New Movement to "reclaim Malaysia" launched

BY JENNIFER GOMEZ

Published: 10 July 2014

A new people's movement called, "Negara-Ku", was launched today, aimed at healing Malaysia and restoring hope, given recent challenges that continue to threaten the peace and harmony of its multi-ethnic and multi-faith society.

Touted as the "people's movement to reclaim our nation", the coalition is spearheaded by two prominent personalities as patrons – lawyer Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan and national laureate Datuk A. Samad Said.

"There are political parties and their affiliates that are not focused on nation-building, but on building their respective power bases.

"These parties on both sides of the divide pursue their agenda that are transactional and short-term, not transformational and long-term," Samad said at the launch in Kuala Lumpur today.

The former Bersih 2.0 co-chair added that ethno-centric and race-based politics as well as communally-minded politicians continue to derail the process of inclusive nation-building and the formation of a Bangsa Malaysia national identity.

Samad also said that religion was increasingly being used as a main marker of identity, and as a boundary maintenance mechanism to polarise the people.

"The mobilisation and manipulation of race, ethnicity and religion have resulted in increasing intolerance, bigotry and extremism.

"There is also an emerging sub-culture of political violence, these are symptomatic of  dangerous undercurrents in our society," Samad said.

He added that the state, by "default or design", had failed to address these developments.

"The state has also failed to ‎play the role of an honest broker in managing conflict in our society," he added.

According to Samad, they believed that the majority of the people wanted an end to divisive ethno-religious politics.

"We have to act before our society descends into the abyss of instability," he added.
‎
Negara-Ku is endorsed by 68 civil society groups and NGOs.

Ambiga, meanwhile, said that the movement was about hope and was pro-rakyat.

"After the general election, something strange started happening in this country with incidents of religious extremism and racism getting out of hand," she said.

She added that people started questioning the strange goings-on, which were being stoked by certain segments out to set "a dangerous agenda".

She noted that politicians kept on invoking the spectre of May 13 rather than worked towards uniting the people.

Ambiga said the language in the Federal Constitution was very respectful and meant to unite the people.

"Why can't we go back to that primary document which tells us how to care and share with each other rather than turn it into something ugly?" she asked.

Ambiga also hit out at politicians who appeared to be on "election mode", adding that there was no governance from the country's leadership.

"We want governance and the reason we need this movement is because there is no leadership.

"So we need to take leadership and ownership and restore hope using this movement, we need to tell political leaders that 'if you can't handle it ,we will handle it'," Ambiga said.

She said that there could be a hidden agenda to create instability and to divide and rule, but added that most Malaysians were not interested in that agenda.

"So the next time someone says May 13 to you, you tell them July 10, because this is the day we have decided to take the nation forward," Ambiga added. – July 10, 2014.

Source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/new-movement-to-reclaim-malaysia-launched

EC has admitted wrongdoing so Aziz should go — Bersih chief

BY AMIN ISKANDAR, BAHASA NEWS EDITOR
JUNE 18, 2013

The Election Commission (EC) chairman's regret over the failure of indelible ink used in Election 2013 shows they are guilty of wrongdoing and should resign, Bersih co-chair Datuk A. Samad Said said today.

He said the admission by Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusuf confirmed the May 5 general election did not proceed in a clean and fair way.

“Respectfully, once he knew that there was a mistake, it was only appropriate that he resign,”  Samad told The Malaysian Insider today.

“That’s why he should do it. To me, his admission is an acceptance that what happened was his fault,” said the national laureate popularly known as Pak Samad.

Opposition parties and civil society groups have asked Abdul Aziz to step down after the fiasco over the ink, which many voters managed to wash off despite claims it would remain for at least five days.

The EC chairman expressed his disappointment that it failed to work in an interview with a Malay daily.

“If people were to ask me now, what’s the saddest thing in my life, I’d answer ‘indelible ink’,” he responded in the paper, Sinar Harian. 

Pak Samad questioned why the EC didn’t first test the effectiveness of the indelible ink before allowing it to be used during the recent elections. “Didn’t the EC first test it out? He (Abdul Aziz) just went on to believe in the ink’s usability. An election is to elect a governing party and give them power. 

“I hope he’s honest, because this is his admission that the election wasn’t done fairly,” Said said. 

The co-chair for Bersih 2.0 also urged the coalition’s supporters that they should attend en masse the Black505 rally that’s organised by Pakatan Rakyat at Padang Merbok this Saturday. 

“We urged, or plead that our members come together to join this rally.

“Ambiga herself has called for us to participate in the rally, so let’s do so,” said Said in reference to another co-chair for Bersih 2.0, Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan. 

However, Abdul Aziz said yesterday that the failure of the indelible ink to function effectively cannot be used as an excuse to accuse the EC for allowing voters to cast more than one ballot or to commit electoral fraud during the elections. 

Abdul Aziz mentioned that the indelible ink, a recommended tool by the parliamentary select committee (PSC) on electoral reform, was tested several times before it was implemented on May 5.

“However on that day, the power of Allah is greater when the ink disappeared after several washes, so where was the mistake?

 “It’s unfortunate but we didn’t sit still. We established a special committee that is chaired by Datuk Christopher Wan Soo Kee, assisted by two other panelists - Datuk Md Yusop Mansor and Abdul Aziz Khalidin,” he added. 

Pakatan Rakyat has held massive Black505 rallies nationwide since the May 8 to protest the alleged electoral fraud during the 2013 General Election that saw the Barisan Nasional maintain its power despite losing the popular vote. – June 18, 2013.

Source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/ecs-admission-proof-of-wrongdoing-aziz-should-quit-says-bersih-chief/

Bersih's next step beginning of 2013 (Video inside)

Bersih: No hope for electoral reform

Anisah Shukry

 | December 17, 2012

The electoral watchdog says that Malaysians should not expect true electoral reform by the 13th general election, but adds it will combat that with its own campaigns.

VIDEO INSIDE

KUALA LUMPUR: Electoral watchdog Bersih said today that the Election Commission (EC) will not reform the electoral roll by the next general election.

“Can we Malaysians expect true reform before the general election? The answer is no,” Bersih co-chairperson S Ambiga told reporters at a press conference here.

“We concluded this given the conduct of the EC to date,” she added.

However, she told reporters that there were no immediate plans for the coalition for free and fair elections to hold street protests in order to voice its unhappiness.

“There are no plans to go to the street as the elections are already so near,” she said, adding that Bersih was meeting up regularly to discuss this matter.

Instead of rallies, she said, Bersih would be focusing on two campaigns to help overcome the dirty electoral roll: the Jom 100 campaign and the Jom Pantau campaign.

“We will need more volunteers for the Jom Pantau campaign to help observe the elections. We need to make sure elections peaceful, clean and fair — that’s what we want.

“We are launching it in January and will provide more details then,” added Ambiga.

Bersih launched the Jom 100 campaign in January this year to increase voter turnout for the coming election, which must be held by April 28 next year.

According to Ambiga, a 100% turnout would strengthen democracy and mitigate electoral fraud as well as gerrymandering.

“We want to push the voter turnout to 85%, maybe 90%,” she said today.

Fellow co-chairperson A Samad Said, who was also present at the press conference, implored the public to cast their votes come election day.

“Let me state that every citizen who is able to vote should continue to make an effort to come out and vote,” said the national laureate.

“This is one method to stop electoral fraud from occurring,” he added.

‘Reject politicians who support violence’
Ambiga also urged the public not to vote for candidates who supported political violence, and to also reject those who kept quiet when confronted by it.

“Why are they not taking a stand against political violence? Political violence is a symptom of a bigger disease – a flawed election.

“Political violence goes hand in hand with a corrupt political system that is symbolised by an election that is not clean,” she said.

Malaysian politics is rife with incidents of violence, blackmail and death threats, with the latest being an attack on a PKR rally in Gombak early this month that reportedly left a few opposition volunteers injured.

The PKR bus used by Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim and party leaders for their pre-election campaign had also been splashed with red paint and pelted with rocks numerous times.

‘No sincere commitment’
Meanwhile, the EC’s alleged reluctance to invite international observers to monitor the polls; the lack of free and fair media; and the issue of overseas voting all came under Ambiga’s scrutiny today.

“If our system is as clean as claimed, our EC should confidently invite observers from around the world to observe these elections,” the former Bar Council president pointed out.

“Instead, they made such a huge fuss, calling it interference. That is nonsense; Malaysia is an observer for other countries’ elections, so how can they even say that?” she said.

EC chairman Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof had recently said the EC was working with the Foreign Affairs Ministry to invite countries which had invited Malaysia as observers in their respective nation’s electiona.

“Regionally, all Asean members will be invited, except for Brunei, which does not have elections, and Singapore, which rejected our accreditation application to become observer in its recent election,” he was quoted as saying.

But Ambiga stressed today that observers should not be limited to Asean members – a stance that has been echoed by numerous opposition MPs before this.

“Then there is free and fair access to media. What is the great step they have taken – and I use ‘great’ in a sarcastic manner – in this?” she said.

“They are only allowing a pre-recording of all political parties’ manifestos. Of all the reforms we have sought, this must surely be the easiest to fulfil, yet they can’t do it,” she added.

She also said the EC had disregarded the importance of ensuring that overseas voters would be counted in the next general election, adding that it had failed to meet its deadline for announcing the relevant procedures.

“All this shows that there is no commitment to real reform, that the 13th general election will be one of the dirtiest elections ever and that we should not anticipate any change in the near future.

“Bersih 2.0 therefore unequivocally believes that the task of ensuring free and fair elections falls to us citizens,” she added.

Source: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2012/12/17/bersih-no-hope-for-electoral-reform-by-next-polls/

诺言联盟：政府应速兑诺，‘停止骚扰参加集会者’

2012-09-05 08:19

（吉隆坡4日讯）“诺言联盟”（Gabungan JANJI）促请有关单位停止对出席“民主之诺”（Janji Demokrasi）和平集会人士进行骚扰和恐嚇，並要求政府儘快履行承诺。

该联盟也声明並不赞成集会者踩踏首相拿督斯里纳吉和其夫人拿汀斯里罗斯玛的肖像，並认为不管是踩踏谁的肖像，都是不能被接受的。

该联盟今日发表文告指出，该集会向政府提出三大民主诉求，即维护宪法，尊崇法治以及落实干凈与公正的选举。

“在尊崇法治诉求下，包括要求政府支持公民权利和言论自由，废除恶法和落实媒体自由。”

文告说，在国庆日前夕，大马人已经证明他们能够以和平的方式来表达心声，但警方和马来西亚前锋报却在集会后，开始对出席集会者採取骚扰和恐嚇的手段。

文告说，警方发表声明指要针对国家文学奖得主拿督沙末赛益，国庆日前夕在吉隆坡市政局大厦外坐下，並朗诵马来“班顿”的事件展开调查。

文告说，数位年轻人在“民主之诺”集会上举起“荣耀马来亚”（Sang Saka Malaya）旗帜，只是想要展现歷史事实，无意要求政府更换国旗，並促请所有政治人物以及媒体，尤其是马来西亚前锋报，停止指责他们。

来源：http://www.sinchew.com.my/node/259878?tid=1

Janji Demokrasi Press Statement

Janji Demokrasi
4 September 2012


Stop intimidation and harassment of Janji Demokrasi

Gabungan JANJI would like to thank the rakyat who braved police harassment and intimidation by turning up on 30 August 2012 to celebrate the countdown to Merdeka Day. Their presence is an indication of their love for their country and their concern for the failed promises that the government had not fulfilled. We also want to thank the medical team, volunteer security members, Bar Council, KL Legal Aid Centre, Lawyers for Liberty, SUARAM for their legal assistance and monitoring and to all NGOs who supported the event.
Gabungan JANJI would like to reiterate that the event JANJI Demokrasi was to show that promises have yet to be met and they are as follows:

1. Uphold the Federal Constitution
2. Rule of Law:
a) Support civil liberties and freedom of expression
b) Repeal all repressive laws
c) Freedom of the media
3. Clean and fair elections

On the eve of Merdeka Day, Malaysians have proved that they can express their demands in a peaceful manner. As admitted by Dang Wangi district police chief ACP Zainuddin Ahmad there was “no untoward incidents” reported.

But yet intimidation and harassment have again started by the authorities, police and the media, namely Utusan Malaysia.

The police said that they want to investigate against Dato A. Samad Said’s poetry recital on the eve of Merdeka Day but yet did not state the grounds for such an action. Dato A. Samad Said is a national laureate and well known for his poetry and writings. He has won many awards including: Pejuang Sastera (1976); SEA Write Award (1979); Sasterawan Negara (1985); and Sasterawan Nusantara (1999) to name a few. On 30 August 2012, Dato Samad had written a new poetry for Janji Demokrasi and, as usual, he was sharing it with the nation. Therefore, Gabungan JANJI demands that the police and authorities stop their undue harassment and intimidation against a legitimate exercise of the right to freedom of expression.

Next they went after those who were waving the Sang Saka Malaya at the Janji Demokrasi rally. Two of the youth have courageously come forward to admit that they were the ones who waved the flag.They have also explained that their intention was not to replace Jalur Gemilang but to commemorate unsung heroes. As the youth have explained their intention, Gabungan JANJI urges all politicians and media like Utusan Malaysia to stop politicising the issue, stop witch hunting and stop intimidating the two youth and accept their explanation.

Lastly, Gabungan JANJI had already informed the media on 30 August that we do not support nor condone the act of stepping on the photos of Najib and Rosmah. If we do not agree with Najib and Rosmah, the decent thing to do is to have a dialogue, consultation or a discussion with them. All Malaysians must view the act of stepping on one’s photo and the show of the posterior to another person as unacceptable. The offenders need to be taken to task.
Gabungan JANJI call upon all sectors – the politicians, media and the authorities to stop politicising the event, Janji Demokrasi, and to recognise that there is now a new way to celebrate Merdeka Day – with the people.

Thank you.

Release By,
GABUNGAN JANJI

Endorsed By:
1. Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM)
2. Persatuan Anak Peneroka Felda Kebangsaan (ANAK)
3. Kebajikan Rangkaian Veteran dan Bekas Angkatan Tentera – Army Veteran (KERABAT)
4. Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas (JERIT)
5. Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM)
6. EMPOWER
7. Memacu Arus Perjuangan (MAP)
8. Malaysian Civil Liberty Movement (MCLM)
9. Jingga 13
10. Solidariti Mahasiswa Malaysia (SMM)
11. Gabungan Mahasiswa Islam seMalaysia (GAMIS)
12. Kumpulan Aktivis Mahasiswa Independent (KAMI)
13. Pro-Mahasiswa NasionalAksi Mahasiswa Peduli (AKSI)
14. Asalkan Bukan Umno (ABU)
15. Pertubuhan Kemajuan dan Kebajikan Rakyat Selangor (Pro-Rakyat)
16. KILL THE BILL
17. WARGA AMAN
18. SEED
19. Malaysian Youth and Democratic Movement (DEMA)
20. Angkatan Rakyat Muda (ARM)
21. Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia (SABM)
22. HIMPUNAN HIJAUSTOP LYNAS COALITION (SLC)
23. Radio Bangsar Utama (RABU)
24. UBU - Universiti Bangsar Utama
25. Unit Ehsan Malaysia
26. Alumnus Sekolah Politik (ASP)
27. Agent of Change (AoC)
28. Akademi Pak Sako (APS)
29. Selamatkan Teluk Rubiah
30. Revolusi Anak Muda Malaysia (RAMM)
31. Gagasan Majlis Permuafakatan Rakyat Terengganu (MAMPAT)
32. Pertubuhan Kebajikan Rakyat Perlis (PKR Perlis)
33. Gerakan Mansuhkan ISA (GMI)
34. Dewan Perhimpunan Cina Kuala Lumpur / Selangor (KLSCAH)
35. Kumpulan Aktivis Media Independent (KAMI)
36. Gerakan Bertindak Kembalikan Royalti Kelantan (GEGAR)
37. Solidariti Anak Bachok Daratkan Minyak (CABAR)
38. Majlis Permuafakatan Kampung Warisan KL/Selangor (MUAFAKAT)
39. Kumpulan AL-FATEH Rompin
40. Gabungan Profesional Menuntut Royalti, Hak Pendaratan Minyak dan Gas Ke Kelantan (ROYALTI)
41. Suara Makkal
42. Persatuan Progresif India Malaysia (MIPAS)
43. Malaysian Youth Care Association (PERHATIN)
44. Peoples' Welfare and Rights Coalition (POWER)
45. Malaysian Indians Transformation Action Team (MITRA)
46. Angkatan Nasional India Malaysia (AGNI)
47. Jaringan Sepadu Rakyat Malaysia (SEPADU)

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/

Reprimand Najib, Bersih tells EC

G Vinod

 | July 26, 2012

PM telling Selangorians to vote “the right government” to resolve water issue is tantamount to political campaigning, says Samad Said.

PETALING JAYA: Bersih co-chairman A Samad Said wants the Election Commission (EC) to reprimand Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak for campaigning before Parliament is dissolved.

Samad said that Najib’s statement urging Selangor voters to “choose the right government” to resolve the state’s water issue was clear-cut political campaigning for the general election.

“The EC should reprimand the prime minister. How can you allow Najib to say such things when election is not even called for yet?” asked Samad.

English daily The Star today reported Najib as saying that the Selangor water crisis could be resolved but it needed a state administration which can handle the issue well.

“It cannot be that the federal government is unable to resolve the water problem in Selangor. We can do it.

“If we can make Malaysia the global centre for initial public offerings (IPO), how can it be that we can’t solve water issues?” Najib asked.

Najib also said: “The problem could be resolved by the BN government but we have to wait until the time comes when the people of Selangor make their choice and choose a government that can do it”.

Samad, a national laureate, said that the prime minister’s announcement of paying half month bonuses to civil servants yesterday could also be considered as political campaigning.

“This is not right. Najib should not abuse his powers to campaign right now.

“Unfortunately, the mainstream media is being used to swing the voters’ mood and the opposition has little avenue to counter the campaign,” said Samad, who added the move was undermining democracy.

EC: Najib gave his views only
Meanwhile, EC deputy chairman Wan Ahmad Wan Omar dismissed Samad’s accusation, saying Najib was merely voicing out about the stalemate in resolving Selangor’s water issue.

“We all know about the differing views both the federal government and the state government has on the issue. Najib was merely giving his views on the matter,” said Wan Ahmad.

He also said that it was a day-to-day government administrative issue and as the prime minister, Najib has the right to speak out on the impasse between both governments.

“If Najib had said this after the Parliament is dissolved, then it can be considered wrong,” said the EC official.

Wan Ahmad also dismissed claims that the bonus announcements for civil servants as political campaigning saying it’s an on-going programme and policy by the government.

Yesterday, Najib announced a half month’s bonus with a minimum RM500 payout to all civil servants for the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations.

Source: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2012/07/26/reprimand-najib-bersih-tells-ec/

Bersih leaders say vindicated by court ruling it legal

By Debra Chong and Mohd Farhan Darwis

July 24, 2012

(From left) A file photo of the Bersih 2.0 steering committee including Dr. Subramaniam Pillay, Arul Prakkash, Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan, Datuk Dr Toh Kin Woon, Maria Chin Abdullah and Dr Wong Chin Huat.

KUALA LUMPUR, July 24 — Bersih 2.0 leaders whooped with joy after a High Court ruled the electoral reform lobby group is a legal society today, overturning Putrajaya’s order to outlaw it last year in a move likely to raise further its public profile in the run-up to key national polls due soon.

Prominent lawyer-activist Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan, who co-heads the 82-member group, told The Malaysian Insider she was “delighted” by the court ruling today to quash the federal government’s declaration outlawing Bersih in July last year.

“I have just heard the good news that the learned judge of the High Court has quashed the order of the minister that had declared Bersih illegal. Naturally, I am delighted by this outcome,” she said in a text message immediately after the court decision.

“In my view, the decision accords with my understanding of the law in relation to the making of such decisions by those in power,” she added.

Instead of wasting public funds on suits against Bersih, [the government] should spend more effort and give recognition to…what the citizens who have come out to demonstrate for clean and fair elections have been calling for. — Maria Chin Abdullah

Ambiga, who is currently abroad, thanked her legal team and supporters for standing by the group, which has been persistently branded an outlawed group by the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition ahead of the 13th general elections that could see a regime change in Malaysia for the first time since independence in 1957.

Ambiga has also been singled out by pro-establishment personalities and repeatedly attacked over her vocal calls for the electoral roll to be cleaned of dubious entries before polls are called, now widely speculated to take place in September after the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration.

An Umno federal lawmaker had last month suggested in Parliament that the award-winning civil rights fighter be hanged for treason, capital punishment reserved for the most serious crimes. Sri Gading MP Datuk Mohamad Aziz’s remarks drew strong support from fellow BN MPs but was widely criticised by opposition legislators and civil society groups, sparking a national furore.

Bersih co-chairman, Datuk A. Samad Said, told reporters he was relieved the group had been cleared of its “illegal” tag.

“It’s a waste of time, energy and resources and the order saying we are illegal should not be made again,” said the national laureate who attended today’s court hearing at the Duta Court Complex here, in an immediate reaction.

In her ruling today, High Court judge Datuk Rohana Yusof said the coalition of civil societies known as Bersih 2.0, though not officially registered, can be considered a society under the Societies Act.

“The minister’s order is quashed because Bersih is a lawful society,” Rohana said.

Maria Chin Abdullah, who is among Bersih 2.0’s 14-member steering committee, told The Malaysian Insider the court decision vindicated the group’s push for electoral reforms.

Bersih co-chairman, Datuk A. Samad Said, told reporters he was relieved the group had been cleared of its “illegal” tag. — file pic

“Instead of wasting public funds on suits against Bersih, they should spend more effort and give recognition to freedom of assembly and what the citizens who have come out to demonstrate for clean and fair elections have been calling for.

“That would be a democratic way of responding to the court ruling and to prove their commitment to electoral reforms,” she said, referring to the federal government that has initiated a civil suit against members of Bersih’s steering committee to claim RM122,000 in compensation for damage caused to public property in the national capital during the group’s latest rally on April 28 this year.

The government’s unprecedented suit has been fixed for case management on August 10 at the High Court.

Chin Abdullah said Bersih was still getting many reports highlighting various discrepancies in the electoral roll and cited as examples voters who say their voting stations have been switched without their approval while migrant workers have been listed as voters in the roll, creating doubt over its validity.

“These issues have to be resolved before the 13th general elections,” she said.

“The SPR does not seem to be moving on these issues,” she added, referring to the Election Commission by its more popular Malay initials.

The Najib administration had agreed to set up a bi-partisan parliamentary polls panel on electoral reforms last year but is seen to be dragging its feet in enforcing the measures.

The loose coalition of civil societies has led tens of thousands in public demonstrations for clean elections, drawing the world’s attention to Malaysia’s electoral process at a crucial chapter when Southeast Asia’s fourth largest economy is attempting to break through the middle-income trap and graduate into the ranks of first-world nations amid a global economic slowdown.

Source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/bersih-leaders-say-vindicated-by-court-ruling-it-legal/

Ambiga a victim of race and religion, says Pak Samad

By Nigel Aw | 4:00PM May 24, 2012
Malaysiakini

Today, as Bersih co-chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan’s Bukit Damansara residence is turned into a bizarre combination of a mini market, crime scene and conflict zone with pro- and anti-Ambiga groups taking their positions under the watchful eyes of the authorities outside her house, it is business as usual at the Bangsar Utama flat of her fellow co-chairperson A Samad Said.

Since the Bersih 3.0 protest on April 28 which organisers claimed saw some 250,000 participants taking to the streets of Kuala Lumpur, anti-Bersih groups have taken their counter-protest to the doorstep of Ambiga’s residence with burger stalls, butt exercises and now, a mini-market.

But for the 77-year-old A Samad, or more fondly known as Pak Samad, the situation at his residence has been anything but unusual, despite his cheeky baiting of the protesters at Ambiga’s residence.

This tale of two Bersih chiefs, Pak Samad said, is likely because Ambiga is being targeted for her race, religion and to some extent, gender; issues that are often played up by the powers-that-be.

“Ambiga should rightfully lead, she is a lawyer with vast experience, she has received various awards but unfortunately, she is an Indian, a non-Muslim, that is unfortunate.

“If Ambiga was me, these threats targeting her would not have happened,” he said in an interview with Malaysiakini on Tuesday.

Adding that race was inherently a contentious issue, he said this is being manipulated and perpetrated by the powers-that-be with claims such as the position of Malays are being threatened.

The national laureate added that he, too, has faced accusations of a similar nature, though not as severe as the harassment faced by Ambiga.

‘I’m already Malay, I want to be Malaysian’

Among the accusations, he said, was that he has betrayed his own race by participating in the Bersih movement.

“To say that I am not championing my race… There is no need to ask me to be Malay, I am already Malay, I want to be Malaysian,” he said in his usual poetic tone.

The septuagenarian added that he has also been labelled as senile, to which he said: “Then those who have invited me to speak, must be really foolish to invite a senile old man to talk.”

“I grow old not to become stupid, I grow old to become wiser,” he added.

His age, added Pak Samad, has allowed him to break free of being the “slave of power”, which he described as the mainstream media when he was a journalist and editor.

“At that time, I worked in the newspapers, a servant of the powers-that-be. That time, I thought, I had children to care for, a family to care for.

“Because of that, I swallowed whatever bitterness there was for the sake of my family… But now, I am prepared to be langgar (hit),” he said.

NONEPak Samad is perhaps the most prominent literati in the electoral reform movement, but not all his literary colleagues share his activism, with some frowning on his action.

“The literary community is quite divided… it is not about the label of literati, but for individuals to decide whether we want to improve our democracy,” he said.

Pak Samad added that it was not his duty to convince fellow literati to the cause, instead, it was up to them to ask their heart if they should join the movement.

“My duty is merely to explain the state of our country, whether we want this to continue or we want a change,” he said.

By opting for a ‘road not taken’ by many others of his stature, the spotlight has fallen on Pak Samad, who has since been offered bodyguard protection.

“But I rejected (the bodyguards), at my age and this point of my life, even with tens of bodyguards, if my time has come, I will still die… I do not want to be accompanied by bodyguards aside from my wife, that is fate, if it’s time for death then it is death,” he said.

‘Then there was Hang Tuah, now Hang Samseng’

By Nigel Aw | 3:19PM May 23, 2012
Malaysiakini

During the glorious days of the Malacca sultanate, the legendary warrior Hang Tuah, leading his four other ‘Hang’ companions, stood out as a symbol of pride for the Malay kingdom.

But in modern Malacca, ‘Hang Samseng’ (gangster) have emerged, lamented Bersih co-chairperson A Samad Said, in reference to the violence targeting his colleague Ambiga Sreenevasan in Merlimau, Malacca, last Saturday.

“When Ambiga was going to Merlimau… There were around 200 gangsters waiting there. Ambiga was invited by PAS to explain Bersih’s struggle. This is democracy.

“But before she could arrive, our friends there called and asked her not to come because there already were gangsters in the land of Hang Tuah.

“Think about it, in the land of Hang Tuah, there is ‘Hang Samseng’,” added the national laureate, fondly known as Pak Samad.

While Hang Tuah is highly regarded in Malay culture, Pak Samad, 77, described the ‘Hang Samseng’ as an “embarrassment”.

“I feel ashamed. This is not the way we strengthen our democracy, more than 50 years after we achieved independence… (they should) choose a better way” he said in an interview yesterday.

Last Saturday, a hi-tea event which was supposed to feature Ambiga was blocked by protesters and two DAP state assemblypersons, Khoo Poay Tiong and Tey Kok Kiew, were pelted with eggs and stones as they were leaving.

The incident damaged several vehicles, including Tey’s, which was left with severe denting, a punctured tyre and a broken side mirror.

Perkasa and Umno have admitted to being part of the protest but have both denied that they were responsible for the subsequent violence.

‘Is shaking butts our culture?’

The Merlimau violence was preceded by a series of bizarre protests outside Ambiga’s house in Kuala Lumpur, including a ‘butt exercise’ which made the international news headlines.

This, Pak Samad sarcastically suggested, appears to have become a new culture.

“We have achieved independence for more than 50 years, and our culture and manners appear to be butts. And then they hired gangsters to paint outside people’s house. Is this our culture?” he asked.

Last Tuesday, a group of army veterans shook their posterior in front of Ambiga’s house in protest against what they said was the smearing of the country’s name by Ambiga, who they described as an “enemy of the nation”.

Five days before that, a group of traders set up stalls and served free burgers, including beef burgers, outside the house of Ambiga, who is a Hindu and vegetarian.

On Monday, a group of traders painted yellow lots for trading along the road outside Ambiga’s house in preparation of a ‘mini market’ they plan to set up tomorrow and Friday.

The bustle outside her house comes as a series of counter-protests by traders claiming they had suffered losses during the Bersih 3.0 protest in Kuala Lumpur last month.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwcR-XpSR2o