500,000 were at Bersih 4, says organiser

31 August 2015 5.48 p.m.

The organiser of Bersih 4 sees the event as a huge success and that approximately 500,000 people had taken part in the rally.

"The total number of people who participated in Bersih 4, for the entire 34 hours, is estimated at 500,000," Bersih secretariat head Maria Chin Abdullah said at a press conference today.

Maria said Bersih, a coalition of NGOs pushing for electoral reforms, would consider hosting Bersih 5 if the demands made during the weekend's rally are not met.

"We will consider it. (But for now) we would like to reiterate our demands until they are fulfilled.

"We don't just want the prime minister to step down, but also to reform our institutions," she said.

The 34-hour rally on Saturday and Sunday saw tens of thousands of participants gathering, mainly along Jalan Tun Perak and aroundf Dataran Merdeka.

However, police estimates suggest that only 25,000 people took part on the first day.

Dr M's agenda

Meanwhile, Maria said she and the Bersih secretariat members were prepared for possible arrests, adding that their legal team was on standby.

On Dr Mahathir Mohamad's brief appearances at the rally, Maria's deputy Sarajun Hoda said the former prime minister had his own agenda.

"Firstly, he wants to see Najib step down. Secondly, he wants BN to be in power," said Sarajun.

Mahathir first visited the protest grounds on Saturday evening, stating that he was witnessing "people's power" and that the protesters should carry on.

Yesterday, Mahathir made another appearance, but made it clear that he was not supportive of Bersih's cause, which includes extensive institutional reforms to prevent abuse of power.

However, Mahathir said that street demonstrations were justifiable as a last resort, citing how Filipinos had to take to the streets to depose dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

Source: http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/310565

紅潮從5方向湧來，10萬人聚集獨立廣場反消費稅

2014-05-02 16:32

（吉隆坡2日訊）10萬人走上街頭響應“501反消費稅大集會”，在勞動節公假以一身紅衫抗議政府將在明年落實消費稅，獨立廣場一帶開出遍地紅花，甚為壯觀。

• “我們反對消費稅！”主辦單位稱有10萬民眾走上街頭反對消費稅，獨立廣場前出現一條流動的紅潮，浩浩蕩蕩的填滿附近一帶道路，甚為壯觀。（圖：星洲日報）

雖然一度烏雲密佈，天空也傳來頻密響雷，但這無阻集會人潮繼續留守現場，聆聽民聯領袖與親民聯非政府組織領導人的演講。集會者是從中午開始，分別在獨立廣場、國企十合、吉隆坡城中城、國家清真寺及富都馬來亞銀行各自集會，其中又以非政府組織聚集的吉隆坡城中城，及民聯成員黨領袖及支持者聚集的獨立廣場人潮最多。

群眾無懼烏雲響雷

集會者從下午2時開始步行至獨立廣場，而最先抵達獨立廣場的是來自國企十合的人潮，接著是馬來亞銀行及國家清真寺的集會人潮。至於在吉隆坡城中城出發的人潮，則繞道至皇家朱蘭酒店、取道經過柏威年購物廣場、樂天廣場、途經同善醫院再轉入富都路才進入獨立廣場，全長4.5公里，沿途有不少人陸續加入，人龍見首不見尾。

聚集在國家清真寺及國企十合的人潮，是在同一時間從兩面走向獨立廣場。由於地勢較高，從國家清真寺走來的人潮形成一道紅潮，紛紛湧向獨立廣場；國企十合方向走來的人潮也占滿了拉惹路一帶。

有鑒人潮不斷湧來，“501反消費稅大集會”動員委員會主席莫哈末沙布不斷在羅里改裝的流動舞台上，疾呼出席者就地而坐以騰出更多空間，並指示人潮可以順序站至東姑阿都拉曼路。

伊斯蘭黨副主席沙拉胡丁阿育在致詞時宣佈，獨立廣場一帶已有10萬名集會者，公正黨副主席蔡添強較後也同意沙拉胡丁阿育的說法，向媒體表示集會人潮達到10萬人。

出席的民聯領袖以伊斯蘭黨及公正黨為主，行動黨則有升旗山國會議員劉鎮東、甘榜東姑州議員劉永山、雪州行動黨宣傳秘書劉天球等。社青團全國總團長兼亞沙國會議員張聒翔說，由於行動黨國會領袖林吉祥等人都趕往安順，以出席安順國會議員謝昂憑喪禮，因此無法出席集會。

眾民聯領袖發表演講

數十名民聯及非政府組織領袖在獨立廣場內向出席者發表簡短演講，眼看烏雲越來越近，雷響也越來越頻密，莫哈末沙布不斷向集會者做信心喊話，鼓勵大眾寧願淋雨濕身，也要堅持聽完領袖演講，獲得出席者一陣如雷掌聲的呼應。

公正黨顧問拿督斯里安華在演講結束後，宣佈集會成功舉行，並指大會取得非凡成就。這時集會者開始散去，烏雲也隨著散去，只下了場細雨。

由於廣場前的草場正在翻新草皮，並安裝“自動灑水系統”，因此用大型看板圍起來，集會者遵從莫哈末沙布的勸告，沒有逾越看板進入草地範圍。

雖有黑衣人鬧場
集會和平結束

集會是在和平情況下結束，不過卻在結束後發生小插曲。一群自稱為“反法西斯陣線”（Antifa）的年輕人，身穿“大馬青年團結陣線”（SAMM）黑衣並蒙面，或戴上V怪客面具，從拉惹路糾黨結眾走進獨立廣場，釋放橙色等煙霧彈，一路高喊“富者越富，窮者越窮”口號（Yang kaya makin kaya，yang miskin makin miskin），並在地面上噴漆“我們拒絕貪污”，間中還有人爆粗，氣氛一度緊張。

伊斯蘭黨志工團阻攔不了，一度放行任他們胡鬧。這群人走到廣場盡頭時，竟然衝撞媒體引發肢體衝突，導致數名攝影記者無故被揣踼，成員之間甚至互相肢體碰撞，還丟擲長木棍，險象環生。

站在草場看板前的警方並沒有上前採取行動。

保持禮讓精神和平集會
隆總警長感謝合作

吉隆坡總警長拿督莫末沙烈感謝集會者給予充份的合作，並在集會上保持禮讓精神，使到整個集會在和平的情況下順利進行。

他在文告中指出，雖然集會在進行當兒有發生一些個別的小衝突，但集會整體的情況受到控制。

“有一些地點有許多集會者聚集，期間也發生一些推擠的小衝突，不過一切受到控制，並未造成任何問題。”

莫末沙烈說，集會結束後，集會者們都有秩序地離開，獨立廣場範圍在下午5時30分恢復正常，警方也在數個相關地點駐守，維持公共秩序。

不過，他依然勸請公眾在參與集會時不要製造混亂，以免影響其他人的安寧及安全。

“501反消費稅大集會”發表的“5月1日宣言”

1.反對劫貧濟富的消費稅。要求政府取消實行消費稅。

2.停止《跨太平洋夥伴關係協議》的談判。在國會上公佈協議內容，並徵詢人民關於這項協議的意見。

3.100%執行最低薪金制（馬來半島900令吉及東馬800令吉），根據生活成本的增加檢討最低薪金水平，我們建議實行最低薪金1千500令吉。

4.職工會權益。強化職工會，以尊重工業關係的和諧精神。僱主必須停止打擊職工會的活動。

5.女工權益。終止一切形式對女性的歧視與暴力。僱主、政府和法庭必須維護女性權益，並落實《消除對婦女一切形式歧視公約》。終止職場上的性騷擾，包括制定全面的性騷擾法令。

6.外勞索賠權。被裁退的外勞應被允許獲得工作準證，在馬來西亞逗留直到其訴訟完成審訊程序，以保障其權益。消除人力資源部和移民局之間在程序上的矛盾。

7.外勞權益。外勞應享有平等的權益，並獲得足夠的保障。外勞的引進應受到控制，以不影響本地工人的就業機會。停止一切剝削，包括職場環境的不安全、長時間工作、缺乏技能培訓、健康權益無保障，以及沒有職工會代表等。

8.停止私營化基本服務。水供、電供、醫療、公共交通、教育等不應為了牟利而被私營化。這些都是政府有責任為人民提供的基本服務。

9.媒體自由。主流媒體和替代媒體應該獲得向人民傳達真實信息的自由。因此，限制媒體自由的《出版與印刷法令》必須被廢除。

10.控制物價。控制物價（包括燃油價格）及服務收費的上漲，以及重新為人民提供津貼。

11.學生權益。廢除《大專法令》及國家高等教育基金，為所有學生提供免費教育。

12.原住民權益。承認我國原住民的習俗地權益，讓原住民享有永久權益，並鞏固馬來西亞原住民保留地的地位。

13.環境生態。停止危害人民健康的計劃，如萊納斯稀土廠、垃圾焚化爐等。轉向使用更加清潔且廉宜的替代能源。

14.舒適房屋。停止強拆迫遷城市開拓者。落實價格負擔得起、地點適中及環境舒適的人民房屋計劃。

15.廢除一切壓迫及歧視人民的惡法，包括《2012年安全犯罪（特別措施）法令》、《防止罪案法令》、《和平集會法令》、《官方機密法令》、《1948年煽動法令》、《1985年危險毒品（特別防範措施）法令》、《大專法令》及《社團法令》。

来源：http://news.sinchew.com.my/topic/node/433931?tid=751

Discontent with Putrajaya bubbles to surface in May Day rally

May 1, 2014

KUALA LUMPUR, May 1 — Thousands gathered in Malaysia’s capital today to protest against a planned new tax, but they also took shots at the government’s prosecution of opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and handling of missing flight MH370.

The demonstration was held to coincide with International Labour Day, and the primary target of the red-clad, vuvuzela-blowing protesters was the goods and services tax (GST) taking effect in April 2015.

The opposition has denounced the GST and recent subsidy cuts as moves by the long-ruling regime to shift the cost of reducing a rising deficit onto ordinary consumers.

But protestors used the occasion to let loose with other criticisms of the government, which is under global scrutiny over its still-unexplained loss of the Malaysia Airlines jet.

“Besides the rise in living costs, we are here to voice our frustration over the search for MH370,” said Amani Nasir, 26, a medical student who joined the protest in central Kuala Lumpur.

“There is a lack of transparency and very little information is provided. We want to know the cost involved in the search so far, since it is taxpayers’ money.”

The Boeing 777 vanished on March 8 en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing and is now believed to have crashed in the Indian Ocean, where a challenging and costly Australian-led search effort has failed to find any wreckage.

The government has been tight-lipped about its investigation into what happened, adding to the anger and frustration of relatives of the 239 people aboard the plane.

The government was due today to release a preliminary report on its investigation into the plane’s disappearance.

Anti-GST protesters gathering at Jalan Pinang before converging at Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur, May 1, 2014. — Picture by Yusof Mat Isa

Rally participants also denounced a court ruling in March that convicted Anwar of sodomy — illegal in Muslim-majority Malaysia — and sentenced him to five years in jail.

Anwar calls the ruling an attempt by the government to end his political career. He is free pending appeal.

Opposition politicians speaking at the rally denounced the case and called on demonstrators to rise up if Anwar is jailed.

“I want to tell the PM, don’t you dare touch Anwar. The people will not allow Anwar to be jailed for even one second,” top opposition politician Azmin Ali told the crowd, estimated by local media at around 20,000-strong.

Civil society groups have staged large-scale rallies in Kuala Lumpur in recent years, venting growing public discontent with the government dominated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s ruling United Malays National Organisation (Umno).

No violent incidents were reported so far in today’s rally.

Umno has presided over decades of economic growth, but as growth slows voters have increasingly flocked to the opposition amid anger over persistent corruption, authoritarian tactics, and Umno’s divisive racial politics.

Inflation remains relatively mild in Malaysia but has risen, from 2.1 per cent for all of last year to 3.4 per cent in the first three months of 2014 after the government cut some subsidies to rein in the spiralling budget deficit. — AFP

Source: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/discontent-with-putrajaya-bubbles-to-surface-in-may-day-rally-video

百里苦行反公害，“马上取消建稀土厂”，“人民议会＂3提案一致通过

2012-11-26 18:17

• 
  黄德及绿色苦行者和警方討论接下来的活动和议程。（图：星洲日报）

1 of 3

（吉隆坡26日讯）14名国州议员与逾300名“百里苦行反公害＂支持者在独立广场禁区外的马路席地而坐进行“人民议会＂，通过3项包括马上终止莱纳斯稀土厂的反公害议案。

14名国州议员各別宣誓支持上述3项“人民议案＂，出席的人民代议士来自行动党、公正党及社会主义党，国阵及伊斯兰党的人民代议士並未出席。

300人坐马路围圈开会

约200名苦行者昨晚在独立广场露天留宿，早上陆续有支持者加入，9时正逾300人包括议员，在独立广场禁区围篱外的马路上坐围成圆圈，举行人民议会。

其中一名完成300公里苦行的参与者赞比里再那宣读议案，隨后来自新山的范平东带领与会者宣誓支持议案。

除了人民议会，眾议员也把联署的表扬状颁发给完成从彭亨州步行到吉隆坡独立广场共300公里路程的30多名苦行者；苦行者也获得水果礼篮，並与其他支援者拍大合照。

散会后市局解除封锁线

人民议会及苦行者在早上约10时20分散会，隨后吉隆坡市政局於10时30分开始解除独立广场的封锁线，恢復通车。

宣誓的国会议员，分別是檳城州行动党升旗山区国会议员刘镇东、大山脚区国会议员章瑛、霹雳州社会主义党和丰区国会议员再也古玛、行动党太平区国会议员倪可敏、怡保东区国会议员林吉祥、华都牙也区国会议员冯宝君、雪兰莪州公正党士拉央区国会议员梁自坚、格拉那区国会议员罗国本、吉隆坡武吉免登区国会议员方贵伦、蕉赖区国会议员陈国伟、马六甲州马六甲市国会议员沈同钦。

另外3名州议员是行动党雪州班达马兰州议员刘天球、檳州光大州议员黄伟益及马六甲州爱极乐州议员邱培栋。

林吉祥致词时表示，绿色苦行活动参与者成功创造歷史，並且为独立广场带来新的意义，从此独立广场应该成为“人民独立广场＂。

绿色盛会为百里苦行提呈的3项提案：

1.立即停止莱纳斯稀土厂计划。

2.终止或者重新评估所有对环境与人民有害的计划。

―立即停止及取消所有高危计划，因为这些计划並没有经过严谨的审核、没有完整的资料搜查、及没有公开討论，这包括武吉公满金矿计划、万挠高压电缆、金马仑高原焚化炉、红土坎铁矿厂、边佳兰石化工程、及在原住民土地上兴建水坝的工程。

―在展开任何工程前，须与公眾討论並公开相关资料，尤其是可能会影响地方社区与居民的发展计划。

―让公眾获知一切所需资料，確保过程公开和透明，强调人民有权获得一切与环境、发展计划，尤其是將影响他们生活的工程资料。

―杜绝环境污染，禁止一切发展工程在国內留下辐射、有毒及危险的废料。

3.確保所有发展工程，都符合地球宪章。

来源：http://www.sinchew.com.my/node/269589?tid=1

百里苦行反公害，黄德：勿推翻围篱，大批警力驻守独立广场

 2012-11-25 15:14

• 
  在参与绿色苦行的民眾抵达前，吉隆坡市政局执法人员已在独立广场前严阵以待。（图：星洲日报）

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黄德：独立广场被封锁‧苦行队路障外过夜

（吉隆坡25日讯）由於独立广场已被封锁，以黄德为首的“百里苦行反公害＂队伍今晚將在路障外，即拉惹路一带逗留与过夜。

黄德於傍晚5时20分在人墙的维护下抵达独立广场，然后登上一辆黑色起亚Spectra向民眾发言。

他宣佈苦行队伍將一直在独立广场附近逗留至明早9时，欢迎支持者前来声援，並且希望能有国会议员明早到来跟他们见面。

黄德吁勿推倒围篱

在“百里苦行反公害＂队伍抵达前，独立广场周围已被铁架及塑料障碍物重重包围，形成三重路障；警方可说已严阵以待，派出大批警力驻守现场。

黄德较早呼吁参与苦行集会者保持克制，抵达独立广场后不要推倒执法当局的围篱。

经过长达13天长途跋涉，“百里苦行反公害＂大队正式进入吉隆坡范围，队员们身穿绿衣，戴笠帽，高喊反莱纳斯口號，浩浩荡荡移往独立广场，许多支持者也从四面八方涌出加入爭取更好的明天。

黄德在鹅嘜伊斯兰党旧总部出发前匯报说：“是否允许我们进入（独立广场），是他们（执法当局）的选择。到达独立广场並非我们的终点，到那儿只是给我们力量继续前进。

“请展示我们的责任感，绿色分子一直都是秉持和平。＂他提醒参与者不要推翻围篱，全世界將会观察是非对错。

他重申，绿色苦行是为了下一代的精神斗爭，喊破喉咙的事情之前已经做过了，今日无需再度喊破喉咙。

300警员及市局官员驻守
三重路障禁入广场

记者於今午2时抵达独立广场，现场已有约300名警员及吉隆坡市政局官员驻守在独立广场外；此外，记者也发现有近50名警员在独立广场停车场內守候。

据观察，执法单位在独立广场前的拉惹路（Jalan Raja）及敦霹雳路（Jalan Tun Perak）衔接处以铁架设下了第一层路障，而在其后的300米处则再以红白塑胶障碍物设下另两层路障，形成禁区。

执法单位也在其他路口设下路障，包括京那巴鲁路路口及巴剎博沙巷（Lebuh Pasar Besar）路口。

吉隆坡市政厅也在独立广场外设下告示牌，禁止民眾在独立广场范围內进行任何活动。

警方：没知会违例
“黄德队伍可被对付＂

金马区警区主任再努丁助理总监说，以黄德为首的队伍已违反2012年和平集会法令，因为任何集会者都有责任根据和平法令9（1）条文知会警方，可是对方没有遵守这项条例。

他说，黄德眾人已经违反和平集会法令9（3）条文，並可在条文下被对付。警方也可以援引法令9（5）条文调查他们。

官员：市局有权拒广场集会

另一方面，吉隆坡市政局执法官员纳沙鲁丁表示，独立广场是属吉隆坡市政局管辖范围內，而且正在进行维修中，任何人都要遵守独立广场条例；因此，吉隆坡市政局有权拒绝民眾在该处集会，並且对违例者採取行动。

来源：http://www.sinchew.com.my/node/269466?tid=1

Bersih protesters had no chance to disperse, says Suhakam panel chief

By Hafidz Baharom

September 21, 2012

Khaw (with raised blue file) and other members of the Suhakam panel visit Dataran Merdeka on September 21, 2012. — Picture by Choo Choy May

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 21 — The Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) panel chief today said that “there was not much room to run” for protesters during the Bersih rally on April 28, disputing earlier police testimony of having enough roads open for participants to disperse.

Prof Datuk Dr Khaw Lake Tee told reporters after the panel made an on-site visit that the exits assigned by the police to allow people to disperse were further away, leaving only two narrow lanes nearby.

“Police said there were a lot of areas where protesters could have dispersed and we were looking for that.

“We only saw two; small lane near Citin Hotel and Masjid India Jalan Tun Perak. There was not much room to run,” Khaw said.

The three-hour walking site visit began at Dataran Merdeka and included visits to the alleged holding area in front of the Royal Selangor Club, Citin Hotel in Jalan Melayu, and Jalan Hang Lekiu, three locations where witnesses have testified of police brutality on the day of the rally.

The inquiry resumes next Monday with further testimony from the police.

Source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/bersih-protesters-had-no-chance-ro-disperse-says-suhakam-panel-chief/

Dataran gathering gave me new hope

September 2, 2012

I have started questioning, and what I see in my beloved land saddens me.

By Christine SK Lai
Why on earth would thousands of people come out of their homes to join thousands of other strangers on the streets, risking possible arrest in an assembly declared illegal?

Why would many still dress up in yellow, knowing full well this would immediately ‘mark’ them out as easy targets amongst the crowd, should provocation break out?

I am talking about the ordinary Malays, Chinese, Indians and others, some coming from out-of-state, who spilled over Dataran Merdeka and its surrounding areas on Aug 30, 2012, from 10pm onwards.

There was no colourful parade to cheer, no fiery VIP ‘leaders’ making ‘ra-ra-ra’ rousing speeches, no big-time performance to be entertained by, and hey, no free food!  No one paid them anything to come. Many probably had to battle after-work traffic jams to turn up.

Many, like us, would also have suffered the darn inconvenience of having to go on a merry-go-round chase, rushing to catch the last LRT home after the event (we were told as we tried to board at Pasar Seni that only Masjid Jamek was open).

Heck, I didn’t even get to hear any poetry recited. All I  heard was the cacophony of that noisy thing called vuvuzela continuously blasting the night air.

It was such a motley crowd. Beside me sitting on the kerb was a Pakcik. Behind me a whole family, with baby in pram. Parents were towing kids carrying balloons and illuminated plastic swords.

Youngsters cruised by me, sporting colorful Mohawk wigs (the teacher in me was so tempted to get a handful for my kindergarten children!) Police personnel were calmly walking around in the midst of the crowd, the officers looking smart in their uniforms, whilst the rank-n-file were conspicuous in their very bright yellow overalls (what an ironic touch!) .

The only inkling that someone ‘special’ had arrived was when people would suddenly surge towards a particular area now and then, like bees attracted to honey, cameras raised in the air. But I wasn’t there for the politicians or the politics.

Silent unease
I was there for the first time in my 52 years of life to celebrate my nation’s independence day. What took me so long to haul myself off my comfy chair at home and sweat it out for some four hours, just to mill around aimlessly in the middle of a tar road?

Surely I can find better, more productive things to do with my time. Of course I can, so can the thousands of Malaysians who chose to be at Dataran Merdeka on Aug 30, 2012.

Well, I have to confess, I have never thought much about what it means to call myself a Malaysian, until these last couple of years, when so many events happening have forced me to take a good hard look at the things I have oft taken for granted.

I have started questioning, and what I see in my beloved land saddens me.

That’s the only reason I chose to come out as a member of the Malaysian public this Merdeka day. I suspect there are many others who feel like me; and that’s why they took the trouble to be present.

Amidst what should be a time for joyous celebration, there seems to be an under-current of silent unease floating around. We smile at each other, recognising in each other’s eyes a certain ‘look’ that says, “Yea, I know too, so I am with you on this one.”

No words are necessary really. We don’t need anyone to shout about unity, justice, peace or national reconciliation (or the lack of it), we don’t need to carry bold banners or mouth nice-sounding slogans, but we do need to take a personal stand for it.

Me, I just want to be able to say before I die, I stood up for freedom for the land I was born in, raised up in and would probably be buried in, even if it’s just this once. There are times when we don’t get a second chance to be counted for, and Aug 30, 2012 is a date I want recorded in my life history.

New hope
I don’t know how long I was sitting on the kerb. But when I finally got up, what I saw gave me new hope for better Merdeka days to come.

The group of us had arrived on the grounds early, there wasn’t much of a crowd then. But by the time I stood up to stretch my legs (which was about 11 pm), I saw people packing the area around Jalan Raja Laut/Jalan TAR.

So many many it looked like a flowing, moving stream. Against the backdrop of bright neon-lit trees along the road, it was a beautiful sight. It struck me as what I would term as one of those ‘significant moments’ in life, when you realise you are looking at something seemingly ordinary but so profound in meaning, that it will remain forever etched in the mind.

I ‘saw’ the true 1Malaysian people, moving towards a tomorrow that holds hope for each one to live in, where all can enjoy the richness and abundance of this land we call our own.

More than any other rally (and I have attended all the other Bersih-organised ones), I think Himpunan Janji Bersih 2012 speaks volumes about the maturity of Malaysians.

Nothing happened – that may a disappointment for some – yet to me, that’s the greatest thing that can happen, for when thousands upon thousands can gather without ‘anything’ happening, it means people can ‘shout’ a message just by turning up.

God bless Malaysia.

Source: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/2012/09/02/dataran-gathering-gave-me-new-hope/

默迪卡55周年倒数于独立广场 55th Merdeka Countdown at Merdeka Square

“民主之诺”乃由一群非政府组织发起。吉隆坡总警长以主办者没有依照和平集会条例在10天前申请为由，宣布集会非法。尽管如此，也有逾万人参与集会。

"Janji Democrasi" (Promise of Democracy) was organized by a multiple of NGOs. Prior to the gathering, Chief Police Officer of Kuala Lumpur has announced it as illegal, reason being that the organizer has not complied to the Peaceful Assembly Act that required application for 10 days in advance. Despite of that, there was a crowd of over 10,000 people.

Bersih counters with own Merdeka theme

K Pragalath

 | August 9, 2012

Bersih 3.0 co-chairman, A Samad Said, said its Merdeka gathering is for Malaysians who want free and fair elections.

KUALA LUMPUR: Election watch dog Bersih 2.0 has joined this year’s 55th Merdeka celebrations with a Merdeka countdown gathering themed, “Bersih’s Promise”.

“We have heard ‘many promises’ for the celebrations, but we do know that Malaysians want free and fair elections,” National Laureate A Samad Said told a press conference at the Kuala Lumpur Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall here today on behalf of 26 civil society organisations.

The term “many promises” refers to Barisan Nasional’s Merdeka theme, “Promises Fulfilled”.

“To celebrate our theme, Bersih’s Promise, we invite all Malaysians to gather at the Dataran Merdeka fountain on Aug 30 at 10pm in yellow,” said Samad.

He added that the event was being held to tell the public Bersih’s eight demands for electoral reform.

“Bersih is now in an unclear position as it is disturbed by the government. We need to grow and inform the public,” said Samad.

Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM) chief Badrulamin Shaharin, otherwise known as Chegu Bard, said the celebration is vital because it was time to counter the government’s “Promises Fulfilled” theme.

“They claim promises fulfilled but they never fulfilled promises for free and fair elections,” said Chegu Bard.

He also dismissed the necessity to apply for a permit for a gathering.

‘It’s not a demonstration’

Elaborating further, Bersih steering committee member Maria Chin Abdullah reminded all that the gathering is a celebration.

“It is just a celebration with fellow Malaysians, not a demonstrations.” said Maria in hwe capacity as Empower Malaysia executive director.

She was also asked to comment on Election Commission’s statement last month that the eight demands have been met.

Among Bersih’s eight demands are electoral roll clean-up, equal media access, air time for all political parties and usage of indelible ink.

“We don’t know whether advanced voters who would be marked and who would vote three days ahead would be able to vote again.

“We need air time to allow candidates to say what they can do for the nation, not read out manifestos.”

Meanwhile, social activist Hishammuddin Rais described the gathering as an opportunity for the people to reclaim the right to celebrate Merdeka.

“We are reclaiming the people’s right to celebrate with the theme [Bersih's Promise] and yellow colour.”

A total of 26 organisations has endorsed this countdown event.

Among them are SAMM and National Ex- Army Veterans Welfare Network (Kerabat).

Source: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2012/08/09/bersih-counters-with-own-merdeka-theme/