kota Damansara end up in Subang when it is at the other side of the town?
Take a look at the ratio for Parliament : DUN for each state.
Johor, Selangor is known to be strong hold for BN.
Johor 26 : 56
Selangor 22 : 56
PAS strong hold
Kelantan 14 : 45
Terengganu 8 : 32
All these are taken from SPR. Too bad i couldn’t obtained the vote counts for each seat, else you can definitely see what is so wrong with our GE.
Do we need to wait till the opposition not able to win any seat in Parliament to acknowledge there is something wrong with our electoral system?
The majority of the marchers that day aren’t BN voters, because most of them are members from PAS and PKR, although i was told there were few marchers from BN and the rest are concerned citizen like myself.
I would love to point out more info to you but i did not keep track of all the information i read. Probably with some help from fellow mates in the internet, you’ll be able to more info on our past GE to give you a different perspective on what is happening in Malaysia.
Thank you for your time da real deal. Glad to be able to meet you here.
2007 Bersih Rally - Super Cover Up Job by Government and Mainstream Media « BUUUUURRRRNING HOT // Nov 15, 2007 at 6:52 am
[...] http://kakiblog.com/2007/11/11/my-report-from-the-bersih-rally/Â (first-hand testimony and pics of being tear-gassed for being not violent) [...]
Daphne’s Musings » Blog Archive » The BERSIH March // Nov 16, 2007 at 11:34 am
[...] A Front-liner - also at Masjid Jamek and got hit hard by the tear gas [...]
da real deal // Nov 17, 2007 at 5:35 pm
Lays,
You’ve presented a good case. I’m in agreement with you. I thank God though that we are in this position as the opposition is not a good substitute for the current govt at this point in time. Perhaps when we have a more responsible and worthy substitute in the opposition, I will walk by your side in this cause.
Antares,
If Anwar’s recklessness during his tenure as Deputy Prime Minister wasn’t enough to convince you of what a corrupted leader he was and could have been had God not intervened, then you very much deserve him. Good luck old fellow.
A resilient recalcitrant with much endurance doesn’t necessarily mean he is corruption free. Perhaps he is a good friend to many, perhaps even a good lover to many young men and women, but as he is certainly far from being a good leader.
d49 // Nov 17, 2007 at 10:01 pm
aku rasa perhimpunan aritu mcm takde point je.baru nie mizan kata dia tak support rakyat yg melanggar undang2.so,rally aritu cam takde point la.
aku rasa,kalau nak ubah malaysia ikut pilihanraya,ikut legal system, opposition kene belajar dari parti islam yg kat turki tu.mcm mane diorg boleh naik dlm keadaan kerajaan turki yg sebelum tu begitu sekular dan anti-islam.
dan aku rasa, perancangan parti2 opposition kene lebih rapi lagi dari segi motif diorg berkempen dan ape diorg akan bawa kepada negara.kalau setakat janji yg bila diorg berkuasa nanti diorg akan memimpin lebih adil, bersih dari corruption,neoptisme dan sebagainya, aku rasa rakyat2 biasa kurang memandangkan sgt akan isu tersebut.
mereka hendak dengar,ape yg parti pembangkang dapat membantu mengurangkan beban2 rakyat nie.sebagai contoh,harga minyak yg sentiasa naik tiap2 tahun.kalau parti pembangkang dpt buktikan yg kenaikan harga minyak tu sebenarnya tak perlu berlaku dgn membentangkan fakta2 yg logik aku rasa ramai rakyat akan mengundi mereka. begitu juga dgn kenaikan tol.kalau parti pembangkan dpt memberi idea2 yg bernas yg mengatakan harga tol tak sepatutnya naik aku rasa pasti boleh menang besar.
ini sekadar contoh sahaja.main point aku ialah kalau pembangkang nak menang kene la bagi alasan2 yg logik sket dan meyakinkan kepada rakyat atas sebab apa rakyat patut undi mereka.
ini kalau setakat main isu pilihanraya tak adil,kerajaan corrupt, nepotisme dan sebagainya,aku tak rasa yg parti pembangkan nie bersih sgt.mungkin diorg tak seteruk BN,tapi aku rasa pasti ada secalit corruption dan nepotisma yg berlaku dlm parti pembangkang.
nobody is perfect.aku risau kalau bila nanti parti pembangkan berjaya mengambil alih negara,tapi mereka juga mengamalkan corak kepimpinan tak ubah seperti BN,maka aku rasa mereka akan lebih cepat jatuh dan langsung tak bangun2 dah.
point lain yg aku nak ketenganhakn disini ialah,jgn mengata org lain buruk kalau diri tak sempurna.
cara lain kalau nak ubah malaysia ialah perang.tapi aku tak rasa ade dari kalangan parti pembangkan yg berani utk berperang kan.heh
Rashaad // Nov 18, 2007 at 1:54 am
Not much of a chance for any politician to be 100% ideal isn’t it. i think the idea of voting the opposition is to vote for change.
And i think what RPK mentioned on Malaysia Today about the King is worth a look.
Kaki Bangku // Nov 18, 2007 at 7:36 am
Perhimpunan BERSIH bukan tuntutan merubah kerajaan. Ia tuntutan merubah SISTEM dari sistem yang zalim kepada sistem yang adil, khususnya sistem pilihan raya. Seperti yang disebutkan Rashaad, perhimpunan ini sekadar menuntut perubahan hal-hal berikut:
Persoalan samada pembangkang itu korup adalah persoalan yang tidak relevan. Ini bukan isu pembangkang melawan kerajaan. Ini isu rakyat menuntut keadilan.
Kalau nak kata perhimpunan BERSIH ini haram di sisi kerajaan, hatta kewujudan blog ni pun haram!
Berhubung kenyataan bahawa pembangkan tidak menyediakan alternatif: pertama, ini bukan isu politik kepartian. kedua, persoalan-persoalan “meringankan beban rakyat” adalah persoalan sekunder. Persoalan yang dibangkitkan oleh pembangkan adalah persoalan hal-hal asasi demokrasi seperti pilihanraya adil dan kebebasan bersuara. Persoalan ini jauh lebih fundamental dan penting.
Empathy : Bolehland // Nov 18, 2007 at 9:30 pm
[...] Other blogs carried narratives that outlined this discrepancy even more starkly. Yet, being so used to the perversions of official accounts, we may have become susceptible to our own brands of hyperbole: innocent, heroic marchers had been oppressed by a near-demonic police state. Kakiblog.com carried an account that vividly describes the effect of riot control chemicals: [...]
da real deal // Nov 19, 2007 at 9:16 am
Saudara kaki blog,
Mungkin ramai yang hanya mahu merubah cara kerajaan tetapi ada ramai juga yang mahukan pertukaran kerajaan di atas dasar korupsi nepotisma dan salah guna kuasa mahupun kebebasan bersuara dan pilihanraya adil.
Dalam hal2 yg tertentu ini, sudah tentu korupsi dalam pembangkang adalah paling penting kerana rakyat tidak mahu keluar dari mulut naga masuk pula dalam mulut buaya.
Saudara adalah tidak tepat bila mengatakan ini bukannya persoalan di antara pembangkang dengan kerajaan sedangkan kesemua yg di pertanggungjawabkan untuk menghantar memorandum “keramat” itu adalah pembesar2 pembangkang dan tiada seorangpun mewakili blog2 yg hebat2 ini. perlu di ingat, manusia yang menyampaikan memorandum ini pernah menjadi Timbalan Perdana Menteri yang duduk di bawah sistem yang sama. Mengapa beliau tidak bersuara semasa menduduki kerusi tersebut? Adakah orang seperti ini boleh kita percayai lagi? Kepada yang menyokong beliau, kamu sememangnya Melayu Mudah Lupa.
kb // Nov 19, 2007 at 12:47 pm
da real deal, you’re repeating the same point that’s already previously been refuted by others. Perhaps you’re the Melayu Mudah Lupa!
BERSIH / Beings « The Fabulist // Nov 19, 2007 at 4:40 pm
[...] I don’t know what you know or have heard about the rally, but I do urge you to read alternative news sources. You can’t depend on mainstream newspapers–they are owned by the main political parties and are limited in what they can say. For example, they say only 4,000 people gathered for the rally, compared to the number of 40,000 upwards given by the organisers. Go to blogs and read firsthand accounts of what happened. You will find that the rally was significant; it wasn’t just an illegal blip in our lazy media’s radar that should go unnoticed. [...]
da real deal // Nov 20, 2007 at 4:49 am
KB
Yes I’m repeating it because it is conveniently disregarded while it is the main reason why the event didn’t quite get the impact it should have.
I guess what I’m trying to say is, the idea was great but the execution lacked basic strategic manovering. Anwar, PAS and DAP handing over the memorandum was an anticlimax to what would have been a brilliant ending. Any other normal person handing it over with thousands at the background would have had greater impact. I’m sure the Palace wouldn’t have needed to make a statement later either.
Bad strategy. It explains why the opposition never gets to form a government.
Kaki Bangku // Nov 20, 2007 at 9:12 am
That’s actually a good point you’re making. But I wonder who that lucky “normal person” could be. Are you suggesting a lucky draw?
Surely it has to be someone in a leadership role. And leaders have a following and an organization, and what more convenient than opposition political parties.
And at the moment, despite the BA’s shortcomings, I would still rally around them and allow the opportunity for reform rather than let mediocrity prolong.
Rashaad // Nov 20, 2007 at 11:50 am
I second Kaki Bangku.
da real deal // Nov 21, 2007 at 11:31 am
Who mooted the idea in the first place? Who actually drafted the memorandum? If I followedit carefully I first read about it in MT. I may be wrong but why couldn’t they have the memorandum presented by the person who formulated the idea originally?
That is where the problem lies KB. We are in a pathetic state when we don’t have fresh blood in the opposition that we have to relentlessly rely on a washed up, failed and corrupt leader to lead us. Rally around the opposition if you must, but rally around them smartly by pressuring them to rid themselves off a known corrupted UMNO reject and finding a new clean individual to lead you. Otherwise, what reform are you talking about when your leader is a product of the very system you’re trying to change?
Patrick Xee // Nov 25, 2007 at 6:51 am
This rallies that we have been having is a show of democracy. We are constantly surprised and brain wash by Umno that many have lost the passion of being a Malaysian. Regardless if it’s “Bersih rally†or “Hindraf ralliesâ€, we are all not happy with our current institution and we demand a reform. I have spoken recently to Chinese, Indians and the Malays and they all agree that BN, Umno have all glued their butts on their sits way too long and would not budge. Malaysia had the longest ruling prime minister( Mahathair) and the longest ruling party in the world. We don’t care if DAP or Parti Keadilan or even PAS will be able to rule the country well, we just want changes. The current politicians of ours are not doing a good job. Their ideas are old fashion and in consistent with globalization and not to mention narrow minded. If there are any Umno or BN politicians reading this, please for the sake of our country, step down. Let new generations with new ideas lead the way. NEP is not only paralyzing the country but it’s also leading the Malays backwards. “No pain no gainâ€. This phase has been with us for centuries with a reason.
Aiyzak // Jun 30, 2008 at 5:28 pm
I quoted this from renovatio blogged by stephendoss concrning about Anwar sodomise cases issued previously..checked it out..
“FOR THE BENEFIT OF READERS, I HAVE EXTRACTED FROM THE PAST THE JUDGMENT BY THE FEDERAL COURT OF MALAYSIA, ANWAR’S APPEAL AGAINST HIS CONVICTION ON SODOMY. THE FOLLOWING IS A MAJORITY DECISION REACHED BY THE JUDGES SITTING IN THE FEDERAL COURT ON THE ANWAR IBRAHIM APPEAL AGAINST HIS CONVICTION ON SODOMY.
PLEASE NOTE AND READ CAREFULLY THE VERDICT, THAT ALTHOUGH THE JUDGES HAD NO DOUBT IN THEIR MINDS THAT THE ACT OF SODOMY BY ANWAR IBRAHIM HAD TAKEN PLACE, BUT TO RELY SOLELY ON AZIZAN’S EVIDENCE WOULD BE UNSAFE FOR THE PURPOSES OF UPHOLDING THE JUDGEMENT.
SO DID THE ACT OF SODOMY TAKE PLACE ? YES ACCORDING TO THE JUDGES. BUT DUE TO A TECHNICALITY THEY HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO DISMISS THE CASE.
DALAM MAHKAMAH PERSEKUTUAN MALAYSIA
(BIDANG KUASA RAYUAN)
RAYUAN JENAYAH NO: 05-6-2003 (W)
ANTARA
DATO’ SERI ANWAR BIN IBRAHIM … PERAYU
DAN
PENDAKWA RAYA … RESPONDEN
RAYUAN JENAYAH NO. 05-7-2003 (W)
SUKMA DARMAWAN SASMITAAT MADJA … PERAYU
DAN
PENDAKWA RAYA … RESPONDEN
CORAM:
ABDUL HAMID MOHAMAD F.C.J.
RAHMAH HUSSAIN F.C.J.
TENGKU BAHARUDIN SHAH TENGKU MAHMUD J.C.A.
MAJORITY JUDGMENT OF
ABDUL HAMID MOHAMAD F.C.J.
AND TENGKU BAHARUDIN SHAH TENGKU MAHMUD J.C.A.
In this judgment, Dato’ Seri Anwar bin Ibrahim will be referred to as “the first appellant†and Sukma Darmawan Sasmitaat Madja will be referred to as “the second appellantâ€.
The first appellant was charged with an offence punishable under section 377B of the Penal Code.
The second appellant was charged with two offences. The first charge is for abetting the first appellant in the commission of the offence with which the first appellant was charged. The second charge is similar to the charge against the first appellant i.e. under section 377B of the Penal Code.
Both the appellants were tried jointly. The first appellant was convicted and sentenced to nine years imprisonment commencing from the expiry of the sentence he was then serving in the first trial. High Court Kuala Lumpur Criminal Trial No. 45-48-1998 (1999)2 M.L.J. 1 (H.C), (2002)2 M.L.J. 486 (C.A.) and (2002) 3 M.L.J. 193 (F.C.)). The second appellant was convicted on both charges and sentenced to six years imprisonment and two strokes for each charge with the sentences of imprisonment to run concurrently. For the judgment of the High Court in the present case, see (2001) 3 M.L.J. 193.
They appealed to the Court of Appeal. Their appeals were dismissed – see (2004) 1 M.L.J. 177.
They appealed to this court and this is the majority judgment of this court.
Section 87(3) of the Courts of Judicature Act 1964 (“CJA 1964â€) provides that a criminal appeal to this court “may lie on a question of fact or a question of law or on a question of mixed fact and law.†The position is the same as in the case of the Court of Appeal hearing an appeal from a trial in the High Court as in this case – see section 50(3) CJA 1964.
To summarise our judgment, even though reading the appeal record, we find evidence to confirm that the appellants were involved in homosexual activities and we are more inclined to believe that the alleged incident at Tivoli Villa did happen, sometime, this court, as a court of law, may only convict the appellants if the prosecution has successfully proved the alleged offences as stated in the charges, beyond reasonable doubt, on admissible evidence and in accordance with established principles of law. We may be convinced in our minds of the guilt or innocence of the appellants but our decision must only be based on the evidence adduced and nothing else.â€
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